Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Subgenual Cingulum Microstructure Supports Control of Emotional Conflict

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is associated with specific difficulties in attentional disengagement from negatively valenced material. Diffusion MRI studies have demonstrated altered white matter microstructure in the subgenual cingulum bundle (CB) in individuals with MDD, though the functional significance of these alterations has not been examined formally. This study explored whether individual differences in selective attention to negatively valenced stimuli are related to interindividual differences in subgenual CB microstructure. Forty-six individuals (21 with remitted MDD, 25 never depressed) completed an emotional Stroop task, using happy and angry distractor faces overlaid by pleasant or unpleasant target words and a control gender-based Stroop task. CBs were reconstructed in 38 individuals using diffusion-weighted imaging and tractography, and mean fractional anisotropy (FA) computed for the subgenual, retrosplenial, and parahippocampal subdivisions. No significant correlations were found between FA and performance in the control gender-based Stroop task in any CB region. However, the degree of interference produced by angry face distractors on time to identify pleasant words (emotional conflict) correlated selectively with FA in the subgenual CB (r = −0.53; P = 0.01). Higher FA was associated with reduced interference, irrespective of a diagnosis of MDD, suggesting that subgenual CB microstructure is functionally relevant for regulating attentional bias toward negative interpersonal stimuli.
Flagellin Glycans from Two Pathovars of Pseudomonas syringae Contain Rhamnose in d and l Configurations in Different Ratios and Modified 4-Amino-4,6-Dideoxyglucose

ABSTRACT Flagellins from Pseudomonas syringae pv. glycinea race 4 and Pseudomonas syringae pv. tabaci 6605 have been found to be glycosylated. Glycosylation of flagellin is essential for bacterial virulence and is also involved in the determination of host specificity. Flagellin glycans from both pathovars were characterized, and common sites of glycosylation were identified on six serine residues (positions 143, 164, 176, 183, 193, and 201). The structure of the glycan at serine 201 (S201) of flagellin from each pathovar was determined by sugar composition analysis, mass spectrometry, and 1H and 13C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. These analyses showed that the S201 glycans from both pathovars were composed of a common unique trisaccharide consisting of two rhamnosyl (Rha) residues and one modified 4-amino-4,6-dideoxyglucosyl (Qui4N) residue, β-d-Quip4N(3-hydroxy-1-oxobutyl)2Me-(1→3)-α-l-Rhap-(1→2)-α-l-Rhap. Furthermore, mass analysis suggests that the glycans on each of the six serine residues are composed of similar trisaccharide units. Determination of the enantiomeric ratio of Rha from the flagellin proteins showed that flagellin from P. syringae pv. tabaci 6605 consisted solely of l-Rha, whereas P. syringae pv. glycinea race 4 flagellin contained both l-Rha and d-Rha at a molar ratio of about 4:1. Taking these findings together with those from our previous study, we conclude that these flagellin glycan structures may be important for the virulence and host specificity of P. syringae.
Estimating soil available nitrogen with a hot H2O2/KCl extraction.

Appropriate and simple analysis methods for an accurate estimation of soil N mineralization potential are required to optimize N fertilizer recommendations. We used soils from non-cultivated and cultivated plots in central Cote d’Ivoire to investigate the quantum of ammonium (NH4+) that could potentially be mineralized. The soil was first treated with H2O2 at 60°C for 2, 4, 6 or 8 h (and referred to as hot extraction) or at room temperature (25°C and referred to as 0 h). The NH4+-N extracted increased with the heating time but decline slightly after 6 h. More NH4+-N was extracted in non-cultivated plots with the hot extraction, and the difference was significant at 6 h. The NH4+-N measured with the hot extraction correlated significantly with the CEC. We obtained the strongest correlation in non-cultivated plots (r2 = 0.88, p < 0.0001) at 6 h, and the weakest also at 6 h but in cultivated plots (r2 = 0.64, p < 0.0001). Similarly, we observed a significant correlation between the NH4+-N extracted and the amount of N taken up by rice seedlings grown in pots, and the best correlation was again at 6 h. The study illustrated that N mineralization with H2O2 at 60°C for 6 h is an appropriate procedure for extracting potentially mineralizable NH4+-N in soils. Key words: Cation exchange capacity (CEC), extractable ammonium, ferralsol, N mineralization, total N.
Techniques to mitigate fading effect in FSO using OFDM

Free space optical communication (FSO) is a technique based on transmission of data by propagating the light in free space. FSO is inexpensive, providing high data rates, high capacity, high security, low power and use the license free frequency spectrum. That's why recently FSO is an active area of research. This is an effective technique to transmit the data at high bit rate over short distance. Nevertheless FSO is still facing many problems like bad weather conditions, atmospheric turbulence and multipath fading. Fading is the major challenge faced by FSO. In this paper, we discussed some techniques like coherent detection and OFDM to reduce fading effects and improve the system performance.
Repeated Games Where the Payoffs and Monitoring Structure are Unknown

This paper studies repeated games with imperfect public monitoring where the play- ers are uncertain both about the payoff functions and about the relationship between the distribution of signals and the actions played. We introduce the concept of perfect public ex post equilibrium (PPXE), and show that it can be characterized with an exten- sion of the techniques used to study perfect public equilibria. We develop identifiability conditions that are sufficient for a folk theorem; these conditions imply that there are PPXE in which the payoffs are approximately the same as if the monitoring structure and payoff functions were known. Finally, we define perfect type-contingently public ex post equilibria (PTXE), which allows players to condition their actions on their initial private information, and we provide its linear programming characterization.
Using an integrated-spectrophotometric and 2-DE-method in the evaluation and characterization of seed extracted protein in Sunflower ( Helianthus annuus L . )

Total sunflower proteins, storage proteins, and helianthinin (11S) and 2S albumin fractions in seeds of six sunflower hybrids, Lotto3620, Lotto7R09, LottoR101, Lotto7R0, LottoR28, LottoR02 and Cms8, Mt8, TR3 were analyzed by using optical density approach. Protein contents were analyzed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and coupled with densitometry. The SDS-PAGE profiles of the seed proteins in the crude extracts for all genotypes showed a very similar number of protein bands in the electrophoretograms. Three polypeptide groups of helianthinin fraction were detected. Two of these were acidic (α,Mw= 36.8-42.9KDa and α', Mw =31-35.3KDa), while one was basic (β, Mw=21-29KDa). The molecular weight of the 2S albumin proteins ranged from 11.5KDa-20.1KDa. According to our results, there were significant differences among the seed protein concentration in different hybrids. since, the highest optical absorption ratio and protein concentration observed in LottoR02. In contrast, the lowest optical absorption and consequently protein concentration observed in Lotto3620.
A Role for the S0 Transmembrane Segment in Voltage-dependent Gating of BK Channels

BK (Maxi-K) channel activity is allosterically regulated by a Ca2+ sensor, formed primarily by the channel's large cytoplasmic carboxyl tail segment, and a voltage sensor, formed by its transmembrane helices. As with other voltage-gated K channels, voltage sensing in the BK channel is accomplished through interactions of the S1–S4 transmembrane segments with the electric field. However, the BK channel is unique in that it contains an additional amino-terminal transmembrane segment, S0, which is important in the functional interaction between BK channel α and β subunits. In this study, we used perturbation mutagenesis to analyze the role of S0 in channel gating. Single residues in the S0 region of the BK channel were substituted with tryptophan to give a large change in side chain volume; native tryptophans in S0 were substituted with alanine. The effects of the mutations on voltage- and Ca2+-dependent gating were quantified using patch-clamp electrophysiology. Three of the S0 mutants (F25W, L26W, and S29W) showed especially large shifts in their conductance–voltage (G-V) relations along the voltage axis compared to wild type. The G-V shifts for these mutants persisted at nominally 0 Ca2+, suggesting that these effects cannot arise simply from altered Ca2+ sensitivity. The basal open probabilities for these mutants at hyperpolarized voltages (where voltage sensor activation is minimal) were similar to wild type, suggesting that these mutations may primarily perturb voltage sensor function. Further analysis using the dual allosteric model for BK channel gating showed that the major effects of the F25W, L26W, and S29W mutations could be accounted for primarily by decreasing the equilibrium constant for voltage sensor movement. We conclude that S0 may make functional contact with other transmembrane regions of the BK channel to modulate the equilibrium between resting and active states of the channel's voltage sensor.
Theory and Computational Methods for Dynamic Projections in High-Dimensional Data Visualization

We start with a discussion of rendering methods for projections of data. We then examine the kinematics of dynamic projections in terms of invariant Riemannian metrics on Stiefel manifolds. We finally describe several algorithms for dynamic projections based on continuous interpolation, the generalization of polylines to the Stiefel manifold. These algorithms lend themselves for the implementation of interactive visual exploration tools of high-dimensional data, such as so-called grand tours, guided tours and manual tours.
Serine Phosphoacceptor Sites within the Core Protein of Hepatitis B Virus Contribute to Genome Replication Pleiotropically

The core protein of hepatitis B virus can be phosphorylated at serines 155, 162, and 170. The contribution of these serine residues to DNA synthesis was investigated. Core protein mutants were generated in which each serine was replaced with either alanine or aspartate. Aspartates can mimic constitutively phosphorylated serines while alanines can mimic constitutively dephosphorylated serines. The ability of these mutants to carry out each step of DNA synthesis was determined. Alanine substitutions decreased the efficiency of minus-strand DNA elongation, primer translocation, circularization, and plus-strand DNA elongation. Aspartate substitutions also reduced the efficiency of these steps, but the magnitude of the reduction was less. Our findings suggest that phosphorylated serines are required for multiple steps during DNA synthesis. It has been proposed that generation of mature DNA requires serine dephosphorylation. Our results suggest that completion of rcDNA synthesis requires phosphorylated serines.
Code vector density in topographic mappings: Scalar case

The author derives some new results that build on his earlier work (1989) of combining vector quantization (VQ) theory and topographic mapping (TM) theory. A VQ model (with a noisy transmission medium) is used to model the processes that occur in TMs, which leads to the standard TM training algorithm, albeit with a slight modification to the encoding process. To emphasize this difference, the model is called a topographic vector quantizer (TVQ). In the continuum limit of the one-dimensional (scalar) TVQ. It is found that the density of code vectors is proportional to P(x)(a) (alpha=1/3) assuming that the transmission medium introduces additive noise with a zero-mean, symmetric, monotically decreasing probability density. This result is dramatically different from the result that is predicted when the standard TM training algorithm is used with a uniform symmetric neighborhood [-n, +n], and it is noted that this difference arises entirely from using minimum distortion rather than nearest neighbor encoding.
'Micro-valences': Affective valence in 'neutral' everyday objects

& Department of Neuroscience prize for exceptional honors thesis. perceptual discrimination improvement following short individuation training with faces. (2010). Race-specific perceptual discrimination improvement following short individuation training with faces. [Abstract]. Neuron Journal of Experimental Psychology Letters to Neuroscience PLoS One viii Acknowledgements Many people contributed their time, effort and ideas in completion of this dissertation. I thoroughly enjoyed working on my PhD, which is without question due to the inspiring, supportive, down-to-earth scientists with whom I had the fortune of working. In particular, I would like to thank my entire committee, who has each contributed to my training and dissertation in their own way. Michael J. Tarr gave me the freedom and confidence to pursue ideas that I truly believed in. David Badre taught me the importance of accuracy, precision, and control in my experiments. He devoted the time and the care to teach me the complexities of neuroimaging, imbuing in me a deeper understanding that I continually refer to as I develop my own work. Moshe Bar inspired me with such creativity and imagination in his approach to perception. He always encouraged me to take a novel perspective when devising theories and interpreting data. I will always be grateful for the warmth and openness with which he welcomed me into his lab. David Sheinberg offered me continued and upbeat motivation that kept me going during the harder times of completing my thesis. He has guided me throughout my PhD, but the last two years in particular his support and direction has been exceptional. David has happily worked on the administrative side of having a student, for which I am truly grateful. David's comments on my work have always been some of the most insightful, even when they are delivered as he is flying off down the corridor! I am deeply grateful for his commitment to myself and my research and have enjoyed every moment of being part of his group. I would like to add a special thank you to my advisor, Mike Tarr. As an advisor, Mike always listened carefully to my ideas and valued my opinions and contributions to our work. He trusted the directions that I wanted to pursue and provided me with countless opportunities to create novel and exciting science. He always believed in my work and had confidence in my ability as a scientist (even when I doubted myself). This unwavering support and commitment …
A distributed virtual laboratory architecture for cybersecurity training

The rapid burst of Internet usage and the corresponding growth of security risks and online attacks for the everyday user or enterprise employee lead to the concepts of Awareness Creation and Information Security Culture. Nevertheless, security education has remained an academic issue mainly. Teaching system security or network security on the basis of practical experience inherits a great challenge for the teaching environment, which is traditionally solved using a computer laboratory at a university campus. The Tele-Lab project offers a system for hands-on IT security training in a remote virtual lab environment - on the web, accessible by everyone.
Análise das Intervenções da Agência Nacional de Saúde Suplementar (ANS) Através dos Índices de Desempenho da Saúde Suplementar (IDSS) Analysis of the Interventions of the Brazilian National Health Agency (ANS) Through the Performance Ratios of Supplementary Health (IDSS)

This research examined the relationships between the ratings of the health plan organizations in the IDSS's indicators in 2007 and 2008 and the likelihood of some of them have been submitted by ANS to special regimes in 2009. The Student's t test and logistic regressions were used to analyze the organizations data. Comparing in 2007 and 2008 the performance of the organizations that were subjected to special regimes with that of other organizations in 2009, it was found that they were worse in all indicators. The logistic regressions have shown that the probability of an organization to be submitted to the special regimes in 2009 was significantly related to the economic and financial dimension and to the structure and operation dimension in 2007, and only to the economic and financial dimension in 2008. It was concluded therefore that there is evidence that the ANS's interventions are explained by the ratings of the health plan organizations on the IDSS's indicators.
Metabolic Profiling of Dividing Cells in Live Rodent Brain by Proton Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (1HMRS) and LCModel Analysis

Rationale Dividing cells can be detected in the live brain by positron emission tomography or optical imaging. Here we apply proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1HMRS) and a widely used spectral fitting algorithm to characterize the effect of increased neurogenesis after electroconvulsive shock in the live rodent brain via spectral signatures representing mobile lipids resonating at ∼1.30 ppm. In addition, we also apply the same 1HMRS methodology to metabolically profile glioblastomas with actively dividing cells growing in RCAS-PDGF mice. Methods 1HMRS metabolic profiles were acquired on a 9.4T MRI instrument in combination with LCModel spectral analysis of: 1) rat brains before and after ECS or sham treatments and 2) RCAS-PDGF mice with glioblastomas and wild-type controls. Quantified 1HMRS data were compared to post-mortem histology. Results Dividing cells in the rat hippocampus increased ∼3-fold after ECS compared to sham treatment. Quantification of hippocampal metabolites revealed significant decreases in N-acetyl-aspartate but no evidence of an elevated signal at ∼1.3 ppm (Lip13a+Lip13b) in the ECS compared to the sham group. In RCAS-PDGF mice a high density (22%) of dividing cells characterized glioblastomas. Nile Red staining revealed a small fraction (3%) of dying cells with intracellular lipid droplets in the tumors of RCAS-PDGF mice. Concentrations of NAA were lower, whereas lactate and Lip13a+Lip13b were found to be significantly higher in glioblastomas of RCAS-PDGF mice, when compared to normal brain tissue in the control mice. Conclusions Metabolic profiling using 1HMRS in combination with LCModel analysis did not reveal correlation between Lip13a+Lip13b spectral signatures and an increase in neurogenesis in adult rat hippocampus after ECS. However, increases in Lip13a+Lip13b were evident in glioblastomas suggesting that a higher density of actively dividing cells and/or the presence of lipid droplets is necessary for LCModel to reveal mobile lipids.
Robust virtual frontal face synthesis from a given pose using regularized linear regression

Locally linear regression (LLR) is a simple yet efficient algorithm for synthesizing a virtual frontal image from a nonfrontal viewpoint. However, the effect of LLR is impacted by the patch size. Moreover, for the adjacent patches of the nose and mouth part, different local linear mappings cannot guarantee the predicted virtual frontal patches to be harmonious. The major cause is the different local geometric shape for different person. To overcome or at least to reduce the problem of LLR, we propose a regularization framework by introducing a global regularization item into the original local regression object function. The reconstruction weights are estimated through the new model and the virtual frontal face are predicted using the weights. Experimental results show that the method performs better than the LLR.
Sperm competition and sperm midpiece size: no consistent pattern in passerine birds

Sperm competition is thought to be a major force driving the evolution of sperm shape and function. However, previous studies investigating the relationship between the risk of sperm competition and sperm morphometry revealed inconclusive results and marked differences between taxonomic groups. In a comparative study of two families of passerines (Fringillidae and Sylviidae) and also across species belonging to different passerine families, we investigated the relative importance of the phylogenetic background on the relationship between sperm morphometry and the risk of sperm competition. The risk of sperm competition was inferred from relative testis mass as an indicator of investment in sperm production. We found: (i) a significant positive association between both midpiece length and flagellum length and relative testis mass in the Fringillidae, (ii) a significant negative association between sperm trait dimensions and relative testis mass in the Sylviidae, and (iii) no association across all species. Despite the striking difference in the patterns shown by the Sylviidae and the Fringillidae, the relationship between midpiece length and flagellum length was positive in both families and across all species with positive allometry. Reasons for the differences and similarities between passerine families are discussed.
Metabotropic Glutamate 2/3 Receptors in the Ventral Tegmental Area and the Nucleus Accumbens Shell Are Involved in Behaviors Relating to Nicotine Dependence

The motivation to maintain nicotine self-administration and dependence may involve alterations in glutamatergic neurotransmission. Metabotropic glutamate (mGlu) 2/3 receptors regulate glutamate and dopamine release in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) and the nucleus accumbens (NAc) shell, two brain areas critically involved in reward and motivational processes. We found that acute systemic, as well as intra-VTA or intra-NAc, administration of the mGlu2/3 receptor agonist LY379268 [(−)-2-oxa-4-aminobicyclo[3.1. 0]hexane-4,6-dicarboxylate] decreased nicotine, but not food, self-administration in rats. In addition, nicotine self-administration downregulated mGlu2/3 receptor function in corticolimbic rat brain sites including the VTA and the NAc, demonstrated by decreased coupling of mGlu2/3 receptors to G-proteins in the [35S]GTPγS binding assay. Furthermore, repeated treatment with LY379268 reduced nicotine self-administration at the beginning of a 14 d treatment period; however, the number of nicotine infusions earned gradually returned to baseline levels, indicating tolerance to the effects of repeated LY379268 treatment. Finally, LY379268 administration decreased both cue-induced reinstatement of nicotine- and food-seeking behavior. Together, these findings indicate an important role for mGlu2/3 receptors in the posterior VTA and the NAc shell in the mediation of the rewarding effects of nicotine and potentially in cue-induced nicotine-seeking behavior.