Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Building a high-resolution in vivo minimum deformation average model of the human hippocampus

Objective Minimum deformation averaging (MDA) procedures exploit the information contained in inter-individual variations to generate high-resolution, high-contrast models through iterative model building. However, MDA models built from different image contrasts reside in disparate spaces and their complementary information cannot be utilized easily. The aim of this work was to develop an algorithm for the non-linear alignment of two MDA models with different contrasts to create a high-resolution in vivo model of the human hippocampus with a spatial resolution of 300 μm. Methods A Turbo Spin Echo MDA model covering the hippocampus was contrast matched to a whole-brain MP2RAGE MDA model and aligned using cross-correlation and non-linear transformation. The contrast matching algorithm followed a global voxel location-based approach to estimate the relationship between intensity values of the two models. The performance of the algorithm was evaluated by comparing it to a non-linear registration obtained using mutual information without contrast matching. The complimentary information from both contrasts was then utilized in an automated hippocampal subfield segmentation pipeline. Results The contrast of the Turbo Spin Echo MDA model could successfully be matched to the MP2RAGE MDA model. Registration using cross correlation provided more accurate alignment of the models compared to a mutual information based approach. The segmentation using ASHS resulted in hippocampal subfield delineations that resembled the tissue boundaries observed in the Turbo Spin Echo MDA model. Conclusion The developed contrast matching algorithm facilitated the creation of a high-resolution multi-modal in vivo MDA model of the human hippocampus. This model can be used to improve algorithms for hippocampal subfield segmentation and could potentially support the early detection of neurodegenerative diseases.
Determination of nursing students' expectations for faculty members and the perceived stressors during their education

Background: In nursing education, there are several different factors which can affect the efficacy and quality of the education besides the interaction between the students and the educator. The necessity of giving theoretical and clinical education together may lead to various difficulties. Purpose: We aimed to determine the features of faculties that are most sought after by nursing students and to identify the conditions that lead to stress in the education process. Methods: This was a descriptive study. The data were gathered using a collection form that was prepared by the researchers and included questions about the students' expectations of the faculty and the conditions that caused stress in the students. Results: The students' leading expectations of the faculty were ‘doing fair evaluation of being prepared for the lesson and knowing the subject well’, ‘knowing and using the proper education methods, techniques and strategies while teaching’, ‘the unprejudiced behaviour of the faculty towards the student and communicating well’, ‘being objective towards the students and making an objective assessment’ and ‘being good at both practice and theoretical knowledge’. ‘Intensive theoretical lessons’, ‘crowded classes’, ‘monotonous and boring lessons’, ‘the negative behaviours of the nurses/doctors or the patients’, ‘fear of failure or making mistakes during the clinical practice’ and ‘seeing a dying patient’ were the most stressful conditions for the students. Conclusion: The ways in which these factors affect the education process must be evaluated in nursing education based on a combination of theoretical and practical education and learning experiences. The results obtained from this study could be a guide for nursing schools and faculties.
Stimulus parameters governing confusion effects in forward masking.

In forward masking, performance may be affected by confusion, that is, by the difficulty of discriminating a suprathreshold signal from the preceding masker. This study investigated confusion effects for forward maskers composed of repeated bursts of a 100-Hz sinusoid followed by sinusoidal signals; such "pulsing" maskers produce confusion when the properties of the signal are identical to those of an individual masker "pulse. " The level, frequency, and duration of the signal relative to an individual masker pulse, as well as offset-onset delay, were varied to determine the minimum change necessary to eliminate confusion. For maskers composed of 20-ms pulses, confusion was eliminated by changes in signal level of 5 dB or changes in signal frequency of 30 to 40 Hz. For maskers composed of 10-, 20-, or 40-ms pulses, confusion was eliminated by signal delays of 8 to 16 ms or by signal durations less than half or greater than twice the masker-pulse duration. Results with adaptive procedures designed to measure confusion-free or confusion-determined thresholds suggest that confusion effects can be minimized or avoided by extensive listener training with a procedure in which the signal and masker are not presented at similar intensities.
Rhizobacterial community structure differences among sorghum cultivars in different growth stages and soils

&NA; Plant genotype selects the rhizosphere microbiome. The success of plant‐microbe interactions is dependent on factors that directly or indirectly influence the plant rhizosphere microbial composition. We investigated the rhizosphere bacterial community composition of seven different sorghum cultivars in two different soil types (abandoned (CF) and agricultural (VD)). The rhizosphere bacterial community was evaluated at four different plant growth stages: emergence of the second (day 10) and third leaves (day 20), the transition between the vegetative and reproductive stages (day 35), and the emergence of the last visible leaf (day 50). At early stages (days 10 and 20), the sorghum rhizosphere bacterial community composition was mainly driven by soil type, whereas at late stages (days 35 and 50), the bacterial community composition was also affected by the sorghum genotype. Although this effect of sorghum genotype was small, different sorghum cultivars assembled significantly different bacterial community compositions. In CF soil, the striga‐resistant cultivar had significantly higher relative abundances of Acidobacteria GP1, Burkholderia, Cupriavidus (Burkholderiaceae), Acidovorax and Albidiferax (Comamonadaceae) than the other six cultivars. This study is the first to simultaneously investigate the contributions of plant genotype, plant growth stage and soil type in shaping sorghum rhizosphere bacterial community composition.
Progress in demystification of adhesion G protein-coupled receptors

Abstract Adhesion G protein-coupled receptors (aGPCR) form the second largest class of GPCR. They are phylogenetically old and have been highly conserved during evolution. Mutations in representatives of this class are associated with severe diseases such as Usher Syndrome, a combined congenital deaf-blindness, or bifrontal parietal polymicrogyria. The main characteristics of aGPCR are their enormous size and the complexity of their N termini. They contain a highly conserved GPCR proteolytic site (GPS) and several functional domains that have been implicated in cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions. Adhesion GPCR have been proposed to serve a dual function as adhesion molecules and as classical receptors. However, until recently there was no proof that aGPCR indeed couple to G proteins or even function as classical receptors. In this review, we have summarized and discussed recent evidence that aGPCR present many functional features of classical GPCR, including multiple G protein-coupling abilities, G protein-independent signaling and oligomerization, but also specific signaling properties only found in aGPCR.
Design, Development, and Evaluation of a Pinch–Grasp Haptic Interface

Interaction with virtual or teleoperated environments requires contact with objects on a multipoint level. We describe the design of a pinch-grasp hand interface device for use as a grasping mechanism to complement haptic interfaces. To preserve a suitable level of transparency for human-computer interaction, this novel interface is designed for high-resolution contact forces, while centered around a lightweight structure. This functionality renders the device scalable and adaptable to a wide range of haptic interface structures and force level requirements. We present an optimal configuration for a pinch-grasp interface, which produces bidirectional forces to an operator's fingers and a rotational force to the wrist through a cable drive system. The device is characterized for use on a commercial haptic interface through demonstration of sustained peak performance and also workspace utilization. The dynamic performance of the pinch-grasp interface is experimentally determined, and the frequency response is identified to illustrate its contact force resolution.
Delay updating in Software-Defined Datacenter networks

Software-Define Datacenter networks (SDDCs) are constantly changing due to various network update events. A set of involved flows of each update event should be migrated to the feasible paths without congestion. To tackle a single update event, prior methods find and execute a migration sequence so as to transform the initial traffic distribution to the final traffic distribution. However, when handling a queue of multiple update events, the head-of-line blocking problem always appears and considerably lower the efficiency of network update. To tackle this problem, we employ the idea of delay updating which schedules other queued events instead of the blocked head-event, aiming to break the blocking state and provide updating opportunities for other events. We formulate this problem as an optimization problem and propose partial delay updating (PDU) strategy. PDU tackles the queued update events based on their arrival order to preserve the fairness. Moreover, it prefers to just delay those blocked flows, lacking enough bandwidth resources, instead of all flows in the head-event. The evaluation results show that our delay updating strategy achieves 60%–80% reduction in average completion time of update events, compared to FIFO scheduling strategy, in four types of flow size.
Environmental and Possible Genetic Contributions to Character Dimensions of Personality

The relationship between dimensions of personality characteristics and the perceived rearing attitude of parents in the Japanese population were investigated. The scores on a measure of perceived parental attitude of 153 normal female students, measured on the Parker Parental Bonding Instrument, were correlated with personality features from the Japanese version of the Cloninger Temperament and Character Inventory. Self-directedness, especially the subclasses of Responsibility vs Blaming and Congruent Second Nature vs Incongruent Habits, was significantly related to high scores on Maternal Care and low scores on Maternal Overprotection. The subscale of Self-acceptance vs Self-striving correlated only with low scores on Maternal Overprotection. Paternal Care was only related to the total scale scores on Self-directedness. Results suggest that some personality traits may be related to the perceived attitudes of parents, especially of the mother, during childhood.
Glycosaminoglycans restrained in a fibrin matrix improve ECM remodelling by endothelial cells grown for vascular tissue engineering

The success of a biocompatible vascular graft depends upon its mechanical attributes and post‐implantation healing responses. Mechanical strength is a paramount issue because grafts placed in the arterial circulation must be capable of withstanding long‐term haemodynamic stress without graft failure. Extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins that are deposited by the cells to remodel the environment play a major role in determining the construct stability and strength. A suitable scaffold that stimulates ECM deposition and remodelling by cells grown in vitro may generate tissues with normal function. The objective of this study was to prove that fibrin matrix composition can be modified with growth factors (GFs) and glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) to promote ECM remodelling coupled with endothelial cell (EC) growth. Effect of GFs and GAGs on ECM production and remodelling was studied separately and in combination. Matrices recovered after EC cultures were analysed after immunochemical staining and it was observed that GFs and GAGs influence collagen IV and elastin deposition. Quantitative PCR analysis of mRNA after specific periods of culture demonstrated significant upregulation of elastin and collagen expression in EC by combination of GFs and GAGS when compared to their individual effects. The results of experiments conducted with various combinations of GFs and GAGs show that a biomimetic approach of immobilization of signalling molecules in fibrin can upregulate ECM remodelling with simultaneous degradation of the fibrin matrix and deposition of collagen IV and elastin. Hence, this combination may be suitable for cardiovascular tissue generation in vitro. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Procurement auctions and negotiations: An empirical comparison

ABSTRACT Real-world procurement transactions often involve multiple attributes and multiple vendors. Successful procurement involves vendor selection through appropriate market mechanisms. The advancement of information technologies has enabled different mechanisms to be applied to similar procurement situations. However, advantages and disadvantages of using such mechanisms remain unclear. The presented research compares two types of mechanisms: multi-attribute reverse auctions and multi-attribute multi-bilateral negotiations in e-procurement. Both laboratory and online experiments were carried out to examine their effects on the process, outcomes, and suppliers’ assessment. The results show that in procurement, reverse auctions were more efficient than negotiations in terms of the process. Auctions also led to greater gains for the buyers than negotiations, but the suppliers’ profit was lower in auctions. The buyer and the winning supplier jointly reached more efficient and balanced contracts in negotiations than in auctions. The results also show that the suppliers’ assessment was affected by their outcomes: the winning suppliers had a more positive assessment toward the process, outcomes, and the system. The findings are consistent in both the laboratory and the online settings. Finally, the implications of this study for practitioners and researchers are discussed.
The Subjective Experience of Music in Autism Spectrum Disorder

Semi‐structured interviews were conducted with 12 high‐functioning adults on the autism spectrum in order to examine the nature of their personal experiences of music. The analysis showed that most participants exploit music for a wide range of purposes in the cognitive, emotional and social domains, but the autism spectrum disorder (ASD) group's descriptions of mood states reflected a greater reliance on internally focused (arousal) rather than externally focused (emotive) language, when compared with studies of typically developing individuals.
A flexible multichannel ECoG array with PEDOT-coated electrodes for minimally invasive recording and stimulation

Electrocorticographic (ECoG) electrode arrays with epidural placement allow establishing neural interfaces which promote investigation of complex distributed brain functions and development of neuroprosthetic systems while having reduced invasiveness in comparison to intracortical or subdural electrode placement. In this work, we present the design and fabrication of a flexible ECoG array with 202 closely spaced electrodes, each coated with poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS) for long-term recording and stimulation in two visual cortical areas of macaque monkeys. The layout of the array promotes smooth attachment to the curved surface of the brain. We confirm its recording functionality in vivo by estimating visual receptive fields for the individual electrodes.
Design of a novel UHF RFID reader antenna for near-field applications

A UHF RFID reader antenna for near-field applications is presented in this paper. The design is based on EM coupling between two open-ended microstrip meander lines. The corresponding currents flowing along the two microstrip meander lines are reverse direction with approximately identical amplitudes. The impedance bandwidth of the proposed antenna is 15 MHz, from 914 MHz to 929 MHz. The results show that the antenna has uniform magnetic field with the reading region of 200 mm × 480 mm × 20 mm and uniform linear electric field with the reading region of 420 mm × 420 mm × 300 mm. Due to the unique characteristics of the antenna, it's suitable for the commercial near-field applications.
Progesterone for Neuroprotection in Pediatric Traumatic Brain Injury

Objective: To provide an overview of the preclinical literature on progesterone for neuroprotection after traumatic brain injury and to describe unique features of developmental brain injury that should be considered when evaluating the therapeutic potential for progesterone treatment after pediatric traumatic brain injury. Data Sources: National Library of Medicine PubMed literature review. Study Selection: The mechanisms of neuroprotection by progesterone are reviewed, and the preclinical literature using progesterone treatment in adult animal models of traumatic brain injury is summarized. Unique features of the developing brain that could either enhance or limit the efficacy of neuroprotection by progesterone are discussed, and the limited preclinical literature using progesterone after acute injury to the developing brain is described. Finally, the current status of clinical trials of progesterone for adult traumatic brain injury is reviewed. Data Extraction and Data Synthesis: Progesterone is a pleiotropic agent with beneficial effects on secondary injury cascades that occur after traumatic brain injury, including cerebral edema, neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, and excitotoxicity. More than 40 studies have used progesterone for treatment after traumatic brain injury in adult animal models, with results summarized in tabular form. However, very few studies have evaluated progesterone in pediatric animal models of brain injury. To date, two human phase II trials of progesterone for adult traumatic brain injury have been published, and two multicenter phase III trials are underway. Conclusions: The unique features of the developing brain from that of a mature adult brain make it necessary to independently study progesterone in clinically relevant, immature animal models of traumatic brain injury. Additional preclinical studies could lead to the development of a novel neuroprotective therapy that could reduce the long-term disability in head-injured children and could potentially provide benefit in other forms of pediatric brain injury (global ischemia, stroke, and statue epilepticus).
Experiments on education as a service

As student satisfaction surveys are a primary method of evaluating university faculty teaching performance, it is essential to develop an understanding of the factors driving course evaluation. Here we discuss experiments conducted to investigate the value of various service actions in the classroom environment. In particular, we focus on the offering of excitement needs such as giving candy, humor, in-class demonstrations, music and the like. The experiments were conducted on a class of undergraduate students in a university in Daejeon, South Korea. SERVQUAL, KANO models and Kruskal-Wallace (or Wilcoxan) tests are employed. We demonstrate that there are statistically significant relationships between the service offerings and the students' perception; this perception can influence overall course evaluation. Thus, incorporating factors that are more commonly associated with other classes of service such as restaurant service or entertainment service may improve the perception of service quality in education. In addition, we observe a known phenomenon that, to our knowledge, has not been measured in educational service. Specifically, we observe that there is a statistically significant spillover effect from one time frame to another when a service is removed. That is, the service is remembered in course evaluations for some time even after it is removed; there is a service memory.
Helicobacter pylori genetic diversity and risk of human disease.

Microbes residing on a mucosal surface may communicate in complex ways with their neighboring host tissue. Signals derived from a bacterium may include metabolites or specific host-directed substances such as secreted toxins, or they may result from direct contact with host cells. Conversely, certain host activities or responses may be considered as signals to the microbe, including production of molecules that can be used by the microbe as substrates, release of defense molecules (e.g., antibodies, defensins, mucus), or organ-specific physiologic traits, including peristalsis and acid secretion in the stomach. In the case of Helicobacter pylori, a common resident of the human stomach, these bidirectional signals appear to have coevolved over long periods such that, in most cases, carriage of H. pylori is, if not mutually beneficial, at least well tolerated by the human host. Here, we examine the relationship of H. pylori and humans in the context of these diverse signals.
A versatile toolbox for PCR‐based tagging of yeast genes: new fluorescent proteins, more markers and promoter substitution cassettes

Tagging of genes by chromosomal integration of PCR amplified cassettes is a widely used and fast method to label proteins in vivo in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. This strategy directs the amplified tags to the desired chromosomal loci due to flanking homologous sequences provided by the PCR‐primers, thus enabling the selective introduction of any sequence at any place of a gene, e.g. for the generation of C‐terminal tagged genes or for the exchange of the promoter and N‐terminal tagging of a gene. To make this method most powerful we constructed a series of 76 novel cassettes, containing a broad variety of C‐terminal epitope tags as well as nine different promoter substitutions in combination with N‐terminal tags. Furthermore, new selection markers have been introduced. The tags include the so far brightest and most yeast‐optimized version of the red fluorescent protein, called RedStar2, as well as all other commonly used fluorescent proteins and tags used for the detection and purification of proteins and protein complexes. Using the provided cassettes for N‐ and C‐terminal gene tagging or for deletion of any given gene, a set of only four primers is required, which makes this method very cost‐effective and reproducible. This new toolbox should help to speed up the analysis of gene function in yeast, on the level of single genes, as well as in systematic approaches. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.