Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The photocurrent, noise and spectral sensitivity of rods of the monkey Macaca fascicularis.

Visual transduction in rods of the cynomolgus monkey, Macaca fascicularis, was studied by recording membrane current from single outer segments projecting from small pieces of retina. Light flashes evoked transient outward‐going photocurrents with saturating amplitudes of up to 34 pA. A flash causing twenty to fifty photoisomerizations gave a response of half the saturating amplitude. The response‐stimulus relation was of the form 1‐e‐x where x is flash strength. The response to a dim flash usually had a time to peak of 150‐250 ms and resembled the impulse response of a series of six low‐pass filters. From the average spectral sensitivity of ten rods the rhodopsin was estimated to have a peak absorption near 491 nm. The spectral sensitivity of the rods was in good agreement with the average human scotopic visibility curve determined by Crawford (1949), when the human curve was corrected for lens absorption and self‐screening of rhodopsin. Fluctuations in the photocurrent evoked by dim lights were consistent with a quantal event about 0.7 pA in peak amplitude. A steady light causing about 100 photoisomerizations s‐1 reduced the flash sensitivity to half the dark‐adapted value. At higher background levels the rod rapidly saturated. These results support the idea that dim background light desensitizes human scotopic vision by a mechanism central to the rod outer segments while scotopic saturation may occur within the outer segments. Recovery of the photocurrent after bright flashes was marked by quantized step‐like events. The events had the properties expected if bleached rhodopsin in the disks occasionally caused an abrupt blockage of the dark current over about one‐twentieth of the length of the outer segment. It is suggested that superposition of these events after bleaching may contribute to the threshold elevation measured psychophysically. The current in darkness showed random fluctuations which disappeared in bright light. The continuous component of the noise had a variance of about 0.03 pA2 and a power spectrum that fell to half near 3 Hz. A second component, consisting of discrete events resembling single‐photon responses, was estimated to occur at a rate of 0.006 s‐1. It is suggested that the continuous component of the noise may be removed from scotopic vision by a thresholding operation near the rod output.
The association of TGFB1 genetic polymorphisms with high myopia: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE The TGFB1 gene is among the most studied genes in high myopia due to its role in scleral remodeling. But reported findings of association on TGFB1 and high myopia are inconsistent. This present study is to evaluate the association of TGFB1 polymorphisms and high myopia. METHODS A comprehensive literature search was conducted on studies published up to April 5, 2015. Summary odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals were analyzed. Heterogeneity across studies was evaluated by Cochran Q statistic test and the I(2) index. Sensitivity analyses were conducted by the approach of one-study remove to assess the influence of single study on the combined effect. RESULTS Eight studies were included in this study for meta-analysis. Rs1982073 was associated with high myopia in dominant model (OR=1.64; 95% CI=1.04~2.58; P<0.05), heterozygous model (OR=1.54; 95% CI=1.02~2.33; P<0.05), homozygous model (OR=1.90; 95% CI=1.01~3.55; P=0.05) and allelic model (OR=1.36; 95% CI=1.01~1.84; P=0.05). However, there was no statistical significance when Bonferroni correction was considered. Rs4803455 was associated with high myopia in recessive model (OR=0.40; 95% CI=0.25~0.64; P<0.01) and homozygous model (OR=0.42; 95% CI=0.26~0.68; P<0.01). Rs1800469 was associated with high myopia in allelic model (OR=0.78; 95% CI=0.64~0.96; P<0.05). And the associations can withstand Bonferroni correction in models mentioned above when referring to rs4803455 (P<0.01) and rs1800469 (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS Meta-analysis of existing data revealed a suggestive association of TGFB1 rs1982073 and rs4803455 with high myopia.
Generating Shifting Sentiment for a Conversational Agent

We investigate techniques for generating alternative output sentences with varying sentiment, using (an approximation to) the Valentino method, based on SentiWordNet, of Guerini et al. We extend this method by filtering out unacceptable candidate sentences, using bigrams sourced from different corpora to determine whether lexical substitutions are appropriate in the given context. We also compare the generated candidates against human judgements of whether the desired sentiment shift has occurred: our results suggest limitations with the overall knowledge-based approach, and we propose potential directions for improvement.
Operationalizing poverty through refined functionings A pilot study in Italy

This article is about an attempt to study poverty combining innovative and traditional way of doing it. One of the most innovative and interesting approaches in this panorama is the Capability Approach, by Nobel laureate Amartya Sen. This researcher upholds the idea that deprivation must be assessed taking into account not only goods but also individual’s role, agency and values. The main complain that has been made to Capability Approach regards its being too much theoretical and hardly described by empirical indicators. Operationalizing Sen’s Capability Approach, hence, is one of the most stimulating challenges in the recent research on poverty. Our aim was to suggest a way for “translating” into practice – namely “to operationalize” – the model of Capability Approach. As a preliminary step in the process of operationalization, we have focused on a specific dimension related to well-being and deprivation, namely sheltering, from the point of view of CA. We discuss the way we chose in operationalizing functioning of sheltering by combining material characteristics of the selected dimension (following a traditional approach) and all its surrounding aspects fulfilling individual’s wellbeing. We will also discuss the results of this process, namely the items we put into our questionnaire, and the choices we made during operationalization.
Loupe: a handheld near-eye display

Loupe is a novel interactive device with a near-eye virtual display similar to head-up display glasses that retains a handheld form factor. We present our hardware implementation and discuss our user interface that leverages Loupe's unique combination of properties. In particular, we present our input capabilities, spatial metaphor, opportunities for using the round aspect of Loupe, and our use of focal depth. We demonstrate how those capabilities come together in an example application designed to allow quick access to information feeds.
Studies on the Human Metabolism and the Toxicologic Detection of the Cough Suppressant Dropropizine in Urine Using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry

Studies are described on the metabolism and the toxicologic analysis of the nonopioid cough suppressant dropropizine [R,S-3-(4-phenyl-1-piperazinyl)1,2-propandiol, DRO] in human urine using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The metabolism studies showed that DRO was metabolized in humans mainly by hydroxylation of the aromatic ring, by N-dealkylation of the parent drug and of the hydroxyl-metabolite to the corresponding N-phenylpiperazines, and by degradation of the piperazine moiety. The authors' systematic toxicologic analysis (STA) procedure using full-scan GC-MS after acid hydrolysis, liquid-liquid extraction, and microwave-assisted acetylation allowed the unambiguous detection of DRO and its above-mentioned metabolites in human urine up to about 32 hours after intake of a single common therapeutic dose. The target analytes were found to be the parent compound DRO (earlier phase of excretion) and the hydroxylated metabolite para-hydroxy-DRO (later phase of excretion). Both allowed unambiguous detection of an intake of DRO and also differentiation from other phenylpiperazine derivatives.
Correlated memory defects and hippocampal dendritic spine loss after acute stress involve corticotropin-releasing hormone signaling

Stress affects the hippocampus, a brain region crucial for memory. In rodents, acute stress may reduce density of dendritic spines, the location of postsynaptic elements of excitatory synapses, and impair long-term potentiation and memory. Steroid stress hormones and neurotransmitters have been implicated in the underlying mechanisms, but the role of corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), a hypothalamic hormone also released during stress within hippocampus, has not been elucidated. In addition, the causal relationship of spine loss and memory defects after acute stress is unclear. We used transgenic mice that expressed YFP in hippocampal neurons and found that a 5-h stress resulted in profound loss of learning and memory. This deficit was associated with selective disruption of long-term potentiation and of dendritic spine integrity in commissural/associational pathways of hippocampal area CA3. The degree of memory deficit in individual mice correlated significantly with the reduced density of area CA3 apical dendritic spines in the same mice. Moreover, administration of the CRH receptor type 1 (CRFR1) blocker NBI 30775 directly into the brain prevented the stress-induced spine loss and restored the stress-impaired cognitive functions. We conclude that acute, hours-long stress impairs learning and memory via mechanisms that disrupt the integrity of hippocampal dendritic spines. In addition, establishing the contribution of hippocampal CRH–CRFR1 signaling to these processes highlights the complexity of the orchestrated mechanisms by which stress impacts hippocampal structure and function.
Global mapping of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 and H5Nx clade 2.3.4.4 viruses with spatial cross-validation

Global disease suitability models are essential tools to inform surveillance systems and enable early detection. We present the first global suitability model of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 and demonstrate that reliable predictions can be obtained at global scale. Best predictions are obtained using spatial predictor variables describing host distributions, rather than land use or eco-climatic spatial predictor variables, with a strong association with domestic duck and extensively raised chicken densities. Our results also support a more systematic use of spatial cross-validation in large-scale disease suitability modelling compared to standard random cross-validation that can lead to unreliable measure of extrapolation accuracy. A global suitability model of the H5 clade 2.3. 4.4 viruses, a group of viruses that recently spread extensively in Asia and the US, shows in comparison a lower spatial extrapolation capacity than the HPAI H5N1 models, with a stronger association with intensively raised chicken densities and anthropogenic factors. DOI: http://dx.doi. org/10.7554/eLife.19571. 001
Novel use of a selectable fusion gene as an “In‐Out” marker for studying genetic loss in mammalian cells

Recent demonstrations of loss of heterozygosity in a wide variety of human cancers suggest that large multilocus genetic deletions (presumably including tumor suppressor genes) constitute a major class of genetic alteration in human carcinogenesis. Here we show that a bifunctional fusion gene (Hytk), suitable for both positive and negative selection, is an effective marker for studying genetic loss in mammalian cells with minimal interference from point‐mutational changes. Studies with a transgenic V79 cell line in which a single functional copy of Hytk was stably inserted into the genome in a retroviral vector showed that loss of the marker (and presumably flanking cellular genetic material) could be induced efficiently by ionizing radiation (γ‐rays and fast neutrons) but only weakly by the powerful point‐mutagen benzo[a]pyrene diol epoxide. In a first application of the system, we provide evidence that radiation‐induced loss can occur through an indirect mechanism after a high‐frequency event. Collectively, our results suggest that the Hytk marker should be a valuable tool for studying genome position effects on the tolerance of genetic loss in cultured human cells that represent different stages in clonal evolution and tumor progression. © 1995 Wiley‐Liss Inc.
Snugglebug: a powerful approach to weakest preconditions

Symbolic analysis shows promise as a foundation for bug-finding, specification inference, verification, and test generation. This paper addresses demand-driven symbolic analysis for object-oriented programs and frameworks. Many such codes comprise large, partial programs with highly dynamic behaviors--polymorphism, reflection, and so on--posing significant scalability challenges for any static analysis. We present an approach based on interprocedural backwards propagation of weakest preconditions. We present several novel techniques to improve the efficiency of such analysis. First, we present directed call graph construction, where call graph construction and symbolic analysis are interleaved. With this technique, call graph construction is guided by constraints discovered during symbolic analysis, obviating the need for exhaustively exploring a large, conservative call graph. Second, we describe generalization, a technique that greatly increases the reusability of procedure summaries computed during interprocedural analysis. Instead of tabulating how a procedure transforms a symbolic state in its entirety, our technique tabulates how the procedure transforms only the pertinent portion of the symbolic state. Additionally, we show how integrating an inexpensive, custom logic simplifier with weakest precondition computation dramatically improves performance. We have implemented the analysis in a tool called Snugglebug and evaluated it as a bug-report feasibility checker. Our results show that the algorithmic techniques were critical for successfully analyzing large Java applications.
THE EFFECT OF FOREST FRAGMENTATION ON LYME DISEASE RISK

Unknown to the United States three decades ago, Lyme disease is now the most prevalent vectorborne disease in the country. Caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi, Lyme disease is typically transmitted to humans by the bite of a blacklegged tick (Ixodes scapularis) in the nymph stage. For this reason the density of infected nymphs is considered the most precise ecological indicator of Lyme disease risk. The white-footed mouse (Peromyscus leucopus) is the most competent reservoir for the transmission of Lyme disease to blacklegged ticks, and has been shown to reach extraordinary densities in small woodlots (<1-2 ha) created by forest fragmentation. Thus we hypothesized that Lyme disease risk would be inversely related to the area of forest patches. Forest fragments, ranging from 0.7 ha – 7.6 ha, were chosen using GIS maps of the forested cover of Dutchess County, New York, as were three continuously forested areas. Density estimates were taken by drag sampling, and infection prevalence was assessed by dissecting ticks and determining the presence or absence of Borrelia burgdorferi spirochetes. Analysis of forest fragments demonstrated a strong, inverse relationship with patch size for blacklegged nymphal tick density (R 2 = 0.51, P = 0.02, N = 14), infection prevalence (R 2 = 0.43, P = 0.011, N = 14), and their product, the density of infected nymphs (R 2 = 0.65, P = 0.01, N = 14). Larval density, on the other hand, showed no relationship with patch area (R 2 = 0.01, P = 0.78, N = 14). Multiple linear regression of the combined influence of patch area and density of larvae, for fragments only, found the density of infected nymphs to be a negative linear function of patch area (P = 0.018), but not significantly related to the density of larvae (P = 0.099) (model R 2 = 0.52). When forest fragments were combined with three continuous sites, the effect of patch area was dampened, seemingly because high larval densities in the continuous sites appeared to drive very high nymph densities. Nevertheless, infection prevalence of those nymphs was quite low compared to the small fragments, and nymph infection prevalence was, in fact, a negative exponential function of forest area for all sites (R 2 = 0.57, P < 0.0005, N = 17). These results suggest that Lyme disease risk is inversely related to forest patch area, with small patches (<1-2 ha) having higher Lyme disease risk due to higher densities of infected nymphs. Efforts to manage the spread of Lyme disease should be directed towards the prevention of the fragmentation of forests into patches of less than 1-2 ha, given that these patches appear particularly prone to high densities of infected nymphal-blacklegged ticks.
Accurate rangefinder with laser pattern shifting

In this paper, a high accuracy, high density and high speed range finding method is described. The space encoding rangefinder has error on space sampling in principle. To improve this error, we introduce pattern shifting into laser scanning rangefinder. With this method, we can detect the projected pattern edge accurately, by taking advantage of the charge storing characteristics of a CCD device. Using this method we can obtain range images more accurate than normal space encoding with little increase in the measurement time. We can control the quantity of error with changing the angle of pattern shift. The realization of this method using the laser rangefinder and the simulated results in the computer are also described.
An Adaptive Guidance System for Robotic Walking Aids

In the last years, several robotic walking aids to assist elderly users with mobility constraints and thus to react to the growing number of elderly persons in our society have been developed. In order to ensure good support for the user, the robotic walker should adapt to the motion of the user while at the same time not losing the target out of sight. Even though some of the existing active robotic walkers are able to guide their user to a target, during guidance, the input of the user is not considered sufficiently. Therefore a new adaptive guidance system for robotic walkers has been developed. It is able to lead the walking aid user to a given target while considering his inputs during guidance and adapting the path respectively. The guidance system has been implemented on the mobile robot assistant Care-O-bot II and a field test was done in an old people’s residence proving the correct function and usefulness of the guidance system.
Ordered water structure at hydrophobic graphite interfaces observed by 4D, ultrafast electron crystallography

Interfacial water has unique properties in various functions. Here, using 4-dimensional (4D), ultrafast electron crystallography with atomic-scale spatial and temporal resolution, we report study of structure and dynamics of interfacial water assembly on a hydrophobic surface. Structurally, vertically stacked bilayers on highly oriented pyrolytic graphite surface were determined to be ordered, contrary to the expectation that the strong hydrogen bonding of water on hydrophobic surfaces would dominate with suppressed interfacial order. Because of its terrace morphology, graphite plays the role of a template. The dynamics is also surprising. After the excitation of graphite by an ultrafast infrared pulse, the interfacial ice structure undergoes nonequilibrium “phase transformation” identified in the hydrogen-bond network through the observation of structural isosbestic point. We provide the time scales involved, the nature of ice-graphite structural dynamics, and relevance to properties related to confined water.
Comparison of HARP MRI Tagging Analysis and Manual Approach for Quantification of Left Ventricular Strain in Rats after Myocardial Infarction

Harmonic Phase (HARP) analysis of MR tagging was proposed for fast and automated assessment of myocardium kinematics. In this study, its outcome was evluated in a rat model of myocadial infarction with comparsion to maunally based approach. The results indicated that manual and HARP analysis exhibited a good concordance in assessing alterations in myocaridium wall motion despite the fact that the calculated strains were in different state. Manual and HARP analysis yielded similar results for assessment of the strain patterns in both control and infarct rats. Both methods detected significant changes in E2 strain after myoicardial infarction.
Scale invariant 3D multi-person tracking using a base set of bundle adjusted visual landmarks

We present a vision system for real-time 3D tracking of multiple people moving over an extended area, as seen from a rotating and zooming camera. Despite the general problems of multiple target tracking (MTT), the use of a pan-tilt-zoom (PTZ) camera adds several difficulties for the multiplicity of connected problems.
Continuous wave excitation two‐photon fluorescence microscopy exemplified with the 647‐nm ArKr laser line

We report on efficient two‐photon fluorescence imaging in beam scanning microscopy by exciting UV dyes at the 647‐nm line of a continuous wave ArKr mixed gas laser. For a numerical aperture of 1.4 (oil), we used an illumination power of up to 210 mW at the sample. High‐resolution images were obtained for DAPI‐labelled cell nuclei within 4–60 s. Our method is a simple two‐photon alternative to UV confocal imaging with the potential of becoming a very useful feature of laser scanning microscopy.
Assessment and improvement of content-based image retrieval approaches for screening mammography analysis

This study is trying to assess methods commonly used in content-based image retrieval (CBIR) for screening mammography analysis. A database consists of 20 different BI-RADS classes of mammogram patches taken from IRMA database is used in this study. Three feature extraction methods, namely grey-level co-occurrence matrix (GLCM), principal component analysis, and scale-invariant feature transform (SIFT) are being investigated through prior studies. Three retrieval methods are also studied, namely k-nearest neighbor (KNN), support vector machines (SVM), and mutual information (MI). From previous studies of those methods, we are trying to improve the CBIR approaches by combining the methods to see which one gives the better improvement. The result will be evaluated using precision and recall rate and areas under receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. The result of this study is expected to contribute more towards better Computed-Aided Diagnosis (CADx) and specifically screening mammography analysis in clinical cases.
Reducing the Number of Samples in Distributed Cooperative Solution Method for Resource Supply Networks

Distributed Constraint Optimization Problems (DCOPs) are applied to resource allocation problems in resource supply networks. In previous studies, distributed cooperative solution methods based on feeder trees have been utilized. However, in most cases with resource supply networks, the size of variable's domains in the problems is very large, since the variables originally take continuous values. This is critical even if the networks are trees because it increases the number of combinations. Therefore, sampling of solutions is necessary to restrict the size of the problems. In this study, we propose methods to reduce the number of samples for resource allocation problems of resource supply networks. To maintain the feasibility with the samples, boundaries for the resource amount and cost values were introduced. With the proposed methods, the size of problems is reduced while the methods keep relatively better feasibility and quality of the solutions.