Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
An independent components and functional connectivity analysis of resting state fMRI data points to neural network dysregulation in adult ADHD

Spontaneous fluctuations can be measured in the brain that reflect dissociable functional networks oscillating at synchronized frequencies, such as the default mode network (DMN). In contrast to its diametrically opposed task‐positive counterpart, the DMN predominantly signals during a state of rest, and inappropriate regulation of this network has been associated with inattention, a core characteristic of attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). To examine whether abnormalities can be identified in the DMN component of patients with ADHD, we applied an independent components analysis to resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging data acquired from 22 male medication‐naïve adults with ADHD and 23 neurotypical individuals. We observed a stronger coherence of the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC) with the DMN component in patients with ADHD which correlated with measures of selective attention. The increased left dlPFC‐DMN coherence also surfaced in a whole‐brain replication analysis involving an independent sample of 9 medication‐naïve adult patients and 9 controls. In addition, a post hoc seed‐to‐voxel functional connectivity analysis using the dlPFC as a seed region to further examine this region's suggested connectivity differences uncovered a higher temporal coherence with various other neural networks and confirmed a reduced anticorrelation with the DMN. These results point to a more diffuse connectivity between functional networks in patients with ADHD. Moreover, our findings suggest that state‐inappropriate neural activity in ADHD is not confined to DMN intrusion during attention‐demanding contexts, but also surfaces as an insufficient suppression of dlPFC signaling in relation to DMN activity during rest. Together with previous findings, these results point to a general dysfunction in the orthogonality of functional networks. Hum Brain Mapp 35:1261–1272, 2014. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Possible involvement of myosin‐X in intercellular adhesion: Importance of serial pleckstrin homology regions for intracellular localization

Subcellular fractionation experiments with mouse hepatocytes, combined with sodium dodecylsulfate (SDS)–polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE)–immunoblot analysis using antibodies against two different tail regions of mouse myosin‐X demonstrated a 240 kDa molecular mass to be associated with the plasma membrane‐rich P2 fraction. The basolateral plasma membrane fraction, but not the brush border fraction, isolated from renal cortices also contained the 240 kDa form of myosin‐X. In an attempt to assess relative contributions of possible functional domains in the tail of myosin‐X to localization and function, cDNA corresponding to all three pleckstrin homology (PH) domains and different regions (PH1, 2 and 3, and the two subdomains of PH1: PHS1 and PHS2), as well as the myosin tail homology 4 domain (MyTH4) and the band4.1/ezrin/radixin/moesin‐like domain (FERM) were separately inserted into the pEGFP vector and expressed in cultured COS‐1 cells. As a result, two distinct regions responsible for localization were identified with regard to PH: one covers all three forms that tends to localize to regions of dynamic actin, such as membrane ruffles, lamellipodia and thick cortical actin bundles at the sites of cell–cell adhesion in a Rac‐ and Cdc42‐dependent manner. The other covers PHS1 and PH2 that localizes to filopodia, filopodial puncta and the sites of intercellular adhesion in a Cdc42‐dependent manner. Expression of green fluorescent protein (GFP)‐MyTH4 fusion protein resulted in formation of phalloidin‐positive granules, while GFP‐FERM affected the actin cytoskeletal system in a distinctly different way. Taken altogether, the results lend support to the view that myosin‐X is involved in cell–cell adhesion‐associated signaling‐linked membrane and/or cytoskeleton reorganization.
Impacts of a buffer layer and hi-wafers on the performance of strained-channel NMOSFETs with SiN capping layer

In this study, we propose the electrical characteristics of nMOSFETs with local strained channel technique using SiN capping layer on Hi- or Cz-wafers. The nMOSFETs were fabricated on 6-in Hi- and Cz- wafers. Before passivation layer deposition, a 300 nm LPCVD SiN was deposited (denoted as SiN/Cz and SiN/Hi), while some wafers were deliberately skipped of the SiN deposition step to serve as the controls (denoted as Cz-control and Hi). For some SiN-capped nMOSFETs, a thin LPCVD-TEOS buffer layer (about 7 nm, denoted as SiN/Buffer/Cz and SiN/Buffer/Hi) was capped prior to the SiN deposition.
Side effects of glucocorticoid treatment. Experience of the Optic Neuritis Treatment Trial.

OBJECTIVE To determine the incidence of side effects from short-term glucocorticoid therapy prescribed for treatment of optic neuritis in the Optic Neuritis Treatment Trial. DESIGN Randomized, placebo-controlled, multicenter clinical trial. SETTING Fifteen university- or hospital-based centers throughout the United States. PATIENTS A total of 457 patients between the ages of 18 and 46 years with acute demyelinative optic neuritis were studied. INTERVENTIONS (1) Intravenous methylprednisolone (250 mg every 6 hours) for 3 days while hospitalized followed by oral prednisone (1 mg/kg per day) for 11 days; (2) oral prednisone (1 mg/kg per day) for 14 days; and (3) oral placebo for 14 days. Each regimen was followed by a short taper. RESULTS Only two patients experienced major side effects, psychotic depression in one and acute pancreatitis in the other. Both of these patients were from the intravenous methylprednisolone group and both of the side effects resolved without sequelae. Patients in both groups receiving active drugs more often reported sleep disturbances, mood change, stomach upset, and facial flushing and gained more weight during the treatment period than patients in the placebo group (P < .001 for each comparison). CONCLUSIONS Although minor side effects are common, short-term glucocorticoid therapy in young, healthy adults is relatively safe. Because of the infrequency of serious side effects, outpatient administration of high-dose intravenous glucocorticoids may be feasible.
Modular Structural Component Design Using the First Order Analysis and Decomposition-Based Assembly Synthesis

This paper discusses an automated method for designing modular components that can be shared within multiple structural products, such as automotive bodies for sibling vehicles. The method is an extension of the concept of decomposition-based assembly synthesis. A beam-based topology optimization method, originally developed for First Order Analysis (FOA) of the automotive body structures, is utilized in order to obtain the “base” structures subject to decomposition. It is expected that the method will facilitate the early decisions on module geometry in automotive body structures, by enhancing the capability of the FOA system. Several case studies with two-dimensional structures are reported to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method. The results indicate that two structures optimized for a similar, but slightly different boundary loading conditions are successfully decomposed to contain a component that can be shared by the structures. Several Pareto optimal decompositions are presented to illustrate the trade-offs among multiple decomposition criteria, with different weights for each objective function.
Identification and Characterization of Two Novel RNA Viruses from Anopheles gambiae Species Complex Mosquitoes

Mosquitoes of the Anopheles gambiae complex display strong preference for human bloodmeals and are major malaria vectors in Africa. However, their interaction with viruses or role in arbovirus transmission during epidemics has been little examined, with the exception of O’nyong-nyong virus, closely related to Chikungunya virus. Deep-sequencing has revealed different RNA viruses in natural insect viromes, but none have been previously described in the Anopheles gambiae species complex. Here, we describe two novel insect RNA viruses, a Dicistrovirus and a Cypovirus, found in laboratory colonies of An. gambiae taxa using small-RNA deep sequencing. Sequence analysis was done with Metavisitor, an open-source bioinformatic pipeline for virus discovery and de novo genome assembly. Wild-collected Anopheles from Senegal and Cambodia were positive for the Dicistrovirus and Cypovirus, displaying high sequence identity to the laboratory-derived virus. Thus, the Dicistrovirus (Anopheles C virus, AnCV) and Cypovirus (Anopheles Cypovirus, AnCPV) are components of the natural virome of at least some anopheline species. Their possible influence on mosquito immunity or transmission of other pathogens is unknown. These natural viruses could be developed as models for the study of Anopheles-RNA virus interactions in low security laboratory settings, in an analogous manner to the use of rodent malaria parasites for studies of mosquito anti-parasite immunity.
Study raises questions about measurement of 'additionality,'or maintaining domestic health spending amid foreign donations.

Donor nations and philanthropic organizations increasingly require that funds provided for a specific health priority such as HIV should supplement domestic spending on that priority-a concept known as "additionality. " We investigated the "additionality" concept using data from Honduras, Rwanda, and Thailand, and we found that the three countries increased funding for HIV in response to increased donor funding. In contrast, the study revealed that donors, faced with increased Global Fund resources for HIV in certain countries, tended to decrease their funding for HIV or shift funds for use in non-HIV health areas. More broadly, we found many problems in the measurement and interpretation of additionality. These findings suggest that it would be preferable for donors and countries to agree on how best to use available domestic and external funds to improve population health, and to develop better means of tracking outcomes, than to try to develop more sophisticated methods to track additionality.
Local and systemic effects of tetrodotoxin on the formation and elimination of synapses in reinnervated adult rat muscle

1. Polyneuronal innervation of normal and reinnervated fourth deep lumbrical muscle fibres was studied with tension measurements and intracellular recordings. From the tenth day after a complete crush of the muscle nerve, some of the reinnervated muscles were completely paralysed for up to 15 days by local application of tetrodotoxin (TTX) to the sciatic nerve. Other animals received only systemic infusion of TTX during the muscle reinnervation.
OLDER PEOPLE Restraint use among nursing home residents : cross-sectional study and prospective cohort study

Aims and objectives. To investigate (1) the prevalence of physical restraints and psychoactive medication, (2) newly administered physical restraints, frequency of application of the devices and frequency of psychoactive medication on demand during 12-month follow-up and (3) characteristics associated with restraint use in nursing homes. Background. High quality data on restraint use in German nursing homes are lacking so far. Such information is the basis for interventions to achieve a restraint-free care. Design. Cross-sectional study and prospective cohort study. Setting and subjects. Thirty nursing homes with 2367 residents in Hamburg, Germany. Methods. External investigators obtained prevalence of physical restraints by direct observation on three occasions on one day, psychoactive drugs were extracted from residents’ records and prospective data were documented by nurses. Results. Residents’ mean age was 86 years, 81% were female. Prevalence of residents with at least one physical restraint was 26Æ2% [95% confidence interval (CI) 21Æ3–31Æ1]. Centre prevalence ranged from 4Æ4 to 58Æ9%. Bedrails were most often used (in 24Æ5% of residents), fixed tables, belts and other restraints were rare. Prevalence of residents with at least one psychoactive drug was 52Æ4% (95% CI 48Æ7–56Æ1). The proportion of residents with at least one physical restraint after the first observation week of 26Æ3% (21Æ3–31Æ3) cumulated to 39Æ5% (33Æ3–45Æ7) at the end of follow-up (10Æ4 SD 3Æ3 months). The relative frequency of observation days with at least one device ranged from 4Æ9–64Æ8% between centres. No characteristic was found to explain centre differences. Conclusions. The frequency of physical restraints and psychoactive drugs in German nursing homes is substantial. Pronounced centre variation suggests that standard care is possible without restraints. Relevance to clinical practice. Effective restraint minimisation approaches are urgently warranted. An evidence-based guideline may overcome centre differences towards a restraint-free nursing home care.
UWB All-Textile Antenna With Full Ground Plane for Off-Body WBAN Communications

A fully textile microstrip topology with ultra wideband (UWB) characteristics useful in wireless body area networks (WBAN) is proposed. The antenna is operable within the full UWB band and incorporates a full textile shielding ground plane. The full ground plane is shown to be crucial in maintaining the performance when worn on-body. It successfully reduces any on-body performance degradation, resulting in a very robust structure. A detailed numerical and experimental evaluation of the antenna is performed in free space and on body.
Ca2+ sensitization pathways accessed by cholinergic neurotransmission in the murine gastric fundus

• In smooth muscles, the sensitivity of contraction to Ca2+ can be increased by the phosphorylation of CPI‐17 and MYPT1, resulting in the inhibition of myosin light chain phosphatase (MLCP). • Ca2+ sensitization of smooth muscle contraction has typically been studied by immersing muscles in solutions containing contractile agonists. • However, stimulating muscles by bath‐applied agonists may not be equivalent to neurotransmitter release because different post‐junctional receptors may be activated in response to these different modes of stimulation. • In this study we found that a bath‐applied cholinergic agonist activates Ca2+ sensitization mechanisms in gastric fundus smooth muscles that are different than those of cholinergic neurotransmission. Electrical field stimulation (EFS) only increased CPI‐17 phosphorylation, while bath‐applied carbachol increased both CPI‐17 and MYPT1 phosphorylation. • With the cholinesterase inhibitor neostigmine present, both CPI‐17 and MYPT1 phosphorylation were increased by EFS. • In fundus muscles of W/Wv mice which lack intramuscular interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC‐IMs), EFS alone increased both CPI‐17 and MYPT1 phosphorylation. • These findings indicate that ACh availability determines which Ca2+ sensitization mechanisms are activated, and ICC‐IMs regulate the access of ACh to smooth muscles.
Distribution of hydroxyapatite crystallite orientation and ultrasonic wave velocity in ring-shaped cortical bone of bovine femur

At the nanoscopic level, bone consists of calcium phosphate, which forms incomplete hydroxyapatite (HAp) crystals. The preferred orientation of the c-axis of HAp crystallites induces anisotropy and inhomogeneity of elastic properties in bone. In this study, the effect of the preferred orientation of HAp crystallites on the spatial distribution of ultrasonic wave velocity was experimentally investigated, considering bone mineral density (BMD) and microstructure. Three ring-shaped cortical bone samples were made from a 36-month-old bovine femur. Longitudinal wave velocity was measured by a conventional ultrasonic pulse system, using self-made polyvinylidene fluoride transducers. The integrated intensity of the (0002) peak obtained using X-ray diffraction was estimated to evaluate the amount of preferred orientation. The velocity distribution pattern was similar to the distribution of integrated intensity of (0002). The effect of the preferred orientation of HAp crystallites on velocity was clearly observed in the plexiform structure, despite the fact that the BMD value was almost independent of the preferred orientation of HAp crystallites. Velocity measurement of cortical bone can reveal information about HAp crystallite orientation.
Sympathetic blockade during extradural analgesia with mepivacaine or bupivacaine

The extent of sympathetic blockade in 36 patients, who had been given extradural analgesia, was studied by means of the skin conductance response (SCR). The SCR was also studied in six healthy volunteers who received, in a cross‐over fashion, infusions of physiological saline (placebo) and saline containing mepivacaine. Two more volunteers were given saline containing bupivacaine. Extradural analgesia caused a partial blockade of sympathetic activity. The higher, the level of analgesia the greater the degree of inhibition of the SCR. Complete blockade of the SCR or only a weak response in the foot was obtained in the majority of cases when the level of analgesia reached a dermatome level of T4 or higher. There was no significant relationship between the degree of motor blockade of the lower extremities and the intensity of blockade of the SCR. Extradural injection of 2% mepivacaine had a greater effect on the SCR than did 0.5% bupivacaine. There was no indication that infusion of mepivacaine or bupivacaine in volunteers, whose blood levels were as high as or higher than those likely to be produced during extradural analgesia, affected the SCR.
Cellular immunity and its serum‐mediated inhibition in shope‐virus‐induced rabbit papillomas

A colony‐inhibition technique was used to demonstrate lymph‐node‐cell (LNC) mediated immune reactions against tumor‐specific transplantation antigens of Shope‐virus‐induced papilloma and carcinoma cells. Lymph‐node cells from rabbits in which Shope papillomas had regressed spontaneously, as well as LNC from rabbits with persistent Shope papillomas, reduced the plating efficiency of Shope‐virus‐induced papilloma and carcinoma cells but did not affect normal skin fibroblasts from the same rabbits as the tumor cells.
Ablation of solids by femtosecond lasers: ablation mechanism and ablation thresholds for metals and dielectrics

The mechanism of ablation of solids by intense femtosecond laser pulses is described in an explicit analytical form. It is shown that at high intensities when the ionization of the target material is complete before the end of the pulse, the ablation mechanism is the same for both metals and dielectrics. The physics of this new ablation regime involves ion acceleration in the electrostatic field caused by charge separation created by energetic electrons escaping from the target. The formulas for ablation thresholds and ablation rates for metals and dielectrics, combining the laser and target parameters, are derived and compared to experimental data. The calculated dependence of the ablation thresholds on the pulse duration is in agreement with the experimental data in a femtosecond range, and it is linked to the dependence for nanosecond pulses.
AVERAGE WEATHER VARIABLES AT THE SOUTH CENTRAL AGRICULTURAL LABORATORY NEAR CLAY CENTER , NEBRASKA , FOR THE DAYS OF LANDSAT OVERPASS FOR 2005 AND 2006 GROWING SEASON

There are various methods available for estimating magnitude and trends of evapotranspiration. Bowen ratio energy balance system and eddy correlation techniques offer powerful alternatives for measuring land surface evapotranspiration. In spite of the elegance, high accuracy, and theoretical attractions of these techniques for measuring evapotranspiration, their practical use over large areas can be limited due to the number of sites needed and the related expense. Application of evapotranspiration mapping from satellite measurements can overcome the limitations. The objective of this study was to utilize the METRICTM (Mapping Manuscript received for review, April 2009; accepted for publication, September 2010.
The Role of Malnutrition during Pregnancy and Its Effects on Brain and Skeletal Muscle Postnatal Development

“Foetal programming” refers to nutritional and hormonal variations during pregnancy. A maternal proper diet has a fundamental role in decreasing pregnancy complications and to prevent possible diseases in postnatal life. In our narrative review, we analyze and discuss the role of malnutrition during pregnancy and its effects on pre- and postnatal development of embryos. Our review proposes a comprehensive and careful analysis of the studies in this field regarding malnutrition and foetal programming. Evidence shows that nutrient imbalance before implantation may result in somatic hypoevolutism at birth, and endocrine and metabolic dysfunctions in postnatal life. In addition, the maternal malnutrition could exert a suppressive effect on the maternal and foetal immune response. It could also affect both the proliferation of myogenic precursors reducing the number of muscle fibres and the future reproductive maturation with possible consequent impaired fertility and quality of gametes. In conclusion, it is necessary to develop dietary strategies to optimize nutrition, not only during pregnancy but already when it is programmed, in order to improve the outcomes of pregnancy, promote growth, healthy child development, reduce the risk of chronic diseases, and slow down the metabolic decline associated with aging.
Understanding and Improving the Latency of DRAM-Based Memory Systems

Over the past two decades, the storage capacity and access bandwidth of main memory have improved tremendously, by 128x and 20x, respectively. These improvements are mainly due to the continuous technology scaling of DRAM (dynamic random-access memory), which has been used as the physical substrate for main memory. In stark contrast with capacity and bandwidth, DRAM latency has remained almost constant, reducing by only 1.3x in the same time frame. Therefore, long DRAM latency continues to be a critical performance bottleneck in modern systems. Increasing core counts, and the emergence of increasingly more data-intensive and latency-critical applications further stress the importance of providing low-latency memory access. In this dissertation, we identify three main problems that contribute significantly to long latency of DRAM accesses. To address these problems, we present a series of new techniques. Our new techniques significantly improve both system performance and energy efficiency. We also examine the critical relationship between supply voltage and latency in modern DRAM chips and develop new mechanisms that exploit this voltage-latency trade-off to improve energy efficiency. The key conclusion of this dissertation is that augmenting DRAM architecture with simple and low-cost features, and developing a better understanding of manufactured DRAM chips together lead to significant memory latency reduction as well as energy efficiency improvement. We hope and believe that the proposed architectural techniques and the detailed experimental data and observations on real commodity DRAM chips presented in this dissertation will enable development of other new mechanisms to improve the performance, energy efficiency, or reliability of future memory systems.
Planning for profit!

Variable cost: The cost of inputs that are incurred only if you actually produce something. These input costs change depending upon the quantity and price. Variable costs increase as production increases and decrease as production slows. Good examples include seed, fertilizer, fuel, and pesticides. You can change variable costs to alter the production process, but once you have incurred the expense, it becomes a fixed cost associated with that production cycle.