Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Glial Endozepines Inhibit Feeding-Related Autonomic Functions by Acting at the Brainstem Level

Endozepines are endogenous ligands for the benzodiazepine receptors and also target a still unidentified GPCR. The endozepine octadecaneuropeptide (ODN), an endoproteolytic processing product of the diazepam-binding inhibitor (DBI) was recently shown to be involved in food intake control as an anorexigenic factor through ODN-GPCR signaling and mobilization of the melanocortinergic signaling pathway. Within the hypothalamus, the DBI gene is mainly expressed by non-neuronal cells such as ependymocytes, tanycytes, and protoplasmic astrocytes, at levels depending on the nutritional status. Administration of ODN C-terminal octapeptide (OP) in the arcuate nucleus strongly reduces food intake. Up to now, the relevance of extrahypothalamic targets for endozepine signaling-mediated anorexia has been largely ignored. We focused our study on the dorsal vagal complex located in the caudal brainstem. This structure is strongly involved in the homeostatic control of food intake and comprises structural similarities with the hypothalamus. In particular, a circumventricular organ, the area postrema (AP) and a tanycyte-like cells forming barrier between the AP and the adjacent nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS) are present. We show here that DBI is highly expressed by ependymocytes lining the fourth ventricle, tanycytes-like cells, as well as by proteoplasmic astrocytes located in the vicinity of AP/NTS interface. ODN staining observed at the electron microscopic level reveals that ODN-expressing tanycyte-like cells and protoplasmic astrocytes are sometimes found in close apposition to neuronal elements such as dendritic profiles or axon terminals. Intracerebroventricular injection of ODN or OP in the fourth ventricle triggers c-Fos activation in the dorsal vagal complex and strongly reduces food intake. We also show that, similarly to leptin, ODN inhibits the swallowing reflex when microinjected into the swallowing pattern generator located in the NTS. In conclusion, we hypothesized that ODN expressing cells located at the AP/NTS interface could release ODN and modify excitability of NTS neurocircuitries involved in food intake control.
Creative Object-Oriented Modelling : Support for Creativity , Flexibility , and Collaboration in CASE Tools

A major strength in object-oriented development is the direct support for domain modelling offered by the conceptual framework underlying object-orientation. In this framework, domains and systems can be analysed and understood using models at a high level of abstraction. To support the construction of such models, a large number of Computer-Aided Software Engineering tools are available. These tools excel in supporting design and implementation, but have little support for elements such as creativity, flexibility, and collaboration. We believe that this lack of support partly explains the low adoption of CASE tools. Based on this, we have developed a tool, Knight, which supports intuition, flexibility, and collaboration by implementing gesture based UML modelling on a large electronic whiteboard. Such support improves CASE tools, and can thus potentially lead to increased adoption of CASE tools and thus ultimately help improving the overall quality of development projects.
$H_{\infty }$ Loop Shaping Bilateral Controller for a Two-Fingered Tele-Micromanipulation System

Recent developments on micromanipulation and Internet technologies allow potential impacts on networked microautomation of small industrial products. However, reliable and efficient microteleoperation systems with haptic feedback over the Internet face strong problems due to microenvironment variations, the scaling effect problem between worlds with different physical characteristics, and time delays in communication lines. Taking into account these constraints, a force-reflecting macro-microteleoperator controller is designed based on the framework Hinfin loop-shaping procedure approach. This approach allows a convenient way to tradeoff the robustness for a prespecified time delay margin, variation of force scaling factors, and uncertainties in environment models. The experimental results clearly show that the proposed approach ensures the stability robustness against time delays and scaling factors.
Selectivity for Spectral Motion as a Neural Computation for Encoding Natural Communication Signals in Bat Inferior Colliculus

This study examines the neural computations performed by neurons in the auditory system to be selective for the direction and velocity of signals sweeping upward or downward in frequency, termed spectral motion. We show that neurons in the auditory midbrain of Mexican free-tailed bats encode multiple spectrotemporal features of natural communication sounds. These features to which each neuron is tuned are nonlinearly combined to produce selectivity for spectral motion cues present in their conspecific calls, such as direction and velocity. We find that the neural computations resulting in selectivity for spectral motion are analogous to models of motion selectivity studied in vision. Our analysis revealed that auditory neurons in the inferior colliculus (IC) are avoiding spectrotemporal modulations that are redundant across different bat communication signals and are specifically tuned for modulations that distinguish each call from another by their frequency-modulated direction and velocity, suggesting that spectral motion is the neural computation through which IC neurons are encoding specific features of conspecific vocalizations.
Dynamics of Nuclear Pore Distribution in Nucleoporin Mutant Yeast Cells

To follow the dynamics of nuclear pore distribution in living yeast cells, we have generated fusion proteins between the green fluorescent protein (GFP) and the yeast nucleoporins Nup49p and Nup133p. In nup133− dividing cells that display a constitutive nuclear pore clustering, in vivo analysis of GFP-Nup49p localization revealed changes in the distribution of nuclear pore complex (NPC) clusters. Furthermore, upon induction of Nup133p expression in a GAL-nup133 strain, a progressive fragmentation of the NPC aggregates was observed that in turn led to a wild-type nuclear pore distribution. To try to uncouple Nup133p- induced NPC redistribution from successive nuclear divisions and nuclear pore biogenesis, we devised an assay based on the formation of heterokaryons between nup133− mutants and cells either expressing or overexpressing Nup133p. Under these conditions, the use of GFP-Nup133p and GFP-Nup49p fusion proteins revealed that Nup133p can be rapidly targeted to the clustered nuclear pores, where its amino-terminal domain is required to promote the redistribution of preexisting NPCs.
PTSD and Sexual Dysfunction in Men and Women.

INTRODUCTION Difficulties in sexual desire and function often occur in persons with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), but many questions remain regarding the mechanisms underlying the occurrence of sexual problems in PTSD. AIM The aim of this review was to present a model of sexual dysfunction in PTSD underpinned by an inability to regulate and redirect the physiological arousal needed for healthy sexual function away from aversive hyperarousal and intrusive memories. METHOD A literature review pertaining to PTSD and sexual function was conducted. Evidence for the comorbidity of sexual dysfunction and PTSD is presented, and biological and psychological mechanisms that may underlie this co-occurrence are proposed. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES This manuscript presents evidence of sexual dysfunction in conjunction with PTSD, and of the neurobiology and neuroendocrinology of PTSD and sexual function. RESULTS Sexual dysfunction following trauma exposure may be mediated by PTSD-related biological, cognitive, and affective processes. CONCLUSIONS The treatment of PTSD must include attention to sexual dysfunction and vice versa.
TensorLog: A Differentiable Deductive Database

Large knowledge bases (KBs) are useful in many tasks, but it is unclear how to integrate this sort of knowledge into "deep" gradient-based learning systems. To address this problem, we describe a probabilistic deductive database, called TensorLog, in which reasoning uses a differentiable process. In TensorLog, each clause in a logical theory is first converted into certain type of factor graph. Then, for each type of query to the factor graph, the message-passing steps required to perform belief propagation (BP) are "unrolled" into a function, which is differentiable. We show that these functions can be composed recursively to perform inference in non-trivial logical theories containing multiple interrelated clauses and predicates. Both compilation and inference in TensorLog are efficient: compilation is linear in theory size and proof depth, and inference is linear in database size and the number of message-passing steps used in BP. We also present experimental results with TensorLog and discuss its relationship to other first-order probabilistic logics.
Behavioral stuttering interventions for children and adolescents: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

PURPOSE To evaluate the effectiveness of behavioral interventions designed to treat stuttering in children. METHOD Studies were included for review if (a) the treatment was a behavioral intervention, (b) participants were between 2 and 18 years old, (c) the design was an experimental or quasi-experimental group design, and (d) the reported outcome measure assessed stuttering. An electronic search of 8 databases yielded a total of 9 studies, representing 327 treated participants across 7 different intervention types. Data were extracted for participant, treatment, and outcome characteristics as well as for methodological quality. RESULTS An analysis of the treatment effects yielded significant positive effects approaching 1 SD when compared with a nontreatment control group. No significant differences emerged for studies comparing 2 different treatments. CONCLUSION Conclusions drawn from the extant research suggest that data to support the efficacy of behavioral intervention in children exists for a limited number of intervention strategies, based on a meager number of methodologically acceptable studies.
Real space and wave-number space studies of the phase structure and morphology of iPP/PEOc blends using phase contrast microscopy

Phase contrast microscopy (PCM) was used to study the relation of the phase structure and morphology of isotactic polypropylene/poly(ethylene-co-octene) (iPP/PEOc) blends and the composition and the shear rate. The digital image analysis containing the analysis both in real space and wave-number space was introduced to deal with the PCM micrographs. The average characteristic length, Lm, in real space and the mean square radius of gyration, R g 2 ¯ , in wave-number space were defined and calculated to discuss the phase structure and morphology of iPP/PEOc blends. In addition, the fractal dimension, Dc, was introduced to describe spatial distribution uniformity of the dispersed phase. The results showed that these parameters were effective to study the size and its distribution of the dispersed phase particles.
Increased sensitivity of photosynthesis to antimycin A induced by inactivation of the chloroplast ndhB gene. Evidence for a participation of the NADH-dehydrogenase complex to cyclic electron flow around photosystem I.

Tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum var Petit Havana) ndhB-inactivated mutants (ndhB-) obtained by plastid transformation (E.M. Horvath, S.O. Peter, T. Joët, D. Rumeau, L. Cournac, G.V. Horvath, T.A. Kavanagh, C. Schäfer, G. Peltier, P. MedgyesyHorvath [2000] Plant Physiol 123: 1337-1350) were used to study the role of the NADH-dehydrogenase complex (NDH) during photosynthesis and particularly the involvement of this complex in cyclic electron flow around photosystem I (PSI). Photosynthetic activity was determined on leaf discs by measuring CO2 exchange and chlorophyll fluorescence quenchings during a dark-to-light transition. In the absence of treatment, both non-photochemical and photochemical fluorescence quenchings were similar in ndhB- and wild type (WT). When leaf discs were treated with 5 microM antimycin A, an inhibitor of cyclic electron flow around PSI, both quenchings were strongly affected. At steady state, maximum photosynthetic electron transport activity was inhibited by 20% in WT and by 50% in ndhB-. Under non-photorespiratory conditions (2% O2, 2,500 microL x L(-1) CO2), antimycin A had no effect on photosynthetic activity of WT, whereas a 30% inhibition was observed both on quantum yield of photosynthesis assayed by chlorophyll fluorescence and on CO2 assimilation in ndhB-. The effect of antimycin A on ndhB- could not be mimicked by myxothiazol, an inhibitor of the mitochondrial cytochrome bc1 complex, therefore showing that it is not related to an inhibition of the mitochondrial electron transport chain but rather to an inhibition of cyclic electron flow around PSI. We conclude to the existence of two different pathways of cyclic electron flow operating around PSI in higher plant chloroplasts. One of these pathways, sensitive to antimycin A, probably involves ferredoxin plastoquinone reductase, whereas the other involves the NDH complex. The absence of visible phenotype in ndhB- plants under normal conditions is explained by the complement of these two pathways in the supply of extra-ATP for photosynthesis.
A Predictive Opportunistic Scheduler for 4G Wireless Systems

Channel aware schedulers play a crucial role in the performance enhancement of wireless systems by taking advantage of channel fluctuations for leveraging the gain that results in user selections (multiuser diversity) to maximize the throughput performance. Opportunistic schedulers achieve a convenient trade-off between sum-rate and fairness by optimizing the resource allocation with respect to the channel performance over past assignments (e.g., channel quality measurements for the past users or the users' throughput). This paper is focused on opportunistic schedulers based on cumulative density function with the introduction of the predicted channel quality values. The Predictive Score Based Scheduler (Predictive-SBS) proposed in this paper is computationally convenient and shows a better trade-off between sum-rate and fairness when compared to non-predictive schedulers based on cumulative density function.
UH-PRHLT at SemEval-2016 Task 3: Combining Lexical and Semantic-based Features for Community Question Answering

In this work we describe the system built for the three English subtasks of the SemEval 2016 Task 3 by the Department of Computer Science of the University of Houston (UH) and the Pattern Recognition and Human Language Technology (PRHLT) research center - Universitat Polit`ecnica de Val`encia: UH-PRHLT. Our system represents instances by using both lexical and semantic-based similarity measures between text pairs. Our semantic features include the use of distributed representations of words, knowledge graphs generated with the BabelNet multilingual semantic network, and the FrameNet lexical database. Experimental results outperform the random and Google search engine baselines in the three English subtasks. Our approach obtained the highest results of subtask B compared to the other task participants.
Creating a distributed mobile networking testbed environment-through the Living Labs approach

Today, new ways of constructing and delivering complex wireless and mobile services require more elaborate and distributed prototyping, testing, and validation facilities. Testbeds are becoming an important tool for integrating technology components into the complex environment of the wireless world and end-users in their daily life. However technology in itself is no longer valid-benefits and usefulness for people in their daily life must be proven before the technology or service can be said to be a success. Living Labs is a user-centred real-life approach to wireless and mobility service and technology design and development (as well as other service areas). The user-centred approach places special emphasis on the need to develop mobile services that are usable, i.e. effective, efficient and satisfying to use, and has full end user integration in the creation and validation processes, which is necessary for gauging market acceptance of the developed prototypes and solutions
Regional differences in sensitivity of the vestibular sensory epithelia to ototoxic antibiotics.

The effect of intratympanic application of streptomycin and parenteral injections of kanamycin upon the vestibular sensory epithelia have been studied with the surface specimen technique. Clear regional differences in vulnerability to these ototoxic antibiotics have been noticed. The sensory epithelia of the cristae ampullares were more vulnerable than the macula utriculi, which in turn was distinctly more vulnerable than the macula sacculi. The degenerative changes involved primarily the central parts of the crista epithelium and the striola of the maculae.
Mental and Physical Well-Being Following Admission to Pediatric Intensive Care

Objective: To assess mental and physical well-being in school-aged children following admission to pediatric intensive care and to examine risk factors for worse outcome. Design: A prospective cohort study. Setting: Two PICUs. Subjects: A consecutive sample of 88 patients 5–16 years old (median age, 10.00 yr; interquartile range, 6.00–13.00 yr) admitted to PICU from 2007 to 2010 with septic illness, meningoencephalitis, or other critical illnesses were assessed a median of 5 months following discharge and outcomes compared with 100 healthy controls. Interventions: None. Measurements and Main Results: Parents completed questionnaires documenting child mental and physical well-being, including the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaires, Chalder Fatigue Scale, and Child Sleep Habits Questionnaire. Children over 8 years completed the Impact of Event Scale -8. The children admitted to PICU scored worse on all measures in comparison with the healthy controls, with 20% scoring at risk for psychiatric disorder, 34% with high levels of post-traumatic stress symptoms, 38% at risk for fatigue disorder, and 80% scoring at risk for sleep disturbance. In the PICU group, multivariable regression analyses identified septic illness as an independent predictor of post-traumatic stress symptoms and family status, past child health problems, and PICU length of stay as predictors of reduced general mental well-being. Conclusions: Our findings indicate that a significant minority of school-aged children admitted to PICU are at risk for reduced mental and physical well-being in the short term. Symptoms of poor mental well-being were linked to both vulnerability factors and critical illness factors.
Analysis and Control of DC-Capacitor-Voltage-Drift Phenomenon of a Passive Front-End Five-Level Converter

The phenomenon of dc-capacitor-voltage drift is the main technical drawback of a passive front-end multilevel diode-clamped converter (DCC). This paper formulates and analyzes the dc-capacitor-voltage-drift phenomenon of a passive front-end five-level DCC, which operates based on a sinusoidal pulsewidth-modulation (SPWM) switching strategy. The analysis shows dependence of the voltage drift on the modulation index and the ac-side power factor of the DCC. The analysis concludes that an SPWM strategy, without the use of auxiliary power circuitry, is not able to prevent the voltage-drift phenomenon of a five-level DCC. This paper also proposes a space-vector-modulation (SVM)-based switching strategy that takes advantage of redundant switching vectors of the SVM method to counteract the voltage-drift phenomenon. The limit to the range of operation of a five-level DCC, which is based on the proposed SVM strategy, is also presented. The salient feature of the proposed strategy is that it enables voltage balancing of the dc capacitors with no requirements for additional controls or auxiliary-power circuitry, within the specified range of operation. The performance of a DCC under various operating conditions, based on time-domain simulation studies in the MATLAB/SIMULINK environment, is evaluated. This paper demonstrates capability of the proposed SVM strategy to control and maintain voltage balance of dc capacitors.
Description of Candidatus Bartonella fadhilae n. sp. and Candidatus Bartonella sanaae n. sp. (Bartonellaceae) from Dipodillus dasyurus and Sekeetamys calurus (Gerbillinae) from the Sinai Massif (Egypt)

Abstract Bartonella spp. are parasites of mammalian erythrocytes and endothelial cells, transmitted by blood-feeding arthropod ectoparasites. Different species of rodents may constitute the main hosts of Bartonella, including several zoonotic species of Bartonella. The aim of this study was to identify and compare Bartonella species and genotypes isolated from rodent hosts from the South Sinai, Egypt. Prevalence of Bartonella infection was assessed in rodents (837 Acomys dimidiatus, 73 Acomys russatus, 111 Dipodillus dasyurus, and 65 Sekeetamys calurus) trapped in 2000, 2004, 2008, and 2012 in four dry montane wadis around St. Katherine town in the Sinai Mountains. Total DNA was extracted from blood samples, and PCR amplification and sequencing of the Bartonella-specific 860-bp gene fragment of rpoB and the 810-bp gene fragment of gltA were used for molecular and phylogenetic analyses. The overall prevalence of Bartonella in rodents was 7.2%. Prevalence differed between host species, being 30.6%, 10.8%, 9.6%, and 3.6% in D. dasyurus, S. calurus, A. russatus, and A. dimidiatus, respectively. The phylogenetic analyses of six samples of Bartonella (five from D. dasyurus and one from S. calurus) based on a fragment of the rpoB gene, revealed the existence of two distinct genetic groups (with 95–96% reciprocal sequence identity), clustering with several unidentified isolates obtained earlier from the same rodent species, and distant from species that have already been described (90–92% of sequence identity to the closest match from the GenBank reference database). Thus, molecular and phylogenetic analyses led to the description of two species: Candidatus Bartonella fadhilae n. sp. and Candidatus Bartonella sanaae n. sp. The identification of their vectors and the medical significance of these species need further investigation.