Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Impulsive and Reflective Processes Related to Alcohol Use in Young Adolescents

Background: Dual process models suggest that the development of addictive behaviors is the result of interplay between impulsive and reflective processes, modulated by boundary conditions such as individual or situational factors. Empirical support for this model has been repeatedly demonstrated in adult samples [for a meta-analysis, see Ref. (1)]. The purpose of this study was to test these processes as they relate to emerging alcohol use in adolescents. Specifically, the interactive effects of several measures of impulsive and reflective processes and working memory capacity (WMC) are examined as predictors of changes in alcohol use among adolescents. It was expected that measures of reflective processes would better predict changes in alcohol use than measures of impulsive processes. Moreover, it was anticipated that WMC would moderate the relation between alcohol-specific impulsive and reflective processes and changes in adolescent alcohol use. Methods: The sample consisted of 427 adolescents (47.7% male) between 12 and 16 years of age (M = 13.96, SD = 0.78) who reported drinking alcohol at least once. Four measures of impulsive processes were included. Attentional bias for alcohol was assessed with a Visual Probe Test; approach bias toward alcohol was assessed with a Stimulus Response Compatibility (SRC) Test; and memory associations with alcohol were assessed with an Implicit Association Test (IAT) and a Word Association Test. Two measures of reflective measures were included: positive and negative expectancies. WMC was measured using a Self-Ordered Pointing Task. Results: Results showed that positive expectancies predicted changes in alcohol use, but this effect was qualified by an interaction with IAT scores. Moreover, SRC scores predicted changes in alcohol use only when negative expectancies were low. Attentional bias and word association scores did not predict changes in alcohol use. The relations between alcohol-specific processes or reflective processes and alcohol use were not moderated by WMC. Conclusion: Although there is empirical evidence for the validity of the model in predicting heavier alcohol use in adolescents, or alcohol abuse and dependence in adults, these observations do not generalize to a sample of normative, early adolescents. More specifically, results indicated that reflective processes are more important predictors of changes in alcohol use than impulsive process during adolescence.
Functional neuroimaging studies of Braille reading: cross-modal reorganization and its implications.

A frequent criticism of functional neuroimaging is that it offers limited additional information to that obtained with lesion studies. However, there are many cases in which lesion studies are not sufficient to study principles of cortical organization. One such case is cross-modal reorganization in the human brain after sensory deprivation. Vision is the dominant human sense and its loss leads to a major disability. However, the advent of modern information technology has made life easier for blind people. Spatial orientation in natural environments can be aided by a novel mobile satellite based Global Positioning System with a voice synthesizer, allowing blind subjects to reach a location by electronic guidance through the auditory modality. Another, well known sensory substitution is the tactile letter system Braille. Although attributed to Louis Braille, this system has its roots in the military field. In the early 18th century, Charles Barbier, a French soldier, invented a tactile reading and writing system that coded sounds as tactile patterns. Its intended use was silent communication in complete darkness along trenches. However, it quickly transpired that the system was too complicated to be of practical use. In 1821, Charles Barbier met Louis Braille, who was blind from the age of 4 years. Louis Braille immediately realized how useful this system of raised dots could be and simplified it from the original 12 to six dots. From then on it only took 6 more years until the first book in Braille was published. Early research on Braille reading in blind subjects from the 1960s to the 80s has mainly focused on hand preference. The first experimental data on possible cortical reorganization in blind subjects came from experiments conducted by WanetDefalqueet al. (1988). They used PET and [ 18F]fluorodeoxyglucose to investigate the effects of early onset blindness on cortical metabolism. Surprisingly, they observed vastly elevated glucose metabolism in the visually deprived occipital cortex of early blind subjects which was comparable to metabolism seen in sighted subjects studied with their eyes open. The most interesting question arising from this result was whether metabolic activity is task dependent. Unfortunately this question could not be answered by this initial experiment. Several groups (Sadato et al., 1996; Büchel et al., 1998) followed up on this question, now using H 2O PET which allowed assessment of more subtle differences in regional activity. Both studies showed that occipital cortex activation is indeed task dependent and is related to tactile
The processing of audio-visual speech: empirical and neural bases

In this selective review, I outline a number of ways in which seeing the talker affects auditory perception of speech, including, but not confined to, the McGurk effect. To date, studies suggest that all linguistic levels are susceptible to visual influence, and that two main modes of processing can be described: a complementary mode, whereby vision provides information more efficiently than hearing for some under-specified parts of the speech stream, and a correlated mode, whereby vision partially duplicates information about dynamic articulatory patterning. Cortical correlates of seen speech suggest that at the neurological as well as the perceptual level, auditory processing of speech is affected by vision, so that ‘auditory speech regions’ are activated by seen speech. The processing of natural speech, whether it is heard, seen or heard and seen, activates the perisylvian language regions (left>right). It is highly probable that activation occurs in a specific order. First, superior temporal, then inferior parietal and finally inferior frontal regions (left>right) are activated. There is some differentiation of the visual input stream to the core perisylvian language system, suggesting that complementary seen speech information makes special use of the visual ventral processing stream, while for correlated visual speech, the dorsal processing stream, which is sensitive to visual movement, may be relatively more involved.
The lineage-specific gene ponzr1 is essential for zebrafish pronephric and pharyngeal arch development

The Homeobox (Hox) and Paired box (Pax) gene families are key determinants of animal body plans and organ structure. In particular, they function within regulatory networks that control organogenesis. How these conserved genes elicit differences in organ form and function in response to evolutionary pressures is incompletely understood. We molecularly and functionally characterized one member of an evolutionarily dynamic gene family, plac8 onzin related protein 1 (ponzr1), in the zebrafish. ponzr1 mRNA is expressed early in the developing kidney and pharyngeal arches. Using ponzr1-targeting morpholinos, we show that ponzr1 is required for formation of the glomerulus. Loss of ponzr1 results in a nonfunctional glomerulus but retention of a functional pronephros, an arrangement similar to the aglomerular kidneys found in a subset of marine fish. ponzr1 is integrated into the pax2a pathway, with ponzr1 expression requiring pax2a gene function, and proper pax2a expression requiring normal ponzr1 expression. In addition to pronephric function, ponzr1 is required for pharyngeal arch formation. We functionally demonstrate that ponzr1 can act as a transcription factor or co-factor, providing the first molecular mode of action for this newly described gene family. Together, this work provides experimental evidence of an additional mechanism that incorporates evolutionarily dynamic, lineage-specific gene families into conserved regulatory gene networks to create functional organ diversity.
Successful Participation: The Lived Experience among Children with Disabilities

Background. Children with disabilities are at risk for limited daily occupational participation. This paper presents a phenomenological study describing the meaning of participation in activities outside of school to children with physical and neurological disabilities and their parents. Methods. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with eight children and their parents. Results. Nine themes, organized under three categories, describe what successful participation means, and the personal and environmental supports and barriers to participation. Successful participation is defined in terms of being with others and being able to perform tasks independently. Conclusions. This study demonstrates that children with physical and neurological disabilities enjoy the same activities as those children without these disabilities. Activities allowing children to experience enjoyment have the best chance of ensuring children's participation. The role of the parent in providing opportunities for participation, and the importance of environmental and personal resources are particularly important. Finally, implications for occupational therapy and research are discussed.
Functionality, usability, and user experience: three areas of concern

: / 26 EVALUATION IS A MAINSTREAM ACTIVITY IN HCI. For many years we saw the emergence of a plethora of techniques to measure user-orientated quality assessment of technology: usability, satisfaction, efficiency, effectiveness, learnability, usefulness, and so on. In recent times, however, the discussion seems to have moved on. Issues surrounding the wider relationship between people and technology or the user experience are popular. And we’ve seen a number of new concepts emerging, such as engagement, pleasure, presence, and fun, to name a few. Their proponents suggest that these concepts represent important aspects of usage that are omitted by traditional approaches to evaluation. We’ve heard it all before, of course, but the words are new. However, does the emperor actually have new clothes? In their efforts to explore concepts related to the user experience, researchers have been slow to articulate how their proposals should be measured or indeed if they can be measured at all. Clearly what is needed is an organized discussion on what aspects of use need to be investigated when the time comes for evaluation and how they could be assessed. We propose that when evaluating technology, there are three primary elements that need to be considered, namely, the product, the interaction between the user and the product, and the experience of using the product. Each of these three elements represents a unique but interdependent aspect of usage. These are Functionality (product), Usability (interaction), and Experience (user experience). Each area asks a different question about usage using a different language of discourse.
A New Scenario for Negative Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Signals: Endogenous Neurotransmission

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) has revolutionized investigations of brain functions. Increases in fMRI signals are usually correlated with neuronal activation, but diverse explanations have been proposed for negative fMRI responses, including decreases in neuronal activity, the vascular-steal effect, and large increases in oxygen consumption. These possible scenarios, although encompassing a wide range of potential neurovascular responses, cannot yet be used to interpret certain types of negative fMRI signals. Recent studies have found that intravenous injection of dopamine D2 receptor (D2DR) agonist reduced the hemodynamic responses in the caudate–putamen (CPu); however, whether endogenous dopaminergic neurotransmission contributes to fMRI signals remains obscure. Since it has been suggested that the D2DR is involved in pain modulation, and the CPu shows equivocal fMRI signals during noxious stimulation, the present study established an animal model based on graded electrical stimulation to elicit different levels of nociception, and aimed to determine whether nociception-induced endogenous dopaminergic neurotransmission is sufficient to generate negative fMRI responses. Our results from cerebral blood volume (CBV)-weighted fMRI, Fos immunohistochemistry, and electrophysiological recording demonstrated a salient bilateral CBV decreases associated with heightened neuronal activity in the CPu induced by unilateral noxious electrical stimulation. In addition, preinjection of D2DR antagonist reduced the observed CBV decreases. Our findings reveal the role of the D2DR in regulating striatal vascular responses and suggest that endogenous neurotransmission-induced CBV decreases underlie negative fMRI signals. Hence, the influence of endogenous neurotransmission should be considered when interpreting fMRI data, especially in an area involved in strong vasoactive neurotransmission.
Variability in patients with glaucomatous visual field damage is reduced using size V stimuli.

PURPOSE To test the hypothesis that variability of conventional automated perimetry can be reduced using size V stimuli for patients with glaucomatous visual field damage. METHODS Ten patients with glaucoma and five age-matched control volunteers were tested with the Humphrey Field Analyzer program 24-2 or 30-2, after which the method of constant stimuli was used to measure frequency-of-seeing curves. This was done by controlling the perimeter with a custom program run by a personal computer. At two widely separated visual field locations on the program 24-2 or 30-2 grid, stimuli were presented in 2 dB intervals to at least 10 dB on either side of the estimated program 24-2 or 30-2 threshold. This protocol was performed for each of three stimulus sizes (Goldmann sizes I, III, and V). For the patients with glaucoma, one test location was chosen in an area of normal visual field sensitivity, the other in an area of 10 to 20 dB loss. Control subjects were tested at the (3 degrees, 3 degrees) and (-21 degrees, -9 degrees) test locations. Fifteen repetitions were performed at each intensity. RESULTS Repeated measures analysis of variance showed that variability, as measured by the standard deviation of the cumulative Gaussian function of the fitted frequency-of-seeing curves, was lowest at the abnormal sensitivity test location in the subjects with glaucoma using a size V stimulus. Differences between the results from the V to III and V to I stimuli were statistically significant (size V = 2.9 dB, III = 10.1 dB, I = 10.1 dB). The same trend in estimated standard deviations was present in tests of the area of normal sensitivity (size V = 1.1 dB, III = 1.7 dB, I = 2.0 dB) in subjects with glaucoma and for the control subjects' peripheral test locations, but not for the central location. The smaller reduction in variability between estimated standard deviations of the size I and size III stimuli was not statistically significant at any test location. CONCLUSIONS Use of size V stimuli in conventional automated perimetry reduces variability in tests of moderately damaged and normal sensitivity test locations in subjects with glaucoma.
Super‐stereotypy II: Enhancement of a complex movement sequence by intraventricular dopamine D1 agonists

This study compared the effect of intraventricular administration of dopamine D1 or D2 agonists or of ACTH on the sequential stereotypy of a serial pattern of grooming movements (“syntactic chain”). In a previous study, we showed that peripheral administration of D1 agonists increased the probability of occurrence and enhanced the stereotypy of the already‐stereotyped movement pattern. Here we made microinjections of either SKF 38393 (a partial D1 agonist; 5, 10, 15, 20, 40 μg), SKF 82958 (a full D1 agonist; 5, 10, 20 μg), quinpirole (a D2 agonist; 5, 10, 20 μg), or ACTH‐(1‐24) (2, 5, 10 μg) into the lateral ventricles of rats. We measured the amount of grooming, the relative probability that the complex sequence pattern would occur, and the degree to which the syntactic pattern was completed faithfully. The total amount of grooming behavior was increased by intraventricular SKF 82958 and by ACTH, but was not changed by SKF 38393 and was decreased by quinpirole. Super‐stereotypy of the sequential pattern was produced only by dopamine D1 agonists. The relative probability of initiating the syntactical sequence was increased by both SKF 38393 and SKF 82958, but was reduced by quinpirole and ACTH. The full D1 agonist, SKF 82958, also increased the likelihood that the pattern would be completed, thus causing sequential super‐stereotypy in the strongest sense. Our results highlight a role for dopamine D1 receptors, probably within the basal ganglia, in the production of sequential super‐stereotypy of complex behavioral patterns. Synapse 37:205–215, 2000. © 2000 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Substitution effects in magnetic and superconducting materials

Chemical substitutions at very low level have been proved to be a very effective tool to change important physical parameters in many kinds of materials. These modifications may be the result of, for instance, subtle variations of the position of the Fermi level with respect to the density of states, presence of additional electrons which may change the hole carrier concentration, steric effects which impose contraints in the crystallographic lattice, mixed-valence states resultating from the dismutation of chemical components, etc. We review herein three systems in which the substitution effects are at the origin of new physical states : the high-Tc superconductor bismuth cuprate of the 2212 family, the mixed-valence manganese perovskites representative of giant magneto-resistive compounds, and the Chevrel phase materials in which a structural transition may inhibit the superconducting state.
Metallisation of polycarbonates using a low pressure cold spray method

In many industries, polymers are in great demand due to their low weight and good mechanical properties. However, films and coatings are sometimes applied to improve polymer surface properties. This work presents a study on the metallisation of polycarbonates using a low pressure cold spray (LPCS) method. Two types of commercial powders were selected for the deposition of coatings: (i) tin and (ii) aluminium. The coatings were applied (i) on an unmodified substrate and (ii) on a substrate with an interlayer, which enabled the formation of good adherent aluminium coatings. A light and scanning microscopy was used to analyse the microstructure of coatings. Electrical conductivity was determined using the four-probe method and is discussed in relation to the oxygen content. Moreover, bond strength and microhardness were investigated.
Lactate dehydrogenase A negatively regulated by miRNAs promotes aerobic glycolysis and is increased in colorectal cancer

Reprogramming metabolism of tumor cells is a hallmark of cancer. Lactate dehydrogenase A (LDHA) is frequently overexpressed in tumor cells. Previous studies has shown higher levels of LDHA is related with colorectal cancer (CRC), but its role in tumor maintenance and underlying molecular mechanisms has not been established. Here, we investigated miRNAs-induced changes in LDHA expression. We reported that colorectal cancer express higher levels of LDHA compared with adjacent normal tissue. Knockdown of LDHA resulted in decreased lactate and ATP production, and glucose uptake. Colorectal cancer cells with knockdown of LDHA had much slower growth rate than control cells. Furthermore, we found that miR-34a, miR-34c, miR-369-3p, miR-374a, and miR-4524a/b target LDHA and regulate glycolysis in cancer cells. There is a negative correlation between these miRNAs and LDHA expression in colorectal cancer tissues. More importantly, we identified a genetic loci newly associated with increased colorectal cancer progression, rs18407893 at 11p15.4 (in 3′-UTR of LDHA), which maps to the seed sequence recognized by miR-374a. Cancer cells overexpressed miR-374a has decreased levels of LDHA compared with miR-374a-MUT (rs18407893 at 11p15.4). Taken together, these novel findings provide more therapeutic approaches to the Warburg effect and therapeutic targets of cancer energy metabolism.
Duration of Immunity to Norovirus Gastroenteritis

The duration of immunity to norovirus (NoV) gastroenteritis has been believed to be from 6 months to 2 years. However, several observations are inconsistent with this short period. To gain better estimates of the duration of immunity to NoV, we developed a mathematical model of community NoV transmission. The model was parameterized from the literature and also fit to age-specific incidence data from England and Wales by using maximum likelihood. We developed several scenarios to determine the effect of unknowns regarding transmission and immunity on estimates of the duration of immunity. In the various models, duration of immunity to NoV gastroenteritis was estimated at 4.1 (95% CI 3.2–5.1) to 8.7 (95% CI 6.8–11.3) years. Moreover, we calculated that children (<5 years) are much more infectious than older children and adults. If a vaccine can achieve protection for duration of natural immunity indicated by our results, its potential health and economic benefits could be substantial.
Load-sensitive routing of long-lived IP flows

Internet service providers face a daunting challenge in provisioning network resources, due to the rapid growth of the Internet and wide fluctuations in the underlying traffic patterns. The ability of dynamic routing to circumvent congested links and improve application performance makes it a valuable traffic engineering tool. However, deployment of load-sensitive routing is hampered by the overheads imposed by link-state update propagation, path selection, and signaling. Under reasonable protocol and computational overheads, traditional approaches to load-sensitive routing of IP traffic are ineffective, and can introduce significant route flapping, since paths are selected based on out-of-date link-state information. Although stability is improved by performing load-sensitive routing at the flow level, flapping still occurs, because most IP flows have a short duration relative to the desired frequency of link-state updates. To address the efficiency and stability challenges of load-sensitive routing, we introduce a new hybrid approach that performs dynamic routing of long-lived flows, while forwarding short-lived flows on static preprovisioned paths. By relating the detection of long-lived flows to the timescale of link-state update messages in the routing protocol, route stability is considerably improved. Through simulation experiments using a one-week ISP packet trace, we show that our hybrid approach significantly outperforms traditional static and dynamic routing schemes, by reacting to fluctuations in network load without introducing route flapping.