Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Similarity and Diversity in Visual Cortex: Is There a Unifying Theory of Cortical Computation?

The cerebral cortex, with its conserved 6-layer structure, has inspired many unifying models of function. However, recent comparative studies of primary visual cortex have revealed considerable structural diversity, raising doubts about the possibility of an all-encompassing theory. This review examines similarities and differences in V1 across mammals. Gross laminar interconnections are relatively conserved. Major functional response classes are found universally or nearly universally. Orientation and spatial frequency tuning bandwidths are quite similar despite an enormous range of visual resolution across species, and orientation tuning is contrast-invariant. Nevertheless, there is considerable diversity in the abundance of different cell classes, laminar organization, functional architecture, and functional connectivity. Orientation-selective responses arise in different layers in different species. Some mammals have elaborate columnar architecture like orientation maps and ocular dominance bands, but others lack this organization with no apparent impact on single cell properties. Finally, local functional connectivity varies according to map structure: similar cells are connected in smooth map regions but dissimilar cells are linked in animals without maps. If there is a single structure/function relation for cortex, it must accommodate significant variations in cortical circuitry. Alternatively, natural selection may craft unique circuits that function differently in each species. NEURO-SCIENTIST 13(6):639—656, 2007. DOI: 10.1177/1073858407306597
Evolution of the barium abundance in the early Galaxy from a NLTE analysis of the Ba lines in a homogeneous sample of EMP stars

Context. Barium is a key element in constraining the evolution of the (not well understood) r-process in the first galactic stars and currently the Ba abundances in these very metal-poor stars were mostly measured under the Local Thermodynamical Equilibrium (LTE) assumption, which may lead in general to an underestimation of Ba. Aims. We present here determinations of the barium abundance taking into account the non-LTE (NLTE) effects in a sample of extremely metal-poor stars (EMP stars): 6 turnoff stars and 35 giants. Methods. The NLTE profiles of the three unblended $\ion{Ba}{ii}$ lines (4554 A, 5853 A, 6496 A) have been computed. The computations were made with a modified version of the MULTI code, applied to an atomic model of the Ba atom with 31 levels of $\ion{Ba}{i}$, 101 levels of $\ion{Ba}{ii}$, and compared to the observations. Results. The ratios of the NLTE abundances of barium relative to Fe are slightly shifted towards the solar ratio. In the plot of [Ba/Fe] versus [Fe/H], the slope of the regression line is slightly reduced as is the scatter. In the interval $\rm -3.3 <[Fe/H] < -2.6$, [Ba/Fe] decreases with a slope of about 1.4 and a scatter close to 0.44. For $\rm [Fe/H] <-3.3$ the number of stars is not sufficient to decide whether [Ba/Fe] keeps decreasing (and then CD-38:245 should be considered as a peculiar “barium-rich star”) or if a plateau is reached as soon as $\rm [Ba/Fe] \approx -1$. In both cases the scatter remains quite large, larger than what can be accounted for by the measurement and determination errors, suggesting the influence of a complex process of Ba production, and/or inefficient mixing in the early Galaxy.
SEERAD: A high speed yet energy-efficient rounding-based approximate divider

In this paper, a high speed yet energy-efficient approximate divider for error resilient applications is proposed. For the division operation, the divisor is rounded to a value with a specific form resulting in the transformation of the division operation to the multiplication one. The proposed approximate divider enjoys the flexibility of increasing the accuracy at the price of higher delay and hardware usage. The efficacy of the proposed approximate divider is evaluated in comparison to three different implementations of the SRT divider. The results show that the delay and energy consumption of the proposed approximate divider are, on average, 14 and 300 times smaller than those of the Radix-2 SRT with the carry-save reminder computation. Additionally, the effectiveness of the proposed approximate divider is studied in an image division operation performed in image processing applications. The results suggest the appropriateness of the proposed approximate divider for digital signal processing applications.
Toll-Like Receptor 7 Protects From Atherosclerosis by Constraining “Inflammatory” Macrophage Activation

Background Toll-like receptors (TLRs) have long been considered to be major culprits in the development of atherosclerosis, contributing both to its progression and clinical complications. However, evidence for most TLRs beyond TLR2 and TLR4 is lacking. Methods and Results We used experimental mouse models, human atheroma cultures, and well-established human biobanks to investigate the role of TLR7 in atherosclerosis. We report the unexpected finding that TLR7, a receptor recognizing self–nucleic acid complexes, is protective in atherosclerosis. In Apoe−/− mice, functional inactivation of TLR7 resulted in accelerated lesion development, increased stenosis, and enhanced plaque vulnerability as revealed by Doppler ultrasound and/or histopathology. Mechanistically, TLR7 interfered with macrophage proinflammatory responses to TLR2 and TLR4 ligands, reduced monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 production, and prevented expansion of Ly6Chi inflammatory monocytes and accumulation of inflammatory M1 macrophages into developing atherosclerotic lesions. In human carotid endarterectomy specimens TLR7 levels were consistently associated with an M2 anti-inflammatory macrophage signature (interleukin [IL]-10, IL-1RA, CD163, scavenger and C-type lectin receptors) and collagen genes, whereas they were inversely related or unrelated to proinflammatory mediators (IL-12/IL-23, interferon beta, interferon gamma, CD40L) and platelet markers. Moreover, in human atheroma cultures, TLR7 activation selectively suppressed the production of key proatherogenic factors such as monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 and tumor necrosis factor without affecting IL-10. Conclusions These findings provide evidence for a beneficial role of TLR7 in atherosclerosis by constraining inflammatory macrophage activation and cytokine production. This challenges the prevailing concept that all TLRs are pathogenic and supports the exploitation of the TLR7 pathway for therapy.
Dynamical Foundations of Nonextensive Statistical Mechanics

We construct classes of stochastic differential equations with fluctuating friction forces that generate a dynamics correctly described by Tsallis statistics and nonextensive statistical mechanics. These systems generalize the way in which ordinary Langevin equations underly ordinary statistical mechanics to the more general nonextensive case. As a main example, we construct a dynamical model of velocity fluctuations in a turbulent flow, which generates probability densities that very well fit experimentally measured probability densities in Eulerian and Lagrangian turbulence. Our approach provides a dynamical reason why many physical systems with fluctuations in temperature or energy dissipation rate are correctly described by Tsallis statistics.
The evolution of stable magnetic fields in stars: an analytical approach

The absence of a rigorous proof of the existence of dynamically stable, large-scale magnetic fields in radiative stars has been for many years a missing element in the fossil field theory for the magnetic Ap/Bp stars. Recent numerical simulations, by Braithwaite & Spruit and Braithwaite&Nordlund,havelargelyfilledthisgap,demonstratingconvincinglythatcoherent global scale fields can survive for times of the order of the main-sequence lifetimes of A stars. These dynamically stable configurations take the form of magnetic tori, with linked poloidal and toroidal fields, that slowly rise towards the stellar surface. This paper studies a simple analytical model of such a torus, designed to elucidate the physical processes that govern its evolution.Itisfoundthatone-dimensionalnumericalcalculationsreproducesomekeyfeatures ofthenumericalsimulations,withradiativeheattransfer,Archimedes’principle,Lorentzforce and Ohmic decay all playing significant roles.
A ug 2 00 1 AGAPE : Gravitational microlensing effect to look for MACHOs towards M 31

We report the discovery of a short-duration microlensing candidate in the Northern field of the POINT-AGAPE pixel lensing survey towards M31 (α = 004251.42 and δ = +412353.7). The Full-Width at Half-Maximum (FWHM) timescale is very short (tfwhm ≃ 1.8 days) and the source star has almost certainly been identified on HST archival images, allowing to infer an Einstein crossing time : tE = 10.4 days and a magnification at maximum : Amax ∼ 18.
Astrocytic Gq-GPCR-Linked IP3R-Dependent Ca2+ Signaling Does Not Mediate Neurovascular Coupling in Mouse Visual Cortex In Vivo

Local blood flow is modulated in response to changing patterns of neuronal activity (Roy and Sherrington, 1890), a process termed neurovascular coupling. It has been proposed that the central cellular pathway driving this process is astrocytic Gq-GPCR-linked IP3R-dependent Ca2+ signaling, though in vivo tests of this hypothesis are largely lacking. We examined the impact of astrocytic Gq-GPCR and IP3R-dependent Ca2+ signaling on cortical blood flow in awake, lightly sedated, responsive mice using multiphoton laser-scanning microscopy and novel genetic tools that enable the selective manipulation of astrocytic signaling pathways in vivo. Selective stimulation of astrocytic Gq-GPCR cascades and downstream Ca2+ signaling with the hM3Dq DREADD (designer receptors exclusively activated by designer drugs) designer receptor system was insufficient to modulate basal cortical blood flow. We found no evidence of observable astrocyte endfeet Ca2+ elevations following physiological visual stimulation despite robust dilations of adjacent arterioles using cyto-GCaMP3 and Lck-GCaMP6s, the most sensitive Ca2+ indicator available. Astrocytic Ca2+ elevations could be evoked when inducing the startle response with unexpected air puffs. However, startle-induced astrocytic Ca2+ signals did not precede corresponding startle-induced hemodynamic changes. Further, neurovascular coupling was intact in lightly sedated, responsive mice genetically lacking astrocytic IP3R-dependent Ca2+ signaling (IP3R2 KO). These data demonstrate that astrocytic Gq-GPCR-linked IP3R-dependent Ca2+ signaling does not mediate neurovascular coupling in visual cortex of awake, lightly sedated, responsive mice.
A shorter term of notice: Were older employees flred more often after the introduction of the 'Flexwet'?

In this paper the causal relation between flring costs and the probability of being flred is assessed. To do so a Difierence-in-Difierences approach is applied. The variable of interest is a dummy stating whether someone was flred from her previous tenured job during the year of enumeration. I use employment data of older workers from the Dutch Socio-Economic Panel for the years 1996 until 2002. With the introduction of the so-called ‘Flexwet’ in The Netherlands on January 1st, 1999, an employee’s age ceased to be a determinant in the formula to calculate her legal term of notice. The new formula increased the term of notice for some employees and decreased it for others. The term of notice is an important element of the flring costs an employer faces when she would like to flre a worker. I flnd evidence that this indeed led to relatively more flrings in the treated group.
Emotional Multiagent Reinforcement Learning in Spatial Social Dilemmas

Social dilemmas have attracted extensive interest in the research of multiagent systems in order to study the emergence of cooperative behaviors among selfish agents. Understanding how agents can achieve cooperation in social dilemmas through learning from local experience is a critical problem that has motivated researchers for decades. This paper investigates the possibility of exploiting emotions in agent learning in order to facilitate the emergence of cooperation in social dilemmas. In particular, the spatial version of social dilemmas is considered to study the impact of local interactions on the emergence of cooperation in the whole system. A double-layered emotional multiagent reinforcement learning framework is proposed to endow agents with internal cognitive and emotional capabilities that can drive these agents to learn cooperative behaviors. Experimental results reveal that various network topologies and agent heterogeneities have significant impacts on agent learning behaviors in the proposed framework, and under certain circumstances, high levels of cooperation can be achieved among the agents.
Low-complexity air-interface-agnostic cooperative parasitic multi-antenna spectrum sharing system

Responding to the IEEE DySPAN 2015 5G Spectrum Sharing Challenge, in this paper we propose a SU system that is equipped with a parasitic antenna array and incorporates a low-rate feedback technique in order to accomplish highly efficient spectrum sharing. This approach optimizes the performance of both the PU and SU systems, in terms of the achieved throughputs, without the latter system having knowledge of the former system's link features.
Bmal1 in the Nervous System Is Essential for Normal Adaptation of Circadian Locomotor Activity and Food Intake to Periodic Feeding

Temporal restriction of feeding can entrain circadian behavioral and physiological rhythms in mammals. These changes in biological rhythms are postulated to be brought about by a putative food-entrainable oscillator (FEO) that is independent of the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN). However, the anatomical substrates and molecular machinery of FEO remain elusive. We report here that mice with a nervous system-specific deletion of Bmal1, an essential clock component, had a marked deficit in entrainment of locomotor activity by periodic feeding, accompanied by reduced food intake and subsequent loss of body weight. These mice exhibited a nearly normal light-entrainable activity rhythm driven by the SCN, because deletion of the Bmal1 gene in the SCN was only partial. These findings suggest that an SCN-independent FEO in the nervous system requires Bmal1 and plays a critical role in adaptation of circadian locomotor activity and food intake to periodic feeding.
Cognitive Overload and the Evaluation of Risky Alternatives: The Effects of Sample Size, Information Format and Attitude To Risk

When the amount of information to be dealt with exceeds people’s short-term memory capacity, they must resort to the sampling of information. In the present study we show that, under conditions of cognitive overload (which could result from decision-making under stress, time constraints or information abundance), individuals exhibit systematic differences in estimating variance. Moreover, these differences critically depend on the format of the evidence presented: Variance is downward attenuated when information is presented analogically, but amplified when it is presented numerically. These distortions in the perception of variance affect individuals’ pricing of risky alternatives. We suggest that these results may help to explain economic anomalies, such as excess trading in financial markets. We also point out possibilities for manipulating the perception of variability and normative implications concerning the presentation of information on the variance of phenomena.
Online Cognitive Bias Modificantion Alcohol Avoidance Training as Addition to Treatment as Usual: Preliminary results of a double-blind ranomized controlled trial in an outpatient addiction treatment setting

Alcohol use disorders are common in the Netherlands. To treat these, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) treatments are widely used. Although these treatments are evidence based, recent studies and models empasize that the effectiveness can be endorsed by a Cognitive Bias Modification (CBM) training, in which impulsive processes can be retrained. The current study focused on these impulsive processes and in special on action tendencies that are activated relatively automatic. The aim was to examine the effectiveness of an computerized and online CBM Alcohol Avoidance Training by using an adapted Approach Avoidance Task (AAT) as addition to a CBT treatment in an outpatient treatment setting. In a double-blind randomized controlled trial alcohol dependent patients were randomly assigned to either the experimental or placebo version of eight sessions CBM Alcohol Avoidance Training. Patients were at least aged 18, followed treatment as usual at Tactus Addiction Treatment and were recruited by their therapist. Primary outcome measures were 1) the difference scores on self-reported weekly alcohol consumption and 2) the proportion of patients drinking under the responsible drinking limit. Secondary outcomes concerned mental health and craving. Furthermore, adherence to the treatment was examined. Intention-to-treat analysis were performed to deal with loss to follow-up. The results of the current study showed no additional effects of an online CBM- training with an AAT, in addition to CBT treatment. There were some indications for an adverse effect of the CBM-training, because the placebo condition showed a stronger decrease in alcohol consumption, in particular among male patients. The current study showed preliminary outcomes and the original RCT is still running. The sample size and power in the current study were low and therefore the results should be interpreted carefully. Randomization has not led to comparable groups and this made it difficult to draw well-substantiated statements on the results. The contradictory results and conclusions give reason to further investigate them in the future.
Transient versioning for consistency and concurrency in client-server systems

Synchronization and cache consistency limit the performance of data-shipping client-server systems. Both the problems arise because existing methods treat cached data as replicated data. The paper proposes a new method using transient versioning concepts to reduce the effect of these problems. Copies of data in different client caches are treated as different versions of the data. Multiple versions reduce cache consistency overhead since updating a data page creates a new version and does not require invalidating copies of that page in other caches. The transient versions also increase concurrency by allowing multiple readers and one writer to simultaneously access the same page. Simulation experiments show that this method performs better than the existing methods in different environments and is easily adaptable to mixed and/or changing workloads.
THE PERCEPTION, EVALUATION AND CREATIVE APPLICATION OF HIGH ORDER AMBISONICS IN CONTEMPORARY MUSIC PRACTICE

The aims of this research residency were to test and evaluate the practical, perceptual and compositional use of higher order ambisonics. The work explored three main technical areas: very high order synthesised ambisonics sound-fields in 2D up to 12 th order and 3D up to 9 th order, near-field compensated higher order ambisonics and higher-order recorded sound-fields using the EigenMike. The following musical areas were investigated: distance information, enhanced spatial precision, detailed recorded sound-fields to capture accurate real-world spatial relationships and the control of sound points, motions and masses in relation to both timbre and ‘extra-musical’ meaning. The work was carried out in IRCAM’s Studio-1 installed with a 24loudspeaker hemisphere, and in the Espace de Projection, installed with a 75-loudspeaker hemisphere. Ambsionics synthesis was carried out using existing and specially implemented methods in IRCAM’s Spatialisateur. The residency period was for three months, carried out part-time over seven months. A concert work called Hidden Values was also composed. The residency was funded by IRCAM, Oslo Cultural Grant for International collaboration and the Norwegian Cultural Council. Hidden Values was composed with support from the Norwegian Composers’ Fund.
PATHOLOGICAL EVALUATION OF ESSENTIAL AMINO ACID INJECTION FOR CHICKEN EMBRYONATED EGGS

Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate the pathological alterations of methionine for chicken embryo.In recent years, amino acids are used in veterinary medicine for many purposes. They injected into hatching eggs to increase chick body weight and performance at hatch, but the adverse effects of amino acids have always been a major concern. There is scant information available about the pathological alterations of amino acids in the chicken embryonated eggs. Methods: Fertile chicken eggs were divided into two equal treatment groups as follows: phosphate buffered saline-injected group and methionine-injected group whose individuals were injected with a methionine solution at a dosage of 10 mg per Kg egg-weight. Embryos were re-incubated post-treatment and allowed to develop until day 18 after which; they were examined for macroscopic and microscopic lesions. Results: The germination of inoculated seed was significantly reduced, germ tubes of microconidia penetrated all parts of the thick, complex seed testa, and seed contents were destroyed. Pathogenicity tests indicated that F. solani caused lesions of black soft rot and complete deterioration within 5-7 days (100%). They also attacked Orobanche seeds, arresting their germination and causing maceration of non-germinated and germinated seeds after 5-7 days of incubation. This is the first investigation of the effects of F. solanim on host plant interactions with broomrape in melon.
Respiratory processes in non-photosynthetic plastids

Chlororespiration is a respiratory process located in chloroplast thylakoids which consists in an electron transport chain from NAD(P)H to oxygen. This respiratory chain involves the NAD(P)H dehydrogenase complex, the plastoquinone pool and the plastid terminal oxidase (PTOX), and it probably acts as a safety valve to prevent the over-reduction of the photosynthetic machinery in stress conditions. The existence of a similar respiratory activity in non-photosynthetic plastids has been less studied. Recently, it has been reported that tomato fruit chromoplasts present an oxygen consumption activity linked to ATP synthesis. Etioplasts and amyloplasts contain several electron carriers and some subunits of the ATP synthase, so they could harbor a similar respiratory process. This review provides an update on the study about respiratory processes in chromoplasts, identifying the major gaps that need to be addressed in future research. It also reviews the proteomic data of etioplasts and amyloplasts, which suggest the presence of a respiratory electron transport chain in these plastids.
Breast Cancer: Why Link Early Detection to Reproductive Health Interventions in Developing Countries?

Breast cancer has not been sufficiently integrated into broader efforts either on maternal and child, or reproductive health and this presents an opportunity to strengthen early detection. The analysis is based on global breast cancer statistics and a bibliographic review of key global programs and strategies to promote women s health in the developing world. Breast cancer is a leading cause of cancer deaths in all regions of the developing world and is striking many women during the reproductive phase. There is an opportunity to increase awareness among women and undertake clinical examination to detect breast cancer by linking to existing health interventions related to reproductive and maternal and child health in developing countries. These synergies should be tested and evaluated in developing countries to identify the potential impact on early detection and on reducing the proportion of cases that are found in more advanced stages.