Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Function of striatum beyond inhibition and execution of motor responses

We used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to study the role of the striatum in inhibitory motor control. Subjects had to refrain from responding to designated items (STOP trials) within a similar series of motor stimuli. Striatal activation was increased significantly compared to that when responding to all targets within a series of motor stimuli, indicating that the striatum is more active when inhibitory motor control over responses is required. The likelihood of a STOP trial was varied parametrically by varying the number of GO trials before a STOP trial. We could thus measure the effect of expecting a STOP trial on the fMRI response in the striatum. We show for the first time in humans that the striatum becomes more active when the likelihood of inhibiting a planned motor response increases. Our findings suggest that the striatum is critically involved in inhibitory motor control, most likely by controlling the execution of planned motor responses. Hum Brain Mapp, 2005. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Self Advocacy in the Lives of People with Learning Difficulties: The Politics of Resilience

Section 1 Setting the agenda: introduction self-advocacy and people with learning difficulties self-advocacy, impairment and the social model of disability researching self-advocacy. Section 2 Living self-advocacy: five life stories of "top self-advocates" learning from life stories. Section 3 Self-advocacy in action: inside self-advocacy groups -typologies and dynamics across self-advocacy groups -support and models of disability. Section 4 Self-advocacy revisited: the politics of resilience.
A Roadmap Toward 24% Efficient PERC Solar Cells in Industrial Mass Production

Many manufacturers choose the passivated emitter and rear cell (PERC) approach in order to surpass the 20% cell efficiency level in mass production. In this paper, we study the efficiency potential of the PERC approach under realistic assumptions for incremental improvements of existing technologies by device simulations. Based on the most recent published experimental results, we find that the PERC structure is able to reach about 24% cell efficiency in mass production by an ongoing sequence of incremental improvements. As a guideline for future developments, we provide a method to improve cell efficiency most effectively by monitoring the current losses at the maximum power point. By means of numerical device modeling, we identify some key technologies toward 24% efficient PERC cells and provide its technology-related target requirements.
Leveraging learning experiences to promote student engagement in a business ethics class.

The number of students choosing to undertake business education has expanded dramatically over the past two decades concomitantly with exponential growth in business courses offered. However, the focus tends to be on the ‘business of business’ while the ethical, moral and social responsibility of business practice is neglected. This study evaluates students’ responses to a new approach to teaching business ethics to an undergraduate cohort using a creative teaching model emphasizing a unique learning experience designed to encourage students to experience critical thinking, to analyse and synthesise ethical situations and reflect upon their learning experience. The model, with the acronym S.T. A.R - See, Talk, Act and Review - was introduced. Students were provided with conceptual tools and techniques to examine, act and reflect on ethical issues. Using a mixed methods approach, students’ responses to the course were collected and their views of the new approach examined. Results suggest that, as well as a discernible shift in their view of the place of ethics in business, students have been far more engaged in the course and developing their learning experience.
Performance Analysis of Cooperative Networks with Inter-Relay Communication over Nakagami-m and Rician Fading Channels

Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) based transmission protocols have been proposed previously by various research communities, however, the analysis of these protocols are not considered for both Nakagami-m and Rician fading channels with inter-relay communication. We present a detailed and profound analysis of TDMA based protocols for cooperative networks with inter-relay communication over both Nakagami-m and Rician fading channels considering path loss effect. The Gain of the network over various locations of the relays is also presented. Bit error rate (BER) and Cooperation Gain are the parameters used to analyze the network. Keywords—TDMA, Cooperative Networks, Rician Fading, Nakagami-m and Network Protocols
Lipoic Acid Affects Cellular Migration into the Central Nervous System and Stabilizes Blood-Brain Barrier Integrity1

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) play an important role in various events underlying multiple sclerosis (MS) pathology. In the initial phase of lesion formation, ROS are known to mediate the transendothelial migration of monocytes and induce a dysfunction of the blood-brain barrier (BBB). In this study, we describe the beneficial effect of the antioxidant α-lipoic acid (LA) on these phenomena. In vivo, LA dose-dependently prevented the development of clinical signs in a rat model for MS, acute experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE). Clinical improvement was coupled to a decrease in leukocyte infiltration into the CNS, in particular monocytes. Monocytes isolated from the circulation of LA-treated rats revealed a reduced migratory capacity to cross a monolayer of rat brain endothelial cells in vitro compared with monocytes isolated from untreated EAE controls. Using live cell imaging techniques, we visualized and quantitatively assessed that ROS are produced within minutes upon the interaction of monocytes with brain endothelium. Monocyte adhesion to an in vitro model of the BBB subsequently induced enhanced permeability, which could be inhibited by LA. Moreover, administration of exogenous ROS to brain endothelial cells induced cytoskeletal rearrangements, which was inhibited by LA. In conclusion, we show that LA has a protective effect on EAE development not only by affecting the migratory capacity of monocytes, but also by stabilization of the BBB, making LA an attractive therapeutic agent for the treatment of MS.
Evaluation of reduced-tillering (tin) wheat lines in managed, terminal water deficit environments

Small or shrivelled wheat kernels (screenings) that reduce crop value are commonly produced in terminal drought environments. The aim of this study was to establish whether the incorporation of the tiller inhibition (tin) gene would contribute to maintenance of kernel weight and reductions in screenings under terminal water deficit. Five Silverstar near-isogenic lines contrasting in high and low tiller potential and their recurrent Silverstar parent were established at two plant densities under managed terminal water deficit (mild and severe) and irrigated conditions. With irrigation (grain yield of 5.6 t ha–1), kernels of all lines weighed ~31mg, with restricted-tillering (R-tin) lines producing an average 15% lower grain yield. Under both mild and severe terminal water deficit (4.1 t ha–1 and 2.8 t ha–1), free-tillering lines had relatively high screenings ranging from 11.9% to 16.2%. Compared with free-tillering lines, R-tin lines maintained large kernel weight (~29mg kernel–1) and had 29% and 51% fewer screenings under the two stresses, and a significantly greater (+11%) grain yield under mild stress. Higher kernel weights in tin lines were realized even with the greater kernel number per spike. The higher kernel weight of the R-tin lines under stress conditions was associated with greater anthesis biomass and increased stem water-soluble carbohydrates, ensuring more assimilate for later translocation to filling grain. The incorporation of the tin gene into genetic material adapted to the target environments provides scope for improvement in both grain yield and kernel weight, and a reduction in screenings in terminal water deficit environments.
Home Mechanical Ventilation in Childhood-Onset Hereditary Neuromuscular Diseases: 13 Years’ Experience at a Single Center in Korea

Introduction Children with hereditary neuromuscular diseases (NMDs) are at a high risk of morbidity and mortality related to respiratory failure. The use of home mechanical ventilation (HMV) has saved the lives of many children with NMD but, due to a lack of studies, dependable guidelines are not available. We drew upon our experience to compare the various underlying NMDs and to evaluate HMV with regard to respiratory morbidity, the proper indications and timing for its use, and to develop a policy to improve the quality of home noninvasive ventilation (NIV). Methods We retrospectively analyzed the medical records of 57 children with childhood-onset hereditary NMDs in whom HMV was initiated between January 2000 and May 2013 at Seoul National University Children's Hospital. The degree of respiratory morbidity was estimated by the frequency and duration of hospitalizations caused by respiratory distress. Results The most common NMD was spinal muscular atrophy (SMA, n = 33). Emergent mechanical ventilation was initiated in 44% of the patients before the confirmed diagnosis, and the indicators of pre-HMV respiratory morbidity (e.g., extubation trials, hypoxia, hospitalizations, and intensive care unit stay) were greater in these patients than in others. The proportion of post-HMV hospitalizations (range, 0.00−0.52; median, 0.01) was lower than that of pre-HMV hospitalizations (0.02−1.00; 0.99) (P < 0.001). Eight patients were able to maintain home NIV. The main causes of NIV failure were air leakage and a large amount of airway secretions. Conclusions The application of HMV helped reduce respiratory morbidity in children with childhood-onset hereditary NMD. Patients with SMA type I can benefit from an early diagnosis and the timely application of HMV. The choice between invasive and noninvasive HMV should be based on the patient’s age and NIV trial tolerance. Systematic follow-up guidelines provided by a multidisciplinary team are needed.
Associations of in Utero Exposure to Perfluorinated Alkyl Acids with Human Semen Quality and Reproductive Hormones in Adult Men

Background: Perfluorinated alkyl acids (PFAAs), persistent chemicals with unique water-, dirt-, and oil-repellent properties, are suspected of having endocrine-disrupting activity. The PFAA compounds perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) are found globally in humans; because they readily cross the placental barrier, in utero exposure may be a cause for concern. Objectives: We investigated whether in utero exposure to PFOA and PFOS affects semen quality, testicular volume, and reproductive hormone levels. Methods: We recruited 169 male offspring (19–21 years of age) from a pregnancy cohort established in Aarhus, Denmark, in 1988–1989, corresponding to 37.6% of the eligible sons. Each man provided a semen sample and a blood sample. Semen samples were analyzed for sperm concentration, total sperm count, motility, and morphology, and blood samples were used to measure reproductive hormones. As a proxy for in utero exposure, PFOA and PFOS were measured in maternal blood samples from pregnancy week 30. Results: Multivariable linear regression analysis suggested that in utero exposure to PFOA was associated with lower adjusted sperm concentration (ptrend = 0.01) and total sperm count (ptrend = 0.001) and with higher adjusted levels of luteinizing hormone (ptrend = 0.03) and follicle-stimulating hormone (ptrend = 0.01). PFOS did not appear to be associated with any of the outcomes assessed, before or after adjustment. Conclusions: The results suggest that in utero exposure to PFOA may affect adult human male semen quality and reproductive hormone levels.
Message-Passing Algorithms for MAP Estimation Using DC Programming

We address the problem of finding the most likely assignment or MAP estimation in a Markov random field. We analyze the linear programming formulation of MAP through the lens of di! erence of convex functions (DC) programming, and use the concaveconvex procedure (CCCP) to develop e"cient message-passing solvers. The resulting algorithms are guaranteed to converge to a global optimum of the well-studied local polytope, an outer bound on the MAP marginal polytope. To tighten the outer bound, we show how to combine it with the mean-field based inner bound and, again, solve it using CCCP. We also identify a useful relationship between the DC formulations and some recently proposed algorithms based on Bregman divergence. Experimentally, this hybrid approach produces optimal solutions for a range of hard OR problems and nearoptimal solutions for standard benchmarks.
Fans: The Mirror of Consumption

Acknowledgements.1. Introduction: Representing Fandom.2. The Dominant Discourse of Resistance: Fandom and Power.3. A Text Called Home: Fandom Between Performance and Place.4. The Inner Fan: Fandom and Psychoanalysis.5. Fandom as Extension of Self: Self-Reflection and Narcissism.6. Fan Texts: From Polysemy to Neutrosemy.7. Conclusion: One-Dimensional Fan? Notes.References. Index.
Effects of Fentanyl and Diazepam in Dogs Deprived of Autonomic Tone

In contrast to reports of the untoward hemodynamic effects of fentanyl and diazepam in intact organisms, we found that neither a bolus of 100 μg/kg fentanyl nor the addition of intravenous doses of diazepam, up to and including 1 mg/kg (cumulative dose 2 mg/kg) caused cardiovascular depression in 73 anesthetized dogs after elimination of their sympathetic and parasympathetic tone. There were no significant changes in mean arterial blood pressure, cardiac output, heart rate, peak left ventricular dP/dt, cardiac filling pressures, or systemic vascular resistance. Rapid bolus injection of 3 mg/kg diazepam (cumulative dose 5 mg/kg) caused a significant (P < 0.05) but transient (time to 50% recovery less than 2 min) decrease in systemic vascular resistance, blood pressure, and dP/dt. When corrected for pressure changed (dP/dt divided by simultaneous left ventricular pressure), the decrease in dP/dt did not attain statistical significance, nor did changes in cardiac output or filling pressures, even after this large dose of diazepam. We conclude that previously reported decreases in hemodynamic function in subjects with intact autonomic function after fentanyl alone, or after the combination of fentanyl and diazepam, are indirect in nature, that is, are caused by a centrally mediated decrease in vasoregulatory (mainly sympathetic) outflow from the central nervous system.
Brucella Genetic Variability in Wildlife Marine Mammals Populations Relates to Host Preference and Ocean Distribution

Abstract Intracellular bacterial pathogens probably arose when their ancestor adapted from a free-living environment to an intracellular one, leading to clonal bacteria with smaller genomes and less sources of genetic plasticity. Still, this plasticity is needed to respond to the challenges posed by the host. Members of the Brucella genus are facultative-extracellular intracellular bacteria responsible for causing brucellosis in a variety of mammals. The various species keep different host preferences, virulence, and zoonotic potential despite having 97–99% similarity at genome level. Here, we describe elements of genetic variation in Brucella ceti isolated from wildlife dolphins inhabiting the Pacific Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. Comparison with isolates obtained from marine mammals from the Atlantic Ocean and the broader Brucella genus showed distinctive traits according to oceanic distribution and preferred host. Marine mammal isolates display genetic variability, represented by an important number of IS711 elements as well as specific IS711 and SNPs genomic distribution clustering patterns. Extensive pseudogenization was found among isolates from marine mammals as compared with terrestrial ones, causing degradation in pathways related to energy, transport of metabolites, and regulation/transcription. Brucella ceti isolates infecting particularly dolphin hosts, showed further degradation of metabolite transport pathways as well as pathways related to cell wall/membrane/envelope biogenesis and motility. Thus, gene loss through pseudogenization is a source of genetic variation in Brucella, which in turn, relates to adaptation to different hosts. This is relevant to understand the natural history of bacterial diseases, their zoonotic potential, and the impact of human interventions such as domestication.
The relationship between provider coordination and diabetes-related foot outcomes.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the relationship between provider coordination and amputations in patients with diabetes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS The study design was a cross-sectional, descriptive study of process and outcomes for diabetes-related foot care at 10 Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical centers representing different geographic regions, population densities, patient populations, and amputation rates. The subjects included all providers of diabetes foot care and a random sample of primary care providers at each medical center. The main outcome measures were the Foot Systems Assessment Tool (FootSAT), nontraumatic lower extremity amputation rates, and investigators' ordinal ranking of site effectiveness based on site visits. RESULTS The survey response rate was 48%. Scale reliability, as measured by Cronbach's alpha, ranged from 0.73 to 0.93. The scale scores for programming coordination (i.e., electronic medical record, policies, reminders, protocols, and educational seminars) and feedback coordination (i.e., discharge planning, quality of care meetings, and curbside consultations) were negatively associated with amputation rates, suggesting centers with higher levels of coordination had lower amputation rates. Statistically significant associations were found for programming coordination with minor amputations (P = 0.02) and total amputations (P = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS The FootSAT demonstrated a stronger association with amputation rates than site visit rankings. Among these 10 VA facilities, those with higher levels of programming and feedback coordination had significantly lower amputation rates.
Fast Edge-Diffraction-Based Radio Wave Propagation Model for Graphics Hardware

Fast radio wave propagation predictions are of tremendous interest, e.g., for planning and optimisation of cellular radio networks. We propose the use of ordinary graphics cards and specialized algorithms to achieve extremely fast predictions. We present a ray-optical approach for wave diffraction at building edges into street canyons, exploiting the programming model of graphics cards. More than twenty predictions per second are achieved in a 7 km2 urban area with a mean squared error of less than 7 dB when compared with measurements.
Integration Into Global Society

Abstract: This cross-national study of the developing world investigates those modern and historical forces that drive current forms of political and social interdependency—what scholars increasingly term “global civil society” and “the world polity. ” While some explanations maintain that political and social globalization are epiphenomena of a more fundamental economic globalization and/or that globalization in most of its forms is simply Westernization in disguise (essentially an acculturative or neocolonial social force), we argue for aseparate explanation that emphasizes diffusion processes, historical context, and strong path dependencies. To test this hypothesis, we examine how measures of homophily (i.e., the institutional “match” with developed countries), colonial history, and the technological and demographic histories of developing countries have shaped and are shaping national incorporation into both global civil society and the world polity. We develop and employ a unique measure of global political/civil society in our analyses and find that a deeper form of historical homophily with the Western world in the form of colonialism and premodern population density predicts this form of political globalization. Although some countries have been able to chart their own course through political globalization, these results provide compelling evidence that “global society” is essentially “Western society” in terms of its norms, values, and institutional forms.
Measuring innovation in long product development cycle industries: an insight in biotechnology

This paper examines and measures innovation in the context of biotechnology firms by analysing the link between R&D, innovation performance and organisational growth. We conceptualise innovation performance as a latent construct with two dimensions: innovation efficacy and innovation efficiency. We use structural equations modelling to test the hypotheses on a data set from the biotechnology industry. Results support our innovation performance conceptualisation which is found to be especially useful to measure innovation in industries with long product development cycles. Findings also underline the importance of R&D knowledge creation for biotechnology firms.
Does Differential Strategy Use Account for Age-related Deficits in Working-memory Performance? Processing Speed Account

The strategy-deficit hypothesis states that age differences in the use of effective strategies contribute to age-related deficits in working memory span performance. To evaluate this hypothesis, strategy use was measured with set-by-set strategy reports during the Reading Span task (Experiments 1 and 2) and the Operation Span task (Experiment 2). Individual differences in the reported use of effective strategies accounted for substantial variance in span performance. In contrast to the strategy-deficit hypothesis, however, young and older adults reported using the same proportion of normatively effective strategies on both span tasks. Measures of processing speed accounted for a substantial proportion of the age-related variance in span performance. Thus, although use of normatively effective strategies accounts for individual differences in span performance, age differences in effective strategy use cannot explain the age-related variance in that performance. Working memory (WM) refers to the process of holding information in a temporarily activated state while working with it to achieve performance goals (Baddeley, 1986). The hallmark of WM, as opposed to the construct of short-term memory, is the requirement for concurrent processing while holding the information in memory. The Reading Span (RSPAN) task developed by Daneman and Carpenter (1980) is representative of WM span tasks. In a modified version of the RSPAN task, participants are presented with a sentence and an unrelated word (e.g., " Mr. Owens left the lawnmower in the lemon. ? eagle "). They read the sentence aloud, decide whether it is coherent, read the word aloud (e.g., " eagle "), and then the next sentence–word pair is presented (e.g., " Emily was invited to the party on Saturday. ? rock "). Participants complete several of these sentence–word pairs. Following the final pair of each trial, they attempt to recall the words in the correct serial order (e.g., " eagle, rock,. . "). Performance on the RSPAN task can be scored by the mean proportion of correctly recalled words, aggregated over multiple trials regardless of set size (as recommended by Conway et al., 2005). Age-related deficits in WM span performance have consistently been demonstrated across many span tasks (Salthouse, 1994; for an exception, see May, Hasher, & Kane, 1999). Moreover, these deficits may contribute to age-related declines in performance on other cognitive measures (Salthouse & Babcock, 1991). This reason , in particular, has motivated many of the studies aimed at understanding age-related differences in span performance. Some of the most popular explanations …