Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Real-Time Measurement of Face Recognition in Rapid Serial Visual Presentation

Event-related potentials (ERPs) have been used extensively to study the processes involved in recognition memory. In particular, the early familiarity component of recognition has been linked to the FN400 (mid-frontal negative deflection between 300 and 500 ms), whereas the recollection component has been linked to a later positive deflection over the parietal cortex (500–800 ms). In this study, we measured the ERPs elicited by faces with varying degrees of familiarity. Participants viewed a continuous sequence of faces with either low (novel faces), medium (celebrity faces), or high (faces of friends and family) familiarity while performing a separate face-identification task. We found that the level of familiarity was significantly correlated with the magnitude of both the early and late recognition components. Additionally, by using a single-trial classification technique, applied to the entire evoked response, we were able to distinguish between familiar and unfamiliar faces with a high degree of accuracy. The classification of high versus low familiarly resulted in areas under the curve of up to 0.99 for some participants. Interestingly, our classifier model (a linear discriminant function) was developed using a completely separate object categorization task on a different population of participants.
Pathogenesis and Treatment of Acne in Childhood

Abstract: Acne occurs more frequently in newborns and infants than one would gather from written accounts. Acne neonatorum tends to be overlooked because it is usually minor and transient. In contrast, acne infantum, which generally does not make its appearance until after 3 months of life, is more serious. Even acne conglobata may develop in infants. There are many other types of acne in childhood reflecting different pathogenetic mechanisms; included in this group are acne venenata infantum, steroid acne, hormonal disturbances, and toxic reactions.
Upregulation of the CD40/CD40 Ligand Dyad and Platelet-Monocyte Aggregation in Cigarette Smokers

Background—Smoking is a potent cardiovascular risk factor and is associated with proinflammatory and prothrombotic responses. The CD40/CD40 ligand (CD40L) dyad and platelet-monocyte aggregation mediate a range of proinflammatory and prothrombotic processes thought to be important in atherothrombosis. We investigated whether expression of the CD40/CD40L dyad and platelet-monocyte aggregation are altered in cigarette smokers. Methods and Results—C-reactive protein (CRP), soluble (s) CD40L, and surface expression of CD40L on platelets and T cells and of CD40 on monocytes and platelet-monocyte aggregates were compared in 25 cigarette smokers and 25 age-and gender-matched nonsmokers. Cigarette smokers had increased serum CRP (2.47±2.60 versus 0.94±0.96 mg/L, P =0.008) and appeared to have elevated plasma sCD40L (0.8±1.09 versus 0.37±0.21 ng/mL, P =0.07) concentrations. Smokers also had increased surface expression of CD40 on monocytes (45.9±7.7% versus 39.9±6.5%, P =0.006), of CD40L on platelets (2.9±1.0% versus 2.3±0.6%, P =0.03), and of platelet-monocyte aggregates (26.6±10.9% versus 19.7±8.6%, P =0.02). Plasma cotinine concentrations correlated with monocyte CD40 expression, platelet CD40L expression, and platelet-monocyte aggregates. Conclusions—Cigarette smokers have upregulation of the CD40/CD40L dyad and platelet-monocyte aggregation that may account for the atherothrombotic consequences of this major cardiovascular risk factor.
Association of α1A adrenergic receptor gene variants on chromosome 8p21 with human stage 2 hypertension

Objective and design We previously reported a significant linkage between human chromosome 8p22 with essential hypertension and systolic blood pressure levels. On the basis of this, we used an efficient age, sex and area-matched case–control scheme to test the association of the polymorphisms in the human α1A adrenergic receptor (ADRA1A) gene, located on chromosome 8p21–p11.2, with essential hypertension in a northern Han Chinese population. Methods Seven polymorphisms were identified by direct sequencing of genomic DNA derived from 48 randomly recruited hypertensive and 48 healthy subjects. They were also examined for association with essential hypertension in 480 stage 2 hypertensive individuals and their individually matched controls. Results We observed significantly higher frequencies of the 347Arg allele and 2547G alleles in the cases compared with their controls (P = 0.04 and 0.007, respectively). McNemar's test revealed that carriers of 2547G alleles were at a greater risk of essential hypertension with an odds ratio of 3.00 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.23–8.35]. We then performed a conditional logistic regression to adjust the effects of conventional risk factors, revealing an odds ratio of 2.84 for carriers of the 2547G allele (95% CI 1.15–6.99). With the haplotypic probabilities estimated using PHASE software, we performed haplotype trend regression analysis, showing a significant association between haplotype 7 and essential hypertension (P = 0.02), after adjustment for conventional risk factors. Conclusions Our findings suggest that the genetic variations in the ADRA1A gene are significantly associated with essential hypertension, and may play an important role in the development of essential hypertension in this Chinese population.
An examination of the role of prestige in cultural evolution with the aid of Agent Based Modelling

Current research shows that natural selection favours evolved capacities in distinguishing the most successful individuals and copying the skills, beliefs and behaviours that contribute to their success. Prestige is an indication of success, attributed to individuals by their social environment. Prestige-biased infocopying is adaptive because it greatly reduces the effort required to obtain the knowledge and skills necessary for survival and reproduction in complex environments. The prestigious share their knowledge because they benefit from the formation of a social environment where information is freely available. Identifying the successful is a complicated process for which a variety of heuristics, such as age, appearance and number of offspring are employed. Using agent based modelling, we demonstrate the adaptiveness of prestige bias and we evaluate some of the heuristics used to show that age, for example, although it improves the quality of the model selection, is nevertheless misguiding, if blindly trusted. Similarly, we show that conformity bias is useful only when no better information is available. Finally, we illustrate that prestige biased learning and the existence of prestige hierarchies speed up the propagation of information but, at the same time, allow maladaptive information to persist and spread. Acknowledgements Many thanks to Dr. Joanna Bryson for the original idea and the active support throughout this project. Her open-mindedness and her genuine interest for scientific truth have impressed and motivated me. Thanks also to Avri Bilovich whose work on a similar project was very instructive and also very useful as a starting point. Finally, many thanks to Stella, who spent many hours of her life discussing about evolution with me. Many of the ideas that can be found in this text originated in those lengthy conversations.
The Macrolide Resistance Genes erm(B) and mef(E) Are Carried by Tn2010 in Dual-Gene Streptococcus pneumoniae Isolates Belonging to Clonal Complex CC271

ABSTRACT The genetic elements carrying macrolide resistance genes in Streptococcus pneumoniae isolates belonging to CC271 were investigated. The international clone Taiwan19F-14 was found to carry Tn2009, a Tn916-like transposon containing tet(M) and mef(E). The dual erm(B) mef(E) isolates carried Tn2010, which is similar to Tn2009 with the addition of a putative new transposon, the erm(B) genetic element.
Effect of Fibrin Adhesive Application in Microvascular Anastomosis: A Comparative Experimental Study

Background: Microvascular anastomosis is the most critical step during free flap transfers or replantations. Although the conventional suture is still considered the standard technique, it is technically difficult, time consuming, and traumatic to the vessel wall. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of fibrin adhesive to overcome these problems when applied in microvascular anastomosis. Methods: Sixty-eight Wistar rats were used in this study. Eight animals were used in a pilot study to determine the minimum amount of suture stitches required per anastomosis when the fibrin adhesive was applied. In the definitive study, we performed 30 anastomoses in the femoral artery and 30 anastomoses in the carotid artery. In each artery, half of the anastomoses were performed using interrupted sutures without fibrin adhesive (control groups), and the other half were performed using fibrin adhesive and fewer sutures (experimental groups). Results: The application of fibrin adhesive significantly reduced the number of sutures and the time taken to perform the anastomosis. The anastomotic bleeding was also significantly reduced in both experimental groups. The immediate and late patency rates were not compromised by fibrin glue application. No significant differences were observed in the histologic analysis of the anastomosed vessels between the two techniques. Conclusions: The application of fibrin adhesive did not result in any harmful effects in the microvascular anastomosis. The authors encourage the clinical application of fibrin adhesive in more complex cases, when more than one microvascular anastomosis is required.
Functional Connectivity Hubs and Networks in the Awake Marmoset Brain

In combination with advances in analytical methods, resting-state fMRI is allowing unprecedented access to a better understanding of the network organization of the brain. Increasing evidence suggests that this architecture may incorporate highly functionally connected nodes, or “hubs”, and we have recently proposed local functional connectivity density (lFCD) mapping to identify highly-connected nodes in the human brain. Here, we imaged awake nonhuman primates to test whether, like the human brain, the marmoset brain contains FC hubs. Ten adult common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus) were acclimated to mild, comfortable restraint using individualized helmets. Following restraint training, resting BOLD data were acquired during eight consecutive 10 min scans for each subject. lFCD revealed prominent cortical and subcortical hubs of connectivity across the marmoset brain; specifically, in primary and secondary visual cortices (V1/V2), higher-order visual association areas (A19M/V6[DM]), posterior parietal and posterior cingulate areas (PGM and A23b/A31), thalamus, dorsal and ventral striatal areas (caudate, putamen, lateral septal nucleus, and anterior cingulate cortex (A24a). lFCD hubs were highly connected to widespread areas of the brain, and further revealed significant network-network interactions. These data provide a baseline platform for future investigations in a nonhuman primate model of the brain’s network topology.
The Unbounded Dead-end Depth Property Is not a Group Invariant

The dead-end depth of an element g of a group with finite generating set is the distance from g to the complement of the radius closed ball, in the word metric . We exhibit a finitely presented group K with two finite generating sets and such that dead-end depth is unbounded on K with respect to but is bounded above by three with respect to .
Evidence for a Creative Dilemma Posed by Repeated Collaborations

We focused on how repeat collaborations in projects for inventions affect performance. Repeat collaborations have two contradictory aspects. A positive aspect is team development or experience, and a negative aspect is team degeneration or decline. Since both contradicting phenomena are observed, inventors have a dilemma as to whether they should keep collaborating in a team or not. The dilemma has not previously been quantitatively analyzed. We provide quantitative and extensive analyses of the dilemma in creative projects by using patent data from Japan and the United States. We confirm three predictions to quantitatively validate the existence of the dilemma. The first prediction is that the greater the patent a team achieves, the longer the team will work together. The second prediction is that the impact of consecutive patents decreases after a team makes a remarkable invention, which is measured by the impact of patents. The third prediction is that the expectation of impact with new teams is greater than that with the same teams successful in the past. We find these predictions are validated in patents published in Japan and the United States. On the basis of these three predictions, we can quantitatively validate the dilemma in creative projects. We also propose preventive strategies for degeneration. One is developing technological diversity, and another is developing inventor diversity in teams. We find the two strategies are both effective by validating with the data.
Bracing the human body with supernumerary Robotic Limbs for physical assistance and load reduction

A new approach to physically assisting the human with a wearable robot is presented. Supernumerary Robotic Limbs (SRLs) attached to the human waist support the body efficiently when the human is taking fatiguing postures, e.g. hunching over, squatting, or reaching the ceiling. Unlike a leg exoskeleton, where powered joints are attached to the human joints and are constrained to move together with the human limb, the SRL can take an arbitrary posture to maximize the load bearing efficiency. Taking a near-singular configuration, the SRL can bear a large load with small power consumption. First, the “bracing” strategy for supporting the human body is described, followed by a mathematical analysis of the load bearing efficiency. The optimal SRL posture and joint torques are then obtained in order to minimize the human load. Numerical and experimental results using a prototype of the SRL demonstrate the effectiveness of the method.
Abnormal cranial magnetic resonance imaging scans in sickle-cell disease. Neurological correlates and clinical implications.

OBJECTIVE Eight asymptomatic patients with sickle-cell disease (SCD) with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) abnormalities consistent with cerebral infarcts (group 1) and eight asymptomatic patients with SCD with normal MRI scans (group 2) were followed up to assess the neurological correlates and the clinical outcome. DESIGN Patients in the two cohorts underwent clinical evaluations and xenon 133 regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) studies within 1 month of the entry MRI. This study sequence was repeated up to 5 years later. Neuropsychological studies also were performed in six group 1 patients and eight group 2 patients at the end of the study. SETTING The patients were recruited from the Comprehensive Sickle Cell Center at Columbia University, New York, NY. PATIENTS All patients had SCD, hemoglobin SS, and normal findings on clinical evaluation at entry. The group 1 cohort had clinically silent MRI abnormalities consistent with cerebral infarction. The group 2 cohort was age matched to group 1 and had normal MRI studies. INTERVENTIONS None. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE The natural history of MRI abnormalities and the neurological correlates were assessed to determine the predictive value of subclinical MRI lesions as a risk factor for clinically apparent stroke. RESULTS The mean duration of MRI follow-up was 3.7 years. In group 1, four patients (50%) demonstrated progressive MRI abnormalities and three patients (38%) became clinically symptomatic. In group 2, findings for all patients remained normal on clinical and radiological examination. Both groups had markedly elevated rCBF values. Individual rCBF differences correlated with the specific MRI abnormalities. The psychometric study results were similar in the two cohorts. Eighty-three percent of group 1 and 88% of group 2 patients had defective scores in one or more areas of cognitive functioning. Three patients met cognitive criteria for dementia. CONCLUSIONS Cranial MRI abnormalities have important prognostic implications even when detected in clinically asymptomatic patients. Cognitive abnormalities exist in patients with SCD even in the absence of MRI abnormalities or clinical stroke.
Vehicle tracking using vehicular network beacons

Location privacy is one of the main challenges in vehicular ad hoc networks (VANET), which aims to protect vehicles from being tracked. Most of research work concerns changing pseudonyms efficiently to avoid linking messages through them. However, the sensitive information the vehicles send periodically in beacons make them vulnerable to tracking even if beacons are totally anonymous. In this paper, we used the nearest neighbor probabilistic data association (NNPDA) technique to track vehicles through information sent in anonymous beacons. We evaluated the implemented tracker against different vehicle densities, speeds, beacon rates, random noises and packet delivery ratios. The achieved tracking accuracy asserts the necessity of securing beacon messages from global observer attacks.
Supracondylar Osteotomies of Posttraumatic Distal Humeral Deformities in Young Adults - Technique and Results

Background: Cubitus varus deformity is the most common late complication after distal humeral fractures in children. Typical symptoms are increasing instability especially the posterolateral rotatory instability (POLRI), lateral elbow pain and cosmetic problems. Different ways of correction have been described but a gold standard has not yet been established. Methods: In this study the clinical outcome 6,5 months after supracondylar closed wedge osteotomy stabilized with locking plates in four young adults was investigated: three with a posttraumatic varus deformity and one with a posttraumatic valgus deformity of the distal humerus. Results: All patients showed good or excellent results in the Mayo Elbow Performance Score (MEPS) and the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand score (DASH). In one case, a revision because of a delayed union was necessary, in another case a preexisting pseudarthrosis of the radial epicondyle remained. Neither a residual instability of the elbow joint, nor any significant prominence of the lateral epicondyle was observed. Conclusion: The supracondylar closed wedge osteotomy stabilized by a locking plate is an effective procedure for the correction of posttraumatic distal humerus deformities in young adults with good final functional results.
The Pasting and Gel Textural Properties of Corn Starch in Glucose, Fructose and Maltose Syrup

The pasting and gel textural properties of corn starch in syrup at different concentrations were investigated by Rapid Visco Analyzer (RVA) and Texture profile analysis (TPA) tests. The results showed that the pasting temperatures of corn starch greatly increased, especially at higher sugar concentration. Increasing concentration of syrup caused an increase in peak, trough and final viscosity of corn starch. Peak viscosity and the disintegration rate of starch increased in the following order: fructose syrup> maltose syrup> glucose syrup. Increasing syrup concentration to 13%, 25% and 50% resulted in a lower retrogradation rate than the control. When the maltose syrup concentration increased to 50%, the retrogradation rate decreased to 14.30% from 33.38%. The highest hardness was observed when the syrup concentration was 25%. There was a particular low hardness when the concentration of syrup was 50%. The springiness of starch gels in syrup was similar at different concentrations.
Early and Long‐Term Effects of Electroconvulsive Therapy and Depression on Memory and Other Cognitive Functions

Twenty-seven medication-free, depressed patients (Research Diagnostic Criteria, endogenous subtype) were administered a comprehensive battery testing memory and other cognitive functions before and after a series of bilateral, brief-pulse electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) administered according to a dosage-titration procedure (8.9 \Pm 1.981 treatments). A subset of patients (N = 14) were reexamined at 1 month and 6 months after the conclusion of the treatment. Anterograde (verbal and visuospatial tasks), as well as retrograde (famous and personal events), memory function was significantly impaired at the end of the ECT series. By 1 month follow-up, performance had improved to pre-ECT (depression) levels on both anterograde and retrograde tasks and exceeded these by 6 months. The memory deficits induced by ECT were not a consequence of generalized cognitive impairment. Furthermore, depression and ECT were shown to independently affect memory, and recovery from depression was not a consequence of the amnestic action of the treatment. The results generally confirm previous reports regarding the nature of ECT-induced memory impairment, in a different language and culture. They suggest that long-term effects of the treatment on memory are even less prominent than previously observed.
Rethinking nationhood: nation as institutionalized form, practical category, contingent event

Most discussions of nationhood are discussions of nations . Nations are understood as real entities, as communities, as substantial, enduring collectivities. That they exist is taken for granted, although how they exist – and how they came to exist – is much disputed. A similar realism of the group long prevailed in many areas of sociology and kindred disciplines. Yet in the last decade or so, at least four developments in social theory have combined to undermine the treatment of groups as real, substantial entities. The first is the growing interest in network forms, the flourishing of network theory, and the increasing use of network as an overall orienting image or metaphor in social theory. Second, there is the challenge posed by theories of rational action, with their relentless methodological individualism, to realist understandings of groupness. The third development is a shift from broadly structuralist to a variety of more “constructivist” theoretical stances; while the former envisioned groups as enduring components of social structure, the latter see groupness as constructed, contingent, and fluctuating. Finally, an emergent postmodernist theoretical sensibility emphasizes the fragmentary, the ephemeral, and the erosion of fixed forms and clear boundaries. These developments are disparate, even contradictory. But they have converged in problematizing groupness, and in undermining axioms of stable group being.