Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Complex cell receptive fields: evidence for a hierarchical mechanism

Simple cells in the primary visual cortex have segregated ON and OFF subregions in their receptive fields, while complex cells have overlapping ON and OFF subregions. These two cell types form the extremes at each end of a continuum of receptive field types. Hubel and Wiesel in 1962 suggested a hierarchical scheme of processing whereby spatially offset simple cells drive complex cells. Simple and complex cells are often classified by their responses to moving sine wave gratings: simple cells have oscillatory responses while complex cells produce unmodulated responses. Here, using moving gratings as stimuli, we show that a significant number of cells that display low levels of response modulation at high contrasts demonstrate high levels of response modulation at low contrasts. Most often a drifting low contrast grating generates a large phasic response at the fundamental frequency of the grating (F1) and a smaller but significant phasic response that is approximately 180 deg out‐of‐phase with the F1 component. We present several models capable of capturing the effects of stimulus contrast on complex cell responses. The model that best reproduces our experimental results is a variation of the classical hierarchical model. In our model several spatially offset simple cells provide input to a complex cell, with each simple cell exhibiting a different contrast response function. At low contrasts only one of these simple cells is sufficiently excited to reveal its receptive field properties. As contrast is increased additional spatially offset simple cells with higher contrast thresholds add their responses to the overall spiking activity.
Crystal structure of (18-crown-6)potassium(I) [(1,2,3,4,5-η)-cycloheptadienyl][(1,2,3-η)-cycloheptatrienyl]cobalt(I)

The reaction of bis(anthracene)cobaltate(−I) with excess cycloheptatriene, C7H8, resulted in a new 18-electron cobaltate containing two different seven-membered ring ligands, based on single-crystal X-ray diffraction. This compound is of interest as the first to possess cycloheptatrienyl and cycloheptadienyl ligands in an anionic metal complex.
A qualitative analysis of explanatory models in medically unexplained physical symptoms presenting to a tertiary health care psychiatric facility in South India

Background: Knowledge about subjective perceptions and explanatory models has the potential to inform clinical evaluation and lead to development of patient-friendly treatment models in medically unexplained physical symptoms (MUPS). Aim: To collect qualitative data about explanatory models in MUPS. Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was done among patients with MUPS presenting over a 2-year period to a specialty psychosomatic clinic. The Short Explanatory Model of Illness interview was used to gather qualitative data about explanatory models which were subsequently recoded using standard manuals. Results: A total of 123 subjects were evaluated. The nature of symptoms was most commonly reported as ‘non-specific’ (n = 102, 82.9%) but of moderate to severe intensity (n = 87, 73.8%). Getting cured or showing improvement was the most common expectation from treatment (n = 58, 47.9%). Moderate to severe impact of symptoms was reported on work output (n = 100, 84%), emotional life (n = 85, 71.4%) and physical mobility (n = 59, 49.1%). A considerable proportion was either dissatisfied (n = 61, 50%) or frankly unhappy (n = 38, 31.4%) with treatment received. Conclusion: There is a need to re-calibrate the clinical approach to people with MUPS to enhance treatment satisfaction. Our findings could assist in evolving culturally sensitive conceptualizations of illness and in developing patient-centred models for therapy in MUPS patients.
Clathrin heavy chain functions in sorting and secretion of lysosomal enzymes in Dictyostelium discoideum

The clathrin heavy chain is a major component of clathrin-coated vesicles that function in selective membrane traffic in eukaryotic cells. We disrupted the clathrin heavy chain gene (chcA) in Dictyostelium discoideum to generate a stable clathrin heavy chain- deficient cell line. Measurement of pinocytosis in the clathrin-minus mutant revealed a four-to five-fold deficiency in the internalization of fluid-phase markers. Once internalized, these markers recycled to the cell surface of mutant cells at wild-type rates. We also explored the involvement of clathrin heavy chain in the trafficking of lysosomal enzymes. Pulse chase analysis revealed that clathrin-minus cells processed most alpha-mannosidase to mature forms, however, approximately 20-25% of the precursor molecules remained uncleaved, were missorted, and were rapidly secreted by the constitutive secretory pathway. The remaining intracellular alpha-mannosidase was successfully targeted to mature lysosomes. Standard secretion assays showed that the rate of secretion of alpha-mannosidase was significantly less in clathrin-minus cells compared to control cells in growth medium. Interestingly, the secretion rates of another lysosomal enzyme, acid phosphatase, were similar in clathrin-minus and wild-type cells. Like wild-type cells, clathrin-minus mutants responded to starvation conditions with increased lysosomal enzyme secretion. Our study of the mutant cells provide in vivo evidence for roles for the clathrin heavy chain in (a) the internalization of fluid from the plasma membrane; (b) sorting of hydrolase precursors from the constitutive secretory pathway to the lysosomal pathway; and (c) secretion of mature hydrolases from lysosomes to the extracellular space.
Hepatitis C Virus Genotyping: Interrogation of the 5′ Untranslated Region Cannot Accurately Distinguish Genotypes 1a and 1b

ABSTRACT Although the 5′ untranslated region (5′ UTR) is the most conserved region of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) genome, it has been suggested that interrogation of this region is sufficient for determination of the HCV genotype. We compared two methods of determination of the HCV genotype: (i) direct sequencing of the DNA of the NS-5b region and (ii) reverse line probe assay (LiPA; INNO-LiPA HCV II; Innogenetics N.V.) of the 5′ UTR. There was 100% concordance between the two methods for genotype but only 80% concordance for subtype. A significant percentage of genotype 1a isolates were misclassified by LiPA as genotype 1b. Sequence analysis revealed that the only consistent difference in the 5′ UTR for these genotype 1a isolates misclassified as genotype 1b was a single nucleotide (A/G) at position −99 of the HCV genome. All isolates with discordant results analyzed had a G at this position, consistent with LiPA determination of these samples as subtype 1b. However, sequence analysis of 222 nucleotides in the NS-5b region clearly identified all of these isolates as subtype 1a. Population distribution data from the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center of over 200 samples analyzed by sequencing of the NS-5b region and over 1,000 samples analyzed by LiPA also indicated that INNO-LiPA HCV II cannot accurately differentiate HCV genotype 1a isolates from HCV genotype 1b isolates. We provide evidence that the A/G at position −99 represents a sequence polymorphism in the HCV genome that cannot differentiate subtype 1a from subtype 1b isolates. In conclusion, the 5′ UTR is not heterogeneous enough for use in determination of the HCV subtype and cannot be used for differentiation of HCV genotypes 1a and 1b.
The Media and Sports Corruption: An Outline of Sociological Understanding

This article focuses on the role of the media in the processes of diffusion, maintenance, and undermining of corruption in sports, particularly soccer. Drawing chiefly on various illustrative examples of several recent cases of corruption and the existing academic literature on the topic, the article demonstrates how the media function as both an enemy and a facilitator of corruption in sports. Both micro- and macrosocial analytical dimensions for potential future research on the relationship between the media and corruption are proposed and discussed.
Investigating the Implementation of a MIS Strategy in an Australian SME

IT system could fulfil strategic information needs provided the right system has been selected and implemented. Very often, however, the selection is far from the ideal one: tactical considerations dictate implementation of inferior systems, which in the long run costs organisations dearly. This paper describes lessons learnt in pursuit of improving IT strategy in an Australian manufacturing company. Initially, a MIS software, called ManuSoft, was introduced primarily on ad-hoc basis. Later, its utility to management was improved with the development of 20 interface programs. The whole IT system is now under threat of being replaced by a completely new system.
A Synthesis of the Relationship of Marijuana Use with Delinquent and Problem Behaviors

Marijuana use has been identified in both the popular and scientific literatures as a primary factor leading to later delinquent and problem behaviors. In this article we use meta-analytic techniques to summarize the findings from longitudinal research on this relationship and we delineate what these studies tell us about the magnitude of their longitudinal and cross-sectional relationships. Using multiple search strategies we identified 63 reports of 30 independent longitudinal studies from which we coded 511 effect-sizes. The cross-sectional findings measured early in adolescence are the strongest; these findings generally attenuate with age. For longitudinal relationships, stronger mean correlations are observed when delinquent and problem behaviors are measured first. The general strength and pattern of findings suggest that the nature of the relationship is likely to be one of co-morbidity and not cause and effect.
Analysis of Temporal Clinical Patterns using Hidden Markov Models

Analysis of complex clinical data in Electronic Health Record (EHR) using machine learning methods may help us to better understand the dynamics of the disease and importance of various patient management interventions. In this work, we study the problem of modeling the dynamics of postsurgical cardiac patient population. Our approach relies on the hidden Markov model to model temporal dynamics, and spectral clustering methods to approximate the number of hidden states of the models. We test the methodology by applying it to analyze medication order sequences extracted from EHRs of 2,878 post surgical cardiac patients.
Different Responses of Ear and Finger Pulse Oximeter Wave Form to Cold Pressor Test

The cold pressor test is often used to assess vasoconstrictive responses because it simulates the vasoconstrictive challenges commonly encountered in the clinical setting. With IRB approval, 12 healthy volunteers, aged 25–50 yr, underwent baseline plethysmographic monitoring on the finger and ear. The contralateral hand was immersed in ice water for 30 s to elicit a systemic vasoconstrictive response while the recordings were continued. The changes in plethysmographic amplitude for the first 30 s of ice water immersion (period of maximum response) of the finger and ear were compared. The data indicate a significant disparity between the finger and the ear signals in response to the cold stimulus. The average finger plethysmographic amplitude measurement decreased by 48% ± 19%. In contrast, no significant change was seen in the ear plethysmographic amplitude measurement, which decreased by 2% ± 10%. We conclude that the ear is relatively immune to the vasoconstrictive effects. These findings suggest that the comparison of the ear and finger pulse oximeter wave forms might be used as a real-time monitor of sympathetic tone and that the ear plethysmography may be a suitable monitor of the systemic circulation.
Pairwise choice as a simple and robust method for inferring ranking data

One of the largest challenges for a recommender system is building a ranking of “quality” or “relevance” in situations where these features cannot be observed directly. These models are often trained on various types of survey data, including Likert-scale quality ratings or pairwise comparison surveys, but there has been little work detailing the efficiency of these techniques for eliciting quality ranking and a parsity of work on how to analyze and interpret pairwise choice data. We present techniques for using pairwise choice data for quality ranking and we find, under simulation, that Likert scale elicitation is more efficient under the best possible conditions but in the presence of differential item functionality (i.e., the fact that different scale points may mean different things to different people) or low quality inputs (e.g., lack of attention or understanding by survey participants or noisily measured input features) pairwise comparison becomes a more efficient survey method. We confirm this finding by using different survey techniques to infer the relevance of individuals’ Facebook News Feed stories. Pairwise choice elicitation can be finished quickly by survey participants, is easily to implement and scale, produces models with interpretable results and is robust to noise and interpretational issues. Thus, we argue, pairwise choice surveys have wide potential for application.
Fuzzy breast cancer risk assessment

A breast cancer risk assessment based on fuzzy set theory and fuzzy logic is proposed in this paper. The proposed fuzzy breast cancer system maps two controlled and two non-controlled input variables into the risk of breast cancer occurrence. Such an approach covers the age, menopause, simplified fuzzy body mass index (FBMI), and the existence of hormone replacement as input linguistic variable. The risk of a woman developing breast cancer is the outcome of the proposed fuzzy breast cancer risk analysis. The resulting fuzzy breast cancer diagnostic decision system for helping support to evaluate patients with such a clinical condition is an alternative to support healthcare professionals in such a complex health diagnosis.
Antimutagenic and Antioxidant Activities of Thai Rice Brans

Background Rice bran is the outer layer of the rice grain, and contains high amounts of bioactive phytochemicals. Here, we investigated and compared chemopreventive properties of purple and white rice bran extracts. Methods Rice bran was extracted with dichloromethane and methanol. Chemical constituents in the extracts were analyzed by colorimetric assay and high performance liquid chromatography. The mutagenicity and antimutagenicity of the extracts were determined via the Salmonella mutation assay. The anticarcinogenic enzyme induction and antioxidant activities of the extracts were examined using Hepa1c1c7 cells and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging assay, respectively. Results The methanol extracts of rice bran contained high amounts of phenolic acids, flavonoids, anthocyanins, and phytic acid, whereas large amounts of γ-oryzanol and vitamin E were presented in the dichloromethane extract. None of the extracts were mutagenic to Salmonella typhimurium. All rice bran extracts had strong antimutagenic effects against aflatoxin B1- and 2-amino-3,4-dimethylimidazo [4,5-f]quinoline-induced mutagenesis. The inhibitory effect against 2-aminofluorene-induced mutagenesis was found in the dichloromethane extract, while only the methanol extract of purple rice bran exhibited antimutagenic effects against benzo(a)pyrene. None of the extracts induced quinone reductase activity in Hepa1c1c7 cells. Additionally, the greatest antioxidant capacity was found in the methanol extract of purple rice bran. Conclusions The methanol extract of purple rice bran containing high amount of phenolic acids, flavonoids, anthocyanins, and phytic acid showed the most effective antioxidant and antimutagenic activities by inhibiting mutagenic metabolizing enzymes and/or scavenging free radicals. These results demonstrate the nutritional and medical value of Thai rice for cancer prevention.
Paisagens do despojamento cotidiano: monopolização da terra e da água em Montes de María, Colômbia

The phenomena of landgrabbing and monopolizing of water sources have gained increasing attention in recent years. Nevertheless, very few studies have dealt with the problem of the grabbing and concentration of resources from an ethnographic perspective that would make it possible to illustrate the different ways in which dispossession takes place, as well as its concrete mechanisms and effects in particular historical, geographic and political contexts. This article makes a critical contribution to the relevant literature. Based on the specific case of the area of Montes de Maria, located in the Caribbean region of Colombia, it shows how the violent forms of dispossession are produced and maintained by everyday dynamics. Through the analysis of i) the imagined geographies of the region, ii) the implementation of development projects, iii) the processes of privatization of water resources, and iv) the configuration of spaces of fear, this study illustrates how the landscapes of everyday dispossession in the region are produced. In this way, it seeks to contribute to the research on socio-environmental conflicts and to break into the narrative of post-conflict in the region.
A simple and efficient method of multipath rejection (MPR) in Multipath fading channels for location estimations

This paper proposes and evaluates a simple and efficient method to mitigate the positioning error caused by Multipath fading channels. Using geometric properties of the correlated received signals and Monte Carlo simulations, a lookup table has been developed to correct the TDOA estimation error. The performance of this multipath rejection (MPR) method has been evaluated for 3GPP wireless network standards. Simulation results show that the proposed method reduces the TDOA estimation error significantly and therefore improves the accuracy of mobile position estimation.
The effects of engineered nanoparticles on pulmonary immune homeostasis

Abstract Engineered nanoparticles (ENP), which could be composed of inorganic metals, metal oxides, metalloids, organic biodegradable and inorganic biocompatible polymers, are being used as carriers for vaccine and drug delivery. There is also increasing interest in their application as delivery agents for the treatment of a variety of lung diseases. Although many studies have shown ENP can be effectively and safely used to enhance the delivery of drugs and vaccines in the periphery, there is concern that some ENP could promote inflammation, with unknown consequences for lung immune homeostasis. In this study, we review research on the effects of ENP on lung immunity, focusing on recent studies using diverse animal models of human lung disease. We summarize how the inflammatory and immune response to ENP is influenced by the diverse biophysical and chemical characteristics of the particles including composition, size and mode of delivery. We further discuss newly described unexpected beneficial properties of ENP administered into the lung, where biocompatible polystyrene or silver nanoparticles can by themselves decrease susceptibility to allergic airways inflammation. Increasing our understanding of the differential effects of diverse types of nanoparticles on pulmonary immune homeostasis, particularly previously underappreciated beneficial outcomes, supports rational ENP translation into novel therapeutics for prevention and/or treatment of inflammatory lung disorders.
A Case of Amblyomma testudinarium Tick Bite in a Korean Woman

A case of tick bite was found in the inguinal region of a 74-year-old Korean woman. She was attacked by the tick while working in her vegetable garden in the vicinity of mountain located in Suncheon City, the southern coastal area of the Korean Peninsula. On admission she complained of mild discomfort and itching around the bite area. The causative tick was 23 mm long and had slender pedipalps. The scutum was quite ornate and had eyes at the edge. The genital aperture was located anterior to the level of the coxa II. The spiracular plate was comma-shaped and the anus was surrounded posteriorly by the anal groove. The coxa I had subequal 2 spurs; the external one slightly larger. The spur of coxa IV was slightly longer than those of coxae II and III. The tarsus IV had 2 distinct subapical ventral spurs. It was identified as the fully engorged adult female of Amblyomma testudinarium. This is the first human case of Amblyomma bite in Korea.
Photosynthetic mutants of the cyanobacteria Synechocystis sp. strains PCC 6714 and PCC 6803: sodium p-hydroxymercuribenzoate as a selective agent

Among a wide range of potential selective agents examined, sodium p-hydroxymercuribenzoate successfully enriched for mutants of Synechocystis sp. strains PCC 6714 and 6803 defective in photosynthesis. When both photosystems I and II were operating, viability of wild-type cells decreased to between 5 X 10(-5) and 1 X 10(-6) after 5 h of incubation with 500 microM p-hydroxymercuribenzoate (strain 6714), and after 8 h with 200 microM (strain 6803). Between 0.1 and 0.5% of the survivors were stable mutants defective in different steps of photosynthesis. The compound was not mutagenic. It was less toxic to cells grown chemoheterotrophically in the dark or photoheterotrophically in the presence of 3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea. p-Hydroxymercuribenzoate therefore killed only cells which were performing photosynthesis at high rates, thereby specifically selecting for mutants deficient in this process.
Ontology-driven IoT code generation for FIWARE

The Internet of Things concept is increasingly being used in projects from different areas. Often, projects encompass applications from different domains that need to share information for a common purpose. These types of systems can become complex because they involve different domains and it can be difficult to share information without misinterpreting certain information. Ontologies can be a way to describe information to be shared between different domains. The present work aims to propose a tool that facilitates the creation of Internet of Things systems using ontologies and through this model generate code automatically to pre-automate the integration of devices. A tool has been developed that facilitates the extraction of information from the ontology and it has been validated in the case study.
Theory and evidence from Israel

On the assumption that genetic inheritage and experience during adolescence influence the taste for children, the characteristics of a couple's parents may be used to improve on the explanation of fertility which can be obtained from variables that only refer to the couple itself. We find that in Israel fertility depends positively on the mother's siblings and negatively on the grandfathers' wage, but apparently does not depend on the father's sibl- ings. Since fertility also depends positively on the mother's predicted wage, the number of children is positively related to improvements in the economic achievements from one generation to the next.
Lower fiducial limit of urinary metabolite level as an index of excessive exposure to industrial chemicals

Imamura, T. , and Ikeda, M. (1973). British Journal of Industrial Medicine,30, 289-292. Lower fiducial limit of urinary metabolite level as an index of excessive exposure to industrial chemicals. Utilization of the lower fiducial limit (P = 0·10), rather than the mean, as an index of excessive exposure to industrial chemicals is discussed. Cases of exposure to trichloroethylene, phenol, and toluene are used to illustrate this approach.