Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Dissociating Arbitrary Stimulus-Response Mapping from Movement Planning during Preparatory Period: Evidence from Event-Related Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging

In the present study, we aimed to dissociate the neural correlates of two subprocesses involved in the preparatory period in the context of arbitrary, prelearned stimulus-response (S-R) associations, namely, S-R mapping and movement planning (MP). We teased apart these two subprocesses by comparing three tasks in which the complexity of both S-R mapping and MP were independently manipulated: simple reaction time (SRT) task, go/no-go reaction time (GNGRT) task, and choice reaction time (CRT) task. We found that a more complex S-R mapping, which is the common element differentiating CRT and GNGRT from SRT, was associated with higher brain activation in the left superior parietal lobe (SPL). Conversely, a greater number of planned finger movements, which is the common difference between CRT and both SRT and GNGRT, was associated with higher brain activation in a number of frontal areas, including the left supplementary motor area (SMA), left dorsal premotor cortex (dPM), and left anterior cingulate cortex (ACC). The left-hemisphere dominance for S-R mapping could be related to the fact that arbitrary S-R mapping is often verbally mediated in humans. Overall, these results suggest a clear dissociation in the preparatory-set period between the more abstract role of left SPL in activating the appropriate S-R associations and the more concrete role played by the SMA, dPM, and ACC in preparing the required motor programs.
The Paradox of Mass Politics: Knowledge and Opinion in the American Electorate

A central current in the history of democratic politics is the tensions between the political culture of an informed citizenry and the potentially antidemocratic impulses of the larger mass of individuals who are only marginally involved in the political world. Given the public s low level of political interest and knowledge, it is paradoxical that the democratic system works at all.In "The Paradox of Mass Politics" W. Russell Neuman analyzes the major election surveys in the United States for the period 1948 1980 and develops for each a central index of political sophistication based on measures of political interest, knowledge, and style of political conceptualization. Taking a fresh look at the dramatic findings of public apathy and ignorance, he probes the process by which citizens acquire political knowledge and the impact of their knowledge on voting behavior.The book challenges the commonly held view that politically oriented college-educated individuals have a sophisticated grasp of the fundamental political issues of the day and do not rely heavily on vague political symbolism and party identification in their electoral calculus. In their expression of political opinions and in the stability and coherence of those opinions over time, the more knowledgeable half of the population, Neuman concludes, is almost indistinguishable from the other half. This is, in effect, a second paradox closely related to the first.In an attempt to resolve a major and persisting paradox of political theory, Neuman develops a model of three publics, which more accurately portrays the distribution of political knowledge and behavior in the mass population. He identifies a stratum of apoliticals, a large middle mass, and a politically sophisticated elite. The elite is so small (less than 5 percent) that the beliefs and behavior of its member are lost in the large random samples of national election surveys, but so active and articulate that its views are often equated with public opinion at large by the powers in Washington. The key to the paradox of mass politics is the activity of this tiny stratum of persons who follow political issues with care and expertise. This book is essential reading for concerned students of American politics, sociology, public opinion, and mass communication. "
COMPARING BONDING AND BRIDGING TIES FOR DEMOCRATIC ENGAGEMENT

The structure of people's social networks predicts democratic engagement. However, the relative contribution of different types of social ties to civic and civil behaviors is unclear. This paper explores the role of core networks – bonding social capital – to the role of overall network diversity – bridging social capital – for participation in formal civic institutions and informal civil behaviors. Emphasis is placed on the possible role of heterogeneity within core networks – political disagreement and the presence of nonkin ties – and on frequency of interaction, in-person and mediated: mobile phone and the Internet. This study finds that overall network diversity is a more consistent and substantive predictor of civic and civil behaviors than the size or heterogeneity of the small number of ties that make up the core network of most people. The two dominant new media used to interact with core network members – email and mobile phones – are unrelated to any of the behaviors measured. Some other media – contact in-person, postal mail, texting, instant messaging, and social network services – have an inconsistent and modest relationship to civic and civil behaviors. Findings lead to speculation that political disagreement within core networks, typically associated with lower levels of political participation, has a spillover effect that results in other forms of democratic engagement. There is evidence of glocalization; contact with core ties using new media supports local civil and civic behaviors. Internet use largely supports democratic engagement through interaction with bridging, but not bonding ties.
Single amino acid (arginine) deprivation: rapid and selective death of cultured transformed and malignant cells

The effects of arginine deprivation (–Arg) has been examined in 26 cell lines. Less than 10% of those with transformed or malignant phenotype survived for > 5 days, and many died more rapidly, notably leukaemic cells. Bivariate flow cytometry confirmed that vulnerable cell lines failed to move out of cell cycle into a quiescent state (G0), but reinitiated DNA synthesis. Many cells remained in S-phase, and/or had difficulty progressing through to G2 and M. Two tumour lines proved relatively ‘resistant’, A549 and MCF7. Although considerable cell loss occurred initially, both lines showed a ‘cell cycle freeze’, in which cells survived for > 10 days. These cells recovered their proliferative activity in +Arg medium, but behaved in the same manner to a second –Arg episode as they did to the first episode. In contrast, normal cells entered G0 and survived in –Arg medium for several weeks, with the majority of cells recovering with predictable kinetics in +Arg medium. In general, cells from a wide range of tumours and established lines die quickly in vitro following –Arg treatment, because of defective cell cycle checkpoint stringency, the efficacy of the treatment being most clearly demonstrated in co-cultures in which only the normal cells survived. The findings demonstrate a potentially simple, effective and non-genotoxic strategy for the treatment of a wide range of cancers. © 2000 Cancer Research Campaign
A phase I/II study of sorafenib in combination with low dose cytarabine in elderly patients with acute myeloid leukemia or high-risk myelodysplastic syndrome from the National Cancer Institute of Canada Clinical Trials Group: trial IND.186

Abstract Sorafenib is active in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). The National Cancer Institute of Canada (NCIC) Clinical Trials Group initiated a phase I/II study of the combination of sorafenib with cytarabine in older patients with AML or high-risk MDS who were unsuitable for intensive chemotherapy. FLT3 mutational status was determined in all patients. Twenty-one patients were enrolled (four MDS, 17 AML) with a median age of 77 years. The recommended phase II dose (RP2D) was cytarabine 10 mg bid days 1–10 and sorafenib 600 mg/day days 2–28. Dose-limiting toxicities were fatigue, sepsis and skin rash. Of 15 evaluable patients treated at the RP2D, two patients responded. The overall response rate for eligible patients was 10%. FLT3 mutations were found in only three patients. We conclude that this combination of sorafenib and cytarabine has limited activity in this unselected cohort of elderly patients with AML/MDS in which FLT3 mutations seemed underrepresented.
Map of the IncP1β Plasmid pTSA Encoding the Widespread Genes (tsa) forp-Toluenesulfonate Degradation in Comamonas testosteroni T-2

ABSTRACT The catabolic IncP1β plasmid pTSA from Comamonas testosteroni T-2 was mapped by subtractive analysis of restriction digests, by sequencing outwards from the tsaoperon (toluenesulfonate degradation), and by generating overlapping, long-distance-PCR amplification products. The plasmid was estimated to comprise 72 ± 4 kb. The tsa region was found to be a composite transposon flanked by two IS1071 elements. A cryptic tsa operon was also present in the tsa transposon. Those backbone genes and regions which we sequenced were in the same order as the corresponding genes in resistance plasmid R751, and identities of about 99% were observed. Enrichment cultures with samples from four continents were done to obtain organisms able to utilizep-toluenesulfonate as the sole source of carbon and energy for aerobic growth. Most (15) of the 16 cultures (13 of them isolates) were obtained from contaminated sites and were attributed to three metabolic groups, depending on their metabolism ofp-toluenesulfonate. The largest group contained thetsa transposon, usually (six of seven isolates) with negligible differences in sequence from strain T-2.
Diagnosing Attention Disorders in a Virtual Classroom

The virtual classroom provides an efficient and scalable tool for conducting attention testing. The University of Southern California integrated media systems center and digital media works have partnered to develop virtual reality technology applications for the study, assessment, and rehabilitation of cognitive and functional processes. This work primarily focuses on the development of systems that address the special needs of clinical populations with central nervous system dysfunctions such as brain injury, learning disabilities, or neurological disorders.
Numerical evaluation of the Lambert W function and application to generation of generalized Gaussian noise with exponent 1/2

We address the problem of synthesizing a generalized Gaussian noise with exponent 1/2 by means of a nonlinear memoryless transformation applied to a uniform noise. We show that this transformation is expressable in terms of a special function known under the name of the Lambert W function. We review the main methods for numerical evaluation of the relevant branch of the (multivalued) Lambert W function with controlled accuracy and complement them with an original rational function approximation. Based on these methods, synthesis of the generalized Gaussian noise can be performed with arbitrary accuracy. We construct a simple and fast evaluation algorithm with prescribed accuracy, which is especially suited for Monte Carlo simulation requiring large numbers of realizations of the generalized Gaussian noise.
Prevention of Intraperitoneal Adhesions and Abscesses by Polysaccharides Isolated From Phellinus spp in a Rat Peritonitis Model

Objective:To assess whether polysaccharides isolated from fungi, Phellinus spp, could reduce the adhesion and abscess formation in a rat peritonitis model. Summary Background Data:Although polysaccharides from Phellinus spp is a well-known material with antiinflammatory properties, little is known regarding its ability to prevent intraperitoneal adhesions. We have assessed the adhesion- and abscess-reducing effect of polysaccharides from Phellinus gilvus (PG) and Phellinus linteus (PL) in a rat peritonitis model. Methods:In 60 SD rats, experimental peritonitis was induced using the cecal ligation and puncture model (CLP). Animals were randomly assigned to 5 groups; ringer lactate solution (RL group), polysaccharides from PG and PL (PG and PL group), hyaluronic acid (HA group), and carboxymethylcellulose (CMC group). Intraperitoneal adhesions and abscesses were noted at 7 day after CLP. RT-PCR assay for urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA), its cellular receptor (uPAR), tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA), plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1 (PAI-1), and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)- α was performed to assess the cecal tissue. Results:Adhesion formation was significantly reduced in PG, PL, CMC, and HA groups (P < 0.001) compared with that in RL group. The incidence of abscesses was also significantly reduced in PG and PL groups (P < 0.05) compared with that in the RL group. The level of uPA, uPAR, tPA, and TNF-α was highly expressed in PG and PL group, as compared with the RL group. Conclusions:We concluded that PG and PL had significant adhesion- and abscess-reducing effects and may act by modulating fibrinolytic capacity of uPA and/or tPA produced from macrophages in a rat peritonitis model.
Supporting platooning maneuvers through IVC: An initial protocol analysis for the JOIN maneuver

Driving vehicles in platoons has the potential to improve traffic efficiency, increase safety, reduce fuel consumption, and make driving experience more enjoyable. A lot of effort is being spent in the development of technologies, like radars, enabling automated cruise control following and ensuring emergency braking if the driver does not react in time; but these technologies alone do not empower real platooning. The initial idea of building dedicated infrastructures for platoons, has been set aside favouring the philosophy that foresees scenarios, where automated vehicles share the road with human-driven ones. This arises interesting new questions regarding the interactions between the two categories of vehicles. In this paper we focus on the analysis of interferences caused by non-automated vehicles during a JOIN maneuver. We define the application layer protocol to support the maneuver, together with situations that can prevent successful termination, and describe how they can be detected. The validity of the approach is proven by means of simulations, showing either that the maneuver can successfully be performed, or safely be aborted. Finally, we analyze the impact of the Packet Error Rate (PER) on the failure rate of the maneuver, showing that packet losses mainly affect the maneuver from a coordination point of view, rather than stability of the system, i.e., even at high loss rates, cars never violated a minimum safety distance.
Numerical simulation of the 12 May 1997 CME Event: The role of magnetic reconnection

[1] We perform a numerical study of the evolution of a Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) and its interaction with the coronal magnetic field based on the 12 May 1997, CME event using a global MagnetoHydroDynamic (MHD) model for the solar corona. The ambient solar wind steady-state solution is driven by photospheric magnetic field data, while the solar eruption is obtained by superimposing an unstable flux rope onto the steady-state solution. During the initial stage of CME expansion, the core flux rope reconnects with the neighboring field, which facilitates lateral expansion of the CME footprint in the low corona. The flux rope field also reconnects with the oppositely orientated overlying magnetic field in the manner of the breakout model. During this stage of the eruption, the simulated CME rotates counter-clockwise to achieve an orientation that is in agreement with the interplanetary flux rope observed at 1 AU. A significant component of the CME that expands into interplanetary space comprises one of the side lobes created mainly as a result of reconnection with the overlying field. Within 3 hours, reconnection effectively modifies the CME connectivity from the initial condition where both footpoints are rooted in the active region to a situation where one footpoint is displaced into the quiet Sun, at a significant distance (≈1R⊙) from the original source region. The expansion and rotation due to interaction with the overlying magnetic field stops when the CME reaches the outer edge of the helmet streamer belt, where the field is organized on a global scale. The simulation thus offers a new view of the role reconnection plays in rotating a CME flux rope and transporting its footpoints while preserving its core structure.
Concomitant leukoplakia in patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE There is an ongoing debate on the prevalence of premalignant lesions, in particular leukoplakia, at the time of diagnosis of an oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). The aim of the present study was to determine the presence of concomitant leukoplakia in 100 patients with OSCC, and to evaluate possible differences in clinical and histopathological parameters of the OSCC between those with or without concomitant leukoplakia. PATIENTS AND METHODS One hundred consecutive patients, 61 men and 39 women, with a histologically proven OSCC were screened on the presence of leukoplakia. Four groups were distinguished: (I) leukoplakia adjacent to the OSCC, (II) combination of leukoplakia adjacent to the OSCC, and leukoplakia at another oral site, (III) leukoplakia present at another oral site, but not adjacent to the OSCC, and (IV) no leukoplakia present. RESULTS In 47 (47%) patients with OSCC the presence of concomitant leukoplakia was observed. Thirty-six (36%) patients had a leukoplakia adjacent to the OSCC (groups I and II), of which eight (8%) patients (group II) also had a leukoplakia present at another oral site. Eleven (11%) patients (group III) had no leukoplakia adjacent to the OSCC, but a leukoplakia present at another oral site. Fifty-three (53%) patients (group IV) with OSCC had no concomitant leukoplakia present. No differences were noted between men and women, nor was there any preference for an oral subsite with regard to the carcinoma. There were no statistically significant differences in clinical and histopathological presentation of OSCC's between those with or without concomitant leukoplakia. CONCLUSION Almost 50% of oral squamous cell carcinomas are presumably associated with or preceded by leukoplakia. Early detection and active management of patients with oral leukoplakia may prevent the true development of a number of oral squamous cell carcinomas.
A doença meningocócica em São Paulo, Brasil, no século XX: características epidemiológicas

Este estudo analisa o comportamento epidemiologico da doenca meningococica na cidade de Sao Paulo, Brasil, ao longo do seculo XX. Utilizando dados de prontuarios, atestados de obito e do sistema de vigilância epidemiologica os autores descrevem a tendencia secular da doenca, sua variacao sazonal, a distribuicao espacial e por idade e sexo. A tendencia secular mostra incidencia constante nos periodos endemicos, interrompida pela presenca de epidemias. As quatro epidemias registradas durante o seculo XX ocorreram em momentos de graves perturbacoes sociais e foram produzidas pelos sorogrupos A, A e C, e B e C. A variacao sazonal com exacerbacao no outono/inverno mantem-se constante durante todo o seculo. A distribuicao espacial acompanha os deslocamentos da populacao pobre no espaco urbano. A distribuicao por idade e sexo mantem-se inalterada em todos os periodos endemicos, mostrando maior risco entre os menores de um ano e decrescimos acentuados a proporcao que aumenta a idade. Os periodos epidemicos, com excecao do ultimo, mostram alteracao significante na distribuicao etaria, com aumento do risco entre jovens e adultos jovens, e ocorrencia de casos em todas as faixas etarias.
The function and evolution of insect storage hexamers.

The storage hexamers are a family of insect proteins with native molecularweights around 500,000 with six homologous subunits weighing generallybetween 70,000 and 85,000 daltons. They are synthesized and secreted by thefat body of feeding larvae and nymphs and reach extraordinary concentrationsin the hemolymph just prior to metamorphosis. In holometabolous insects,they are partially recaptured by the fat body during the larval to pupal moltand stored in cytoplasmic protein granules, as well as in the hemolymph of thepupa. They disappear from these reservoirs during adult development; inmany insects, both hemi- and holometabolous, they are also utilized duringthe nymphal or larval molts. Their amino acids are primarily incorporated intonew tissues and proteins during adult development, but they may also beincorporated into cuticle as intact protein, and in one case were found to bediverted to a small degree into energy metabolism. Finally, some storagehexamers have ligand binding and transport capabilities. Functionally, de-velopmentally, and evolutionarily, they are a complex family of proteinswhose analysis promises to be exceedingly useful in the study of many basicproblems in the biology of insects.2050066-4170/91/0101-0205 $02.00Annual Reviews www.annualreviews. org/aronline
Classification of motor imagery performance in acute stroke

Objective. Effective motor imagery performance, seen as strong suppression of the sensorimotor rhythm, is the key element in motor imagery therapy. Therefore, optimization of methods to classify whether the subject is performing the imagery task is a prerequisite. An optimal classification method should have high performance accuracy and use a small number of channels. We investigated the additional benefit of the common spatial pattern filtering (CSP) to a linear discriminant analysis (LDA) classifier, for different channel configurations. Methods. Ten hemispheric acute stroke patients and 11 healthy subjects were included. EEGs were recorded using 60 channels. The classifier was trained with a motor execution task. For both healthy controls and patients, analysis of recordings was initially limited to 3 and 11 electrodes recording from the motor cortex area, and later repeated using 45 electrodes. Results. No significant improvement on the addition of CSP to LDA was found (in both cases, the area under the receiving operating characteristic (AU-ROC) ≈0.70 (acceptable)). We then repeated the LDA+CSP method on recordings of 45 electrodes, since the use of imagery neuronal circuits may well extend beyond the motor area. AU-ROC rose to 0.90, but no virtual ‘most responsible’ electrode was observed. Finally, in mild-to-moderate stroke patients we could successfully use the EEG data recorded from the healthy hemisphere to train the classifier (AU-ROC ≈ 0.70). Significance. Including only the channels on the unaffected motor cortex is sufficient to train a classifier.