Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Visual Neurons in the Superior Colliculus Innervated by Islet2+ or Islet2− Retinal Ganglion Cells Display Distinct Tuning Properties

Throughout the visual system, different subtypes of neurons are tuned to distinct aspects of the visual scene, establishing parallel circuits. Defining the mechanisms by which such tuning arises has been a long-standing challenge for neuroscience. To investigate this, we have focused on the retina’s projection to the superior colliculus (SC), where multiple visual neuron subtypes have been described. The SC receives inputs from a variety of retinal ganglion cell (RGC) subtypes; however, which RGCs drive the tuning of different SC neurons remains unclear. Here, we pursued a genetic approach that allowed us to determine the tuning properties of neurons innervated by molecularly defined subpopulations of RGCs. In homozygous Islet2-EphA3 knock-in (Isl2EA3/EA3) mice, Isl2+ and Isl2− RGCs project to non-overlapping sub-regions of the SC. Based on molecular and anatomic data, we show that significantly more Isl2− RGCs are direction-selective (DS) in comparison with Isl2+ RGCs. Targeted recordings of visual responses from each SC sub-region in Isl2EA3/EA3 mice revealed that Isl2− RGC-innervated neurons were significantly more DS than those innervated by Isl2+ RGCs. Axis-selective (AS) neurons were found in both sub-regions, though AS neurons innervated by Isl2+ RGCs were more tightly tuned. Despite this segregation, DS and AS neurons innervated by Isl2+ or Isl2− RGCs did not differ in their spatial summation or spatial frequency (SF) tuning. Further, we did not observe alterations in receptive field (RF) size or structure of SC neurons innervated by Isl2+ or Isl2− RGCs. Together, these data show that innervation by Isl2+ and Isl2− RGCs results in distinct tuning in the SC and set the stage for future studies investigating the mechanisms by which these circuits are built.
eview ystematic review and meta-analysis of the effects of high protein oral utritional supplements

Disease-related malnutrition is common, detrimentally affecting the patient and healthcare economy. Although use of high protein oral nutritional supplements (ONS) has been recommended to counteract the catabolic effects of disease and to facilitate recovery from illness, there is a lack of systematically obtained evidence to support these recommendations. This systematic review involving 36 randomised controlled trials (RCT) (n = 3790) (mean age 74 years; 83% of trials in patients >65 years) and a series of meta-analyses of high protein ONS (>20% energy from protein) demonstrated a range of effects across settings and patient groups in favour of the high protein ONS group. These included reduced complications (odds ratio (OR) 0.68 (95%CI 0.55–0.83), p < 0.001, 10 RCT, n = 1830); reduced readmissions to hospital (OR 0.59 (95%CI
Adherence to the enhanced recovery after surgery protocol and outcomes after colorectal cancer surgery.

OBJECTIVES To study the impact of different adherence levels to the enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocol and the effect of various ERAS elements on outcomes following major surgery. DESIGN Single-center prospective cohort study before and after reinforcement of an ERAS protocol. Comparisons were made both between and across periods using multivariate logistic regression. All clinical data (114 variables) were prospectively recorded. SETTING Ersta Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden. PATIENTS Nine hundred fifty-three consecutive patients with colorectal cancer: 464 patients treated in 2002 to 2004 and 489 in 2005 to 2007. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES The association between improved adherence to the ERAS protocol and the incidence of postoperative symptoms, complications, and length of stay following major colorectal cancer surgery was analyzed. RESULTS Following an overall increase in preoperative and perioperative adherence to the ERAS protocol from 43.3% in 2002 to 2004 to 70.6% in 2005 to 2007, both postoperative complications (odds ratio, 0.73; 95% confidence interval, 0.55-0.98) and symptoms (odds ratio, 0.53; 95% confidence interval, 0.40-0.70) declined significantly. Restriction of intravenous fluid and use of a preoperative carbohydrate drink were major independent predictors. Across periods, the proportion of adverse postoperative outcomes (30-day morbidity, symptoms, and readmissions) was significantly reduced with increasing adherence to the ERAS protocol (>70%, >80%, and >90%) compared with low ERAS adherence (<50%). CONCLUSION Improved adherence to the standardized multimodal ERAS protocol is significantly associated with improved clinical outcomes following major colorectal cancer surgery, indicating a dose-response relationship.
Adaptive Fuzzy Neural Filtering for Decision Feedback Equalization and Multi-Antenna Systems

1.1 Background In ordinary channel equalizer and multi-antenna system, many types of detecting methods have been proposed to compensate the distorted signals or recover the original symbols of the desired user [1]-[3]. For channel equalization, transversal equalizers (TEs) and decision feedback equalizers (DFEs) are commonly used as a detector to compensate the distorted signals [2]. It is well-known that a DFE performs significantly better than a TE of equivalent complexity [2]. As to a multi-user-multi-antenna system, adaptive beamforming (BF) detectors have provided practical methods to recover the symbols of the desired user [3]. Many classical optimization algorithms, such as minimum mean-squared error (MMSE) [1][4], minimum bit-error rate (MBER) [5]-[9], adaptive MMSE/MBER training methods [6], [10]-[12] and the bagging (BAG) adaptive training method [13], are proposed to adjust the parameters of the above mentioned classical detectors (i.e., TE, DFE and BF). Due to the optimal nonlinear classification characteristics in the observed space, Bayesian decision theory derived from maximum likelihood detection [15] has been extensively exploited to design the so-called Bayesian TE (BTE) [14]-[15], Bayesian DFE (BDFE) [16]-[17] and Bayesian BF (BBF) [18]-[19]. The bit-error rate (BER) or symbol-error rate (SER) results of Bayesian-based detectors are often referred to as the optimal solutions, and are extremely superior to those of MMSE, MBER, adaptive MMSE (such as least mean square algorithm [1]), adaptive MBER (such as linear-MBER algorithm [6]) or BAG-optimized detector. The BTE, BDFE and BBF can be realized by the radial basis functions (RBFs) [14], [17], [19]-[23]. Classically, the RBF TE, RBF DFE or RBF BF is trained with a clustering algorithm, such as kmeans [14], [17], [24] and rival penalized competitive learning (RPCL) [25]-[31]. These clustering techniques can help RBF detectors find the center vectors (also called center units or centers) associated with radial Gaussian functions.
Evidence for Implicit Sensitivity to Logical Validity

A key assumption of dual process theory is that reasoning is an explicit, effortful, deliberative process. The present study offers evidence for an implicit, possibly intuitive component of reasoning. Participants were shown sentences embedded in logically valid or invalid arguments. Participants were not asked to reason but instead rated the sentences for liking (Experiment 1) and physical brightness (Experiments 2–3). Sentences that followed logically from preceding sentences were judged to be more likable and brighter. Two other factors thought to be linked to implicit processing—sentence believability and facial expression—had similar effects on liking and brightness ratings. The authors conclude that sensitivity to logical structure was implicit, occurring potentially automatically and outside of awareness. They discuss the results within a fluency misattribution framework and make reference to the literature on discourse comprehension.
Selective imaging of internalized proteopathic α-synuclein seeds in primary neurons reveals mechanistic insight into transmission of synucleinopathies

Direct cell-to-cell transmission of proteopathic α-synuclein (α-syn) aggregates is thought to underlie the progression of neurodegenerative synucleinopathies. However, the specific intracellular processes governing this transmission remain unclear because currently available model systems are limited. For example, in cell culture models of α-syn–seeded aggregation, it is difficult to discern intracellular from extracellular exogenously applied α-syn seed species. Herein, we employed fluorescently labeled α-syn preformed fibrils (pffs) in conjunction with the membrane-impermeable fluorescence quencher trypan blue to selectively image internalized α-syn seeds in cultured primary neurons and to quantitatively characterize the concentration dependence, time course, and inhibition of pff uptake. To study the long-term fates of exogenous α-syn pffs in neurons, we developed a pff species labeled at amino acid residue 114 with the environmentally insensitive fluorophore BODIPY or the pH-sensitive dye pHrodo red. We found that pffs are rapidly trafficked along the endolysosomal pathway, where most of the material remains for days. We also found that brief pharmacological perturbation of lysosomes shortly after the pff treatment causes aberrations in intracellular processing of pff seeds concomitant with an increased rate of inclusion formation via recruitment of endogenous α-syn to a relatively small number of exogenous seeds. Our results validate a quantitative assay for pff uptake in primary neurons, implicate lysosomal processing as the major fate of internalized proteopathic seeds, and suggest lysosomal integrity as a significant rate-determining step in the transmission of α-syn pathology. Further, lysosomal processing of transmitted seeds may represent a new therapeutic target to combat the spread of synucleinopathies.
Comparative Study between Intrathecal Hyperbaric and Isobaric Ropivacaine in Geriatric Patients, Undergoing Lower Limb Plastic Surgical Procedures

Introduction: Ropivacaine is one of the commonest drugs used for spinal anaesthesia. We conducted a study comparing characteristics of spinal anesthesia using isobaric and hyperbaric ropivacaine (0.75%), in geriatric patients who underwent plastic surgical procedures in lower limbs. Study Design: Randomised double blind study. Methods: Sixty Geriatric patients were randomly assigned into two groups (I & H group). Group I patients were given spinal anaesthesia using 15mg of isobaric ropivacaine (0.75%), whereas group H patients were given hyperbaric ropivacaine (0.75%). The characteristics of intrathecal anesthesia, hemodynamic parameters, quality of anesthesia and muscle relaxation as well as duration of post-operative analgesia were compared. Results: In group H there was early onset of sensory block at T6 (group H 4.5 ± 2.3 vs. group I 6.4 ± 3.5 minutes; p = 0.015) and also early onset of grade 3 motor blockade (group H 5.10 ± 2.5 vs. group I 7.2 ± 4.4 minutes; p = 0.026); in addition as compared to group I, group H had shorter total duration of motor blockade (group H 127.3 ± 29.5 vs. group I 164.3 ± 35.2min; p < 0.0001), sensory blockade (group H 171.5 ± 28.1 vs. group I 207 ± 27.30 min., p < 0.0001) and duration of post-operative analgesia. Median maximum extent levels achieved, muscle relaxation and Quality of anesthesia were comparable in both groups. Conclusion: 15mg of (0.75%) hyperbaric ropivacaine provides similar, reliable and effective quality of spinal anesthesia with early onset and early recovery from sensory and motor blockade, when compared to 15mg of (0.75%) isobaric ropivacaine.
Alternative stable states and the sustainability of forests, grasslands, and agriculture

Endangered forest–grassland mosaics interspersed with expanding agriculture and silviculture occur across many parts of the world, including the southern Brazilian highlands. This natural mosaic ecosystem is thought to reflect alternative stable states driven by threshold responses of recruitment to fire and moisture regimes. The role of adaptive human behavior in such systems remains understudied, despite its pervasiveness and the fact that such ecosystems can exhibit complex dynamics. We develop a nonlinear mathematical model of coupled human–environment dynamics in mosaic systems and social processes regarding conservation and economic land valuation. Our objective is to better understand how the coupled dynamics respond to changes in ecological and social conditions. The model is parameterized with southern Brazilian data on mosaic ecology, land-use profits, and questionnaire results concerning landowner preferences and conservation values. We find that the mosaic presently resides at a crucial juncture where relatively small changes in social conditions can generate a wide variety of possible outcomes, including complete loss of mosaics; large-amplitude, long-term oscillations between land states that preclude ecosystem stability; and conservation of the mosaic even to the exclusion of agriculture/silviculture. In general, increasing the time horizon used for conservation decision making is more likely to maintain mosaic stability. In contrast, increasing the inherent conservation value of either forests or grasslands is more likely to induce large oscillations—especially for forests—due to feedback from rarity-based conservation decisions. Given the potential for complex dynamics, empirically grounded nonlinear dynamical models should play a larger role in policy formulation for human–environment mosaic ecosystems.
A Cognitive Model of Strategies for Cardinal Direction Judgments

ABSTRACT Previous research has identified a variety of strategies used by novice and experienced navigators in making cardinal direction judgments (Gugerty, Brooks, & Treadaway, 2004). We developed an ACT-R cognitive model of some of these strategies that instantiated a number of concepts from research in spatial cognition, including a visual-short-term-memory buffer overlaid on a perceptual buffer, an egocentric reference frame in visual-short-term-memory, storage of categorical spatial information in visual-short-term-memory, and rotation of a mental compass in visual-short-term-memory. Response times predicted by the model fit well with the data of two groups, college students (N = 20) trained and practiced in the modeled strategies, and jet pilots (N = 4) with no strategy training. Thus, the cognitive model seems to provide an accurate description of important strategies for cardinal direction judgments. Additionally, it demonstrates how theoretical constructs in spatial cognition can be applied to a complex, realistic navigation task.
Influenza Vaccine Effectiveness Against Pediatric Deaths: 2010–2014

This study estimates influenza VE against deaths among children with and without underlying high-risk medical conditions by using a case–cohort approach. BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Surveillance for laboratory-confirmed influenza-associated pediatric deaths since 2004 has shown that most deaths occur in unvaccinated children. We assessed whether influenza vaccination reduced the risk of influenza-associated death in children and adolescents. METHODS: We conducted a case–cohort analysis comparing vaccination uptake among laboratory-confirmed influenza-associated pediatric deaths with estimated vaccination coverage among pediatric cohorts in the United States. Case vaccination and high-risk status were determined by case investigation. Influenza vaccination coverage estimates were obtained from national survey data or a national insurance claims database. We estimated odds ratios from logistic regression comparing odds of vaccination among cases with odds of vaccination in comparison cohorts. We used Bayesian methods to compute 95% credible intervals (CIs) for vaccine effectiveness (VE), calculated as (1 − odds ratio) × 100. RESULTS: From July 2010 through June 2014, 358 laboratory-confirmed influenza-associated pediatric deaths were reported among children aged 6 months through 17 years. Vaccination status was determined for 291 deaths; 75 (26%) received vaccine before illness onset. Average vaccination coverage in survey cohorts was 48%. Overall VE against death was 65% (95% CI, 54% to 74%). Among 153 deaths in children with underlying high-risk medical conditions, 47 (31%) were vaccinated. VE among children with high-risk conditions was 51% (95% CI, 31% to 67%), compared with 65% (95% CI, 47% to 78%) among children without high-risk conditions. CONCLUSIONS: Influenza vaccination was associated with reduced risk of laboratory-confirmed influenza-associated pediatric death. Increasing influenza vaccination could prevent influenza-associated deaths among children and adolescents.
EXCIMER LASER CRYSTALLIZATION AND NANOSTRUCTURING OF AMORPHOUS SILICON FOR PHOTOVOLTAIC APPLICATIONS

Excimer laser crystallization of amorphous silicon has been extensively studied for electronic applications. Most of the early works has been on thin film transistor fabrication from laser crystallized silicon. However, in parallel, the applicability of the technique for photovoltaics has also been pursued. Direct crystallization of the absorber layer of a thin film amorphous silicon cell has proven unsuitable, due to poor device performance. The surface nanostructuring capability of the laser process, as a result of the crystallization appears to be of more scientific significance, and a number of applications have been reported. This review covers the established physics of excimer laser crystallization in the context of photovoltaics. It also expands on more recent applications of excimer laser nanostructuring of amorphous silicon, especially for photovoltaic applications. The outlook of the technique for photovoltaics is discussed with the use of reported successes, briefly discussing the fundamental improvements.
Critical in vivo roles of histamine and histamine receptor signaling in animal models of metabolic syndrome

Histamine, a classic low‐molecular‐weight amine, is synthesized from L‐histidine by histidine decarboxylase (HDC), and histamine‐specific receptors (HRs) are essential for its actions. Our serial in vivo studies have uniquely reported that expression of histamine/HRs is variably identified in atherosclerotic lesions, and that HDC‐gene knockout mice without histamine/HRs signaling show a marked reduction of atherosclerotic progression. These data have convinced us that histamine plays a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. Among four subclasses of HRs, the expression profile of the main receptors (H1/2R) has been shown to be switched from H2R to H1R during monocyte to macrophage differentiation, and H1R is also predominant in smooth muscle and endothelial cells of atheromatous plaque. Using various animal models of H1/2R–gene knockout mice, H1R and H2R were found to reciprocally but critically regulate not only hypercholesterolemia‐induced atherosclerosis and injury‐induced arteriosclerosis, but also hyperlipidemia‐induced nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Metabolic syndrome manifests obesity, dyslipidemia, insulin resistance, atherosclerosis, and/or NAFLD, i.e. the dysregulation of lipid/bile acid/glucose metabolism. Therefore, although its etiology is complicated and multifactorial, histamine/HRs signaling has a close relationship with the development of metabolic syndrome. We herein review diverse, key in vivo roles of histamine/HR signaling in the pathogenesis of metabolic syndrome.
Tooth germ initiation patterns in a developing dentition: An in vivo study of Xenopus laevis tadpoles

The transparency of soft tissue in Xenopus laevis tadpoles and the anterior‐posterior orientation of their developing tooth germs in the upper jaw offer a unique opportunity for the in vivo charting of the first 15–20 days of the developing dentition. Twenty‐two X. laevis tadpoles were anesthetized daily and their mouths opened to record the first appearance, position, and development of tooth germs in the upper jaw. The initiation patterns revealed considerable variability between animals, and even between the jaw quadrants in the same animal. This variability appears within a structural boundary and the results are consistent with the presence of an odontogenic band. The final length of dental rows far exceeded the jaw growth for each quadrant during the recording period. This in vivo investigation underlines the limits of cross‐sectional studies, and in particular the assumption that tooth germs initiate at the same position in the dental row. The tooth germ initiation patterns in this study did not align with the predictions of standard models for the development of the dentition—Zahnreihen, Clone, and New Progress Zone theories.
Physicochemical Study of Eco-Friendly Sugar Palm Fiber Thermoplastic Polyurethane Composites

The physicochemical properties of an innovative and environmentally friendly composite material based on sugar palm fiber (SPF) and thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) were examined. The base material with short fibers was extruded and hot pressed to produce the TPU-SPF composites with different synthetic parameters. Operating parameters including temperature for extrusion (170 to 190 °C), rotational velocity (30 to 50 rpm), and fiber particle sizes (160, 250, and 425 µm) were investigated. The aims were to optimize rotational velocity, temperature, and fiber size of the TPU-SPF composites. Firstly, the influence of rotation of velocity and temperature on the tensile properties was investigated. Secondly, effects of different fiber sizes on tensile, flexural properties, and impact strength as per ASTM standards were tested. The morphological, thermal, and physicochemical properties of the synthesized TPU-SPF composites were ascertained with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The optimal results were observed with a temperature of 190°C and a rotational velocity of 40 rpm. Meanwhile, the strength and modulus for tensile and flexural were best for fiber size 250 µm. Moreover, the impact strength reached a peaking trend at 250 µm fiber size.
Malignant transformation in melanocytes is associated with increased production of procoagulant microvesicles

Summary Shedding of microvesicles (MVs) by cancer cells is implicated in a variety of biological effects, including the establishment of cancer-associated hypercoagulable states. However, the mechanisms underlying malignant transformation and the acquisition of procoagulant properties by tumour-derived MVs are poorly understood. Here we investigated the procoagulant and prothrombotic properties of MVs produced by a melanocyte-derived cell line (melan-a) as compared to its tumourigenic melanoma counterpart Tm1. Tumour cells exhibit a two-fold higher rate of MVs production as compared to melan-a. Melanoma MVs display greater procoagulant activity and elevated levels of the clotting initiator protein tissue factor (TF). On the other hand, tumour- and melanocyte- derived MVs expose similar levels of the procoagulant lipid phosphatidylserine, displaying identical abilities to support thrombin generation by the prothrombinase complex. By using an arterial thrombosis model, we observed that melanoma- but not melanocyte-derived MVs strongly accelerate thrombus formation in a TF-dependent manner, and accumulate at the site of vascular injury. Analysis of plasma obtained from melanoma-bearing mice showed the presence of MVs with a similar procoagulant pattern as compared to Tm1 MVs produced in vitro. Remarkably, flow-cytometric analysis demonstrated that 60% of ex vivo MVs are TF-positive and carry the melanoma-associated antigen, demonstrating its tumour origin. Altogether our data suggest that malignant transformation in melanocytes increases the production of procoagulant MVs, which may contribute for a variety of coagulation- related protumoural responses.