Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Cortical afferents to behaviorally defined regions of the inferior temporal and parahippocampal gyri as demonstrated by WGA‐HRP

The inferior temporal gyrus in the monkey appears to be unique among the many extrastriate visual cortices in its importance for normal performance of delayed match‐to‐sample, a visual memory task. However, the anatomical pathway providing visual information to this portion of the temporal lobe remains unclear. In this study, wheat germ agglutinin conjugated to horseradish peroxidase (WGA‐HRP) was injected into the anterior inferior temporal gyrus and heavy projections were found to arise in cytoarchitectural area TF of the parahippocampal gyrus, as well as moderate projections in more posterior portions of inferior temporal gyrus and perirhinal and entorhinal cortices. Subsequently, WGA‐HRP was injected into area TF, resulting in retrogradely labeled cells primarily located in the portions of area TF adjacent to the injection and also in the occipitotemporal sulcus including the ventral portion of the prestriate visual area V4. Moderate projections were found to originate from the dorsal region of area V4 in the lunate sulcus, portions of the caudal parietal lobe, the posterior bank of caudal superior temporal sulcus, and area OPT located at the tip of the superior temporal sulcus. The middle temporal gyrus, foveal prestriate cortex, and area TEO, a transitional area between temporal and occipital visual areas, were all free from retrogradely labeled cells. These latter areas are included in the well‐established anatomical system that is known to carry visual information from striate cortex through prestriate to eventually reach dorsal portions of inferotemporal cortex which is coincident with the temporal lobe visual area TE. It is suggested here that there is an additional ventral pathway into area TE as well, which includes projections through portions of the prestriate cortex, occipitotemporal sulcus, and parahippocampal gyrus, ultimately reaching the anterior inferior temporal gyrus, an area that may be specialized to hold visual information over brief periods of time. © 1992 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Kriging: a method of interpolation for geographical information systems

Geographical information systems could be improved by adding procedures for geostatistical spatial analysis to existing facilities. Most traditional methods of interpolation are based on mathematical as distinct from stochastic models of spatial variation. Spatially distributed data behave more like random variables, however, and regionalized variable theory provides a set of stochastic methods for analysing them. Kriging is the method of interpolation deriving from regionalized variable theory. It depends on expressing spatial variation of the property in terms of the variogram, and it minimizes the prediction errors which are themselves estimated. We describe the procedures and the way we link them using standard operating systems. We illustrate them using examples from case studies, one involving the mapping and control of soil salinity in the Jordan Valley of Israel, the other in semi-arid Botswana where the herbaceous cover was estimated and mapped from aerial photographic survey.
Compliance with routine antenatal rhesus D prophylaxis and the impact on sensitisations: observations over 14 years

Documented routine antenatal anti‐D prophylaxis was given to 90% and 81–87% of eligible women at 28 and 34 weeks of gestation, respectively, during the early 1990s and early 2000s. With increasing experience and education, a significant improvement in the timing of the first (OR 0.26, 95% CI 0.16–0.41: P < 0.0001) and second injections (OR 0.40, 95% CI 0.26–0.61: P < 0.0001) occurred during the latter period. Despite these improvements, there was no reduction in the sensitisation rate at 0.4%. However, this low rate occurred despite significant proportions of women delivering more than 42 days after the second injection. Fifteen of the 16 sensitised women had received routine antenatal prophylaxis.
Prediction of quad-tree partitioning for budgeted energy HEVC encoding

High Efficiency Video Coding (Hevc), the newest video encoding standard, provides up to 50% bitrate savings compared to the state-of-art H.264/AVC standard for the same perceptual video quality. In the last few years, the Internet of Things (IoT) has become a reality. Forthcoming applications are likely to boost mobile video demand to an unprecedented level. A large number of systems are likely to integrate HEVC codec in the long run and will need to be energy aware. In this context, constraining the energy consumption of HEVC encoder becomes a challenging task for embedded applications based on a software encoder. The most frequent approach to overcome this issue consists in optimising the coding tree structure to balance compression efficiency and energy consumption. In the purpose of budgeting the energy consumption of real-time HEVC encoder, we propose in this paper a variance-aware quad-tree prediction to limit the recursive RDO process. The experimental results show that the proposed energy reduction scheme achieve on average 60% of energy reduction for a slight bit rate increase of 3.4%.
Unilateral pallidotomy for reduction of parkinsonian pain.

OBJECT The goal of this study was to determine whether unilateral pallidotomy reduces parkinsonian pain. METHODS Twenty-one patients suffering from Parkinson's disease (PD) were followed prospectively for 1 year after they had undergone a unilateral pallidotomy to assess the procedure's effect on pain related to PD. Pain unrelated to PD was not studied. Patients scored the level of their PD pain on an ordinal scale (0-10 points) preoperatively and 6 weeks and 1 year postoperatively. The results were analyzed using Wilcoxon's paired-ranks test (with Bonferroni correction) and showed a significant reduction in overall pain scores at 6 weeks (p < 0.001) and 1 year (p = 0.001) following pallidotomy. Various types of PD pain are described and their possible pathophysiological mechanisms are presented. CONCLUSIONS Unilateral pallidotomy significantly reduces pain attributable to Parkinson's disease.
Association of BDNF and COMT genotypes with cognitive processing of anti‐smoking PSAs

Anti‐smoking public service announcements (PSAs) often use persuasive arguments to attempt to influence attitudes about smoking. The persuasiveness of a PSA has previously been associated with factors that influence the cognitive processing of its message. Genetic factors that influence cognitive processing might thus affect individuals' responses to the persuasive arguments presented in PSAs. In the present study, we examined polymorphisms in the genes encoding brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF Val66Met) and catechol‐O‐methyltransferase (COMT Val158Met), which affect cognitive processing in the prefrontal cortex, to identify genetic factors associated with self‐reported outcomes of message processing, perceived effectiveness and quitting intentions among smokers viewing PSAs. A total of 120 smokers viewed sets of four PSAs that varied with respect to features of argument strength (AS) and message sensation value. We observed significant associations of BDNF genotype with central processing, narrative processing, perceived effectiveness of the anti‐smoking PSAs and participant quitting intentions; the BDNF Met allele was associated with lower scores on all these measures. Central processing acted as a mediator of the association of genotype with quitting intentions and perceived effectiveness. There was a significant interaction of COMT genotype by AS in the model of narrative processing, such that individuals homozygous for the COMT Val allele reported higher narrative processing in the high‐AS condition but not in the low‐AS condition. To our knowledge, this is the first study to identify genetic factors associated with cognitive processing of anti‐smoking PSAs.
Characterization of Extremely Low Frequency Magnetic Fields from Diesel, Gasoline and Hybrid Cars under Controlled Conditions

This study characterizes extremely low frequency (ELF) magnetic field (MF) levels in 10 car models. Extensive measurements were conducted in three diesel, four gasoline, and three hybrid cars, under similar controlled conditions and negligible background fields. Averaged over all four seats under various driving scenarios the fields were lowest in diesel cars (0.02 μT), higher for gasoline (0.04–0.05 μT) and highest in hybrids (0.06–0.09 μT), but all were in-line with daily exposures from other sources. Hybrid cars had the highest mean and 95th percentile MF levels, and an especially large percentage of measurements above 0.2 μT. These parameters were also higher for moving conditions compared to standing while idling or revving at 2500 RPM and higher still at 80 km/h compared to 40 km/h. Fields in non-hybrid cars were higher at the front seats, while in hybrid cars they were higher at the back seats, particularly the back right seat where 16%–69% of measurements were greater than 0.2 μT. As our results do not include low frequency fields (below 30 Hz) that might be generated by tire rotation, we suggest that net currents flowing through the cars’ metallic chassis may be a possible source of MF. Larger surveys in standardized and well-described settings should be conducted with different types of vehicles and with spectral analysis of fields including lower frequencies due to magnetization of tires.
Proliferating cell nuclear antigen immunostaining and survival in cerebral astrocytoma

In order to test the prognostic value of a proliferation index in cerebral astrocytoma, proliferating cell nuclear antigen immunostaining was performed on formalin‐fixed and paraffin‐embedded biopsies of 42 astrocytomas (21 serial stereotactic and 21 open surgical biopsies). Tumours were categorized as having a low (< 50%) or high (> 50%) labelling index. Tumour grading was also carried out. Several clinicotherapeutic factors were recorded. At least 40 months follow‐up was available on all surviving patients. Survival estimated by the Kaplan and Meier method was significantly longer in tumours with a low proliferation index than in those with a high one (mean 20.4 months v. 10 months). According to Cox multiple regression analysis, the age of the patient and grading were significantly related to survival, whereas the proliferation index lost its significance.
Postoperative Complications After Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting in Patients With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

AbstractCoronary artery disease is common in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Previous studies have shown that patients with COPD have a higher risk of mortality than those without COPD after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). However, most of the previous studies were small, single-center studies with limited case numbers (or their only focus was mortality). The aim of our study was to focus on readmission, acute myocardial infarction (AMI), acute respiratory failure (ARF), cerebrovascular accident, and venous thromboembolism rates after CABG in an Asian COPD population.We conducted a nationwide case–control study in Taiwan using the claims database of hospitalization between January 1, 2009 and December 31, 2013. Patients with COPD before CABG were defined as the case groups. Each case was propensity score-matched by age, sex, hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, cardiovascular disease, cerebrovascular disease, and chronic kidney disease, with 2 controls selected from CABG patients without COPD. The outcomes of interest were mortality, wound infection, and the readmission rate over 30 days for the following diseases: AMI, pneumonia, ARF, cerebrovascular accident, and venous thromboembolism.There were 14,858 patients without COPD and 758 patients with COPD who underwent CABG. After propensity score matching, the 30-day mortality and 30-day readmission rates and AMI were higher in the non-COPD group. The incidences of pneumonia and ARF after CABG were higher in the COPD group.Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease does not necessarily lead to mortality, readmission, or AMI after CABG, and the major respiratory complications associated with CABG in patients with COPD were pneumonia and ARF.
Meiotic and mitotic behavior of dicentric chromosomes in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Meiotic recombination between a circular and a linear chromosome in Saccharomyces cerevisiae has been investigated. The circle was a haploid-viable derivative of chromosome III constructed by joining regions near the two chromosome ends via a recombinant DNA construction: (HMR/MAT-URA3-pBR322-MAT/HML) and was also deleted for MAL2 (which therefore uniquely marks a linear chromosome III). Recombination along chromosome III was measured for eight intervals spanning the entire length of the circular derivative. Only 25% of all tetrads from a ring/rod diploid contained four viable spores. These proved to be cases in which there was either no recombination along chromosome III or in which there were two-strand double crossovers or higher order crossovers that would not produce a dicentric chromosome. --At least half of the tetrads with three viable spores included one Ura+ Mal+ spore that was genetically highly unstable. The Ura+ Mal+ spore colonies gave rise to as many as seven genetically distinct, stable ("healed") derivatives, some of which had lost either URA3 or MAL2. Analysis of markers on chromosome III suggests that dicentric chromosomes frequently do not break during meiosis but are inherited intact into a haploid spore. In mitosis, however, the dicentric chromosome is frequently broken, giving rise to a variety of genetically distinct derivatives. We have also shown that dicentric ring chromosomes exhibit similar behavior: at least half the time they are not broken during meiosis but are broken and healed during mitosis. --The ring/rod diploid can also be used to determine the frequency of sister chromatid exchange (SCE) along an entire yeast ring chromosome. We estimate that an unequal number of SCE events occurs in approximately 15% of all cells undergoing meiosis. In contrast, the mitotic instability (and presumably SCE events) of a ring chromosome is low, occurring at a rate of about 1.2 X 10(-3) per cell division.
Habitat heterogeneity overrides the species–area relationship

Aim The most obvious, although not exclusive, explanation for the increase of species richness with increasing sample area (the species–area relationship) is that species richness is ultimately linked to area‐based increases in habitat heterogeneity. The aim of this paper is to examine the relative importance of area and habitat heterogeneity in determining species richness in nature reserves. Specifically, the work tests the hypothesis that species–area relationships are not positive if habitat heterogeneity does not increase with area.
Effects of Interactivity in Educational Games: A Mediating Role of Social Presence on Learning Outcomes

Networked interactivity is one of the essential factors that differentiate recent online educational games from traditional stand-alone CD-based games. Despite the growing popularity of online educational games, empirical studies about the effects of networked interactivity are relatively rare. The current study tests the effects of networked interactivity on game users' learning outcomes by comparing three groups (online educational quiz game vs. off-line educational quiz game vs. traditional classroom lecture). In addition, the study examines the mediating role of social presence in the context of educational games. Results indicate that networked interactivity in the online educational quiz game condition enhances game users' positive evaluation of learning, test performance, and feelings of social presence. However, there was no significant difference between the off-line educational quiz game and the lecture-based conditions in terms of learning outcomes. Further analyses indicate that feelings of social presence mediate the effect of networked interactivity on various learning outcomes. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.
Incidence, risk factors and consequences of falling injuries among the community-dwelling elderly in Shihpai, Taiwan

Background and aims: Falls causing injuries among older people and the consequences of those injuries are of increasing concern to public health practitioners. The aims of this study were to determine the incidence, characteristics and risk factors of fall injuries among the community-dwelling elderly in Shihpai, Taiwan; the impact on quality of life and health service utilization was also comprehensively studied. Methods: 1361 community-dwelling elderly who had been enrolled in the Shihpai eye study (1999–2000) were included. Subjects were interviewed and examined by trained interviewers, and data such as demographics, medical conditions, blood pressure, ophthalmic examination, fall history and quality of life (SF-36) were collected. Chi-square tests, analyses of covariance and multiple logistic regressions were performed as the main statistical methods. Results: The mean age of the participants was 72.2 (range, 65–91) years old. 16.3% of the elderly persons interviewed had experienced at least one fall; among those, up to 50% had suffered mild injuries, and the incidence of remarkable injury was 27.6%. There were no significant differences in the location or time of falling, but there were different risk factors and consequences in injury severity. Fallers with remarkable injuries had a higher incidence of hospitalization and a greater fear of falling. No statistically significant decline in quality of life with increasing severity of falling injury was identified after a 12-month follow-up period. Conclusions: Gender, visual impairment and orthostatic hypotension were identified as the major risk factors of fall injuries in the elderly. These factors should be emphasized in order to reduce fall injuries in geriatrics.
Inhibition of Cellular DNA Synthesis and Lack of Antileukemic Activity by Non-Photoactivated Hematoporphyrin Derivative

It has been reported that cytocidal activity of light-activated hematoporphyrin (HPD) within the cells might be exploited in the therapy of experimental and human cancer. As part of a project from this laboratory aimed to study some major biologic features of HPD, it was found that [3H]thymidine incorporation in tumor cells was highly inhibited as a consequence of HPD treatment. HPD-mediated inhibition, obtained by a treatment either in vitro or in vivo, was long lasting and independent of light activation. Cellular DNA synthesis was inhibited by non toxic doses of HPD which were not influential either cell viability or cell oncogenicity. In preliminary studies, HPD-treated cells accumulated in the G1 phase of the cell cycle as detected by cytofluorometric analysis. This finding is in keeping with a likely inhibition exerted in late G, or at the beginning of the S phase of cell the cycle and might exclude a direct damage of the DNA synthetic machinery. Definitive loss of cell viability and cellular DNA inhibition was obtained immediately after the exposure of HPD-treated cells to He-Ne laser light. HPD-mediated cell lysis was dose dependent and in the order of magnitude of cytocidal doses in different cell systems. HPD antileukemic activity or HPD interactions with chemotherapeutic drugs was ruled out in L1210 leukemic mice.
Transient hypoxia‐inducible factor activation in rat renal ablation and reduced fibrosis with L‐mimosine

Aim: Hypoxia‐inducible factor (HIF) activity during the course of chronic kidney disease (CKD) development is poorly defined, and the effect of HIF activation on CKD is still controversial. The purpose of the present study was to characterize HIF expression during the course of CKD development, and to investigate the effect of HIF activation on CKD by using prolyl hydroxylase (PHD) inhibitor L‐mimosine.
H ∞ control of networked control systems based on event-time-driven model

This article considers the H ∞ control problem for a class of networked control systems (NCSs) based on the event-time-driven model, under which the considered NCS can be changed into a class of switched delay systems including an unstable subsystem. The Lyapunov functional exponential estimation method is adopted to solve the problem of H ∞ control for such systems. The switching controller is designed to make the considered system exponentially stable with an H ∞ norm bound in terms of linear matrix inequalities. The obtained results are less conservative than existing ones. Finally, one example is given to illustrate the effectiveness and benefit of the proposed method.
Villagers of the Maros: a Portrait of an Early Bronze Age Society

Introduction and Background: Introduction. The Archaeological Study of Funerary Practices. An Archaeological Overview of the Maros Group. Archaeological Analysis: The Cemeteries of the Maros Group. Coding and Classification of Grave Inclusions. Maros Funerary Differentiation: Body Preparation and Treatment. Maros Funerary Differentiation: Grave Offerings. Social Analysis: Mortuary Symbolism and Social Differentiation at Mokrin. Symbolism and Differentiation across the Maros Villages. The Maros Group and the Early Bronze Age in the Eastern Carpathian Basin. Concluding Remarks. Index.
Photon-induced tunability of the thermospin current in a Rashba ring

The goal of this work is to show how the thermospin polarization current in a quantum ring changes in the presence of Rashba spin–orbit coupling and a quantized single photon mode of a cavity the ring is placed in. Employing the reduced density operator and a general master equation formalism, we find that both the Rashba interaction and the photon field can significantly modulate the spin polarization and the thermospin polarization current. Tuning the Rashba coupling constant, degenerate energy levels are formed corresponding to the Aharonov–Casher destructive phase interference in the quantum ring system. Our analysis indicates that the maximum spin polarization can be observed at the points of degenerate energy levels due to spin accumulation in the system without the photon field. The thermospin current is thus suppressed. In the presence of the cavity, the photon field leads to an additional kinetic momentum of the electron. As a result the spin polarization can be enhanced by the photon field.
A Convex Approach for Image Restoration with Exact Poisson-Gaussian Likelihood

The Poisson-Gaussian model can accurately describe the noise present in a number of imaging systems. However most existing restoration methods rely on approximations of the Poisson-Gaussian noise statistics. We propose a convex optimization strategy for the reconstruction of images degraded by a linear operator and corrupted with a mixed Poisson-Gaussian noise. The originality of our approach consists of considering the exact, mixed continuous-discrete model corresponding to the data statistics. After establishing the Lipschitz differentiability and convexity of the Poisson-Gaussian neg-log-likelihood, we derive a primal-dual iterative scheme for minimizing the associated penalized criterion. The proposed method is applicable to a large choice of convex penalty terms. The robustness of our scheme allows us to handle computational difficulties due to infinite sums arising from the computation of the gradient of the criterion. We propose finite bounds for these sums, that are dependent on the current image estimate, and thus adapted to each iteration of our algorithm. The proposed approach is validated on image restoration examples. Then, the exact data fidelity term is used as a reference for studying some of its various approximations. We show that in a variational framework the Shifted Poisson and Exponential approximations lead to very good restoration results.