Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Dynamic Responses of Selective Brain White Matter Fiber Tracts to Binge Alcohol and Recovery in the Rat

To determine the dynamics of white matter vulnerability to excessive alcohol consumption, diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) was used in an animal model of alcohol exposure. Quantitative, in vivo fiber tracking results are presented from rats with DTI conducted at 3 time points: baseline; after 4 days of intragastric alcohol to blood alcohol levels of ~250mg/dL; and after one week of recovery. Binge alcohol followed by a week of sobriety resulted in rapidly reversible decreases in fractional anisotropy (FA), a measure of the coherence of fiber tracts, in callosal genu and fimbria-fornix but not splenium; and increases in mean diffusivity (MD), an index of freely diffusing water in tissue, selective to the fimbria-fornix. These effects were confirmed with tract-based spatial statistics (TBSS). The directionality of changes in DTI metrics reproduce those observed in human alcoholism. That a single exposure to binge alcohol can cause substantial transient changes detectable in DTI metrics demonstrates the potential for rapid neuroplasticity.
Mindful L2 Teacher Education: A Sociocultural Perspective on Cultivating Teachers' Professional Development

Contents Preface Acknowledgments Notes on transcriptions I. Laying the Foundation for Mindful L2 Teacher Education Chapter 1: A Sociocultural Perspective on L2 Teacher Education Chapter 2: Mediation in L2 Teacher Professional Development II. Vygotsky and Vygotskian-Inspired Theoretical Concepts that Inform Responsive Mediation Chapter 3: Obuchenie, Perezhivanie, and Growth Points Chapter 4: Interthinking, the Intermental Developmental Zone, and Sociocultural Discourse Analysis III. Exploring Responsive Mediation in L2 Teacher Development Chapter 5: Re-conceptualizing Engineering Student Participation Chapter 6: Reconciling One's Teaching Personae Chapter 7: Developing Pedagogical Content Knowledge Chapter 8: Re-imagining Teacher Identity-in-Activity Chapter 9: Conceptualizing Teaching In/Through Reflecting on Teaching IV. Mindful L2 Teacher Education Chapter 10: Responsive Mediation: The Nexus of Mindful L2 Teacher Education Index
Tax and Subsidy Incidence Equivalence Theories: Experimental Evidence from Competitive Markets

A basic tenet in elementary microeconomics is tax incidence equivalence. This tenet holds that the burden of a unit tax on buyers and sellers is independent of who actually pays the tax. By contrast, policymakers and the public often mistake statutory incidence for economic incidence. Recent evidence of the empirical validity of tax incidence equivalence is mixed. In this paper, using competitive laboratory markets, I test both tax incidence equivalence and an analogous theorem I refer to as subsidy incidence equivalence. For sufficiently large markets, the results show strong support for both theories. In these markets, there is little to no evidence, even in the short run, of the popular misperception that statutory incidence equals economic incidence. In smaller markets in which competitive forces are weaker and relative bargaining strengths may play a role, the evidence for tax incidence equivalence is weaker as minor price discrepancies may persist between markets.
Probabilistic modeling of bifurcations in single-cell gene expression data using a Bayesian mixture of factor analyzers

Modeling bifurcations in single-cell transcriptomics data has become an increasingly popular field of research. Several methods have been proposed to infer bifurcation structure from such data, but all rely on heuristic non-probabilistic inference. Here we propose the first generative, fully probabilistic model for such inference based on a Bayesian hierarchical mixture of factor analyzers. Our model exhibits competitive performance on large datasets despite implementing full Markov-Chain Monte Carlo sampling, and its unique hierarchical prior structure enables automatic determination of genes driving the bifurcation process. We additionally propose an Empirical-Bayes like extension that deals with the high levels of zero-inflation in single-cell RNA-seq data and quantify when such models are useful. We apply or model to both real and simulated single-cell gene expression data and compare the results to existing pseudotime methods. Finally, we discuss both the merits and weaknesses of such a unified, probabilistic approach in the context practical bioinformatics analyses.
On the covering radius of some modular codes

This paper gives lower and upper bounds on the covering radius of codes over $\Z_{2^s}$ with respect to homogenous distance. We also determine the covering radius of various Repetition codes, Simplex codes (Type $\alpha$ and Type $\beta$) and their dual and give bounds on the covering radii for MacDonald codes of both types over $\Z_4$.
The Perceptual and Social Components of Metacognition

When deciding whether or not to bring an umbrella to work, your confidence will be influenced by the sky outside the window (direct evidence) as well as by, for example, whether or not people walking in the street have their own umbrella (indirect or contingent evidence). These 2 distinct aspects of decision confidence have not yet been assessed independently within the same framework. Here we study the relative contributions of stimulus-specific and social-contingent information on confidence formation. Dyads of participants made visual perceptual decisions, first individually and then together by sharing their wagers in their decisions. We independently manipulated the sensory evidence and the social consensus available to participants and found that both type of evidence contributed to wagers. Consistent with previous work, the amount people were prepared to wager covaried with the strength of sensory evidence. However, social agreements and disagreement affected wagers in opposite directions and asymmetrically. These different contributions of sensory and social evidence to wager were linearly additive. Moreover, average metacognitive sensitivity—namely the association between wagers and accuracy—between interacting dyad members positively correlated with dyadic performance and dyadic benefit above average individual performance. Our results provide a general framework that accounts for how both social context and direct sensory evidence contribute to decision confidence.
Recurrent de novo mitochondrial DNA mutations in respiratory chain deficiency

Starting from a cohort of 50 NADH-oxidoreductase (complex I) deficient patients, we carried out the systematic sequence analysis of all mitochondrially encoded complex I subunits (ND1 to ND6 and ND4L) in affected tissues. This approach yielded the unexpectedly high rate of 20% mutation identification in our series. Recurrent heteroplasmic mutations included two hitherto unreported (T10158C and T14487C) and three previously reported mutations (T10191C, T12706C and A13514G) in children with Leigh or Leigh-like encephalopathy. The recurrent mutations consistently involved T→C transitions (p<10−4). This study supports the view that an efficient molecular screening should be based on an accurate identification of respiratory chain enzyme deficiency.
Effect of Noise in Intelligent Cellular Decision Making

Similar to intelligent multicellular neural networks controlling human brains, even single cells, surprisingly, are able to make intelligent decisions to classify several external stimuli or to associate them. This happens because of the fact that gene regulatory networks can perform as perceptrons, simple intelligent schemes known from studies on Artificial Intelligence. We study the role of genetic noise in intelligent decision making at the genetic level and show that noise can play a constructive role helping cells to make a proper decision. We show this using the example of a simple genetic classifier able to classify two external stimuli.
Decay of correlations for slowly mixing flows

We show that polynomial decay of correlations is prevalent for a class of nonuniformly hyperbolic flows. These flows are the continuous time analogue of a class of nonuniformly hyperbolic diffeomorphisms for which Young proved polynomial decay of correlations. Roughly speaking, in situations where the decay rate 𝒪(1/nβ) has previously been proved for diffeomorphisms, we establish the decay rate 𝒪(1/tβ) for flows. Applications include certain classes of semidispersing billiards, as well as dispersing billiards with vanishing curvature. In addition, we obtain results for suspension flows with unbounded roof functions. In particular, the classical planar Lorentz flow with a doubly periodic array of circular scatterers has decay rate 1/t as anticipated by physicists.
Dysfunction of emotional brain systems in individuals at high risk of mood disorder with depression and predictive features prior to illness

Background. Abnormalities of emotion-related brain circuitry, including cortico-thalamic-limbic regions underpin core symptoms of bipolar disorder (BD) and major depressive disorder (MDD). It is unclear whether these abnormalities relate to symptoms of the disorder, are present in unaffected relatives, or whether they can predict future illness. Method. The Bipolar Family Study (BFS) is a prospective longitudinal study that has examined individuals at familial risk of mood disorder and healthy controls on three occasions, 2 years apart. The current study concerns imaging data from the second assessment; 51 controls and 81 high-risk (HR) individuals performing an emotional memory task. The latter group was divided into 61 HR individuals who were well, and 20 who met diagnostic criteria for MDD. At the time of the third assessment a further 11 HR individuals (from the Well group) had developed MDD. The current analyses focused on (i) differences between groups based on diagnostic status at the time of the scan, and (ii) predictors of future illness, comparing the 11 HR individuals who became unwell after the second scanning assessment to those who remained well. Results. All groups demonstrated typical emotional modulation of memory and associated brain activations. For analysis (i) the HR MDD group demonstrated increased thalamic activation v. HR Well. (ii) HR Well individuals who subsequently became ill showed increased activation of thalamus, insula and anterior cingulate compared to those who remained well. Conclusions. These findings suggest evidence for specific changes related to the presence of illness and evidence that changes in brain function in cortico-thalamic-limbic regions precede clinical illness.
Application of random forest algorithm to classify vehicles detected by a multiple inductive loop system

This paper presents a suitable algorithm to classify vehicles detected by a multiple inductive loop system, developed for measuring traffic parameters in a heterogeneous and no-lane disciplined traffic. The proposed classification scheme employs Random Forest (RF) algorithm. This scheme is suited not only for classifying the detected vehicles as bicycle, motorcycle, scooter, car and bus but also for counting them accurately under a mixed traffic condition. The algorithm has been implemented and tested. Its performance has also been compared with other algorithms based on threshold values and signature patterns. The threshold, signature and RF based algorithms use the number of loops a vehicle occupies as an important factor for classification. Results from a prototype system developed show that the RF based algorithm provides better accuracy compared to the threshold based and signature based methods.
Metformin Effects on Metabolic Coupling and Tumor Growth in Oral Cavity Squamous Cell Carcinoma Coinjection Xenografts

Objective Many aggressive head and neck cancers contain 2 metabolically coupled tumor compartments: a glycolytic stromal compartment with low caveolin-1 (CAV1) and high monocarboxylate transporter 4 (MCT4) expression and a highly proliferative carcinoma cell compartment with high MCT1. Metabolites are shuttled by MCTs from stroma to carcinoma to fuel tumor growth. We studied the effect of carcinoma-fibroblast coinjection and metformin administration on a mouse model of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Study Design Xenograft head and neck squamous cell carcinoma model. Setting Basic science laboratory. Subjects and Methods Oral cavity carcinoma cells were injected alone or as coinjection with human fibroblasts into nude mice to generate xenograft tumors. Tumors were excised and stained with immunohistochemistry for markers of metabolic coupling and apoptosis, including MCT1, MCT4, CAV1, and TUNEL assay (terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase nick end labeling). Strength of staining was assessed by a pathologist or computer-assisted pathology software. Metformin was administered orally to mice to test effects on immunohistochemical markers in xenografts. Results Coinjection tumors were 2.8-fold larger (P = .048) and had 1.4-fold stronger MCT1 staining (P = .016) than tumors from homotypic carcinoma cell injection. Metformin decreased the size of coinjection xenograft tumors by 45% (P = .025). Metformin reduced MCT1 staining by 28% (P = .05) and increased carcinoma cell apoptosis 1.8-fold as marked by TUNEL assay (P = .005). Metformin did not have a significant effect on tumor size when CAV1 knockdown fibroblasts were used in coinjection. Conclusion Coinjection with fibroblasts increases tumor growth and metabolic coupling in oral cavity cancer xenografts. Fibroblast CAV1 expression is required for metformin to disrupt metabolic coupling and decrease xenograft size.
COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF PREOPERATIVE ULTRASONOGRAPHY REPORTS WITH INTRAOPERATIVE SURGICAL FINDINGS IN CHOLELITHIASIS

Background: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is widely used for cholelithiasis. Abdominal ultrasonography often precedes this operation and can prove diagnosis, as well as helps in showing possible complications during the perioperative period. Aim: Evaluate the description of variables of gallbladder and bile ducts present in reports of preoperative abdominal ultrasonography in cholelithiasis comparing with surgical findings. Methods: Were studied 91 patients who underwent elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy with previous abdominal ultrasonography. Variables such as identification and amount of gallstones involved were evaluated, both in preoperative ultrasonography and during surgery to evaluate sensitivity, specificity, concordance and positive and negative predictive values. Results: The reports did not mention diameter of vesicular light (98.9%), organ distension (62.6%), gallstone sizes (58.2%), wall thickness (41.8%) and evaluation of the common bile duct (39.6%). Ultrasound had high values for sensitivity, consistency and positive predictive value for identifying the presence/absence of gallstones: 98.8%, 96.7% and 97.8% respectively. As for the amount of stones, ultrasonography showed agreement in 82.7%, negative predictive value in 89.1% and specificity in 87.7%, with lower values for sensitivity (68.2%) and positive predictive value (65.2%). Conclusions: The ultrasound reports were flawed in standardization. Significant percentage of them did not have variables that could predict perioperative complications and surgical conversion.
Sectoral Labour Market Effects of the 2006 FIFA World Cup

Using the case of the 2006 FIFA World Cup, this study is the first to test the employment effects of a mega-sporting event on the basis of data that are both regional and sectoral. It is also the first study of sporting events to use a non-parametric test method. Earlier studies on the World Cup could not identify any employment effects. In contrast, we find a small but significant positive em-ployment effect on the hospitality sector and a negative effect on the construction sector. To our knowledge, this is the first time that such a crowding-out effect of public investment on the occasion of a mega-sporting event has been found in an empirical analysis.
Gestures: Their Role in Teaching and Learning

Gestures are central to human cognition and constitute a pervasive element of human communication across cultures; even congenitally blind individuals use gestures when they talk. Yet there exists virtually no educational research that focuses on the role of gestures in knowing and learning and the implications they have for designing and evaluating learning environments. The purpose of this article is to provide a review of the existing literature in anthropology, linguistics, psychology, and education and, in the context of several concrete analyses of gesture use, to articulate potential focus questions that are relevant to educational research of knowing, learning, and teaching.
Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii among HIV Patients in Jahrom, Southern Iran

Toxoplasma gondii is an important opportunistic agent especially in immunocompromised hosts and can cause significant morbidity and mortality. Hence, detection and monitoring of anti-Toxoplasma antibodies are of a great interest in HIV-infected patients. A study on the prevalence of toxoplasmosis and associated risk factors was carried out among HIV-infected patients in Jahrom, southern Iran. The prevalence of anti-Toxoplasma IgG antibodies was 21.1% in HIV-infected patients by ELISA. PCR was performed on all of the samples, and 1 of the blood samples was positively detected. Among the HIV patients, anti-Toxoplasma IgG antibodies were significantly higher in age group of 30–39 years old (P=0.05). The seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis in patients with CD4+<100 cells/μl was 33.3% that was significantly higher than the other groups (P=0.042) with or without IgG antibodies. The CD4+ count mean of seropositive patients was lower than that of seronegative patients. The seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis in patients with highly active antiretroviral therapy was significantly less than patients without therapy (P=0.02). In conclusion, this study showed low seroprevalence of latent toxoplasmosis among HIV-infected patients in the region and confirmed the need for intensifying prevention efforts among this high-risk population and also the risk of toxoplasmosis reactivation which could be important among this population.
Abel-Jacobi maps associated to smooth cubic threefolds

We pose some questions about spaces parametrizing rational curves on rationally connected varieties. We give a partial answer for cubic threefolds. Many of our results were previously proved by Iliev, Markushevich and Tikhimirov by analyzing vector bundles on cubic threefolds. Our proofs use residuation rather than vector bundles.
MAC scheduling policies with reduced power consumption and bounded packet delays for centrally controlled TDD wireless networks

In networks with mobile nodes, power consumption is an important constraint due to the limited battery power available at the mobile nodes. Reduction of power consumption in mobile devices can be achieved by keeping these devices in a low power (standby) mode during periods of inactivity. This may, however, result in increased end-to-end delays leading to violation of the quality of service (QoS) parameters. We propose medium access control (MAC) scheduling policies for centrally controlled TDD wireless systems. The proposed policies reduce the power consumption of mobile devices by putting them into low power mode intelligently, using probabilistic estimates of inactivity based on the previous traffic arrival pattern. The policies ensure that the QoS parameters such as end-to-end packet delays are not violated.
MIMO Precoding With X- and Y-Codes

We consider a slow fading multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) system with channel state information at both the transmitter and receiver. A well-known precoding scheme is based upon the singular value decomposition (SVD) of the channel matrix, which transforms the MIMO channel into parallel subchannels. Despite having low maximum likelihood decoding (MLD) complexity, this SVD precoding scheme provides a diversity gain which is limited by the diversity gain of the weakest subchannel. We therefore propose X- and Y-Codes, which improve the diversity gain of the SVD precoding scheme but maintain the low MLD complexity, by jointly coding information across a pair of subchannels. In particular, subchannels with high diversity gain are paired with those having low diversity gain. A pair of subchannels is jointly encoded using a 2 × 2 real matrix, which is fixed a priori and does not change with each channel realization. For X-Codes, these rotation matrices are parameterized by a single angle, while for Y-Codes, these matrices are left triangular matrices. Moreover, we propose X-, Y-Precoders with the same structure as X-, Y-Codes, but with encoding matrices adapted to each channel realization. We observed that X-Codes/Precoders are good for well-conditioned channels, while Y-Codes/Precoders are good for ill-conditioned channels.
The Scaphoid Staple: A Systematic Review

Background: The purpose of this systematic review is to analyze the indications, outcomes, and complications of scaphoid fixation with a staple. Methods: The literature was reviewed for all cases of the scaphoid staple. Five articles including 188 patients, of 77 primary scaphoid fractures and 111 other indications that included delayed union, nonunion, and avascular necrosis, were reviewed. Demographic data, outcomes, and complications were recorded. Results: The union rate of the scaphoid staple is 94.7%, and 95.7% of patients return to work after an average of 9.8 weeks after a 4.7-week period of immobilization. The complication rate was 9.0%, and 7.5% required hardware removal. Clinical and radiographic healing was higher in primary fractures as compared with other indications. Other indications, as compared with primary fracture, had a higher rate of hardware removal. Conclusions: For all indications, the scaphoid staple has a high union rate and a low complication rate. In the authors’ experience, the procedure is fast, not technically challenging, and may be considered for primary fracture, delayed union, nonunion, and avascular necrosis of the scaphoid.
Consolation through music: A survey study

Even though music is widely used as a source of solace, the question as to how and why music offers consolation remains largely unexplored. The aims of the present study are as follows: (a) to compare listening to music versus other self-soothing behaviors, (b) to explore when music is used as a means for solace, (c) to identify aspects of music that are important for providing solace, and (d) to explore behavior while listening to consoling music. Participants completed an internet survey distributed through the websites of Dutch National Radio 2 and Radio 4 (N = 445). The survey consisted of the Geneva Emotion and Music Scale (GEMS), the solace-scale from the Music in Mood Regulation questionnaire (MMR), questions concerning means of solace, situations requiring comfort, song aspects, and feelings and activities during music listening. The main findings indicate that: (1) music is the most important source of consolation compared with other soothing behaviors, (2) situations in which people have experienced loss and sadness are the primary situations in which music offers solace, (3) consoling music induces a feeling of being moved and a mixture of both positive and sad emotions; the most important aspects of a song for soothing purposes are the music itself and the lyrics, and (4) music for comfort is listened to predominately in solitude, as the sole activity. On the basis of these findings, a characterization of listening to consoling music is compiled. Behavior and song aspects are discussed in terms of how and why they are helpful in providing solace.