Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Atrial natriuretic peptide and posterior pituitary neurohormone changes in patients with acute schizophrenia

Objectives Interactions between neuropeptides and psychiatric disorders have been investigated for many years. The aim of this study was to evaluate oxytocin (OXT), arginine-vasopressin (AVP), and atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and assess their interactions with each other, as well as investigate these changes with the manifestations of schizophrenia. Participants and methods Thirty-four individuals having acute schizophrenia and 24 healthy individuals as the control group were included in the study. Positive and Negative Syndrome Scales, Global Assessment of Functionality score, and Clinical Global Impression (CGI) scores were measured. Serum hormone levels were analyzed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and were compared with the clinical findings. Results OXT levels were significantly lower and AVP levels were significantly higher in patients having acute schizophrenia than the control group. OXT was negatively correlated with Positive and Negative Syndrome Scales positive score and CGI score, while it was positively correlated with Global Assessment of Functionality score. AVP was negatively correlated with CGI score. ANP levels of the patients having schizophrenia were lower than the control group; however, there was no significant correlation with clinical findings. Conclusion The obtained data indicate that the AVP level was higher, but OXT and ANP levels were lower in the patients having acute schizophrenia. Specifically OXT is related with reduced disease severity and increased functionality.
Associations between Neighborhood SES and Functional Brain Network Development

Abstract Higher socioeconomic status (SES) in childhood is associated with stronger cognitive abilities, higher academic achievement, and lower incidence of mental illness later in development. While prior work has mapped the associations between neighborhood SES and brain structure, little is known about the relationship between SES and intrinsic neural dynamics. Here, we capitalize upon a large cross-sectional community-based sample (Philadelphia Neurodevelopmental Cohort, ages 8–22 years, n = 1012) to examine associations between age, SES, and functional brain network topology. We characterize this topology using a local measure of network segregation known as the clustering coefficient and find that it accounts for a greater degree of SES-associated variance than mesoscale segregation captured by modularity. High-SES youth displayed stronger positive associations between age and clustering than low-SES youth, and this effect was most pronounced for regions in the limbic, somatomotor, and ventral attention systems. The moderating effect of SES on positive associations between age and clustering was strongest for connections of intermediate length and was consistent with a stronger negative relationship between age and local connectivity in these regions in low-SES youth. Our findings suggest that, in late childhood and adolescence, neighborhood SES is associated with variation in the development of functional network structure in the human brain.
Development of Swimming Abilities in Squid Paralarvae: Behavioral and Ecological Implications for Dispersal

This study investigates the development of swimming abilities and its relationship with morphology, growth, and nourishment of reared Doryteuthis opalescens paralarvae from hatching to 60 days of age. Paralarvae (2.5–11 mm mantle length – ML) were videotaped, and their behavior quantified throughout development using computerized motion analysis. Hatchlings swim dispersed maintaining large nearest neighbor distances (NND, 8.7 ML), with swimming speeds (SS) of 3–8 mm s-1 and paths with long horizontal displacements, resulting in high net to gross displacement ratios (NGDR). For 15-day-old paralarvae, swimming paths are more consistent between jets, growth of fins, length, and mass increases. The swimming pattern of 18-day-old paralarvae starved for 72 h exhibited a significant reduction in mean SS and inability to perform escape jets. A key morphological, behavioral, and ecological transition occurs at about 6 mm ML (>35-day old), when there is a clear change in body shape, swimming performance, and behavior, paths are more regularly repeated and directional swimming is evident, suggesting that morphological changes incur in swimming performance. These squid are able to perform sustained swimming and hover against a current at significantly closer NND (2.0 ML), as path displacement is reduced and maneuverability increases. As paralarvae reach 6–7 mm ML, they are able to attain speeds up to 562 mm s-1 and to form schools. Social feeding interactions (kleptoparasitism) are often observed prior to the formation of schools. Schools are always formed within areas of high flow gradient in the tanks and are dependent on squid size and current speed. Fin development is a requisite for synchronized and maneuverable swimming of schooling early juveniles. Although average speeds of paralarvae are within intermediate Reynolds numbers (Re < 100), they make the transition to the inertia-dominated realm during escape jets of high propulsion (Re > 3200), transitioning from plankton to nekton after their first month of life. The progressive development of swimming capabilities and social interactions enable juvenile squid to school, while also accelerates learning, orientation and cognition. These observations indicate that modeling of the lifecycle should include competency to exert influence over small currents and dispersal patterns after the first month of life.
$K$ –User Interference Channels With Backhaul Cooperation: DoF vs. Backhaul Load Trade–Off

In this paper, we consider <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$K$ </tex-math></inline-formula>–user interference channels with <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$M$ </tex-math></inline-formula> antennas per node and with backhaul collaboration in one side (among the transmitters or among the receivers), for <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$M,K\in \mathbb {N}$ </tex-math></inline-formula>, and investigate the tradeoff between the rate in the channel versus the communication load in the backhaul. In this investigation, each node is equipped with <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$M$ </tex-math></inline-formula> antennas and we focus on a first order approximation result, where the rate of the wireless channel is measured by the degrees of freedom (DoF) per user, and the load of the backhaul is measured by the entropy of backhaul messages per user normalized by <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\log $ </tex-math></inline-formula> of transmit power, at high power regimes. This tradeoff is fully characterized for the case of even values of <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$K$ </tex-math></inline-formula> and approximately characterized for the case of odd values of <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$K$ </tex-math></inline-formula>, with vanishing approximation gap as <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$K$ </tex-math></inline-formula> grows. To achieve DoF of <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$M$ </tex-math></inline-formula> per user, this result establishes the asymptotic optimality of the most straightforward scheme, called central processing, in which the messages are collected at one of the nodes, centrally processed, and forwarded back to each node. In addition, this result shows that the gain of the schemes, relying on distributed processing, through pairwise communication among the nodes (e.g., cooperative alignment) does not scale with the size of the network. For the converse, we develop a new outer-bound on the tradeoff based on splitting the set of collaborative nodes (transmitters or receivers) into two subsets and assuming full cooperation within each group. We further present a sufficient condition on the wireless channel connectivity, which although more relaxed, guarantees the validity of the above tradeoff. Finally, we show that verifying this condition takes a polynomial time in the network size.
An Operational Approach to Information Leakage

Given two random variables <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$X$ </tex-math></inline-formula> and <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$Y$ </tex-math></inline-formula>, an operational approach is undertaken to quantify the “leakage” of information from <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$X$ </tex-math></inline-formula> to <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$Y$ </tex-math></inline-formula>. The resulting measure <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\mathcal {L}\left ({X \! \! \to \! \! Y}\right)$ </tex-math></inline-formula> is called <italic>maximal leakage</italic>, and is defined as the multiplicative increase, upon observing <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$Y$ </tex-math></inline-formula>, of the probability of correctly guessing a randomized function of <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$X$ </tex-math></inline-formula>, maximized over all such randomized functions. A closed-form expression for <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\mathcal {L}\left ({X \! \! \to \! \! Y}\right)$ </tex-math></inline-formula> is given for discrete <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$X$ </tex-math></inline-formula> and <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$Y$ </tex-math></inline-formula>, and it is subsequently generalized to handle a large class of random variables. The resulting properties are shown to be consistent with an axiomatic view of a leakage measure, and the definition is shown to be robust to variations in the setup. Moreover, a variant of the Shannon cipher system is studied, in which performance of an encryption scheme is measured using maximal leakage. A single-letter characterization of the optimal limit of (normalized) maximal leakage is derived and asymptotically-optimal encryption schemes are demonstrated. Furthermore, the sample complexity of estimating maximal leakage from data is characterized up to subpolynomial factors. Finally, the <italic>guessing</italic> framework used to define maximal leakage is used to give operational interpretations of commonly used leakage measures, such as Shannon capacity, maximal correlation, and local differential privacy.
Deriving star cluster parameters with convolutional neural networks

Context. Convolutional neural networks (CNNs) have been proven to perform fast classification and detection on natural images and have the potential to infer astrophysical parameters on the exponentially increasing amount of sky-survey imaging data. The inference pipeline can be trained either from real human-annotated data or simulated mock observations. Until now, star cluster analysis was based on integral or individual resolved stellar photometry. This limits the amount of information that can be extracted from cluster images. Aims. We aim to develop a CNN-based algorithm capable of simultaneously deriving ages, masses, and sizes of star clusters directly from multi-band images. We also aim to demonstrate CNN capabilities on low-mass semi-resolved star clusters in a low-signal-to-noise-ratio regime. Methods. A CNN was constructed based on the deep residual network (ResNet) architecture and trained on simulated images of star clusters with various ages, masses, and sizes. To provide realistic backgrounds, M 31 star fields taken from The Panchromatic Hubble Andromeda Treasury (PHAT) survey were added to the mock cluster images. Results. The proposed CNN was verified on mock images of artificial clusters and has demonstrated high precision and no significant bias for clusters of ages ≲3 Gyr and masses between 250 and 4000 M⊙. The pipeline is end-to-end, starting from input images all the way to the inferred parameters; no hand-coded steps have to be performed: estimates of parameters are provided by the neural network in one inferential step from raw images.
The integrated motivational–volitional model of suicidal behaviour

Suicide is a major public health concern accounting for 800 000 deaths globally each year. Although there have been many advances in understanding suicide risk in recent decades, our ability to predict suicide is no better now than it was 50 years ago. There are many potential explanations for this lack of progress, but the absence, until recently, of comprehensive theoretical models that predict the emergence of suicidal ideation distinct from the transition between suicidal ideation and suicide attempts/suicide is key to this lack of progress. The current article presents the integrated motivational–volitional (IMV) model of suicidal behaviour, one such theoretical model. We propose that defeat and entrapment drive the emergence of suicidal ideation and that a group of factors, entitled volitional moderators (VMs), govern the transition from suicidal ideation to suicidal behaviour. According to the IMV model, VMs include access to the means of suicide, exposure to suicidal behaviour, capability for suicide (fearlessness about death and increased physical pain tolerance), planning, impulsivity, mental imagery and past suicidal behaviour. In this article, we describe the theoretical origins of the IMV model, the key premises underpinning the model, empirical tests of the model and future research directions. This article is part of the theme issue ‘Evolutionary thanatology: impacts of the dead on the living in humans and other animals'.
Facilitating Whole-Class Discussion in Secondary Mathematics Classrooms

Rebecca H. McGraw Facilitating Whole-Class Discussion in Secondary Mathematics Classrooms This dissertation presents findings from a qualitative, case study of two teachers’ efforts to engage high school students in whole-class discussions as part of the process of learning mathematics. Characteristics of the process of facilitating whole-class discussion are examined, as well as struggles and supports. Analysis of the setting suggests that features of the process of facilitating discussion include (a) developing opinions and motivation for discussion, (b) structuring the physical space of the classroom, (c) bringing students’ ideas to the forefront of discussion, (d) creating reasons for listening, (e) encouraging students to question and respond to each other, and (f) pushing position-taking and creating a need for consensus. Analysis also suggests that teachers who attempt to utilize whole-class discussion as a tool for learning mathematics struggle with external time and curricular constraints, student expectations, and a high level of uncertainty with respect to their role during discussion. Further research is needed to determine the extent to which these findings translate to a range of educational settings.
Contact Pathway Function During Human Whole Blood Clotting on Procoagulant Surfaces

Microfluidic thrombosis assays allow the control of anticoagulation, hemodynamics, pharmacology, and procoagulant surfaces containing collagen ± tissue factor (TF). With corn trypsin inhibitor (CTI) ranging from low (1–4 μg/mL) to high levels (40–60 μg/mL), the function of Factor XIIa (FXIIa) can be modulated in the presence of low or high surface TF. With high CTI and no collagen/TF in the assay, no thrombin is generated during 15-min microfluidic perfusion. At low CTI (no TF), the generation of FXIa leads to fibrin polymerization at ~300 s after the initiation of flow over collagen, an onset time shortened at zero CTI and prolonged at high CTI. The engagement of FXIa was difficult to observe for clotting on high TF surfaces due to the dominance of the extrinsic pathway. Low TF surfaces allowed observable crosstalk between extrinsic pathway generation of thrombin and thrombin-mediated activation of FXIa, a feedback detected at >5 min and attenuated with polyphosphate inhibitor. From thrombin-antithrombin immunoassay of the effluent of blood flowing over collagen/TF, the majority of thrombin was found captured on intrathrombus fibrin. Additionally, extreme shear rates (>10,000 s−1) can generate massive von Willebrand Factor fibers that capture FXIIa and FXIa to drive fibrin generation, an event that facilitates VWF fiber dissolution under fibrinolytic conditions. Finally, we found that occlusive sterile thrombi subjected to pressure drops >70 mm-Hg/mm-clots have interstitial stresses sufficient to drive NETosis. These microfluidic studies highlight the interaction of contact pathway factors with the extrinsic pathway, platelet polyphosphate, VWF fibers, and potentially shear-induced NETs.
Threat vs. Threat: Attention to Fear-Related Animals and Threatening Faces

It is generally thought to be adaptive that fear relevant stimuli in the environment can capture and hold our attention; and in psychopathology attentional allocation is thought to be cue-specific. Such hypervigilance toward threatening cues or difficulty to disengage attention from threat has been demonstrated for a variety of stimuli, for example, toward evolutionary prepared animals or toward socially relevant facial expressions. Usually, specific stimuli have been examined in individuals with particular fears (e.g., animals in animal fearful and faces in socially fearful participants). However, different kinds of stimuli are rarely examined in one study. Thus, it is unknown how different categories of threatening stimuli compete for attention and how specific kinds of fears modulate these attentional processes. In this study, we used a free viewing paradigm: pairs of pictures with threat-related content (spiders or angry faces) or neutral content (butterflies or neutral faces) were presented side by side (i.e., spiders and angry faces, angry and neutral faces, spiders and butterflies, butterflies and neutral faces). Eye-movements were recorded while spider fearful, socially anxious, or non-anxious participants viewed the picture pairs. Results generally replicate the finding that unpleasant pictures more effectively capture attention in the beginning of a trial compared to neutral pictures. This effect was more pronounced in spider fearful participants: the higher the fear the quicker they were in looking at spiders. This was not the case for high socially anxious participants and pictures of angry faces. Interestingly, when presented next to each other, there was no preference in initial orientation for either spiders or angry faces. However, neutral faces were looked at more quickly than butterflies. Regarding sustained attention, we found no general preference for unpleasant pictures compared to neutral pictures.
Resistance to the Plant Defensin NaD1 Features Modifications to the Cell Wall and Osmo-Regulation Pathways of Yeast

Over the last few decades, the emergence of resistance to commonly used antifungal molecules has become a major barrier to effective treatment of recurrent life-threatening fungal diseases. Resistance combined with the increased incidence of fungal diseases has created the need for new antifungals, such as the plant defensin NaD1, with different mechanisms of action to broaden treatment options. Antimicrobial peptides produced in plants and animals are promising new molecules in the arsenal of antifungal agents because they have different mechanisms of action to current antifungals and are often targeted specifically to fungal pathogens (van der Weerden et al., 2013). A key step in the development of novel antifungals is an understanding of the potential for the fungus to develop resistance. Here, we have used the prototypic plant defensin NaD1 in serial passages with the model fungus Saccharomyces cerevisiae to examine the evolution of resistance to plant antifungal peptides. The yeast strains did develop tolerance to NaD1, but it occurred more slowly than to the clinically used antifungal caspofungin. Sequencing the genomes of the strains with increased tolerance failed to identify any ‘hotspot’ mutations associated with increased tolerance to NaD1 and led to the identification of 12 genes that are involved in resistance. Characterization of the strains with increased tolerance to NaD1 also revealed changes in tolerance to abiotic stressors. Resistance developed slowly via an accumulation of single nucleotide mutations and had a fitness penalty associated with it. One of the genes identified FPS1, revealed that there is a common mechanism of resistance to NaD1 that involves the osmotic stress response pathway. These data indicate that it is more difficult to generate resistance to antimicrobial peptides such as NaD1 compared to small molecule antifungals.
Efficient Probabilistic Inference in the Quest for Physics Beyond the Standard Model

We present a novel probabilistic programming framework that couples directly to existing large-scale simulators through a cross-platform probabilistic execution protocol, which allows general-purpose inference engines to record and control random number draws within simulators in a language-agnostic way. The execution of existing simulators as probabilistic programs enables highly interpretable posterior inference in the structured model defined by the simulator code base. We demonstrate the technique in particle physics, on a scientifically accurate simulation of the tau lepton decay, which is a key ingredient in establishing the properties of the Higgs boson. Inference efficiency is achieved via inference compilation where a deep recurrent neural network is trained to parameterize proposal distributions and control the stochastic simulator in a sequential importance sampling scheme, at a fraction of the computational cost of a Markov chain Monte Carlo baseline.
Extreme plasticity in reproductive biology of an oviparous lizard

Abstract Most oviparous squamate reptiles lay their eggs when embryos have completed less than one‐third of development, with the remaining two‐thirds spent in an external nest. Even when females facultatively retain eggs in dry or cold conditions, such retention generally causes only a minor (<10%) decrease in subsequent incubation periods. In contrast, we found that female sand lizards (Lacerta agilis) from an experimentally founded field population (established ca. 20 years ago on the southwest coast of Sweden) exhibited wide variation in incubation periods even when the eggs were kept at standard (25°C) conditions. Females that retained eggs in utero for longer based on the delay between capture and oviposition produced eggs that hatched sooner. In the extreme case, eggs hatched after only 55% of the “normal” incubation period. Although the proximate mechanisms underlying this flexibility remain unclear, our results from this first full field season at the new study site show that females within a single cold‐climate population of lizards can span a substantial proportion of the continuum from “normal” oviparity to viviparity.