Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of MDMA-Induced Axotomy on the Dorsal Raphe Forebrain Tract in Rats: An In Vivo Manganese-Enhanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study

3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), also known as “Ecstasy”, is a common recreational drug of abuse. Several previous studies have attributed the central serotonergic neurotoxicity of MDMA to distal axotomy, since only fine serotonergic axons ascending from the raphe nucleus are lost without apparent damage to their cell bodies. However, this axotomy has never been visualized directly in vivo. The present study examined the axonal integrity of the efferent projections from the midbrain raphe nucleus after MDMA exposure using in vivo manganese-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MEMRI). Rats were injected subcutaneously six times with MDMA (5 mg/kg) or saline once daily. Eight days after the last injection, manganese ions (Mn2+) were injected stereotactically into the raphe nucleus, and a series of MEMRI images was acquired over a period of 38 h to monitor the evolution of Mn2+-induced signal enhancement across the ventral tegmental area, the medial forebrain bundle (MFB), and the striatum. The MDMA-induced loss of serotonin transporters was clearly evidenced by immunohistological staining consistent with the Mn2+-induced signal enhancement observed across the MFB and striatum. MEMRI successfully revealed the disruption of the serotonergic raphe-striatal projections and the variable effect of MDMA on the kinetics of Mn2+ accumulation in the MFB and striatum.
SAQs as a Socio-Political Programme: Some Challenges and Opportunities

In this article I argue for the role that approaches such as Socially Acute Questions (SAQs) can play in confronting the STEM discourse in the curriculum. For SAQs and similar approaches to be effective in enacting issues of social justice educators need to take account of local political contexts, the ethical and political assumptions which underpin values appertaining to social justice, such as concepts of communalism and libertarianism, and democratic practise in the school classroom where the students become co-enquirers in generating knowledge which aims to improve material realities. This is not a straightforward but one that demands reflection and critique throughout the process.
Study and Design Optimization of Multiharmonic Transmission-Line Load Networks for Class-E and Class-F  $K$-Band MMIC Power Amplifiers

A design-oriented analysis of microwave transmission-line class-E and class-F amplifiers is presented in this paper. Multiharmonic transmission-line load networks are analyzed and compared in terms of harmonic suppression and their effects on output power and efficiency. Based on this study, a design of highly efficient monolithic-microwave integrated-circuit amplifiers has been carried out. To allow circuit optimization and to simplify the design process, analytic expressions were derived for the most practical multiharmonic transmission-line networks. Fabricated amplifiers achieve state-of-the-art efficiency of 56.2% and 59.0% for class-E and class-F operation at K-band for power levels of 19.1 and 20.0 dBm, respectively. Moreover, without the need for supplementary filtering sections, harmonic suppression for operation well into compression is better than -25 and -30 dBc for the transmission-line class-F and class-E amplifiers, respectively.
Transformational leadership and turnover intention: the mediating effects of right speech (Samma Vaca) and trust in the leader

ABSTRACT The Right Speech Scale was developed in the Buddhist Noble Eightfold Path framework and used to assess the relationships among transformational leadership, right speech, trust in the leader, and turnover intention. Transformational leadership was defined as the process by which followers are inspired to accomplish more than originally expected; right speech as abstention from lying, speaking maliciously of others, using bad words, and engaging in idle talk; trust in the leaders as subordinates’ belief and trust in their managers; and turnover intention as the thought of leaving the job and the organization. In a study conducted among 164 bank employees in Bangkok, Thailand, right speech and trust in the leader mediated the effects of transformational leadership to reduce turnover intention. The results of the study support the Buddhist laws of karma stating that good deeds return good results and indicate the need for organizational leaders to practice right speech.
Social Comparisons, Social Support, and Self-Perceptions in Group Exercise for People With Parkinson's Disease

People with Parkinson's disease (PD) may experience declining function and limited interaction with others with PD. Group exercise provides opportunities for physical accomplishment and social support, as well as potential social challenges. We used interpretative phenomenological analysis to examine experiences of social comparison, social support, and self-perceptions of 20 people with PD in group exercise. Participants experienced (a) reticence evolving to inspiration, (b) anxiety relief through camaraderie and breaking taboos, and (c) maintaining athletic identity through participating and helping others. Practical implications include facilitating a safe space and support to alleviate anxiety and sustain participation.
Salt Tolerance in Two Rice Cultivars Differing Salt Tolerant Abilities in Responses to Iso-osmotic Stress

The aim of this investigation was to study on the salt tolerant ability of Thai jasmine (KDML105) salt sensitive and Homjan (HJ) salt tolerant cultivars grown under iso-osmotic stresses. Growth, ion contents, relative electrolyte leakage (REL), photosynthetic pigments and net photosynthetic rate (Pn) in iso-osmotic stressed seedlings were collected. Growth characters including shoot height, fresh weight, dry weight and leaf area of salt-stressed rice seedlings were inhibited, depending on NaCl concentrations and rice genotypes. Sodium ion (Na + ) in salt-stressed tissues was rapidly accumulated, especially in KDML105, while potassium ion (K + ) was quickly decreased. Na:K ratio and proline content in salt-stressed leaves were increased, relating to salt concentrations. The Na + accumulation in the salt stressed seedlings was positively related to osmolarity, causing to membrane injury or high REL with pigment degradation. The degradation of total chlorophyll (TC) and total carotenoids (C x+c ) in salt-stressed seedlings grown under osmotic stresses were positively correlated with Pn, leading to growth retardation. The salt tolerant mechanisms in HJ salt tolerance should be further investigated as well as utilized as parental line for salt-tolerant breeding program.
Lightweight map matching for indoor localisation using conditional random fields

Indoor tracking and navigation is a fundamental need for pervasive and context-aware smartphone applications. Although indoor maps are becoming increasingly available, there is no practical and reliable indoor map matching solution available at present. We present MapCraft, a novel, robust and responsive technique that is extremely computationally efficient (running in under 10 ms on an Android smartphone), does not require training in different sites, and tracks well even when presented with very noisy sensor data. Key to our approach is expressing the tracking problem as a conditional random field (CRF), a technique which has had great success in areas such as natural language processing, but has yet to be considered for indoor tracking. Unlike directed graphical models like Hidden Markov Models, CRFs capture arbitrary constraints that express how well observations support state transitions, given map constraints. Extensive experiments in multiple sites show how MapCraft outperforms state-of-the art approaches, demonstrating excellent tracking error and accurate reconstruction of tortuous trajectories with zero training effort. As proof of its robustness, we also demonstrate how it is able to accurately track the position of a user from accelerometer and magnetometer measurements only (i.e. gyro- and WiFi-free). We believe that such an energy-efficient approach will enable always-on background localisation, enabling a new era of location-aware applications to be developed.
Seeking Alpha: Excess Risk Taking and Competition for Managerial Talent

We present a model where firms compete for scarce managerial talent ("alpha") and managers are risk-averse. When managers cannot move across firms after being hired, employers learn about their talent, allocate them efficiently to projects and provide insurance to low-quality managers. When instead managers can move across firms, firm-level coinsurance is no longer feasible, but managers may self-insure by switching employer to delay the revelation of their true quality. However this results in inefficient project assignment, with low- quality managers handling projects that are too risky for them. (JEL D62,G32, G38, J33)
Kilo-Second Quasi-Periodic Oscillations in the Cataclysmic Variable DW Cancri

Our photometric monitoring revealed that DW Cnc, which was originally classified as a dwarf nova (V = 15–17.5), remained at a bright state of Rc =1 4.68 ± 0.07 for 61days. In conjunction with optical spectra lacking a strong He II emission line, we propose that the object is not a dwarf nova, but a non-magnetic nova-like variable. Throughout our monitoring, the object showed strong quasi-periodic oscillations (QPOs) with amplitudes reaching about 0.3mag. Our period analysis yielded a power spectrum with two peaks of QPOs, whose center periods are 37.5 ±0.1 and 73.4 ±0.4min and, furthermore, with a significant power in frequencies lower than the QPOs. DW Cnc is a unique cataclysmic variable in which kilo-second QPOs were continuously detected for 61days. We propose two possible interpretations of DW Cnc: (i) A permanent superhumper below the period minimum of hydrogen-rich cataclysmic variables. (ii) A nova-like variable having an orbital period over 3hours. In this case, the QPOs may be caused by trapped disk oscillations.
Sources and Propagation Mechanims of Foreign Disturbances in Small Open Economies: A Dynamic Factor Analysis

This paper uses dynamic factor analysis to investigate the sources of foreign shocks and the propagation mechanism of these disturbances into two small open economies, Australia and Canada. Panels including a variety of foreign and domestic series for each country are used to estimate the factors. The specification of dynamics permits the computation of impulse responses which are used to suggest a structural interpretation of the factors. A small open economy model of the New Open Economy Macroeconomics is calibrated to contrast theoretical and empirical impulse responses. The results reveal that innovations in highly integrated equity markets are associated with comovements in investment which are crucial in explaining the cofluctuations in economic activity across countries. Therefore, the omission of traded capital goods in small open economy models represents an important shortcoming of theoretical frameworks in the literature
EEG Source Reconstruction Reveals Frontal-Parietal Dynamics of Spatial Conflict Processing

Cognitive control requires the suppression of distracting information in order to focus on task-relevant information. We applied EEG source reconstruction via time-frequency linear constrained minimum variance beamforming to help elucidate the neural mechanisms involved in spatial conflict processing. Human subjects performed a Simon task, in which conflict was induced by incongruence between spatial location and response hand. We found an early (∼200 ms post-stimulus) conflict modulation in stimulus-contralateral parietal gamma (30–50 Hz), followed by a later alpha-band (8–12 Hz) conflict modulation, suggesting an early detection of spatial conflict and inhibition of spatial location processing. Inter-regional connectivity analyses assessed via cross-frequency coupling of theta (4–8 Hz), alpha, and gamma power revealed conflict-induced shifts in cortical network interactions: Congruent trials (relative to incongruent trials) had stronger coupling between frontal theta and stimulus-contrahemifield parietal alpha/gamma power, whereas incongruent trials had increased theta coupling between medial frontal and lateral frontal regions. These findings shed new light into the large-scale network dynamics of spatial conflict processing, and how those networks are shaped by oscillatory interactions.
The score-distributional threshold optimization for adaptive binary classification tasks

The thresholding of document scores has proved critical for the effectiveness of classification tasks. We review the most important approaches to thresholding, and introduce thescore-distributional (S-D) threshold optimizationmethod. The method is based on score distributions and is capable of optimizing any effectiveness measure defined in terms of the traditional contingency table. As a byproduct, we provide a model forscore distributions, and demonstrate its high accuracy in describing empirical data. The estimation method can be performed incrementally, a highly desirable feature for adaptive environments. Our work in modeling score distributions is useful beyond threshold optimization problems. It directly applies to other retrieval environments that make use of score distributions,e.g., distributed retrieval, or topic detection and tracking. The most accurate version of S-D thresholding --- although incremental --- can be computationally heavy. Therefore, we also investigate more practical solutions. We suggest practical approximations and discuss adaptivity, threshold initialization, and incrementality issues. The practical version of S-D thresholding has been tested in the context of the TREC-9 Filtering Track and found to be very effective [2].
Identification of Wnt/β-catenin modulated genes in the developing retina

Purpose During mammalian eye development, the restriction of Wnt/β-catenin signaling at the junction of the neural retina and the retinal pigment epithelium in the peripheral eyecup is required for the development of the ciliary margin, a non-neural region of the eyecup that is the precursor of the ciliary body and iris of the adult eye. Methods To identify genes that are modulated by β-catenin activity in the embryonic retina, we performed gene expression profiling in Li+-treated retinal explants, a pharmacological model of β-catenin activation. The Li+-modulated gene data set was searched for β-catenin/T-cell specific transcription factor binding sites. Results Functional annotations of this data set revealed significant enrichments for genes involved in chromatin organization, neurogenesis, and cell motion/migration. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT–PCR) analysis confirmed the modulation of 12 genes in Li+-treated explants and retinas of mice with Cre-mediated induction of constitutively active β-catenin (β-catact). In situ hybridization revealed β-catenin-specific upregulation of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 1A (P21) [Cdkn1a] and tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily, member 19 (Tnfrsf19) in the developing retina consistent with the antineurogenic and proliferation changes associated with ectopic Wnt/β-catenin signaling in the eyecup. Conclusions This data set of Li+-modulated genes provides a valuable resource for characterizing the Wnt/ β-catenin regulated gene network in eyecup patterning.
Factors affecting consumers’ “Webad” visits

Attracting consumers to a marketer Web site is critical to the effectiveness of a Web presence, and longer visits are a possible measure of success of these Web sites. Since marketers are interested in consumers’ longer visits at their Web sites, it becomes important to examine the factors that influence visits. The present study uses an empirical approach to determine the factors that affect individual exposure to material at Web sites created with a commercial intent.
Effective mass theorems for nonlinear Schroedinger equations

We consider time-dependent nonlinear Schroedinger equations subject to smooth, lattice-periodic potentials plus additional confining potentials, slowly varying on the lattice scale. After an appropriate scaling we study the homogenization limit for vanishing lattice spacing. Assuming well prepared initial data, the resulting effective dynamics is governed by a homogenized nonlinear Schroedinger equation with an effective mass tensor depending on the initially chosen Bloch eigenvalue. The given results rigorously justify the use of the effective mass formalism for the description of Bose-Einstein condensates on optical lattices.
Modeled tunnel currents for high dielectric constant dielectrics

The effect of dielectric constant and barrier height on the WKB modeled tunnel currents of MOS capacitors with effective oxide thickness of 2.0 nm is described. We first present the WKB numerical model used to determine the tunneling currents. The results of this model indicate that alternative dielectrics with higher dielectric constants show lower tunneling currents than SiO/sub 2/ at expected operating voltages. The results of SiO/sub 2//alternative dielectric stacks indicate currents which are asymmetric with electric field direction. The tunneling current of these stacks at low biases decreases with decreasing SiO/sub 2/ thickness. Furthermore, as the dielectric constant of an insulator increased, the effect of a thin layer of SiO/sub 2/ on the current characteristics of the dielectric stack increases.
Social encouragement can influence manual preference in 6 month-old-infants

The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of social encouragement on infants’ hand movements, in particular on manual preference. Thirty-six infants were observed at 5.5 months. In a first step, their spontaneous manual preference was recorded with an object placed at the midline position. The second step consisted in encouraging infants to use their non-preferred hand by putting the object near that hand and congratulating them. The third step was similar to the first one (object placed at the midline position) except that the infant continued to be congratulated when (s)he used the non-preferred hand for reaching the object. Results showed that half of the infants exhibited a spontaneous manual preference and that a majority of these infants could use their non-preferred hand when verbally encouraged. Moreover, infants showing a left hand preference modified their hand-use more easily than infants showing a right hand preference. Although our findings reveal only a temporary and short-term influence of the social context, results are discussed in light of a socio-cognitive perspective whereby social encouragement can model manual preference, in particular its strength and stability. Highlights • At 5.5 months, a manual preference was observed in 47.2% of the infants. • The preference for the left hand was observed in 35.3% of the infants who presented a manual preference. • Left-handers change more easily their hand-use than right handers.
The VRI colours of H ii galaxies

We present a high spatial resolution CCD surface photometry study in the optical V, R and I broadband filters of a sample of 15 HII galaxies. The colours of the starburst continuum and of the underlying galaxy are measured. The distribution of colours of the underlying galaxy in HII galaxies is similar to the colours of other late type low surface brightness galaxies which suggests a close kinship of these with the quiescent phases of HII galaxies. However, comparison with recent evolutionary population synthesis models shows that the observational errors and the uncertainties in the models are still too large to put strict constraints on their past star formation history.
Type 2 diabetes mellitus and inflammation: Prospects for biomarkers of risk and nutritional intervention

Obesity is a major risk factor for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), which is a significant health problem worldwide. Active disease is associated with low-grade chronic inflammation resulting in part from the activation of the innate immune system. In obesity, this activation leads to the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1β and interleukin-6 that block major anabolic cascades downstream of insulin signaling and thus disrupt insulin homeostasis and action. Cytokines also trigger the production of acute-phase reactants such as C-reactive protein, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1, serum amyloid-A, and haptoglobin. The elevated synthesis of pro-inflammatory cytokines and acute-phase proteins (inflammatory network) characterizes the early (or pre-clinical) stages of T2DM and exhibits a graded increase with the disease progression. Current evidence suggests that understanding inflammatory networks can point to new biomarkers that may permit capturing the interaction between genetic and environmental risk factors in the pathogenesis of T2DM. Such biomarkers have a significant public health potential in the prediction of disease occurrence beyond risk factors presently monitored, such as family history, lifestyle assessment and standard clinical chemistry profiles. Furthermore, inflammatory markers may assist in the evaluation of novel strategies for prevention, particularly in relation to micronutrients. This review discusses the current knowledge linking T2DM risk to inflammatory signaling pathways interacting with the innate immunity system and the prospect of inflammatory markers serving as molecular targets for prevention and/or biomarkers for early risk prediction of T2DM. The potential of micronutrients replenishment to improve insulin action by attenuating inflammation is also evaluated in the context of the public health relevance of this approach.
Can information theory explain early word choice

ABSTRACT One problem of interest in child language study has been specifying what features of the speech situation determine what children will say. Several cognitively based approaches to child language development have proposed principles of ‘informativeness’ to explain the child's choice of word(s). These principles predict that the child will choose the ‘most informative’ element of a situation and encode it in speech. Detailed inspection of this view reveals that the notion of ‘informativeness’ is not rigorously denned as in information theory, and would require the development of formal semantic and pragmatic information theories. Simpler accounts of available data do not require the notion of ‘information’.
c(RGDyK)-decorated Pluronic micelles for enhanced doxorubicin and paclitaxel delivery to brain glioma

Brain glioma therapy is an important challenge in oncology. Here, doxorubicin (DOX) and paclitaxel (PTX)-loaded cyclic arginine-glycine-aspartic acid peptide (c(RGDyK))-decorated Pluronic micelles (cyclic arginine-glycine-aspartic acid peptide-decorated Pluronic micelles loaded with doxorubicin and paclitaxel [RGD-PF-DP]) were designed as a potential targeted delivery system to enhance blood–brain barrier penetration and improve drug accumulation via integrin-mediated transcytosis/endocytosis and based on integrin overexpression in blood–brain barrier and glioma cells. The physicochemical characterization of RGD-PF-DP revealed a satisfactory size of 28.5±0.12 nm with uniform distribution and core-shell structure. The transport rates across the in vitro blood–brain barrier model, cellular uptake, cytotoxicity, and apoptosis of U87 malignant glioblastoma cells of RGD-PF-DP were significantly greater than those of non-c(RGDyK)-decorated Pluronic micelles. In vivo fluorescence imaging demonstrated the specificity and efficacy of intracranial tumor accumulation of RGD-PF-DP. RGD-PF-DP displayed an extended median survival time of 39 days, with no serious body weight loss during the regimen. No acute toxicity to major organs was observed in mice receiving treatment doses via intravenous administration. In conclusion, RGD-PF-DP could be a promising vehicle for enhanced doxorubicin and paclitaxel delivery in patients with brain glioma.