Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
NMDA Receptor-Dependent LTD Is Required for Consolidation But Not Acquisition of Fear Memory

NMDA receptor-dependent long-term depression (NMDAR-LTD) is a form of synaptic plasticity leading to long-lasting decreases in synaptic strength. NMDAR-LTD is essential for spatial and working memory, but its role in hippocampus-dependent fear memory has yet to be determined. Induction of NMDAR-LTD requires the activation of caspase-3 by cytochrome c. Cytochrome c normally resides in mitochondria and during NMDAR-LTD is released from mitochondria, a process promoted by Bax (Bcl-2-associated X protein). Bax induces cell death in apoptosis, but it plays a nonapoptotic role in NMDAR-LTD. Here, we investigated the role of NMDAR-LTD in fear memory in CA1-specific Bax knock-out mice. In hippocampal slices from these knock-out mice, while long-term potentiation of synaptic transmission, basal synaptic transmission, and paired-pulse ratio are intact, LTD in both young and fear-conditioned adult mice is obliterated. Interestingly, in CA1-specific Bax knock-out mice, long-term contextual fear memory is impaired, but the acquisition of fear memory and innate fear are normal. Moreover, these conditional Bax knock-out mice exhibit less behavioral despair. These findings indicate that NMDAR-LTD is required for consolidation, but not the acquisition of fear memory. Our study also shows that Bax plays an important role in depressive behavior.
Tree-structured statistical modeling via convex optimization

We develop a semidefinite-programming-based approach to stochastic modeling with multiscale autoregressive (MAR) processes—a class of stochastic processes indexed by the vertices of a tree. Given a tree and the covariance matrix of the variables corresponding to the leaves of the tree, our procedure aims to construct an MAR process with small state dimensions at each vertex that approximately realizes the given covariance at the leaves. Our method does not require prior specification of the state dimensions at each vertex. Furthermore, we establish a large class of MAR processes for which, given only the index tree and the leaf covariance of the process, our method can recover a parametrization that matches the leaf-covariance and has the correct state dimensions. Finally we demonstrate, using synthetic examples, that given i.i. d. samples of the leaf variables our method can recover the correct state dimensions of an underlying MAR process.
A Bow Shock Nebula around a Compact X-Ray Source in the Supernova Remnant IC 443

We present Chandra spectra and high-resolution images of the hard X-ray feature in the southern edge of the supernova remnant (SNR) IC 443 that reveal a comet-shaped nebula of hard emission that contains a softer point source at its apex. We also present 20, 6, and 3.5 cm Very Large Array maps that clearly show the cometary nebula. Based on the radio and X-ray morphology and spectrum, and the radio polarization properties, we argue that this object is a synchrotron nebula powered by the compact source that is physically associated with IC 443. The spectrum of the soft point source is adequately but not uniquely fitted by a blackbody model [kT = 0.71 ± 0.08 keV, L = (6.5 ± 0.9) × 1031 ergs s-1]. The morphology of the nebula can be explained by the supersonic motion of the neutron star (VNS ≃ 250 ± 50 km s-1), which causes the relativistic wind of the pulsar to terminate in a bow shock and trail behind as a synchrotron tail. This velocity is consistent with an age of 30,000 yr for the SNR and its associated neutron star.
On the Moisture Origins of Tornadic Thunderstorms

Tornadic thunderstorms rely on the availability of sufficient low-level moisture, but the source regions of that moisture have not been explicitly demarcated. Using the NOAA Air Resources Laboratory HYSPLIT model and a Lagrangian-based diagnostic, moisture attribution was conducted to identify the moisture source regions of tornadic convection. This study reveals a seasonal cycle in the origins and advection patterns of water vapor contributing to winter and spring tornado-producing storms (1981–2017). The Gulf of Mexico is shown to be the predominant source of moisture during both winter and spring, making up more than 50% of all contributions. During winter, substantial moisture contributions for tornadic convection also emanate from the western Caribbean Sea (>19%) and North Atlantic Ocean (>12%). During late spring, land areas (e.g., soil and vegetation) of the contiguous United States (CONUS) play a more influential role (>24%). Moisture attribution was also conducted for nontornadic cases and tornado outbreaks. Findings show that moisture sources of nontornadic events are more proximal to the CONUS than moisture sources of tornado outbreaks. Oceanic influences on the water vapor content of air parcels were also explored to determine if they can increase the likelihood of an air mass attaining moisture that will eventually contribute to severe thunderstorms. Warmer sea surface temperatures were generally found to enhance evaporative fluxes of overlying air parcels. The influence of atmospheric features on synoptic-scale moisture advection was also analyzed; stronger extratropical cyclones and Great Plains low-level jet occurrences lead to increased meridional moisture flux.
Nucleus isthmi, pars semilunaris as a key component of the tectofugal visual system in pigeons

The avian isthmic nuclei are constituted by a group of structures reciprocally connected with the tectum opticum and considered to play a role in the modulation of intratectal processes. Although the two larger isthmic nuclei, the n. isthmi pars parvocellularis (Ipc) and the n. isthmi pars magnocellularis (Imc), have been studied in detail previously, the third and smallest of this group, the n. isthmi pars semilunaris (SLu), has been largely neglected. The present study demonstrates this isthmic component to be characterized by a unique connectivity and immunohistochemical pattern: 1) SLu receives tectal afferents and projects back onto the outer retinorecipient tectal layers; 2) it projects bilaterally onto the nucleus rotundus and thus modulates the ascending tectofugal system; 3) in addition, previous studies have demonstrated SLu projections onto the lateral spiriform nucleus (SpL), which mediates basal ganglia output onto the tectum. In that SpL projects onto the deep layers of the tectum, SLu indirectly modulates descending tectal output patterns. Taken together, the role of SLu goes far beyond a local modulation of intratectal processes. Instead, this isthmic structure is likely to play a key role in the topographically organized modulation of the ascending and, at least indirectly, also the descending projections of the optic tectum. J. Comp. Neurol. 436:153–166, 2001. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Low-level laser therapy: Case-control study in dogs with sterile pyogranulomatous pododermatitis

Aim: Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) is a therapeutic photobiostimulation with properties in reducing swelling, inflammation, and promoting tissue healing. The objective of this pilot study was to evaluate LLLT in sterile pyogranulomatous pododermatitis in five dogs. Materials and Methods: In each dog, one lesion was designated as the control (treated with a 0.0584% hydrocortisone aceponate spray), and one or more other lesions were treated with a gallium aluminum arsenide-laser, daily for 5 days. Lesions were scored before treatment (D0), at the end (D4), 16 days after the last laser treatment (D20), and after 2 months (D65). Results: Comparing the treated lesion group with the control lesion group, the clinical score was similar at D0, whereas there was a statistically significant difference at D4 and D20; in the treated group over time, there was a statistically significant improvement between D0, D4, and D20. Lesion recurrence was absent in more than 50% of the treated lesions at D65. No adverse reactions were reported. Conclusion: Given the positive results of this first clinical study, it would be interesting to extend the study to confirm the validity of this type of therapy in sterile pyogranulomatous pododermatitis in the dog.
Predicting law enforcement confidence in going ‘hands-on’: the impact of martial arts training, use-of-force self-efficacy, motivation, and apprehensiveness

ABSTRACT In law enforcement, there are situations allowing officers to gain control of suspects by going ‘hands-on,’ or physically placing someone in custody beyond simple handcuffing. While much empirical attention is placed on more lethal use-of-force (UOF) measures, little is known about going hands-on. This is concerning considering when force is used, it is almost always with the use of hands, fist or feet only. The purpose of this pilot study is to examine whether martial arts training (MAT) and UOF self-efficacy predict confidence in going hands-on, after accounting for perceived motivation and apprehensiveness. It draws from an online survey, and a non-random subsample of 1,064 un-ranked patrol duty officers in the USA. Results indicate that MAT and high perceived UOF self-efficacy safely predict confidence in going hands-on, even after accounting for perceived motivation and apprehensiveness. Nonetheless, apprehensiveness, but not motivation, remains a strong predictor of not being confident in going hands-on.
Detection of Bovine Herpesvirus Type 1 in Blood from Naturally Infected Cattle by Using a Sensitive PCR That Discriminates between Wild-Type Virus and Virus Lacking Glycoprotein E

ABSTRACT In the present study, we report for the first time on the detection of bovine herpesvirus type 1 (BHV-1) in whole-blood samples derived from naturally infected cattle. Sensitive PCR assays specific for glycoprotein B (gB), gC, and gE of BHV-1 allow the detection of one BHV-1 DNA copy in 105 to 107 peripheral blood leukocytes (PBLs). The incidence of BHV-1-positive PBLs in naturally infected cattle appears to be quite high (92.2% positive PBLs among all samples tested), although in most cases only between 10−5 and 10−7 positive leukocytes were present. The results demonstrate that the viral DNA is detectable not only in the peripheral blood of acutely infected animals but, more importantly, also in the peripheral blood of subclinically infected cattle. The gE-specific PCR described in the report allows discrimination between wild-type (WT) virus-infected and vaccinated animals, which is of importance for control programs that use the recently introduced vaccination strategy with a gE-negative virus. The results further show that doubtful serological results can be verified or falsified and that individual animals can be monitored for the presence or absence of WT BHV-1 or gE-negative virus in cattle herds. The PCR protocols allow the detection of BHV-1 prior to seroconversion or in BHV-1-seronegative cattle. Finally, the results indicate the simultaneous presence of WT and gE-negative vaccine virus in the PBLs of several cattle. Therefore, investigations of viremia in naturally and experimentally infected cattle and on the identification of infected cell types of bovine PBLs can be now performed.
Challenges and work crisis facing critical care nurses

Background Nursing turnover and shortage are acknowledged as worldwide issues. Therefore, understanding the challenges that faces the nurses and overcome these challenges is essential in retaining them. Study was aimed to assess the challenges and work crisis facing critical care nurses. Subjects and Methods Research design : A descriptive, exploratory, qualitative research design was used. Setting Trauma ICU, ICC unit, and general ICU at Assiut University Hospital. Subjects (45) staff nurses. Tool of data collection A structured interview questionnaire consists of two parts; Personal characteristics and Challenges and Crisis Questionnaire Assessment tool through 2016. Results About 68.88% of the study sample were aged between 20 and 30 years and were married, and 44.44% had experience of 1–5 years. 88.88% of them reported large number of patients in ICUs, 82.22% reported increase in workload and increased numbers of night shifts. 97.8% fear of the possibility of infection from patients and 73.3%, have conflict between nurses and doctors. (84.5%) recorded working atmosphere filled with tension and stress. (93.3%) have sense of responsibility for some of the equipment and materials, and some critical cases. (91.1%) had family life at risk. Conclusion Admission of a large number of patients in the ICUs, increase in workload, exposure means for family life owing to choose the profession of nursing, and stability in family life disorder because of increased working hours and long shift were the most common challenges facing nurses. Recommended Training programs should be provided to develop coping skills among staff, and nurses’ mangers should take active steps to create positive work environment.
Nods, vocal continuers, and the perception of empathy in storytelling

ABSTRACT In her influential paper on stance, alignment, and affiliation in conversational storytelling, Tanya Stivers argued that two basic conversational means of receiving a story, nods and vocal continuers, differ in their function: whereas vocal continuers display alignment with the telling activity, nods, during the mid-telling, convey affiliation with the storytellers’ affective stance. In this paper, we elaborate these insights on the basis of a quantitative study informed by conversation analysis. Using a database of 317 stories told in Finnish, we analyzed how story recipients’ nods and continuers in different phases of storytelling (before and after the story climax) predict naïve raters’ judgments of the story recipients’ empathy toward the storyteller. We found that vocal continuers accounted for the perception of empathy during mid-telling, whereas the effect of nods remained weak. The study offers further support to the notion of structural organization of storytelling, and suggests that the significance of vocal continuers as a vehicle of empathy may be greater than has been generally thought of.
Relational happiness through recognition and redistribution: Emotion and inequality

This article develops a model of relational happiness that challenges popular individualized definitions and emphasizes how it can enhance the sociological analysis of inequality. Many studies of happiness suggest that social inequalities are closely associated with distributions of happiness at the national level, but happiness research continues to favour individual-level analyses. Limited attention has been given to the intersubjective aspects of happiness and the correlations between it and higher social equality. Conversely, key theoretical debates about inequalities, such as Axel Honneth and Nancy Fraser’s exchanges, have only indirectly touched on happiness. A relational approach to happiness is not new, but what this article offers is a new combination of a relational understanding of happiness as an intersubjectively, culturally experienced complex of emotions with discussions about recognition of marginalized groups and redistribution of material resources. This combined approach can further debates about understanding and remedying social inequalities. It argues that theories and measurements of happiness must consider how it can be achieved collectively through working at mutual respect as well as greater material equality.
Religious and non-religious predictors of life satisfaction in a sample of American college students

ABSTRACT To promote understanding of young people behavioural mechanisms related to health, we evaluated religious attribution, meaning in life, and emotion regulation strategies as predictors of life satisfaction in the sample of 791 religious and non-religious American college students. Participants completed Religious Attribution Scale, Meaning in Life Questionnaire, Satisfaction with Life Scale, and the Emotion Regulation Questionnaire. A multiple linear regression revealed that the strongest predictor of life satisfaction for both groups was the presence of meaning in life, followed by the use of cognitive reappraisal. We found that participants with high levels of presence of meaning in life, regardless of their religious identity, were able to benefit from the use of cognitive reappraisal. Presence of meaning in life and emotion regulation strategy reside outside of the religious confines, supporting the notion that religiosity is not a singular meaning making system. By identifying constructs related to life satisfaction, we can acquire better understanding of what mechanisms contribute to positive coping strategies that religious and non-religious young adults use to achieve positive life outcomes.
The Association Between Smartphone Use Pattern, Smartphone Addiction, and Depression Among Female Secondary School Students in Khobar, Saudi Arabia

We investigated the association between smartphone use pattern, smartphone addiction, and depression among 493 female secondary school students in Khobar, Saudi Arabia. Participants were assessed using a self-administered questionnaire comprising four sections: a) sociodemographic questions, b) smartphone use pattern, c) the Smartphone Addiction Scale–short version, and d) the Beck Depression Inventory–Primary Care version. Over half showed smartphone addiction, which was positively associated with depression. A longer duration of smartphone ownership; longer duration spent using smartphones daily; and using smartphones for social networking, entertainment, and website surfing were positively associated with smartphone addiction. Using smartphones for entertainment was positively correlated with depression. Consequently, students displaying high smartphone addiction scores should be monitored for depression. Depression screening programmes should be implemented in schools. Parents and children should set limits on their own and others' smartphone use, and public awareness should be raised regarding the association between smartphone addiction and depression.
A Theoretical Model for the Transmission Dynamics of the Buruli Ulcer with Saturated Treatment

The management of the Buruli ulcer (BU) in Africa is often accompanied by limited resources, delays in treatment, and macilent capacity in medical facilities. These challenges limit the number of infected individuals that access medical facilities. While most of the mathematical models with treatment assume a treatment function proportional to the number of infected individuals, in settings with such limitations, this assumption may not be valid. To capture these challenges, a mathematical model of the Buruli ulcer with a saturated treatment function is developed and studied. The model is a coupled system of two submodels for the human population and the environment. We examine the stability of the submodels and carry out numerical simulations. The model analysis is carried out in terms of the reproduction number of the submodel of environmental dynamics. The dynamics of the human population submodel, are found to occur at the steady states of the submodel of environmental dynamics. Sensitivity analysis is carried out on the model parameters and it is observed that the BU epidemic is driven by the dynamics of the environment. The model suggests that more effort should be focused on environmental management. The paper is concluded by discussing the public implications of the results.
INTRODUCING THE STUDY OF RANDOM SITUATIONS AND THEIR MODEL BUILDING PROCESS TO 14-15 YEARS OLD STUDENTS

INTRODUCTION The main of this article is to discuss about introduction to probabilities with 14-15 years old pupils. Some research on their probabilistic thinking shows that, depending on the context, some of the spontaneous conceptions they have constitute obstacles to the building of the relationship between probability and randomness. Consequently, these conceptions constitute obstacles to the learning process of probability. We understand here as obstacle a knowledge that is mobilized outside of its domain of validity (Brousseau, 1997). Among others, we can invoke the research of Maury (1986), Coutinho (1994), Coutinho et al. (1996) and Cañizares (1997). Those researches identify some of the misconceptions that, resisting the application of a didactic sequence, become obstacles the construction of the concept of probabilities. Some of these obstacles, particularly the "idea of equiprobability", become more resistant with the age (Fischbein). Consequently, many works in didactics of probability converge to an anticipation of a first contact with the random one and the calculation of probabilities. Beyond the research on conceptions and pre-conceptions of students on probability, we also find some researches about the construction of this concept. Particularly, on the construction of the relation between the calculation of a probability and the probabilistic model that justifies this calculation. Among others, we invoke the research of Zaki (1990), Girard and Parzysz (1998), as well as diverse publications of the Inter-IREM Commission of Probability and Statistics. In this article we will focalize especially the didactic conditions that allow an anticipation of a first contact with probabilities, leading in account the construction of the meaning of relation between calculation and probabilistic model justifying it.
Sleep, resilience, and psychological distress in United States military Veterans

ABSTRACT Sleep problems are prevalent among Veterans. Left untreated, such problems may elevate psychological distress and increase risk of subsequent mental health disorders. Psychological resilience may buffer against negative psychological outcomes, yet the relationship between sleep and resilience has not been studied. This study explored poor sleep, resilience, and psychological distress using questionnaires collected as part of the Study of Post-Deployment Mental Health. Participants (N = 1,118) had served in the US military since September 11, 2001, had one or more overseas deployments, and were free from a past-month DSM-defined mental health disorder. Hierarchical linear regression was used to examine the association between poor sleep quality (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index total score) and psychological distress (Global Symptom Index; Symptom Checklist-90-R), controlling for demographic and health characteristics. Moderation analyses tested for a potential buffering effect of resilience (Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale). Poor sleeping Veterans had worse physical and psychological health, lower resilience, and endorsed more lifetime traumatic events. Poor sleep was associated with greater psychological distress controlling for health and demographic characteristics. Both resilience factors—adaptability and self-efficacy—had significant buffering effects on the relationship between poor sleep and psychological distress, suggesting that resilience may protect against negative outcomes in poor sleepers. Additional research is warranted to better understand the relationships between sleep, resilience, and psychological distress. Such research may inform pertinent prevention efforts, including interventions that improve sleep, enhance resilience, and protect against incident mental health diagnoses.