Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Event-related potentials topographic changes due to simultaneous presentation of audio-visual stimuli

Audio-visual neural interaction was examined by using ERPs. Eleven male volunteers participated in this study. EEGs were recorded from 19 locations. Japanese vowels (/a/ or /i/) or white-noise (/noise/) were used as auditory stimuli. The face images pronouncing vowel ([a] or [i]) were used as visual stimuli. This study was composed of three conditions, i.e., (1) audio-visual condition (AV condition) due to bimodal stimulus presentation, (2) auditory condition (A condition) due to only auditory stimulus presentation, and (3) visual condition (V condition) due to only visual stimulus presentation. In the AV condition, audio-visual stimuli pairs were phonetically congruent (audio/a/, visual[a]), incongruent (audio/a/, visual[i]), and deviant (/noise/, visual[a]). The participants were instructed to press a button for vowel/a/ or /noise/ stimulus. Audio-visual interaction was examined by subtracting ERPs in the A or V condition from ERPs in the AV condition. Cross-modal facilitatory effects were not observed in auditory perception. On the other hand, topographical changes occurred in face-specific negative components around 170 ms depending on audio and visual informational congruency, i.e., the center of negative activity shifted towards the left hemisphere for “incongruent” stimulus. This result might be concerned with suppression of incongruent visual information.
A20 Regulates Atherogenic Interferon (IFN)-γ Signaling in Vascular Cells by Modulating Basal IFNβ Levels*

Background: IFNγ signaling is a major culprit in occlusive vascular disease. Results: The anti-inflammatory protein A20 negatively regulates IFNγ signaling in vascular cells in vitro and in vivo. Conclusion: A20 impacts IFNγ signaling by modulating basal IFNβ and downstream STAT1 expression. Significance: This novel function of A20 supports its promise as a therapeutic target and prognostic marker for atherosclerotic disease. IFNγ signaling in endothelial (EC) and smooth muscle cells (SMC) is a key culprit of pathologic vascular remodeling. The impact of NF-κB inhibitory protein A20 on IFNγ signaling in vascular cells remains unknown. In gain- and loss-of-function studies, A20 inversely regulated expression of IFNγ-induced atherogenic genes in human EC and SMC by modulating STAT1 transcription. In vivo, inadequate A20 expression in A20 heterozygote mice aggravated intimal hyperplasia following partial carotid artery ligation. This outcome uniquely associated with increased levels of Stat1 and super-induction of Ifnγ-dependent genes. Transcriptome analysis of the aortic media from A20 heterozygote versus wild-type mice revealed increased basal Ifnβ signaling as the likely cause for higher Stat1 transcription. We confirmed higher basal IFNβ levels in A20-silenced human SMC and showed that neutralization or knockdown of IFNβ abrogates heightened STAT1 levels in these cells. Upstream of IFNβ, A20-silenced EC and SMC demonstrated higher levels of phosphorylated/activated TANK-binding kinase-1 (TBK1), a regulator of IFNβ transcription. This suggested that A20 knockdown increased STAT1 transcription by enhancing TBK1 activation and subsequently basal IFNβ levels. Altogether, these results uncover A20 as a key physiologic regulator of atherogenic IFNγ/STAT1 signaling. This novel function of A20 added to its ability to inhibit nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) activation solidifies its promise as an ideal therapeutic candidate for treatment and prevention of vascular diseases. In light of recently discovered A20/TNFAIP3 (TNFα-induced protein 3) single nucleotide polymorphisms that impart lower A20 expression or function, these results also qualify A20 as a reliable clinical biomarker for vascular risk assessment.
Application of a DNA Hybridization–Hydrophobic-Grid Membrane Filter Method for Detection and Isolation of VerotoxigenicEscherichia coli

ABSTRACT Verotoxigenic Escherichia coli (VTEC) strains were isolated from food and animal fecal samples by using PCR to screen for the presence of VTEC after broth enrichment and then filtering VTEC-positive cultures through hydrophobic-grid membrane filters (HGMFs) which were incubated on MacConkey agar. The filters were probed with a digoxigenin-labeled PCR product generated by amplification of a conserved verotoxin gene sequence. Replication of the growth on filters allowed probe-positive colonies to be picked. When ground beef samples were inoculated with VTEC strains, 100% of the strains were recovered, and the detection limit was 0.1 CFU per g. Similar results were obtained with seven types of artificially contaminated vegetables. A survey of 32 packages of vegetables and 23 samples of apple cider obtained at the retail level did not reveal the presence of VTEC. However, the intestinal fecal contents of a moose, 1 of 35 wild mammals and birds examined, contained E. coli O157:H7. The DNA hybridization-HGMF method was also used in a prevalence survey of 327 raw and 744 ready-to-eat products; VTEC strains were recovered from 4.9% of the raw products and 0.7% of the ready-to-eat products. No serotype O157:H7 strains were detected. This method is particularly suited for surveys in which low numbers of VTEC-positive samples are expected and isolates are required.
Bubbles, Crashes, and Endogenous Expectations in Experimental Spot Asset Markets

Spot asset trading is studied where the only external source of value is an independent draw from a common information dividend distribution at the end of each of fifteen trading periods. Fourteen of twenty-two experiments exhibit price bubbles. This tendency to bubble decreases with trader experience. The regression of changes in mean price on lagged excess bids (bids minus offers in the previous period) supports the hypothesis that the intercept is minus the one-period expected dividend value, and the slope is positive, where excess bids measures excess demand attributable to homegrown capital gains expectations. Copyright 1988 by The Econometric Society.
Engaging rural nurses in the policy development process

Background: Reports into neglect by nursing staff have included recommendations to develop policies indicating the fundamental standards of care (Garling, 2008; Francis, 2013). An area health service in a rural setting in Australia moved to develop such a policy. Objectives: This project was designed to engage nursing staff in a rural health service in the development of a minimum nursing standards policy. Methods: A participatory action research methodology was used to engage with nursing staff. A thematic analysis of focus group meetings was conducted to identify themes. Findings: Though discussions in focus groups did function to develop the policy, participants also expressed views on issues of nursing within the organisation. Themes were identified as either personal or organisational. Personal features included lack of motivation and burnout in staff. Organisational features were controlled by the organisation and included features such as a lack of time and autonomy to commit to the project.
Partitioning the Internet

This paper presents experimental results for calculating both node- and edge separators on Autonomous System graphs generated from BGP routing information. The separator of a network graph describes a range of interesting properties as it captures components that are critical to overall connectivity. These components play special roles in terms of routing and deserve special attention from those in-charge of network security and resilience. We present empirical evidence showing that the Autonomous System Graph (AS Graph) is hard to separate and large portions always remain connected even in the case of a significant number of concurrent Byzantine failures of Autonomous Systems or connections between Autonomous Systems.
Chemical-resistant Ultrafine Poly(styrene-co-acrylonitrile) Fibers by Electrospinning: Process Optimization by Design of Experiment

The effects of solution and processing parameters on the morphology and diameter of electrospun poly(styrene-co-acrylonitrile) fibers were investigated by design of experiment. Morphology of the electrospun fiber mats were investigated by scanning electron microscopy. With increasing solution concentration, fiber morphology changed from that of a spindle-like beaded one to smooth, and the average fiber diameter increased from 96 to 876 nm. Average fiber diameter gradually increased with applied voltage; however, fiber morphology was only slightly influenced by flow rate. Regression analysis results reveal that solution concentration has the most significant impact on the average and standard deviation of fiber diameter.
Comparison between plasma and erythrocyte fatty acid content as biomarkers of fatty acid intake in US women.

BACKGROUND Erythrocyte fatty acids may be superior to plasma fatty acids for reflecting long-term fatty acid intake because of less sensitivity to recent intake and a slower turnover rate. OBJECTIVE The objective was to compare the fatty acid content of erythrocytes with that of plasma with respect to their abilities to reflect usual fatty acid intake. DESIGN Fatty acids in plasma and erythrocytes were measured by capillary gas-liquid chromatography in 306 US women aged 43-69 y. Fatty acid intake was assessed with a food-frequency questionnaire, which was validated for measuring intakes of various fatty acids. RESULTS Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22:6n-3) in erythrocytes and plasma provided the strongest correlations with its intake, but erythrocyte DHA concentrations [Spearman's partial correlation coefficient (r(s))=0.56] were better than plasma DHA concentrations (r(s)=0.48) as a biomarker. Total trans fatty acids (r(s)=0.43) and total 18:1 trans isomers (r(s)=0.42) in erythrocytes were also more strongly correlated with intake than were those in plasma (r(s)=0.30 and r(s)=0.29, respectively). Moderate correlations were observed for linoleic acid (18:2n-6; erythrocytes, r(s)=0.24; plasma, r(s)=0.25), alpha-linolenic acid (18:3n-3; erythrocytes, r(s)=0.18; plasma, r(s)=0.23), and eicosapentaenoic acid (20:5 n-3; erythrocytes, r(s)=0.38; plasma, r(s)=0.21). For polyunsaturated and trans fatty acids, correlations between intakes and biomarkers improved moderately when average intakes over previous years were used. CONCLUSION Erythrocyte n-3 fatty acids of marine origin and trans fatty acid content are suitable biomarkers for long-term intake.
The Adenomatous Polyposis Coli Protein Contributes to Normal Compaction of Mitotic Chromatin

The tumour suppressor Adenomatous Polyposis Coli (APC) is required for proper mitosis; however, the exact role of APC in mitosis is not understood. Using demembranated sperm chromatin exposed to meiotic Xenopus egg extract and HeLa cells expressing fluorescently labelled histones, we established that APC contributes to chromatin compaction. Sperm chromatin in APC-depleted Xenopus egg extract frequently formed tight round or elongated structures. Such abnormally compacted chromatin predominantly formed spindles with low microtubule content. Furthermore, in mitotic HeLa cells expressing GFP- and mCherry-labelled H2B histones, depletion of APC caused a decrease in the donor fluorescence lifetime of neighbouring fluorophores, indicative of excessive chromatin compaction. Profiling the chromatin-associated proteome of sperm chromatin incubated with Xenopus egg extracts revealed temporal APC-dependent changes in the abundance of histones, closely mirrored by chromatin-associated Topoisomerase IIa, condensin I complex and Kif4. In the absence of APC these factors initially accumulated on chromatin, but then decreased faster than in controls. We also found and validated significant APC-dependent changes in chromatin modifiers Set-a and Rbbp7. Both were decreased on chromatin in APC-depleted extract; in addition, the kinetics of association of Set-a with chromatin was altered in the absence of APC.
Curvature regularity for region-based image segmentation and inpainting: A linear programming relaxation

We consider a class of region-based energies for image segmentation and inpainting which combine region integrals with curvature regularity of the region boundary. To minimize such energies, we formulate an integer linear program which jointly estimates regions and their boundaries. Curvature regularity is imposed by respective costs on pairs of adjacent boundary segments.
Assessment of renal function in elderly patients

Purpose of reviewThe proportion of elderly individuals is growing rapidly in all societies and the incidence of chronic kidney disease among elderly people increases constantly. Accurate monitoring of kidney function, that is, glomerular filtration rate, in elderly people is therefore of considerable clinical interest in order to detect individuals who are at risk for developing chronic kidney disease. This paper reviews the currently used methods for assessment of glomerular filtration rate and their utility in elderly people. Recent findingsSerum creatinine is an unreliable indicator of glomerular filtration rate in elderly people, particularly in those who are sick or malnourished or both. Thus, more reliable glomerular filtration rate estimates should be employed whenever indicated, for example, timed creatinine clearance, serum creatinine-based equations such as the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease formula, or serum cystatin C. However, no single method may be satisfactory. SummaryAccurate assessment of renal function is a prerequisite for the correct management of elderly people at risk of developing chronic kidney disease; for example, those with diabetes, hypertension, and other clinical conditions that may considerably accelerate an age-related decrease in glomerular filtration rate. The Modification of Diet in Renal Disease formula should be used in most cases, but serum cystatin C or even an isotope clearance method may be helpful if there is concern about the reliability of the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease equation in an elderly individual in whom precise assessment of kidney function is mandatory.
Hop Doubling Label Indexing for Point-to-Point Distance Querying on Scale-Free Networks

We study the problem of point-to-point distance querying for massive scale-free graphs, which is important for numerous applications. Given a directed or undirected graph, we propose to build an index for answering such queries based on a novel hop-doubling labeling technique. We derive bounds on the index size, the computation costs and I/O costs based on the properties of unweighted scale-free graphs. We show that our method is much more efficient and effective compared to the state-of-the-art techniques, in terms of both querying time and indexing costs. Our empirical study shows that our method can handle graphs that are orders of magnitude larger than existing methods.
Content Based Image Retrieval using Color and Texture

The increased need of content based image retrieval technique can be found in a number of different domains such as Data Mining, Education, Medical Imaging, Crime Prevention, Weather forecasting, Remote Sensing and Management of Earth Resources. This paper presents the content based image retrieval, using features like texture and color, called WBCHIR (Wavelet Based Color Histogram Image Retrieval). The texture and color features are extracted through wavelet transformation and color histogram and the combination of these features is robust to scaling and translation of objects in an image. The proposed system has demonstrated a promising and faster retrieval method on a WANG image database containing 1000 general-purpose color images. The performance has been evaluated by comparing with the existing systems in the literature.
Evaluation of Mechanical Properties Variations for Kr Ion‐Irradiated 6H‐SiC by Nanoindentation Methods

Nanoindentation experiments were performed to investigate the irradiation effects on the mechanical properties of 6H-SiC irradiated by 4 MeV Kr ions at high fluences from room temperature (RT) to 550°C. The irradiation temperature is the primary factor that affects modifications of the comprehensive mechanical properties, while the effect of the fluence is less significant. Elastic modulus and hardness decrease drastically for RT-irradiated samples, but they almost recover for elevated temperature samples, with hardness slightly higher than its original value. The hardness increases first and then decreases with increasing temperature, and the elastic modulus decreases linearly as the swelling increases. Meyer's index is related to the indentation size effect of hardness and the magnitude of the lattice damage. The ratio of irreversible work is associated with the degree of elastic recovery and the ratio of hardness to elastic modulus of SiC. Compared with the unirradiated value, fracture toughness changes slightly for RT irradiation, while increasing significantly for elevated temperature irradiation and has the same variation tendency of hardness. Results indicate that mechanical properties change with the variations of interatomic bond strength, dislocation mobility, and the behavior of crack propagation, which is strongly affected by the defects induced by heavy-ion irradiation.
A new method for assessing 24-h blood pressure variability after excluding the contribution of nocturnal blood pressure fall

Objectives To assess quantitatively the relationship between nocturnal blood pressure (BP) fall and 24-h BP variability; to propose a new method for computing 24-h BP variability, devoid of the contribution from nocturnal BP fall; and to verify the clinical value of this method. Methods and results We analysed 3863 ambulatory BP recordings, and computed: (1) the standard deviation (SD) of 24-h BP directly from all individual readings and as a weighted mean of daytime and night-time SD (wSD); and (2) the size of nocturnal BP fall. Left ventricular mass index (LVMI) was assessed by echocardiography in 339 of the patients. The 24-h SD of BP was significantly greater than the 24-h wSD. Nocturnal BP fall was strongly and directly related to 24-h SD, the relationship with 24-h wSD being much weaker and inverse. The difference between SD and wSD was almost exclusively determined by the size of nocturnal BP fall. wSD of systolic BP was significantly related to LVMI, while 24-h SD was not. Conclusion Conventional 24-h SD of BP is markedly influenced by nocturnal BP fall. The weighted 24-h SD of BP removes the mathematical interference from night-time BP fall and correlates better with end-organ damage, therefore it may be considered as a simple index of 24-h BP variability superior to conventional 24-h SD.
Biological treatment of a contaminated gaseous emission containing monochlorobenzene

Abstract This study presents the operation of a biotrickling filter when treating a monochlorobenzene (MCB) contaminated gaseous emission. Treatment dynamics were characterised by exposing the reactor to various MCB Organic Loads (OL). The use of different growth support materials, namely limestone, sand, ceramic and PVC pall‐rings, was investigated. Limestone led to clogging of the reactor due to the accumulation of surface precipitates, but PVC pall‐rings allowed for a uniform biofilm growth. The biotrickling filter presented maximum removal efficiency (RE, 95%) under OL regimes of 10 g m−3‐reactor h−1. Treatment inhibition was observed when the reactor was exposed to OL of 45 g m−3‐reactor h−1 with RE reaching a minimum value (8%) and elimination capacity of 8 g m3‐reactor h−1 The first half of the reactor height was the predominant section for MCB biodegradation and increasing the mineral medium redrculation rate was beneficial for the overall treatment.
Vortex tubes in turbulent flows: identification, representation, reconstruction

A new algorithm for identifying vortices in complex flows is presented. The scheme uses both the vorticity and pressure fields. A skeleton line along the center of a vortex is produced by a two-step predictor-corrector scheme. The technique uses the vector field to move in the direction of the skeleton line and the scalar field to correct the location in the plane perpendicular to the skeleton line. With an economical description of the vortex tube's cross-section, the skeleton compresses the representation of the flow by a factor of 4000 or more. We show how the reconstructed geometry of vortex tubes can be enhanced to help visualize helical motion. <<ETX>>
STELLAR MASSES OF LYMAN BREAK GALAXIES, Lyα EMITTERS, AND RADIO GALAXIES IN OVERDENSE REGIONS AT z = 4–6

We present new information on galaxies in the vicinity of luminous radio galaxies (RGs) and quasars at z≃4, 5, and 6. These fields were previously found to contain overdensities of Lyman Break Galaxies (LBGs) or spectroscopic Lyα emitters, which were interpreted as evidence for clusters-in-formation (“protoclusters”). We use Hubble Space Telescope and Spitzer data to infer stellar masses from stellar synthesis models calibrated against the Millennium Run simulations, and contrast our results with large samples of LBGs in more average environments as probed by the Great Observatories Origins Deep Survey (GOODS). The following results were obtained. First, LBGs in both overdense regions and in the field at z = 4–5 lie on a very similar sequence in a z′–[3.6] versus 3.6 μm color–magnitude diagram. This is interpreted as a sequence in stellar mass (M* ∼ 109–1011 M☉) in which galaxies become increasingly red due to dust and age as their star formation rate (SFR) increases, while their specific SFR stays constant. Second, the two RGs are among the most massive objects (M* ∼ 1011 M☉) known to exist at z ≃ 4–5, and are extremely rare based on the low number density of such objects as estimated from the ∼25× larger area GOODS survey. We suggest that the presence of the massive (radio) galaxies and associated supermassive black holes has been boosted through rapid accretion of gas or merging inside overdense regions. Third, the total stellar mass found in the z = 4 protocluster TN1338 accounts for <30% of the stellar mass on the cluster red sequence expected to have formed at z ≳ 4, based on a comparison with the massive X-ray cluster Cl1252 at z = 1.2. Although future near-infrared observations should determine whether any massive galaxies are currently being missed by our UV/Lyα selections, one possible explanation for this mass difference is that TN1338 evolves into a smaller cluster than Cl1252. This raises the interesting question of whether the most massive protocluster regions at z > 4 remain yet to be discovered.
Toll‐like receptor 2 is highly expressed in lesions of acne inversa and colocalizes with C‐type lectin receptor

Background Acne inversa (hidradenitis suppurativa) is a chronic inflammatory and cicatricial disorder that affects skin areas rich in apocrine glands and terminal hairs, such as perineum and axillae. The exact pathogenesis of the disease is not well understood and the mechanisms by which bacterial superinfection contributes to the disease progression are not clear. Toll‐like receptors (TLRs) expressed by inflammatory cells play a crucial role in the innate immune response to bacteria.