Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
From monkey-like action recognition to human language: An evolutionary framework for neurolinguistics

The article analyzes the neural and functional grounding of language skills as well as their emergence in hominid evolution, hypothesizing stages leading from abilities known to exist in monkeys and apes and presumed to exist in our hominid ancestors right through to modern spoken and signed languages. The starting point is the observation that both premotor area F5 in monkeys and Broca's area in humans contain a “mirror system” active for both execution and observation of manual actions, and that F5 and Broca's area are homologous brain regions. This grounded the mirror system hypothesis of Rizzolatti and Arbib (1998) which offers the mirror system for grasping as a key neural “missing link” between the abilities of our nonhuman ancestors of 20 million years ago and modern human language, with manual gestures rather than a system for vocal communication providing the initial seed for this evolutionary process. The present article, however, goes “beyond the mirror” to offer hypotheses on evolutionary changes within and outside the mirror systems which may have occurred to equip Homo sapiens with a language-ready brain. Crucial to the early stages of this progression is the mirror system for grasping and its extension to permit imitation. Imitation is seen as evolving via a so-called simple system such as that found in chimpanzees (which allows imitation of complex “object-oriented” sequences but only as the result of extensive practice) to a so-called complex system found in humans (which allows rapid imitation even of complex sequences, under appropriate conditions) which supports pantomime. This is hypothesized to have provided the substrate for the development of protosign, a combinatorially open repertoire of manual gestures, which then provides the scaffolding for the emergence of protospeech (which thus owes little to nonhuman vocalizations), with protosign and protospeech then developing in an expanding spiral. It is argued that these stages involve biological evolution of both brain and body. By contrast, it is argued that the progression from protosign and protospeech to languages with full-blown syntax and compositional semantics was a historical phenomenon in the development of Homo sapiens, involving few if any further biological changes.
Copper phthalocyanine oligomer grafted acrylic elastomer nanocomposites with high dielectric constants

For many applications of dielectric elastomer (DE) actuators, it is desirable to endow the DE with a high dielectric constant (e), high breakdown field, and good flexibility. In this study, a high-e nanocomposite acrylic elastomer (ACM)-g-copper phthalocyanine (CuPc) was fabricated, in which the CuPc oligomer was grafted onto the backbone of ACM. This grafted composite exhibited several benefits over the physically blended one. Transmission electron microscopy micrographs indicated that the size of the grafted CuPc was in the range 15–30 nm, which was more than 25 times smaller than that of the simply blended one. At room temperature, e of ACM-g-CuPc (with 15 wt % CuPc) reached 303 at 100 Hz. The remarkable enhancement in the dielectric response could be attributed to the greatly strengthened exchange coupling effect and the Maxwell–Wagner–Sillars polarization mechanism. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2014, 131, 39975.
Universality of non-ohmic shunt leakage in thin-film solar cells

We compare the dark current-voltage (IV) characteristics of three different thin-film solar cell types: hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a-Si:H) p-i-n cells, organic bulk heterojunction (BHJ) cells, and Cu(In,Ga)Se2 (CIGS) cells. All three device types exhibit a significant shunt leakage current at low forward bias (V<∼0.4) and reverse bias, which cannot be explained by the classical solar cell diode model. This parasitic shunt current exhibits non-Ohmic behavior, as opposed to the traditional constant shunt resistance model for photovoltaics. We show here that this shunt leakage (Ish), across all three solar cell types considered, is characterized by the following common phenomenological features: (a) voltage symmetry about V=0, (b) nonlinear (power law) voltage dependence, and (c) extremely weak temperature dependence. Based on this analysis, we provide a simple method of subtracting this shunt current component from the measured data and discuss its implications on dark IV parameter extraction. We propose a space charge limited (SCL) current model for capturing all these features of the shunt leakage in a consistent framework and discuss possible physical origin of the parasitic paths responsible for this shunt current mechanism.We compare the dark current-voltage (IV) characteristics of three different thin-film solar cell types: hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a-Si:H) p-i-n cells, organic bulk heterojunction (BHJ) cells, and Cu(In,Ga)Se2 (CIGS) cells. All three device types exhibit a significant shunt leakage current at low forward bias (V<∼0.4) and reverse bias, which cannot be explained by the classical solar cell diode model. This parasitic shunt current exhibits non-Ohmic behavior, as opposed to the traditional constant shunt resistance model for photovoltaics. We show here that this shunt leakage (Ish), across all three solar cell types considered, is characterized by the following common phenomenological features: (a) voltage symmetry about V=0, (b) nonlinear (power law) voltage dependence, and (c) extremely weak temperature dependence. Based on this analysis, we provide a simple method of subtracting this shunt current component from the measured data and discuss its implications on dark IV parameter extraction. We propo.
Visually Navigating the RMS Titanic with SLAM Information Filters

(cid:151)This paper describes a vision-based large-area simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) algorithm that respects the constraints of low-overlap imagery typical of under-water vehicles while exploiting the information associated with the inertial sensors that are routinely available on such platforms. We present a novel strategy for ef(cid:2)ciently accessing and maintaining consistent covariance bounds within a SLAM information (cid:2)lter, greatly increasing the reliability of data association. The technique is based upon solving a sparse system of linear equations coupled with the application of constant-time Kalman updates. The method is shown to produce consistent covariance estimates suitable for robot planning and data association. Real-world results are presented for a vision-based 6 DOF SLAM implementation using data from a recent ROV survey of the wreck of the RMS Titanic.
Effect of Natriuretic Peptide Receptor Antagonist on Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Fever in Rats: Is Natriuretic Peptide an Endogenous Antipyretic?

We investigated whether natriuretic peptide (NP) acts as an endogenous antipyretic inside and/or outside the blood-brain barrier in rats made febrile by systemic administration of bacterial endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide; LPS). Intravenous (i.v.) injection of LPS induced a triphasic fever, the second phase of which was significantly enhanced by an i.v. injection of the NP receptor (A-type and B-type) antagonist HS-142-1, a glucose-caproic acid polymer. In contrast, the same antagonist (i.v.) had no effect on the fever induced by i.v. injection of interleukin (IL)-1β. An i.v. administration of HS-142-1 enhanced the LPS (i.v.)-induced IL-1β response in the rat spleen. An i.v. treatment with atrial NP (ANP) significantly attenuated the second phase of the LPS-induced fever. On the other hand, i.c. v. injection of the above-mentioned NP receptor antagonist resulted in an augmentation of the third phase of the fever induced by i.v. administration of LPS, the same phase that was attenuated by ANP given i.c. v. When given intracerebro-ventricularly (i.c.v.), the antagonist had no effect on the fever induced by i.v. IL-1β. Finally, the fever induced by i.c. v. injection of LPS was not affected even by an i.c. v. administration of the antagonist. These results suggest that the production of pyrogenic cytokines (such as IL-1β) that follows i.v. LPS injection may be inhibited by NP acting outside the blood-brain barrier, leading to an inhibition of the fever. In contrast, inside the blood-brain barrier NP may inhibit cytokine-independent mechanisms present within the rat brain that mediate LPS (i.v.)-induced fever.
Paper-based and computer-based concept mappings: The effects on computer achievement, computer anxiety and computer attitude

The purpose of this paper is to compare the effects of paper-based and computer-based concept mappings on computer hardware achievement, computer anxiety and computer attitude of the eight grade secondary school students. The students were randomly allocated to three groups and were given instruction on computer hardware. The teaching methods used for each group were the conventional method, paper-based concept mapping and computer-based concept mapping. At the end of a 4-week instruction, posttests were administered to assess computer hardware achievement, computer anxiety and computer attitude of the students. The findings indicate that paper-based and computer-based concept mapping strategies produce better results than the conventional method. However, the effects of paper-based and computer-based concept mapping strategies were not significantly different. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
No Benefit of Complex Fractionated Atrial Electrogram Ablation in Addition to Circumferential Pulmonary Vein Ablation and Linear Ablation: Benefit of Complex Ablation Study

Background—The optimal ablation strategy for persistent atrial fibrillation (AF) remains unclear. Methods and Results—This multicentre randomized study compared circumferential pulmonary vein ablation+linear ablation (control arm) versus circumferential pulmonary vein ablation+linear ablation+complex fractionated atrial electrogram (CFAE) ablation (CFAE arm) in patients with persistent AF. Circumferential pulmonary vein ablation was performed followed by roof and mitral isthmus ablation, before CFAE ablation in the CFAE arm. Ablation strategy was maintained at the first redo procedure. Sixty-five patients were recruited in each arm. The mean age was 61±10 years, 75% were men, median AF duration was 2 years, 42% had long-lasting persistent AF, 68% had associated cardiovascular disease, mean left atrial dimension was 46±6 mm, and median CHA2DS2-VASc score was 2. Ablation and procedure times were significantly longer in the CFAE arm (70±20 versus 55±17; 201±35 versus 152±45 minutes; P<0.005). After a mean follow-up of 35±5 months, single-procedural success off antiarrhythmic drugs at 12 months (CFAE: 30/65 [46%] versus control: 37/65 [57%]; P=0.29) and multiprocedural success (CFAE: 51/65 [78%] versus control: 52/65 [80%]; P=1.0) were not significantly different. At the first redo procedure, patients in the CFAE arm had a higher incidence of organized atrial tachycardia/flutter (24/33 [73%] versus 11/31 [35%]; P=0.005) and gap-related macro–re-entrant flutter (8/33[24%] versus 1/31[3%]; P=0.03). Early recurrence of atrial arrhythmia was an independent predictor of late recurrence. Conclusions—CFAE ablation did not confer incremental benefit when performed in addition to circumferential pulmonary vein ablation and linear ablation. It was associated with a higher incidence of gap-related flutter. Clinical Trial Registration—URL: http://www.clinicaltrials. gov. Unique identifier: NCT01711047.
Phototactic activity in Chlamydomonas 'non-phototactic' mutants deficient in Ca2+-dependent control of flagellar dominance or in inner-arm dynein

In the mechanism underlying the phototactic behavior of Chlamydomonas, Ca2+ has been thought to control the dominance between the two flagella so as to steer the cell to correct directions. A newly isolated mutant, lsp1, that displays weak phototaxis was found to be defective in this Ca2+-dependent shift in flagellar dominance; in demembranated and reactivated cell models, the trans flagellum (the flagellum farthest from the eyespot) beat more strongly than the other (the cis flagellum) in about half of the cells regardless of the Ca2+ concentration between <10-9 M and 10-6 M, a range over which wild-type cell models display switching of flagellar dominance. This is unexpected because ptx1, another mutant that is also deficient in flagellar dominance control, has been reported to lack phototactic ability. We therefore re-examined ptx1 and another reportedly non-phototactic mutant, ida1, which lacks inner arm dynein subspecies f (also called I1). Both were found to retain reduced phototactic abilities. These results indicate that both Ca2+-dependent flagellar dominance control and inner-arm dynein subspecies f are important for phototaxis, but are not absolutely necessary. Analysis of the flagellar beat frequency in lsp1 cell models showed that both of the flagella beat at the frequency of the cis flagellum in wild type. In addition, lsp1 and ptx1 were found to be deficient in determining the sign of phototactic migration. Hence, the Ca2+-dependent flagellar dominance control detected in demembranated cells might be involved in the determination of the sign of phototaxis. The gene responsible for the lsp1 mutation was identified by phenotype rescue experiments and found to have sequences for phosphorylation.
An Aspect-Oriented Approach to the Modularisation of Context

Handling context is required for applications to dynamically and appropriately adapt to their changing environment. Incorporating context into applications involves the consideration of a set of concerns related to the handling of various context types and the adaptation of the application behaviour relative to the current context. These concerns are usually heavily tangled with the base code of the applications, resulting in code that is badly modularised and therefore is hard to understand, manage and modify. We propose a modularised design for the handling of different kinds of context using aspect-oriented programming techniques. We demonstrate that a context-aware application built in this manner exhibits improved modularity, with corresponding improvements in comprehensibility, manageability and maintainability. The proposed aspect-oriented modularisation is evaluated against traditional object-oriented techniques, and also against a popular context framework, using metrics indicating coupling, cohesion and complexity. The results show the positive effect of modular code on context-aware applications by quantitatively illustrating the improvements in modularisation quality factors
Short-Term Synaptic Plasticity in the Dentate Gyrus of Monkeys

The hippocampus plays an important role in learning and memory. Synaptic plasticity in the hippocampus, short-term and long-term, is postulated to be a neural substrate of memory trace. Paired-pulse stimulation is a standard technique for evaluating a form of short-term synaptic plasticity in rodents. However, evidence is lacking for paired-pulse responses in the primate hippocampus. In the present study, we recorded paired-pulse responses in the dentate gyrus of monkeys while stimulating to the medial part of the perforant path at several inter-pulse intervals (IPIs) using low and high stimulus intensities. When the stimulus intensity was low, the first pulse produced early strong depression (at IPIs of 10–30 ms) and late slight depression (at IPIs of 100–1000 ms) of field excitatory postsynaptic potentials (fEPSPs) generated by the second pulse, interposing no depression IPIs (50–70 ms). When the stimulus intensity was high, fEPSPs generated by the second pulse were depressed by the first pulse at all IPIs except for the longest one (2000 ms). Population spikes (PSs) generated by the second pulse were completely blocked or strongly depressed at shorter IPIs (10–100 or 200 ms, respectively), while no depression or slight facilitation occurred at longer IPIs (500–2000 ms). Administration of diazepam slightly increased fEPSPs, while it decreased PSs produced by the first pulse. It also enhanced the facilitation of PSs produced by the second stimulation at longer IPIs. The present results, in comparison with previous studies using rodents, indicate that paired-pulse responses of fEPSPs in the monkey are basically similar to those of rodents, although paired-pulse responses of PSs in the monkey are more delayed than those in rodents and have a different sensitivity to diazepam.
Association of arteriosclerosis and/or atherosclerosis with hypertensive target organ damage in the community-dwelling elderly Chinese: the Northern Shanghai Study

Objective Vascular abnormality includes two forms, arteriosclerosis (ARS) and atherosclerosis (ATS), which coexist in patients with cardiovascular (CV) diseases. However, whether their combination may lead to a worsening status in those patients remains unclear. We therefore aimed to investigate the association of ARS and/or ATS with hypertensive target organ damage (TOD). Methods From June 2014 to August 2015, a total of 1,599 community-dwelling elderly subjects (aged >65 years) from northern Shanghai were recruited. Vascular measurements, such as carotid–femoral pulse wave velocity (cf-PWV), ankle–brachial index (ABI) and carotid plaque, were conducted on each participant, and ARS was defined as cf-PWV >12 m/s, while ATS was defined as participants who have carotid plaque or ABI <0.9. Within the framework of comprehensive CV examinations, CV risk factors were assessed, and asymptomatic TOD was evaluated by measuring participants’ left ventricular mass index (LVMI), peak transmitral pulsed Doppler velocity/early diastolic tissue Doppler velocity (E/Ea), urinary albumin–creatinine rate (UACR) and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). Results Although LVMI, E/Ea and eGFR were significantly different among subjects with or without ARS and/or ATS (P<0.02), in full adjustment model, only E/Ea showed the independent and significant difference (P=0.023). Moreover, E/Ea was significantly different between participants with ARS or ATS and those without ARS or ATS (P=0.045), while there was no significant difference between participants with ARS and ATS and those without ARS or ATS (P=0.28). Similar results were obtained in the multivariate logistic regression of left ventricular diastolic dysfunction (LVDD). With similar adjustment, LVDD was significantly associated with ATS (P=0.01) but not with ARS (P=0.99). Conclusion In the community-dwelling elderly Chinese, among hypertensive TOD, LVDD was significantly associated with ATS but not with ARS. The proportion of patients with LVDD was not significantly different despite the presence of both ATS and ARS, when compared to patients with ATS alone.
Endoscopic Treatment of Severe Tracheal Stenosis

Objectives: Endoscopic treatment of subglottic and tracheal stenosis has traditionally been reserved for short-segment and web-like stenoses with normal cartilage. This retrospective case series review was undertaken to examine my experience with definitive endoscopic treatment for circumferential and complete tracheal stenosis with loss of cartilaginous support. Methods: Patients who presented with tracheostomy dependence or dyspnea as a result of clinically significant tracheal stenosis over a 2-year period were treated endoscopically. Mitomycin C was applied after dilation in 19 patients. Three patients with complete stenosis and cartilage collapse underwent endoscopic placement of a silicone elastic stent, which was in place for less than 23 days. Results: Twenty patients were treated for tracheal stenosis over a 2-year period. No surgical complications were observed after operation in the endoscopic treatment group. Three of 6 patients with complete stenoses and 8 of 10 patients with circumferential stenoses with cartilage involvement gained airways that remained patent. Nine patients' stenoses resolved after the initial treatment. Three patients (15%) eventually required tracheal resection. The follow-up periods ranged from 5 to 25 months. Conclusions: Although some limitations apply, severe and complete tracheal stenoses may be successfully treated endoscopically with the techniques described. Definitive endoscopic treatment may be considered before tracheal resection in select cases. Endoscopic treatment is associated with few complications, low morbidity, a short operative time, and a short length of hospitalization.
Beneficial effects of soy protein isoflavones on lipid and blood glucose concentrations in type 2 diabetic subjects.

Consumption of soyprotein has recently been shown to improve the blood lipid levels in non-diabetic subjects. The purpose of this study was to evaluate if a dietary soyprotein isoflavones affects lipid and blood glucose levels in type 2 diabetic subjects. Twenty six type 2 diabetic patients who had refferd to Ahvaz Jundishapour University Diabetes Center, due to uncontrolled diabetes, participated in this study. They completed a trial of dietary supplementation with 25gr/day of a processed defeated meal containing 12 gr soyprotein and about 50mg isoflavones, for 3 months. FBS, HbA1C, serum total cholesterol, triglyceride, HDL and LDL-C and patients, weight and blood pressure were checked before soyprotein consumption and monthly thereafter. There were significant differences in mean FBS (153±50 versus 178±60, P< 0.015), HbA1C (8.8 ± 1.4 versus 9.6 ± 1.7 percent, P<0.001), triglycerides concentration (229 ± 113 versus 267 ± 149 P<0.008) and total cholesterol (196 ± 41 versus 207 ± 42, P<0.002) before and after three months consumption of soyprotein isoflavones.There were no significant changes in HDL and LDL-C cholesterol levels, blood pressure and weight.
A Dual-Butterfly Structure Gyroscope

This paper reports a dual-butterfly structure gyroscope based on the traditional butterfly structure. This novel structure is composed of two butterfly structures, each of which contains a main vibrational beam, four proof masses, and a coupling mechanism. The coupling mechanism in this proposed structure couples the two single butterfly structures and keeps the driving mode phases of the two single butterfly gyroscopes exactly opposite, increasing the double difference of traditional butterfly gyroscopes to a quad difference, which has the potential advantage of improving bias instability and g-sensitivity. The gyroscope was fabricated using a standard microfabrication method and tested in laboratory conditions. The experimental results show a Q-factor of 10,967 in driving mode and there were two peaks in the frequency responses curve of sensing direction due to unavoidable fabrication errors. Scale factor and bias instability were also measured, reaching a scale factor of 10.9 mV/°/s and a bias instability of 10.7°/h, according to the Allan Variance curve.