Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Acceleration of typical atrial flutter due to double-wave reentry induced by programmed electrical stimulation.

BACKGROUND Acceleration of reentrant tachycardia induced by programmed electrical stimulation is a well-documented phenomenon, but the mechanisms remain poorly understood. METHODS AND RESULTS Twelve patients with typical atrial flutter were studied. Activation sequence of the underlying reentrant circuit was recorded by multiple multipolar electrodes placed in the right atrium. In five patients, 27 episodes of atrial flutter acceleration were induced by single extrastimuli delivered in the isthmus between the tricuspid annulus and eustachian ridge (TA-ER isthmus) and one by rapid overdrive atrial pacing. Analyses of the activation sequences, intracardiac electrograms, and 12-lead surface ECG P-wave morphology indicated that the acceleration was caused by two successive activation wave fronts circulating in the same direction along the same reentrant circuit (double-wave reentry, DWR). DWR was induced only within a narrow range of coupling interval, from 2 to 45 ms beyond the effective refractory period, and was associated with unidirectional antidromic block of the paced impulse. Patients with DWR had a shorter effective refractory period (138.8+/-13.4 versus 163.8+/-12.2 ms, P<.015) and larger excitable gap (124.0+/-22.6 versus 83.2+/-13.2 ms, P<.009) compared with patients without inducible DWR. All of the DWR episodes were transient. Most (78.6%) terminated after one of the double wave fronts was blocked in the TA-ER isthmus. CONCLUSIONS DWR is one of the mechanisms responsible for programmed electrical stimulation-induced atrial flutter acceleration in human subjects. Its induction requires a sufficient excitable gap and antidromic unidirectional block of the paced impulse in the TA-ER isthmus. In addition, the TA-ER isthmus is the usual site of DWR termination.
Temporal Lobe Epilepsy and Surgery Selectively Alter the Dorsal, Not the Ventral, Default-Mode Network

The default-mode network (DMN) is a major resting-state network. It can be divided in two distinct networks: one is composed of dorsal and anterior regions [referred to as the dorsal DMN (dDMN)], while the other involves the more posterior regions [referred to as the ventral DMN (vDMN)]. To date, no studies have investigated the potentially distinct impact of temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) on these networks. In this context, we explored the effect of TLE and anterior temporal lobectomy (ATL) on the dDMN and vDMN. We utilized two resting-state fMRI sessions from left, right TLE patients (pre-/post-surgery) and normal controls (sessions 1/2). Using independent component analysis, we identified the two networks. We then evaluated for differences in spatial extent for each network between the groups, and across the scanning sessions. The results revealed that, pre-surgery, the dDMN showed larger differences between the three groups than the vDMN, and more particularly between right and left TLE than between the TLE patients and controls. In terms of change post-surgery, in both TLE groups, the dDMN also demonstrated larger changes than the vDMN. For the vDMN, the only changes involved the resected temporal lobe for each ATL group. For the dDMN, the left ATL group showed post-surgical increases in several regions outside the ictal temporal lobe. In contrast, the right ATL group displayed a large reduction in the frontal cortex. The results highlight that the two DMNs are not impacted by TLE and ATL in an equivalent fashion. Importantly, the dDMN was the more affected, with right ATL having a more deleterious effects than left ATL. We are the first to highlight that the dDMN more strongly bears the negative impact of TLE than the vDMN, suggesting there is an interaction between the side of pathology and DM sub-network activity. Our findings have implications for understanding the impact TLE and subsequent ATL on the functions implemented by the distinct DMNs.
Magnetoencephalographic Signals Identify Stages in Real-Life Decision Processes

We used magnetoencephalography (MEG) to study the dynamics of neural responses in eight subjects engaged in shopping for day-to-day items from supermarket shelves. This behavior not only has personal and economic importance but also provides an example of an experience that is both personal and shared between individuals. The shopping experience enables the exploration of neural mechanisms underlying choice based on complex memories. Choosing among different brands of closely related products activated a robust sequence of signals within the first second after the presentation of the choice images. This sequence engaged first the visual cortex (80-100 ms), then as the images were analyzed, predominantly the left temporal regions (310-340 ms). At longer latency, characteristic neural activetion was found in motor speech areas (500-520 ms) for images requiring low salience choices with respect to previous (brand) memory, and in right parietal cortex for high salience choices (850-920 ms). We argue that the neural processes associated with the particular brand-choice stimulus can be separated into identifiable stages through observation of MEG responses and knowledge of functional anatomy.
Thromboxane A2 from Kupffer cells contributes to the hyperresponsiveness of hepatic portal circulation to endothelin-1 in endotoxemic rats.

We examined the role of thromboxane A2 (TXA2) in LPS-induced hyperresponsiveness of hepatic portal circulation to endothelins (ETs) and whether Kupffer cells are the primary source of TXA2 release in response to ET-1 in endotoxemia. After 6 h of LPS (1 mg/kg body wt ip) or saline (control), liver was isolated and perfused with recirculating Krebs-Henseleit bicarbonate buffer at a constant flow rate (100 ml.min(-1). kg body wt(-1)). ET-1 (10 pmol/min) was infused for 10 min. Portal pressure (PP) was continuously monitored during perfusion. Perfusate was sampled for enzyme immunoassay of thromboxane B2 (TXB2; the stable metabolite of TXA2) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) assay. ET-1 infusion resulted in a significantly greater increase of PP in the LPS group than in controls. Both TXA2 synthase inhibitor furegrelate (Fureg) and TXA2 receptor antagonist SQ-29548 (SQ) substantially blocked enhanced increase of PP in the LPS group (4.9 +/- 0.4 vs. 3.6 +/- 0.5 vs. 2.6 +/- 0.6 mmHg for LPS alone, LPS + Fureg, and LPS + SQ, respectively; P < 0.05) while having no significant effect on controls. GdCl3 for inhibition of Kupffer cells had similar effects (4.9 +/- 0.4 mmHg vs. 2.9 +/- 0.4 mmHg for LPS alone and GdCl3 + LPS, respectively; P < 0.05). In addition, the attenuated PP after ET-1 was found concomitantly with significantly decreased releases of TXB2 and LDH in LPS rats treated with Fureg, SQ, and GdCl3 (886.6 +/- 73.4 vs. 110.8 +/- 0.8 vs. 114.8 +/- 54.7 vs. 135.2 +/- 45.2 pg/ml, respectively; P < 0.05). After 6 h of LPS, Kupffer cells in isolated cell preparations released a significant amount of TXA2 in response to ET-1. These results clearly indicate that hyperresponsiveness of hepatic portal circulation to ET-1 in endotoxemia is mediated at least in part by TXA2-induced receptor activation, and Kupffer cells are likely the primary source of increased TXA2 release.
Sport commitment in young soccer players: A self-determination perspective

Objectives Grounded on the self-determination theory, the aim of this study was to assess the impact of perceived need support/thwarting, psychological needs satisfaction/frustration and motivation on young soccer players’ sport commitment. Equipment and methods We used a sample of 430 male soccer players (Mage = 14.21 years, SD = 1.67 years, range = 12–18 years). Results Structural equation model analysis (χ2/df = 2.31; CFI = 0.91, TLI = 0.89, GFI = 0.91, SRMR = 0.03, RMSEA = 0.05) showed that coach supporting style positively correlated with players’ needs satisfaction, which, in turn positively predicted intrinsic motivation, which, in turn positively predicted sport commitment. On another hand, coach thwarting style positively predicted needs frustration, which positively predicted amotivation, and amotivation negatively predicted sport commitment. Conclusion The coach-created training environment can be crucial for the satisfaction or frustration of the basic psychological needs and, as a consequence, it could play an important role in young soccer players’ sport commitment.
Motion threshold of coarse particles under regular shoaling waves

Threshold of motion of coarse particles under regular shoaling waves is studied. Experiments were performed to investigate the effects of bed fluid acceleration on coarse particle stability. By varying wave height, wave period and water depth combinations of similar peak orbital velocities and weak to strong intra-wave accelerations were created. Qualitatively we found that initiation of motion occurs at or is very close to the maximum shear stress due to the combined effects of drag/lift and acceleration as introduced by Nielsen and Callaghan (2003). However, quantitatively their formulation does not lead to convincing discrimination between motion and no motion. We expect this to be due to the assumption that the coefficients for drag/lift and acceleration in their formulation are taken equal. From literature and from plotting our data against the Keulegan-Carpenter number we expect that the coefficients strongly vary caused by flow separation effects.
Chitosan and Kappa-Carrageenan Vaginal Acyclovir Formulations for Prevention of Genital Herpes. In Vitro and Ex Vivo Evaluation

Vaginal formulations for the prevention of sexually transmitted infections are currently gaining importance in drug development. Polysaccharides, such as chitosan and carrageenan, which have good binding capacity with mucosal tissues, are now included in vaginal delivery systems. Marine polymer-based vaginal mucoadhesive solid formulations have been developed for the controlled release of acyclovir, which may prevent the sexual transmission of the herpes simplex virus. Drug release studies were carried out in two media: simulated vaginal fluid and simulated vaginal fluid/simulated seminal fluid mixture. The bioadhesive capacity and permanence time of the bioadhesion, the prepared compacts, and compacted granules were determined ex vivo using bovine vaginal mucosa as substrate. Swelling processes were quantified to confirm the release data. Biocompatibility was evaluated through in vitro cellular toxicity assays, and the results showed that acyclovir and the rest of the materials had no cytotoxicity at the maximum concentration tested. The mixture of hydroxyl-propyl-methyl-cellulose with chitosan- or kappa-carrageenan-originated mucoadhesive systems that presented a complete and sustained release of acyclovir for a period of 8–9 days in both media. Swelling data revealed the formation of optimal mixed chitosan/hydroxyl-propyl-methyl-cellulose gels which could be appropriated for the prevention of sexual transmission of HSV.
Faster cognitive decline in the years prior to MR imaging is associated with smaller hippocampal volumes in cognitively healthy older persons

Early identification of persons at risk for cognitive decline in aging is critical to optimizing treatment to delay or avoid a clinical diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or dementia due to Alzheimer's disease (AD). To accomplish early identification, it is essential that trajectories of cognitive change be characterized and associations with established biomarkers of MCI and AD be examined during the phase in which older persons are considered cognitively healthy. Here we examined the association of rate of cognitive decline in the years leading up to structural magnetic resonance imaging with an established biomarker, hippocampal volume. The sample comprised 211 participants of the Rush Memory and Aging Project who had an average of 5.5 years of cognitive data prior to structural scanning. Results showed that there was significant variability in the trajectories of cognitive change prior to imaging and that faster cognitive decline was associated with smaller hippocampal volumes. Domain-specific analyses suggested that this association was primarily driven by decline in working memory. The results emphasize the importance of closely examining cognitive change and its association with brain structure during the years in which older persons are considered cognitively healthy.
A study of the human-robot synchronous control system based on skeletal tracking technology

The purpose of this study is to develop a new system to synchronously control the simulated robot and humanoid robot based on the skeletal tracking technology. This system is a human-robot interaction system. Human can control the robot through the skeletal tracking technology without placing any marker on the subject's body. We use the Microsoft Kinect to get the skeleton framework information of the subject and input the data into the program. Therefore, the experiment has no demand on color to distinguish the subject's motions, and the subject can just perform in the front of the Kinect without wearing any control device. After processing the data, the computer controls the simulated robot to regenerate the subject's motions synchronously. In this study, we can control the simulated robot to do three different exercises. To verify the validity of the control system, we did a series of experiments to control a humanoid robot NAO. The experimental results show that the synchronous control system can distinguish the movements of human upper limb efficiently, and the cost is lower than that of the previous studies. This system controls both robot model and humanoid robot NAO based on human motion to achieve the human-machine interaction efficiently and the success rate is more than 90%.
Antitumor effect of antitissue factor antibody‐MMAE conjugate in human pancreatic tumor xenografts

Tissue factor (TF) triggers the extrinsic blood coagulation cascade and is highly expressed in various types of cancer. In this study, we investigated the antitumor effect of an antibody–drug conjugate (ADC) consisting of an anti‐TF monoclonal antibody and monomethyl auristatin E (MMAE). MMAE was conjugated to an anti‐human TF or anti‐mouse TF antibody using a valine‐citrulline linker that could be potentially hydrolyzed by cathepsin B in the acidic environment of the lysosome. The cytotoxic and antitumor effects of the ADCs against four pancreatic cancer cell lines were analyzed. Both the ADC with the anti‐human TF antibody and that with the anti‐mouse TF antibody were stable under physiological conditions. The anti‐human ADC was internalized in TF‐expressing human tumor cell lines, followed by effective MMAE release. The half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of MMAE was approximately 1 nM for all of the cell lines used. Meanwhile, the IC50 of anti‐human ADC was 1.15 nM in the cell lines showing high TF expression, while exceeding 100 nM in the cells showing low TF expression levels. Anti‐human ADC with passive and active targeting ability exerted significant suppression of tumor growth as compared to that observed in the saline group (p < 0.01). Also significant tumor growth suppressions were seen at the anti‐mouse ADC and control ADC groups compared to the saline group (p < 0.01) due to EPR effect. Because various clinical human cancers express highly amount of TF, this new anti‐TF ADC may deserve a clinical evaluation.
Space–time codependence of retinal ganglion cells can be explained by novel and separable components of their receptive fields

Reverse correlation methods such as spike‐triggered averaging consistently identify the spatial center in the linear receptive fields (RFs) of retinal ganglion cells (GCs). However, the spatial antagonistic surround observed in classical experiments has proven more elusive. Tests for the antagonistic surround have heretofore relied on models that make questionable simplifying assumptions such as space–time separability and radial homogeneity/symmetry. We circumvented these, along with other common assumptions, and observed a linear antagonistic surround in 754 of 805 mouse GCs. By characterizing the RF's space–time structure, we found the overall linear RF's inseparability could be accounted for both by tuning differences between the center and surround and differences within the surround. Finally, we applied this approach to characterize spatial asymmetry in the RF surround. These results shed new light on the spatiotemporal organization of GC linear RFs and highlight a major contributor to its inseparability.
Increasing Instructional Efficiency When Using Simultaneous Prompting Procedure in Teaching Academic Skills to Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders.

A multiple probe design across behaviors replicated across participants was used to examine the effects of a simultaneous prompting procedure delivered along with instructive feedback and observational learning stimuli when teaching academic skills to a small group of students with ASD. Different target skills were taught to each student in the group arrangement. Three 10-and-11-years-old male students participated. Results showed that the simultaneous prompting procedure was effective and the students acquired responding correctly to the instructive feedback and observational learning stimuli, which were exposed during the course of simultaneous prompting training. Furthermore, the simultaneous prompting procedure was effective in the maintenance and generalization of the acquired target skills and they maintained responding correctly to their instructive feedback and observational learning stimuli over time and across persons and materials. Last, social validity findings of the study were encouraging. All these findings provide the groundwork for suggesting teachers to use the simultaneous prompting procedure with the presentation of instructive feedback stimuli and providing opportunity of observational learning when teaching academic skills to students with ASD. Future research is needed to support these findings.
PET and MRI show differences in cerebral asymmetry and functional connectivity between homo- and heterosexual subjects

Cerebral responses to putative pheromones and objects of sexual attraction were recently found to differ between homo- and heterosexual subjects. Although this observation may merely mirror perceptional differences, it raises the intriguing question as to whether certain sexually dimorphic features in the brain may differ between individuals of the same sex but different sexual orientation. We addressed this issue by studying hemispheric asymmetry and functional connectivity, two parameters that in previous publications have shown specific sex differences. Ninety subjects [25 heterosexual men (HeM) and women (HeW), and 20 homosexual men (HoM) and women (HoW)] were investigated with magnetic resonance volumetry of cerebral and cerebellar hemispheres. Fifty of them also participated in PET measurements of cerebral blood flow, used for analyses of functional connections from the right and left amygdalae. HeM and HoW showed a rightward cerebral asymmetry, whereas volumes of the cerebral hemispheres were symmetrical in HoM and HeW. No cerebellar asymmetries were found. Homosexual subjects also showed sex-atypical amygdala connections. In HoM, as in HeW, the connections were more widespread from the left amygdala; in HoW and HeM, on the other hand, from the right amygdala. Furthermore, in HoM and HeW the connections were primarily displayed with the contralateral amygdala and the anterior cingulate, in HeM and HoW with the caudate, putamen, and the prefrontal cortex. The present study shows sex-atypical cerebral asymmetry and functional connections in homosexual subjects. The results cannot be primarily ascribed to learned effects, and they suggest a linkage to neurobiological entities.
Does Foreign Language Classroom Anxiety Mitigate Learner Autonomy Development

The present research attempts to further the understanding of the relation between the language learner’s levels of language anxiety and learner autonomy. The study is based on quantitative data attempting to address the following questions: (1) Does learner anxiety have an impact on the autonomy of young language learners? And (2) Is there a correlation between the high, average, and low levels of learner anxiety and autonomy? The research sample was comprised of grade five (approximately 11 years old) secondary school students registered at a private secondary school. Results of the data analysis established that learner autonomy levels were significantly lower when students had a higher degree of anxiety. The relationship between lower anxiety and higher learner autonomy was discovered to be stronger than that between higher anxiety and learner autonomy. Possible inclinations relating to the language learner’s and teacher’s awareness of the relationship between anxiety and autonomy are stated.
Patient attitudes toward the use of surgical scrubs in a military hospital clinic

Objective To determine whether obstetrics and gynecology (ob/gyn) patients in a large military teaching hospital have a negative attitude toward the wearing of surgical scrubs by ob/gyn providers. Methods A convenience sample questionnaire on patient preferences, including two questions relating independently to military and civilian staff attire, was offered to clinic patients over a 2 month period. Univariate and multiple logistic regression analyses were used to identify patient groups less accepting of the surgical scrubs in clinics. Results Over ninety-one percent of respondents viewed surgical scrubs with a white coat to be acceptable clinical attire for military or civilian providers. Eight percent preferred the more formal uniform or business dress. Non-white and Hispanic patients had higher rates of preference for more formal dress. Conclusions The majority of ob/gyn patients surveyed did not view the use of surgical scrubs with a white coat negatively.
Features Extraction for Link Prediction in Social Networks

The advent of social networks is one of the most exciting events in recent years. Its continuous development generated a huge information source which has been attracting attention of many researchers. Link prediction is an important problem in social network analysis. A link between two individuals is established base on many elements. Existing links give the individuals more chances to meet new people who can become their friends in future. In addition, personal features are necessary condition to form a stable link. Most present studies thoroughly mined network topology but used a little own information of users to recommend potential links. This affects to the quality of prediction. In this paper, we concentrate on the extraction of more features from user to improve the quality of predicted links. We proposed a measure calculating the similarity of individuals. The measure considers not only network topology but also the personal features. The higher similarity score, the more ability a new link appears. The experimentation shows that the simple combination of information as above brings considerable results.