Network mechanisms of intentional learning

Publication date: 15 February 2016
Source:NeuroImage, Volume 127
Author(s): Adam Hampshire, Peter J. Hellyer, Beth Parkin, Nole Hiebert, Penny MacDonald, Adrian M. Owen, Robert Leech, James Rowe
The ability to learn new tasks rapidly is a prominent characteristic of human behaviour. This ability relies on flexible cognitive systems that adapt in order to encode temporary programs for processing non-automated tasks. Previous functional imaging studies have revealed distinct roles for the lateral frontal cortices (LFCs) and the ventral striatum in intentional learning processes. However, the human LFCs are complex; they house multiple distinct sub-regions, each of which co-activates with a different functional network. It remains unclear how these LFC networks differ in their functions and how they coordinate with each other, and the ventral striatum, to support intentional learning. Here, we apply a suite of fMRI connectivity methods to determine how LFC networks activate and interact at different stages of two novel tasks, in which arbitrary stimulus-response rules are learnt either from explicit instruction or by trial-and-error. We report that the networks activate en masse and in synchrony when novel rules are being learnt from instruction. However, these networks are not homogeneous in their functions; instead, the directed connectivities between them vary asymmetrically across the learning timecourse and they disengage from the task sequentially along a rostro-caudal axis. Furthermore, when negative feedback indicates the need to switch to alternative stimulus–response rules, there is additional input to the LFC networks from the ventral striatum. These results support the hypotheses that LFC networks interact as a hierarchical system during intentional learning and that signals from the ventral striatum have a driving influence on this system when the internal program for processing the task is updated.



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Temperature dependence of water diffusion pools in brain white matter

Publication date: 15 February 2016
Source:NeuroImage, Volume 127
Author(s): Bibek Dhital, Christian Labadie, Frank Stallmach, Harald E. Möller, Robert Turner
Water diffusion in brain tissue can now be easily investigated using magnetic resonance (MR) techniques, providing unique insights into cellular level microstructure such as axonal orientation. The diffusive motion in white matter is known to be non-Gaussian, with increasing evidence for more than one water-containing tissue compartment. In this study, freshly excised porcine brain white matter was measured using a 125-MHz MR spectrometer (3T) equipped with gradient coils providing magnetic field gradients of up to 35,000mT/m. The sample temperature was varied between −14 and +19°C. The hypothesis tested was that white matter contains two slowly exchanging pools of water molecules with different diffusion properties. A Stejskal–Tanner diffusion sequence with very short gradient pulses and b-factors up to 18.8ms/μm² was used. The dependence on b-factor of the attenuation due to diffusion was robustly fitted by a biexponential function, with comparable volume fractions for each component. The diffusion coefficient of each component follows Arrhenius behavior, with significantly different activation energies. The measured volume fractions are consistent with the existence of three water-containing compartments, the first comprising relatively free cytoplasmic and extracellular water molecules, the second of water molecules in glial processes, and the third comprising water molecules closely associated with membranes, as for example, in the myelin sheaths and elsewhere. The activation energy of the slow diffusion pool suggests proton hopping at the surface of membranes by a Grotthuss mechanism, mediated by hydrating water molecules.



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Decisions about the past are guided by reinstatement of specific memories in the hippocampus and perirhinal cortex

Publication date: 15 February 2016
Source:NeuroImage, Volume 127
Author(s): Michael L. Mack, Alison R. Preston
When faced with a new challenge, we often reflect on related past experiences to guide our behavior. The ability to retrieve memories that overlap with current experience, a process known as pattern completion, is theorized as a critical function of the hippocampus. Although this view has influenced research for decades, there is little empirical support for hippocampal pattern completion to individual memory elements and its influence on behavior. We used pattern analysis of brain activity measured with functional magnetic resonance imaging to demonstrate that specific elements of past experiences are reinstated in the hippocampus, as well as perirhinal cortex (PRC), when making decisions about those experiences. Linking neural measures of specific memory reinstatement in the hippocampus and PRC to behavior with computational modeling revealed that reinstatement predicts the speed of memory-based decisions. Moreover, hippocampal activation during retrieval was selectively coupled to regions of occipito-temporal cortex that showed content-specific item reinstatement. These results provide evidence for hippocampal pattern completion and its role in the mechanisms of decision making.

Graphical abstract

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Kernel regression estimation of fiber orientation mixtures in diffusion MRI

Publication date: 15 February 2016
Source:NeuroImage, Volume 127
Author(s): Ryan P. Cabeen, Mark E. Bastin, David H. Laidlaw
We present and evaluate a method for kernel regression estimation of fiber orientations and associated volume fractions for diffusion MR tractography and population-based atlas construction in clinical imaging studies of brain white matter. This is a model-based image processing technique in which representative fiber models are estimated from collections of component fiber models in model-valued image data. This extends prior work in nonparametric image processing and multi-compartment processing to provide computational tools for image interpolation, smoothing, and fusion with fiber orientation mixtures. In contrast to related work on multi-compartment processing, this approach is based on directional measures of divergence and includes data-adaptive extensions for model selection and bilateral filtering. This is useful for reconstructing complex anatomical features in clinical datasets analyzed with the ball-and-sticks model, and our framework's data-adaptive extensions are potentially useful for general multi-compartment image processing. We experimentally evaluate our approach with both synthetic data from computational phantoms and in vivo clinical data from human subjects. With synthetic data experiments, we evaluate performance based on errors in fiber orientation, volume fraction, compartment count, and tractography-based connectivity. With in vivo data experiments, we first show improved scan–rescan reproducibility and reliability of quantitative fiber bundle metrics, including mean length, volume, streamline count, and mean volume fraction. We then demonstrate the creation of a multi-fiber tractography atlas from a population of 80 human subjects. In comparison to single tensor atlasing, our multi-fiber atlas shows more complete features of known fiber bundles and includes reconstructions of the lateral projections of the corpus callosum and complex fronto-parietal connections of the superior longitudinal fasciculus I, II, and III.



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Visual motion transforms visual space representations similarly throughout the human visual hierarchy

Publication date: 15 February 2016
Source:NeuroImage, Volume 127
Author(s): Ben M. Harvey, Serge O. Dumoulin
Several studies demonstrate that visual stimulus motion affects neural receptive fields and fMRI response amplitudes. Here we unite results of these two approaches and extend them by examining the effects of visual motion on neural position preferences throughout the hierarchy of human visual field maps. We measured population receptive field (pRF) properties using high-field fMRI (7T), characterizing position preferences simultaneously over large regions of the visual cortex. We measured pRFs properties using sine wave gratings in stationary apertures, moving at various speeds in either the direction of pRF measurement or the orthogonal direction. We find direction- and speed-dependent changes in pRF preferred position and size in all visual field maps examined, including V1, V3A, and the MT+ map TO1. These effects on pRF properties increase up the hierarchy of visual field maps. However, both within and between visual field maps the extent of pRF changes was approximately proportional to pRF size. This suggests that visual motion transforms the representation of visual space similarly throughout the visual hierarchy. Visual motion can also produce an illusory displacement of perceived stimulus position. We demonstrate perceptual displacements using the same stimulus configuration. In contrast to effects on pRF properties, perceptual displacements show only weak effects of motion speed, with far larger speed-independent effects. We describe a model where low-level mechanisms could underlie the observed effects on neural position preferences. We conclude that visual motion induces similar transformations of visuo-spatial representations throughout the visual hierarchy, which may arise through low-level mechanisms.



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MUSE: MUlti-atlas region Segmentation utilizing Ensembles of registration algorithms and parameters, and locally optimal atlas selection

Publication date: 15 February 2016
Source:NeuroImage, Volume 127
Author(s): Jimit Doshi, Guray Erus, Yangming Ou, Susan M. Resnick, Ruben C. Gur, Raquel E. Gur, Theodore D. Satterthwaite, Susan Furth, Christos Davatzikos
Atlas-based automated anatomical labeling is a fundamental tool in medical image segmentation, as it defines regions of interest for subsequent analysis of structural and functional image data. The extensive investigation of multi-atlas warping and fusion techniques over the past 5 or more years has clearly demonstrated the advantages of consensus-based segmentation. However, the common approach is to use multiple atlases with a single registration method and parameter set, which is not necessarily optimal for every individual scan, anatomical region, and problem/data-type. Different registration criteria and parameter sets yield different solutions, each providing complementary information. Herein, we present a consensus labeling framework that generates a broad ensemble of labeled atlases in target image space via the use of several warping algorithms, regularization parameters, and atlases. The label fusion integrates two complementary sources of information: a local similarity ranking to select locally optimal atlases and a boundary modulation term to refine the segmentation consistently with the target image's intensity profile. The ensemble approach consistently outperforms segmentations using individual warping methods alone, achieving high accuracy on several benchmark datasets. The MUSE methodology has been used for processing thousands of scans from various datasets, producing robust and consistent results. MUSE is publicly available both as a downloadable software package, and as an application that can be run on the CBICA Image Processing Portal (http://ift.tt/1Rl5t12), a web based platform for remote processing of medical images.



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Functional connectivity MRI tracks memory networks after maze learning in rodents

Publication date: 15 February 2016
Source:NeuroImage, Volume 127
Author(s): Fatima A. Nasrallah, Xuan Vinh To, Der-Yow Chen, Aryeh Routtenberg, Kai-Hsiang Chuang
Learning and memory employs a series of cognitive processes which require the coordination of multiple areas across the brain. However in vivo imaging of cognitive function has been challenging in rodents. Since these processes involve synchronous firing among different brain loci we explored functional connectivity imaging with resting-state fMRI. After 5-day training on a hidden platform watermaze task, notable signal correlations were seen between the hippocampal CA3 and other structures, including thalamus, septum and cingulate cortex, compared to swim control or naïve animals. The connectivity sustained 7days after training and was reorganized toward the cortex, consistent with views of memory trace distribution leading to memory consolidation. These data demonstrates that, after a cognitive task, altered functional connectivity can be detected in the subsequently sedated rodent using in vivo imaging. This approach paves the way to understand dynamics of area-dependent distribution processes in animal models of cognition.



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Thinking about thinking: Neural mechanisms and effects on memory

Publication date: 15 February 2016
Source:NeuroImage, Volume 127
Author(s): Corinna Bonhage, Friederike Weber, Cornelia Exner, Philipp Kanske
It is a well-established finding that memory encoding is impaired if an external secondary task (e.g. tone discrimination) is performed simultaneously. Yet, while studying we are also often engaged in internal secondary tasks such as planning, ruminating, or daydreaming. It remains unclear whether such a secondary internal task has similar effects on memory and what the neural mechanisms underlying such an influence are. We therefore measured participants' blood oxygenation level dependent responses while they learned word-pairs and simultaneously performed different types of secondary tasks (i.e., internal, external, and control). Memory performance decreased in both internal and external secondary tasks compared to the easy control condition. However, while the external task reduced activity in memory-encoding related regions (hippocampus), the internal task increased neural activity in brain regions associated with self-reflection (anterior medial prefrontal cortex), as well as in regions associated with performance monitoring and the perception of salience (anterior insula, dorsal anterior cingulate cortex). Resting-state functional connectivity analyses confirmed that anterior medial prefrontal cortex and anterior insula/dorsal anterior cingulate cortex are part of the default mode network and salience network, respectively. In sum, a secondary internal task impairs memory performance just as a secondary external task, but operates through different neural mechanisms.



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Acceptance of evidence-supported hypotheses generates a stronger signal from an underlying functionally-connected network

Publication date: 15 February 2016
Source:NeuroImage, Volume 127
Author(s): J.C. Whitman, Y. Takane, T.P.L. Cheung, A. Moiseev, U. Ribary, L.M. Ward, T.S. Woodward
Choosing one's preferred hypothesis requires multiple brain regions to work in concert as a functionally connected network. We predicted that a stronger network signal would underlie cognitive coherence between a hypothesis and the available evidence. In order to identify such functionally connected networks in magnetoencephalography (MEG) data, we first localized the generators of changes in oscillatory power within three frequency bands, namely alpha (7–13Hz), beta (18–24Hz), and theta (3–7Hz), with a spatial resolution of 5mm and temporal resolution of 50ms. We then used principal component analysis (PCA) to identify functionally connected networks reflecting co-varying post-stimulus changes in power. As predicted, PCA revealed a functionally connected network with a stronger signal when the evidence supported accepting the hypothesis being judged. This difference was driven by beta-band power decreases in the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), ventromedial prefrontal cortex (VMPFC), posterior cingulate cortex (PCC), and midline occipital cortex.



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Something to sink your teeth into: The presence of teeth augments ERPs to mouth expressions

Publication date: 15 February 2016
Source:NeuroImage, Volume 127
Author(s): Elizabeth B. daSilva, Kirsten Crager, Danika Geisler, Powell Newbern, Benjamin Orem, Aina Puce
If the whites of the sclera can impact neural processing of eye expressions (Hardee, Thompson, & Puce, 2008; Whalen et al., 1998), do seen teeth affect neural responses to mouth expressions? Twenty participants (10 females; ages 22–31) viewed avatar mouth images depicting grimaces, smiles and open mouth expressions that were presented with and without teeth. A continuous 256 channel electroencephalogram (EEG) was recorded while subjects completed two tasks: an implicit task evaluating stimulus color and an explicit task evaluating mouth expression valence. Event related potential (ERP) peak amplitudes and latencies and area under the curve (AUC) were measured in individual subject averaged ERPs. Statistical testing revealed a main effect of the presence of Teeth for P100, N170, and vertex positive potential (VPP) amplitudes and for slow positive wave (SPW) AUC. Task by teeth interactions occurred for P250 amplitude, underscoring how explicit task demands can influence neural processing. Arousal ratings co-varied with teeth presence, suggesting that low-level visual features such as teeth may drive the saliency of emotional expressions, and lie at the core of differences in neural processing to different emotional expressions.



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Can sliding-window correlations reveal dynamic functional connectivity in resting-state fMRI?

Publication date: 15 February 2016
Source:NeuroImage, Volume 127
Author(s): R. Hindriks, M.H. Adhikari, Y. Murayama, M. Ganzetti, D. Mantini, N.K. Logothetis, G. Deco
During the last several years, the focus of research on resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) has shifted from the analysis of functional connectivity averaged over the duration of scanning sessions to the analysis of changes of functional connectivity within sessions. Although several studies have reported the presence of dynamic functional connectivity (dFC), statistical assessment of the results is not always carried out in a sound way and, in some studies, is even omitted. In this study, we explain why appropriate statistical tests are needed to detect dFC, we describe how they can be carried out and how to assess the performance of dFC measures, and we illustrate the methodology using spontaneous blood-oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) fMRI recordings of macaque monkeys under general anesthesia and in human subjects under resting-state conditions. We mainly focus on sliding-window correlations since these are most widely used in assessing dFC, but also consider a recently proposed non-linear measure. The simulations and methodology, however, are general and can be applied to any measure. The results are twofold. First, through simulations, we show that in typical resting-state sessions of 10min, it is almost impossible to detect dFC using sliding-window correlations. This prediction is validated by both the macaque and the human data: in none of the individual recording sessions was evidence for dFC found. Second, detection power can be considerably increased by session- or subject-averaging of the measures. In doing so, we found that most of the functional connections are in fact dynamic. With this study, we hope to raise awareness of the statistical pitfalls in the assessment of dFC and how they can be avoided by using appropriate statistical methods.



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Neural correlates of event clusters in past and future thoughts: How the brain integrates specific episodes with autobiographical knowledge

Publication date: 15 February 2016
Source:NeuroImage, Volume 127
Author(s): Julie Demblon, Mohamed Ali Bahri, Arnaud D'Argembeau
When remembering the past or envisioning the future, events often come to mind in organized sequences or stories rather than in isolation from one another. The aim of the present fMRI study was to investigate the neural correlates of such event clusters. Participants were asked to consider pairs of specific past or future events: in one condition, the two events were part of the same event cluster (i.e., they were thematically and/or causally related to each other), whereas in another condition the two events only shared a surface feature (i.e., their location); a third condition was also included, in which the two events were unrelated to each other. The results showed that the processing of past and future events that were part of a same cluster was associated with higher activation in the medial prefrontal cortex (PFC), rostrolateral PFC, and left lateral temporal and parietal regions, compared to the two other conditions. Furthermore, functional connectivity analyses revealed an increased coupling between these cortical regions. These findings suggest that largely similar processes are involved in organizing events in clusters for the past and the future. The medial and rostrolateral PFC might play a pivotal role in mediating the integration of specific events with conceptual autobiographical knowledge 'stored' in more posterior regions. Through this integrative process, this set of brain regions might contribute to the attribution of an overarching meaning to representations of specific past and future events, by contextualizing them with respect to personal goals and general knowledge about one's life story.



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When opportunity meets motivation: Neural engagement during social approach is linked to high approach motivation

Publication date: 15 February 2016
Source:NeuroImage, Volume 127
Author(s): Sina Radke, Eva-Maria Seidel, Simon B. Eickhoff, Ruben C. Gur, Frank Schneider, Ute Habel, Birgit Derntl
Social rewards are processed by the same dopaminergic-mediated brain networks as non-social rewards, suggesting a common representation of subjective value. Individual differences in personality and motivation influence the reinforcing value of social incentives, but it remains open whether the pursuit of social incentives is analogously supported by the neural reward system when positive social stimuli are connected to approach behavior. To test for a modulation of neural activation by approach motivation, individuals with high and low approach motivation (BAS) completed implicit and explicit social approach–avoidance paradigms during fMRI. High approach motivation was associated with faster implicit approach reactions as well as a trend for higher approach ratings, indicating increased approach tendencies. Implicit and explicit positive social approach was accompanied by stronger recruitment of the nucleus accumbens, middle cingulate cortex, and (pre-)cuneus for individuals with high compared to low approach motivation. These results support and extend prior research on social reward processing, self-other distinctions and affective judgments by linking approach motivation to the engagement of reward-related circuits during motivational reactions to social incentives. This interplay between motivational preferences and motivational contexts might underlie the rewarding experience during social interactions.



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Synthesis of new bis(acyl)phosphane oxide photoinitiators for the surface functionalization of cellulose nanocrystals

Chem. Commun., 2016, Accepted Manuscript
DOI: 10.1039/C5CC09760F, Communication

Hansjorg Friedrich Grutzmacher, Jieping Wang, Gilberto Siqueira, Georgina Muller, Daniel Rentsch, Anja Huch, Philippe Tingaut, Joelle Levalois-Grutzmacher
A new synthesis of bis(acyl)phosphane oxide (BAPO) photoinitiators was developed which can be used to functionalize cellulose nanocrystals surfaces for polymer grafting. Hybrid materials with excellent graft yields can be...
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One-pot peptide and protein conjugation: a combination of enzymatic transamidation and click chemistry

Chem. Commun., 2016, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/C5CC09163B, Communication

N. M. Rachel, J. N. Pelletier
Enzymatic transamidation and copper-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC) were combined to yield covalently conjugated peptides and proteins.
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Chemically-modified cellulose paper as smart sensor device for colorimetric and optical detection of hydrogen sulfate in water

Chem. Commun., 2016, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/C5CC09889K, Communication

Jordi Rull-Barrull, Martin d'Halluin, Erwan Le Grognec, Francois-Xavier Felpin
The first portable, recyclable and highly selective paper-based sensor device for the colorimetric and optical detection of hydrogen sulfate anions in water has been developed.
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Hydrogenated CeO2-xSx mesoporous hollow spheres for enhanced solar driven water oxidation

Chem. Commun., 2016, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/C5CC09484D, Communication

Yuting Xiao, Yajie Chen, Ying Xie, Guohui Tian, Shien Guo, Taoran Han, Honggang Fu
Hydrogenated CeO_2-xS_x mesoporous hollow spheres were prepared and exhibited much higher rates of O₂ evolution than CeO₂ and CeO_2-xS_x due to the synergistic effect of high sulfur doping level, narrow band gap, moderate oxygen vacancies and higher carrier concentration.
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Sequential Au(I)/chiral tertiary amine catalysis: a tandem C-H functionalization of anisoles or a thiophene/asymmetric Michael addition sequence to quaternary oxindoles

Chem. Commun., 2016, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/C5CC10096H, Communication

Zhong-Yan Cao, Yu-Lei Zhao, Jian Zhou
We report an unprecedented sequential Au(I)/bifunctional tertiary amine catalysis, which enables a tandem C-H functionalization of weak nucleophiles (anisoles or thiophenes) and asymmetric Michael addition for the highly enantioselective synthesis of quaternary oxindoles.
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Metal-exchangeable macrocycles: from a bismetallo-Ru2/Zn triangle to a Ru2/Fe triangular assembly

Chem. Commun., 2016, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/C5CC08460A, Communication

Die Liu, Xiaoyu Yang, Yiming Li, Pingshan Wang
Ru₂/Zn and Ru₂/Fe based bismetallo-organic triangles had been prepared from a predesigned metallo-organic ligand possessing two uncomplexed free terpyridines. A quantitative coordination constant controlled metallo-transformation from a Ru₂Zn to a Ru₂Fe triangle had been established through an in situ site to site procedure at room temperature.
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Target-protected dumbbell molecular probe mediated cascade rolling circle amplification strategy for the sensitive assay of DNA methyltransferase activity

Chem. Commun., 2016, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/C5CC09147K, Communication

Haiyan Zhao, Lei Wang, Wei Jiang
A novel fluorescence detection system is developed for DNA methyltransferase activity assay based on target-protected dumbbell molecular probe mediated cascade rolling circle amplification strategy.
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The synergistic effect of a well-defined Au@Pt core-shell nanostructure toward photocatalytic hydrogen generation: interface engineering to improve the Schottky barrier and hydrogen-evolved kinetics

Chem. Commun., 2016, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/C5CC08547K, Communication

Sung-Fu Hung, Ya-Chu Yu, Nian-Tzu Suen, Guan-Quan Tzeng, Ching-Wei Tung, Ying-Ya Hsu, Chia-Shuo Hsu, Chung-Kai Chang, Ting-Shan Chan, Hwo-Shuenn Sheu, Jyh-Fu Lee, Hao Ming Chen
A well-defined co-catalyst system TiO₂ nanotube-Au (core)-Pt (shell) was demonstrated to be the combination of the localized surface plasmon effect of gold and excellent proton reduction nature of platinum.
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A photoelectrochemical methanol fuel cell based on aligned TiO2 nanorods decorated graphene photoanode

Chem. Commun., 2016, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/C5CC09929C, Communication

Xinyuan Li, Guowen Wang, Lin Jing, Wei Ni, Huan Yan, Chao Chen, Yi-Ming Yan
We report the photoelectrochemical (PEC) oxidation of methanol on a rationally designed graphene-TiO₂ nanorod array (G-TNR) photoanode.
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Relationship of cumulative dust exposure dose and cumulative abnormal rate of pulmonary function in coal mixture workers

Publication date: Available online 6 January 2016
Source:The Kaohsiung Journal of Medical Sciences
Author(s): Qing-Zeng Qian, Xiang-Ke Cao, Qing-Qiang Qian, Fu-Hai Shen, Qian Wang, Hai-Yan Liu, Jun-Wang Tong
To investigate the dose-response relationship between cumulative dust exposure (CDE) and cumulative abnormal rate of pulmonary function in coal mixture workers. Three hundred and twenty eight coal mixture workers (exposed group) and 169 nondust-exposed workers (control group) were recruited. Basic information data were collected and pulmonary function tests were performed. Pulmonary function was compared between the two groups after comparing smoking behaviors. Pulmonary function indices [forced vital capacity in 1 second after full inspiration (FVC)%, forced expiratory volume (FEV)1%, and FEV1/FVC%] were compared among groups stratified by service length (exposure duration). The relationship between CDE dose and cumulative abnormal rate of pulmonary function in coal mixture workers was analyzed. Abnormal rate of pulmonary function in the exposed group (35.1%) was significantly higher than the control group (10.1%; p < 0.001); FVC%, FEV1%, and FEV1/FVC% in the exposed group decreased significantly compared with the control group (all p < 0.05). Differences in FVC%, FEV1%, and FEV1/FVC% among coal mixture workers stratified by exposure duration in the exposed group were statistically significant (all p < 0.05). The discernible increase in the cumulative abnormal rate was observed, from ≥ 1000 mg/m³·years group to ≥ 1700 mg/m³·years group. Correlation analysis revealed a positive correlation between the CDE dose and the cumulative abnormal rate of pulmonary function. Higher abnormal pulmonary function rate was found among coal mixture workers, characterized by decreased pulmonary function indices. Our results suggested a positive relationship between CDE dose and cumulative abnormal pulmonary function rate, and a rapid increase in cumulative abnormal rate within a certain range of CDE dose. A lower limit value of 1000 mg/m³·years has reference significance.



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Planning of undefined becoming: from poststructuralism towards actor-relational opportunities

From the 1980s onwards, and due to the ongoing complexity and diffuseness in global networked societies, planners have tried to move beyond classic technocratic and/or sociocratic ideas on planning towards new approaches, dealing with the multiplicities and fuzziness of time and space. Innovative ideas have been developed with regard to discursive, collaborative, informal and post-policy planning, as well as with relational geography, multi-planar, non-linear and actor-relational approaches, and other positions. Nonetheless techno- and sociocratic approaches remain dominant conceptions in much practice and teaching in Europe and elsewhere. This could very well be due to the fact that these innovative contributions of the past two or three decennia have been fragmented and isolated. However these contributions could also be regarded as a bigger transition towards what we call a movement of 'planning of undefined becoming'. Therefore in this paper we will sketch a frame from which these innovative ideas on space and time are in some way interrelated to each other too. From these backgrounds we will also critically reflect on some planning experiments in practice, which have been inspired by these ideas, reciprocally and incrementally, developing practitioners work along the way. Referring to these reflections, we will conclude with some recommendations for further co-evolutionary research in congruence with upcoming planning practices of becoming.

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Decision support tool on investments in life safety based on sampling theory

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Behaviour of dynamically loaded self-compacting concrete compared to vibrated concrete

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Edge strength model for structural glass based on the mirror zone depth

A reliable assessment of the edge strength becomes an important issue when designing structural glass elements in buildings. However, in the literature the edge strength of glass, dependent on the edge quality, is not well documented. Therefore, in this study an edge strength model was established and validated for commonly used edge finishings, namely ground, arrissed and cut. After testing at a high stress rate, the fracture mirror zone depth and the flaw depth were measured. For every edge finishing a reliable ratio between the fracture mirror zone depth and the initial flaw depth was found. A strength model based on the measurement of the mirror zone depth was established and validated, as the measurement of the mirror zone is much easier than the measurement of the flaw depth. Also, the mirror zone depth is independent of the loading rate and can be useful for forensic engineering.

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Distribution and antimicrobial resistance pattern of equine uterine bacterial isolates

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The African Union System of Refugee Protection: A Champion not a Recipient?

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Large diameter shafts for underground infrastructure

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Identification of factors associated with the gestational length in horses

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Effect of limestone fillers on microstructure and permeability due to carbonation of cement pastes under controlled CO2 pressure conditions

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In the eye of the beholder: a qualitative study of mutual obligations and areas of ambiguity in the Hospital-physician relationship

Hospitals and physicians have been working together for years in providing specialized health services. However, Hospital-Physician Relationships are considered lukewarm at best. We build on psychological contract theory to develop an in-depth understanding of how physicians (N=15) and hospital executives (N=15) in Belgium experience and interpret obligations in their working relationship. Our analysis yielded a rich understanding of mutual obligations and areas of ambiguity. Two major themes emerged from the analysis. A distinction should be made between administrative obligations (adequate support and responsive decision making) and professional obligations (clinical excellence and physician autonomy). Two areas of ambiguity could be identified reflecting both dimensions. An economic trade-off exists in the day-to-day interaction and therefore views on how the way care should be organized differ. In addition, the extent to which medical decisions should take into account the corresponding impact on hospital finance varies.

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Prevalence, structure and correlates of anxiety-depression in boys with an autism spectrum disorder

Publication date: February–March 2016
Source:Research in Developmental Disabilities, Volumes 49–50
Author(s): Vicki Bitsika, Christopher F. Sharpley, Nicholas M. Andronicos, Linda L. Agnew
BackgroundComorbidity of anxiety and depression predicts impaired treatment outcomes, poor quality of life and increased suicide risk. No study has reported on a combined measure of anxiety-depression in boys with an Autism Spectrum Disorder.AimsTo explore the prevalence, underlying factor structure and relationships between anxiety-depression, physiological stress and symptoms of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).Methods150 boys (aged 6–18 years; IQ M=94.9, range=73–132) with an ASD plus their parents (135 mothers, 15 fathers) completed scales about the boys' anxiety and depression, and the boys provided samples of their saliva in the morning and afternoon. Parents also completed the ASD Behaviour Checklist about the boys' ASD symptoms.ResultsThe two sources of ratings were not significantly different for prevalence of anxiety-depression but the factor structures varied between the parents' and boys' responses, with a four-factor solution for the boys' ratings and a three-factor solution for the parents' ratings. There were also differences in the correlations between cortisol and anxiety-depression and between ASD symptoms and anxiety depression across the boys' and parents' data.ConclusionsAssessment of anxiety and depression comorbidity from parents and from children with an ASD themselves could provide a valuable adjunct datum when diagnosing ASD.



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Chronic hepatitis B infection is not associated with increased risk of vascular mortality while having an association with metabolic syndrome

Abstract

This study aimed to assess the association of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) with vascular mortality and metabolic syndrome (MS) using data from a large population-based cohort study in Iran.

A total of 12,781 participants (2249 treatment-naïve CHB and 10,532 without CHB) were studied. Logistic regression model was used to assess the association between MS and CHB with adjustment for age, ALT, PLT, alcohol intake, smoking, exercise, and socioeconomic status. MS was defined according to the ATPIII guidelines. Cox proportional hazards model was used to assess the hazard ratios for overall and vascular related mortality.

There was a significant association between CHB infection and overall mortality (hazard ratio (95% CI) of 1.44 (1.16–1.79), P < 0.001) after adjusting for other confounders. However, we found no association between CHB infection and mortality from vascular events (hazard ratio (95% CI) of 1.31 (0.93–1.84), P = 0.124) even after subgroup analysis by ALT. Furthermore, increased risk of overall mortality in CHB infected individuals was not related to MS and vice versa (P for interaction = 0.06).

We noted a significant direct association between CHB infection and MS in women (OR (95% CI); 1.23 (1.07-1.42), P< 0.004). However, CHB was inversely associated with MS in men (OR (95%CI), 0.85 (0.79-0.99). This gender dependent association was related to high BP levels in women.

In this study no association between CHB infection and mortality from vascular events was found. Further longitudinal studies should be done to investigate the exact impact of HBV infection on metabolic parameters and vascular pathology. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved

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Occult hepatitis C virus infection among Egyptian hemodialysis patients

Abstract

Background

Occult Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) infection (OCI) was reported in an apparently disease-free state in the absence of liver disease, anti-HCV and HCV-RNA in the serum. The existing data examining the clinical significance of OCI and its potential as a source of HCV infection among hemodialysis patients are very limited. We examined the presence of OCI among patients on maintenance hemodialysis at Minia Governorate, Egypt; an HCV endemic country.

Methods

A total of 81 subjects with negative markers for HCV were enrolled. HCV-RNA was tested in PBMCs by real-time PCR.

Results

For the 81 subjects, the average dialysis duration was 32.7 ± 21.7 months and the average ALT level (± SD) was 26 ± 12 U/L while that of AST was 29 ± 16 U/L. Out of the 81 subjects, three (3.7%) were HCV-RNA positive in PBMCs in the absence of serum anti-HCV and HCV-RNA indicating OCI. The viral load of the OCI subjects ranged from 172 to 4150 IU/ml. History of liver disease was positive in one of the three positive patients.

Conclusion

These results highlight the potential risk of HCV transmission from patients within hemodialysis units in Egypt. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved

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Seroprevalence of hepatitis E virus infection among dogs in several developed cities in the Guangdong province of China

Abstract

HEV, as a zoonotic disease virus, was seldom studied in dogs especially in stray dogs. As previously reported, dog might be an accidental host of HEV for human beings and some risk factors might play an important role in HEV transmission. Thus, we designed this study to evaluate the seroprevalence of HEV infection among dogs in several cities in Guangdong province of China. This surveillance may help us understand risk factors including location, gender, live type and diet habit for HEV transmission. The overall seroprevalence of anti-HEV antibodies in dogs was 19.00%. Positive rate of anti-HEV antibodies in other food groups (21.13%) was higher than that in dog food groups (9.77%) (p < 0.05), which suggested that diet habit might be a vital element of infecting HEV for dogs and play an important role in living environment. However, the analysis indicated that no strong relationship was observed among different cities, gender groups and live type. Our study demonstrated that HEV is prevalent in dogs in the Guangdong province of China. As diet habit might become a vital element of infecting HEV for dogs and play an important role in living environment, similar studies of dogs should be conducted in the future. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved

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The effects of thoracic load carriage on maximal ambulatory work tolerance and acceptable work durations

Abstract

Purpose

Torso loads restrict chest-wall movement and ventilation, particularly during heavy exercise. Therefore, the differential impact of load carriage and chest-wall restriction was investigated during progressive treadmill exercise. In addition, acceptable work durations were derived across a wide range of submaximal, loaded exercise intensities.

Methods

Twelve males participated in two research phases. Phase 1: Three incremental treadmill tests until exhaustion [control (clothing only), load carriage (clothing plus 22-kg vest), and clothing with chest strapping]. Phase 2: Five steady-state exercise trials (clothing plus 22-kg vest) at intensities from 30 to 80 % of peak aerobic power to determine maximal acceptable work durations.

Results

Maximal work tolerance [control 17.21 min (±0.93); loaded 13.44 min (±0.68); strapped 17.00 min (±0.83)] and the mass-specific peak aerobic power [control 61.61 mL kg⁻¹ min⁻¹ (±2.28); loaded 45.42 mL kg⁻¹ min⁻¹ (±1.41); strapped 59.99 mL kg⁻¹ min⁻¹ (±1.61)] were reduced only when loaded (P < 0.05). Peak minute ventilation was retained, although loading and chest strapping reduced the breathing reserve. The lower and upper acceptable work duration derivations when working at the 30 % intensity were 133.40 min (±23.77) and 220.10 min (±48.69), but at 80 % intensity, both durations were reduced to <7 min.

Conclusion

Thoracic loading significantly reduced exercise tolerance and the breathing reserve, but did not modify peak minute ventilation or the absolute peak aerobic power. Chest strapping, as used herein, exerted minimal impact. However, the projected maximal acceptable work durations were much less than derived using previously published methods.

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HYbriD Resonant Acoustics (HYDRA)

The existence of what is termed here as a surface-reflected bulk wave is unraveled and elucidated, and it is shown, quite counterintuitively, that it is possible to obtain an order-of-magnitude improvement in microfluidic manipulation efficiency, and, in particular, nebulization, through a unique combination of surface and bulk waves without increasing complexity or cost.

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Browsing the Real World using Organic Electronics, Si-Chips, and a Human Touch

Organic electronics have been developed according to an orthodox doctrine advocating "all-printed'', "all-organic'' and "ultra-low-cost'' primarily targeting various e-paper applications. In order to harvest from the great opportunities afforded with organic electronics potentially operating as communication and sensor outposts within existing and future complex communication infrastructures, high-quality computing and communication protocols must be integrated with the organic electronics. Here, we debate and scrutinize the twinning of the signal-processing capability of traditional integrated silicon chips with organic electronics and sensors, and to use our body as a natural local network with our bare hand as the browser of the physical world. The resulting platform provides a body network, i.e., a personalized web, composed of e-label sensors, bioelectronics, and mobile devices that together make it possible to monitor and record both our ambience and health-status parameters, supported by the ubiquitous mobile network and the resources of the "cloud".

The twinning of the signal-processing capability of traditional integrated silicon chips with printed organic electronics and sensors is debated and scrutinized, and the use of the human body as a natural local network with the bare hands as the browser of the physical world is discussed.

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Helicenes—A New Class of Organic Spin Filter

Chiral helicene, a fully conjugated system without stereogenic carbon, can filter spins effectively at room temperature, a consequence of the chiral-induced spin-selectivity effect. The chirality dictates the spin of the electrons transferred through helicene and magnetoresistance devices based on these molecules show antisymmetric magnetoresistance versus H plots.

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Large Pore-Sized Hollow Mesoporous Organosilica for Redox-Responsive Gene Delivery and Synergistic Cancer Chemotherapy

A stability difference-selective bond breakage strategy for the fabrication of large pore-sized hollow mesoporous ­organosilica nanoparticles (HMONs) is successfully developed. Moreover, surface-functionalized HMONs are successfully constructed to simultaneously deliver P-gp modulator siRNA and anticancer drugs doxorubicin to reverse the multidrug resistance of ­cancer cells.

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Editorial board (must start on Right-hand page - remove text)

Publication date: January–February 2016
Source:Reports of Practical Oncology & Radiotherapy, Volume 21, Issue 1





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Corrigendum: Control of Sleep by Dopaminergic Inputs to the Drosophila Mushroom Body.

Corrigendum: Control of Sleep by Dopaminergic Inputs to the Drosophila Mushroom Body.

Front Neural Circuits. 2015;9:84

Authors: Sitaraman D, Aso Y, Rubin GM, Nitabach MN

Abstract
[This corrects the article on p. 73 in vol. 9, PMID: 26617493.].

PMID: 26733821 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

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Attention Decreases Phase-Amplitude Coupling, Enhancing Stimulus Discriminability in Cortical Area MT.

Attention Decreases Phase-Amplitude Coupling, Enhancing Stimulus Discriminability in Cortical Area MT.

Front Neural Circuits. 2015;9:82

Authors: Esghaei M, Daliri MR, Treue S

Abstract
Local field potentials (LFPs) in cortex reflect synchronous fluctuations in the synaptic activity of local populations of neurons. The power of high frequency (>30 Hz) oscillations in LFPs is locked to the phase of low frequency (<30 Hz) oscillations, an effect known as phase-amplitude coupling (PAC). While PAC has been observed in a variety of cortical regions and animal models, its functional role particularly in primate visual cortex is largely unknown. Here, we document PAC for LFPs recorded from extra-striate area MT of macaque monkeys, an area specialized for the processing of visual motion. We further show that directing spatial attention into the receptive field of MT neurons decreases the coupling between the low frequency phase and high frequency power of LFPs. This attentional suppression of PAC increases neuronal discriminability for attended visual stimuli. Therefore, we hypothesize that visual cortex uses PAC to regulate inter-neuronal correlations and thereby enhances the coding of relevant stimuli.

PMID: 26733820 [PubMed - in process]

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Optogenetic Stimulation of Lateral Amygdala Input to Posterior Piriform Cortex Modulates Single-Unit and Ensemble Odor Processing.

Optogenetic Stimulation of Lateral Amygdala Input to Posterior Piriform Cortex Modulates Single-Unit and Ensemble Odor Processing.

Front Neural Circuits. 2015;9:81

Authors: Sadrian B, Wilson DA

Abstract
Olfactory information is synthesized within the olfactory cortex to provide not only an odor percept, but also a contextual significance that supports appropriate behavioral response to specific odor cues. The piriform cortex serves as a communication hub within this circuit by sharing reciprocal connectivity with higher processing regions, such as the lateral entorhinal cortex and amygdala. The functional significance of these descending inputs on piriform cortical processing of odorants is currently not well understood. We have employed optogenetic methods to selectively stimulate lateral and basolateral amygdala (BLA) afferent fibers innervating the posterior piriform cortex (pPCX) to quantify BLA modulation of pPCX odor-evoked activity. Single unit odor-evoked activity of anesthetized BLA-infected animals was significantly modulated compared with control animal recordings, with individual cells displaying either enhancement or suppression of odor-driven spiking. In addition, BLA activation induced a decorrelation of odor-evoked pPCX ensemble activity relative to odor alone. Together these results indicate a modulatory role in pPCX odor processing for the BLA complex. This interaction could contribute to learned changes in PCX activity following associative conditioning, as well as support alternate patterns of odor processing that are state-dependent.

PMID: 26733819 [PubMed - in process]

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Corticothalamic Synaptic Noise as a Mechanism for Selective Attention in Thalamic Neurons.

Corticothalamic Synaptic Noise as a Mechanism for Selective Attention in Thalamic Neurons.

Front Neural Circuits. 2015;9:80

Authors: Béhuret S, Deleuze C, Bal T

Abstract
A reason why the thalamus is more than a passive gateway for sensory signals is that two-third of the synapses of thalamocortical neurons are directly or indirectly related to the activity of corticothalamic axons. While the responses of thalamocortical neurons evoked by sensory stimuli are well characterized, with ON- and OFF-center receptive field structures, the prevalence of synaptic noise resulting from neocortical feedback in intracellularly recorded thalamocortical neurons in vivo has attracted little attention. However, in vitro and modeling experiments point to its critical role for the integration of sensory signals. Here we combine our recent findings in a unified framework suggesting the hypothesis that corticothalamic synaptic activity is adapted to modulate the transfer efficiency of thalamocortical neurons during selective attention at three different levels: First, on ionic channels by interacting with intrinsic membrane properties, second at the neuron level by impacting on the input-output gain, and third even more effectively at the cell assembly level by boosting the information transfer of sensory features encoded in thalamic subnetworks. This top-down population control is achieved by tuning the correlations in subthreshold membrane potential fluctuations and is adapted to modulate the transfer of sensory features encoded by assemblies of thalamocortical relay neurons. We thus propose that cortically-controlled (de-)correlation of subthreshold noise is an efficient and swift dynamic mechanism for selective attention in the thalamus.

PMID: 26733818 [PubMed - in process]

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Anomalous Experiences, Trauma, and Symbolization Processes at the Frontiers between Psychoanalysis and Cognitive Neurosciences.

Anomalous Experiences, Trauma, and Symbolization Processes at the Frontiers between Psychoanalysis and Cognitive Neurosciences.

Front Psychol. 2015;6:1926

Authors: Rabeyron T, Loose T

Abstract
Anomalous or exceptional experiences are uncommon experiences which are usually interpreted as being paranormal by those who report them. These experiences have long remained difficult to explain, but current progress in cognitive neuroscience and psychoanalysis sheds light on the contexts in which they emerge, as well as on their underlying processes. Following a brief description of the different types of anomalous experiences, we underline how they can be better understood at the frontiers between psychoanalysis and cognitive neurosciences. In this regard, three main lines of research are discussed and illustrated, alongside clinical cases which come from a clinical service specializing in anomalous experiences. First, we study the links between anomalous experiences and hallucinatory processes, by showing that anomalous experiences frequently occur as a specific reaction to negative life events, in which case they mainly take the form of non-pathological hallucinations. Next, we propose to analyze these experiences from the perspective of their traumatic aspects and the altered states of consciousness they often imply. Finally, these experiences are considered to be the consequence of a hypersensitivity that can be linked to an increase in psychic permeability. In conclusion, these different processes lead us to consider anomalous experiences as primary forms of symbolization and transformation of the subjective experience, especially during, or after traumatic situations.

PMID: 26732646 [PubMed]

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In vivo biofunctionalization of titanium patient-specific implants with nano hydroxyapatite and other nano calcium phosphate coatings: A systematic review

Publication date: Available online 7 January 2016
Source:Journal of Cranio-Maxillofacial Surgery
Author(s): Alexander Bral, Maurice Y. Mommaerts
ObjectiveTo delineate the best procedures for increasing osseointegration in cranio-maxillo-facial surgery using nano-sized calcium phosphate coatings on titanium patient specific implants.Materials and methodsA multi-database single-reviewer systematic literature review was conducted.ResultsTwenty-eight papers consisting of twenty-five animal studies and three human studies met the selection criteria. The results of existing literature suggest that titanium implants coated with nano calcium phosphate and hydroxyapatite improves osseointegration and implant fixation. However, not all coating techniques enhance biofunctionalization. Factors including implant microroughness, coating thickness, calcium phosphate solubility, and nanotopography contribute significantly to biofunctionalization. Nonetheless, additional data derived from clinical studies are needed to support this statement, as well as the possible influence of routine autoclaving procedures.



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Neoadjuvant endocrine therapy in breast cancer: current role and future perspectives

Romualdo Barroso-Sousa, Danilo Fonseca Reis Silva, Joao Victor Machado Alessi and Max Senna Mano

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