Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Emotional Modulation of Cognitive Processing: An fMRI Study

The functional neuroanatomy of visual processing of surface features of emotionally valenced pictorial stimuli was examined in normal human subjects using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Pictorial stimuli were of two types: emotionally negative and neutral pictures. Task performance was slower for the negatively valenced than for the neutral pictures. Significant blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD) increases occurred in the medial and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, midbrain, substantia innominata, and/or amygdala, and in the posterior cortical visual areas for both stimulus types. Increases were greater for the negatively valenced stimuli. While there was a small but significant BOLD decrease in the subgenual prefrontal cortex, which was larger in response to the negatively valenced pictures, there was an almost complete absence of other decreases prominently seen during the performance of demanding cognitive tasks [Shulman, G. L. , Fiez, J. A. , Corbetta, M. , Buckner, R. L. , Miezin, F. M. , Raichle, M. E. , & Petersen, S. E. (1997). Common blood flow changes across visual tasks: II. Decreases in cerebral cortex. Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience, 9, 648-663]. These results provide evidence that the emotional valence and arousing nature of stimuli used during the performance of an attention-demanding cognitive task are reflected in discernable, quantitative changes in the functional anatomy associated with task performance.
Survival estimates of western gray whales Eschrichtius robustus incorporating individual heterogeneity and temporary emigration

Gray whales Eschrichtius robustus exist as 2 geographically and genetically distinct pop- ulations in the eastern and western North Pacific. Subjected to intensive commercial whaling during the 19th and 20th centuries, the western population presently numbers approximately 100 individuals and is regarded as one of the most endangered baleen whale populations in the world. Since 1997, ongoing studies of western gray whales have resulted in a photographic dataset that can be used for mark-recapture survival estimation. Pollock's robust design was applied to 129 individual whale encounter histories spanning 25 monthly capture occasions from 1997 to 2003. Using Akaike's Infor- mation Criterion (AICc) model selection, models incorporating individual heterogeneity in residency patterns and higher temporary emigration probabilities for younger whales provided better fits to the data. Non-calf and calf (1st year post-weaning) survival were estimated as 0.951 (SE = 0.0135, 95% CI = 0.917 to 0.972) and 0.701 (SE = 0.0944, 95% CI = 0.492 to 0.850), respectively, averaging across the best models (n = 13) in order to account for model uncertainty. The non-calf survival point estimate is similar to mark-recapture estimates for Gulf of Maine humpback whales, but lower than an indirect estimate for the eastern gray whale population. Although no statistically robust direct estimates of baleen whale calf survival exist for comparison to the current study, the calf survival estimate is markedly lower than a value suggested for Gulf of Maine humpback whales. Estimation of survival is necessary for assessing the status of western gray whales, which can contribute to increased protec- tion, conservation, and management planning for this critically endangered population.
Collateral Constraints, Debt Management, and Investment Incentives

AbstractThis chapter analyses the hedging decisions of an emerging economy which is exposed to market risks and whose debt contract is subject to collateral constraints. Within a sovereign debt model with default risk and endogenous collateral, the optimal choice of hedging instruments are studied when both futures and nonlinear derivatives are available. It is examined in which way the hedging policy is affected by the cost of default and the financial constraints of the economy and some implications are provided in terms of resource allocation.
Effect of Decompression on Complete Spinal Cord Injury in Rats

To examine whether spinal cord decompression improves functional recovery and decreases lesion volumes in paraplegic (not paraparetic) rats and, if so, at what postoperative time it is most efficacious. The spinal cords of 63 female rats were compressed at T9 with Yasargil clips. Rats were assigned randomly to five different treatment groups of 3 s, 1 hr, 6 hr, 3 weeks, and 10 weeks. Locomotor behavior scoring was based on the Basso, Beattie, Bresnahan (BBB) Locomotor Rating Scale (Ohio State University, Columbus, OH) motor scores. Comparing five groups, the mean BBB was statistically higher in the 3-s group (P < 0.05). Comparison of progressive changes in BBB in each group revealed statistically meaningful improvement in the 3-s group, too. Spared surface area of spinal cord was 81.5 ± 4.9% in 3-s group and 10.8 ± 1.4% in the delayed groups of decompression (P = 0.039). Rats undergoing immediate decompression showed significantly better functional recovery and smaller lesion volumes.
Study on a field data of secondary arc extinction time for large-sized transmission lines

Secondary arc extinction time is an important factor, which influences system stability because it directly affects the reclosing time. However, few reports exist on a field data of the secondary arc extinction time on transmission lines. This paper describes the investigation results of secondary arc extinction characteristics by analyzing voltage wave shapes during the lightning faults on 550 kV transmission lines. Recovery voltages and secondary arc currents on each transmission line during faults were calculated to consider correlation with the secondary arc extinction time. The secondary arc extinction time is estimated by the existing formula, the secondary arc current and the recovery voltage required for one second reclosing are evaluated.
Dexterous reaching, grasp transfer and planning using electrostatic representations

We propose a novel approach to transfer reach and grasp movements while being agnostic and invariant to finger kinematics, hand configurations and relative changes in object dimensions. We exploit a novel representation based on electrostatics to parametrise the salient aspects of the demonstrated grasp. By working in this alternate space that focuses on the relational aspects of the grasp rather than absolute kinematics, we are able to use inference based planning techniques to couple the motion in abstract spaces with trajectories in the configuration space of the robot. We demonstrate that our method computes stable grasps that generalise over objects of different shapes and robots of dissimilar kinematics while retaining the qualitative grasp type - all without expensive collision detection or re-optimisation.
The Influence of Reflected Appraisals on Middle School and High School Athletes' Self-Perceptions of Sport Competence

This study examined the reflected appraisal process in female middle school (n = 66; M age = 12.39 – .87 years) and high school athletes (n = 88; M age = 14.70 – 1.08 years). Questionnaires assessed the athletes’ self-perceptions of sport competence and how they perceived their mothers, fathers, coaches, and teammates evaluated their ability in sport. A multiple regression analysis revealed that the various reflected appraisals predicted self-perceptions of competence (p < .01, R2 = .65). Mothers (β = .19), coaches (β = .24), and teammates (β = .47) were each significant predictors, while the reflected appraisal of fathers (β = .08) was non-significant. Squared semi-partial correlations indicated that teammates accounted the greatest amount of unique (sr2 = .25), followed by coaches (sr2 = .08), mothers (sr2 = .05), and fathers (sr2 = .01). Structural equation modeling indicated that the pattern of relationships was the same for middle school and high school athletes.
Digital Comprehensive Summaries of Uppsala Dissertations from the Faculty of Pharmacy 165 In Vivo Active Drug Uptake and Efflux at the Blood-Brain Barrier With Focus on Drug Transport Interactions

Sadiq, M. W. 2012. In Vivo Active Drug Uptake and Efflux at the Blood-Brain Barrier: With Focus on Drug Transport Interactions. Acta Universitatis Upsaliensis. Digital Comprehensive Summaries of Uppsala Dissertations from the Faculty of Pharmacy 165. 50 pp. Uppsala. ISBN 978-91-554-8472-9. The blood-brain barrier (BBB) controls the movement of substances into and out of the brain. The tight junctions between endothelial cells and energy dependent transporters in the BBB influence rate and extent of drug distribution to the brain. The aim of this thesis was to study different methodological and pharmacokinetic aspects of drug transport at the BBB by characterizing possible active uptake and drug-drug interactions. Therefore, advanced tools for data acquisition and analysis were applied. The role of BBB transport in early drug development, with particular emphasis on in vitro-in vivo comparisons and species differences, was also investigated. Microdialysis in rats was used to study the BBB pharmacokinetics of oxymorphone, diphenhydramine (DPHM), oxycodone and morphine. Oxymorphone, DPHM and verapamil were all found to be actively taken up at the BBB, with brain to blood unbound drug ratios of 2, 5 and 2, respectively. The effect profile for oxycodone was successfully described using the modified M3 method for censored observations. In vitro experiments indicated a competitive interaction between DPHM and oxycodone on active uptake transport to the brain. No such interaction was observed in vivo due to much lower unbound concentrations achieved, compared with the in vitro Ki values. Active uptake of morphine at the BBB was not demonstrated even at very low concentrations as it was not possible to separate the active uptake transport process from active efflux by decreasing the morphine concentration. Mice carrying the human P-gp gene (hMDR1) were used to evaluate possible species differences in P-gp function. Differences were evident between the hMDR1 and normal mice in BBB penetration of various P-gp substrates and in the effect of blockers on P-gp function. Quantitative measurements of P-gp expression levels at the BBB and a comparison with human data are crucial for the future use of the hMDR1 model. In conclusion, this thesis reports active uptake of oxymorphone, DPHM and verapamil at the BBB. In vivo interaction of DPHM and oxycodone at the BBB was found not to be significant at therapeutic drug concentrations. Furthermore species differences were found between human and mouse P-gp function at the BBB.
Estimation of the lightning parameters in the North Region of Colombia: Results of a study based on linet informatión system and using statistics models

This document presents the results of a study developed in the north region of Colombia (Caribbean region). The study analyzed the lightning parameters based on the new antennas network called LINET. The lightning parameters under study are: return stroke current, polarity and ground flash density. These preliminary results will be the support of future investigations about the lightning parameters characterization and also could help to adjust the characteristic equations and typical values of the phenomena for lightning protection systems in the Caribbean region.
Biosynthesis of Starch in Proplastids of Germinating Ricinus communis Endosperm Tissue.

Electron photomicrographs of endosperm tissue from germinating seed of Ricinus communis L. cv. Hale show proplastids which contain prominent starch grains. The content of starch in endosperm tissue increased from 500 micrograms per seed, in imbibed seed, to 1,100 micrograms per seed in 5-day-old seedlings. The maximum net rate of starch deposition was 1.1 nanomoles glucose incorporated per minute per seed. About 200 micrograms of starch remained in the endosperm 9 days after imbibition. Starch content followed the same developmental pattern as the content of sucrose, free reducing sugars, and other metabolic processes found in this tissue. Two key enzymes of starch synthesis, adenosine diphosphoglucose (ADPG) pyrophosphorylase and ADPG-starch glucosyl transferase (starch synthetase) exhibited maximum activities at 4 and 5 days after germination, respectively. The maximum activity of ADPG pyrophosphorylase was 8.17 nanomoles ADPG formed per minute per seed, whereas starch synthetase exhibited an activity of 125 nanomoles glucose incorporated per minute per seed. These levels of enzyme activity are sufficient to account for the starch synthesis observed. Other enzymes which may be involved in starch synthesis include 3-phosphoglycerate kinase which showed an activity of 8.76 units per seed, triose-P isomerase (2.56 units per seed), fructose-1,6-bisphosphate aldolase (0.99 units per seed), fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase (0.23 units per seed), phosphoglucose isomerase (12.6 units per seed), and phosphoglucomutase (9.72 units per seed). The activities of these enzymes were similar to previously reported values.Starch synthetase was found in association with the fraction containing proplastids isolated from endosperm tissue. Of the total starch synthetase activity in the endosperm, 38% was particulate. Forty-four% of the total particulate activity of starch synthetase placed on sucrose gradients was associated with the band containing proplastids. The proplastids contained 98% of the ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase carboxylase activity placed on the gradient.
Prevention of atrial fibrillation after cardiac surgery

Atrial fibrillation is the most common arrhythmia occurring after heart surgery. Its prevalence after coronary artery bypass surgery is 17 – 33%. Atrial fibrillation requires additional treatment, lengthens hospitalization and increases the overall expenses of cardiac surgery. Atrial fibrillation can cause hemodynamic problems, predispose to congestive heart failure and increase the risk of stroke. Beta-blockers have been shown to effectively prevent atrial fibrillation, and beta-blockers should be a part of the medication of every patient undergoing cardiac surgery, if there are no contraindications. Amiodarone therapy can also be considered for especially high-risk patients.
A Comparison Between Orthogonal and Non-Orthogonal Multiple Access in Cooperative Relaying Power Line Communication Systems

Most, if not all, existing studies on power line communication (PLC) systems as well as industrial PLC standards are based on orthogonal multiple access schemes, such as orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing and code-division multiple access. In this paper, we propose non-orthogonal multiple access (NOMA) for decode-and-forward cooperative relaying PLC systems to achieve higher throughput and improve user fairness. To quantitatively characterize the proposed system performance, we also study conventional cooperative relaying (CCR) PLC systems. We evaluate the performance of the two systems in terms of the average capacity. In this respect, accurate analytical expressions for the average capacity are derived and validated with Monte Carlo simulations. The impact of several system parameters, such as the branching, impulsive noise probability, cable lengths, the power allocation coefficients, and input signal-to-noise ratio, is investigated. The results reveal that the performance of the proposed NOMA-PLC scheme is superior compared with that of the CCR-PLC system. It is also shown that the NOMA-PLC system can be more effective in reducing electromagnetic compatibility associated with PLC and that increasing the network branches can considerably degrade the performance. Moreover, optimizing the power allocation coefficients is found to be of utmost importance to maximize the performance of the proposed system.
Optimal path planning for a mobile robot using cuckoo search algorithm

The shortest/optimal path planning is essential for efficient operation of autonomous vehicles. In this article, a new nature-inspired meta-heuristic algorithm has been applied for mobile robot path planning in an unknown or partially known environment populated by a variety of static obstacles. This meta-heuristic algorithm is based on the levy flight behaviour and brood parasitic behaviour of cuckoos. A new objective function has been formulated between the robots and the target and obstacles, which satisfied the conditions of obstacle avoidance and target-seeking behaviour of robots present in the terrain. Depending upon the objective function value of each nest (cuckoo) in the swarm, the robot avoids obstacles and proceeds towards the target. The smooth optimal trajectory is framed with this algorithm when the robot reaches its goal. Some simulation and experimental results are presented at the end of the paper to show the effectiveness of the proposed navigational controller.
One-dimensional Fokker-Planck reduced dynamics of decision making models in computational neuroscience

We study a Fokker-Planck equation modelling the firing rates of two interacting populations of neurons. This model arises in computational neuroscience when considering, for example, bistable visual perception problems and is based on a stochastic Wilson-Cowan system of differential equations. In a previous work, the slow-fast behavior of the solution of the Fokker-Planck equation has been highlighted. Our aim is to demonstrate that the complexity of the model can be drastically reduced using this slow-fast structure. In fact, we can derive a one-dimensional Fokker-Planck equation that describes the evolution of the solution along the so-called slow manifold. This permits to have a direct efficient determination of the equilibrium state and its effective potential, and thus to investigate its dependencies with respect to various parameters of the model. It also allows to obtain information about the time escaping behavior. The results obtained for the reduced 1D equation are validated with those of the original 2D equation both for equilibrium and transient behavior.
Cell movements in a living mammalian tissue: Long‐term observation of individual cells in wounded corneal endothelia of cats

Although the cells in tissues are known to be motile under special conditions (e.g., during tissue turnover or wound healing), there are not many reports that polygonal cells covering an area without leaving any gaps are also capable of movement. In the present study, cell movements (cell shifting and rearrangement) in a living mammalian eye tissue were documented by identifying and locating individual cells over intervals as long as 100 days. Cat corneal endothelium, a monolayered cell sheet, was wounded by removing a small number (about 180) of endothelial cells from the internal lining of the cornea. Healing of the wounded tissue was observed with a wide‐view specular microscope applied to the outer surface of the cornea, enabling us to identify individual cells for as long as two to three months.
Dissociating Levels of Cognitive Control

Attention is often imperfect; cognitive control is needed to counteract the tendency to attend to distractors that are incompatible with current goals. Cognitive psychologists have long explored cognitive control by examining Stroop interference—the slowed naming of colors on incongruent trials (e.g., “RED” displayed in blue ink), as compared to congruent trials (e.g., “RED” displayed in red ink), in the color-word Stroop task. The magnitude of interference reflects the effectiveness of cognitive control, but it does not reveal the precise processes used to minimize attention to the distracting word. The need for experimental approaches that accomplish this objective is underscored by the existence of qualitatively different cognitive control processes. Prior accounts stressed the use of top-down filtering processes at a task- or list-wide level to avoid word reading, but recent findings have shown that control of word reading is sometimes stimulus-driven—that is, triggered by the processing of stimuli or stimulus features. In this article, I highlight the critical findings that dissociate top-down and stimulus-driven control in the Stroop task, dissociations that are central to the view that cognitive control operates at multiple levels.
Strategies for oral delivery and mitochondrial targeting of CoQ10

Abstract Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), also known as ubiquinone or ubidecarenone, is a powerful, endogenously produced, intracellularly existing lipophilic antioxidant. It combats reactive oxygen species (ROS) known to be responsible for a variety of human pathological conditions. Its target site is the inner mitochondrial membrane (IMM) of each cell. In case of deficiency and/or aging, CoQ10 oral supplementation is warranted. However, CoQ10 has low oral bioavailability due to its lipophilic nature, large molecular weight, regional differences in its gastrointestinal permeability and involvement of multitransporters. Intracellular delivery and mitochondrial target ability issues pose additional hurdles. To maximize CoQ10 delivery to its biopharmaceutical target, numerous approaches have been undertaken. The review summaries the current research on CoQ10 bioavailability and highlights the headways to obtain a satisfactory intracellular and targeted mitochondrial delivery. Unresolved questions and research gaps were identified to bring this promising natural product to the forefront of therapeutic agents for treatment of different pathologies.
Analysis of the process of retention of organic matter in stream ecosystems

Lotic ecosystems are substantially different than most other ecosystems because the continuous unidirectional flow through the system tends to transport matter to downstream reaches. This gives rise to the common erroneous view of streams as conduits or pipes. The process of retention removes matter from transport and makes it available for utilization by stream biota, thus providing a critical link between input and storage. The retentive properties of a stream are functions of both hydrologic and substrate-related features. Heterogeneity of channel structure and current velocity creates obstructions and slack water areas that enhance retention efficiencies of streams. The retention of a particle in transport is a function of the probability of entrainment of the particle on an obstacle and the frequency of obstacles in the channel (YOUNG et al. 1978). A particle also will be retained in areas where the current velocity is less than the velocity required to keep the particle in suspension. When one of these conditions is met, the particle will be retained until flow conditions change and it is transported downstream. The influence of riparian vegetation on biological processes in streams extends beyond food resources and habitat. The effects of riparian vegetation on channel structure and organic inputs in streams determine the efficiency with which matter is retained. In this paper, we describe a method for the quantitative assessment of retention of particulate organic matter in streams and identify several major stream retention features that can be influenced by the structure and composition of riparian zones.
Hepatic metabolism of cholesterol in experimental nephrosis in rats.

The nephrotic state induced in rats by injection of rabbit antirat kidney serum (AKS) closely resembles that occurring clinically (1). Our previous studies indicated that the AKS-induced hypercholesteremia in such rats cannot be ascribed to any increase of cholesterol synthesis (2) or intestinal absorption (3), or to any decrease of its intestinal excretion (4). In view of the important role of the liver (5, 6) in the disposition of the plasma cholesterol, we also believed it important to study any possible role of some AKSinduced abnormality of the liver in the genesis of nephrotic hypercholesteremia.