Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effects of Ventral Striatum Lesions on Stimulus-Based versus Action-Based Reinforcement Learning

Learning the values of actions versus stimuli may depend on separable neural circuits. In the current study, we evaluated the performance of rhesus macaques with ventral striatum (VS) lesions on a two-arm bandit task that had randomly interleaved blocks of stimulus-based and action-based reinforcement learning (RL). Compared with controls, monkeys with VS lesions had deficits in learning to select rewarding images but not rewarding actions. We used a RL model to quantify learning and choice consistency and found that, in stimulus-based RL, the VS lesion monkeys were more influenced by negative feedback and had lower choice consistency than controls. Using a Bayesian model to parse the groups' learning strategies, we also found that VS lesion monkeys defaulted to an action-based choice strategy. Therefore, the VS is involved specifically in learning the value of stimuli, not actions. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Reinforcement learning models of the ventral striatum (VS) often assume that it maintains an estimate of state value. This suggests that it plays a general role in learning whether rewards are assigned based on a chosen action or stimulus. In the present experiment, we examined the effects of VS lesions on monkeys' ability to learn that choosing a particular action or stimulus was more likely to lead to reward. We found that VS lesions caused a specific deficit in the monkeys' ability to discriminate between images with different values, whereas their ability to discriminate between actions with different values remained intact. Our results therefore suggest that the VS plays a specific role in learning to select rewarded stimuli.
Macropinosomes are Key Players in Early Shigella Invasion and Vacuolar Escape in Epithelial Cells

Intracellular pathogens include all viruses, many bacteria and parasites capable of invading and surviving within host cells. Key to survival is the subversion of host cell pathways by the pathogen for the purpose of propagation and evading the immune system. The intracellular bacterium Shigella flexneri, the causative agent of bacillary dysentery, invades host cells in a vacuole that is subsequently ruptured to allow growth of the pathogen within the host cytoplasm. S. flexneri invasion has been classically described as a macropinocytosis-like process, however the underlying details and the role of macropinosomes in the intracellular bacterial lifestyle have remained elusive. We applied dynamic imaging and advanced large volume correlative light electron microscopy (CLEM) to study the highly transient events of S. flexneri’s early invasion into host epithelial cells and elucidate some of its fundamental features. First, we demonstrate a clear distinction between two compartments formed during the first step of invasion: the bacterial containing vacuole and surrounding macropinosomes, often considered identical. Next, we report a functional link between macropinosomes and the process of vacuolar rupture, demonstrating that rupture timing is dependent on the availability of macropinosomes as well as the activity of the small GTPase Rab11 recruited directly to macropinosomes. We go on to reveal that the bacterial containing vacuole and macropinosomes come into direct contact at the onset of vacuolar rupture. Finally, we demonstrate that S. flexneri does not subvert pre-existing host endocytic vesicles during the invasion steps leading to vacuolar rupture, and propose that macropinosomes are the major compartment involved in these events. These results provide the basis for a new model of the early steps of S. flexneri epithelial cell invasion, establishing a different view of the enigmatic process of cytoplasmic access by invasive bacterial pathogens.
Are patient demographics different for early-onset and late-onset Blount disease? Results based on meta-analysis

Early-onset and late-onset Blount disease has been described with some clinical overlap between the two forms. Using PRISMA guidelines, we searched for articles that included demographics of patients with both types of Blount disease. On the basis of 24 articles that met our inclusion criteria, patients with early-onset Blount disease were more likely to have bilateral involvement [odds ratio (OR) 4.30, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.27–8.17] and less likely to be Black (OR 0.20, 95% CI 0.08–0.53) or male (OR 0.32, 95% CI 0.13–0.78). Our results confirm that differences based on laterality, race, and sex exist between the two forms of Blount disease.
Feedback Regulation of ATP-induced Ca2+ Signaling in HL-60 Cells Is Mediated by Protein Kinase A- and C-mediated Changes in Capacitative Ca2+ Entry*

Extracellular ATP increases intracellular Ca2+ ([Ca2+] i ) in HL-60 cells. When cells are stimulated with supramaximal concentrations of ATP, although the initial [Ca2+] i increase is similar over a range of 30, 100, and 300 μm ATP, the rate of the return to basal [Ca2+] i level is faster in cells treated with higher concentrations of ATP. This probably results from differences in Ca2+ influx rather than Ca2+release, since the influx of the unidirectional Ca2+surrogates Ba2+ and Mn2+ also exhibit similar responses. Furthermore, while 300 μm ATP had an inhibitory effect on the thapsigargin-induced capacitative Ca2+ entry, 30 μm ATP potentiated the response. However, the inhibitory action of 300 μm ATP was blocked by protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitors, such as GF 109203X and chelerythrine, and the potentiating action of 30 μmATP was blocked by protein kinase A (PKA) inhibitors H89 and Rp-cAMPS. The PKC inhibitors also slowed the decay rate of the Ca2+response induced by 300 μm ATP, and the PKA inhibitors increased it when induced by 30 μm ATP. In the measurements of PKA and PKC activity, 30 μm ATP activates only PKA, while 300 μm ATP activates both kinases. Taken together, these data suggest that the changes in the ATP-induced Ca2+ response result from differential modulation of ATP-induced capacitative Ca2+ entry by PKC and PKA in HL-60 cells.
Gaze tracking on mobile devices

Gaze has already offered new input and interaction opportunities on public displays as well as on computer screens. Day by day further forms of interaction based on gaze are researched. With increasing precision of the hardware also mobile scenarios are studied more often. While setting up fixed user positions and calibrating the hardware for each user, is acceptable in a laboratory setting, this time-consuming preparation is not applicable if the interaction form should be commonly used. We use a concept, which gains increasing popularity but was only introduced in late 2013. It is called Pursuits and makes use of smooth pursuit eye movements. In this concept the user’s eye movements are correlated with the dynamic movements of the objects on the display. It offers spontaneous interaction with public displays already, but also provides the necessary features to be used in mobile scenarios, since it does not need calibration. We implement Pursuits on an Android based system and explore the correct detection rates between different trajectories in a pilot study. Additionally, we study the usability of both eye gestures and Pursuits in a second user study. Our results showed that although the detection rates with on-phone gaze estimation were still too low for real-world applications, the participants received Pursuit well in the usability study and 9 out of 17 participants would use an authentication system based on Pursuit Two on a
A 2-watt, 0.15-µm GaAs pHEMT stacked amplifier at 22 GHz

This paper presents a 33 dBm, 3-stage stacked GaAs pHEMT power amplifier at 22GHz with on-chip matching networks. The circuit topology is explained, and interstage matching techniques are simulated to investigate their aptitude to achieve interstage matching for the individual transistors. Special care was put on the design of a very compact layout with on-chip matching networks. Simulation results are presented and the stacking benefits are outlined.
Morphological adaptation and inhibition of cell division during stationary phase in Caulobacter crescentus

During exponential growth, each cell cycle of the α‐purple bacterium Caulobacter crescentus gives rise to two different cell types: a motile swarmer cell and a sessile stalked cell. When cultures of C. crescentus are grown for extended periods in complex (PYE) medium, cells undergo dramatic morphological changes and display increased resistance to stress. After cultures enter stationary phase, most cells are arrested at the predivisional stage. For the first 6–8 days after inoculation, the colony‐forming units (cfu) steadily decrease from 109 cfu ml−1 to a minimum of 3 × 107 cfu ml−1 after which cells gradually adopt an elongated helical morphology. For days 9–12, the cfu of the culture increase and stabilize around 2 × 108 cfu ml−1. The viable cells have an elongated helical morphology with no constrictions and an average length of 20 μm, which is 15–20 times longer than exponentially growing cells. The level of the cell division initiation protein FtsZ decreases during the first week in stationary phase and remains at a low constant level consistent with the lack of cell division. When resuspended in fresh medium, the elongated cells return to normal size and morphology within 12 h. Cells that have returned from stationary phase proceed through the same developmental changes when they are again grown for an extended period and have not acquired a heritable growth advantage in stationary phase (GASP) compared with overnight cultures. We conclude that the changes observed in prolonged cultures are the result of entry into a new developmental pathway and are not due to mutation.
Genus Bacteroides. A chemotaxonomical perspective.

1. Introduction, 403 2. Acid end products, 403 3. DNA base composition, 404 4. Cell walls, 404 5. Enzymes, 407 6. Lipids, 408 6.1 Pigments, 408 6.2 Fatty acids, 408 6.3 Polar lipids, 409 6.4 Menaquinones, 411 7. Taxonomic considerations, 412 8. Conclusions, 414 9. References, 414
Erythrocyte Glutathione Peroxidase, Serum Selenium, Lipids and Lipoproteins in Human Immunodeficiency Virus Positive Blood Donors

The study was designed to assess the relationship between red cell glutathione peroxidase and serum selenium as well as lipids and lipoprotein in HIV positive blood donors. Thirty five subjects consisting of twenty HIV positive blood donors with a mean age of 34±2.18 years and fifteen HIV negative blood donors with a mean age of 43±2.18 years controls were selected for this study. Erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase, lipids and lipoprotein were estimated using colorimetric methods. Serum selenium was determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The anthropometric indices were determined using standard techniques. The mean body mass index was significantly reduced in HIV patients when compared with the controls. Significant decreased mean value was obtained in the erthrocyte glutathione peroxidase (p<0.01) while significant increases were observed in serum triglycerides (p<0.01) and total cholesterol (p<0.05) compared with the control values. Erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase was significantly correlated with total cholesterol (r = 0.603, p<0.05) and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (r = 0.605, p<0.05). Decreased cellular antioxidant such as erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase, increased TC and TG were observed in HIV positive blood donors in the present study.
PGC-1α/β upregulation is associated with improved oxidative phosphorylation in cells harboring nonsense mtDNA mutations

We have studied the functional effects of nonsense mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) mutations in the COXI and ND5 genes in a colorectal tumor cell line. Surprisingly, these cells had an efficient oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS); however, when mitochondria from these cells were transferred to an osteosarcoma nuclear background (osteosarcoma cybrids), the rate of respiration markedly declined suggesting that the phenotypic expression of the mtDNA mutations was prevented by the colorectal tumor nuclear background. We found that there was a significant increase in the steady-state levels of PGC-1α and PGC-1β transcriptional coactivators in these cells and a parallel increase in the steady-state levels of several mitochondrial proteins. Accordingly, adenoviral-mediated overexpression of PGC-1α and PGC-1β in the osteosarcoma cybrids stimulated mitochondrial respiration suggesting that an upregulation of PGC-1α/β coactivators can partially rescue an OXPHOS defect. In conclusion, upregulation of PGC-1α and PGC-1β in the colorectal tumor cells can be part of an adaptation mechanism to help overcome the severe consequences of mtDNA mutations on OXPHOS.
Combining Predictors for Classification Using the Area under the Receiver Operating Characteristic Curve

Summary No single biomarker for cancer is considered adequately sensitive and specific for cancer screening. It is expected that the results of multiple markers will need to be combined in order to yield adequately accurate classification. Typically, the objective function that is optimized for combining markers is the likelihood function. In this article, we consider an alternative objective function—the area under the empirical receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). We note that it yields consistent estimates of parameters in a generalized linear model for the risk score but does not require specifying the link function. Like logistic regression, it yields consistent estimation with case–control or cohort data. Simulation studies suggest that AUC‐based classification scores have performance comparable with logistic likelihood‐based scores when the logistic regression model holds. Analysis of data from a proteomics biomarker study shows that performance can be far superior to logistic regression derived scores when the logistic regression model does not hold. Model fitting by maximizing the AUC rather than the likelihood should be considered when the goal is to derive a marker combination score for classification or prediction.
Towards a programme theory for fidelity in the evaluation of complex interventions.

RATIONALE, AIMS AND OBJECTIVES This paper addresses the challenge of investigating fidelity in the implementation of a complex rehabilitation intervention designed to increase the level of independence in personal activities of daily living of stroke patients living in UK care homes. A programme theory of intervention fidelity was constructed to underpin a process evaluation running alongside a cluster randomized trial of the rehabilitation intervention. METHODS The programme theory has been constructed drawing on principles of realist evaluation. Using data from in-depth semi-structured interviews (n = 17) with all occupational therapists (OTs) and critical incident reports from the trial (n = 20), and drawing from frameworks for implementation, the programme theory was developed. RESULTS The programme theory incorporates four potential mechanisms through which fidelity within the trial can be investigated. These four programme theory areas are (1) the balancing of research and professional requirements that therapists performed in a number of areas while delivering the study interventions; (2) the OTs rapport building with care home staff; (3) the work focused on re-engineering the personal environments of care home patients; and (4) the learning about the intervention within the context of the trial and its impacts over time. CONCLUSIONS These findings characterize the real-world nature of fidelity within intervention research, and specifically the negotiated nature of implementation within clinical settings, including individual patients' needs. This research adds to the evidence base because current frameworks for fidelity neglect the importance of learning over time of individuals and across the time span of a trial.
Sequential therapy failure in a naturally concieved twin pregnancy complicated by reversed arterial perfusion

Objective: Twin reversed arterial perfusion (TRAP) sequence is a rare complication of monochorionic multifetal gestation, and affects 1 of monochorionic twins. Here we present a case of acar- diac twinning sequentially treated by laser umbilical insertion ablation and intrafetal alcohol injection. Case: A 26-year-old woman admitted to our clinic in the 18th week of her pregnancy was presented. Ultrasonography showed a monochorionic twinning with a live pump fetus at and an acardiac cotwin. Although laser ablation and intraumbilical alcohol injec- tion therapies were commensed with onemonth interval and blood flow of acardiac fetus was ceased, late demise of the pump twin was developed. Conclusion: Although alcohol injection is a simple method in blood flow occlusion of acardiac fetus, this method should not be preferred as the first surgical intervention option due to risk of alcohol transfusion structurally passing to normal other twin.
WHITE DWARF–RED DWARF SYSTEMS RESOLVED WITH THE HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE. II. FULL SNAPSHOT SURVEY RESULTS

Results are presented for a Hubble Space Telescope Advanced Camera for Surveys high-resolution imaging campaign of 90 white dwarfs with known or suspected low-mass stellar and substellar companions. Of the 72 targets that remain candidate and confirmed white dwarfs with near-infrared excess, 43 are spatially resolved into two or more components, and a total of 12 systems are potentially triples. For 68 systems where a comparison is possible, 50% have significant photometric distance mismatches between their white dwarf and M dwarf components, suggesting that white dwarf parameters derived spectroscopically are often biased due to the cool companion. Interestingly, 9 of the 30 binaries known to have emission lines are found to be visual pairs and hence widely separated, indicating an intrinsically active cool star and not irradiation from the white dwarf. There is a possible, slight deficit of earlier spectral types (bluer colors) among the spatially unresolved companions, exactly the opposite of expectations if significant mass is transferred to the companion during the common envelope phase. Using the best available distance estimates, the low-mass companions to white dwarfs exhibit a bimodal distribution in projected separation. This result supports the hypothesis that during the giant phases of the white dwarf progenitor, any unevolved companions either migrate inward to short periods of hours to days, or outward to periods of hundreds to thousands of years. No intermediate projected separations of a few to several AU are found among these pairs. However, a few double M dwarfs (within triples) are spatially resolved in this range, empirically demonstrating that such separations were readily detectable among the binaries with white dwarfs. A straightforward and testable prediction emerges: all spatially unresolved, low-mass stellar and substellar companions to white dwarfs should be in short-period orbits. This result has implications for substellar companion and planetary orbital evolution during the post-main-sequence lifetime of their stellar hosts.
Effect Of Sowing Date, Sow Spacing And Bio-Ertilizer On Yield And Oil Quality Of Fennel Plant (Foeniculum Vulgare, Mill.)

The field work was carried out at the Experimental Farm "Demo farm" in Faculty of Agriculture, Fayoum University, Egypt, during two successive seasons of 2009/2010 and 2010/2011. The present study aimed to study the effect of sowing dates (15 th Sep., 7 th Oct. and 1 st Nov.) , sow spacing (25, 35 and 50 cm between hills with two plants on a hill) and bio-fertilization (spraying the plants with active dry yeast at 0, 2 and 5 gm/L thrice per season) on growth, fruit yield and oil production of fennel plants (Foeniculum vulgare, Mill). Aim of this study was reveal the suitable treatments for the highest production of fennel fruits containing more volatile oil with the best quality. The results showed that sowing fennel plants on 7 th Oct. at 50 cm and spraying with 5 gm /L of yeast gave the highest vegetative growth and fruit yield /plant. The highest yield of oil /plant was obtained from planting on 7 th Oct. at 35 cm spacing and sprayed with active dry yeast at 5 gm /L. The highest number of branches /plant was obtained from sowing the plants on 15 th Sept. at 50 cm spacing and sprayed with yeast at 5 gm /L. As well as, the same treatment (sowing the plants on15 th Sept. and sprayed with yeast at 5 gm /L.) and culture at a distance of 25 cm resulted in the highest values of plant height, number of umbels/ plant and essential oil percentage /plant. The lowest percentage of Estragole (48.96%) which is undesirable component of oil, resulted from (7 th Oct. + 35 cm +2 gm /L) while the highest one (87.98%) obtained as a result of (1 st Nov. + 35 cm + 2 gm /L). On the other hand, treatment (15 th Sept. + 25 cm + 5 gm /L) gave the maximum percentage of Limonene (23.99%). The third main component which is anethole reached to its maximum percentage (15.75%) as a result of (7 th Oct. + 35 cm +2 gm /L).
An Ontological Template for Context Expressions in Attribute-based Access Control Policies

By taking up the cloud computing paradigm enterprises are able to realise significant cost savings whilst increasing their agility and productivity. However, due to security concerns, many enterprises are reluctant to migrate their critical data and operations to the cloud. One way to alleviate these concerns is to devise suitable policies that infuse adequate access controls into cloud services. However, the dynamicity inherent in cloud environments, coupled with the heterogeneous nature of cloud services, hinders the formulation of effective and interoperable access control policies that are suitable for the underlying domain of application. To this end, this work proposes an ontological template for the semantic representation of context expressions in access control policies. This template is underpinned by a suitable set of interrelated concepts that generically capture a wide range of contextual knowledge that must be considered during the evaluation
Interconnect estimation for FPGAs under timing driven domains

Interconnect planning is fast becoming an important design issue for large FPGA based designs. The fundamental requirement for interconnect planning is the ability to estimate the routing requirements of a given design. Many estimation methods for uniform island-style FPGA architectures have been reported. However, no estimation method targets the problem of estimating the interconnect requirements for timing driven physical design. Most estimation methods assume minimum cost routing, which underestimates the interconnect resource requirements when timing is of main concern. Timing driven physical design typically involves minimum delay routing which demands extra interconnects as compared to minimum-cost routing. We propose a new method to estimate the interconnect requirements of placed FPGA circuits, under timing driven domains. We compare our estimates with the detailed routing results produced by standard routing tools in the VPR [V. Betz et al., (1997)] design suite.
Is angiotensin II type 2 receptor a new therapeutic target for cardiovascular disease?

In a previous issue of Experimental Physiology, we demonstrated that overexpression of the angiotensin II type 2 receptor (AT2R) protects cardiac function from cardiac dysfunction induced by myocardial infarction (MI; Qi et al. 2012). Our study was proposed based on previous reports, in which MI increased cardiac AT2R levels (Nio et al. 1995), and stimulation of the AT2R, using a new selective nonpeptide AT2R agonist, compound 21 (C21), significantly improved heart function following MI (Kaschina et al. 2008). Using a gene therapy approach, we extended these findings further by demonstrating that moderate overexpression of cardiac AT2R rescues cardiac function, restores the balance between the vasoprotective[angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2)