Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Acoustic gas thermometry

We review the principles, techniques and results from primary acoustic gas thermometry (AGT). Since the establishment of ITS-90, the International Temperature Scale of 1990, spherical and quasi-spherical cavity resonators have been used to realize primary AGT in the temperature range 7 K to 552 K. Throughout the sub-range 90 K < T < 384 K, at least two laboratories measured (T − T90). (Here T is the thermodynamic temperature and T90 is the temperature on ITS-90.) With a minor exception, the resulting values of (T − T90) are mutually consistent within 3 × 10−6 T. These consistent measurements were obtained using helium and argon as thermometric gases inside cavities that had radii ranging from 40 mm to 90 mm and that had walls made of copper or aluminium or stainless steel. The AGT values of (T − T90) fall on a smooth curve that is outside ±u(T90), the estimated uncertainty of T90. Thus, the AGT results imply that ITS-90 has errors that could be reduced in a future temperature scale. Recently developed techniques imply that low-uncertainty AGT can be realized at temperatures up to 1350 K or higher and also at temperatures in the liquid-helium range.
Examining the relationship between blast‐induced mild traumatic brain injury and posttraumatic stress‐related traits

Emerging evidence suggests that mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) resulting from blast exposure may contribute to the occurrence of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and related affective sequelae, such as anxiety and depression. Many studies have used survey techniques to describe blast exposure leading to comorbid mTBI and related persistent postconcussive symptoms (PPCS) with PTSD in military populations. Despite this, there is a lack of literature that examines possible biological mechanisms by which blast exposure contributes to the development of PTSD sequelae. This Mini‐Review addresses the current literature on potential neurophysiological changes that may contribute to PTSD‐like traits as a result of a single or multiple exposures to blast events. Evidence from clinical blast‐induced mTBI populations and animal models of blast‐induced mTBI was evaluated with an emphasis on behavioral and physiological symptoms similar to those seen in PTSD populations and models. From the analysis, we propose potential mechanisms that merit further investigation for better understanding of how blast exposures may produce a higher rate of comorbid PPCS, PTSD, and affective phenomena. An improved understanding of PTSD‐like outcomes resulting from blast exposure will ultimately help facilitate the development of future treatments and contribute to a better understanding of PTSD sequelae that develop from physical trauma. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Effect of cooking or handling conditions on the furan levels of processed foods

The aim of this study was to investigate the possible effects of cooking or handling conditions on the concentration of furan in processed foods. The analytical method used to analyse furan levels in foods was optimized based on solid-phase microextraction-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (SPME-GC-MS). In baby soups, the concentration of furan decreased by up to 22% after opening a lid for 10 min. In the baby food in retort packaging, the level of furan was reduced by 15–33% after heating the foods at 50°C without a lid. Furan in rice seasonings was evaporated completely after heating the foods at 60°C. Regarding powered milk, the levels of furan were too low to be compared under various conditions. The levels of furan decreased to 58% in beverage products for babies, after storing them at 4°C for 1 day without a lid. The levels of furan in canned foods such as cereal and vegetable were reduced by zero to 52% when they were stored without stirring in a refrigerator at 4°C for 1 day. When we boiled canned fish, the furan present was almost completely evaporated. It is recommended that canned meats be heated up to 50–70°C for the reduction (26–46%) of furan levels. The levels of furan in instant and brewed coffee samples were significantly reduced after storing for 11 to 20 min at room temperature without a lid (p < 0.05).
Implications of pharmacogenetics for the therapeutic use of antiepileptic drugs

Introduction: Epilepsy is a chronic neurological disease manifesting as recurrent seizures. Despite the availability of numerous antiepileptic drugs (AEDs), one-third of the patients are not responsive to treatment. Such inter-individual variability in the response to AEDs may be partly explained by genetic differences. This review summarizes the pharmacogenetics (PGx) of AEDs. In addition, a model-based approach is presented that enables the integration of PGx data with other relevant sources of variability, such as demographic characteristics and co-medications. Areas covered: A comprehensive overview is provided of the data available in the literature on the evidence for correlations between genetic mutations and pharmacokinetic (PK) and/or pharmacodynamics (PD) of AEDs. This information is then used in an integrated manner in the second part, where PGx differences are parameterized as covariates in PK and PKPD models. Expert opinion: Polymorphisms are profuse in the PK and PD of AEDs. However, understanding of their clinical implication remains limited due to the lack of methodologies that discriminate the contribution of other sources of variability in CNS exposure to drugs. A model-based approach, in which other intrinsic (e.g., demographic covariates) and extrinsic (e.g., drug–drug interactions) factors are evaluated concurrently is needed to ensure optimization and individualization of treatment in epileptic patients.
Development of Visual Acuity and Contrast Sensitivity in Children

Purpose Most studies of visual development have concentrated on visual development of infants. Only a few studies have extended this to children and determined the point at which visual function becomes truly adult-like. Yet from a clinical and research perspective it is important to know this. This review paper is a discussion of the development of visual acuity and contrast sensitivity into childhood.
Evaluation of genetic variants in association with colorectal cancer risk and survival in Asians

Genome‐wide association studies (GWAS) have identified over 40 genetic loci associated with colorectal cancer (CRC) risk. The association of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) at these loci with CRC risk and survival has not been adequately evaluated in East Asians. GWAS‐identified CRC risk variants were used to construct weighted genetic risk scores (GRSs). We evaluated these GRSs in association with CRC risk in 3,303 CRC cases and 3,553 controls using logistic regression models. Associations with overall and CRC‐specific survival were assessed in 731 CRC patients using Cox regression models. The association between the GRSs (overall and Asian‐specific) and CRC risk was approximately twofold (highest vs. lowest quintile), and the shape of the dose–response was linear (ptrend = 1.24 × 10−13 and 3.02 × 10−14 for overall GRS and Asian‐specific GRS, respectively). The association of the GRS with CRC risk was stronger among those with a family history of CRC (pinteraction = 0.007). Asian‐specific GRS using previously reported survival SNPs increased risk for mortality and the shape of the dose–response was linear for CRC‐specific and all‐cause mortality (ptrend = 0.01 and 0.006, respectively). Furthermore, the minor alleles of rs6983267 and rs1957636 were associated with worse CRC‐specific and overall survival. We show that GRSs constructed using GWAS‐identified common variants are strongly associated with CRC risk in Asians. We confirm previous findings for the possible association between some SNPs with survival, and provide evidence for two additional CRC risk variants that may be related to CRC survival.
Endocytic Structures and Synaptic Vesicle Recycling at a Central Synapse in Awake Rats

The synaptic vesicle (SV) cycle has been studied extensively in cultured cells and slice preparations, but not much is known about the roles and relative contributions of endocytic pathways and mechanisms of SV recycling in vivo, under physiological patterns of activity. We employed horseradish peroxidase (HRP) as an in vivo marker of endocytosis at the calyx of Held synapse in the awake rat. Ex vivo serial section scanning electron microscopy and 3D reconstructions revealed two categories of labelled structures: HRP‐filled SVs and large cisternal endosomes. Inhibition of adaptor protein complexes 1 and 3 (AP‐1, AP‐3) by in vivo application of Brefeldin A (BFA) disrupted endosomal SV budding while SV recycling via clathrin‐mediated endocytosis (CME) remained unaffected. In conclusion, our study establishes cisternal endosomes as an intermediate of the SV cycle and reveals CME and endosomal budding as the predominant mechanisms of SV recycling in a tonically active central synapse in vivo.
Efficient and accurate extraction of in vivo calcium signals from microendoscopic video data

In vivo calcium imaging through microendoscopic lenses enables imaging of previously inaccessible neuronal populations deep within the brains of freely moving animals. However, it is computationally challenging to extract single-neuronal activity from microendoscopic data, because of the very large background fluctuations and high spatial overlaps intrinsic to this recording modality. Here, we describe a new constrained matrix factorization approach to accurately separate the background and then demix and denoise the neuronal signals of interest. We compared the proposed method against previous independent components analysis and constrained nonnegative matrix factorization approaches. On both simulated and experimental data recorded from mice, our method substantially improved the quality of extracted cellular signals and detected more well-isolated neural signals, especially in noisy data regimes. These advances can in turn significantly enhance the statistical power of downstream analyses, and ultimately improve scientific conclusions derived from microendoscopic data.
Prevalence of Malocclusion in Permanent Dentition of Iranian Population: A Review Article

Background: The aim of this study was systematic review and meta-analysis of prevalence in current and relevant literature about this developmental disorder to present the profile of malocclusion in Iran. Methods: This review study was carried out with systematically identified and critically assessed studies reporting malocclusion prevalence among Iranian population in permanent dentition. National and international databases were searched for articles about prevalence of malocclusion by Angle classification in different regions of Iran from 1994 to 2015. After applying inclusion and exclusion criteria, the quality of articles was checked by professional checklist. Data extraction and meta-analysis was performed. A random-effect model was employed. Publication bias was checked. Results: Of 2768 articles, 21 cases were included. The pooled prevalence of malocclusion was about 87% (95% CI: 78.3–92.2) in Iranian population; however, the prevalence of malocclusion across individual studies varied considerably (ranging from 23.7% to 99.7%). Prevalence of normal occlusion, class I, II and III malocclusion were reported as 13.3% (CI 95%: 7.8–21.7), 50.7% (CI 95%: 42.9–58.4), 21% (CI 95%: 17.5–25.1), 5.5% (CI 95%: 3–10); respectively. Maximum prevalence of malocclusion was in the East of Iran. Conclusion: The results showed a high prevalence of malocclusion in Iranian population. The baseline information could be appropriately utilized for the future planning to meet the orthodontic treatment need among the Iranian population.
Correspondent Functional Topography of the Human Left Inferior Parietal Lobule at Rest and Under Task Revealed Using Resting‐State fMRI and Coactivation Based Parcellation

The human left inferior parietal lobule (LIPL) plays a pivotal role in many cognitive functions and is an important node in the default mode network (DMN). Although many previous studies have proposed different parcellation schemes for the LIPL, the detailed functional organization of the LIPL and the exact correspondence between the DMN and LIPL subregions remain unclear. Mounting evidence indicates that spontaneous fluctuations in the brain are strongly associated with cognitive performance at the behavioral level. However, whether a consistent functional topographic organization of the LIPL during rest and under task can be revealed remains unknown. Here, they used resting‐state functional connectivity (RSFC) and task‐related coactivation patterns separately to parcellate the LIPL and identified seven subregions. Four subregions were located in the supramarginal gyrus (SMG) and three subregions were located in the angular gyrus (AG). The subregion‐specific networks and functional characterization revealed that the four anterior subregions were found to be primarily involved in sensorimotor processing, movement imagination and inhibitory control, audition perception and speech processing, and social cognition, whereas the three posterior subregions were mainly involved in episodic memory, semantic processing, and spatial cognition. The results revealed a detailed functional organization of the LIPL and suggested that the LIPL is a functionally heterogeneous area. In addition, the present study demonstrated that the functional architecture of the LIPL during rest corresponds with that found in task processing. Hum Brain Mapp 38:1659–1675, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
H2AFX and MDC1 promote maintenance of genomic integrity in male germ cells

ABSTRACT In somatic cells, H2afx and Mdc1 are close functional partners in DNA repair and damage response. However, it is not known whether they are also involved in the maintenance of genome integrity in meiosis. By analyzing chromosome dynamics in H2afx−/− spermatocytes, we found that the synapsis of autosomes and X-Y chromosomes was impaired in a fraction of cells. Such defects correlated with an abnormal recombination profile. Conversely, Mdc1 was dispensable for the synapsis of the autosomes and played only a minor role in X-Y synapsis, compared with the action of H2afx. This suggested that those genes have non-overlapping functions in chromosome synapsis. However, we observed that both genes play a similar role in the assembly of MLH3 onto chromosomes, a key step in crossover formation. Moreover, we show that H2afx and Mdc1 cooperate in promoting the activation of the recombination-dependent checkpoint, a mechanism that restrains the differentiation of cells with unrepaired DSBs. This occurs by a mechanism that involves P53. Overall, our data show that, in male germ cells, H2afx and Mdc1 promote the maintenance of genome integrity. This article has an associated First Person interview with the first author of the paper. Summary: H2afx and Mdc1 preserve male germ cell genome stability by promoting proper recombination-mediated synapsis, crossover formation and activation of the recombination-dependent checkpoint.
Diagnostic Accuracy and Interobserver Agreement of Quasistatic Ultrasound Elastography in the Diagnosis of Thyroid Nodules

Abstract Purpose: To assess the best technique and the diagnostic accuracy of Quasistatic Ultrasound Elastography (QUE) in thyroid nodules. Interobserver agreement was also evaluated. Materials and Methods: A preliminary study of 50 patients with 54 thyroid nodules was performed with quantitative software in order to define the best cut-off value of different imaging methods. All patients underwent total thyroidectomy and histopathology findings served as the standard of reference. Thereafter, 154 nodules in 137 consecutive patients were prospectively evaluated by three operators. Findings at fine-needle aspiration cytology and histopathology (N = 60) served as the standard of reference. Results: The most accurate technique was the axial peri-intranodular measurement method which achieved an area under the ROC curve of 0.961 (95 %CI 0.848 – 1.00) and had an optimal cut-off value of 3.00. QUE in the differentiation of thyroid nodules showed for operator 1: sensitivity 90 % (95 %CI 73.5 – 97.9 %), specificity 92.7 % (95 %CI 86.7 – 96.6 %), LR+ 12.40 (6.54 – 23.50), LR- 0.11 (0.04 – 0.32) and accuracy 91.4 % (95 %CI 85.4 – 97.3 %); for operator 2: sensitivity 86.7 % (95 %CI 69.3 – 96.2 %), specificity 87.1 % (95 %CI 79.9 – 92.4 %), LR+ 6.72 (4.16 – 10.80), LR- 0.15 (0.06 – 0.38) and accuracy 86.9 % (95 %CI 80.0 – 93.7 %); for operator 3: sensitivity 80 % (95 %CI 61.4 – 92.3 %), specificity 83.9 % (95 %CI 76.2 – 89.9 %), LR+ 4.96 (3.20 – 7.70), LR- 0.24 (0.12 – 0.49) and accuracy 81.9 % (95 %CI 74.0 – 89.9 %). Interobserver agreement values between operator 1 and operator 2 (k = 0.79) (p < 0.05, 95 %CI 0.684 – 0.904), between operator 1 and operator 3 (k = 0.73, 95 %CI: 0.607 – 0.854) and between operator 2 and operator 3 (k = 0.71, 95 %CI: 0.584 – 0.835) were significant. Conclusion: QUE provides accurate quantitative evaluation of thyroid nodules with low interobserver variability.
Preparation of Temperature-Sensitive Polyurethanes for Smart Textiles

A series of segmented polyurethane (PU) were prepared using five different polyols and hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI) as mixing soft segment, 4,4′-diphenylmethane diisocyanate, hydrophilic segment poly (ethylene glycol) 200 (PEG 200) and chain extender 1,4-butanediol (1,4-BDO) as triblock hard segment. The micro-structure of the PUs was investigated by differential scanning calorimetry, wide-angle X-ray, and polarizing microscopy. Tensile property was measured, and the water vapor transport property of the PU membranes as a function of temperature was tested accordingly. It was found that the PUs with crystalline soft segments were temperature-sensitive; that is, crystal melting of soft segment results in the significant increase in water vapor permeability of the PU membranes. Proper molecule design can set switch temperature ranges in water vapor permeability of the membranes from 10 to 40°C including body temperature. Such properties can contribute to the development of smart textiles.
Self-image patterns as predictors of change and outcome of trainee-led psychotherapy

Abstract This study investigated the outcome of undergraduate trainee-led psychotherapy and how different self-image patterns explain symptom change. Pre- and post-treatment data from 235 Swedish outpatients were used. Clients were assessed with Symptom Checklist-90 (SCL-90) and the Structural Analysis of Social Behavior (SASB). Outcome effect size was moderate and in line with earlier studies on trainees. Clinical significant change showed that 42% of all clients were recovered or improved after 18 sessions in either training condition PDT or CBT. Regression analysis showed that a more negative self-image and higher levels of self-control before treatment predicted improvement in both psychiatric symptoms and personality factors. A negative self-image, when observed before treatment, can be understood as an increased motivation for change.
Nonselective Wiring Accounts for Red-Green Opponency in Midget Ganglion Cells of the Primate Retina

In primate retina, “red-green” color coding is initiated when signals originating in long (L) and middle (M) wavelength-sensitive cone photoreceptors interact antagonistically. The center-surround receptive field of “midget” ganglion cells provides the neural substrate for L versus M cone-opponent interaction, but the underlying circuitry remains unsettled, centering around the longstanding question of whether specialized cone wiring is present. To address this question, we measured the strength, sign, and spatial tuning of L- and M-cone input to midget receptive fields in the peripheral retina of macaque primates of either sex. Consistent with previous work, cone opponency arose when one of the cone types showed a stronger connection to the receptive field center than to the surround. We implemented a difference-of-Gaussians spatial receptive field model, incorporating known biology of the midget circuit, to test whether physiological responses we observed in real cells could be captured entirely by anatomical nonselectivity. When this model sampled nonselectively from a realistic cone mosaic, it accurately reproduced key features of a cone-opponent receptive field structure, and predicted both the variability and strength of cone opponency across the retina. The model introduced here is consistent with abundant anatomical evidence for nonselective wiring, explains both local and global properties of the midget population, and supports a role in their multiplexing of spatial and color information. It provides a neural basis for human chromatic sensitivity across the visual field, as well as the maintenance of normal color vision despite significant variability in the relative number of L and M cones across individuals. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Red-green color vision is a hallmark of the human and nonhuman primate that starts in the retina with the presence of long (L)- and middle (M)-wavelength sensitive cone photoreceptor types. Understanding the underlying retinal mechanism for color opponency has focused on the broad question of whether this characteristic can emerge from nonselective wiring, or whether complex cone-type-specific wiring must be invoked. We provide experimental and modeling support for the hypothesis that nonselective connectivity is sufficient to produce the range of red-green color opponency observed in midget ganglion cells across the retina. Our nonselective model reproduces the diversity of physiological responses of midget cells while also accounting for systematic changes in color sensitivity across the visual field.
High‐resolution imaging of muscle attachment structures in Caenorhabditis elegans

We used structured illumination microscopy (SIM) to obtain super‐resolution images of muscle attachment structures in Caenorhabditis elegans striated muscle. SIM imaging of M‐line components revealed two patterns: PAT‐3 (β‐integrin) and proteins that interact in a complex with the cytoplasmic tail of β‐integrin and localize to the basal muscle cell membrane [UNC‐112 (kindlin), PAT‐4 (ILK), UNC‐97 (PINCH), PAT‐6 (α‐parvin), and UNC‐95], are found in discrete, angled segments with gaps. In contrast, proteins localized throughout the depth of the M‐line (UNC‐89 (obscurin) and UNC‐98) are imaged as continuous lines. Systematic immunostaining of muscle cell boundaries revealed that dense body components close to the basal muscle cell membrane also localize at cell boundaries. SIM imaging of muscle cell boundaries reveal “zipper‐like” structures. Electron micrographs reveal electron dense material similar in appearance to dense bodies located adjacent to the basolateral cell membranes of adjacent muscle cells separated by ECM. Moreover, by EM, there are a variety of features of the muscle cell boundaries that help explain the zipper‐like pattern of muscle protein localization observed by SIM. Short dense bodies in atn‐1 mutants that are null for α‐actinin and lack the deeper extensions of dense bodies, showed “zipper‐like” structures by SIM similar to cell boundary structures, further indicating that the surface‐proximal components of dense bodies form the “zipper‐like” structures at cell boundaries. Moreover, mutants in thin and thick filament components do not have “dot‐like” dense bodies, suggesting that myofilament tension is required for assembly or maintenance of proper dense body shape.