Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Remembering past emotions: The role of current appraisals

This research assessed the stability of memory for emotions over time, and the relationship between current appraisals and memory for emotions. A week after the televised announcement of the verdict in the criminal trial of Mr Orenthal James (O.J.) Simpson, participants were asked to describe their emotional reactions and their appraisals when they first learned of the verdict. After a delay of two months, and again after more than a year, participants recalled their initial emotional reactions and described their current appraisals of the verdict. After two months, the more participants' appraisals of Mr Simpson's innocence or guilt had changed, the less stable were their memories for the intensities of happiness and anger. After two months, and after more than a year, systematic changes in memory for happiness, anger, and surprise were found in directions consistent with current appraisals. These findings replicate and extend the findings of Levine (1997), and suggest that memories for emotional responses are partially reconstructed based on current appraisals of events.
Application of Denaturing High-Performance Liquid Chromatography in Microbial Ecology: Fermentor Sludge, Compost, and Soil Community Profiling

ABSTRACT Genetic fingerprinting methods, such as denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE), are used in microbial ecology for the analysis of mixed microbial communities but are associated with various problems. In the present study we used a new alternative method: denaturing high-performance liquid chromatography (dHPLC). This method was previously shown to work with samples from water and gut flora but had not yet been applied to complex environmental samples. In contrast to other publications dealing with dHPLC, we used a commonly available HPLC system. Samples from different origins (fermentor sludge, compost, and soil), all ecologically significant, were tested, and the 16S rRNA gene was amplified via PCR. After optimization of the HPLC elution conditions, amplicons of pure cultures and mixed microbial populations could be separated successfully. Systematic differentiation was carried out by a cloning approach, since fraction collection of the peaks did not result in satisfactory fragment separation. dHPLC was evaluated as a tool for microbial community analysis on a genetic level and demonstrated major improvements compared to gel-based fingerprinting methods, such as DGGE, that are commonly used in microbial ecology.
A qualitative and quantitative assessment of SDN controllers

With the increasing number of connected devices, new challenges are being raised in the networking field. Software Defined Networking (SDN) enables a greater degree of dynamism and simplification for the deployment of future 5G networks. In such networks, the controller plays a major role by being able to manage forwarding entities, such as switches, through the application of flow-based rules via a southbound (SB) interface. In turn, the controller itself can be managed by means of actions and policies provided by high-level network functions, via a northbound (NB) interface. The growth of SDN integration in new mechanisms and network architectures led to the development of different controller solutions, with a wide variety of characteristics. Despite existing studies, the most recent evaluations of SDN controllers are focused only on performance and are not up to date, since new versions of the most popular controllers are constantly being released. As such, this work provides a wider study of several open-source controllers, (namely, OpenDaylight (ODL), Open Network Operative System (ONOS), Ryu and POX), by evaluating not only their performance, but also their characteristics in a qualitative way. Taking performance as a critical issue among SDN controllers, we quantitatively evaluated several criteria by benchmarking the controllers under different operational conditions, using the Cbench tool.
NPM1 and FLT3 mutations in acute myeloid leukemia with normal karyotype: Indian perspective

Background: FLT3-ITD and NPM1 mutations are considered to be the major determinants of the patient response to therapy and outcome. The primary aim of this study was to establish the correlation between these molecular mutations and the clinico-hematologic parameters as well as the prognostic outcome of the Indian acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients. Materials and Methods: This prospective study involved newly diagnosed nonpromyelocytic AML patients who had undergone complete diagnostic workup, including immunophenotyping, conventional cytogenetics and molecular analysis for NPM1 and FLT3-ITD mutation by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction at presentation. Results: Overall, the prevalence of NPM1 and FLT3-ITD mutations was found to be 14.4% and 10.8%, respectively. Among patients with normal karyotype, leukocytosis was significantly associated with NPM1+ group than the NPM1− group (P = 0.0019) and more severe degree of anemia was observed in the FLT3-ITD+ patients than the other groups (P = 0.025). No significant correlation was found in terms of age at presentation (P = 0.56), sex ratio (P = 0.467), median platelet count (P = 0.27), and blast percentage between NPM1+ and FLT3-ITD+ groups. Complete remission (CR) rates were better in the NPM1+/FLT3-ITD− group than the other three groups. Unlike most other studies, improved CR rates as well as disease-free survival were observed in the NPM−/FLT3-ITD− group than the FLT3-ITD+ groups although not reaching statistically significant levels. Conclusion: Some differences in the clinical behavior of the Indian AML patients in comparison to that of the West in the presence of NPM1 and FLT3-ITD suggests that comprehensive studies are required to confirm the definitive role of these mutations among AML patients, especially with normal karyotype.
Multi magnetic material laminated cores: Concept and modelling

Modern developments in advanced material technology have produced new magnetic materials capable of dealing with high frequencies. However, such metals typically have low mechanical strength and they are found to be brittle. In order to manufacture electromechanical devices with such new materials, it has to be reinforced with a mechanically strong structure. One option is to incorporate stronger core materials, such as Si-steel sandwiched together with the high performance material resulting in a multi-magnetic material laminated core (MMLC). The MMLCs also allow the opportunity shape the effective magnetic properties to certain extent. In this paper, the homogenization of MMLC BH characteristics and a strategy to calculate the core loss properties of an MMLC constructed with two materials is developed using the individual properties of the materials.
The Manganese-containing Ribonucleotide Reductase ofCorynebacterium ammoniagenes Is a Class Ib Enzyme*

Ribonucleotide reductases (RNRs) are key enzymes in living cells that provide the precursors of DNA synthesis. The three characterized classes of RNRs differ by their metal cofactor and their stable organic radical. We have purified to near homogeneity the enzymatically active Mn-containing RNR of Corynebacterium ammoniagenes, previously claimed to represent a fourth RNR class. N-terminal and internal peptide sequence analyses clearly indicate that the C. ammoniagenes RNR is a class Ib enzyme. In parallel, we have cloned a 10-kilobase pair fragment from C. ammoniagenes genomic DNA, using primers specific for the known class Ib RNR. The cloned class Ib locus contains thenrdHIEF genes typical for class Ib RNR operon. The deduced amino acid sequences of the nrdE and nrdF genes matched the peptides from the active enzyme, demonstrating thatC. ammoniagenes RNR is composed of R1E and R2F components typical of class Ib. We also show that the Mn-containing RNR has a specificity for the NrdH-redoxin and a response to allosteric effectors that are typical of class Ib RNRs. Electron paramagnetic resonance and atomic absorption analyses confirm the presence of Mn as a cofactor and show, for the first time, insignificant amounts of iron and cobalt found in the other classes of RNR. Our discovery that C. ammoniagenes RNR is a class Ib enzyme and possesses all the highly conserved amino acid side chains that are known to ligate two ferric ions in other class I RNRs evokes new, challenging questions about the control of the metal site specificity in RNR. The cloning of the entire NrdHIEF locus of C. ammoniageneswill facilitate further studies along these lines.
Gray Age-related differences in sensitivity to the antinociceptive effects of opioids in male rats Influence of nociceptive intensity and intrinsic efficacy at the mu receptor

Rationale: Despite the widespread popularity of opioid analgesics, significant differences in the potency and effectiveness of these drugs are often observed across age groups. Objectives: The purpose of this investigation was to examine age-related differences in sensitivity to the antinociceptive effects of mu opioids and to identify the conditions under which these differences are most apparent. Methods: In a warm-water tailwithdrawal procedure, young (3 months) and aged (24 months) male rats were habituated to restraint and the latencies to remove their tails from 50°C (low nociceptive intensity) and 55°C (high nociceptive intensity) water were measured. Opioids possessing a range of intrinsic efficacy at the mu receptor (morphine, levorphanol, buprenorphine, butorphanol, nalbuphine, nalorphine) were examined. Results: Young and aged rats were equally sensitive to the antinociceptive effects of morphine, levorphanol, and buprenorphine when tested at the low nociceptive intensity. When these drugs were tested at the high nociceptive intensity, differences between the two age groups became apparent, such that aged rats were significantly more sensitive to the antinociceptive effects of these drugs than young rats. Differences between age groups were most apparent when butorphanol, nalbuphine, and nalorphine were tested, in that each of these drugs produced maximal levels of antinociception in aged rats under conditions in which they failed to produce antinociceptive activity in young rats. Under conditions in which lower efficacy opioids failed to produce antinociceptive activity in young rats, they antagonized the effects of morphine in drug combination tests. Conclusions: These data may be taken as evidence that aged male rats are more sensitive to the antinociceptive effects of mu opioids than young male rats, and that age-related differences in opioid sensitivity are most apparent when lower efficacy opioids and higher nociceptive intensities are employed during behavioral testing.
Carbon Monoxide, a Novel Neural Messenger, Does Not Modulate Extracellular Glutamate Concentration in Forebrain Ischemia

We investigated the role of carbon monoxide as a neural modulator of extracellular glutamate concentration in rat hippocampus CA1 in transient forebrain ischemia by using metalloporphyrins, which block the production of carbon monoxide through the inhibition of heme oxygenase (HO) activity. Infusion of 10 and 100 μM zinc protoporphyrin IX, which inhibits nitric oxide synthase activity as well as HO activity, significantly increased glutamate concentration compared with that on the vehicle-treated side. However, infusion of 100 μM tin mesoporphyrin IX, which inhibits only HO activity, did not affect glutamate concentration in ischemia. Our results therefore do not support the hypothesis that carbon monoxide acts as a neural messenger through the modulation of extracellular glutamate concentration in ischemia.
Cognitive complaints and cognitive impairment following BEP chemotherapy in patients with testicular cancer

Introduction. There is growing concern that some cytotoxic regimens for cancer affect cognitive functioning. This study examined the prevalence of cognitive complaints and deficits in testicular cancer (TC) patients treated with the worldwide standard BEP (bleomycin, etoposide and cisplatin) chemotherapy. Materials and methods. Seventy TC patients treated with BEP chemotherapy after surgery (S+CT) were examined with interviews and neuropsychological tests. These patients were compared with 57 TC patients treated with radiotherapy after surgery (S+RT) and with 55 TC patients that received surgery only (S). Patients were examined a median of 3 years after completion of treatment. Results. Thirty two percent of the S+CT patients reported cognitive complaints compared with 32% of the S+RT patients and 27% of the S patients (p=0.85). No differences in mean cognitive test performance were observed between the groups. On individual impairment scores, more S+CT patients showed cognitive dysfunction compared with S patients, but not compared with S+RT patients (S+CT versus S [p=0.038, OR=4.6, CI=1.1–19.7], S+CT versus S+RT [p=0.70, OR=0.8, CI=0.3–2.4] and S+RT versus S [p=0.070, OR=3.7, CI=0.8–15.7). Cognitive complaints were not related to cognitive test performance, but to emotional distress and fatigue. Discussion. Cognitive complaints are common among TC patients, independent of treatment modality. These complaints are related to emotional distress and fatigue and not to formal cognitive deficits. The finding of a small group of TC patients treated with chemotherapy exhibiting cognitive deficits should be confirmed in a prospective study before we can decide on its cause and relevance.
Alterations in the Promoter-specific Imprinting of the Insulin-like Growth Factor-II Gene in Wilms Tumor (*)

The human IGF2 gene, which encodes a mitogenic peptide required for normal fetal development, is overexpressed in many types of tumors. IGF2 is transcribed from four promoters (P1-P4), and in most tissues, the gene is imprinted. In this study, we have analyzed IGF2 promoter usage and determined the allelic expression from each promoter in 19 ApaI- and 22 AluI-heterozygous Wilms' tumors. Loss of IGF2 imprinting (LOI) was observed in 8 ApaI-informative tumors. In these tumors, each parental allele was expressed in equal abundance, indicating that there was complete relaxation of IGF2 imprinting. In each LOI tumor, expression from promoter P1 as well as from the normally imprinted promoters P2-P4 was biallelic. In the 11 ApaI-informative tumors which maintained IGF2 imprinting (maintenance of imprinting), transcription from promoters P2-P4 was always monoallelic, while transcripts from P1 were derived from either one or both alleles. The lack of consistency of IGF2 imprinting of promoter P1 in maintenance of imprinting tumors was also observed in normal fetal tissues of 6-12 weeks gestation, suggesting a similarity in IGF2 regulation between Wilms' tumors and embryonic tissue development. These data suggest that the increased expression of IGF2 in Wilms' tumor may be caused either by biallelic gene expression in LOI tumors from promoters P2-P4 and/or by a reversion to an earlier stage of development which is characterized by increased synthesis of this fetal growth factor.
Standing chromosomal variation in Lake Whitefish species pairs: the role of historical contingency and relevance for speciation

The role of chromosome changes in speciation remains a debated topic, although demographic conditions associated with divergence should promote their appearance. We tested a potential relationship between chromosome changes and speciation by studying two Lake Whitefish (Coregonus clupeaformis) lineages that recently colonized postglacial lakes following allopatry. A dwarf limnetic species evolved repeatedly from the normal benthic species, becoming reproductively isolated. Lake Whitefish hybrids experience mitotic and meiotic instability, which may result from structurally divergent chromosomes. Motivated by this observation, we test the hypothesis that chromosome organization differs between Lake Whitefish species pairs using cytogenetics. While chromosome and fundamental numbers are conserved between the species (2n = 80, NF = 98), we observe extensive polymorphism of subtle karyotype traits. We describe intrachromosomal differences associated with heterochromatin and repetitive DNA, and test for parallelism among three sympatric species pairs. Multivariate analyses support the hypothesis that differentiation at the level of subchromosomal markers mostly appeared during allopatry. Yet we find no evidence for parallelism between species pairs among lakes, consistent with colonization effect or postcolonization differentiation. The reported intrachromosomal polymorphisms do not appear to play a central role in driving adaptive divergence between normal and dwarf Lake Whitefish. We discuss how chromosomal differentiation in the Lake Whitefish system may contribute to the destabilization of mitotic and meiotic chromosome segregation in hybrids, as documented previously. The chromosome structures detected here are still difficult to sequence and assemble, demonstrating the value of cytogenetics as a complementary approach to understand the genomic bases of speciation.
When, where, and how the corpus callosum changes in MCI and AD

Background: The corpus callosum (CC) has been shown to be susceptible to atrophy in Alzheimer disease (AD) as a correlate of wallerian degeneration or retrogenesis. However, when and where these 2 mechanisms intervene is still unclear. Methods: In 3 memory clinics, we recruited 38 patients with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (MCI), 38 patients with mild AD, and 40 healthy controls (HC). Combining voxel-based morphometry and diffusion tensor imaging, we investigated CC white matter (WM) density and fractional anisotropy (FA), radial diffusivity (DR), and axial diffusivity (DA). Results: Compared with HC, patients with amnestic MCI showed reduced WM density in the anterior CC subregion; however, FA, DR, and DA did not differ between the 2 groups. Significant changes were found in patients with mild AD compared with HC in the anterior and posterior CC regions. These differences were evident in both voxel-based morphometry and diffusion tensor imaging analyses. Specifically, we found reduced callosal WM density in the genu, posterior body, and splenium; decreased FA and increased DR in the anterior CC subregion; and increased DA, with no difference in the FA, in the posterior CC subregion. Conclusions: Callosal changes are already present in patients with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and mild Alzheimer disease (AD). The precocious involvement of the anterior callosal subregion in amnestic MCI extends to posterior regions in mild AD. Two different mechanisms might contribute to the white matter changes in mild AD: wallerian degeneration in posterior subregions of the corpus callosum (suggested by increased axial diffusivity without fractional anisotropy modifications) and a retrogenesis process in the anterior callosal subregions (suggested by increased radial diffusivity without axial diffusivity modifications).
A Preliminary Study of Silicone Hydrogel Lens Material and Care Solution Bioincompatibilities

Purpose: The study purpose was to evaluate corneal barrier function and staining relative to potential bioincompatibilities. Methods: This was a randomized double-masked study (n = 25 subjects). Three lens material-care solution combinations were tested: (1) lotrafilcon B/polyhexamethylene biguanide (PHMB)-based multipurpose (MPS) solution (MPS-1); (2) lotrafilcon B/polyquaternium-1 and myristamidopropyl dimethylamine-based solution (MPS-2); and (3) lotrafilcon B and another PHMB-based solution (MPS-3). Saline served as the control. New lenses were soaked in the preserved solutions or saline and then worn for 2 hours before corneal measurements. Barrier function was characterized by the fluorescein penetration rate, corneal amount, both measured with an objective scanning fluorometer. The dye penetration rate ratio, test to control; amount ratio, test to control, and corneal staining were evaluated. Results: The mean rate ratios (±SD) for the combinations were 2.98 (±3.04), 1.23 (±1.01), and 1.83 (±1.77) for MPS-1, MPS-2, and MPS-3 solutions, respectively. Significant ratio differences were found across regimens (P = 0.007); for MPS-1 compared with baseline (P = 0.031) and for MPS-1 compared with MPS-2 (P = 0.007). The statistical results for staining were similar. Conclusions: Use of an objective quantitative physiological method suggests that significant differences in lens solution bioincompatibilities occur that mirror corneal staining data relative to corneal compromise.
Power-Controlled Cognitive Radio Spectrum Allocation with Chemical Reaction Optimization

Cognitive radio is a promising technology for increasing the system capacity by using the radio spectrum more effectively. It has been widely studied recently and one important problem in this new paradigm is the allocation of radio spectrum to secondary users effectively in the presence of primary users. We call it the cognitive radio spectrum allocation problem (CRSAP) in this paper. In the conventional problem formulation, a secondary user can be either on or off and its interference range becomes maximum or zero, respectively. We first develop a solution to CRSAP based on the newly proposed chemical reaction-inspired metaheuristic called Chemical Reaction Optimization (CRO). We study different utility functions, accounting for utilization and fairness, with the consideration of the hardware constraint, and compare the performance of our proposed CRO-based algorithm with existing ones. Simulation results show that the CRO-based algorithm always outperforms the others dramatically. Next, by allowing adjustable transmission power, we propose power-controlled CRSAP (PC-CRSAP), a new formulation to the problem with the consideration of spatial diversity. We design a two-phase algorithm to solve PC-CRSAP, and again simulation results show excellent performance.
Hardware design and FPGA implementation for road plane extraction based on V-disparity approach

Accurate and real-time free space and obstacles detection is a task of great interest to the navigation of mobile robots, and the integration to existing vehicle's safety systems. This paper presents a novel approach for road plane extraction, free space and obstacles discrimination using stereovision. The estimated road profile from V-disparity images allows robust extraction of the road features from pixels classification of the disparity map. The proposed hardware architecture combines parallel processing with dedicated and optimized modules to reduce logic resource utilization, and accelerate processing time. This architecture is implemented on Cyclone IV E FPGA based prototyping board, and tested using real stereoscopic images of different environments. Experimental results demonstrate the efficiency and accuracy of the proposed method. The implemented system can treat up to 490 and 122 frames/s for stereoscopic images of 320×240 and 640×480 pixels respectively.
Skeletal Localization and Neutralization of the SDF‐1(CXCL12)/CXCR4 Axis Blocks Prostate Cancer Metastasis and Growth in Osseous Sites In Vivo

To delineate the role of SDF‐1 and CXCR4 in metastatic prostate cancer (CaP), positive correlations were established between SDF‐1 levels and tumor metastasis. Neutralization of CXCR4 limited the number and the growth of intraosseous metastasis in vivo. Together, these in vivo metastasis data provide critical support that SDF‐1/CXCR4 plays a role in skeletal metastasis.