Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Real-time semantic compensation in patients with agrammatic comprehension: Electrophysiological evidence for multiple-route plasticity

To understand spoken language requires that the brain provides rapid access to different kinds of knowledge, including the sounds and meanings of words, and syntax. Syntax specifies constraints on combining words in a grammatically well formed manner. Agrammatic patients are deficient in their ability to use these constraints, due to a lesion in the perisylvian area of the language-dominant hemisphere. We report a study on real-time auditory sentence processing in agrammatic comprehenders, examining their ability to accommodate damage to the language system. We recorded event-related brain potentials (ERPs) in agrammatic comprehenders, nonagrammatic aphasics, and age-matched controls. When listening to sentences with grammatical violations, the agrammatic aphasics did not show the same syntax-related ERP effect as the two other subject groups. Instead, the waveforms of the agrammatic aphasics were dominated by a meaning-related ERP effect, presumably reflecting their attempts to achieve understanding by the use of semantic constraints. These data demonstrate that although agrammatic aphasics are impaired in their ability to exploit syntactic information in real time, they can reduce the consequences of a syntactic deficit by exploiting a semantic route. They thus provide evidence for the compensation of a syntactic deficit by a stronger reliance on another route in mapping sound onto meaning. This is a form of plasticity that we refer to as multiple-route plasticity.
3D Face Recognition using Radon Transform and Symbolic LDA

Many recent events, such as terrorist attacks, have exposed the serious weaknesses in most sophisticated security systems. Three dimensional (3D) human face recognition is emerging as a significant biometric technology. Research interest in 3D face recognition has increased during recent years due to the availability of improved 3D acquisition devices and processing algorithms. In this paper, the novel method for three dimensional (3D) face recognition using Radon transform and Symbolic LDA based features of 3D range face images is proposed. In this method, the Symbolic LDA based feature computation takes into account the face image variations to a larger extent and has the advantage of dimensionality reduction. The experimental results have yielded 99.50% recognition performance with reduced computational cost, which compares well with other state-of-the-art methods.
Rapid Antemortem Detection of CWD Prions in Deer Saliva

Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is an efficiently transmitted prion disease of cervids, now identified in 22 United States, 2 Canadian provinces and Korea. One hallmark of CWD is the shedding of infectious prions in saliva, as demonstrated by bioassay in deer. It is also clear that the concentration of prions in saliva, blood, urine and feces is much lower than in the nervous system or lymphoid tissues. Rapid in vitro detection of CWD (and other) prions in body fluids and excreta has been problematic due to the sensitivity limits of direct assays (western blotting, ELISA) and the presence of inhibitors in these complex biological materials that hamper detection. Here we use real-time quaking induced conversion (RT-QuIC) to demonstrate CWD prions in both diluted and prion-enriched saliva samples from asymptomatic and symptomatic white-tailed deer. CWD prions were detected in 14 of 24 (58.3%) diluted saliva samples from CWD-exposed white-tailed deer, including 9 of 14 asymptomatic animals (64.2%). In addition, a phosphotungstic acid enrichment enhanced the RT-QuIC assay sensitivity, enabling detection in 19 of 24 (79.1%) of the above saliva samples. Bioassay in Tg[CerPrP] mice confirmed the presence of infectious prions in 2 of 2 RT-QuIC-positive saliva samples so examined. The modified RT-QuIC analysis described represents a non-invasive, rapid ante-mortem detection of prions in complex biologic fluids, excreta, or environmental samples as well as a tool for exploring prion trafficking, peripheralization, and dissemination.
An Investigation Into the Effects of the Gate Drive Resistance on the Losses of the MOSFET–Snubber–Diode Configuration

This paper presents an investigation into the effects of the gate drive resistance on the losses of the MOSFET-snubberdiode (MSD) configuration commonly used in many power converters. An analytical loss model that takes the circuit stray inductances, MOSFET parasitic capacitances and inductances, and reverse current characteristic of the freewheeling diode into consideration is derived to describe the interactions among the MOSFET, snubber, and freewheeling diode during the switching transients. Two possible turn-ON switching situations, determined by the gate drive part and the power part, respectively, are distinguished in the analysis. It is then used to study the effects of the stray inductances, gate drive resistance and snubber on the switching behaviors, power loss distribution, and voltage stress on the MOSFET in the entire MSD configuration. A sequence of steps will be given to illustrate how an optimal combination of the gate drive resistance and snubber capacitance is determined, in order to minimize the overall loss of the MSD configuration for a maximum permissible voltage stress on the MOSFET. The loss model and method of determining the gate drive resistance and snubber capacitance are evaluated by comparing the theoretical predictions with the experimental results of a 400V, 6A test bench. The performances of the MSD configuration with different types of freewheeling diodes will be studied.
Antigen Bias in T Cell Cross-Priming

Activated CD8+ T cells detect virally infected cells and tumor cells by recognition of major histocompatibility complex class I–bound peptides derived from degraded, endogenously produced proteins. In contrast, CD8+ T cell activation often occurs through interaction with specialized antigen-presenting cells displaying peptides acquired from an exogenous cellular source, a process termed cross-priming. Here, we observed a marked inefficiency in exogenous presentation of epitopes derived from signal sequences in mouse models. These data indicate that certain virus- and tumor-associated antigens may not be detected by CD8+ T cells because of impaired cross-priming. Such differences in the ability to cross-present antigens should form important considerations in vaccine design.
Exo-Balancer: Design Method of Personalized Stabilizers for Shooting Actions

In photography and videography, it is a huge challenge to align sight towards a moving target continuously and steadily often requiring considerable practice and experience. Blurry photos are often taken by camera users who lack requisite skills. To address this problem, stabilizers have been designed. Conventional stabilizers introduce a steep learning curve, because they are designed to be mass-produced and not tailored to the individual. Therefore, we present a design method of personalized stabilizers for shooting actions. Our system requires users to input their body data. Then, the system proposes the suitable position of the camera to be harnessed to the user considering the moments of force of both the user and camera.
A 6b 3GS/s 11mW fully dynamic flash ADC in 40nm CMOS with reduced number of comparators

A 6b 3GS/s fully dynamic flash ADC is fabricated in 40nm CMOS and occupies 0.021mm2. Dynamic comparators with digitally controlled built-in offset are realized with imbalanced tails. Half of the comparators are substituted with simple SR latches. The ADC achieves SNDRs of 36.2dB and 33.1dB at DC and Nyquist, respectively, while consuming 11mW from a 1.1V supply.
A Measurement-Based Skin Reflectance Model for Face Rendering and Editing

We present a novel skin reflectance model for faces and its application to face appearance editing. We decompose the high-dimensional bidirectional scattering surface reflectance distribution function (BSSRDF) of skin into components that can be estimated from measured data. Our model is intuitive, amenable to interactive rendering, and easy to edit. High-quality renderings come close to reproducing real photographs. We have measured 3D face geometry, skin reflectance, and subsurface scattering for a large group of people using custom-built devices and fit the data to our model. The analysis of the reflectance data reveals variations according to subject age, race, gender and external factors (heat, cold, makeup, etc.) We derive a low-dimensional model using non-negative matrix factorization (NMF) that spans the space of skin reflectance in our database. A user can define meaningful parameters in this space - such as race, gender, and age - and change the overall appearance of a person (e.g., making a Caucasian face look more Asian) or change local features (e.g., adding moles, freckles or hair follicles). SIGGRAPH 2005
Geometric Theory and Control of Linear Parameter Varying Systems

Linear Parameter Varying (LPV) systems appear in a form of LTI state space representations where the elements of the A(rho), B(rho), C(rho) matrices depend on an unknown but at any time instant measurable vector parameter rho isin V. This paper describes a geometric view of LPV systems. Geometric concepts and tools of invariant subspaces and algorithms for LPV systems afflne in the parameters will be presented and proposed. Application of these results will be shown and referenced in solving various analysis (controllability/observability) problems, controller design and fault detection problems associated to LPV systems.
Clausmarin A, Potential Immunosuppressant Revealed by Yeast-Based Assay and Interleukin-2 Production Assay in Jurkat T Cells

Small-molecule inhibitors of Ca2+-signaling pathways are of medicinal importance, as exemplified by the immunosuppressants FK506 and cyclosporin A. Using a yeast-based assay devised for the specific detection of Ca2+-signaling inhibitors, clausmarin A, a previously reported terpenoid coumarin, was identified as an active substance. Here, we investigated the likely mechanism of clausmarin A action in yeast and Jurkat T-cells. In the presence of 100 mM CaCl2 in the growth medium of Ca2+-sensitive Δzds1 strain yeast, clausmarin A exhibited a dose-dependent alleviation of various defects due to hyperactivation of Ca2+ signaling, such as growth inhibition, polarized bud growth and G2 phase cell-cycle arrest. Furthermore, clausmarin A inhibited the growth of Δmpk1 (lacking the Mpk1 MAP kinase pathway) but not Δcnb1 (lacking the calcineurin pathway) strain, suggesting that clausmarin A inhibited the calcineurin pathway as presumed from the synthetic lethality of these pathways. Furthermore, clausmarin A alleviated the serious defects of a strain expressing a constitutively active form of calcineurin. In the human Jurkat T-cell line, clausmarin A exhibited a dose-dependent inhibition of IL-2 production and IL-2 gene transcription, as well as an inhibition of NFAT dephosphorylation. The effects of clausmarin A observed in both yeast and Jurkat cells are basically similar to those of FK506. Our study revealed that clausmarin A is an inhibitor of the calcineurin pathway, and that this is probably mediated via inhibition of calcineurin phosphatase activity. As such, clausmarin A is a potential immunosuppressant.
Inverter control modelling for distributed generation feeding into a utility network

With increasing levels of small-scale distributed generation (DG) systems connecting into the electrical grid, there is a growing awareness of potentially adverse interactions between these systems and the grid because of their differing responses to steady state and transient network events. To study these issues, it is important to use simulation models of both the grid network and the DG inverter systems that are sufficiently detailed to realistically represent their real world physical system behaviours. However, inverter systems are usually simulated in detail using specialist packages, which are not particularly suited to modelling larger scale power systems. Similarly, power system simulation packages typically represent inverter systems using simpler averaged models, which do not adequately reflect the inverter's real dynamic response to transient events. This paper addresses this issue, by presenting a detailed power inverter model developed within the DIgSILENT power network simulation package, which is sufficiently detailed to represent the inverter operation up to the PWM switching frequency, but is still computationally viable for use with larger scale system studies. The DIgSILENT model has been validated against a detailed PSIM inverter model, which has been verified in previous work against a physical experimental system.
Optimized MT online learning in computer assisted translation

In this paper we propose a cascading framework for optimizing online learning in machine translation for a computer assisted translation scenario. With the use of online learning, several hyperparameters associated with the learning algorithm are introduced. The number of iterations of online learning can affect the translation quality as well. We discuss these issues and propose a few approaches to optimize the hyperparameters and to find the number of iterations required for online learning. We experimentally show that optimizing hyperparameters and number of iterations in online learning yields consistent improvement against baseline results.
Effects of Divided Attention at Retrieval on Conceptual Implicit Memory

This study investigated whether conceptual implicit memory is sensitive to process-specific interference at the time of retrieval. Participants performed the implicit memory test of category exemplar generation (CEG; Experiments 1 and 3), or the matched explicit memory test of category-cued recall (Experiment 2), both of which are conceptually driven memory tasks, under one of two divided attention (DA) conditions in which participants simultaneously performed a distracting task. The distracting task was either syllable judgments (dissimilar processes), or semantic judgments (similar processes) on unrelated words. Compared to full attention (FA) in which no distracting task was performed, DA had no effect on CEG priming overall, but reduced category-cued recall similarly regardless of distractor task. Analyses of distractor task performance also revealed differences between implicit and explicit memory retrieval. The evidence suggests that, whereas explicit memory retrieval requires attentional resources and is disrupted by semantic and phonological distracting tasks, conceptual implicit memory is automatic and unaffected even when distractor and memory tasks involve similar processes.
Focal Cerebral Hyperemia in Acute Stroke: Incidence, Pathophysiology and Clinical Significance

In a consecutive study comprising 41 patients with completed stroke of less than 72 hours duration, cerebral angiograpby and measurements of the regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) were performed within 24 hours after admission. The rCBF study was done using the 133-Xenon intracarotid injection method and a 254 multi-detector camera. CT scan was done 24 hours after the rCBF study. Focal cerebral hyperemia was found in 16 patients. The study revealed 3 different types of hyperemia: Border-zone hyperemia, surrounding iscbemic areas, was seen in patients with occluded arteries on angiograpby, presumably resulting from accumulation of acid metabolites in the border-zone of acute infarcts. Postischemic hyperemia was seen in patients without occlusion, presumably due to recanalization of a prior occluded artery. Remote hyperemia was found distant from the infarcted area, presumably due to local tissue pressure on brain tissue. Cortical infarcts (10 patients) all had extensive hypereraic areas. Because the 254 detector camera has an excellent resolution in the cortical surface, our findings strongly suggest that all acute cerebral infarcts are, in fact, associated with hyperemic areas. The hyperemic areas are often extensive and vascular reactivity is commonly impaired. It is suggested that treatment aimed at reducing blood flow in hyperemic areas might improve prognosis.
Brain activation during fast driving in a driving simulator: the role of the lateral prefrontal cortex

Little is currently known about the neural underpinnings of the cognitive control of driving behavior in realistic situations and of the driver's speeding behavior in particular. In this study, participants drove in realistic scenarios presented in a high-end driving simulator. Scalp-recorded EEG oscillations in the &agr;-band (8–13 Hz) with a 30-electrode montage were recorded while the participants drove under different conditions: (i) excessively fast (Fast), (ii) in a controlled manner at a safe speed (Correct), and (iii) impatiently in the context of testing traffic conditions (Impatient). Intracerebral sources of &agr;-band activation were estimated using low resolution electrical tomography. Given that previous studies have shown a strong negative correlation between the Bold response in the frontal cortex and the &agr;-band power, we used &agr;-band-related activity as an estimation of frontal activation. Statistical analysis revealed more &agr;-band-related activity (i.e. less neuronal activation) in the right lateral prefrontal cortex, including the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, during fast driving. Those participants who speeded most and exhibited greater risk-taking behavior demonstrated stronger &agr;-related activity (i.e. less neuronal activation) in the left anterior lateral prefrontal cortex. These findings are discussed in the context of current theories about the role of the lateral prefrontal cortex in controlling risk-taking behavior, task switching, and multitasking.
Human epidermal neural crest stem cells as a source of Schwann cells

We show that highly pure populations of human Schwann cells can be derived rapidly and in a straightforward way, without the need for genetic manipulation, from human epidermal neural crest stem cells [hEPI-NCSC(s)] present in the bulge of hair follicles. These human Schwann cells promise to be a useful tool for cell-based therapies, disease modelling and drug discovery. Schwann cells are glia that support axons of peripheral nerves and are direct descendants of the embryonic neural crest. Peripheral nerves are damaged in various conditions, including through trauma or tumour-related surgery, and Schwann cells are required for their repair and regeneration. Schwann cells also promise to be useful for treating spinal cord injuries. Ex vivo expansion of hEPI-NCSC isolated from hair bulge explants, manipulating the WNT, sonic hedgehog and TGFβ signalling pathways, and exposure of the cells to pertinent growth factors led to the expression of the Schwann cell markers SOX10, KROX20 (EGR2), p75NTR (NGFR), MBP and S100B by day 4 in virtually all cells, and maturation was completed by 2 weeks of differentiation. Gene expression profiling demonstrated expression of transcripts for neurotrophic and angiogenic factors, as well as JUN, all of which are essential for nerve regeneration. Co-culture of hEPI-NCSC-derived human Schwann cells with rodent dorsal root ganglia showed interaction of the Schwann cells with axons, providing evidence of Schwann cell functionality. We conclude that hEPI-NCSCs are a biologically relevant source for generating large and highly pure populations of human Schwann cells. Summary: Human epidermal neural crest stem cells isolated from the bulge of hair follicles are used to derive Schwann cells that could be useful for regenerative therapies, disease modelling and drug discovery.
Infections occurring during chemotherapy; a study of their frequency, type and predisposing factors.

THE administration of an effective antibiotic agent to a patient with an infectious disease, in addition to eliminating the causative organisms, produces a profound alteration in the composition of the bacterial population that normally inhabits certain tissues and organs. This by-product of chemotherapy is frequently of no clinical consequence, but on occasion is responsible for the superimposition of a serious infection on the one for which treatment was initially instituted. Although superinfection of this type has been observed by a number of investigators, it has always been considered to be an uncommon and even rare phenomenon, and very little is .
Three-dimensional kinematics of hummingbird flight

SUMMARY Hummingbirds are specialized for hovering flight, and substantial research has explored this behavior. Forward flight is also important to hummingbirds, but the manner in which they perform forward flight is not well documented. Previous research suggests that hummingbirds increase flight velocity by simultaneously tilting their body angle and stroke-plane angle of the wings, without varying wingbeat frequency and upstroke: downstroke span ratio. We hypothesized that other wing kinematics besides stroke-plane angle would vary in hummingbirds. To test this, we used synchronized high-speed (500 Hz) video cameras and measured the three-dimensional wing and body kinematics of rufous hummingbirds (Selasphorus rufus, 3 g, N=5) as they flew at velocities of 0-12 m s-1 in a wind tunnel. Consistent with earlier research, the angles of the body and the stroke plane changed with velocity, and the effect of velocity on wingbeat frequency was not significant. However, hummingbirds significantly altered other wing kinematics including chord angle, angle of attack, anatomical stroke-plane angle relative to their body, percent of wingbeat in downstroke, wingbeat amplitude, angular velocity of the wing, wingspan at mid-downstroke, and span ratio of the wingtips and wrists. This variation in bird-centered kinematics led to significant effects of flight velocity on the angle of attack of the wing and the area and angles of the global stroke planes during downstroke and upstroke. We provide new evidence that the paths of the wingtips and wrists change gradually but consistently with velocity, as in other bird species that possess pointed wings. Although hummingbirds flex their wings slightly at the wrist during upstroke, their average wingtip-span ratio of 93% revealed that they have kinematically `rigid' wings compared with other avian species.