Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Perceptual Indices of Performance: The Measurement of ‘Inspection Time’ and ‘Noise’ in the Visual System

Indices of human performance are less clear-cut than analogous measures in the physical sciences for several reasons. Variables which can alter performance include the noise upon which sensory signals are imposed, the bias shown by an observer towards one or another alternative, the use of an optional-stopping strategy for examining sensory input, and the accumulation of statistical information over time concerning the source of the input. The development of a theoretical appreciation of these variables is traced and, on this basis, a measure of the noise, which sets a limit to discriminative capacity, is suggested. The proposed index is simply the standard deviation of the best fitting normal ogive, calculated for the psychometric function obtained in a forced-choice discrimination task by the method of constant stimuli, the discriminanda being presented for 100 ms, in random order, and followed by appropriate backward masking. The index is thus closely related to traditional psychophysical measures, but is distinguished by the detailed specification of conditions under which it should be obtained. Analysis of data from previous experiments gives some indication of the order of magnitude that might be expected from a carefully controlled determination of the measure. In addition, three experiments were carried out to evaluate this suggestion, and to test its underlying rationale. In the first two, observers were required to discriminate, by pressing one of two keys, between two lines of markedly different length, exposed in random order for ten different durations. In the third, stimulus exposure was held constant, while ten different stimulus differences were presented in random order. Results from the first two experiments yielded estimates of minimum inspection time close to 100 ms, and were inconsistent with the view that observers can abandon an optional-stopping procedure of processing sensory information in favour of responding by a deadline. Measures of noise calculated in the third experiment were of the order expected on the proposed rationale, while response latencies were again inconsistent with the notion of deadline responding. Further analysis of the results of the three experiments suggests that measures of inspection time and noise, together with a third index related to the degree of caution exercised by an observer, appear to be stable and consistent descriptors of performance. The wider implications of the successful use of this kind of perceptual index of performance are discussed with reference to the measurement of visual acuity, as a means for detecting effects of environmental stress, and as a conceptual framework for the understanding of individual differences.
Neutrophils are Hyperactive in Recurrent Tonsillitis

The pathogenesis of recurrent tonsillitis has not been fully explored. Most studies in this field have focused on pathogenic bacteria whereas less research has been done concerning the host defense. In earlier studies it was shown that there is an active cellular defense in the tonsillar surface secretion, consisting of phagocytes, and therefore in this study the possibility that this defense is altered in patients with recurrent tonsillitis was explored. Neutrophils were obtained from tonsillar surface secretions in eight patients with recurrent tonsillitis and eight healthy volunteers and the capacity of the neutrophils to respond to chemotactic stimuli was examined in an in vitro system. A significantly higher fraction of the neutrophils obtained from the patients with recurrent tonsillitis responded to chemotactic stimuli compared to those obtained from the healthy volunteers. It is concluded that there is a hyperactive cellular defense in the tonsillar surface secretion in patients with recurrent tonsillitis. This finding and its significance in the pathogenesis of recurrent tonsillitis are discussed.
FEMALE SEX HORMONES AS REGULATORY FACTORS IN THE VAGINAL IMMUNE COMPARTMENT

Sexually transmitted diseases (STD) are now considered to be among the most common human infections. The incidence of STD is on the rise, which is partly due to frequent transmission during the asymptomatic phase of infection. The compounded cost of STD just in the United States is estimated to exceed $10 billion annually. STD are particularly prevalent in teenagers and young adults and the health problems caused by these diseases tend to be more severe and more frequent in woman than in men. Despite considerable efforts, a vaccine that provides protective immunity against sexually transmitted diseases in humans has not been developed. Nonetheless, research in animal models indicates that strong local and regional immune responses can influence the outcome of vaginal challenge with microbial pathogens. Vaginal immunity is an area of basic immunology that has received relatively little attention, but it is already clear that the mucosal and regional immunology of the vagina has unique features. The present review summarizes some of the anatomical, physiological and immunological features of the vagina and uterus that distinguish humans, non-human primates, rats and mice. These interspecies differences need to be taken into account in laboratory efforts to develop effective vaccines for STD in humans.
Letter: seasonality in eosinophilic oesophagitis and food bolus obstruction – what about recurrent episodes?

SIRS, We read the paper by Sengupta et al. with interest, and have the following observations and queries stemming from our own similar study. Firstly, the rate of previous oesophageal food bolus impaction was recorded as high (45%) among those with eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE), yet data regarding repeated episodes are not forthcoming, despite a 10year analysis. We encourage explanation and if possible provision of such data, given our findings that suggest a subgroup of patients with EoE (and not other aetiologies) have seasonal oesophageal food bolus impaction. Secondly, oesophageal food bolus impactions are more common in spring/summer, a finding that the authors attribute potentially to elevated pollen counts. Our pollen season (Australia) for the pathogenic species (rye grass) is regularly between 9 and 11 weeks duration. Have the authors considered their region-specific pollen counts in this time-dependent manner in relation to oesophageal food bolus impaction? Thirdly, the predominance of EoE as the established cause of oesophageal food bolus impaction is notable, while few cases of erosive reflux (four in total) are diagnosed. Is it the supposition that erosive reflux is a rare cause of oesophageal food bolus impaction, or rather that few biopsies are taken for cases other than suspected EoE? Finally, the documentation of adverse events associated with the management of oesophageal food bolus impaction is admirable. The high rate of complications including aspiration coupled with the majority of procedures being performed using conscious sedation is of note. We suggest there is thus a case for mandatory general anaesthesia (hence protecting the airway).
Brief Report: Association of Elevated Adipsin Levels With Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension in Systemic Sclerosis

Adipose tissues secrete adipokines, peptides with potent effects modulating fibrosis, inflammation, and vascular homeostasis. Dysregulated adipose tissue biology and adipokine balance have recently been implicated in systemic sclerosis (SSc). This study was undertaken to determine whether altered circulating adipokine levels correlate with SSc disease subsets or clinical manifestations.
Immunologic abnormalities in humans exposed to chlorpyrifos: preliminary observations.

Twelve individuals who were exposed to chlorpyrifos were studied 1-4.5 y following exposure to determine changes in the peripheral immune system. The subjects were found to have a high rate of atopy and antibiotic sensitivities, elevated CD26 cells (p < .01), and a higher rate of autoimmunity, compared with two control groups. Autoantibodies were directed toward smooth muscle, parietal cell, brush border, thyroid gland, myelin, and ANA. Chlorpyrifos exposure was implicated in the immunologic abnormalities reported. The immunologic changes were similar to those reported for other pesticides.
Childhood risk factors for adults with medically unexplained symptoms: results from a national birth cohort study.

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that the prior experience of physical illness in childhood is associated with later experience of medically unexplained symptoms. METHOD A nested case-control study was performed within a prospective birth cohort study: the Medical Research Council National Survey of Health and Development. The 5% most symptomatic individuals at age 36 years were identified and screened for physical illness. Subjects without defined physical diagnoses (N = 191) were compared with the remainder of the sample (N = 3,107) for childhood exposures. RESULTS There was a powerful relationship between poor reported health of the parents when subjects were aged 15 years and symptoms at age 36; the relationship was independent of current psychiatric disorder. Medically unexplained symptoms were associated with abdominal pain in childhood but not with defined childhood diseases. CONCLUSIONS Medically unexplained symptoms appear to be related to prior experience of illness in the family and previous unexplained symptoms in the individual. This may reflect a learned process whereby illness experience leads to symptom monitoring.
Disparities in infant health among American Indians and Alaska natives in US metropolitan areas.

OBJECTIVE To determine geographic variation in urban American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) rates of infant mortality, low birth weight, prenatal care use, and maternal-child health care service availability. METHODS This was a retrospective cohort study using data from the 1989 to 1991 birth-death linked database from the National Center for Health Statistics. We examined births from metropolitan areas with a minimum of 300 AI/AN births during the study period. Key outcomes of interest included rates of low birth weight, neonatal mortality, postneonatal mortality, and women receiving inadequate prenatal care using the modified Kessner index. To determine the type of health services tailored to AI/AN mothers residing in these urban areas, we conducted a telephone survey of the 36 urban Indian health programs operating in 1997 using a semistructured survey. Items in the survey included questions about the availability of prenatal and infant health care. RESULTS During the 1989 to 1991 study period, there were 72 730 singleton births to AI/AN mothers and/or fathers residing in urban areas, representing 49% of all AI/AN births in the United States. Overall 14.4% of urban AI/AN births were to women who received inadequate care during pregnancy, 5.7% of pregnancies resulted in low birth weight infants, and 11.0 infants died per 1000 live births. Death rates for the neonatal period (5.5 per 1000 births) and postneonatal period (5.4 per 1000 births) were similar. Marked disparity in these indicators exist between pregnancies to AI/AN and white women. Among the 54 metropolitan areas, 46 had a rate ratio (AI/AN: white) for inadequate care of > or =1.5 (range: 0.9-8.5). The mean rate ratios for neonatal and postneonatal mortality were 1.6 (range: 0.3-4.0) and 2.0 (range: 0.5-5.5). There was also considerable geographic variation of AI/AN mortality rates between metropolitan areas in all of the outcomes studied. All of the 20 metropolitan areas with the highest birth counts had some type of direct medical care or outreach services available from an urban clinic targeted toward AI/AN patients. CONCLUSIONS Considerable variation also exists among rates of AI/ANs between metropolitan areas. Disparity exists in rates of perinatal outcomes between AI/ANs and whites living in the same metropolitan areas Although AI/AN urban health programs exist in most cities with large birth counts, it seems that many have inadequate resources to meet existing needs to improve perinatal outcomes and infant health.
[Evaluation of 18F-FDG PET in acute ischemic stroke: assessment of hyper accumulation around the lesion].

PURPOSE Although pathophysiology of cerebrovascular disease has been reported previously, few clinical studies of glucose metabolism in acute stroke have been published. Purpose of this study is to evaluate glucose metabolism in acute stroke patients by 18F-FDG PET. SUBJECTS AND METHODS Twenty-four patients with acute ischemic stroke were involved in this study. All subjects underwent MRI (conventional T1- and T2-weighted images, diffusion-weighted imaging, and MR angiography), CT and 18F-FDG PET. 18F-FDG PET was performed within 1 to 7 days after the first episode. 18F-FDG PET images were visually evaluated as well as MRI and CT images. RESULTS Four patients out of 24 showed no abnormal 18F-FDG accumulation, while MRI demonstrated abnormal signal area and abnormal vascular findings that suggested acute stroke. Decreased 18F-FDG accumulation corresponding with abnormal signal area on MR images was noted in 20 cases. In 7 cases among these 20 with decreased 18F-FDG, hyper accumulation of 18F-FDG was recognized around the decreased accumulation area. CONCLUSION Increased 18F-FDG accumulation (increased glucose metabolization) around the lesion may be due to: 1) acceleration of anaerobic glycolysis, 2) activated repair process of damaged brain tissue, i.e., phagocytosis and gliosis, and 3) neuronal excitation by excito-toxic amino acids which can be released after ischemia.
Concomitant use of transvaginal sonography and Doppler indices improve diagnosis of adenomyosis

Abstract This study was planned to investigate whether measuring of Doppler indices with TV-DUS improved the diagnosis of adenomyosis. Preoperative Doppler indices of subjects with a preliminary diagnosis of adenomyosis were compared with the histopathological results of excised specimens. Sensitivity, specificity and positive/negative predictive values (PPV, NPV) of the measured indices were also calculated. Sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV and positive and negative likelihood ratios (LR+) and (LR−) of TV-US in the diagnosis of adenomyosis were found to be 70.8%, 62.1%, 40.4%, 85.4%, 1.96 and 0.47, respectively. Sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV, LR + and LR − in the diagnosis of adenomyosis following the addition of TV-DUS were found to be 90%, 94.2%, 81.8%, 97%, 15.5 and 0.10, respectively. Concomitant use of TV-US and TV-DUS improved correct diagnosis of adenomyosis with high sensitivity.
A Retrospective Study of 87 Cases of Canine Soft Tissue Sarcomas, 1986-2001

This study was undertaken to determine if a previously published variable for soft tissue sarcomas (STS), histologic grade, had rele- vance in a clinical setting, as well as to identify other potential prognostic variables and to determine the metastatic rate of canine STS for future studies. Medical records of dogs presented to the North Carolina State University Teaching Hospital for evaluation of histologically confirmed soft tissue sarcomas were reviewed retro- spectively. Data collected included informa- tion on signalment, tumor characteristics (histologic grade, mitotic index, and tumor volume), treatments administered, local recurrence, and the development of meta- stases. Using multivariate analysis, the only prognostic variable for development of local recurrence was total radiation dose. In the metastasis model, prior tumor surgery, hyperthermia treatment, and non-intact state
Ages and Metallicities of Star Clusters and Surrounding Fields in the Outer Disk of the Large Magellanic Cloud

We present Washington system CT1 color-magnitude diagrams of 13 star clusters and their surrounding fields that lie in the outer parts of the LMC disk (r > 4°), as well as a comparison inner cluster. The total area covered is large ( deg2), allowing us to study the clusters and their fields individually and in the context of the entire Galaxy. Ages are determined by means of the magnitude difference δT1 between the giant branch clump and the turnoff, while metallicities are derived from the location of the giant and subgiant branches as compared with fiducial star clusters. This yields a unique data set in which ages and metallicities for both a significant sample of clusters and their fields are determined homogeneously. We find that in most cases the stellar population of each star cluster is quite similar to that of the field where it is embedded, sharing its mean age and metallicity. The old population (t ≥ 10 Gyr) is detected in most fields as a small concentration of stars on the horizontal branch blueward and faintward of the prominent clump. Three particular fields present remarkable properties: (1) The thus-far unique cluster ESO 121-SC03 at ≈9 Gyr has a surrounding field that shares the same properties (which, in turn, is also unique, in that such a dominant old-field component is not present elsewhere—at least not significantly in the fields as yet studied). (2) The field surrounding the far eastern intermediate-age cluster OHSC 37 is noteworthy in that we do not detect any evidence of LMC stars: it is essentially a Galactic foreground field. We can thus detect the LMC field out to greater than 11° (the deprojected distance of ESO 121-SC03), or ∼11 kpc, but not to 13° (∼13 kpc), despite the presence of clusters at this distance. (3) In the northern part of the LMC disk, the fields of SL 388 and SL 509 present color-magnitude diagrams with a secondary clump ≈0.45 mag fainter than the dominant intermediate-age clump, suggesting a stellar population component located behind the LMC disk at a distance comparable to that of the SMC. Possibly we are witnessing a depth effect in the LMC, and the size of the corresponding structure is comparable to the size of a dwarf galaxy. The unusual spatial location of the cluster OHSC 37 and the anomalous properties of the SL 388 and SL 509 fields might be explained as debris from previous LMC interactions with the Galaxy and/or the SMC. The mean metallicity derived for the intermediate-age outer disk clusters is ⟨[Fe/H]⟩ = -0.66, and for their surrounding fields ⟨[Fe/H]⟩ = -0.56. These values are significantly lower than those found by Olszewski et al. for a sample of clusters of similar age but are in good agreement with several recent studies. A few clusters stand out in the age-metallicity relation, in that they are intermediate-age clusters at relatively low metallicity ([Fe/H] ≈ -1).
THE HISTORICAL PATTERN OF GENE FLOW AMONG MIGRATORY AND NONMIGRATORY POPULATIONS OF PRAIRIE WARBLERS (AVES: PARULINAE)

Within a group of interbreeding organisms, the balance of gene flow among populations and microevolutionary forces acting within populations is expected to result in clinal transitions in the phenotypes possessed by members of differentiated populations. Discontinuous variation between geographically adjacent populations suggests the presence of a significant barrier to gene flow. Here I present genetic evidence for restricted gene flow between migratory and nonmigratory populations of prairie warblers. The nonmigratory form of this species is restricted to coastal mangroves in Florida and is morphologically distinguishable from the typical, migratory form that occurs across the remainder of the eastern United States. Pairs of migratory populations exhibited little population subdivision (ΦST ⩽ 0.09), whereas pairs of migratory and nonmigratory populations are much more differentiated (ΦST = 0.27–0.42). A phylogenetic analysis of mitochondrial DNA haplotypes did not offer evidence of long‐term isolation of migratory and nonmigratory populations. Together with the population genetic analysis, the phylogenetic relationship of haplotypes suggests that isolation between these forms must have arisen relatively recently in their history. Evidence for significant population structure is unexpected, given the geographic proximity of migratory and nonmigratory populations, the capacity for long‐distance movements (e.g., migration) by prairie warblers, and several previous studies of population structure in North American birds. However, the findings are consistent with the geographic distribution of morphological and behavioral variation and demonstrate that significant boundaries between populations of vagile organisms may be relatively cryptic.
Effects of a music‐creation programme on the anxiety, self‐esteem, and quality of life of people with severe mental illness: A quasi‐experimental design

Many studies have shown that music therapy improves patients' symptoms. However, interventions using music creation as their core await further development for patients with severe mental illness (SMI). The current study investigated the effect of a music-creation programme on the anxiety, self-esteem, and quality of life of patients with SMI. A quasi-experimental design using convenience sampling was adopted to recruit patients with SMI from a psychiatric day care centre. Participants were grouped based on their willingness to undergo an intervention (26 patients in the experimental group and 23 patients in the control group). The control groups participated in conventional mental rehabilitation therapy activities. The experimental group participated in a music-creation session for 90 min every week over a 32-week period. The outcome indicators before and after the intervention were assessed using the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A), Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES), and World Health Organization Quality of Life-BREF (WHOQOL-BREF). Finally, the intervention effect was determined using generalized estimating equations (GEEs). After 32 weeks of intervention activities, the experimental group showed significant improvements in their HAM-A total scores (P < 0.001) and RSES total scores (P = 0.005). Regarding quality of life, the improvements of the experimental group in terms of the psychological (P = 0.016) and social relationship domains (P = 0.033) were superior to those of the control group. Music-creation programmes are recommended for inclusion in the routine rehabilitation activities of patients with SMI.
Philosophy of Quantum Information and Entanglement: Information, immaterialism, instrumentalism: Old and new in quantum information

We live, we are told, in an information age. We are told this, perhaps, less often than once we were; but no doubt only because the phrase has become worn from use. If ours is an age of information, then quantum information theory is a field propitiously in tune with the spirit of the times: a rich and sophisticated physical theory that seeks to tame quantum mysteries (no less! ) and turn them to ingenious computational and communication ends. It is a theory that hints, moreover, at the possibility of finally rendering the quantum unmysterious; or at least, this is a conclusion that many have been tempted to draw. And yet, for all its timeliness, some of the most intriguing of the prospects that quantum information science presents are to be found intertwining with some surprisingly old and familiar philosophical themes. These themes are immaterialism and instrumentalism; and in this essay we shall be exploring how these old ideas feature in the context of two of the most tantalizing new questions that have arisen with the advent of this field: Does quantum information theory finally help us to resolve the conceptual conundrums of quantum mechanics? And does the theory indicate a new way of thinking about the world—one in which the material as the fundamental subject matter of physical theory is seen to be replaced by the immaterial: information? The moral I will suggest is that it is only once the influence of these old ideas is explicitly recognised for what it is and treated accordingly that one can begin to hope ∗I would like to thank the organisers for the invitation to speak at the Boston Colloquium and to contribute to this resulting volume. This paper draws on material discussed in Timpson (2004, 2008b). †christopher.timpson@bnc.ox. ac.uk