Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Spatial filter characteristics of optic nerve fibers in California ground squirrel (Spermophilus beecheyi).

The spatial response properties of single optic nerve fibers in the California ground squirrel (Spermophilus beecheyi) were investigated. Results are reported for each of several response classes. Resolution limits determined for 165 spectrally nonopponent optic nerve fibers ranged from 0.1 to 4.2 cycles/degree (c/d), with a mean resolution limit of 1.49 c/d. Directionally selective units possessed the highest resolution limits (mean = 1.91 c/d.) Sustained and transient units possessed mean resolution limits of 1.44 and 1.09 c/d, respectively. The correlation between response and sensitivity measures of spatial tuning was examined for 29 units. Optimal spatial frequency and spatial frequency bandwidth estimates derived from the two measures were highly correlated. As measured from response functions, optimal spatial frequencies of 97 spectrally nonopponent units ranged from 0.1 to 2.2 c/d (mean = 0.44 c/d). Directionally selective units possessed the highest optimal spatial frequencies (mean = 0.60 c/d). Mean optimal spatial frequencies for sustained and transient units were 0.32 and 0.27 c/d, respectively. Mean half-amplitude response bandwidth for 96 optic nerve fibers was 2.80 octaves. Directionally selective units were narrowly tuned, possessing a mean half-amplitude bandwidth of 1.99 octaves. Sustained and transient units had mean half-amplitude response bandwidths of 3.56 and 2.80 octaves, respectively. The response bandwidths of directionally selective optic nerve fibers were highly negatively correlated with optimal spatial frequency; no significant correlation between these measures existed for sustained or transient units. Peak contrast sensitivity in 88 optic nerve fibers ranged from 3.0 to 55.0. Mean contrast sensitivity was 16.7 and did not differ between fiber response classes. Peak contrast sensitivity was not correlated with optimal spatial frequency. Poststimulus time histograms of unit responses to sinusoidal luminance modulation revealed that some sustained units modulate their discharge rates around spontaneous levels and show predominant Fourier amplitude at the fundamental frequency. Transient units possess low levels of spontaneous discharge and respond abruptly to the passage of grating half-cycles, resulting in a characteristically dispersed spectrum of Fourier amplitude. Directionally selective units respond to sinusoidal luminance gratings with an elevation of maintained firing rate and possess moderate Fourier amplitudes corresponding to the fundamental and second harmonic frequencies. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Measurement error in two‐stage analyses, with application to air pollution epidemiology

Public health researchers often estimate health effects of exposures (e.g., pollution, diet, and lifestyle) that cannot be directly measured for study subjects. A common strategy in environmental epidemiology is to use a first‐stage (exposure) model to estimate the exposure on the basis of covariates and/or spatiotemporal proximity and to use predictions from the exposure model as the covariate of interest in the second‐stage (health) model. This induces a complex form of measurement error. We propose an analytical framework and methodology that is robust to misspecification of the first‐stage model and provides valid inference for the second‐stage model parameter of interest.
Factors influencing mobile services adoption: A brand-equity perspective

Purpose – The purpose of this study is to develop and validate empirically a research model that depicts the relationships between the identified key value proposition attributes of mobile value‐added services and the core factors of brand equity.Design/methodology/approach – Survey data collected from 497 mobile value‐added service consumers were examined using structural equation modeling to validate the research model.Findings – The results indicate that the mobile service attributes of personalization, identifiability, and perceived enjoyment have significant positive influences on the key brand equity factors, including brand loyalty, perceived quality, brand awareness, and brand associations. Additionally, the results confirm the significance of all four of the brand equity factors in interpreting consumer purchase intention in the context of mobile value‐added service consumption.Practical implications – The research results provide insights into how mobile value‐added services may be better design.
Molecular Targeted Therapy for Growth Factors in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Treatments for HCC are classified into local and systemic therapies. Various local treatment modalities, such as resection, local ablation, transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE), and liver transplantation, are available at present. The most suitable treatment modality for HCC is selected according to the tumor stage, grade of liver dysfunction, and performance status of the patient [1,2]. Although the local approaches have been demonstrated to yield good outcomes in patients with earlier-stage disease, the usefulness is limited to patients with early-stage HCC [3]. TACE is the most widely used for patients with HCC who are not suitable candidates for curative surgical resection or local ablation therapy, and have preserved liver function (Child-Pugh class A or B). Randomized clinical trials (RCTs) and meta-analysis of RCTs on TACE have shown that this treatment modality yields a statistically significant improvement of survival in properly selected candidates, e.g., patients with multinodular asymptomatic tumors [4,5].
Validation of the University of São Paulo Sensory Phenomena Scale:Initial Psychometric Properties

Abstract Introduction: Although obsessions and compulsions comprise the main features of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), many patients report that their compulsions are preceded by a sense of “incompleteness” or other unpleasant feelings such as premonitory urges or a need perform actions until feeling “just right. ” These manifestations have been characterized as Sensory Phenomena (SP). The current study presents initial psychometric data for a new scale designed to measure SP. Methods: Seventy-six adult OCD subjects were probed twice. Patients were assessed with an open clinical interview (considered as the “gold standard”) and with the following standardized instruments: Structured Clinical Interview for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition Axis I Disorders, Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale, Dimensional Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale, Yale Global Tic Severity Scale, Beck Anxiety Inventory, and Beck Depression Inventory. Results: SP were present in 51 OCD patients (67.1%). Tics were present in 16 (21.1%) of the overall sample. The presence of SP was significantly higher in early-onset OCD patients. There were no significant differences in the presence of SP according to comorbidity with tics or gender. The comparison between the results from the open clinical interviews and the University of São Paulo Sensory Phenomena Scale (USP-SPS) showed an excellent concordance between them, with no significant differences between interviewers. The inter-rater reliability between the expert raters for the USP-SPS was high, with K=. 92. The Pearson correlation coefficient between the SP severity scores given by the two raters was . 89. Conclusion: Preliminary results suggest that the USP-SPS is a valid and reliable instrument for assessing the presence and severity of SP in OCD subjects.
Myth and Mind The Origin of Human Consciousness in the Discovery of the Sacred

By accepting that the formal structure of human language is the key to understanding the uniquity of human culture and consciousness and by further accepting the late appearance of such language amongst the Cro-Magnon, I am free to focus on the causes that led to such an unprecedented threshold crossing. In the complex of causes that led to human being, I look to scholarship in linguistics, mythology, anthropology, paleontology, and to creation myths themselves for an answer. I conclude that prehumans underwent an existential crisis, i.e., the realization of certain mortality, that could be borne only by the discovery-creation of the larger realm of symbolic consciousness once experienced as the sacred (but today we know it as the world – as opposed to the immediate natural environment of ourselves and other animals). Thus, although we, the human species, are but one species among innumerable others, we differ in kind, not degree. This quality is our symbolically enabled self-consciousness, the fortress of cultural identity that empowers but also imprisons awareness.
Review article: roles played by 5‐hydroxytryptamine in the physiology of the bowel

The application of 5‐HT to the gut elicits a wide variety of effects because of the expression and wide distribution in the bowel of many subtypes of 5‐HT. There is, however, no reason to believe that all of these receptors are stimulated by endogenous 5‐HT. 5‐HT has been found to be the neurotransmitter of a subset of myenteric interneurons, which evoke a slow excitatory postsynaptic response mediated by 5‐HT1P receptors. The major enteric depot of 5‐HT is found in mucosal enterochromaffin cells, which are sensory transducers that utilize 5‐HT to activate both intrinsic (via 5‐HT1P and 5‐HT4 receptors) and extrinsic (via 5‐HT3 receptors) primary afferent nerves. Mucosal 5‐HT is inactivated by uptake into epithelial cells mediated by the same 5‐HT transporter utilized by serotonergic neurons. Antagonism of 5‐HT3 receptors by compounds such as alosetron should be useful in treating functional bowel disease because they can inhibit excitation of extrinsic sensory nerves by 5‐HT without interfering with intrinsic enteric reflexes.
Is temporary employment related to health status? Analysis of the Northern Swedish Cohort

Aims: The aim of this study was to investigate whether temporary employment was related to non-optimal self-rated health and psychological distress at age 42 after adjustment for the same indicators at age 30, and to analyze the effects of job insecurity, low cash margin and high job strain on this relationship. Methods: A subcohort of the Northern Swedish Cohort that was employed at the 2007 follow-up survey (n = 907, response rate of 94%) was analyzed using data from 1995 and 2007 questionnaires. Results: Temporary employees had a higher risk of both non-optimal self-rated health and psychological distress. After adjustment for non-optimal self-rated health at age 30 and psychological distress at age 30 as well as for sociodemographic variables, the odds ratios decreased but remained significant. However, after adjustment for job insecurity, high job strain and low cash margin the odds ratio dropped for non-optimal self-rated health but remained significant for psychological distress. Conclusions: Temporary employment may have adverse effects on self-rated health and psychological health after adjustment for previous health status and sociodemographic variables. Our findings indicate that low cash margin and job insecurity may partially mediate the association between temporary employment and health status.
Soluble TWEAK is markedly elevated in hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis

Tumor necrosis factor‐like weak inducer of apoptosis (TWEAK) is a newly identified monocyte derived cytokine, which has weak apoptosis inducing function against sensitive tumor cell lines in vitro. Also, TWEAK has been reported to have proangiogenic and proinflammatory activities in vivo. However, its functions in pathological situation remain to be elucidated. Here, we analyzed soluble TWEAK in serum of 24 patients with hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) in combination with interferon‐γ (IFN‐γ) and killer‐specific secretory protein of 37 kDa (Ksp37). Soluble TWEAK was not detected in serum of healthy individuals. Soluble TWEAK was markedly elevated in all six primary HLH patients and 12 of 18 secondary HLH patients. Serum IFN‐γ, which is an only known mediator to stimulate TWEAK production in monocyte in vitro, was not elevated despite elevated serum TWEAK in three of six primary HLH patients, although IFN‐γ was markedly elevated in other cases. Ksp37 was only slightly increased in HLH patients. These results indicate that TWEAK may be involved in pathogenesis of HLH and is useful as a clinical marker. Am. J. Hematol. , 2008. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Taguchi Metoduyla Deneysel Tasarım Kullanarak Yalıtımlı Harç İçin Perlit ve Taban Külü Kullanılabilirliğinin Araştırılması

Bu calismada, harc icinde agrega olarak kullanilmak uzere perlit ve taban kulunun kullanilabilirligi ve geri donusumu arastirilmistir. Bu amacla, deney sayisini azaltmak icin bir L9(33) ortogonal dizi ile Taguchi metodu kullanilarak, perlit/taban kulu orani (P/TK), cimento ve su/cimento orani (S/C) olarak adlandirilan uc kontrol faktoru kuru birim agirlik, su emme ve isil iletkenlik katsayisi (λ) degerleri gibi harcin karakteristik performansini belirlemek adina bir deneysel calisma ve istatistiksel analiz yurutulmustur. Varyans analiz metodu (ANOVA) kullanilarak, bu uc kontrol faktorunun harcin karakteristik performansi uzerindeki onem seviyeleri belirlenmistir. Sonuc olarak, tek yonlu varyans analizine bagli olarak, cimentonun diger iki kontrol faktorunden genel olarak daha etkili oldugu bulunmustur.
The lag phase and G1 phase of a single yeast cell monitored by Raman microspectroscopy

We optically trapped a single yeast cell for up to 3 h and monitored the changes in the Raman spectra during the lag phase of its growth and the G1 phase of its cell cycle. A non-budding cell (corresponding either to the G0 or G1 phase) was chosen for each experiment. During the lag phase, the cell synthesises new proteins and lipids and the observed behaviour of the peaks corresponding to these constituents as well as those of RNA served as a sensitive indicator of the adaptation of the cell to its changed environment. Temporal behaviour of the Raman peaks observed was different in the lag phase as compared to the late lag phase. Two different laser wavelengths were applied to study the effect of long-term optical trapping on the living cells. Yeast cells killed either by boiling or by a chemical protocol were also trapped for a long time in a single beam optical trap to understand the effect of optical trapping on the behaviour of observed Raman peaks. The changes observed in the Raman spectra of a trapped yeast cell in the late G1 phase or the beginning of S phase corresponded to the growth of a bud. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Acetylation of Heat Shock Protein 20 (Hsp20) Regulates Human Myometrial Activity*

Phosphorylation of heat shock protein 20 (Hsp20) by protein kinase A (PKA) is now recognized as an important regulatory mechanism modulating contractile activity in the human myometrium. Thus agonists that stimulate cyclic AMP production may cause relaxation with resultant beneficial effects on pathologies that affect this tissue such as the onset of premature contractions prior to term. Here we describe for the first time that acetylation of Hsp20 is also a potent post-translational modification that can affect human myometrial activity. We show that histone deacetylase 8 (HDAC8) is a non-nuclear lysine deacetylase (KDAC) that can interact with Hsp20 to affect its acetylation. Importantly, use of a selective linkerless hydroxamic acid HDAC8 inhibitor increases Hsp20 acetylation with no elevation of nuclear-resident histone acetylation nor marked global gene expression changes. These effects are associated with significant inhibition of spontaneous and oxytocin-augmented contractions of ex vivo human myometrial tissue strips. A potential molecular mechanism by which Hsp20 acetylation can affect myometrial activity by liberating cofilin is described and further high-lights the use of specific effectors of KDACs as therapeutic agents in regulating contractility in this smooth muscle.
Lost Wax: Abrupt Replacement of Key Morphemes in Australian Agreement Complexes

SUMMARYRichly inflected languages often have morphologies in which one or two key relational morphemes serve as the glue which binds other, more substantive morphemes together. When an important relational morpheme suffers phonetic erosion, it may be replaced rather abruptly by a successor morpheme which obtains a foothold in the relevant paradigm and then spreads rapidly, replacing the old morpheme throughout the system. We will refer to this as the 'lost-wax' (cire perdue) method of formal renewal, on the analogy of an ancient method for casting bronze artefacts. The point is illustrated by a close case study of two morphemes, Inverse and Potential, connected with the pronominal agreement system of a set of closely related Australian languages. The mechanics are somewhat different in the two cases, but both can be described as variations on the lost-wax method.RESUMEDans les langues a inflexion riche, il se trouve souvent que la morphologie possede un ou deux morphemes relationnels qui servent a lier d'autres morphemes a plus grande substance semantique. Quant un tel morpheme relationnel risque de disparaitre a cause d'erosion phonetique, il peut se faire remplacer d'un coup par un autre morpheme qui gagne une entree dans le paradigme et puis s'etend rapidement jusqu'a occuper la meme position relationnelle de l'ancien morpheme. Nous proposons la metaphore de 'cire perdue' pour decrire cette methode de renouvellement formel, par analogie avec une methode classique de mouler les figures en bronze. Dans ce contexte nous etudions l'histoire de deux morphemes, inverse et potentiel, dans le systeme de desinences personnelles d'un groupe de langues australiennes. Chaque cas presente une mecanique originelle, mais tout les deux rentrent dans le cadre general de la methode 'cire perdue'. ZUSAMMENFASSUNGSprachen mit reicher Inflexion haben oft eine Morphologie, in der ein oder zwei zusammenhangende Morpheme andere wesentlichere Morpheme zusam-menbinden. Wenn ein solches Morphem phonetisch zerfallt, kann es ein anderes Morphem plotzlich ersetzen und eine Stelle im Paradigma finden, von dem es sich im System schnell ausbreiten kann, indem es das alte Morphem im ganzen System ersetzt. Wir nennen hier diesen Vorgang 'verlorene Wachs'-Methode der formellen Erneuerung, als Analogie zur althergebrachten Methode der Gusform von Bronzekunstgegenstanden. Wir illustrieren den Vorgang anhand einer Fallstudie von zwei Morphemen im pronominalen System der grammatischen Ubereinstimmung in einigen eng verwandten Sprachen Australiens.
Housing quality of U.S. elderly households: does aging in place matter?

This article investigates whether older people who have lived longer in their dwellings are more likely to occupy physically deficient accommodations. It analyzes data from the 1987 American Housing Survey describing the housing conditions of 12,859 aged 60-and-older households. A multiple regression analysis assessed whether length of residential occupancy significantly influenced housing quality after controlling for other likely influences such as building age, chronological age, household composition, race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and location. Overall, length of residence was a relatively poor predictor of housing quality, and only certain subgroups of longtime owners and renters were more likely to occupy physically deficient dwellings.
Janumet™: a combination product suitable for use in patients with Type 2 diabetes

Inhibition of the enzyme dipeptidyl peptidase-4 represents the latest pharmacologic intervention to become available to assist patients with Type 2 diabetes to achieve glycemic control. A combination tablet of sitagliptin (Januvia®) and metformin HCl (Glucophage®) is now available from Merck (Janumet™). The FDA has approved this drug for use in patients who are not adequately controlled by taking either sitagliptin or metformin HCl alone or for patients who are at present taking both simultaneously. Sitagliptin has been shown to be safe and effective at 100 mg daily doses. When given in combination with metformin the effect on glycemic control is thought to be complementary and possibly additive.
Evaluation of seismic performance of pile‐supported models in liquefiable soils

The seismic performance of four pile‐supported models is studied for two conditions: (i) transient to full liquefaction condition, i.e. the phase when excess pore pressure gradually increases during the shaking; (ii) full liquefaction condition, i.e. defined as the state where the seismically induced excess pore pressure equalises to the overburden stress. The paper describes two complementary analyses consisting of an experimental investigation, carried out at normal gravity on a shaking table, and a simplified numerical analysis, whereby the soil–structure interaction (SSI) is modelled through non‐linear Winkler springs (commonly known as p–y curves). The effects of liquefaction on the SSI are taken into account by reducing strength and stiffness of the non‐liquefied p–y curves by a factor widely known as p‐multiplier and by using a new set of p–y curves. The seismic performance of each of the four models is evaluated by considering two different criteria: (i) strength criterion expressed in terms of bending moment envelopes along the piles; (ii) damage criterion expressed in terms of maximum global displacement. Comparison between experimental results and numerical predictions shows that the proposed p–y curves have the advantage of better predicting the redistribution of bending moments at deeper elevations as the soil liquefies. Furthermore, the proposed method predicts with reasonable accuracy the displacement demand exhibited by the models at the full liquefaction condition. However, disparities between computed and experimental maximum bending moments (in both transient and full liquefaction conditions) and displacement demands (during transient to liquefaction condition) highlight the need for further studies. Copyright © 2016 The Authors Earthquake Engineering & Structural Dynamics Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Dealing with requests for euthanasia: a qualitative study investigating the experience of general practitioners

Background: Caring for terminally ill patients is a meaningful task, however the patient’s suffering can be a considerable burden and cause of frustration. Objectives: The aim of this study is to describe the experiences of general practitioners (GPs) in The Netherlands in dealing with a request for euthanasia from a terminally ill patient. Methods: The data, collected through in-depth interviews, were analysed according to the constant comparative method. Results: Having to face a request for euthanasia when attempting to relieve a patient’s suffering was described as a very demanding experience that GPs generally would like to avoid. Nearly half of the GPs (14/30) strive to avoid euthanasia or physician assisted suicide because it was against their own personal values or because it was emotional burdening to be confronted with this issue. They explained that by being directed on promoting a peaceful dying process, or the quality of end-of-life of a patient by caring and supporting the patient and the relatives it was mainly possible to shorten patient’s suffering without “intentionally hastening a patient’s death on his request”. The other GPs (16/30) explained that as sometimes the suffering of a patient could not be lessened they were open to consider a patient’s request for euthanasia or physician assisted suicide. They underlined the importance of a careful decision-making process, based on finding a balance between the necessity to shorten the patient’s suffering through euthanasia and their personal values. Conclusion: Dealing with requests for euthanasia is very challenging for GPs, although they feel committed to alleviate a patient’s suffering and to promote a peaceful death.