Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Prefrontal cortical activation while viewing urban and garden scenes: A pilot fNIRS study

Recent studies have shown that pleasant and unpleasant emotions could be detected through functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS). This study investigates the prefrontal cortical activation in human subjects while they were viewing urban and garden scenes. A multi-channel continuous wave fNIRS system was used to record the prefrontal cortical activations from seven subjects. During the data collection, the subjects viewed 40 trials of video clips. In each trial, the subjects viewed a video of randomized urban or garden scenes for 30s followed by 30s of idle scene which showed a dark blue progress bar on black background on the screen. NIRS-SPM is employed to work out the changes of hemoglobin response and the prefrontal cortical activations were generated using group analysis based on the contrasts of urban versus idle, garden versus idle and urban versus garden. The activation for the contrast of urban versus garden showed an increase of oxy-hemoglobin on the right area of the prefrontal cortex with p < 0.05. This preliminary result showed that the garden scene might provide a pleasant and less stressful experience as compared to the urban scene for subjects. This suggests the possibility of using a NIRS-based Brain-Computer Interface to detect subject preferences of different scenes.
The optimization of functional layers of solar cells based on n-ZnMgO / p-CuO and n-ZnMgO / p-Cu2O heterojunctions

In this paper, we present the results of the calculations of optical losses in the solar cell layers based on n-ZnMgO / p-CuO(p-Cu2O) heterojunctions with AZO and ITO front contacts. The calculations were carried out considering of light absorption in the auxiliary layers of the device. Thus, the spectral dependencies of transmittance in the absorber layer of solar cell were defined. It is made possible to optimize the design of the solar cells based on such heterojunctions.
Stocks, flows, and uncertainty : critical problems in the stock flow consistent approach to monetary economics

ion and mediation The overriding issue is that of levels of abstraction. The claim that DSGE-type models are “microfounded” obscures the necessary difference between the different levels of abstraction at which an analysis may claim to operate. There is no plausible reason offered – beyond the (basically circular) justifications of axiomatic consumer behaviour – for the representative agent, or even a set of such agents, to correspond to any particular feature in the economic reality. The problem is not that the description at the macro level is not microfounded: it is that the elision from agent to macro is impermissible, given the different the presence of an economy that is, in practice, mediated by money and commodities – an economy that does not, in contradistinction to the neoclassical claims more generally, partition neatly into “real” and “nominal” sides. All economic activity is necessarily mediated by the presence of money and commodities; this mediation is not simply a veil, but changes the form of the activity, both at the level of the activity itself and – more pertinently for the discussion here – at the level at which these features can be
Development of command-based iterative learning control algorithm with consideration of friction, disturbance, and noise effects

In this brief, a command-based iterative learning control (ILC) architecture is proposed to compensate for friction effect and to reduce tracking error caused by servo lag. In contrast to a feedback-feedforward control structure, the proposed methodology utilizes the learning algorithm that updates the input commands based on the tracking errors from the previous machining process. The effects of noise accumulations from each learning process of the ILC are analyzed by formulating the equivalent error dynamic and updated command equations, and the P-type ILC with a zero-phase filter is applied to alleviate noise and disturbance effects. It is shown that, for tracking a circle, the quadrant protrusions caused by friction can be reduced substantially by the updated command containing a concave shape located at the crossing of the zero velocity. Finally, analytical simulation and experimental results demonstrate that the command-based ILC algorithm can enhance the tracking performance significantly.
Transfection of Trypanosoma cruzi with Host CD40 Ligand Results in Improved Control of Parasite Infection

ABSTRACT We have previously shown that infection by Trypanosoma cruzi, a parasitic protozoan, is reduced by injection of CD40 ligand (CD40L)-transfected 3T3 fibroblasts (D. Chaussabel, F. Jacobs, J. de Jonge, M. de Veerman, Y. Carlier, K. Thielemans, M. Goldman, and B. Vray, Infect. Immun. 67:1929-1934, 1999). This prompted us to transfect T. cruzi with the murine CD40L gene and to study the consequences of this transfection on the course of infection. For this, epimastigotes (Y strain) were electroporated with the pTEX vector alone or the pTEX-CD40L construct, and transfected cells were selected for their resistance to Geneticin G418. Then strain Y-, pTEX-, and pTEX-CD40L-transfected epimastigotes were transformed by metacyclogenesis into mammalian infective forms called Y, YpTEX, and YpTEX-CD40L trypomastigotes. Transfection of the CD40L gene and expression of the CD40L protein were assessed by reverse transcription-PCR and Western blot analysis. The three strains of parasites were infective in vitro for mouse peritoneal macrophages. When organisms were inoculated into mice, a very low level of parasitemia and no mortality were seen with the YpTEX-CD40L strain compared to the Y and YpTEX strains. Furthermore, the proliferative capacity and the secretion of gamma interferon were both preserved in spleen cells (SCs) from YpTEX-CD40L-infected mice but not with SCs from Y- and YpTEX-infected mice. These results suggest that the CD40L produced by transfected T. cruzi is involved in the modulation of an antiparasite immune response. Moreover, mice surviving YpTEX-CD40L infection resisted a challenge infection with the wild-type strain. Taken together, our data demonstrate the feasibility of generating a T. cruzi strain expressing a bioactive host costimulatory molecule that counteracts the immunodeficiency induced by the parasite during infection and enhances protective immunity against a challenge infection.
EEG classification based on Small-World neural network for Brain-Computer Interface

Focusing on mental task recognition, a novel Small-World neural network(SWNN) algorithm is proposed for the EEG classification tasks aiming at solving small training sets problem. For making some attempts to discover the agile experimental paradigms, two channel sets having different information-carrying capacities are built to filter the multi-channel EEG data, as two channel-filters. The band-pass filtering preprocessing is performed by IIR Chebyshev I Filter. Common spatial patterns, which can emphasize the greatest distinction among the most outstanding features of different patterns, is used to carry out spatial filtering. Bring in the Small-World neural network, which possesses the complex network structure transformed from the regular network by random rewiring according to the rewiring probability P and the high-dimensional weights adjusting mechanism based on back-propagation. This algorithm was applied to the data set IVa of “BCI Competition iii”, which provides trails for the classes “right hand” and “right foot”, with the classification accuracies of 99.1%∼97.7% by 10-fold cross-validation.
CT Angiography is State-of-the-Art First Vascular Imaging for Subarachnoid Hemorrhage

The American Journal of Neuroradiology shows different attitudes to state-of-the-art imaging with CT angiography (CTA) after subarachnoid hemorrhage. [1][1],[2][2] Kallmes et al[1][1] opine that CTA should not be done for subarachnoid hemorrhage, whereas Lubicz et al[2][2] document state-of-the-art
The psychological and neurocognitive consequences of critical illness. A pragmatic review of current evidence

Mortality rates alone are no longer a sufficient guide to quality of care. Due to medical advances, patients are surviving for longer following critical illness and major surgery; therefore, functional outcomes and long-term quality of life are of increasing consequence. Post-operative cognitive dysfunction has been acknowledged as a complication following anaesthesia for many years, and interest in persistent cognitive dysfunction following a critical illness is growing. Psychological and neurocognitive sequelae following discharge from intensive care are acknowledged to occur with sufficient significance to have recently coined the term ‘the post-intensive care syndrome’. Rehabilitation following critical illness has been highlighted as an important goal in recently published national UK guidelines, including the need to focus on both physical and non-physical recovery. Neuropsychological and cognitive consequences following anaesthesia and critical illness are significant. The exact pathophysiological mechanisms linking delirium, cognitive dysfunction and neuropsychological symptoms following critical illness are not fully elucidated but have been studied elsewhere and are outside the scope of this article. There is limited evidence as yet for specific peri-operative preventative strategies, but early management and rehabilitation strategies following intensive care discharge are now emerging. This article aims to summarise the issues and appraise current options for management, including both neuroprotective and neurorehabilitative strategies in intensive care.
Flight to Liquidity and Systemic Bank Runs

This paper presents a general equilibrium, monetary model of bank runs to study monetary injections during financial crises. When the probability of runs is positive, depositors increase money demand and reduce deposits; at the economy-wide level, the velocity of money drops and deflation arises. Two quantitative examples show that the model accounts for a large fraction of (i) the drop in deposits in the Great Depression, and (ii) the $400 billion run on money market mutual funds in September 2008. In some circumstances, monetary injections have no effects on prices but reduce money velocity and deposits. Counterfactual policy analyses show that, if the Federal Reserve had not intervened in September 2008, the run on money market mutual funds would have been much smaller. JEL Classification: E44, E51, G20
Changes in the Sulcal Size Associated With Autism Spectrum Disorder Revealed by Sulcal Morphometry

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex, neurodevelopmental disorder with various structural abnormalities for different patient groups. Because of the heterogeneity of the disorder, several biomarkers have been suggested so far. Here, we explore the potential of sulcal surface and length as biomarkers. Three‐dimensional T1‐weighted images of 15 adolescents of normal intelligence with ASD and 15 age‐, sex‐, and intelligence quotient‐matched control adolescents were analysed using Brainvisa 4.0 (http://www.brainvisa.info), which automatically extracts the cortical folds and labels them as 59 sulcal pieces. For each sulcus, the surface, length, and mean geodesic depth were computed using morphometry analysis within this software package. General linear model was conducted to compare the estimated values for the two groups, ASD and control. In the ASD group, the left insula and the right intraparietal sulcus (IPS) had significantly higher values for surface and length, respectively. Nonetheless for all sulcal pieces, the mean geodesic depth was not significantly different between the two groups. Our results suggest that sulcal surface and length can have correlation with morphological changes of cortex in ASD. Greater surface area and length in insula and IPS, respectively, may reflect greater folding. This could result in greater separation of functions with an impact upon the integrative functions of these regions. Autism Res 2012, 5: 245–252. © 2012 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Numerical Analysis of Jump-Diffusion Models for Option Pricing

Numerical Analysis of Jump-Di usion Models for Option Pricing Arne Karsten Strauss Jump-di usion models can under certain assumptions be expressed as partial integrodi erential equations (PIDE). Such a PIDE typically involves a convection term and a nonlocal integral like for the here considered models of Merton and Kou. We transform the PIDE to eliminate the convection term, discretize it implicitly using nite di erences and the second order backward di erence formula (BDF2) on a uniform grid. The arising dense linear system is solved by an iterative method, either a splitting technique or a circulant preconditioned conjugate gradient method. Exploiting the Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) yields the solution in only O(n log n) operations and just some vectors need to be stored. Second order accuracy is obtained on the whole computational domain for Merton's model whereas for Kou's model rst order is obtained on the whole computational domain and second order locally around the strike price. The solution for the PIDE with convection term can oscillate in a neighborhood of the strike price depending on the choice of parameters, whereas the solution obtained from the transformed problem is stabilized.
Perl 6: reconciling the irreconcilable

Perl is a general-purpose language, known for its vast number of freely available libraries. The Perl 6 project was started to improve the language's support for multi-paradigmatic programming, while retaining compatibility with the existing code base. This talk discusses how Perl 6 attempts to reconcile various competing paradigms in the field of programming language design, such as static vs. dynamic typechecking, nominal vs. structural subtyping, prototype vs. class-based objects, and lazy vs. eager evaluation. Moreover, this talk also covers the design and development of Pugs, a self-hosting Perl 6 implementation bootstrapped from Haskell, targeting multiple runtime environments, including Perl 5, JavaScript and Parrot.
SEView: a Java applet for browsing molecular sequence data

SEView is a Java applet that represents known or predicted elements of a protein or nucleotide sequence. It replaces or supplements the textual format of databases or program output with an interactive, graphical representation that is easily available through a WWW browser. Independence from the source data's format is achieved through a description language and ad hoc translators, which make the system versatile and flexible.
Persistent whole-chromosome aneuploidy is generally associated with nascent allohexaploid wheat

Allopolyploidization has been a driving force in plant evolution. Formation of common wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) represents a classic example of successful speciation via allopolyploidy. Nevertheless, the immediate chromosomal consequences of allopolyploidization in wheat remain largely unexplored. We report here an in-depth investigation on transgenerational chromosomal variation in resynthesized allohexaploid wheats that are identical in genome constitution to common wheat. We deployed sequential FISH, genomic in situ hybridization (GISH), and homeolog-specific pyrosequencing, which enabled unequivocal identification of each of the 21 homologous chromosome pairs in each of >1,000 individual plants from 16 independent lines. We report that whole-chromosome aneuploidy occurred ubiquitously in early generations (from selfed generation S1 to >S20) of wheat allohexaploidy although at highly variable frequencies (20–100%). In contrast, other types of gross structural variations were scant. Aneuploidy included an unexpected hidden type, which had a euploid chromosome number of 2n = 42 but with simultaneous loss and gain of nonhomeologous chromosomes. Of the three constituent subgenomes, B showed the most lability for aneuploidy, followed by A, but the recently added D subgenome was largely stable in most of the studied lines. Chromosome loss and gain were also unequal across the 21 homologous chromosome pairs. Pedigree analysis showed no evidence for progressive karyotype stabilization even with multigenerational selection for euploidy. Profiling of two traits directly related to reproductive fitness showed that although pollen viability was generally reduced by aneuploidy, the adverse effect of aneuploidy on seed-set is dependent on both aneuploidy type and synthetic line.
Quantitative RT‐PCR and immunoblot analyses reveal acclimated A2 noradrenergic neuron substrate fuel transporter, glucokinase, phospho‐AMPK, and dopamine‐β‐hydroxylase responses to hypoglycemia

Cellular metabolic stasis is monitored in discrete brain sites, including the dorsal vagal complex (DVC), where A2 noradrenergic neurons perform this sensory function. Single‐cell qPCR and high‐sensitivity immunoblotting were used to determine if A2 neurons adapt to chronic hypoglycemia by increasing substrate fuel transporter expression, and whether such adjustments coincide with decreased cellular energy instability during this systemic metabolic stress. Tyrosine hydroxylase‐immunolabeled neurons were laser‐microdissected from the caudal DVC 2 hr after single or serial neutral protamine Hagedorn insulin (NPH) dosing. Preceding hypoglycemia suppressed basal A2 MCT2, GLUT3, and GLUT4 profiles and diminished MCT2, GLUT4, and glucokinase responses to recurring hypoglycemia. Acute NPH caused a robust increase in A2 phospho‐AMPK protein levels; baseline phospho‐AMPK expression was elevated after 3 days of insulin treatment but only slight augmented after a fourth NPH injection. Transcripts encoding the catecholamine biosynthetic enzyme dopamine‐β‐hydroxylase were unaffected by acute NPH but were diminished by serial insulin dosing. This evidence for diminished basal A2 glucose and lactate uptake and attenuated phosopho‐AMPK‐mediated detection of hypoglycemia‐associated energy deficits suggests that these cells acclimate to chronic hypoglycemia by adopting a new metabolic steady state characterized by energy paucity and reduced sensitivity to hypoglycemia. Because dopamine‐β‐hydroxylase mRNA was reduced after serial, but not single NPH dosing, A2 neurotransmitter biosynthesis may be impervious to acute hypoglycemia but inhibited when posthypoglycemic metabolic deficiency is exacerbated by recurring hypoglycemia. This research suggests that chronic hypoglycemia‐associated adjustments in A2‐sensory neurotransmission may reflect cellular energetic debilitation rather than adaptive attenuation of cellular metabolic imbalance. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Apoptosis by CD95 (Fas)-dependent and -independent mechanisms in Peyer's patch lymphocytes in murine retrovirus-induced immunodeficiency syndrome

CD95 (Fas)/CD95 ligand (CD95 L)-mediated apoptosis is thought to be involved in the delayed progression of murine AIDS (MAIDS) induced by LP-BM5 murine leukemia virus (MuLV). We show evidence of apoptosis in lymphocytes of Peyer's patches (PP) at the early stage of MAIDS. Both T and B cells in PP expressed CD95 at the early stage of MAIDS and decreased in number thereafter. The decrease in T cells was not evident in CD95-mutated lpr mice with MAIDS, suggesting that CD95/CD95 L interaction is involved in the apoptosis of T cells in PP during the course of MAIDS. On the other hand, the number of B cells was also decreased in PP of lpr mice with MAIDS. The proliferative ability of B cells in PP of MAIDS mice in response to immunoglobulin M cross-linking or lipopolysaccharide was severely impaired, while the B cells normally proliferated in response to anti-CD40 monoclonal antibody. These findings imply that aberrantly activated B cells in PP undergo apoptosis independently of the CD95/CD95 L system during the course of infection with MAIDS virus.
A stochastic control formulation of the continuous-time power system operation problem

In this paper we show how to build an economically optimal feedback control strategy for the re-dispatch of electricity generation. We assume that the operator steers production in a set of controllable power plants by altering the active power set-point of each generator, within a set of predefined set-points. The operators strategy will be based on balancing the operating cost against the expected cost from unserved demand. Important aspects are ramp-rates at which production can approach the set-point, and switching costs arising from increased fuel consumption during ramping and wear and tear on production facilities.
On Clutter Sparsity Analysis in Space–Time Adaptive Processing Airborne Radar

To have a further understanding of the recently developed space-time adaptive processing (STAP) methods based on sparse representation (SR-STAP), this letter details the clutter sparsity observed by STAP radar systems. First, we review the principle and discuss the existing problems about clutter sparsity of the SR-STAP-type algorithms. Then, a theoretical analysis on clutter sparsity for a side-looking uniform linear array with constant pulse repetition frequency, constant velocity, and no crab is performed. Some important conclusions are obtained, and simulations are used to validate the correctness of them.
Frequent shedding of human herpesvirus 6 in saliva

We have previously reported the isolation of HHV‐6 from saliva samples. Because these isolations were made in PHA‐stimulated lymphocytes from healthy adults, which may occasionally contain endogenous HHV‐6, it was desirable to repeat this work using cord blood lymphocytes. In this study 18 isolations of viruses provisionally characterized as HHV‐6 were made from 19 saliva samples by centrifugally enhanced inoculation into PHA‐stimulated cord blood lymphocytes. HHV‐6 was not found in 10 pernasal aspirates, 50 endocervical swabs, or 30 male urethral swabs. It is concluded that HHV‐6 is usually present in the saliva of most adults and that this affords a possible explanation of the high infection rate with this virus in young children.
APPRAISAL OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP TEACHING AND LEARNING METHODS IN TANZANIA’S HIGHER LEARNING INSTITUTIONS

Entrepreneurship education has become an important issue in many education systems including Tanzania and has received a remarkable emphasis in Higher Learning Institutions (HLIs) in recent years. Although many researchers have highlighted the role of teaching and learning strategies in enhancing entrepreneurial capabilities, there is an on-going debate on whether the strategies employed for teaching and learning of entrepreneurship in Tanzanian HLIs are creating business-ready graduates with entrepreneurial capabilities. This study aims to review the existing literature on entrepreneurship education by assessing whether the teaching and learning strategies are equipping students with the desired entrepreneurial capabilities. Through a desk research and narrative review of the existing empirical and grey literature, the results indicate that the status of entrepreneurship teaching in HLIs ineffective in terms of promoting entrepreneurial capabilities of graduates. This is highly attributed to inappropriate teaching and learning approaches as at present, the HLIs rely on traditional teaching and learning methods extensively. The study recommends that teaching and learning strategies should be revised to reach the goals of entrepreneurship education.