Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Pupil Dilation and Microsaccades Provide Complementary Insights into the Dynamics of Arousal and Instantaneous Attention during Effortful Listening

Listening in noisy environments requires effort- the active engagement of attention and other cognitive abilities- as well as increased arousal. The ability to separately quantify the contribution of these components is key to understanding the dynamics of effort and how it may change across listening situations and in certain populations. We concurrently measured two types of ocular data in young participants (both sexes): pupil dilation (PD; thought to index arousal aspects of effort) and microsaccades (MS; hypothesized to reflect automatic visual exploratory sampling), while they performed a speech-in-noise task under high- (HL) and low- (LL) listening load conditions. Sentences were manipulated so that the behaviorally relevant information (keywords) appeared at the end (Experiment 1) or beginning (Experiment 2) of the sentence, resulting in different temporal demands on focused attention. In line with previous reports, PD effects were associated with increased dilation under load. We observed a sustained difference between HL and LL conditions, consistent with increased phasic and tonic arousal. Importantly we show that MS rate was also modulated by listening load. This was manifested as a reduced MS rate in HL relative to LL. Critically, in contrast to the sustained difference seen for PD, MS effects were localized in time, specifically during periods when demands on auditory attention were greatest. These results demonstrate that auditory selective attention interfaces with the mechanisms controlling MS generation, establishing MS as an informative measure, complementary to PD, with which to quantify the temporal dynamics of auditory attentional processing under effortful listening conditions. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Listening effort, reflecting the “cognitive bandwidth” deployed to effectively process sound in adverse environments, contributes critically to listening success. Understanding listening effort and the processes involved in its allocation is a major challenge in auditory neuroscience. Here, we demonstrate that microsaccade rate can be used to index a specific subcomponent of listening effort, the allocation of instantaneous auditory attention, that is distinct from the modulation of arousal indexed by pupil dilation (currently the dominant measure of listening effort). These results reveal the push-pull process through which auditory attention interfaces with the (visual) attention network that controls microsaccades, establishing microsaccades as a powerful tool for measuring auditory attention and its deficits.
Curing “GFP-itis” in Bacteria with Base Editors: Development of a Genome Editing Science Program Implemented with High School Biology Students

The flexibility and precision of CRISPR-Cas9 and related technologies have made these genome editing tools increasingly popular in agriculture, medicine, and basic science research over the past decade. Genome editing will continue to be relevant and utilized across diverse scientific fields in the future. Given this, students should be introduced to genome editing technologies and encouraged to consider their ethical implications early on in pre-college biology curricula. Furthermore, instruction on this topic presents an opportunity to create partnerships between researchers and educators at the K-12 levels that can strengthen student engagement in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). To this end, we present a three-day student-centered learning program to introduce high school students to genome editing technologies through a hands-on base editing experiment in E. coli, accompanied by a relevant background lecture and facilitated ethics discussion. This unique partnership aims to educate students and provides a framework for research institutions to implement genome editing outreach programs at local high schools.
Fully dynamic biconnectivity in graphs

The author presents an algorithm for maintaining the bi-connected components of a graph during a sequence of edge insertions and deletions. It requires linear storage and preprocessing time. The amortized running time for insertions and for deletions is O(m/sup 2/3/), where m is the number of edges in the graph. Each query of the form 'Are the vertices u and v biconnected? ' can be answered in time O(1). This is the first sublinear algorithm for this problem. If the input is a planar embedded graph, the amortized running time for insertions and deletions drops to O( square root nlogn) and the worst case query time is O((logn)/sup 2/), where n is the number of vertices in the graph. The best previously known solution takes time O(n/sup 2/3/) per update or query. <<ETX>>
Modified Butterworth-Van Dyke circuit for FBAR resonators and automated measurement system

Microwave Film Bulk Acoustic Resonators (FBARs) may be characterized by means of the Mason transmission line model, but for parameter extraction and design studies, the lumped Butterworth-Van Dyke (BVD) model is more useful. We propose a modification to the standard five element BVD model, in which a second resistor is added in series with the plate capacitance C/sub 0/. This improves the model predictions as compared to the data obtained from a network analyzer (NWA). Here, the modified model will be developed in terms of the resonant frequencies, effective coupling constant k/sub t//sup 2/, and the quality factor Q, as determined from the S parameters of an FBAR measured by the NWA. To evaluate the FBAR resonators on a routine basis, an automated data acquisition and parameter extraction method based on the Modified Butterworth-Van Dyke model (MBVD) is described. An Agilent Technologies 8753ES NWA operating under Personal Computer control is used to acquire and process FBAR data by means of a custom HPVEE/sup TM/ program, which transfers data from the NWA, and extracts the six MBVD circuit parameters. Excellent agreement is obtained between the measured data for a typical FBAR resonator and calculated "postdictions" obtained from the MBVD circuit. Coupled with the automated method, which takes about 10 seconds per resonator to perform a complete extraction cycle, a computer controlled probing station is used to acquire data from several hundred resonators on the wafer upon which the FBARS were fabricated. With this speed and probing capability, it is feasible to wafer map the FBARs for uniformity. Contour plots of the measured resonant frequency and coupling constant k/sub t//sup 2/ will be presented to illustrate the capability.
Multiplexer rational model extraction based on generalized formulation of Cauchy method

A generalized formulation of Cauchy method for multiplexer rational model extraction is presented in this paper. This new technique can extract the multiplexer rational models from either measurement or electromagnetic simulation results. The generalized formulation of Cauchy method takes into account the relationship between the transmission coefficients and reflection coefficients of each channel filter. It is suitable for multiplexers whose channel filters are connected through resonating junction. The total least square method is applied to solve the system matrix. The new technique presented in this paper is suitable for lossless case as well as lossy case and is verified by lossless triplexer and circuit simulation lossy triplexer examples successfully.
A Climatological Spectral Study of the 500 mb Geopotential Height of the Northern Hemisphere.

Abstract A 10-year record of the 500 mb geopotential height for the Northern Hemisphere has been expanded into spherical harmonics and filtered in the time domain. Maps of the root-mean-square (rms) height have been constructed corresponding to different spatial scales and frequency bands. The spatial scales and frequency bands were chosen to emphasize blocking and cyclogenesis and to help isolate spurious, high-frequency parts of the field from the physically meaningful parts. We find that low-frequency fields are dominated by planetary-scale waves at high latitudes and by synoptic-scale waves at mid-latitudes. The medium-frequency fields get substantial contributions from the waves of synoptic scale and shorter. Power spectra of the spherical harmonic expansion coefficients are presented, as well as quadrature spectra for each pair of cosine and sine expansion coefficients. We find large-scale waves have a large amount of low-frequency power and a spectrum rapidly decreasing with frequency. Shorter wave.
Cohort Identification from Free-Text Clinical Notes Using SNOMED CT's Hierarchical Semantic Relations

In this paper, a new cohort identification system that exploits the semantic hierarchy of SNOMED CT is proposed to overcome the limitations of supervised machine learning-based approaches. Eligibility criteria descriptions and free-text clinical notes from the 2018 National NLP Clinical Challenge (n2c2) were processed to map to relevant SNOMED CT concepts and to measure semantic similarity between the eligibility criteria and patients. The eligibility of a patient was determined if the patient had a similarity score higher than a threshold cut-off value. The performance of the proposed system was evaluated for three eligibility criteria. The performance of the current system exceeded the previously reported results of the 2018 n2c2, achieving the average F1 score of 0.933. This study demonstrated that SNOMED CT alone can be leveraged for cohort identification tasks without referring to external textual sources for training.
An introduction to structured population dynamics

Preface 1. Discrete Models. Matrix Models Autonomous Single Species Models Some Applications A Case Study Multispecies Interactions 2. Continuous Models. Age-Structured Models Autonomous Age-Structured Models Some Applications Multispecies Interactions Other Structured Models 3. Population Level Dynamics. Ergodicity and Nonlinear Models The Linear Chain Trick Hierarchical Models Total Population Size in Age-Structured Models Appendix A. Stability Theory for Maps. Linear Maps Linearization of Maps Appendix B. Bifurcation Theorems. A Global Bifurcation Theorem Local Parameterization Appendix C. Miscellaneous Proofs. Bibliography. Index.
Temperature increase significantly enhances nociceptive responses of C-fibers to ATP, high K+, and acidic pH in mice

It is well established that temperature affects the functioning of almost all biomolecules and, consequently, all cellular functions. Here, we show how temperature variations within a physiological range affect primary afferents’ spontaneous activity in response to chemical nociceptive stimulation. An ex vivo mouse hind limb skin-saphenous nerve preparation was used to study the temperature dependence of single C-mechanoheat (C-MH) fibers’ spontaneous activity. Nociceptive fibers showed a basal spike frequency of 0.097 ± 0.013 Hz in control conditions (30°C). Non-surprisingly, this activity decreased at 20°C and increased at 40°C, showing moderate temperature dependence with Q10∼2.01. The fibers’ conduction velocity was also temperature-dependent, with an apparent Q10 of 1.38. Both Q10 for spike frequency and conduction velocity were found to be in good correspondence with an apparent Q10 for ion channels gating. Then we examined the temperature dependence of nociceptor responses to high K+, ATP, and H+. Receptive fields of nociceptors were superfused with solutions containing 10.8 mM K+, 200 μM ATP, and H+ (pH 6.7) at three different temperatures: 20, 30, and 40°C. We found that at 30 and 20°C, all the examined fibers were sensitive to K+, but not to ATP or H+. At 20°C, only 53% of fibers were responsible for ATP; increasing the temperature to 40°C resulted in 100% of sensitive fibers. Moreover, at 20°C, all observed fibers were silent to pH, but at 40°C, this number was gradually increased to 87.9%. We have found that the temperature increase from 20 to 30°C significantly facilitated responses to ATP (Q10∼3.11) and H+ (Q10∼3.25), leaving high K+ virtually untouched (Q10∼1.88 vs. 2.01 in control conditions). These data suggest a possible role of P2X receptors in coding the intensity of non-noxious thermal stimuli.
The Bcl-2-associated athanogene gene family in tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) and the function of NtBAG5 in leaf senescence

Leaf senescence in tobacco is closely related to leaf maturation and secondary metabolites. Bcl-2-associated athanogene (BAG) family members are highly conserved proteins and play key roles in senescence, growth and development, and resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses. Herein, the BAG family of tobacco was identified and characterized. In total, 19 tobacco BAG protein candidate genes were identified and divided into two classes, class I comprising NtBAG1a–e, NtBAG3a–b, and NtBAG4a–c and class II including NtBAG5a–e, NtBAG6a–b, and NtBAG7. Genes in the same subfamily or branch of the phylogenetic tree exhibited similarities in gene structure and the cis-element on promoters. RNA-seq and real-time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) revealed that the expression of NtBAG5c–f and NtBAG6a–b was upregulated in senescent leaves, implying that they play a role in regulating leaf senescence. NtBAG5c was localized in the nucleus and cell wall as a homology of leaf senescence related gene AtBAG5. Further, the interaction of NtBAG5c with heat-shock protein 70 (HSP70) and sHSP20 was demonstrated using yeast two-hybrid experiment. Virus-induced gene silencing indicated that NtBAG5c reduced the lignin content and increased superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) accumulation. In NtBAG5c-silenced plants, the expression of multiple senescence-related genes cysteine proteinase (NtCP1), SENESCENCE 4 (SEN4) and SENESCENCE-ASSOCIATED GENE 12 (SAG12) was downregulated. In conclusion, tobacco BAG protein candidate genes were identified and characterized for the first time.
Development of a microphysiological skin-liver-thyroid Chip3 model and its application to evaluate the effects on thyroid hormones of topically applied cosmetic ingredients under consumer-relevant conditions

All cosmetic ingredients registered in Europe must be evaluated for their safety using non-animal methods. Microphysiological systems (MPS) offer a more complex higher tier model to evaluate chemicals. Having established a skin and liver HUMIMIC Chip2 model demonstrating how dosing scenarios impact the kinetics of chemicals, we investigated whether thyroid follicles could be incorporated to evaluate the potential of topically applied chemicals to cause endocrine disruption. This combination of models in the HUMIMIC Chip3 is new; therefore, we describe here how it was optimized using two chemicals known to inhibit thyroid production, daidzein and genistein. The MPS was comprised of Phenion® Full Thickness skin, liver spheroids and thyroid follicles co-cultured in the TissUse HUMIMIC Chip3. Endocrine disruption effects were determined according to changes in thyroid hormones, thyroxine (T4) and 3,3’,5-triiodothyronine (T3). A main part of the Chip3 model optimization was the replacement of freshly isolated thyroid follicles with thyrocyte-derived follicles. These were used in static incubations to demonstrate the inhibition of T4 and T3 production by genistein and daidzein over 4 days. Daidzein exhibited a lower inhibitory activity than genistein and both inhibitory activities were decreased after a 24 h preincubation with liver spheroids, indicating metabolism was via detoxification pathways. The skin-liver-thyroid Chip3 model was used to determine a consumer-relevant exposure to daidzein present in a body lotion based on thyroid effects. A “safe dose” of 0.235 μg/cm2 i.e., 0.047% applied in 0.5 mg/cm2 of body lotion was the highest concentration of daidzein which does not result in changes in T3 and T4 levels. This concentration correlated well with the value considered safe by regulators. In conclusion, the Chip3 model enabled the incorporation of the relevant exposure route (dermal), metabolism in the skin and liver, and the bioactivity endpoint (assessment of hormonal balance i.e., thyroid effects) into a single model. These conditions are closer to those in vivo than 2D cell/tissue assays lacking metabolic function. Importantly, it also allowed the assessment of repeated doses of chemical and a direct comparison of systemic and tissue concentrations with toxicodynamic effects over time, which is more realistic and relevant for safety assessment.
Escherichia coli CspA stimulates translation in the cold of its own mRNA by promoting ribosome progression

Escherichia coli CspA is an RNA binding protein that accumulates during cold-shock and stimulates translation of several mRNAs—including its own. Translation in the cold of cspA mRNA involves a cis-acting thermosensor element, which enhances ribosome binding, and the trans-acting action of CspA. Using reconstituted translation systems and probing experiments we show that, at low temperature, CspA specifically promotes the translation of the cspA mRNA folded in the conformation less accessible to the ribosome, which is formed at 37°C but is retained upon cold shock. CspA interacts with its mRNA without inducing large structural rearrangements, but allowing the progression of the ribosomes during the transition from translation initiation to translation elongation. A similar structure-dependent mechanism may be responsible for the CspA-dependent translation stimulation observed with other probed mRNAs, for which the transition to the elongation phase is progressively facilitated during cold acclimation with the accumulation of CspA.
Proceedings of the fourth workshop on grand unification

This book compiles the papers presented at the fourth conference of grand unified theories of nuclear physics held in University of Pennsylvania April 1983. The topics covered were proton decay theory; angular distribution and flux of atmospheric neutrinos; atmospheric neutrinos and astrophysical neutrinos in proton decay experiments; review of future nucleon decay experiments; monopole experiments; searches for magnetic monopole; monopoles, gauge, fields and anomalies; darkmatter, galaxies and voids; adiabatic fluctuations; supersymmetry, supergravity, and Kaluza-Klein theories; superstring theory and superunification.
Understanding the consumers’ multi-competing brand community engagement: A mix method approach

Introduction Participating in multiple competing brand communities simultaneously is common for consumers, which brings challenges for companies to manage brand communities and build strong brand-consumer relationships. Although previous studies have widely examined the drivers and outcomes of consumers’ engagement in an individual community, little is known about the multi-competing brand community engagement. Methods This paper explores the manifestation, categories, motivational drivers, and consequences of consumers’ MBCE through two studies using two different methodologies to fill this gap. Results By using netnography, study 1 shows that MBCE behaviors manifest in various ways, and can be classified into three categories: information-oriented MBCE, social-oriented MBCE, and oppositional MBCE. Study 2 indicates through a consumer survey that one reason that motivates consumers to participate in other competing brand communities is because of the attractiveness of other competing brands. Also, the results indicate that consumers’ product knowledge is positively associated with MBCE. Finally, the number of competing brand community engagements is positively related to brand switching intention. Discussion This article enriches the brand community literature and provides important implications on managing brand communities in a competing environment.
The neglected association between central obesity markers and abdominal aortic aneurysm presence: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Purpose To review the association between central obesity and abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). Materials and methods The PubMed, Web of Sciences, Embase, The China national knowledge infrastructure (CNKI), and Cochrane Library were searched up to April 30, 2022. Researches includes investigation of the relationship between central obesity markers and AAA. Included studies must use recognized measures of central obesity, i.e., waist circumference (WC) and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), or use imaging techniques to calculate abdominal fat distribution, such as computed tomography (CT) imaging. Results Eleven clinical researches were identified of which eight discussed the association between physical examination and AAA, and three studies mainly focused on abdominal fat volume (AFV). Seven researches concluded that there was a positive correlation between markers of central obesity and AAA. Three studies found no significant link between markers of central obesity and AAA. One of the remaining studies reported different results for each sex. Three studies pooled in a meta-analysis identified correlation between central obesity and AAA presence (RR = 1.29; 95% confidence interval, 1.14–1.46). Conclusion Central obesity plays a role in the risk of AAA. Standardized central obesity markers may be predictors of AAA. However, there was no association between abdominal fat volume and AAA. Additional relevant evidence and specific mechanisms warrant further study. Systematic review registration https://www.crd. york.ac. uk/prospero/display_record. php? IDCRD42022332519, identifier CRD42022332519.
Leishmanicidal and immunomodulatory properties of Brazilian green propolis extract (EPP-AF®) and a gel formulation in a pre-clinical model

Leishmaniasis is a widespread group of neglected vector-borne tropical diseases that possess serious therapeutic limitations. Propolis has been extensively used in traditional medical applications due to its range of biological effects, including activity against infectious agents. Here we evaluated the leishmanicidal and immunomodulatory properties of Brazilian green propolis extract (EPP-AF®) and a gel formulation incorporating EPP-AF®, in both in vitro and in vivo models of Leishmania amazonensis infection. Propolis extract, obtained from a standardized blend following hydroalcoholic extraction, showed the characteristic fingerprint of Brazilian green propolis as confirmed by HPLC/DAD. A carbopol 940 gel formulation was obtained containing propolis glycolic extract at 3.6% w/w. The release profile, assessed using the Franz diffusion cell protocol, demonstrated a gradual and prolonged release of p-coumaric acid and artepillin C from the carbomer gel matrix. Quantification of p-coumaric acid and artepillin C in the gel formulation over time revealed that p-coumaric acid followed the Higuchi model, dependent on the disintegration of the pharmaceutical preparation, while artepillin C followed a zero-order profile with sustained release. In vitro analysis revealed the ability of EPP-AF® to reduce the infection index of infected macrophages (p < 0.05), while also modulating the production of inflammatory biomarkers. Decreases in nitric oxide and prostaglandin E2 levels were observed (p < 0.01), suggesting low iNOS and COX-2 activity. Furthermore, EPP-AF® treatment was found to induce heme oxygenase-1 antioxidant enzyme expression in both uninfected and L. amazonensis-infected cells, as well as inhibit IL-1β production in infected cells (p < 0.01). ERK-1/2 phosphorylation was positively correlated with TNF-α production (p < 0.05), yet no impact on parasite load was detected. In vivo analysis indicated the effectiveness of topical treatment with EPP-AF® gel alone (p < 0.05 and p < 0.01), or in combination with pentavalent antimony (p < 0.05 and p < 0.001), in the reduction of lesion size in the ears of L. amazonensis-infected BALB/c mice after seven or 3 weeks of treatment, respectively. Taken together, the present results reinforce the leishmanicidal and immunomodulatory effects of Brazilian green propolis, and demonstrate promising potential for the EPP-AF® propolis gel formulation as a candidate for adjuvant therapy in the treatment of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis.