Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Key role of coupling, delay, and noise in resting brain fluctuations

A growing body of neuroimaging research has documented that, in the absence of an explicit task, the brain shows temporally coherent activity. This so-called “resting state” activity or, more explicitly, the default-mode network, has been associated with daydreaming, free association, stream of consciousness, or inner rehearsal in humans, but similar patterns have also been found under anesthesia and in monkeys. Spatiotemporal activity patterns in the default-mode network are both complex and consistent, which raises the question whether they are the expression of an interesting cognitive architecture or the consequence of intrinsic network constraints. In numerical simulation, we studied the dynamics of a simplified cortical network using 38 noise-driven (Wilson–Cowan) oscillators, which in isolation remain just below their oscillatory threshold. Time delay coupling based on lengths and strengths of primate corticocortical pathways leads to the emergence of 2 sets of 40-Hz oscillators. The sets showed synchronization that was anticorrelated at <0.1 Hz across the sets in line with a wide range of recent experimental observations. Systematic variation of conduction velocity, coupling strength, and noise level indicate a high sensitivity of emerging synchrony as well as simulated blood flow blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) on the underlying parameter values. Optimal sensitivity was observed around conduction velocities of 1–2 m/s, with very weak coupling between oscillators. An additional finding was that the optimal noise level had a characteristic scale, indicating the presence of stochastic resonance, which allows the network dynamics to respond with high sensitivity to changes in diffuse feedback activity.
A Multiattribute Sparse Coding Approach for Action Recognition From a Single Unknown Viewpoint

We propose a novel approach for view-independent action recognition using multiattribute sparse representation enforced with group constraints. First, an oversegmentation-based background modeling and foreground detection approach is employed to extract silhouettes from action videos. Then multiple time intervals of motion history image are computed to capture motion and pose information in human activities. To obtain a more accurate and discriminative representation, we propose multiattribute sparse representation for multiview action video classification. Actions with multiple attributes can be represented by individual attribute matrices to describe group property for each action instance. These attribute matrices are incorporated into the formulation of l1-minimization. The sparsity property as well as the group constraints make the basis selection in sparse coding more efficient in terms of accuracy. Especially, our approach is able to operate under the condition of partially labeled attributes in the training data. Finally, we demonstrate the proposed algorithm through experiments on three multiview human action datasets to show the effectiveness and robustness of the proposed method.
SALT2: using distant supernovae to improve the use of type Ia supernovae as distance indicators

We present an empirical model of Type Ia supernovae spectro-photometric evolution with time. The model is built using a large data set including light-curves and spectra of both nearby and distant supernovae, the latter being observed by the SNLS collaboration. We derive the average spectral sequence of Type Ia supernovae and their main variability components including a color variation law. The model allows us to measure distance moduli in the spectral range 2500-8000 A with calculable uncertainties, including those arising from variability of spectral features. Thanks to the use of high-redshift SNe to model the rest-frame UV spectral energy distribution, we are able to derive improved distance estimates for SNe Ia in the redshift range 0.8
Long-term DHEA substitution in female adrenocortical failure, body composition, muscle function, and bone metabolism: a randomized trial.

CONTEXT Adrenal derived androgens are low in women with adrenal failure. The physiological consequences of substitution therapy are uncertain. OBJECTIVE To investigate the effects of DHEA substitution in women with adrenal failure on body composition, fuel metabolism, and inflammatory markers. DESIGN, PARTICIPANTS AND INTERVENTION: In this study, ten female patients (median age 38.5 years, range 28-52) with adrenal failure were treated with DHEA 50 mg for 6 months in a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, and crossover study. The participants underwent dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scan, computed tomography scan of abdominal fat, indirect calorimetry, bicycle ergometry, muscle and fat biopsies, and blood samples. RESULTS Baseline androgens were normalized to fertile range during active treatment. Anthropometric data were unaffected, but lean body mass (LBM) slightly increased compared with placebo (delta LBM (kg) placebo versus DHEA: -0.48±6.1 vs 1.6±3.4, P=0.02) with no alterations in total or abdominal fat mass. PTH increased with DHEA, but no significant changes were observed in other bone markers or in bone mineral content. The mRNA levels of markers of tissue inflammation (adiponectin, interleukin 6 (IL6), IL10, monocyte chemoattractant protein 1, and tumor necrosis factor α) in fat and muscle tissue were unaffected by DHEA treatment, as was indirect calorimetry and maximal oxygen uptake. A high proportion of self-reported seborrheic side effects were recorded (60%). CONCLUSION In female adrenal failure, normalization of androgens with DHEA 50 mg for 6 months had no effects on muscle, fat, and bone tissue and on fuel metabolism in this small study. A small increase in LBM was observed. Treatment was associated with a high frequency of side effects.
Elasto-plastic analysis of popcorn failure caused by cavitition unstable growth in plastic IC packaging material

Popcorn failure in Hyperelastic-plastic electronic packages under thermal load and Moisture is studied. Using the theory of finite deformation, we obtain the analytical relation between void growth and the sum of the vapor pressure induced by moisture and thermal stress induced by heat mismatch. Numerical analyses show that the critical traction decreases with decreases of yield stress-shear modulus ratio when plastic behavior of material is considered. On the other hand the critical traction decreases with increase of the initial porosity when yield stress-shear modulus ratio is given.
Effect of theanine , r-glutamylethylamide , on brain monoamines and striatal dopamine release in conscious rats

L-Theanine is an amino acid found in the leaf of green tea and its infusion, and is known to control excitement caused by caffeine. It is also known that the oral administration of L-theanine to rats results in a decrease of serotonin and an increase of catecholamine in the brain. L-Theanine had been confirmed to be safe in animal experiments. We found that the oral intake of L-theanine caused a feeling of relaxation among the human volunteers examined. These observations led us to conduct experiments on the effects of the administration of L-theanine on brain waves. Eight female university students were selected as volunteers. Four of them were ranked as Grade I (the highest anxiety) and the remaning four as Grade V (lowest anxiety) in an investigation done by the manifest anxiety scale method. An oral administration of 200 mg of L-theanine dissolved in 100 mL of water resulted in the generation of alpha-electric waves in the occipital and parietal regions of the subjects brains. The emission intensity of alpha-brain waves (integrated as a function of investigation times and area) was significantly greater in the Grade I than that of Grade V. These results indicate the possibility for L-theanine to be applied to foods and beverages as a new functional food ingredient for its relaxation effect. Kobayashi K, Nagato Y, Aoi N, Juneja LR, Kim M, Yamamoto T, Sugimoto S. Nippon Noegikagaku Kaishi 1998;72(2):153-7.
Interaction of Salmonella spp. with the Intestinal Microbiota

Salmonella spp. are major cause of human morbidity and mortality worldwide. Upon entry into the human host, Salmonella spp. must overcome the resistance to colonization mediated by the gut microbiota and the innate immune system. They successfully accomplish this by inducing inflammation and mechanisms of innate immune defense. Many models have been developed to study Salmonella spp. interaction with the microbiota that have helped to identify factors necessary to overcome colonization resistance and to mediate disease. Here we review the current state of studies into this important pathogen/microbiota/host interaction in the mammalian gastrointestinal tract.
Investigating the Impact of Convergence on the International Spectrum Regulatory Framework

The international spectrum regulatory framework has been conceived about a century ago and has since been periodically improved. Under this framework, decisions regarding the uses to be made of radio spectrum bands are taken during World Radio Conferences (WRCs) which are held under the aegis of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). This framework, based primarily on the radiocommunication service definition and traditional spectrum allocation norms, is now being challenged by various contemporary technologies and the advent of convergence. This paper shows, by means of a mathematical model based on set theory, that service definitions and spectrum allocations are tightly linked to the concept of vertical integration. It argues that these, particularly the fixed, mobile (except aeronautical and maritime mobile) and broadcasting services, are increasingly under threat as a result of the paradigm shift from vertical to horizontal integration. This paper explains how the said framework has adequately enabled interference management for the past century and why convergence has rendered it ineffective. It finally makes observations on the ITU options to improve the international spectrum management framework and concludes that the options proposed so far are limitative and conservative.
Evaluation of temporal fading characteristics of a DVB-H signal for different reception categories

In this paper temporal fading characteristics have been investigated for five different reception categories in a DVB-H system at 602 MHz in Ghent, Belgium. A method has been proposed to calculate the fade depth and the corresponding fade duration. Five reception categories have been defined and their fading characteristics have been compared. Categories with more traffic have more and deeper fades, but the duration of the fades seems to be independent of the reception category for the system under consideration. The number of fading occurences as a function of fade depth follow an exponential distribution.
Effects of weaving structures and parameters on the radiation properties of three-dimensional fabric integrated microstrip antennas

In smart textile systems, the wireless communication between the wearer and the wider environment plays an important role, especially in medical applications. This can be achieved by integrating an antenna in textile materials. The low-profile microstrip antenna is a desirable choice for textile antennas and integrating this type of antenna into the three-dimensional woven fabric achieves the most integrated textile antenna structure up to now. Different from traditional antenna structures, the three-dimensional woven fabric integrated microstrip antenna has the radiation patch and ground plane totally woven with the yarns, where the radiation properties would strongly depend on the weaving structures and parameters. In this paper, a 1.9 GHz single patch microstrip antenna was designed and six types of antennas with different combinations of woven patches and ground planes were compared. The measured results showed that the three-dimensional woven antenna had adequate performance. In addition, the three-dimensional woven antenna with warp yarns parallel to the feeding direction exhibited a better return loss and radiation pattern than the antenna with weft yarn parallel to the feeding direction, due to the longer current path for the latter antenna based on simulated current distribution analysis. Furthermore, the effects of conductive yarn parameters on the antenna properties were discussed and yarn structures were suggested to obtain relatively ideal antenna performances.
Local motion planner for nonholonomic mobile robots in the presence of the unknown obstacles

This paper deals with the problem of motion planning for a unicycle-like robot. A simple local planner for unicycle model, based on an approximation of the desired configuration generated by local holonomic planner that ignores motion constraints, is presented. To guarantee a collision avoidance, we propose an inequality constraint, based on the motion analysis with the constant control input and time interval. Consequently, we formulate the problem as a constrained optimization problem, and a feedback scheme based on local sensor information is established by simply solving this problem. Through simulations, we confirm the validity and effectiveness of our algorithm.
Conservation genomics: applying whole genome studies to species conservation efforts

Studies of complete genomes are leading to a new understanding of the biology of mammals and providing ongoing insights into the fundamental aspects of the organization and evolution of biological systems. Comparison of primate genomes can identify aspects of their organization, regulation and function that appeared during the primate radiation, but without comparison to more evolutionarily distant mammals and other vertebrates, highly conserved aspects of genome architecture will not be accurately identified nor will the lineage-specific changes be identified as such. Many species of primates face risks of extinction; yet the knowledge of their genomes will provide a deeper understanding of primate adaptations, human origins, and provide the framework for discoveries anticipated to improve human medicine. The great apes, the closest relatives of the human species, are among the most vulnerable and most important for human medical studies. However, apes are not the only species whose genomic information will enrich humankind. Comparative genomic studies of endangered species can benefit conservation efforts on their behalf. Increased knowledge of genome makeup and variation in endangered species finds conservation application in population evaluation monitoring and management, understanding phylozoogeography, can enhance wildlife health management, identify risk factors for genetic disorders, and provide insights into demographic management of small populations in the wild and in captivity.
Acetylcholinesterase inhibition in estuarine fish and invertebrates as an indicator of organophosphorus insecticide exposure and effects

The majority of insecticidescurrently in use are organophosphorus, carbamate, and synthetic pyrethroid compounds. Organophosphorus insecticides (OPs) produce toxicity by inhibiting the cholinesterase enzymes in the nervous system. Monitoring of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibition has been widely used in terrestrial and freshwater aquatic systems as an indicator of OP exposure and effects. This review describes the use of AChE inhibition as a biomarker in the estuarine environment, discusses the relationship between AChE inhibition and other manifestations of OP toxicity, and highlights areas where additional research is needed. A variety of studies with estuarine fish have suggested that brain AChE inhibition levels of >70% are associated with mortality in most species. Selected species, however, appear capable of tolerating much higher levels (>90%) of brain inhibition. Sublethal effects on stamina have been reported for some estuarine fish in association with brain AChE inhibition levels as low as 50%. Most studies suggest, however, that these effects are observed only when brain AChE inhibition is at near‐lethal levels. A number of field studies have successfully used AChE inhibition in fish as a biomarker in the estuarine environment. The use of AChE inhibition as a biomarker in estuarine invertebrates has been less well studied. Although AChE inhibition has been measured in the tissues of a variety of invertebrate species following OP exposure, the relationship between AChE inhibition and lethality is less distinct. Additional work is needed in both fish and invertebrates to better explain species‐specific differences in the relationship between AChE inhibition and mortality and to investigate other physiological perturbations associated with AChE inhibition.
Dioxin Exposure and Cancer Risk in the Seveso Women’s Health Study

Background: 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-para-dioxin (TCDD), a widespread environmental contaminant, disrupts multiple endocrine pathways. The International Agency for Research on Cancer classified TCDD as a known human carcinogen, based on predominantly male occupational studies of increased mortality from all cancers combined. Objectives: After a chemical explosion on 10 July 1976 in Seveso, Italy, residents experienced some of the highest levels of TCDD exposure in a human population. In 1996, we initiated the Seveso Women’s Health Study (SWHS), a retrospective cohort study of the reproductive health of the women. We previously reported a significant increased risk for breast cancer and a nonsignificant increased risk for all cancers combined with individual serum TCDD, but the cohort averaged only 40 years of age in 1996. Herein we report results for risk of cancer from a subsequent follow-up of the cohort in 2008. Methods: In 1996, we enrolled 981 women who were 0–40 years of age in 1976, lived in the most contaminated areas, and had archived sera collected near the explosion. Individual TCDD concentration was measured in archived serum by high-resolution mass spectrometry. A total of 833 women participated in the 2008 follow-up study. We examined the relation of serum TCDD with cancer incidence using Cox proportional hazards models. Results: In total, 66 (6.7%) women had been diagnosed with cancer. The adjusted hazard ratio (HR) associated with a 10-fold increase in serum TCDD for all cancers combined was significantly increased [adjusted HR = 1.80; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.29, 2.52]. For breast cancer, the HR was increased, but not significantly (adjusted HR = 1.44; 95% CI: 0.89, 2.33). Conclusions: Individual serum TCDD is significantly positively related with all cancer incidence in the SWHS cohort, more than 30 years later. This all-female study adds to the epidemiologic evidence that TCDD is a multisite carcinogen.
Use of Fluorescence Probes to Monitor Function of the Subunit Proteins of the MexA-MexB-OprM Drug Extrusion Machinery inPseudomonas aeruginosa *

The MexA-MexB-OprM efflux pump ofPseudomonas aeruginosa consists of two inner membrane proteins, MexA and MexB, and one outer membrane protein, OprM. We investigated the role of the components of this drug extrusion system by evaluating the repercussions of deleting these subunit components on the accumulation of several fluorescent probes. Fluorescence intensities of positively charged 2-(4-dimethylaminostyryl)-1ethylpyridinium and unchargedN-phenyl-1-naphtylamine were 7 and 4 times higher, respectively, in the mutant lacking OprM and 4 and 1.7 times higher, respectively, in the mutants lacking MexA or MexB than in the wild type strain. This order of fluorescence intensity was fully consistent with a previously reported minimum inhibitory concentration of antibiotics such as tetracycline, chloramphenicol, and fluoroquinolones. Ethidium bromide accumulation in all the Mex mutants proceeded at about 5 times faster than the rate in the wild type cells. This result is in accord with the minimum inhibitory concentration of β-lactam antibiotics. These results suggest that the fluorescence probes could be successfully used in real time monitoring of the function of the drug extrusion machinery in Gram-negative bacteria. The downhill extrusion kinetics of 1-(4-trimethylammoniumphenyl)-6-phenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene, which orients perpendicular to the inner leaflet of the cytoplasmic membrane, from preloaded cells lacking the extrusion pump was preceded by a slow increase in fluorescence intensity, whereas the wild type cell immediately released the dye. This observation was explained by a slow trans-cytoplasmic membrane crossing of intracellular dye in the mutants. These results reflected higher accumulation of the probe in the cytoplasmic membrane in the mutants and strengthened the hypothesis that extrusion of hydrophobic substrate mediated by MexA-MexB-OprM mainly takes place from the interior of the cytoplasmic membrane.
Possessing nature: museums, collecting, and scientific culture in early modern Italy

"permitted" tasks of both physicians and apothecaries. Fischer-Mauch argues that the difficulties that arose from this and later attempts to define medical competencies with greater precision determined that tense, and sometimes bitter, confrontations between physicians and apothecaries would be the rule well into the nineteenth century. The points of conflict that Fischer-Mauch identifies, however, will seem familiar to most historians of early modem medicine, Moreover, her presentation of the history of medical ordinances in Hesse-Darmstadt, the Germanies, and Europe, for example, while providing useful specifics on Frankfurt and GieBen, sticks closely to standard interpretations. For instance, no one is shocked to learn that the impetus for medical reform (starting in 1699) arose from the perceived need to control quackery better, and to achieve that goal physicians were to be placed at the top of the hierarchy of medical personnel. All other practitioners were to be subordinated to the academically-trained doctors. Not surprisingly, this relegation to a subaltern role drew howls of protest from the apothecaries. Likewise, the apothecaries resented the refusal to allow them any medical practice, which implied they were equated with barbers, midwives, bathmasters, and even unleamed empirics. A further, and especially vexatious, bone of contention was the physicians' stubborn insistence on their right to dispense medicines, thus undercutting the economic livelihood of the apothecaries. These forms of subordination, or even, in the eyes of the apothecaries, degradation, were further exacerbated by a strict list of prices that did not always correspond to economic realities. In particular, the Giel3en apothecaries protested at the unfaimess of holding them to prices fixed for Frankfurt where raw materials and compounded drugs were cheaper. They forwarded all of these complaints in their gravamina to the Landgraf: they protested at the financial losses caused by quackery and selfdispensing; they sought a more equitable determination of prices; and most of all, they expressed their resentment at the diminution of their status vis-a-vis the physicians. None of this is, of course, especially new, but Fischer-Mauch does a nice job of illustrating conditions in the setting of late seventeenth-century GieBen. Perhaps the most serviceable part of the book is the Valentini text that neatly exemplifies the play of forces-social, economic, cultural-involved in the tug-of-war between physicians and apothecaries for occupational standing and social respectability.