Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
An Interneuron Circuit Reproducing Essential Spectral Features of Field Potentials

Recent advances in engineering and signal processing have renewed the interest in invasive and surface brain recordings, yet many features of cortical field potentials remain incompletely understood. In the computational study that follows, we show that a model circuit of interneurons, coupled via both GABAA receptor synapses and electrical synapses, reproduces many essential features of the power spectrum of local field potential (LFP) recordings, such as 1/f power scaling at low frequency (below 10 Hz), power accumulation in the γ-frequency band (30–100 Hz), and a robust α rhythm in the absence of stimulation. The low-frequency 1/f power scaling depends on strong reciprocal inhibition, whereas the α rhythm is generated by electrical coupling of intrinsically active neurons. As in previous studies, the γ power arises through the amplification of single-neuron spectral properties, owing to the refractory period, by parameters that favor neuronal synchrony, such as delayed inhibition. This study also confirms that both synaptic and voltage-gated membrane currents contribute substantially to the LFP and that high-frequency signals such as action potentials quickly taper off with distance. Given the ubiquity of electrically coupled interneuron circuits in the mammalian brain, they may be major determinants of the recorded potentials.
Validation of a genetic risk score for atrial fibrillation: A prospective multicenter cohort study

Background Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most commonly encountered arrhythmia and is associated with an elevated risk of stroke. Improving the identification of patients with the highest risk for AF to enable appropriate surveillance and treatment, if necessary, is critical to reducing AF-associated morbidity and mortality. Multiple common single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are unequivocally associated with the lifetime risk of AF. In the current study we aimed to prospectively validate an AF genetic risk score (GRS) in previously undiagnosed patients at risk for AF. Methods and findings Individuals 40 years of age or older with 1 clinical risk factor for AF, presenting with symptoms of AF, or with a first diagnosis of AF, were enrolled for genetic testing and ambulatory cardiac rhythm monitoring with an adhesive patch monitor or a long-term Holter monitor (mean wear time 10 days 21 hours and 13 days 18 hours, respectively). An AF event was the first diagnosis of AF by ECG, patch monitor, or long-term Holter monitor. The AF GRS was determined for each participant based on the weighted contribution of 12 genetic risk loci. Of 904 participants, 85 manifested AF. Their mean age was 66.2 (SD 11.8) years; 38% of participants were male. Participants in the highest quintile of AF GRS were more likely (odds ratio 3.11; 95% CI 1.27–7.58; p = 0.01) to have had an AF event than participants in the lowest quintile after adjusting for age, sex, smoking status, BMI, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, heart failure, and prior myocardial infarction. Study limitations included an ethnically homogenous population, a restricted rhythm monitoring period, and the evolving discovery of SNPs associated with AF. Conclusions Prospective assessment of a GRS for AF identified participants with elevated risk of AF beyond established clinical criteria. Accordingly, a GRS for AF could be incorporated into overall risk assessment to better identify patients at the highest risk of developing AF, although further testing in larger populations is needed to confirm these findings. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01970969
The Signal Transducer NPH3 Integrates the Phototropin1 Photosensor with PIN2-Based Polar Auxin Transport in Arabidopsis Root Phototropism[C][W]

This work examines blue light–induced root phototropism, finding that it requires the phot1/NONPHOTOTROPIC HYPOCOTYL3 signaling pathway, which stimulates shootward auxin flux by changing PIN2 subcellular localization in the root apex transition zone. Under blue light (BL) illumination, Arabidopsis thaliana roots grow away from the light source, showing a negative phototropic response. However, the mechanism of root phototropism is still unclear. Using a noninvasive microelectrode system, we showed that the BL sensor phototropin1 (phot1), the signal transducer NONPHOTOTROPIC HYPOCOTYL3 (NPH3), and the auxin efflux transporter PIN2 were essential for BL-induced auxin flux in the root apex transition zone. We also found that PIN2-green fluorescent protein (GFP) localized to vacuole-like compartments (VLCs) in dark-grown root epidermal and cortical cells, and phot1/NPH3 mediated a BL-initiated pathway that caused PIN2 redistribution to the plasma membrane. When dark-grown roots were exposed to brefeldin A (BFA), PIN2-GFP remained in VLCs in darkness, and BL caused PIN2-GFP disappearance from VLCs and induced PIN2-GFP-FM4-64 colocalization within enlarged compartments. In the nph3 mutant, both dark and BL BFA treatments caused the disappearance of PIN2-GFP from VLCs. However, in the phot1 mutant, PIN2-GFP remained within VLCs under both dark and BL BFA treatments, suggesting that phot1 and NPH3 play different roles in PIN2 localization. In conclusion, BL-induced root phototropism is based on the phot1/NPH3 signaling pathway, which stimulates the shootward auxin flux by modifying the subcellular targeting of PIN2 in the root apex transition zone.
Impact of mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) on sleep, mood, stress and fatigue symptoms in cancer outpatients

Sleep disturbance is a very common problem for cancer patients that has largely not been addressed in the clinical intervention literature. Mindfulness meditation has demonstrated clinical benefits for a variety of patient populations in other areas of functioning. This study examined the effects of an 8-week Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program on the sleep quality of a heterogeneous sample of 63 cancer patients. Overall sleep disturbance was significantly reduced (p < .001) and participants reported that their sleep quality had improved (p < .001). There was also a significant reduction in stress (p < .001), mood disturbance (p = .001), and fatigue (p < .001). The associations among these changes and implications for improving quality of life of cancer patients are discussed.
DIFFUSER VALVES EFFECTS ON PLASTIC PERISTALTIC MICROPUMPS

This research compared two kinds of PMMA peristaltic micropumps: with and without diffuser values. PMMA as substrate offers the benefits of low cost, chemical inertness, lightweight, optical transparent, nonfragility when handling and volume fabrication with added benefits of disposability. Moreover, PMMA has higher Young’s modules than PDMS, the most common polymers for MEMS (Micro-Electric-Mechanical System). And a hard substrate could supply high driving force which is important for miniaturized actuators like micropumps. We applied diffuser valves to evaluate their effects to the peristaltic pumps. The results show the straight channel type with the advantage of high flow rates. However, the diffuser valve type could reduce the back flow of the liquid pumping and result in higher backpressure.
A prospective study of alcohol use among middle-aged adults and marital partner influences on drinking.

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this three-wave longitudinal study was twofold. First, prevalence data on alcohol characteristics (e.g., drinks per day, heavy episodic drinking [HED]) were provided for a community sample of middle-aged adults. Aggregate (or group) and individual levels of stability of these characteristics across a 10-year interval were a major focus. Second, an actor-partner interdependence model (APIM) was used to test husbands' and wives' mutual influences on each other's alcohol use. METHOD Prospective data were collected from the middle-aged parents of a cohort study that originally targeted adolescents. Three measurement occasions occurred at baseline, 5 years later, and an additional 5 years later. Data from 597 men and 847 women were used to derive prevalence data on alcohol use, and 489 intact marital dyads were used to test spouses' interdependence on alcohol use and HED in the APIMs. RESULTS The majority of men and women reported alcohol use at each measurement occasion, and the average number of drinks per day was highly similar across time, as was the percentage reporting HED. There was substantial stability at the individual level in the amount of alcohol consumed and HED between waves of measurement. Marital partners had significant but modest effects on each other's alcohol use. Wives had a somewhat greater influence on their husbands' drinking than vice versa. CONCLUSIONS The majority of middle-aged adults consumed alcohol at a low to moderate level. However, there is heterogeneity in alcohol use patterns, and a significant minority reported at-risk levels of alcohol use and HED.
Left-lateralization of resting state functional connectivity between the presupplementary motor area and primary language areas

An abundance of evidence points to a role for the presupplementary motor area (pre-SMA) in human language function. This study explores the pre-SMA resting state connectivity network and the nature of its connections to known language areas. We tested the hypothesis that by seeding the pre-SMA, one would be able to establish language laterality to known cortical and subcortical language areas. We analyzed resting state data from 30 right-handed healthy controls by performing a seed-based analysis using a manually drawn pre-SMA region of interest template. Time-course signals in the pre-SMA region of interest were averaged and cross-correlated to every voxel in the brain. Results show that the pre-SMA has significant left-lateralized functional connectivity to the pars opercularis within Broca’s area. Among cortical regions, pre-SMA functional connectivity is strongest to the pars opercularis. In addition, pre-SMA connectivity exists to other cortical language-association regions, including Wernicke’s Area, supramarginal gyri, angular gyri, and middle frontal gyri. Among subcortical areas, considerable left-lateralized functional connectivity occurs to the caudate and thalamus, whereas cerebellar subregions show right lateralization. The current study shows that the pre-SMA most strongly connects to the pars opercularis within Broca’s area and that cortical connections to language areas are left-lateralized among a sample of right-handed patients. We provide resting state functional MRI evidence that the functional connectivity of the pre-SMA is involved in semantic language processing and that this identification may be useful for establishing language laterality in preoperative neurosurgical planning.
Genetics of Osteoporosis: Meeting Report from the 31st Annual Meeting of the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research: September 11-15, 2009 in Denver, Colorado

At this year’s meeting, the GWA study approach used to identify genes contributing to bone mineral density (BMD) and fracture risk attracted attention. BMD has been identified as the major risk factor for susceptibility to osteoporotic fractures and is currently the predominant study phenotype for osteoporosis. For example, using the dense Affymetrix 500K SNP gene chip method, two genes, parathyroid hormone (PTH) and interleukin 21 receptor (IL21R) were found to be associated with femoral neck BMD in two independent Caucasian samples (1). In another GWA study, SNPs in the cation channel, sperm-associated, beta (CATSPERB) and ADAM metallopeptidase with thrombospondin type 1 motif, 18 (ADAMTS18) genes provided evidence of association with femoral neck BMD (2). Interestingly, ADAMTS18 was previously found to be associated with hip BMD in an independent GWA study (3). Associations of several other polymorphisms with BMD in previous GWA studies, e.g., SNPs from catenin beta like 1 (CTNNBL1), low density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 5 (LRP5), osterix and intergenic regions on chromosomes 2 and 4, were replicated in younger American men and women (4). Based on an Efficient Mixed-Model Association algorithm, one study (5) performed a GWA analysis for BMD and gene expression values using expression SNPs (eSNPs) in the Hybrid Mouse Diversity Panel (HMDP), and identified a novel candidate gene named additional sex combs like 2 (ASXL2) for BMD. Besides SNPs, longer sequences of DNA insertions and deletions collectively called copy number variants (CNVs) are also rich and important markers for human diseases. At this year's meeting, one genome-wide CNV association study on osteoporosis found a CNV in one novel gene, vacuolar protein sorting 13 homolog B (VPS13B), associated with spine, hip and femoral neck BMD and cross-sectional area, cortical thickness and buckling ratio (6).
Prevalence of diabetes among men and women in China.

Background Because of the rapid change in lifestyle in China, there is concern that diabetes may become epidemic. We conducted a national study from June 2007 through May 2008 to estimate the prevalence of diabetes among Chinese adults. Methods A nationally representative sample of 46,239 adults, 20 years of age or older, from 14 provinces and municipalities participated in the study. After an overnight fast, participants underwent an oral glucose-tolerance test, and fasting and 2-hour glucose levels were measured to identify undiagnosed diabetes and prediabetes (i.e., impaired fasting glucose or impaired glucose tolerance). Previously diagnosed diabetes was determined on the basis of self-report. Results The age-standardized prevalences of total diabetes (which included both previously diagnosed diabetes and previously undiagnosed diabetes) and prediabetes were 9.7% (10.6% among men and 8.8% among women) and 15.5% (16.1% among men and 14.9% among women), respectively, accounting for 92.4 million adults w.
Sensing and actuating capabilities of a shape memory polymer composite integrated with hybrid filler

In this paper, hybrid fillers, including carbon black (CB) and chopped short carbon fibers (SCF), are integrated into a styrene-based shape memory polymer (SMP) with sensing and actuating capabilities. The hybrid filler is expected to transform insulating SMP into conducting. Static mechanical properties of the SMP composites containing various filler concentrations of hybrid filler reinforcement are studied first, and it is theoretically and experimentally confirmed that the mechanical properties are significantly improved by a factor of filler content of SCF. The excellent electrical properties of this novel type of SMP composite are determined by a four-point-probe method. As a consequence, the sensing properties of SMP composite filled with 5 wt% CB and 2 wt% SCF are characterized by functions of temperature and strain. These two experimental results both aid the use of SMP composites as sensors that respond to changes in temperature or mechanical loads. On the other hand, the actuating capability of SMP composites is also validated and demonstrated. The dynamic mechanical analysis result reveals that the output strength of SMP composites is improved with an increase in filler content of SCF. The actuating capability of SMP composites is subsequently demonstrated in a series of photographs.
Performance verification of a variable bit-rate limiter for on-off keying (OOK) optical systems

A close-form analytical expression is obtained for the performance study of a bit-rate limiter (BRL). Both bit-error rate (BER) and power penalty are derived for different BRL modulation signals and modulation formats using a random signal model. We also present ways to improve the BRL performance and to eliminate the BRL-induced crosstalk, by using an optimal BRL modulation index and a specific BRL modulation signal, respectively. The analytical expression is found to match well with the experimental measurements.
Latent structure of negative valence measures in childhood

Internalizing disorders (IDs), consisting of the syndromes of anxiety and depression, are common, debilitating conditions often having onsets in adolescence. Scientists have developed dimensional self‐report instruments that assess putative negative valence system (NVS) trait‐like constructs as complimentary phenotypes to clinical symptoms. These include various measures that index temperamental predispositions to IDs and correlate with neural substrates of fear, anxiety, and affective regulation. This study sought to elucidate the overarching structure of putative NVS traits and their relationship to early manifestations of ID symptomatology.
The genes that encode the gonococcal transferrin binding proteins, TbpB and TbpA, are differentially regulated by MisR under iron‐replete and iron‐depleted conditions

Neisseria gonorrhoeae produces two transferrin binding proteins, TbpA and TbpB, which together enable efficient iron transport from human transferrin. We demonstrate that expression of the tbp genes is controlled by MisR, a response regulator in the two‐component regulatory system that also includes the sensor kinase MisS. The tbp genes were up‐regulated in the misR mutant under iron‐replete conditions but were conversely down‐regulated in the misR mutant under iron‐depleted conditions. The misR mutant was capable of transferrin‐iron uptake at only 50% of wild‐type levels, consistent with decreased tbp expression. We demonstrate that phosphorylated MisR specifically binds to the tbpBA promoter and that MisR interacts with five regions upstream of the tbpB start codon. These analyses confirm that MisR directly regulates tbpBA expression. The MisR binding sites in the gonococcus are only partially conserved in Neisseria meningitidis, which may explain why tbpBA was not MisR‐regulated in previous studies using this related pathogen. This is the first report of a trans‐acting protein factor other than Fur that can directly contribute to gonococcal tbpBA regulation.
INFLUENCE OF CELL SURFACE HYDROPHOBICITY IN COLONIZATION AND BIOFILM FORMATION ON LDPE BIODEGRADATION

Objective: Solid surfaces that are in contact with water in environment tend to form microbial colonization. The purpose of this research is to determine the role of biofilm formation and colonization of bacteria during the biodegradation of low density polyethylene (LDPE) films by Bacillus amyloliquefaciens strains BSM-1 and BSM-2. Methods: Here two active strains were isolated and identified as Bacillus amyloliquefaciens BSM-1 and BSM-2. The cell surface hydrophobicity behavior of those strains was determined. The bacteria were tending to colonize on polymer which was evaluated and the formation of biofilm was quantified. The bacterial biofilm was visualized by scanning electron microscope (SEM). Results: During the study it was found that BSM-2 strain have the maximum capability to colonize, form biofilm on the inert LDPE films and facilitated maximum polymer degradation compared to prototype BSM-1. BSM-2 also exhibited higher cell surface hydrophobicity of 45.23% compared to strain BSM-1. Conclusion: The present finding implies that determination of cell surface hydrophobicity is important to decide the potentiality of strain for LDPE biodegradation.
A Multimodal Human Sensory System to support Mobile Gait Rehabilitation

In a dynamic operational environment of human-robot interaction, awareness of the interacting human state and activity is essential to the decision making of the robotic system. We present our approach by illustrating its application in a particularly challenging context of human-robot co-working supported by our Human Sensory System, for measuring physiological data during robot-assisted gait rehabilitation, which provides sensors and infrastructure to measure the physiological data. This data is used by a Situation Assessment Architecture in the monitoring the human state, activity and performance to aid the process of gait rehabilitation. Both the Human Sensory System and the Situation Assessment Architecture have been developed as part of the CORBYS project, in which a mobile robotic gait rehabilitation system demonstrator has been developed. The Human Sensory System consists of three sensor module types; i) a Chest Unit collecting one-lead ECG, heart rate and skin temperature measurements, ii) an IsenseU unit equipped to measure humidity and inertial movements and iii) an EMG measurement unit. Synchronised sensor readings are transmitted wirelessly formatted as standardised Robot Operating System (ROS) data from the Human Sensory System controller. This enables a seamless sharing of physiological data with the Situation Assessment Architecture, robotics control and end-user graphical interfaces.
Developing coupled cavity living laser for biological cell analysis

The development of a prototype of a coupled cavity living laser that is aimed to be used for cell analysis is described. Quantum well and quantum dot material is characterized as the potential active medium. Quantum dot material has the beneficial qualities of a low internal optical loss ai of 2±1 cm-1, broader gain spectrum with reduced peak gain magnitude as well as larger spectral peak gain shift with increasing current density. However, the maximum gain available with quantum dot at 300 K is smaller (15 cm-1 compared to 37 cm-1), which might limit the device performance where the etched mirror loss was large. The quantum well active medium material is therefore used for the fabrication of the prototype. The recipe for the fabrication of etched facets has been investigated since the monolithic design of the coupled cavity living laser doesn’t allow cleaving of the inner facets. A nickel mask is found to be a suitable mask for inductively coupled plasma etching of semiconductor crystal here as unlike silicon oxide the metal doesn’t have any significant interaction with the etchant during the etching process. Oxide stripe lasers with cleaved – etched facets show decreasing threshold current density and increasing external and internal quantum efficiency as an increasing exposure dose factor and short development time is applied. The electron beam lithography process for mask patterning requires a high exposure dose factor which is 1.5 and short development time, which is 40 seconds to produce etched facet with minimum striations and the best reflectivity achieved is 0.24. This level of total losses, where a mirror reflectivity of 0.24 is achieved, coupled with the measured ai means that quantum dot material could be used for future iterations.The prototype of a coupled cavity living laser is fabricated with the developed processing procedure. The laser devices function as individual laser cavities with threshold current of 538 mA for laser 1 and 588 mA for laser 2. The vertical far field divergence of 25O along with the channel width of 125 μm means that only 0.004 of the emitted electric field profile overlaps with the second cavity. The fabricated prototype of a coupled cavity living laser also operates in a source – detector mode. Laser 1 and 2 appear to give iv threshold current of 421 mA and 446 mA respectively when they are operating as a source and signal is measured using the other device operating as a detector. The apparent reduction compared to the externally measured threshold is likely to be due to the changing fraction of light coupled from one section to the other as the near field and consequently the far field changes around threshold and the influence this has on the determination of the threshold from the slope characteristic. When both sections are operated as lasers a negligible effect is seen on the threshold current of one due to contributions from the other and this may be due to the very small fraction of light coupled from one to the other.