Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Visual working memory buffers information retrieved from visual long-term memory

Significance How do we retrieve long-term memory? Here, we show that by measuring subjects’ electroencephalogram (EEG), we can directly observe the dynamic process of long-term memory retrieval. Our findings suggest that retrieved information becomes consciously available by being represented in a working-memory format that is similar to that used to represent new perceptual inputs. Furthermore, we show that our EEG measures can track the process of retrieving and combining two long-term memories acquired separately (e.g., image of a horse and a pair of wings) into one working-memory representation (e.g., a Pegasus). Thus, our results not only provide direct neural support for a long-assumed theory of memory retrieval but also demonstrate how flexible retrieval allows for creative thought. Human memory is thought to consist of long-term storage and short-term storage mechanisms, the latter known as working memory. Although it has long been assumed that information retrieved from long-term memory is represented in working memory, we lack neural evidence for this and need neural measures that allow us to watch this retrieval into working memory unfold with high temporal resolution. Here, we show that human electrophysiology can be used to track information as it is brought back into working memory during retrieval from long-term memory. Specifically, we found that the retrieval of information from long-term memory was limited to just a few simple objects’ worth of information at once, and elicited a pattern of neurophysiological activity similar to that observed when people encode new information into working memory. Our findings suggest that working memory is where information is buffered when being retrieved from long-term memory and reconcile current theories of memory retrieval with classic notions about the memory mechanisms involved.
An Automatic 3 D Texturing Framework

In this paper we address the need to automatically texture 3D objects. The currently accepted approach is to submit the 3D object to a sophisticated 3D modelling package. Then with a lot of user know-how, correctly cut and parameterise the mesh so as to minimise the overall distortion. In the presented framework, this is completely automated, even the texture discontinuities across the mesh seams are virtually eliminated. The framework also supports multiple textures over the mesh, plus overlays and bump mapping. We even revisit pixelwise texture synthesis, and show its superiority over conventional patch-based methods. Thereby, included in the framework is a texture synthesiser, not only for creating 2D texture, but also 3D volumetric texture for the purpose of filling the 3D object.
Interpixel capacitance in non-destructive focal plane arrays

Inter-pixel capacitive coupling can exist in a non-destructive detector array if the detector nodes change voltage as they integrate charge and the design of the device allows for an electric fleld to exist between adjacent collection nodes. Small amounts of inter-pixel capacitance can cause large errors in the measurement of poissonian noise versus signal, and all subsequently derived measurements such as nodal capacitance and quantum e‐ciency. Crosstalk and MTF can also be signiflcantly in∞uenced by interpixel capacitance. Two 1K £ 1K Raytheon SB226-based hybridized silicon P-I-N arrays were tested for nodal capacitance and MTF. Initial results indicated unexpected and unexplainably large nodal capacitance, poor MTF, and odd edge spread. It was hypothesized that inter-pixel capacitive coupling was responsible for these discrepancies. A stochastic method of measuring the coupling using 2D autocorrelation and Fourier Transform techniques was devised and implemented. Autocorrelation of the shot noise in the images revealed a correlation consistent with 3.2% interpixel capacitive coupling. When the efiects of the measured interpixel capacitance were taken into account, the initially measured nodal capacitance of 56 fF was found to be in error, 30% higher than the corrected nodal capacitance measurement of 43 fF. Large discrepancies between the theoretical and observed edge spread response were also greatly reduced. A simulation of the electric fleld in the pin detector intrinsic region predicted an interpixel coupling very close to the observed coupling. Interpixel capacitance was also observed in 2K £ 2k Raytheon SB304-based InSb detector arrays, but was not strongly evident in a bare SB226 multiplexer.
Infinitary Intersection Types as Sequences: a New Answer to Klop's Question

We provide a type-theoretical characterization of weakly-normalizing terms in an infinitary lambda-calculus. We adapt for this purpose the standard quantitative (with non-idempotent intersections) type assignment system of the lambda-calculus to our infinite calculus. Our work provides a new answer to Klop's HHN-problem, namely, finding out if there is a type system characterizing the hereditary head-normalizing (HHN) lambda-terms. Tatsuta showed that HHN could not be characterized by a finite type system. We prove that an infinitary type system endowed with a validity condition called approximability can achieve it.
Learning Artificial Intelligence clip by clip: Post class reflections on the first online Norvig-Thrun-Stanford-Know Labs Artificial Intelligence course

The free on-line Artificial Intelligence (AI) course taught by Norvig and Thrun in Fall 2011 is likely to be a game changer in postsecondary education. The huge course enrollment demonstrates that there is a keen interest in this new type of open education, and that no campus-based alternative can be suitable for educating such large numbers of students. The AI course was offered as a sequence of granular, interactive video clips grouped into topics. Homework and exams were video-based as well. This paper provides a critical evaluation of the author's experience as a student enrolled in the advanced track of the AI course. The author is a tenured associate professor at a Canadian medium-sized, research-intensive university. Her expertise lies in Computer Vision, a topic that is closely related to Artificial Intelligence. The paper is based on participatory action research methods.
Feature points tracking adaptive to saturation

This paper proposes a color tracking strategy designed to improve the robustness against luminance and saturation changes due to illumination variations. On the one hand, color is helpful in terms of photometric invariance and separability power. On the other hand, it is more costly in time and resources and most color invariants are ill-defined at low saturation. To answer these issues, the proposed method weights the color and luminance information adaptively with respect to the current color saturation. A particular attention is also given to chose a color representation with low computational cost. The method is compared to classical color tracking in terms of accuracy, robustness and executing times. The experimental results achieved on several image sequences confirm the good performances of the method.
Necessary Conditions for Feedback Passivation of Nonaffine-in-Control Systems

It is well understood that an open-loop Lyapunov stable nonaffine-in-control nonlinear system can be asymptotically stabilized through feedback. But stabilizing an open-loop unstable nonaffine system remains an open research question. This paper derives the necessary conditions required to render a general open-loop unstable nonlinear system passive through static feedback. It is shown that this is possible only if the system under consideration has relative degree one and is weakly minimum phase through an appropriate output definition. Unlike feedback passivation for affine-incontrol nonlinear systems this result is not sufficient. The developments and the essential ideas of the paper are verified for a continuously stirred tank reactor.
High expression of chemokines Gro-alpha (CXCL-1), IL-8 (CXCL-8), and MCP-1 (CCL-2) in inflamed human corneas in vivo.

OBJECTIVE To investigate in vivo expression of chemokines in normal and inflamed human corneas, to determine whether chemokines are responsible for the recruitment of inflammatory cells. METHODS In situ hybridization of the CXC chemokines growth-related oncogene-alpha (Gro-alpha) (CXCL-1), interleukin 8 (CXCL-8), macrophage interferon-gamma inducible gene (CXCL-9), and interferon-gamma inducible protein 10 (CXCL-10) and of the CC chemokines macrophage chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1) (CCL-2), macrophage inflammatory protein 1alpha (CCL-3), and regulated on activation, normal T-cell expressed and secreted (CCL-5) was performed to localize chemokine messenger RNA. Immunohistochemistry was used to identify the cellular infiltrate within the cornea. Three normal human eyes were compared with eyes enucleated because of chronic inflammation (n = 10), secondary to perforating injuries. RESULTS In normal corneas, no chemokine expression was detected. In inflamed lesions, a high intensity of signals from Gro-alpha (CXCL-1) and MCP-1 (CCL-2) messenger RNA was observed in limbal epithelium and from Gro-alpha (CXCL-1), interleukin 8 (CXCL-8), and MCP-1 (CCL-2) in corneal stroma. The Gro-alpha (CXCL-1) was the only chemokine expressed by central corneal epithelium. All other examined chemokines were only moderately expressed in limbus and corneal stroma, or barely detectable. CONCLUSIONS These cytokines are important agents in the cytokine network and contribute to the cell-specific and spatially restricted recruitment of neutrophils and mononuclear cells in acute inflammatory lesions of the human cornea. Clinical Relevance Understanding the role of chemokines in corneal inflammation may lead to the development of a selective receptor blockage of highly expressed chemokines to inhibit the recruitment of leukocyte subsets.
Sorbitol promotes growth of Zymomonas mobilis in environments with high concentrations of sugar: evidence for a physiological function of glucose-fructose oxidoreductase in osmoprotection

The gram-negative ethanologenic bacterium Zymomonas mobilis is able to grow in media containing high concentrations of glucose or other sugars. A novel compatible solute for bacteria, sorbitol, which enhances growth of Z. mobilis at glucose concentrations exceeding 0.83 M (15%), is described. Added sorbitol was accumulated intracellularly up to 1 M to counteract high external glucose concentrations (up to 1.66 M or 30%). Accumulation of sorbitol was triggered by a glucose upshift (e.g., from 0.33 to 1.27 M or 6 to 23%) and was prevented by the uncoupler CCCP (carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone; 100 microM). The sorbitol transport system followed Michaelis-Menten kinetics, with an apparent Km of 34 mM and a Vmax of 11.2 nmol.min-1.mg-1 (dry mass). Sorbitol was produced by the cells themselves and was accumulated when growing on sucrose (1 M or 36%) by the action of the periplasmic enzyme glucose-fructose oxidoreductase, which converts glucose and fructose to gluconolactone and sorbitol. Thus, Z. mobilis can form and accumulate the compatible solute sorbitol from a natural carbon source, sucrose, in order to overcome osmotic stress in high-sugar media. No other major compatible solute (betaine, proline, glutamate, or trehalose) was detected.
Optimal vein density in artificial and real leaves

The long evolution of vascular plants has resulted in a tremendous variety of natural networks responsible for the evaporatively driven transport of water. Nevertheless, little is known about the physical principles that constrain vascular architecture. Inspired by plant leaves, we used microfluidic devices consisting of simple parallel channel networks in a polymeric material layer, permeable to water, to study the mechanisms of and the limits to evaporation-driven flow. We show that the flow rate through our biomimetic leaves increases linearly with channel density (1/d) until the distance between channels (d) is comparable with the thickness of the polymer layer (δ), above which the flow rate saturates. A comparison with the plant vascular networks shows that the same optimization criterion can be used to describe the placement of veins in leaves. These scaling relations for evaporatively driven flow through simple networks reveal basic design principles for the engineering of evaporation–permeation-driven devices, and highlight the role of physical constraints on the biological design of leaves.
Development and characterization of an overtraining animal model.

PURPOSE Development of an endurance training-overtraining protocol for Wistar rats that includes increased workload and is characterized by analyses of performance and biomarkers. METHODS The running protocol lasted 11 wk: 8 wk of daily exercise sessions followed by 3 wk of increasing training frequency (two, three, and four times), with decreasing recovery time between sessions (4, 3, and 2 h) to cause an imbalance between overload and recovery. The performance tests were made before training (T1) and after the 4th (T2), 8th (T3), 9th (T4), 10th (T5), and 11th (T6) training weeks. All rats showed significantly increased performance at T4, at which time eight rats, termed the trained group (Tr), were sacrificed for blood and muscle assays. After T6, two groups were distinguishable by differences in the slope (alpha) of a line fitted to the individual performances at T4, T5, and T6: nonfunctional overreaching (NFOR; alpha < -15.05 kg x m) and functional overreaching (FOR; alpha >or= -15.05 kg x m). RESULTS Data were presented as mean +/- SD. FOR maintained the performance at T6 similar to Tr at T4 (530.6 +/- 85.3 and 487.5 +/- 61.4 kg x m, respectively). The FOR and the Tr groups showed higher muscle citrate synthase activity (approximately 40%) and plasma glutamine/glutamate ratio (Gm/Ga; 4.5 +/- 1.7 and 4.5 +/- 0.9, respectively) than the sedentary control (CO) group (2.8 +/- 0.5). The NFOR group lost the performance acquired at T4 (407.3 +/- 88.2 kg x m) after T6 (280.5 +/- 93.1 kg x m) and exhibited sustained leukocytosis. NFOR's Gm/Ga (3.1 +/- 0.2) and muscle citrate synthase activity were similar to CO values. CONCLUSIONS The decline in performance in the NFOR group could be related to the decrease in muscle oxidative capacity. We observed a trend in the Gm/Ga and leukocytosis that is similar to what has been sometimes observed in overtrained humans. This controlled training-overtraining animal model may be useful for seeking causative mechanisms of performance decline.
The Krebs Cycle Enzyme α-Ketoglutarate Decarboxylase Is an Essential Glycosomal Protein in Bloodstream African Trypanosomes

ABSTRACT α-Ketoglutarate decarboxylase (α-KDE1) is a Krebs cycle enzyme found in the mitochondrion of the procyclic form (PF) of Trypanosoma brucei. The bloodstream form (BF) of T. brucei lacks a functional Krebs cycle and relies exclusively on glycolysis for ATP production. Despite the lack of a functional Krebs cycle, α-KDE1 was expressed in BF T. brucei and RNA interference knockdown of α-KDE1 mRNA resulted in rapid growth arrest and killing. Cell death was preceded by progressive swelling of the flagellar pocket as a consequence of recruitment of both flagellar and plasma membranes into the pocket. BF T. brucei expressing an epitope-tagged copy of α-KDE1 showed localization to glycosomes and not the mitochondrion. We used a cell line transfected with a reporter construct containing the N-terminal sequence of α-KDE1 fused to green fluorescent protein to examine the requirements for glycosome targeting. We found that the N-terminal 18 amino acids of α-KDE1 contain overlapping mitochondrion- and peroxisome-targeting sequences and are sufficient to direct localization to the glycosome in BF T. brucei. These results suggest that α-KDE1 has a novel moonlighting function outside the mitochondrion in BF T. brucei.
Bilateral Asymmetry of Cerebral Blood Velocity in Cluster Headache

In this study, 69 episodic cluster headache (CH) patients (40 in the active phase, 29 in remission period) underwent a complete TCD examination in order to verify the relationship between cerebral blood velocities (CBVs) and the clinical profile of the disease. Fifteen patients were examined during both phases, while 7 were monitored during a spontaneous attack. Sixty-three healthy sex and age-matched controls were also studied. We measured widespread, asymmetric CBV activation during the active phase, bilaterally in the anterior circulation and also in the posterior circulation. A relative reduction of CBV on the anterior cerebral artery pain side, also during remission, suggests a relationship between local vasodilation and the autonomic symptoms ipsilateral to pain during CH attacks.
Temporal evolution of gamma activity in human cortex during an overt and covert word repetition task

Several scientists have proposed different models for cortical processing of speech. Classically, the regions participating in language were thought to be modular with a linear sequence of activations. More recently, modern theoretical models have posited a more hierarchical and distributed interaction of anatomic areas for the various stages of speech processing. Traditional imaging techniques can only define the location or time of cortical activation, which impedes the further evaluation and refinement of these models. In this study, we take advantage of recordings from the surface of the brain [electrocorticography (ECoG)], which can accurately detect the location and timing of cortical activations, to study the time course of ECoG high gamma (HG) modulations during an overt and covert word repetition task for different cortical areas. For overt word production, our results show substantial perisylvian cortical activations early in the perceptual phase of the task that were maintained through word articulation. However, this broad activation is attenuated during the expressive phase of covert word repetition. Across the different repetition tasks, the utilization of the different cortical sites within the perisylvian region varied in the degree of activation dependent on which stimulus was provided (auditory or visual cue) and whether the word was to be spoken or imagined. Taken together, the data support current models of speech that have been previously described with functional imaging. Moreover, this study demonstrates that the broad perisylvian speech network activates early and maintains suprathreshold activation throughout the word repetition task that appears to be modulated by the demands of different conditions.
The Certification Problem Format

We provide an overview of CPF, the certification problem format, and explain some design decisions. Whereas CPF was originally invented to combine three different formats for termination proofs into a single one, in the meanwhile proofs for several other properties of term rewrite systems are also expressible: like confluence, complexity, and completion. As a consequence, the format is already supported by several tools and certifiers. Its acceptance is also demonstrated in international competitions: the certified tracks of both the termination and the confluence competition utilized CPF as exchange format between automated tools and trusted certifiers.
Species‐Area Curves, Diversity Indices, and Species Abundance Distributions: A Multifractal Analysis

Although fractals have been applied in ecology for some time, multifractals have, in contrast, received little attention. In this article, we apply multifractals to the species‐area relationship and species abundance distributions. We highlight two results: first, species abundance distributions collected at different spatial scales may collapse into a single curve after appropriate renormalization, and second, the power‐law form of the species‐area relationship and the Shannon, Simpson, and Berger‐Parker diversity indices belong to a family of equations relating the species number, species abundance, and area through the moments of the species abundance–probability density function. Explicit formulas for these diversity indices, as a function of area, are derived. Methods to obtain the multifractal spectra from a data set are discussed, and an example is shown with data on tree and shrub species collected in a 50‐ha plot on Barro Colorado Island, Panama. Finally, we discuss the implications of the multifractal formalism to the relationship between species range and abundance and the relation between the shape of the species abundance distribution and area.
Orbitofrontal Dysfunction Discriminates Behavioral Variant Frontotemporal Dementia from Alzheimer’s Disease

Background: Behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD) patients show prefrontal cortex dysfunction and atrophy. Methods: We investigated whether executive function in conjunction with prefrontal cortex atrophy discriminates bvFTD and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) patients efficiently at presentation. Results: AD and bvFTD patients were distinguishable by 89.5% on their performance of 3 executive tasks: the Hayling Test of Inhibitory Control, Digit Span Backward and Letter Fluency. Similarly, scan ratings showed that orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex regions distinguish both patient groups. More importantly, employing the Hayling error score in conjunction with the OFC atrophy rating showed that 92% of patients can be correctly classified into bvFTD and AD. Conclusion: A combination of OFC and disinhibition measures appears to be a powerful diagnostic tool in differentiating bvFTD from AD patients in this preliminary study.
Structural basis for dynamic mechanism of proton-coupled symport by the peptide transporter POT

Proton-dependent oligopeptide transporters (POTs) are major facilitator superfamily (MFS) proteins that mediate the uptake of peptides and peptide-like molecules, using the inwardly directed H+ gradient across the membrane. The human POT family transporter peptide transporter 1 is present in the brush border membrane of the small intestine and is involved in the uptake of nutrient peptides and drug molecules such as β-lactam antibiotics. Although previous studies have provided insight into the overall structure of the POT family transporters, the question of how transport is coupled to both peptide and H+ binding remains unanswered. Here we report the high-resolution crystal structures of a bacterial POT family transporter, including its complex with a dipeptide analog, alafosfalin. These structures revealed the key mechanistic and functional roles for a conserved glutamate residue (Glu310) in the peptide binding site. Integrated structural, biochemical, and computational analyses suggested a mechanism for H+-coupled peptide symport in which protonated Glu310 first binds the carboxyl group of the peptide substrate. The deprotonation of Glu310 in the inward open state triggers the release of the bound peptide toward the intracellular space and salt bridge formation between Glu310 and Arg43 to induce the state transition to the occluded conformation.
RSA component extraction from heart rate signal by independent component analysis

Respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) is a phenomenon where heart rate changes synchronously with respiration. It can be measured by high frequency power (HF power, 0.15-0,4 Hz) of heart rate interval (RRi) series, which is an important and widely used parameter in cardiovascular research. Due to the altering respiration rates, it is important to have methods to separate the RSA from the RRi. We applied Independent Component Analysis (ICA) to extract the RSA from the RRi series. The performance of ICA was evaluated with a simulation study where real 5 min RRi (n=20) and respiration data (n=2) of spontaneously breathing males were superimposed. According to residual analysis in time and frequency domain, the extracted RSA follows the shape of simulated RSA (3.3 - 5.4% RMS error of total variability), and ICA is able to remove RSA without changing the power content of RRi (p <0.05). Thus, ICA is a capable method to extract RSA from RRi series.