Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Serotonin Transporter Genotype Affects Serotonin 5-HT1A Binding in Primates

Disruption of the serotonin system has been implicated in anxiety and depression and a related genetic variation has been identified that may predispose individuals for these illnesses. The relationship of a functional variation of the serotonin transporter promoter gene (5-HTTLPR) on serotonin transporter binding using in vivo imaging techniques have yielded inconsistent findings when comparing variants for short (s) and long (l) alleles. However, a significant 5-HTTLPR effect on receptor binding at the 5-HT1A receptor site has been reported in humans, suggesting the 5-HTTLPR polymorphism may play a role in serotonin (5-HT) function. Rhesus monkeys possess a 5-HTTLPR length polymorphism similar to humans and serve as an excellent model for studying the effects of this orthologous genetic variation on behaviors and neurochemical functions related to the 5-HT system. In this study, PET imaging of [18F]mefway was performed on 58 rhesus monkeys (33 l/l, 25 s-carriers) to examine the relation between 5-HT1A receptor-specific binding and 5-HTTLPR genotypes. Significantly lower 5-HT1A binding was found in s-carrier subjects throughout both cortical brain regions and the raphe nuclei. These results demonstrate that the underlying 5-HT neurochemical system is influenced by this functional polymorphism and illustrate the strong potential for extending the nonhuman primate model into investigating the role of this genetic variant on behavior and gene–environment interactions.
The relationships between brand association, trust, commitment, and satisfaction of higher education institutions

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore structural relationships among the variables of brand association, student trust, commitment, and satisfaction in the higher education sector. Design/methodology/approach A survey was used to collect data from a sample of 500 students who studied at universities in Taiwan in 2016. These data were gathered using a convenience sampling method and analyzed using a structural equation model. A total of 371 questionnaires (74.2 percent) were considered valid. Due to testing and identifying the hypothesis and structure among those variables, structural equation modeling was used to determine the best model among brand association, trust, commitment, and satisfaction. Findings For the conceptual framework, the author found that this structural equation model complies with the empirical data. The structural equation model shows that brand association, student trust, and commitment were significantly related to student satisfaction. Brand association has a direct influence on student trust, commitment, and satisfaction in higher education institutions. Student trust and commitment also had a direct influence on student satisfaction, and they are all mediating variables. Originality/value The findings of the current study add to the existing literature by contributing to a better perception of university management and providing acceptable strategies to improve the higher education industry.
Choline Binding Proteins from Streptococcus pneumoniae: A Dual Role as Enzybiotics and Targets for the Design of New Antimicrobials

Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus) is an important pathogen responsible for acute invasive and non-invasive infections such as meningitis, sepsis and otitis media, being the major cause of community-acquired pneumonia. The fight against pneumococcus is currently hampered both by insufficient vaccine coverage and by rising antimicrobial resistances to traditional antibiotics, making necessary the research on novel targets. Choline binding proteins (CBPs) are a family of polypeptides found in pneumococcus and related species, as well as in some of their associated bacteriophages. They are characterized by a structural organization in two modules: a functional module (FM), and a choline-binding module (CBM) that anchors the protein to the choline residues present in the cell wall through non-covalent interactions. Pneumococcal CBPs include cell wall hydrolases, adhesins and other virulence factors, all playing relevant physiological roles for bacterial viability and virulence. Moreover, many pneumococcal phages also make use of hydrolytic CBPs to fulfill their infectivity cycle. Consequently, CBPs may play a dual role for the development of novel antipneumococcal drugs, both as targets for inhibitors of their binding to the cell wall and as active cell lytic agents (enzybiotics). In this article, we review the current state of knowledge about host- and phage-encoded pneumococcal CBPs, with a special focus on structural issues, together with their perspectives for effective anti-infectious treatments.
Stellar Iron Abundances at the Galactic Center

We present measurements of [Fe/H] for six M supergiant stars and three giant stars within 2.5 pc of the Galactic center (GC) and one M supergiant star within 30 pc of the GC. The results are based on high-resolution (λ/Δλ = 40,000) K-band spectra, taken with CSHELL at the NASA Infrared Telescope Facility. We determine the iron abundance by detailed abundance analysis, performed with the spectral synthesis program MOOG. The mean [Fe/H] of the GC stars is determined to be near solar, [Fe/H] = +0.12 ± 0.22. Our analysis is a differential analysis, as we have observed and applied the same analysis technique to 11 cool, luminous stars in the solar neighborhood with similar temperatures and luminosities as the GC stars. The mean [Fe/H] of the solar neighborhood comparison stars, [Fe/H] = +0.03 ± 0.16, is similar to that of the GC stars. The width of the GC [Fe/H] distribution is found to be narrower than the width of the [Fe/H] distribution of Baade's window in the bulge but consistent with the width of the [Fe/H] distribution of giant and supergiant stars in the solar neighborhood.
Biomedical Signal Analysis: Contemporary Methods and Applications

Biomedical signal analysis has become one of the most important visualization and interpretation methods in biology and medicine. Many new and powerful instruments for detecting, storing, transmitting, analyzing, and displaying images have been developed in recent years, allowing scientists and physicians to obtain quantitative measurements to support scientific hypotheses and medical diagnoses. This book offers an overview of a range of proven and new methods, discussing both theoretical and practical aspects of biomedical signal analysis and interpretation. After an introduction to the topic and a survey of several processing and imaging techniques, the book describes a broad range of methods, including continuous and discrete Fourier transforms, independent component analysis (ICA), dependent component analysis, neural networks, and fuzzy logic methods. The book then discusses applications of these theoretical tools to practical problems in everyday biosignal processing, considering such subjects as exploratory data analysis and low-frequency connectivity analysis in fMRI, MRI signal processing including lesion detection in breast MRI, dynamic cerebral contrast-enhanced perfusion MRI, skin lesion classification, and microscopic slice image processing and automatic labeling. Biomedical Signal Analysis can be used as a text or professional reference. Part I, on methods, forms a self-contained text, with exercises and other learning aids, for upper-level undergraduate or graduate-level students. Researchers or graduate students in systems biology, genomic signal processing, and computer-assisted radiology will find both parts I and II (on applications) a valuable handbook.
Detailed comparison of downflows seen both in EIT 30.4 nm and Big Bear Hα movies

An EIT shutterless campaign was conducted on 11 July 2001 and provided 120 high-cadence (68 s) 30.4 nm images of the north-eastern quarter of the Sun. Systematic intensity variations are seen which appear to propagate along an off-disk loop-like structure. In this paper we study the nature of these intensity variations by confronting the EIT observations studied in De Groof et al. (2004, A&A, 415, 1141) with simultaneous Hα images from Big Bear Solar Observatory. With the goal to carefully co-register the two image sets, we introduce a technique designed to compare data of two different instruments. The image series are first co-aligned and later overplotted in order to visualize and compare the behaviour of the propagating disturbances in both data sets. Since the same intensity variations are seen in the EIT 30.4 nm and in the Hα images, we confirm the interpretation of De Groof et al. (2004, A&A, 415, 1141) that we are observing downflows of relatively cool plasma. The origin of the downflows is explained by numerical simulations of “catastrophic cooling” in a coronal loop which is heated predominantly at its footpoints.
A Survey of Routing Protocols for Maximizing the Lifetime of Ad Hoc Wireless Networks

The principal focus of this survey is on how to maximize the useful lifetime of ad hoc wireless networks through energy-efficient routing. Most of the studies on energy-aware routing protocols do not provide clear-cut notions about a network’s lifetime and therefore there is a lack of clear objectives in the design of algorithms. Hence, first the operational lifetime of ad hoc networks is defined. Then, published works that give solutions to energybased problems are analysed by placing emphasis on common characteristics and drawbacks. It is aimed to reveal the factors that influence the depletion of energy in ad hoc networks. This should aid the design of energy-efficient solutions. Load balancing routing protocols are also surveyed as a means for extending a network’s operational lifespan, which is a technique that is overlooked in the literature. The immediate implications that load balancing has for energy consumption are indicated. Subsequently, a classification of load balancing routing protocols is provided along with a summary of load balancing methods that may be useful for efficient energy consumption. In contrast to current cellular networks, which rely on a wired structure with a wireless last hop, ad hoc wireless networks are infrastructureless. The nodes which comprise them have routing capabilities and forward traffic for other communicating parties that are not within each other’s transmission range. They are characterized by lower computing and energy resources. Therefore, ad hoc routing is challenged by power and bandwidth constraints, as well as by frequent changes in topology, to which it must adapt and converge quickly. Conventional routing protocols for wired networks cannot be employed in such an environment due to the factors described above. This fact has given rise to the design of ad hoc-specific routing protocols. Ad hoc routing protocols are usually classified as being table-driven or on-demand depending on their response to changes in the topology of a network. Table-driven routing protocols (also called proactive protocols) maintain a continuous view of the full topology of the network in each node, whereas on-demand protocols (also called reactive protocols) search for a route between a source and a destination when such a route is needed. Table-driven approaches introduce more overhead compared to reactive ones. This is because whenever there are changes in the topology of the network, control messages are flooded in order to maintain a full knowledge of the network in each node. Initially, the main criterion in these two classes of protocols was the minimum number of hops. However, the main shortcoming of this criterion in terms of energy utilization is that the selection of routes in accordance with the min-hop principle does not protect nodes from being overused. These are usually nodes in the core of the
Global Health and Vulnerability Factors of Minors in Police Custody: A Prospective Cohort Study

Study background: There is currently no data available regarding overall health and vulnerability factors for minors (i.e. those aged under 18) who have been placed in police custody in France. The purpose of this study was to define the sociodemographic characteristics of this population. We hypothesized that most of these teenagers can be deemed as being abused or neglected. Methods: We carried out a prospective study that included minors of 13 to 18 years of age who had been placed in custody at the Central Police Station of Nantes (France), from October 2012 to May 2013. The sociodemographic characteristics, scores for quality of life, and the data collected from the social and judiciary services were analysed to identify abused or neglected teenagers. Results: Ninety-nine cases were included. The identified population was mostly comprised of males, most commonly 16 years of age, who had been placed in custody for robbery. Their scores for quality of life were not statistically different from those of the general population. While 50% had already been identified by child protection services, our study shows that 84.8% of this population should nonetheless be considered as being abused or neglected. Conclusion: Compulsory health screening could provide an opportunity to detect abused or neglected teenagers, and consequently to provide them with access to appropriate care, as well as their referral to the relevant social and judiciary services so that the need for deploying specific protection to them can be assessed.
Neural Virtual Sensors-Estimation ofCombustion Quality in SI Engines usingthe Spark

We propose two virtual sensors which estimate the location of the pressure peak and the air-fuel ratio from measurements of the ionization current across the spark plug gap. The location of pressure peak virtual sensor produces estimates on a cycle-by-cycle basis for each of the cylinders. These estimates are twice as good as estimates obtained from a linear model. The air-fuel ratio virtual sensor uses the universal exhaust gas oxygen sensor as reference; it produces estimates that are ten times better than estimates obtained from a linear model.
Extracellular Signal-Regulated Kinase Signaling in the Ventral Tegmental Area Mediates Cocaine-Induced Synaptic Plasticity and Rewarding Effects

Drugs of abuse such as cocaine induce long-term synaptic plasticity in the reward circuitry, which underlies the formation of drug-associated memories and addictive behavior. We reported previously that repeated cocaine exposure in vivo facilitates long-term potentiation (LTP) in dopamine neurons of the ventral tegmental area (VTA) by reducing the strength of GABAergic inhibition and that endocannabinoid-dependent long-term depression at inhibitory synapses (I-LTD) constitutes a mechanism for cocaine-induced reduction of GABAergic inhibition. The present study investigated the downstream signaling mechanisms and functional consequences of I-LTD in the VTA in the rat. Extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) signaling has been implicated in long-term synaptic plasticity, associative learning, and drug addiction. We tested the hypothesis that VTA ERK activity is required for I-LTD and cocaine-induced long-term synaptic plasticity and behavioral effects. We show that the activation of receptors required for I-LTD increased ERK1/2 phosphorylation and inhibitors of ERK activation blocked I-LTD. We further demonstrate that ERK mediates cocaine-induced reduction of GABAergic inhibition and facilitation of LTP induction. Finally, we show that cocaine conditioned place preference (CPP) training (15 mg/kg; four pairings) increased ERK1/2 phosphorylation in the VTA, while bilateral intra-VTA injections of a CB1 antagonist or an inhibitor of ERK activation attenuated ERK1/2 phosphorylation and the acquisition, but not the expression, of CPP to cocaine. Our study has identified the CB1 and ERK signaling cascade as a key mediator of several forms of cocaine-induced synaptic plasticity and provided evidence linking long-term synaptic plasticity in the VTA to rewarding effects of cocaine.
The Enhancon and N=2 Gauge Theory/Gravity RG Flows

We study the family of ten dimensional type IIB supergravity solutions corresponding to renormalisation group flows from N=4 to N=2 supersymmetric Yang-Mills theory. Part of the solution set corresponds to a submanifold of the Coulomb branch of the gauge theory, and we use a D3-brane probe to uncover details of this physics. At generic places where supergravity is singular, the smooth physics of the probe yields the correct one-loop form of the effective low energy gauge coupling. The probe becomes tensionless on a ring at finite radius. Supergravity flows which end on this ``enhancon'' ring correspond to the vacua where extra massless degrees of freedom appear in the gauge theory, and the gauge coupling diverges there. We identify an SL(2,Z) duality action on the enhancon ring which relates the special vacua, and comment on the massless dyons within them. We propose that the supergravity solution inside the enhancon ring should be excised, since the probe's tension is unphysical there.
A fresh look at preoperative body washing

National guidelines do not support preoperative body washing to reduce surgical site infections, instead recommending bathing or showering with soap. Yet preoperative body washing continues to be widely used in many hospitals across Europe. This paper suggests that existing trials of preoperative body washing, upon which guidelines are based, are dated and proposes a new investigation of preoperative body washing using modern definitions of surgical site infection with standardised patient follow up, modern surgical techniques and well designed trials. This paper provides a critique of existing guidelines and describes a randomised trial with 60 participants to compare the effect of soap and two antiseptic washing products on colony forming units (CFUs) for up to six hours. Chlorhexidine gluconate and octenidine were significantly more effective than soap in reducing CFUs in the underarm, and chlorhexidine was significantly more effective than soap in reducing CFUs in the groin.
The Putative Lipid Transporter, Arv1, Is Required for Activating Pheromone-Induced MAP Kinase Signaling in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Saccharomyces cerevisiae haploid cells respond to extrinsic mating signals by forming polarized projections (shmoos), which are necessary for conjugation. We have examined the role of the putative lipid transporter, Arv1, in yeast mating, particularly the conserved Arv1 homology domain (AHD) within Arv1 and its role in this process. Previously it was shown that arv1 cells harbor defects in sphingolipid and glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) biosyntheses and may harbor sterol trafficking defects. Here we demonstrate that arv1 cells are mating defective and cannot form shmoos. They lack the ability to initiate pheromone-induced G1 cell cycle arrest, due to failure to polarize PI(4,5)P2 and the Ste5 scaffold, which results in weakened MAP kinase signaling activity. A mutant Ste5, Ste5Q59L, which binds more tightly to the plasma membrane, suppresses the MAP kinase signaling defects of arv1 cells. Filipin staining shows arv1 cells contain altered levels of various sterol microdomains that persist throughout the mating process. Data suggest that the sterol trafficking defects of arv1 affect PI(4,5)P2 polarization, which causes a mislocalization of Ste5, resulting in defective MAP kinase signaling and the inability to mate. Importantly, our studies show that the AHD of Arv1 is required for mating, pheromone-induced G1 cell cycle arrest, and for sterol trafficking.
Social and Physical Environmental Factors Influencing Adolescents’ Physical Activity in Urban Public Open Spaces: A Qualitative Study Using Walk-Along Interviews

Most previous studies examining physical activity in Public Open Spaces (POS) focused solely on the physical environment. However, according to socio-ecological models the social environment is important as well. The aim of this study was to determine which social and physical environmental factors affect adolescents’ visitation and physical activity in POS in low-income neighbourhoods. Since current knowledge on this topic is limited, especially in Europe, qualitative walk-along interviews were used to obtain detailed and context-specific information. Participants (n = 30, aged 12–16 years, 64% boys) were recruited in POS in low-income neighbourhoods in Brussels, Ghent and Antwerp (Belgium). Participants were interviewed while walking in the POS with the interviewer. Using this method, the interviewer could observe and ask questions while the participant was actually experiencing the environment. All audio-recorded interviews were transcribed and analysed using Nvivo 10 software and thematic analysis was used to derive categories and subcategories using a grounded theory approach. The most important subcategories that were supportive of visiting POS and performing physical activity in POS were; accessibility by foot/bicycle/public transport, located close to home/school, presence of (active) friends and family, cleanliness of the POS and features, availability of sport and play facilities, large open spaces and beautiful sceneries. The most important subcategories that were unsupportive of visiting POS and physical activity in POS were; presence of undesirable users (drug users, gangs and homeless people), the behaviour of other users and the cleanliness of the POS and features. Social factors appeared often more influential than physical factors, however, it was the combination of social and physical factors that affected adolescents’ behaviour in POS. Easily accessible POS with high quality features in the proximity of adolescents’ home or school may stimulate physical activity, if adolescents also experience a safe and familiar social environment.
What is inside the “black box”? Therapeutic community residents’ perspectives on each treatment phase

Abstract Although the Therapeutic Communities (TCs) have been considered a useful drug addiction treatment resource, much remains to be understood about the process of change in this treatment. The TC residents’ perspectives on their change can contribute towards an understanding of this process of change. This study aims to describe residents’ perspectives on change through each of the three treatment phases. We used a longitudinal and prospective research design with 25 residents from the three treatment phases. All residents filled in the Helpful Aspects of Therapy sheet after their weekly therapies; those who ended the treatment phase were interviewed using the Change Interview. A total of 427 documents were analysed using grounded theory data procedures. According to residents’ views, the study results suggest that their agency was the core factor in change, while treatment tasks and healing relationships established the context for change. During each phase, contextual factors acquired particular features, with the common factor being conduciveness to action by the residents themselves. Such agency enabled the residents to appropriate treatment resources across three phases. By the end of the treatment residents had made major changes to the way in which they relate to themselves and others and could envisage a new life in which drugs had no place. Based on the results of the study, we suggest that clinicians should monitor and support the agency of the residents. We also propose that further studies focus on residents’ perspectives about the events that limited their mobilisation for change as agents.
Multilevel Coding for Channels with Non-uniform Inputs and Rateless Transmission over the BSC

We consider coding schemes for channels with non-uniform inputs (NUI), where standard linear block codes can not be applied directly. We show that multilevel coding (MLC) with a set of linear codes and a deterministic mapper can achieve the information rate of the channel with NUI. The mapper, however, does not have to be one-to-one. As an application of the proposed MLC scheme, we present a rateless transmission scheme over the binary symmetric channel (BSC)