Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Role of the Ventromedial Prefrontal Cortex in Purchase Intent Among Older Adults

Older adults are frequently the targets of scams and deception, with millions of individuals being affected each year in the United States alone. Previous research has shown that the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) may play a role in vulnerability to fraud. The current study examined brain activation patterns in relation to susceptibility to scams and fraud using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Twenty-eight healthy, community-dwelling older adults were subdivided into groups of impaired and unimpaired decision makers as determined by their performance on the Iowa Gambling Task (IGT). While in the scanner, the participants viewed advertisements that were created directly from cases deemed deceptive by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). We then obtained behavioral measures involving comprehension of claims and purchase intention of the product in each advertisement. Contrasts show brain activity in the vmPFC was less correlated with purchase intention in impaired vs. unimpaired older adult decision makers. Our results have important implications for both future research and recognizing the possible causes of fraud susceptibility among older adults.
Applying cognitive electrophysiology to neural modelling of the attentional blink

This thesis proposes a connection between computational modelling of cognition and cognitive electrophysiology. We extend a previously published neural network model of working memory and temporal attention (Simultaneous Type Serial Token (ST2 ) model ; Bowman & Wyble, 2007) that was designed to simulate human behaviour during the attentional blink, an experimental nding that seems to illustrate the temporal limits of conscious perception in humans. Due to its neural architecture, we can utilise the ST2 model's functionality to produce so-called virtual event-related potentials (virtual ERPs) by averaging over activation proles of nodes in the network. Unlike predictions from textual models, the virtual ERPs from the ST2 model allow us to construe formal predictions concerning the EEG signal and associated cognitive processes in the human brain. The virtual ERPs are used to make predictions and propose explanations for the results of two experimental studies during which we recorded the EEG signal from the scalp of human participants. Using various analysis techniques, we investigate how target items are processed by the brain depending on whether they are presented individually or during the attentional blink. Particular emphasis is on the P3 component, which is commonly regarded as an EEG correlate of encoding items into working memory and thus seems to re ect conscious perception. Our ndings are interpreted to validate the ST2 model and competing theories of the attentional blink. Virtual ERPs also allow us to make predictions for future experiments. Hence, we show how virtual ERPs from the ST2 model provide a powerful tool for both experimental design and the validation of cognitive models.
Three‐stage nested‐Miller‐compensated operational amplifiers: Analysis, design, and optimization based on settling time

In analog signal‐processing applications, settling performance of the employed operational amplifiers (opamps) is usually of great matter. Under low‐voltage environment of modern technologies where only a few transistors are allowed to be stacked, three‐stage amplifiers are gaining more interest. Unfortunately, design and optimization of three‐stage opamps based on settling time still suffer from lack of a comprehensive analysis of the settling behavior and closed‐form relations between settling time/error and other parameters. In this paper, a thorough analysis of the settling response of three‐stage nested‐Miller‐compensated opamps, including linear and non‐linear sections, is presented. This analysis leads to a design methodology which determines the circuit requirements for desired settling time/error. Based on settling time, it allows optimizations in power consumption and area. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
γH2AX, an Accurate Marker That Analyzes UV Genotoxic Effects on Human Keratinocytes and on Human Skin

The phosphorylated form of histone H2AX, γH2AX, is a component of the DNA repair system. Most studies have focused on the role of γH2AX during cell transformation and human cancer, but little is known about its role in keratinocytes and the skin during UV irradiation. We analyzed the response to UV irradiation focusing on the phosphorylation of histone H2AX both in vitro, in keratinocyte cultures and in artificial epidermis, and then in vivo, in human skin. Acute UVB irradiation of human keratinocytes increased the phosphorylation of H2AX in a dose‐dependent manner; two types of γH2AX response were observed either in vitro or in vivo. After a low nonapoptotic UVB irradiation, cells contained phosphorylated H2AX and arrested their cell cycle to repair the DNA damages. For a stronger and proapoptotic UVB irradiation, keratinocytes dramatically increased the phosphorylation of H2AX and committed apoptosis. Our results indicate that γH2AX constitutes a highly sensitive marker relevant for studying subapoptotic doses as well as proapoptotic doses of UVB in human skin.
In the hot seat: Insolation, ENSO, and vegetation in the African tropics

African climate is changing at rates unprecedented in the Late Holocene with profound implications for tropical ecosystems and the global hydrologic cycle. Understanding the specific climate drivers behind tropical ecosystem change is critical for both future and paleomodeling efforts. However, linkages between climate and vegetation in the tropics have been extremely controversial. The Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) is a satellite‐derived index of vegetation productivity with a high spatial and temporal resolution. Here we use regression analysis to show that NDVI variability in Africa is primarily correlated with the interannual extent of the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ). Our results indicate that interannual variability of the ITCZ, rather than sea surface temperatures or teleconnections to middle/high latitudes, drives patterns in African vegetation resulting from the effects of insolation anomalies and El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) events on atmospheric circulation. Global controls on tropical atmospheric circulation allow for spatially coherent reconstruction of interannual vegetation variability throughout Africa on many time scales through regulation of dry season length and moisture convergence, rather than precipitation amount.
Amino acid composition and solubility of proteins isolated from sunflower meal produced in Bulgaria.

Two protein isolates (PI1 and PI2) were prepared from sunflower meal produced in Bulgaria. They were obtained by using isoelectric or ethanol precipitation following the extraction of the proteins with 10% NaCl. Their amino acid composition and water solubility as a function of pH and presence of NaCl were investigated. Lysine was established as the first limiting amino acid in the protein isolates with amino acid scores of 35.81% (PI1) and 43.09% (PI2). Both protein isolates contained relatively high amounts of sulfur-containing amino acids with amino acid scores of 99.14%. Arginine reached 8.45 and 9.75 g/100 g protein in PI2 and PI1 respectively. Being obtained by isoelectric precipitation, PI1 was highly soluble in either acidic (pH ≤ 3.5) or alkaline (pH ≥ 7) medium. In contrast, PI2 was insoluble for each pH value below 5.5. The addition of 0.03 M NaCl did not change the solubility pattern of either PI1 or PI2. However, the presence of 0.25 M NaCl diminished the solubility of the protein isolates for the entire pH area from 2 to 8.5. PI1 and PI2 may serve as a valuable source of sulfur-containing amino acids and arginine to complement human diets deficient in these specific amino acids.
Radar Target Profiling and Recognition Based on TSI-Optimized Compressive Sensing Kernel

The design of wideband radar systems is often limited by existing analog-to-digital (A/D) converter technology. State-of-the-art A/D rates and high effective number of bits result in rapidly increasing cost and power consumption for the radar system. Therefore, it is useful to consider compressive sensing methods that enable reduced sampling rate, and in many applications, prior knowledge of signals of interest can be learned from training data and used to design better compressive measurement kernels. In this paper, we use a task-specific information-based approach to optimizing sensing kernels for high-resolution radar range profiling of man-made targets. We employ a Gaussian mixture (GM) model for the targets and use a Taylor series expansion of the logarithm of the GM probability distribution to enable a closed-form gradient of information with respect to the sensing kernel. The GM model admits nuisance parameters such as target pose angle and range translation. The gradient is then used in a gradient-based approach to search for the optimal sensing kernel. In numerical simulations, we compare the performance of the proposed sensing kernel design to random projections and to lower-bandwidth waveforms that can be sampled at the Nyquist rate. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed technique for sensing kernel design can significantly improve performance.
The shadow group: Towards an explanation of interpersonal conflict in work groups

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to introduce the concept of the “shadow group” as a partial explanation of intragroup relationship conflict in organizations. Also, to offer a new model of the “self‐in‐group” comprising a binary pair of opposite selves (“overt self” and “shadow self”) held in balance by the awareness of the “inner observer”. Design/methodology/approach – It is proposed in the paper that when an individual is triggered into emotional reactivity, especially as a result of projection, their shadow self engulfs their overt self and replaces it as the operational entity. In a group setting, the overt selves of the individual members constitute the overt group while their shadow selves comprise the normally dormant shadow group. As group conflict escalates from one member's initial emotional outburst, more and more members experience shadow‐self engulfment and eventually the shadow group may operationally replace the overt group. The dynamics of the shadow group are illustrated by means of.
Antifragile: Things That Gain from Disorder

Tough times don't last. Tough people do. In The Black Swan, Taleb showed us that highly improbable and unpredictable events underlie almost everything about our world. Here Taleb stands uncertainty on its head, making it desirable, even necessary. The antifragile is beyond the resilient or robust. The resilient resists shocks and stays the same; the antifragile gets better and better. Just as human bones get stronger when subjected to stress and tension, many things in life benefit from stress, disorder, volatility, and turmoil. What Taleb has identified and calls antifragile are things that not only gain from chaos but need it in order to survive and flourish. Antifragile is a blueprint for living in a Black Swan world. Erudite, witty, and iconoclastic, Taleb's message is revolutionary: the antifragile, and only the antifragile, will make it. "The hottest thinker in the world. " (Bryan Appleyard, Sunday Times).
LCC-SRN: LCC's SRN System for SemEval 2007 Task 4

This document provides a description of the Language Computer Corporation (LCC) SRN System that participated in the SemEval 2007 Semantic Relation between Nominals task. The system combines the outputs of different binary and multi-class classifiers build using machine learning algorithms like Decision Trees, Semantic Scattering, Iterative Semantic Specialization, and Support Vector Machines.
Simulation for two-dimensional trajectory correction projectile with fixed-canard based on modified proportional navigation

The two-dimensional correction of rockets with fixed-canard has received wide attention. How to design an accurate correction way becomes the focus and difficulty. Hence, this paper mainly studies fixed-canard control mode, and built the fixed-canard control force module. By using modular thinking, the whole model is divided into sub modules with different functions, then each module is integrated into two-dimensional correction trajectory simulation model of rocket. Being based on the module, the uncontrolled and the controlled trajectory are simulated respectively. Simulation results showed that the uncontrolled trajectory preferably accorded with the trajectory characteristics of the actual rocket. At the same time, the simulation of controlled trajectory demonstrated that with the fixed-canard as the actuator, using the MPN (modified proportional navigation control algorithm) to correct the projectile could greatly improve the strike accuracy of the projectile.
Comparing Four Models of Aggregate Fluctuations due to Self-Fulfilling Expectations

This paper studies four models which allow for aggregate fluctuations due to self-fulfilling expectations. It compares the minimum degree of increasing returns to scale necessary to make such equilibria possible and the ability of these models to explain the observed co-movements in macroeconomic time series at business cycle frequencies. The four models discussed are Gali (1994), Rotemberg and Woodford (1992), Benhabib and Farmer (1994) and Baxter and King (1991). These economies are modified, if necessary, to be presented in a unified framework and calibrated uniformly using King, Plosser, and Rebelo (1988) values. Beyond those parameters each model has up to three additional free parameters. For three models necessary and sufficient conditions for the existence of stationary sunspot equilibria are derived analytically, and for each model a numerical example is given to show for which values of these additional parameters stationary sunspot equilibria exist. I find that the two models with variable markups (i.e., Gali and Rotemberg and Woodford) require a lower degree of increasing returns to allow for endogenous fluctuations than do the two models of fixed markups. However, endogenous fluctuations in all four models occur only for markup values in the upper range of available empirical estimates. I also show that persistent output fluctuations are not a necessary property of these models of the business cycle when the only source of fluctuations are changes in people's expectations about the future path of the economy.
Fluorescence intensity of composite layering combined with surface sealant submitted to staining solutions.

PURPOSE The aim of this study was to evaluate the fluorescence intensity of a composite in different layering techniques combined to a surface sealant submitted to staining solutions. METHODS AND MATERIALS One surface sealant and one composite resin (shades A2-0, A2, and YE) were tested. Specimens were carried out using layering with different shades of composite, and dental blocks (dentin/enamel) were obtained of human molars. Fluorescence intensity measurement performed using a spectrofluorophotometer, before and after storage in cola, orange juice, red wine, and distilled water. Data were subjected to analysis of variance and Fisher's test (α = 0.05). RESULTS Initially, only A2-O + A2 layering showed fluorescence intensity statistically similar to the natural tooth. Overall, groups sealed showed the highest fluorescence intensity compared with unsealed groups. The aging decreased the fluorescence intensity compared with initial values. Red wine showed the highest decrease on the fluorescence intensity. CONCLUSION The fluorescence of composite restorations is dependent of the layering technique and is affected by the diet. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE The staining solutions decreased the fluorescence intensity, even when the composite resins were sealed. Different shades of the same composite showed distinct fluorescence values, so there should be greater standardization of this property for tooth reconstruction success by the layering technique with large tissue loss.
Differential effects of glial cell line‐derived neurotrophic factor and neurturin in RET/GFRα1‐expressing cells

The c‐ret protooncogene, RET, encodes a receptor tyrosine kinase. RET is activated by members of the glial cell line‐derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) family of ligands, which include GDNF, neurturin, artemin, and persephin. The ligands bind RET through GDNF family receptor α, termed GFRα1–4. Despite the importance of RET signaling in the development of the enteric nervous system and the kidney, the differential signaling mechanisms between RET ligands are poorly established. It has been suggested that signal specificity is achieved through binding of the ligand to its preferred GFRα. To compare the signaling profiles of GDNF and neurturin, we have identified a cell line, NG108‐15, which endogenously expresses RET and GFRα1 but not GFRα2–4. Immunoblot data showed that GDNF caused a transient activation, whereas neurturin caused a sustained activation, of both p44/p42 MAP kinases and PLCγ. Under serum starvation, NG108‐15 cells differentiate and form neurites. Neurturin but not GDNF stimulated neurite outgrowth, which could be blocked by the selective PLC inhibitor U73122. On the other hand, GDNF but not neurturin promoted cell survival, and this could be blocked by the p44/p42 MAP kinase inhibitor PD98059. Our findings not only show the differential signaling of GDNF and neurturin but also suggest that this can be achieved through binding to the same GFRα subtype, leading to distinct biological responses. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The next generation telematics service platform in ubiquitous environments

It is becoming desirable for users to easily and instantaneously use software anywhere and anytime. However, current telematics service platform, i.e. downloading, installing and configuring software, is not feasible for it. In this paper, we propose a new software streaming system called TeleASP. The TeleASP creates virtual applications from legacy application without modification. The virtual application can be deployed and executed on any devices on demand. Also, the TeleASP allows software to be streamed. The transmission of the software can be completely transparent to the user. Our streaming method can scientifically reduce the application load time since prefetching a service block, overlapping of transmission and execution of the virtual software, adopting a local cache into a terminal.
Tousled-like kinase regulates cytokine-mediated communication between cooperating cell types during collective border cell migration

Tousled-like kinase is required for signaling between polar cells and border cells in the Drosophila ovary, thus controlling their collective migration. Tlk knockdown in polar cells inhibits cytokine expression without affecting polar cell fate or viability. This study shows novel, cell type–specific functions for this ubiquitous nuclear protein.
Monomeric red fluorescent proteins with a large Stokes shift

Two-photon microscopy has advanced fluorescence imaging of cellular processes in living animals. Fluorescent proteins in the blue-green wavelength range are widely used in two-photon microscopy; however, the use of red fluorescent proteins is limited by the low power output of Ti-Sapphire lasers above 1,000 nm. To overcome this limitation we have developed two red fluorescent proteins, LSS-mKate1 and LSS-mKate2, which possess large Stokes shifts with excitation/emission maxima at 463/624 and 460/605 nm, respectively. These LSS-mKates are characterized by high pH stability, photostability, rapid chromophore maturation, and monomeric behavior. They lack absorbance in the green region, providing an additional red color to the commonly used red fluorescent proteins. Substantial overlap between the two-photon excitation spectra of the LSS-mKates and blue-green fluorophores enables multicolor imaging using a single laser. We applied this approach to a mouse xenograft model of breast cancer to intravitally study the motility and Golgi-nucleus alignment of tumor cells as a function of their distance from blood vessels. Our data indicate that within 40 μm the breast cancer cells show significant polarization towards vessels in living mice.
Understanding Identity Construction in Hybrid Organisations: A Work Ideologies Perspective

Work ideologies represent important frames of reference for understanding what particular occupational groups believe about their work, profession and organisation. Adopting a social constructionist perspective, we utilise the concept of work ideologies to provide insights into identity construction for individuals in management and non-management roles within the same hybrid organisation. We conceptualise hybrid organisations as multiple identity contexts where identity is constructed around competing ideological beliefs and institutional logics. By situating our study within the higher education context, we make explicit those ideological beliefs that anchor managers and academics to their work roles and university (work-identity integrity). Ideological states of separation from work and the university are also identified (organisation-identity disidentification). Our discussion and conclusion considers how work ideologies may function to shape the identities and behaviour of role occupants in a hybrid organisational context.
Cervical Length Measurement for the Prediction of Preterm Birth in Symptomatic Women with a Twin Pregnancy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Objective. The aim of this study was to assess whether cervical length measurement (CL) could predict preterm birth (PTB) in symptomatic women with a twin pregnancy. Methods. We searched MEDLINE and EMBASE to identify studies investigating the accuracy of CL measurement in predicting PTB in symptomatic women with a twin pregnancy. We extracted data to construct two-by-two tables and used bivariate meta-analysis to generate point estimates of sensitivity and specificity. Results. Five studies (N = 226) were included. Variation in definition of PTB and cut-off points for CL was strong. One study investigated delivery within seven days, demonstrating a sensitivity of 1.0 (95% CI: 0.83–1.0) and a specificity of 0.31 (95% CI 0.2–0.43) for a CL cutoff at 25 mm. Three studies reported on predicting PTB < 37 weeks at a CL cutoff of 30 mm, with sROC point estimates of 0.76 (95% CI: 0.66 to 0.84) and 0.37 (95% CI: 0.21 to 0.56) for sensitivity and specificity, respectively. For preterm birth <34 weeks, no pooled estimates could be estimated since only 2 studies with large heterogeneity were identified. Conclusions. There is limited evidence on the accuracy of cervical length measurement testing the prediction of preterm birth in symptomatic women with a twin pregnancy, especially on the most important outcome, that is, delivery within 7 days.
Positive neuropsychology : evidence-based perspectives on promoting cognitive health

1.What is Positive Neuropsychology? - 2.Coping in Neurological Disorders. - 3.Modifiable Lifestyle Factors and Cognition Through Midlife. - 4.Promotion of Cognitive Health Through Prevention: The Case of Sports Concussion. - 5. Promoting the Executive Functions: Core Foundations, Assessment Considerations, and Practical Applications. - 6. Promoting Psychosocial and Cognitive Wellness in the Workplace: The Emerging Neuroscience of Leadership Development. - 7.Lifestyle Factors and Successful Cognitive Aging in Older Adults. - 8.Technologies for Health Assessment, Promotion, and Assistance: Focus on Gerontechnology. - 9. Positive Neuropsychology: Synthesis and Future Directions. -