Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Learning to perceive affordances in a framework of developmental embodied cognition

Recently, the aspect of visual perception has been explored in the context of Gibson's concept of affordances in various ways. We focus in this work on the importance of developmental learning and the perceptual cueing for an agent's anticipation of opportunities for interaction, in extension to functional views on visual feature representations. The concept for the incremental learning of complex from basic affordances is presented in relation to learning of specific affordance features. We demonstrate the learning of causal relations between visual cues and associated anticipated interactions by reinforcement learning of predictive perceptual states. The work pursues a recently presented framework for cueing and recognition of affordance-based visual entities that plays an important role in robot control architectures, in analogy to human perception. We experimentally verify the concept within a real world robot scenario by learning predictive features from delayed rewards, and prove that features were selected for their relevance in predicting opportunities for interaction.
SPINAL AND NUCLEUS CAUDALIS DORSAL ROOT ENTRY ZONE OPERATIONS FOR CHRONIC PAIN

OBJECTIVE Dorsal root entry zone (DREZ) operations came into medical practice after the demonstration of increased electrical activity in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord and brainstem in patients with deafferentation of the central nervous system after injury to these areas. The aim of the study was to describe the technique and the effectiveness of spinal DREZ and nucleus caudalis (NC) DREZ operations, which may be the treatments of choice in unique chronic pain conditions that do not respond to medical therapy or any other surgical methods. METHODS Fifty-five patients (44 spinal, 11 NC DREZ) underwent 59 (48 spinal, 11 NC DREZ) operations. There were 44 men and 11 women with a mean age of 46.4 years (range, 24–74 yr). The mean follow-up period was 72 months (range, 6 mo–20 yr). Follow-up assessments were performed with clinical examination on the first day and in the sixth and twelfth months postoperatively. Patients' pain scores and Karnofsky Performance Scale scores were also evaluated pre- and postoperatively. RESULTS The initial success rates for spinal and NC DREZotomy procedures were 77 and 72.5%, respectively. In the spinal DREZotomy group, mortality occurred in one patient (2.2%). There were two cases of transient muscle weakness (4.4%) and two of cerebrospinal fluid fistulae (4.4%). In the NC DREZotomy group, mortality occurred in one patient (9%). There were two cases of transient ataxia (18%) and two of transient hemiparesis (18%). CONCLUSION Spinal and trigeminal NC DREZ operations are effective in the treatment of intractable pain syndromes, especially in traumatic brachial plexus avulsions, segmental pain after spinal cord injury, postherpetic neuralgia, topographically limited cancer pain, and atypical facial pain.
Safe‐Haven Currency: An Empirical Identification

This paper attempts to empirically identify strong safe havens among six currencies: the Swiss franc, Japanese yen, British pound, euro, Canadian dollar and Norwegian krone. Using Markov regime-switching vector autoregressive models, we test whether the currencies are negatively related to risky assets and whether the negative relation is stronger in times of crisis than in times of growth. We find that (1) the Swiss franc and Japanese yen qualify as strong safe havens, and (2) the other currencies qualify as “equity-like” or risky currencies.
Effects on sexual risk behavior and STD rate of brief HIV/STD prevention interventions for African American women in primary care settings.

OBJECTIVES We tested the efficacy of brief HIV/sexually transmitted disease (STD) risk-reduction interventions for African American women in primary care settings. METHODS In a randomized controlled trial, 564 African American women recruited at a Newark, NJ, inner-city women's health clinic were assigned to a 20-minute one-on-one HIV/STD behavioral skill-building intervention, 200-minute group HIV/STD behavioral skill-building intervention, 20-minute one-on-one HIV/STD information intervention, 200-minute group HIV/STD information intervention, or 200-minute health intervention control group. Primary outcomes were self-reported sexual behaviors in the previous 3 months; secondary outcome was STD incidence. RESULTS At 12-month follow-up, participants in the skill-building interventions reported less unprotected sexual intercourse than did participants in the information interventions (Cohen's d [d]=0.23, P=.02), reported a greater proportion of protected sexual intercourse than did information intervention participants (d=0.21, P=.05) and control participants (d=0.24, P=.03), and were less likely to test positive for an STD than were control participants (d=0.20, P=.03). CONCLUSIONS This study suggests that brief single-session, one-on-one or group skill-building interventions may reduce HIV/STD risk behaviors and STD morbidity among inner-city African American women in primary care settings.
NeuCode Labels for Relative Protein Quantification *

We describe a synthesis strategy for the preparation of lysine isotopologues that differ in mass by as little as 6 mDa. We demonstrate that incorporation of these molecules into the proteomes of actively growing cells does not affect cellular proliferation, and we discuss how to use the embedded mass signatures (neutron encoding (NeuCode)) for multiplexed proteome quantification by means of high-resolution mass spectrometry. NeuCode SILAC amalgamates the quantitative accuracy of SILAC with the multiplexing of isobaric tags and, in doing so, offers up new opportunities for biological investigation. We applied NeuCode SILAC to examine the relationship between transcript and protein levels in yeast cells responding to environmental stress. Finally, we monitored the time-resolved responses of five signaling mutants in a single 18-plex experiment.
Role of social wasps in Saccharomyces cerevisiae ecology and evolution

Saccharomyces cerevisiae is one of the most important model organisms and has been a valuable asset to human civilization. However, despite its extensive use in the last 9,000 y, the existence of a seasonal cycle outside human-made environments has not yet been described. We demonstrate the role of social wasps as vector and natural reservoir of S. cerevisiae during all seasons. We provide experimental evidence that queens of social wasps overwintering as adults (Vespa crabro and Polistes spp.) can harbor yeast cells from autumn to spring and transmit them to their progeny. This result is mirrored by field surveys of the genetic variability of natural strains of yeast. Microsatellites and sequences of a selected set of loci able to recapitulate the yeast strain’s evolutionary history were used to compare 17 environmental wasp isolates with a collection of strains from grapes from the same region and more than 230 strains representing worldwide yeast variation. The wasp isolates fall into subclusters representing the overall ecological and industrial yeast diversity of their geographic origin. Our findings indicate that wasps are a key environmental niche for the evolution of natural S. cerevisiae populations, the dispersion of yeast cells in the environment, and the maintenance of their diversity. The close relatedness of several wasp isolates with grape and wine isolates reflects the crucial role of human activities on yeast population structure, through clonal expansion and selection of specific strains during the biotransformation of fermented foods, followed by dispersal mediated by insects and other animals.
Nonlinear output-transition control for nonminimum-phase systems: The VTOL example

Achieving the optimal output-transition control for nonlinear systems remains challenging and requires complex calculation. This paper investigates the use of a polynomial-based output-transition trajectory together with three different types of inversion-based feedforward for nonminimum-phase vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft. The necessity of pre-actuation and post-actuation is examined by comparing the input and output of the VTOL system obtained from these three nonlinear output-transition control methods. Based on simulation results, pre-actuation and post-actuation can be omitted but at the expense of the input magnitude and the smoothness of the output transition. This study offers alternative nonlinear output-transition control for nonminimum-phase systems when pre-actuation and/or post-actuation are not available.
Altered temporal response of malaria parasites determines differential sensitivity to artemisinin

Reports of emerging resistance to first-line artemisinin antimalarials make it critical to define resistance mechanisms and identify in vitro correlates of resistance. Here we combine unique in vitro experimental and analytical approaches to mimic in vivo drug exposure in an effort to provide insight into mechanisms of drug resistance. Tightly synchronized parasites exposed to short drug pulses exhibit large stage-dependent differences in their drug response that correlate with hemoglobin digestion throughout most of the asexual cycle. As a result, ring-stage parasites can exhibit >100-fold lower sensitivity to short drug pulses than trophozoites, although we identify a subpopulation of rings (2–4 h postinvasion) that exhibits hypersensitivity. We find that laboratory strains that show little differences in drug sensitivity in standard in vitro assays exhibit substantial (>95-fold) difference in sensitivity when exposed to short drug pulses. These stage- and strain-dependent differences in drug sensitivity reflect differential response lag times with rings exhibiting lag times of up to 4 h. A simple model that assumes that the parasite experiences a saturable effective drug dose describes the complex dependence of parasite viability on both drug concentration and exposure time and is used to demonstrate that small changes in the parasite’s drug response profile can dramatically alter the sensitivity to artemisinins. This work demonstrates that effective resistance can arise from the interplay between the short in vivo half-life of the drug and the stage-specific lag time and provides the framework for understanding the mechanisms of drug action and parasite resistance.
Adriamycin-induced free radical formation in the perfused rat heart: implications for cardiotoxicity.

Adriamycin is an anthracycline drug with a wide spectrum of clinical antineoplastic activity. However, the usefulness of the drug is limited by its dose-dependent cardiotoxicity. Adriamycin-stimulated free radical formation has been suggested as one of the mechanisms for its cardiotoxic effects. In order to evaluate this underlying mechanism, we have perfused rat hearts with Adriamycin, using a modified Langendorf technique, and the free radicals formed were analyzed by electron spin resonance spectroscopy using spin-trapping techniques. Our studies show that Adriamycin stimulated the formation of . OH in the heart, and the maximum . OH was formed with 1 microM of the drug. The addition of superoxide dismutase (600 units/ml) inhibited the hydroxyl radical formation by 2- to 3-fold, while catalase (550 units/ml) abolished it completely, showing the intermediacy of superoxide and H2O2. Furthermore, ICRF-187, an iron chelator and a cytotoxic drug, was also an effective inhibitor of . OH formation in the rat heart. The heart rate was not significantly modified by all the above experiments. This study demonstrates that Adriamycin stimulates the formation of . OH in the isolated rat heart and suggests that this mechanism may be significant in Adriamycin-induced cardiotoxicity.
Turning difficulty characteristics of adults aged 65 years or older.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Falls that occur while walking have been associated with an increased risk of hip fracture in elderly people. This study's purpose was to describe movement characteristics in older adults that serve as indicators of difficulty in turning while walking. SUBJECTS Three groups were assessed: young adults who had no difficulty in turning (age range=20-30 years, n=20) (YNDT group), elderly adults who had no difficulty in turning (age range=65-87 years, n=15) (ENDT group), and elderly adults who had difficulty in turning (age range=69-92 years, n=15) (EDT group). METHODS All subjects were videotaped performing a self-paced 180-degree turn during the Timed "Up & Go" Test. Movement characteristics of each group were identified. Four characteristics were used to identify difficulty in turning: (1) the type of turn, (2) the number of steps taken during the turn, (3) the time taken to accomplish the turn, (4) and staggering during the turn. RESULTS In general, the EDT group took more steps during the turn and more time to accomplish the turn than the YNDT and ENDT groups. Although the only turning strategy used by the YNDT group was a pivot type of turn, there was an almost total absence of a pivot type of turn in the EDT group. No differences were found among the groups on the staggering item, yet the EDT group was the only group in which staggering was present. We believe these changes observed in the 4 characteristics only in the EDT group are indicators of difficulty in turning while walking. CONCLUSION AND DISCUSSION These indicators of difficulty may be useful for the early identification of individuals aged 65 years or older who are having difficulty in turning and may well serve as the basis for the development of a scale for difficulty in turning in older adults. Preliminary findings indicate the need for further study into the reliability, validity, and sensitivity of measurements obtained with such a scale.
Revised diagnostic criteria for the pseudotumor cerebri syndrome in adults and children

Editors' Note: The inability to visualize nigrosome 1 on a 7T brain MRI is suggestive of Parkinson disease, as described by Blazejewska et al. Mueller et al. report that similar sensitive and specific findings can be obtained with the more widely available 3T MRI. Replication of this finding on a larger cohort is warranted. In response to Liguori et al., Friedman et al. caution against diagnosing idiopathic intracranial hypertension syndrome on the basis of elevated opening pressure alone without other objective findings. —Chafic Karam, MD, and Robert C. Griggs, MD Blazejewska et al.1 identified a …
Sleep disturbances as a predictor of cause-specific work disability and delayed return to work.

STUDY OBJECTIVE To examine sleep disturbances as a predictor of cause-specific work disability and delayed return to work. DESIGN Prospective observational cohort study linking survey data on sleep disturbances with records of work disability (> or = 90 days sickness absence, disability pension, or death) obtained from national registers. SETTING Public sector employees in finland. PARTICIPANTS 56,732 participants (mean age 44.4 years, 80% female), who were at work and free of work disability at the study inception. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS During a mean follow-up of 3.3 years, incident diagnosis-specific work disability was observed in 4,028 (7%) employees. Of those, 2,347 (60%) returned to work. Sleep disturbances 5-7 nights per week predicted work disability due to mental disorders (hazard ratio [HR] 1.6, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.3-1.9) and diseases of the circulatory system (HR = 1.6, 95% CI 1.2-2.1), musculoskeletal system (HR = 1.6, 95% CI 1.4-1.8) and nervous system (HR = 1.5, 95% CI 1.0-2.2), and injuries and poisonings (HR = 1.6, 95% CI 1.2-2.1) after controlling for baseline age, sex, socioeconomic status, night/shift work, health behaviors (e.g., smoking, exercise), diagnosed somatic diseases, use of pain killers, depression, and anxiety. In addition, sleep disturbances prior to disability were associated with higher likelihood of not returning to work after work disability from musculoskeletal diseases (HR = 1.2, 95% CI 1.1-1.7) and, in men, after work disability due to mental disorders (HR = 4.4, 95% CI 1.7-11.1). CONCLUSIONS Sleep disturbances are associated with increased risk for subsequent disabling mental disorders and various physical illnesses. They also predict the outcome of work disability due to musculoskeletal disorders.
The tertiary structure of full-length bovine adrenodoxin suggests functional dimers.

The three-dimensional X-ray crystal structure of full-length oxidized bovine adrenodoxin (Adx) has been determined at 2.5 A resolution by molecular replacement using a structure of a truncated form as a starting model. Crystals of Adx belong to a primitive monoclinic space group P2(1) with four Adx molecules in an asymmetric unit. The unit cell dimensions are a = 59.44 A, b = 77.03 A, c = 59.68 A, and beta = 94.83 degrees. The structure has been refined to an R factor of 23.5%. Structures of the four molecules of full-length Adx (127 amino acids) in the asymmetric unit were compared with each other and also with that of the truncated Adx (4-108). The overall topology of full-length Adx remains the same as described earlier for the truncated protein. Differences that do occur are almost wholly confined to alternate side-chain conformations that reflect differing lattice contacts made by two proteins. Extensive interactions found between molecules 1 and 2 in the full-length Adx asymmetric unit may reflect the ability of Adx to form dimers in vivo and are consistent with hydrodynamic measurements which show that in solution there is an equilibrium between monomeric and dimeric forms of Adx. Dimerization of Adx could explain why the truncated form has greater affinity for the P450 redox partner than the full-length form. From these results it can be considered that the mechanism of electron transfer is not necessarily the same in different mitochondrial P450 systems.
Environmental impact of distribution network design: the case of Korea

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to analyze the environmental impact of distribution network design. Design/methodology/approach Typical distribution networks are identified and modeled through interviews with logistics companies in Korea. CO2 emission is calculated for the distribution network models to evaluate the environmental impact of different network designs. In addition, economic and customer service performances are evaluated to provide realistic and balanced solutions to supply chain managers. Findings It is suggested that hybrid networks combining Hub-and-Spoke (HS) and Point-to-Point (PP) networks with a small number of sub-terminals are the most effective in both environmental and customer service aspects, whereas HS network is the most cost-effective. Research limitations/implications The analysis in this study is based on certain assumptions, and hence full application of these results to specific cases is limited. The combination of PP network with HS network is suggested, forming a hybrid network, and CO2 mitigation policies need to consider support schemes that can influence a firm’s decision making in relation to network design. Originality/value Little attention, however, has been paid to the environmental impact of distribution network design in the exiting literature. This study is a rare attempt at evaluating the environmental impact of distribution network design and may provide valuable implications to policy-makers and practitioners in logistics and manufacturing companies.
Twice-daily compared with once-daily thoracic radiotherapy in limited small-cell lung cancer treated concurrently with cisplatin and etoposide.

BACKGROUND For small-cell lung cancer confined to one hemithorax (limited small-cell lung cancer), thoracic radiotherapy improves survival, but the best ways of integrating chemotherapy and thoracic radiotherapy remain unsettled. Twice-daily accelerated thoracic radiotherapy has potential advantages over once-daily radiotherapy. METHODS We studied 417 patients with limited small-cell lung cancer. All the patients received four 21-day cycles of cisplatin plus etoposide. We randomly assigned these patients to receive a total of 45 Gy of concurrent thoracic radiotherapy, given either twice daily over a three-week period or once daily over a period of five weeks. RESULTS Twice-daily treatment beginning with the first cycle of chemotherapy significantly improved survival as compared with concurrent once-daily radiotherapy (P=0.04 by the log-rank test). After a median follow-up of almost 8 years, the median survival was 19 months for the once-daily group and 23 months for the twice-daily group. The survival rates for patients receiving once-daily radiotherapy were 41 percent at two years and 16 percent at five years. For patients receiving twice-daily radiotherapy, the survival rates were 47 percent at two years and 26 percent at five years. Grade 3 esophagitis was significantly more frequent with twice-daily thoracic radiotherapy, occurring in 27 percent of patients, as compared with 11 percent in the once-daily group (P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS Four cycles of cisplatin plus etoposide and a course of radiotherapy (45 Gy, given either once or twice daily) beginning with cycle 1 of the chemotherapy resulted in overall two- and five-year survival rates of 44 percent and 23 percent, a considerable improvement in survival rates over previous results in patients with limited small-cell lung cancer.
Enhancement of Chaos Bandwidth in VCSELs Induced by Simultaneous Orthogonal Optical Injection and Optical Feedback

In this paper, we present an experimental study of bandwidths of broadband chaotic signals in a single-mode vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) subject to orthogonal optical injection and optical feedback simultaneously. Bandwidths of the two linear polarizations and total power are measured for different values of frequency detuning and bias currents. When the VCSEL is subject to optical feedback only, both linear polarizations of the VCSEL are excited showing chaotic dynamics. Under simultaneous optical feedback and optical injection for small bias currents, we demonstrate that the orthogonal polarization can give a much larger value of the chaotic bandwidth than the total emitted power in agreement with Perez et al.
Self-Gravitational Instability of Collisional Dusty Plasma With Dust Charge Variation and Radiative Effects

The self-gravitational instability of partially ionized dusty plasma with radiative effects of electrons and ions, dust polarization force, and dust charge fluctuation has been studied. Using basic sets of fluid equations for ion, electron, neutral, and dust components, a general dispersion relation is derived. In the dynamics of dust charge, an equilibrium dust charge inhomogeneity along with the dust charge fluctuation is also considered. It is found that the presence of radiative cooling of ions and electrons, polarization force, and dust charge fluctuation significantly affects the criterion as well as the growth rate of self-gravitational instability while the dust charge inhomogeneity and dust-neutral collisions affect only the growth rate of instability. The outcomes of this paper are useful in dusty molecular clouds.