Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Reduction of Magnetic Resonance Imaging-related Heating in Deep Brain Stimulation Leads Using a Lead Management Device

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the ability of a lead management device to reduce magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-related heating of deep brain stimulation (DBS) leads and thereby to decrease the risks of exposing patients with these implants to MRI procedures. METHODS: Experiments were performed using the Activa series (Medtronic, Inc., Minneapolis, MN) DBS systems in an in vitro, gelled-saline head and torso phantom. Temperature change was recorded using fluoroptic thermometry during MRI performed using a transmit-and-receive radiofrequency body coil at 1.5 T and a transmit-and-receive radiofrequency head coil at 3 T. A cranial model placed in the phantom was used to test a custom-designed burr hole device that permitted the placement of small-diameter, concentric loops around the burr hole at the DBS lead as it exited the cranium. RESULTS: A total of 41 scans were performed, with absolute temperature changes ranging from 0.8 to 10.3°C. Depending on the MRI system tested and the side of the phantom on which the hardware was placed, loop placement resulted in reductions in temperature rise of 41 to 74%. The effect was linearly related to the number of loops formed (P < 0.01) over the range tested (0–2.75 loops). CONCLUSION: Small, concentric loops placed around the burr hole seem to reduce MRI-related heating for these implants. Although the mechanism is still not fully understood, a device such as that used in the present study could permit a wider range of clinical scanning sequences to be used at 1.5 and 3 T in patients with DBS implants, in addition to increasing the margin of safety for the patient.
MOLECULAR MODELING AND COMPARITIVE STUDY OF DIAMINOPALMITIC ACID OF MICROBIAL TUBERCULOSIS IN H37RV

The increasing emergence of multiple drug resistant TB (MDR-TB) and extensively drug-resistant TB poses a serious threat to the control of tuberculosis disease. Furthermore, it is reported that 79% of MDR- TB cases are ‘super strains’. Here is the Aspartyl beta-semi aldehyde dehydrogenase (ASADH) is an important enzyme, occupying the first branch position of the biosynthetic pathway of the aspartate family of amino acids in bacteria, fungi and higher plants. It catalyses reversible dephosphorylation of L: -beta-aspartyl phosphate (betaAP) to L: aspartate-beta-semialdehyde (ASA), a key intermediate in the biosynthesis of diaminopimelic acid (DAP)-an essential component of cross linkages in bacterial cell walls. It has been found that mtASADH exhibits structural features common to bacterial ASADH, while other structural motifs are not present. Structural analysis of various domains in mtASADH reveals structural conservation among all bacterial ASADH proteins. The results suggest that the probable mechanism of action of the mtASADH enzyme might be same as that of other bacterial ASADH. Analysis of the structure of mtASADH will shed light on its mechanism of action and may help in designing suitable antagonists against this enzyme that could control the growth of Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
Approaches for the migration of optical backbone networks towards Carrier Ethernet

This paper describes migration strategies in optical networks. It is expected that the conversion of current transport networks (IP/MPLS over SDH) into more packet oriented (IP/MPLS over Ethernet) technologies will result in significant cost savings for network operators. The state space of a migrating network can be modeled as a directed graph. To find the optimal migration path within this state oriented graph, several approaches, such as the Incremental Migration and the All-Period Migration can be used. Current research results regarding cost development and resource utilization in layer 1 and layer 3 are presented in this work. The effects of several planning techniques within such uncertain environment, like routing and grooming, on the total cost development are discussed, too.
Heterogeneity in the Membrane Current Pattern of Identified Glial Cells in the Hippocampal Slice

Glial cells, acutely isolated or in tissue culture, have previously been shown to express a variety of voltage‐gated channels. To resolve the question whether such channels are also expressed by glial cells in their normal cellular environment, we have applied the patch‐clamp technique to study glial cells in hippocampal slices of 10–12‐day‐old mice. Based on the membrane current pattern, we distinguished four glial cell types. One was characterized by passive, symmetrical K+ currents activated in depolarizing and hyperpolarizing directions. A second population showed a similar current pattern, but with a marked decay of the current during the 50‐ms voltage jumps. In a third population, the decaying passive currents were superimposed with a delayed rectifier outward current and, in some cases, with a slow inward current activated by depolarization. The fourth population expressed delayed rectifying outward currents, an inward rectifier K+ current and fast inward currents activated by depolarization. To unequivocally identify the glial cells we combined electrophysiological and ultrastructural characterizations. Therefore, cells were filled with the fluorescent dye lucifer yellow during characterization of their membrane currents, the fluorescence of the dye was used to convert diaminobenzidine to an electron‐dense material, and subsequently slices were inspected in the electron microscope. Recordings were obtained from cells in the stratum radiatum and were identified as glial by their size, the characteristic chromatin distribution, and the lack of synaptic membrane specializations.
Le contrôle budgétaire, outil d’un environnement routinier. Un point de vue historique

The development of budgetary control in France occurred in a relatively placid environemt, as shown by studies of Saint-Gobain, Pechiney, EDF, Alsthom, Le Materiel Telephonique and Paris-Lyon-Mediterranee. This observation leads us to reflect on the influence of environment as a contingent factor affecting budgetary control. Previous studies of the subject in the fields of history and management have already established certain benchmarks. The nature of the environment relevant to the study of organizations and the link between environment and budgetary control are examined herein so as to shed light on the cases studied.
EETs Attenuate Ox-LDL-Induced LTB4 Production and Activity by Inhibiting p38 MAPK Phosphorylation and 5-LO/BLT1 Receptor Expression in Rat Pulmonary Arterial Endothelial Cells

Cytochrome P-450 epoxygenase (EPOX)-derived epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (EETs), 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO), and leukotriene B4 (LTB4), the product of 5-LO, all play a pivotal role in the vascular inflammatory process. We have previously shown that EETs can alleviate oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL)-induced endothelial inflammation in primary rat pulmonary artery endothelial cells (RPAECs). Here, we investigated whether ox-LDL can promote LTB4 production through the 5-LO pathway. We further explored how exogenous EETs influence ox-LDL-induced LTB4 production and activity. We found that treatment with ox-LDL increased the production of LTB4 and further led to the expression and release of both monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1/CCL2) and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1). All of the above ox-LDL-induced changes were attenuated by the presence of 11,12-EET and 14,15-EET, as these molecules inhibited the 5-LO pathway. Furthermore, the LTB4 receptor 1 (BLT1 receptor) antagonist U75302 attenuated ox-LDL-induced ICAM-1 and MCP-1/CCL2 expression and production, whereas LY255283, a LTB4 receptor 2 (BLT2 receptor) antagonist, produced no such effects. Moreover, in RPAECs, we demonstrated that the increased expression of 5-LO and BLT1 following ox-LDL treatment resulted from the activation of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) via the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway. Our results indicated that EETs suppress ox-LDL-induced LTB4 production and subsequent inflammatory responses by downregulating the 5-LO/BLT1 receptor pathway, in which p38 MAPK phosphorylation activates NF-κB. These results suggest that the metabolism of arachidonic acid via the 5-LO and EPOX pathways may present a mutual constraint on the physiological regulation of vascular endothelial cells.
Integrating the iPad into Language Arts Instruction for Students with Disabilities: Engagement and Perspectives

This preliminary mixed method single subject and qualitative interview study explored the incorporation of iPad tablets into the language arts lessons of four elementary school students with language-based disabilities. Using the iPad increased the student's academic engagement, which was measured by monitoring the number of prompts required to keep the students on task. Teacher and student interviews revealed high levels of satisfaction with using the iPad for language arts instruction. These findings confirmed findings from earlier studies that focused on mobile technology and communication. Limitations of the study and future research suggestions are discussed.
Nuclear Targeting by the Growth Factor Midkine

ABSTRACT Ligand-receptor internalization has been traditionally regarded as part of the cellular desensitization system. Low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein (LRP) is a large endocytosis receptor with a diverse array of ligands. We recently showed that LRP binds heparin-binding growth factor midkine. Here we demonstrate that LRP mediates nuclear targeting by midkine and that the nuclear targeting is biologically important. Exogenous midkine reached the nucleus, where intact midkine was detected, within 20 min. Midkine was not internalized in LRP-deficient cells, whereas transfection of an LRP expression vector restored midkine internalization and subsequent nuclear translocation. Internalized midkine in the cytoplasm bound to nucleolin, a nucleocytoplasmic shuttle protein. The midkine-binding sites were mapped to acidic stretches in the N-terminal domain of nucleolin. When the nuclear localization signal located next to the acidic stretches was deleted, we found that the mutant nucleolin not only accumulated in the cytoplasm but also suppressed the nuclear translocation of midkine. By using cells that overexpressed the mutant nucleolin, we further demonstrated that the nuclear targeting was necessary for the full activity of midkine in the promotion of cell survival. This study therefore reveals a novel role of LRP in intracellular signaling by its ligand and the importance of nucleolin in this process.
Multi-dimensional matched filter identification technique for channel equalization deployed in spatial diversity receivers

This paper proposes a multi-dimensional matched filtering technique for spatial diversity receivers. The coefficients of the multi-dimensional matched filter are identified by making use of an adaptive filter, the update of which doesn't require the transmission of any training symbols within the transmitted data stream. Therefore the use of the proposed technique improves the data rate efficiency. Furthermore, it is well known that implementing multi-dimensional matched filtering is essential for equalization purposes to obtain the optimum error rate performance from spatial diversity receivers. For that reason the technique is designed not only to identify the unknown matched filter but also to simultaneously lead to the equalization of the channel too. In order to update the adaptive filter, the Constant Modulus Algorithm (CMA) is utilized, which is an implementation convenient algorithm. Therefore the proposed technique is not computationally complex in comparison to those identification algorithms proposed for spatial diversity receivers. Simulations are provided to present the equalization performance of the novel technique.
Event-triggered model predictive control for constrained invariant set trajectory

This paper proposes a novel event-triggered algorithm based on a contract robust control invariant set trajectory for robust constrained model predictive control system. The trigger condition relies on the relationship between the sets where two continuous state vectors lie in. Feasibility of the algorithm and stability of the system are derived utilizing the invariant set theory. Simulation shows that the proposed algorithm is feasible and able to ultimately drive the states to a bound set related to the desired performance, while reducing the frequency of solving optimization problem and the number of control updates significantly.
Edge-preserving denoising method using variation approach and gradient distribution

This paper proposed an image denoising technique that can enhance the quality of image by using a variational approach and image gradient distribution. First, in order to remove the noise, we consider the variational approach for the energy functional that satisfies an edge-preserving regularization property. Here, we propose a new variational functional that can be implemented by adding a new gradient distribution term in a given energy functional that locally controls the extent of denoising over image regions according to their gradient magnitudes. And by using the fundamental lemma for the calculus of variations, we derive the Euler-Lagrange equation for true image that can achieve the minimum of a devised functional. Next, we considered the procedure that this equation can be solved by using a gradient decent method, which is one of the dynamic approximation techniques. Through various experiments, we can demonstrate that the proposed method can preserve the edges while removing noise better than existing techniques.
UBC: Cubes for English Semantic Textual Similarity and Supervised Approaches for Interpretable STS

In Semantic Textual Similarity, systems rate the degree of semantic equivalence on a graded scale from 0 to 5, with 5 being the most similar. For the English subtask, we present a system which relies on several resources for token-to-token and phrase-to-phrase similarity to build a data-structure which holds all the information, and then combine the information to get a similarity score. We also participated in the pilot on Interpretable STS, where we apply a pipeline which first aligns tokens, then chunks, and finally uses supervised systems to label and score each chunk alignment.
Reactions to First Postpubertal Coitus and First Male Postpubertal Same-Sex Experience in The Kinsey Sample: Examining Assumptions in German Law Concerning Sexual Self-Determination and Age Cutoffs

ABSTRACT In German law, sexual self-determination is seen as undeveloped in minors ≤13 and underdeveloped from 14 to 15. Consequently, harm from sex with adults is assumed likely in the former and possible in the latter. We tested assumed harm using the Kinsey data on first postpubertal coitus and male same-sex experience by comparing reactions across 5 groups: minors/peers; minors ≤13/adults; minors 14–15/adults; minors 16–17/adults; adults/adults. Contrary to assumptions, for example, minors ≤13 with adults reacted just as positively and no more negatively than adults with adults. Present-day relevance of these data in light of cultural changes since Kinsey's time is discussed.
Functional and Physical Interactions between Autonomously Replicating Sequence‐Binding Factor 1 and the Nuclear Transport Machinery

Autonomously replicating sequence‐binding factor 1 (Abf1p) is a site‐specific DNA binding protein in Saccharomyces cerevisiae that functions to regulate multiple nuclear events including DNA replication, transcriptional activation, and gene silencing. Previous work indicates that the multiple functions of Abf1p are conferred by the carboxy‐terminus of the protein, which can be further dissected into two important clusters of amino acid residues (CS1 and CS2). Here we present genetic and cell biological evidence for a critical role of CS1 in proper nuclear localization of Abf1p. Mutations in CS1 cause severe defects in cell growth, nuclear translocation, and Abf1p‐mediated gene regulation, which can be rescued by a heterologous nuclear localization sequence (NLS). In addition, the CS1‐domain can mediate the import of a CS1‐GFP fusion protein. Importantly, the CS1‐mediated nuclear import depends on the Ran guanine nucleotide exchange factor Prp20p. Interestingly, a single amino acid change in CS1 (K625I) also causes the protein to be exported out of the nucleus via the Crm1p‐dependent pathway. The temperature‐sensitive growth phenotype of this particular mutant can be overcome by overexpression of Kap121p/Pse1p, a well‐established nuclear transport receptor. Biochemical studies indicate that Pse1p binds to a region of Abf1p upstream of CS1 in a RanGTP‐sensitive manner, suggesting that Abf1p has a second distinct NLS and can be imported into the nucleus by several overlapping pathways. We propose that the link between Abf1p and the nuclear transport machinery may also be important for partitioning multiple Abf1p‐mediated nuclear processes.
gamma-Aminobutyric acid directly depolarizes cultured oligodendrocytes

gamma-Aminobutyric acid (GABA) depolarizes in a dose-dependent manner approximately one-third of all immunologically identified oligodendrocytes in cultures of mouse spinal cord. Measurements of [K+]o indicate that the response to GABA is not due to K+ released from active neurons. The depolarization is not accompanied by a change in cell input resistance. Replacement of sodium in the bathing solution abolishes the entire response, whereas ouabain only inhibits the repolarization phase. Current clamp experiments with two separate intracellular electrodes show that the depolarization increases at more positive potentials while the repolarization increases at more negative potentials. Bicuculline and picrotoxin but not nipecotic acid reduce the GABA effect. Pentobarbital and chlordiazepoxid also reduce the GABA- induced depolarization. Muscimol produces a depolarization similar to that of GABA. Heterogeneity in the oligodendrocyte population is indicated by the observation that some cells respond to both GABA and glutamate, while others respond only to one and some are not responsive to either.
NOTE ON C. S. PEIRCE'S EXPERIMENTAL DISCUSSION OF THE LAW OF ERRORS.

13 In admitting the probability that selection, in this case, has operated primarily upon a visible character, color, I am adopting a viewpoint somewhat different from that expressed by me only recently (Carnegie Institution Yearbook for 1928). 14 Cf. Sumner, F. B. , Ecology, 6, 1925, 352-371, where evidence has been presented for believing that the primary cause of the depigmentation of desert animals has been the climatic factor, though the need for concealment (through selection) has probably accelerated the process in certain cases.
Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope Discovery of a Millisecond Pulsar in a Very Eccentric Binary System

We report the discovery of the binary millisecond pulsar PSR J0514-4002A, which is the first known pulsar in the globular cluster NGC 1851 and the first pulsar discovered using the Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope. The pulsar has a rotational period of 4.99 ms, an orbital period of 18.8 days, and the most eccentric pulsar orbit yet measured (e = 0.89). The companion has a minimum mass of 0.9 M☉, and its nature is currently unclear. After accreting matter from a low-mass companion star that spun it up to a (few) millisecond spin period, the pulsar eventually exchanged the low-mass star for its more massive present companion. This is exactly the same process that could form a system containing a millisecond pulsar and a black hole; the discovery of NGC 1851A demonstrates that such systems might exist in the universe, provided that stellar mass black holes exist in globular clusters.
Fusing EEG and fMRI based on a bottom-up model: inferring activation and effective connectivity in neural masses

The elucidation of the complex machinery used by the human brain to segregate and integrate information while performing high cognitive functions is a subject of imminent future consequences. The most significant contributions to date in this field, known as cognitive neuroscience, have been achieved by using innovative neuroimaging techniques, such as electroencephalogram (EEG) and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), which measure variations in both the time and the space of some interpretable physical magnitudes. Extraordinary maps of cerebral activation involving function-restricted brain areas, as well as graphs of the functional connectivity between them, have been obtained from EEG and fMRI data by solving some spatio-temporal inverse problems, which constitutes a top-down approach. However, in many cases, a natural bridge between these maps/graphs and the causal physiological processes is lacking, leading to some misunderstandings in their interpretation. Recent advances in the comprehension of the underlying physiological mechanisms associated with different cerebral scales have provided researchers with an excellent scenario to develop sophisticated biophysical models that permit an integration of these neuroimage modalities, which must share a common aetiology. This paper proposes a bottom-up approach, involving physiological parameters in a specific mesoscopic dynamic equations system. Further observation equations encapsulating the relationship between the mesostates and the EEG/fMRI data are obtained on the basis of the physical foundations of these techniques. A methodology for the estimation of parameters from fused EEG/fMRI data is also presented. In this context, the concepts of activation and effective connectivity are carefully revised. This new approach permits us to examine and discuss some future prospects for the integration of multimodal neuroimages.
Enabling technology for Collaborative Semantic Search (CSS)

Intelligence analysts are slowly drowning in a flood of human and computer-generated information. Modern semantic search engines such as KBSI's Collaborative Semantic Search (CSS) technology application may provide significant leverage to address this problem by empowering analysts to express their information needs. Because analysts seldom work in isolation, a shared understanding of analysis goals and subsequent sharing of knowledge and effort can significantly improve analytic outcomes. In this paper, we describe our efforts in adding collaboration capabilities into our CSS technology application. We describe the small internal user study that was carried out to better understand the requirements of collaboration during search. These requirements led to the design and implementation of specific enhancements to our existing search application to support such collaboration. The resulting CSS technology supports the ability to document and share search objectives and results, and to automatically identify users with similar objectives.