Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Targetting and optomotor space in the leaf-hopper Empoasca vitis (Gothe) (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae)

The accuracy with which the visuomotor system of Empoasca vitis can prescribe a jump trajectory towards a bright, uniformly illuminated target shape was investigated. The targets consisted of discs, rings or bars cut out of black card and mounted in front of a source of stroboscopic light diffused through translucent paper. The targets varied in size, subtending angles of 7-110 ° to the insect's eye. Target resolution was measured independently along the horizontal and vertical axes and was defined in terms of the standard deviation of the horizontal (s.d.x) or vertical (s.d.y) angular coordinates of the take-off paths measured with respect to the geometric centre of the target. In all cases involving single connected images, the point towards which jumping was directed coincided with the geometric centre of the image area (the light centroid). This meant, for example, that the insects specifically targetted the dark core of a ring of light. No formal features of the target shapes, such as light-dark boundaries, were targetted. Vertical axial resolution was independent of image size (mean s.d.y for all image sizes 6.9 °), but horizontal axial resolution only achieved this minimal value at intermediate image sizes (approximately 30-60 °). When two separate but identical target shapes (vertical bars) were presented at different horizontal separations, the dark area between them was accurately targetted up to target separations of approximately 30-50 °. At greater separations, there was an increasing tendency to target one or other of the two shapes. From these experiments it is concluded that, in the frontal visual field, spatial integration can be performed to an accuracy (as defined in these experiments) of 7 °x7 °. Performance deteriorates outside an optimal range of image sizes, and this is faithfully reflected in the decline in horizontal axial resolution when jumping. However, this decline in visual performance is not reflected in target resolution along the vertical axis because it is masked by a biomechanical constraint, i.e. the inability of the legs to set take-off angles outside a narrow range of 30-60 ° to the horizontal.
After Being Challenged by a Video Game Problem, Sleep Increases the Chance to Solve It

In the past years many studies have demonstrated the role of sleep on memory consolidation. It is known that sleeping after learning a declarative or non-declarative task, is better than remaining awake. Furthermore, there are reports of a possible role for dreams in consolidation of declarative memories. Other studies have reported the effect of naps on memory consolidation. With similar protocols, another set of studies indicated that sleep has a role in creativity and problem-solving. Here we hypothesised that sleep can increase the likelihood of solving problems. After struggling to solve a video game problem, subjects who took a nap (n = 14) were almost twice as likely to solve it when compared to the wake control group (n = 15). It is interesting to note that, in the nap group 9 out 14 subjects engaged in slow-wave sleep (SWS) and all solved the problem. Surprisingly, we did not find a significant involvement of Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep in this task. Slow-wave sleep is believed to be crucial for the transfer of memory-related information to the neocortex and implement intentions. Sleep can benefit problem-solving through the generalisation of newly encoded information and abstraction of the gist. In conclusion, our results indicate that sleep, even a nap, can potentiate the solution of problems that involve logical reasoning. Thus, sleep's function seems to go beyond memory consolidation to include managing of everyday-life events.
Active magnetoplasmonics for nanoscale distances sensing

Magnetoplasmonics is an emerging field within nano-photonics that operates with the combination of propagating or localized surface plasmons and magnetism. Active and adaptive magnetoplasmonic components that are capable of controlling light on the nanoscale with external weak magnetic fields are envisioned to push the development of integrated photonic circuits, high-density data storage, or the advanced schemes for bio- and chemo-sensing. In these components plasmon-enhanced and controlled magneto-optical activity creates a new way of active control of plasmonic devices. In this thesis we investigate the role of localized surface plasmons on magneto-optical activity and demonstrate how magnetoplasmonics can be employed in the optical detection of nanoscale distances. Plasmon rulers are an emerging concept in which the strong near-field coupling of plasmon nanoantenna elements is employed to obtain structural information at the nanoscale. We introduce an active magnetoplasmonic ruler that provides active operation and nanoscale distances reading with the figure-of-merit substantially exceeding the one of traditional plasmon rulers. We combine nanoplasmonics and nanomagnetism to conceptualize a magnetoplasmonic dimer nanoantenna that would be able to report nanoscale distances while optimizing its own spatial orientation. The latter constitutes an active operation, in which a dynamically optimized optical response per measured unit length allows for the measurement of small and large nanoscale distances with about two orders of magnitude higher precision than current state-of-the-art plasmon rulers.
Fast Graph Laplacian Regularized Kernel Learning via Semidefinite-Quadratic-Linear Programming

Kernel learning is a powerful framework for nonlinear data modeling. Using the kernel trick, a number of problems have been formulated as semidefinite programs (SDPs). These include Maximum Variance Unfolding (MVU) (Weinberger et al., 2004) in nonlinear dimensionality reduction, and Pairwise Constraint Propagation (PCP) (Li et al., 2008) in constrained clustering. Although in theory SDPs can be efficiently solved, the high computational complexity incurred in numerically processing the huge linear matrix inequality constraints has rendered the SDP approach unscalable. In this paper, we show that a large class of kernel learning problems can be reformulated as semidefinite-quadratic-linear programs (SQLPs), which only contain a simple positive semidefinite constraint, a second-order cone constraint and a number of linear constraints. These constraints are much easier to process numerically, and the gain in speedup over previous approaches is at least of the order m2.5, where m is the matrix dimension. Experimental results are also presented to show the superb computational efficiency of our approach.
Cogeneration of neurons with a unique molecular phenotype in layers V and VI of widespread lateral neocortical areas in the rat

Monoclonal antibody PC3.1 detects a unique subpopulation of neurons located mainly in layer VI and, to a lesser extent, in layer V within the lateral neocortical areas in the rat. In an attempt to characterize these neurons, we determined the time of their generation in selected neocortical areas by a double-labeling experiment combining quantitative long-survival 3H-thymidine autoradiography and immunohistochemistry for the PC3.1 antigen. We found that the vast majority of PC3.1-positive neurons in both layers V and VI were generated concurrently at embryonic day 15 in all areas examined, demonstrating a strict correlation between the molecular identity of neurons and the time of their generation, irrespective of their final positions along the radial and tangential axes. In contrast, PC3.1- negative neurons, which should represent more diverse phenotypic identities, were generated during a more extended period of cortical development and tended to exhibit radial (inside-to-outside) and tangential (ventral-to-dorsal and rostral-to-caudal) neurogenetic gradients. Our findings indicate that laminar and tangential locations of cortical neurons are not established solely by a combination of mechanisms for the inside-out movement of newly generated neurons in each cortical area and for the broad tangential neurogenetic gradients. The results of this study suggest a distinct way of cortical development in which neurons with a common molecular phenotype are generated concurrently and migrate toward their eventual positions, which are not necessarily located in a single lamina. In addition, our results suggest some kind of tangential heterogeneity in the mechanism involved in neocortical histogenesis, supporting the concept of early regional specification within the neocortex.
Agricultural Biodiversity Is Essential for a Sustainable Improvement in Food and Nutrition Security

Agricultural biodiversity has hitherto been valued almost exclusively as a source of traits that can be used in scientific breeding programs to improve the productivity of crop varieties and livestock breeds. We argue that it can make a far greater contribution to increased productivity. In particular, a wider deployment of agricultural biodiversity is an essential component in the sustainable delivery of a more secure food supply. Diversity of kingdoms, species and genepools can increase the productivity of farming systems in a range of growing conditions, and more diverse farming systems are also generally more resilient in the face of perturbations, thus enhancing food security. Diversity can maintain and increase soil fertility and mitigate the impact of pests and diseases. Diversity of diet, founded on diverse farming systems, delivers better nutrition and greater health, with additional benefits for human productivity and livelihoods. Agricultural biodiversity will also be absolutely essential to cope with the predicted impacts of climate change, not simply as a source of traits but as the underpinnings of more resilient farm ecosystems. Many of the benefits of agricultural biodiversity are manifested at different ecological and human scales, and cut across political divisions, requiring a cross-sectoral approach to reassess the role of agricultural biodiversity in sustainable and secure food production.
Plasma cells in systemic lupus erythematosus: The long and short of it all

Plasma cells can be classified as long‐ or short‐lived. The lifespan of a plasma cell largely depends on whether it arises from a germinal center or an extrafollicular locus and most importantly whether it can find a survival niche in the spleen or BM. In systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients, long‐lived plasma cells are believed to be responsible for the production of anti‐RNA and anti‐cardiolipin antibodies, whereas short‐lived plasma cells, which are more susceptible to anti‐proliferation therapies, are the main producers of anti‐DNA antibodies. A previous study showed that transient overexpression of interferon‐α (IFN‐α), a cytokine that plays a pathogenic role in SLE, accelerates disease onset in lupus‐prone NZB/W mice. In this issue of the European Journal of Immunology, the same group report that IFN‐α induces large numbers of short‐lived plasma cells, accompanied by high titers of anti‐dsDNA antibodies in NZB/W, but not BALB/c, mice. Our commentary discusses this interesting observation in the context of the previous data regarding plasma cell differentiation and conveys our view about the clinical implications with respect to therapies that target plasma cells in SLE patients.
Behavioral/systems/cognitive Functional Responses in the Human Spinal Cord during Willed Motor Actions: Evidence for Side-and Rate-dependent Activity

Although the spinal cord is the output station of the central motor system, little is known about the relationships between its functional activity and willed movement parameters in humans. We investigated here blood oxygenation level-dependent functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) signal changes in the cervical spinal cord during a simple finger-to-thumb opposition task in 13 right-handed volunteers, using a dedicated array of 16 receive-only surface coils on a 3 Tesla MRI system. In a first experiment, we found significant fMRI signal increases on both sides of the lower cervical spinal cord while subjects performed the motor task at a comfortable pace (ϳ0.5 Hz) using either hand. Both the spatial extent of movement-related clusters and peak signal increases were significantly higher on the side of the cord ipsilateral to the moving hand than on the contralateral side. Movement-related activity was consistently larger than signal fluctuations during rest. In a second experiment, we recorded spinal cord responses while the same motor sequence was performed using the dominant hand at two different rates (ϳ0.5 or 1 Hz). The intensity but not the spatial extent of the response was larger during higher rates, and it was higher on the ipsilateral side of the cord. Notwithstanding the limited spatial resolving power of the adopted technique, the present results clearly indicate that the finger movement-related fMRI signals recorded from the spinal cord have a neural origin and that as a result of recent technological advances, fMRI can be used to obtain novel and quantitative physiological information on the activity of spinal circuits.
Separation of a mixture of signals using linear filtering and second order statistics

Some recent works address the problem of blind source sep- aration with a matrix pencil. In this paper we show that the covariance matrices of the pencil can be computed at the output of a simple linear filter instead of using time-delayed covariance matrices. It is also shown, using block matrix manipulation, that the method might applied when the number of source signals is not equal to the number of mixed signals. An experimental study, comparing different strategies of computing the matrix pencil, is also presented.
Structural Dynamics of Human Argonaute2 and Its Interaction with siRNAs Designed to Target Mutant tdp43

The human Argonaute2 protein (Ago2) is a key player in RNA interference pathway and small RNA recognition by Ago2 is the crucial step in siRNA mediated gene silencing mechanism. The present study highlights the structural and functional dynamics of human Ago2 and the interaction mechanism of Ago2 with a set of seven siRNAs for the first time. The human Ago2 protein adopts two conformations such as “open” and “close” during the simulation of 25 ns. One of the domains named as PAZ, which is responsible for anchoring the 3′-end of siRNA guide strand, is observed as a highly flexible region. The interaction between Ago2 and siRNA, analyzed using a set of siRNAs (targeting at positions 128, 251, 341, 383, 537, 1113, and 1115 of mRNA) designed to target tdp43 mutants causing Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) disease, revealed the stable and strong recognition of siRNA by the Ago2 protein during dynamics. Among the studied siRNAs, the siRNA341 is identified as a potent siRNA to recognize Ago2 and hence could be used further as a possible siRNA candidate to target the mutant tdp43 protein for the treatment of ALS patients.
Is birth weight associated with childhood lymphoma? A meta‐analysis

Several risk factors have been identified for childhood lymphomas. The purpose of this meta‐analysis was to synthesize current evidence regarding the association between birth weight with primarily the risk for non‐Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), given its similarity to acute lymphoblastic leukemia, Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) and any category of lymphoma. Two cohort (278,751 children) and seven case–control studies (2,660 cases and 69,274 controls) were included. Effects estimates regarding NHL, HL and any lymphoma were appropriately pooled using fixed or random effects model in two separate analyses: specifically, high was compared to normal or any birth weight. Similarly, low was compared to normal or any birth weight. No statistically significant association was found between high birth weight, as compared to normal birth weight, and risk for NHL plus Burkitt lymphoma (OR = 1.17, 95% CI = 0.76–1.80, random effects), HL (OR = 0.94, 95% CI = 0.64–1.38, fixed effects) or any plus Burkitt lymphoma (OR = 1.09, 95% CI = 0.76–1.56, fixed effects). A null association emerged when low was compared with normal birth weight for NHL plus Burkitt lymphoma (OR = 1.07, 95% CI = 0.71–1.62, random effects), HL (OR = 0.94, 95% CI = 0.54–1.65, fixed effects) or any plus Burkitt lymphoma (OR = 1.02, 95% CI = 0.79–1.33, fixed effects). Accordingly, no association was found when high or low birth weight was compared to any birth weight. Although current evidence suggests no association, birth weight might be a too crude indicator to reveal a genuine association of fetal growth with specific lymphoma categories; hence, there is an emerging need for use of more elaborate proxies, at least those accounting for gestational week.
A Weight-Scaling Algorithm for Min-Cost Imperfect Matchings in Bipartite Graphs

Call a bipartite graph G = (X, Y ; E) balanced when |X| = |Y |. Given a balanced bipartite graph G with edge costs, the assignment problem asks for a perfect matching in G of minimum total cost. The Hungarian Method can solve assignment problems in time O(mn+n2 log n), where n := |X| = |Y | and m := |E|. If the edge weights are integers bounded in magnitude by C >; 1, then algorithms using weight scaling, such as that of Gabow and Tarjan, can lower the time to O(m√n log(nC)). There are important applications in which G is unbalanced, with |X| ≠ |Y |, and we require a min-cost matching of size r := min(|X|, |Y |) or, more generally, of some specified size s ≤ r. The Hungarian Method extends easily to find such a matching in time O(ms + s2 log r), but weightscaling algorithms do not extend so easily. We introduce new machinery to find such a matching in time O(m√s log(sC)) via weight scaling. Our results provide some insight into the design space of efficient weight-scaling matching algorithms.
CHARACTERIZATION OF BRIQUETTE FROM HALABAN CHARCOAL AND COAL COMBUSTION ASHES

The basis of this project was to make briquettes using waste materials. Halaban charcoal that is one of export commodities from South Kalimantan, produce a waste of charcoal. In our previous work, the halaban’s waste still has high carbon energy. The halaban’s waste mixed with combustion ashes from power plant, which were fly and bottom ashes. All of ingredients were crushed to 250 meshs in size and mixed in different compositions. The mixtures were molded and pressed at 150 Kg/cm2 then were dried using sunlight. Each type of briquettes was characterized and analyzed the physical-chemical properties, such as water content, ash content and calorific value. The results showed that the water content, ash content and calorific value of briquettes, in average, are range from 2.9-4.1%; 0.3-25% and 4749-6621 cal/gr, respectively. Only the composition of 90:10 of halaban charcoal and ashes is suitable with Standar Nasional Indonesia (SNI).
Exercise training effects on hypoxic and hypercapnic ventilatory responses in mice selected for increased voluntary wheel running

What is the central question of this study? We used experimental evolution to determine how selective breeding for high voluntary wheel running and exercise training (7–11 weeks) affect ventilatory chemoreflexes of laboratory mice at rest. What is the main finding and its importance? Selective breeding, although significantly affecting some traits, did not systematically alter ventilation across gas concentrations. As with most human studies, our findings support the idea that endurance training attenuates resting ventilation. However, little evidence was found for a correlation between ventilatory chemoreflexes and the amount of individual voluntary wheel running. We conclude that exercise ‘training’ alters respiratory behaviours, but these changes may not be necessary to achieve high levels of wheel running.
Case-control Association Study of Autoimmunity Associated Variants in PDCD1 and Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis

Purpose: Variants in the gene encoding Programmed Cell Death-1 (PDCD1) have been associated with susceptibility to Systemic Lupus Erythematosus and other autoimmune diseases. Giv-en that clinically distinct autoimmune phenotypes share common genetic susceptibility factors, vari-ants in PDCD-1 were tested for a possible association with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA). Methods: Four Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPS) in the PDCD1 gene were genotyped and analyzed: rs7421861, rs11568821, rs10204525, and rs7568402 in 834 cases and 855 controls of Northern European ancestry. Each variant was examined for possible associations with JIA and then analyzed for association with JIA categories. Results: PDCD1 variants showed no association with JIA in the cohort overall (rs7421861 p=0.63, rs11568821 p=0.13, rs10204525 p=0.31, and rs7568402 p=0.45). Stratification by JIA categories indicated a significant association between systemic JIA and PDCD1 rs7568402 (OR=0.53, p=0.0027), which remained significant after 10,000 permutations, but was not replicated in an inde-pendent multi-ethnic systemic JIA cohort. A nominal association between enthesitis-related arthritis and rs115668821 was also observed (OR=0.22, p=0.012). Conclusion: Unlike other multiple autoimmune disease associated genetic variants, there was no as-sociation between PDCD1 variants and JIA or JIA categories.
SENSITIVITY THRESHOLD OF THE LOWER LID MARGIN IN THE COURSE OF ADAPTATION TO CONTACT LENSES*

ABSTRACT The time course for change of touch threshold across the lower lid margin was determined throughout the adaptation periods of four patients (eight lids). The greatest changes, up to two log10 units, took place within seven and 14 days, the primary impact point being the most rapid to adjust. Lower lid margin sensitivity previous to adaptation approached and sometimes exceeded central corneal sensitivity of the same eye.
Endoscopic Approach for Superficial Colorectal Neoplasms

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer in males and the second in females, with an estimated 1.4 million cases and 693,900 deaths in 2012. Colonoscopy is the cornerstone for the detection and prevention of CRC. In addition, endoscopic treatment for CRC at an early stage can effectively improve patients' quality of life and cure rate. Summary: This review focuses on endoscopic approaches, including white light endoscopy, chromoendoscopy, magnifying endoscopy and therapeutic endoscopy, for the evaluation and treatment of superficial colorectal neoplasms. Key Message: Understanding the preoperative evaluation, indications and techniques of endoscopic mucosal resection/endoscopic submucosal dissection as well as postoperative surveillance for superficial colorectal neoplasms is critical for providing appropriate management to the patients. Practical Implications: Endoscopic therapy, a method preserving organ function and improving quality of life, is a widely applied microinvasive treatment for superficial colorectal neoplasms. This review describes the basics and developments of endoscopic approaches and may facilitate daily practice for superficial colorectal neoplasms.