Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Fluid Movement and Creativity Pilot Experiments

Cognitive scientists describe creativity as fluid thought. Drawing from findings on gesture and embodied cognition, we hypothesized that the physical experience of fluidity, relative to nonfluidity, would lead to more fluid, creative thought. Across 3 experiments, fluid arm movement led to enhanced creativity in 3 domains: creative generation, cognitive flexibility, and remote associations. Alternative mechanisms such as enhanced mood and motivation were also examined. These results suggest that creativity can be influenced by certain types of physical movement. Theories of creativity describe creative thinking and intelligence as fluid (Hofstadter, 1995; Sternberg, 1985), likening thought to the movement of fluids: moving flexibly and smoothly in any direction with fluency or ease. Such language reflects a metaphor for thinking about creative thought. For instance, creative thought is often contrasted with analytical thought, which is more rigid and precise; a fluid can move in multiple directions with ease, and the ability to fluently and flexibly generate multiple thoughts is essential for creativity (Guilford, 1967). Fluid thinking, thus, is a metaphor for certain elements of creativity (Hofstadter, 1995). assert that abstract concepts are metaphorically grounded in concrete experience. For example, the abstract concept of importance might be understood via the metaphor " weighty, " which references the concrete sensation of holding something heavy. Indeed, participants who held a heavy, relative to a light, clipboard judged a variety of issues and items as having greater are grounded in bodily movement and sensation. This growing body of work has demonstrated that cognitive content (concepts) can be metaphorically embodied in sensorimotor systems (Lan-dau, Meier, & Keefer, 2010)—showing that the body provides a scaffold for abstract concepts (Williams, Huang, & Bargh, 2009). A separate body of work also demonstrates that gestures influence thought processes (e.g., Casasanto, 2011; Goldin-Meadow & Beilock, 2010). Gestures, for instance, can aid in spatial representation by allowing direct expression of spatial properties, lessening the need for a translation to verbal codes, and therefore alleviating working memory resources (Hostetter & Alibali, 2008), consequently improving spatial problem solving and enhancing speech fluency (Goldin-Meadow & Beilock, 2010). Additionally, motor experience can also change cognitive processes. For instance, right-handers evaluate items on the right more positively, whereas left-handers prefer items on the left (Casasanto, 2009), a likely result of the positive valence of motor fluency (e. suggested that the body can influence cognitive processes by means of metaphor, whereby cognitive–linguistic analyses suggested a role for the body in …
Extreme limit distribution of truncated models for daily rainfall

We propose truncated and power‐transformed (TPT) models for daily rainfall and we derive the generalized extreme value (GEV) limit distributions for these models. We find that these limit distributions belong to the domain of attraction of the Fréchet family when the parent distribution of the daily values is a TPT t‐Student model. In this case, the shape parameter of the limiting GEV model depends on the degrees of freedom and the power transformation parameter. When the parent distribution of the daily values is a TPT Normal model, the limiting GEV model is independent of the parameters of the parent model. We perform a detailed inference and predictive analysis to verify these theoretical results using a Bayesian approach. Markov Chain Monte Carlo methods (MCMC) were used to estimate the posterior distribution of the parameters of the t‐Student model for daily rainfall on one hand, and to estimate the posterior distribution of the parameters of the GEV model for the annual maxima on the other hand. Numerical results are presented for two locations: Maiquetía (Vargas State), and La Mariposa (Miranda State), Venezuela. Simulations from the predictive distribution of the daily values suggest a good approximation between the extreme distribution of the TPT t‐Student model and the Fréchet model found by standard extreme value limit theory. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Plasma fibronectin stabilizes Borrelia burgdorferi–endothelial interactions under vascular shear stress by a catch-bond mechanism

Significance Spread of bacteria via the bloodstream to vital organs causes most mortality due to bacterial infection. To exit the bloodstream and enter these organs, bacteria must be able to resist the forces generated by flowing blood so that they can adhere to the endothelial cells lining blood vessels without being washed away. This process is not yet understood for most disease-causing bacteria. Here, we show that the Lyme disease pathogen Borrelia burgdorferi exploits an abundant constituent of blood, plasma fibronectin, to form endothelial interactions that become stronger as forces due to blood-flow increase. The ability to recruit this highly conserved molecule may also be important for the vascular interaction mechanisms of other pathogens. Bacterial dissemination via the cardiovascular system is the most common cause of infection mortality. A key step in dissemination is bacterial interaction with endothelia lining blood vessels, which is physically challenging because of the shear stress generated by blood flow. Association of host cells such as leukocytes and platelets with endothelia under vascular shear stress requires mechanically specialized interaction mechanisms, including force-strengthened catch bonds. However, the biomechanical mechanisms supporting vascular interactions of most bacterial pathogens are undefined. Fibronectin (Fn), a ubiquitous host molecule targeted by many pathogens, promotes vascular interactions of the Lyme disease spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi. Here, we investigated how B. burgdorferi exploits Fn to interact with endothelia under physiological shear stress, using recently developed live cell imaging and particle-tracking methods for studying bacterial–endothelial interaction biomechanics. We found that B. burgdorferi does not primarily target insoluble matrix Fn deposited on endothelial surfaces but, instead, recruits and induces polymerization of soluble plasma Fn (pFn), an abundant protein in blood plasma that is normally soluble and nonadhesive. Under physiological shear stress, caps of polymerized pFn at bacterial poles formed part of mechanically loaded adhesion complexes, and pFn strengthened and stabilized interactions by a catch-bond mechanism. These results show that B. burgdorferi can transform a ubiquitous but normally nonadhesive blood constituent to increase the efficiency, strength, and stability of bacterial interactions with vascular surfaces. Similar mechanisms may promote dissemination of other Fn-binding pathogens.
Structural Insights into TIR Domain Specificity of the Bridging Adaptor Mal in TLR4 Signaling

MyD88 adaptor-like protein (Mal) is a crucial adaptor that acts as a bridge to recruit the MyD88 molecule to activated TLR4 receptors in response to invading pathogens. The specific assembly of the Toll/interleukin-1 receptor (TIR) domains of TLR4, Mal and MyD88 is responsible for proper signal transduction in the TLR4 signaling pathway. However, the molecular mechanism for the specificity of these TIR domains remains unclear. Here, we present the crystal structure of the TIR domain of the human Mal molecule (Mal-TIR) at a resolution of 2.4 Å. Unexpectedly, Mal-TIR exhibits an extraordinarily long AB loop, but no αB helix or BB loop, distinguishing it from other TIR domains. More importantly, the Mal-TIR AB loop is capable of mediating direct binding to the TIR domains of TLR4 and MyD88 simultaneously. We also found that Mal-TIR can form a back-to-back dimer that may resemble the dimeric assembly of the entire Mal molecule. Our data demonstrate the bridge role of the Mal-TIR domain and provide important information about TIR domain specificity.
Fear extinction and relapse: state of the art.

Exposure-based treatments for clinical anxiety generally are very effective, but relapse is not uncommon. Likewise, laboratory studies have shown that conditioned fears are easy to extinguish, but they recover easily. This analogy is striking, and numerous fear extinction studies have been published that highlight the processes responsible for the extinction and return of acquired fears. This review examines and integrates the most important results from animal and human work. Overall, the results suggest that fear extinction is relatively easy to "learn" but difficult to "remember. " It follows that treatments will benefit from an enhanced focus on the long-term retrieval of fear extinction. We review the available studies on the prevention of return of fear and the prospects of weakening fear memories forever. We show that the behavioral principles outlined in learning theory provide a continuous inspiration for preclinical (neurobiological) and clinical research on the extinction and return of fear.
Antimicrobial Resistance and β-Lactamase Production of Clinical Isolates of Prevotella and Porphyromonas Species

Background: This study determined the β-lactamase production and the antimicrobial resistance of 72 Prevotella species and 48 Porphyromonas species isolated from different clinical specimens. Methods: All strains were identified using API 32 ID. The β-lactamase production was determined by nitrocefin disks. E test strips of benzylpenicillin, ampicillin + sulbactam, cefoxitin, clindamycin, metronidazole and imipenem were tested for each strain. Results: Nineteen Prevotella melaninogenica, 18 Prevotella intermedia, 16 Prevotella denticola, 11 Prevotella loescheii and 8 Prevotella bivia strains were identified. Four wereclindamycin resistant. The highest β-lactamase production was found at a rate of 68.4% in P. melaninogenica species. Additionally, 33 Porphyromonas asaccharolytica and 15 Porphyromonas gingivalis strains were identified. None of them produced β-lactamase. Conclusion: In view of the emerging antibiotic resistance among anaerobes, the current local susceptibility profile of our Prevotella and Porphyromonas species will establish the basis for additional surveys tracing significant changes in the antimicrobial resistance of our clinical isolates.
A new miniaturized fractal bandpass filter based on dual-mode microstrip square ring resonator

A novel fractal dual-mode microstrip bandpass filter design has been introduced in an attempt to produce filters with highly miniaturized size for modern wireless applications. The filter structure has been generated based on the 3rd iteration Minkowski-like pre-fractal geometry, using the conventional dual-mode square ring resonator as the initiator in the fractal generation process. The space-filling property, self-similarity and the diagonal symmetry of the structures corresponding to the successive iteration levels of this fractal geometry have found to produce reduced size filter structures with accepted performance. The bandpass filter structure produced by the 3rd iteration of this fractal geometry can be considered as a novel design with adequate performance. This design structure possesses a size reduction of about 72% compared with the conventional dualmode square ring resonator operating at the same frequency and using the same substrate material. In addition, the new design technique seems reliable, since it provides the filter designers with more degree of freedom and further size reduction as compared with those reported in the literatures.
Maternal Obesity Affects Fetal Neurodevelopmental and Metabolic Gene Expression: A Pilot Study

Objective One in three pregnant women in the United States is obese. Their offspring are at increased risk for neurodevelopmental and metabolic morbidity. Underlying molecular mechanisms are poorly understood. We performed a global gene expression analysis of mid-trimester amniotic fluid cell-free fetal RNA in obese versus lean pregnant women. Methods This prospective pilot study included eight obese (BMI≥30) and eight lean (BMI<25) women undergoing clinically indicated mid-trimester genetic amniocentesis. Subjects were matched for gestational age and fetal sex. Fetuses with abnormal karyotype or structural anomalies were excluded. Cell-free fetal RNA was extracted from amniotic fluid and hybridized to whole genome expression arrays. Genes significantly differentially regulated in 8/8 obese-lean pairs were identified using paired t-tests with the Benjamini-Hochberg correction (false discovery rate of <0.05). Biological interpretation was performed with Ingenuity Pathway Analysis and the BioGPS gene expression atlas. Results In fetuses of obese pregnant women, 205 genes were significantly differentially regulated. Apolipoprotein D, a gene highly expressed in the central nervous system and integral to lipid regulation, was the most up-regulated gene (9-fold). Apoptotic cell death was significantly down-regulated, particularly within nervous system pathways involving the cerebral cortex. Activation of the transcriptional regulators estrogen receptor, FOS, and STAT3 was predicted in fetuses of obese women, suggesting a pro-estrogenic, pro-inflammatory milieu. Conclusion Maternal obesity affects fetal neurodevelopmental and metabolic gene expression as early as the second trimester. These findings may have implications for postnatal neurodevelopmental and metabolic abnormalities described in the offspring of obese women.
PTEN Gene Targeting Reveals a Radiation-Induced Size Checkpoint in Human Cancer Cells

Following DNA damage, human cells arrest primarily in the G1 and G2 phases of the cell cycle. Here, we show that after irradiation, human cancer cells with targeted deletion of PTEN or naturally occurring PTEN mutations can exert G1 and G2 arrests but are unable to arrest in size. Pharmacological inhibition of phosphoinositol-3-kinase or mTOR in PTEN−/− cells restored the size arrest, whereas siRNA-mediated depletion of TSC2 in PTEN+/+ cells attenuated the size arrest. Radiation treatment potentiated Akt activation in PTEN−/− but not PTEN+/+ cells. Finally, abrogation of the size arrest via PTEN deletion conferred radiosensitivity both in vitro and in vivo. These results identify a new tumor suppressor gene-regulated, DNA damage-inducible arrest that occurs simultaneously with the G1 and G2 arrests but is genetically separable from them. We suggest that aberrant regulation of cell size during cell cycle arrest may be important in human cancer pathogenesis.
Bose-Einstein condensation in anisotropic harmonic traps

We study the thermodynamic behavior of an ideal gas of bosons trapped in a three-dimensional anisotropic harmonic-oscillator potential. The condensate fraction as well as the specific heat is calculated using the Euler-Maclaurin approximation. For a finite number of particles there is no phase transition, but there is a well-defined temperature at which the condensation starts. We also consider condensation in lower dimensions, and, for one-dimensional systems, we discuss the dependence of the condensate fraction and heat capacity on the ensemble used.
Intracorneal ring segments implantation followed by same-day photorefractive keratectomy and corneal collagen cross-linking in keratoconus.

PURPOSE To evaluate the efficacy of intrastromal corneal ring segments implantation followed by same-day photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) and ultraviolet-A/riboflavin collagen cross-linking (CXL) in patients with keratoconus. METHODS Four patients (five eyes) were included in the study. All patients first underwent femtosecond laser-enabled placement of intracorneal ring segments (Intacs, Addition Technology). Uncorrected (UDVA) and corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA) and keratometry readings remained stable for 6 months. Same-day PRK and CXL were subsequently performed in all patients. RESULTS Six months after Intacs plus PRK/CXL, significant improvements were noted for UDVA, CDVA, spherical equivalent refraction, keratometry, and total aberrations. No patient lost lines of CDVA or developed haze. CONCLUSIONS The combination of intracorneal ring segments implantation followed by sequential same-day PRK/CXL may be a reasonable option for improving visual acuity in select patients with keratoconus.
Analysis of Multi-planar Probability Maps for People Localization in Overlapping Camera Systems

This paper proposes a novel method for people localization in multi-camera video surveillance systems. Multi-planar projections of overlapping views are fused to obtain probability maps known as synergy maps. However, synergy maps suffer from false detections known as ghosts, and the purpose of this article is to use pattern recognition techniques for ghost pruning. To this end, the geometry of the system is used to generate synthesized synergy maps corresponding to the presence of a person at precise locations. These ideal patterns are then compared to the real synergy map using a discriminative measure in order to decide whether a person is present or not. This approach is novel because rather than a priori decision rules to remove the ghosts, we propose to compare the physical reality of the scene with the synthetic data, and thus, validate or not the assumptions of people detection using pattern matching methods. The proposed method achieves excellent results on the PETS 2009 dataset as demonstrated by comparison with state-of-the-art methods.
Bufferless NOC Simulation of Large Multicore System on GPU Hardware

Last level cache management and core interconnection network play important roles in performance and power consumption in multicore system. Large scale chip multicore uses mesh interconnect widely due to scalability and simplicity of the mesh interconnection design. As interconnection network occupied significant area and consumes significant percent of system power, bufferless network is an appealing alternative design to reduce power consumption and hardware cost. We have designed and implemented a simulator for simulation of distributed cache management of large chip multicore where cores are connected using bufferless interconnection network. Also, we have redesigned and implemented the our simulator which is a GPU compatible parallel version of the same simulator using CUDA programming model. We have simulated target large chip multicore with up to 43,000 cores and achieved up to 25 times speedup on NVIDIA GeForce GTX 690 GPU over serial simulation.
In vitro and in vivo biocompatibility and osteogenesis of graphene-reinforced nanohydroxyapatite polyamide66 ternary biocomposite as orthopedic implant material

Graphene and its derivatives have been receiving increasing attention regarding their application in bone tissue engineering because of their excellent characteristics, such as a vast specific surface area and excellent mechanical properties. In this study, graphene-reinforced nanohydroxyapatite/polyamide66 (nHA/PA66) bone screws were prepared. The results of scanning electron microscopy observation and X-ray diffraction data showed that both graphene and nHA had good dispersion in the PA66 matrix. In addition, the tensile strength and elastic modulus of the composites were significantly improved by 49.14% and 21.2%, respectively. The murine bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell line C3H10T1/2 exhibited better adhesion and proliferation in graphene reinforced nHA/PA66 composite material compared to the nHA/PA66 composites. The cells developed more pseudopods, with greater cell density and a more distinguishable cytoskeletal structure. These results were confirmed by fluorescent staining and cell viability assays. After C3H10T1/2 cells were cultured in osteogenic differentiation medium for 7 and 14 days, the bone differentiation-related gene expression, alkaline phosphatase, and osteocalcin were significantly increased in the cells cocultured with graphene reinforced nHA/PA66. This result demonstrated the bone-inducing characteristics of this composite material, a finding that was further supported by alizarin red staining results. In addition, graphene reinforced nHA/PA66 bone screws were implanted in canine femoral condyles, and postoperative histology revealed no obvious damage to the liver, spleen, kidneys, brain, or other major organs. The bone tissue around the implant grew well and was directly connected to the implant. The soft tissues showed no obvious inflammatory reaction, which demonstrated the good biocompatibility of the screws. These observations indicate that graphene-reinforced nHA/PA66 composites have great potential for application in bone tissue engineering.
MicroRNA profiling differentiates colorectal cancer according to KRAS status

Recent studies have shown the important role of microRNAs (miRNAs) in a variety of biological processes, and in its ability to distinguish tumors according to their prognostic and predictive properties. To identify miRNA signatures associated with colorectal carcinoma (CRC) and with KRAS status, we studied, using Agilent's miRNA microarrays, miRNA expression in primary tumors from 55 metastatic CRC patients, including 15 with mutant and 40 with wild‐type KRAS. Comparing these with normal colon tissue, we identified 49 miRNAs—including 19 novel miRNAs—significantly deregulated in tumor tissue. The presence of the KRAS mutation was associated with up‐regulation of miR‐127‐3p, miR‐92a, and miR‐486‐3p and down‐regulation of miR‐378. Increased expression of miR‐127‐3p and miR‐92a in KRAS mutant tumors was significantly confirmed by quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (qRT‐PCR) (P < 0.05). We identified some predicted target genes of differentially expressed miRNAs between mutated and wild‐type KRAS, such as RSG3 and TOB1, which are involved in apoptosis and proliferation. Target prediction and pathway analysis suggest a possible role for deregulated miRNAs in nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) regeneration and G protein‐coupled receptor signaling pathways. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
UGT1A1 genotype and irinotecan therapy: general review and implementation in routine practice

Irinotecan is a major drug in the treatment of advanced colorectal cancer. Its active form is the SN38 metabolite, which is cleared by the biliary route after glucuronidation by uridine diphosphate–glucuronosyltransferase 1A1 (UGT1A1). UGT1A1 activity exhibits a wide intersubject variability, in part related to UGT1A1 gene polymorphisms. The present review on the impact of the deficient UGT1A1*28 variant on irinotecan efficacy and toxicity was produced by a French joint workgroup comprising the Group of Clinical Onco‐pharmacology (GPCO‐Unicancer) and the National Pharmacogenetics Network (RNPGx). It clearly emerges that for irinotecan doses at least equal to 180 mg/m2, patients homozygous for the UGT1A1*28 allele are at increased risk of developing hematological and/or digestive toxicities. Irinotecan dose reduction is thus recommended in homozygous *28/*28 patients. In addition, this personalized medicine strategy aims to secure high‐dose irinotecan administration (≥240 mg/m2) that have proven to be safe in homozygous *1/*1 patients only. The clinical relevance of this test is discussed in terms of treatment efficacy improvement, as increasing the irinotecan dose appears to be safe in patients not bearing a deficient allele. Best execution practices, cost‐effectiveness, and result interpretation are discussed with the aim of facilitating the implementation of this analysis in clinical practice. The existence of networks of laboratories performing this test in routine hospital treatment, as in France, offers the prospect of widespread screening, thus guaranteeing equal access to safe treatment and optimized therapy for patients receiving irinotecan‐based therapy in advanced colorectal cancer.