Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The subthalamic nucleus: Myth and opportunities

The subthalamic nucleus has been a mysterious and much revered structure. It has remained for the last several decades a “forbidden territory” in basal ganglia based on the widely held notion that lesions there would lead to the horrendous consequence of uncontrollable hemiballism. Indeed there is strong experimental data showing that lesions in subthalamic nucleus produce ballism. 1,2 In the 1950 study by Carpenter et al., 46 normal monkeys underwent bilateral subthalamic nucleus lesions. In 31 animals, choreoid activity developed. The analysis showed that unequivocal choreoid hyperkinesia contralateral to the lesion usually resulted provided that (a) more than a minimal percentile volume of the nucleus greater than 20% was destroyed, and (b) the lesion was not too large nor did it involve adjacent structures. Interestingly, and relevant to the paper by Alvarez et al. that appeared in the last issue of the Journal, 3 there were 10 animals with clear-cut subthalamic nucleus lesions who failed to exhibit choreoid movements. On further examination, these 10 animals had misplaced or larger-than-anticipated lesions extending outside the STN to involve either the internal segment of the pallidum or the lenticular fasciculus. From these studies one can conclude that if lesions are confined to the subthalamic nucleus that choreic movements are almost certainly produced. If, however, lesions are larger, extend beyond the subthalamic nucleus, and in particular, if they involve the internal segment of the globus pallidus or the pallidal fugal pathways, then no choreic movements are seen. These observations are consistent with the striking elimination of contralateral L-dopa-induced dyskinesias 4 and the resolution of hemiballism with pallidotomy. 5 Why didn’t the majority of patients of Alvarez et al. develop hemiballism? The most likely reason is that as in the monkeys of Whittier and Metler or Carpenter et al., the lesions were large and extended beyond the borders of the subthalamic nucleus. Indeed the MRI figure in the manuscript shows the lesion extending above the subthalamic nucleus. What these investigators have done is made a lesion that involves part of the subthalamic nucleus but also the pallidofugal pathways. As illustrated in Figure 1, the pallidofugal fibers are apposed to the dorsal surface of STN. Alvarez et al. have thus diminished the driving from STN to the reticulata and the globus pallidus, (a procedure that would be expected to produce hemiballism) and at the same time treated the
Seismic Risk - Why It Should Be Considered and Impediments to Implementation - An Earthquake Center Perspective

Selection of acceptable seismic risk revolves around significant societal and engineering concerns. One approach relies on cost-effective quantitative enhancement of seismic resilience for critical structures and systems. A Center perspective can provide a coordinated research framework to develop the advanced knowledge and technologies needed to develop the integrated engineering tools, decision-support systems, and related techniques, and procedures needed for that purpose.
Persistent photoconductivity and related critical phenomena in Zn0.3Cd0.7Se.

Les fluctuations de potentiel local induites par les fluctuations de composition sont responsables de la photoconductivite persistante (PPC) observee. La PCC est observee uniquement au dessus de 70 K, en contradiction avec des resultats anterieurs sur la plupart des materiaux exhibant des effets de PPC de facon predominante a basses temperatures. La relaxation de PPC presente une decroissance exponentielle etiree dans le domaine 70 K<T<220 K. Une transition de phases PPC relaxee est observee, dans laquelle les porteurs de charges stockes subissent une transition des etats localises vers des etats delocalises a la temperature T c ∼ 120 K
Learning Heuristic Functions in Classical Planning

The goal of classical domain-independent planning is to find a sequence of actions which lead from a given initial state to a goal state that satisfies some goal criteria. Most planning systems use heuristic search algorithms to find such a sequence of actions. A critical part of heuristic search is the heuristic function. In order to find a sequence of actions from an initial state to a goal state efficiently this heuristic function has to guide the search towards the goal. It is difficult to create such an efficient heuristic function. Arfaee et al. [1, 10] show that it is possible to improve a given heuristic function by applying machine learning techniques on a single domain in the context of heuristic search. To achieve this improvement of the heuristic function, they propose a bootstrap learning approach which subsequently improves the heuristic function. In this thesis we will introduce a technique to learn heuristic functions that can be used in classical domain-independent planning based on the bootstrap-learning approach introduced by Arfaee et al. [1, 10]. In order to evaluate the performance of the learned heuristic functions, we have implemented a learning algorithm for the Fast Downward planning system. The experiments have shown that a learned heuristic function generally decreases the number of explored states compared to blind-search. The total time to solve a single problem increases because the heuristic function has to be learned before it can be applied.
Three-Level ZVS Active Clamping PWM for the DC–DC Buck Converter

This paper presents the study of a dc-dc buck converter with three-level buck clamping (buck-buck), zero-voltage switching (ZVS), active clamping, and constant-frequency pulsewidth modulation (PWM). Other ZVS dc-dc converter topologies that employ three-level switching cells are introduced, and their steady-state dc gain is analyzed. This analysis shows that the buck-buck converter has characteristics that warrant a more detailed study. A feature that is common to all the introduced topologies is the theoretical reduction of the voltage stresses across the active semiconductors to 50% of the corresponding two-level converters. Accordingly, the switches of the buck-buck converter provide 50% of the blocking voltage of a ZVS two-level buck converter. The steady-state analysis of the converter is performed according to the description of the operation stages of the converter. Based on the performed analyses, a comparative discussion to other topologies is given. Furthermore, a topologic derivation of the circuit is presented, which provides ZVS operation to all semiconductors. Finally, a simplified design procedure is proposed, and used to design and build a prototype. Experimental results from a laboratory prototype are presented.
Renal excretion of proteins and enzymes in workers exposed to cadmium

Abstract. The proteinuria rate and the relative clearances of β2‐microglobulin, orosomucoid, albumin, transferrin and IgG were measured in forty‐two workers exposed to cadmium and in seventy‐seven control workers. A tubular type proteinuria with an increased excretion of β2‐microglobulin and often also a glomerular type proteinuria with an increased excretion of orosomucoid, albumin, transferrin and IgG were observed mainly in workers exposed to cadmium for more than 25 years and whose cadmium concentration in blood exceeded 1 μg Cd/100 ml and that in urine 10 μg Cd/g creatinine. The glomerular dysfunction was also suggested by an increased plasma level of β2‐microglobulin and creatinine. Both tubular and glomerular impairments occurred with the same prevalence and were not necessarily associated. The increased release of β‐galactosidase by the kidney suggested that cadmium can damage some epithelial cells.
Modulation of synaptic signalling complexes by Homer proteins

The number of neurotransmitter receptors in the postsynaptic membrane and their functional coupling to intracellular signalling cascades are important determinants of synaptic strength – and hence potential targets for plasticity related modulation. In this context, Homer/Vesl proteins have gained particular interest for three main reasons: (i) they constitute part of the molecular scaffold at postsynaptic densities of excitatory synapses in the mammalian brain; (ii) they physically link type‐I metabotropic glutamate receptors to the postsynaptic density and to inositol 1,4,5‐triphosphate receptors in the subsynaptic endoplasmic reticulum; and (iii) Homer‐1a, which has been categorized as an immediate early gene isoform, exerts dominant‐negative activity, suggesting that it is involved in activity dependent rearrangements at synaptic junctions. Although these fundamental aspects have been reviewed previously by Xiao et al., this review will address primarily more recent studies on the regulation of Homer 1a expression and on the role of Homer/Vesl proteins in spine morphogenesis and receptor targeting and signalling.
Small Direct Currents and the Human Brain

DEAR SIR, The papers of Costain, Lippold and Redfearn (November, 1964, pp. 768â€”799)raise some interesting questions regarding the effects of polarizing currents when these are passed through the head. The effects of galvanic currents on the CNS of intact animals have been reported by several previous investigators, notably Hermann (i88@), Blasius and Schweizer (1893), Hermann and Matthias (1894), and Scheminsky (1924, 1947). In the light of the results obtained by Lippold and Redfearn in humans (viz.: elevation of mood when the forehead was positive,
Automating the TANDEM Design Method in End-User Programming Environments

Mashups are newly envisaged applications, made up from local information sources and processes, Web services and other distributed resources, bound together technically in some way. Interactive Development Environments IDE used to build mashups are becoming more accessible to end-user programmers. Design methods that end-users may apply to a given problem addressed by a mashup, are much less prevalent. This paper describes an end-user-friendly design method called TANDEM and demonstrates the use of it in detail, by way of an example: the design of a mashup of services that solves the so-called movie-cinema problem. An implementation of the newly designed movie-cinema app is then built within the DigitalFriend, an end-user programmer IDE. Furthermore, a significant part of the TANDEM design method, is then automated within the development tool itself. This automation removes the most skilled task required by TANDEM of the end-user: the automation of the process of Data Normalization. The automation applies data normalization to the initial model of components and data sources that feed into the mashup. The presentation here relies on some understanding of Data Normalization, so a simple example is presented. After this demonstrated example of the method and the implementation, the paper discusses the applicability of a model achievable by end-users using TANDEM coupled with the automated normalization process built into the IDE, versus, using a top-down model by an experienced information analyst. In conclusion, the TANDEM method combined with the automation as demonstrated, does empower an end-user to a significant degree in achieving a workable mashup or distributed application. And furthermore, the TANDEM method does have broader applicability to designing a broad class of logic programs, complementing the use of collected patterns in logic programs.
Augmented HER-2–Specific Immunity during Treatment with Trastuzumab and Chemotherapy

Purpose: Passive immunotherapy with antitumor antibodies has the potential to induce active tumor immunity via the opsonic enhancement of immunogenicity of tumor antigen. We have assessed whether immune sensitization to the HER-2/neu tumor antigen occurs during treatment with the anti-HER-2/neu monoclonal antibody trastuzumab. Experimental Design: Twenty-seven patients treated with trastuzumab and chemotherapy were assessed for the induction of HER-2/neu–specific immunity. Sera and peripheral blood mononuclear cells obtained before and after trastuzumab therapy were compared for the presence of anti-HER-2/neu endogenous Igλ antibodies and HER-2/neu–specific CD4 responses by ELISA and enzyme-linked immunospot, respectively. Results: Anti-HER-2/neu antibodies were detectable in 8 of 27 (29%) patients before trastuzumab treatment and in 15 of 27 (56%) patients during trastuzumab treatment. In the overall study population, anti-HER-2/neu humoral responses significantly increased during therapy (P < 0.001) and were not associated with development of an anti-idiotypic response. In 10 evaluable individuals, 6 showed augmented HER-2/neu–specific CD4 T-cell responses during therapy. Of the 22 individuals treated for metastatic disease, those patients showing objective clinical responses exhibited more frequent (P = 0.004) and larger (P = 0.006) treatment-associated anti-HER-2/neu humoral responses. Conclusion: Humoral immune sensitization occurs during treatment with chemotherapy and trastuzumab. Further studies are warranted to investigate whether augmented anti-HER-2/neu humoral and cellular immunity contributes mechanistically to clinical outcome.
A palm print authentication system using quantized phase feature representation

This paper presents a new low cost contactless acquisition system for palm print authentication which reduces the deformations caused due to glass plates in sensors and allows the user to place the hand freely in an unconstrained fashion. Band Limited Phase Only Correlation (BLPOC) is utilized to compare two palm images. In the conventional approach using BPLOC, regions of interest (ROIs) are extracted from palm print images and stored in a database for comparison with test images; requiring more storage space as well as computation time. Therefore, instead of storing the ROI for comparison, we stored its phase angle coefficients by quantizing the image into an integer depending on the number of quantization levels used. Although, more quantization levels lead to a more accurate representation of phase angles, they come at a cost of increased feature space. The experimental results implemented on a publicly available database and on an acquired database of 175 users are very promising thus validating this new approach for palm print authentication.
Complexity analysis of 24 hours heart rate variability time series

We propose to study the heart rate variability (HRV) time series complexity by computing the Lempel Ziv complexity measure. LZ is sensitive to the rate of pattern recurrences in a time series. Analysis considers 24 h HRV time series of healthy subjects and patients with cardiovascular diseases. Analysis with simulated signals show the LZ measure can vary depending on the adopted coding process. The binary coding, proposed in this work, is sensitive to the different dynamical systems generating the time series, as the ternary coding is sensitive to the presence of stationary states, i.e. a consecutive repetition of the same RR interval value. LZ method reliably differentiates healthy vs. disease group. Further clinical investigations on the LZ complexity and on its relationship to the risk of sudden death, can supply new diagnostic indications.
A rapid slide-agglutination method for typing pneumococci by means of specific antibody adsorbed to protein A-containing staphylococci.

Summary A new slide-agglutination method was developed for the serological typing of pneumococci. Type-specific antibodies were bound to stabilised, protein-A containing staphylococci through theri Fc fragments. The combining sites of the antibodies remained available to the corresponding type-specific antigen; when pneumococci were mixed with a suspension of the stabilised staphylococci coated with homologous antibody, strong agglutination occurred rapidly. Eighty-nine pneumococcal strains were typed by this agglutination method. The results obtained were in complete agreement with those of typing by Neufeld's capsule-“ swelling” method.
Analytic equilibrium of “straight tokamak” plasma bounded by a magnetic separatrix

Theoretical and experimental considerations suggest that axisymmetric perturbations that are resonant at the X-point(s) of a magnetic divertor separatrix may play a role in the understanding of Edge Localized Modes in tokamak experiments and their active control via so-called vertical kicks . With this motivation in mind, the ﬁrst step in the development of an analytical model for resistive axisymmetric X-point modes is presented, i.e., ﬁnding an adequate, but at the same time relatively simple analytical magnetohydrodynamic equilibrium for a plasma column with a noncircular cross section bound by a magnetic separatrix. An early example is Gajewski’s equilibrium solution [R. Gajewski, Phys. Fluids 15 , 70 (1972)], which, however, has the shortcoming that inﬁnite external currents placed at an inﬁnite distance from the X-points produce the elliptical elongation of the plasma column. In this article, Gajewski’s solution is extended to the case where external currents are located at a ﬁnite distance from the boundary of the plasma current density and the latter is distributed uniformly over a domain bound by a nearly elliptical magnetic ﬂux surface. The stability of the X-point region of tokamak plasmas with divertor
Electron and hole capture cross-sections at deep centers in gallium arsenide

2014 A method is presented, which combines optical excitation and electrical refilling of deep levels, allowing one to measure the majority carrier capture cross-section for minority carrier traps : e.g., 03C3n for a hole trap in n-type material. This method has been used to characterize many deep levels in gallium arsenide. The following results are obtained : the main electron trap « EL 2 » is not a hole lifetime killer; the temperature coefficient of the ionization energy for several levels, including the Cr level used for compensation in semi-insulating crystals ; very large (10-15 cm2 or more), and very small (10-21 cm2) electron capture cross-sections for two of the levels ; possible capture mechanisms for these last cases are mentioned. REVUE DE PHYSIQUE APPLIQUÉE TOME 14, OCTOBRE 1979, PAGE
Synchronization and delay estimation with sub-tick resolution

We consider the problem of clock synchronization between a pair of nodes using round-trip communication where only the initiating node collects time stamps, and where no time stamps are exchanged. These time stamps are the current timer values at the event of transmission or reception of a signal. Traditionally, the timer is modeled by a continuous function, i.e. as affine clock in case of asynchronism in clock skew and clock phase. In this work we deviate from the traditional model and propose a discrete-valued clock model, which is motivated by observations from real hardware. Employing the clock model allows us to find a new signaling model for round-trip time measurements, which enables us to simultaneously estimate clock skew, clock phase and propagation delay with a resolution below one clock tick period. Hence, we set a first step towards enabling high timing resolution with limited clock hardware.
Once upon a Time: Lessons Learned from the Benefits of Parent-Child Mother Goose

Parent-Child Mother Goose (PCMG) is a communitybased parent-child program that focuses on mutual sharing of songs, nursery rhymes, and stories. Scharfe (2011) previously found that mothers who attended the 10-week program perceived their children to be more secure six months later than mothers in the waitlist-control group. Following Scharfe’s work, the purpose of this study was to explore what made PCMG so successful from the perspective of past participants. Results demonstrated that, as a group, mothers who attended PCMG reported overwhelmingly positive experiences in the program. Commonalities in reports were grouped into the following themes: (a) the mothers reported that PCMG helped facilitate bonding with their child; (b) PCMG was identified as a resource for gaining new parenting skills; (c) PCMG was an important outlet for socialization; (d) mothers in the program spoke warmly of PCMG facilitators and/or child-minders; and (e) mothers expressed that they would have liked to attend PCMG more than once. The positive results of this study are encouraging, as PCMG is relatively inexpensive and requires few materials to deliver. Further implications of the findings are discussed. Daphne S. Ling University of British Columbia
INHIBITION OF EXCYSTATION AND METACYSTIC DEVELOPMENT OF ENTAMOEBA INVADENS BY THE DINITROANILINE HERBICIDE ORYZALIN

The effect of oryzalin on excystation and metacystic development of Entamoeba invadens strain IP-1 was examined by transfer of cysts to a growth medium containing the drug. Excystation, which was assessed by counting the number of metacystic amoebae after induction of excystation, was inhibited by oryzalin in a concentration-dependent manner. Metacystic development, which was determined by the number of nuclei in metacystic amoebae, was also inhibited by oryzalin because the percentage of 4-nucleate amoebae at day 1 remained unchanged at day 3. The addition of oryzalin after the induction of excystation decreased the number of metacystic amoebae, compared with control cultures. When cysts were incubated for 1 day in growth medium plus oryzalin, little increase in the number of metacystic amoebae was observed after removal of the drug. Excystation and metacystic development were further inhibited when the cysts were incubated for 30 min in encystation medium containing oryzalin before transfer to growth medium with the drug. When cysts were incubated for 30 min in encystation medium before transfer to growth medium without the drug, metacystic amoebae decreased in number. Pretreatment of cysts with oryzalin for 30 min in phosphate-buffered saline markedly reduced viability and prevented excystation in growth medium with or without the drug. The results indicate that oryzalin inhibits excystation and metacystic development of E. invadens, suggesting that it may be an inhibitor of Entamoeba infection.
rac-Ethyl 4-hydroxy-4-trifluoromethyl-6-(2,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)-2-thio-1,3-diazinane-5-carboxylate

In the title compound, C17H21F3N2O6S, the hexahydropyrimidine ring adopts a half-chair conformation: the mean plane formed by the ring atoms excluding the C atom bonded to the ethoxycarbonyl group has an r.m.s. deviation of 0.0427 Å and forms a dihedral angle of 66.41 (5)° with the benzene ring. The molecular conformation is stabilized by an intramolecular hydroxyl O—H⋯Ocarboxyl hydrogen bond, generating an S(6) ring. In the crystal, pairs of N—H⋯S and N–H⋯O hydrogen bonds give rise to the formation of two-dimensional networks lying parallel to the ab plane, which incorporate graph-set motifs R 2 2(8) and R 2 2(16), respectively.
Analyzing service resource usage profiles for optimization of cloud service execution cost

As cloud computing industry adoption rate is increasing, service cost management and optimization are becoming one of the most important issues from the perspective of cloud users. This paper is looking into possibility of using information about application type and its resource usage profile in the process of identifying optimized service placement in cloud environments. Such placement should result in minimized service execution cost, while maintaining acceptable quality of service, which is usually defined by Service Level Agreement. We present two application types observed as use cases for a cloud service placement optimization and use them to explain the process of a service resource usage profile creation. We discuss how the resource usage profiles can be used for service execution cost optimization. The initial results of the service resource usage profiles analysis are presented followed by an analysis and discussion on their application in optimization of cloud service execution cost.