Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Different Brain Wave Patterns and Cortical Control Abilities in Relation to Different Creative Potentials

Contemporary understanding of brain functions provides a way to probe into the mystery of creativity. However, the prior evidence regarding the relationship between creativity and brain wave patterns reveals inconsistent conclusions. One possible reason might be that the means of selecting creative individuals in the past has varied in each study. By distinguishing creative potential as open-ended versus closed-ended based on theoretical views, this study examined different brain wave patterns and cortical control abilities in relation to different creative potentials by using electroencephalogram (EEG) biofeedback equipment. The results demonstrated that participants’ performance on the open-ended creative problem was positively related to EEG alpha frequencies, whereas performance on the closed-ended creative problem was related to larger variability in EEG dynamics between alpha and beta waves when performing either open-ended or closed-ended creativity tasks. Further, better control in changing states of brain wave activities according to the EEG biofeedback signals could predict closed-ended creativity performance. Open-ended creativity was related only to the enhancement of alpha signals. These results help clarify previous inconsistent findings, reveal different natures of distinct creativities, and further suggest ways to improve different aspects of creativity with modified biofeedback procedures.
Lossless and near-lossless compression of line-drawing images using Hough transform

Two novel methods for compressing bi-level line-drawing images are proposed. The main idea is the use of the Hough transform (HT). In the first phase, HT is applied for extracting line segments from the image. In the second phase, the original image is compressed by a JBIG-based method. The first variant (lossless method) uses reconstructed feature image for improving the prediction accuracy in the local context model. The compressed file consists of the extracted line features and the compressed raster image. The second variant (near-lossless method) applies feature-dependent filtering for removing noise from the original image. It improves the image quality and therefore results in better compression performance.
Assessing Students' Understanding and Application of Principles in Classrooms

Two school systems randomly assigned two classes each of Grades 3 to 12 students to learn the principles and tools. Taught students (n = 1220) evidenced statistically significantly higher posttest scores than control students (n = 4480) for Grades 3–12 after a year's instruction. Higher posttest scores for one system on the application of the principles and tools were attributed to time spent on instruction.
Informatics in radiology: Intuitive user interface for 3D image manipulation using augmented reality and a smartphone as a remote control.

Although widely used as a pointing device on personal computers (PCs), the mouse was originally designed for control of two-dimensional (2D) cursor movement and is not suited to complex three-dimensional (3D) image manipulation. Augmented reality (AR) is a field of computer science that involves combining the physical world and an interactive 3D virtual world; it represents a new 3D user interface (UI) paradigm. A system for 3D and four-dimensional (4D) image manipulation has been developed that uses optical tracking AR integrated with a smartphone remote control. The smartphone is placed in a hard case (jacket) with a 2D printed fiducial marker for AR on the back. It is connected to a conventional PC with an embedded Web camera by means of WiFi. The touch screen UI of the smartphone is then used as a remote control for 3D and 4D image manipulation. Using this system, the radiologist can easily manipulate 3D and 4D images from computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging in an AR environment with high-quality image resolution. Pilot assessment of this system suggests that radiologists will be able to manipulate 3D and 4D images in the reading room in the near future. Supplemental material available at http://radiographics.rsna. org/lookup/suppl/doi:10.1148/rg.324115086/-/DC1.
Video Transcoding, Caching, and Multicast for Heterogeneous Networks Over Wireless Network Virtualization

To support the massive content delivery, a novel virtualized heterogeneous network framework is proposed to enable content transcoding, caching, and multicast. In addition, a virtual multi-resources allocation problem is formulated to jointly optimize the utilities of computing, caching, and communication for the proposed framework. Simulations are conducted to show the effectiveness of the proposed scheme.
An efficient all-fiber variable optical attenuator via acoustooptic mode coupling

A novel broad-band variable optical attenuator is realized using acoustooptic mode coupling on a cladding etched single-mode fiber. Broad-band coupling bandwidth with low attenuation ripples is achieved by matching both the group index and dispersion parameter between the core and the LP/sub 11//sup cl/ cladding modes. A single-section device exhibits a 10-dB dynamic range with attenuation ripples of <0.5 dB over a spectral range of >100 nm, a response time of 20 /spl mu/s, an insertion loss of 0.3 dB, and a maximum power consumption of only 3.4 mW. Attenuation of 22 dB is obtained for a cascaded two-section device.
Pomegranate Juice Augments Memory and fMRI Activity in Middle-Aged and Older Adults with Mild Memory Complaints

Despite increasing emphasis on the potential of dietary antioxidants in preventing memory loss and on diet as a precursor of neurological health, rigorous studies investigating the cognitive effects of foods and their components are rare. Recent animal studies have reported memory and other cognitive benefits of polyphenols, found abundantly in pomegranate juice. We performed a preliminary, placebo-controlled randomized trial of pomegranate juice in older subjects with age-associated memory complaints using memory testing and functional brain activation (fMRI) as outcome measures. Thirty-two subjects (28 completers) were randomly assigned to drink 8 ounces of either pomegranate juice or a flavor-matched placebo drink for 4 weeks. Subjects received memory testing, fMRI scans during cognitive tasks, and blood draws for peripheral biomarkers before and after the intervention. Investigators and subjects were all blind to group membership. After 4 weeks, only the pomegranate group showed a significant improvement in the Buschke selective reminding test of verbal memory and a significant increase in plasma trolox-equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC) and urolithin A-glucuronide. Furthermore, compared to the placebo group, the pomegranate group had increased fMRI activity during verbal and visual memory tasks. While preliminary, these results suggest a role for pomegranate juice in augmenting memory function through task-related increases in functional brain activity.
Robust, accurate spelling based on error-related potentials

Methods and Results: The speller is composed of a character matrix, in which a moving cursor automatically scans the available characters (c.f., Fig. 1 Left). Contrasting to conventional systems, the cursor does not move in a pre-defined or a random manner. Instead it moves towards the most probable character as inferred based on the decoding of ErrP (c.f., Fig. 1 Middle) and a language model. During operation, users simply monitor the cursor movements, which makes discrete steps between adjacent characters in the matrix every 1000 ms. After each cursor movement, EEG is decoded to detect the presence of an ErrP indicating that the user considers the cursor did not move towards the intended character. Then, a reinforcement-learning (RL) algorithm re-estimates the probability of each character to be the next one to be written [2,3] based on the classifier output.
Nonlinear and anisotropic elastic soft tissue models for medical simulation

We describe the latest developments of the minimally invasive hepatic surgery simulator prototype developed at INRIA. A key problem with such a simulator is the physical modeling of soft tissues. We propose a new deformable model based on nonlinear elasticity and the finite element method. This model is valid for large displacements, which means in particular that it is invariant with respect to rotations. This property improves the realism of the deformations and solves the problems related to the shortcomings of linear elasticity, which is only valid for small displacements. We also address the problem of anisotropic behavior, and volume variations by adding to our model incompressibility constraints. Finally, we demonstrate the relevance of this approach for the real-time simulation of laparoscopic surgical gestures on the liver.
Genetic Analysis of the DNA-dependent Protein Kinase Reveals an Inhibitory Role of Ku in Late S–G2 Phase DNA Double-strand Break Repair*

Two major complementary double-strand break (DSB) repair pathways exist in vertebrates, homologous recombination (HR), which involves Rad54, and non-homologous end-joining, which requires the DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PK). DNA-PK comprises a catalytic subunit (DNA-PKcs) and a DNA-binding Ku70 and Ku80 heterodimer. To define the activities of individual DNA-PK components in DSB repair, we targeted the DNA-PKcs gene in chicken DT40 cells. DNA-PKcs deficiency caused a DSB repair defect that was, unexpectedly, suppressed byKU70 disruption. We have shown previously that genetic ablation of Ku70 confers RAD54-dependent radioresistance on S–G2 phase cells, when sister chromatids are available for HR repair. To test whether direct interference by Ku70 with HR might explain theKu70−/− /DNA-PKcs −/−/− radioresistance, we monitored HR activities directly in Ku- and DNA-PKcs-deficient cells. The frequency of intrachromosomal HR induced by the I-SceI restriction enzyme was increased in the absence of Ku but not of DNA-PKcs. Significantly, abrogation of HR activity by targeting RAD54 in Ku70−/− orDNA-PKcs −/−/− cells caused extreme radiosensitivity, suggesting that the relative radioresistance seen with loss of Ku70 was because of HR-dependent repair pathways. Our findings suggest that Ku can interfere with HR-mediated DSB repair, perhaps competing with HR for DSB recognition.
Adaptive delay bank filter for selective elimination of harmonics in SRF-PLL structures

This paper proposes the usage of adaptive delay bank (ADB) based on cascaded delayed signal cancellation (CDSC) structure for selective elimination of the harmonics in the synchronous reference frame phase locked loop (SRF-PLL) structures. The ADB is inserted inside the SRF-PLL structure and it is frequency adaptive, which is the advantage over CDSC structures which are used in PLL as pre-filters, not being adaptive at all. Detailed mathematical analysis and simulation results confirmed suggested method for selective harmonic elimination in PLL.
Mutations in the Na-Cl Cotransporter Reduce Blood Pressure in Humans

The relationship between salt homeostasis and blood pressure has remained difficult to establish from epidemiological studies of the general population. Recently, mendelian forms of hypertension have demonstrated that mutations that increase renal salt balance lead to higher blood pressure, suggesting that mutations that decrease the net salt balance might have the converse effect. Gitelman’s syndrome, caused by loss of function mutations in the Na-Cl cotransporter of the distal convoluted tubule (NCCT), features inherited hypokalemic alkalosis with so-called “normal” blood pressure. We hypothesized that the mild salt wasting of Gitelman’s syndrome results in reduced blood pressure and protection from hypertension. We have formally addressed this question through the study of 199 members of a large Amish kindred with Gitelman’s syndrome. Through genetic testing, family members were identified as inheriting 0 (n=60), 1 (n=113), or 2 (n=26) mutations in NCCT, permitting an unbiased assessment of the clinical consequences of inheriting these mutations by comparison of the phenotypes of relatives with contrasting genotypes. The results demonstrate high penetrance of hypokalemic alkalosis, hypomagnesemia, and hypocalciuria in patients inheriting 2 mutant NCCT alleles. In addition, the NCCT genotype was a significant predictor of blood pressure, with homozygous mutant family members having significantly lower age- and gender-adjusted systolic and diastolic blood pressures than those of their wild-type relatives. Moreover, both homozygote and heterozygote subjects had significantly higher 24-hour urinary Na+ than did wild-type subjects, reflecting a self-selected higher salt intake. Finally, heterozygous children, but not adults, had significantly lower blood pressures than those of the wild-type relatives. These findings provide formal demonstration that inherited mutations that impair renal salt handling lower blood pressure in humans.
Planck 2015 results: XXIII. The thermal Sunyaev-Zeldovich effect-cosmic infrared background correlation

We use Planck data to detect the cross-correlation between the thermal Sunyaev-Zeldovich (tSZ) effect and the infrared emission from the galaxies that make up the the cosmic infrared background (CIB). We first perform a stacking analysis towards Planck-confirmed galaxy clusters. We detect infrared emission produced by dusty galaxies inside these clusters and demonstrate that the infrared emission is about 50% more extended than the tSZ effect. Modelling the emission with a Navarro-Frenk-White profile, we find that the radial profile concentration parameter is c500 = 1.00+0.18-0.15 . This indicates that infrared galaxies in the outskirts of clusters have higher infrared flux than cluster-core galaxies. We also study the cross-correlation between tSZ and CIB anisotropies, following three alternative approaches based on power spectrum analyses: (i) using a catalogue of confirmed clusters detected in Planck data; (ii) using an all-sky tSZ map built from Planck frequency maps; and (iii) using cross-spectra between Planck frequency maps. With the three different methods, we detect the tSZ-CIB cross-power spectrum at significance levels of (i) 6σ; (ii) 3σ; and (iii) 4σ. We model the tSZ-CIB cross-correlation signature and compare predictions with the measurements. The amplitude of the cross-correlation relative to the fiducial model is AtSZ−CIB = 1.2 ± 0.3. This result is consistent with predictions for the tSZ-CIB cross-correlation assuming the best-fit cosmological model from Planck 2015 results along with the tSZ and CIB scaling relations.
Effects of Mountain Pine Beetle on Fuels and Expected Fire Behavior in Lodgepole Pine Forests, Colorado, USA

In Colorado and southern Wyoming, mountain pine beetle (MPB) has affected over 1.6 million ha of predominantly lodgepole pine forests, raising concerns about effects of MPB-caused mortality on subsequent wildfire risk and behavior. Using empirical data we modeled potential fire behavior across a gradient of wind speeds and moisture scenarios in Green stands compared three stages since MPB attack (Red [1–3 yrs], Grey [4–10 yrs], and Old-MPB [∼30 yrs]). MPB killed 50% of the trees and 70% of the basal area in Red and Grey stages. Across moisture scenarios, canopy fuel moisture was one-third lower in Red and Grey stages compared to the Green stage, making active crown fire possible at lower wind speeds and less extreme moisture conditions. More-open canopies and high loads of large surface fuels due to treefall in Grey and Old-MPB stages significantly increased surface fireline intensities, facilitating active crown fire at lower wind speeds (>30–55 km/hr) across all moisture scenarios. Not accounting for low foliar moistures in Red and Grey stages, and large surface fuels in Grey and Old-MPB stages, underestimates the occurrence of active crown fire. Under extreme burning conditions, minimum wind speeds for active crown fire were 25–35 km/hr lower for Red, Grey and Old-MPB stands compared to Green. However, if transition to crown fire occurs (outside the stand, or within the stand via ladder fuels or wind gusts >65 km/hr), active crown fire would be sustained at similar wind speeds, suggesting observed fire behavior may not be qualitatively different among MPB stages under extreme burning conditions. Overall, the risk (probability) of active crown fire appears elevated in MPB-affected stands, but the predominant fire hazard (crown fire) is similar across MPB stages and is characteristic of lodgepole pine forests where extremely dry, gusty weather conditions are key factors in determining fire behavior.
Lamin A/C Acts as an Essential Factor in Mesenchymal Stem Cell Differentiation Through the Regulation of the Dynamics of the Wnt/β‐Catenin Pathway

Changes in the expression of lamin A/C, a fibrilar protein of the nuclear envelope, are associated with the cellular features of age‐related bone loss. Reduced expression of lamin A/C inhibits osteoblastogenesis while facilitating adipogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) in vitro and in vivo. In this study we investigated the regulatory role that lamin A/C plays on the essential elements of the Wnt/β‐catenin pathway, which are pivotal in MSC differentiation. Initially, we assessed the effect of lamin A/C gene (LMNA) overexpression on MSC differentiation while compared it to lamin A/C depleted MSC. Osteogenesis and gene expression of osteogenic factors were higher in LMNA‐transfected MSC as compared to control. Conversely, adipogenesis and expression of adipogenic factors were significantly lower in LMNA transfected cells. Nuclear β‐catenin was significantly higher (∼two fold) in MSC expressing higher levels of LMNA as compared to control with nuclear β‐catenin levels being significantly lower (∼ ‐42%) in siRNA‐treated MSC. Luciferase activity for β‐catenin‐mediated transcriptional activation was significantly higher in cells overexpressing LMNA. These data indicate that MSC overexpressing LMNA have higher osteogenic and lower adipogenic differentiation potential. In conclusion, our studies demonstrate that lamin A/C plays a significant role in the differentiation of both osteoblasts and adipocytes by regulating some of the elements of Wnt/β‐catenin signaling during early MSC differentiation. J. Cell. Biochem. 116: 2344–2353, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Genetic Programming for Pedestrians

We propose an extension to the Genetic Programming paradigm which allows users of traditional Genetic Algorithms to evolve computer programs. To this end, we have to introduce mechanisms like transscription, editing and repairing into Genetic Programming. We demonstrate the feasibility of the approach by using it to develop programs for the prediction of sequences of integer numbers. ICGA This work may not be copied or reproduced in whole or in part for any commercial purpose. Permission to copy in whole or in part without payment of fee is granted for nonprofit educational and research purposes provided that all such whole or partial copies include the following: a notice that such copying is by permission of Mitsubishi Electric Research Laboratories, Inc.; an acknowledgment of the authors and individual contributions to the work; and all applicable portions of the copyright notice. Copying, reproduction, or republishing for any other purpose shall require a license with payment of fee to Mitsubishi Electric Research Laboratories, Inc. All rights reserved. Copyright c ©Mitsubishi Electric Research Laboratories, Inc., 1993 201 Broadway, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139
Simultaneous Visualization of Vasopressin and Oxytocin mRNA‐ Containing Neurons in the Hypothalamus Using Non‐Radioactive in situ Hybridization Histochemistry

In situ hybridization histochemistry (ISHH) using synthetic oligodeoxynucleotide probes has been used to demonstrate the sites of expression of mRNA for vasopressin (AVP) and oxytocin (OXT) in the rat brain. ISHH was performed with two types of non‐radioactive probes, labelled with either alkaline phosphatase or 5′‐biotin. Simultaneous detection of the mRNAs for both AVP and OXT was achieved using an alkaline phosphatase substrate for the AVP probe and an anti‐biotin monoclonal (mouse) antibody for the OXT probe. These probes revealed two non‐overlapping populations of AVP and OXT neurons on the same section.
Mutagenesis and Functional Analysis of the Pore-Forming Toxin HALT-1 from Hydra magnipapillata

Actinoporins are small 18.5 kDa pore-forming toxins. A family of six actinoporin genes has been identified in the genome of Hydra magnipapillata, and HALT-1 (Hydra actinoporin-like toxin-1) has been shown to have haemolytic activity. In this study, we have used site-directed mutagenesis to investigate the role of amino acids in the pore-forming N-terminal region and the conserved aromatic cluster required for cell membrane binding. A total of 10 mutants of HALT-1 were constructed and tested for their haemolytic and cytolytic activity on human erythrocytes and HeLa cells, respectively. Insertion of 1–4 negatively charged residues in the N-terminal region of HALT-1 strongly reduced haemolytic and cytolytic activity, suggesting that the length or charge of the N-terminal region is critical for pore-forming activity. Moreover, substitution of amino acids in the conserved aromatic cluster reduced haemolytic and cytolytic activity by more than 80%, suggesting that these aromatic amino acids are important for attachment to the lipid membrane as shown for other actinoporins. The results suggest that HALT-1 and other actinoporins share similar mechanisms of pore formation and that it is critical for HALT-1 to maintain an amphipathic helix at the N-terminus and an aromatic amino acid-rich segment at the site of membrane binding.
Who bears the burdens of environmental pollution? Race, ethnicity, and environmental equity in Florida

Les debats politiques sur la defense de l'environnement peuvent avoir pour consequence de deplacer les activites polluantes vers des zones ou les habitants disposent de faibles ressources politiques et economiques. L'A. etudie l'equite environnementale. Dans ce but il examine la localisation des industries toxiques et cela par rapport au profil ethnique, socio-economique des populations dans les regions ou elles sont installees. Il montre que ces industries resident le plus souvent dans des zones peuplees par des minorites ethniques. Il existe donc une inegalite d'exposition a la pollution
Tailgating and Pregaming by College Students with Alcohol Offenses: Patterns of Alcohol Use and Beliefs

Research indicates that pregaming (drinking before a social event) and tailgating (drinking before a sporting event) are two culturally ingrained alcohol use behaviors by college students. We examined the prevalence of these two activities in a sample of college students (N = 354) who violated campus alcohol policy and were mandated to receive an alcohol intervention in fall 2010. Results indicated that alcohol consumption and other risk factors were related to pregaming and tailgating. These findings are discussed in the context of clinical implications and future directions for research. This study was funded in part by the National Institutes of Health.