Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Does the intensity of transcranial magnetic stimulation need to be adjusted to scalp-cortex distance?

To the Editor: Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) therapy can be effective in treating drug-resistant depression. However, rTMS therapy has had up until now limited efficacy in extremely treatment-resistant patients and its effects are not as large as electroconvulsive therapy. The efficacy of rTMS may be increased by improving stimulation parameters, in particular by using more precise coil placement on the scalp to stimulate the Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex (DLPFC). This cortical area is the target for treatment of depressive disorders with rTMS. This revised position of the coil is supported by recent results which have found that, rather than using the “5 cm method” to position the coil, a more anterior position improves the rTMS response rate. The positioning of the coil on the scalp is probably not the only stimulation parameter that can be improved. The efficacy of rTMS therapy could also be improved by measuring the depth of the cortex, in order to adjust the motor threshold (MT) to obtain the same degree of excitability at the DLPFC. The MT, used to determine the intensity of stimulation required for each patient according to their own cortical excitability, corresponds to the minimal intensity required to elicit contraction of the thumb when the coil is positioned on the scalp above the motor cortex. Therefore, it only reflects the intensity required for the magnetic field of the coil to reach the motor cortex at a precise distance from the scalp. As the distance from the scalp to the motor cortex can be different from that to the DLPFC, the intensity needs to be adjusted. In fact, by examining 20 brain MRIs of patients (mean age 55) eligible for rTMS in our psychiatric department, we found that for 11 of them, the distance from the scalp to the DLPFC (positioned 5 cm anterior to the motor cortex) was in fact greater by 1 mm to 4.5 mm than from the scalp to the motor cortex. Taking into account the fact that every additional millimeter from the stimulating coil required around 3% of additional stimulator output to induce an equivalent cortical effect, the intensity should have been increased by 3 to 13.5%. We did not use this intensity adjustment because the latest guidelines for the use of rTMS do not recommend it. However, we hypothesize that the efficacy of the therapy could have been improved by adjusting the intensity in these patients. This adjustment of the intensity according to the depth of the cortex combined with a more anterior location of the coil on the scalp may further improve the efficacy of rTMS. Benoit Trojak, M.D. Vincent Meille, M.D. Jean-Christophe ChauvetGelinier, M.D. Bernard Bonin, M.D., Ph.D. Department of Psychiatry and Addictology, University Hospital of Dijon, France
The Nod1, Nod2, and Rip2 Axis Contributes to Host Immune Defense against Intracellular Acinetobacter baumannii Infection

ABSTRACT Acinetobacter baumannii is a major extensively drug-resistant lethal human nosocomial bacterium. However, the host innate immune mechanisms controlling A. baumannii are not well understood. Although viewed as an extracellular pathogen, A. baumannii can also invade and survive intracellularly. However, whether host innate immune pathways sensing intracellular bacteria contribute to immunity against A. baumannii is not known. Here, we provide evidence for the first time that intracellular antibacterial innate immune receptors Nod1 and Nod2, and their adaptor Rip2, play critical roles in the sensing and clearance of A. baumannii by human airway epithelial cells in vitro. A. baumannii infection upregulated Rip2 expression. Silencing of Nod1, Nod2, and Rip2 expression profoundly increased intracellular invasion and prolonged the multiplication and survival of A. baumannii in lung epithelial cells. Notably, the Nod1/2-Rip2 axis did not contribute to the control of A. baumannii infection of human macrophages, indicating that they play cell type-specific roles. The Nod1/2-Rip2 axis was needed for A. baumannii infection-induced activation of NF-κB but not mitogen-activated protein kinases. Moreover, the Nod1/2-Rip2 axis was critical to induce optimal cytokine and chemokine responses to A. baumannii infection. Mechanistic studies showed that the Nod1/2 pathway contributed to the innate control of A. baumannii infection through the production of β-defensin 2 by airway epithelial cells. This study revealed new insights into the immune control of A. baumannii and may contribute to the development of effective immune therapeutics and vaccines against A. baumannii.
The effect of selection on a long wavelength-sensitive (LWS) opsin gene of Lake Victoria cichlid fishes

In East African Lake Victoria >200 endemic species of haplochromine fishes have been described on the basis of morphological and behavioral differences. Yet molecular analysis has failed to reveal any species-specific differences among these fishes in either mitochondrial or nuclear genes. Although the genes could be shown to vary, the variations represent trans-species polymorphisms not yet assorted along species lines. Nevertheless, fixed genetic differences must exist between the species at loci responsible for the adaptive characters distinguishing the various forms from one another. Here we describe variation and fixation at the long wavelength-sensitive (LWS) opsin locus, which is selection-driven, adaptive, and if not species- then at least population-specific. Because color is one of the characters distinguishing species of haplochromine fishes and color perception plays an important part in food acquisition and mate choice, we suggest that the observed variation and fixation at the LWS opsin locus may have been involved in the process that has led to the spectacular species divergence of haplochromine fishes in Lake Victoria.
Exposure to an aeroallergen as a possible precipitating factor in respiratory arrest in young patients with asthma.

BACKGROUND Exposure to airborne spores of the common mold Alternaria alternata has been implicated in asthma attacks. Such exposure is particularly frequent in the Midwest during the summer and fall months. To determine the role of A. alternata in triggering severe asthma attacks, we investigated the cases of 11 patients with asthma who had sudden respiratory arrest and determined the frequency of sensitivity to this allergen in these patients. METHODS The 11 patients (age range, 11 to 25 years) with initial episodes of respiratory arrest, which was fatal in 2 patients, were identified in the course of their care in our pediatric and adult clinical allergy practice and by a retrospective review of all Mayo Clinic records of patients with severe asthma cared for between 1980 and 1989. Skin-test reactivity to A. alternata and levels of IgE antibody against this mold in the 11 patients were compared with those in 99 matched controls with asthma who had no history of respiratory arrest. RESULTS All the patients came from the upper Midwest, and the episodes of respiratory arrest occurred in the summer or early fall. Ten of the 11 patients with asthma who had respiratory arrest (91 percent) had positive skin-puncture tests for sensitivity to alternaria, as compared with 31 percent of the controls (P less than 0.001), and the serum levels of IgE antibodies to alternaria were elevated in all 9 patients tested. Among the covariates we examined (age, sex, and distance from the Mayo Clinic), only age was a significant confounder. After adjustment for age, alternaria skin-test reactivity was found to be associated with an increase of approximately 200-fold in the risk of respiratory arrest (adjusted odds ratio, 189.5; 95 percent confidence interval, 6.5 to 5535.8). CONCLUSIONS Exposure to the aeroallergen A. alternata is a risk factor for respiratory arrest in children and young adults with asthma.
Picomolar Amyloid-β Positively Modulates Synaptic Plasticity and Memory in Hippocampus

Amyloid-β (Aβ) peptides are produced in high amounts during Alzheimer's disease, causing synaptic and memory dysfunction. However, they are also released in lower amounts in normal brains throughout life during synaptic activity. Here we show that low picomolar concentrations of a preparation containing both Aβ42 monomers and oligomers cause a marked increase of hippocampal long-term potentiation, whereas high nanomolar concentrations lead to the well established reduction of potentiation. Picomolar levels of Aβ42 also produce a pronounced enhancement of both reference and contextual fear memory. The mechanism of action of picomolar Aβ42 on both synaptic plasticity and memory involves α7-containing nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. These findings strongly support a model for Aβ effects in which low concentrations play a novel positive, modulatory role on neurotransmission and memory, whereas high concentrations play the well known detrimental effect culminating in dementia.
Mouse mammary tumor metastases in lung: an electron microscopic study.

Summary The ultrastructure of mammary carcinoma metastatic to the lungs of old, female (C57L × A/He)F 1 hybrid and C3H/Crgl mice is described and illustrated. Metastatic mammary tumor nodules in lung were usually separated from lung tissue by a thickened basement membrane and loose connective tissue. Connective tissue reaction to the metastatic nodules was minimal and in some places completely absent. Where mammary tumor cells were seen within alveolar air spaces, the tumor cells shared the same basement membrane with extant alveolar lining cells. Type A alveolar cells could not be identified within tumor cell-filled alveoli, but surviving type B alveolar cells were observed, although most appeared to be degenerating. A narrow, compact zone of lung tissue surrounded the metastatic nodules. This zone was characterized by the presence of hyperplastic type B alveolar cells. The hyperplasia took the form of small acinar structures lined by type B cells. Metastatic mammary tumor cells grew in multiple layers within lung. The stroma of the outermost layers consisted, at least in part, of existent alveolar septal elements. Cells of the innermost layers appeared to grow around small, cyst-like spaces characterized by the presence of multiple layers of membranes resembling basal lamina.
Securing Certificate Revocation through Speaker Verification : the CertiVeR Project

The increasing popularity and importance of electronic commerce is evident today. However, global electronic commerce will not fully develop its immense potential unless trust is fully established. Digital certificates and electronic signature contribute to increase confidence and security by providing authenticity. However, authenticity on its own is not enough to provide trust. A credible service needs to provide authenticity and validity at the same time. In this sense, traditional PKI (Public Key Infrastructure) services have revealed a weak point due to inherent delays existing in order to cancel the possible use of a certificate when it has been lost or stolen. The CertiVeR Project intends to solve this problem and to strengthen security in commercial transactions. CertiVeR has adopted speaker verification (SV) to validate the users’ identities. The performance of the SV system has been evaluated with a Spanish database that gathers fixed-line and mobile telephone sessions.
Managing and Assessing Regulatory Evolution in local public Transport Operations in Europe

Previous research identified the legal and regulatory frameworks of urban public transport (UPT). However, during the last years significant changes in these frameworks occurred or are starting to occur in several cities over Europe. Simultaneously, the European Comission (EC) started a process leading to an appropriate legal framework at European level, stressing the need of more transparent and competitive environments for public transport.
Detection of hemolytic Listeria monocytogenes by using DNA colony hybridization

A fragment of about 500 base pairs of the beta-hemolysin gene from Listeria monocytogenes was used to screen different bacterial strains by DNA colony hybridization. The cells in the colonies were lysed by microwaves in the presence of sodium hydroxide. Of 52 different strains of Listeria species screened, only the DNA from beta-hemolytic (CAMP-positive) strains of L. monocytogenes hybridized with this probe.
A stereo vision system for real time obstacle avoidance in unknown environment

A stereo vision system for detecting and avoiding obstacles in real time in an unknown environment is described. This is only the low level of the control system architecture of a mobile robot based on the Brook's subsumption architecture. This level is based on a stereo vision algorithm that uses precomputed measurement of the ground floor disparity, and online acquired grey-level stereo images. The floor is supposed to be planar. The algorithm has been successfully implemented on a mobile vehicle, that is capable of moving around in an unpredictable environment, like a laboratory, without collision. <<ETX>>
Object Category Acquisition by Dynamic Touch

The acquisition of object categories which underlie the human lexicon is a prerequisite for domestic robots to communicate with users in a human-like manner. The theory of J. J. Gibson inspires the approach to obtain shared categories through interaction with the shared environment, where explorative behaviors of infants play the role of obtaining distinctive features of objects to shape their categories. Although several existing studies have reproduced the exploratory behaviors of infants by robots to investigate their roles in acquiring such categories, those active categorization methods utilized static touches and the recognition tended to fail by changes of contact conditions. This paper introduces another possible approach to object categorization — object category acquisition by dynamic touch. Dynamic touch (e.g., shaking) provides the agent with the information of the whole object to enable quick and robust recognition. The amplitude spectrum of auditory data which humans obtain during shaking is found to be an effective feature for identifying the object categories of differing dynamics, e.g., rigid objects, paper materials and bottles of water, even though the objects within each category vary in size, shape, amount and contact conditions. Experimental results are given to show the validity of the proposed method and future issues are discussed.
Prior artifact information based automatic artifact removal from EEG data

Electroencephalogram (EEG) is susceptible to various non-neural physiological artifacts. Automatic artifact removal from EEG remains a great challenge for extracting relevant information from brain activities. In order to adapt to variable subjects and EEG acquisition environments, this paper presents a novel automatic artifact removal method based on prior artifact information. First, the wavelet-ICA algorithm, which combines of discrete wavelet transform (DWT) and independent component analysis (ICA), is utilized to separate artifact components. Then the artifact components are automatically identified using the prior artifact information, which is acquired in advance. Subsequently, signal reconstruction is performed without the identified artifact components to obtain the artifact free signals. At last, the method is validated by the improvements of the classification accuracies in a motor imagery experiment.
Open-circuit fault analysis of diode rectified multiphase synchronous generators for DC aircraft power systems

The more-electric concept is becoming prevalent in all modes of transport, particularly civil aerospace where significant savings on fuel and improved efficiency can be achieved through the use of electrical power systems. Increased electrical loading for in-flight cabin air conditioning, galley services and entertainment systems has led to a re-evaluation of aircraft architecture. DC electrical networks offer the opportunity to decouple the frequency of generated supply from the speed of the gas turbine engine, enabling the independent optimisation of both systems. Using generator-rectifier systems with a higher phase number upholds the safety critical nature of air transport whilst also allowing for a reduction in DC voltage ripple and reducing or eliminating the need for filter capacitance. A multiphase generator has built-in redundancy, offering the potential for continued operation with an open-circuit winding or diode fault, but with implications on the rating and DC power quality. This paper provides analysis, simulation and experimental validation of a reconfigurable, wound-field multiphase synchronous generator connected to a diode rectifier under open-circuit fault conditions for two winding configurations, star and delta.
Karyological Observations on Monocelididae (Turbellaria, Proseriata): Karyometrical Analysis of Four Species Pertaining to the Subfamily Minoninae

SUMMARYFour species of Minoninae (Turbellaria, Proseriata) have been examined (Minona n. sp., Duplominona paucispina, D. corsicana, Duploperaclistus circocirrus). All show n = 3, 2n = 6 and they have remarkably similar karyotypes. The basic diploid set is made up of one pair of large metacentric chromosomes, one pair of medium-sized chromosomes (metacentric in three species and submetacentric in the fourth) and a third pair of small acrocentric chromosomes. Absolute haploid genome length is similar in three of the species but differs significantly in Duplominona corsicana where it is much higher. The chromosome number n = 3, found not only in these species but also in others of the family Monocelididae, can be considered as the basic number of the family and a plesiomorphic condition for all the Proseriata.
The Moral Equivalent of War?: A Study of Non-Military Service in Nine Nations

Foreword Preface Introduction by Michael Sherraden and Donald Eberly Canada: Katimavik and Cultural Integration by Michael Sherraden and Donald Eberly China: Youth Service During Economic Reform and the Opening to the West by Michael Sherraden and Donald Eberly Costa Rica: Non-Military Service in a Nation with No Army by Michael Sherraden and Carmen Maria Castillo Indonesia: Connecting the University with the Countryside by Donald Eberly Israel: Non-Military Service Amidst Continuing Conflict by Michael Sherraden and Reuven Gal Mexico: Social Service by University Students by Margaret Sherrard Sherraden and Michael Sherraden Nigeria: Nation Building through the National Youth Service Corps by Augustine Ikein United States: Several Noteworthy Programs by Donald Eberly and Michael Sherraden West Germany: The Right Not to Bear Arms by Jurgen Kuhlmann A Note on Policy and Program Characteristics by Michael Sherraden and Donald Eberly Comparing and Understanding Non-Military Service in Different Nations by Michael Sherraden, Margaret Sherrard Sherraden, and Donald Eberly Thoughts on Policy Development in the United States by Donald Eberly and Michael Sherraden Appendix: Study Notes Index
Disturbed sleep in individuals with idiopathic environmental intolerance attributed to electromagnetic fields (IEI‐EMF): Melatonin assessment as a biological marker

Individuals who suffer from idiopathic environmental intolerance attributed to electromagnetic fields (IEI‐EMF) complain of a variety of adverse health effects. Troubled sleep remains a recurrent and common symptom in IEI‐EMF individuals. Melatonin, a circadian hormone, plays a major role in the sleep process. In this study, we compared levels of melatonin between a sensitive group (IEI‐EMF, n = 30) and a non‐sensitive control group (non IEI‐EMF, n = 25) without exposure to electromagnetic sources. Three questionnaires were used to evaluate the subjective quality and sleep quantity: the Epworth Sleepiness Scale, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and the Spiegel Sleep Inventory. Melatonin was quantified in saliva and its major metabolite 6‐sulfatoxymelatonin (aMT6s) in urine. Melatonin levels were compared by a two‐way analysis of variance at various times between the control and IEI‐EMF group. Despite significantly different sleep scores between the two groups, with a lower score in the IEI‐EMF group (P < 0.001), no statistical difference was found between the two groups for saliva melatonin (P > 0.05) and urine aMT6s (P > 0.05). Bioelectromagnetics. 37:175–182, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Relationship Between Septal Body Size and Septal Deviation

The septal body is a distinct anatomic structure located on the nasal septum. It is located near the nasal valve and may play a role in regulating nasal airflow. The septal body is an area of mucosa and prominent soft tissue overlying the cartilage and bone.1 In the majority of cases, the septal body is present bilaterally and can be seen in CT imaging studies. This structure may be analogous to the nasal turbinates in its impact on nasal airflow. Despite its potential contribution to nasal obstruction, it has received little attention clinically. The relationship between septal deviation and contralateral inferior turbinate hypertrophy has been well described. The goal of this study was to compare the size of the septal body to the laterality of septal deviation. The aim was to determine whether there is a correlation between the laterality of the septal deviation and laterality of septal body prominence.
TEM, HRTEM, electron holography and electron tomography studies of γ′ and γ″ nanoparticles in Inconel 718 superalloy

The aim of the study was the identification of γ′ and γ″ strengthening precipitates in a commercial nickel‐base superalloy Inconel 718 (Ni‐19Fe‐18Cr‐5Nb‐3Mo‐1Ti‐0.5Al‐0.04C, wt %) using TEM dark‐field, HRTEM, electron holography and electron tomography imaging. To identify γ′ and γ″ nanoparticles unambiguously, a systematic analysis of experimental and theoretical diffraction patterns were performed. Using HRTEM method it was possible to analyse small areas of precipitates appearance. Electron holography and electron tomography techniques show new possibilities of visualization of γ′ and γ″ nanoparticles. The analysis by means of different complementary TEM methods showed that γ″ particles exhibit a shape of thin plates, while γ′ phase precipitates are almost spherical.
La demanda de educación universitaria y el rendimiento privado de la educación en España

El objetivo de esta Tesis es doble. Por una parte trata de caracterizar la demanda de educacion universitaria considerando las caracteristicas socioeconomicas familiares y las situacion del mercado de trabajo local como factores condicionantes de las inversiones en la educacion no obligatoria empleando un modelo econometrico probit bivariante son seleccion muestral. Por otra parte se estima el rendimiento de las inversiones en educacion considerando la naturaleza endogena de la educacion mediante la aplicacion de la tecnica de minimos cuadrados en dos etapas, la cual atribuye un rendimiento de cuantia notablemente superior al estimado tradicionalmente. Asimismo de plantea la relacion existente entre el rendimiento de la educacion y el origen socioeconomico familiar. Las bases de datos empleadas son la Encuesta de Poblacion Activa de varios anos, la Encuesta de Presupuestos Familiares 1990-91 y el Censo de Poblacion de 1991 para la primera cuestion; y la Encuesta de Estructura Social, Conciencia y Biografia de Clase de 1991 para la segunda cuestion.