Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Neural adaptation accounts for the dynamic resizing of peripersonal space: evidence from a psychophysical-computational approach

Interactions between the body and the environment occur within the peripersonal space (PPS), the space immediately surrounding the body. The PPS is encoded by multisensory (audio-tactile, visual-tactile) neurons that possess receptive fields (RFs) anchored on the body and restricted in depth. The extension in depth of PPS neurons’ RFs has been documented to change dynamically as a function of the velocity of incoming stimuli, but the underlying neural mechanisms are still unknown. Here, by integrating a psychophysical approach with neural network modeling, we propose a mechanistic explanation behind this inherent dynamic property of PPS. We psychophysically mapped the size of participant’s peri-face and peri-trunk space as a function of the velocity of task-irrelevant approaching auditory stimuli. Findings indicated that the peri-trunk space was larger than the peri-face space, and, importantly, as for the neurophysiological delineation of RFs, both of these representations enlarged as the velocity of incoming sound increased. We propose a neural network model to mechanistically interpret these findings: the network includes reciprocal connections between unisensory areas and higher order multisensory neurons, and it implements neural adaptation to persistent stimulation as a mechanism sensitive to stimulus velocity. The network was capable of replicating the behavioral observations of PPS size remapping and relates behavioral proxies of PPS size to neurophysiological measures of multisensory neurons’ RF size. We propose that a biologically plausible neural adaptation mechanism embedded within the network encoding for PPS can be responsible for the dynamic alterations in PPS size as a function of the velocity of incoming stimuli. NEW & NOTEWORTHY Interactions between body and environment occur within the peripersonal space (PPS). PPS neurons are highly dynamic, adapting online as a function of body-object interactions. The mechanistic underpinning PPS dynamic properties are unexplained. We demonstrate with a psychophysical approach that PPS enlarges as incoming stimulus velocity increases, efficiently preventing contacts with faster approaching objects. We present a neurocomputational model of multisensory PPS implementing neural adaptation to persistent stimulation to propose a neurophysiological mechanism underlying this effect.
Efficacy of interventions for adherence to the immunosuppressive therapy in kidney transplant recipients: a meta-analysis and systematic review

Immunosuppressive treatment regimens are complex and require ongoing self-management. Medication adherence can be difficult to achieve for several reasons. The current meta-analysis and systematic review investigated whether adherence interventions improved immunosuppressive treatment adherence in kidney transplant recipients. Medline, Cochrane, EMBASE, and Google Scholar were searched until October 17, 2016 using the following search terms: kidney transplantation, compliance, adherence, and immunosuppressive therapy. Randomized controlled trials and two-arm prospective, retrospective, and cohort studies were included. The primary outcomes were adherence rate and adherence score. Eight studies were included with a total for 546 patients. Among participants receiving intervention, the adherence rate was significantly higher than the control group (pooled OR=2.366, 95% CI 1.222 to 4.578, p=0.011). Participants in the intervention group had greater adherence scores than those in the control group (pooled standardized difference in means =1.706, 95% CI 0.346 to 3.065, p=0.014). Sensitivity analysis indicated that findings for adherence rate were robust. However, for adherence score, the significance of the association disappeared after removing one of the studies indicating the findings may have been overly influenced by this one study. Intervention programs designed to increase immunosuppressive adherence in patients with kidney transplant improve treatment adherence.
BMP Signaling Mediated by BMPR1A in Osteoclasts Negatively Regulates Osteoblast Mineralization Through Suppression of Cx43

Osteoblasts and osteoclasts are well orchestrated through different mechanisms of communication during bone remodeling. Previously, we found that osteoclast‐specific disruption of one of the BMP receptors, Bmpr1a, results in increased osteoblastic bone formation in mice. We hypothesized that BMPR1A signaling in osteoclasts regulates production of either membrane bound proteins or secreted molecules that regulated osteoblast differentiation. In our current study, we co‐cultured wild‐type osteoblasts with either control osteoclasts or osteoclasts lacking BMPR1A signaling activity. We found that loss of Bmpr1a in osteoclasts promoted osteoblast mineralization in vitro. Further, we found that the expression of Cx43/Gja1 in the mutant osteoclasts was increased, which encoded for one of the gap junction proteins connexin 43/gap junction alpha 1. Knockdown of Gja1 in the mutant osteoclasts for Bmpr1a reduced osteoblastic mineralization when co‐cultured. Our findings suggest that GJA1 may be one of the downstream targets of BMPR1A signaling in osteoclasts that mediates osteoclast–osteoblast communication during bone remodeling. J. Cell. Biochem. 118: 605–614, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Microsystems for Biomechanical Measurements

The use of microtechnology to make biomechanical measurements allows for the study of cellular and subcellular scale mechanical forces. Forces generated by cells are in the few nanoNewton to several microNewton range and can change spatially over subcellular size scales. Transducing forces at such small size and force scales is a challenging task. Methods of microfabrication developed in the integrated circuit industry have allowed researchers to build platforms with cellular and subcellular scale parts with which individual cells can interact. These parts act as transducers of stresses and forces generated by the cell during migration or in the maintenance of physical equilibrium. Due to the size and sensitivity of such devices, quantitative studies of single cell and even single molecule biomechanics have become possible. In this review we focus on two classes of cellular force transducers: silicon-based devices and soft-polymer platforms. We concentrate on the biomechanical discoveries made with these devices and less so on the engineering behind their development because this is covered in great detail elsewhere.
Serum 25‐hydroxyvitamin D deficiency predicts poor outcome amongst acute ischaemic stroke patients with low high density lipoprotein cholesterol

Current observational studies indicate that a lower vitamin D level is associated with a higher risk of poor ischaemic stroke prognosis. Whether this association is affected by lipid levels is unclear. Our aim was to examine the effect of serum vitamin D especially its deficiency on the global outcome of ischaemic stroke stratified by individual lipid component level.
The Prophylactic Effect of Anti-influenza Agents for an Influenza Outbreak in a University Hospital

Objective From November 24 to December 9, 2013, an outbreak of the influenza (flu) A (H3) virus occurred in a tertiary-care university hospital (1,014 beds). We herein report the prophylactic effect of anti-flu agents for controlling the flu outbreak. Methods We administered pre- or post-exposure prophylaxis with anti-flu agents in flu outbreak. To test the effectiveness of prophylaxis in a flu outbreak, we used the posterior mean of the reproductive value during the pre- and post-intervention period. We also simulated the probability distribution of new flu cases. We performed an analysis to quantify the strength of the intervention effect. Results A total of 97 people were diagnosed with flu before the intervention, and 7 were diagnosed after the intervention. A molecular analysis of the flu virus revealed that this outbreak was due to the flu A (H3) virus. A total of 3,702 people received prophylaxis. There was a significant reduction in the reproductive value from 1.89 [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.59 to 2.24] to 0.65 (95% CI, 0.02 to 1.00) after the intervention (p<0.001). Conclusion Prophylaxis with anti-flu agents, along with prompt identification and isolation of infected individuals, was effective in reducing the impact of a flu outbreak in a hospital.
Two-Dimensional MX2 Semiconductors for Sub-5 nm Junctionless Field Effect Transistors

Two-dimensional transitional metal dichalcogenide (TMDC) field-effect transistors (FETs) are proposed to be promising for devices scaling beyond silicon-based devices. We explore the different effective mass and bandgap of the channel materials and figure out the possible candidates for high-performance devices with the gate length at 5 nm and below by solving the quantum transport equation self-constantly with the Poisson equation. We find that out of the 14 compounds, MoS2, MoSe2, and MoTe2 may be used in the devices to achieve a good subthreshold swing and a reasonable current ON-OFF ratio and delay. Our work points out the direction of further device optimization for experiments.
Restoration and repair of Earth's damaged ecosystems

Given that few ecosystems on the Earth have been unaffected by humans, restoring them holds great promise for stemming the biodiversity crisis and ensuring ecosystem services are provided to humanity. Nonetheless, few studies have documented the recovery of ecosystems globally or the rates at which ecosystems recover. Even fewer have addressed the added benefit of actively restoring ecosystems versus allowing them to recover without human intervention following the cessation of a disturbance. Our meta-analysis of 400 studies worldwide that document recovery from large-scale disturbances, such as oil spills, agriculture and logging, suggests that though ecosystems are progressing towards recovery following disturbances, they rarely recover completely. This result reinforces conservation of intact ecosystems as a key strategy for protecting biodiversity. Recovery rates slowed down with time since the disturbance ended, suggesting that the final stages of recovery are the most challenging to achieve. Active restoration did not result in faster or more complete recovery than simply ending the disturbances ecosystems face. Our results on the added benefit of restoration must be interpreted cautiously, because few studies directly compared different restoration actions in the same location after the same disturbance. The lack of consistent value added of active restoration following disturbance suggests that passive recovery should be considered as a first option; if recovery is slow, then active restoration actions should be better tailored to overcome specific obstacles to recovery and achieve restoration goals. We call for a more strategic investment of limited restoration resources into innovative collaborative efforts between scientists, local communities and practitioners to develop restoration techniques that are ecologically, economically and socially viable.
Molecular basis of PRC1 targeting to Polycomb response elements by PhoRC

Here, Frey et al. report the structural basis by which the Drosophila Pho-repressive complex (PhoRC), the only Polycomb group protein complex with sequence-specific DNA-binding activity, binds to Polycomb-repressive complex 1 (PRC1) and thereby recruits it to Polycomb response elements in target genes.
An Accurate and Efficient Parameter Decoupling for Transfer Function Identification

Abstract: We present an improved parameter decoupling algorithm in estimating parameters that characterize the numerator and denominator of transfer function polynomials using the Adaptive Weighted Least Squares arising (AWLS) and Weighted Least Squares (WLS) from Fourier moment functionals of the Shinbrot type. This algorithm gives more accurate estimates and uses less computation than Pearson’s algorithm. Also, simulation example shows that this algorithm can be applied for the frequency analysis of lightly damped systems for which establishing steady state or stationary operation may require unreasonably long settling times.
Brittle fracture behavior of ceramics

Principes de la mecanique de rupture, analyse des surfaces de rupture, tenacite des verres et ceramiques, mecanismes de renforcement des ceramiques polycristallines, propagation des fissures, relations entre la resistance et la mecanique de rupture, effets de la microstructure, fiabilite
Interstitial Lung Disease in Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Review

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disorder. Although the joints are typically the first area affected in RA, it can also involve extra-articular regions. This article provides an overview on rheumatoid arthritis-associated interstitial lung disease (RA-ILD), a component of the disease manifestations leading to significant morbidity and mortality. Managing these pulmonary symptoms in people with RA poses a number of difficulties for medical professionals. In this review article, we shed light on the prevalence of RA-ILD and the common pulmonary manifestations of RA, while focusing on the evolving pathogenesis concepts that link them to RA's autoimmune cascade. We also address the diagnostic challenges and the available screening modalities that aid in the early recognition and effective management of these pulmonary complications. Furthermore, glucocorticoids, disease-modifying antirheumatic medications, immunosuppressive medications, and biological agents are among the pharmacological approaches that have been explored in this review study.
Comparison of signaling and media approaches to detect VoIP SPIT attack

This paper gives a review about spam over internet telephony attack on voice over IP networks. This paper starts by explaining why IP networks became the most dominant type of information networks and how it is better than the legacy PSTN for connecting users all over the world. Requirements for carrying voice over IP networks are discussed in terms of both devices and protocols. There are a number of challenges for voice over IP networks and security attacks are at the top. This paper concentrates on SPIT attack and its detection methods which are signaling and media. Each approach is discussed by showing its characteristics, how it works in addition to its pros and cons. A virtual VoIP network is created to conduct an experiment to compare these presented approaches.
Real‐Time H2O2 Measurements in Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs) Show Increased Antioxidant Capacity in Cells From Osteoporotic Women

Oxidative stress (OS) derived from an increase in intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) is a major determinant of aging and lifespan. It has also been associated with several age‐related disorders, like postmenopausal osteoporosis of Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). MSCs are the common precursors for osteoblasts and adipocytes; appropriate commitment and differentiation of MSCs into a specific phenotype is modulated, among other factors, by ROS balance. MSCs have shown more resistance to ROS than differentiated cells, and their redox status depends on complex and abundant anti‐oxidant mechanisms. The purpose of this work was to analyze in real time, H2O2 signaling in individual h‐MSCs, and to compare the kinetic parameters of H2O2 management by cells derived from both control (c‐) and osteoporotic (o‐) women. For these purposes, cells were infected with a genetically encoded fluorescent biosensor named HyPer, which is specific for detecting H2O2 inside living cells. Subsequently, cells were sequentially challenged with 50 and 500 μM H2O2 pulses, and the cellular response was recorded in real time. The results demonstrated adequate expression of the biosensor allowing registering fluorescence from HyPer at a single cell level. Comparison of the response of c‐ and o‐MSCs to the oxidant challenges demonstrated improved antioxidant activity in o‐MSCs. This was further corroborated by measuring the relative expression of mRNAs for catalase, superoxide dismutase‐1, thioredoxine, and peroxiredoxine, as well as by cell‐surviving capacity under short‐term H2O2 treatment. We conclude that functional differences exist between healthy and osteoporotic human MSCs. The mechanism for these differences requires further study. J. Cell. Biochem. 118: 585–593, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Mycobacterium tuberculosis Expresses a Novel Ph-Dependent Divalent Cation Transporter Belonging to the Nramp Family

Mammalian natural resistance–associated macrophage protein (Nramp) homologues are important determinants of susceptibility to infection by diverse intracellular pathogens including mycobacteria. Eukaryotic Nramp homologues transport divalent cations such as Fe2+, Mn2+, Zn2+, and Cu2+. Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Mycobacterium bovis (bacillus Calmette-Guérin [BCG]) also encode an Nramp homologue (Mramp). RNA encoding Mramp induces ∼20-fold increases in 65Zn2+ and 55Fe2+ uptake when injected into Xenopus laevis oocytes. Transport is dependent on acidic extracellular pH and is maximal between pH 5.5 and 6.5. Mramp-mediated 65Zn2+ and 55Fe2+ transport is abolished by an excess of Mn2+ and Cu2+, confirming that Mramp interacts with a broad range of divalent transition metal cations. Using semiquantitative reverse transcription PCR, we show that Mramp mRNA levels in M. tuberculosis are upregulated in response to increases in ambient Fe2+ and Cu2+ between <1 and 5 μM concentrations and that this upregulation occurs in parallel with mRNA for y39, a putative metal-transporting P-type ATPase. Using a quantitative ratiometric PCR technique, we demonstrate a fourfold decrease in Mramp/y39 mRNA ratios from organisms grown in 5–70 μM Cu2+. M. bovis BCG cultured axenically and within THP-1 cells also expresses mRNA encoding Mramp. Mramp exemplifies a novel prokaryotic class of metal ion transporter. Within phagosomes, Mramp and Nramp1 may compete for the same divalent cations, with implications for intracellular survival of mycobacteria.
Identification and comparison of individual chromosomes of three Hordeum chilense accessions, Hordeum vulgare and Triticum aestivum by FISH

Karyotypes of three accessions of Hordeum chilense (H1, H16 and H7), Hordeum vulgare and Triticum aestivum were characterized by physical mapping of several repetitive sequences. A total of fourteen repetitive sequences were used as probes for fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) with the aim of identifying inter‐ and intra-species polymorphisms. The (AG)12 and 4P6 probes only produced hybridization signals in wheat, the BAC7 probe only hybridized to the centromeric region of H. vulgare, and the pSc119.2 probe hybridized to both wheat and H. chilense, but not to H. vulgare. The remaining repetitive sequences used in this study produced a hybridization signal in all the genotypes. Probes pAs1, pTa535, pTa71, CCS1 and CRW were much conserved, showing no significant polymorphism among the genotypes studied. Probes GAA, (AAC)5, (CTA)5, HvT01 and pTa794 produced the most different hybridization pattern. We identified large polymorphisms in the three accessions of H. chilense studied, supporting the proposal of the existence of different groups inside H. chilense species. The set of probes described in this work allowed the identification of every single chromosome in all three species, providing a complete cytogenetic karyotype of H. chilense, H. vulgare and T. aestivum chromosomes, useful in wheat and tritordeum breeding programs.
Feature integration with random forests for real-time human activity recognition

This paper presents an approach for real-time human activity recognition. Three different kinds of features (flow, shape, and a keypoint-based feature) are applied in activity recognition. We use random forests for feature integration and activity classification. A forest is created at each feature that performs as a weak classifier. The international classification of functioning, disability and health (ICF) proposed by WHO is applied in order to set the novel definition in activity recognition. Experiments on human activity recognition using the proposed framework show - 99.2% (Weizmann action dataset), 95.5% (KTH human actions dataset), and 54.6% (UCF50 dataset) recognition accuracy with a real-time processing speed. The feature integration and activity-class definition allow us to accomplish high-accuracy recognition match for the state-of-the-art in real-time.
Sleep Quality in Adolescents With Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME).

STUDY OBJECTIVES Little is known about the type and severity of sleep disturbances in the pediatric chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME) population, compared with healthy adolescents. Using a range of objective and subjective measures, the aim of this study was to investigate sleep quality, the relationship between objective and subjective measures of sleep quality, and their associations with anxiety in adolescents with CFS/ME compared with healthy controls. METHODS Twenty-one adolescents with CFS/ME aged 13 to 18 years (mean age 15.57 ± 1.40), and 145 healthy adolescents aged 13 to 18 years (mean age 16.2 ± 1.00) wore actigraphy watches continuously for 2 weeks to collect a number of objective sleep variables. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index was used to obtain a subjective measure of sleep quality. Anxiety was measured by the Spence Children's Anxiety scale. RESULTS On average over the 2-week period, adolescents with CFS/ME were found to have (1) significantly longer objective sleep onset latency, time in bed, total sleep time, and a later rise time (all P < .005), and (2) significantly poorer subjective sleep quality (P < .001), compared with healthy adolescents. The CFS/ME patient group displayed higher levels of anxiety (P < .05), and in both groups, higher levels of anxiety were significantly related to poorer subjective sleep quality (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS This study provides objective and subjective evidence of sleep disturbance in adolescents with CFS/ME compared with healthy adolescent controls.
CRISPR/Cas9‐Mediated Deletion of C1EIS Inhibits Chicken Embryonic Stem Cell Differentiation Into Male Germ Cells (Gallus gallus)

We previously found that C1EIS is preferentially expressed in Chicken spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) by RNA sequencing (RNA‐seq), so our current study focused on C1EIS's role in Chicken embryonic stem cells (ESCs) differentiation into male germ cells. We constructed a CRISPR/Cas9 vector targeting C1EIS. T7 endonuclease I (T7EI) digestion method and sequencing of TA cloning were used to detect the knock‐out efficiency of the Single guide RNA (sgRNA) after the cas9/gRNA vector transfected into D fibroblasts 1(DF‐1), ESCs, and Chicken embryos. The results showed that CRISPR/Cas9 gene knockout efficiency is about 40%. Differentiation of the targeted ESCs into SSCs was inhibited at the embryoid body stage due to C1EIS deficiency. Immunofluorescent staining revealed that the mutagenized ESCs (RA (Retinoic Acid) with C1EIS Knock out) expressed lower levels of integrin α6 and integrin β1 compared to wild type cells. Quantitative real‐time PCR (QRT‐PCR) revealed Oct4 and Sox2 expression significantly increased, contrarily integrin β1 and Stra8 expression significantly decreased than RA induced group and RA with C1EIS Overexpression. During retinoic acid‐induced differentiation, knockout of C1EIS in ESCs inhibited formation of SSC‐like cells, suggesting C1EIS plays a vital role in promoting differentiation of avian ESCs to SSCs by regulating expression of multiple pluripotency‐related genes. J. Cell. Biochem. 118: 2380–2386, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.