Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Dopamine-Modulated Recurrent Corticoefferent Feedback in Primary Sensory Cortex Promotes Detection of Behaviorally Relevant Stimuli

Dopaminergic neurotransmission in primary auditory cortex (AI) has been shown to be involved in learning and memory functions. Moreover, dopaminergic projections and D1/D5 receptor distributions display a layer-dependent organization, suggesting specific functions in the cortical circuitry. However, the circuit effects of dopaminergic neurotransmission in sensory cortex and their possible roles in perception, learning, and memory are largely unknown. Here, we investigated layer-specific circuit effects of dopaminergic neuromodulation using current source density (CSD) analysis in AI of Mongolian gerbils. Pharmacological stimulation of D1/D5 receptors increased auditory-evoked synaptic currents in infragranular layers, prolonging local thalamocortical input via positive feedback between infragranular output and granular input. Subsequently, dopamine promoted sustained cortical activation by prolonged recruitment of long-range corticocortical networks. A detailed circuit analysis combining layer-specific intracortical microstimulation (ICMS), CSD analysis, and pharmacological cortical silencing revealed that cross-laminar feedback enhanced by dopamine relied on a positive, fast-acting recurrent corticoefferent loop, most likely relayed via local thalamic circuits. Behavioral signal detection analysis further showed that activation of corticoefferent output by infragranular ICMS, which mimicked auditory activation under dopaminergic influence, was most effective in eliciting a behaviorally detectable signal. Our results show that D1/D5-mediated dopaminergic modulation in sensory cortex regulates positive recurrent corticoefferent feedback, which enhances states of high, persistent activity in sensory cortex evoked by behaviorally relevant stimuli. In boosting horizontal network interactions, this potentially promotes the readout of task-related information from cortical synapses and improves behavioral stimulus detection.
Targeting SUR1/Abcc8-Type Neuroendocrine KATP Channels in Pancreatic Islet Cells

ATP-sensitive K+ (KATP) channels play a regulatory role in hormone-secreting pancreatic islet α-, β- and δ-cells. Targeted channel deletion would assist analysis and dissection of the intraislet regulatory network. Toward this end Abcc8/Sur1 flox mice were generated and tested by crossing with glucagon-(GCG)-cre mice to target α-cell KATP channels selectively. Agonist resistance was used to quantify the percent of α-cells lacking channels. 41% of Sur1loxP/loxP;GCG-cre+ and ∼64% of Sur1loxP/−;GCG-cre+ α-cells lacked KATP channels, while ∼65% of α-cells expressed enhanced yellow fluorescent protein (EYFP) in ROSA-EYFP/GCG-cre matings. The results are consistent with a stochastic two-recombination event mechanism and a requirement that both floxed alleles are deleted.
Twenty-Year Experience in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Infective Endocarditis

Aims The aim of this study was to compare the etiology, clinical course, selected diagnostic methods and efficacy of the treatment used in patients with infective endocarditis (IE) in the nineteen eighties and nineties. Material and Methods The study group comprised 300 patients with infective endocarditis hospitalized in the Institute of Cardiology in Warsaw in the following years: from 1982 to 1987 (150 patients: 75 successive patients with IE on the prosthetic valve and 75 successive patients with IE on the native valve), as well as from 1990 to 2003 (150 patients: 75 successive patients with IE on the prosthetic valve and 75 successive patients with IE on the native valve). Results In the nineties, immunological symptoms, embolism formation and progressive heart failure were diagnosed decidedly more frequently. Early prosthetic valve endocarditis (PVE) (up to 60 days after operation) occurred significantly more frequently in the eighties. The quantity of negative blood cultures in PVE has not decreased, it is still observed in over 20% of cases. For 20 years the etiology of PVE has remained the same, the dominant pathogen remains Staphylococcus. The frequency of PVE caused by Streptococci has markedly reduced. In both the decades analyzed the etiology of native valve endocarditis (NVE) was similar. In the eighties Streptococcus was predominant. In successive years the number of infections caused by Staphylococci was the same as that caused by Streptococci. Conclusions The incidence of early PVE decreased in the nineties. More patients were treated surgically with lesser peri-operative mortality. A lower incidence of infective endocarditis on prosthetic valves caused by streptococci may signify better prophylaxis against infective endocarditis. Infective endocarditis with sterile blood cultures continues to occur frequently.
Estimating Forward Looking Euler Equations with Gmm Estimators: An Optimal Instuments Approach

This paper compares different methods for estimating forward-looking output and inflation Euler equations and shows that weak identification can be an issue in conventional GMM estimation. The authors propose a GMM procedure that imposes the dynamic constraints implied by the forward-looking relation on the instruments set. This "optimal instruments" procedure is more reliable than conventional GMM, and it provides a robust alternative to estimating dynamic macroeconomic relations. Empirical applications of this procedure suggest only a limited role for expectational terms.
Audiovisual translation as a tool for teaching English Language to French-speaking students in Cameroon

The process by which people acquire the capacity to perceive and comprehend language as well as to produce and use words and sentences to communicate is known as language learning. The present study aimed at assessing whether intralingual subtitling can be used to effectively improve on the learning of English language by French speaking Cameroonian students in the country. It involved exposing French speaking students to a film without subtitles over a period of two weeks during which they viewed the film six times and subsequently to the same film with English intralingual subtitles over the same period and length of time. Prior to the exercise the students underwent a diagnostic test which was aimed at evaluating their level of the English language which was an essential component in the subtitling of the film. The students then underwent pre and post tests after viewing the film without and with the subtitles respectively. Analysis of the results of these tests using statistical methods (t-test and ANOVA) showed an improvement in their language elements namely: comprehension, vocabulary, word formation, sentence structure, sound speech, meaning, and usage depending on the context. The improvement average mark increased from 9.5/20 in the pre-test to 12.0/20 in the post-test, thereby confirming the fact that students can effectively improve on language learning through the use of intralingual subtitling which can therefore be considered as an important tool of audiovisual translation. Key words: Audiovisual translation, linguistic elements, language learning, language teaching, French speaking students.
Direct Visualization of Heterogeneous Extravascular Distribution of Trastuzumab in Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Type 2 Overexpressing Xenografts

Purpose: The high molecular weight and binding affinity of trastuzumab, a monoclonal antibody in use for treatment of breast cancers overexpressing human epidermal growth factor receptor type 2 (HER2), in combination with microenvironmental factors, may limit its distribution and efficacy. We assessed and mapped the distribution of systemically given, unlabeled trastuzumab at micrometer resolution in tumor xenografts using immunohistochemistry. Experimental Design: Mice bearing MDA-435/LCC6HER2 xenografts were given single doses of 4 or 20 mg/kg unlabeled trastuzumab with tumor harvest at various time points thereafter; bound trastuzumab was imaged directly in tumor cryosections using fluorescently tagged antihuman secondary antibodies. Combinations of additional markers, including HER2, 5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine, CD31, DioC7(3), desmin, and collagen IV were also mapped on the same tumor sections. Results: Distribution of trastuzumab in MDA-435/LCC6HER2 tumors is found to be heterogeneous, with tumor margins saturating more thoroughly in doses and times analyzed. Considerable intervessel heterogeneity is also seen. For example, in unsaturated tissues, there remain perfused vessels without any trastuzumab in addition to vessels with a few layers of positively stained perivascular cells, in addition to vessels with bound drug up to 150 μm away. This heterogeneity is independent of HER2 expression, microvessel density, and perfusion. A slightly greater proportion of vessels were associated with pericytes in sections with greater trastuzumab saturation, but this would not adequately account for observed heterogeneous trastuzumab distribution. Conclusions: Complete penetration of trastuzumab in tumor tissue was not seen in our study, leaving the possibility that inadequate distribution may represent a mechanism for resistance to trastuzumab.
Iterative cage-based registration from multi-view silhouettes

Dynamic shape capture from casual videos is a fundamental task at the cross-fertilization of Computer Vision and Computer Graphics. Notwithstanding, recent advances in low-cost dynamic scanners turn the cross parametrization of non-rigid animatable surface into an ill-posed and vision-oriented problem. In this paper, we propose a cage-based technique to register non-rigid observed shapes using a meaningful, reduced and animator-friendly embedding. This subspace offers natural silhouette-awareness to encode the deformation complexity already encapsulated in the targets. The estimated time-varying parameters associated the underlying flexible structure allows potential reuse. In particular, we leverage the problem of highly non-rigid spacetime registration by employing an elastoplastic coarse cage. Thus, we perform scalable handle-aware biharmonic shape registration, relying on the high-level of shape abstraction offered by this space-based paradigm. Finally, we tested the effectiveness of our proposed solution on real-world datasets capturing time-varying multi-view silhouettes.
Study of clinical characteristics and treatment pattern of scrub typhus in tertiary care hospital

Scrub typhus is an endemic disease in many parts of India and is mainly caused by the rickettsial bacteria Orientia tsutsugamushi. It is associated with several complications and has emerged as one of the leading public health problems in recent times. This study describes the clinical profile of 200 scrub typhus positive cases admitted in a tertiary care hospital. The complete clinical profiles of the patients were collected in a suitable designed profile form. Out of 200 cases 80 were females and 120 were males. Fever was the chief complaints during the admission followed by headache, hepatosplenomegaly, abdominal pain and lymphadenopathy. Eschar was present in 75.5% of the admitted cases and was more in males (59%). Liver enzymes were elevated in almost all the patients (95%). Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS), sepsis, meningoenchephilitis, diabetes, Pneumonia, urinary tract infection, candidiasis were the most common complications observed in the study population. All cases were successfully treated with doxycycline. Report emphasizes the fact that a diagnosis of scrub typhus should be suspected when a patient presents with fever and laboratory evidence of liver dysfunction for the early detection of the disease which could help in reduce mortality.
Full Duplex Switched Ethernet for Next Generation "1553B"-Based Applications

Over the last thirty years, the MIL-STD 1553B data bus has been used in many embedded systems, like aircrafts, ships, missiles and satellites. However, the increasing number and complexity of interconnected subsystems lead to emerging needs for more communication bandwidth. Therefore, a new interconnection system is needed to overcome the limitations of the MIL-STD 1553B data bus. Among several high speed networks, full duplex switched Ethernet is put forward here as an attractive candidate to replace the MIL-STD 1553B data bus. However, the key argument against switched Ethernet lies in its non-deterministic behavior that makes it inadequate to deliver hard time-constrained communications. Hence, our primary objective in this paper is to achieve an accepted QoS level offered by switched Ethernet, to support diverse "1553B"-based applications requirements. We evaluate the performance of traffic shaping techniques on full duplex switched Ethernet with an adequate choice of service strategy in the switch, to guarantee the real-time constraints required by these specific 1553B-based applications. An analytic study is conducted, using the network calculus formalism, to evaluate the deterministic guarantees offered by our approach. Theoretical analysis are then investigated in the case of a realistic "1553B"-based application extracted from a real military aircraft network. The results herein show the ability of profiled full duplex switched Ethernet to satisfy 1553B-like real-time constraints
Decreased functional magnetic resonance imaging activity in the hippocampus in favor of the caudate nucleus in older adults tested in a virtual navigation task

The neuroimaging literature has shown consistent decreases in functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) activity in the hippocampus of healthy older adults engaged in a navigation task. However, navigation in a virtual maze relies on spatial or response strategies known to depend on the hippocampus and caudate nucleus, respectively. Therefore, since the proportion of people using spatial strategies decreases with normal aging, we hypothesized that it was responsible for the observed decreases in fMRI activity in the hippocampus reported in the literature. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of aging on the hippocampus and caudate nucleus during navigation while taking into account individual navigational strategies. Young (N = 23) and older adults (N = 29) were tested using fMRI on the Concurrent Spatial Discrimination Learning Task, a radial task that dissociates between spatial and response strategies (in Stage 2) after participants reached criteria (in Stage 1). Success on Stage 2 requires that participants have encoded the spatial relationship between the target object and environmental landmarks, that is, the spatial strategy. While older adults required more trials, all participants reached criterion. fMRI results showed that, as a group, young adults had significant activity in the hippocampus as opposed to older adults who instead had significant activity in the caudate nucleus. Importantly, individual differences showed that the older participants who used a spatial strategy to solve the task had significant activity in the hippocampus. These findings suggest that the aging process involves a shift from using the hippocampus toward the caudate nucleus during navigation but that activity in the hippocampus is sustained in a subset of healthy older adults engaged in spatial strategies. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Educational justice and educational citizenship behavior from perspective of nursing students

Background and Aim: Educational justice is the process that is paid attention by all of the persons who are involved in education and are interested in its establishment. When teachers consider educational justice in interaction with students, they will improve sense of assistance, cooperation and bound to rules between them, through creating of their self-worth. The purpose of this study is determining of the relationship between educational justice and educational- citizenship behavior from viewpoint of educating students in school of nursing and midwifery, Kerman university of Medical Sciences. Methods: This research is a descriptive-analytic study; the sample size was included of 290 students of Razi nursing and midwifery school. Educational justice and educational citizenship behavior questionnaires were used for data gathering. Data were analyzed using descriptive and analytic statistical tests (independent t-test, ANOVA, Pearson correlation coefficient) by SPSS 18 software. Ethical considerations : After presenting the research objectives, emphasizing on confidentiality, patients' oral consent to participate in research was obtained. Findings: Mean score of educational justice (86.86) was in medium level and Mean score of educational citizenship behavior (65.64±7.73) was desirable. There is a significantly positive relation between score of educational justice and educational citizenship behavior of students (P=0.01). Examining the answers to the statements of the educational justice questionnaire showed that most negative views allocated to the item "Teachers pay attention to all students equally" and most compatible views allocated to the item "online library facilities are available to all students". Examining the answers to the statements of educational citizenship behaviors questionnaire showed that most opposite views allocated to the item "I prefer the university environment, always with my friends and not with others" and most compatible views allocated to the item "I am always respectful to students and teachers in the University". Conclusion: The study findings showed a positive and significant relationship between educational justice and educational citizenship behaviors. So, it seems necessary to investigate the influencing factors on establishment of educational justice in order to planning for development of educational citizenship behavior in nursing student based on need assessment. Please cite this article as: Afrazandeh SS, Mirzaei T, Pouraboli B, Sabzevari S. Educational justice and educational citizenship behavior from perspective of nursing students. Med Ethics J 2016; 10(35): 117-140.
Enabling UAV cellular with millimeter-wave communication: potentials and approaches

To support high data rate urgent or ad hoc communications, we consider mmWave UAV cellular networks and the associated challenges and solutions. To enable fast beamforming training and tracking, we first investigate a hierarchical structure of beamforming codebooks and design of hierarchical codebooks with different beam widths via sub-array techniques. We next examine the Doppler effect as a result of UAV movement and find that the Doppler effect may not be catastrophic when high gain directional transmission is used. We further explore the use of mmWave spatial-division multiple access and demonstrate its clear advantage in improving the cellular network capacity. We also explore different ways of dealing with signal blockage and point out that possible adaptive UAV cruising algorithms would be necessary to counteract signal blockage. Finally, we identify a close relationship between UAV positioning and directional mmWave user discovery, where update of the former may directly impact the latter and vice versa.
Primary adenoid cystic carcinoma of the lung: Clinicopathological features, treatment and results

Adenoid cystic carcinoma of the lung (ACCL) is a rare salivary gland-type malignant neoplasm that occurs infrequently as a primary tumor of the airway. Owing to its low incidence, the clinicopathological features, immunohistochemical expression spectrum, treatment and long-term survival have not been fully elucidated. The present study retrospectively assessed the clinical features, immunohistochemical characters, treatment strategy and long-term survival of 34 patients diagnosed with ACCL at the Beijing Chest Hospital, Capital Medical University (Beijing, China) between January 1993 and June 2014. ACCL tended to occur in younger patients, with an approximate male/female ratio of 1:1. The majority of ACCL arose from the central airway. Positive immunochemical staining was found in wide-spectrum keratin (n=17), cytokeratin (CK)7 (n=11), p63 (11/12), S-100 (7/8), vimentin (10/12) and smooth muscle actin (6/9). No staining of thyroid transcription factor-1 (0/14), synaptophysin (0/7), cluster of differentiation 56 (0/7), CK20 (0/4) or chromogranin A (0/4) was observed. In the operable group (n=26), the addition of adjuvant radiotherapy to a positive margin resection (R1 resection) obtained long-term survival times equivalent to that found in patients with a negative margin resection (R0 resection). No significant survival benefit from post-operative radiotherapy was observed in the R0 resection group. For advanced cases, palliative radiotherapy and chemotherapy did not work efficiently. In addition, epidermal growth factor receptor mutation was a rare event in the ACCL patients. The results indicated that surgical resection is the optimal management for ACCL whenever feasible. Adjuvant radiotherapy with R1 resection is able to obtain long-term survival times comparable with those found using an R0 resection. The recommendation of post-operative radiotherapy for all patients with ACCL undergoing resection appears controversial. Owing to a poor response to radiotherapy and chemotherapy, more focus should be placed on the study of advanced ACCL in order to improve overall survival.
Active Pose SLAM

We present an active exploration strategy that complements Pose SLAM [1] and optimal navigation in Pose SLAM [2]. The method evaluates the utility of exploratory and place revisiting sequences and chooses the one that minimizes overall map and path entropies. The technique considers trajectories of similar path length taking marginal pose uncertainties into account. An advantage of the proposed strategy with respect to competing approaches is that to evaluate information gain over the map, only a very coarse prior map estimate needs to be computed. Its coarseness is independent and does not jeopardize the Pose SLAM estimate. Moreover, a replanning scheme is devised to detect significant localization improvement during path execution. The approach is tested in simulations in a common publicly available dataset comparing favorably against frontier based exploration.
Long-term working memory deficits after concussion: Electrophysiological evidence

Abstract Background: Persistent complaints of lingering memory and concentration difficulties are common following a concussion, although the brain basis of these is unknown. Some suggest abnormalities can be found on the P300 event-related potential component, recorded using electroencephalography (EEG), despite unobservable cognitive impairments. Objective: To examine the P300 and cognitive performance following a remote concussion during an n-back task that varies in working memory load. Research design: Seventeen participants with a remote concussion and 17 controls performed a visual n-back task in which working memory demands were systematically increased by manipulating cognitive load. Participants also completed neuropsychological and self-report measures. Results: The concussion group showed a decrease in P300 amplitude compared to controls that was independent of working memory load on the n-back task. While no performance differences were observed between groups, P300 amplitude was negatively correlated with response times at higher loads in both groups. Conclusion: High functioning young adults with a remote concussion may have inefficient recruitment of processing resources for target identification, evident by the attenuated P300. The negative correlations between response time and P300 amplitude suggest that the time necessary to accurately respond to targets increases as the efficiency of allocating processing resources decreases during highly demanding working memory tasks.