Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Distinct Patterns of Neural Activity during Memory Formation of Nonwords versus Words

Research into the neural underpinnings of memory formation has focused on the encoding of familiar verbal information. Here, we address how the brain supports the encoding of novel information that does not have meaning. Electrical brain activity was recorded from the scalps of healthy young adults while they performed an incidental encoding task (syllable judgments) on separate series of words and nonwords (nonsense letter strings that are orthographically legal and pronounceable). Memory for the items was then probed with a recognition memory test. For words as well as nonwords, event-related potentials differed depending on whether an item would subsequently be remembered or forgotten. However, the polarity and timing of the effect varied across item type. For words, subsequently remembered items showed the usually observed positive-going, frontally distributed modulation from around 600 msec after word onset. For nonwords, by contrast, a negative-going, spatially widespread modulation predicted encoding success from 1000 msec onward. Nonwords also showed a modulation shortly after item onset. These findings imply that the brain supports the encoding of familiar and unfamiliar letter strings in qualitatively different ways, including the engagement of distinct neural activity at different points in time. The processing of semantic attributes plays an important role in the encoding of words and the associated positive frontal modulation.
Content categorization based on implicit and explicit user feedback: Combining self-reports with EEG emotional state analysis

We present a study that combines and compares explicit (questionnaire-generated) and implicit (EEG-based) feedback from test subjects on perceptual dimensions of different types of audiovisual content. We found significant differences in importance and evaluation of perceptual-, viewer-and clip-related dimensions across a limited set of contents. The results suggest that additional bio-feedback data can help to increase validity and robustness of user feedback in Quality of Experience (QoE) and content categorization research.
An Investigation into Issues Influencing the Use of the Internet and Electronic Commerce among Small-Medium Sized Enterprises

Since small-medium sized enterprises (SMEs) play a vital role within many major economies throughout the world, their ability to successfully adopt and utilize the Internet and electronic commerce is of prime importance in ensuring their stability and future survival. This paper highlights some of the important issues identified by SME managers relating to the adoption of Internet related technology that government policy makers will have to address if their initiatives aimed at increasing adoption among SMEs are to succeed. Initial findings will be reported of a study carried out by the authors into the use made of the Internet and electronic commerce and key issues influencing its use by SMEs among a sample of 484 businesses within West Central Scotland. The study has drawn upon a number of data collection techniques such as questionnaires sent to 2,500 small businesses, in-depth face-to-face interviews and telephone interviews. With a base response rate of 20% the data reveals interesting details relating to actual connectivity levels, attitudes with regard to how small businesses perceive the Internet and electronic commerce, as well as the impact of government policy on Internet connectivity and adoption. The results gained from the study will be compared with figures relating to businesses in the rest of Scotland and the UK, as well as the US, Canada and Japan, and European countries that include Sweden, Germany, France and Italy. The issues raised from this study will be compared with similar studies carried out in other countries such as Australia, New Zealand and British Columbia, as well as countries within the European Union in order to provide a wider international context for the results of the study.
Photocatalytic Antibacterial Effects Are Maintained on Resin-Based TiO2 Nanocomposites after Cessation of UV Irradiation

Photocatalysis induced by TiO2 and UV light constitutes a decontamination and antibacterial strategy utilized in many applications including self-cleaning environmental surfaces, water and air treatment. The present work reveals that antibacterial effects induced by photocatalysis can be maintained even after the cessation of UV irradiation. We show that resin-based composites containing 20% TiO2 nanoparticles continue to provide a pronounced antibacterial effect against the pathogens Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Streptococcus pyogenes, Streptococcus mutans and Enterococcus faecalis for up to two hours post UV. For biomaterials or implant coatings, where direct UV illumination is not feasible, a prolonged antibacterial effect after the cessation of the illumination would offer new unexplored treatment possibilities.
MicroRNA functions in animal development and human disease

Five years into the `small RNA revolution' it is hard not to share in the excitement about the rapidly unravelling biology of microRNAs. Since the discovery of the first microRNA gene, lin-4, in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, many more of these short regulatory RNA genes have been identified in flowering plants, worms, flies, fish, frogs and mammals. Currently, about 2% of the known human genes encode microRNAs. MicroRNAs are essential for development and this review will summarise our current knowledge of animal microRNA function. We will also discuss the emerging links of microRNA biology to stem cell research and human disease, in particular cancer.
Molecular Analysis of the Bacterial Communities in Crude Oil Samples from Two Brazilian Offshore Petroleum Platforms

Crude oil samples with high- and low-water content from two offshore platforms (PA and PB) in Campos Basin, Brazil, were assessed for bacterial communities by 16S rRNA gene-based clone libraries. RDP Classifier was used to analyze a total of 156 clones within four libraries obtained from two platforms. The clone sequences were mainly affiliated with Gammaproteobacteria (78.2% of the total clones); however, clones associated with Betaproteobacteria (10.9%), Alphaproteobacteria (9%), and Firmicutes (1.9%) were also identified. Pseudomonadaceae was the most common family affiliated with these clone sequences. The sequences were further analyzed by MOTHUR, yielding 81 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) grouped at 97% stringency. Richness estimators also calculated by MOTHUR indicated that oil samples with high-water content were the most diverse. Comparison of bacterial communities present in these four samples using LIBSHUFF and Principal Component Analysis (PCA) indicated that the water content significantly influenced the community structure only of crude oil obtained from PA. Differences between PA and PB libraries were observed, suggesting the importance of the oil field as a driver of community composition in this habitat.
Remote monitoring infrastructure for IEC 61499 based control software

In this paper, we present our work on monitoring of control software behavior for PLCs. In particular, we are looking at IEC 61499-based software specifications. Monitoring is done remotely, i.e., the interface behavior of function blocks is streamed to a cloud-based service. Specifications are realized using formal languages such as 1) regular expressions, 2) timed automata, 3) temporal logic. Monitors can be automatically generated from these languages. Using our specifications, we are able to detect abnormal behavior in control software such as timing changes that can, e.g., show the presence of memory leaks or a virus. We demonstrate our ideas using an example.
Novel Group of Leaderless Multipeptide Bacteriocins from Gram-Positive Bacteria

ABSTRACT From raw milk we found 10 Lactococcus garvieae isolates that produce a new broad-spectrum bacteriocin. Though the isolates were obtained from different farms, they turned out to possess identical inhibitory spectra, fermentation profiles of sugars, and repetitive sequence-based PCR (rep-PCR) DNA patterns, indicating that they produce the same bacteriocin. One of the isolates (L. garvieae KS1546) was chosen for further assessment. Purification and peptide sequencing combined with genome sequencing revealed that the antimicrobial activity was due to a bacteriocin unit composed of three similar peptides of 32 to 34 amino acids. The three peptides are produced without leader sequences, and their genes are located next to each other in an operon-like structure, adjacent to the genes normally involved in bacteriocin transport (ABC transporter) and self-immunity. The bacteriocin, termed garvicin KS (GarKS), showed sequence homology to four multipeptide bacteriocins in databases: the known staphylococcal aureocin A70, consisting of four peptides, and three unannotated putative multipeptide bacteriocins produced by Bacillus cereus. All these multipeptide bacteriocin loci show conserved genetic organization, including being located adjacent to conserved genetic determinants (Cro/cI and integrase) which are normally associated with mobile genetic elements or genome rearrangements. The antimicrobial activity of all multipeptide bacteriocins was confirmed with synthetic peptides, and all were shown to have broad antimicrobial spectra, with GarKS being the most active of them. The inhibitory spectrum of GarKS includes important pathogens belonging to the genera Staphylococcus, Bacillus, Listeria, and Enterococcus. IMPORTANCE Bacterial resistance to antibiotics is a very serious global problem. There are no new antibiotics with novel antimicrobial mechanisms in clinical trials. Bacteriocins use antimicrobial mechanisms different from those of antibiotics and can kill antibiotic-resistant bacteria, but the number of bacteriocins with very broad antimicrobial spectra is very small. In this study, we have found and purified a novel three-peptide bacteriocin, garvicin KS. By homology search, we were able to find one known and three novel sequence-related bacteriocins consisting of 3 or 4 peptides. None of the peptides has modified amino acids in its sequence. Thus, the activity of all bacteriocins was confirmed with chemically synthesized peptides. All of them, especially garvicin KS, have very broad antibacterial spectra, thus representing a great potential in antimicrobial applications in the food industry and medicine.
Risk Factors for Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms Among Avalanche Survivors: A 16-Year Follow-Up

Abstract Few natural disaster studies have assessed factors associated with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) beyond a decade after trauma. Using North's disaster model as a framework, the aim of this study was to identify factors associated with clinically significant posttraumatic stress symptoms (CS-PTSDS) in avalanche survivors (n = 399) 16 years after the disaster. Completed self-report questionnaires were received from 286 (72%) survivors. CS-PTSDS were assessed with the Posttraumatic Diagnostic Scale. Predictors of CS-PTSDS in a multivariate analysis were secondary sequelae factors of lack of social support (adjusted relative risk [RR], 2.90; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.37–6.13) and financial hardship in the aftermath of the trauma (adjusted RR, 2.47; 95% CI, 1.16–5.26). In addition, the community factor of providing assistance in the aftermath of the avalanche (adjusted RR, 1.95; 95% CI, 1.04–3.64) was inversely associated with CS-PTSDS. Screening for these factors may be useful in identifying those most vulnerable to developing chronic PTSD after this unique type of disaster.
Induction chemotherapy strategies for primary mediastinal large B-cell lymphoma with sclerosis: a retrospective multinational study on 426 previously untreated patients.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES This multinational retrospective study compares the outcomes of patients with primary mediastinal large B-cell lymphoma (PMLBCL) with sclerosis after first-generation (dose-intensive regimens), third-generation (alternating regimens) and high-dose chemotherapy strategies, frequently with adjuvant radiation therapy. DESIGN AND METHODS Between August 1981 and December 1999, a total of 426 previously untreated patients with confirmed diagnosis were enrolled in 20 institutions to receive combination chemotherapy with either first generation (CHOP or CHOP-like) regimens, third generation (MACOP-B, VACOP-B, ProMACE CytaBOM) regimens or high-dose chemotherapy (HDS/ABMT). RESULTS With chemotherapy, complete response (CR) rates were 49% (50/105), 51% (142/277) and 53% (23/44) with first generation, third generation and high-dose chemotherapy strategies, respectively; partial response (PR) rates were 32%, 36% and 35%, respectively. All patients who achieved CR and 124/142 (84%) with PR had radiation therapy on the mediastinum. The final CR rates became 61% for CHOP/CHOP-like regimens, 79% for MACOP-B and other regimens, and 75% for HDS/ABMT. After median follow-ups from attaining CR of 48.5 months for CHOP/CHOP-like regimens, 51.7 months for MACOP-B type regimens and 32.4 months for HDS/ABMT, relapses occurred in 15/64 (23%), 27/218 (12%) and 0/33 (0%) patients, respectively. Projected 10-year progression-free survival rates were 35%, 67% and 78%, respectively (p=0.0000). Projected 10-year overall survival rates were 44%, 71% and 77%, respectively (p=0.0000), after median follow-ups from diagnosis of 52.3 months, 54.9 months and 35.8 months, respectively. INTERPRETATION AND CONCLUSIONS In patients with PMLBCL with sclerosis, MACOP-B plus radiation therapy may be a better strategy than other treatments; these retrospective data need to be confirmed by prospective studies. The encouraging survival results after high dose chemotherapy require confirmation in selected high-risk patients.
A novel gossip-based multirate overlay multicast strategy

Overlay multicast is an efficient communication scheme for multipoint communication applications. This paper focuses on the transmission isolation and unbalanced load allocation problems of multi-rate multimedia transmission over embedded overlay topology where multicast receivers in the same session request service at different rates commensurate with their requirements. We propose a novel data distribution scheme by adopting gossip algorithm to overcome the transmission isolation problem via implementing cross-layer data transmission. More leaf members are involved in the data distribution process to share load stress for cluster leaders leading to more balanced data distribution structure. Simulation results show that gossip-based protocol, without transmission isolation, can reasonably build and maintain a more balanced overlay topology than the traditional multicast protocol.
Genotypes and Antibiotic Resistances of Campylobacter jejuni Isolates from Cattle and Pigeons in Dairy Farms

Campylobacter jejuni is the most common food-borne zoonotic pathogen causing human gastroenteritis worldwide and has assumed more importance in Italy following the increased consumption of raw milk. Our objectives were to get an overview of genotypes and antibiotic resistances in C. jejuni isolated from milk, cattle feces, and pigeons in dairy herds of Northern Italy. flaB-typing was applied to 78 C. jejuni isolates, previously characterized by Multi-Locus Sequence Typing, and genotypic resistances towards macrolides and quinolones based on point mutations in the 23S rRNA and gyrA genes, respectively, were determined. flaB-typing revealed 22 different types with one of them being novel and was useful to further differentiate strains with an identical Sequence Type (ST) and to identify a pigeon-specific clone. Macrolide resistance was not found, while quinolone resistance was detected in 23.3% of isolates. A relationship between specific genotypes and antibiotic resistance was observed, but was only significant for the Clonal Complex 206. Our data confirm that pigeons do not play a role in the spread of C. jejuni among cattle and they are not responsible for milk contamination. A relevant number of bulk milk samples were contaminated by C. jejuni resistant to quinolones, representing a possible source of human resistant strains.
The Effects of K+ Channel Blockade on Eccentric and Isotonic Twitch and Fatiguing Contractions in situ

K+ channel blockers like 3,4-diaminopyridine (DAP) can double isometric muscle force. Functional movements require more complex concentric and eccentric contractions, however the effects of K+ channel blockade on these types of contractions in situ are unknown. Extensor digitorum longus (EDL) muscles were stimulated in situ with and without DAP in anesthetized rats and fatigability was addressed using a series of either concentric or eccentric contractions. During isotonic protocols (5–100% load), DAP significantly shifted shortening- and maximum shortening velocity-load curves upward and to the right and increased power and work. Maximum shortening, maximum shortening velocity, and power doubled while work increased by ∼250% during isotonic contraction at 50% load. During isotonic fatigue, DAP significantly augmented maximum shortening, work, shortening velocity, and power. During constant velocity eccentric protocols (2–12 mm/s), DAP increased muscle force during eccentric contractions at 6, 8, 10, and 12 mm/s. During eccentric contraction at a constant velocity of 6 mm/s while varying the stimulation frequency, DAP significantly increased muscle force during 20, 40, and 70 Hz. The effects of DAP on muscle contractile performance during eccentric fatigue varied with level of fatigue. DAP-induced contractile increases during isotonic contractions were similar to those produced during previously studied isometric contractions, while the DAP effect during eccentric contractions was more modest. These findings are especially important in attempting to optimize functional electrical stimulation parameters for spinal cord injury patients while also preventing rapid fatigue of those muscles.
Cell GC: using the cell synergistic processor as a garbage collection coprocessor

In recent years, scaling of single-core superscalar processor performance has slowed due to complexity and power considerations. To improve program performance, designs are increasingly adopting chip multiprocessing with homogeneous or heterogeneous CMPs. By trading off features from a modern aggressive superscalar core, CMPs often offer better scaling characteristics in terms of aggregate performance, complexity and power, but often require additional software investment to rewrite, retune or recompile programs to take advantage of the new designs. The Cell Broadband Engine is a modern example of a heterogeneous CMP with coprocessors (accelerators) which can be found in supercomputers (Roadrunner), blade servers (IBM QS20/21), and video game consoles (SCEI PS3). A Cell BE processor has a host Power RISC processor (PPE) and eight Synergistic Processor Elements (SPE), each consisting of a Synergistic Processor Unit (SPU) and Memory Flow Controller (MFC). In this work, we explore the idea of offloading Automatic Dynamic Garbage Collection (GC) from the host processor onto accelerator processors using the coprocessor paradigm. Offloading part or all of GC to a coprocessor offers potential performance benefits, because while the coprocessor is running GC, the host processor can continue running other independent, more general computations. We implement BDW garbage collection on a Cell system and offload the mark phase to the SPE co-processor. We show mark phase execution on the SPE accelerator to be competitive with execution on a full fledged PPE processor. We also explore object-based and block-based caching strategies for explicitly managed memory hierarchies, and explore to effectiveness of several prefetching schemes in the context of garbage collection. Finally, we implement Capitulative Loads using the DMA by extending software caches and quantify its performance impact on the coprocessor.
Physical Activity Level, Dietary Habits, and Alcohol and Tobacco Use among Young Guatemalan Adults

Physical activity, diet, and alcohol and tobacco use are all related to the development of obesity, diabetes, coronary heart disease, osteoporosis, and cancer. We examined the distribution of measures of these behaviors in a cohort of individuals born in four villages in Guatemala between 1962 and 1977 and who were 26–41 years old in 2003. Response rates to the instruments averaged 80% of cohort members known to be living in Guatemala. Physical activity levels were moderate, and were lowest among migrants to Guatemala City. Dietary habits reflect early phases of the nutrition transition, with high carbohydrate and moderate fat intakes. Migrants to Guatemala City reported higher intakes of meat and of dairy products, while those remaining in or near the original study villages reported higher consumption of tortillas and of vegetables and fruits. One-third of men reported consuming alcohol and 42% were current smokers. Very few women reported alcohol or tobacco use.
On Tangential Friction Induced Vibrations in Brake Systems

The basis for the analysis of friction in brake systems is the brake pad’s tribological interface. An investigation of this interface reveals friction intensive surface structures. These so-called “patches” are extremely hard and carry the main part of the friction power. By complex interaction processes of wear and heat these patches are generated permanently but leave the system after a certain period of time. So there is an equilibrium of flow of contact patches in the brake pad interface, with the outcome being a dynamic macroscopic friction coefficient, whose “inertia” can be well described by differential equations in the form of special balance equations. Systematic expansions of these balance equations even allow, for the first time, a simulation of different test cycles of the AK-Master test for friction materials with high accuracy. These friction force variations are generated by the dynamics of the local surface geometry and can explain physically effects of measurements, which were up to now described by control theoretic approximations [7, 8].