Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Remembering with Gains and Losses: Effects of Monetary Reward and Punishment on Successful Encoding Activation of Source Memories

The motivation of getting rewards or avoiding punishments reinforces learning behaviors. Although the neural mechanisms underlying the effect of rewards on episodic memory have been demonstrated, there is little evidence of the effect of punishments on this memory. Our functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) study investigated the effects of monetary rewards and punishments on activation during the encoding of source memories. During encoding, participants memorized words (item) and locations of presented words (source) under 3 conditions (Reward, Punishment, and Control). During retrieval, participants retrieved item and source memories of the words and were rewarded or penalized according to their performance. Source memories encoded with rewards or punishments were remembered better than those without such encoding. fMRI data demonstrated that the ventral tegmental area and substantia nigra and nucleus accumbens activations reflected both the processes of reward and punishment, whereas insular activation increased as a linear function of punishment. Activation in the hippocampus and parahippocampal cortex predicted subsequent retrieval success of source memories. Additionally, correlations between these reward/punishment-related regions and the hippocampus were significant. The successful encoding of source memories could be enhanced by punishments and rewards, and interactions between reward/punishment-related regions and memory-related regions could contribute to memory enhancement by reward and/or punishment.
Fulminant Hepatic Failure of Autoimmune Aetiology in Children

Objective: Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is considered an underdiagnosed cause of fulminant hepatic failure (FHF). Autoimmune FHF (AI-FHF) is believed to lead invariably to liver transplantation (LTX) or death. We aimed to describe the autoimmune features of children diagnosed as having AI-FHF and indeterminate FHF (ID-FHF), and describe the outcome of patients with AI-FHF treated with immunosuppressive drugs. Methods: In this case–control study, the files of patients with AI-FHF and ID-FHF were reviewed and compared. AIH was diagnosed based on positive autoantibodies, raised immunoglobulin G, and histology when available. FHF was defined by raised transaminases, international normalised ratio ≥ 2.0, presence of encephalopathy, and no previously recognised liver disease. Results: A total of 46 children with FHF were managed in the last 15 years: 10/46 (22%) had AI-FHF, 20/46 (43%) ID-FHF, and 16 had other diagnosis. The mean follow-up time was 4.6 years. AI-FHF and ID-FHF differed for the presence of autoantibodies (10/10, 6/10 liver/kidney microsome [LKM]-type, vs 3/20, none LKM, P < 0.0001), immunoglobulin G level (1845 vs 880 mg/dL, P < 0.001), median age at diagnosis (6.4 vs 1.8 years, P = 0.017), and alanine aminotransferase level (1020 vs 2386 IU/L, P = 0.029). Liver histology did not allow to differentiate the 2 conditions. Among the patients with AI-FHF, 4/9 who received steroids recovered; 5/9 required LTX and 1 died awaiting treatment. Conclusions: AIH is a much more common cause of FHF than previously suggested, and a complete autoantibody testing including LKM-type is essential in this setting. Autoantibodies are uncommon in ID-FHF, and histology cannot distinguish it from AI-FHF. A cautious steroid trial may avoid LTX in some of the patients with AI-FHF.
Consequences of a family history of type 1 and type 2 diabetes on the phenotype of patients with type 2 diabetes.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the impact of a family history of type 1 and type 2 diabetes on the phenotype of patients with type 2 diabetes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS In a population-based study, we compared the phenotype in 3 groups of patients with type 2 diabetes. The first group had no family history of diabetes (FH-, n = 148); the second group had a family history of type 2 diabetes only (FH+(TYPE2), n = 1,211); and the third group had a family history of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes (FH+(MIXED), n = 240). Furthermore, we studied the frequency of GAD antibodies (GADabs), HLA-DQB1 risk genotypes, and the presence of coronary heart disease (CHD) according to family history in unrelated patients with type 2 diabetes from 787 families (148 FH-, 546 FH+(TYPE2) and 93 FH+(MIXED)). RESULTS Patients with no family history of diabetes were older at the onset of the disease, had a better beta-cell function (P = 0.004), and had higher HDL cholesterol concentrations (P = 0.006) than patients with a family history of diabetes. Patients with a family history of only type 2 diabetes had higher BMI and fasting C-peptide concentrations (P = 0.031) but lower frequency of GADab (11 vs. 23%, P = 0.001) and DQB1 risk genotypes (37 vs. 54%, P = 0.003) compared with patients with a family history of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. In addition, hypertension (P = 0.05) and CHD (P = 0.031) were more common in FH+(TYPE2) than in FH+(MIXED) patients. In patients <60 years old, a family history of type 1 diabetes was associated with a reduced risk of CHD independent of age, hypertension, and HDL cholesterol concentrations. The results were similar when the GADab+ patients were excluded from the analysis. CONCLUSIONS A family history of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes had a profound influence on the phenotype of patients with type 2 diabetes, which suggests a genetic interaction between type 1 and type 2 diabetes.
Herding, A-Synchronous Updating and Heterogeneity in Memory in a Cbs

This paper considers a simple Continuous Beliefs System (CBS) toinvestigate the effects on price dynamics of several behavioralassumptions: (i) herd behaviour; (ii) a-synchronous updating ofbeliefs; and (iii) heterogeneity in time horizons (memory) amongagents. The recently introduced concept of a CBS allows one to model the co-evolution of prices and the beliefs distribution explicitly, while keeping track of the unpredictable nature of individual preferences (Diks and Van der Weide, 2003). As a benchmark model we take a simple CBS, which in a market withmany traders exhibits a random walk driven by news.Using the explicit nature of the dynamics of the CBS we show that the introduction of herding modifies the random walk to an ARIMA($0,1,1$) process, which is observationally equivalent to areduction of the number of market participants. In terms of returns the model predicts MA(1) structure with a negative coeffient. Asynchronous updating leads to an MA(1) model for returns with GARCH($1,1$) innovations, and predicts a relation between the ARCH and GARCH coefficients. Heterogeneity in memory leads to long-range dependence in returns. In the empirical section we perform a modest `reality check' concerning the predicted sign of the MA coefficient and the relation between the ARCH and GARCH coefficients for exchange rate data.
A comparative study of the life histories of Nematodirus battus and N. filicollis, nematode parasites of sheep

1. The life history of N. battus is described, and a comparative description of the life history of N. filicollis is given. 2. The life histories of these two species are compared with those of N. spathiger and N. helvetianus, two closely related species, and are shown to follow the same basic pattern, with minor variations in timing which appear to be specific in nature, and not related to differences in culture methods or host species. 3. The pathogenesis of Nematodirus species is discussed and related to the migration of larvae into the intestinal mucosa during development.
Fitness Components versus Total Demographic Effects: Evaluating Herbivore Impacts on a Perennial Herb

I examined the long‐term effects of cryptic mollusk herbivory on seven fitness components in the perennial herb Lathyrus vernus and also calculated measures of total fitness effects. Natural correlations and experimental exclusion of mollusks showed that herbivory is associated with an increased probability of dying or staying dormant, poorer growth, and a lower probability of flowering. The average yearly reduction in population growth rate (λ) caused by mollusks in the experiment was 0.14. The largest contribution to this decrease in total fitness occurred through a decreased survival of established plants. In contrast, seedling emergence and probability of flowering were the fitness components that were most affected in terms of relative change. The more important a life‐cycle transition was for population growth rate in terms of its elasticity, the less it was affected by herbivore damage. These results suggest that simple analyses of the magnitudes of effects on individual components of plant performance are poor predictors of the magnitude of total fitness effects and tolerance to herbivory. This is because total fitness is differently sensitive to different phases of the life cycle and because plants strive to maintain the functions most important to fitness.
Accounting for Source Uncertainties in Analyses of Astronomical Survey Data

I discuss an issue arising in analyzing data from astronomical surveys: accounting for measurement uncertainties in the properties of individual sources detected in a survey when making inferences about the entire population of sources. Source uncertainties require the analyst to introduce unknown “incidental” parameters for each source. The number of parameters thus grows with the size of the sample, and standard theorems guaranteeing asymptotic convergence of maximum likelihood estimates fail in such settings. From the Bayesian point of view, the missing ingredient in such analyses is accounting for the volume in the incidental parameter space via marginalization. I use simple simulations, motivated by modeling the distribution of trans‐Neptunian objects surveyed in the outer solar system, to study the effects of source uncertainties on inferences. The simulations show that current non‐Bayesian methods for handling source uncertainties (ignoring them, or using an ad hoc incidental parameter integration).
The Effects of Propofol Infusion on Hepatic and Pancreatic Function and Acid-Base Status in Children Undergoing Craniotomy and Receiving Phenytoin

BACKGROUND: In this study, we investigated the effects of propofol infusion on hepatic and pancreatic enzymes and acid-base status compared with baseline values in children undergoing craniotomy who were receiving phenytoin for antiepileptic prophylaxis. METHODS: In this prospective clinical study, we measured the serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), &ggr;-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), pancreatic amylase, lipase, and triglyceride levels of 30 children ranging from 4 to 12 yr. All children received propofol anesthesia and were taking phenytoin for antiepileptic prophylaxis. Patients already receiving phenytoin were continued on their medication. Peroral 5 mg · kg−1 · d−1 phenytoin was started in patients who were not receiving phenytoin. Serum AST, ALT, GGT, ALP, bilirubin, pancreatic amylase, lipase, and triglyceride levels were studied on admission to the hospital, 1 day before surgery, and on postoperative Days 1, 3, 5, and 7. Arterial blood gas samplings were taken after tracheal intubation, during the operation (2nd and 4th h), just after extubation, and 1, 2, 6, and 12 h after extubation. RESULTS: Serum AST, ALT, GGT, ALP, pancreatic amylase, lipase, and triglyceride levels were increased significantly in the postoperative period compared with baseline with a peak value on postoperative Day 1 and returned to normal values within a week. Base excess levels after extubation were significantly decreased compared with baseline. They were in the normal range, however, and returned to baseline values by 6 h after surgery. There were no clinical signs of hepatitis or pancreatitis. Bilirubin levels were normal. None of the children developed complications related to the liver or pancreas during the 4–6 mo after surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the slightly increased pancreatic and hepatic enzyme levels during the postoperative period, anesthesia maintenance with propofol in children undergoing craniotomy had no significant clinical effect on the acid-base status or pancreas or liver enzymes.
The Development of STEM Literacy Using the Learning Process of Scientific Imagineering through AR

The aim of this research was to 1) study the elements of STEM literacy for SIGAR and 2) study the development of STEM literacy by using SIGAR. The research methodology was divided into two phases: 1) reviewing literature on STEM literacy and studying each step of the SIGAR model. 2) Examining the suitability of the elements of STEM literacy and the development of STEM literacy by using SIGAR. The evaluation was undertaken by ten experts who hold doctoral degrees. The results showed that STEM literacy consisted of: 1) the ability to identify STEM problems, 2) the ability to seek new knowledge, 3) the application of the STEM concept, 4) the ability to solve problems using STEM, 5) the ability to communicate information relating to STEM, and 6) the ability to make decisions based on STEM. The experts also evaluated which step of SIGAR was most suitable for the development of the respective aspects of STEM literacy.
An insensitive acetylcholinesterase in Culex pipiens (Diptera:Culicidae) from Portugal.

Resistance mechanisms of a strain (PRAIAS) of northern house mosquito, Culex pipiens L. , collected in Portugal in 1993, and highly resistant to organophosphates and carbamates, were investigated by comparing the resistance characteristics to 3 organophosphorous (temephos, chlorpyrifos, malathion) and 1 carbamate (propoxur) insecticides in the presence or absence of synergists; and by determining the possible occurrence of overproduced esterases or insensitive acetylcholinesterase (AChE). The reference strain MSE from southern France, with an insensitive AChE, was included in all analyses for comparison. For organophosphorous insecticides, resistance in PRAIAS was caused by an insensitive AChE and an increase in oxidative metabolism, although the 2nd mechanism has only a marginal effect. For propoxur, the insensitive AChE was the only resistance mechanism detected. Biochemical properties of both the French and Portuguese insensitive AChEs were similar. We cannot exclude the possibility that PRAIAS and MSE strains possess exactly the same insensitive AChE allele.
Lateralized hybrid faces: Evidence of a valence-specific bias in the processing of implicit emotions

It is well known that hemispheric asymmetries exist for both the analyses of low-level visual information (such as spatial frequency) and high-level visual information (such as emotional expressions). In this study, we assessed which of the above factors underlies perceptual laterality effects with “hybrid faces”: a type of stimulus that allows testing for unaware processing of emotional expressions, when the emotion is displayed in the low-frequency information while an image of the same face with a neutral expression is superimposed to it. Despite hybrid faces being perceived as neutral, the emotional information modulates observers’ social judgements. In the present study, participants were asked to assess friendliness of hybrid faces displayed tachistoscopically, either centrally or laterally to fixation. We found a clear influence of the hidden emotions also with lateral presentations. Happy faces were rated as more friendly and angry faces as less friendly with respect to neutral faces. In general, hybrid faces were evaluated as less friendly when they were presented in the left visual field/right hemisphere than in the right visual field/left hemisphere. The results extend the validity of the valence hypothesis in the specific domain of unaware (subcortical) emotion processing.
Exposure to Nickel, Chromium, or Cadmium Causes Distinct Changes in the Gene Expression Patterns of a Rat Liver Derived Cell Line

Many heavy metals, including nickel (Ni), cadmium (Cd), and chromium (Cr) are toxic industrial chemicals with an exposure risk in both occupational and environmental settings that may cause harmful outcomes. While these substances are known to produce adverse health effects leading to disease or health problems, the detailed mechanisms remain unclear. To elucidate the processes involved in the toxicity of nickel, cadmium, and chromium at the molecular level and to perform a comparative analysis, H4-II-E-C3 rat liver-derived cell lines were treated with soluble salts of each metal using concentrations derived from viability assays, and gene expression patterns were determined with DNA microarrays. We identified both common and unique biological responses to exposure to the three metals. Nickel, cadmium, chromium all induced oxidative stress with both similar and unique genes and pathways responding to this stress. Although all three metals are known to be genotoxic, evidence for DNA damage in our study only exists in response to chromium. Nickel induced a hypoxic response as well as inducing genes involved in chromatin structure, perhaps by replacing iron in key proteins. Cadmium distinctly perturbed genes related to endoplasmic reticulum stress and invoked the unfolded protein response leading to apoptosis. With these studies, we have completed the first gene expression comparative analysis of nickel, cadmium, and chromium in H4-II-E-C3 cells.
Gender Specific Re-organization of Resting-State Networks in Older Age

Advancing age is commonly associated with changes in both brain structure and function. Recently, the suggestion that alterations in brain connectivity may drive disruption in cognitive abilities with age has been investigated. However, the interaction between the effects of age and gender on the re-organization of resting-state networks is not fully understood. This study sought to investigate the effect of both age and gender on intra- and inter-network functional connectivity (FC) and the extent to which resting-state network (RSN) node definition may alter with older age. We obtained resting-state functional magnetic resonance images from younger (n = 20) and older (n = 20) adults and assessed the FC of three main cortical networks: default mode (DMN), dorsal attention (DAN), and saliency (SN). Older adults exhibited reduced DMN intra-network FC and increased inter-network FC between the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and nodes of the DAN, in comparison to younger participants. Furthermore, this increase in ACC-DAN inter-network FC with age was driven largely by male participants. However, further analyses suggested that the spatial location of ACC, bilateral anterior insula and orbitofrontal cortex RSN nodes changed with older age and that age-related gender differences in FC may reflect spatial re-organization rather than increases or decreases in FC strength alone. These differences in both the FC and spatial distribution of RSNs between younger and older adults provide evidence of re-organization of fundamental brain networks with age, which is modulated by gender. These results highlight the need to further investigate changes in both intra- and inter-network FC with age, whilst also exploring the modifying effect of gender. They also emphasize the difficulties in directly comparing the FC of RSN nodes between groups and suggest that caution should be taken when using the same RSN node definitions for different age or patient groups to investigate FC.
γ-H2AX in recognition and signaling of DNA double-strand breaks in the context of chromatin

DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) are extremely dangerous lesions with severe consequences for cell survival and the maintenance of genomic stability. In higher eukaryotic cells, DSBs in chromatin promptly initiate the phosphorylation of the histone H2A variant, H2AX, at Serine 139 to generate γ-H2AX. This phosphorylation event requires the activation of the phosphatidylinositol-3-OH-kinase-like family of protein kinases, DNA-PKcs, ATM, and ATR, and serves as a landing pad for the accumulation and retention of the central components of the signaling cascade initiated by DNA damage. Regions in chromatin with γ-H2AX are conveniently detected by immunofluorescence microscopy and serve as beacons of DSBs. This has allowed the development of an assay that has proved particularly useful in the molecular analysis of the processing of DSBs. Here, we first review the role of γ-H2AX in DNA damage response in the context of chromatin and discuss subsequently the use of this modification as a surrogate marker for mechanistic studies of DSB induction and processing. We conclude with a critical analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of the approach and present some interesting applications of the resulting methodology.
Behavior of Americium in Simulated Wounds in Nonhuman Primates

Abstract An americium solution injected intramuscularly into several nonhuman primates (NHPs) was found to behave differently than predicted by the wound models described in the NCRP Report 156. This was because the injection was made along with a citrate solution, which is known to be more soluble than chlorides, oxides, or nitrates on which the NCRP Report was based. A multi-exponential wound model specific to the injected americium solution was developed based on the retention in the intramuscular sites. The model was coupled with the americium systemic model to interpret the urinary excretion data and assess the intake, and it was determined that the models were adequate to predict early urinary excretion in most cases but unable to predict late urinary excretion. This was attributed to the differences in the systemic handling of americium between humans and nonhuman primates. Information on the type of wounds, solubility, particle size, mass, chemical form, etc., should always be considered when performing wound dosimetry.
Iteration-Complexity of a Newton Proximal Extragradient Method for Monotone Variational Inequalities and Inclusion Problems

In a recent paper by Monteiro and Svaiter, a hybrid proximal extragradient (HPE) framework was used to study the iteration-complexity of a first-order (or, in the context of optimization, second-order) method for solving monotone nonlinear equations. The purpose of this paper is to extend this analysis to study a prox-type first-order method for monotone smooth variational inequalities and inclusion problems consisting of the sum of a smooth monotone map and a maximal monotone point-to-set operator. Each iteration of the method computes an approximate solution of a proximal subproblem obtained by linearizing the smooth part of the operator in the corresponding proximal equation for the original problem, which is then used to perform an extragradient step as prescribed by the HPE framework. Both pointwise and ergodic iteration-complexity results are derived for the aforementioned first-order method using corresponding results obtained here for a subfamily of the HPE framework.