Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Prestimulus Network Integration of Auditory Cortex Predisposes Near-Threshold Perception Independently of Local Excitability

An ever-increasing number of studies are pointing to the importance of network properties of the brain for understanding behavior such as conscious perception. However, with regards to the influence of prestimulus brain states on perception, this network perspective has rarely been taken. Our recent framework predicts that brain regions crucial for a conscious percept are coupled prior to stimulus arrival, forming pre-established pathways of information flow and influencing perceptual awareness. Using magnetoencephalography (MEG) and graph theoretical measures, we investigated auditory conscious perception in a near-threshold (NT) task and found strong support for this framework. Relevant auditory regions showed an increased prestimulus interhemispheric connectivity. The left auditory cortex was characterized by a hub-like behavior and an enhanced integration into the brain functional network prior to perceptual awareness. Right auditory regions were decoupled from non-auditory regions, presumably forming an integrated information processing unit with the left auditory cortex. In addition, we show for the first time for the auditory modality that local excitability, measured by decreased alpha power in the auditory cortex, increases prior to conscious percepts. Importantly, we were able to show that connectivity states seem to be largely independent from local excitability states in the context of a NT paradigm.
Mitochondrial‐targeted nitroxides disrupt mitochondrial architecture and inhibit expression of peroxiredoxin 3 and FOXM1 in malignant mesothelioma cells

Malignant mesothelioma (MM) is an intractable tumor of the peritoneal and pleural cavities primarily linked to exposure to asbestos. Recently, we described an interplay between mitochondrial‐derived oxidants and expression of FOXM1, a redox‐responsive transcription factor that has emerged as a promising therapeutic target in solid malignancies. Here we have investigated the effects of nitroxides targeted to mitochondria via triphenylphosphonium (TPP) moieties on mitochondrial oxidant production, expression of FOXM1 and peroxiredoxin 3 (PRX3), and cell viability in MM cells in culture. Both Mito‐carboxy‐proxyl (MCP) and Mito‐TEMPOL (MT) caused dose‐dependent increases in mitochondrial oxidant production that was accompanied by inhibition of expression of FOXM1 and PRX3 and loss of cell viability. At equivalent concentrations TPP, CP, and TEMPOL had no effect on these endpoints. Live cell ratiometric imaging with a redox‐responsive green fluorescent protein targeted to mitochondria (mito‐roGFP) showed that MCP and MT, but not CP, TEMPOL, or TPP, rapidly induced mitochondrial fragmentation and swelling, morphological transitions that were associated with diminished ATP levels and increased production of mitochondrial oxidants. Mdivi‐1, an inhibitor of mitochondrial fission, did not rescue mitochondria from fragmentation by MCP. Immunofluorescence microscopy experiments indicate a fraction of FOXM1 coexists in the cytoplasm with mitochondrial PRX3. Our results indicate that MCP and MT inhibit FOXM1 expression and MM tumor cell viability via perturbations in redox homeostasis caused by marked disruption of mitochondrial architecture, and suggest that both compounds, either alone or in combination with thiostrepton or other agents, may provide credible therapeutic options for the management of MM. J. Cell. Physiol. 228: 835–845, 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Assessment of presence and grade of activity in ileal Crohn's disease.

BACKGROUND/AIMS To assess the sensitivity of magnetic resonance enterography (MRE) in the diagnosis of Crohn's disease (CD) activity and correlation between endoscopic and MRE scores in predicting the activity grade. MATERIALS AND METHODS Twenty-five ileal CD patients with clinical and biochemical evidence of activation underwent ileocolonoscopy and MRE within 7 days of their application. Simplified endoscopic scoring of CD (SES-CD) and MRE scores was done and compared with each other and other parameters of activation (CRP, leukocyte count, platelet count). RESULTS The sensitivity of MRE scoring was found to be 92%; however, the statistical correlation with SES-CD was not significant (p=0.83) for the grading of the activity. CONCLUSION MRE scoring is sensitive enough to use in CD activity evaluation; however, it can not be used alone, and it is rather a complementary technique to endoscopy and is especially valuable for patients with extraluminal disease.
Effects of different land use change on temperate semi-natural grasslands

The specific objectives of this study were to determine the effects of different land use changes (extensive grazing, fertilization and irrigation) on the botanical and soil parameters, plant biomass production and CO2 gas exchanges and to provide data for model development. Experimental work has been carried out for 3 years in two characteristic semi-natural temperate grassland type of Hungary. Small grassland plots were positioned along two transects at fertilized and irrigated sites of loess steppe. At the fertilized (Isaszeg) site, mineral fertiliser was applied once a year at the beginning of the vegetation period, while top spray irrigation was operated continuously during each vegetation period at the irrigated site (Gödöllô). On the plain site an area of 6 ha of dry sand grassland was fenced off from the extensively grazing cattle herd. The shortest response of land-use change can be observed at botanical composition and partly at NEE (CO2), whereas soil parameters are significantly affected at longer time-scale. The observed changes were strongly correlated to climatic conditions, emphasized the importance of the water regime. Acta Biol Szeged 49(1-2):133-135 (2005)
Real-time 100 object recognition system

A real-time vision system is described that can recognize 100 complex three-dimensional objects. In contrast to traditional strategies that rely on object geometry and local image features, the present system is founded on the concept of appearance matching. Appearance manifolds of the 100 objects were automatically learned using a computer-controlled turntable. The entire learning process was completed in 1 day. A recognition loop has been implemented that performs scene change detection, image segmentation, region normalizations, and appearance matching, in less than 1 second. The hardware used by the recognition system includes no more than a CCD color camera and a workstation. The real-time capability and interactive nature of the system have allowed numerous observers to test its performance. To quantify performance, we have conducted controlled experiments on recognition and pose estimation. The recognition rate was found to be 100% and object pose was estimated with a mean absolute error of 2.02 degrees and standard deviation of 1.67 degrees.
BIDDING ON THE BUYING FUNNEL FOR SPONSORED SEARCH AND KEYWORD ADVERTISING

In this research, we evaluate the effectiveness of the buying funnel as a model for understanding consumer interaction with keyword advertising campaigns on web search engines. We analyze data of nearly 7 million records from a 33 month, $56 million (US) search engine marketing campaign of a major US retailer. We classify key phrases used in this campaign into stages of the buying funnel (i.e., Awareness, Research, Decision, and Purchase) and then compare the consumer behaviors associated with each stage of the buying funnel using the critical keyword advertising metrics of impressions, clicks, cost-per-click, sales revenue, orders, and items sold. Findings from our analysis show that the stages from the buying funnel are effective for classifying types of queries, with statistically different consumer behaviors for all attributes among all stages. However, results also indicate that the buying funnel model does not represent the actual process that consumer engage in when contemplating a potential purchase, as the stages do not seem to be associated with expected consumer actions as predicted by the model. Results show that Awareness key phrases cost less and generate more sales revenue than Purchase queries, indicating that these broader phases can be a lucrative advertising segment for sponsored search campaigns. The results reported in this paper are important to researchers interested in understanding online consumers interaction with search engines and beneficial to search engine marketers striving to design successful advertising campaigns. Insights from this research could produce keyword advertising efforts being more effectively targeted to consumers in order to achieve campaign goals.
Differentiation of Neisseria gonorrhoeae isolates requiring proline, citrulline, and uracil by plasmid content, serotyping, and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis

A combination of DNA macrorestriction analysis using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis and a serotyping method using three panels of monoclonal antibody was used to discriminate 43 epidemiologically unrelated Neisseria gonorrhoeae isolates requiring proline, citrulline, and uracil (PCU-) into 35 groups. This indicates that PCU- isolates of N. gonorrhoeae are not clonal.
Temperature and salinity increase in the eastern North Atlantic along the 24.5°N in the last ten years

The ocean section along the 24.5°N has been one of the most frequently sampled of the world's oceans. It has been sampled in 1957, 1981, 1992 and 1998. Previous works showed a progressive warming and salt increase of the thermocline and intermediate waters from around 800 m to 3000 m. The maximum warming rate was 0.009°C/yr at 1100 m. The eastern part of this section was sampled in 2002. The warming of the main thermocline has continued at a higher rate (0.042°/yr at 400 m) in the last 10 years. Salinity has also increased along the thermocline conserving the 1992 θS relationship. From 100 to 1000 db, the warming is mainly due to downward displacement of the isopycnals, though some cooling along isopycnals is also observed in the upper 350 db.
The relationship between DSM-IV oppositional defiant disorder and conduct disorder: findings from the Great Smoky Mountains Study.

BACKGROUND We examine models of the relationship between oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) and conduct disorder (CD) in a community sample. Particular attention is paid to the generalisability of findings based on clinic-referred boys. METHODS The analyses were based on four waves of data from the Great Smoky Mountains Study covering children in the community aged 9-16 years. Child and parent reports of DSM-IV symptoms, diagnoses, and a range of family and environmental adversities were collected using the Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Assessment. RESULTS Cross-sectional analyses indicated that CD and ODD largely shared similar correlates, although some aspects of parenting appeared more related to CD than ODD. This pattern was broadly similar in boys and girls. Longitudinal analyses confirmed that ODD was a strong risk factor for CD in boys and there was a suggestion that ODD was a stronger risk factor for CD than for other common disorders. Atypical family structure was an important factor in the transition between ODD and CD in boys. In girls ODD provided no increased risk for later CD but was associated with increased risk for continued ODD, depression, and anxiety. CONCLUSIONS These results are more consistent with a developmental relationship between ODD and CD in boys than girls.
Study of Cathode Materials for Lithium-Ion Batteries: Recent Progress and New Challenges

Amongst a number of different cathode materials, the layered nickel-rich LiNiyCoxMn1−y−xO2 and the integrated lithium-rich xLi2MnO3·(1 − x)Li[NiaCobMnc]O2 (a + b + c = 1) have received considerable attention over the last decade due to their high capacities of ~195 and ~250 mAh·g−1, respectively. Both materials are believed to play a vital role in the development of future electric vehicles, which makes them highly attractive for researchers from academia and industry alike. The review at hand deals with both cathode materials and highlights recent achievements to enhance capacity stability, voltage stability, and rate capability, etc. The focus of this paper is on novel strategies and established methods such as coatings and dopings.
Evaluation of Efficacy of Oxytetracycline Oral and Bath Therapies in Nile Tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus against Aeromonas hydrophila Infection

Tilapias have long been considered as an ideal species for use in aquaculture due to its hardy nature, fast growth, tolerance of suboptimal water quality and disease resistance (Little et al., 2008). Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticusis considered as the most important farmed tilapia species, representing >73% of total tilapia production in 2010 (FAO, 2012). Diseases are one of the major problems that affect the tilapia production. Bacterial diseases have become major barriers to aquaculture, especially when water temperature is warm. Aeromonas hydrophila is an opportunistic as well as primary pathogen of variety of aquatic and terrestrial animals including man. The presence of A. hydrophila, by itself, is not indicative of disease and, consequently, stress is often International Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Sciences ISSN: 2319-7706 Volume 6 Number 7 (2017) pp. 62-76 Journal homepage: http://www.ijcmas. com
Gene transcription profiles associated with inter-modular hubs and connection distance in human functional magnetic resonance imaging networks

Human functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) brain networks have a complex topology comprising integrative components, e.g. long-distance inter-modular edges, that are theoretically associated with higher biological cost. Here, we estimated intra-modular degree, inter-modular degree and connection distance for each of 285 cortical nodes in multi-echo fMRI data from 38 healthy adults. We used the multivariate technique of partial least squares (PLS) to reduce the dimensionality of the relationships between these three nodal network parameters and prior microarray data on regional expression of 20 737 genes. The first PLS component defined a transcriptional profile associated with high intra-modular degree and short connection distance, whereas the second PLS component was associated with high inter-modular degree and long connection distance. Nodes in superior and lateral cortex with high inter-modular degree and long connection distance had local transcriptional profiles enriched for oxidative metabolism and mitochondria, and for genes specific to supragranular layers of human cortex. In contrast, primary and secondary sensory cortical nodes in posterior cortex with high intra-modular degree and short connection distance had transcriptional profiles enriched for RNA translation and nuclear components. We conclude that, as predicted, topologically integrative hubs, mediating long-distance connections between modules, are more costly in terms of mitochondrial glucose metabolism. This article is part of the themed issue ‘Interpreting BOLD: a dialogue between cognitive and cellular neuroscience’.
How rods respond to single photons: Key adaptations of a G‐protein cascade that enable vision at the physical limit of perception

Rod photoreceptors are among the most sensitive light detectors in nature. They achieve their remarkable sensitivity across a wide variety of species through a number of essential adaptations: a specialized cellular geometry, a G‐protein cascade with an unusually stable receptor molecule, a low‐noise transduction mechanism, a nearly perfect effector enzyme, and highly evolved mechanisms of feedback control and receptor deactivation. Practically any change in protein expression, enzyme activity, or feedback control can be shown to impair photon detection, either by decreasing sensitivity or signal‐to‐noise ratio, or by reducing temporal resolution. Comparison of mammals to amphibians suggests that rod outer‐segment morphology and the molecules and mechanism of transduction may have evolved together to optimize light sensitivity in darkness, which culminates in the extraordinary ability of these cells to respond to single photons at the ultimate limit of visual perception.
Expression of mRNA for cytokines in tumor‐infiltrating mononuclear cells in ovarian adenocarcinoma and invasive breast cancer

Cytokine gene expression in tumor‐infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) in frozen‐tissue sections of 2 types of human solid tumor—ovarian adenocarcinoma and invasive breast cancer—was examined by in situ hybridization with 35S‐labeled cDNA probes for human cytokines. The proportion of cells containing mRNA able to hybridize to the antisense c‐DNA probes for interleukin 2 (IL‐2), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα), interferon gamma (IFNγ) or receptors for IL‐2 (either p55 or p70) was also determined in human normal peripheral lymphoid tissues and inflammatory tissues. Few cells were positive for IL2 and TNFα mRNA in reactive human lymph nodes and tonsils. Inflammatory lesions, such as salpingitis or chronic active hepatitis, contained 10‐20 times more cells positive for cytokine mRNA than reactive lymphoid tissue. In contrast, tumor‐infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) in the stroma of ovarian carcinomas or most ductal breast tumors only rarely expressed mRNA for TNFα, IL2 or IFNγ. The intensity of mononuclear cell infiltration in these tumors correlated positively with the percentage of cells which expressed mRNA for IL‐2, TNFa and IL‐2R. In those ductal breast carcinomas which contained intracellular or intraductal mucins, up to 30% of lymphoid cells in the tumor stroma were positive for IL‐2, TNFα, IFNγ and IL‐2R. Thus, strong evidence for local activation of mononuclear cells in situ, exemplified by the expression of genes for cytokines, was obtained only in inflammatory lesions and in mucin‐producing breast carcinomas. In most carcinomas studied, few TIL expressed genes for cytokines as measured by in situ hybridization. Thus, human solid tumors appear to differ in their ability to induce gene expression for cytokines in TIL.
Network Analysis of Scientific Collaboration and Co-authorship of the Trifecta of Malaria, Tuberculosis and Hiv/aids in Benin.

NETWORK ANALYSIS OF SCIENTIFIC COLLABORATION AND CO-AUTHORSHIP OF THE TRIFECTA OF MALARIA, TUBERCULOSIS AND HIV/AIDS IN BENIN. by Gbedegnon Roseric Azondekon The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, 2018 Under the Supervision of Professor Susan McRoy Despite the international mobilization and increase in research funding, Malaria, Tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS are three infectious diseases that have claimed more lives in sub Saharan Africa than any other place in the World. Consortia, research network and research centers both in Africa and around the world team up in a multidisciplinary and transdisciplinary approach to boost e orts to curb these diseases. Despite the progress in research, very little is known about the dynamics of research collaboration in the ght of these Infectious Diseases in Africa resulting in a lack of information on the relationship between African research collaborators. This dissertation addresses the problem by documenting, describing and analyzing the scienti c collaboration and co-authorship network of Malaria, Tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS in the Republic of Benin. We collected published scienti c records from the Web Of Science over the last 20 years (From January 1996 to December 2016). We parsed the records and constructed the coauthorship networks for each disease. Authors in the networks were represented by vertices and an edge was created between any two authors whenever they coauthor a document together. We conducted a descriptive social network analysis of the networks, then used
Female lung cancer mortality and long-term exposure to particulate matter in Italy

Background: Outdoor air pollution and particulate matter (PM) have recently been classified in Group 1 by IARC. In Italy there is no epidemiological study on the association between female lung cancer and PM as measured by the official monitoring stations. Methods: We estimated the dose–response relationship between female lung cancer mortality and available long-term outdoor PM10 and/or PM2.5 concentrations for all the Italian province capital city municipalities (respectively, 64 and 32 municipalities). Multiple regression analysis of standardized mortality rates (SMRates) for the period 2000–11, as a function of PM concentrations, considering percentage of smokers and deprivation index as additional explanatory variables, was performed for PM10 only. Results: The number of province capital cities with available PM2.5 data was not sufficient to detect a significant increment of SMRates as a function of concentrations. An SMRate increase of 0.325 for 1 &mgr;g m−3 increment of PM10 concentration was calculated. Moreover, the attributable risk of the overall SMRates for the two subgroups of municipalities under/equal and above 20 &mgr;g m−3 value was evaluated. Attributable deaths were computed by both the unitary SMRate increase and the attributable risk. A rough estimate of the impact of PM10 exposure at level above the WHO guideline value of 20 &mgr;g m−3 in these 64 municipalities is between 2920 and 3449 lung cancer deaths out of 22 162 (13–16%). Conclusion: Maintaining the PM10 concentrations below such WHO recommendation, an overall saving of nearly 300 lung cancer deaths per year in a population of 8 146 520 women living in the municipalities at study has been evaluated.
ARE DISK GALAXIES THE PROGENITORS OF GIANT ELLIPTICALS?

A popular formation scenario for giant elliptical galaxies proposes that they might have formed from binary mergers of disk galaxies. Difficulties with the scenario that emerged from earlier studies included providing the necessary stellar mass and metallicity, maintaining the tight color–magnitude relation, and avoiding phase-space limits. In this paper we revisit the issue and put constraints on the binary disk merger scenario based on the stellar populations of disk galaxies. We draw the following conclusions: low-redshift collisionless or gaseous mergers of present-day Milky-Way-like disk galaxies do not form present-day elliptical galaxies. Binary mergers of the progenitors of present-day Milky-Way-like disk galaxies could have evolved into intermediate-mass elliptical galaxies (M < M*) if they merged earlier than ≈ 3–4 Gyr ago. Assuming that most present-day disk galaxies formed in a way similar to the Milky Way model presented here, more massive giant ellipticals in general could not have formed from binary mergers of the progenitors of present-day disk galaxies. A major reason for these conclusions is that the mass in metals of a typical disk galaxy is approximately a factor of 4–8 smaller than the mass in metals of a typical early-type galaxy, and this ratio grows to larger values with increasing redshift.
A Lower Bound for the Size of Syntactically Multilinear Arithmetic Circuits

We construct an explicit polynomial f(x<sub>1</sub>,., x<sub>n</sub>), with coefficients in {0, 1}, such that the size of any syntactically multilinear arithmetic circuit computing f is at least Omega{n<sup>4/3</sup> log<sup>2</sup> n} The lower bound holds over any field.