Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Task-switching cost and repetition priming: Two overlooked confounds in the fixed-set procedure of the Sternberg paradigm and how they affect memory set-size effects

Subjects performed Sternberg-type memory recognition tasks (Sternberg paradigm) in four experiments. Category-instance names were used as learning and testing materials. Sternberg's original experiments demonstrated a linear relation between reaction time (RT) and memory-set size (MSS). A few later studies found no relation, and other studies found a nonlinear relation (logarithmic) between the two variables. These deviations were used as evidence undermining Sternberg's serial scan theory. This study identified two confounding variables in the fixed-set procedure of the paradigm (where multiple probes are presented at test for a learned memory set) that could generate a MSS RT function that was either flat or logarithmic rather than linearly increasing. These two confounding variables were task-switching cost and repetition priming. The former factor worked against smaller memory sets and in favour of larger sets whereas the latter factor worked in the opposite way. Results demonstrated that a null or a logarithmic RT-to-MSS relation could be the artefact of the combined effects of these two variables. The Sternberg paradigm has been used widely in memory research, and a thorough understanding of the subtle methodological pitfalls is crucial. It is suggested that a varied-set procedure (where only one probe is presented at test for a learned memory set) is a more contamination-free procedure for measuring the MSS effects, and that if a fixed-set procedure is used, it is worthwhile examining the RT function of the very first trials across the MSSs, which are presumably relatively free of contamination by the subsequent trials.
Suicidal Ideation Is Associated with Altered Variability of Fingertip Photo-Plethysmogram Signal in Depressed Patients

Physiological and psychological underpinnings of suicidal behavior remain ill-defined and lessen timely diagnostic identification of this subgroup of patients. Arterial stiffness is associated with autonomic dysregulation and may be linked to major depressive disorder (MDD). The aim of this study was to investigate the association between arterial stiffness by photo-plethysmogram (PPG) in MDD with and without suicidal ideation (SI) by applying multiscale tone entropy (T-E) variability analysis. Sixty-one 10-min PPG recordings were analyzed from 29 control, 16 MDD patients with (MDDSI+) and 16 patients without SI (MDDSI−). MDD was based on a psychiatric evaluation and the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI). Severity of depression was assessed using the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D). PPG features included peak (systole), trough (diastole), pulse wave amplitude (PWA), pulse transit time (PTT) and pulse wave velocity (PWV). Tone (Diastole) at all lags and Tone (PWA) at lags 8, 9, and 10 were found to be significantly different between the MDDSI+ and MDDSI− group. However, Tone (PWA) at all lags and Tone (PTT) at scales 3–10 were also significantly different between the MDDSI+ and CONT group. In contrast, Entropy (Systole), Entropy (Diastole) and Tone (Diastole) were significantly different between MDDSI− and CONT groups. The suicidal score was also positively correlated (r = 0.39 ~ 0.47; p < 0.05) with systolic and diastolic entropy values at lags 2–10. Multivariate logistic regression analysis and leave-one-out cross-validation were performed to study the effectiveness of multi-lag T–E features in predicting SI risk. The accuracy of predicting SI was 93.33% in classifying MDDSI+ and MDDSI− with diastolic T-E and lag between 2 and 10. After including anthropometric variables (Age, body mass index, and Waist Circumference), that accuracy increased to 96.67% for MDDSI+/− classification. Our findings suggest that tone-entropy based PPG variability can be used as an additional accurate diagnostic tool for patients with depression to identify SI.
Influence of atmospheric and climatic change on plant – pathogen interactions

Atmospheric change studies conducted in free air concentration enrichment (FACE) systems and open-topped chambers have increased understanding of how factors, such as rising CO2 and O3 levels, impact the development of plant disease epidemics. Using these systems, plant scientists have been able to study host ⁄pathogen systems under real-world conditions where variations in multiple environmental parameters impact disease outcomes. Results from these studies are useful for evaluating earlier predictions on plant responses to climate-change parameters and the resulting impacts on plant disease epidemics. Some of these predictions have been verified, whilst others have yet to be tested. Significant interactions among climate-change parameters are highlighting the importance of conducting studies under real-world conditions. The development of molecular and gene expression tools is allowing the fine scale mechanisms responsible for the observed reactions to be determined, and should increase the ability to predict plant disease outcomes under future climatic conditions.
Using High-Field Magnetic Resonance Imaging to Estimate Distensibility of the Middle Cerebral Artery

Background: Although cerebral arterial stiffness may be an important marker for cerebrovascular health, there is not yet a measurement that accurately reflects the distensibility of major intracranial arteries. Herein, we aim to noninvasively measure distension of the human middle cerebral artery (MCA). Methods: Ten healthy volunteers (age: 30.3 ± 10.8 years) underwent ultra-high-field (7-tesla) MRI scanning. Time-of-flight angiography and phase-contrast flow imaging were used to locate the M1 segment of the MCA and to determine the occurrence of systole and diastole. High-resolution cross-sectional cardiac triggered T2-weighted images of the M1 segment of the MCA were acquired in systole and diastole. Results: The average distension of the MCA area from diastole to systole was 2.58% (range: 0.08%-6.48%). There was no significant correlation between MCA distension and the pulsatility index, calculated from the phase-contrast flow velocity profiles. Conclusion: These results lead to the first noninvasive image-based estimation of distensibility of the MCA (approx. 5.8 × 10-4 mm Hg-1) and demonstrate that ultra-high-field MRI could be a promising tool for investigating distensibility of intracranial arteries in relation to cerebrovascular pathology.
Selective aortic arch perfusion with hemoglobin-based oxygen carrier-201 for resuscitation from exsanguinating cardiac arrest in swine

Objective The prospects for resuscitation after blunt traumatic cardiac arrest are dismal. Selective aortic arch perfusion (SAAP) with a hemoglobin-based oxygen carrier (HBOC-201) offers a potentially effective therapy. This study evaluated the acute cardiovascular and metabolic effects of SAAP with HBOC-201 in an exsanguination model of cardiac arrest. Design Randomized, controlled, laboratory investigation. Setting University research laboratory. Subjects Domestic swine, 25–39 kg. Interventions Partial resection of four liver lobes rapidly led to profound hemorrhagic shock and subsequent cardiac arrest at 10–13 mins. At 15 mins, swine were randomized to receive either SAAP with oxygenated lactated Ringer’s (LR) solution (n = 6) or SAAP with oxygenated HBOC-201 (n = 6) at a rate of 10 mL·kg−1·min−1 until return of spontaneous circulation with a mean aortic pressure of 60 mm Hg (8.0 kPa) was achieved. Epinephrine (0.005 mg/kg) was given via intra-aortic route every 30 secs as needed to promote return of spontaneous circulation beginning at 18 mins after onset of liver injury (3 mins after beginning SAAP). Measurements and Main Results Mean aortic pressure, cardiac output, total blood loss, and time of arrest were similar for both groups before SAAP therapy. In the SAAP-HBOC group, return of spontaneous circulation with a sustained mean aortic pressure of 60 mm Hg (8.0 kPa) was achieved in six of six swine at 1.9 ± 0.3 mins of SAAP, and none of these swine required epinephrine. In the SAAP-LR group, no swine (from a total of six) achieved return of spontaneous circulation before intra-aortic epinephrine administration, and only two of six swine had brief return of spontaneous circulation with an mean aortic pressure of 60 mm Hg (8.0 kPa) after intra-aortic epinephrine that was sustained for <10 mins. One-hour survival was five of six in the SAAP-HBOC group and none of six in the SAAP-LR group (p < .05, Fisher’s exact test). Conclusion SAAP with oxygenated HBOC-201 rapidly restored viable cardiovascular function after exsanguinating cardiac arrest in this swine model of liver injury with profound hemorrhagic shock.
Einstein-Kaehler Metrics on Symmetric Toric Fano Manifolds

Let $X$ be a complex toric Fano $n$-fold and ${\cal N}(T)$ the normalizer of a maximal torus $T$ in the group of biholomorphic authomorphisms $Aut(X)$. We call $X$ {\em symmetric} if the trivial character is a single ${\cal N}(T)$-invariant algebraic character of $T$. Using an invariant $\alpha_G(X)$ introduced by Tian, we show that all symmetric toric Fano $n$-folds admit an Einstein-Kahler metric. We remark that so far one doesn't know any example of a toric Fano $n$-fold $X$ such that $Aut(X)$ is reductive, the Futaki character of $X$ vanishes, but $X$ is not symmetric.
Increased expression of interferon-λ in minor salivary glands of patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome and its synergic effect with interferon-α on salivary gland epithelial cells.

OBJECTIVES To investigate the expressions of interferon (IFN)-λs and their receptor, IL28RA, in minor salivary glands (MSG) of pSS patients and their effects on the salivary gland cells. METHODS The expressions of IFN-λs and IL28RA were evaluated in MSG by immunohistochemistry in 15 patients with pSS and in 5 patients with non-SS sicca. Poly(I:C)-induced IL-28A and IL-29 expressions were determined in immortalized human salivary gland acinar (NS-SV-AC) and ductal (NS-SV-DC) cell lines. We assessed the effect of IFN-λs on the expressions of typical interferon-inducible genes, B-cell activating factor (BAFF) and CXCL10, and the synergistic effect of IL-29 and type I or II IFN on their expressions. The serum IL-29 levels were measured in 44 patients with pSS and 22 healthy controls. RESULTS IFN-λs expression was significantly higher in MSG from pSS than from non-SS sicca controls. Poly(I:C) treatment led to the induction of IL-28A and IL-29 in the salivary gland cell lines. In the NS-SV-DC cells, IFN-λ significantly increased the levels of BAFF and CXCL10 in a time and dose-dependent manner. Moreover, there was a synergistic effect between IL-29 and IFN-α in the induction of BAFF and CXCL10 expressions by prolonged STAT1 phosphorylation. However, the serum IL-29 levels were not significantly higher in pSS patients than in healthy controls. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest the possibility for IFN-λ to play a role by participating local inflammation in the salivary glands of pSS through direct and indirect regulations of the expressions of BAFF and CXCL10 in salivary gland epithelium.
On the validity of Dempster-Shafer Theory

We challenge the validity of Dempster-Shafer Theory by using an emblematic example to show that DS rule produces counter-intuitive result. Further analysis reveals that the result comes from a understanding of evidence pooling which goes against the common expectation of this process. Although DS theory has attracted some interest of the scientific community working in information fusion and artificial intelligence, its validity to solve practical problems is problematic, because it is not applicable to evidences combination in general, but only to a certain type situations which still need to be clearly identified.
Gastrointestinal infection as a trigger for inflammatory bowel disease

Purpose of review There is accumulating evidence on the importance of microbes in the development and maintenance of both the intestinal and immune systems. This review focuses on the current findings on the role of gastrointestinal pathogens in the cause of chronic inflammatory bowel disease. Recent findings A number of intestinal pathogens including Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis, adherent-invasive Escherichia coli, and Campylobacter species are associated at fairly high prevalence with Crohn's disease, while two recent studies found a low prevalence for cytomegalovirus. In a prospective study, M. avium subspecies paratuberculosis detection in early Crohn's disease was low and comparable to controls, while much higher in an established inflammatory bowel disease cohort. In the pediatric setting, a high prevalence of Clostridium difficile was seen in both active and inactive Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis patients. Some studies have speculated that Salmonella or Campylobacter infection may increase the risk of inflammatory bowel disease on long-term follow-up, but detection bias was found to obscure the risk. Recent studies in mouse models have demonstrated that a combination of factors, including viral pathogens, genetic susceptibility, and commensal microflora, can lead to intestinal pathology. Summary No evidence for causation of inflammatory bowel disease by a single agent has been found, whereas a number of microbes have been strongly associated with the presence of disease. The majority of recent studies support a role for the ability of intestinal pathogens to promote chronic inflammation in individuals with genetic susceptibility and/or other environmental factors which remain to be identified. These factors may include subsets of commensal microflora.
Throughput-Optimal Scheduling in Multihop Wireless Networks Without Per-Flow Information

In this paper, we consider the problem of link scheduling in multihop wireless networks under general interference constraints. Our goal is to design scheduling schemes that do not use per-flow or per-destination information, maintain a single data queue for each link, and exploit only local information, while guaranteeing throughput optimality. Although the celebrated back-pressure algorithm maximizes throughput, it requires per-flow or per-destination information. It is usually difficult to obtain and maintain this type of information, especially in large networks, where there are numerous flows. Also, the back-pressure algorithm maintains a complex data structure at each node, keeps exchanging queue-length information among neighboring nodes, and commonly results in poor delay performance. In this paper, we propose scheduling schemes that can circumvent these drawbacks and guarantee throughput optimality. These schemes use either the readily available hop-count information or only the local information for each link. We rigorously analyze the performance of the proposed schemes using fluid limit techniques via an inductive argument and show that they are throughput-optimal. We also conduct simulations to validate our theoretical results in various settings and show that the proposed schemes can substantially improve the delay performance in most scenarios.
Two closely located areas in the suboesophageal ganglion and the tritocerebrum receive projections of gustatory receptor neurons located on the antennae and the proboscis in the moth Heliothis virescens

Sucrose stimulation of gustatory receptor neurons on the antennae, the tarsi, and the mouthparts elicits the proboscis extension reflex in many insect species, including lepidopterans. The sensory pathways involved in this reflex have only partly been investigated, and in hymenopterans only. The present paper concerns the pathways of the gustatory receptor neurons on the antennae and on the proboscis involved in the proboscis extension reflex in the moth Heliothis virescens (Lepidoptera; Noctuidae). Fluorescent dyes were applied to the contact chemosensilla, sensilla chaetica on the antennae, and sensilla styloconica on the proboscis, permitting tracing of the axons of the gustatory receptor neurons in the central nervous system. The stained axons showed projections from the two appendages in two closely located but distinct areas in the suboesophageal ganglion (SOG)/tritocerebrum. The projections of the antennal gustatory receptor neurons were located posterior‐laterally to those from the proboscis. Electrophysiological recordings from the receptor neurons in s. chaetica during mechanical and chemical stimulation were performed, showing responses of one mechanosensory and of several gustatory receptor neurons. Separate neurons showed excitatory responses to sucrose and sinigrin. The effect of these two tastants on the proboscis extension reflex was tested by repeated stimulations with solutions of the two compounds. Whereas sucrose elicited extension in 100% of the individuals in all repetitions, sinigrin elicited extension in fewer individuals, a number that decreased with repeated stimulation. J. Comp. Neurol. 496:121–134, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A systematic study of neutrophil degranulation and respiratory burst in vitro by defined immune complexes

Defined immune complexes (IC) were used to compare the effect of antibodies of different classes and subclasses on neutrophil respiratory burst and degranulation. IC were made from 5‐iodo‐4‐hydroxy‐3‐nitrophenacetyl (NIP) conjugated to bovine serum albumin (BSA) and chimaeric mouse‐human anti‐NIP monoclonal antibodies including lgA2, IgE and all four IgG subclasses. The activation of neutrophils by IC depended on antibody class and subclass, on antigen epitope density, on antigen : antibody ratio and on the medium used. The ability to generate the respiratory burst showed a different pattern to the ability to give rise to degranulation. Compared with other IC, IgA2 IC provided the strongest stimulus for neutrophil activation. IgG1 IC, IgG2 IC and IgG4 IC activated neutrophils moderately or weakly. IgG3 IC were unable to stimulate the respiratory burst, but could cause strong degranulation. IgE IC could hardly cause any neutrophil response. Neutrophil degranulation in response to IgG3 IC in serum‐free medium or heat‐inactivated serum was fast, and it quickly reached maximum. Degranulation caused by IgA IC was relatively slow. but gradually increased during incubation. The activity of IgG1 IC. IgG2 IC and IgG4 IC generated a respiratory burst increased with antibody excess and decreased with antigen excess. The activity of IgA2 IC, however, was not affected by change of antigen and antibody ratio. A specific role of serum, possibly due to complement, was found in enhancing degranulation. both temporally and quantitatively, by lgA2 IC.
Imaging Islets Labeled With Magnetic Nanoparticles at 1.5 Tesla

We have developed a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technique for imaging Feridex (superparamagnetic iron oxide [SPIO])-labeled islets of Langerhans using a standard clinical 1.5-Tesla (T) scanner and employing steady-state acquisition imaging sequence (3DFIESTA). Both porcine and rat islets were labeled with SPIO by a transfection technique using a combination of poly-l-lysine and electroporation. Electron microscopy demonstrated presence of SPIO particles within the individual islet cells, including β-cells and particles trapped between cell membranes. Our labeling method produced a transfection rate of 860 pg to 3.4 ng iron per islet, dependent on the size of the islet. The labeling procedure did not disrupt either the function or viability of the islets. In vitro 3DFIESTA magnetic resonance images of single-labeled islets corresponded with their optical images. In vivo T2*-weighted scan using 1.5 T detected as few as 200 SPIO-labeled islets transplanted under rat kidney capsule, which correlated with immunohistochemistry of the transplant for insulin and iron. Ex vivo 3DFIESTA images of kidneys containing 200, 800 or 2,000 SPIO-labeled islet isografts showed good correlation between signal loss and increasing numbers of islets. These data provide evidence that islets can be labeled with SPIO and imaged using clinically available 1.5- T MRI.
Laminar Specificity of Functional Input to Distinct Types of Inhibitory Cortical Neurons

Despite the presence of numerous inhibitory cell types, laminar excitatory input has only been characterized for limited identified types, and it is unknown whether there are differences between cell types in their laminar sources of inhibitory input. In the present study, we characterized sources of local input to nine distinct types of layer 2/3 inhibitory neurons in living slices of mouse somatosensory cortex. Whole-cell recordings from identified cell types, facilitated by use of transgenic mice expressing green fluorescent protein in limited inhibitory neuron populations, were combined with laser scanning photostimulation. We found that each inhibitory cell type received distinct excitatory and inhibitory laminar input patterns. Excitatory inputs could be grouped into three categories. All inhibitory cell types received strong excitation from layer 2/3, and for calretinin (CR)-positive Martinotti cells and burst-spiking interneurons, this was their dominant source of excitatory input. Three other cell types, including fast-spiking basket cells, CR-negative Martinotti cells, and bipolar interneurons, also received strong excitatory input from layer 4. The remaining four inhibitory cell types, including chandelier cells, neurogliaform cells, irregular spiking basket cells, and regular spiking presumptive basket cells, received strong excitatory input from layer 5A and not layer 4. Laminar sources of inhibitory input varied between cell types and could not be predicted from the sources of excitatory input. Thus, there are cell-type specific differences in laminar sources of both excitation and inhibition, and complementary input patterns from layer 4 versus layer 5A suggest cell type differences in their relationships to lemniscal versus paralemniscal pathways.
Strategies for Changing Eating and Exercise Behavior

The leading causes of disease and death in the United States—coronary heart disease and cancer—are related to lifestyle factors. Changing eating and exercise habits and eliminating smoking could markedly reduce the prevalence of these diseases. The goal of this chapter is to provide readers with an overview of behavioral strategies that can be used to modify lifestyle behaviors. Although the behavioral principles are applicable to changing any type of health habit, this chapter will focus primarily on obesity and will review strategies that may help in both treating and preventing this disease.