Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Development of Novel 123I-Labeled Pyridyl Benzofuran Derivatives for SPECT Imaging of β-Amyloid Plaques in Alzheimer’s Disease

Imaging of β-amyloid (Aβ) plaques in the brain may facilitate the diagnosis of cerebral β-amyloidosis, risk prediction of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), and effectiveness of anti-amyloid therapies. The purpose of this study was to evaluate novel 123I-labeled pyridyl benzofuran derivatives as SPECT probes for Aβ imaging. The formation of a pyridyl benzofuran backbone was accomplished by Suzuki coupling. [123I/125I]-labeled pyridyl benzofuran derivatives were readily prepared by an iododestannylation reaction. In vitro Aβ binding assays were carried out using Aβ(1–42) aggregates and postmortem human brain sections. Biodistribution experiments were conducted in normal mice at 2, 10, 30, and 60 min postinjection. Aβ labeling in vivo was evaluated by small-animal SPECT/CT in Tg2576 transgenic mice injected with [123I]8. Ex vivo autoradiography of the brain sections was performed after SPECT/CT. Iodinated pyridyl benzofuran derivatives showed excellent affinity for Aβ(1–42) aggregates (2.4 to 10.3 nM) and intensely labeled Aβ plaques in autoradiographs of postmortem AD brain sections. In biodistribution experiments using normal mice, all these derivatives displayed high initial uptake (4.03–5.49% ID/g at 10 min). [125I]8 displayed the quickest clearance from the brain (1.30% ID/g at 60 min). SPECT/CT with [123I]8 revealed higher uptake of radioactivity in the Tg2576 mouse brain than the wild-type mouse brain. Ex vivo autoradiography showed in vivo binding of [123I]8 to Aβ plaques in the Tg2576 mouse brain. These combined results warrant further investigation of [123I]8 as a SPECT imaging agent for visualizing Aβ plaques in the AD brain.
Urbanization, Slums, and the Carbon Intensity of Well-being: Implications for Sustainable Development

Previous research in macro comparative environmental sociology analyzes both environmental and human well-being outcomes of urbanization. The carbon intensity of well-being (CIWB) concept simultaneously measures environmental and human well-being. Here I ask how various types of urbanization, an underexplored concept in the CIWB research, contributes differently to the CIWB of nations. Using longitudinal two-way fixed effects Prais-Winsten regression models for the years 1990–2011 for 78 countries, I find that level of development and urbanization are associated with higher CIWB, as are the percentage of urban populations with access to improved water and sanitation; conversely, urban slum prevalence is associated with lower CIWB. Comparing more versus less developed countries, I find the results are especially robust for lower-income countries. I also find that overall population access to water and sanitation is associated with lower CIWB. The findings suggest directions for sustainable development that take into account different forms of urbanization and both rural and urban population well-being.
Research friendly software repositories

What is the future of software evolution? In 1974, Meir M. Lehman had a vision of software evolution being driven by empirical studies of software repositories, and of a theory based on those empirical results. However, that scenario is yet to come. Software evolution studies are often based on a few cases, because the needed information is scarce, dispersed and incomplete. Their conclusions are not generalizable, slowing down the progress of this research discipline. Libre (free / open source) software supposes an opportunity to alleviate this situation. In this paper we describe the existing approaches to provide research datasets that are mining libre software repositories, and propose an agenda based on the concept of research friendly software repositories, which provides finer granularity and integrated data.
Respiratory muscle training with normocapnic hyperpnea improves ventilatory pattern and thoracoabdominal coordination, and reduces oxygen desaturation during endurance exercise testing in COPD patients

Background Few data are available about the effects of respiratory muscle training with normocapnic hyperpnea (NH) in COPD. The aim is to evaluate the effects of 4 weeks of NH (Spirotiger®) on ventilatory pattern, exercise capacity, and quality of life (QoL) in COPD patients. Methods Twenty-six COPD patients (three females), ages 49–82 years, were included in this study. Spirometry and maximal inspiratory pressure, St George Respiratory Questionnaire, 6-minute walk test, and symptom-limited endurance exercise test (endurance test to the limit of tolerance [tLim]) at 75%–80% of peak work rate up to a Borg Score of 8–9/10 were performed before and after NH. Patients were equipped with ambulatory inductive plethysmography (LifeShirt®) to evaluate ventilatory pattern and thoracoabdominal coordination (phase angle [PhA]) during tLim. After four supervised sessions, subjects trained at home for 4 weeks – 10 minutes twice a day at 50% of maximal voluntary ventilation. The workload was adjusted during the training period to maintain a Borg Score of 5–6/10. Results Twenty subjects completed the study. After NH, maximal inspiratory pressure significantly increased (81.5±31.6 vs 91.8±30.6 cmH2O, P<0.01); exercise endurance time (+150 seconds, P=0.04), 6-minute walk test (+30 meters, P=0.03), and QoL (−8, P<0.01) all increased. During tLim, the ventilatory pattern changed significantly (lower ventilation, lower respiratory rate, higher tidal volume); oxygen desaturation, PhA, and dyspnea Borg Score were lower for the same work intensity (P<0.01, P=0.02, and P<0.01, respectively; one-way ANOVA). The improvement in tidal volume and oxygen saturation after NH were significantly related (R2=0.65, P<0.01). Conclusion As expected, NH improves inspiratory muscle performance, exercise capacity, and QoL. New results are significant change in ventilatory pattern, which improves oxygen saturation, and an improvement in thoracoabdominal coordination (lower PhA). These two facts could explain the reduced dyspnea during the endurance test. All these results together may play a role in improving exercise capacity after NH training.
On the Magnitude of Dark Energy Voids and Overdensities

We investigate the clustering of dark energy within matter overdensities and voids. In particular, we derive an analytical expression for the dark energy density perturbations, which is valid in the linear, quasi-linear, and fully nonlinear regimes of structure formation. We also investigate the possibility of detecting such dark energy clustering through the integrated Sachs-Wolfe effect. In the case of uncoupled quintessence models, if the mass of the field is of order the Hubble scale today or smaller, dark energy fluctuations are always small compared to the matter density contrast. Even when the matter perturbations enter the nonlinear regime, the dark energy perturbations remain linear. We find that virialized clusters and voids correspond to local overdensities in dark energy, with δϕ/(1 + w) ∼ O(10−5) for voids, δϕ/(1 + w) ∼ O(10−4) for supervoids, and δϕ/(1 + w) ∼ O(10−5) for a typical virialized cluster. If voids with radii of 100-300 Mpc exist within the visible universe, then δϕ may be as large as 10−3(1 + w) . Linear overdensities of matter and superclusters generally correspond to local voids in dark energy; for a typical supercluster, δϕ/(1 + w) ∼ O(− 10−5) . The approach taken in this work could be straightforwardly extended to study the clustering of more general dark energy models.
Towards Robust Speech Recognition for Human-Robot Interaction

Robust speech recognition under noisy conditions like in human-robot interaction (HRI) in a natural environment often can only be achieved by relying on a headset and restricting the available set of utterances or the set of different speakers. Current automatic speech recognition (ASR) systems are commonly based on finite-state grammars (FSG) or statistical language models like Tri-grams, which achieve good recognition rates but have specific limitations such as a high rate of false positives or insufficient rates for the sentence accuracy. In this paper we present an investigation of comparing different forms of spoken human-robot interaction including a ceiling boundary microphone and microphones of the humanoid robot NAO with a headset. We describe and evaluate an ASR system using a multipass decoder – which combines the advantages of an FSG and a Tri-gram decoder – and show its usefulness in HRI.
ROBOTS AS SOCIAL ACTORS: AURORA AND THE CASE OF AUTISM

This paper discusses the role of predictability and control in robot-human interaction. This involves the central question whether humans are good models for synthetic (social) agents. Design issues based on cognitive accounts towards robot-human interaction are discussed with respect to the author’s recent work on building interactive robotic systems as remedial tools (teaching devices) for children with autism, a project which crucially requires a careful analysis of human-robot relationships, and which cannot rely on the ‘natural’ tendency of humans to be interested in agents that appear life-like and social, a factor which is currently exploited extensively in the believable agents research community. The paper will argue that using humans as models for creating believable technology (e.g. making the robot life-like) is not a universal solution for designing robotic social actors.
Hepatocyte growth factor induces retinal vascular permeability via MAP-kinase and PI-3 kinase without altering retinal hemodynamics.

PURPOSE Although vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a key mediator of retinal vascular permeability (RVP), there may be additional humoral contributors. Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) induces endothelial cell separation, regulates expression of cell adhesion molecules and is increased in the vitreous fluid of patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the in vivo effects of HGF on RVP and retinal hemodynamics and delineate the signaling pathways. METHODS RVP was assessed by vitreous fluorescein fluorophotometry in rats. Time course and dose-response were determined after intravitreal HGF injection. MAP kinase (MAPK), phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI-3 kinase), and protein kinase C (PKC) involvement were examined by using selective inhibitors. Retinal blood flow (RBF) and mean circulation time (MCT) were evaluated by video fluorescein angiography. RESULTS HGF increased RVP in a time- and dose-dependent manner. HGF-induced RVP was evident 5 minutes after injection, and reached maximal levels after 25 minutes (+107% versus vehicle, P=0.002). This effect was comparable to that of maximum VEGF stimulation (134%+/-128% at 25 ng/mL). Selective inhibitors of MAPK (PD98059) and PI-3 kinase (LY294002) suppressed HGF-induced RVP by 86%+/-44% (P=0.015) and 97%+/-59% (P=0.021), respectively. Non-isoform-selective inhibition of PKC did not significantly decrease HGF-induced RVP. Although VEGF increases RBF and reduces MCT, HGF did not affect either. CONCLUSIONS HGF increases RVP in a time- and dose-dependent manner at physiologically relevant concentrations with a magnitude and profile similar to that of VEGF, without affecting retinal hemodynamics. Thus, HGF may represent another clinically significant contributor to retinal edema distinct from the actions of VEGF.
Determination of aspirin responsiveness by use of whole blood platelet aggregometry.

BACKGROUND Insufficient platelet inhibition is associated with an increased cardiovascular risk in up to 30% of patients taking regular doses of aspirin. We describe an assay to study aspirin responsiveness. METHODS We performed impedance aggregometry on diluted whole blood with 1 mg/L collagen and 0.5 mmol/L arachidonic acid (AA). We measured thromboxane B(2) (TXB(2)) by RIA. We examined 66 healthy control individuals, 144 aspirin users with stable coronary artery disease (CAD), and 245 CAD patients treated with aspirin and clopidogrel. Nonresponsive samples were incubated with excess DL-lysinmonoacetylsalicylic acid. RESULTS Assay imprecision (CV) was 9.8% and 8.2% at mean (SD) 6-min impedance of 13.7 (2.8) Omega and 13.6 (2.3) Omega for collagen and AA, respectively. Collagen induced stronger aggregation (P = 0.0199) in women [n = 28, 14.6 (2.4) Omega] than in men [n = 38, 13.1 (2.9) Omega], even after sample incubation with 0.1 mmol/L acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) or 1 micromol/L terbogrel, a combined inhibitor of thromboxane synthase and receptors. The sex association persisted in aspirin users, but not if clopidogrel was also taken. A 6-min impedance >8 Omega with collagen (mean - 2 SD of the controls) was taken as evidence of nonresponsiveness, particularly if incubation with ASA did not inhibit aggregation further (>2 Omega). Compared with AA, collagen identified more nonresponsive samples among aspirin users (15%) and CAD patients who also received clopidogrel (10%). Incubation with ASA improved inhibition of aggregation in 70% of samples and consistently reduced TXB(2) formation during aggregation. CONCLUSIONS Impedance aggregometry may prove useful to study aspirin responsiveness, and incubation with ASA may help to identify nonresponders and classify resistance.
The transverse proximity effect in spectral hardness on the line of sight towards HE 2347-4342

We report the discovery of 14 quasars in the vicinity of HE 2347−4342, one of the two quasars whose intergalactic He ii forest has been resolved with FUSE. By analysing the H i and the He ii opacity variations separately, no transverse proximity effect is detected near three foreground quasars of HE 2347−4342: QSO J23503−4328 (z = 2.282, ϑ = 3. � 59), QSO J23500−4319 (z = 2.302, ϑ = 8. 77) and QSO J23495−4338 (z = 2.690, ϑ = 16. � 28). This is primarily due to line contamination and overdensities probably created by large-scale structure. By comparing the H i absorption and the corresponding He ii absorption, we estimated the fluctuating spectral shape of the extragalactic UV radiation field along this line of sight. We find that the UV spectral shape near HE 2347−4342 and in the projected vicinity of the three foreground quasars is statistically harder than expected from UV background models dominated by quasars. In addition, we find three highly ionised metal line systems near the quasars. However, they do not yield further constraints on the shape of the ionising field. We conclude that the foreground quasars show a transverse proximity effect that is detectable as a local hardening of the UV radiation field, although the evidence is strongest for QSO J23495−4338. Thus, the relative spectral hardness traces the proximity effect also in overdense regions prohibiting the traditional detection in the H i forest. Furthermore, we emphasise that softening of quasar radiation by radiative transfer in the intergalactic medium is important to understand the observed spectral shape variations. From the transverse proximity effect of QSO J23495−4338 we obtain a lower limit on the quasar lifetime of ∼25 Myr.
Amelioration of Cadmium-Induced Nephropathy using Polyphenol-rich Extract of Vernonia amygdalina (Del.) Leaves in Rat Model

AIM: To determine the effects of polyphenol-rich extract of the leaves of Vernonia amygdalina (PEVA) in rats with Cd-induced nephropathy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty five male Wistar rats were divided into five groups as follows; Group 1 received distilled water throughout the period of study. Group 2 received 5 mg/kg body weight of cadmium (Cd), in the form of CdSO4, for five consecutive days via intraperitoneal route. Groups 3, 4 and 5 were pretreated with Cd as group 2 and thereafter received oral treatment of PEVA for 4 weeks at 100 mg/kg, 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg body weight, respectively. RESULTS: Exposure to Cd toxicity significantly induced deleterious alterations in plasma and urine levels of creatinine, urea and glucose as well as creatinine and urea clearance (p < 0.05) in the rat model. There was a significant disturbance in the antioxidant system as revealed by the levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) and reduced glutathione (GSH) (p < 0.05) in the kidney tissue of the rats. With marked improvements in renal histoarchitecture, PEVA treatment showed a duration and non dose-dependent ameliorative potential. CONCLUSION: PEVA treatment reversed the compromise of renal function that was induced by Cd toxicity in rat model.
Granule Cells in the CA3 Area

A fundamental property of neuronal networks in Ammon's horn is that each area comprises a single glutamatergic cell population and various types of GABAergic neurons. Here we describe an exception to this rule, in the form of granule cells that reside within the CA3 area and function as glutamatergic nonprincipal cells with distinct properties. CA3 granule cells in normal, healthy rats, similarly to dentate gyrus granule cells, coexpressed calbindin and the homeobox protein Prox1. However, CA3 granule cells were located outside of the dentate gyrus, often hundreds of micrometers from the hilar border, in the lucidum and radiatum layers. CA3 granule cells were present in numbers that were comparable to the rarer GABAergic neuronal subtypes, and their somato-dendritic morphology, intrinsic properties, and perforant path inputs were similar to those of dentate gyrus granule cells. CA3 granule cell axons displayed giant mossy fiber terminals with filopodial extensions, demonstrating that not all mossy fibers originate from the dentate gyrus. Somatic paired recordings revealed that CA3 granule cells innervated CA3 pyramidal and GABAergic cells similarly to conventional mossy fiber synapses. However, CA3 granule cells were distinct in the specific organization of their GABAergic inputs. They received GABAergic synapses from cholecystokinin-expressing mossy fiber-associated cells that did not innervate the dentate granule cell layer, and these synapses demonstrated unusually strong activity-dependent endocannabinoid-mediated inhibition of GABA release. These results indicate that granule cells in the CA3 constitute a glutamatergic, nonprincipal neuronal subtype that is integrated into the CA3 synaptic network.
‘Separate but Not Quite Equal’: Collegiality Experiences of Full-Time Non-Tenure-Track Faculty Members

ABSTRACT Collegiality, which indicates respect, a voice in decision making, and a commitment to the common good, is central to academic governance and faculty culture. However, as faculty work is increasingly unbundled, little is known about how concepts traditionally applied to tenure-track faculty, such as collegiality and the collegium (to which access is granted through recognition of expertise), apply to newer categories such as full-time non-tenure-track faculty (NTTF). This interview study investigated collegiality experiences among 38 full-time NTTF in a public comprehensive university and a religiously affiliated research university. A framework blending symbolic interaction (Blumer, 1980; Snow, 2001) and role ambiguity (Bess, 1992) was used to understand the experiences of NTTF with collegiality. Findings suggest that with little opportunity to earn recognition as experts based on scholarship, NTTF experiences with collegiality are at best conditional and at worst deficient. Interactions with colleagues, institutional structures, and professional/academic culture reflect substantial role ambiguity that creates a “separate but not quite equal” status for NTTF. The practice of maintaining NTTF on the periphery of collegiality and the collegium may well compromise the health and vitality of an increasingly differentiated faculty body and the ability of universities to accomplish their academic missions.
The melanocortin-1 receptor gene mediates female-specific mechanisms of analgesia in mice and humans

Sex specificity of neural mechanisms modulating nociceptive information has been demonstrated in rodents, and these qualitative sex differences appear to be relevant to analgesia from κ-opioid receptor agonists, a drug class reported to be clinically effective only in women. Via quantitative trait locus mapping followed by a candidate gene strategy using both mutant mice and pharmacological tools, we now demonstrate that the melanocortin-1 receptor (Mc1r) gene mediates κ-opioid analgesia in female mice only. This finding suggested that individuals with variants of the human MC1R gene, associated in our species with red hair and fair skin, might also display altered κ-opioid analgesia. We found that women with two variant MC1R alleles displayed significantly greater analgesia from the κ-opioid, pentazocine, than all other groups. This study demonstrates an unexpected role for the MC1R gene, verifies that pain modulation in the two sexes involves neurochemically distinct substrates, and represents an example of a direct translation of a pharmacogenetic finding from mouse to human.
Low power design of the next-generation High Efficiency Video Coding

This paper provides a comprehensive analysis of the computational complexity, power consumption, temperature, and memory access behavior for the next-generation High Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC) standard. We highlight the associated design challenges and present several low-power algorithmic and architectural techniques for developing power-efficient HEVC-based multimedia system. We explore the interplay between the algorithms and architectures to provide high power efficiency while leveraging the application-specific knowledge and video content characteristics.
Hydrological studies on blanket peat: the significance of the acrotelm‐catotelm model

1 Runoff production in blanket peat catchments of the northern Pennine hills, UK was measured through monitoring and experimentation at the plot, hillslope and catchment scale. Water flow from soil pipes was measured in one of the study catchments and overland flow, throughflow and water table were measured in runoff plots; rainfall simulation and tension‐infiltrometry provided information on infiltration characteristics of the peat. 2 Saturation‐excess overland flow was found to dominate the flashy flow regime; acrotelm stormflow, subsurface pipeflow and macropore flow were also found to be important components of the ecohydrological system. 3 Surface cover, topography and preferential flowpaths were found to be important factors in controlling infiltration and runoff production. 4 Streamflow generation processes that are consistent with the acrotelm‐catotelm model are shown to occur in blanket peat with and without Sphagnum cover, but in one of the catchments studied an estimated 10% of the discharge bypassed this route and discharged via pipes. 5 The spatial and temporal variation in hillslope‐scale runoff production was demonstrated in the study catchments. This variability in runoff production will be important for hydroecological understanding in peatlands but is often neglected because of over‐simplification of processes provided by the traditional two‐dimensional acrotelm‐catotelm model.
Attrition of the Charge on a Carrier Moving Through a Gas

Metallic, free-flying probes were used for sensing areas filled with weak concentration of free, unbalanced ambipolar charge or plasma, or for determining the charge on aerosols. Depending on the conditions, problems can be encountered in the behavior of the probe. This paper focuses on the charge exchange processes occurring between a small metal charge carrier and the gaseous medium through which the carrier travels; these processes may lead to a charge imbalance. In the experiments described, a small lead pellet was propelled with a small volume of pressurized carbon dioxide on a horizontal ballistic trajectory in air. At the launch site, the probe was charged by triboelectrification in a polytetrafluoroethylene tube, and its pre-and post flight charge measured with dynamic Faraday cups. The charge loss, incurred by the pellet crossing a 96 cm path (40 ms flight time), was 11%. Analysis of the results suggests that the onset of discharge from the carrier's body to the gas medium is a likely cause for the observed results.