Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Modelling of the high firing variability of real cortical neurons with the temporal noisy-leaky integrator neuron model

Using the temporal noisy-leaky integrator (TNLI) neuron model with reset, we observed that high firing variability can be achieved for certain input parameter values which results from the temporal summation of noise in the dendrites and the use of random synaptic inputs (0-pRAMs). This was done by calculating the rate-normalised coefficient of variation (C/sub v/) of the interspike interval distribution. Recent experimental observations have shown that firing in real cortical neurons is consistent with a near-random process (e.g. C/sub v/=1), but there has been concern that neuron models which use temporal integration of random excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs) can only produce very low firing variability (C/sub v/<1). We also show that for bursting behaviour, large C/sub v/s (C/sub v/>1) can indeed be achieved, which results from the use of random synapses (0-pRAMs) and distal inputs. For non-bursting behaviour, the irregularity of the output firing of the TNLI increases when inhibitory inputs are added. <<ETX>>
Neurocognitive Correlates of Cerebellar Volumetric Alterations in Youth with Pediatric Bipolar Spectrum Disorders and Bipolar Offspring

Background Emerging evidence points towards the involvement of the cerebellum in the processing of emotions and pathophysiology of mood disorders. However, cerebellar and related cognitive alterations in youth with pediatric bipolar disorder (PBD) and those at high risk to develop the disorder, such as bipolar offspring (BD-OFF) are not clearly defined. Objective To investigate cerebellar gray and white matter volumes, cognition, and their relationship in youth with PBD and BD-OFF. Methods Thirty youth (7 to 17 years, inclusive) with PBD, 30 BD-OFF and 40 healthy controls (HC) were recruited. Study participants underwent a computer-based cognitive battery assessing affective processing, executive function, attention, psychomotor speed, and learning. Three-tesla MRI scan was performed to assess cerebellar white and gray matter volumes. Cerebellar segmentation was performed with FreeSurfer. Statistical analyses include between-group differences in cognitive domains, cerebellar gray, and white matter volumes. Relationships between cerebellar volumes and cognitive domains were examined. Results Youth with PBD showed greater cerebellar gray matter volumes than both BD-OFF and HC, whereas no differences were present between BD-OFF and HC. Both youth with PBD and BD-OFF showed altered processing of negative emotions and a bias towards positive emotions. In youth with PBD and BD-OFF, greater impairment in the processing of emotions correlated with greater cerebellar gray matter volumes. Conclusion The present findings corroborate hypotheses on cerebellar involvement in the processing of emotions and the pathophysiology of PBD. The presence of cerebellar dysfunction in BD-OFF is unclear.
Position biases in sequential location selection: Effects of region, choice history, and visibility of previous selections

In some situations, e.g., when filling out lottery tickets, it can be advantageous to select random locations. However, people usually have difficulties with this, because they are biased by preferences for certain regions, such as the center of an area. According to ideas from art theory, the preferred regions reflect the hidden structure of perceptual forces within an area. In the present study, these structures were investigated and modeled under different conditions for areas with square and rectangular shape. The general task was to sequentially place a number of dots at random locations in an area by clicking with the computer mouse at corresponding positions on the screen. Whereas in a single-dot condition each dot had to be placed in an empty area, the previously placed dots remained visible in a multiple-dots condition. In three experiments it was found that dots were preferentially placed at the center, the diagonals, and the principal axes. This preference was more pronounced in the single than in the multiple-dot condition. Moreover, sequential analyses revealed that dot placing was not only planned in advance, but that the participants also agreed to some extent in their sequential selections, which produced surprisingly similar sequential spatial patterns across participants, at least for the first dots. Altogether, the results indicate that people have great difficulties with the random selection of locations. Their selections are strongly affected by the attraction of specific regions, by previous selections, and by sequential habits.
Prevalence, causes, and consequences of moral distress in healthcare providers caring for people living with dementia in long-term care during a pandemic

Healthcare providers caring for people living with dementia may experience moral distress when faced with ethically challenging situations, such as the inability to provide care that is consistent with their values. The COVID-19 pandemic produced conditions in long-term care homes (hereafter referred to as ‘care homes’) that could potentially contribute to moral distress. We conducted an online survey to examine changes in moral distress during the pandemic, its contributing factors and correlates, and its impact on the well-being of care home staff. Survey participants (n = 227) working in care homes across Ontario, Canada were recruited through provincial care home organizations. Using a Bayesian approach, we examined the association between moral distress and staff demographics and roles, and characteristics of the long-term care home. We performed a qualitative analysis of the survey’s free-text responses. More than 80% of care home healthcare providers working with people with dementia reported an increase in moral distress since the start of the pandemic. There was no difference in the severity of distress by age, sex, role, or years of experience. The most common factors associated with moral distress were lack of activities and family visits, insufficient staffing and high turnover, and having to follow policies and procedures that were perceived to harm residents with dementia. At least two-thirds of respondents reported feelings of physical exhaustion, sadness/anxiety, frustration, powerlessness, and guilt due to the moral distress experienced during the pandemic. Respondents working in not-for-profit or municipal homes reported less sadness/anxiety and feelings of not wanting to go to work than those in for-profit homes. Front-line staff were more likely to report not wanting to work than those in management or administrative positions. Overall, we found that increases in moral distress during the pandemic negatively affected the well-being of healthcare providers in care homes, with preliminary evidence suggesting that individual and systemic factors may intensify the negative effect.
Time-of-Day Effect on Postural Balance and Its Associations with Menopausal Symptoms in Postmenopausal Women

Postmenopausal women suffer from postural balance issues. During a 24-hour time span, postural performance undergoes radical changes as influenced by the circadian rhythm. In this study, we aimed to investigate time-of-day effects on postural balance in postmenopausal women and balance relationships with menopausal symptoms. Two groups of women, aged 40–50 years, participated in this study: a menopausal group and a control group. We evaluated their postural balance and menopausal symptoms (mood, sleepiness and fatigue) in five sessions over the course of a day: at 06:00 hours, at 10:00, at 14:00, at 18:00 and at 22:00. The results showed that postural balance (center of pressure area (CoParea)) values of postmenopausal women were significantly worse (p < .05) at 22:00. Moreover, at this time-of-day, participants in the menopausal group were more tired, less vigilant and experienced a lower mood. We found negative correlations between postural balance and both mood and fatigue levels. However, there was no time-of-day effect on postural balance, mood, fatigue, and sleepiness among participants in the control group. Thus, time-of-day should be considered a factor to control when assessing postural balance and designing intervention studies for postmenopausal women; and it is important for these women to be cautious of fall risks at night, as they are then less stable than at other times-of-day.
Total Intravenous Anesthesia Versus Inhaled Sevoflurane in Obstructive Sleep Apnea Surgery: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Specific guidelines regarding an optimal general anesthesia (GA) approach to obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) patients remain undefined. Literature comparing the efficacy of total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA) and inhalational anesthesia in this population is sparse. We hypothesize that OSA patients receiving TIVA will experience reduced recovery times and other improved post‐surgical outcomes.
About a question of Gateva-Ivanova and Cameron on square-free set-theoretic solutions of the Yang-Baxter equation

Abstract In this article, we introduce a new sequence to find a new estimation of the cardinality Nm of the minimal involutive square-free solution of level m. As an application, using the first values of we improve the estimations of Nm obtained by Gateva-Ivanova and Cameron and Lebed and Vendramin. Following the approach of the first part, in the last section we construct several new counterexamples to the Gateva-Ivanova’s Conjecture.
Endocasts of the basal sauropsid Captorhinus reveal unexpected neurological diversity in early reptiles

Captorhinids are a group of Paleozoic amniotes that represents one of the earliest‐diverging clades of eureptiles. Although captorhinids are one of the best‐known and most well‐studied clades of early amniotes, their palaeoneuroanatomy has gone largely unexamined. We utilized neutron computed tomography to study the virtual cranial and otic endocasts of two captorhinid specimens. The neurosensory anatomy of captorhinids shows a mixture of traits considered plesiomorphic for sauropsids (no expansions of the cerebrum or olfactory bulbs, low degree of encephalization, low ossification of the otic capsule) and those considered more derived, including moderate cephalic and pontine flexures and a dorsoventrally tall bony labyrinth. The inner ear clearly preserves the elliptical, sub‐orthogonal canals and the short, rounded vestibule, along with an unusually enlarged lateral canal and a unique curvature of the posterior canal. The reconstructed neurosensory anatomy indicates that captorhinids were sensitive to slightly higher frequencies than many of their contemporaries, likely reflecting differences in body size across taxa, while the morphology of the maxillary canal suggests a simple, tubular condition as the plesiomorphic state for Sauropsida and contributes to the ongoing discussions regarding the phylogenetic placement of varanopids. This study represents the first detailed tomographic study of the brain and inner ear of any basal eureptile. The new data described here reveal that the neuroanatomy of early sauropsids is far more complex and diverse than previously anticipated, and provide impetus for further exploration of the palaeoneuroanatomy of early amniotes.
The dual burden of animal and human zoonoses: A systematic review

Background Zoonoses can cause a substantial burden on both human and animal health. Globally, estimates of the dual (human and animal) burden of zoonoses are scarce. Therefore, this study aims to quantify the dual burden of zoonoses using a comparable metric, “zoonosis Disability Adjusted Life Years” (zDALY). Methodology We systematically reviewed studies that quantify in the same article zoonoses in animals, through monetary losses, and in humans in terms of Disability Adjusted Life Years (DALYs). We searched EMBASE, Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed, and Google Scholar. We excluded articles that did not provide the data to estimate the zDALY or those for which full text was not available. This study was registered at PROSPERO, CRD42022313081. Principal findings/Significance We identified 512 potentially eligible records. After deduplication and screening of the title and abstract, 23 records were assessed for full-text review. Fourteen studies were included in this systematic review. The data contains estimates from 10 countries, a study at continental level (Asia and Africa), and 2 studies on a global scale. Rabies was the most frequently reported zoonosis where zDALYs were calculated, based on the following included studies: for Kazakhstan 457 (95% CI 342–597), Viet Nam 5316 (95% CI 4382–6244), Asia 1,145,287 (90% CI 388,592–1,902,310), Africa 837,158 (90% CI 283,087–1,388,963), and worldwide rabies 5,920,014 (95% CI 1,547,860–10,290,815). This was followed by echinococcosis, the zDALYs in Peru were 2238 (95% CI 1931–2546), in China 1490 (95% CI 1442–1537), and worldwide cystic echinococcosis 5,935,463 (95% CI 4,497,316–7,377,636). Then, the zDALYs on cysticercosis for Mozambique were 2075 (95% CI 1476–2809), Cameroon 59,540 (95% CR 16,896–101,803), and Tanzania 34,455 (95% CI 12,993–76,193). Brucellosis in Kazakhstan were 2443 zDALYs (95% CI 2391–2496), and brucellosis and anthrax in Turkey 3538 zDALYs (95% CI 2567–6706). Finally, zDALYs on leptospirosis in New Zealand were 196, and Q fever in Netherlands 2843 (95% CI 1071–4603). The animal burden was superior to the human burden in the following studies: worldwide cystic echinococcosis (83%), brucellosis in Kazakhstan (71%), leptospirosis in New Zealand (91%), and brucellosis, and anthrax in Turkey (52%). Countries priorities on zoonoses can change if animal populations are taken into consideration.
Understanding the X-ray spectrum of anomalous X-ray pulsars and soft gamma-ray repeaters

Hard X-rays above 10 keV are detected from several anomalous X-ray pulsars (AXPs) and soft gamma-ray repeaters (SGRs), and different models have been proposed to explain the physical origin within the frame of either a magnetar model or a fallback disk system. Using data from Suzaku and INTEGRAL, we study the soft and hard X-ray spectra of four AXPs/SGRs: 1RXS J170849−400910, 1E 1547.0−5408, SGR 1806−20 and SGR 0501+4516. It is found that the spectra could be well reproduced by the bulk-motion Comptonization (BMC) process as was first suggested by Trümper et al., showing that the accretion scenario could be compatible with X-ray emission from AXPs/SGRs. Simulated results from the Hard X-ray Modulation Telescope using the BMC model show that the spectra would have discrepancies from the power-law, especially the cutoff at ∼200 keV. Thus future observations will allow researchers to distinguish different models of the hard X-ray emission and will help us understand the nature of AXPs/SGRs.
Evaluating the diagnostic properties of the Whooley questionnaire as a case-finding instrument for depression among Chinese women during and after pregnancy

Abstract Purpose: There is a rising prevalence in undetected perinatal depression in many countries, more effort in screening and early identification of perinatal depression is needed. While the Whooley questionnaire is the recommended case-finding strategy for perinatal depression, there is no validated Chinese version. The aim was to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy and stability of the translated Chinese Whooley questionnaire against gold standard measurement during and early after pregnancy. Materials and Methods: This observational study recruited 131 pregnant women from an antenatal clinic in Hong Kong from September 2019 to May 2020. We translated the Whooley questionnaire in Chinese and evaluated self-reported responses against an interviewer-assessed diagnostic standard (DSM-IV criteria) in 107 women at 26–28 gestational weeks. We calculated sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, positive likelihood ratio, negative likelihood ratio and diagnostic odds ratio, with DSM-IV diagnosis as the gold standard. Results: The Chinese Whooley questions had a sensitivity of 79% (95% CI 54.4–93.9), a specificity of 97% (95% CI 90.4–99.3), a positive likelihood ratio of 23.2 (95% CI 7.4–72.1) and a negative likelihood ratio of 0.2 (95% CI 0.1–0.5) in identifying perinatal depression. Conclusion: The translated Chinese Whooley questionnaire has an acceptable diagnostic accuracy in identifying perinatal depression. It can be implemented in health services among Cantonesespeaking Chinese population.
An Efficient Stochastic Newton Algorithm for Parameter Estimation in Logistic Regressions

Logistic regression is a well-known statistical model which is commonly used in the situation where the output is a binary random variable. It has a wide range of applications including machine learning, public health, social sciences, ecology and econometry. In order to estimate the unknown parameters of logistic regression with data streams arriving sequentially and at high speed, we focus our attention on a recursive stochastic algorithm. More precisely, we investigate the asymptotic behavior of a new stochastic Newton algorithm. It enables to easily update the estimates when the data arrive sequentially and to have research steps in all directions. We establish the almost sure convergence of our stochastic Newton algorithm as well as its asymptotic normality. All our theoretical results are illustrated by numerical experiments.
LOWER BOUNDS ON INTERGALACTIC MAGNETIC FIELDS FROM SIMULTANEOUSLY OBSERVED GeV–TeV LIGHT CURVES OF THE BLAZAR Mrk 501

We derive lower bounds on intergalactic magnetic fields (IGMFs) from upper limits on the pair echo emission from the blazar Mrk 501, that is, delayed GeV emission from secondary e−e+ pairs produced via interactions of primary TeV gamma rays with the cosmic infrared background. Utilizing only simultaneous GeV–TeV light curves observed by VERITAS, MAGIC, and the Fermi Large Area Telescope during a multiwavelength campaign in 2009 that included a TeV flare, bounds are deduced on the IGMF strength of B ≳ 10−20 G at the 90% confidence level for a field coherence length of 1 kpc. Since our analysis is based firmly on the observational data alone and is nearly free of assumptions concerning the primary TeV flux in unobserved periods or spectral bands, our evaluation of the pair echo flux is conservative and the evidence for a non-zero IGMF is more robust compared to previous studies.
Turing's turtles all the way down: A conserved role of EDAR in the carapacial ridge suggests a deep homology of prepatterns across ectodermal appendages

The scutes of the turtle shell are epidermal shields that begin their formation during the early stages of shell development. Like other skin appendages, turtle scutes are hypothesized to be patterned by reaction–diffusion systems. We have previously established ex vivo and in silico systems to study these mechanisms experimentally and have further shown that mathematical models can explain the dynamics of the induction of turtle scute primordia and the generation of final scute architecture. Using these foundations, we expand our current knowledge and test the roles of ectodysplasin and activin signaling in the development of turtle scutes. We find that these molecules play important roles in the prepatterning of scute primordia along the carapacial ridge and show that blocking Edar signaling may lead to a complete loss of marginal scute primordia. We show that it is possible to reproduce these observations using simple mathematical modeling, thereby suggesting a stabilizing role for ectodysplasin within the reaction–diffusion mechanisms. Finally, we argue that our findings further entrench turtle scutes within a class of developmental systems composed of hierarchically nested reaction–diffusion mechanisms, which is conserved across ectodermal organs.
STELLAR ENERGY RELAXATION AROUND A MASSIVE BLACK HOLE

Orbital energy relaxation around a massive black hole (MBH) plays a key role in the dynamics of galactic nuclei. Its standard description as diffusion provides a perturbative solution in the weak two-body interaction limit. Our N-body simulations show this fails to describe the short-timescale evolution, which is impacted by extreme events even in the weak limit, and is thus difficult to characterize and measure. We derive a non-perturbative solution for energy relaxation as an anomalous diffusion process, and a robust estimation technique to measure it in N-body simulations, and use these to analyze our numerical results. We empirically validate, for the first time, this theoretical description of energy relaxation around an MBH on all timescales. We constrain the modest contribution from strong encounters, and precisely measure that from the weakest encounters, and thereby calibrate the Coulomb logarithm. This yields a robust analytical estimate for the energy diffusion time, tE. We relate tE to the time tr it takes a small density perturbation to return to steady state in a relaxed, single mass stellar cusp, tr ≃ 10tE ≃ (5/32)Q2Ph/Nhlog Q, where Q = M•/M⋆ is the MBH to star mass ratio, and the orbital period Ph and star number Nh are evaluated at the energy scale of the MBH's sphere of influence, Eh = σ2∞, where σ∞ is the velocity dispersion at infinity. The observed M•/σ∞ correlation then implies that passively evolving stellar cusps around lower-mass MBHs (M• ≲ 107 M☉) should be dynamically relaxed by the Hubble time. We briefly consider the implications of anomalous diffusion for stars near the Galactic MBH.
Limit theorems for random central order statistics

p £ (0,1) , the sequence {X } is referred to as a 'n sequence of random central order statistics (of limiting rank p) corresponding to the random central rank sequence {v } . In this paper, we establish the weak as well as strong consistency of X in estimating the * n p-th quantile of F. We derive several central limit theorems for X for regular as well as non-regular 'n cases, and for each case, we provide remainder term estimates of the Berry-Esse"en type.
Lifespan changes in cannabinoid 1 receptor mRNA expression in the female C57BL/6J mouse brain

Many brain functions that underlie behavior, cognition, and emotions vary with age, as does susceptibility to neuropsychological disorders. The expression of specific genes that are involved in these functions, such as the genes encoding for oxytocin, its receptors, and apolipoprotein D, varies with age across different brain regions. The cannabinoid 1 receptor (CB1R) is one of the most widely spread G‐protein coupled receptors in the central nervous system and is increasingly recognized for its important contribution to various brain functions. Although changes in CB1R expression with age have been reported in the male mouse brain, they have not been well investigated in the female brain. Here, we used fluorescence in situ hybridization to target CB1R mRNA in the whole brains of female C57BL/6J mice aged 4, 6, 12, 52 (12 months) and 86 weeks (20 months), and quantified CB1R‐positive cells in 36 brain regions across the whole brain. The results showed that CB1R‐positive cells number changed with age. Specifically, CB1R expression increased with age in some subregions of the cortex, decreased with age in the lateral septal area, and reached its lowest level at 52 weeks in the thalamus, hypothalamus, and hindbrain subregions. Cluster analysis revealed that some brain regions shared similar temporal characteristics in CB1R‐positive cell number across the lifespan. Our results provide evidence that investigation of the neural basis of age‐related characteristics of female brain functions is not only warranted but required.