Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Depth, Connectedness, and Structural Relevance in the Object-Superiority Effect: Line Segments are Harder to See in Flatter Patterns

A briefly flashed line can be identified more accurately when it is part of certain types of pattern than in others (the ‘object-superiority effect’). Three experiments were designed to investigate what aspects of these patterns determine the facilitatory effect of context. Subjects identified which of four line segments was present in various briefly flashed figures. Other subjects rated the figures for three-dimensionality, connectedness, and ‘structural relevance’ of the target line. Little relationship was found between connectedness ratings and accuracy in the identification task, but accuracy was highly correlated with mean depth rating (accounting for 95% of the variance) and with mean structural-relevance rating (88%). Because of the high correlation (r = 0·98) between these two judgments in the present experiments, and confounding with other stimulus variables in previously published studies, the relative importance of these two global attributes cannot yet be determined definitively (though there was some evidence that for these patterns depth judgments were primary and structural-relevance judgments derivative). A reexamination of pertinent research suggests that comparisons between well-matched stimuli (as in the object-superiority effect) are likely to be more robust and informative than comparisons between lines alone and in context (the ‘object-line effect’).
Comparison of a picture-sort food-frequency questionnaire with 24-hour dietary recalls in an elderly Utah population

Abstract Objective: To evaluate the 137-item Utah Picture-sort Food-frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) in the measurement of usual dietary intake in older adults. Design: The picture-sort FFQ was administered at baseline and again one year later. Three seasonal 24-hour dietary recall interviews were collected during the year between the two FFQs. Mean nutrient intakes were compared between methods and between administrations of the FFQ. Setting: The FFQ interviews were administered in respondents' homes or care-centres. The 24-hour diet recalls were conducted by telephone interview on random days of the week. Subjects: Two-hundred-and-eight men and women aged 55–84 years were recruited by random sample of controls from a case–control study of nutrition and bone health in Utah. Results: After adjustment for total energy intake, median Spearman rank correlation coefficients between the two picture-sort FFQs were 0.69 for men aged ≤69 years, 0.66 for men aged >69 years; and 0.68 for women aged ≤69 years, 0.67 for women aged >69 years. Median correlation coefficients between methods were 0.50 for men ≤69 years old, 0.52 for men >69 years old; 0.55 for women ≤69 years old, 0.46 for women >69 years old. Conclusions: We report intake correlations between methods and administrations comparable to those reported in the literature for traditional paper-and-pencil FFQs and one other picture-sort method of FFQ. This dietary assessment method may improve ease and accuracy of response in this and other populations with low literacy levels, poor memory skill, impaired hearing, or poor vision.
Interaction between Cell Division Proteins FtsE and FtsZ

ABSTRACT FtsE and FtsX, which are widely conserved homologs of ABC transporters and interact with each other, have important but unknown functions in bacterial cell division. Coimmunoprecipitation of Escherichia coli cell extracts revealed that a functional FLAG-tagged version of FtsE, the putative ATP-binding component, interacts with FtsZ, the bacterial tubulin homolog required to assemble the cytokinetic Z ring and recruit the components of the divisome. This interaction is independent of FtsX, the predicted membrane component of the ABC transporter, which has been shown previously to interact with FtsE. The interaction also occurred independently of FtsA or ZipA, two other E. coli cell division proteins that interact with FtsZ. In addition, FtsZ copurified with FLAG-FtsE. Surprisingly, the conserved C-terminal tail of FtsZ, which interacts with other cell division proteins, such as FtsA and ZipA, was dispensable for interaction with FtsE. In support of a direct interaction with FtsZ, targeting of a green fluorescent protein (GFP)-FtsE fusion to Z rings required FtsZ, but not FtsA. Although GFP-FtsE failed to target Z rings in the absence of ZipA, its localization was restored in the presence of the ftsA* bypass suppressor, indicating that the requirement for ZipA is indirect. Coexpression of FLAG-FtsE and FtsX under certain conditions resulted in efficient formation of minicells, also consistent with an FtsE-FtsZ interaction and with the idea that FtsE and FtsX regulate the activity of the divisome.
microRNA complements in deuterostomes: origin and evolution of microRNAs

SUMMARY Although numerous studies have emphasized the role of microRNAs (miRNAs) in the control of many different cellular processes, they might also exert a profound effect on the macroevolution of animal body plans. It has been hypothesized that, because miRNAs increase genic precision and are continuously being added to metazoan genomes through geologic time, miRNAs might be instrumental for canalization of development and morphological evolution. Nonetheless, an outstanding question remains: how are new miRNAs constantly evolving? To address this question, we assessed the miRNA complements of four deuterostome species, chosen because of their sequenced genomes and well‐resolved phylogeny. Our comparative analysis shows that each of these four species is characterized by a unique repertoire of miRNAs, with few instances of miRNA loss. Moreover, we find that almost half of the miRNAs identified in this study are located in intronic regions of protein coding genes, suggesting that new miRNAs might arise from intronic regions in a process we term intronic exaptation. We also show that miRNAs often occur within cotranscribed clusters, and describe the biological function of one of these conserved clusters, the miR‐1/miR‐133 cluster. Taken together, our work shows that miRNAs can easily emerge within already transcribed regions of DNA, whether it be introns or preexisting clusters of miRNAs and/or miRNAs and protein coding genes, and because of their regulatory roles, these novel players change the structure of gene regulatory networks, with potential macroevolutionary results.
Parental Leave: The Need for a National Policy to Foster Sexual Equality

Abstract Working women are without substantial protection from the ramifications of pregnancy discrimination, and the opportunities for working men to take leave from work to participate in child care are limited. Recently, private businesses have begun implementing maternity or parental leave policies to address these problems. These policies are inconsistent, however, and a national parental leave program is needed to help women attain equal access to jobs and to provide men with the opportunity to participate in child care. This Note examines the historical background of pregnancy discrimination litigation and legislation, and highlights the gaps in the protection currently afforded women. It suggests that a federal parental leave policy may expand the scope of this protection, and attempts to gain insight and draw conclusions from analogous parental leave programs in foreign countries which may be used as models for a national program in the U.S. Such a program would benefit parents, children, and society by removing some of the obstacles to sexual equality.
Comparison of a New Multiplex Binding Assay versus the Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay for Measurement of Serotype-Specific Pneumococcal Capsular Polysaccharide IgG

ABSTRACT The measurement of serotype-specific anti-capsular polysaccharide antibodies remains the mainstay of pneumococcal (Pn) vaccine evaluation. New methods that allow the simultaneous measurement of antibodies to several antigens in small volumes of serum, and that agree well with existing techniques, are urgently required to support the increasing number of concomitant vaccines delivered in the infant immunization schedules and the use of extended-valency Pn vaccines. We therefore compared a relatively new multiplexed platform for measuring anti-Pn antibodies with the existing WHO consensus enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). A panel of 50 pediatric samples (34 collected after receipt of a heptavalent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine [PCV7] and 16 without PCV7) was analyzed across two different laboratories using a new multiplex electrochemiluminescence (ECL)-based detection assay developed for the quantitation of IgG serotype-specific antipneumococcal antibodies, and the results were compared to those obtained using the WHO consensus ELISA. For the seven serotypes measured, there was good agreement between the techniques and laboratories. The most notable difference was found between the ECL assay and the ELISA: concentrations tended to be higher in the ECL assay. For serotypes 6B, 9V, 18C, and 23F, the average increases in concentration ranged from 48 to 102%. However, the agreement rates on the proportions of samples with concentrations surrounding 0.35 μg/ml were >82% for all serotypes tested. Agreement between the two laboratories running the ECL assay was generally good: agreement on proportions of samples with concentrations surrounding 0.35 μg/ml was in excess of 92%, and agreement on average antibody concentrations was within 31%. We conclude that the Meso Scale Discovery (MSD) platform provides a promising new technique for the simultaneous measurement of antipneumococcal antibodies.
Money Supply, Banking Liquidity and Stock Index Returns: Evidence fromFour Major Capital Markets

Prior studies that have examined the drivers of stock returns have mostly focussed on firm-specific factors. However, King demonstrated that firm-specific factors explain only 38% of the variation in stock prices, while the dominant driver was macroeconomic factors (52%) with industry-related factors accounting for the remaining 10% of stock price variation. Against this background, the present study, to our knowledge, is the first attempt to model Friedman's still-unproven money-supply led banking liquidity effect and the subsequent effect on stock prices, that will be represented as stock index returns in this study. We, thereafter, proceed to build a model to connect money supply and banking liquidity to overall stock index returns. For the purpose, we apply a system of equations, and use quarterly macroeconomic data series of G-4 countries (Canada, Japan, the UK, and the US) covering a 54-year period. We control for monetary regime changes such as a shift from monetary targeting to inflation targeting, structural breaks following the global financial crisis (GFC) and monetary policy changes. To test robustness of our findings, we provide causality tests linking money supply to liquidity as well as stock index returns and earnings before applying bootstrapping method to refine the parameter estimates.
Protein Kinase Cα-RhoA Cross-talk in CCL2-induced Alterations in Brain Endothelial Permeability*

Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1 or CCL2) regulates blood-brain barrier permeability by inducing morphological and biochemical alterations in the tight junction (TJ) complex between brain endothelial cells. The present study used cultured brain endothelial cells to examine the signaling networks involved in the redistribution of TJ proteins (occludin, ZO-1, ZO-2, claudin-5) by CCL2. The CCL2-induced alterations in the brain endothelial barrier were associated with de novo Ser/Thr phosphorylation of occludin, ZO-1, ZO-2, and claudin-5. The phosphorylated TJ proteins were redistributed/localized in Triton X-100-soluble as well as Triton X-100-insoluble cell fractions. Two protein kinase C (PKC) isoforms, PKCα and PKCζ, had a significant impact on this event. Inhibition of their activity using dominant negative mutants PKCα-DN and PKCζ-DN diminished CCL2 effects on brain endothelial permeability. Previous data indicate that Rho/Rho kinase signaling is involved in CCL2 regulation of brain endothelial permeability. The interactions between the PKC and Rho/Rho kinase pathways were therefore examined. Rho, PKCα, and PKCζ activities were knocked down using dominant negative mutants (T17Rho, PKCα-DN, and PKCζ-DN, respectively). PKCα and Rho, but not PKCζ and Rho, interacted at the level of Rho, with PKCα being a downstream target for Rho. Double transfection experiments using dominant negative mutants confirmed that this interaction is critical for CCL2-induced redistribution of TJ proteins. Collectively these data suggest for the first time that CCL2 induces brain endothelial hyperpermeability via Rho/PKCα signal pathway interactions.
Can Volume Predict Bitcoin Returns and Volatility? A Nonparametric Causality-in-Quantiles Approach

The objective of this paper is to employ the recently proposed nonparametric causality-in-quantiles test to analyse the predictability of returns and volatility of Bitcoin over the daily period of 19th December, 2011 to 25th April, 2016, based on information provided by traded volume. The causality-in-quantile approach allows us to test for not only causality-in-mean, but also causality that may exist in the tails of the joint distribution of the variables. In addition, we are also able to investigate causality-in-variance (volatility spillovers) when causality in the conditional-mean may not exist, yet higher order interdependencies might emerge. We motivate our analysis by employing tests for nonlinearity. These tests detect nonlinearity, as well as the existence of structural breaks in the Bitcoin returns, and in its relationship with volume, implying that the Granger causality tests based on a linear framework is likely to suffer from misspecification. Unlike the result of no predictability obtained under the misspecified linear set-up, our nonparametric causality-in-quantiles test indicated that volume predicts returns over the quantile range of 0.25 to 0.75, i.e., barring in the bear and bull regimes of the Bitcoin market. However, we could not detect any evidence of predictability emanating from volume for the volatility of Bitcoin returns at any point of the conditional distribution. Our results highlight the importance of our detecting and modeling nonlinearity when analyzing causal relationships between volume and return in the Bitcoin market.
Grasping Force Control in consideration of Translational and Rotational Slippage by a Flexible Sensor

This paper addresses the issue of translational and rotational slippage that occurs when a robot hand grasps an object. To grasp an object against each directional slippage is an important task. In this study, to deal with rotational slippage, a contact area between a flexible contact sensor which is mounted on the robot hand and the object is considered. A sufficient condition for grasping an object against translational and rotational slippage is derived on condition that no additional sensors, such as tactile sensors, are required. An effectiveness of the condition is confirmed by a grasping experiment with the use of a translational gripper where the flexible contact sensor is mounted
Knowledge and attitudes of undergraduate medical and non-medical students in Sultan Qaboos University toward acquired immune deficiency syndrome.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the knowledge, attitudes and beliefs of Omani medical and non-medical students in Sultan Qaboos University (SQU), toward acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). METHODS A structured questionnaire of 40 different statements concerning basic knowledge of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), its modes of transmission, diagnosis, risk behaviors, prevention, treatment, beliefs as well as attitudes towards AIDS patients were distributed to 200 students (109 females and 91 males). One hundred and sixteen were pre-clinical students and 84 were non-medical students. This study was carried out during the period October 2001 through to June 2002. RESULTS Most of the students (94%) were aware that HIV is a life-long infection and 93% think that it is preventable. No available vaccine is appreciated by medical more than the non-medical students. However, 46% of students believed that donating blood could lead to transmission of HIV. Students or colleagues with the HIV infection attending the same classroom and working place were accepted by 55% of medical and 53% of non-medical students. However, most students (65.4%) did hesitate to take care of an AIDS patient. CONCLUSION Although most students showed reasonable knowledge regarding transmission, risk behaviors and prevention, misconceptions regarding the attitudes reflects a false perception of the disease among those students. This calls for well-structured health education programs stressing on such misconceptions.
A Comparison of Cerebrospinal Fluid and Plasma Urotensin II Concentrations in Normotensive and Hypertensive Patients Undergoing Urological Surgery During Spinal Anesthesia: A Pilot Study

Urotensin II is a novel endogenous vasoconstrictor. There are no data describing cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) concentrations in humans. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to quantify and compare plasma and CSF urotensin II concentrations in patients with essential hypertension and matched controls. Twenty male patients (10 receiving >6 mo of treatment for essential hypertension and 10 normotensive controls scheduled to undergo urological surgery under spinal anesthesia) were recruited into this single-blinded cohort study. Plasma and CSF urotensin II concentrations were measured by radioimmunoassay, along with mean arterial blood pressure (MAP), before admission, on the day of admission, and immediately before anesthesia. CSF and plasma urotensin II concentrations were low. Median (range) values in CSF for all 20 patients were significantly lower than plasma by ∼15% (19.0 pg/mL [10.6–24.9 pg/mL] compared with 22.3 pg/mL [17.7–28.4 pg/mL]; P = 0.004). There were no significant differences between normotensive and hypertensive patients in either CSF or plasma concentrations. However, there was a significant positive correlation between average MAP and CSF urotensin II concentrations (r2 = 0.44; P = 0.036) in the hypertensive group.
Computation of empirical eigenfunctions of parabolic PDEs with time-varying domain

In this work, we explore a methodology to compute the empirical eigenfunctions for the order-reduction of nonlinear parabolic partial differential equations (PDEs) system with time-varying domain. The idea behind this method is to obtain the mapping functional, which relates the time-evolution scalar physical property solution ensemble of the nonlinear parabolic PDE with the time-varying domain to a fixed reference domain, while preserving space invariant properties of the raw solution ensemble. Subsequently, the Karhunen-Lo'eve decomposition is applied to the solution ensemble with fixed spatial domain resulting in a set of optimal eigenfunctions that capture the most energy of data. Further, the low dimensional set of empirical eigenfunctions is mapped (“pushed-back”) on the time-varying domain by an appropriate mapping resulting in the basis for the construction of the reduced-order model of the parabolic PDEs with time-varying domain. Finally, this methodology is applied in the representative cases of calculation of empirical eigenfunctions in the case of one and two dimensional model of nonlinear reaction-diffusion parabolic PDE systems with analytically defined domain evolutions. In particular, the design of both mappings which relate the raw data and function spaces transformations from the time-varying to time-invariant domain are designed to preserve dynamic features of the scalar physical property and we provide comparisons among reduced and high order fidelity models.
Dipole‐Source Analysis in a Realistic Head Model in Patients with Focal Epilepsy

Summary: Purpose: By the use of three different head models in EEG dipole analysis, we tried to model the origin of interictal and ictal epileptic activity as precisely as possible. Further, as a control, a second evaluation was made by an independent group to control for interindividual reliability of the dipole source analysis. With the realistic head model (CURRY) considering cortex, skull, and skin segmentation, the spike source was located.
HER dimerization inhibitors: developing pertuzumab as an anticancer agent in women's oncology

Background: Pertuzumab is a novel monoclonal antibody that blocks the dimerization domain of the human epidermal growth factor receptor (HER)-2/neu receptor, disabling its ability to form heterodimers with the other members of its family. Objective: We review the background and scientific rationale, but more specifically cover current clinical trial outcomes of pertuzumab in solid tumors, with an emphasis on the work completed in women's cancers. Methods: Clinical trial results published or presented at national meetings are included in this review. Results: Pertuzumab shows promising activity with trastuzumab in the treatment of metastatic breast cancer. The results in ovarian cancer have been limited thus far but a post hoc analysis of the results of a completed randomized Phase II trial of gemcitabine with or without pertuzumab suggests that low HER3 levels may mark a group of women who may benefit from the addition of pertuzumab to chemotherapy. Conclusions: The efficacy of pertuzumab independent of HER-2/neu overexpression remains under investigation. Still, the benefits seen in HER-2/neu positive breast cancer is encouraging. Work in ovarian cancer remains preliminary but the possibility of using pertuzumab in a targeted population with low HER3 levels warrants further evaluation.
Solving path planning problem based on ant colony algorithm

Ant colony algorithm as a new heuristic optimization algorithm, with distributed computing, information positive feedback, and heuristic search features, in solving a variety of combinatorial optimization problems has been widely used. In this paper, with restrictions, to any matter required multi-objective path planning problem using ant colony algorithm for path optimization, the ant colony system is relatively ant system improvements, based on ant colony algorithm path planning problem and pheromone updating the model were established. Simulation results show that ant colony algorithm has strong global search capability, search speed, and better use of the optimal path and a priori knowledge that can effectively overcome the basic ant colony algorithm to learn early stagnation phenomenon, easily with other methods combined beneficial practical application.