Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Karyotypes of Rana tagoi Okada with diploid number 28 in the Chausu Mountains of the Minamishinshu district of Nagano Prefecture, Japan (Anura: Ranidae)

Karyotypes of Tago’s brown frog Rana tagoi from the Chausu mountains in Minamishinshu of Nagano Prefecture were examined by conventional Giemsa staining, C-banding and late replication (LR)-banding. Chromosome number was 2n = 28 in all cases. The 28 chromosomes consisted of four pairs (1–4) of large biarmed chromosomes, two pairs (5–6) of telocentric chromosomes and eight pairs (7–14) of small biarmed chromosomes. Chromosome pair 11 had a secondary constriction on the long arm. In females, the C-band on the long arm of chromosome pair 6 was detected in both homologs, but was absent from the arms of the homologs of chromosome pairs 5 and 9. In males, C-bands were found in the long arms of both homologs of chromosome pairs 5 and 6, were present only in one homolog of chromosome pair 5 for certain male specimens and found in only one homolog of chromosome pair 9. Specimens of R. tagoi (2n = 28) should thus have two pairs of telocentric chromosomes to provide the same number of chromosome arms, these originating quite likely from chromosome pair 1 in the 26-chromosome specimens by centric fission. Heteromorphic sex chromosomes of the XX-XY type in R. tagoi (2n = 28) in the Chausu mountains were identified. Karyotypes of tail-tip cells from a hybrid tadpole between female R. tagoi (2n = 26) from the Hinohara village in Tokyo and male R. tagoi (2n = 28) from the Chausu mountain population were examined by squash preparation. Chromosome number was 2n = 27 in all tadpoles. The 27 chromosomes consisted of one chromosome set of R. tagoi (2n = 28) and one of R. tagoi (2n = 26).
Enhancing fatty acid production in Escherichia coli by Vitreoscilla hemoglobin overexpression.

Our recent 13 C-metabolic flux analysis (13 C-MFA) study indicates that energy metabolism becomes a rate-limiting factor for fatty acid overproduction in E. coli strains (after "Push-Pull-Block" based genetic modifications). To resolve this bottleneck, Vitreoscilla hemoglobin (VHb, a membrane protein facilitating O2 transport) was introduced into a fatty-acid-producing strain to promote oxygen supply and energy metabolism. The resulting strain, FAV50, achieved 70% percent higher fatty acid titer than the parent strain in micro-aerobic shake tube cultures. In high cell-density bioreactor fermentations, FAV50 achieved free fatty acids at a titer of 7.02 g/L (51% of the theoretical yield). In addition to "Push-Pull-Block-Power" strategies, our experiments and flux balance analysis also revealed the fatty acid over-producing strain is sensitive to metabolic burden and oxygen influx, and thus a careful evaluation of the cost-benefit tradeoff with the guidance of fluxome analysis will be fundamental for the rational design of synthetic biology strains. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2017;114: 463-467. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Thermal balloon and rollerball ablation to treat menorrhagia: a multicenter comparison.

Meyer et al (Obstet Gynecol 1998;92:98–103) compared the thermal balloon to the ball-end electrode for accomplishing endometrial ablation. The authors conclude that “uterine balloon therapy is as efficacious as hysteroscopic rollerball ablation. ” The medical literature contains long-term outcome data on thousands of women who have undergone rollerball ablation, and Meyer’s 1 year follow-up of 128 patients is hardly sufficient for such conclusions. Further, reporting outcomes in terms of “patient satisfaction” rates is flawed and biased. Instead, one should compare amenorrhea rates at a specified point in time. Meyer reports an amenorrhea rate of 27.2% at 12 months on 117 patients undergoing rollerball endometrial ablation. These results are poorer than the amenorrhea rates of 40–60% typically reported for this technique. Is it possible that these physicians lacked some basic expertise in this procedure? The authors erroneously lead the reader to believe that . “such improvements in menstrual bleeding [would be] sustained for 3 years and longer. ” In a larger study, De Maeyer clearly showed a distinct deterioration of menstrual improvement data over a study period of 48 months. The authors fail to mention the $650.00 cost of the disposable balloon. In many parts of the country this exceeds the physician’s reimbursement fee for endometrial ablation. Finally, the authors imply that rollerball ablation is some sort of “gold standard. ” There are two methods, with far superior results that Meyer fails to mention, each producing amenorrhea rates approaching 90% in groups of women followed up to 66 months. Perhaps these methods should be the “gold-standard. ” I believe the thermal balloon deserves less fanfare and greater scrutiny because it gives poor results at greater cost than any method yet reported.
Comparing List Viterbi Algorithms with and without tail bits

In this paper we evaluate the impact of tail bits on the performance of list Viterbi algorithms (LVA). The LVA provides an ordered list of decoded bit sequences. The outer cyclic redundancy check (CRC) block code, concatenated with the convolutional code, is used to select the output sequence. For the conventional Viterbi algorithm (VA), tail-biting outperforms tail bit-aided decoder with additional complexity. However, for the concatenated system, tail-biting algorithm applied to the LVA does not perform as well. Since tail bits incur rate loss, we propose an alternative algorithm where the tail bit-aided LVA with puncturing is employed. The tail-punctured LVA, while retaining the original code rate, provides good performance with reduced complexity. A set of simulation results are presented comparing these algorithms for different constraint lengths, code rates and channel conditions.
Efficacy of terbinafine treatment of tinea capitis in children varies according to the dermatophyte species

1 Borlow D, Saxe N. Tinea capitis in adults. Inl j Dirniato! 1988; 27: 388-90. 2 Biggio P. Aste N, Pau M. Tinea eapitis in eta pediatrica. Oiorn Inl Derm Pediiitr 1993; 5: 69-72. 3 Aste N. Pau M. Colombo MD, Biggio P. Use of Terbinafine (Lamisil) in Tinea corporis with hair involvement. In: International perspeetive on Lamisll (CCT Healtbeare Comunications Limited, ed.). London, 1994; 18-21 . 4 Gordon FM, Stankler L. Rapid clearing of kerion ringworm with terbinafine. Br I Uermuto} 199J; 129: 50 5-4. 5 Derrick EK, Voyce ME, Price ML. Triclwphyton tonsuruns in a woman. Br J Dermatol 1994; 130: 683. M. audouinii var. langeronii were refugees from Asia and Africa. Results ure summarized in Table 1. Our tindings show tbat results of terbinafine treatment of tinea capitis in cbildren vary according to tbe dermatophyte species isolated. With the treatment schedules used, the cure rate was excellent for T. violucewn and T. sottdanense. variable for T. mentagrophyies and M. canis and poor for M. audouinii var. langeronii. At present, we cannot explain tbese differences. Tbe in vitro sensitivity of tbe different species being similar,^ tbe tberapeutic response could be related to the mode of hair parasitism by tbe fungus, ectotbrix by M. canis. M. nudouinii var. langeronii and T. mentagrophytes. endotbrix by T. violaceum and T. soudanense.
Reservoir-Condition Pore-Scale Imaging of Supercritical Carbon Dioxide

We present the results from a novel experimental apparatus that can image – at the micron scale – fluid displacements at elevated temperatures and pressures. The images are acquired using a micro-CT scanner (Xradia Versa 500) that has been adapted to allow core flood experiments to be conducted in situ, allowing continuous imaging at resolutions down to around 1 μm. A small cylindrical core – approximately 6 mm in diameter – is placed in a carbon fibre core holder that allows high pressures and temperatures to be imposed, while remaining largely transparent to x-rays. Fluids are injected into this minicore holder, with flexible tubing to allow the core to rotate during scanning. We use this apparatus to study the displacement of supercritical carbon dioxide by brine, with application to carbon storage in aquifers. We study displacement in carbonate and sandstone rocks. Experiments in carbonates introduce additional challenges, since the carbon dioxide, brine and rock need to pre-equilibrated to prevent dissolution of carbon dioxide and chemical reaction (dissolution) with the rock during the experiments: this then reproduces conditions in the centre of a carbon dioxide plume where local thermodynamic equilibrium has been reached. We study displacement in Ketton limestone and Bentheimer sandstone. Both rocks have large inter-granular pores. In Ketton there is also significant intra-granular micro-porosity that remains brine-saturated during the experiments. We study primary drainage (injection of carbon dioxide) followed by secondary imbibition (injection of brine). We image the distribution of the phases during and at the end of the experiment. We show that significant quantities of carbon dioxide can be trapped as a residual phase in the pore space of both rock types, with a saturation matching that measured in core-scale (cm scale) experiments (0.202±0.012 in Ketton and 0.320±0.009 in Bentheimer). Trapped ganglia of all sizes are observed, with an approximately power-law distribution of size. The exponents for the power laws are larger than expected through percolation theory (2.189 as against measured values of 2.39±0.12 in Ketton and 3.0±0.3 in Bentheimer). We can observe how the supercritical carbon dioxide is displaced at the pore scale during waterflooding, providing a benchmark dataset for pore-scale modelling and further analysis. Overall, this work presents a novel methodology for in situ reservoir-condition pore-scale multi-phase flow analysis, accounting for phase exchange and chemical reaction. In application to carbon storage, we show that significant amounts of carbon dioxide can be trapped as a residual phase in both quartz and calcite rich rocks.
Rethinking Affordable Housing Delivery: An Analytical Insight

Malaysia currently has a housing shortage of 12 million units. Towards the year 2020, this would require an annual supply of a minimum of 2 million homes. With the current production rate, the deficits will remain over the next 100 years. The crisis will lead to poor standards of living, un-affordable rental price, high mortgage payment, abandonment, and dilapidation of the existing housing stock. Lack of affordable housing is already a source of concern among many Malaysians. The middle and lower income earners spend more than 30% of their income on rent or for mortgage payment. Housing rent or mortgage is a basic need like foods, education, clothing and health. The government has introduced various measures to address the housing deficit. Despite these measures, the housing supply and distribution gaps continue to grow. To better understand the issues, there is a need to examine how the procurement planning in the affordable housing delivery supply chain and market is formulated, explore how cost of affordable housing would be reduced, identify the user value systems in affordable housing, and identify the criteria in the current regulatory framework? For these purposes, this paper reviews the relevant literature to reach preliminary findings on the stated issues. Among the factors found accounting for housing shortages, the overwhelming factors were that of poor policies, strategies, practice, management, and finance. The findings are meaningful in framing an affordable housing delivery model. It could also be useful to stakeholders involved in affordable housing delivery in Malaysia and elsewhere.
Prevalence and Associated Factors of Sleep Quality among Adults in Jimma Town, Southwest Ethiopia: A Community-Based Cross-Sectional Study

Background An estimated 150 million people worldwide and nearly 17% of the populations in the developing nations are currently suffering from sleep problems. The aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence and associated factors of sleep quality among adults in Ethiopia. Method A cross-sectional study was conducted on 422 randomly selected adults using validated and pretested Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. Data were entered into EpiData and analyzed using SPSS version 20 considering bivariable (P value < 0.25) and multivariable (P < 0.05) logistic regression procedures at 95% confidence interval. Result The overall prevalence of poor sleep quality (PSQI score > 5) was 65.4% with higher proportion among males (79 (63.0%)) and age group of 40–49 years (174 (28.6%)). A multivariable logistic regression analysis indicated that age category of 40–49 years (AOR = 2 [95% CI (1.1, 3.6)]) (P = 0.03), monthly income ≤ 1000 ETB (AOR = 2.2 [95% CI (14, 3.5)]) (P = 0.01), current khat chewing (AOR = 1.8 [95% CI (1.1, 3.1)]) (P = 0.03), daily khat chewing (AOR = 3.4 [95% CI (1.2, 11.1)]) (P = 0.04), and obesity (AOR = 1.2 [95% CI (1.3, 2.5)]) (P = 0.03) were identified as risk factors of poor sleep quality. Conclusion The current study is informative for government to work on poverty reduction, create awareness for weight reduction, and develop legislation for khat control to prevent poor sleep quality.
A fertility-restoring genotype of beet (Beta vulgaris L.) is composed of a weak restorer-of-fertility gene and a modifier gene tightly linked to the Rf1 locus

Cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) is a plant trait that involves interactions between nuclear- and mitochondrial genomes. In CMS, the nuclear restorer-of-fertility gene (Rf), a suppressor of male-sterility inducing mitochondria, is one of the best known genetic factors. Other unidentified genetic factors may exist but have not been well characterized. In sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.), CMS is used for hybrid seed production, but few male-sterility inducing nuclear genotypes exist. Such genotypes could be introduced from a closely related plant such as leaf beet, but first the fertility restoring genotype of the related plant must be characterized. Here, we report the discovery of a Japanese leaf beet accession ‘Fukkoku-ouba’ that has both male-sterility inducing and fertility restoring genotypes. We crossed the leaf beet accession with a sugar beet CMS line, developed succeeding generations, and examined the segregation of two DNA markers that are linked to two sugar beet Rfs, Rf1 and Rf2. Only the Rf2 marker co-segregated with fertility restoration in every generation, implying that the Rf1 locus in leaf beet is occupied by a non-restoring allele. Fertility restoration was incomplete without a genetic factor closely linked to Rf1, leading to the assumption that the Rf1 locus encodes a modifier that cannot restore fertility by itself but perhaps strengthens another Rf. We sequenced the apparently non-restoring ‘Fukkoku-ouba’ rf1 gene-coding region and found that it closely resembles a restoring allele. The protein product demonstrated its potential to suppress CMS in transgenic suspension cells. In contrast, ‘Fukkoku-ouba’ rf1 transcript abundance was highly reduced compared to that of the restoring Rf1. Consistently, changes in protein complexes containing CMS-associated mitochondrial protein in anthers were very minor. Accordingly, we concluded that ‘Fukkoku-ouba’ rf1 is a hypomorph that acts as a non-restoring allele but has the potential to support another Rf, i.e. it is a modifier candidate.
History of Regional Anesthesia

The history of regional anesthesia and pain management is filled with fabulous stories and great characters. Ancient Egyptians used a variety of analgesics including hyoscyamine, scopolamine, opium poppy, beer, juniper, and yeast to treat a variety of ailments including “pains within the body. ” Ancient Indian culture used herbal medicine and yoga to overcome pain and create internal balance, and the ancient Chinese used acupuncture to properly channel negative energies and treat pain. The ancient Greeks gave the world Hippocrates (460–370 bc ) who believed in the healing power of nature and focused on a rational approach to diagnosis and treatment rather than one based on superstition (Raj 2010). Early giants in the field of medicine and philosophy were concerned with characterizing and understanding pain. Early teachings from Aristotle (384–322 bc ) described pain as an emotion that was situated in the heart and it was not until Galen of Pergamon ( ad 130–201) that people recognized that the brain was the organ responsible for pain sensation. Avicenna ( ad 980–1037) described how pain sensation could be altered in various disease states, and Newton (1642–1727) and Hartley (1705–1757) described the potential role of nerves in transmitting noxious stimuli from the periphery to the brain (Perl 2007). Despite these advances in knowledge, the Middle Ages remained an unpleasant period of time in which to require a surgical procedure when even invasive surgeries were performed without anesthesia. Early attempts at medicinal pain control typically originated from plant material and included opium ( Papaver somniferum ), alcohols, mandrake ( Atropa mandragora ), belladonna ( Atropa bella donna ), and marijuana (Cannabis). Freidrich Wilhelm Sertürner (1783–1841) isolated morphine from the opium plant in 1803. Aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid) was released in 1899 by the Bayer Company and quickly became the common man ’ s “go to” therapy for mild to moderate pain relief (Raj 2010). The natives of Peru are attributed with being the first to “use” a local anesthetic—the cocoa leaf, known for both its analgesic and hallucinatory properties. During surgical procedures, they obtained local anesthesia by chewing the leaves of the plant and allowing the resulting saliva to run into the fresh incisions. Chewing the leaves of the cocoa plant was also reported to “assuage the hungry,
Coupled Ocean‐Atmosphere Variability in the Tropical Indian Ocean

The Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) is a natural ocean-atmosphere coupled mode that plays important roles in seasonal and interannual climate variations. The coupled mode locked to boreal summer and fall is distinguished as a dipole in the SST anomalies that are coupled to zonal winds. The equatorial winds reverse their direction from westerlies to easterlies during the peak phase of the positive IOD events when SST is cool in the east and warm in the west. In response to changes in the wind, the thermocline rises in the east and subsides in the west. Subsurface equatorial long Rossby waves play a major role in strengthening SST anomalies in the central and western parts. The SINTEX-F1 coupled model results support the observational finding that these equatorial Rossby waves are coupled to the surface wind forcing associated with IOD rather than ENSO. The ENSO influence is only distinct in off-equatorial latitudes south of 10°S. Although IOD events dominate the ocean-atmosphere variability during its evolution, their less frequent occurrence compared to ENSO events leads the mode to the second seat in the interannual variability. Therefore, it is necessary to remove the most dominant uniform mode to capture the IOD statistically. The seasonally stratified correlation between the indices of IOD and ENSO peaks at 0.53 in September-November. This means that only one third of IOD events are associated with ENSO events. Since a large number of IOD events are not associated with ENSO events, the independent nature of IOD is examined using partial correlation and pure composite techniques. Through changes in atmospheric circulation and water vapor transport, a positive IOD event causes drought in Indonesia, above normal rainfall in Africa, India, Bangladesh and Vietnam, and dry as well as hot summer in Europe, Japan, Korea and East China. In the Southern Hemisphere, the positive IOD causes dry winter in Australia, and dry as well as warm conditions in Brazil. The identification of IOD events has raised a new possibility to make a real advance in the predictability of seasonal and interannual climate variations that originate in the tropics.
Static and Dynamic Evaluation of the Driver Speed Perception and Selection Process

Summary: Speed impacts the extent to which mobility and safety are experienced across the surface transportation network. By expanding current understanding of speed perception and selection processes our ability to understand and comprehensively address speed-related issues will improve. Driving simulator technology has advanced the field of transportation research. However, it has been limited in its application to speed-related issues. Furthermore, static computer-based evaluations have been used as a means of establishing a preliminary understanding for driver interpretation of stimuli encountered in the roadway, but have been limited in their application to speed. These technologies allow for large sample populations to be evaluated quickly and safely. Phase I of this initiative examined driver ability to perceive travel speeds in a similar real world, simulated world, and static environment. The experimental course traversed roadway where land-use and posted speed limits varied. Drivers’ actual and perceived speeds were recorded at 20 identical “checkpoint” locations in each environment, and the results were analyzed across drivers and environments. Phase II examined three roadway attributes that impact the speed-selection process. A focus group was employed to build improved scenarios of interest for a full-scale static evaluation. In the static environment, 75 drivers were asked how fast they would travel while individual characteristics of the scenario displayed were modified. This multifaceted research initiative expands the potential application of advanced technology in speed-related research, and improves the understanding of factors that influence speed perception and selection processes.
Preliminary and Incomplete Comments Welcome When Is External Debt Sustainable ?

We empirically examine the determinants of ‘debt distress”, which we define as periods in which countries resort to exceptional finance in any of three forms: (i) significant arrears on external debt, (ii) Paris Club resecheduling, and (iii) nonconcessional IMF lending. Using probit regressions, we find that three factors explain a substantial fraction of the cross-country and time-series variation in the incidence of debt distress: the debt burden, the quality of policies and institutions, and shocks. We show that these results are robust to a variety of alternative specifications, and we show that our core specifications have substantial out-of-sample predictive power. We also explore the quantitative implications of these results for the lending strategies of official creditors. World Bank Policy Research Working Paper 3200, February 2004 The Policy Research Working Paper Series disseminates the findings of work in progress to encourage the exchange of ideas about development issues. An objective of the series is to get the findings out quickly, even if the presentations are less than fully polished. The papers carry the names of the authors and should be cited accordingly. The findings, interpretations, and conclusions expressed in this paper are entirely those of the authors. They do not necessarily represent the view of the World Bank, its Executive Directors, or the countries they represent. Policy Research Working Papers are available online at http://econ.worldbank.org. ________________________________________ 1818 H Street N.W. , Washington, DC 20433, akraay@worldbank.org, vnehru@worldbank.org. We would like to thank Nancy Birdsall, Christina Daseking, Gershon Feder, Alan Gelb, Indermit Gill, Rex Ghosh, Nicholas Hope, Sona Varma, and seminar participants at the Center for Global Development for very helpful comments, Carmen Reinhart for kindly sharing historical data on default episodes, and Sunyoung Lee for superb research assistance. P ub lic D is cl os ur e A ut ho riz ed P ub lic D is cl os ur e A ut ho riz ed P ub lic D is cl os ur e A ut ho riz ed P ub lic D is cl os ur e A ut ho riz ed P ub lic D is cl os ur e A ut ho riz ed P ub lic D is cl os ur e A ut ho riz ed P ub lic D is cl os ur e A ut ho riz ed P ub lic D is cl os ur e A ut ho riz ed