Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Stimulus-Locked Responses on Human Upper Limb Muscles and Corrective Reaches Are Preferentially Evoked by Low Spatial Frequencies

Abstract In situations requiring immediate action, humans can generate visually-guided responses at remarkably short latencies. Here, to better understand the visual attributes that best evoke such rapid responses, we recorded upper limb muscle activity while participants performed visually-guided reaches towards Gabor patches composed of differing spatial frequencies (SFs). We studied reaches initiated from a stable posture (experiment 1, a static condition), or during on-line reach corrections to an abruptly displaced target (experiment 2, a dynamic condition). In both experiments, we detail the latency and prevalence of stimulus-locked responses (SLRs), which are brief bursts of EMG activity that are time-locked to target presentation rather than movement onset. SLRs represent the first wave of EMG recruitment influenced by target presentation, and enable quantification of rapid visuomotor transformations. In both experiments, reach targets composed of low SFs elicited the shortest latency and most prevalent SLRs, with SLR latency increasing and SLR prevalence decreasing for reach targets composed of progressively higher SFs. SLRs could be evoked in either the static or dynamic condition, and when present in experiment 2, were associated with shorter latency and larger magnitude corrections. The results in experiment 2 are consistent with a linkage between the forces produced by SLRs and the earliest portion of on-line reach corrections. Overall, our results demonstrate that stimuli composed of low SFs preferentially evoke the most rapid visuomotor responses that, in the context of rapidly correcting an on-going reaching movement, are associated with earlier and larger on-line reach corrections.
Managing data dynamics, streams and sharing in the internet of things.

Recently, the Internet of Things (IoT) has gained momentum in connecting everyday objects to the Internet and facilitating machine-to-human and machine-to-machine communication with the physical world. IoT offers the capability to connect and integrate both digital and physical entities, enabling a whole new class of applications and services. This thesis firstly reviews the state-of-the-art research efforts in IoT from datacentric perspectives, including data stream processing, data storage models, complex event processing, and searching in IoT by identifying an IoT data taxonomy, which includes ten key data elements of IoT data under three categorizations. In this thesis, we focus ourselves on three aspects of data management in IoT: data dynamics, data velocity, and data incompleteness. More specifically, we study data dynamics in dynamic graphs, handle data velocity in streams, and tackle data incompleteness via sharing. In IoT, connections and relations between things are universal and highly dynamic. It is natural to model these connections and relations using dynamic graphs. Meanwhile, shortest path computation is one of the most fundamental operations for managing and analyzing graphs. In this thesis, we focus on the problem of computing the shortest path distance in graphs subject to edge failures. We propose SIEF, a Supplemental Index for Edge Failures in a dynamic graph, which is based on distance labeling, to support distance queries in dynamic graphs with edge failures efficiently. In IoT, one challenging issue is how to disseminate streaming data to relevant consumers efficiently. Semantic technologies aim to facilitate machine-to-machine (M2M) communication and are attracting more and more interest from both academia and industry, especially in the emerging IoT. This thesis leverages semantic technologies, such as Linked Data, which can facilitate M2M communications to build an efficient information dissemination system for semantic IoT. The system integrates Linked Data streams generated from various data collectors and disseminates matched data to relevant data consumers based on triple pattern queries registered in the system by the consumers. We also design new data structures, TP-automata and CTP-automata, to meet the high performance needs of Linked Data dissemination. To tackle data incompleteness, we consider large-scale information sharing scenarios among mobile objects in IoT. By leveraging semantic techniques, we propose broadcasting Linked Data on-air to allow simultaneous access to the information and to achieve better scalability. We introduce a novel air indexing method to reduce the information access latency and energy consumption. We also study the data placement problem of periodic XML data broadcast in IoT environments to facilitate data sharing in IoT. Taking advantage of the structured characteristics of XML data, we present a theoretical analysis on the XML data placement on a wireless channel, which forms the basis of our novel data placement algorithm. This thesis also…
Live dynamical tracking of slncRNA speckles in single E. coli cells reveals bursts of fluorescence degradation

Abstract We study synthetic fluorescent speckles in bacteria by encoding two types of synthetic long-non-coding RNA genes (slncRNA) that incorporate RNA-binding phage-coat-protein (RBP) binding sites downstream from a pT7 promoter in BL21 E. coli cells. For both slncRNAs studied, fluorescent speckles containing ~15-30 RBP-bound slncRNA molecules form in cell poles. Measurement of speckle fluorescence reveals both positive and negative bursts spaced by exponentially distributed periods of non-classified activity lasting 10 minutes on average. We identify positive events with transcriptional bursts, and term the negative events fluorescence degradation bursts. Our data indicates that negative bursts correspond to shedding of multiple slncRNAs back to cytoplasm. Finally, we composed a kinetic model that reproduced the negative bursts and showed that a multi-burst mechanism can reduce gene expression intrinsic noise. These results may have implications to transcriptional dynamics, synthetic speckle formation, and to the understanding of the role of intracellular phase-separated compartments.
Influence of climate change on Helicoverpa armigera (Hubner) in pigeonpea

Annual monitoring of the population dynamics of Helicoverpa armigera in unprotected pigeonpea crop during kharif seasons of 2011 to 2014 for 4 years at the farmers field North Gujarat, India. Temperature, rainfall and host-plant species were analyzed with respect to population fluctuation of the insect pest. The observations revealed that, the average number of larval population per plant in the season (from 27th to 3rd standard weeks) was 0.97, 0.32, 0.30 and 0.38 larvae/plant during 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014 respectively. Population of Helicoverpa armigera had significant and negative correlation with maximum temperature (r= -0.524), rainfall (r= 0.079) and relative humidity (r= -0.827, r= -0.595 morning and evening, respectively).
Quantitative Personality Predictions from a Brief EEG Recording

The assessment of personality is crucial not only for scientific inquiries but also for real-world applications such as personnel selection. However, most existing ways to quantify personality traits rely on self-reported scales, which are susceptible to biases such as self-presentational concerns. In this study, we propose and evaluate a novel implicit measure of personality that uses machine learning (ML) algorithms to predict an individual’s levels in the Big Five personality traits from 5 minutes of electroencephalography (EEG) recordings. Results from a large test sample of 196 volunteers indicated that the personality scores derived from the proposed measure converged significantly with a commonly used questionnaire, predicted behavioral indices and psychological adjustment in a manner similar to self-reported scores, and were relatively stable across time. These evaluations suggest that the proposed measure can serve as a viable alternative to conventional personality questionnaires in practice.
Description of the nest, eggs, and parental behavior of the clarion wren (Troglodytes tanneri), a vulnerable Island-endemic songbird

The Clarion Wren (Troglodytes tanneri) is a small songbird restricted to Clarion Island, an oceanic island in the Archipelago of Revillagigedo, Mexico. This species lives in open habitats throughout the island, which is 6.4 km wide by 9.7 km long (Howell & Webb 1989, Brattstrom 1990). The total population size is estimated to be 340 to 400 mature individuals (BirdLife International 2012). The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) lists this species as “vulnerable” due to the susceptibility of the island to an invasion by small mammalian predators (e.g., mice, rats; BirdLife International 2012). Most aspects of the Clarion Wren’s ecology and behavior – including the details of their eggs, nests, and parental behavior – are unknown or poorly known. Previous research has provided anecdotal descriptions of nests and eggs with scant details (Anthony 1898, Brattstrom & Howell 1956, del Hoyo et al. 2005). Here, we provide the first comprehensive and quantitative description of the nests, eggs, and parental behavior of this endemic and vulnerable songbird.
Brainstem Diffuse Axonal Injury and Consciousness

Background: Severe traumatic brain injuries (TBI), commonly due to motor vehicle accidents may cause death and long-term disability especially when the acceleration-deceleration force on the brain is massive. This may cause shearing of the axonal connections within the cerebral cortex and brainstem in a process referred to as diffuse axonal injury (DAI). Extensive DAI has been postulated to be a poor prognostic indicator for neurological recovery. In our institution, several patients with Grade 3 DAI were observed to recover and achieve neurological outcomes greater than expected given the presence of brainstem injury. Methods: MRI studies from 100 patients admitted to a large tertiary trauma center for TBI were retrospectively analyzed by two fellowship-trained neuroradiologists. The size of DAI lesions, location of injury within the brainstem, and the number of discrete DAI lesions were measured and recorded. Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) on arrival and at discharge was noted, as well as the presence of other neurological injuries. Results: Of 20 patients initially noted to have DAI with lesions of the brainstem, eight of them were discharged with Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) of 14–15. The 12 patients discharged with reduced consciousness (average GC 7.1) demonstrated a greater number of larger lesions, with a predilection for the dorsal pons. Conclusion: These results suggest that large, numerous pontine lesions may indicate worse neurological outcomes in patients with these findings.
Cerebral Contribution to the Execution, But Not Recalibration, of Motor Commands in a Novel Walking Environment

Abstract Human movements are flexible as they continuously adapt to changes in the environment. The recalibration of corrective responses to sustained perturbations (e.g., constant force) altering one’s movement contributes to this flexibility. We asked whether the recalibration of corrective actions involve cerebral structures using stroke as a disease model. We characterized changes in muscle activity in stroke survivors and control subjects before, during, and after walking on a split-belt treadmill moving the legs at different speeds. The recalibration of corrective muscle activity was comparable between stroke survivors and control subjects, which was unexpected given the known deficits in feedback responses poststroke. Also, the intact recalibration in stroke survivors contrasted their limited ability to adjust their muscle activity during steady-state split-belt walking. Our results suggest that the recalibration and execution of motor commands are partially dissociable: cerebral lesions interfere with the execution, but not the recalibration, of motor commands on novel movement demands.
Application of the Markov Chain in Macroeconomic Analysis of a Managed Forest in the Amazon

This study includes an economic analysis of the dynamics and prognosis of the forest structure of an area under sustainable forest management in the Amazon, in the primary production of tropical roundwood. It analyzes measurements taken between 2001 and 2011 and carries out forest forecasting for the period from 2001 to 2021 with the application of the Markov Matrix Chain. The variables measured by the probability matrix were transformed into equivalent annual rates and compared over the same period to the Brazilian macroeconomic indicators of gross domestic product (GDP) and the real interest rate of primary roundwood production (TJLP). The valuation of tree density utilized a series of average prices of world imports and exports of roundwood. Between 2001 and 2011, the parameters of the forest dynamics without valuation were similar to the TJLP (1.4% per year) and, when valued, the rates were close to the GDP of 3.5% per year. The forecast from 2001 to 2021 indicates that unrated economic groups behave in a similar way to the TJLP of 1% per annum and to the GDP of 2.2% per year, except the recovery category, which has a negative rate of 1.9% per year. The monitoring of tropical forests allows the achievement of economic indexes capable of assessing the anthropic and natural impacts in short periods of analysis and projecting them over time on natural capital.
Cold Plasma as an Emerging Technique for Mycotoxin-Free Food: Efficacy, Mechanisms, and Trends

ABSTRACT The production of mycotoxin-free food is challenging the food industry due to the difficulties in contamination prevention and the inefficiencies of traditional mycotoxin removal strategies. Recently, cold plasma has been proposed as an efficient nonthermal technique for the degradation of mycotoxins and inactivation of mycotoxin-producing fungi. The current study presents an overview of the recent findings on the efficacy of cold plasma for mycotoxin reduction in food, followed by discussions on the mechanisms involved, benefits and drawbacks of this approach, discussion on its potential industrial adoption and the required research in the area. The growing literature reveals that cold plasma is an effective tool for the degradation of mycotoxins, including aflatoxins, deoxynivalenol, enniatins, zearalenone, and fumonisin, and inactivation of mycotoxin-producing fungi, including Aspergillus, Alternaria, Penicillium, and Fusarium, in many food commodities (e.g., cereals and dairy products). However, the industrial application of cold plasma to produce mycotoxin-free products requires further process optimization and understanding of its effects on food components. In addition to economic evaluation, challenges of scale-up need to be addressed for industrial adaptation of this emerging technology. Abbreviations: AAL: Aternaria alternata f. sp. lycopersici; AFs: Aflatoxins; CG: Carrier gas; D3G: Deoxynivalenol-3-β-d-glucoside; DBD: Dielectric Barrier Discharge; DON: Deoxynivalenol; ENNs: Enniatins; F: Frequency; Fu: Fumonisin; HVACP: High-voltage atmospheric cold plasma; I: Intermediate product; kpps: kilo pulse per second; MW: Molecular weight; NIV: Nivalenol; OTA: Ochratoxin A; P: Product; PAW: Plasma-activated water; PP: Plasma power; RH: Relative humidity; T2: Trichothecene mycotoxin; TBARS: Thiobarbituric acid reactive species; TT: Treatment time; UV: Ultraviolet; V: Voltage; ZEN: Zearalenone. Graphical Abstract
Biology, feeding and oviposition preference of Helopeltis theivora, with notes on the differential distribution of species of the tea mosquito bug species complex across elevations

Cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.) is an important beverage crop and commercially grown as a plantation crop. With the changing climate, the tea mosquito bug species complex, viz., Helopeltis theivora, H. bradyi and H. antonii, is emerging as a major threat to cocoa cultivation in India. Among the species of this complex H. theivora is responsible for causing considerable damage. The present investigations were carried out to find a weak link in the life cycle of H. theivora so it can be managed effectively. Specimens of the tea mosquito bug were found to first appear during the first week of September in South India. Helopeltis theivora requires on average 29.28 days to complete its life cycle on cocoa. The highest level of natural mortality was recorded in the first-instar nymph. The total developmental period of the fifth-instar nymph was significantly longer than that for the other nymphal instars. The sex ratio reflects that the population is highly female-biased, which may contribute to the dominant nature of this species in the cocoa ecosystem. Observation of the feeding and oviposition behavior of H. theivora revealed that the insect prefers to feed and oviposit on developing pods rather than on leaves and shoots. Analysis of the species distribution of tea mosquito bug at different elevations revealed that cocoa gardens situated less than 300 meter above mean sea level are dominated by H. theivora, whereas gardens situated more than 300 meter above mean sea level are dominated by H. bradyi. This separation of species across elevation may be driven either by abiotic or biotic factors.
Physiological potential of Physalis peruviana L. seeds under different temperatures and light wavelengths

Physalis peruviana L. is a plant that produces small sweet berries of great nutritional and medicinal importance. This plant is propagated mainly through seeds, which requires information on germination response to temperature and light changes. Thus, the present study aimed to evaluate the use of different temperatures and light wavelengths on the physiological potential of P. peruviana seed batches. The experiment was conducted with seeds from plants cultivated in 2015/15 and 2016/16. The treatments applied were the following: two germination temperatures (constant temperature of 25 °C and alternated between 20/30 °C), two seed batches (2015/15 and 2016/16), and four forms of light exposure during germination (blue, red, white, and dark). The data were analyzed by principal component analysis using the correlation matrix obtained through the standardized mean equal to zero and variance 1 of the parameters evaluated for each treatment. The eigenvalues and eigenvectors of the matrix were obtained using the SAS University Edition® statistical software. The analyzed variables were: Germination test performed on the 7th and 28th day considering root protrusion, normal seedlings, shoot length, root length, and total dry matter mass. The data showed that the seed germination test of Physalis peruviana L. should be performed under a constant temperature of 25 °C, in the presence of light (white, blue, or red). When the option is the application of the test in the dark, it is necessary to use a thermoperiod of 20–30 °C to provide the expression of maximum physiological potential.
Cx3CR1 Expression Identifies Distinct Macrophage Populations That Contribute Differentially to Inflammation and Repair

Bone marrow (BM)–derived classical monocytes are critical to wound repair, where they differentiate into macrophages and purge foreign materials and dead cells while also laying the framework for tissue repair and regeneration. A subset of this recruited population persists in the wound and acquires alternative activation states to promote cell proliferation and matrix remodeling. In diabetes, this phenotypic switch is impaired and inflammation persists in an elevated state, contributing to delayed wound healing. Long-term tissue-resident macrophages can also play a key role in the resolution of inflammation to varying degrees across different organs. In this study, we investigated different macrophage subpopulations in nondiabetic and diabetic wounds over time using Cx3CR1eGFP transgenic mice and BM transplants. We show Cx3CR1eGFP-hi macrophages in skin wounds are derived from long-term tissue-resident macrophages and predominantly exhibit an alternative activation state, whereas cells expressing low-intermediate Cx3CR1eGFP are derived from the BM, contribute to both early and later stages of wound healing, and show both classical and alternative activation states. Diabetic mice showed significant differences in the dynamics of these subpopulations, which likely contribute to elevated and persisting inflammatory states over time. In particular, failure of Cx3CR1int macrophages to mature into Cx3CR1hi links maturation to resolution of inflammation. Thus strategies to promote macrophage maturation may be effective therapeutic tools in chronic inflammatory environments.
Egg mass structure of the processionary caterpillar Ochrogaster lunifer (Lepidoptera: Notodontidae): is the outer egg layer sacrificed for attack by the egg parasitoid Anastatus fuligispina (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea: Eupelmidae)?

Each life stage of an insect faces the challenge of various mortality factors. Through experimental and observational studies, we use those mortality agents to our advantage to control outbreaks of pest insects. The processionary caterpillar Ochrogaster lunifer Herrich‐Schäffer, 1855, is a widespread native moth in Australia that defoliates host trees and causes medical problems in humans and animals. Anastatus fuligispina (Girault 1939) is an egg parasitoid described from eggs of O. lunifer in eastern Australia nearly 80 years ago for which few life history traits are known. This is the first study to investigate the life history of A. fuligispina, factors associated with parasitism levels in O. lunifer egg masses and its impacts on egg mortality. We found that parasitism level was related to the total number of eggs in an O. lunifer egg mass, with higher parasitism occurring in masses with fewer eggs. The inaccessible physical structure of the O. lunifer egg mass by layering and encasing eggs with other eggs and the searching efficiency of the parasitoid are possible key factors. Other variables such as exposure time in the field, host tree species and number of undeveloped eggs in the egg mass did not affect the level of parasitism. Further investigations on the life history of A. fuligispina may open possibilities for its application in controlling O. lunifer populations.