Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Mirror Neuron System Study on Elderly Using Dynamic Causal Modeling fMRI Analysis

— Dynamic Causal Modeling (DCM) functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) is a promising technique to study the connectivity among brain regions and effects of stimuli through modeling neuronal interactions from time-series neuroimaging. The aim of this study is to study characteristics of a mirror neuron system (MNS) in elderly group (age: 60-70 years old). Twenty volunteers were MRI scanned with visual stimuli to study a functional brain network. DCM was employed to determine the mechanism of mirror neuron effects. The results revealed major activated areas including precentral gyrus, inferior parietal lobule, inferior occipital gyrus, and supplementary motor area. When visual stimuli were presented, the feed-forward connectivity from visual area to conjunction area was increased and forwarded to motor area. Moreover, the connectivity from the conjunction areas to premotor area was also increased. Such findings can be useful for future diagnostic process for elderly with diseases such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s. models, causal
Protective effect of disodium cromoglycate on rat peritoneal mast cells

Disruption of mast cells was measured by incubating the peritoneal washings of a rat with the substances under test. The incubate was filtered and the histamine in the undisrupted mast cells on the filter was assayed using guinea-pig ileum. Measurements were also made on disruption of rat peritoneal mast cells in vivo. Disodium cromoglycate (DCG) reduces the in vitro disruption of peritoneal mast cells produced by Compound 48/80, human plasma, dextran, and trypsin inhibitors. Compound 48/80 produced its greatest mast cell disruption at a calcium concentration of 0·2-2 mM CaCl2. DCG was effective in reducing the mast cell disruption at all calcium concentrations. Mast cell disruption by surface active agents was also reduced by DCG. In vivo experiments showed that DCG reduced the disruptive effect of Compound 48/80 on rat mesenteric mast cells. Calculations based on bronchial morphology show that the concentrations of DCG used in these experiments may be attained therapeutically in the bronchial mucosa of man.
An immunocytochemical study of the serotonergic innervation of the thalamus of the rat

The serotonergic innervation of the rat thalamus was studied with an indirect immunocytochemical technique using an antiserum raised against a serotonin‐hemocyanin conjugate in animals pretreated with L‐tryptophan and a monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitor. When pretreatment was not used there was a decrease in the number of immunoreactive fibers observed in the thalamic region.
Multi-objective Immune Evolutionary Algorithms for SLAM

The simultaneous localization and mapping problem with evolutionary algorithms is translated to a multi-objective immune optimization problem since it inherently possesses of multi-objective characters, and in order to efficiently solve the simultaneous localization and mapping problem, a local searcher with immunity is constructed. The local searcher employs domain knowledge of the problem, which is named as a key point grid pulling that is developed in the paper. The experiment results of a real mobile robot indicate that the computational expensiveness of designed algorithms is less than other evolutionary algorithms of single-objection and multi-objective optimization problem without immunity for simultaneous localization and mapping and accuracy of obtained maps are higher.
Sjögren's Syndrome Disease Damage Index and disease activity index: scoring systems for the assessment of disease damage and disease activity in Sjögren's syndrome, derived from an analysis of a cohort of Italian patients.

OBJECTIVE To develop valid instruments for the assessment of disease-related damage and disease activity in Sjögren's syndrome (SS). METHODS Data on 206 patients with primary SS were collected in 12 Italian centers. Each patient was scored by 1 investigator, on the basis of a global assessment of the degree of disease damage and disease activity. Patients judged to have active disease at the time of enrollment underwent a second evaluation after 3 months. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to select the clinical and serologic variables that were the best predictors of damage and of disease activity, and these variables were used to construct the Sjögren's Syndrome Disease Damage Index (SSDDI) and the Sjögren's Syndrome Disease Activity Index (SSDAI). The weight of each variable in the index was determined by the beta coefficients in multivariate regression models. Scores obtained using the SSDDI and the SSDAI were compared with scores initially given by the investigators. Finally, a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to determine the cutoff value in the SSDAI with the highest level of accuracy in identifying patients with a significant level of disease activity. RESULTS A multivariate model with 9 variables was the best predictor of investigator scores of damage. The scores obtained using the SSDDI were closely correlated with investigator ratings (R = 0.760, P < 0.0001). A model composed of 11 variables was the best predictor of investigator scores of disease activity. The scores obtained using the SSDAI were strongly correlated with the investigator ratings both at the time of enrollment and 3 months after enrollment (R = 0.872, P < 0.0001, and R = 0.817, P < 0.0001, respectively). The differences between scores given by investigators at study enrollment and after 3 months, a measure of variation of disease activity over time, were also closely correlated with the differences calculated using the SSDAI (R = 0.683, P < 0.0001). The ROC curve analysis showed that patients with the highest level of disease activity could be identified on the basis of an SSDAI score of >or=5. CONCLUSION Our findings indicate that the SSDDI is an adequate instrument to objectively measure damage in patients with SS, and that the SSDAI is a valid tool to measure disease activity when used either as a single-state index or as a transition index.
Distally based saphenous neurocutaneous perforator flap combined with vac therapy for soft tissue reconstruction and hardware salvage in the lower extremities

The complex wound with the exposed hardware and infection is one of the common complications after the internal fixation of the tibia fracture. The salvage of hardware and reconstruction of soft tissue defect remain challenging. In this report, we presented our experience on the use of the distally based saphenous neurocutaneous perforator flap combined with vacuum‐assisted closure (VAC) therapy for the coverage of the soft tissue defect and the exposed hardware in the lower extremity with fracture. Between January 2008 and July 2010, seven patients underwent the VAC therapy followed by transferring a reversed saphenous neurocutaneous perforator flap for reconstruction of the wound with exposed hardware around the distal tibia. The sizes of the flaps ranged from 6 × 3 cm to 15 × 6 cm. Six flaps survived completely. Partial necrosis occurred in one patient. There were no other complications of repair and donor sites. Bone healing was achieved in all patients. In conclusion, the reversed saphenous neurocutaneous perfortor flaps combined with the VAC therapy might be one of the options to cover the complex wound with exposed hardware in the lower extremities. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microsurgery 33:625–630, 2013.
Effect of Different Upright Sitting Postures on Spinal-Pelvic Curvature and Trunk Muscle Activation in a Pain-Free Population

Study Design. A normative within-subjects single-group study. Objective. To compare spinal-pelvic curvature and trunk muscle activation in 2 upright sitting postures (“thoracic” and “lumbo-pelvic”) and slump sitting in a pain-free population. Summary of Background Data. Clinical observations suggest that both upright and slump sitting postures can exacerbate low back pain. Little research has investigated the effects of different upright sitting postures on trunk muscle activation. Methods. Spinal-pelvic curvature and surface electromyography of 6 trunk muscles were measured bilaterally in 2 upright (thoracic and lumbo-pelvic) sitting postures and slump sitting in 22 subjects. Results. Thoracic, compared to lumbo-pelvic, upright sitting showed significantly greater thoracic extension (P < 0.001), with significantly less lumbar extension (P < 0.001) and anterior pelvic tilt (P = 0.03). Furthermore, there was significantly less superficial lumbar multifidus (P < 0.001) and internal oblique (P = 0.03) activity, with significantly higher thoracic erector spinae (P < 0.001) and external oblique (P = 0.04) activity in thoracic upright sitting. There was no significant difference in superficial lumbar multifidus activity between thoracic upright and slump sitting. Conclusions. Different upright sitting postures resulted in altered trunk muscle activation. Thoracic when compared to lumbo-pelvic upright sitting involved less coactivation of the local spinal muscles, with greater coactivation of the global muscles. These results highlight the importance of postural training specificity when the aim is to activate the lumbo-pelvic stabilizing muscles in subjects with back pain.
Deflection of mantle flow beneath subducting slabs and the origin of subslab anisotropy

Global compilations of subslab shear wave splitting parameters show a mix of trench‐parallel and trench‐perpendicular fast directions that often directly contradict predictions from two‐dimensional models of slab‐entrained flow. Here we show that subslab anisotropy is consistent with three‐dimensional geodynamic models that feature the interaction between subducting slabs and regional mantle flow. Each model represents a specific region for which high‐quality source‐side shear wave splitting data are available. We compare the distribution of finite strain in the models with shear wave splitting observations, showing that both trench‐parallel and trench‐perpendicular fast directions can be explained by deflection of regional mantle flow around or beneath subducted slabs. Subslab maximum elongation directions calculated from our models depend on a combination of geometry factors (such as slab dip angle and maximum depth), mechanical parameters (such as decoupling between the slab and the subjacent mantle), and the orientation and magnitude of the regional mantle flow.
Market Structure and Environmental Innovation

This paper studies firms' incentives to invest in environmental R&D under different market structures (Cournot and Bertrand) and environmental policy instruments (emission standards, taxes, tradable permits and auctioned permits). Because of market strategic effects, R&D incentives vary widely across market structures and instruments. For example, when firms' products are strategic substitutes (i.e., Cournot), either emission standards, taxes or auctioned permits can provide the most incentives. But when firms' products are strategic complements, either taxes or auctioned permits provide the most incentives. If markets are perfectly competitive, however, permits and emission standards offer similar incentives that are lower than those offered by taxes.
Efficient signal, code, and receiver designs for MIMO communication systems

Abstract : The so-called diversity-multiplexing trade-off characterizes the fundamental interaction between the robustness and capacity gains obtainable from multiple-input and multiple-output (MIMO) systems in fading environments. This thesis develops practical schemes for approaching the optimal trade-off in various delay and complexity regimes. We focus on a two-transmit and two-receive antenna system, in which the receiver has channel knowledge, but the transmitter does not. We first investigate uncoded transmission. We propose a class of lattice-reduction-aided low-complexity detectors that can achieve near maximum likelihood performance and the best diversity-multiplexing trade-off achievable by any length-one code. We also design a family of structured space-time block codes that we call tilted-QAM codes. It achieves the optimal infinite-delay trade-off with the necessary minimum delay of two, answering a previously open question. It uses constellation rotation ideas to effectively spread information across space and time. We identify rotation angles that are universally optimal at all rates in terms of a determinant criterion. We further develop efficient coding schemes using long error correction codes. In particular, we combine them with tilted-QAM codes using hard and soft decision decoding to obtain good performance at moderate SNR. These new systems are compared to orthogonal space-time coded systems, which we show to achieve near optimal performance at low SNR. We also examine traditional sequential versions and develop new block versions of the Bell Labs layered architecture (BLAST). While some of these can in principle reach the performance limit at all SNRs, we show they also have various practical problems. Finally, for the case where no channel knowledge is available, we present a geometric view of the signal design problem. This view reveals how training-based approaches can achieve the optimal (non-coherent) diversity-multiplexing trade-off.
Ultrasound-guided percutaneous microwave ablation of benign thyroid nodules: experimental and clinical studies.

PURPOSE To obtain the treatment parameters of internally cooled microwave antenna and to evaluate the feasibility of ultrasound-guided percutaneous microwave ablation (MWA) for benign thyroid nodules. MATERIALS AND METHODS MWAs were performed by microwave antenna (16G) in ex vivo porcine liver. The lesion diameters achieved in different groups (20, 25, and 30 W for 3, 5, 7, 10, and 12 min) were compared. The clinical study was approved by the ethics committee. Written informed consent was obtained from all patients. MWA was performed in 11 patients (male to female ratio=1:10; mean age, 50±7 years) with 11 benign thyroid nodules. Ultrasound scan, laboratory data, and clinical symptoms were evaluated before and 1 day and 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months after the procedure. RESULTS In ex vivo study, the ablation lesion at 30 W 12 min tended to have appropriate scope and spherical shape. In clinical study, the follow-up periods ranged from 1 to 9 months. At the last follow-up, the largest diameter decreased from 2.9±1.0 (range, 1.6-4.1) to 1.9±0.7 (range, 0.4-3.0) cm (P<0.01), and the volume decreased from 5.30±4.88 (range, 0.89-14.81) to 2.40±2.06 (range, 0.02-6.35) ml (P<0.01). The volume reduction ratio was 45.99±29.90 (range, 10.56-98.15) %. The cosmetic grading score was reduced from 3.20±0.79 to 2.30±0.95 (P<0.05). One patient experienced temporary nerve palsy and was recovered within 2 months after treatment. CONCLUSION The internally cooled microwave antenna can yield ideal ablation lesions, and ultrasound-guided percutaneous MWA is a feasible technique for benign thyroid nodules.
Generic system for human-computer gesture interaction

Hand gestures are a powerful way for human communication, with lots of potential applications in the area of human computer interaction. Vision-based hand gesture recognition techniques have many proven advantages compared with traditional devices, giving users a simpler and more natural way to communicate with electronic devices. This work proposes a generic system architecture based in computer vision and machine learning, able to be used with any interface for human-computer interaction. The proposed solution is mainly composed of three modules: a pre-processing and hand segmentation module, a static gesture interface module and a dynamic gesture interface module. The experiments showed that the core of vision-based interaction systems can be the same for all applications and thus facilitate the implementation. In order to test the proposed solutions, three prototypes were implemented. For hand posture recognition, a SVM model was trained and used, able to achieve a final accuracy of 99.4%. For dynamic gestures, an HMM model was trained for each gesture that the system could recognize with a final average accuracy of 93.7%. The proposed solution as the advantage of being generic enough with the trained models able to work in real-time, allowing its application in a wide range of human-machine applications.
Evidence for a Complex of Transcription Factor IIB (TFIIB) with Poly(A) Polymerase and Cleavage Factor 1 Subunits Required for Gene Looping*

Gene looping, defined as the interaction of the promoter and the terminator regions of a gene during transcription, requires transcription factor IIB (TFIIB). We have earlier demonstrated association of TFIIB with the distal ends of a gene in an activator-dependent manner (El Kaderi, B., Medler, S., Raghunayakula, S., and Ansari, A. (2009) J. Biol. Chem. 284, 25015–25025). The presence of TFIIB at the 3′ end of a gene required its interaction with cleavage factor 1 (CF1) 3′ end processing complex subunit Rna15. Here, employing affinity chromatography and glycerol gradient centrifugation, we show that TFIIB associates with poly(A) polymerase and the entire CF1 complex in yeast cells. The factors required for general transcription such as TATA-binding protein, RNA polymerase II, and TFIIH are not a component of the TFIIB complex. This holo-TFIIB complex was resistant to MNase digestion. The complex was observed only in the looping-competent strains, but not in the looping-defective sua7-1 strain. The requirement of Rna15 in gene looping has been demonstrated earlier. Here we provide evidence that poly(A) polymerase (Pap1) as well as CF1 subunits Rna14 and Pcf11 are also required for loop formation of MET16 and INO1 genes. Accordingly, cross-linking of TFIIB to the 3′ end of genes was abolished in the mutants of Pap1, Rna14, and Pcf11. We further show that in sua7-1 cells, where holo-TFIIB complex is not formed, the kinetics of activated transcription is altered. These results suggest that a complex of TFIIB, CF1 subunits, and Pap1 exists in yeast cells. Furthermore, TFIIB interaction with the CF1 complex and Pap1 is crucial for gene looping and transcriptional regulation.
XDJl , a gene encoding a novel non-essential DnaJ homologue from

The gene encoding a novel DnaJ-like protein, termed Xdjl, has been identified by amplification of Saccharomyces cerevisiae genomic DNA. An open reading frame of 1380 bp was detected. Disruption of XDJl did not yield any detectable new phenotype. A double-deletion strain containing a disruption of both XDJl and YDJl, another gene coding for a DnaJ-like protein, was still viable. Under a variety of growth conditions, no XDJI transcripts could be detected by Northern blot analysis and no translation product was found by immunoblotting with antibody against Xdjl produced in Escherichia coli. Thus, XDJl is either expressed only under very specific conditions or represents a silent gene.
Expanded criteria donor kidneys where the paired kidney is discarded owing to biopsy results: a concept that needs revision.

OBJECTIVES We explored the categorizing of expanded criteria donors based on systemic disease processes linked to symmetric bilateral renal injury. MATERIALS AND METHODS We evaluated expanded criteria donor kidneys where the paired kidney was discarded owing to biopsy results, termed the discard group compared with those expanded criteria donors (where both were transplanted), termed the nondiscard group. Analysis of the Organ Procurement and Transplant Network data was completed focusing on the effect of glomerulosclerosis. RESULTS Our investigation revealed 754 and 9575 recipients in the discard group and nondiscard groups. Fewer glomerulosclerosis was seen the nondiscard group. An assessment revealed improved 1-, 3-, and 5-year graft (P < .001) and patient (P < .05) survivals in the nondiscard group compared with the discard group. However, multivariate analysis demonstrated glomerulosclerosis had little to no effect on graft and patient survival. Expanded criteria donor kidneys with 0% to 5% glomerulosclerosis had no significant differences in graft function as compared with expanded criteria donor kidneys that had > 10% glomerulosclerosis. In fact, expanded criteria donor kidneys with 0% to 5% glomerulosclerosis showed no statistically significantly protective effect over any biopsy with > 5% glomerulosclerosis in patient survival. CONCLUSIONS Owing to the limited supply of biopsy results in predicting outcomes when controlled for pertinent variables, relying on biopsy findings for kidney allocation may result in many valuable kidneys being discarded.
Retracted: Evidence for the early involvement of interleukin 17 in human and experimental renal allograft rejection

Inflammatory processes can stimulate renal epithelial cells to release cytokines, chemoattractants and matrix proteins into the interstitium, thus contributing to interstitial injury during acute allograft rejection. To test the role of interleukin 17 (IL‐17) in this process, cultured human renal epithelial cells (hRECs) were first established and treated with or without human IL‐17 (hIL‐17) for 2, 4, 8 and 10 h in vitro. Significant elevations of IL‐6 and IL‐8 levels were noted in the supernatants in a dose‐dependent and time‐dependent manner, as also for IL‐6 mRNA expression. Secondly, using a rat acute allograft rejection model, the correlation between IL‐17 expression and histopathological changes was serially studied. The results demonstrated that increased expression of IL‐17 protein on infiltrating mononuclear cells (MNCs) was detectable on day 2. This corresponds to the borderline change of acute rejection according to the Banff classification, and it increased progressively to day 5. Serial study of IL‐6, IL‐8 and IL‐17 mRNA expression of the renal allograft confirmed IL‐17 mRNA expression in the allograft early on post‐transplant day 2, whereas IL‐6 and IL‐8 expression started on day 3. Thirdly, IL‐17 expression was observed in human renal allograft and urinary sediment. IL‐17 protein expression was found in human subclinical (borderline) rejection renal allograft biopsy tissue and none in biopsy tissue not showing any evidence of rejection. There was also a 100% detectable rate of IL‐17 mRNA expression in the MNCs of urinary sediment of patients with subclinical borderline rejection. These results demonstrate that hRECs exposed to IL‐17 can produce inflammatory mediators with the potential to stimulate early alloimmune responses, which may also serve to give warning of acute renal allograft rejection. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Neo-Symbiosis: The Next Stage in the Evolution of Human Information Interaction

The purpose of this article is to re-address the vision of human-computer symbiosis as originally expressed by J.C. R. Licklider nearly a half-century ago and to argue for the relevance of this vision to the field of cognitive informatics. We describe this vision, place it in some historical context relating to the evolution of human factors research, and observe that the field is now in the process of re-invigorating Lickliderâ€™s vision. A central concept of this vision is that humans need to be incorporated into computer architectures. We briefly assess the state of the technology within the context of contemporary theory and practice, and we describe what we regard as this emerging field of neo-symbiosis. Examples of neo-symbiosis are provided, but these are nascent examples and the potential of neo-symbiosis is yet to be realized. We offer some initial thoughts on requirements to define functionality of neo-symbiotic systems and discuss research challenges associated with their development and evaluation. Methodologies and metrics for assessing neo-symbiosis are discussed.