Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Learning Arbitrary Visuomotor Associations: Temporal Dynamic of Brain Activity

Primates can give behavioral responses on the basis of arbitrary, context-dependent rules. When sensory instructions and behavioral responses are associated by arbitrary rules, these rules need to be learned. This study investigates the temporal dynamics of functional segregation at the basis of visuomotor associative learning in humans, isolating specific learning-related changes in neurovascular activity across the whole brain. We have used fMRI to measure human brain activity during performance of two tasks requiring the association of visual patterns with motor responses. Both tasks were learned by trial and error, either before (visuomotor control) or during (visuomotor learning) the scanning session. Epochs of tasks performance ( approximately 30 s) were alternated with a baseline period over the whole scanning session ( approximately 50 min). We have assessed both linear and nonlinear modulations in the differential signal between tasks, independently from overall task differences. The performance indices of the visuomotor learning task smoothly converged onto the values of a steady-state control condition, according to nonlinear timecourses. Specific visuomotor learning-related activity has been found over a distributed cortical network, centred on a temporo-prefrontal circuit. These cortical time-modulated activities were supported early in learning by the hippocampal/parahippocampal complex, and late in learning by the basal ganglia system. These findings suggest the inferior temporal and the ventral prefrontal cortex are critical neural nodes for integrating perceptual information with executive processes.
The role of spectral and periodicity cues in auditory stream segregation, measured using a temporal discrimination task.

In a previous paper, it was shown that sequential stream segregation could be based on both spectral information and periodicity information, if listeners were encouraged to hear segregation [Vliegen and Oxenham, J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 105, 339-346 (1999)]. The present paper investigates whether segregation based on periodicity information alone also occurs when the task requires integration. This addresses the question: Is segregation based on periodicity automatic and obligatory? A temporal discrimination task was used, as there is evidence that it is difficult to compare the timing of auditory events that are perceived as being in different perceptual streams. An ABA ABA ABA. sequence was used, in which tone B could be either exactly at the temporal midpoint between two successive tones A or slightly delayed. The tones A and B were of three types: (1) both pure tones; (2) both complex tones filtered through a fixed passband so as to contain only harmonics higher than the 10th, thereby eliminating detectable spectral differences, where only the fundamental frequency (f0) was varied between tones A and B; and (3) both complex tones with the same f0, but where the center frequency of the spectral passband varied between tones. Tone A had a fixed frequency of 300 Hz (when A and B were pure tones) or a fundamental frequency (f0) of 100 Hz (when A and B were complex tones). Five different intervals, ranging from 1 to 18 semitones, were used. The results for all three conditions showed that shift thresholds increased with increasing interval between tones A and B, but the effect was largest for the conditions where A and B differed in spectrum (i.e., the pure-tone and the variable-center-frequency conditions). The results suggest that spectral information is dominant in inducing (involuntary) segregation, but periodicity information can also play a role.
Microdialysis Study of Imipenem Distribution in Skeletal Muscle and Lung Extracellular Fluids of Acinetobacter baumannii-Infected Rats

ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to investigate imipenem distribution in muscle and lung interstitial fluids of rats with Acinetobacter baumannii pulmonary infection. By combining microdialysis in blood and tissues, it was possible to demonstrate that free imipenem concentrations were virtually identical in blood, muscle, and lung.
Patient Race, Reported Problems in Using Glaucoma Medications, and Adherence

Objective. The objectives of the study were to (a) describe various factors potentially related to objectively measured adherence to glaucoma medications and self-reported glaucoma medication adherence self-efficacy and (b) examine the relationship between patient race, the number of patient reported-problems, and adherence in taking their glaucoma medication. This was a cross-sectional study conducted at two glaucoma subspecialist referral ophthalmology practices. Methods. We measured subjects' reported problems in using glaucoma medications, adherence to glaucoma medications utilizing the Medication Events Monitoring System (MEMS) devices, and general glaucoma medication adherence self-efficacy using a previously validated 10-item scale. Multivariable logistic and linear regression was used to analyze the data. Results. Seventy-one percent of patients self-reported at least one problem in using their glaucoma medications. White patients were more than 3 times more likely to be 80% adherent in using their glaucoma medications than non-White patients. Patients who had glaucoma longer reported significantly higher glaucoma medication adherence self-efficacy. Patients who reported more problems in using their medications had significantly lower glaucoma medication adherence self-efficacy. Conclusions. Eye care providers should assess patient reported problems and glaucoma medication adherence self-efficacy and work with patients to find ways to reduce the number of problems that patients experience to increase their self-efficacy in using glaucoma medications.
Clark--Ocone formula and variational representation for Poisson functionals

In this paper we first prove a Clark--Ocone formula for any bounded measurable functional on Poisson space. Then using this formula, under some conditions on the intensity measure of Poisson random measure, we prove a variational representation formula for the Laplace transform of bounded Poisson functionals, which has been conjectured by Dupuis and Ellis [A Weak Convergence Approach to the Theory of Large Deviations (1997) Wiley], p. 122.
Asymmetric projections of the arcuate fasciculus to the temporal cortex underlie lateralized language function in the human brain

The arcuate fasciculus (AF) in the human brain has asymmetric structural properties. However, the topographic organization of the asymmetric AF projections to the cortex and its relevance to cortical function remain unclear. Here we mapped the posterior projections of the human AF in the inferior parietal and lateral temporal cortices using surface-based structural connectivity analysis based on diffusion MRI and investigated their hemispheric differences. We then performed the cross-modal comparison with functional connectivity based on resting-state functional MRI (fMRI) and task-related cortical activation based on fMRI using a semantic classification task of single words. Structural connectivity analysis showed that the left AF connecting to Broca's area predominantly projected in the lateral temporal cortex extending from the posterior superior temporal gyrus to the mid part of the superior temporal sulcus and the middle temporal gyrus, whereas the right AF connecting to the right homolog of Broca's area predominantly projected to the inferior parietal cortex extending from the mid part of the supramarginal gyrus to the anterior part of the angular gyrus. The left-lateralized projection regions of the AF in the left temporal cortex had asymmetric functional connectivity with Broca's area, indicating structure-function concordance through the AF. During the language task, left-lateralized cortical activation was observed. Among them, the brain responses in the temporal cortex and Broca's area that were connected through the left-lateralized AF pathway were specifically correlated across subjects. These results suggest that the human left AF, which structurally and functionally connects the mid temporal cortex and Broca's area in asymmetrical fashion, coordinates the cortical activity in these remote cortices during a semantic decision task. The unique feature of the left AF is discussed in the context of the human capacity for language.
Supporting location-awareness in open distributed systems

Mobile computers and communication devices are establishing themselves as ubiquitous features of daily life. This development is linked to tremendous growth in the number and sophistication of mobile and mobile-aware software applications. Increasingly, such applications need access to information about their own and other objects' physical locations, a requirement known as location-awareness. Existing location-aware applications and systems are typically tailored to a particular type of positioning technology. This is unsatisfactory considering that no technology provides ubiquitous coverage. Equally, there are few accepted models and abstractions for building location-aware applications, making their design and implementation costly and error-prone. Location-awareness raises legitimate concerns about personal and organisational privacy. These vary widely across administrative and application domains. Hence, there is a need to nd a model allowing a balance between protection and functionality as appropriate for a particular target environment. The functionality and structure of a location-aware system fundamentally depends on the location model employed. In this thesis, we argue that a formally speci ed location model facilitates design and implementation of such systems. Also, location-awareness generally cannot be achieved autonomously but requires support by a location service, tracking physical location of objects, and optionally providing location prediction, access control and other functions. Inevitably, location service and location model are closely intertwined. This work presents a model of location information, the components of a location service to support it, and an architecture-independent protection model. Our approach is characterised by the following orthogonal principles: A global, general location service provides a ubiquitous infra-structure for locationaware applications, A hierarchical, semi-symbolic location model forms the basis of the service's functionality and structure, Location privacy is protected by policy-based access control. The applicability of the model is supported by an implementation of a general location service prototype.
Novel Assay Using Total Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) Core Antigen quantification for Diagnosis of HCV Infection in Dialysis Patients

ABSTRACT Dialysis patients remain a high-risk group for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. The current diagnosis of HCV infection among dialysis patients includes serological assays and nucleic acid amplification technology (NAT) for assessing serum anti-HCV antibody and HCV viremia, respectively. However, current NAT techniques are expensive and labor-intensive and often lack standardization. An assay prototype designed to detect and quantify total HCV core antigen (total HCV core Ag) protein in serum and plasma in the presence or absence of anti-HCV antibodies has been recently developed. A comparison between a total anti-HCV core Ag enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and a quantitative HCV RNA assay based on reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR) (Amplicor HCV Monitor test) was performed using a large (n = 305) cohort of ELISA HCV 3.0 HCV-negative and -positive patients on maintenance dialysis. The concentrations of HCV core Ag and HCV RNA levels (measured by RT-PCR) were significantly correlated (r = 0.471, P = 0.0001) over a wide range of HCV RNA levels and were maintained among different HCV genotypes (HCV genotype 1, r = 0.862, P = 0.0001; HCV genotype 2, r = 0.691, P = 0.0001). We estimated that 1 pg of total HCV core Ag per ml is equivalent to approximately 19.952 IU of HCV RNA per ml, even if the wide range in the ratio of core Ag to HCV RNA (95% confidence intervals, 2.8 × 103 to 1.6 × 105 IU/ml) precluded definitive conclusions. In summary, total HCV core Ag proved to be useful for performing HCV RNA measurement among dialysis patients in routine laboratories without the need for special equipment or training. The present study supports the use of the total anti-HCV core Ag ELISA for assessing viral load among dialysis patients with HCV infection.
Wear and Mechanical Properties of Nano-silica-fused Whisker Composites

Resin composites must be improved if they are to overcome the high failure rates in large stress-bearing posterior restorations. This study aimed to improve wear resistance via nano-silica-fused whiskers. It was hypothesized that nano-silica-fused whiskers would significantly improve composite mechanical properties and wear resistance. Nano-silicas were fused onto whiskers and incorporated into a resin at mass fractions of 0%-74%. Fracture toughness (mean ± SD; n = 6) was 2.92 ± 0.14 MPa•m½ for whisker composite with 74% fillers, higher than 1.13 ± 0.19 MPa•m½ for a prosthetic control, and 0.95 ± 0.11 MPa•m½ for an inlay/onlay control (Tukey’s at 0.95). A whisker composite with 74% fillers had a wear depth of 77.7 ± 6.9 μm, less than 118.0 ± 23.8 μm of an inlay/onlay control, and 172.5 ± 15.4 μm of a prosthetic control (p < 0.05). Linear correlations were established between wear and hardness, modulus, strength, and toughness, with R = 0.95–0.97. Novel nano-silica-fused whisker composites possessed high toughness and wear resistance with smooth worn surfaces, and may be useful in large stress-bearing restorations.
Electro-mechanical properties of knitted wearable sensors: Part 2 – Parametric study and experimental verification

An optimization design simulating the electro-mechanical property of the conductive elastic knitted fabric is built based on a loops structure under biaxial extensions. A computer program can give the fabric equivalent resistance, which is obtained by solving the circuit network equations. So, it can simplify the computational process immensely. In order to simplify the calculation of the contacting forces on the overlapped yarns, two hooked yarns are used to represent the loop configurations. From the theoretical analysis and experimental investigations, it is found that the resistance changing due to the yarn segment transfer is the key factor for the sensitivity of elastic fabric sensors. This makes the resistance linear increasing with the strain increasing. Analysis of the experimental results show that change in the resistance of a fabric sensor due to the contact resistance has a minor contribution to the sensitivity of the sensor in the large-strain regime. Also, the fabric structure and the yarn elongating affect the characteristics of the fabric sensor.
How Do Vision and Hearing Impact Pedestrian Time-to-Arrival Judgments?

Purpose To determine how accurate normally sighted male and female pedestrians were at making time-to-arrival (TTA) judgments of approaching vehicles when using just their hearing or both their hearing and vision. Methods Ten male and 14 female subjects with confirmed normal vision and hearing estimated the TTA of approaching vehicles along an unsignalized street under two sensory conditions: (1) using both habitual vision and hearing and (2) using habitual hearing only. All subjects estimated how long the approaching vehicle would take to reach them (i.e., the TTA). The actual TTA of vehicles was also measured using custom-made sensors. The error in TTA judgments for each subject under each sensory condition was calculated as the difference between the actual and estimated TTA. A secondary timing experiment was also conducted to adjust each subject’s TTA judgments for their “internal metronome. ” Results Error in TTA judgments changed significantly as a function of both the actual TTA (p < 0.0001) and sensory condition (p < 0.0001). Although no main effect for gender was found (p = 0.19), the way the TTA judgments varied within each sensory condition for each gender was different (p < 0.0001). Females tended to be as accurate under either condition (p ≥ 0.01), with the exception of TTA judgments made when the actual TTA was 2 seconds or less and 8 seconds or longer, during which the vision-and-hearing condition was more accurate (p ⩽ 0.002). Males made more accurate TTA judgments under the hearing only condition for actual TTA values 5 seconds or less (p < 0.0001), after which there were no significant differences between the two conditions (p ≥ 0.01). Conclusions Our data suggest that males and females use visual and auditory information differently when making TTA judgments. Although the sensory condition did not affect the females’ accuracy in judgments, males initially tended to be more accurate when using their hearing only.
Free radical scavenging, cytotoxic, and hemolytic activities of an active antioxidant compound ethyl gallate from leaves of Acacia nilotica (L.) Wild. Ex. Delile subsp. indica (Benth.) Brenan.

UNLABELLED In the present study, free radical scavenging, cytotoxic, and hemolytic activities of the polyphenolic compound ethyl gallate isolated from ethanol extract of Acacia nilotica Wild. Ex. Del. leaves were determined. The free radical-scavenging activities of the ethyl gallate were demonstrated in several in vitro assays in order to evaluate the possible antioxidant mechanism. The results revealed ethyl gallate as hydrogen donor, metal chelator, and free radical scavenger. Ethyl gallate was effective in scavenging 1,1-Diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radicals and the IC₅₀ value was lower than all the positive controls used in this study. Deoxyribose degradation assay revealed that ethyl gallate had more iron-chelating ability than the direct hydroxyl radical-scavenging ability. The results of the cytotoxic study revealed that the compound was moderately active and IC₅₀ value was found to be >100 μg/mL for Vero cell lines and 72 μg/mL for Hela cell lines. The compound possessed no hemolytic activity against rat and human erythrocytes revealing its cytotoxic mechanism and nontoxicity. The results from this work will provide an important information for the food and pharmacological industries with respect to the use of the compound as an antioxidant and a health-related drug. PRACTICAL APPLICATION Antioxidant from plant sources is safe to use, as compared to synthetic products. It also can be used as a supplement to alleviate most of the diseases because of its free radical-scavenging activity.
α-min: A Compact Approximate Solver For Finite-Horizon POMDPs

In many POMDP applications in computational sustainability, it is important that the computed policy have a simple description, so that it can be easily interpreted by stakeholders and decision makers. One measure of simplicity for POMDP value functions is the number of α-vectors required to represent the value function. Existing POMDP methods seek to optimize the accuracy of the value function, which can require a very large number of α-vectors. This paper studies methods that allow the user to explore the tradeoff between the accuracy of the value function and the number of α-vectors. Building on previous point-based POMDP solvers, this paper introduces a new algorithm (α-min) that formulates a Mixed Integer Linear Program (MILP) to calculate approximate solutions for finite-horizon POMDP problems with limited numbers of α-vectors. At each time-step, α-min calculates α-vectors to greedily minimize the gap between current upper and lower bounds of the value function. In doing so, good upper and lower bounds are quickly reached allowing a good approximation of the problem with few α-vectors. Experimental results show that α-min provides good approximate solutions given a fixed number of α-vectors on small benchmark problems, on a larger randomly generated problem, as well as on a computational sustainability problem to best manage the endangered Sumatran tiger.
Preventive Effect of Boiogito on Metabolic Disorders in the TSOD Mouse, a Model of Spontaneous Obese Type II Diabetes Mellitus

“Boiogito” is a Kampo preparation which has been used since ancient times in patients with obesity of the “asthenic constitution” type, so-called “watery obesity”, and its effect has been recognized clinically. In this study, we investigated the anti-obesity effect of Boiogito in the TSOD (Tsumura Suzuki Obese Diabetes) mouse, a model of spontaneous obese type II diabetes mellitus. Boiogito showed a significant anti-obesity effect in TSOD mice by suppressing body weight gain in a dosage-dependent manner. In addition, Boiogito showed significant ameliorative effects on features of metabolic syndrome such as hyperinsulinemia, fasting hyperglycemia and abnormal lipid metabolism. Regarding lipid accumulation in TSOD mice, Boiogito showed a significant suppressive effect on accumulation of subcutaneous fat, but the effect on the visceral fat accumulation that constitutes the basis of metabolic syndrome was weak, and the suppressive effect on insulin resistance was also weak. Furthermore, Boiogito did not alleviate the abnormal glucose tolerance, the hypertension or the peripheral neuropathy characteristically developed in the TSOD mice. In contrast, in the TSNO (Tsumura Suzuki Non-Obesity) mice used as controls, Boiogito suppressed body weight gain and accumulation of subcutaneous and visceral fat. The above results suggested that Boiogito is effective as an anti-obesity drug against obesity of the “asthenic constitution” type in which subcutaneous fat accumulates, but cannot be expected to exert a preventive effect against various symptoms of metabolic syndrome that are based on visceral fat accumulation.
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1  Abstract—When robots serve in such urban areas as shopping malls, they will often be required to approach people in order to initiate service. This paper presents a technique for human-robot interaction that enables a robot to approach people who are passing through an environment. For successful approach, our proposed planner first searches for a target person at public distance zones with anticipating his/her future position and behavior. It chooses a person who does not seem busy and can be reached from a frontal direction. Once the robot successfully approaches the person within the social distance zone, it identifies the person's reaction and provides a timely response by coordinating its body orientation. The system was tested in a shopping mall and compared with a simple approaching method. The result demonstrates a significant improvement in approaching performance; the simple method was only 35.1% successful, whereas the proposed technique showed a success rate of 55.9%.