Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation over the Medial Prefrontal Cortex and Left Primary Motor Cortex (mPFC-lPMC) Affects Subjective Beauty but Not Ugliness

Neuroaesthetics has been searching for the neural bases of the subjective experience of beauty. It has been demonstrated that neural activities in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and the left primary motor cortex (lPMC) correlate with the subjective experience of beauty. Although beauty and ugliness seem to be semantically and conceptually opposite, it is still unknown whether these two evaluations represent extreme opposites in unitary or bivariate dimensions. In this study, we applied transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) to examine whether non-invasive brain stimulation modulates two types of esthetic evaluation; evaluating beauty and ugliness. Participants rated the subjective beauty and ugliness of abstract paintings before and after the application of tDCS. Application of cathodal tDCS over the mPFC with anode electrode over the lPMC, which induced temporal inhibition of neural excitability of the mPFC, led to a decrease in beauty ratings but not ugliness ratings. There were no changes in ratings of both beauty and ugliness when applying anodal tDCS or sham stimulation over the mPFC. Results from our experiment indicate that the mPFC and the lPMC have a causal role in generating the subjective experience of beauty, with beauty and ugliness evaluations constituting two distinct dimensions.
The value of auditory offset adaptation and appropriate acoustic modeling

A critical step in encoding sound for neuronal processing occurs when the analog pressure wave is coded into discrete nerve-action potentials. Recent pool models of the inner hair cell synapse do not reproduce the dead time period after an intense stimulus, so we used visual inspection and automatic speech recognition (ASR) to investigate an offset adaptation (OA) model proposed by Zhang et al. [1]. OA improved phase locking in the auditory nerve (AN) and raised ASR accuracy for features derived from AN fibers (ANFs). We also found that OA is crucial for auditory processing by onset neurons (ONs) in the next neuronal stage, the auditory brainstem. Multi-layer perceptrons (MLPs) performed much better than standard Gaussian mixture models (GMMs) for both our ANF-based and ON-based auditory features. Similar results were previously obtained with MSG (Modulation-filtered SpectroGram) auditory features[2]. Thus we believe researchers working with novel features should consider trying MLPs.
A multicenter, randomized, vehicle-controlled phase 2 study of blue light photodynamic therapy with aminolevulinic acid HCl 20% topical solution for the treatment of actinic keratoses on the upper extremities: the effect of occlusion during the drug incubation period.

BACKGROUND Photodynamic therapy (PDT) with aminolevulinic acid (ALA) has been shown to be safe and effective in the treatment of actinic keratoses (AKs) of the face and scalp. A recent small study has suggested that ALA-PDT can be effective for AKs of the dorsal hands/forearms. However, studies designed to provide sufficient statistical power to test this hypothesis are lacking in the literature. OBJECTIVES To determine and compare the safety and efficacy of blue light ALA-PDT vs blue light placebo vehicle (VEH) in the treatment of AKs of the upper extremities and to evaluate the effect of occlusion after application of ALA vs VEH. METHODS ALA or VEH was applied to both dorsal hands/forearms for the 3-hour incubation period before blue light treatment (10 J/ cm2). One extremity of each subject was covered with occlusive dressing during the incubation period. Treatment was repeated at week 8 if any AK lesions remained. RESULTS The median AK lesion clearance rate at week 12 was 88.7% for extremities treated with occluded ALA (ALA+OCC), 70.0% for extremities treated with nonoccluded ALA, 16.7% for extremities treated with occluded VEH (VEH+OCC), and 5.6% for extremities treated with nonoccluded VEH (P<.0001). ALA+OCC resulted in a significantly higher clearance rate compared with the nonoccluded extremity at weeks 8 (P=.0006) and 12 (P=.0029). Thirty-four percent (12/35) of extremities treated with ALA+OCC had complete clearance of lesions at week 12 compared with 0% (0/35) of extremities treated with VEH+OCC (P=.0002). The safety pro! le in this study is consistent with previously reported side effects of the therapy. CONCLUSION Blue light ALA-PDT following a 3-hour incubation appears efficacious for AK clearance of the upper extremities. Incubation using an occlusive dressing significantly increases the efficacy of the procedure and also increases the incidence and severity of some acute inflammatory side effects of PDT.
Expectations, learning and the costs of disinflation: experiments using the FRB/US model

The costs of disinflation are explored using the Board's new sticky-price rational expectations macroeconometric model of the U.S. economy, FRB/US. The model nests both model consistent and `restricted-information rational' expectations. Monetary policy is governed by interest-rate reaction functions of which two are considered: the well-known Taylor rule and another rule that is more aggressive and richer in its specification, estimated using data for the last 15 years. Agents are required to learn of shifts of the inflation target using linear updating rules. The simulated costs of disinflation are compared with other estimates of sacrifice ratios.
Ecological and Evolutionary Physiology of Desert Birds: A Progress Report1

Abstract The adaptive significance of mechanisms of energy and water conservation among species of desert rodents, which avoid temperature extremes by remaining within a burrow during the day, is well established. Conventional wisdom holds that arid-zone birds, diurnal organisms that endure the brunt of their environment, occupy these desert climates because of the possession of physiological design features common to all within the class Aves. We review studies that show that desert birds may have evolved specific features to deal with hot desert conditions including: a reduced basal metabolic rate (BMR) and field metabolic rate (FMR), and lower total evaporative water loss (TEWL) and water turnover (WTO). Previous work on the comparative physiology of desert birds relied primarily on information gathered on species from the deserts of the southwestern U.S., which are semi-arid habitats of recent geologic origin. We include data on species from Old World deserts, which are geologically older than those in the New World, and place physiological responses along an aridity axis that includes mesic, semi-arid, arid, and hyperarid environments. The physiological differences between desert and mesic birds that we have identified using the comparative method could arise as a result of acclimation to different environments, of genetic change mediated by selection, or both. We present data on the flexibility of BMR and TEWL in Hoopoe Larks that suggest that phenotypic adjustments in these variables can be substantial. Finally, we suggest that linkages between the physiology of individual organism and its life-history are fundamental to the understanding of life-history evolution.
Expression-insensitive 3D face recognition using sparse representation

We present a face recognition method based on sparse representation for recognizing 3D face meshes under expressions using low-level geometric features. First, to enable the application of the sparse representation framework, we develop a uniform remeshing scheme to establish a consistent sampling pattern across 3D faces. To handle facial expressions, we design a feature pooling and ranking scheme to collect various types of low-level geometric features and rank them according to their sensitivities to facial expressions. By simply applying the sparse representation framework to the collected low-level features, our proposed method already achieves satisfactory recognition rates, which demonstrates the efficacy of the framework for 3D face recognition. To further improve results in the presence of severe facial expressions, we show that by choosing higher-ranked, i.e., expression-insensitive, features, the recognition rates approach those for neutral faces, without requiring an extensive set of reference faces for each individual to cover possible variations caused by expressions as proposed in previous work. We apply our face recognition method to the GavabDB and FRGC 2.0 databases and demonstrate encouraging results.
Biij Biomedical Imaging and Intervention Journal the Importance of Radiation Quality for Optimisation in Radiology

Selection of the appropriate radiation quality is an important aspect of optimisation for every clinical imaging task in radiology, since it affects both image quality and patient dose. Spreadsheet calculations of attenuation and absorption have been applied to basic imaging tasks to provide an assessment of imaging performance for a selection of phosphors used in radiology systems. Contrast, which is an important component of image quality affected by radiation quality, has been assessed in terms of the contrast to noise ratio (CNR) for a variety of X-ray beams. Both CNR and patient dose fall with tube potential, and selection of the best option is a compromise that will provide an adequate level of image quality with as low a radiation dose as practicable. It is important that systems are set up to match the response of the imaging phosphor, as there are significant differences between phosphors. For example, the sensitivity of barium fluorohalides used in computed radiography declines at higher tube potentials, whereas that of gadolinium oxysulphide used in rare earth screens increases. Addition of 0.2 mm copper filters, which can reduce patient entrance surface dose by 50%, may be advantageous for many applications in radiography and fluoroscopy. The disadvantage of adding copper is that tube output levels have to be increased. Application of simple calculations of the type employed here could prove useful for investigating and assessing the implications of potential changes in X-ray beam quality prior to implementation of new techniques.
Factors Affecting Definitions of and Approaches to Integrative Medicine: A Mixed Methods Study Examining China's Integrative Medicine Development

Aim. This study identifies existing definitions and approaches among China's integrative medicine (IM) experts and examines relationships with key characteristics distinguishing individual experts. Methods. Snowball sampling was used to select 73 IM experts for semistructured interviews. In this mixed methods study, we first identified definitions and approaches through analyzing core statements. Four key factors, including age, education, practice type, and working environment, were then chosen to evaluate the associations with the definitions. Results. Four unique definitions were identified, including IM as a “new medicine” (D1), as a combination of western medicine (WM) and Chinese medicine (CM) (D2), as a modernization of CM (D3), and as a westernization of CM (D4). D4 was mostly supported by those working in WM organizations, while D3 was more prominent from individuals working in CM organizations (P = 0.00004). More than 64% clinicians had D2 while only 1 (5.9%) nonclinician had D2. Only 1 clinician (1.8%) had D4 while almost 30% nonclinicians had D4 (P = 0.0001). Among nonclinicians working in WM organizations, 83.3% of them had D4 (P = 0.001). Conclusion. Findings indicate that institutional structure and practice type are factors affecting IM approaches. These results carry implications for the ways in which western countries move forward with the definition and implementation of IM.
Ranging behaviour and habitat usage in black rhinoceros, Diceros bicornis, in a Kenyan sanctuary

Home range area and habitat utilization by translocated black rhinoceros Diceros bicornis were studied at Sweetwaters Rhino Sanctuary in the Laikipia district of Kenya. Home ranges were estimated from sightings and tracking data; home range area was very variable between individuals (range 2.25‐14.39 km 2 , minimum convex polygons), and was independent of age or sex. Groups of rhinoceros shared common home ranges, with little or no overlap between groups; each group consisted of one adult male, one or more adult females and their calves, and sometimes immature animals. Rhinoceros utilize a variety of habitats, but within these show positive selection for certain habitats. Home ranges generally included more Euclea bush, and less grassland and Acacia bush than expected. Rhinoceros make use of regular resting places, or bedding sites, generally situated in bushland in secluded areas, often in dense thickets. Rhinoceros defaecate at dung piles or middens. Middens are located throughout the range not just on the boundaries; the highest density of middens was found in riverine woodland, and the lowest density in grassland and Acacia
Head trauma

SummarySociety continues to pay a high price for the toll taken by head trauma. Attention must be paid to preventing these injuries, especially involving motor vehicle accidents and bicycle accidents. Current treatment of serious head injuries demands skilled airway management in the field; rapid transfer to Pediatric Trauma Centers; meticulous attention to oxygenation, ventilation, and systemic perfusion during the resuscitation phase; rapid identification and early surgical management of mass lesions; and aggressive control of intracranial pressure. Our hopes lie in better programs for prevention, improved understanding of the dynamics of the ongoing neurologic injury both at the organ system and cellular levels, and improved programs in neurorehabilitation.
Mechanical and structural properties of YOYO-1 complexed DNA

YOYO-1 is a fluorescent dye widely used for probing the statistical–mechanical properties of DNA. However, currently contradicting data exist how YOYO-1 binding alters the DNA structure and rigidity. Here, we systematically address this problem using magnetic tweezers. Remarkably, we find that the persistence length of DNA remains constant independent of the amount of bound YOYO-1, which contrasts previous assumptions. While the ionic conditions can considerably alter the stability of YOYO-1 binding, the DNA bending rigidity seems not to be affected. We furthermore determine important structural parameters such as the binding site size, the elongation, as well as the untwisting angle per bound YOYO-1 molecule. We expect that our assay, in which all the parameters are determined within a single experiment, will be beneficial for a large range of other DNA binding drugs.
Altered Integration of Matrilin-3 into Cartilage Extracellular Matrix in the Absence of Collagen IX

ABSTRACT The matrilins are a family of four noncollagenous oligomeric extracellular matrix proteins with a modular structure. Matrilins can act as adapters which bridge different macromolecular networks. We therefore investigated the effect of collagen IX deficiency on matrilin-3 integration into cartilage tissues. Mice harboring a deleted Col9a1 gene lack synthesis of a functional protein and produce cartilage fibrils completely devoid of collagen IX. Newborn collagen IX knockout mice exhibited significantly decreased matrilin-3 and cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP) signals, particularly in the cartilage primordium of vertebral bodies and ribs. In the absence of collagen IX, a substantial amount of matrilin-3 is released into the medium of cultured chondrocytes instead of being integrated into the cell layer as in wild-type and COMP-deficient cells. Gene expression of matrilin-3 is not affected in the absence of collagen IX, but protein extraction from cartilage is greatly facilitated. Matrilin-3 interacts with collagen IX-containing cartilage fibrils, while fibrils from collagen IX knockout mice lack matrilin-3, and COMP-deficient fibrils exhibit an intermediate integration. In summary, the integration of matrilin-3 into cartilage fibrils occurs both by a direct interaction with collagen IX and indirectly with COMP serving as an adapter. Matrilin-3 can be considered as an interface component, capable of interconnecting macromolecular networks and mediating interactions between cartilage fibrils and the extrafibrillar matrix.
Sample Efficient Estimation and Recovery in Sparse FFT via Isolation on Average

The problem of computing the Fourier Transform of a signal whose spectrum is dominated by a small number k of frequencies quickly and using a small number of samples of the signal in time domain (the Sparse FFT problem) has received significant attention recently. It is known how to approximately compute the k-sparse Fourier transform in \approx k\log^2 n time [Hassanieh et alSTOC12], or using the optimal number O(k\log n) of samples [Indyk et alFOCS14] in time domain, or come within (\log\log n)^{O(1)} factors of both these bounds simultaneously, but no algorithm achieving the optimal O(k\log n) bound in sublinear time is known.At a high level, sublinear time Sparse FFT algorithms operate by hashing the spectrum of the input signal into \approx k buckets, identifying frequencies that are isolated in their buckets, subtracting them from the signal and repeating until the entire signal is recovered. The notion of isolation in a bucket, inspired by applications of hashing in sparse recovery with arbitrary linear measurements, has been the main tool in the analysis of Fourier hashing schemes in the literature. However, Fourier hashing schemes, which are implemented via filtering, tend to be noisy in the sense that a frequency that hashes into a bucket contributes a non-negligible amount to neighboring buckets. This leakage to neighboring buckets makes identification and estimation challenging, and the standard analysis based on isolation becomes difficult to use without losing &#x03A9;(1) factors in sample complexity.In this paper we propose a new technique for analysing noisy hashing schemes that arise in Sparse FFT, which we refer to as isolation on average}. We apply this technique to two problems in Sparse FFT: estimating the values of a list of frequencies using few samples and computing Sparse FFT itself, achieving sample-optimal results in k\log^{O(1)} n time for both. We feel that our approach will likely be of interest in designing Fourier sampling schemes for more general settings (e.g. model based Sparse FFT).
Polypropylene (PP) Composites Reinforced with Stinging Nettle (Utrica dioica L.) Fiber

Composites obtained from polypropylene (PP) and nettle fibers were manufactured by an extrusion method. The samples for mechanical and structural testing (by Wide Angle X-ray Scattering (WAXS) and Differential Scanning Callorymetry (DSC) methods) were obtained by an injection molding method. The tests showed that PP composites reinforced with nettle fiber show satisfactory properties and confirmed usefulness of nettle fibers as a reinforcement material. It was found that nettle fiber shows strong properties nucleating the growth of crystalline structures in the PP matrix. In addition, the presence of hexagonal forms in PP matrix was found in the samples obtained by injection molding.
NITROGEN ISOTOPIC FRACTIONATION IN INTERSTELLAR AMMONIA

Using the Green Bank Telescope, we have obtained accurate measurements of the 14N/15N isotopic ratio in ammonia in two nearby cold, dense molecular clouds, Barnard 1 and NGC 1333. The 14N/15N ratio in Barnard 1, 334 ± 50 (3σ), is particularly well constrained and falls in between the local interstellar medium/proto-solar value of ∼450 and the terrestrial atmospheric value of 272. The NGC 1333 measurement is consistent with the Barnard 1 result, but has a larger uncertainty. We do not see evidence for the very high 15N enhancements seen in cometary CN. Sensitive observations of a larger, carefully selected sample of prestellar cores with varying temperatures and gas densities can significantly improve our understanding of the nitrogen fractionation in the local interstellar medium and its relation to the isotopic ratios measured in various solar system reservoirs.
Comparative Genomics of Emerging Human Ehrlichiosis Agents

Anaplasma (formerly Ehrlichia) phagocytophilum, Ehrlichia chaffeensis, and Neorickettsia (formerly Ehrlichia) sennetsu are intracellular vector-borne pathogens that cause human ehrlichiosis, an emerging infectious disease. We present the complete genome sequences of these organisms along with comparisons to other organisms in the Rickettsiales order. Ehrlichia spp. and Anaplasma spp. display a unique large expansion of immunodominant outer membrane proteins facilitating antigenic variation. All Rickettsiales have a diminished ability to synthesize amino acids compared to their closest free-living relatives. Unlike members of the Rickettsiaceae family, these pathogenic Anaplasmataceae are capable of making all major vitamins, cofactors, and nucleotides, which could confer a beneficial role in the invertebrate vector or the vertebrate host. Further analysis identified proteins potentially involved in vacuole confinement of the Anaplasmataceae, a life cycle involving a hematophagous vector, vertebrate pathogenesis, human pathogenesis, and lack of transovarial transmission. These discoveries provide significant insights into the biology of these obligate intracellular pathogens.
Ultra-low-power UWB for sensor network applications

Long distance, low data-rate UWB communication for sensor network applications requires a highly energy efficient transceiver combined with circuit and system-level optimizations to maximize range. A custom pulsed-UWB transceiver chipset in 90 nm CMOS is presented that targets these aggressive specifications. The transceiver efficiently communicates at data rates from 0-to-16.7 Mbps in three 550 MHz-wide channels in the 3.1 to 5 GHz band by using pulse position modulation (PPM). The transmitter uses an all-digital architecture and calibration technique to synthesize pulses with programmable width and center frequency. The non-coherent receiver operates at 0.65 V and performs channel selection Altering, energy detection, and bit-slicing. As FCC regulations limit the maximum transmit power of UWB communication, a run-length limiting technique is presented to reduce energy requirements when maximizing range at low data rates.