Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
‘Where’ and ‘What’ in Visual Search

A line segment target can be detected among distractors of a different orientation by a fast ‘preattentive’ process. One view is that this depends on detection of a ‘feature gradient’, which enables subjects to locate where the target is without necessarily identifying what it is. An alternative view is that a target can be identified as distinctive in a particular ‘feature map’ without subjects knowing where it is in that map. Experiments are reported in which briefly exposed arrays of line segments were followed by a pattern mask, and the threshold stimulus-mask interval determined for three tasks: ‘what’—subjects reported whether the target was vertical or horizontal among oblique distractors; ‘coarse where’—subjects reported whether the target was in the upper or lower half of the array; ‘fine where’—subjects reported whether or not the target was in a set of four particular array positions. The threshold interval was significantly lower for the ‘coarse where’ than for the ‘what’ task, indicating that, even though localization in this task depends on the target's orientation difference, this localization is possible without absolute identification of target orientation. However, for the ‘fine where’ task, intervals as long as or longer than those for the ‘what’ task were required. It appears either that different localization processes work at different levels of resolution, or that a single localization process, independent of identification, can increase its resolution at the expense of processing speed. These possibilities are discussed in terms of distinct neural representations of the visual field and fixed or variable localization processes acting upon them.
Acoustic correlates of intelligibility enhancements in clearly produced fricatives

Two experiments investigated whether and how clear speech production enhances intelligibility of English fricatives for normal-hearing listeners and listeners with simulated hearing impairment. Babble thresholds were measured for minimal pair distinctions. Clear speech benefited both groups overall; however, for impaired listeners, the clear speech effect held only for sibilant pairs. Correlation analyses comparing acoustic and perceptual data indicated that a shift of energy concentration toward higher frequency regions and greater source strength contributed to the clear speech effect for normal-hearing listeners, while listeners with simulated loss seemed to benefit mostly from cues involving lower frequency regions.
Detection of sensitive and mutant ruminal bacteria isolates from sheep, cattle, and buffalo using 14 therapeutic antibiotics

In the present study, sensitive and mutant colonies of some ruminal bacterial species isolated from sheep, cattle, and buffalo were detected. We counted and considered \"mutant colonies\" the bacterial colonies grown in the clear inhibition zone in the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion susceptibility test. Detected mutant colonies were higher in buffalo than in cattle and sheep. Duricef and metronidazole caused no mutations in any species. The others formed mutant colonies, where roxithromycin = polymyxin = chloramphenicol = gentamicin streptomycin = piperacillin > erythromycin > vancomycin = cefoperazone = cefotaxime > roxithromycin > polymyxin > chloramphenicol). The number of sensitive isolates of the different ruminant species for all the antibiotics was highest in buffalo, followed by cattle and then sheep (P < 0.05). We could conclude that subtherapeutic antibiotic use in ruminant feeding may lead to the formation of antibiotic-resistant mutant colonies, making their subtherapeutic effect nonexistent.
Gamma-aminobutyric acid metabolism and radiation-induced seizures

Abstract : Miniature swine convulsed spontaneously within 30 seconds after a 10, 000-rad dose of 30 MeV electrons was delivered to the brain. The seizures ended 2 to 5 minutes later. Since alterations in gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) metabolism occur in and may be an underlying cause of a variety of convulsive disorders, regional brain concentrations of GABA and activities of L-glutamic acid decarboxylase (E.C.4.1.1.15) (GAD) were determined in control and irradiated miniature swine. The hypothalamus and midbrain had the highest GABA concentration and GAD activity, followed, in decreasing order of GABA concentration, by the caudate nucleus, thalamus, hippocampus, cerebral cortex and cerebellum. At four minutes after irradiation, GABA concentrations did not change significantly in any brain region examined; the largest apparent change was a decline from 2.31 plus or minus . 13 to 2.04 plus or minus . 11 micromoles g wet weight in the thalamus. Concurrently, GAD activity in the thalamus increased significantly from 238 plus or minus 7 to 315 plus or minus 29 micromoles/h per g protein.
World trade, 1800-1938: a new data-set

This paper presents our data-base on world trade from 1800 to 1938. We have collected or estimated series of imports and exports, at current and constant (1913) prices and at current and at constant (1913) borders, for 149 polities. After a short review of the available series, we describe the methods for the construction of the data-base. We then deal with the criteria for the inclusion of polities, the representativeness of our series, the main types of sources, the procedures of deflation and, when necessary, of adjustments to 1913 borders. We discuss the details of the estimation of our polity series in Appendix B. Following Feinstein and Thomas (2001), we assess the reliability of our polity estimates. In the last two sections we present our trade series at current and 1913 borders and compare them with other available series. All data are available on: http://hdl.handle. net/10016/22230.
MLH1 promoter germline-methylation in selected probands of Chinese hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer families.

AIM To detect the MLH1 gene promoter germline-methylation in probands of Chinese hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC), and to evaluate the role of methylation in MLH1 gene promoter and molecular genetics in screening for HNPCC. METHODS The promoter germline methylation of MLH1 gene was detected by methylation-specific PCR (MSP) in 18 probands from unrelated HNPCC families with high microsatellite-instability (MSI-H) phenotype but without germline mutations in MSH2, MLH1 and MSH6 genes. At the same time, 6 kindreds were collected with microsatellite-stability (MSS) phenotype but without germline mutations in MSH2, MLH1 and MSH6 genes as controls. The results of MSP were confirmed by clone sequencing. To ensure the reliability of the results, family H65 with nonsense germline mutation at c.2228C > A in MSH2 gene was used as the negative control and the cell line sw48 was used as the known positive control along with water as the blank control. Immunochemical staining of MLH1 protein was performed with Envision two-step method in those patients with aberrant methylation to judge whether the status of MLH1 gene methylation affects the expression of MLH1 protein. RESULTS Five probands with MLH1 gene promoter methylation were detected in 18 Chinese HNPCC families with MSI-H phenotype but without germline mutations in MSH2, MLH1 and MSH6 genes. Two of the five probands from families H10 and H29 displayed exhaustive-methylation, fulfilling the Japanese criteria (JC) and the Amsterdam criteria (AC), respectively. The other 3 probands presented part-methylation fulfilling the AC. Of the 13 probands with unmethylation phenotype, 8 fulfilled the JC and the Bethesda guidelines (BG), 5 fulfilled the AC. The rate of aberrant methylation in MLH1 gene in the AC group (22.2%, 4/18) was higher than that in the JC/BG groups (5.6%, 1/18) in all HNPCC families with MSI-H phenotype but without germline mutations in MSH2, MLH1 and MSH6 genes. However, no proband with methylation in MLH1 gene was found in the families with MSS phenotype and without germline mutations in MSH2, MLH1 and MSH6 genes. No expression of MLH1 protein was found in tumor tissues from two patients with exhaustive-methylation phenotype, whereas positive expression of MLH1 protein was observed in tumor tissues from patients with partial methylation phenotype (excluding family H42 without tumor tissue), indicating that exhaustive-methylation of MLH1 gene can cause defective expression of MLH1 protein. CONCLUSION Methylation phenotype of MLH1 gene is correlated with microsatellite phenotype of MMR genes, especially with MSI-H. Exhaustive-methylation of MLH1 gene can silence the expression of MLH1 protein. MLH1 promoter methylation analysis is a promising tool for molecular genetics screening for HNPCC.
PET imaging with 18F-FLT and thymidine analogs: promise and pitfalls.

Further development and validation of 18F-labeled 3′-deoxy-3′fluorothymidine (FLT) is presented by Buck et al. in this issue of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine ([1][1]). Although the use of PET has exploded within the last few years, this has primarily resulted from the application of 18F-FDG in
Nitrate reductase-deficient mutants in barley : immunoelectrophoretic characterization.

Nitrate reductase-deficient barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) mutants were assayed for the presence of a functional molybdenum cofactor determined from the activity of the molybdoenzyme, xanthine dehydrogenase, and for nitrate reductase-associated activities. Rocket immunoelectrophoresis was used to detect nitrate reductase cross-reacting material in the mutants. The cross-reacting material levels of the mutants ranged from 8 to 136% of the wild type and were correlated with their nitrate reductase-associated activities, except for nar 1c, which lacked all associated nitrate reductase activities but had 38% of the wild-type cross-reacting material. The cross-reacting material of two nar 1 mutants, as well as nar 2a, Xno 18, Xno 19, and Xno 29, exhibited rocket immunoprecipitates that were similar to the wild-type enzyme indicating structural homology between the mutant and wild-type nitrate reductase proteins. The cross-reacting materials of the seven remaining nar 1 alleles formed rockets only in the presence of purified wild-type nitrate reductase, suggesting structural modifications of the mutant cross-reacting materials. All nar 1 alleles and Xno 29 had xanthine dehydrogenase activity indicating the presence of functional molybdenum cofactors. These results suggest that nar 1 is the structural gene for nitrate reductase. Mutants nar 2a, Xno 18, and Xno 19 lacked xanthine dehydrogenase activity and are considered to be molybdenum cofactor deficient mutants. Cross-reacting material was not detected in uninduced wild-type or mutant extracts, suggesting that nitrate reductase is synthesized de novo in response to nitrate.
Revisiting public health programming in Nigeria: challenges and solutions

Abstract Public health programming has three main components – capacity development, service provision and documentation with monitoring. However, most funders and programmers now focus on just documentation and monitoring. In this communication, the authors extensively discuss the need for the full complement of public health programming and why it is important to restructure supportive site visits to make them both empowering and impactful to the health care workers resulting in higher quality of public health services and documentation with monitoring. The authors are of the view that following problem identification, comprehensive capacity development of field workers will engender quality service provision and appropriate documentation and monitoring.
Severe Puff Adder (Bitis arietans) Envenomation with Coagulopathy

Background: The puff adder (Bitis arietans) is a highly toxic venomous snake that is responsible for a large proportion of the venomous snakebites in sub-Saharan Africa, where it is indigenous. Puff adder bites in North America result from snakes in captivity. Although thrombolytic enzymes are present in puff adder venom, significant coagulopathy has not been previously reported with a confirmed puff adder envenomation. Results: We report a serious puff adder envenomation to the finger, characterized by severe swelling, local tissue necrosis, hypotension, thrombocytopenia, severe coagulopathy, and hemorrhage. Fifteen vials of South Africa polyvalent antivenom were administered, beginning 4.5 hours post-envenomation, with step-wise improvement in hematological abnormalities. Other treatments included vasopressors, ventilatory support, leeches, transfusion, and eventual digit amputation. After a prolonged hospital course, the patient had a good outcome. Conclusions: Puff adder envenomation causes tissue necrosis, hypotension, coagulopathy, thrombocytopenia, and spontaneous bleeding. Severe coagulopathy may occur. Physicians treating severe cases should be prepared to administer at least 15 vials of antivenom if needed.
Functional significance of four successive glycine residues in the pyrophosphate binding loop of fungal 6‐oxopurine phosphoribosyltransferases

Hypoxanthine‐guanine phosphoribosyltransferase (HGPRT) is a key enzyme of the purine recycling pathway that catalyzes the conversion of 5‐phospho‐ribosyl‐α‐1‐pyrophosphate and guanine or hypoxanthine to guanosine monophosphate (GMP) or inosine monophosphate (IMP), respectively, and pyrophosphate (PPi). We report the first crystal structure of a fungal 6‐oxopurine phosphoribosyltransferase, the Saccharomyces cerevisiae HGPRT (Sc‐HGPRT) in complex with GMP. The crystal structures of full length protein with (WT1) or without (WT2) sulfate that mimics the phosphate group in the PPi binding site were solved by molecular replacement using the structure of a truncated version (Δ7) solved beforehand by multiwavelength anomalous diffusion. Sc‐HGPRT is a dimer and adopts the overall structure of class I phosphoribosyltransferases (PRTs) with a smaller hood domain and a short two‐stranded parallel β‐sheet linking the N‐ to the C‐terminal end. The catalytic loops in WT1 and WT2 are in an open form while in Δ7, due to an inter‐subunit disulfide bridge, the catalytic loop is in either an open or closed form. The closure is concomitant with a peptide plane flipping in the PPi binding loop. Moreover, owing the flexibility of a GGGG motif conserved in fungi, all the peptide bonds of the phosphate binding loop are in trans conformation whereas in nonfungal 6‐oxopurine PRTs, one cis‐peptide bond is required for phosphate binding. Mutations affecting the enzyme activity or the previously characterized feedback inhibition by GMP are located at the nucleotide binding site and the dimer interface.
Investment Choices, and Risk-Adjusted Performance Measures with Skewness

If asset returns show multi-dimensional risks, risk-adjusted performance measures (RAPMs) should incorporate these risks. We extend the risk-adjusted performance measure theory developed by Hooker and Xiang (2007) to include multiple risks. The theory provides a form a RAPM must have. We apply the theory to infer a RAPM including skewness in individual equilibrium. On the other hand, using a three-moment asset pricing model, we derive a RAPM that comprises the skewness under market equilibrium. The RAPM is consistent with the form given in the extended RAPM theory. Both the individual and market RAPMs reflect that investors prefer a positive skew to a negative skew if everything else is equal in investments. Specially, the RAPMs are the Sharpe ratio when the return doesn’t show any skewness. This paper also provides a fundamental look between an investment choice, an asset pricing model, an individual RAPM, and a market RAPM.
Cytogenetic and molecular genetic aspects of eosinophilic leukaemias

Chronic eosinophilic leukaemia is a heterogeneous disorder, resulting from mutation in a multipotent or pluripotent stem cell. Although eosinophilic differentiation is dominant, there can also be other myeloid or even lymphoid differentiation. The best defined entities among patients with eosinophilic leukaemia are the 8p11 stem cell syndrome, and eosinophilic leukaemia associated with t(5;12) (q33;p13) and related translocations, which are associated with fusion genes involving FGFR1 and PDGFRB respectively. A variety of other karyotypic abnormalities have been described in a smaller number of patients. In addition, many patients who would previously have been designated ‘idiopathic hypereosinophilic syndrome’ can now be recognized as eosinophilic leukaemia as there is a clonal disease with a FIP1L1–PDGFRA fusion gene. Cytogenetic and molecular genetic analysis is not only important in confirming a diagnosis of eosinophilic leukaemia but is likely, in the future, to indicate optimal treatment choices; patients having PDGFRA or PDGFRB fusion genes, for example, are likely to respond to imatinib.
Stateless model checking of the Linux kernel's hierarchical read-copy-update (tree RCU)

Read-Copy-Update (RCU) is a synchronization mechanism used heavily in key components of the Linux kernel, such as the virtual filesystem (VFS), to achieve scalability by exploiting RCU's ability to allow concurrent reads and updates. RCU's design is non-trivial, requires significant effort to fully understand it, let alone become convinced that its implementation is faithful to its specification and provides its claimed properties. The fact that as time goes by Linux kernels are becoming increasingly more complex and are employed in machines with more and more cores and weak memory does not make the situation any easier. This paper presents an approach to systematically test the code of the main flavor of RCU used in the Linux kernel (Tree RCU) for concurrency errors, both under sequential consistency and weak memory. Our modeling allows Nidhugg, a stateless model checking tool, to reproduce, within seconds, safety and liveness bugs that have been reported for RCU. More importantly, we were able to verify the Grace-Period guarantee, the basic guarantee that RCU offers, on several Linux kernel versions (non-preemptible builds). Our approach is effective, both in dealing with the increased complexity of recent Linux kernels and in terms of time that the process requires. We have good reasons to believe that our effort constitutes a big step towards making tools such as Nidhugg part of the standard testing infrastructure of the Linux kernel.
Factors Contributing to Job Satisfaction among Public Primary School Teachers at Temeke Municipal Council

The purpose of this study was to assess the factors that contributing to job satisfaction among public primary school teachers at Temeke Municipal Council. The study use sample size of 105 (N=105) teachers were surveyed where teachers job satisfaction survey instrument (TJSS) were used to collect data from the respondents. These findings are both consistent and inconsistent with the previous research findings. This study was guided by three objectives which assess the environment factors, job content factors and personal factors for job satisfaction. The factors are accommodation, cooperation, recognition, employers‟ relationship, salary, rewards, bonuses, promotion, seminars and training, at Temeke Municipal Council in Tanzania. The descriptive statistics techniques revealed that teachers were satisfied with environmental factors like relationship with co workers. Conversely the teachers indicated they were dissatisfied with the job content factors like salary, benefit, rewards, promotion and training. The study of teachers‟ job satisfaction suggests there is an urgent need for government as the employer to recognize the fact that educational quality is largely related to teacher job satisfaction. This implies that teachers‟ job satisfaction is vital aspect for the country like Tanzania which is trying to fight ignorance among its citizens both qualitatively and
Explaining the duration of exchange-rate pegs in Asia

We identify factors that may explain the peg durations in nine Asian countries, via a logit model. Despite some fundamental differences between Asian and Latin American countries, our results are similar to Klein and Marion (1997) on Latin American countries. We find that the real exchange rate relative to the US, the level of international liquidity, openness of the economy and its geographical trade concentration contribute to the likelihood of a devaluation in Asian countries. However, we find no evidence that the likelihood of a devaluation in Asian countries first rises and subsequently declines during the first year of a peg.
Statistical Analysis of Readthrough Levels for Nonsense Mutations in Mammalian Cells Reveals a Major Determinant of Response to Gentamicin

The efficiency of translation termination depends on the nature of the stop codon and the surrounding nucleotides. Some molecules, such as aminoglycoside antibiotics (gentamicin), decrease termination efficiency and are currently being evaluated for diseases caused by premature termination codons. However, the readthrough response to treatment is highly variable and little is known about the rules governing readthrough level and response to aminoglycosides. In this study, we carried out in-depth statistical analysis on a very large set of nonsense mutations to decipher the elements of nucleotide context responsible for modulating readthrough levels and gentamicin response. We quantified readthrough for 66 sequences containing a stop codon, in the presence and absence of gentamicin, in cultured mammalian cells. We demonstrated that the efficiency of readthrough after treatment is determined by the complex interplay between the stop codon and a larger sequence context. There was a strong positive correlation between basal and induced readthrough levels, and a weak negative correlation between basal readthrough level and gentamicin response (i.e. the factor of increase from basal to induced readthrough levels). The identity of the stop codon did not affect the response to gentamicin treatment. In agreement with a previous report, we confirm that the presence of a cytosine in +4 position promotes higher basal and gentamicin-induced readthrough than other nucleotides. We highlight for the first time that the presence of a uracil residue immediately upstream from the stop codon is a major determinant of the response to gentamicin. Moreover, this effect was mediated by the nucleotide itself, rather than by the amino-acid or tRNA corresponding to the −1 codon. Finally, we point out that a uracil at this position associated with a cytosine at +4 results in an optimal gentamicin-induced readthrough, which is the therapeutically relevant variable.
IDENTIFICATION OF THE MINUS MATING‐TYPE SPECIFIC GENE MTD1 FROM GONIUM PECTORALE (VOLVOCALES, CHLOROPHYTA) 1

Gonium pectorale O. F. Müll. (Volvocales, Chlorophyta), a colonial 8‐ or 16‐cellular alga, is phylogenetically important as an intermediate form between isogametic unicellular Chlamydomonas and oogamous Volvox. We identified the mating‐type specific gene GpMTD1, from G. pectorale, the first homologue of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii MTD1 (CrMTD1). The GpMTD1 gene was found to be present only in the minus mating‐type locus and was expressed specifically in the gametic phase as is the case for CrMTD1, suggested to participate in development of the minus gametes. This gene is useful as a probe in analyzing the bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) library for resolving genomic structures of the mating‐type loci in isogamous and oogamous colonial volvocaleans.