Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Network Analysis of Separated Cognitive States in the Human Brain Candidate

Network science is an insightful approach to studying data gained from fMRI scans. In this thesis we attempt to see if it is appropriate to make a distinction between "Task-positive" (TP) and "Task-negative" (TN) networks based on these scans, where the former is associated with the subjects' brain states when performing cognitive tasks and the latter when not performing cognitive tasks. The data used to study these networks was fMRI data parcellated to involve 600 regions of the brain across 94 human subjects. We use task-positive and task-negative region assignments that already exist in literature. We examine simple network diagnostics. We then study two more complex methods; spectral clustering and multilayer community detection. We nd inconclusive results based on the simple network diagnostics, but promising results in spectral clustering. We generalise the already existing concept of exibility and nd that attention tasks generally have higher average exibility in the task-negative network. We also nd a correlation between ordinal and categorical exibility.
Developmental plasticity of the glutamate synapse: Roles of low frequency stimulation, hebbian induction and the NMDA receptor

The glutamate synapse is by far the most common synapse in the brain and acts via postsynaptic AMPA, NMDA and mGlu receptors. During brain development there is a continuous production of these synapses where those partaking in activity resulting in neuronal activity are subsequently selected to establish an appropriate functional pattern of synaptic connectivity while those that do not are elimimated. Activity dependent synaptic plasticities, such as Hebbian induced long-term potentiation (LTP) and low frequency (1 Hz) induced long-term depression (LTD) have been considered to be of critical importance for this selection. However, in the neonatal brain the glutamate synapse displays a seemingly distinct plasticity in that even very low frequency stimulation (0.05-0.2 Hz) results in depression of the AMPA receptor mediated signaling and hence to possible synaptic elimination. The aim of this thesis was to investigate the relationship and interaction between this very low frequency induced plasticity and the more conventional forms of synaptic plasticity, such as mGlu receptor dependent LTD and NMDA receptor dependent LTP and LTD, using the neonatal rat hippocampal CA3-CA1 synapse as a model synapse. This thesis shows that very low frequency induced depression is related to NMDA receptor dependent LTD. While elicited even during NMDA receptor blockade, this plasticity is facilitated and stabilized by NMDA receptor activity and largely occludes NMDA receptor dependent LTD. Surprisingly, considering their role in conventionally induced LTD, mGlu receptors were not found to participate in either the very low frequency induced depression or in low frequency induced long-lasting depression. A preceding LTP-inducing Hebbian stimulation was found to only partially stabilize against the very low frequency induced depression, and possibly also only in a temporary manner. In conclusion; during brain development glutamate activated AMPA receptors are very easily lost upon activation rendering these synapses AMPA silent, and Hebbian activity will only temporarily rescue them from AMPA silence. Thus, synapses in the developing brain will maintain their AMPA signaling only by more or less continuous participation in cooperative neuronal activity, synaptic activity outside this context leading to AMPA silencing and possible elimination.
Average consensus in asymmetric broadcasting wireless sensor networks through gossiping

Average consensus algorithms have attracted increasing interest in the last decade because of their potential for use in high-density wireless sensor networks. This paper analyzes an algorithm that is based on a model of asymmetric broadcasting on a random geometric graph, in which nodes broadcast and listen only intermittently. We show that each node can easily estimate its update weight from the degree of silence in its neighborhood, and, after the weights have been assigned in this way, that the consensus algorithm converges to the true average. Both a synchronous and an asynchronous update model are analyzed.
Multimarker Risk Stratification in Patients With Acute Myocardial Infarction

Background Several biomarkers have individually been shown to be useful for risk stratification in patients with acute myocardial infarction (MI). The optimal multimarker strategy remains undefined. Methods and Results Biomarkers representing different pathobiological axes were studied, including myocardial stress/structural changes (NT‐pro B‐type natriuretic peptide [NT‐proBNP], midregional proatrial natriuretic peptide [MR‐proANP], suppression of tumorigenicity 2 [ST2], galectin‐3, midregional proadrenomedullin [MR‐proADM], and copeptin), myonecrosis (troponin T), and inflammation (myeloperoxidase [MPO], high sensitivity C‐reactive protein [hsCRP], pregnancy‐associated plasma protein A [PAPP‐A], and growth‐differentiation factor‐15 [GDF‐15]), in up to 1258 patients from Clopidogrel as Adjunctive Reperfusion Therapy‐Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction 28 (CLARITY‐TIMI 28), a randomized trial of clopidogrel in ST‐elevation MI (STEMI). Patients were followed for 30 days. Biomarker analyses were adjusted for traditional clinical variables. Forward step‐wise selection was used to assess a multimarker strategy. After adjustment for clinical variables and using a dichotomous cutpoint, 7 biomarkers were each significantly associated with a higher odds of cardiovascular death or heart failure (HF) through 30 days, including NT‐proBNP (adjusted odds ratio [OR adj], 2.54; 95% CI, 1.47–4.37), MR‐proANP (2.18; 1.27–3.76), ST2 (2.88; 1.72–4.81), troponin T (4.13; 1.85–9.20), MPO (2.75; 1.20–6.27), hsCRP (1.96, 1.17–3.30), and PAPP‐A (3.04; 1.17–7.88). In a multimarker model, 3 biomarkers emerged as significant and complementary predictors of cardiovascular death or HF: ST2 (OR adj, 2.87; 1.61–5.12), troponin T (2.34; 1.09–5.01 and 4.13, 1.85–9.20, respectively for intermediate and high levels), and MPO (2.49; 1.04–5.96). When added to the TIMI STEMI Risk Score alone, the multimarker risk score significantly improved the C‐statistic (area under the curve, 0.75 [95% CI, 0.69–0.81] to 0.82 [0.78–0.87]; P=0.001), net reclassification index (0.93; P<0.001), and integrated discrimination index (0.09; P<0.001). Conclusions In patients with STEMI, a multimarker strategy that combines biomarkers across pathobiological axes of myocardial stress, myocyte necrosis, and inflammation provides incremental prognostic information for prediction of cardiovascular death or HF.
The effect of an amino acid-lowering diet on the rate of melphalan entry into brain and xenotransplanted glioma.

Melphalan (L-phenylalanine mustard, L-PAM, alkeran; molecular weight, 305,000) is transported across tumor cell membranes and the blood-brain barrier by the large neutral amino acid (LNAA) transport system. Normally, plasma LNAA levels are high enough and the affinity low enough that this system does not transport much melphalan into the brain. However, plasma amino acids can be reduced by fasting and protein-free diet. We used this method to reduce competition and to increase melphalan transport into brain tumors. In nude mice fasted for 12 h and then fed a protein-free diet for 2 and 6 h, mean plasma LNAA levels were 46% and 42% of control values. Nude mice with xenotransplanted D-54MG human gliomas were used to study tissue distribution and uptake kinetics of [3H]melphalan in a control group and a diet group (after a 12-h fast and 2 h of a 0% protein diet). The K1 (blood-to-tissue transfer constant) of melphalan, determined by graphical analysis and by nonlinear fitting to a 2-compartment model, was higher in the diet group in all tumor regions except the necrotic center of subcutaneous tumors; the increase was significant in the tumor periphery of brain and s.c. tumors. The ratio of K1s (diet to control) varied from 1.2 to 1.3 in brain tumors, 1.9 to 2.1 in subcutaneous tumors, and 1.8 to 3.1 in tumor-free brain. The apparent [3H]melphalan distribution space was significantly higher in the tumor periphery of both brain and subcutaneous tumors of the 15- and 30-min diet group. We also measured blood-brain barrier transport of [alpha-14C]aminoisobutyric acid and blood flow (with [131I]iodoantipyrine): the K1 of [alpha-14C]aminoisobutyric acid was 28.1 +/- 6.6 (SE) in brain tumors and 24.3 +/- 8.9 microliters/g/min in subcutaneous tumors. Blood flow was 58.2 --> 3.9 in brain tumors and 5.2 +/- 0.4 ml/100 g/min in subcutaneous tumors. Fasting, when combined with a protein-free diet, reduces plasma amino acid levels and thereby reduces competition between melphalan and LNAAs. This may increase the amount of melphalan that can enter a brain tumor without increasing the administered drug dose and suggests a therapeutic manipulation that can be used to increase the delivery of melphalan.
Application of iPS cell-derived macrophages to cancer therapy

We established a method to produce a large quantity of myeloid cells from human inducible pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). When injected intraperitoneally into mice carrying established peritoneal tumors, iPSC-derived myeloid cells (iPS-MCs) efficiently accumulated within neoplastic lesions. The intraperitoneal injection of iPS-MCs expressing interferon β significantly inhibited the growth of human gastric and pancreatic cancers implanted in the peritoneal cavity of immunocompromised mice.
Title: the Neural Correlates of Everyday Recognition Memory

We used a novel automatic camera, SenseCam, to create a recognition memory test for real-life events. Adapting a 'Remember/Know' paradigm, we asked healthy undergraduates, who wore SenseCam for two days, in their everyday environments, to classify images as strongly or weakly remembered, strongly or weakly familiar or novel, while brain activation was recorded with functional MRI. Overlapping, widely distributed sets of brain regions were activated by recollected and familiar stimuli. Within the medial temporal lobes, 'Remember' responses specifically elicited greater activity in the right anterior and posterior parahippocampal gyrus than 'Know' responses. 'New' responses activated anterior parahippocampal regions. A parametric analysis, across correctly recognised items, revealed increasing activation in the right hippocampus and posterior parahippocampal gyrus (pPHG). This may reflect modulation of these regions by the degree of recollection or, alternatively, by increasing memory strength. Strong recollection elicited greater activity in the left posterior hippocampus/pPHG than weak recollection indicating that this region is specifically modulated by the degree of recollection.
Performance of an amplify-and-forward dual-hop asymmetric RF–FSO communication system

In this work, the performance and the capacity analysis of a fixed-gain amplify-and-forward (AF)-based dual-hop asymmetric radio frequency-free space optical (RF-FSO) communication system is performed. The RF link experiences Nakagami-m fading and the FSO link experiences Gamma-Gamma turbulence. For this mixed RF-FSO cooperative system, novel and finite power series-based mathematical expressions for the cumulative distribution function, probability density function, and moment generating function of the end-to-end signal-to-noise ratio are derived. Using these channel statistics new finite power series-based analytical expressions are obtained for the outage probability, the average bit error rate (BER) for various binary and M-ary modulation techniques, and the average channel capacity of the considered system. The same analysis is also performed for the scenario when the FSO link undergoes significant pointing errors along with the Gamma-Gamma distributed turbulence. As a special case analytical expressions for the outage probability, BER, and channel capacity are also presented for a dual-hop asymmetric RF-FSO system where the RF link is Rayleigh distributed. Simulation results validate the proposed mathematical analysis. The effects of fading, turbulence, and pointing error are studied on the outage probability, average BER, and the channel capacity.
Wireless data path for a mobile, modular computer system

We present a comparison of two technologies for use in implementing a wireless data path. The target environment is a mobile, modular computer system that aims to improve the economics and productivity of users that currently use multiple PCs. An inductive power delivery subsystem is described, and both optical and capacitive data delivery subsystems are compared.
Cardiomyopathy-Adrenergic Stimulation in Patients With Idiopathic Dilated β Response to Nitric Oxide Spares Myocardial Oxygen Consumption Through Attenuation of Contractile

Toshiro Shinke, Hideyuki Takaoka, Motoshi Takeuchi, Katsuya Hata, Hiroya Kawai, Hideaki Cardiomyopathy -Adrenergic Stimulation in Patients With Idiopathic Dilated β Response to Nitric Oxide Spares Myocardial Oxygen Consumption Through Attenuation of Contractile Print ISSN: 0009-7322. Online ISSN: 1524-4539 Copyright © 2000 American Heart Association, Inc. All rights reserved. is published by the American Heart Association, 7272 Greenville Avenue, Dallas, TX 75231 Circulation doi: 10.1161/01.CIR. 101.16. 1925 2000;101:1925-1930 Circulation. http://circ.ahajournals. org/content/101/16/1925 World Wide Web at: The online version of this article, along with updated information and services, is located on the
Transformations of Electrosensory Encoding Associated with an Adaptive Filter

Sensory information is often acquired through active exploration. However, an animal's own movements may result in changes in patterns of sensory input that could interfere with the detection and processing of behaviorally relevant sensory signals. Neural mechanisms for predicting the sensory consequences of movements are thus likely to be of general importance for sensory systems. Such mechanisms have been identified in cerebellum-like structures associated with electrosensory processing in fish. These structures are hypothesized to act as adaptive filters, removing correlations between incoming sensory input and central predictive signals through associative plasticity at parallel fiber synapses. The present study tests the adaptive filter hypothesis in the electrosensory lobe (ELL) of weakly electric mormyrid fish. We compared the ability of electroreceptors and ELL efferent neurons to encode the position of moving objects in the presence and absence of self-generated electrosensory signals caused by tail movements. Tail movements had strong effects on the responses of electroreceptors, substantially reducing the amount of information they conveyed about object position. In contrast, responses of efferent neurons were relatively unaffected by tail movements, and the information they conveyed about object position was preserved. We provide evidence that the electrosensory consequences of tail bending are opposed by proprioceptive inputs conveyed by parallel fibers and that the effects of proprioceptive inputs to efferent cells are plastic. These results support the idea that cerebellum-like structures learn and remove the predictable sensory consequences of behavior and link mechanisms of adaptive filtering to selective encoding of behaviorally relevant sensory information.
Algebraic representations of von Neumann algebras

An algebraic extended bilinear Hilbert semispace is proposed as being the natural representation space for the algebras of von Neumann.This bilinear Hilbert semispace has a well defined structure given by the representation space of an algebraic general bilinear semigroup over the product of sets of archimedean completions characterized by increasing degrees.This representation space,decomposing into subbisemimodules according to the pseudounramified or pseudoramified conjugacy classes,is in one-to-one correspondence with the corresponding cuspidal representation according to the Langlands global program.In this context,towers of von Neumann bisemialgebras on the graded bilinear Hilbert semispaces are constructed algebraically which allows to envisage the classification of the factors of von Neumann from an algebraic point of view.
Escala de experiencias positivas y negativas (spane): Adaptación y validación en un contexto escolar chileno

espanolEl objetivo del presente trabajo fue adaptar y validar la Escala de Experiencias Positivas y Negativas al contexto escolar chileno. Participaron 489 estudiantes de educacion secundaria provenientes de diferentes colegios ubicados en el norte del pais. Se analizaron los estadisticos descriptivos de la escala y se compararon sus puntuaciones a partir del genero de los estudiantes. Se estimo la fiabilidad de la escala a partir de los indices alpha y omega. Se examino la estructura de la escala mediante analisis factorial confirmatorio. Finalmente, se analizo la relacion entre las dimensiones de la escala y tres variables teorica y empiricamente vinculadas (esperanza academica, resiliencia academica y desempeno academico). Se concluye que la Escala de Experiencias Positivas y Negativas es un instrumento valido y fiable para medir las experiencias emocionales experimentadas por estudiantes secundarios chilenos en relacion a sus estudios. EnglishThe goal of this work was to adapt and validate the Scale of Positive and Negative Experience (SPANE) in the Chilean school context. Four hundred eighty-nine secondary school students from different institutions in the north of the country participated. The descriptive statistics of the scale were analyzed and their scores compared according the gender of the students. The reliability of the scale was estimated from with the alpha and omega indices. The structure of the scale was examined by confirmatory factorial analysis. Finally, the relation between the scale and three theoretically and empirically related variables (academic expectancy, resilien ce and performance) was analyzed. It is concluded that SPANE is a valid and reliable instrument to measure the emotional experiences lived by Chilean secondary school students in relation to their studies. portuguesO objetivo do presente trabalho foi adaptar e validar a Escala de Experiencias Positivas e Negativas no contexto escolar chileno. Participaram 489 estudantes do ensino medio provenientes de diferentes colegios situados no norte do pais. Analisaram-se os dados estadisticos descritivos da escala e suas pontuacoes foram comparadas a partir do genero dos estudantes. Estimou-se a confiabilidade da escala a partir dos indices alpha e omega. Examinou-se a estrutura da escala mediante analise fatorial confirmatorio. Finalmente, se analisou a rela- cao entre as dimensoes da escala com tres variaveis teorica e empiricamente vinculadas (esperanca academica, resiliencia academica e desempenho academico). Conclui-se que a Escala de Experiencias Positivas e Negativas e um instrumento valido e confiavel para medir as experiencias emocionais experimentadas por estudantes chilenos do ensino medio em relacao aos seus estudos.
Approche sociologique et typologique des logiques de croissance de l’entrepreneur

Cette recherche a pour objectif de développer de nouvelles pistes pour faire évoluer l’approche typologique en entrepreneuriat. Ces typologies sont effectivement remises en cause pour leur aspect simplificateur, voire stylisateur, de la complexité entrepreneuriale. Dans cette perspective, nous adoptons le raisonnement typologique tel qu’il est mobilisé en sociologie et l’appliquons à une thématique classique des typologies d’entrepreneur : les logiques d’action de croissance. À partir d’une étude empirique qualitative conduite en deux étapes, des entretiens individuels menés auprès de 29 entrepreneurs, puis deux entretiens collectifs menés auprès de huit témoins, nous élaborons d’abord une typologie aux catégories différenciées, avant d’interroger ensuite l’existence de liens et de transitions potentielles entre les types identifiés. Une analyse des variables qui influencent la typologie et ses variations complète ce travail. Cette démarche originale, qui vise à prendre du recul sur les types élaborés et insiste plutôt sur les nuances et les variations de la typologie, permet d’obtenir des résultats, qui, tout en demeurant intelligibles, reflètent la dynamique et la complexité du phénomène entrepreneurial observé.
Research of an Improved Access Control Model in Active Networks

With active node’ s opening to active application, Security has become a crucial aspect in active network. This paper proposed an extended RBAC model for active network to protect active nodes. By enforcing dynamic authorization as well as fine-grained management of resource, the access control policy provides the required flexibility of active network security management for customized services.
Effectiveness of infliximab in refractory FDG PET-positive sarcoidosis

Inconclusive evidence for the efficacy of infliximab in sarcoidosis hinders the global use of this potentially beneficial drug. To study infliximab efficacy in a clinical setting, we performed a prospective open-label trial in patients refractory to conventional treatment. Patients (n=56) received eight infusions of 5 mg·kg-1 infliximab. Pulmonary function, disease activity measured by 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) by positron emission tomography (PET) and quality of life were part of the clinical work-up. Infliximab levels were measured before every infusion. After 26 weeks of infliximab treatment, mean improvement in forced vital capacity (FVC) was 6.6% predicted (p=0.0007), whereas in the 6 months before start of treatment, lung function decreased. Maximum standardised uptake value (SUVmax) of pulmonary parenchyma on 18F-FDG PET decreased by 3.93 (p<0.0001). High SUVmax of pulmonary parenchyma at baseline predicted FVC improvement (R=0.62, p=0.0004). An overall beneficial response was seen in 79% of patients and a partial response was seen in 17% of patients. No correlation between infliximab trough level (mean 18.0 µg·mL-1) and initial response was found. In conclusion, infliximab causes significant improvement in FVC in refractory 18F-FDG PET positive sarcoidosis. Especially in pulmonary disease, high 18F-FDG PET SUVmax values at treatment initiation predict clinically relevant lung function improvement. These results suggest that inclusion of 18F-FDG PET is useful in therapeutic decision-making in complex sarcoidosis. Infliximab is highly effective in refractory 18F-FDG PET positive sarcoidosis patients http://ow.ly/JoxhL
Cusp solitons of the Degasperis-Procesi equation

In this paper, we present cusp solitons for the Degasperis-Procesi (DP) equation under the inhomogeneous boundary condition $\lim_{|x|\rightarrow\infty}u=A$, where $A$ is a non-zero constant. Through mathematical analysis, a stationary cusp soliton is presented in an explicit form of $u(x,t)=\sqrt{1-e^{-2|x|}}\in W_{loc}^{1,1}, \ {\rm but}\notin H^1_{loc}$, while most cusp solitons are expressed in an implicit form in the space of $W_{loc}^{1,1}$.
Design and Analysis of a 32-bit Embedded High-Performance Cluster Optimized for Energy and Performance - Extended Edition

A growing number of supercomputers are being built using processors with low-power embedded ancestry, rather than traditional high-performance cores. In order to evaluate this approach we investigate the energy and performance tradeoffs found with ten different 32-bit ARM development boards while running the HPL Linpack and STREAM benchmarks. Based on these results (and other practical concerns) we chose the Raspberry Pi as a basis for a power-aware embedded cluster computing testbed. Each node of the cluster is instrumented with power measurement circuitry so that detailed cluster-wide power measurements can be obtained, enabling power / performance co-design experiments. While our cluster lags recent x86 machines in performance, the power, visualization, and thermal features make it an excellent low-cost platform for education and experimentation.