Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Configural and Featural Discriminations Use the Same Spatial Frequencies: A Model Observer versus Human Observer Analysis

Previous work has shown mixed results regarding the role of different spatial frequency (SF) ranges in featural and configural processing of faces. Some studies suggest no special role of any given band for either type of processing, while others suggest that low SFs principally support configural analysis. Here we attempt to put this issue on a more rigorous footing by comparing human performance when making featural and configural discriminations with that of a model observer algorithm carrying out the same task. The model uses a simple algorithm that calculates the dot product of a stimulus image with each available potential match image to find the maximally likely match. It thus provides a principled way of analyzing available image information. We find human accuracy peaks at around 10 cycles per face (cpf) regardless of whether featural or configural manipulations are being detected. We also find accuracy peaks in the same part of the spectrum regardless of which feature is manipulated (ie eyes, nose, or mouth). Conversely, model observer performance, measured in terms of white noise tolerance, peaks at approximately 5 cpf, and this value again remains roughly constant regardless of the type of manipulation and feature manipulated. The ratio of the model's noise tolerance to a derived equivalent noise tolerance value for humans peaks at around 10 cpf, similar to the accuracy data. These results provide evidence that the human performance maxima at 10 cpf are not due simply to the physical characteristics of face stimuli, but rather arise due to an interaction between the available information in face images and human perceptual processing.
Global financial meltdown : what went wrong, what is still going wrong and what the consequences will be

Current international financial crisis of apparently unprecedented scale (ever since the Great Depression of 1929) could have been spotted from afar and should have been nipped into a bud as early as in 2002! Global political and financial elites are not unable to find the solution to it, they are simply unwilling to identify the problem. The IMF and the BIS once again proved to be useless in their own professional backyard, since it was and still is politically incorrect and financially unremunerative to do so. Crisis has been amplified by sky-rocketing food and oil prices, lax regulation of credit derivatives and cheap-money policy worldwide, but essential culprit of this latest global distress is the greed of the international financial community that spawned fancy asset-backed securitized monsters, which came in too many guises and ultimately got out of hand. Financial mutation brought about jitters of illiquidity across the industry and likely return of depression economics. The paper deals with ill-suited handling of the crisis and probably dire consequences for both the present financial architecture in the economic centres and the future of developing countries at the periphery.
How WM Load Influences Linguistic Processing in Adults: A Computational Model of Pronoun Interpretation in Discourse

This paper presents a study of the effect of working memory load on the interpretation of pronouns in different discourse contexts: stories with and without a topic shift. We discuss a computational model (in ACT-R, Anderson, 2007) to explain how referring expressions are acquired and used. On the basis of simulations of this model, it is predicted that WM constraints only affect adults' pronoun resolution in stories with a topic shift, but not in stories without a topic shift. This latter prediction was tested in an experiment. The results of this experiment confirm that WM load reduces adults' sensitivity to discourse cues signaling a topic shift, thus influencing their interpretation of subsequent pronouns.
Predictors of Investment Expenditure from Foreign Remittances in the Sylhet Region of Bangladesh: A Household-Level Analysis

Remittances, the most explicit outcome of international migration, play a vital role in the socioeconomic development of Bangladesh. The optimum allocation of these scarce resources is of utmost importance for intergenerational consumption smoothing. This study explores the household-level factors of spending remittances in different investment sectors. The study uses a primary dataset from a field survey covering 500 migrant and 250 non-migrant households from 30 clusters of the Sylhet region of Bangladesh. Results indicate that total household income, ownership of residence, asset score, operative land, household size and economic dependency ratio are the significant determinants for investment in an absolute sense. The models for identifying the predictors in different investment sectors suggest that household income, ownership of residence, asset score, education of the household head and household size are common determinants for all the sectors. Substantial investments in different sectors may be determined by several predictors, such as household income, ownership of residence, asset score, education of household head and household size.
Super-resolution ribosome profiling reveals unannotated translation events in Arabidopsis

Significance Translation is the process by which ribosomes decode information in RNA to produce proteins. The resulting proteins constitute cellular structures and regulate diverse functions in all organisms. Translation also affects mRNA stability. As the final step of the central dogma, translation can alter protein production more rapidly than transcription in a changing environment. However, a robust experimental method to define the landscape of the translatome has not been established in many organisms. We developed an advanced experimental approach and used it to discover proteins missed in the annotation of the Arabidopsis genome. This study confirmed computationally predicted noncanonical translation events and uncovered unannotated small proteins that likely have important functions in plants. Deep sequencing of ribosome footprints (ribosome profiling) maps and quantifies mRNA translation. Because ribosomes decode mRNA every 3 nt, the periodic property of ribosome footprints could be used to identify novel translated ORFs. However, due to the limited resolution of existing methods, the 3-nt periodicity is observed mostly in a global analysis, but not in individual transcripts. Here, we report a protocol applied to Arabidopsis that maps over 90% of the footprints to the main reading frame and thus offers super-resolution profiles for individual transcripts to precisely define translated regions. The resulting data not only support many annotated and predicted noncanonical translation events but also uncover small ORFs in annotated noncoding RNAs and pseudogenes. A substantial number of these unannotated ORFs are evolutionarily conserved, and some produce stable proteins. Thus, our study provides a valuable resource for plant genomics and an efficient optimization strategy for ribosome profiling in other organisms.
Ceftobiprole medocaril (BAL-5788) for the treatment of complicated skin infections

ABSTRACT Introduction: With resistance of S. aureus, the most prevalent identified pathogen in skin and soft tissue infections, on the rise, the need for safe, effective, and well-tolerated antibiotics is crucial. Ceftobiprole medocaril (BAL-5788), ceftobiprole’s parenteral prodrug, is a bactericidal cephalosporin with broad Gram-positive and Gram-negative activity that has shown to be well-tolerated and noninferior to vancomycin and vancomycin plus ceftazidime in the treatment of MRSA complicated skin and skin structure infections (cSSSIs) in clinical trials. Areas covered: This article overviews ceftobiprole medocaril’s use for cSSSI, with specific focus on clinical efficacy and safety data in addition to summary information on its basic chemistry, microbiological profile, and pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic relationships supporting its use in cSSSIs. Information sources include peer-reviewed scientific literature, conference proceedings, publically available regulatory reports, as well as information from the drug sponsor’s website. Expert commentary: With increasing antibiotic resistance, safe, effective antibiotics agents are a welcome sight. There has been clinical evidence in support of using ceftobiprole for treatment of Gram-positive and -negative infections, including MRSA and susceptible P. aeruginosa. This broad antimicrobial activity might allow ceftobiprole to be an alternative to dual therapy combinations when potential drug toxicities, drug-drug or drug-disease interactions are concerns for other agents.
The evolutionary and clinical implications of the uneven distribution of the frequency of the inherited haemoglobin variants over short geographical distances

Studies of the frequency of heterozygous carriers for common inherited diseases of haemoglobin in over 7500 adolescent children in 25 districts in Sri Lanka have disclosed a highly significant variation over very short geographical distances. A further analysis of these findings, including their relationship to the past frequency and distribution of malaria, climatic variation, altitude, ethnic origin and consanguinity rates, have provided evidence regarding the evolutionary basis for the variable distribution of these conditions over short distances. It is likely that the complex interplay between malaria and the environment, together with related ethnic and social issues, exists in many countries across the tropical belt. Hence, these observations emphasise the importance of micromapping heterozygote distributions in high‐frequency countries in order to define their true burden and the facilities required for the prevention and management of the homozygous and compound heterozygous disorders that result from their interaction.
Modulation of Intracellular Cyclic AMP Levels by Different Human Dopamine D4 Receptor Variants

Abstract: To investigate whether polymorphic forms of the human dopamine D4 receptor have different functional characteristics, we have stably expressed cDNAs of the D4.2, D4.4, and D4.7 isoforms in several cell lines. Chinese hamster ovary CHO‐K1 cell lines expressing D4 receptor variants displayed pharmacological profiles that were in close agreement with previous data from transiently expressed D4 receptors in COS‐7 cells. Dopamine stimulation of the D4 receptors resulted in a concentration‐dependent inhibition of the forskolin‐stimulated cyclic AMP (cAMP) levels. The potency of dopamine to inhibit cAMP formation was about twofold reduced for D4.7 (EC50 of ∼37 nM) compared with the D4.2 and D4.4 variants (EC50 of ∼16 nM). Antagonists block the dopamine‐mediated inhibition of cAMP formation with a rank order of potency of emonapride > haloperidol = clozapine ≫ raclopride. There was no obvious correlation between the efficacy of inhibition of forskolin‐stimulated cAMP levels and the D4 subtypes. Dopamine could completely reverse prostaglandin E2‐stimulated cAMP levels for all three D4 receptor variants. Deletion of the repeat sequence does not affect functional activity of the receptor. The data presented indicate that the polymorphic repeat sequence causes only small changes in the ability of the D4 receptor to block cAMP production in CHO cells.
Convergent validity of stated preference methods to estimate willingness-to-pay for seafood traceability: The case of Gulf of Mexico oysters

In this study we compare willingness to pay for a seafood traceability system form contingent behavior demand and contingent valuation referendum vote models using data from a survey of Gulf of Mexico oyster consumers following the BP oil spill in 2010. We estimate a fixed effects model of oyster demand using contingent behavior data and find that a traceability program increases demand and consumer surplus. We estimate a referendum model for the seafood traceability program using contingent valuation data. We find that welfare estimates from the contingent behavior and contingent valuation methods are convergent valid under certain conditions. Key Words:
Effect of Coronary Perfusion of Heptanol on Conduction and Ventricular Arrhythmias in Infarcted Canine Myocardium

Effect of Heptanol in Healed Infarction. Introduction: Abnormal cellular coupling is a major constituent of the slow, dissociated conduction that supports ventricular tachycardia (VT) following myocardial infarction. Agents that modulate cellular coupling may exert either proarrhythmic or antiarrhythmic effects.
Breast imaging of the pregnant and lactating patient: physiologic changes and common benign entities.

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this article is to review key clinical, histologic, and imaging features of expected physiologic changes within the breast and common benign breast disease in the pregnant and lactating patient. CONCLUSION A thorough understanding of expected physiologic changes and common benign breast abnormalities of pregnancy and lactation is required to differentiate these entities from pregnancy-associated breast cancer and to appropriately guide patient management.
Endobronchial ultrasonography with guide sheath versus computed tomography guided transthoracic needle biopsy for peripheral pulmonary lesions: a propensity score matched analysis.

BACKGROUND Computed tomography guided transthoracic needle aspiration (CT-TTNA) and endobronchial ultrasonography with guide sheath (EBUS-GS) transbronchial lung biopsy are important methods for the diagnosis of peripheral pulmonary lesions (PPLs). Without enough evidence, it is controversial which is a better choice for diagnosing PPLs. In this study, we hypothesized that the complication rate of EBUS-GS would be lower than CT-TTNA and the diagnostic accuracy of EBUS-GS were not inferior to CT-TTNA. METHODS This study was a retrospective analysis of a prospective registry with propensity matching. Patients with PPLs were divided into EBUS-GS group and CT-TTNA group according to patients' intent to treatment. Pathological results and procedure related complications of EBUS-GS and CT-TTNA were recorded. Propensity score matching(PSM) was used to eliminate the intergroup bias. Diagnostic yields and complications of two groups were compared. Subgroup analysis was performed to conclude the indications of different procedures. RESULTS A total of 187 patients (CT-TTNA: 130; EBUS-GS: 57) were enrolled. After propensity score matching, 54 paired patients were included. Diagnostic yield was 81% (44/54) for EBUS-GS and 87% (47/54) for CT-TTNA (P=0.43), respectively. Diagnostic sensitivity in malignancy was 93% (42/45) for CT-TTNA and 79% (37/47) for EUBS-GS (P=0.04). Subgroup analysis revealed that the sensitivity of CT-TTNA was significantly higher in diagnosing of lesions close to the chest wall (100% vs. 80%, P=0.04), and bronchus sign on CT was a predictive factor for accurate diagnosis by EBUS-GS. The overall complication rate was 13% (7/54) for CT-TTNA group, which was not significantly higher than that of EBUS-GS group (2%, P=0.06). Subgroup analysis showed that patients combined with pulmonary comorbidities and lesions apart from chest wall were risk factors for complications of CT-TTNA. CONCLUSIONS Both of the two procedures are effective for the diagnosis of PPLs, but CT-TTNA has a higher diagnostic sensitivity for malignancy. EBUS-GS has fewer complications, and it is more suitable for patients combined with pulmonary comorbidities and lesions with bronchus signs.
Expression and Immunogenicity of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Gag Expressed by a Replication-Competent Rhabdovirus-Based Vaccine Vector

ABSTRACT A replication-competent rhabdovirus-based vector expressing human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) Gag protein was characterized on human cell lines and analyzed for the induction of a cellular immune response in mice. We previously described a rabies virus (RV) vaccine strain-based vector expressing HIV-1 gp160. The recombinant RV was able to induce strong humoral and cellular immune responses against the HIV-1 envelope protein in mice (M. J. Schnell et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 97:3544–3549, 2000; J. P. McGettigan et al., J. Virol. 75:4430–4434, 2001). Recent research suggests that the HIV-1 Gag protein is another important target for cell-mediated host immune defense. Here we show that HIV-1 Gag can efficiently be expressed by RV on both human and nonhuman cell lines. Infection of HeLa cells with recombinant RV expressing HIV-1 Gag resulted in efficient expression of HIV-1 precursor protein p55 as indicated by both immunostaining and Western blotting. Moreover, HIV-1 p24 antigen capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and electron microscopy showed efficient release of HIV-1 virus-like particles in addition to bullet-shaped RV particles in the supernatants of the infected cells. To initially screen the immunogenicity of this new vaccine vector, BALB/c mice received a single vaccination with the recombinant RV expressing HIV-1 Gag. Immunized mice developed a vigorous CD8+ cytotoxic T-lymphocyte response against HIV-1 Gag. In addition, 26.8% of CD8+T cells from mice immunized with RV expressing HIV-1 Gag produced gamma interferon after challenge with a recombinant vaccinia virus expressing HIV-1 Gag. These results further confirm and extend the potency of RV-based vectors as a potential HIV-1 vaccine.
Aging of Microstructural Compartments in Human Compact Bone

Composition of microstructural compartments in compact bone of aging male subjects was assessed using Raman microscopy. Secondary mineralization of unremodeled fragments persisted for two decades. Replacement of these tissue fragments with secondary osteons kept mean composition constant over age, but at a fully mineralized limit. Slowing of remodeling may increase fracture susceptibility through an increase in proportion of highly mineralized tissue.
Anti-Clumping Factor A Immunoglobulin Reduces the Duration of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Bacteremia in an Experimental Model of Infective Endocarditis

ABSTRACT SA-IGIV is a human polyclonal immunoglobulin containing elevated levels of antibodies specific for the fibrinogen-binding MSCRAMM protein clumping factor A (ClfA). In vitro, SA-IGIV specifically recognized ClfA that was expressed on the surface of Staphylococcus aureus and inhibited bacterial adherence to immobilized human fibrinogen by >95%. Moreover, SA-IGIV efficiently opsonized ClfA-coated fluorescent beads and facilitated phagocytosis by human polymorphonuclear leukocytes. To determine its potential therapeutic efficacy, SA-IGIV was evaluated in combination with vancomycin in a rabbit model of catheter-induced aortic valve infective endocarditis (IE) caused by methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA). The combination therapy was more effective than vancomycin alone in sterilizing all valvular vegetations when used therapeutically during early (12-h) IE. The combination therapy resulted in clearance of bacteremia that was significantly faster than that of vancomycin alone in animals with well-established (24-h) IE. Therefore, in both early and well-established MRSA IE, the addition of SA-IGIV to a standard antibiotic regimen (vancomycin) increased bacterial clearance from the bloodstream and/or vegetations.
Plc1p, Arg82p, and Kcs1p, Enzymes Involved in Inositol Pyrophosphate Synthesis, Are Essential for Phosphate Regulation and Polyphosphate Accumulation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae*

In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the phosphate signal transduction PHO pathway is involved in regulating several phosphate-responsive genes such as PHO5, which encodes repressible acid phosphatase. In this pathway, a cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor (Pho81p) regulates the kinase activity of the cyclin-cyclin-dependent kinase complex Pho80p-Pho85p, which phosphorylates the transcription factor Pho4p in response to intracellular phosphate levels. However, how cells sense phosphate availability and transduce the phosphate signal to Pho81p remains unknown. To identify additional components of the PHO pathway, we have screened a collection of yeast deletion strains. We found that disruptants of PLC1, ARG82, and KCS1, which are involved in the synthesis of inositol polyphosphate, and ADK1, which encodes adenylate kinase, constitutively express PHO5. Each of these factors functions upstream of Pho81p and negatively regulates the PHO pathway independently of intracellular orthophosphate levels. Overexpression of KCS1, but not of the other genes, suppressed PHO5 expression in the wild-type strain under low phosphate conditions. These results raise the possibility that diphosphoinositol tetrakisphosphate and/or bisdiphosphoinositol triphosphate may be essential for regulation of the PHO pathway. Furthermore, the Δplc1, Δarg82, and Δkcs1 deletion strains, but not the Δipk1 deletion strain, had significantly reduced intracellular polyphosphate levels, suggesting that enzymes involved in inositol pyrophosphate synthesis are also required for polyphosphate accumulation.
Glomerular accumulation of plasmacytoid dendritic cells in active lupus nephritis: role of interleukin-18.

OBJECTIVE Defective circulating dendritic cells (DCs) have been described in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and correlated with high levels of interferon-alpha (IFNalpha). DCs are differentiated as being either myeloid or plasmacytoid, according to chemokine expression and the tendency to migrate toward inflamed tissue. We investigated the potential role of interleukin-18 (IL-18) in driving the glomerular migration of DCs in lupus nephritis (LN) and in affecting the ability of DCs to induce an imbalance in the Th1:Th2 ratio. METHODS DC subsets were characterized by flow cytometry and defined as either myeloid or plasmacytoid according to the expression of CD11c/blood dendritic cell antigen 1 (BDCA-1) and CD123/BDCA-2, respectively. The serum Th1:Th2 profile was studied by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. IL-18 receptor (IL-18R) and other chemokine receptors were analyzed by flow cytometry. Glomerular levels of IL-18/IL-18R and the presence of plasmacytoid DCs and myeloid DCs were investigated by immunohistochemical analysis. RESULTS The number of peripheral plasmacytoid DCs was decreased in patients with SLE compared with control subjects, and this defect in the number of DCs was correlated with LN. Patients with LN showed a prevalent Th1 response, with high production of IL-18, IL-12 and IFNgamma. Only plasmacytoid DCs expressed IL-18R. Patients with severe LN showed a high accumulation of IL-18 within glomeruli in association with the presence of plasmacytoid DCs, whereas myeloid DCs were almost absent. CONCLUSION A deficient number of peripheral plasmacytoid DCs correlated with high levels of Th1 cytokines and was associated with LN. Both serum and glomerular IL-18 were increased in LN. It is suggested that the high level of expression of IL-18R by peripheral plasmacytoid DCs allows the DCs to relocate within glomeruli under IL-18 stimulation and triggers the resident T cells, thus promoting renal damage.
Single-phase Z-source-based voltage sag/swell compensator

This paper deals with a type of voltage swell/sag compensator based on single-phase Z-source AC-AC converter. The presented topology employs a pulse width modulation (PWM) Z-source AC-AC converter along with a transformer. During a voltage sag/swell occupation, the proposed system adjusts the adding or missing voltage and maintains the rate voltage at the terminal of the critical load. During normal conditions, the system works in bypass mode. The proposed system does not require any large energy-storage elements such as batteries bank or bulk capacitors. A commutation strategy to drive the AC-AC converter is employed to realize snubberless operation. The operating principles of the proposed system are described, and a circuit analysis is provided. To verify the performance of the proposed system, a laboratory prototype based on TMS320F2812 DSP was constructed with a normal voltage of 110 Vrms/60Hz. Experimental results at 20% voltage swell, 20% voltage sag and 60% voltage sag are shown.