Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The neural basis of the psychomotor vigilance task.

STUDY OBJECTIVE To identify brain regions underlying the fastest and slowest reaction times on the Psychomotor Vigilance task (PVT) under well-rested conditions, as well as brain regions related to particularly poor performance after sleep deprivation. DESIGN Subjects took the PVT twice while undergoing functional magnetic resonance imaging: once 12 hours after waking from a normal night of sleep and once after 36 hours of total sleep deprivation (TSD). Session order was counterbalanced. SETTING UCSD J. Christian Gillin Laboratory for Sleep and Chronobiology (the sleep core of the General Clinical Research Center) and UCSD Magnetic Resonance Institute. PATIENTS OR PARTICIPANTS Twenty right-handed healthy adults (8 women; age = 27.4 +/- 6.7 years; education = 15.6 +/- 1.5 years). MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS After a normal night of sleep, optimal performance was related to greater cerebral responses within a cortical sustained attention network and the cortical and subcortical motor systems. Slow reaction times, particularly after TSD, were associated with greater activity in the "default mode network" consisting of frontal and posterior midline regions. CONCLUSIONS Optimal performance on the PVT appears to rely on activation both within the sustained attention system and within the motor system. Poor performance following TSD may result from a disengagement from the task and related inattention, and brain regions responsible for this localize within midline structures shown to be involved in the brain's "default mode. " Finally, particularly poor performance after TSD may elicit a subsequent attentional recovery that manifests as greater activation within the same regions normally responsible for fast reaction times.
Electrical and noise characteristics of graphene field-effect transistors: ambient effects, noise sources and physical mechanisms

We fabricated a large number of single and bilayer graphene transistors and carried out a systematic experimental study of their low-frequency noise characteristics. Special attention was given to determining the dominant noise sources in these devices and the effect of aging on the current–voltage and noise characteristics. The analysis of the noise spectral density dependence on the area of graphene channel showed that the dominant contributions to the low-frequency electronic noise come from the graphene layer itself rather than from the contacts. Aging of graphene transistors due to exposure to ambient conditions for over a month resulted in substantially increased noise, attributed to the decreasing mobility of graphene and increasing contact resistance. The noise spectral density in both single and bilayer graphene transistors either increased with deviation from the charge neutrality point or depended weakly on the gate bias. This observation confirms that the low-frequency noise characteristics of graphene transistors are qualitatively different from those of conventional silicon metal–oxide–semiconductor field-effect transistors.
Signal conditioning unit for piezoresistive based micro pressure sensors

Silicon piezoresistors are widely used in fabrication of micro pressure sensors and accelerometers. The problem associated with silicon based piezoresistive micro sensors is the dependency of resistance on temperature resulting in large thermal drift. This project is aiming to design a low cost signal conditioner to compensate the thermal drift prevailing inherently in the piezoresistive pressure sensors configured in Wheatstone bridge structure. This method provides digital approach to compensate thermal drift having better performance than Analog approach. Using the signal conditioner linearity improvement and offset compensation is achieved at the desired sensitivity.
Threat detection in episodic images

Despite recent advances in computer vision humans still perform recognition of a novel scene in a single glance better than the best of the available systems. Consequently in order to achieve a similar ability in artificial intelligent systems, it is necessary to further study the low-level mechanisms in image processing for solving computer vision problems. The purpose of this study is to find an effective approach to classify images into threatening and non-threatening categories. Some of the existing algorithms for scene classification are examined and are studied in order to identify which is the best for the threatening context. We define a threat as a cause of harm or danger from a person or some phenomenon. We have constructed an image database containing hundreds of images labeled and divided into threatening and non-threatening categories. The results of classification shows that using some of the current state of art features and scene descriptors, the accuracy of classification is up to 80%.
Game statistical system and criteria used by Spanish volleyball coaches

The aim of this paper was to study the game analysis used by Spanish volleyball coaches. The sample included 22 coaches from the first and second divisions of the men’s and women’s Spanish competition. The variables studied were: criteria used to evaluate technical and tactical actions, mathematical calculations used to analyse the data, reference values used, adaptations done in the statistical analysis, and situation in which performance is monitored. Descriptive and inferential analyses of the data were done. The use of game statistics is high in volleyball. It is used in practice, competition, opponent scouting, and post-analysis. Volleyball coaches use a category scale to monitor players’ and team’ actions based on the effect on the rally and/or the following game actions. Coaches make adaptations to this scale to fit their needs, perspective, goals, etc. This adaptation varies with regard to type of actions. The types of calculation most used for data analysis and establishing reference values are simple (total values and percentages), probably due to the high number of aspects to monitor or because coaches share the results of the monitoring with players. Coaches individualise their technical-tactical analysis to their needs in order to practice and compete properly.
A good antisense molecule is hard to find

the foiding of the protease sequences when added as separate molecules, both in vitro and in vivo ~5. One way in which cells change the quantitative properties of proteins is to make allosteric effectors; this method is reversible and requires the continual presence of the ellector. Perhaps another method useful in say, terminal differentiation, is the production of separate steric chaperones that irreversibly change the properties of certain specific proteins by influencing their folding.
Pemphigus vulgaris and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Pemphigus vulgaris (PV) is an autoimmune bullous and erosive mucocutaneous disease. Rarely, it occurs in patients with other autoimmune disease. The relation between PV and neurological disorders is unclear and needs to be more studied. Here, we report a case of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), followed by dermatologic involvement. Histopathological evidence and direct immunofluorescence are consistent with PV. Systemic corticosteroid and azathioprine were effective in the treatment of mucocutaneous lesions. PV seems to be accidentally associated with ALS. Expression of major histocompatibility complex Class II in autoimmune disease and production of autoantibodies have been proposed to describe the association of PV with ALS.
State-aware allocation of reliable Virtual Software Defined Networks based on bandwidth and energy

Even after decades, the Internet does not provide Quality of Service (QoS) guarantee for the users. In order to soften such situation, clients negotiate Service Level Agreements (SLAs) with their Internet Service Providers (ISPs), where reliability and available bandwidth are key requirements for Internet services. On the other hand, the ISPs aim to decrease the energy consumption to deliver their services and provide a green environment. The mixing of Software Defined Networks (SDNs) and Virtual Networks (VNs), called Virtual Software Defined Network (VSDN), arises as a realizable option to deal with both client and provider perspectives. Within this context, this paper proposes two algorithms to allocate VSDNs combining reliability, bandwidth, and energy efficiency, considering the current network state to adjust the importance of each of these aspects during the allocation process. The results show the effectiveness of the proposed algorithms in allocating reliable VSDNs, while improving the energy efficiency and bandwidth usage of the ISP.
A UNIVERSAL MASS PROFILE FOR DWARF SPHEROIDAL GALAXIES?

We apply the Jeans equation to estimate masses for eight of the brightest dwarf spheroidal (dSph) galaxies. For Fornax, the dSph with the largest kinematic data set, we obtain a model-independent constraint on the maximum circular velocity, Vmax = 20+4−3 km s−1. Although we obtain only lower limits of Vmax ≳ 10 km s−1 for the remaining dSphs, we find that in all cases the enclosed mass at the projected half-light radius is well constrained and robust to a wide range of halo models and velocity anisotropies. We derive a simple analytic formula that estimates M(rhalf) accurately with respect to results from the full Jeans analysis. Applying this formula to the entire population of Local Group dSphs with published kinematic data, we demonstrate a correlation such that M(rhalf) ∝ r1.4±0.4half, or in terms of the mean density interior to the half-light radius, 〈ρ〉 ∝ r−1.6±0.4half. This relation is driven by the fact that the dSph data exhibit a correlation between global velocity dispersion and half-light radius. We argue that tidal forces are unlikely to have introduced this relation, but tides may have increased the scatter and/or altered the slope. While the data are well described by mass profiles ranging over a factor of ≲2 in normalization (Vmax ∼ 10–20 km s−1), we consider the hypothesis that all dSphs are embedded within a “universal” dark matter halo. We show that in addition to the power law M ∝ r1.4, viable candidates include a cuspy “Navarro–Frenk–White” halo with Vmax ∼ 15 km s−1 and scale radius r0 ∼ 800 pc, as well as a cored halo with Vmax ∼ 13 km s−1 and r0 ∼ 150 pc. Finally, assuming that their measured velocity dispersions accurately reflect their masses, the smallest dSphs now allow us to resolve dSph densities at radii as small as a few tens of pc. At these small scales, we find mean densities as large as 〈ρ〉 ≲ 5 M☉ pc−3 (≲200 GeV cm−3).
Role of Significant Life Experiences in Building Environmental Knowledge and Behavior Among Middle School Students

Significant life experience research suggests that the presence of role models, time outdoors, and nature-related media foster pro-environmental behavior, but most research is qualitative. Based on a random sample of middle school students in North Carolina, USA, we found limited positive associations between presence of a role model and time outdoors with behavior and a negative association between watching nature television and environmental knowledge. The strongest predictors of environmental knowledge and behavior were student/teacher ratio and county income levels, respectively. We also found that Native Americans engaged in environmental behaviors more than Caucasians, and that African American and Hispanic students had lower levels of environmental knowledge. Accordingly, life experiences appear less important than promoting small class sizes and addressing challenges associated with lower incomes in schools.
Integration or isolation? Mapping out the position of radical right media in the public sphere

The study explores the validity of the media visibility thesis in a cross-country comparative framework, concentrating on the position of media outlets sympathetic or affiliated to the populist radical right parties in the public spheres in Hungary and Romania. The visibility of such media outlets in the public sphere is considered crucial in the context of discursive opportunities for political mobilization, whereby the presence of discursive elements of populist radical right communication in mainstream media is understood as empirical evidence for the visibility of populist radical right politics. We analyze first the characteristics of media discourses. We then identify the positions of radical right media products in relation to mainstream media. Using network analysis as a methodological approach, we evince the differences and similarities pertaining to the location of radical right media in the wider network architecture of the public spheres in Hungary and Romania.
Estimating Body Segment Orientation by Applying Inertial and Magnetic Sensing Near Ferromagnetic Materials

Inertial and magnetic sensors are very suitable for ambulatory monitoring of human posture and movements. However, ferromagnetic materials near the sensor disturb the local magnetic field and, therefore, the orientation estimation. A Kalman-based fusion algorithm was used to obtain dynamic orientations and to minimize the effect of magnetic disturbances. This paper compares the orientation output of the sensor fusion using three-dimensional inertial and magnetic sensors against a laboratory bound opto-kinetic system (Vicon) in a simulated work environment. With the tested methods, the difference between the optical reference system and the output of the algorithm was 2.6deg root mean square (rms) when no metal was near the sensor module. Near a large metal object instant errors up to 50deg were measured when no compensation was applied. Using a magnetic disturbance model, the error reduced significantly to 3.6deg rms.
Network delay analysis of a (σ, ρ) - Regular traffic stream over multiple paths in a network of fair-queuing servers

In this paper, we analyze the worst-case delay performance of a network of fair queuing servers in case of multiple-paths between source-destination pairs. In order to develop worst-case delay analysis for the multiple-path scenario, two challenging events should be addressed: merging different sub-streams of a session as well as distributing a traffic stream among different paths (traffic partitioning). Specifically, we propose to merge incoming sub-streams of a session to a node according to a limited rate Fair Queuing (FQ) scheme. Although the merged stream is treated as a unity, this approach results in a guaranteed level of service to each sub-stream. In addition, an algorithm is proposed for partitioning of a traffic stream into multiple sub-streams. Upon presented algorithms in this paper and their performance analysis, an equivalent worst-case service curve is concluded for the paths between a source-destination pair. According to the achieved service curve, an integrated upper bound on the end to end delay of a (σ, ρ)-regular traffic stream is derived in case of multi-path routing scenario.
Hyperphosphorylation and Cleavage at D421 Enhance Tau Secretion

It is well established that tau pathology propagates in a predictable manner in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Moreover, tau accumulates in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of AD’s patients. The mechanisms underlying the propagation of tau pathology and its accumulation in the CSF remain to be elucidated. Recent studies have reported that human tau was secreted by neurons and non-neuronal cells when it was overexpressed indicating that tau secretion could contribute to the spreading of tau pathology in the brain and could lead to its accumulation in the CSF. In the present study, we showed that the overexpression of human tau resulted in its secretion by Hela cells. The main form of tau secreted by these cells was cleaved at the C-terminal. Surprisingly, secreted tau was dephosphorylated at several sites in comparison to intracellular tau which presented a strong immunoreactivity to all phospho-dependent antibodies tested. Our data also revealed that phosphorylation and cleavage of tau favored its secretion by Hela cells. Indeed, the mimicking of phosphorylation at 12 sites known to be phosphorylated in AD enhanced tau secretion. A mutant form of tau truncated at D421, the preferential cleavage site of caspase-3, was also significantly more secreted than wild-type tau. Taken together, our results indicate that hyperphosphorylation and cleavage of tau by favoring its secretion could contribute to the propagation of tau pathology in the brain and its accumulation in the CSF.
Stimulation-Evoked Increases in Cytosolic [Ca2+] in Mouse Motor Nerve Terminals Are Limited by Mitochondrial Uptake and Are Temperature-Dependent

Increases in cytosolic [Ca2+] evoked by trains of action potentials (20–100 Hz) were recorded from mouse and lizard motor nerve terminals filled with a low-affinity fluorescent indicator, Oregon Green BAPTA 5N. In mouse terminals at near-physiological temperatures (30–38°C), trains of action potentials at 25–100 Hz elicited increases in cytosolic [Ca2+] that stabilized at plateau levels that increased with stimulation frequency. Depolarization of mitochondria with carbonylcyanidem-chlorophenylhydrazone (CCCP) or antimycin A1 caused cytosolic [Ca2+] to rise to much higher levels during stimulation. Thus, mitochondrial Ca2+uptake contributes importantly to limiting the rise of cytosolic [Ca2+] during repetitive stimulation. In mouse terminals, the stimulation-induced increase in cytosolic [Ca2+] was highly temperature-dependent over the range 18–38°C, with greater increases at lower temperatures. At the lower temperatures, application of CCCP continued to depolarize mitochondria but produced a much smaller increase in the cytosolic [Ca2+] transient evoked by repetitive stimulation. This result suggests that the larger amplitude of the stimulation-induced cytosolic [Ca2+] transient at lower temperatures was attributable in part to reduced mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake. In contrast, the stimulation-induced increases in cytosolic [Ca2+] measured in lizard motor terminals showed little or no temperature-dependence over the range 18–33°C.
Association between burnout at work and leukocyte adhesiveness/aggregation.

OBJECTIVE This study examined whether burnout at work is associated with leukocyte adhesiveness/aggregation (LAA), a phenomenon known to be affected by stress. METHODS The LAA levels of 179 employees (68 men and 111 women) of Tel Aviv University were determined when the employees underwent their annual routine medical checkup. Blood pressure and toxic chemical exposure were also measured, and background data were retrieved from medical records. Information on burnout and somatic complaints (known to be a general marker of stress) was collected through a self-report questionnaire. RESULTS Total burnout and each of its subcomponents, emotional exhaustion, chronic fatigue, and cognitive weariness, was significantly associated with LAA levels, even after controlling for age, sex, and educational level. Burnout and somatic complaints intercorrelated positively, but somatic complaints were not significantly associated with LAA levels before or after controlling for the above possible confounders. CONCLUSIONS Burnout was positively associated with LAA levels. This finding is consistent with the growing evidence of the negative impact of burnout on physical health. The lack of an association between somatic complaints and LAA levels reinforces the claim that burnout and stress are two different concepts.
Spite: Hamilton's unproven theory

Thirty years ago Hamilton showed that spite, an action that harms a recipient at no direct benefit to the actor, could evolve if interactants were negatively related. Wilson later showed that spite could also evolve by indirect benefits to a third party. Since then, many selfish actions that are particularly harmful to the recipient have been called `spite? but no convincing examples have been found. Here we discuss three examples of spite from the social insects: worker policing, sex allocation biasing by workers and green beard queen killing in the fire ant. All examples are Wilsonian spite and the last example is also Hamiltonian spite. Spite will be harder to identify in other animals because actions that seem mutually harmful may have delayed reproductive benefits. Spite may prove to be more common at the genetic level than the individual level because negative relatedness can more easily arise. Two possible examples, cytoplasmic incompatibility and maternal-effect lethal distorter genes, are discussed.
Design and analysis of communication protocols for quantum repeater networks

We analyze how the performance of a quantum-repeater network depends on the protocol employed to distribute entanglement, and we find that the choice of repeater-to-repeater link protocol has a profound impact on entanglement-distribution rate as a function of hardware parameters. We develop numerical simulations of quantum networks using different protocols, where the repeater hardware is modeled in terms of key performance parameters, such as photon generation rate and collection efficiency. These parameters are motivated by recent experimental demonstrations in quantum dots, trapped ions, and nitrogen-vacancy centers in diamond. We find that a quantum-dot repeater with the newest protocol (‘MidpointSource’) delivers the highest entanglement-distribution rate for typical cases where there is low probability of establishing entanglement per transmission, and in some cases the rate is orders of magnitude higher than other schemes. Our simulation tools can be used to evaluate communication protocols as part of designing a large-scale quantum network.
The Functional Neuroanatomy of Simple Calculation and Number Repetition: A Parametric PET Activation Study

We examined cerebral activation patterns with positron emission tomography (PET) in 12 right-handed normal volunteers while they were completing simple calculation tasks or merely repeating numbers. Using a parametric experimental design, during calculation we found activation in the medial frontal/cingulate gyri, left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, left anterior insular cortex and right anterior insular cortex/putamen, left lateral parietal cortex, and the medial thalamus. Number repetition engaged bilateral inferior sensorimotor cortex, bilateral temporal areas, and left inferior frontal cortex. These results suggest a functional anatomical network for simple calculation, which includes aspects of attention, auditory, and motor processing and the phonological store and articulatory loop components of working memory; they add some support for a special role of the parietal cortex in calculation tasks.