Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Source (or Part of the following Source): Type Article Title Real-time Position Reconstruction with Hippocampal Place Cells. Author(s) Real-time Position Reconstruction with Hippocampal Place Cells

Copyright It is not permitted to download or to forward/distribute the text or part of it without the consent of the author(s) and/or copyright holder(s), other than for strictly personal, individual use, unless the work is under an open content licence (like Creative Commons). UvA-DARE is a service provided by the library of the University of Amsterdam (http://dare.uva.nl) Brain–computer interfaces (BCI) are using the electroencephalogram, the electrocorticogram and trains of action potentials as inputs to analyze brain activity for communication purposes and/or the control of external devices. Thus far it is not known whether a BCI system can be developed that utilizes the states of brain structures that are situated well below the cortical surface, such as the hippocampus. In order to address this question we used the activity of hippocampal place cells (PCs) to predict the position of an rodent in real-time. First, spike activity was recorded from the hippocampus during foraging and analyzed off-line to optimize the spike sorting and position reconstruction algorithm of rats. Then the spike activity was recorded and analyzed in real-time. The rat was running in a box of 80 cm × 80 cm and its locomotor movement was captured with a video tracking system. Data were acquired to calculate the rat's trajectories and to identify place fields. Then a Bayesian classifier was trained to predict the position of the rat given its neural activity. This information was used in subsequent trials to predict the rat's position in real-time. The real-time experiments were successfully performed and yielded an error between 12.2 and 17.4% using 5–6 neurons. It must be noted here that the encoding step was done with data recorded before the real-time experiment and comparable accuracies between off-line (mean error of 15.9% for three rats) and real-time experiments (mean error of 14.7%) were achieved. The experiment shows proof of principle that position reconstruction can be done in real-time, that PCs were stable and spike sorting was robust enough to generalize from the training run to the real-time reconstruction phase of the experiment. Real-time reconstruction may be used for a variety of purposes, including creating behavioral–neuronal feedback loops or for implementing neuroprosthetic control. the cortical surface. In order to address this question we used the activity of hippocampal place cells (PCs) to predict the position of an animal (rat) in real-time. Neural cells with spatially modulated firing have been found in almost all areas …
Intelligent robotic wheelchair with EMG-, gesture-, and voice-based interfaces

This paper proposes an intelligent robotic wheelchair with user-friendly human-computer interface (HCI) based on electromyogram (EMG) signal, face directional gesture, and voice. The user's intention is transfered to the wheelchair via the HCI, and then the wheelchair is controlled to the intended direction. Additionally, the wheelchair can detect and avoid obstacles autonomously using sonar sensors. By combining HCI into the autonomous functions, it performs safe and reliable motions while considering the user's intention. The experimental results in the crowded environment show that the proposed robotic wheelchair is feasible for the disabled and the elderly with severe motor disabilities.
An Integrated Model to Investigate an Individual's Behavioural Towards using Cloud Computing

Cloud computing technology can bring benefits at both individual level and organisational level, for example, flexibility and cost saving. However, there is a lack of empirical studies that examine the usage of cloud computing technology from an individual’s perspective. In fact, the adoption of cloud services in Middle Eastern counties like Saudi Arabia is still low compared with developed countries. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the end users' behavioural towards using cloud computing services in Saudi Arabia. In this paper, we propose an integrated model in an attempt to understand individuals’ attitudes and to identify the key factors that might impact on their behaviour to use cloud technology services. The proposed model integrates the critical factors from technology adoption theories Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT), along with other factors to examine the effect of these variables on end users’ behaviour.
Bone and muscle loss after spinal cord injury: organ interactions

Spinal cord injury (SCI) results in paralysis and marked loss of skeletal muscle and bone below the level of injury. Modest muscle activity prevents atrophy, whereas much larger—and as yet poorly defined—bone loading seems necessary to prevent bone loss. Once established, bone loss may be irreversible. SCI is associated with reductions in growth hormone, IGF‐1, and testosterone, deficiencies likely to exacerbate further loss of muscle and bone. Reduced muscle mass and inactivity are assumed to be contributors to the high prevalence of insulin resistance and diabetes in this population. Alterations in muscle gene expression after SCI share common features with other muscle loss states, but even so, show distinct profiles, possibly reflecting influences of neuromuscular activity due to spasticity. Changes in bone cells and markers after SCI have similarities with other conditions of unloading, although after SCI these changes are much more dramatic, perhaps reflecting the much greater magnitude of unloading. Adiposity and marrow fat are increased after SCI with intriguing, though poorly understood, implications for the function of skeletal muscle and bone cells.
Ghostfinger: a novel platform for fully computational fingertip controllers

We present Ghostfinger, a technology for highly dynamic up/down fingertip haptics and control. The overall user experience offered by the technology can be described as that of tangibly and audibly interacting with a small hologram. More specifically, Ghostfinger implements automatic visualization of the dynamic instantiation/parametrization of algorithmic primitives that together determine the current haptic conditions for fingertip action. Some aspects of this visualization are visuospatial: A floating see-through cursor provides real-time, to-scale display of the fingerpad transducer, as it is being moved by the user. Simultaneously, each haptic primitive instance is represented by a floating block shape, type-colored, variably transparent, and possibly overlapping with other such block shapes. Further aspects of visualization are symbolic: Each instance is also represented by a type symbol, lighting up within a grid if the instance is providing output to the user. We discuss the system's user interface, programming interface, and potential applications. This is done from a general perspective that articulates and emphasizes the uniquely enabling role of the principle of computation in the implementation of new forms of instrumental control of musical sound. Beyond the currently presented technology, this also reflects more broadly on the role of Digital Musical Instruments (DMIs) in NIME.
Lactate and the Mechanism of Hypoglycemia-Associated Autonomic Failure in Diabetes

Iatrogenic hypoglycemia is a problem for many people with diabetes (1). It causes recurrent morbidity in most people with type 1 diabetes and many with advanced type 2 diabetes and is sometimes fatal. It generally precludes maintenance of euglycemia over a lifetime of diabetes and therefore full realization of the benefits of glycemic control. It impairs defenses against subsequent falling plasma glucose concentrations and causes a vicious cycle of recurrent hypoglycemia. Hypoglycemia in diabetes is typically the result of the interplay of therapeutic insulin excess—caused by treatment with insulin, a sulfonylurea, or a glinide—and compromised physiological and behavioral defenses against falling plasma glucose concentrations (1,2). Compromised physiological defenses include loss of the normal decrease in β-cell insulin secretion and increase in α-cell glucagon secretion and attenuation of the normal increase in adrenomedullary epinephrine secretion during hypoglycemia. The compromised behavioral defense is failure to ingest carbohydrates because of loss of symptoms due to attenuation of the normal increase in sympathoadrenal, largely sympathetic neural, activity. The concept of hypoglycemia-associated autonomic failure (HAAF) in diabetes posits that recent antecedent hypoglycemia (or sleep or prior exercise) causes both defective glucose counterregulation (by attenuating the epinephrine response in the setting of absent insulin and glucagon responses) and impaired awareness of hypoglycemia (by attenuating sympathoadrenal and the resulting symptomatic responses) and thus a vicious cycle of recurrent hypoglycemia. Although additional intraislet mechanisms may be involved, it is reasonable to attribute both loss of the insulin and of the glucagon responses to hypoglycemia, the prerequisites to HAAF, to β-cell failure. Insulin normally restrains glucagon secretion and a decrease in insulin normally stimulates glucagon secretion during hypoglycemia. In the setting of absolute endogenous insulin deficiency—β-cell failure—there is …
Type 1 diabetes, diabetic nephropathy, and pregnancy: a systematic review and meta-study.

BACKGROUND In the last decade, significant improvements have been achieved in maternal-fetal and diabetic care which make pregnancy possible in an increasing number of type 1 diabetic women with end-organ damage. Optimal counseling is important to make the advancements available to the relevant patients and to ensure the safety of mother and child. A systematic review will help to provide a survey of the available methods and to promote optimal counseling. OBJECTIVES To review the literature on diabetic nephropathy and pregnancy in type 1 diabetes. METHODS Medline, Embase, and the Cochrane Library were scanned in November 2012 (MESH, Emtree, and free terms on pregnancy and diabetic nephropathy). Studies were selected that report on pregnancy outcomes in type 1 diabetic patients with diabetic nephropathy in 1980-2012 (i.e. since the detection of microalbuminuria). Case reports with less than 5 cases and reports on kidney grafts were excluded. Paper selection and data extraction were performed in duplicate and matched for consistency. As the relevant reports were highly heterogeneous, we decided to perform a narrative review, with discussions oriented towards the period of publication. RESULTS Of the 1058 references considered, 34 fulfilled the selection criteria, and one was added from reference lists. The number of cases considered in the reports, which generally involved single-center studies, ranged from 5 to 311. The following issues were significant: (i) the evidence is scattered over many reports of differing format and involving small series (only 2 included over 100 patients), (ii) definitions are non-homogeneous, (iii) risks for pregnancy-related adverse events are increased (preterm delivery, caesarean section, perinatal death, and stillbirth) and do not substantially change over time, except for stillbirth (from over 10% to about 5%), (iv) the increase in risks with nephropathy progression needs confirmation in large homogeneous series, (v) the newly reported increase in malformations in diabetic nephropathy underlines the need for further studies. CONCLUSIONS The heterogeneous evidence from studies on diabetic nephropathy in pregnancy emphasizes the need for further perspective studies on this issue.
A competitive dynamic data replication algorithm

A distributed algorithm for dynamic data replication of an object in a distributed system is presented. The algorithm changes the number of replicas and their location in the distributed system to optimize the amount of communication. The algorithm dynamically adapts the replication scheme of an object to the pattern of read-write requests in the distributed system. It is shown that the cost of the algorithm is within a constant factor of the lower bound. <<ETX>>
Getting drunk and growing up: trajectories of frequent binge drinking during the transition to young adulthood.

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was: (1) to identify different trajectories of frequent binge drinking during the transition to young adulthood; (2) to validate the trajectories by relating them to behaviors and attitudes concerning alcohol and other drug use; and (3) to distinguish among the trajectories according to demographic characteristics and lifestyle experiences typical of the transition to young adulthood. METHOD Four waves of national panel data were obtained from the Monitoring the Future project; 9,945 weighted cases from the 1976-85 high school senior year cohorts were surveyed at biennial intervals between ages 18 and 24. Frequent binge drinking was defined as having five or more drinks in a row at least twice in the past two weeks. RESULTS Six distinct frequent binge drinking trajectory groups were specified a priori and confirmed with cluster analysis: Never, Rare, Chronic, Decreased, Increased and "Fling. " Repeated measures ANOVAS revealed that the trajectories corresponded to patterns of change and stability in problems with alcohol, attitudes about heavy drinking, peer heavy drinking and illicit drug use. Results from logistic regression analyses predicting diverging and converging trajectories provided some support for the general hypothesis that trajectories of Chronic and Increased frequent binge drinking over time are associated with difficulties in negotiating the transition to young adulthood. CONCLUSIONS The findings provide strong evidence for wide developmental variation in drinking patterns in the population, variation that is obscured by more aggregate-level considerations. The developmental variation in frequent binge drinking during the transition to young adulthood reflects systematic variation in success and difficulties with negotiating the transition.
In Vitro Activities of Posaconazole, Itraconazole, Voriconazole, Amphotericin B, and Fluconazole against 37 Clinical Isolates of Zygomycetes

ABSTRACT In vitro antifungal susceptibility testing results of a new antifungal triazole, posaconazole (POS), were compared to results with amphotericin B (AMB), itraconazole (ITC), voriconazole (VRC), and fluconazole (FLC) against clinical agents of zygomycosis. The MICs of POS at which 50% and 90% of the isolates were inhibited were 0.25 and 4 μg/ml, respectively. POS was significantly more active than VRC and FLC and slightly more active than ITC. The results suggest that POS has significant potential for clinical development against the zygomycetes.
Early Pregnancy Diagnosis in Bovines: Current Status and Future Directions

An early and accurate diagnosis of reproductive dysfunctions or aberrations is crucial to better reproductive management in livestock. High reproductive efficiency is a prerequisite for high life-time production in dairy animals. Early pregnancy diagnosis is key to shorten the calving interval through early identification of open animals and their timely treatment and rebreeding so as to maintain a postpartum barren interval close to 60 days. A buffalo, the most important dairy animal in the Indian subcontinent, is known for problems related to high calving interval, late puberty, and high incidence of anestrus. Lack of reliable cow-side early pregnancy diagnosis methods further aggravates the situation. Several methods of pregnancy diagnosis are being practiced in bovine species, yet none qualifies as the ideal pregnancy diagnosis method due to the inherent limitations of sensitivity, accuracy, specificity, speed, and ease of performing the test. The advancement of molecular techniques like proteomics and their applications in animal research has given a new hope to look for pregnancy biomarker molecules in these animals. This review attempts to examine common pregnancy diagnosis methods available for dairy animals, while assessing the usefulness of the modern technologies in detecting novel pregnancy markers and designing future strategies for research in this area.
Protein Thermal Stability Enhancement by Designing Salt Bridges: A Combined Computational and Experimental Study

Protein thermal stability is an important factor considered in medical and industrial applications. Many structural characteristics related to protein thermal stability have been elucidated, and increasing salt bridges is considered as one of the most efficient strategies to increase protein thermal stability. However, the accurate simulation of salt bridges remains difficult. In this study, a novel method for salt-bridge design was proposed based on the statistical analysis of 10,556 surface salt bridges on 6,493 X-ray protein structures. These salt bridges were first categorized based on pairing residues, secondary structure locations, and Cα–Cα distances. Pairing preferences generalized from statistical analysis were used to construct a salt-bridge pair index and utilized in a weighted electrostatic attraction model to find the effective pairings for designing salt bridges. The model was also coupled with B-factor, weighted contact number, relative solvent accessibility, and conservation prescreening to determine the residues appropriate for the thermal adaptive design of salt bridges. According to our method, eight putative salt-bridges were designed on a mesophilic β-glucosidase and 24 variants were constructed to verify the predictions. Six putative salt-bridges leaded to the increase of the enzyme thermal stability. A significant increase in melting temperature of 8.8, 4.8, 3.7, 1.3, 1.2, and 0.7°C of the putative salt-bridges N437K–D49, E96R–D28, E96K–D28, S440K–E70, T231K–D388, and Q277E–D282 was detected, respectively. Reversing the polarity of T231K–D388 to T231D–D388K resulted in a further increase in melting temperatures by 3.6°C, which may be caused by the transformation of an intra-subunit electrostatic interaction into an inter-subunit one depending on the local environment. The combination of the thermostable variants (N437K, E96R, T231D and D388K) generated a melting temperature increase of 15.7°C. Thus, this study demonstrated a novel method for the thermal adaptive design of salt bridges through inference of suitable positions and substitutions.
How device misconfiguration drives TCP traffic to parts of 1.0.0.0/8 - an initial investigation

The Internet community is near the ‘bottom of the barrel’ for unallocated IPv4 address prefixes. Network 1.0.0.0/8 was allocated in January 2010 for use on the public Internet, despite being unofficially utilised in various ways for many years. Recent work has revealed this prefix to be quite ‘dirty’, with significant levels of public UDP and TCP traffic already inbound to certain parts of 1.0.0.0/8. By running a simplified honeypot on 1.1.1.0/24 and 1.2. 3.0/24 for two days in March 2010 we have elicited new insights into the nature of the TCP traffic polluting these prefixes. Our honeypot replied to inbound TCP SYN packets with a SYN-ACK, thereby eliciting a variety of subsequent response packets from sources actively trying to connect into 1.1.1.0/24 or 1.2. 3.0/24 space. By analyzing captured packet payloads, sequences, retransmission patterns and burst rates within such TCP flows, we find that most TCP traffic into these prefixes is caused by some form of misconfiguration rather than malice, and we discuss the possible causes for these misconfigurations.
Annals of Clinical Microbiology and Anti microbials

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) coinfection is not uncommon as a result of similar routes of infection. Patients who are coinfected represent a unique group with diverse serologic profiles. Combined chronic hepatitis B and C leads to more severe liver disease and an increased risk of hepatocellular carcinoma. Furthermore, coinfected patients represent a treatment challenge. No standard recommendations exist for treatment of viral hepatitis due to dual HBV/ HCV infection, and therefore treatment must be individualized based on patient variables such as serologic and virologic profiles, patient's prior exposure to antiviral treatment, and the presence of other parenterally transmitted viruses such as hepatitis D virus and human immunodeficiency virus. The natural history and treatment of patients with HBV and HCV coinfection is reviewed. LIT.001. 4034
Effect of interferon on dimethyl sulfoxide-stimulated Friend erythroleukemic cells: ultrastructural and biochemical study

Treatment of dimethyl sulfoxide-stimulated Friend erythroleukemic cells (clone 745) with mouse interferon (50 U/ml) led to the following changes: (i) a net decrease (40 to 60%) in both the total number of apparently newly synthesized virion particles per cell section and in the average number of cell sections containing one or more virion particles; (ii) a large decrease (80 to 90%) in the number of particles released into the supernatant fluid, as assayed by reverse transcriptase activity; (iii) an initial increase in the number of "immature" or "enveloped A-type" virions followed by an increase in the accumulation of empty, core shell-like particles; and (iv) a decrease in the number of cytoplasmic vacuolar structures, which have been implicated as a major site of virus production and which we show here by serial sectioning to be, in several instances, invaginations of the plasma membrane. The effects on virus production were noticeable 2 h after interferon addition and reached their full extent by 13 h. We conclude from these observations that interferon acts upon the late stage(s) of virion maturation, leading both to a decrease in virion production as well as to the formation of defective particles. In contrast, a small but significant increase in the rate at which globin mRNA and hemoglobin accumulate is observed after interferon treatment.
Status Report Of The Finnish Phonetic Typewriter Project

In connection to a speech recognizer, the aim of which is to produce phonemic transcriptions of arbitrary spoken utterances, we investigate the combined eeect of several improvements at diierent stages of phoneme recognition. The core of the basic recognition system is Learning Vector Quantization (LVQ1) 1]. This algorithm was originally used to classify FFT-based short-time feature vectors into phonemic classes. The phonemic decoding stage was earlier based on simple durational rules 2] 3]. At the feature level, we now study the eeect of using mel-scale cepstral features and concatenating consecutive feature vectors to include context. At the output of vector quantization, a comparison of three approaches to take into account the classiications of feature vectors in local context is presented. The rule-based phonemic decoding is compared to decoding employing Hidden Markov Models (HMMs). As earlier, an optional grammatical post-correction method (DEC) is applied. Experiments conducted with three male speakers indicate that it is possible to increase signiicantly the phonemic transcription accuracy of the previous con-guration. By using appropriately liftered cepstra, concatenating three adjacent feature vectors, and using HMM-based phonemic decoding, the error rate can be decreased from 14.0 % to 5.8 %.