Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
On the interpretation of synchronization in EEG hyperscanning studies: a cautionary note

EEG Hyperscanning is a method for studying two or more individuals simultaneously with the objective of elucidating how co-variations in their neural activity (i.e., hyperconnectivity) are influenced by their behavioral and social interactions. The aim of this study was to compare the performance of different hyper-connectivity measures using (i) simulated data, where the degree of coupling could be systematically manipulated, and (ii) individually recorded human EEG combined into pseudo-pairs of participants where no hyper-connections could exist. With simulated data we found that each of the most widely used measures of hyperconnectivity were biased and detected hyper-connections where none existed. With pseudo-pairs of human data we found spurious hyper-connections that arose because there were genuine similarities between the EEG recorded from different people independently but under the same experimental conditions. Specifically, there were systematic differences between experimental conditions in terms of the rhythmicity of the EEG that were common across participants. As any imbalance between experimental conditions in terms of stimulus presentation or movement may affect the rhythmicity of the EEG, this problem could apply in many hyperscanning contexts. Furthermore, as these spurious hyper-connections reflected real similarities between the EEGs, they were not Type-1 errors that could be overcome by some appropriate statistical control. However, some measures that have not previously been used in hyperconnectivity studies, notably the circular correlation co-efficient (CCorr), were less susceptible to detecting spurious hyper-connections of this type. The reason for this advantage in performance is discussed and the use of the CCorr as an alternative measure of hyperconnectivity is advocated.
Skeleton and Level Set for channel construction Application to flow simulation

The goal of this paper is to introduce some tools developed in a code for fluid flow modeling in complex channels. Starting from 2D longitudinal images of bloodstreams, we reconstruct 3D vessels appropriate for flow simulation. Two mathematical tools are the key points for such a code, they are a level set function and a skeleton to describe the geometry. The integration of the geometry in the fluid mechanic code is simplified thanks to such a description of the geometry. This work leads to a stand-alone code capable to simulate 3D flows in a geometry recontructed from an angiography.
Reward processing in autism

The social motivation hypothesis of autism posits that infants with autism do not experience social stimuli as rewarding, thereby leading to a cascade of potentially negative consequences for later development. While possible downstream effects of this hypothesis such as altered face and voice processing have been examined, there has not been a direct investigation of social reward processing in autism. Here we use functional magnetic resonance imaging to examine social and monetary rewarded implicit learning in children with and without autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Sixteen males with ASD and sixteen age‐ and IQ‐matched typically developing (TD) males were scanned while performing two versions of a rewarded implicit learning task. In addition to examining responses to reward, we investigated the neural circuitry supporting rewarded learning and the relationship between these factors and social development. We found diminished neural responses to both social and monetary rewards in ASD, with a pronounced reduction in response to social rewards (SR). Children with ASD also demonstrated a further deficit in frontostriatal response during social, but not monetary, rewarded learning. Moreover, we show a relationship between ventral striatum activity and social reciprocity in TD children. Together, these data support the hypothesis that children with ASD have diminished neural responses to SR, and that this deficit relates to social learning impairments.
Rapid Pre-Integrated Perspective Volume Rendering algorithm of medical data sets

Perspective volume rendering has well known advantages in medical visualization application. In the visualization of 3D medical images, it is common to adjust frequently the Opacity Transfer Function(OTF) and viewing angle so that volume rendering is difficult to be realized in real-time. And in traditional perspective Shear-Warp there are the aliasing and staircase effects resulting from under-sampling. In order to efficiently and effectively reconstruct 3D medical images, a novel Rapid Pre-Integrated Perspective Volume Rendering(RPPVR) method of medical data sets based on Pre-integrated volume rendering and Shear-Warp algorithm is proposed in this paper. In the proposed method, classification coding for volume data is implemented by making use of the correlation of opacity transfer function and min-max Octree data structure. On this basis, the new run-length encoded(RLE) data structure can be established rapidly so that fast reconstruction can be done when opacity transfer function and view angle change. Moreover, the aliasing artifacts resulted from under-sampling can be eliminated by pre-integrated volume rendering technique incorporated the shading calculation of Phong lighting model, thus improving the reconstruction effect. This study demonstrates the superiority of the proposed method.
17q25 Locus Is Associated With White Matter Hyperintensity Volume in Ischemic Stroke, But Not With Lacunar Stroke Status

Background and Purpose— Recently, a novel locus at 17q25 was associated with white matter hyperintensities (WMH) on MRI in stroke-free individuals. We aimed to replicate the association with WMH volume (WMHV) in patients with ischemic stroke. If the association acts by promoting a small vessel arteriopathy, it might be expected to also associate with lacunar stroke. Methods— We quantified WMH on MRI in the stroke-free hemisphere of 2588 ischemic stroke cases. Association between WMHV and 6 single-nucleotide polymorphisms at chromosome 17q25 was assessed by linear regression. These single-nucleotide polymorphisms were also investigated for association with lacunar stroke in 1854 cases and 51 939 stroke-free controls from METASTROKE. Meta-analyses with previous reports and a genetic risk score approach were applied to identify other novel WMHV risk variants and uncover shared genetic contributions to WMHV in community participants without stroke and ischemic stroke. Results— Single-nucleotide polymorphisms at 17q25 were associated with WMHV in ischemic stroke, the most significant being rs9894383 (P=0.0006). In contrast, there was no association between any single-nucleotide polymorphism and lacunar stroke. A genetic risk score analysis revealed further genetic components to WMHV shared between community participants without stroke and ischemic stroke. Conclusions— This study provides support for an association between the 17q25 locus and WMH. In contrast, it is not associated with lacunar stroke, suggesting that the association does not act by promoting small-vessel arteriopathy or the same arteriopathy responsible for lacunar infarction.
Puncturing Plaques

Purpose: To test and validate magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) sequences for peripheral artery lesion characterization and relate the MRI characteristics to the amount of force required for a guidewire to puncture peripheral chronic total occlusions (CTOs) as a surrogate for immediate failure of endovascular therapy. Methods: Diseased superficial femoral, popliteal, and tibial artery segments containing 55 atherosclerotic lesions were excised from the amputated limbs of 7 patients with critical limb ischemia. The lesions were imaged at high resolution (75 μm3 voxels) with T2-weighted (T2W) and ultrashort echo time (UTE) sequences on a 7-T MR scanner. The MR images (n=15) were validated with micro–computed tomography and histology. CTOs (n=40) were classified by their MR signal characteristics as “soft” (signals indicating fat, thrombus, microchannels, or loose fibrous tissue), “hard” (collagen and/or speckled calcium signals), or “calcified” (calcified nodule signals). A 2-kg load cell advanced the back end of a 0.035-inch stiff guidewire at a fixed displacement rate (0.05 mm/s) through the CTOs, and the forces required to cross each lesion were measured. Results: T2W images showed fat as hyperintense and hardened tissue as hypointense. Calcium and thrombus appeared as a signal void in conventional MRI sequences but were easily identified in UTE images (thrombus was hyperintense and calcium hypointense). MRI accurately differentiated “hard,” “soft,” and “calcified” CTOs based on associated guidewire puncture force. The guidewire could not enter “calcified” CTOs (n=6) at all. “Hard” CTOs (n=9) required a significantly higher (p<0.001) puncture force of 1.71±0.51 N vs 0.43±0.36 N for “soft” CTOs (n=25). Conclusion: MRI characteristics of PAD lesions correlate with guidewire puncture forces, an important aspect of crossability. Future work will determine if clinical MR scanners can be used to predict success in peripheral vascular interventions.
Delayed Anti-CD3 Therapy Results in Depletion of Alloreactive T Cells and the Dominance of Foxp3+CD4+ Graft Infiltrating Cells

The engineered Fc‐nonbinding (crystallizable fragment‐nonbinding) CD3 antibody has lower mitogenicity and a precise therapeutic window for disease remission in patients with type 1 diabetes. Before anti‐CD3 can be considered for use in transplantation, the most effective timing of treatment relative to transplantation needs to be elucidated. In this study anti‐CD3F(ab′)2 fragments or saline were administered intravenously for 5 consecutive days (early: d1–3 or delayed: d3–7) to mice transplanted with a cardiac allograft (H2b‐to‐H2k; d0). Survival of allografts was prolonged in mice treated with the early protocol (MST = 48 days), but most were rejected by d100. In contrast, in mice treated with the delayed protocol allografts continued to survive long term. The delayed protocol significantly inhibited donor alloreactivity at d30 as compared to the early protocol. A marked increase in Foxp3+ T cells (50.3 ± 1.6%) infiltrating the allografts in mice treated with the delayed protocol was observed (p < 0.0001 vs. early (24.9 ± 2.1%)) at d10; a finding that was maintained in the accepted cardiac allografts at d100. We conclude that the timing of treatment with anti‐CD3 therapy is critical for inducing long‐term graft survival. Delaying administration effectively inhibits the alloreactivity and promotes the dominance of intragraft Foxp3+ T cells allowing long‐term graft acceptance.
ESTRADIOL REDUCES F 2 α-ISOPROSTANE PRODUCTION IN CULTURED HUMAN ENDOTHELIAL CELLS

Free radical-generated F2α-isoprostanes are a group of compounds with vasoconstrictor properties. To investigate whether estradiol exerts antioxidant actions modifying F2αisoprostane production, cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells were exposed to estradiol and other compounds and F2α-isoprostanes measured in culture medium. Exposure to 1 and 10 nM estradiol during 24 hours reduced F2α-isoprostane production by 36% and by 49%, respectively (p < 0.001 vs. control). Exposure to antiestrogens alone (ICI 182780 or EM-652) slightly reduced F2α-isoprostanes (p < 0.05 vs. control), but much less than estradiol (p < 0.05). ICI 182780 reversed the estradiol-induced reduction of F2α-isoprostane concentration (p < 0.05). Along with time course analysis, these results suggest that estradiol effects were mediated through both estrogen receptor-dependent and -independent mechanisms. Progestogens alone (progesterone or medroxyprogesterone acetate) did not modify F2α-isoprostanes production at any of the tested concentrations (1, 10 and 100 nM). Progesterone completely reversed estradiolinduced reduction of F2α-isoprostane production (p < 0.05 vs. control and estradiol) but medroxyprogesterone acetate did not (p < 0.05 vs. control).
From hippocampus to V 1 : E ! ect of LTP on spatio-temporal dynamics of receptive " elds

Recent studies have revealed novel e! ects [8,1,23,24,12,13] of patterns of neuronal activity and synaptic plasticity on the size and speci"city of receptive "elds. However, little has been done to quantify their e! ect on the receptive "eld shape. It has been shown that place "elds are highly asymmetric such that, the "ring rate of a place cell rises slowly as a rat enters a place "eld but the "ring rate drops o! abruptly at the end of the place "eld [15] in an experience dependent fashion. Here we present a computational model that can explain the results, based on NMDA-dependent LTP. Striking similarities between the hippocampal and striate receptive "eld dynamics are pointed out. Our model suggests that LTP/D could result in diverse phenomena such as phase precession in the hippocampal neurons and the origin of directional receptive "elds in the striate cortex. It is suggested that the key feature underlying directionality and inseparable spatiotemporal dynamics is the asymmetric shape of the receptive "eld. ( 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
RESULTS OF PRELIMINARY PITFALL TRAPPING TRIALS FOR POTENTIAL ARTHROPOD PREDATORS OF ELDANA SACCHARINA WALKER ( LEPIDOPTERA : PYRALIDAE

On the La Mercy Field Station of the South African Sugar Association Experiment Station (SASEX), epigeal arthropod fauna were monitored over a seven month period using pitfall traps. The site comprised rows of sugarcane alternating with either a row of maize or a row of sorghum, and control plots of a mixed grass roadway and a commercial sugarcane field. The largest arthropod populations were trapped in intercropped cane, maize and sorghum rows. The most common groups of arthropods caught were beetles of the family Scarabaeidae, ants of the genera Pheidole and Myrmecaria, and lycosid spiders. The number of insect groups collected from each site varied between II and 16. However, numbers of individuals of each group trapped in pure sugarcane plots were five times lower than those caught in the intercrop sites. These very preliminary trials have shown that, among the arthropods caught, there were potential predators which could be monitored in sugarcane fields. The more diverse the habitat, the greater the number of potential predators found.
A wideband gain-boosting 8mW LNA with 23dB gain and 4dB NF in 65nm CMOS process for 60 GHz applications

A three stage single-ended LNA using transformer (TF) matching and gain-boosting by capacitive feedback for wideband operation in the 57-66GHz band is presented. The LNA, fabricated in a 65nm standard CMOS process, achieves a 23dB-gain 4dB NF at 6mA and 1.25V supply, with 2dBm Psat and 0.05mm2 in size, demonstrating best reported noise figure, gain, power consumption and chip area compared to published 60 GHz LNAs. Different neutralization topologies were analyzed and compared based on analytical TF models that were created. Optimal gain-boosting is achieved by capacitive feedback after a 180-deg TF together with special decoupling capacitors of MOM and MOS stacked types.
Motion area V5/MT+ response to global motion in the absence of V1 resembles early visual cortex

Little is known about how non-V1 inputs influence motion area V5/MT+. Ajina et al. reveal that after V1 damage, V5/MT+ activity resembles that of early visual cortex, perhaps driven by similar subcortical inputs. While these inputs are normally overshadowed by V1 connections, acknowledging their contribution may improve neuronal models.
Macrophages are required to coordinate mouse digit tip regeneration

In mammals, macrophages are known to play a major role in tissue regeneration. They contribute to inflammation, histolysis, re-epithelialization, revascularization and cell proliferation. Macrophages have been shown to be essential for regeneration in salamanders and fish, but their role has not been elucidated in mammalian epimorphic regeneration. Here, using the regenerating mouse digit tip as a mammalian model, we demonstrate that macrophages are essential for the regeneration process. Using cell-depletion strategies, we show that regeneration is completely inhibited; bone histolysis does not occur, wound re-epithelialization is inhibited and the blastema does not form. Although rescue of epidermal wound closure in the absence of macrophages promotes blastema accumulation, it does not rescue cell differentiation, indicating that macrophages play a key role in the redifferentiation of the blastema. We provide additional evidence that although bone degradation is a component, it is not essential to the overall regenerative process. These findings show that macrophages play an essential role in coordinating the epimorphic regenerative response in mammals. Summary: Cell depletion studies show that macrophages regulate multiple key aspects of a mammalian epimorphic regenerative response, including wound closure, bone histolysis, blastema formation and redifferentiation.
The Intelligent Texture Anti-counterfeiting Algorithm Based on DFT

This paper presents an intelligent texture anti-counterfeiting method based on human visual characteristics and DFT. By using a part of sign sequence of DFT coefficients as the feature vector of texture images, we extract a visual feature vector and then create a database of texture images' feature vectors. After comparing the Normalized Cross-correlation (NC) between the feature vectors, we achieve the purpose of automatic identification. The experimental results show that the proposed algorithm has strong robustness against common and geometric attacks.
A Comprehensive Sanitization Approach for Workflow Provenance Graphs

As the number of provenance aware organizations increases, particularly in workflow scientific domains, sharing provenance data becomes a necessity. Meanwhile, scientists wish to share their scientific results without sacrificing privacy, neither directly through illegal authorizations nor indirectly through illegal inferences. Nevertheless, current work in workflow provenance sanitizing approaches do not address the disclosure problem of sensitive information through inferences. In this paper, we propose a comprehensive workflow provenance sanitization approach called ProvS that maximize both graph utility and privacy with respect to the influence of various workflow constraints. Experimental results show the effectiveness of ProvS through testing it on a graph-based system implementation.
Cholinergic Stimulation Enhances Bayesian Belief Updating in the Deployment of Spatial Attention

The exact mechanisms whereby the cholinergic neurotransmitter system contributes to attentional processing remain poorly understood. Here, we applied computational modeling to psychophysical data (obtained from a spatial attention task) under a psychopharmacological challenge with the cholinesterase inhibitor galantamine (Reminyl). This allowed us to characterize the cholinergic modulation of selective attention formally, in terms of hierarchical Bayesian inference. In a placebo-controlled, within-subject, crossover design, 16 healthy human subjects performed a modified version of Posner's location-cueing task in which the proportion of validly and invalidly cued targets (percentage of cue validity, % CV) changed over time. Saccadic response speeds were used to estimate the parameters of a hierarchical Bayesian model to test whether cholinergic stimulation affected the trial-wise updating of probabilistic beliefs that underlie the allocation of attention or whether galantamine changed the mapping from those beliefs to subsequent eye movements. Behaviorally, galantamine led to a greater influence of probabilistic context (% CV) on response speed than placebo. Crucially, computational modeling suggested this effect was due to an increase in the rate of belief updating about cue validity (as opposed to the increased sensitivity of behavioral responses to those beliefs). We discuss these findings with respect to cholinergic effects on hierarchical cortical processing and in relation to the encoding of expected uncertainty or precision.
Using UML to model web services for automatic composition

There is a great interest paid to the web services paradigm nowadays. One of the most important problems related to the web service paradigm is the automatic composition of web services. Several frameworks have been proposed to achieve this novel goal. The most recent and richest framework (model) is the Colombo model. However, even for experienced developers, working with Colombo formalisms is low-level, very complex and timeconsuming. We propose to use UML (Unified Modeling Language) to model services and service composition in Colombo. By using UML, the web service developer will deal with the high level graphical models of UML avoiding the difficulties of working with the low-level and complex details of Colombo. To be able to use Colombo automatic composition algorithm, we propose to represent Colombo by a set of related XML document types that can be a base for a Colombo language. Moreover, we propose the transformation rules between UML and Colombo proposed XML documents. Next Colombo automatic composition algorithm can be applied to build a composite service that satisfies a given user request. A prototypical implementation of the proposed approach is developed using Visual Paradigm for UML.
Integer Linear Programming for Discourse Parsing

In this paper we present the first, to the best of our knowledge, discourse parser that is able to predict non-tree DAG structures. We use Integer Linear Programming (ILP) to encode both the objective function and the constraints as global decoding over local scores. Our underlying data come from multi-party chat dialogues, which require the prediction of DAGs. We use the dependency parsing paradigm, as has been done in the past (Muller et al., 2012; Li et al., 2014; Afantenos et al., 2015), but we use the underlying formal framework of SDRT and exploit SDRT's notions of left and right distributive relations. We achieve an F-measure of 0.531 for fully labeled structures which beats the previous state of the art.
Parkinson's disease α-synuclein mutations exhibit defective axonal transport in cultured neurons

α-Synuclein is a major protein constituent of Lewy bodies and mutations in α-synuclein cause familial autosomal dominant Parkinson's disease. One explanation for the formation of perikaryal and neuritic aggregates of α-synuclein, which is a presynaptic protein, is that the mutations disrupt α-synuclein transport and lead to its proximal accumulation. We found that mutant forms of α-synuclein, either associated with Parkinson's disease (A30P or A53T) or mimicking defined serine, but not tyrosine, phosphorylation states exhibit reduced axonal transport following transfection into cultured neurons. Furthermore, transfection of A30P, but not wild-type, α-synuclein results in accumulation of the protein proximal to the cell body. We propose that the reduced axonal transport exhibited by the Parkinson's disease-associated α-synuclein mutants examined in this study might contribute to perikaryal accumulation of α-synuclein and hence Lewy body formation and neuritic abnormalities in diseased brain.
Changes to the Mixed Eects Models chapters in ELM

A method and apparatus for obtaining data for simultaneously measuring relative permeability (kr), static capillary pressure, dynamic capillary pressure (Pc), and electrical resistivity (Rt) of a core sample taken from a subterranean reservoir under simulated reservoir temperature and pressure. A core sample having a a simulated original water and oil saturation is waterflooded while (1) pressures at spaced points along the core are measured to determine kr, (2) capillary pressures of the oil and water are measured to determine Pc; and (3) Rt is measured between points spaced on the core. At the same time, the core is scanned by microwaves to determine the water saturation existing in the core at the time a particular measurement is made.