Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Trial-by-Trial Motor Cortical Correlates of a Rapidly Adapting Visuomotor Internal Model

Accurate motor control is mediated by internal models of how neural activity generates movement. We examined neural correlates of an adapting internal model of visuomotor gain in motor cortex while two macaques performed a reaching task in which the gain scaling between the hand and a presented cursor was varied. Previous studies of cortical changes during visuomotor adaptation focused on preparatory and perimovement epochs and analyzed trial-averaged neural data. Here, we recorded simultaneous neural population activity using multielectrode arrays and focused our analysis on neural differences in the period before the target appeared. We found that we could estimate the monkey's internal model of the gain using the neural population state during this pretarget epoch. This neural correlate depended on the gain experienced during recent trials and it predicted the speed of the subsequent reach. To explore the utility of this internal model estimate for brain–machine interfaces, we performed an offline analysis showing that it can be used to compensate for upcoming reach extent errors. Together, these results demonstrate that pretarget neural activity in motor cortex reflects the monkey's internal model of visuomotor gain on single trials and can potentially be used to improve neural prostheses. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT When generating movement commands, the brain is believed to use internal models of the relationship between neural activity and the body's movement. Visuomotor adaptation tasks have revealed neural correlates of these computations in multiple brain areas during movement preparation and execution. Here, we describe motor cortical changes in a visuomotor gain change task even before a specific movement is cued. We were able to estimate the gain internal model from these pretarget neural correlates and relate it to single-trial behavior. This is an important step toward understanding the sensorimotor system's algorithms for updating its internal models after specific movements and errors. Furthermore, the ability to estimate the internal model before movement could improve motor neural prostheses being developed for people with paralysis.
Impact of echocardiography on patient management in the intensive care unit: an audit of district general hospital practice.

BACKGROUND Echocardiography has been shown to positively impact on the management of the critically ill patient. However, many published studies have a significant bias towards inclusion of cardiothoracic patients. We present an audit of the impact of echocardiography on the management of patients in a district general hospital intensive care unit (ICU). METHODS We conducted a prospective audit of all echocardiograms, both transthoracic (TTE) and transoesophageal (TOE), performed on our ICU between October 1, 2005, and December 31, 2007. In addition to patient characteristics, we recorded the indication for the echocardiogram, and any change in management that occurred as a result of the study. RESULTS Two hundred and fifty-eight echocardiograms were performed in 217 patients, of which 224 (86.8%) were performed by intensive care consultants. One hundred and eighty-seven studies (72.4%) were TTEs and 71 (27.8%) were TOEs. TTE provided diagnostic images in 91.3% of spontaneously breathing and 84.2% of mechanically ventilated patients. Management was changed directly as a result of information provided in 51.2% of studies. Changes included fluid administration, inotrope or drug therapy, and treatment limitation. CONCLUSIONS Echocardiography may have a significant impact on the management of patients in the general ICU. We recommend that appropriate training in echocardiography should be incorporated into the intensive care curriculum in the UK.
Tumor regressions observed in patients with metastatic melanoma treated with an antigenic peptide encoded by gene MAGE‐3 and presented by HLA‐A1

Thirty‐nine tumor‐bearing patients with metastatic melanoma were treated with 3 subcutaneous injections of the MAGE‐3.A1 peptide at monthly intervals. No significant toxicity was observed. Of the 25 patients who received the complete treatment, 7 displayed significant tumor regressions. All but one of these regressions involved cutaneous metastases. Three regressions were complete and 2 of these led to a disease‐free state, which persisted for more than 2 years after the beginning of treatment. No evidence for a cytolytic T lymphocyte (CTL) response was found in the blood of the 4 patients who were analyzed, including 2 who displayed complete tumor regression. Our results suggest that injection of the MAGE‐3.A1 peptide induced tumor regression in a significant number of the patients, even though no massive CTL response was produced. Int. J. Cancer 80:219–230, 1999. © 1999 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Testing the impact of parameter tuning on a variant of IPOP-CMA-ES with a bounded maximum population size on the noiseless BBOB testbed

In this paper, we experimentally explore the influence tuned parameter settings have on an IPOP-CMA-ES variant that uses a maximum bound on the population size. We followed our earlier work, where we exposed seven parameters that control parameters of IPOP-CMA-ES, and tune them by applying irace, an automatic algorithm configuration tool. A comparison of the tuned to the default settings on the BBOB benchmark shows that for difficult problems such as multi-modal functions with weak global structure, the tuned parameter settings can result in significant improvements over the default settings.
Predictors and correlates of suicide attempts over 5 years in 1,237 alcohol-dependent men and women.

OBJECTIVE In previous studies, factors related to a history of suicide attempts in persons with alcohol dependence have included sociodemographic variables, a more severe course of alcoholism, additional substance use disorders, and psychiatric comorbidity. This 5-year prospective study evaluated attributes associated with suicide attempts in a group of treatment-seeking persons with alcohol dependence. Psychiatric comorbidity was examined in terms of a distinction between substance-induced and independent psychiatric disorders. METHOD Semistructured interviews were conducted with 1,237 alcohol-dependent subjects from the Collaborative Study on the Genetics of Alcoholism both at an initial evaluation and at a 5-year follow-up. Clinically relevant information was gathered at baseline, and suicidal behavior, aspects of alcohol dependence, and drug use were evaluated at the follow-up interview. RESULTS Alcohol-dependent subjects (N=56) with suicide attempts during the follow-up period were more likely than subjects with no suicide attempts (N=1,181) to have made prior attempts. Other factors related to future suicide attempts in univariate analyses included younger age, being separated or divorced, other drug dependence, substance-induced psychiatric disorders, and indicators of a more severe course of alcoholism. Gender did not predict future attempts. CONCLUSIONS A 5-year prospective evaluation of attributes associated with suicide attempts among alcohol-dependent persons identified factors that contributed to a small but significant proportion of the variance for future suicidal behavior.
A functional role for semaphorin 4D/plexin B1 interactions in epithelial branching morphogenesis during organogenesis

Semaphorins and their receptors, plexins, carry out important functions during development and disease. In contrast to the well-characterized plexin A family, however, very little is known about the functional relevance of B-type plexins in organogenesis, particularly outside the nervous system. Here, we demonstrate that plexin B1 and its ligand Sema4d are selectively expressed in epithelial and mesenchymal compartments during key steps in the genesis of some organs. This selective expression suggests a role in epithelial-mesenchymal interactions. Importantly, using the developing metanephros as a model system, we have observed that endogenously expressed and exogenously supplemented Sema4d inhibits branching morphogenesis during early stages of development of the ureteric collecting duct system. Our results further suggest that the RhoA-ROCK pathway, which is activated downstream of plexin B1, mediates these inhibitory morphogenetic effects of Sema4d and suppresses branch-promoting signalling effectors of the plexin B1 signalling complex. Finally, mice that lack plexin B1 show early anomalies in kidney development in vivo. These results identify a novel function for plexin B1 as a negative regulator of branching morphogenesis during kidney development, and suggest that the Sema4d-plexin B1 ligand-receptor pair contributes to epithelial-mesenchymal interactions during organogenesis via modulation of RhoA signalling.
Lobar Distribution of Changes in Gray Matter and White Matter in Memory Clinic Patients: Detected Using Magnetization Transfer Imaging

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Previous studies have shown involvement of both gray matter (GM) and white matter (WM) in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer disease (AD). In this study, we assessed the lobar distribution of the GM and WM pathology over the brain and the association of lobar distribution with global cognitive decline. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty-five patients with AD, 19 patients with MCI, and 43 subjects with normal cognitive function participated in this study. GM and WM were segmented on dual fast spin-echo and fluid-attenuated inversion recovery MR images. A custom template representing anatomic areas was applied. Magnetization transfer imaging (MTI) peak height and mean magnetization transfer ratio (MTR) provided measures for structural brain damage. RESULTS: Both mean MTR and MTI peak height showed that patients with AD had more structural brain damage in the GM of all lobes compared with controls. Patients with MCI had lower GM peak height compared with controls for the temporal and frontal lobe. WM peak height was lower for all lobes investigated for patients with both AD and MCI. WM mean MTR was lower in the frontal, parietal, and temporal lobes for patients with AD compared with controls. Age and both temporal GM peak height and mean MTR were the only parameters that predicted cognition. CONCLUSION: This study shows that in addition to more focal GM MTI changes in the temporal and frontal lobes, widespread WM changes are present in the earliest stages of AD. This might point to an important role for WM pathology in the earliest stage of AD.
Statistics of PMD in recirculating loops

The statistical distribution of polarization-mode dispersion in a recirculating loop is investigated. Numerical simulations are performed in both Jones and Stokes space and are verified by experiments. The probability distribution of the differential group delay (DGD) is obtained numerically, theoretically, and experimentally. As the number of circulations increase, the probability density function of the DGD approaches a uniform distribution.
Variables related to the acquisition of a gay identity.

The research reported here examines variables that relate to the speed at which gay identities are acquired. Age cohort, high school heterosexual activity involving more than kissing, and high school homosexual activity involving more than kissing were found to relate to the ages at which a sample of homosexual males suspected they might be homosexual, labeled their feelings as homosexual, defined themselves as homosexual, started to socialize with members of the gay community, and initiated their first love relationship with other males.
The Concept of Majorization in Experimental Designs

The information of interest is contained in the variance matrix, σ − = 2 1 V Q , or equivalently in the information matrix Q . The problem of finding estimators minimizing a decreasing convex functional of the variance matrix or maximizing an increasing concave functional of the information matrix is crucial in statistics. There are several optimality criteria in bibliography. We explain how the concept of Majorization can be used to investigate optimal experimental designs.
Multistep Ion Channel Remodeling and Lethal Arrhythmia Precede Heart Failure in a Mouse Model of Inherited Dilated Cardiomyopathy

Background Patients with inherited dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) frequently die with severe heart failure (HF) or die suddenly with arrhythmias, although these symptoms are not always observed at birth. It remains unclear how and when HF and arrhythmogenic changes develop in these DCM mutation carriers. In order to address this issue, properties of the myocardium and underlying gene expressions were studied using a knock-in mouse model of human inherited DCM caused by a deletion mutation ΔK210 in cardiac troponinT. Methodology/Principal Findings By 1 month, DCM mice had already enlarged hearts, but showed no symptoms of HF and a much lower mortality than at 2 months or later. At around 2 months, some would die suddenly with no clear symptoms of HF, whereas at 3 months, many of the survivors showed evident symptoms of HF. In isolated left ventricular myocardium (LV) from 2 month-mice, spontaneous activity frequently occurred and action potential duration (APD) was prolonged. Transient outward (Ito) and ultrarapid delayed rectifier K+ (IKur) currents were significantly reduced in DCM myocytes. Correspondingly, down-regulation of Kv4.2, Kv1.5 and KChIP2 was evident in mRNA and protein levels. In LVs at 3-months, more frequent spontaneous activity, greater prolongation of APD and further down-regulation in above K+ channels were observed. At 1 month, in contrast, infrequent spontaneous activity and down-regulation of Kv4.2, but not Kv1.5 or KChIP2, were observed. Conclusions/Significance Our results suggest that at least three steps of electrical remodeling occur in the hearts of DCM model mice, and that the combined down-regulation of Kv4.2, Kv1.5 and KChIP2 prior to the onset of HF may play an important role in the premature sudden death in this DCM model. DCM mice at 1 month or before, on the contrary, are associated with low risk of death in spite of inborn disorder and enlarged heart.
Nondisclosure during psychotherapy supervision: Validation of the German version of the Supervisory Questionnaire (SQ)

Abstract Nondisclosure is considered to be a central obstacle to effective psychotherapy supervision. The aim of the current study was the validation of the German version of the Supervisory Questionnaire (SQ; Yourman & Farber, 1996), a short measure for the assessment of supervisee nondisclosure. The investigation was based on a sample of 589 supervisees. Confirmatory factor analyses suggested a two-factor model of the SQ which included one factor describing nondisclosure regarding the patient (α=.74) and another describing nondisclosure regarding the supervisor (α=.71). The SQ demonstrated satisfactory convergent and discriminant validity. Additionally assessed supervisee characteristics accounted for 16% of the variance in nondisclosure. These results provide general support for the reliability and validity of the SQ in a large sample of supervisees.
Information bounds for Cox regression models with missing data

We derive information bounds for the regression parameters in Cox models when data are missing at random. These calculations are of interest for understanding the behavior of efficient estimation in case-cohort designs, a type of two-phase design often used in cohort studies. The derivations make use of key lemmas appearing in Robins, Rotnitzky and Zhao [J. Amer. Statist. Assoc. 89 (1994) 846-866] and Robins, Hsieh and Newey [J. Roy. Statist. Soc. Ser. B 57 (1995) 409-424], but in a form suited for our purposes here. We begin by summarizing the results of Robins, Rotnitzky and Zhao in a form that leads directly to the projection method which will be of use for our model of interest. We then proceed to derive new information bounds for the regression parameters of the Cox model with data Missing At Random (MAR). In the final section we exemplify our calculations with several models of interest in cohort studies, including an i.i. d. version of the classical case-cohort design of Prentice [Biometrika 73 (1986) 1-11] and Self and Prentice [Ann. Statist. 16 (1988) 64-81].
Flow structure and modeling issues in the closure region of attached cavitation

Particle image velocimetry (PIV) and high-speed photography are used to measure the flow structure at the closure region and downstream of sheet cavitation. The experiments are performed in a water tunnel of cross section 6.35×5.08 cm2 whose test area contains transparent nozzles with a prescribed pressure distribution. This study presents data on instantaneous and averaged velocity, vorticity and turbulence when the ambient pressure is reduced slightly below the cavitation inception level. The results demonstrate that the collapse of the vapor cavities in the closure region is the primary mechanism of vorticity production. When the cavity is thin there is no reverse flow downstream and below the cavitation, i.e., a reentrant flow does not occur. Instead, the cavities collapse as the vapor condenses, creating in the process hairpin-like vortices with microscopic bubbles in their cores. These hairpin vortices, some of which have sizes as much as three times the height of the stable cavity, dominate the flo.
Red ginseng for treating erectile dysfunction: a systematic review.

AIMS Korean red ginseng (unskinned Panax ginseng before it is steamed or otherwise heated and subsequently dried) is one of the most widely used herbal remedies. This systematic review evaluates the current evidence for the effectiveness of red ginseng for treating erectile dysfunction. METHODS Systematic searches were conducted on 20 electronic databases without language restrictions. Hand-searches included conference proceedings and our files. All randomized clinical studies (RCT) of red ginseng as a treatment of erectile dysfunction were considered for inclusion. Methodological quality was assessed using the Jadad score. RESULTS Seven RCTs met all the inclusion criteria. Their methodological quality was low on average. Six of the included RCTs compared the therapeutic efficacy of red ginseng with placebo. The meta-analysis of these data showed a significant effect (n = 349, risk ratio, 2.40; 95% CI of 1.65, 3.51, p < 0.00001, heterogeneity: tau(2) = 0.05, chi(2) = 6.42, p = 0.27, I(2) = 22%). Subgroup analyses also showed beneficial effects of red ginseng in psychogenic erectile dysfunction (n = 135, risk ratio, 2.05; 95% CI of 1.33, 3.16, p = 0.001, heterogeneity: chi(2) = 0.08, p = 0.96, I(2) = 0%). CONCLUSIONS Collectively these RCTs provide suggestive evidence for the effectiveness of red ginseng in the treatment of erectile dysfunction. However, the total number of RCTs included in the analysis, the total sample size and the methodological quality of the primary studies were too low to draw definitive conclusions. Thus more rigorous studies are necessary.
Stellar diameters and temperatures - VI. High angular resolution measurements of the transiting exoplanet host stars HD 189733 and HD 209458 and implications for models of cool dwarfs

We present direct radii measurements of the well-known transiting exoplanet host stars HD 189733 and HD 209458 using the CHARA Array interferometer. We find the limbdarkened angular diameters to be θLD = 0.3848 ± 0.0055 and 0.2254 ± 0.0072 mas for HD 189733 and HD 209458, respectively. HD 189733 and HD 209458 are currently the only two transiting exoplanet systems where detection of the respective planetary companion’s orbital motion from high-resolution spectroscopy has revealed absolute masses for both star and planet. We use our new measurements together with the orbital information from radial velocity and photometric time series data, Hipparcos distances, and newly measured bolometric fluxes to determine the stellar effective temperatures (Teff = 4875 ± 43, 6092 ± 103K), stellar linearradii(R∗ =0.805 ±0.016,1.203 ±0.061R� ),meanstellardensities(ρ∗ =1.62 ±0.11, 0.58 ± 0.14 ρ� ), planetary radii (Rp = 1.216 ± 0.024, 1.451 ± 0.074 RJup), and mean planetary densities (ρp = 0.605 ± 0.029, 0.196 ± 0.033 ρJup) for HD 189733b and HD 209458b, respectively. The stellar parameters for HD 209458, an F9 dwarf, are consistent with indirect estimates derived from spectroscopic and evolutionary modelling. However, we find that models are unable to reproduce the observational results for the K2 dwarf, HD 189733. We show that, for stellar evolutionary models to match the observed stellar properties of HD 189733, adjustments lowering the solar-calibrated mixing-length parameter to αMLT =1.34 need to be
Traditional and emerging indicators of cardiovascular risk in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

With the increased cardiovascular (CV) morbidity and mortality in subjects with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), there is a priority to identify those patients at increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Stable patients with COPD (n = 185) and controls with a smoking history (n = 106) underwent aortic pulse wave velocity (PWV), blood pressure (BP) and skin autofluorescence (AF) at clinical stability. Blood was sent for fasting lipids, soluble receptor for advanced glycation end products (sRAGE) and CV risk prediction scores were calculated. More patients (18%) had a self-reported history of CV disease than controls (8%), p = 0.02, whilst diabetes was similar (14% and 10%), p = 0.44. Mean (SD) skin AF was greater in patients: 3.1 (0.5) AU than controls 2.8 (0.6) AU, p < 0.001. Aortic PWV was greater in patients: 10.2 (2.3) m/s than controls: 9.6 (2.0) m/s, p = 0.02 despite similar BP. The CV risk prediction scores did not differentiate between patients and controls nor were the individual components of the scores different. The sRAGE levels were not statistically different. We present different indicators of CV risk alongside each other in well-defined subjects with and without COPD. Two non-invasive biomarkers associated with future CV burden: skin AF and aortic PWV are both significantly greater in patients with COPD compared to the controls. The traditional CV prediction scores used in the general population were not statistically different. We provide new data to suggest that alternative approaches for optimal CV risk detection should be employed in COPD management.