Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of Home-based Self-administered Transcranial Direct Stimulation in Patients with Mild to Moderate Major Depressive Disorder: A Single-arm, Multicentral Trial

Objective Although the effects and safety of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) treatment in depressive patients are largely investigated, whether the self-administration of tDCS treatment at patient’s home is comparable to clinic-based treatment is still unknown. Methods In this single-arm, multi-center clinical trial, 61 patients with mild to moderate major depressive disorder were enrolled. tDCS treatment was delivered at the patient’s home once a day, 5 to 7 times a week for 6 weeks, and each session lasted for 30 minutes. The primary outcome was a total Beck-Depression Inventory-II score, and no concurrent antidepressants were used. Results The remission rates in both Full-Analysis (FA) (n = 61) and Per-Protocol (PP) (n = 43) groups were statistically significant (FA 57.4% [0.44−0.70], PP 62.8% [0.47−0.77]; percent [95% confidence interval]). The degree of depression-related symptoms was also significantly improved in 2, 4, and 6 weeks after the treatment when compared with baseline. There was no significant association between treatment compliance and remission rate in both FA and PP groups. Conclusion These results suggest that acute treatment of patient-administered tDCS might be effective in improving the subjective feeling of depressive symptoms in mild to moderate major depressive disorder patients.
Neutron structure functions measured with spectator tagging

NEUTRON STRUCTURE FUNCTIONS MEASURED WITH SPECTATOR TAGGING Svyatoslav Tkachenko Old Dominion University, 2009 Director: Dr. Sebastian Kuhn We know much less about the neutron than the proton due to the absence of free neutron targets. Neutron information has to be extracted from data on nuclear targets like deuterium. This requires corrections for off-shell and binding effects which are not known from first principles and therefore are model-dependent. As a consequence, the same data can be interpreted in different ways, leading to different conclusions about important questions such as the value of the d/u quark ratio at large momentum fraction x. The Barely Off-shell NUcleon Structure (BONUS) experiment at Jefferson Lab addressed this problem by tagging spectator protons in coincidence with inelastic electron scattering from deuterium. A novel compact radial time projection chamber was built to detect low-momentum, backward moving protons, ensuring that the scattering took place on a loosely bound neutron. The scattered electron was detected with Jefferson Lab’s CLAS spectrometer. Data were taken at beam energies of 2, 4 and 5 GeV. Results on the extracted structure function F n 2 of the neutron, both in the resonance and deep inelastic regions are presented. Dependence of the results on the spectator kinematics, angle and momentum, is investigated. In addition, tests of the spectator model for different angles and momenta are performed. c ©Copyright, 2010, by Svyatoslav Tkachenko, All Rights Reserved
Sodium Niobate with a Large Interlayer Spacing: A Fast‐Charging, Long‐Life, and Low‐Temperature Friendly Lithium‐Storage Material

Niobate Li+‐storage anode materials with shear ReO3 crystal structures have attracted intensive attention due to their inherent safety and large capacities. However, they generally suffer from limited rate performance, cyclic stability, and temperature adaptability, which are rooted in their insufficient interlayer spacings. Here, sodium niobate (NaNb13O33) micron‐sized particles are developed as a new anode material owning the largest interlayer spacing among the known shear ReO3‐type niobates. The large interlayer spacing of NaNb13O33 enables very fast Li+ diffusivity, remarkably contributing to its superior rate performance with a 2500 to 125 mA g−1 capacity percentage of 63.2%. Moreover, its large interlayer spacing increases the volume‐accommodation capability during lithiation, allowing small unit‐cell‐volume variations (maximum 6.02%), which leads to its outstanding cyclic stability with 87.9% capacity retention after as long as 5000 cycles at 2500 mA g−1. Its cyclic stability is the best in the research field of niobate micron‐sized particles, and comparable to that of “zero‐strain” Li4Ti5O12. At a low temperature of −10 °C, it also exhibits high rate performance with a 1250 to 125 mA g−1 capacity percentage of 65.6%, and even better cyclic stability with 105.4% capacity retention after 5000 cycles at 1250 mA g−1. These comprehensively good electrochemical results pave the way for the practical application of NaNb13O33 in high‐performance Li+ storage.
Significance of agricultural row structure on the microwave emissivity of soils

A series of field experiments was conducted to extend the database available for verifying agricultural-row-effects models of emissivity. Observations were made using a truck-mounted, 21-cm, 1.4-GHz passive microwave radiometer for a range of soil moisture conditions on three bare soil plots: a flat control field, a furrowed field with row height 15 cm and row spacing 75 cm, and a furrowed field with row height 30 cm and row spacing 90 cm. An examination of model predictions for the test conditions indicated that although the composite roughness model tended to overestimate the effect of row structure on emissivity, it reproduced the observations fairly well. Both simulation results and the field measurements indicated that if an error of +or-0.03 in estimating emissivity, could be tolerated, then a reliable prediction of equivalent smooth field emissivity can be made for furrowed fields with row-height/row-spacing ratio less than 0.2, which encompasses most dry-land agricultural planting practices. >
Sonication and heat‐mediated synthesis, characterization and larvicidal activity of sericin‐based silver nanoparticles against dengue vector (Aedes aegypti)

Fabrication, characterization and evaluation of the larvicidal potential of novel silk protein (sericin)‐based silver nanoparticles (Se‐AgNPs) were the prime motives of the designed study. Furthermore, investigation of the sericin as natural reducing or stabilizing agent was another objective behind this study. Se‐AgNPs were synthesized using sonication and heat. Fabricated Se‐AgNPs were characterized using particle size analyzer, UV spectrophotometry, FTIR and SEM which confirmed the fabrication of the Se‐AgNPs. Size of sonication‐mediated Se‐AgNPs was smaller (7.49 nm) than heat‐assisted Se‐AgNPs (53.6 nm). Being smallest in size, sonication‐assisted Se‐AgNPs revealed the significantly highest (F4,10 = 39.20, p = .00) larvicidal activity against fourth instar lab and field larvae (F4,10 = 1864, p = .00) of dengue vector (Aedes aegypti) followed by heat‐assisted Se‐AgNPs and positive control (temephos). Non‐significant larvicidal activity was showed by silver (without sericin) which made the temperature stability of silver, debatable. Furthermore, findings of biochemical assays (glutathione‐S transferase, esterase, and acetylcholinesterase) showed the levels of resistance in field strain larvae. Aforementioned findings of the study suggests the sonication as the best method for synthesis of Se‐AgNPs while the larvicidal activity is inversely proportional to the size of Se‐AgNPs, i.e., smallest the size, highest the larvicidal activity. Conclusively, status of the sericin as a natural reducing/stabilizing agent has been endorsed by the findings of this study.
Existence Probability Map Based Circle Detection Method

A novel circle detection method based on probability of existence map is proposed.First,the method transforms the information of edge points lying on the same circle into peaks on the probability of existence map,then,parameters of circles being detected are determined by using peak detection.It can effectively detect circles with unclear and irregular contour and occupies less memory space.Experimental results show that probability of existence map has properties of steadiness and high resolving power.
Altered Functional Connectivity of the Nucleus Accumbens and Amygdala in Cyber Addiction: A Resting State Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study

Objective Cyber addiction, which is more vulnerable in adolescents, is defined as the excessive use of computers and the Internet that causes serious psychological, social, and physical problems. In this study, we investigated the resting-state functional connectivity (rsFC) in adolescents with cyber addiction. Methods We collected and analyzed resting-state functional neuroimaging data of 20 patients with cyber addiction, aged 13−18 years, and 27 healthy controls. Based on previous studies, the seed regions included the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, medial orbitofrontal cortex, lateral orbitofrontal cortex, dorsal anterior cingulate cortex, insula, hippocampus, amygdala, nucleus accumbens, and the ventral tegmental area. Seed-to-voxel analyses were performed to investigate the differences between patients and healthy controls. A correlation analysis between rsFC and cyber addiction severity was also performed. Results Patients with cyber addiction showed the following characteristics increased positive rsFC between the left insular−right middle temporal gyrus; increased positive rsFC between the right hippocampus−right precentral gyrus; increased positive rsFC between the right amygdala−right precentral gyrus and right parietal operculum cortex; increased negative rsFC between the left nucleus accumbens−right cerebellum crus II and right cerebellum VI. Conclusion Adolescents with cyber addiction show altered functional connectivity during the resting state. The findings of this study may help us better understand the neuropathology of cyber addiction in adolescents.
Rocket‐Inspired Effervescent Motors for Oral Macromolecule Delivery

Oral administration is among the most convenient ways with good patient compliance for drug delivery; while it remains a challenge to achieve desirable bioavailability of most macromolecules due to the complex gastrointestinal barriers. Here, inspired by the structure and function of rocket, a novel micromotor delivery system is presented with scaled‐down rocket‐like architecture and effervescent‐tablets‐derived fuel for efficient oral macromolecule delivery by penetrating intestinal barrier. These rocket‐inspired effervescent motors (RIEMs) are composed of sharp needle tips for both loading cargoes and efficient penetrating, and tail wings for loading effervescent powders and avoiding perforation. When exposed to a water environment, the effervescent fuel generates intensive CO2 bubbles to propel the RIEMs to move at high speed. Thus, the RIEMs with their sharp tip can inject into the surrounding mucosa for effective drug release. Furthermore, benefiting from their tail‐wing design, perforation can be effectively avoided during the injection process, ensuring the safety of the RIEMs in gastrointestinal active delivery. Based on these advantages, it is demonstrated that the RIEMs can efficiently move and stab into the intestinal mucosa for insulin delivery, exhibiting efficacy in regulating blood sugar glucose in a diabetic rabbit model. These features indicate that these RIEMs are versatile and valuable for clinical oral delivery of macromolecules.
Mechanosensory encoding in ex vivo muscle–nerve preparations

Our objective was to evaluate an ex vivo muscle–nerve preparation used to study mechanosensory signalling by low threshold mechanosensory receptors (LTMRs). Specifically, we aimed to assess how well the ex vivo preparation represents in vivo firing behaviours of the three major LTMR subtypes of muscle primary sensory afferents, namely type Ia and II muscle spindle (MS) afferents and type Ib tendon organ afferents. Using published procedures for ex vivo study of LTMRs in mouse hindlimb muscles, we replicated earlier reports on afferent firing in response to conventional stretch paradigms applied to non‐contracting, that is passive, muscle. Relative to in vivo studies, stretch‐evoked firing for confirmed MS afferents in the ex vivo preparation was markedly reduced in firing rate and deficient in encoding dynamic features of muscle stretch. These deficiencies precluded conventional means of discriminating type Ia and II afferents. Muscle afferents, including confirmed Ib afferents were often indistinguishable based on their similar firing responses to the same physiologically relevant stretch paradigms. These observations raise uncertainty about conclusions drawn from earlier ex vivo studies that either attribute findings to specific afferent types or suggest an absence of treatment effects on dynamic firing. However, we found that replacing the recording solution with bicarbonate buffer resulted in afferent firing rates and profiles more like those seen in vivo. Improving representation of the distinctive sensory encoding properties in ex vivo muscle–nerve preparations will promote accuracy in assigning molecular markers and mechanisms to heterogeneous types of muscle mechanosensory neurons.
Inflammatory Markers and Brain Volume in Patients with Post-traumatic Stress Disorder

Objective Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is characterized by increased inflammatory processing and altered brain volume. In this study, we investigated the relationship between inflammatory markers and brain volume in patients with PTSD. Methods Forty-five patients with PTSD, and 70 healthy controls (HC) completed clinical assessments and self-reported psychopathology scales. Factors associated with inflammatory responses including brain-derived neurotrophic factor and four inflammatory biomarkers (C-reactive protein, cortisol, Interleukin-6, and homocysteine) and T1-magnetic resonance imaging of the brain were measured. Results In the PTSD group, cortisol level was significantly lower (t = 2.438, p = 0.046) than that of the HC. Cortisol level was significantly negatively correlated with the left thalamus proper (r = −0.369, p = 0.035), right thalamus proper (r = −0.394, p = 0.014), right frontal pole (r = −0.348, p = 0.039), left occipital pole (r = −0.338, p = 0.044), and right superior occipital gyrus (r = −0.397, p = 0.008) in patients with PTSD. However, these significant correlations were not observed in HC. Conclusion Our results indicate that increased cortisol level, even though its average level was lower than that of HC, is associated with smaller volumes of the thalamus, right frontal pole, left occipital pole, and right superior occipital gyrus in patients with PTSD. Cortisol, a major stress hormone, might be a reliable biomarker to brain volumes and pathophysiological pathways in patients with PTSD.
Perivascular localized cells commit erythropoiesis in PDGF‐B‐expressing solid tumors

Tumors possess incessant growth features, and expansion of their masses demands sufficient oxygen supply by red blood cells (RBCs). In adult mammals, the bone marrow (BM) is the main organ regulating hematopoiesis with dedicated manners. Other than BM, extramedullary hematopoiesis is discovered in various pathophysiological settings. However, whether tumors can contribute to hematopoiesis is completely unknown. Accumulating evidence shows that, in the tumor microenvironment (TME), perivascular localized cells retain progenitor cell properties and can differentiate into other cells. Here, we sought to better understand whether and how perivascular localized pericytes in tumors manipulate hematopoiesis.
The munich difference imaging analysis for the pre-OmegaTranS project

We describe the Munich Difference Imaging Analysis pipeline that we developed and implemented in the framework of the Astro-WISE 1 package to automatically measure high precision light curves of a large number of stellar objects using the difference imaging approach. Combined with programs to detect time variability, this software can be used to search for planetary systems or binary stars with the transit method and for variable stars of different kinds. As a first scientific application, we discuss the data reduction and analysis performed with Astro-WISE on the pre-OmegaTranS data set, that we collected during a monitoring campaign of a dense stellar field with the Wide Field Imager at the ESO 2.2 m telescope.
FKBP12 binds to the cardiac ryanodine receptor with negative cooperativity: implications for heart muscle physiology in health and disease

Cardiac ryanodine receptors (RyR2) release the Ca2+ from intracellular stores that is essential for cardiac myocyte contraction. The ion channel opening is tightly regulated by intracellular factors, including the FK506 binding proteins, FKBP12 and FKBP12.6. The impact of these proteins on RyR2 activity and cardiac contraction is debated, with often apparently contradictory experimental results, particularly for FKBP12. The isoform that regulates RyR2 has generally been considered to be FKBP12.6, despite the fact that FKBP12 is the major isoform associated with RyR2 in some species and is bound in similar proportions to FKBP12.6 in others, including sheep and humans. Here, we show time- and concentration-dependent effects of adding FKBP12 to RyR2 channels that were partly depleted of FKBP12/12.6 during isolation. The added FKBP12 displaced most remaining endogenous FKBP12/12.6. The results suggest that FKBP12 activates RyR2 with high affinity and inhibits RyR2 with lower affinity, consistent with a model of negative cooperativity in FKBP12 binding to each of the four subunits in the RyR tetramer. The easy dissociation of some FKBP12/12.6 could dynamically alter RyR2 activity in response to changes in in vivo regulatory factors, indicating a significant role for FKBP12/12.6 in Ca2+ signalling and cardiac function in healthy and diseased hearts. This article is part of the theme issue ‘The heartbeat: its molecular basis and physiological mechanisms’.
Estimation and variable selection for generalised partially linear single-index models

In this paper, we study the problem of estimation and variable selection for generalised partially linear single-index models based on quasi-likelihood, extending existing studies on variable selection for partially linear single-index models to binary and count responses. To take into account the unit norm constraint of the index parameter, we use the ‘delete-one-component’ approach. The asymptotic normality of the estimates is demonstrated. Furthermore, the smoothly clipped absolute deviation penalty is added for variable selection of parameters both in the nonparametric part and the parametric part, and the oracle property of the variable selection procedure is shown. Finally, some simulation studies are carried out to illustrate the finite sample performance.
Time shifts: Place, belonging, and future orientation in pandemic everyday life

The disruptions to everyday life wrought by the COVID-19 pandemic include distortions in the experience of time, as reported widely by ordinary citizens and observed by journalists and social scientists. But how does this temporal disruption play out in different time scales—in the individual day as opposed to the medium- and long-term futures? And how might place influence how individuals experience and understand the pandemic's temporal transformations? This essay examines a range of temporal disruptions reported in day diaries and surveys submitted to the Everyday Life in Middletown project, an online archive that has been documenting ordinary life in Muncie, Indiana, USA since 2016. Viewing these materials as instances of life writing, the essay probes the interactions between temporal disruptions and the local setting as they inflect the autobiographical selves our writers construct in their pandemic writings. It shows how living in Muncie—a postindustrial city with its particular combination of historical, demographic, economic, social, and political dynamics—structures the autobiographical stories available to our writers, and how the disruption of time produces new variations and problems for life writing. In the midst of a global crisis, we glimpse the pandemic's reshaping of a local structure of feeling in which a pervasive, local narrative of civic decline frames individual self-fashioning.
The Linguistic Cycle: Language Change and the Language Faculty

1. Linguistic Cycles and Economy PART I 2. The Subject Agreement Cycle 3. The Object Agreement Cycle 4. The Copula Agreement Cycle PART II 5. The Dependent Marking Cycles 6. The DP Cycle PART III 7. TMA Cycles 8. The Negative Cycles PART IV 9. Typology and Parameters 10. Language Evolution 11. Conclusion REFERENCES
Using ecological partitions to assess zooplankton biogeography and seasonality

Zooplankton play a crucial role in marine ecosystems as the link between the primary producers and higher trophic levels, and as such they are key components of global biogeochemical and ecosystem models. While phytoplankton spatial-temporal dynamics can be tracked using satellite remote sensing, no analogous data product is available to validate zooplankton model output. We develop a procedure for linking irregular and sparse observations of mesozooplankton biomass with model output to assess regional seasonality of mesozooplankton. We use output from a global biogeochemical/ecosystem model to partition the ocean according to seasonal patterns of modeled mesozooplankton biomass. We compare the magnitude and temporal dynamics of the model biomass with in situ observations averaged within each partition. Our analysis shows strong correlations and little bias between model and data in temperate, strongly seasonally variable regions. Substantial discrepancies exist between model and observations within the tropical partitions. Correlations between model and data in the tropical partitions were not significant and in some cases negative. Seasonal changes in tropical mesozooplankton biomass were weak, driven primarily by local perturbations in the velocity and extent of currents. Microzooplankton composed a larger fraction of total zooplankton biomass in these regionsWe also examined the ability of the model to represent several dominant taxonomic groups. We identified several Calanus species in the North Atlantic partitions and Euphausiacea in the Southern Ocean partitions that were well represented by the model. This partition-scale comparison captures biogeochemically important matches and mismatches between data and models, suggesting that elaborating models by adding trait differences in larger zooplankton and mixotrophy may improve model-data comparisons. We propose that where model and data compare well, sparse observations can be averaged within partitions defined from model output to quantify zooplankton spatio-temporal dynamics.
On the mean shape of particle processes

For a stationary point process X of sets in the convex ring in ℝ d , a relation is given between the mean particles of the section process X ∩ E (where E varies through the set of k-dimensional subspaces in ℝ d ) and a mean particle of X. In particular, it is shown that the mean bodies of all planar sections of X determine the Blaschke body of X and hence the mean normal distribution of X.