Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Reduced connectivity of the auditory cortex in patients with auditory hallucinations: a resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging study

Background Previous research has reported auditory processing deficits that are specific to schizophrenia patients with a history of auditory hallucinations (AH). One explanation for these findings is that there are abnormalities in the interhemispheric connectivity of auditory cortex pathways in AH patients; as yet this explanation has not been experimentally investigated. We assessed the interhemispheric connectivity of both primary (A1) and secondary (A2) auditory cortices in n=13 AH patients, n=13 schizophrenia patients without auditory hallucinations (non-AH) and n=16 healthy controls using functional connectivity measures from functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data. Method Functional connectivity was estimated from resting state fMRI data using regions of interest defined for each participant based on functional activation maps in response to passive listening to words. Additionally, stimulus-induced responses were regressed out of the stimulus data and the functional connectivity was estimated for the same regions to investigate the reliability of the estimates. Results AH patients had significantly reduced interhemispheric connectivity in both A1 and A2 when compared with non-AH patients and healthy controls. The latter two groups did not show any differences in functional connectivity. Further, this pattern of findings was similar across the two datasets, indicating the reliability of our estimates. Conclusions These data have identified a trait deficit specific to AH patients. Since this deficit was characterized within both A1 and A2 it is expected to result in the disruption of multiple auditory functions, for example, the integration of basic auditory information between hemispheres (via A1) and higher-order language processing abilities (via A2).
Recurrent intussusception in children and infants

Background: Recurrent intussusceptions in child and infants are problematic and there are controversies about its management. The aim of this study is to determine the details of the clinical diagnosis of recurrent intussusception and to determine the aetiology of recurrent intussusceptions. Patients and Methods: It′s a retrospective study of 28 cases of recurrent intussusception treated in the paediatric surgery department of Monastir (Tunisia) between January 1998 and December 2011. Results: During the study period, 505 patients were treated for 544 episodes of intussusception; there were 39 episodes of recurrent intussusceptions in 28 patients; the rate of patients with recurrence was 5.5%. With comparison to the initial episode, clinical features were similar to the recurrent episode, except bloody stool that was absent in the recurrent group (P = 0,016). Only one patient had a pathologic local point. Conclusion: In recurrent intussusception, patients are less symptomatic and consult quickly. Systematic surgical exploration is not needed as recurrent intussusceptions are easily reduced by air or hydrostatic enema and are not associated with a high rate of pathologic leading points.
Separate visual pathways for perception of actions and objects: evidence from a case of apperceptive agnosia

Recognition of different kinds of visual stimuli was studied in a patient who acquired apperceptive visual agnosia after a bilateral occipitotemporal lesion which partially spared the primary visual cortex. Impairment in recognising static objects perceived visually sharply contrasts with the relatively well preserved ability to recognise objects from gestures illustrating their use, and to recognise actions shown in line drawings. It is suggested that the occipitoparieto-frontal pathway is involved in the recognition of actions, and in the recognition of objects when sensorimotor experience is evoked.
A hybrid approach to text compression

Text compression schemes have sometimes been divided into two classes: symbolwise methods, which form a source model, typically using a finite context to predict symbols; and dictionary methods, which replace phrases (groups of symbols) in the input with a code. It is possible to decompose some dictionary methods into equivalent symbolwise methods. The decomposed method gives identical compression performance, but is slower because more coded symbols are transmitted. This decomposition is of interest primarily because it is helpful in making comparisons of the two methods. The authors explore a hybrid approach based on the opposite of this decomposition: the predictions of a symbolwise method are grouped together so that several characters can be coded at once. The objective is to combine the good compression of symbolwise methods with the high speed of dictionary methods. The hybrid allows tradeoffs to be made in terms of compression speed, compression performance, and memory usage. More importantly, investigating a hybrid method gives extra insights into the relationship between dictionary and symbolwise methods, and reveals that they are more closely related than might be expected. <<ETX>>
A model for tidewater glacier undercutting by submarine melting

Dynamic change at the marine‐terminating margins of the Greenland Ice Sheet may be initiated by the ocean, particularly where subglacial runoff drives vigorous ice‐marginal plumes and rapid submarine melting. Here we model submarine melt‐driven undercutting of tidewater glacier termini, simulating a process which is key to understanding ice‐ocean coupling. Where runoff emerges from broad subglacial channels we find that undercutting has only a weak impact on local submarine melt rate but increases total ablation by submarine melting due to the larger submerged ice surface area. Thus, the impact of melting is determined not only by the melt rate magnitude but also by the slope of the ice‐ocean interface. We suggest that the most severe undercutting occurs at the maximum height in the fjord reached by the plume, likely promoting calving of ice above. It remains unclear, however, whether undercutting proceeds sufficiently rapidly to influence calving at Greenland's fastest‐flowing glaciers.
Marker reconstitution mutagenesis: a simple and efficient reverse genetic approach

A novel reverse genetic approach termed ‘marker reconstitution mutagenesis’ was designed to generate mutational allelic series in genes of interest. This approach consists of two simple steps which utilize two selective markers. First, using one selective marker, a partial fragment of another selective marker gene is inserted adjacently to a gene of interest by homologous recombination. Second, random mutations are introduced precisely into the gene of interest, together with the reconstitution of the latter selective marker by homologous recombination. This approach was successfully tested for several genes in the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe. It circumvents the problems encountered with other methods and should be adaptable to any organism that incorporates exogenous DNA by homologous recombination. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Effect of acute alcohol ingestion on plasma pyridoxal 5'-phosphate.

This study assesses the effect of acute alcohol intake on net plasma pyridoxal 5'- phosphate (PLP) accumulation from pyridoxine and on PLP elimination from plasma. Unanesthe- tized dogs were given oral alcohol (1 or 3 g/kg as a 25% solution in normal saline), isocaloric glucose, or were fasted. Two hours later pyridoxine (1 mg/kg iv) was given and serial plasma samples were assayed for PLP (enzymatic tyrosine decarboxylase method) over 31 hr. In other dogs, PLP (2.5 mg) was given iv and PLP decay monitored over 24 hr. The area under the plasma PLP curve after pyridoxine (i.e., PLP accumulation) and pharmacokinetics of PLP elimination were compared in alcohol and control groups after correcting for the base-line PLP level. Blood alcohol with the 3 g/kg dose averaged about 300 mg/lOO ml at 2 hr and fell to 175 mg/lOO ml at 16 hr. while with the I g/kg dose it was about 85 mg/100 ml at 2 hr and had disappeared in 7 hr. Accumulation of PLP in plasma in 10 controls after pyridoxine was 879.8 ± 101.3 nglml per 31 hr (mean ± SE) but only 441.8 ± 86.9 ng/ml per 31 hr in seven dogs given the high alcohol dose (P <0.01). By contrast, the low alcohol dose did not alter significantly plasma PLP accumulation. PLP distribution and clearance were comparable in dogs given the high alcohol dose and in control dogs. In conclusion: I) acute high doses of alcohol in dogs lower plasma PLP accumulation from precursor pyridoxine, 2) this effect can not be accounted for by increased PLP removal from plasma, 3) these composite data indirectly suggest an alcohol-induced abnormality in plasma PLP formation. Am. I. Clin. Nuir. 32: 1246-1252, 1979.
The Equine PeptideAtlas: A resource for developing proteomics‐based veterinary research

Progress in MS‐based methods for veterinary research and diagnostics is lagging behind compared to the human research, and proteome data of domestic animals is still not well represented in open source data repositories. This is particularly true for the equine species. Here we present a first Equine PeptideAtlas encompassing high‐resolution tandem MS analyses of 51 samples representing a selection of equine tissues and body fluids from healthy and diseased animals. The raw data were processed through the Trans‐Proteomic Pipeline to yield high quality identification of proteins and peptides. The current release comprises 24 131 distinct peptides representing 2636 canonical proteins observed at false discovery rates of 0.2% at the peptide level and 1.4% at the protein level. Data from the Equine PeptideAtlas are available for experimental planning, validation of new datasets, and as a proteomic data mining resource. The advantages of the Equine PeptideAtlas are demonstrated by examples of mining the contents for information on potential and well‐known equine acute phase proteins, which have extensive general interest in the veterinary clinic. The extracted information will support further analyses, and emphasizes the value of the Equine PeptideAtlas as a resource for the design of targeted quantitative proteomic studies.
Do Australian Universities Encourage Tacit Knowledge Transfer?

The purpose of this paper is to explore whether Australian universities encourage tacit knowledge transfer. In doing so, the paper also explores the role of managers (academics’ supervisor) in promoting or hampering tacit knowledge transfer and the value given to new ideas and innovation. This study collected data by conducting interviews of academics in four universities and a qualitative narrative analysis was carried out. The findings suggest that universities generally encourage and facilitate the transfer of tacit knowledge; however there are some areas that require improvement. Avenues for improving tacit knowledge transfer call for open communication, peer-trust and unrestricted sharing of knowledge by managers. The study was conducted in four universities, hence limits the generalisability of the findings. This paper will contribute to further research in the discipline of tacit knowledge, provide understanding and guide universities in their tacit knowledge transfer efforts and in particular, encourage the transfer of tacit knowledge.
Hepatic undifferentiated (embryonal) sarcoma and rhabdomyosarcoma in children. Results of therapy

From July 1972 through September 1984, 8 of 44 children diagnosed as having primary malignant hepatic tumors, who were treated at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, had undifferentiated (embryonal) sarcoma (five patients) or rhabdomyosarcoma (three patients). The natural history and response to multimodal therapy of these rare tumors are described. The pathologic material was reviewed and evidence for the differentiating potential of undifferentiated (embryonal) sarcoma is presented. At diagnosis, disease was restricted to the right lobe of the liver in three patients, was bilobar in four patients, and extended from the left lobe into the diaphragm in one patient. Lung metastases were present in two patients at diagnosis. All three patients with rhabdomyosarcoma had intrahepatic lesions without involvement of the biliary tree. Survival ranged from 6 to 73 months from diagnosis (median, 19.5 months); two patients are surviving disease‐free for 55+ and 73+ months, and one patient recently underwent resection of a recurrent pulmonary nodule 22 months from initial diagnosis. Three patients died of progressive intrahepatic and extrahepatic abdominal tumors, and two patients, who died of progressive pulmonary tumor, also had bone or brain metastasis but no recurrence of intra‐abdominal tumor. Six patients had objective evidence of response to chemotherapy. The authors suggest an aggressive multimodal approach to the treatment of these rare tumors in children.
Laser Rate Equation-Based Filtering for Carrier Recovery in Characterization and Communication

We formulate a semiconductor laser rate equation-based approach to carrier recovery in a Bayesian filtering framework. Filter stability and the effect of model inaccuracies (unknown or unuseable rate equation coefficients) are discussed. Two potential application areas are explored: Laser characterization and carrier recovery in coherent communication. Two rate equation-based Bayesian filters, the particle filter and extended Kalman filter, are used in conjunction with a coherent receiver to measure frequency noise spectrum of a photonic crystal cavity laser with less than 20 nW of fiber-coupled output power. The extended Kalman filter is also used to recover a 28-GBd DP-16 QAM signal where a decision-directed phase-locked loop fails.
Mentoring in the operating room: a student perspective.

The purpose of this descriptive research survey was to elicit opinions of student nurse anesthetists (SNAs) on mentoring in the clinical setting and to identify characteristics that differentiate the roles of clinical mentor vs educator. The results of the study reveal that greater assistance in helping students find a mentor while in the anesthesia program may be warranted. Of the 1,251 students (65% response rate) who completed and returned the survey instrument, 56% indicated that a mentor should be assigned to them, and 98% believe it is important that the mentor be a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA). A previous survey of CRNAs reveals that many members of the nurse anesthesia profession believe that didactic educators are the primary mentors to SNAs. However, it is appar-
PCTR: An improved approach to digitizing well-logging parameter graph

According to the characteristics of well-logging graphs, we contribute a PCTR (Preprocessing, Compressing, Tracing, and Rectifying) approach to digitizing skeleton type of curves. The preprocessing algorithm is based on the biggest variance ratio. We employed Line Adjacency Graph (LAG) data structure to develop the image-compressing algorithm, which compresses image file with great efficiency. The rectifying algorithms based on centimeter grid of coordinates, which perfectly rectify the distortion of parameter graph, are proposed. The experimental results show that the PCTR approach in the system can work effectively.
Trade-Offs in Sampling-Based Adversarial Planning

The Upper Confidence bounds for Trees (UCT) algorithm has in recent years captured the attention of the planning and game-playing community due to its notable success in the game of Go. However, attempts to reproduce similar levels of performance in domains that are the forte of Minimax-style algorithms have been largely unsuccessful, making any comparative studies of the two hard. In this paper, we study UCT in the game of Mancala, which to our knowledge is the first domain where both search algorithms perform quite well with minimal enhancement. We focus on the three key components of the UCT algorithm in its purest form - targeted node expansion, state value estimation via playouts and averaging backups - and look at their contributions to the overall performance of the algorithm. We study the trade-offs involved in using alternate ways to perform these steps. Finally, we demonstrate a novel hybrid approach to enhancing UCT, that exploits its superior decision accuracy in regions of the search space with few terminal nodes.
A new microstrip star shaped patch antenna

A high gain star patch antenna is presented in this paper. The antenna structure is simple in nature, provides easy fabrication and manufacturing while exhibiting high gain characteristic. The proposed antenna has a measured gain of 10.21dBi at the operating frequency of 16 GHz. The half power beamwidth is approximately 36° and 34° in the H- and E- planes respectively. The antenna can be used in the Ku band which provides services such as point to point communication, educational networks, satellite communication etc.
Connective tissue components in serum in multiple myeloma: Analyses of propeptides of type I and type III procollagens, type I collagen telopeptide, and hyaluronan

The present study was performed to evaluate whether information concerning synthesis and degradation of type I collagen in multiple myeloma (MM) as obtained by serum analyses of C‐terminal propeptide of type I procollagen (PICP) and the C‐terminal telopeptide of type I collagen (ICTP) may be useful in evaluating the development of osteolytic bone destruction. Serum N‐terminal propeptide of type III procollagen (PIIINP) may give information about marrow fibrosis in MM. No data are available about MM and serum hyaluronan, another important component of bone marrow stroma. We examined 15 consecutive patients before treatment and 15 sex‐ and age‐matched controls. We found highly significant elevations in serum ICTP (median 6.2 vs. 2.4 μg/L; P < 0.01), PIIINP (median 5.2 vs. 2.9 μ/L; P < 0.01) and hyaluronan (median 122 vs. 45 μ/L; P < 0.01). ICTP in serum correlated closely to bone morbidity (r = 0.69; P < 0.01). Furthermore, serum ICTP correlated highly significantly to serum PIIINP (P < 0.01) and serum β2‐microglobulin (P < 0.01), whereas there was no correlation between hyaluronan and any of the collagen‐derived peptides or β2‐microglobulin. The MM group was followed for 9–25 months and analysis of survival data suggested that serum ICTP may be of predictive value (P < 0.05). We conclude that important changes in connective tissue metabolism occur in MM. ICTP in serum seems to be a noninvasive marker of bone morbidity and may be of prognostic value. Furthermore, elevation of hyaluronan in serum is common in MM, the significance of which is unknown. © 1994 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
AMMONIUM ADSORPTION ON NATURAL ZEOLITE (CLINOPTILOLITE): ADSORPTION ISOTHERMS AND KINETICS MODELING

A batch sorption process for removal of ammonium ions from aqueous solution using natural zeolite was studied. Tree different particle sizes of zeolite (1-2 mm, 2-4 mm and 4-10 mm) were used in the experiments. Sorption of ammonium ions on natural zeolite were carried out at 298 K with the initial concentrations of ammonium in the range of 1000 – 7000 mg NH4+-N/dm3. Equilibrium data were fitted by Freundlich and Langmuir isotherm and sorption kinetic data by pseudo-first and second order. The parameters were estimated by linear and non-linear method. Results show that non-linear method may be superior way to compute the parameters. The Langmuir isotherm model fitted better the experimental data with a maximum monolayer adsorption capacity of 58.36 mg NH4+-N/g (1-2 mm), 49.02 mg NH4+-N/g (2-4 mm) and 46.46 mg NH4+-N/g (4-10 mm), respectively. Also, the pseudo-second-order kinetic model was the best applicable model to describe the sorption kinetics. The obtained results suggest that the natural zeolite is a good adsorbent for removal of ammonium ions from aqueous solution and that ion exchange increased with decreasing of particle sizes of natural zeolite.
Landscape scale, heterogeneity, and the viability of Serengeti grazers

Species persistence can be threatened by substantial temporal variation in food resources over time. On the other hand, spatial heterogeneity in resources at the landscape scale might allow mobile consumers to compensate for temporal variability in resource availability at the local scale. We evaluated this hypothesis, using an extensive data set on foraging, grass growth, and movement by Thomson’s gazelles living on the Serengeti Plains. Here we show that modelled populations of Thomson’s gazelles can only persist under Serengeti conditions in the face of observed levels of rainfall stochasticity by making adaptive movements to take advantage of ephemeral spatial distributions of food resources. More importantly, our models suggest that Thomson’s gazelles in Serengeti require unrestricted access to relatively large areas of grassland (> 1600 km 2 )t o guarantee long-term persistence, particularly when there is positive spatial autocorrelation in resource abundance, as is the case in Serengeti. If this proves to be true for other species and/or other systems, then understanding of complex behavioural responses to spatially and temporally heterogeneous food supplies may be essential to successful conservation of grazing herbivores.
Short-term ocular toxicity and eye irritation tests following application of sufentanil in rabbits.

PURPOSE To test the safe clinical application of sufentanil as topical ophthalmic drops by examining treated rabbit eyes for ophthalmic irritation signs or short-time toxic reactions. METHODS Twenty-four rabbits were randomly divided into 8 groups (n = 3): The ocular toxicity at 14 d after eye drop ad- ministration was evaluated in groups 1 to 4, and at 30 d post- administration in groups 5 to 8. Groups 1 and 5 were treated with blank vehicle and served as normal controls. The left eyes of rabbits in groups 2 and 6 were exposed to low-dose sufentanil. (5 μg, 2 drops within 5 min), groups 3 and 7 received moderate-dose sufentanil (7.5 μg, 3 drops within 10 min), and groups 4 and 8 received high-dose sufentanil. (10 μg, 4 drops within 15 min). As self-controls, the right eyes of each rabbit were administered an equivalent amount of sodium chloride (9 g/L) at the same drop intervals. At 14 and 30 d after exposure to sufentanil, ophthalmic irritation signs were evaluated and corneas were stained with fluorescein and observed by slit-lamp microscopy. Corneal endothelial counts were performed and toxic reactions were evaluated. RESULTS Multiple parameters were compared in the control and experimental groups by visual inspection and slit-lamp examination at 14 and 30 d after sufentanil administration. No evidence of irritation signs (including corneal opacity, conjunctival congestion, or edema), eye secretions, iris abnormalities, or temporal eye closure were noted. Corneal en- dothelial cell counts did not significantly differ between the control and experimental groups. Light microscopy revealed no pathological or morphological injury to the cornea, conjunctiva, iris, ciliary body, retina, or optic nerve in either group. The same observation outcomes were noted at 14 and 30 d after administration. CONCLUSION Single ocular administration of sufentanil at a dose of 5-10 μg in rabbits yields no ocular irritation or toxic responses at 14 or 30 d following eye drop delivery.