Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Visuospatial reorienting signals in the human temporo‐parietal junction are independent of response selection

This study contrasts visuospatial reorienting and response selection signals in the right temporo‐parietal junction (TPJ) with functional magnetic resonance imaging. The overall goal was to investigate whether spatial orienting signals and motor signals interacted or were independent in TPJ. The right TPJ showed a greater response to targets at invalidly rather than validly cued locations, but no significant modulation from the effector used to respond. We suggest that TPJ may work as a modality‐independent ‘circuit breaker’ for the dorsal fronto‐parietal attention system, directing attention to salient events and enabling a variety of responses to those events.
Accelerating InSAR raw data simulation on GPU using CUDA

This paper describes a scalable parallel method for interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) raw data simulation on graphic processing unit (GPU) with common unified device architecture (CUDA). The advantages of the new method rely on the three contributions: GPU hardware provides lots of stream processors for threads calculating, CUDA software environment runs thousands of threads working in parallel for assigned task, raw data simulation adopts the fine-grained task parallelism. Compared with OpenMP, MPI and grid computing, the method not only improves the computational efficiency greatly, but also save the resources such as hardware, electric power and room space. The results show that the method not only ensures accuracy, but also be able to obtain the speedup about 30 times.
Twitter in academic conferences: usage, networking and participation over time

Twitter is often referred to as a backchannel for conferences. While the main conference takes place in a physical setting, attendees and virtual attendees socialize, introduce new ideas or broadcast information by microblogging on Twitter. In this paper we analyze the scholars' Twitter use in 16 Computer Science conferences over a timespan of five years. Our primary finding is that over the years there are increasing differences with respect to conversation use and information use in Twitter. We studied the interaction network between users to understand whether assumptions about the structure of the conversations hold over time and between different types of interactions, such as retweets, replies, and mentions. While `people come and people go,' we want to understand what keeps people staying engaged with the conference on Twitter. By casting the problem as a classification task, we find different factors that contribute to the continuing participation of users to the online Twitter conference activity. These results have implications for research communities to implement strategies for continuous and active participation among members.
Effects of bradykinin on venous capacitance in health and treated chronic heart failure

In the present study, we investigated the effects of basal and intra-arterial infusion of bradykinin on unstressed forearm vascular volume (a measure of venous tone) and blood flow in healthy volunteers (n=20) and in chronic heart failure patients treated with ACEIs [ACE (angiotensin-converting enzyme) inhibitors] (n=16) and ARBs (angiotensin receptor blockers) (n=14). We used radionuclide plethysmography to examine the effects of bradykinin and of the bradykinin antagonists B9340 [B1 (type 1)/B2 (type 2) receptor antagonist] and HOE140 (B2 antagonist). Bradykinin infusion increased unstressed forearm vascular volume in a similar dose-dependent manner in healthy volunteers and ARB-treated CHF patients (healthy volunteers maximum 12.3±2.1%, P<0.001 compared with baseline; ARB-treated CHF patients maximum 9.3±3.3%, P<0.05 compared with baseline; P=not significant for difference between groups), but the increase in unstressed volume in ACEI-treated CHF patients was higher (maximum 28.8±7.8%, P<0.001 compared with baseline; P<0.05 for the difference between groups). In contrast, while the increase in blood flow in healthy volunteers (maximum 362±9%, P<0.001) and in ACEI-treated CHF patients (maximum 376±12%, P<0.001) was similar (P=not significant for the difference between groups), the increase in ARB-treated CHF patients was less (maximum 335±7%, P<0.001; P<0.05 for the difference between groups). Infusion of each receptor antagonist alone similarly reduced basal unstressed volume and blood flow in ACEI-treated CHF patients, but not in healthy volunteers or ARB-treated CHF patients. In conclusion, bradykinin does not contribute to basal venous tone in health, but in ACEI-treated chronic heart failure it does. In ARB-treated heart failure, venous responses to bradykinin are preserved but arterial responses are reduced compared with healthy controls. Bradykinin-mediated vascular responses in both health and heart failure are mediated by the B2, rather than the B1, receptor.
Personality influences on a two-man Arctic expedition, impact on spouse, and the return home.

INTRODUCTION Two men engaged in a kayak/sled Arctic expedition and their wives were evaluated. This report focuses on personality factors and decisions on the ice, psychosocial effects on those left behind, and the family re-integration process. METHOD Pre-expedition measures included the Multidimensional Personality Inventory (MPQ) and the Personal Assessment of Intimacy in Relationships (PAIR). Semi-structured interviews were conducted post-expedition and at a 4-mo follow-up. The PAIR was re-administered at the 4-mo follow-up. RESULTS Significant tension and lack of communication between the two expeditioners was reported in response to the leader's decision to terminate the expedition because of weather conditions and poor progress. The incompatibility of the personality traits and goals of the two expeditioners contributed to this tension. The wives provided positive social support to each other, although the support and concern of their community became stressful. For each couple, both positive and negative changes in partner relationship intimacy were evident at the 4-mo follow-up. There was little consistency between each spouse on the types of changes that occurred. DISCUSSION Greater attention to and planning for the re-integration process is suggested, with application for the return from other types of challenging endeavors.
Natal homing in juvenile loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta)

Juvenile loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta) from West Atlantic nesting beaches occupy oceanic (pelagic) habitats in the eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean, whereas larger juvenile turtles occupy shallow (neritic) habitats along the continental coastline of North America. Hence the switch from oceanic to neritic stage can involve a trans‐oceanic migration. Several researchers have suggested that at the end of the oceanic phase, juveniles are homing to feeding habitats in the vicinity of their natal rookery. To test the hypothesis of juvenile homing behaviour, we surveyed 10 juvenile feeding zones across the eastern USA with mitochondrial DNA control region sequences (N = 1437) and compared these samples to potential source (nesting) populations in the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea (N = 465). The results indicated a shallow, but significant, population structure of neritic juveniles (ΦST = 0.0088, P = 0.016), and haplotype frequency differences were significantly correlated between coastal feeding populations and adjacent nesting populations (Mantel test R2 = 0.52, P = 0.001). Mixed stock analyses (using a Bayesian algorithm) indicated that juveniles occurred at elevated frequency in the vicinity of their natal rookery. Hence, all lines of evidence supported the hypothesis of juvenile homing in loggerhead turtles. While not as precise as the homing of breeding adults, this behaviour nonetheless places juvenile turtles in the vicinity of their natal nesting colonies. Some of the coastal hazards that affect declining nesting populations may also affect the next generation of turtles feeding in nearby habitats.
Diagnosis and management of traumatic cervical central spinal cord injury: A review

Background: The classical clinical presentation, neuroradiographic features, and conservative vs. surgical management of traumatic cervical central spinal cord (CSS) injury remain controversial. Methods: CSS injuries, occurring in approximately 9.2% of all cord injuries, are usually attributed to significant hyperextension trauma combined with congenital/acquired cervical stenosis/spondylosis. Patients typically present with greater motor deficits in the upper vs. lower extremities accompanied by patchy sensory loss. T2-weighted magnetic resonance (MR) scans usually show hyperintense T2 intramedullary signals reflecting acute edema along with ligamentous injury, while noncontrast computed tomography (CT) studies typically show no attendant bony pathology (e.g. no fracture, dislocation). Results: CSS constitute only a small percentage of all traumatic spinal cord injuries. Aarabi et al. found CSS patients averaged 58.3 years of age, 83% were male and 52.4% involved accidents/falls in patients with narrowed spinal canals (average 5.6 mm); their average American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) motor score was 63.8, and most pathology was at the C3-C4 and C4-C5 levels (71%). Surgery was performed within 24 h (9 patients), 24–48 h (10 patients), or after 48 h (23 patients). In the Brodell et al. study of 16,134 patients with CSS, 39.7% had surgery. In the Gu et al. series, those with CSS and stenosis/ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) exhibited better outcomes following laminoplasty. Conclusions: Recognizing the unique features of CSS is critical, as the clinical, neuroradiological, and management strategies (e.g. conservative vs. surgical management: early vs. late) differ from those utilized for other spinal cord trauma. Increased T2-weighted MR images best document CSS, while CT studies confirm the absence of fracture/dislocation.
Role of gB and pUS3 in Equine Herpesvirus 1 Transfer between Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells and Endothelial Cells: a Dynamic In Vitro Model

ABSTRACT Infected peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) effectively transport equine herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1), but not EHV-4, to endothelial cells (EC) lining the blood vessels of the pregnant uterus or central nervous system, a process that can result in abortion or myeloencephalopathy. We examined, using a dynamic in vitro model, the differences between EHV-1 and EHV-4 infection of PBMC and PBMC-EC interactions. In order to evaluate viral transfer between infected PBMC and EC, cocultivation assays were performed. Only EHV-1 was transferred from PBMC to EC, and viral glycoprotein B (gB) was shown to be mainly responsible for this form of cell-to-cell transfer. For addressing the more dynamic aspects of PBMC-EC interaction, infected PBMC were perfused through a flow channel containing EC in the presence of neutralizing antibodies. By simulating capillary blood flow and analyzing the behavior of infected PBMC through live fluorescence imaging and automated cell tracking, we observed that EHV-1 was able to maintain tethering and rolling of infected PBMC on EC more effectively than EHV-4. Deletion of US3 reduced the ability of infected PBMC to tether and roll compared to that of cells infected with parental virus, which resulted in a significant reduction in virus transfer from PBMC to EC. Taking the results together, we conclude that systemic spread and EC infection by EHV-1, but not EHV-4, is caused by its ability to infect and/or reprogram mononuclear cells with respect to their tethering and rolling behavior on EC and consequent virus transfer. IMPORTANCE EHV-1 is widespread throughout the world and causes substantial economic losses through outbreaks of respiratory disease, abortion, and myeloencephalopathy. Despite many years of research, no fully protective vaccines have been developed, and several aspects of viral pathogenesis still need to be uncovered. In the current study, we investigated the molecular mechanisms that facilitate the cell-associated viremia, which is arguably the most important aspect of EHV-1 pathogenesis. The newly discovered functions of gB and pUS3 add new facets to their previously reported roles. Due to the conserved nature of cell-associated viremia among numerous herpesviruses, these results are also very relevant for viruses such as varicella-zoster virus, pseudorabies virus, human cytomegalovirus, and others. In addition, the constructed mutant and recombinant viruses exhibit potent in vitro replication but have significant defects in certain stages of the disease course. These viruses therefore show much promise as candidates for future live vaccines.
Correlation of nonsense and frameshift mutations with severity of retinal abnormalities in neurofibromatosis 2.

BACKGROUND Neurofibromatosis 2 (NF2) is an autosomal dominant disease that is characterized by nervous system tumors and ocular abnormalities. OBJECTIVE To investigate genotype-phenotype correlations demonstrated for NF2-associated nervous system tumors, cataracts, and retinal lesions. METHODS Forty-eight patients with NF2 from a tertiary neurological referral center underwent screening for constitutional NF2 mutations with multiple screening methods. Each patient underwent a complete ophthalmic examination, including fluorescein angiography to detect retinal vascular lesions. RESULTS Retinal abnormalities (epiretinal membranes or retinal microaneurysms) were present in 25 of the 48 patients (52%). The occurrence of epiretinal membranes and retinal microaneurysms was highly correlated, but retinal abnormalities were not significantly correlated with cataracts (present in 39 of 47 patients [83%]). Logistic regression with full constitutional nonsense or frameshift mutations as the reference group demonstrated that somatic mosaicism was associated with a significantly lower likelihood of retinal abnormalities (odds ratio, 0.05; 95% confidence interval, 0.01-0.49). CONCLUSIONS To our knowledge, this is the first genetic, clinical, and angiographic characterization of retinal abnormalities in NF2. Severe mutations are correlated with a more severe retinal involvement. Clinical Relevance Retinal abnormalities, which can be revealed by means of fluorescein angiography, are more common in patients with NF2 who have nonsense or frameshift mutations.
Dissociation Between Memory Accuracy and Memory Confidence Following Bilateral Parietal Lesions

Numerous functional neuroimaging studies have observed lateral parietal lobe activation during memory tasks: a surprise to clinicians who have traditionally associated the parietal lobe with spatial attention rather than memory. Recent neuropsychological studies examining episodic recollection after parietal lobe lesions have reported differing results. Performance was preserved in unilateral lesion patients on source memory tasks involving recollecting the context in which stimuli were encountered, and impaired in patients with bilateral parietal lesions on tasks assessing free recall of autobiographical memories. Here, we investigated a number of possible accounts for these differing results. In 3 experiments, patients with bilateral parietal lesions performed as well as controls at source recollection, confirming the previous unilateral lesion results and arguing against an explanation for those results in terms of contralesional compensation. Reducing the behavioral relevance of mnemonic information critical to the source recollection task did not affect performance of the bilateral lesion patients, indicating that the previously observed reduced autobiographical free recall might not be due to impaired bottom-up attention. The bilateral patients did, however, exhibit reduced confidence in their source recollection abilities across the 3 experiments, consistent with a suggestion that parietal lobe lesions might lead to impaired subjective experience of rich episodic recollection.
Synergistic Association of CYP1A1 Polymorphisms with Increased Susceptibility to Squamous Cell Lung Cancer in North Indian Smokers

Objectives Studies in different populations have shown that polymorphisms within the CYP1A1 gene play an important role in determining individual susceptibility to lung cancer. However, the data obtained so far have been contradictory within the same or different populations. Few studies have focused on the synergistic effect of CYP1A1 polymorphisms on the susceptibility to lung cancer overall and to different histological subtypes along with the impact of smoking. Methods A total of 704 individuals (353 lung cancer patients and 351 controls) were evaluated for CYP1A1 polymorphisms. CYP1A1 genotyping was done by means of PCR-RFLP. Results A CYP1A1 mutant genotype was found to be significantly associated with lung cancer (OR = 3.15; 95% CI = 1.75-5.71; p = 0.0001) and this risk was 4-fold higher in case of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). The CYP1A1 m2 allelic variant was found to be strongly associated with the risk of SCC and adenocarcinoma. The combined “at risk” genotypes of the CYP1A1 m1 and m2 allelic variants were associated with lung cancer risk and this risk was higher in case of SCC (OR = 2.0; 95% CI = 1.97-3.81; p = 0.028). Furthermore, the lung cancer risk was associated with smoking, especially in heavy smokers carrying CYP1A1 variant genotypes. We also observed that heavy smokers with the mutant m1 genotype were at increased risk of SCC (OR = 5.4; 95% CI = 2.4-11.9; p<0.0001). Furthermore, when stratified for smoking dose and histology, the effect was compounded in heavy smokers and SCC (OR = 7.5; 95% CI = 1.8-30.9; p = 0.004). Conclusions Polymorphism in the CYP1A1 gene is an important risk modifier for lung cancer.
The post-auricular muscle response: an objective electrophysiological method for evaluating hearing sensitivity

Post-auricular muscle responses (PAMRs) were recorded in sixteen adults with normal hearing and twenty adults with sensorineural hearing loss. Click stimuli were presented at 20 to 80 dB nHL via insert earphones. Only one ear was tested in hearing-impaired subjects, but normal-hearing subjects were tested monaurally and binaurally. PAMR amplitudes declined and latencies increased with decreasing click intensity. Both binaural stimulation and eye turn enhanced the PAMR. In hearing-impaired subjects, PAMR thresholds were correlated with audiometric thresholds for the eyes-turned condition. All normal-hearing subjects had PAMR when recording conditions were optimized and half had responses for the least optimal condition (20 dB nHL, monaural, eyes front). With eyes turned and monaural clicks at 35 dB nHL, the level widely used for infant hearing screening, most normal-hearing adults had a PAMR. Thus the PAMR is a robust response that may be a useful adjunct to ABR for objective hearing assessment. Sumario Las respuestas del músculo post-auricular (PAMR) fueron registradas en 16 adultos con audición normal y 20 adultos con hipoacusia sensorineural. Se presentaron estímulos con clics a 20 y 80 dB nHL por medio de auriculares de inserción. Solo se evaluó un oído en los hipoacúsicos pero los sujetos normales fueron evaluados mono y binauralmente. Las amplitudes del PAMR declinaron y las latencias aumentaron conforme la intensidad del clíc disminuyó. Tanto la estimulación binaural y el giro ocular aumentaron el PAMR. En hipoacusicos los umbrales PAMR se correlacionaron con los umbrales audiométricos en la condición de ojos girados. Todos los normales tuvieron PAMR cuando se optimizaron las condiciones de registro y la mitad tuvieron respuestas en la condición menos óptima (20 dB nHL, monoaural y con los ojos al frente). Con los ojos girados y con clics monoaurales en 35dB nHL, el nivel mas ampliamente usado para la identificación auditiva neonatal, la mayoría de los adultos con audición normal tuvieron PAMR. Por ello se considera que el PAMR es una respuesta robusta que puede ser un útil accesorio para las ABR en la evaluación objetiva de la audición.
TiO2 Foam: Characterization and Cell Adhesion

In recent years, it has been proposed that the new era of implants design should be focused on the use of the new generation of biocompatible materials or reengineers the currently available materials. The objective of this research was to study cell-metal interactions using highly porous TiO2 foam. To obtain the porous TiO2 foam, polymeric foam replication methods might be one of the most effective methods. Surface chemical composition, morphology and phase are investigated by field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) and X-Ray Diffraction (XRD). In vitro cellular response of cells has been studied on TiO2 foam. In the investigations of the cellular responses of cells, two aspects were considered: the number of growing cells and their morphological features. It was clear that rough surface morphology was important factor for better cell-metal interaction. Surface topography can affect the cell migratory significantly and adhesion behavior on implant surfaces.
Cyclooxygenase-selective inhibition of prostanoid formation: transducing biochemical selectivity into clinical read-outs.

The two isoforms of cyclooxygenase (COX) catalyze the initial step in the formation of biologically important prostanoids, such as prostaglandin (PG) E2, and thromboxane (TX) A2, in a variety of pathophysiologic processes. These include modulation of the inflammatory reaction, gastrointestinal (GI) cytoprotection and ulceration, angiogenesis and cancer, hemostasis and thrombosis, renal hemodynamics, and progression of kidney disease. Thus, it is not surprising that drugs inhibiting the activity of COX isozymes may have desirable as well as untoward effects on a variety of human diseases.
Pharmacokinetics of Bupropion and Its Pharmacologically Active Metabolites in Pregnancy

Bupropion sustained release is used to promote smoking cessation in males and nonpregnant females. However, its efficacy as a smoking cessation aid during pregnancy is not reported. The pregnancy-associated changes in maternal physiology may alter the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of bupropion and consequently its efficacy in pregnant smokers. Therefore, the aims of this study were to determine the steady-state pharmacokinetics of bupropion during pregnancy and the effect of functional genetic variants of CYP2B6 and CYP2C19 on bupropion pharmacokinetics in pregnant women. Plasma and urine concentrations of bupropion and its metabolites hydroxybupropion (OHBUP), threohydrobupropion, and erythrohydrobupropion were determined by liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry. Subjects were genotyped for five nonsynonymous single-nucleotide polymorphisms that result in seven CYP2B6 alleles, namely *2, *3, *4, *5, *6, *7, and *9, and for CYP2C19 variants *2, *3, and *17. The present study reports that the isoform-specific effect of pregnancy on bupropion-metabolizing enzymes along with the increase of renal elimination of the drug could collectively result in a slight decrease in exposure to bupropion in pregnancy. In contrast, pregnancy-induced increase in CYP2B6-catalyzed bupropion hydroxylation did not impact the plasma levels of OHBUP, probably due to a higher rate of OHBUP glucuronidation, and renal elimination associated with pregnancy. Therefore, exposure to OHBUP, a pharmacologically active metabolite of the bupropion, appears to be similar to that of the nonpregnant state. The predicted metabolic phenotypes of CYP2B6*6 and variant alleles of CYP2C19 in pregnancy are similar to those in the nonpregnant state.