Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Distributed and Dynamic Neural Encoding of Multiple Motion Directions of Transparently Moving Stimuli in Cortical Area MT

Segmenting visual scenes into distinct objects and surfaces is a fundamental visual function. To better understand the underlying neural mechanism, we investigated how neurons in the middle temporal cortex (MT) of macaque monkeys represent overlapping random-dot stimuli moving transparently in slightly different directions. It has been shown that the neuronal response elicited by two stimuli approximately follows the average of the responses elicited by the constituent stimulus components presented alone. In this scheme of response pooling, the ability to segment two simultaneously presented motion directions is limited by the width of the tuning curve to motion in a single direction. We found that, although the population-averaged neuronal tuning showed response averaging, subgroups of neurons showed distinct patterns of response tuning and were capable of representing component directions that were separated by a small angle—less than the tuning width to unidirectional stimuli. One group of neurons preferentially represented the component direction at a specific side of the bidirectional stimuli, weighting one stimulus component more strongly than the other. Another group of neurons pooled the component responses nonlinearly and showed two separate peaks in their tuning curves even when the average of the component responses was unimodal. We also show for the first time that the direction tuning of MT neurons evolved from initially representing the vector-averaged direction of slightly different stimuli to gradually representing the component directions. Our results reveal important neural processes underlying image segmentation and suggest that information about slightly different stimulus components is computed dynamically and distributed across neurons. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Natural scenes often contain multiple entities. The ability to segment visual scenes into distinct objects and surfaces is fundamental to sensory processing and is crucial for generating the perception of our environment. Because cortical neurons are broadly tuned to a given visual feature, segmenting two stimuli that differ only slightly is a challenge for the visual system. In this study, we discovered that many neurons in the visual cortex are capable of representing individual components of slightly different stimuli by selectively and nonlinearly pooling the responses elicited by the stimulus components. We also show for the first time that the neural representation of individual stimulus components developed over a period of ∼70–100 ms, revealing a dynamic process of image segmentation.
Hormonal and Inflammatory Responses to Different Types of Sprint Interval Training

Meckel, Y, Nemet, D, Bar-Sela, S, Radom-Aizik, S, Cooper, DM, Sagiv, M, and Eliakim, A. Hormonal and inflammatory responses to different types of sprint interval training. J Strength Cond Res 25(8): 2161-2169, 2011—We evaluated the effect of different types of sprint interval sessions on the balance between anabolic and catabolic hormones and circulating inflammatory cytokines. Twelve healthy elite junior handball players (17-25 years) participated in the study. Exercise consisted of increasing distance (100 m, 200 m, 300 m, 400 m) and decreasing distance (400 m, 300 m, 200 m, 100 m) sprint interval runs on a treadmill (at random order), at a constant work rate of 80% of the personal maximal speed (calculated from the maximal speed of a 100 m run). The total rest period between the runs in the different interval sessions were similar. Blood samples were collected before, after each run, and after 1-hour recovery. Both types of sprint interval trainings led to a significant (p < 0.05) increase in lactate and the anabolic factors growth hormone, insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I), IGF binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3), and testosterone levels. Both types of sprint interval sessions led to a significant (p < 0.05) increase in the circulating pro- and anti-inflammatory mediators IL-1, IL-6, and IL1ra. IL-6 remained elevated in both sessions after 1-hour recovery. Area under the curve was significantly greater (p < 0.05) for lactate and growth hormone (GH) in the decreasing distance session. In contrast, rate of perceived exertion was higher in the increasing distance session, but this difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.07). Changes in anabolic-catabolic hormones and inflammatory mediators can be used to gauge the training intensity of anaerobic-type exercise. Changes in the GH-IGF-I axis and testosterone level suggest exercise-related anabolic adaptations. Increases in inflammatory mediators may indicate their important role in muscle tissue repair after anaerobic exercise. The decreasing distance interval was associated with a greater metabolic (lactate) and anabolic (GH) response but not with a higher rate of perceived exertion. Coaches and athletes should be aware of these differences, and as a result, of a need for specific recovery adaptations after different interval training protocols.
Image Restoration Using Convolutional Auto-encoders with Symmetric Skip Connections

Image restoration, including image denoising, super resolution, inpainting, and so on, is a well-studied problem in computer vision and image processing, as well as a test bed for low-level image modeling algorithms. In this work, we propose a very deep fully convolutional auto-encoder network for image restoration, which is a encoding-decoding framework with symmetric convolutional-deconvolutional layers. In other words, the network is composed of multiple layers of convolution and de-convolution operators, learning end-to-end mappings from corrupted images to the original ones. The convolutional layers capture the abstraction of image contents while eliminating corruptions. Deconvolutional layers have the capability to upsample the feature maps and recover the image details. To deal with the problem that deeper networks tend to be more difficult to train, we propose to symmetrically link convolutional and deconvolutional layers with skip-layer connections, with which the training converges much faster and attains better results.
IL‐15 dependent induction of IL‐18 secretion as a feedback mechanism controlling human MAIT‐cell effector functions

Mucosal‐associated invariant T (MAIT) cells are characterized by an invariant TCRVα7. 2 chain recognizing microbial vitamin B metabolites presented by the MHC‐Ib molecule MR1. They are mainly detectable in the CD8+ and CD8−CD4− “double negative” T‐cell compartments of mammals and exhibit both Th1‐ and Th17‐associated features. As MAIT cells show a tissue‐homing phenotype and operate at mucosal surfaces with myriads of pathogenic encounters, we wondered how IL‐15, a multifaceted cytokine being part of the intestinal mucosal barrier, impacts on their functions. We demonstrate that in the absence of TCR cross‐linking, human MAIT cells secrete IFN‐γ, increase perforin expression and switch on granzyme B production in response to IL‐15. As this mechanism was dependent on the presence of CD14+ cells and sensitive to IL‐18 blockade, we identified IL‐15 induced IL‐18 production by monocytes as an inflammatory, STAT5‐dependent feedback mechanism predominantly activating the MAIT‐cell population. IL‐15 equally affects TCR‐mediated MAIT‐cell functions since it dramatically amplifies bacteria‐induced IFN‐γ secretion, granzyme production, and cytolytic activity at early time points, an effect being most pronounced under suboptimal TCR stimulation conditions. Our data reveal a new quality of IL‐15 as player in an inflammatory cytokine network impacting on multiple MAIT‐cell functions.
Factors underlying genotypic differences in the induction of photosynthesis in soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr].

Crop leaves are subject to continually changing light levels in the field. Photosynthetic efficiency of a crop canopy and productivity will depend significantly on how quickly a leaf can acclimate to a change. One measure of speed of response is the rate of photosynthesis increase toward its steady state on transition from low to high light. This rate was measured for seven genotypes of soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr. ]. After 10 min of illumination, cultivar 'UA4805' (UA) had achieved a leaf photosynthetic rate (Pn ) of 23.2 μmol · m(-2) · s(-1) , close to its steady-state rate, while the slowest cultivar 'Tachinagaha' (Tc) had only reached 13.0 μmol · m(-2) · s(-1) and was still many minutes from obtaining steady state. This difference was further investigated by examining induction at a range of carbon dioxide concentrations. Applying a biochemical model of limitations to photosynthesis to the responses of Pn to intercellular CO2 concentration (Ci ), it was found that the speed of apparent in vivo activation of ribulose-1:5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco) was responsible for this difference. Sequence analysis of the Rubisco activase gene revealed single nucleotide polymorphisms that could relate to this difference. The results show a potential route for selection of cultivars with increased photosynthetic efficiency in fluctuating light.
Risk of venous thromboembolism with the angiogenesis inhibitor bevacizumab in cancer patients: a meta-analysis.

CONTEXT Venous thromboembolism is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in patients with cancer. Concerns have arisen regarding the risk of venous thromboembolism with the novel antiangiogenic agent bevacizumab, a recombinant humanized monoclonal antibody to vascular endothelial growth factor that is widely used in cancer treatment. Currently, the role of bevacizumab in venous thromboembolism is controversial. OBJECTIVE To assess the overall risk of venous thromboembolism associated with the use of bevacizumab, a systematic review and meta-analysis of published randomized controlled trials was performed. DATA SOURCES The databases of PubMed and Web of Science were searched for articles published in the English language from January 1966 until January 2008 and abstracts presented at American Society of Clinical Oncology conferences held between January 2000 and January 2008 were searched to identify relevant clinical trials. STUDY SELECTION AND DATA EXTRACTION Eligible studies included prospective randomized controlled trials in which standard antineoplastic therapy was used with and without bevacizumab and data on venous thromboembolism were available. Summary incidence rates, relative risks (RRs), and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using random-effects or fixed-effects models based on the heterogeneity of included studies. DATA SYNTHESIS A total of 7956 patients with a variety of advanced solid tumors from 15 randomized controlled trials were identified and included for analysis. Among those patients receiving bevacizumab, the summary incidences of all-grade and high-grade venous thromboembolism were 11.9% (95% CI, 6.8%-19.9%) and 6.3% (95% CI, 4.8%-8.3%), respectively. Patients treated with bevacizumab had a significantly increased risk of venous thromboembolism with an RR of 1.33 (95% CI, 1.13-1.56; P < .001) compared with controls. The risk was significantly increased for both all-grade and high-grade venous thromboembolism. In addition, the risk was similarly increased for bevacizumab at 2.5 mg/kg per week (low dose; RR, 1.31 [95% CI, 1.08-1.60]; P = .007) and 5 mg/kg per week (high dose; RR, 1.31 [95% CI, 1.02-1.68]; P = .04). CONCLUSION The use of bevacizumab was significantly associated with an increased risk of developing venous thromboembolism in cancer patients receiving this drug.
Determination of the proof strength and flow properties of materials from spherical indentation tests: An analytical approach based on the expanding cavity model

An analytical method based on the extended expanding cavity model was proposed in this study to determine the proof strength Rp0.2 and flow properties of materials that obey the Johnson–Cook constitutive model from spherical indentation tests. The introduction of the Johnson–Cook model made the proposed method suitable for the tensile property evaluation of materials not only at room temperature but also at elevated temperatures. The validity of the expanding cavity model was verified through comparisons of von Mises equivalent strain distributions obtained from finite element analyses with the corresponding results from theoretical analysis. From the parameter analysis, it was found that the indentation governing parameter ψempirical in the empirical method was actually determined by the tangential modulus Ep and the hardening exponent n and thus should not be considered as a constant. We also analyzed the unreliability of previous plastic zone radius rp calculation method at large indentation depths (with obvious pileup phenomenon) and put forward a new calculation method of rp based on the force balance. Finite element calculations of spherical indentation tests with tensile properties of Ti6Al4V and AISI 4340 were conducted in this study as substitutes for spherical indentation tests. The load–depth data and rp from finite element calculations were employed in the reverse analysis, the results of which showed that spherical indentation tests can provide the same reliable Rp0.2 as tensile tests and even the whole stress–strain curves. Furthermore, the influence of friction and the measuring system strain threshold in the measurement of rp, which may be inevitable in experiments, were also thoroughly discussed in this study, which also helped to verify the robustness of this study.
A QSR-dissipativity and passivity based analysis of event-triggered networked control systems

In this paper, we show that dissipativity and passivity based control combined with event-triggered networked control systems (NCS) provide a powerful platform for designing cyber-physical systems (CPS). We propose QSR-dissipativity, passivity and finite-gain L2-stability conditions for an event-triggered NCS in cases where an input-output event-triggering sampler condition is located on the plant's output side, controller's output side, or both sides leading to a considerable decrease in communication load amongst sub-units in NCS. We show that the passivity and stability conditions depend on passivity levels for the plant and controller. Our results also illustrate the trade-off among passivity levels, stable performance, and system's dependence on the rate of communication between the plant and controller.
Contribution of a Trunk Accelerometer System to the Characterization of Gait in Patients With Mild-to-Moderate Parkinson's Disease

Objective: Gait disturbances like shuffling and short steps are obvious at visual observation in patients with advanced Parkinson's disease (PD). However, quantitative methods are increasingly used to evaluate the wide range of gait abnormalities that may occur over the disease course. The goal of this study was to test the ability of a trunk accelerometer system to quantify the effects of PD on several gait features when walking at self-selected speed. Methods: We recruited 96 subjects split into three age-matched groups: 32 healthy controls (HC), 32 PD patients at Hoehn and Yahr stage <; II (PD-1), and 32 patients at Hoehn and Yahr stage II-III (PD-2). The following outcomes were extracted from the signals of the triaxial accelerometer worn on the lower back: stride length, cadence, regularity index, symmetry index, and mechanical powers yielded in the cranial-caudal, anteroposterior, and medial-lateral directions. Walking speed was measured using a stopwatch. Results: Besides other gait features, the PD-1 and the PD-2 groups showed significantly reduced stride length normalized to height (p <; 0.02) and symmetry index (p <; 0.009) in comparison to the HC. Regularity index was the only feature significantly decreased in the PD-2 group as compared with the two other groups (p <; 0.01). The clinical relevance of this finding was supported by significant correlations with mobility and gait scales (r is around -0.3; p <; 0.05). Conclusion: Gait quantified by a trunk accelerometer may provide clinically useful information for the screening and follow-up of PD patients.
The effect of a booster dose of quadrivalent or bivalent HPV vaccine when administered to girls previously vaccinated with two doses of quadrivalent HPV vaccine

This randomized, blinded study evaluated the immunogenicity and safety of a booster dose of Gardasil (qHPV) or Cervarix (bHPV) when administered to 12–13 year-old girls who were vaccinated at the age of 9–10 with 2 doses of qHPV (0–6 months). 366 out of 416 eligible girls participated in this follow-up study. Antibody titers were measured just before and one month post-booster. A Luminex Total IgG assay was used for antibody assessment and results are presented in Liminex Units (LU). Three years post-primary vaccination, 99–100% of subjects had detectable antibodies to 4HPV genotypes included in the qHPV with GMTs varying from 50 to 322 LU depending on genotype. After a booster dose of qHPV, a ≥4 fold increase of antibody titers to genotypes included in the vaccine was observed in 88–98% of subjects. Post-booster GMTs varied from 1666 to 4536 LU depending on genotype. These GMTs were 1.1 to 1.8-fold higher when compared to those observed one month post-second dose. After a booster of bHPV, a ≥4 fold increase of antibody titers to HPV16 and HPV18 was observed in 93–99% of subjects. The anti-HPV16 and HPV18 GMTs were 5458 and 2665 LU, respectively. These GMTs were 1.2 and 1.8 higher than those observed in the qHPV group (both P < 0.01). In bHPV group a 1.4–1.6-fold increase of antibody GMTs to HPV6 and HPV11was also observed (P < 0.001). The safety profile was acceptable for both vaccines. Both qHPV and bHPV increase antibody titers when given as a booster to girls previously vaccinated with 2 doses of qHPV. The magnitude of the immune response after booster is vaccine-dependent and has the same pattern as that reported after primary vaccination with qHPV or bHPV. When given as a booster, both vaccines have an acceptable safety profile. Longer follow-up studies are warranted to assess the need of booster doses.
Microsensor studies on Padina from a natural CO2 seep: implications of morphology on acclimation to low pH

Low seawater pH can be harmful to many calcifying marine organisms, but the calcifying macroalgae Padina spp. flourish at natural submarine carbon dioxide seeps where seawater pH is low. We show that the microenvironment created by the rolled thallus margin of Padina australis facilitates supersaturation of CaCO3 and calcifi‐cation via photosynthesis‐induced elevated pH. Using microsensors to investigate oxygen and pH dynamics in the microenvironment of P. australis at a shallow CO2 seep, we found that, under saturating light, the pH inside the microenvironment (pHME) was higher than the external seawater (pHSW) at all pHSW levels investigated, and the difference (i.e., pHME − pHSW) increased with decreasing pHSW (0.9 units at pHSW 7.0). Gross photosynthesis (Pg) inside the microenvironment increased with decreasing pHSW, but algae from the control site reached a threshold at pH 6.5. Seep algae showed no pH threshold with respect to Pg within the pHSW range investigated. The external carbonic anhydrase (CA) inhibitor, acetazolamide, strongly inhibited Pg of P. australis at pHSW 8.2, but the effect was diminished under low pHSW (6.4–7.5), suggesting a greater dependence on membrane‐bound CA for the dehydration of HCO3− ions during dissolved inorganic carbon uptake at the higher pHSW. In comparison, a calcifying green alga, Halimeda cuneata f. digitata, was not inhibited by AZ, suggesting efficient bicarbonate transport. The ability of P. australis to elevate pHME at the site of calcification and its strong dependence on CA may explain why it can thrive at low pHSW.
Belief Propagation and Beyond for Particle Tracking

We describe a novel approach to statistical learning from particles tracked while moving in a random environment. The problem consists in inferring properties of the environment from recorded snapshots. We consider here the case of a fluid seeded with identical passive particles that diffuse and are advected by a flow. Our approach rests on efficient algorithms to estimate the weighted number of possible matchings among particles in two consecutive snapshots, the partition function of the underlying graphical model. The partition function is then maximized over the model parameters, namely diffusivity and velocity gradient. A Belief Propagation (BP) scheme is the backbone of our algorithm, providing accurate results for the flow parameters we want to learn. The BP estimate is additionally improved by incorporating Loop Series (LS) contributions. For the weighted matching problem, LS is compactly expressed as a Cauchy integral, accurately estimated by a saddle point approximation. Numerical experiments show that the quality of our improved BP algorithm is comparable to the one of a fully polynomial randomized approximation scheme, based on the Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) method, while the BP-based scheme is substantially faster than the MCMC scheme.
Photoinduced Anisotropy of IWK-2D Azobenzene Molecular Glassy Films

We have experimentally studied photoinduced anisotropy (PA) of holographic gratings in IWK-2D [precise chemical notation: 2-(3-(4-((4-(bis (2-(trityloxy) ethyl) amino) phenyl) diazenyl) styryl)-5,5-dimethylcyclohex-2-enylidene) malononitrile] azobenzene molecular glassy films in transmission and reflection modes using a special simultaneous holographic recording and readout setups which enabled measurements of PA time evolution. PA manifested itself by diffraction efficiency difference with linear s- and p-polarizations. Three different types of polarization holographic gratings were recorded and studied using p-p, L-L and L-R polarized beams creating different recording interference patterns. Atomic force microscope (AFM) was used to study the surface profile changes. Experimental evidence was obtained that the transmission mode PA was due to the both recorded surface relief and volume polarization gratings whereas the reflection mode PA was due to the recorded surface relief gratings. The main PA features were similar for all three types of polarization gratings whereas details were different. PA properties of IWK-2D films were notably distinctive from those of previously studied films.
Interleaved T1 and T2 relaxation time mapping for cardiac applications

To diagnose acute myocardial infarction (MI) with MRI, T1‐weighted and T2‐weighted images are required to detect necrosis and edema. The calculation of both T1 and T2 maps can be relevant for quantitative diagnosis. In this work, we present a simultaneous quantification of T1‐T2 relaxation times of a short‐axis view of the heart in a single scan.
Visible-Light-Driven Water Oxidation by a Molecular Manganese Vanadium Oxide Cluster.

Photosynthetic water oxidation in plants occurs at an inorganic calcium manganese oxo cluster, which is known as the oxygen evolving complex (OEC), in photosystem II. Herein, we report a synthetic OEC model based on a molecular manganese vanadium oxide cluster, [Mn4 V4 O17 (OAc)3 ](3-) . The compound is based on a [Mn4 O4 ](6+) cubane core, which catalyzes the homogeneous, visible-light-driven oxidation of water to molecular oxygen and is stabilized by a tripodal [V4 O13 ](6-) polyoxovanadate and three acetate ligands. When combined with the photosensitizer [Ru(bpy)3 ](2+) and the oxidant persulfate, visible-light-driven water oxidation with turnover numbers of approximately 1150 and turnover frequencies of about 1.75 s(-1) is observed. Electrochemical, mass-spectrometric, and spectroscopic studies provide insight into the cluster stability and reactivity. This compound could serve as a model for the molecular structure and reactivity of the OEC and for heterogeneous metal oxide water-oxidation catalysts.