Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Tracking sound dynamics in human auditory cortex: New macroscopic perspectives from MEG

Title of Document: Tracking Sound Dynamics in Human Auditory Cortex: New macroscopic perspectives from MEG Huan Luo, PhD, 2007 Directed By: Dr. David Poeppel Professor Neuroscience and Cognitive Science Program Department of Biology Department of Linguistics Both the external world and our internal world are full of changing activities , and the question of how these two dynamic systems are linked constitutes the most intriguing and fundamental question in neuroscience and cognitive science. This study specifically investigates the processing and representation of sound dynamic information in human auditory cortex using magnetoencephalography (MEG), a noninvasive brain imaging technique whose high temporal resolution (on the order of ~1ms) makes it an appropriate tool for studying the neural correlates of dynamic auditory information. The other goal of this study is to understand the essence of the macroscopic activities reflected in non-invasive brain imaging experiments, specifically focusing on MEG. Invasive single-cell recordings in animals have yielded a large amount of information about how the brain works at a microscopic level. However, there still exist large gaps in our understanding of the relationship between the activities recorded at the microscopic level in animals and at the macroscopic level in humans, which have yet to be reconciled in terms of their different spatial scales and activities format, making a unified knowledge framework still unsuccessful. In this study, natural speech sentences and sounds containing speech-like temporal dynamic features are employed to probe the human auditory system. The recorded MEG signal is found to be well correlated with the stimulus dynamics via amplitude modulation (AM) and/or phase modulation (PM) mechanisms. Specifically, oscillations at various frequency bands are found to be the main information-carrying elements of the MEG signal, and the two major parameters of these endogenous brain rhythms, amplitude and phase, are modulated by incoming sensory stimulus dynamics, corresponding to AM and PM mechanism, to track sound dynamics. Crucially, such modulation tracking is found to be correlated with human perception and behavior. This study suggests that these two dynamic and complex systems, the external and internal worlds, systematically communicate and are coupled via modulation mechanism, leading to a reverberating flow of information embedded in oscillating waves in human cortex. The results also have implications for brain imaging studies, suggesting that these recorded macroscopic activities reflect ‘brain state’, the more close neural correlate of high-level cognitive behavior. TRACKING SOUND DYNAMICS IN HUMAN AUDITORY CORTEX: NEW MACROSCOPIC PERSPECTIVES FROM MEG
Requirement for RNA Helicase CsdA for Growth of Yersinia pseudotuberculosis IP32953 at Low Temperatures

ABSTRACT The expression of csdA, encoding an RNA helicase, was induced at 3°C in Yersinia pseudotuberculosis. The role of CsdA in Y. pseudotuberculosis under cold conditions was confirmed by impaired growth of insertional csdA mutants at 3°C. The results suggest that CsdA is crucial for Y. pseudotuberculosis survival in the chilled food chain.
TWIX : Approximate and Exact Twig Structure and Content Matching over XML Document Collections using Binary Labeling

XML queries specify predicates on the content and the structure of the elements of tree-structured XML documents. Hence, discovering the occurrences of twig (tree structure) query patterns is a core operation for XML query processing. Prior works have typically applied top-down decomposition of the twig patterns into (i) binary (parent-child or ancestor-descendant) relationships, or (ii) path expression queries, followed by a join operation to reconstruct matched twig patterns. However, most of these methods (i) rely on the user’s knowledge of the underlying database to pose well-formed queries, and (ii) suffer from inspecting too many irrelevant results. In this paper, we propose a novel heuristic for matching of XML twig query patterns, named TWIX, which imposed minimal restrictions on the user and causes substantial reduction of the search space through a distributed binary labeling technique. The algorithm incorporates a holistic ranking scheme of structure and content, named TRANK, to rank and report the top-k results. Furthermore, TWIX benefits from an interactive graphical user interface twig query matching. Experimental results on real datasets depict the ranking semantics and efficient filtration of the search space.
Natural and artificial feeding management before weaning promote different rumen microbial colonization but not differences in gene expression levels at the rumen epithelium of newborn goats

The aim of this work was to evaluate the effect of feeding management during the first month of life (natural with the mother, NAT, or artificial with milk replacer, ART) on the rumen microbial colonization and the host innate immune response. Thirty pregnant goats carrying two fetuses were used. At birth one kid was taken immediately away from the doe and fed milk replacer (ART) while the other remained with the mother (NAT). Kids from groups received colostrum during first 2 days of life. Groups of four kids (from ART and NAT experimental groups) were slaughtered at 1, 3, 7, 14, 21 and 28 days of life. On the sampling day, after slaughtering, the rumen content was sampled and epithelial rumen tissue was collected. Pyrosequencing analyses of the bacterial community structure on samples collected at 3, 7, 14 and 28 days showed that both systems promoted significantly different colonization patterns (P = 0.001). Diversity indices increased with age and were higher in NAT feeding system. Lower mRNA abundance was detected in TLR2, TLR8 and TLR10 in days 3 and 5 compared to the other days (7, 14, 21 and 28). Only TLR5 showed a significantly different level of expression according to the feeding system, presenting higher mRNA abundances in ART kids. PGLYRP1 showed significantly higher abundance levels in days 3, 5 and 7, and then experienced a decline independently of the feeding system. These observations confirmed a highly diverse microbial colonisation from the first day of life in the undeveloped rumen, and show that the colonization pattern substantially differs between pre-ruminants reared under natural or artificial milk feeding systems. However, the rumen epithelial immune development does not differentially respond to distinct microbial colonization patterns.
Identity Profiles and Well-Being of Multicultural Immigrants: The Case of Canadian Immigrants Living in Quebec

Studies worldwide point toward increased risk of mental health issues among immigrants. Immigrants’ ability to integrate the cultural identity of their new country has been found to be a key factor in their psychological well-being. Even though researchers agree on the crucial role of identity integration in immigrants’ well-being, the current literature has two main limitations: (1) researchers do not agree on the importance that should be allocated to each of the cultural identities, and (2) research has focused on bicultural individuals as opposed to multicultural individuals. The present paper proposes to study Canadians immigrants living in the province of Quebec who, because of the political and linguistic situation of the province, face the challenge of integrating two new cultural identities (Quebecer and Canadian) to their original one. Specifically, cluster analysis was used to observe identity profiles that naturally emerge among 120 Canadian immigrants from the province of Quebec. Identity profiles were then compared on various indices of well-being to identify the optimal identity structure. In total, four identity profiles emerged, differing in their levels of identity coherence (i.e., similar levels of identification with each group) and identification to either the original group or the Quebecers. ANOVA results confirmed that identity profiles differed in their average level of well-being. First, immigrants with coherent profiles displayed higher levels of well-being. Second, among incoherent profiles, the profile where identification to the original group is the highest showed the greatest well-being. Implications suggest that in order to maximize immigrants’ well-being, psychologists should focus on the coherence between cultural groups as well as identification to the original group.
Freestyle: a challenge-response system for hip hop lyrics via unsupervised induction of stochastic transduction grammars

We attack an inexplicably under-explored language genre of spoken language—lyrics in music—via completely unsupervised induction of an SMT-style stochastic transduction grammar for hip hop lyrics, yielding a fully-automatically learned challenge-response system that produces rhyming lyrics given an input. Unlike previous efforts, we choose the domain of hip hop lyrics, which is particularly unstructured and noisy. A novel feature of our approach is that it is completely unsupervised and requires no a priori linguistic or phonetic knowledge. In spite of the level of difficulty of the challenge, the model nevertheless produces fluent output as judged by human evaluators, and performs significantly better than widely used phrase-based SMT models upon the same task. Index Terms: statistical machine translation, lyrics translation, stochastic transduction grammars, unsupervised grammar induction
Using Online Media Sharing Behavior as Implicit Feedback for Collaborative Filtering

In many practical recommender systems, it is found difficult to obtain explicit feedback from users about the preference for a specific item, such as music, book, movie, etc. Most researches up to this point has focused on tracking various sources of implicit feedback from user behavior including purchase history, browsing patterns, and watching habits, in order to model user preference. In this paper, we investigate a method that uses information exploited from a user's online media sharing activities as a novel source of implicit feedback for recommendation system. We look into elements of media sharing behavior and suggest whether behaviors have the potentiality that could play a role as a predictor of users’ preference. Then in a specific domain, we choose appropriate behaviors by two criteria: abundance and observability. As a representative case, we focus on YouTube, one of the most popular social video sharing sites. By criteria we suggest, we select three behaviors including favorite, upload and view and formulate the simple item-based algorithm based on those behaviors. Through a series of experiments, we evaluate recommendation results obtained from our dataset by comparison with those from other reference algorithms. The results show that favorite and upload have possibility to be used as implicit feedback.
Towards memory and computation efficient graph processing on spark

Algorithms for large scale natural graph processing can be categorized into two types based on their value propagation behaviors: the unidirectional value propagation (UVP) algorithms and the bidirectional value propagation (BVP) algorithms. The behavior about how vertices interact with neighbors also differs between two algorithm types, which demands different system design choices. However, current distributed graph processing systems usually try to support both types in one general-purpose framework Such system design can not promise good performance and low resource consumption for both types. Especially, for UVP algorithms, current systems can not guarantee low memory footprint, computation efficiency and communication efficiency at the same time. In this paper, we propose a new graph processing engine on Spark, GraphV, which is specially designed for the unidirectional value propagation algorithms, and can satisfy all the above requirements for this type of algorithms. To retain the generalization for other algorithms, we also build a dual-engine framework by integrating GraphV with Spark's existing graph processing engine GraphX. The main design choices of GraphV include a cheap propagation-related partitioner, an one-step computation model, and a locality-aware local graph layout. According to the experiment results, GraphV is faster than GraphX by the factors of 1.2x–3.1x, with much less resource consumption. The source code of GraphV will be publicly available from http://prof.ict. ac.cn/GraphV.
Bilayer Source/Drain Electrodes Self-Aligned With Fluoropolymer Dielectrics for Stable High-Performance Organic TFTs

We propose a systematic fabrication method for stable high-performance organic thin-film transistors (TFTs) that are potentially compatible with high-density integrated circuits. Ag/PEDOT:PSS bilayers provide source/drain (S/D) electrodes with low sheet resistance and efficient hole injection capabilities, leading to high-performance bottom-contact pentacene TFTs with a saturation mobility of 0.19 cm2/ V·s. Patterned dielectric layers based on a fluoropolymer Cytop function as a hydrophobic bank structure to define S/D electrodes in a self-aligned manner from Ag ink and a PEDOT:PSS solution while simultaneously improving the electrical stability of pentacene TFTs.
L-Arginine–induced acute pancreatitis results in mild lung inflammation without altered respiratory mechanics

ABSTRACT Acute lung injury is a common complication of acute pancreatitis (AP) and contributes to the majority of AP-associated deaths. Although some aspects of AP-induced lung inflammation have been demonstrated, investigation of resultant changes in lung function is limited. The aim of this study was to characterize acute lung injury in L-arginine–induced AP. Seven groups of male Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 4–10/group) received 2 intraperitoneal (i.p.) injections of L-arginine (250 mg/100 g) at 6, 12, 24, 36, 48, or 72 hours before measurement of lung impedance mechanics. Control rats (n = 10) received i.p. saline. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL), plasma, and pancreatic and lung tissue were collected to determine pancreatic and lung measures of acute inflammation. AP developed between 6 and 36 hours, as indicated by increased pancreatic abnormal acinar cells, myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, edema, and plasma amylase activity, before beginning to resolve by 72 hours. In the lung, MPO activity increased (2.4-fold) from 12 hours, followed by a modest increase in lung edema at 48 hours, with increased BAL cell count (2.5-fold) up to 72 hours (P < .05). In contrast, no significant changes in lung mechanics were evident over the same period. Despite measurable lung inflammation, no significant deterioration in respiratory function resulted from L-arginine–induced AP.
The Comprehensive Evaluation and Treatment of Epilepsy: A Practical Guide

Classification of seizures and the epilepsies, G.L. Holmes Radiographic assessment of patients with epilepsy, G. Schlaug Treatment of seizures, S.C. Schachter Definition and overview of intractable epilepsy, O. Devinsky Psychosocial aspects of epilepsy, P.O. Shafer, E. Salmanson Neuropsychologic assessment and application to temporal lobe epilepsy, P. Hayashi, M. O'Connor Psychiatric considerations in patients with epilepsy, J. Holzer, D. Bear Status epilepticus, F. Drislane Diagnosis and management of nonepileptic seizures, A.J. Rowan Ambulatory EEG monitoring technology and uses, J. Ives Epilepsy surgery-cortical excisions and callosa section, H. Blume Endocrine aspects of partial seizures, P. Klein, A.G. Herzog Epilepsy and the elderly, E.B. Broomfield Guide to epilepsy centres, D.L. Schomer.
Automating Proofs of Guaranteed Optimization

An electrical speed control system for selectively connecting an accessory to a vehicle engine having a conventional alternator driven thereby, utilizes the voltage output of the alternator stator to determine the rotational speed of the engine, and permits the accessory to be connected to the engine when the shaft speed is at or below a maximum safe engagement speed, and disconnects the accessory when the speed is above a maximum safe speed for the accessory. The speed control system further prevents reengagement of the accessory after reaching and falling below the high-speed disengage point until the rotational speed of the engine has fallen below the maximum safe engagement speed level.
Mauka-Mauka : Measuring and Predicting Opportunities for Webcam-based Heart Rate Sensing in Workplace Environment

Prolonged sitting and physical inactivity at workplace often lead to various health risks such as diabetes, heart attack, cancer etc. Many organizations are investing in wellness programs to ensure the well-being of their employees. Generally wearable devices are used in such wellness programs to detect health problems of employees, but studies have shown that wearables do not result in sustained adoption. Heart rate measurement has emerged as an effective tool to detect various ailments such as anxiety, stress, cardiovascular diseases etc. There are pre-existing techniques that use webcam feed to sense heart rate subject to some experimental constraints like stillness of face, light illumination etc. In this paper, we show that in-situ opportunities can be found and predicted for webcam based heart rate sensing in the workplace environment by analyzing data from unobtrusive sensors in a pervasive manner.
Manhattan Junction Catalogue for Spatial Reasoning of Indoor Scenes

Junctions are strong cues for understanding the geometry of a scene. In this paper, we consider the problem of detecting junctions and using them for recovering the spatial layout of an indoor scene. Junction detection has always been challenging due to missing and spurious lines. We work in a constrained Manhattan world setting where the junctions are formed by only line segments along the three principal orthogonal directions. Junctions can be classified into several categories based on the number and orientations of the incident line segments. We provide a simple and efficient voting scheme to detect and classify these junctions in real images. Indoor scenes are typically modeled as cuboids and we formulate the problem of the cuboid layout estimation as an inference problem in a conditional random field. Our formulation allows the incorporation of junction features and the training is done using structured prediction techniques. We outperform other single view geometry estimation methods on standard datasets.
Phagocytic ability declines with age in adult Drosophila hemocytes

Most multicellular organisms show a physiological decline in immune function with age. However, little is known about the mechanisms underlying these changes. We examined Drosophila melanogaster, an important model for identifying genes affecting innate immunity and senescence, to explore the role of phagocytosis in age‐related immune dysfunction. We characterized the localized response of immune cells at the dorsal vessel to bacterial infection in 1‐week‐ and 5‐week‐old flies. We developed a quantitative phagocytosis assay for adult Drosophila and utilized this to characterize the effect of age on phagocytosis in transgenic and natural variant lines. We showed that genes necessary for bacterial engulfment in other contexts are also required in adult flies. We found that blood cells from young and old flies initially engulf bacteria equally well, while cells from older flies accumulate phagocytic vesicles and thus are less capable of destroying pathogens. Our results have broad implications for understanding how the breakdown in cellular processes influences immune function with age.
Diffusion- and perfusion-weighted imaging in vasospasm after subarachnoid hemorrhage.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Better measures of cerebral tissue perfusion and earlier detection of ischemic injury are needed to guide therapy in subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) patients with vasospasm. We sought to identify tissue ischemia and early ischemic injury with combined diffusion-weighted (DW) and hemodynamically weighted (HW) MRI in patients with vasospasm after SAH. METHODS Combined DW and HW imaging was used to study 6 patients with clinical and angiographic vasospasm, 1 patient without clinical signs of vasospasm but with severe angiographic vasospasm, and 1 patient without angiographic spasm. Analysis of the passage of an intravenous contrast bolus through brain was used to construct multislice maps of relative cerebral blood volume (rCBV), relative cerebral blood flow (rCBF), and tissue mean transit time (tMTT). We hypothesize that large HW imaging (HWI) abnormalities would be present in treated patients at the time they develop neurological deficit due to vasospasm without matching DW imaging (DWI) abnormalities. RESULTS Small, sometimes multiple, ischemic lesions on DWI were seen encircled by a large area of decreased rCBF and increased tMTT in all patients with symptomatic vasospasm. Decreases in rCBV were not prominent. MRI hemodynamic abnormalities occurred in regions supplied by vessels with angiographic vasospasm or in their watershed territories. All patients with neurological deficit showed an area of abnormal tMTT much larger than the area of DWI abnormality. MRI images were normal in the asymptomatic patient with angiographic vasospasm and the patient with normal angiogram and no clinical signs of vasospasm. CONCLUSIONS We conclude that DW/HW MRI in symptomatic vasospasm can detect widespread changes in tissue hemodynamics that encircle early foci of ischemic injury. With additional study, the technique could become a useful tool in the clinical management of patients with SAH.
Establishing a sustainable childhood obesity monitoring system in regional Victoria

Issue addressed Childhood obesity poses a significant immediate and long-term burden to individuals, societies and health systems. Infrequent and inadequate monitoring has led to uncertainty about trends in childhood obesity prevalence in many countries. High-quality data, collected at regular intervals, over extended timeframes, with high response rates and timely feedback are essential to support prevention efforts. Our aim was to establish a sustainable childhood obesity monitoring system in regional Australia to collect accurate anthropometric and behavioural data, provide timely feedback to communities and build community engagement and capacity. Methods All schools from six government regions of South-West Victoria were invited to participate. Passive (opt-out) consent was used to collect measured anthropometric and self-reported behavioural data from children in years 2, 4, and 6, aged 7-12 years. Results We achieved a 70% school participation rate (n=46) and a 93% student response rate (n=2198) among government and independent schools. Results were reported within 10 weeks post data collection. Harnessing high levels of community engagement throughout the planning, data collection and reporting phases increased community capacity and data utility. Conclusions The monitoring system achieved high response rates, community engagement and community capacity building, and delivered results back to the community in a timely manner. So what? This system has the potential to provide sustainable monitoring of childhood obesity that is not dependent on external funding. The results of this monitoring will likely inform health promotion efforts in communities across the region.