Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Techniques for long-term multisite neuronal ensemble recordings in behaving animals.

Advances in our understanding of neural systems will go hand in hand with improvements in the experimental techniques used to study these systems. This article describes a series of methodological developments aimed at enhancing the power of the methods needed to record simultaneously from populations of neurons over broad regions of the brain in awake, behaving animals. First, our laboratory has made many advances in electrode design, including movable bundle and array electrodes and smaller electrode assemblies. Second, to perform longer and more complex multielectrode implantation surgeries in primates, we have modified our surgical procedures by employing comprehensive physiological monitoring akin to human neuroanesthesia. We have also developed surgical implantation techniques aimed at minimizing brain tissue damage and facilitating penetration of the cortical surface. Third, we have integrated new technologies into our neural ensemble, stimulus and behavioral recording experiments to provide more detailed measurements of experimental variables. Finally, new data analytical techniques are being used in the laboratory to analyze increasingly large quantities of data.
Gricean Implicatures and Syllogistic Reasoning

Abstract It is a common assumption that one type of Gricean error- interpreting the quantifier "some" as being incompatible with a situation in which "all" is the case-is an important factor in determining errors in syllogistic reasoning. However, the errors that would be predicted by Gricean theory were found to be surprisingly rare in a reanalysis of previously published research on syllogisms. In a series of four experiments, it is demonstrated that Gricean errors are common in simple, interpretational tasks but become less common as the logical demands of the task increase; and they seem to be virtually nonexistent in syllogistic reasoning tasks. The results are interpreted in terms of mental models theory under the assumption that increasing task complexity leads to greater elaboration of preliminary models.
The dynamics of bilingual lexical access

In this article we discuss different views about how information flows through the lexical system in bilingual speech production. In the first part, we focus on some of the experimental evidence often quoted in favor of the parallel activation of the bilinguals' two languages from the semantic system in the course of language production. We argue that such evidence does not require us to embrace the existence of parallel activation of the two languages of a bilingual. In the second part of the article, we discuss the possibility that the language-not-in-use (or the non-response language) is activated via feedback from the sublexical representations and we devise some experimental procedures to assess the validity of such an assumption.
Improved outcomes of cardiopulmonary resuscitation in rats with myocardial infarction treated with allogenic bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells*

Objective:We hypothesized that rats in which myocardial infarction had been treated with mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) would have better outcomes following the global myocardial ischemia of cardiac arrest and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) compared with rats in which myocardial infarction had been treated with phosphate buffer solution (PBS). Design:Prospective, randomized controlled study. Setting:University-affiliated research institute. Subjects:Male Sprague-Dawley rats. Interventions:Myocardial infarction was induced in 18 male Sprague-Dawley rats. Four weeks later, animals were randomized to receive 5 × 106 MSCs labeled with red fluorescent dye gel (PKH26) in PBS or a PBS-alone injection into right femoral vein. Measurements and Main Results:Echocardiographically measured myocardial function, including ejection fraction, left ventricular end-diastolic volume, and left ventricular end-systolic volume, was quantitated 2 and 4 weeks after administering MSCs or PBS. Four weeks after MSCs or PBS injection, 6 minutes of ventricular fibrillation (VF) and 6 minutes of CPR were performed before defibrillation. Myocardial function, including cardiac index, left ventricular, dP/dt max (dP/dt max), left ventricular negative dP/dt min (−dP/dt min), and left ventricular diastolic pressure, was measured before inducing VF and hourly following return of spontaneous circulation. Labeled MSCs were observed in 5-&mgr;m cryostat sections from each harvested heart. Significant improvements in ejection fraction, left ventricular end-diastolic volume, left ventricular end-systolic volume, cardiac index, dP/dt max, −dP/dt min, and left ventricular diastolic pressure followed injection of MSCs before inducing VF. Following return of spontaneous circulation, myocardial function was significantly better in animals pretreated with MSCs; this was associated with significantly increased duration of postresuscitation survival. Conclusions:Myocardial function before and after CPR and duration of survival after CPR were significantly improved in animals in which myocardial infarction was treated with MSCs. MSCs existing in the myocardium resisted a secondary ischemic event and provided better postresuscitation myocardial function.
Laser Surgery in the Larynx Early Clinical Experience with Continuous Co2 Laser

Certain lasers, depending on their wave length, have properties making them specifically applicable to a particular problem; the energy of an argon laser, for example, will pass through the cornea and be selectively absorbed by the pigmented retina. In contrast a continuous CO2 laser is almost completely absorbed by biologic tissues and can be used to achieve controlled destruction of preselected areas of tissue.
From neural constructivism to cognitive constructivism: The steps to be taken

Quartz & Sejnowski's (Q&S's) model for constructive learning agrees with the basic assumptions of mainstream cognitive developmental theories. However, it does not detail the neural equivalents of (1) the process of cognitive change per se, (2) the construction and functioning of thought modules, and (3) the involvement of “mindreading” and “mindsteering” in constructive learning. Specifying these equivalents is necessary if cognitive developmental neuroscience and mainstream cognitive development are to be directly connected.
Appraised controllability as a moderator of the effectiveness of different coping strategies: A test of the goodness of fit hypothesis

Abstract This study was designed to test the goodness of fit hypothesis, which proposes that the effectiveness of different coping strategies will be dependent on the appraised controllability of the event. Problem-focused strategies are proposed to be adaptive in situations perceived to be controllable and maladaptive in situations perceived to be uncontrollable. In contrast, high levels of emotion-focused coping are proposed to have positive effects on adaptation in uncontrollable situations and negative effects in controllable situations. Data obtained from a sample of university students and community residents (n = 101), provided some support for these hypotheses. High relative levels of problem-focused coping were associated with favourable ratings of coping efficacy only in situations appraised to be controllable, while the negative effects of self-denigration were more marked in controllable than uncontrollable situations. There was, however, no support for the expectation that high levels of prob.
Multivariate distributions for workload generation in video on demand systems

In this letter we present an analysis of workload in a real video on demand service with the objective of generating more accurate input data for simulation models. As well as statistically characterizing key aspects in the server workload of the multimedia system, we consider their statistical dependencies.We propose a procedure to generate multivariate distributions using normal copulas in the video on demand system. Results show that the proposed method fits exactly the statistical distributions to the empirical data and matches the real correlation coefficients matrix.
Yellow-head virus: a rhabdovirus-like pathogen of penaeid shrimp

Yellow-head virus (YHV), a highly virulent virus of cultured penaeid shrimp, was originally isolated from the black tiger shrimp Penaeus monodon in Thailand. It was initially described as a baculovirus, but was recently reported to be a n RNA-containing virus. The present study reaffirms the genome of highly purified YHV to be an unsegmented single-stranded RNA with negative polarity and of approximately 22 kb size. When analysed by SDS-PAGE, the purified virus yielded at least 4 viral structural proteins of 170, 135,67 and 22 kDa. The 135 kDa protein was determined to be glycosylated. YHV, as with VSV, a rhabdovirus, was found to agglutinate chicken red blood cells. The highly flexible enveloped bacilliform YHV particles measured 50-60 X 190-200 nm. Since the virus had a number of properties in common with rhabdoviruses, particularly plant rhabdoviruses, it was provisionally classified as a rhabdovirus.
Average Consensus in Networks of Multi-Agent with Multiple Time-Varying Delays

The average consensus in undirected networks of multi-agent with both fixed and switching topology coupling multiple time-varying delays is studied. By using orthogonal transformation techniques, the original system can be turned into a reduced dimensional system and then LMI-based method can be applied conveniently. Convergence analysis is conducted by constructing Lyapunov-Krasovskii function. Sufficient conditions on average consensus problem with multiple time-varying delays in undirected networks are obtained via linear matrix inequality (LMI) techniques. In particular, the maximal admissible upper bound of time-varying delays can be easily obtained by solving several simple and feasible LMIs. Finally, simulation examples are given to demonstrate the effectiveness of the theoretical results.
Three-dimensional Magnetohydrodynamic Simulations of Jets from Accretion Disks

We report the results of three-dimensional magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) simulations of a jet formation by the interaction between an accretion disk and a large-scale magnetic field. The disk is not treated as a boundary condition but is solved self-consistently. To investigate the stability of the MHD jet, the accretion disk is perturbed with a nonaxisymmetric sinusoidal or random fluctuation of the rotational velocity. The dependences of the jet velocity (vz), mass outflow rate (w), and mass accretion rate (a) on the initial magnetic field strength in both nonaxisymmetric cases are similar to those in the axisymmetric case. That is, vz ∝ B, w ∝ B0, and a ∝ B, where B0 is the initial magnetic field strength. The former two relations are consistent with Michel's steady solution, vz ∝ (B/w)1/3, although the jet and accretion do not reach the steady state. In both perturbation cases, a nonaxisymmetric structure with m = 2 appears in the jet, where m is the azimuthal wavenumber. This structure cannot be explained by Kelvin-Helmholtz instability and seems to originate in the accretion disk. Nonaxisymmetric modes in the jet reach almost constant levels after about 1.5 orbital periods of the accretion disk, while all modes in the accretion disk grow with oscillation. As for the angular momentum transport by Maxwell stress, the vertical component, ⟨BϕBz/4π⟩, is comparable to the radial component, ⟨BϕBr/4π⟩, in the wide range of initial magnetic field strength.
Progression of Spanish National Team Basketball Players by Age and Sex

The aim of this study was to analyze the relationship between basketball players that have participated in the Spanish national team at different age categories and their progression through these categories. This progress is differentiated according to sex. The data for this study contain information about 320 players (163 females and 157 males). Results show that only a small percentage of players recognized as talented young players reached athletic excellence when adults. The evolution of the level of participation for females and males was similar. There was a break in the continuity of participation when comparing under-16 and senior categories. This rupture is also observed in female players in the move from under-18 to senior categories.
Prognostic Factors and Clinical Outcome of Patients With Recurrent Early-Stage Epithelial Ovarian Cancer: An Italian Multicenter Retrospective Study

Objective The objective of this study was to assess the clinical outcome of patients with recurrent early-stage ovarian cancer. Methods The hospital records of 87 patients were reviewed. The median follow-up of survivors from recurrence was 87.6 months. Results The 25%, 50%, and 75% quantiles of time to recurrence were 15, 25, and 44 months, respectively. The pelvis was the most common site of failure (39.1%), followed by abdomen (18.3%) and retroperitoneal nodes (18.3%). Treatment at recurrence consisted of chemotherapy in 46 patients, surgery plus chemotherapy in 29, surgery in 3, surgery plus radiotherapy in 2, and other therapies in 7. A macroscopically complete cytoreduction was obtained in 29 (85.2%) of the 34 patients who underwent secondary surgery. Five- and 7-year survival rates after recurrence were 34.3% and 29.6%. By log-rank test, survival after recurrence was related to patient age (≤60 vs >60 years; P = 0.001), time to recurrence (>15 vs ≤15 months; P = 0.049), site of recurrence (retroperitoneum vs pelvis vs other; P = 0.004), and surgery at recurrence (yes vs not; P = 0.001), but not to substage, histotype, grade, prior adjuvant chemotherapy, examination that detected recurrence, and chemotherapy at recurrence. On multivariate analysis, patient age (hazard ratio, 1.836; 95% confidence interval, 1.060-3.180) and surgical treatment at recurrence (hazard ratio, 1.972; 95% confidence interval, 1.084–3.587) were independent prognostic variables for survival after recurrence. Conclusions Patient age and surgery at recurrence were independent prognostic variables for patients with recurrent early-stage ovarian cancer. When feasible, salvage surgery appears to give a survival advantage in this clinical setting.
Clinical Significance of In Vitro Synergism Between Antibiotics in Gram-Negative Infections

Five combinations of antibiotics (ampicillin/gentamicin, cephalothin/gentamicin, carbenicillin/gentamicin, polymyxin/carbenicillin, and carbenicillin/cephalothin) were investigated in vitro and in 148 severe infectious episodes caused by gram-negative bacilli in patients with disseminated cancer. The use of combinations that were synergistic in vitro against the offending microorganism (synergy was defined as occurring when the minimal inhibitory concentration of each of the drugs in the combination was one-quarter or less of the minimal inhibitory concentration of each drug alone) was associated with a significantly better response to antibacterial therapy (P < 0.01) than the use of combinations that were not synergistic against the causative agent.
EXTREMAL LIMIT THEOREMS FOR OBSERVATIONS SEPARATED BY RANDOM WAITING TIMES

In certain applications, one makes observations separated by random waiting times. In this paper we develop extreme value theory for such processes. In the case where the waiting times between observations have an infinite mean, the limit process is an extremal process subordinated to an inverse stable subordinator. The probability that the limit process remains below a threshold is also computed.
An analysis of feature-based and state-based representations for module-based learning in mobile robots

The information available to robots in real tasks is widely distributed both in time and space, requiring the agent to search for relevant information. In this paper, we implement a solution that uses qualitative and quantitative knowledge to turn robot tasks able to be treated by reinforcement learning (RL) algorithms. The steps of this procedure include: 1) to decompose the overall task into smaller ones, using abstraction and macro-operators, thus achieving a discrete action space; 2) to use observation functions of the environment - here called features - to achieve both time and state space discretisation; 3) to use quantitative knowledge to design controllers that are able to solve the subtasks; 4) to learn the coordination of these behaviours using RL, more specifically Q-learning. The approach was verified on an increasingly complex set of robot tasks using a Khepera robot simulator. Two approaches for space discretisation were used, one based on features and the other on states. The learned policies over these two models were compared to a predefined hand-crafted one. It was found that the learned policy over the state-based discretisation leads quickly to good results, although it can not be applied to complex tasks, where the state space representation becomes computationally unfeasible.
DO RED-COCKADED WOODPECKERS SELECT CAVITY TREES BASED ON CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF PINE RESIN?

Abstract We examined resin chemistry of loblolly (Pinus taeda) and shortleaf (P. echinata) pines selected as cavity trees by Red-cockaded Woodpeckers (Picoides borealis) in eastern Texas. We sampled resin from (1) pines selected by Red-cockaded Woodpeckers that contained naturally excavated active cavities, (2) pines selected by forest biologists that contained artificially installed cavity inserts and were actively being used by Red-cockaded Woodpeckers, and (3) control pines of similar age and appearance to the active cavity trees. We hypothesized that if woodpeckers are inducing a change in resin chemistry by excavating resin wells, this change should appear in active cavity trees selected by woodpeckers and trees selected by biologists, but not in control pines. If woodpeckers are selecting pines that have specific resin chemistry, concentrations of some resin components in active cavity trees selected by the woodpeckers for natural cavity excavation should be different from both control pines and pines selected by biologists. A large diterpene acid peak containing an isopimaric- levopimaric-palustric methyl-ester mix in active natural cavity trees was approximately 20% greater than controls and 22% greater than trees with artificial cavities. None of the other eight resin chemicals differed among treatments. The activity of Red-cockaded Woodpeckers at resin wells did not appear to affect the composition of cavity tree resin. Woodpeckers, however, may select pines with specific resin chemistries for cavity trees.
Antecedents of mirror self‐recognition of toddlers: Emotional availability, birth order, and gender

Cette etude a employe une methode longitudinale pour examiner le role de la disponibilite emotionnelle des dyades enfant-mere, le role de l'ordre de naissance des enfants, et le role de leur sexe en tant que determinant de la reconnaissance-miroir-moi des petits enfants. L'hypothese etait que les petits enfants qui maintenaient une disposition emotionnelle plus optimale avec leur mere a l'âge de 12 mois auraient tendance a s'identifier plus facilement a l'âge de 20 mois. De plus, nous avons assume que les premier-nes et les filles s'identifieraient plus facilement que les garcons et les cadets. Un echantillon de 54 enfants n'etant pas a risque et leurs meres ont fait l'objet de l'investigation. Un modele d'analyse a montre que la disponibilite emotionnelle predisait partiellement la reconnaissance du moi: les petits enfants receptifs s'identifiaient plus souvent que leurs pairs moins receptifs. Aucun effet significatif n'a ete trouve pour les autres echelles de disponibilite emotionnelle. Un effet non-lineaire d'ordre de naissance a ete observe, les enfants nes deuxiemes etant plus a meme de demontrer de la reconnaissance-miroire-moi que les premiers nes ou les troisiemes nes. Le sexe de l'enfant n'etait pas un facteur significatif associe a la reconnaissance du moi a l'âge de 20 mois. Les donnees ont aussi montre que l'ordre de naissance etait lie de maniere significative aux composantes de la disponibilite emotionnelle. Aucune correlation significative n'a ete trouvee entre les scores de disponibilite emotionnelle et le sexe de l'enfant. Les resultats sont discutes a la lumiere des composantes de disponibilite emotionnelle et des correlats psychologiques de la position ordinale dans la famille.
Membrane properties of rat suprachiasmatic nucleus neurons receiving optic nerve input.

1. The electrophysiological properties of suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) neurons (n = 33) receiving optic nerve input were studied with intracellular recordings in rat hypothalamic slices maintained in vitro. Our major goal was to provide baseline data concerning the intrinsic membrane properties of these neurons and to test the hypothesis that the neurons are homogeneous electrophysiologically. 2. Action potentials were short in duration and followed by a pronounced hyperpolarizing after‐potential. Spike amplitude (58.2 +/‐ 1.1 mV, mean +/‐ S.E.M.; measured from threshold), spike duration (0.83 +/‐ 0.03 ms; measured at half amplitude) and hyperpolarizing after‐potential amplitude (23.9 +/‐ 1.0 mV; measured from threshold) appeared unimodally distributed and did not co‐vary. 3. Intracellular injection of depolarizing current pulses evoked spike trains, and spike inactivation, spike broadening and frequency accommodation were always present. An after‐hyperpolarization followed the spike train in all but one neuron. 4. Membrane time constant ranged from 7.5 to 21.1 ms (11.4 +/‐ 0.7 ms, n = 27), and its distribution appeared to be unimodal with the peak at approximately 10 ms. Input resistance ranged from 105 to 626 M omega (301 +/‐ 23 M omega, n = 33); the distribution also appeared unimodal with its peak at approximately 250 M omega. 5. A subpopulation (16 of 33, 48%) of the neurons exhibited slight (6‐29%) time‐dependent inward rectification in their voltage responses to hyperpolarizing current injection. Of the neurons lacking the time‐dependent rectification, some (n = 5) exhibited time‐independent inward rectification of 6‐20% and others showed no (or < 3%) such rectification. The degree of inward rectification was correlated with neuronal excitability (r = 0.60, P < 0.002; assessed by measuring the steepness of the primary slope of the frequency‐current plot) and with the spontaneous firing rate (r = 0.49, P < 0.007). Furthermore, the neurons with > 6% inward rectification (neurons with time‐dependent and ‐independent rectification were combined) were more excitable (362 +/‐ 43 Hz/nA (n = 15) vs. 221 +/‐ 37 Hz/nA (n = 9), P < 0.05) and had a higher spontaneous firing rate (11.1 +/‐ 1.9 Hz (n = 19) vs. 3.9 +/‐ 1.5 Hz (n = 11), P < 0.02) than the neurons with no or negligible (i.e. < 3%) inward rectification. The two groups, however, were not significantly different in membrane time constant and input resistance. 6. When adequately hyperpolarized, twelve of seventeen (71%) neurons generated small low‐threshold spike (LTS) potentials in response to depolarizing current pulses. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Exploring quality of e-Government services in Oman

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to understand the customer perception of service quality with respect to the e-Government services in Oman and conduct an investigation in order to determine the key factors that affect the quality of e-Government services in Oman. Design/methodology/approach – Primary data relating to the variables affecting quality of e-Government services and demographic profile data are collected using a questionnaire survey. The questionnaire was designed based on literature review and focus groups. Factor analysis method is employed to identify and rank the important factors affecting service quality. Findings – The study found that the four factors listed in the descending order of importance, reliability, responsiveness, efficiency, and security are primary determinants of the quality of e-Government services in Oman. Practical implications – This research enables government organizations to enhance their understanding of customer perception of e-Government services. The cust.