Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
BOLD neurovascular coupling does not change significantly with normal aging

Studies of cognitive function that compare the blood oxygenation level dependent (BOLD) signal across age groups often require the assumption that neurovascular coupling does not change with age. Tests of this assumption have produced mixed results regarding the strength of the coupling and its relative time course. Using deconvolution, we found that age does not have a significant effect on the time course of the hemodynamic impulse response function or on the slope of the BOLD versus stimulus duration relationship. These results suggest that in cognitive studies of healthy aging, group differences in BOLD activation are likely due to age‐related changes in cognitive–neural interactions and information processing rather than to impairments in neurovascular coupling. Hum Brain Mapp 38:3538–3551, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
An MEG Study of Temporal Characteristics of Semantic Integration in Japanese Noun Phrases

Many studies of on-line comprehension of semantic violations have shown that the human sentence processor rapidly constructs a higher-order semantic interpretation of the sentence. What remains unclear, however, is the amount of time required to detect semantic anomalies while concatenating two words to form a phrase with very rapid stimuli presentation. We aimed to examine the time course of semantic integration in concatenating two words in phrase structure building, using magnetoencephalography (MEG). In the MEG experiment, subjects decided whether two words (a classifier and its corresponding noun), presented each for 66 ms, form a semantically correct noun phrase. Half of the stimuli were matched pairs of classifiers and nouns. The other half were mismatched pairs of classifiers and nouns. In the analysis of MEG data, there were three primary peaks found at approximately 25 ms (M1), 170 ms (M2) and 250 ms (M3) after the presentation of the target words. As a result, only the M3 latencies were significantly affected by the stimulus conditions. Thus, the present results indicate that the semantic integration in concatenating two words starts from approximately 250 ms.
Therapeutic approach to acute hepatitis C.

It is estimated that 150 to 200 million individuals arecurrently infected with the hepatitis C virus (HCV) [1-3], andthat, annually, there are 3 to 4 million new cases of infectionworldwide [4]. In view of the impossibility ofimmunoprevention [5] - either through vaccines or the use ofpost-exposure immunoglobulin - and the risk of chronicity inindividuals exposed to the disease, which is estimated to bebetween 50% and 85% [2,4,6-9,33], the definition of strategiesaimed at early detection and treatment of infected individuals,preferably during the acute phase of the infection [2,4], hasbeen widely discussed in recent years.In individuals presenting symptoms consistent with acutehepatitis C (AHC), it is known that the possibility ofspontaneous viral clearance, among various factors, dependsespecially on a potent initial cellular immune response mediatedby cytotoxic T lymphocytes - initially by HCV-specific CD8+T lymphocytes and, subsequently, CD4+ T lymphocytes [10-12]. Other factors associated with a higher rate of sustainedvirological response (SVR) are the specific characteristics ofthe patients. Individuals who are Asian or Caucasian, female,young, and HIV-negative, as well as presenting a rapid dropin HCV RNA levels and presenting specific human leukocyteantigen class II alleles, together with the previously mentionedT cytotoxic response, also respond better to treatment[16,17,33]. Better responses are also found in cases ofinfections with shorter incubation period produced by smallerinoculates. In addition, in a prospective study conducted bySantantoni et al., a higher rate of spontaneous viral clearancewas observed in patients infected with genotype 3 [7]. A diagnosis of acute infection with HCV remains a rareevent in clinical practice. In 70%-80% of infected patients,AHC is asymptomatic, and 75% are anicteric [4,8,13-15,33]. Individuals with AHC present elevated serum levels of alanineaminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase(AST), with or without a clinical profile of acute hepatitis,detection of (previously undetectable) HCV RNA andseroconversion for anti-HCV antibodies. It is estimated thatinfection with HCV accounts for only 20% of all diagnosedcases of acute hepatitis [13]. In the United States, there are40,000 cases of AHC annually [12], and only a small percentageof those are clinically diagnosed in this phase.Considering the high risk of developing chronic hepatitisC and the favorable evidence, in terms of therapeutic response,it is fundamental to improve our capacity to properly detectand treat cases of acute infection with HCV [12].
Biomass and productivity of fishes in estuaries: a South African case study.

Estuaries are well known for their role as nutrient and detrital sinks that stimulate high levels of both primary and secondary production which, in turn, support a large biomass of fishes per unit area. This study reviews available information on coastal fish biomasses (g m-2 wet mass) and productivity (g m-2 wet mass year-1 ) in order to place South African data on these topics into a global perspective. Using biogeographic fish productivity estimates, together with estuarine water area, the approximate annual teleost production in South African estuaries was calculated at 585, 1706 and 13 904 t in the cool temperate, warm temperate and subtropical regions, respectively. Total annual fish production in estuaries on the subcontinent is conservatively estimated at 16 195 t, but this figure is likely to fluctuate widely, depending on recruitment success and annual environmental conditions pertaining to these systems. Approximately 2000 t of fish are estimated to be harvested by fishing activities in South African estuaries each year, which represents c. 12% of annual fish production. Although this figure may appear sustainable, the reality is that there are a few heavily targeted estuary-associated marine species at the top of the food chain that are being overexploited by both anglers and subsistence fishermen. Natural mortalities due to piscivorous fish and bird predation has been estimated at c. 3% of total fish biomass per month in the East Kleinemonde Estuary, but this figure will vary considerably depending on bird abundance and foraging patterns along the coast. In contrast to catches made by the fishermen, piscivorous fishes and birds are targeting mainly juvenile marine fish and small estuarine resident species that are very abundant and generally low down in the food web.
The Effect of a Reminiscence Program in Institutionalized Older Persons with Dementia : A Pilot Study

Objectives: The purpose of this pilot study was to analyze the impact of a reminiscence program, particularly in the dimensions of cognition, autobiographical memory, mood and behavior in older persons with dementia, institutionalized. Material and Methods: This study was a one-group pre-test and post-test design investigation with no control group. The design planned was a cross-sectional, exploratory and descriptive investigation. Six subjects participated in five weekly individual reminiscence sessions. Changes in the outcome measures were examined through Montreal Cognitive Assessment, Cornell Scale for Depression in Dementia, Alzheimer Disease Assessment Scale Non-Cog and Autobiographical Memory Test. Results: After the intervention, participants exhibited improvements in the entire outcome measures, although the differences were not statistically significant, except for the time of latency on AMT (Z=-1.997; ρ=0.046). Conclusions: Reminiscence therapy can be helpful to maintain or improve mood, cognitive function, altered behavior and self-esteem, however further investigations are needed to redefine the results, and using more standardized research. This study supported the idea that that reminiscence therapy, directed to positive and specific life events, may improve autobiographical memory, and indirectly some symptoms associated with cognitive impairment.
A short-term clinical and microbial evaluation of periodontal therapy associated with amalgam overhang removal.

BACKGROUND This study evaluated the effect of periodontal therapy plus amalgam overhang removal (PT+AOR) on periodontal status and the presence of Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans and Streptococcus mutans and compared two microbiological sampling techniques. METHODS Molar teeth with Class II overhang restorations were selected as the test group, and homologous sound teeth were selected as the control group. Periodontal probing depth (PD), clinical attachment level (CAL), and plaque and gingival indices were measured, and restorations were evaluated using radiographs and clinical exploration at baseline (T1) and 90 days after PT+AOR (T2). Microbial samples were taken with dental floss and paper points at T1 and T2. S. mutans and A. actinomycetemcomitans were detected using culture and commercial kits. RESULTS Mean values of plaque and gingival indices did not show statistically significant differences between test and control teeth between T1 and T2. At T2, the mean CAL decreased among test teeth, and the number of test teeth positive for A. actinomycetemcomitans showed a decrease, whereas positive samples for S. mutans increased. At T1, an association between the two sampling techniques for both bacteria was found. At T2, dental floss presented low sensitivity values for A. actinomycetemcomitans, whereas paper points showed low sensitivity for S. mutans. CONCLUSIONS PT+AOR showed a beneficial effect on clinical parameters and a decrease of A. actinomycetemcomitans. At T1, both sampling techniques showed appropriate results. At T2, the use of paper points was a more sensitive sampling technique for isolate A. actinomycetemcomitans, whereas dental floss was found to be an alternative sampling method for isolate S. mutans.
Clinical trial of a low-cost, solar-powered hearing aid

Objective In July 2001 the World Health Organization (WHO) launched their "Guidelines for hearing aids and services for developing countries". The objective of this study was to evaluate the clinical outcome of an analogue, low-cost, behind-theear hearing aid (BTE-HA) that met the minimum technical requirements outlined by the WHO. Material and Methods A total of 25 subjects (17 males, 8 females; median age 74 years; range 50–86 years) were recruited among patients referred for audiological evaluation who consented to participate in the trial. All subjects had a hearing loss of ≤60 dB HL at 2 kHz, were mobile and mentally unimpaired; 13 were experienced users of HAs, 3 suffered from mixed conductive/sensorineural hearing impairment (HI) and the remainder had pure sensorineural HI. Based on pure-tone, speech and impedance audiometry the BTE-HAs were fitted, using the National Acoustic Laboratories-R (NAL-R) prescription rule, 21 binaurally and 4 monaurally. All fittings were validated by insertion gain measurements, and the immediate benefit was measured by means of the speech recognition score in background noise (SRSN; signal:noise ratio = 10 dB) without and with the HA. After a 6-week trial period a structured interview based on the International Outcome Inventory for Hearing Aids (IOI-HAs) was performed. Results The results showed that the amplification of the HA deviated significantly from the NAL-R target at all frequencies, giving significantly more amplification at 500 and 1000 Hz despite maximum bass-cut, whenever relevant, and significantly less amplification as required at 2, 3 and 4 kHz. The median SRSN without HAwas 48% (range 0–96%), which improved significantly to 80% (range 24–100%) with HA. The median individual difference in SRSN without and with HA was 20% (range 0–72%). The total IOI-HA score with the test HA was 4.1 (range 2.6–4.6), showing that it offered subjectively high satisfaction and reduction in limitations of activity. Conclusion The low-cost HA: (i) provides benefit to the hearing-impaired person; (ii) offers poor amplification in the high frequencies; and (iii) gives subjective satisfaction similar to that for modern available HAs.
On the formation and evolution of the first Be star in a black hole binary MWC 656

MG and KB acknowledge support from Polish Science Foundation ‘Master2013’ Subsidy. MG acknowledges support by Polish NCN grant Preludium (2012/07/N/ST9/04184). The work of KB was supported by the NCN grant Sonata Bis 2 (DEC-2012/07/E/ST9/01360), the National Science Foundation under grant no. PHYS-1066293 and the hospitality of the Aspen Center for Physics. JC acknowledges support by DGI of the Spanish Ministerio de Educacion, Cultura y Deporte under grants AYA2010-18080, AYA2013-42627 and SEV-2011-0187. SdM acknowledges support for early stages of this study by NASA through an Einstein Fellowship grant, PF3-140105 and a Marie Sklodowska-Curie Reintegration Fellowship (H2020-MSCA-IF-2014, project id 661502). The work of IN and AH is partially supported by the Spanish Ministerio de Economia y Competitividad (MINECO) under grant AYA2012-39364-C02-01/02, and the European Union. MR acknowledges support by the Spanish MINECO under grant FPA2013-48381-C6-6-P. IR acknowledges support from the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (MINECO) and the Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional (FEDER) through grant ESP2013-48391-C4-1-R. JMP acknowledges support by the Spanish MINECO under grant AYA2013-47447-C3-1-P and financial support from ICREA Academia. MB acknowledges support from the National Science Foundation under award HRD-1242090 and the hospitality of the Aspen Center for Physics.
Relations entre phénologie de la croissance souterraine et aérienne de noyers hybrides en systèmes agroforestiers tempérés

L’etude de la phenologie des plantes est primordiale pour comprendre leur reponse aux changements globaux. Alors que de nombreuses etudes ont ete consacrees a la phenologie aerienne, les difficultes d’observations de la phenologie des parties sou terraines d’une plante, font que leurs determinants sont encore trop peu connu. La dynamique racinaire est consideree comme jouant un role clef dans le cycle et la sequestration du carbone dans le sol, et il est aujourd’hui important de surmonter les difficultes methodologiques afin de mener des etudes sur la dynamique racinaire sur plusieurs annees en conditions non-controlees. Notre premier objectif ici etait donc de mettre au point et d’evaluer differentes techniques d’observation de la croissance racinaire sur le terrain. Le modele choisi pour cela est le noyer hybride (Juglans L.), en systeme agroforestiers. L’utilisation du scan incorpore au smartphone s’est avere etre le meilleur compromis pour l’acquisition d’image a partir de rhizotrons, excepte en cas d’automatisation de la prise d’images, ou la camera automatique constitue la meilleur alternative (jusqu’a 4 mois d’autonomie). Notre deuxieme objectif etait de determiner en milieu naturel les facteurs predominants de la dynamique racinaire. Nous avons en particulier (i) teste l’hypothese de la synchronicite des phenologies aeriennes et racinaires de la plante, (ii) evalue l’effet de fluctuations climatiques sur la dynamique racinaire dans des environnements contrastes (climats mediterraneen, oceanique, continental), (iii) et cherche a comprendre si cette reponse aux facteurs externes etait conditionnee par la typologie racinaire. Les resultats ont permis de montrer l’independance des phenologies aeriennes et racinaires, mais la synchronisation des croissances racinaires et radiale du tronc. Le principal facteur influencant la dynamique racinaire est la temperature du sol, et a moindre mesure l’humidite du sol avec des effets contrastes selon le climat. Les reponses des dynamiques racinaires aux variables environnementales sont propres a chaque site, avec un fort impact de l’ordre topologique sur les taux d’initiation et de survie. Ces resultats permettront non seulement une meilleur comprehension du jouait par les systemes racinaires sur le cycle du carbone, mais aussi l’amelioration des modeles ecophysiologiques. De futurs etudes sont neanmoins necessaires d’autres etudes sont attendues pour renforcer les connaissances acquises dans ce projet, sur la comprehension des determinants de l’initiation, de la croissance, et de la longevite racinaire des arbres, notamment via la creation de bases de donnees et l’utilisation de meta-analyses
Robust tracking with accurate scale estimation using errors of motion vectors

This paper proposes a new method for tracking with accurate scale estimation using motion vector errors. First we estimate an object displacement vector using the set of inlier motion vectors(VMF) filtered out by Median Flow tracker [2]. Then we calculate each motion vector error, i.e. the distance between each VMF and the estimated object displacement vector. 50 percent of VMF with large motion vector errors are excluded from VMF and the other vectors become candidate vectors. Next, the scale change ratios of the object are calculated using candidate vectors. We calculate the errors of scale change ratio using the median of scale change ratios, using the same method as we did for motion vector errors. Finally, if the median of ratio errors is lower than a threshold value, the median of scale change ratios is decided to the object scale change ratio. Otherwise the object scale is maintained to the next frame.
Nuclear Import Defect of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 DNA Flap Mutants Is Not Dependent on the Viral Strain or Target Cell Type

ABSTRACT We have previously established, using human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) strain LAI, that the HIV-1 central DNA Flap acts as a cis determinant of viral genome nuclear import. Although the impact of the DNA Flap on nuclear import has already found numerous independent confirmations in the context of lentivirus vectors, it has been claimed that it may be nonessential for infectious virus strains LAI, YU-2 (J. D. Dvorin et al., J. Virol. 76:12087-12096, 2002), HXB2, and NL4-3 (A. Limon et al., J. Virol. 76:12078-12086, 2002). We conducted a detailed analysis of virus infectivity using the provirus clones provided by the authors and analogous target cells. In contrast to published data, our results show that all cPPT mutant viruses exhibit reduced infectivity corresponding to a nuclear import defect irrespective of the viral genetic background or target cell.
An empirical study on Embeddable Overlay Networks

The accuracy of network coordinate (NC) which is comprehensively applied is suffering seriously from Triangle Inequality Violations (TIVs). A novel approach - Embeddable Overlay Networks (EON) - has been proposed to address this problem. It runs NC on an overlay environment where Round Trip Times (RTTs) are measured with respect to overlay forwarding that has eliminated all the TIVs. In this paper, we conduct a much more comprehensive study by applying the idea of EON on four existing NC systems - GNP, NPS, Phoenix and PIC. Simulations using original data and data of EON are conducted and the results are compared. Through empirical study we discover that the accuracy has been improved significantly on all of the four NC systems according to the three metrics of relative error, distortion and nearest neighbor loss.
Gray level entropy matrix is a superior predictor than multiplex ELISA in the detection of reactive stroma and metastatic potential of high‐grade prostatic adenocarcinoma

Recent reports have indicated that not only the primary glandular tissue but also the surrounding stromal tissue plays an active role in the progression of carcinoma. Such is true for cancer tissues arising in the prostate. However, the precise role of stromal tissue in benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and prostate adenocarcinoma is not well described. We undertook this current investigation to examine the changes in orientation of the extracellular matrix and correlate with prostatic cancer progression. We used a novel form of image analysis called gray level entropy matrix (GLEM) texture analysis to evaluate morphometric changes in stromal tissues. We used normal prostatic tissue obtained from cadaveric specimen and compared with BPH, prostatic intraepithelium neoplastic, hormone responsive prostatic adenocarcinoma and castration‐resistant prostatic adenocarcinoma tissues. GLEM showed higher entropy in disease‐resistant prostatic tissues, compared with benign forms of all spectra of pathologically diagnosed prostatic tissues (P < 0.05, ANOVA, between groups). Higher entropy is reflective of the disorganized morphological organization of the stroma, possibly reflecting the reactive matrix. In contrast, ELISA revealed that although individually correlated with the progressive stages of benign and carcinomatous prostatic tissues and trend correlation between groups, intergroup comparisons failed to arrive at statistical significance of comparisons between markers of neovasculogenesis, vascular endothelial growth factor, epithelial–mesenchymal transition (beta1‐integrin, E‐cadherin, MMP3) and osteogenic metastasis (RANKL and osteoprotegerin). The results of our study demonstrate the potential of GLEM entropy of gray level pixel in providing quasiquantitative estimate of a reactive stroma in advance stages of prostatic adenocarcinoma and thus can be routinely used in clinical decision making. © 2015 IUBMB Life, 66(12):847–853, 2014
Idiopathic Genu Valgum and Its Association With Obesity in Children and Adolescents.

BACKGROUND Obesity as a cause of lower extremity deformity in children has been well established. This deformity is most often seen as tibia vara, however, at our institution we have observed more obese children and adolescents over age 7 years with excessive or progressive idiopathic genu valgum. Our hypothesis is that children with idiopathic genu valgum have high rates of obesity which impact the severity of their disease. METHODS Retrospective review of existing data was performed on 66 consecutive children/112 limbs over age 7 years with idiopathic genu valgum, seen from 2010 to 2013. Children with known metabolic or skeletal disease were excluded. Genu valgum was defined as mechanical axis in zone II or III and mechanical tibiofemoral angle ≥4 degrees on standing anteroposterior radiograph of the lower extremities. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated and classified by Center for Disease Control percentiles. Skeletal maturation was rated by closure of pelvic and peri-genu physes. Severity of genu valgum was also assessed by femoral and tibial mechanical axes and the mechanical axis deviation. RESULTS Mean patient age was 12.2±2.2 years. 47% of patients had BMI≥30 and 71% were categorized as obese (>95th percentile). No sex differences were identified. Skeletal maturation explained 25% of the variance in the mechanical axis deviation and 22% of the mechanical tibiofemoral angle. BMI predicted 9.8% of the tibial valgus. Because of its skewed distribution, BMI percentile was a less useful parameter for assessment. CONCLUSIONS The 71% obesity rate found in our children with idiopathic genu valgum is significantly higher than the normal population. Higher BMI is associated with more tibial valgum but skeletal maturation was the main predictor of overall valgus severity. This suggests that obesity may play a role in the etiology of idiopathic genu valgum which progresses with skeletal maturation, thereby increasing the risk of osteoarthritis in adulthood. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Level III.