Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Startle Modulation during Conscious Emotion Regulation Is Arousal-dependent

Conscious regulation of negative emotion has been shown to affect human eyeblink startle responses, but whether these results depend on modulation of arousal-or valence-based processes is unknown. The authors presented participants with negative, neutral, and positive pictures and directed them to enhance, maintain, and suppress emotional responses. On emotional picture trials, startle responses decreased as a function of cue in the following order: enhance Ͼ maintain Ͼ suppress. Analysis of negative and positive picture trials separately revealed similar patterns of startle modulation by emotion regulation. There were no effects of emotion regulation on neutral trials. Results indicate that arousal, not valence, may be critical to startle modulation via conscious emotion regulation. Emotion regulation refers to the processes by which aspects of an emotional response are modulated (Gross, 1998). Because adults regulate emotions in multiple situations and ways (Gross, 1999), improved understanding of emotion regulation is important for psychological and neuroscientific models of emotional information processing. Better understanding of emotion regulation may also yield novel insights into psychopathology and psychotherapy , given that emotional dysregulation characterizes most psychopathological conditions (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edition; American Psychiatric Association , 1994), and emotion regulation instruction is central to several psychotherapies (e.g., Beck, 1976). A substantial body of work with both nonhuman animals (e. has demonstrated that startle responses to acoustic probes are modulated by emotional factors. For example, startle responses are reliably potentiated when an organism is exposed to stimuli that provoke fear. Here we consider how one form of emotion regulation— cognitive change (Gross, 1998)—alters startle probe responses. Cognitive change refers to humans' ability to alter the meaning ascribed to emotionally evocative stimuli. Jackson, Malmstadt, Larson, and Davidson (2000) demonstrated that cognitive change can affect eyeblink startle. In that study, participants viewed emotionally negative and neutral pictures. During picture presentation, participants heard cues to " enhance " (increase), " maintain " (keep constant), or " suppress " (decrease) emotional arousal elicited by the pictures. The full set of regulation cues was presented on negative trials (neutral trials always featured the maintain cue), and acoustic startle probes were presented. On negative trials, startle responses decreased as a function of cue in the following order: enhance Ͼ maintain Ͼ suppress. This paradigm has since been used in neuroimaging studies, which have shown that attempts to cognitively enhance, maintain, and decrease negative emotions lead to increased, sustained, and diminished amygdala activation, …
Properties of Fiber Reinforced Concrete: Workability, Behavior Under Long-Term Loading, and Air-Void Characteristics

This paper presents the results of an experimental invesigation of the behavior of steel fiber reinforced concrete. The properties investigated were: setting times, slump and air content loss with time, creep and shrinkage, and air-void characeristics including bubble size distribution. To compare the behavior of fiber reinforced concrete with plain concrete, all of the proceding properies were also investigated for plain concrete mixtures of similar composition. Two mixture proportions with cement contents of 611 and 799 lb/yd sup 3 (363 and 474 kg/m sup 3) were investigated. The lower cement content that was used with a water-cement ratio of 0.4 resulted in a highly workable medium-strength concrete. The compressive strength was in the range of 6000 psi (41 MPa). The higher cement content, wih a 0.3 water-cement ratio, resulted in a relatively stiff concrete with an average compressive strength of 7000 psi (48 MPa). High-range water reducers and air-entraining admixtures were used for all the mixtures. Collated 50 mm long steel fibers with hooked ends were used for the fiber concrete. The experiments were conducted using the appropriate ASTM standards. The air-void characteristics were studied using the linear traverse method. The results indicate that setting times are about the same for both concretes. Fiber concrete has lower slump and air content; the rate of loss of these parameters with time is also higher. Shrinkage of fiber reinforced concrete is slightly less, but it undergoes slightly more creep deformations. In the area of aid-void characteristics, the specific surface of air bubbles is lower for fiber reinforced concrete, and it has relatively less number of chord-intercepts in the 0 to 0.002-in. (0 to 0.05-mm) range.
Energetic and Spatial Parameters for Gating of the Bacterial Large Conductance Mechanosensitive Channel, MscL

MscL is multimeric protein that forms a large conductance mechanosensitive channel in the inner membrane of Escherichia coli. Since MscL is gated by tension transmitted through the lipid bilayer, we have been able to measure its gating parameters as a function of absolute tension. Using purified MscL reconstituted in liposomes, we recorded single channel currents and varied the pressure gradient (P) to vary the tension (T). The tension was calculated from P and the radius of curvature was obtained using video microscopy of the patch. The probability of being open (P o) has a steep sigmoidal dependence on T, with a midpoint (T 1/2) of 11.8 dyn/cm. The maximal slope sensitivity of P o/P c was 0.63 dyn/cm per e-fold. Assuming a Boltzmann distribution, the energy difference between the closed and fully open states in the unstressed membrane was ΔE = 18.6 k B T. If the mechanosensitivity arises from tension acting on a change of in-plane area (ΔA), the free energy, TΔA, would correspond to ΔA = 6.5 nm2. MscL is not a binary channel, but has four conducting states and a closed state. Most transition rates are independent of tension, but the rate-limiting step to opening is the transition between the closed state and the lowest conductance substate. This transition thus involves the greatest ΔA. When summed over all transitions, the in-plane area change from closed to fully open was 6 nm2, agreeing with the value obtained in the two-state analysis. Assuming a cylindrical channel, the dimensions of the (fully open) pore were comparable to ΔA. Thus, the tension dependence of channel gating is primarily one of increasing the external channel area to accommodate the pore of the smallest conducting state. The higher conducting states appear to involve conformational changes internal to the channel that don't involve changes in area.
Experimental Results about the Dynamics of the Generalized Belief Propagation Used on LDPC Codes

In the context of channel coding, the Generalized Belief Propagation (GBP) is an iterative algorithm used to recover the transmission bits sent through a noisy channel. To ensure a reliable transmission, we apply a map on the bits, that is called a code. This code induces artificial correlations between the bits to send, and it can be modeled by a graph whose nodes are the bits and the edges are the correlations. This graph, called Tanner graph, is used for most of the decoding algorithms like Belief Propagation or Gallager-B. The GBP is based on a non unic transformation of the Tanner graph into a so called region-graph. A clear advantage of the GBP over the other algorithms is the freedom in the construction of this graph. In this article, we explain a particular construction for specific graph topologies that involves relevant performance of the GBP. Moreover, we investigate the behavior of the GBP considered as a dynamic system in order to understand the way it evolves in terms of the time and in terms of the noise power of the channel. To this end we make use of classical measures and we introduce a new measure called the hyperspheres method that enables to know the size of the attractors.
Sublattices of Lattices of Order-Convex Sets, II. Posets of Finite Length

For a positive integer n, we denote by SUB (respectively, SUBn) the class of all lattices that can be embedded into the lattice Co(P) of all order-convex subsets of a partially ordered set P (respectively, P of length at most n). We prove the following results: (1) SUBn is a finitely based variety, for any n≥1. (2) SUB2 is locally finite. (3) A finite atomistic lattice L without D-cycles belongs to SUB if and only if it belongs to SUB2; this result does not extend to the nonatomistic case. (4) SUBn is not locally finite for n≥3.
Color Edge Detector with Sobel-PCA

Edge detection is one of the most commonly used operations in computer vision, The key of edge detection is the choice of threshold; the choice of threshold directly determines the results of edge detection. How to automatically determine an optimal threshold is one of difficult points of edge detection. In this paper, Sobel edge detection operator and its improved algorithm are first discussed in term of optimal thresholding. We include color information into a color edge detection approach based on principal components analysis (PCA). Finally, the edge detection experiments of synthetic image and real color images are conducted by means of two algorithms. The comparative experiment results show that the new algorithm is very effective. The results are also better than the classical methods.
Modelos de percolação elétrica aplicados para compósitos poliméricos condutores

This paper presents the application and adjustment of electrical percolation models in conductive polymer composites. Different models have been proposed for different types of conductive fillers applied in composites preparation, such as metal powders, graphite, black carbon, carbon nanotubes and nanofibers. The discussion was carried out considering the consistency of the model on the behavior of these fillers and their influence on the electrical properties of polymer matrices.
Spontaneous recanalization of atherosclerotic middle cerebral artery occlusion

Rationale: Intracranial vascular atherosclerotic occlusion is one of the most common causes of ischemic stroke world wide. The involvement of large intracranial vessels, in particular, the middle cerebral artery, is usually associated with unfavorable outcomes in patients. Spontaneous recanalization of atherosclerotic occlusion is relatively rare. Patient concerns: The first patient was a 43-year-old male with slurred speech and left-sided weakness for a duration of 24 hours. The second was a 59-year-old male with left-sided weakness over a period of 13 hours. The last was a 49-year-old female patient presented with a 1-month history of right-sided headache. Diagnoses: Atherosclerotic middle cerebral artery occlusion. Interventions: In all cases, oral aspirin (100 mg; once daily), Plavix (75 mg; once daily), and Lipitor (40 mg; once daily) were used . Oral Plavix was stopped 3 months. Outcomes: Spontaneous recanalization occured in the three cases of atherosclerotic middle cerebral artery occlusion. Lessons: Spontaneous recanalization may occur in both early and late stages of atherosclerotic middle cerebral artery occlusion. Clinicians should be aware of this particular condition, as it may represent a relatively favorable prognosis.
Transnational Comparative Framing: A Model for an Emerging Framing Approach

In light of continuing trends of globalization, media scholars are increasingly examining and comparing transnational issues. This study argues that although such research is timely and necessary, it requires a more structured approach. By analyzing existing cross-national framing studies, this study exposes gaps in the literature that a new model of approach proposed here could help fill. This transnational comparative framing model provides a framing pool for collecting generic, domestic, and issue-specific frames and proposes a three-dimensional framing matrix as a systematic framing codebook. Discussion of the model centers on its possible application to the analyzed cross-national framing studies to illustrate its ability to provide a more unified approach in this emerging area of research.
A compact index structure with high data retrieval efficiency

The B+-tree and its variants have been reported as the good index structures for retrieving data. However, their index schemes are short of optimizing data arrangement in the external structures. Improper handles adopted in the traditional splitting policies including pre-partition of data underlying space, node splitting by force, node splitting with unbalanced partition, and node splitting upon overflowed loading usually burden index structures with plenty of inefficient storage space and exceeding construction overhead. Consequentially, time and space efficiencies in conventional B+-tree and its variants remain much room for improvement. In this paper, a new index scheme is proposed to organize data into a more compactness via a better splitting policy. The new index scheme constantly compresses data in the external structure of an index tree and makes neighboring data more aggregative than traditional methods. The compact B+-trees elevate space utilization to a higher level which is near 90%. Both system efficiencies and data selectivity are remarkably improved by compact B+-trees.
Investigation of misalignment in analyzer crystal based-CT and its effect

Analyzer crystal-based computed tomography (ACB-CT) is a novel x-ray phase contrast computed tomography technique. In this paper, in order to extract the refraction angle, we analyzed the effect of misalignment on tomography-sliced images of ACB-CT. Two different methods were considered: the first, proposed by Chapman and Dilmanian, was based on two sets of projective image data taken at both sides of the rocking curve and with a half circle sample rotation and the second, recently proposed by our team, was based on only one set of projective image data taken at one side of the rocking curve but with a full circle sample rotation. Theoretical analysis and experimental results will show that the second method improves the quality of reconstructed CT images, also simplifying the ACB-CT data acquisition procedure.
Shear wave speed recovery in transient elastography and supersonic imaging using propagating fronts

Transient elastography and supersonic imaging are promising new techniques for characterizing the elasticity of soft tissues. Using this method, an ‘ultrafast imaging’ system (up to 10 000 frames s−1) follows in real time the propagation of a low frequency shear wave. The displacement of the propagating shear wave is measured as a function of time and space. The objective of this paper is to develop and test algorithms whose ultimate product is images of the shear wave speed of tissue mimicking phantoms. The data used in the algorithms are the front of the propagating shear wave. Here, we first develop techniques to find the arrival time surface given the displacement data from a transient elastography experiment. The arrival time surface satisfies the Eikonal equation. We then propose a family of methods, called distance methods, to solve the inverse Eikonal equation: given the arrival times of a propagating wave, find the wave speed. Lastly, we explain why simple inversion schemes for the inverse Eikonal equation lead to large outliers in the wave speed and numerically demonstrate that the new scheme presented here does not have any large outliers. We exhibit two recoveries using these methods: one is with synthetic data; the other is with laboratory data obtained by Mathias Fink's group (the Laboratoire Ondes et Acoustique, ESPCI, Université Paris VII).
Heterochromatin maintenance and establishment: Lessons from the mouse pericentromere

Defined as a chromatin structure that remains condensed throughout the cell cycle heterochromatin is generally transcriptionally silent and is characterized by a specific molecular signature. Constitutive heterochromatin at the pericentromere is a conserved feature throughout evolution, which impacts genome stability. Here, we will summarize recent advances in our understanding of the dynamics of mouse pericentric heterochromatin during the cell cycle and development. Comparison with heterochromatin maintenance in fission yeast will enable discussions of the common basic principles and various mechanisms exploited in the distinct organisms.
Neonatal outcomes with caesarean delivery at term

Objective: To estimate the impact of caesarean delivery on the incidence of selected neonatal outcomes. Patients and methods: A 15-year, population-based, cohort study (1988–2002) using the Nova Scotia Atlee Perinatal Database compared neonatal outcomes in term newborns born by spontaneous and assisted vaginal delivery, with newborns born by caesarean delivery, with and without labour, using multiple logistic regression. Results: From a total of 142 929 deliveries, there were 27 263 caesarean deliveries, 61% of which were performed in labour. Relative risks were adjusted for year of birth, maternal age, parity, smoking, maternal weight at delivery, hypertensive diseases, diabetes, previous caesarean delivery, use of regional anaesthesia, induction of labour, gestational age at delivery and large and small for gestational age, where significant. Caesarean delivery in labour, but not caesarean delivery without labour, had increased risks for depression at birth and neonatal respiratory conditions compared with spontaneous or assisted vaginal delivery. Compared with spontaneous vaginal delivery and assisted vaginal delivery, the risk of major neonatal birth trauma was decreased for infants after caesarean delivery with labour (odds ratio (OR) = 0.34, 95% CI 0.21 to 0.56 and OR = 0.07, 95% CI 0.04 to 0.11, respectively) and caesarean delivery without labour (OR = 0.20, 95% CI 0.08 to 0.52 and OR = 0.04, 95% CI 0.02 to 0.10, respectively). Conclusion: Caesarean delivery in labour, compared with vaginal delivery, is more likely to be associated with an increased risk for respiratory conditions and depression at birth than caesarean delivery without labour. Caesarean delivery appears protective against neonatal birth trauma, especially when performed without labour.
Studying Synchronization to a Musical Beat in Nonhuman Animals

The recent discovery of spontaneous synchronization to music in a nonhuman animal (the sulphur‐crested cockatoo Cacatua galerita eleonora) raises several questions. How does this behavior differ from nonmusical synchronization abilities in other species, such as synchronized frog calls or firefly flashes? What significance does the behavior have for debates over the evolution of human music? What kinds of animals can synchronize to musical rhythms, and what are the key methodological issues for research in this area? This paper addresses these questions and proposes some refinements to the “vocal learning and rhythmic synchronization hypothesis. ”
How to Define Biomarkers of Human T Cell Aging and Immunocompetence?

In 2012, 13–22% of the population in Europe, the US, and China were older than 60 years of age. In 2050, demographic models predict that 27–34% of the population in these countries will be older than 60 years of age. Worldwide, more than two billion persons will be age 60 years or over by 2050 (United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs Population Division, 2012). This will pose an enormous medical and socioeconomic challenge to our future society. One of the most recognized consequences of aging is a decline in immune function, which limits the protective effect of vaccinations and renders elderly people more susceptible to certain infectious diseases and to newly emerging infections, such as influenza (Gavazzi and Krause, 2002; Goronzy and Weyand, 2013). A higher prevalence of urinary tract infections, lower respiratory tract infections, skin and soft tissue infections, infective endocarditis, bacterial meningitis, tuberculosis, and herpes zoster has been observed in the elderly. Yet, infections in the elderly are not only more frequent but also more severe and have distinct features with respect to clinical presentation (Gavazzi and Krause, 2002). Accordingly, pneumonia, influenza, and septicemia are ranked among the 10 major causes of deaths in people aged 65 years and over in developed countries. Although considerable progress has been made to identify the cellular changes and molecular mechanisms underlying T cell aging, we still lack biomarkers of T cell aging that have been validated in large populations and that correlate with functional immune responsiveness. This opinion article will therefore focus on how aging affects the number, phenotype, and function of human naive and memory T cells, and how to identify and validate potential biomarkers of T cell aging. The availability of a valid set of biomarkers will be of utmost importance to improve medical and preventive treatments in the elderly and to evaluate potential therapies that aim to rejuvenate the aged immune system.
Preparation and Properties of PVA/PAAm IPN Hydrogels-Copper Nanoparticles Nanocomposites

Copper nanoparticles were fabricated in poly(vinyl alcohol)/polyacrylamide interpenetrating polymer networks (PVA/PAAm IPNs) by reduction of copper ions with sodium hypophosphite in aqueous solutions. The PVA/PAAm IPNs hydrogels were synthesized in terms of a simultaneous interpenetrating route in the presence of glutaraldehyde and N,N'-methylene-bis-acrylamide. The swelling and mechanical properties of the resulting PVA/PAAm/Cu nanocomposite hydrogels were investigated by a gravimetric method and compression stress-strain test. The results indicated that the copper nanoparticles were assembled in the PVA/PAAm IPN hydrogels in a spherical shape, and were well dispersed and stabilized by the polymer networks, with a size range from 10 to 20 nm. The complexation of PVA and PAAm with Cu2+ in PVA/PAAm IPNs played an important part in avoiding the aggregation of copper nanoparticles, and providing particle size and size distribution controllability and stability. The nanocomposite hydrogels exhibited slightly lower swelling, but better compression mechanical properties than that of the control PVA/PAAm IPNs. These properties can be easily tuned by changing the component ratios to meet the requirements of the specific applications such as drug controlled release or tissue engineering.
Virtualized Congestion Control

New congestion control algorithms are rapidly improving datacenters by reducing latency, overcoming incast, increasing throughput and improving fairness. Ideally, the operating system in every server and virtual machine is updated to support new congestion control algorithms. However, legacy applications often cannot be upgraded to a new operating system version, which means the advances are off-limits to them. Worse, as we show, legacy applications can be squeezed out, which in the worst case prevents the entire network from adopting new algorithms. Our goal is to make it easy to deploy new and improved congestion control algorithms into multitenant datacenters, without having to worry about TCP-friendliness with non-participating virtual machines. This paper presents a solution we call virtualized congestion control. The datacenter owner may introduce a new congestion control algorithm in the hypervisors. Internally, the hypervisors translate between the new congestion control algorithm and the old legacy congestion control, allowing legacy applications to enjoy the benefits of the new algorithm. We have implemented proof-of-concept systems for virtualized congestion control in the Linux kernel and in VMware’s ESXi hypervisor, achieving improved fairness, performance, and control over guest bandwidth allocations.