Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Role of the Alpha2-Adrenoceptors on the Pulmonary Circulation in the Ovine Fetus

Recent in vitro studies reported that nitric oxide release and pulmonary vasorelaxation can be mediated by endothelial α2-adrenoceptor activation. As norepinephrine (α1-,α2-, and β1-adrenoceptor agonist) was found to induce pulmonary vasodilation in the ovine fetus, we hypothesized that α2-adrenoceptors may modulate basal pulmonary vascular tone and mediate the vascular effect of norepinephrine during fetal life. To determine the role of α2-adrenoceptors and the mechanisms of norepinephrine-mediated vasodilation in the fetal pulmonary circulation, we tested, in chronically prepared late-gestation fetal lambs, the hemodynamic response to 1) yohimbine (α2 antagonist); 2) UK 14,304 (α2 agonist) with and without L-nitro-arginine (nitric oxide synthase inhibitor); and 3) norepinephrine infusion with and without yohimbine. We found that yohimbine increased mean pulmonary artery pressure by 15% (p < 0.05), decreased pulmonary flow by 22% (p < 0.01), and increased pulmonary vascular resistance by 51% (p < 0.01). UK 14,304 increased pulmonary flow by 145% (p < 0.01) and decreased pulmonary vascular resistance by 58% (p < 0.01). L-Nitro-arginine abolished the UK 14,304-mediated pulmonary vasodilation. Norepinephrine (0.5 μg·kg−1·min−1) increased both pulmonary flow by 61% (p < 0.01) and pulmonary arterial pressure by 13% (p < 0.01) and decreased pulmonary vascular resistance by 33% (p < 0.01). Yohimbine abolished the norepinephrine-induced pulmonary vasodilation. This study suggests that 1) a basal α2-adrenoceptor activation-induced pulmonary vasodilation exists during fetal life; 2) the pulmonary vascular effects of α2-adrenoceptor activation are related at least in part to nitric oxide production; and 3) the norepinephrine-mediated pulmonary vasodilation involves α2-adrenoceptor activation. As a surge of norepinephrine exists at birth, we speculate that norepinephrine and endothelial α2-adrenoceptor activation may play a significant role in pulmonary vasodilation at birth.
Direction-of-arrival estimation using separated subarrays

In this paper we study direction-of-arrival (DOA) estimation with a particular class of sparse linear arrays, characterized by two widely separated subarrays. Since a large array aperture is obtained with a small number of elements, this structure can provide very accurate angle estimates at a reasonable cost, but at the expense of near ambiguities. The potential and theoretical limitations in DOA estimation with this class of arrays are investigated. We evaluate the performances of DOA estimation algorithms and compare with theoretical bounds, taking the effects of near ambiguities into account.
Retrospective retrieval of long-term consistent global leaf area index (1981-2011) from combined AVHRR and MODIS data

In this paper, we present an approach for generating a consistent long-term global leaf area index (LAI) product (1981-2011) by quantitative fusion of Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) and historical Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) data. First, a MODIS LAI series was generated from MODIS data based on the GLOBCARBON LAI algorithm. Then, the relationships between AVHRR observations and MODIS LAI were established pixel by pixel using two data series during overlapped period (2000-2006). Then the AVHRR LAI back to 1981 was estimated from historical AVHRR observations based on these pixel-level relationships. The long-term LAI series was made up by combination of AVHRR LAI (1981-2000) and MODIS LAI (2000-2011). The LAI derived from AVHRR was intercompared with that from MODIS during the overlapped period. The results show that the LAIs from these two different sensors are good consistency, with LAI differences are within +/- 0.6 over 99.0% vegetated pixels. The long-term LAI was also compared with field measurements, which has an error of 0.81 LAI on average. Compared with the LAI retrieved directly from the GLOBCARBON algorithm, the LAI derived by our method has a lower temporal noise, which means uncertainties from the low quality of AVHRR measurements can be reduced with the aid of high-quality MODIS data. This product is hosted on the GlobalMapping Web site (http://www.globalmapping.org/globalLAI) for free download, which will provide a long-term LAI over 30 years for modeling the carbon and water cycles.
Cross Fostering Experiments Suggest That Mice Songs Are Innate

Background Vocal learning is a central functional constituent of human speech, and recent studies showing that adult male mice emit ultrasonic sound sequences characterized as “songs” have suggested that the ultrasonic courtship sounds of mice provide a mammalian model of vocal learning. Objectives We tested whether mouse songs are learned, by examining the relative role of rearing environment in a cross-fostering experiment. Methods and Findings We found that C57BL/6 and BALB/c males emit a clearly different pattern of songs with different frequency and syllable compositions; C57BL/6 males showed a higher peak frequency of syllables, shorter intervals between syllables, and more upward frequency modulations with jumps, whereas BALB/c males produced more “chevron” and “harmonics” syllables. To establish the degree of environmental influences in mouse song development, sons of these two strains were cross-fostered to another strain of parents. Songs were recorded when these cross-fostered pups were fully developed and their songs were compared with those of male mice reared by the genetic parents. The cross-fostered animals sang songs with acoustic characteristics - including syllable interval, peak frequency, and modulation patterns - similar to those of their genetic parents. In addition their song elements retained sequential characteristics similar to those of their genetic parents' songs. Conclusion These results do not support the hypothesis that mouse “song” is learned; we found no evidence for vocal learning of any sort under the conditions of this experiment. Our observation that the strain-specific character of the song profile persisted even after changing the developmental auditory environment suggests that the structure of these courtship sound sequences is under strong genetic control. Thus, the usefulness of mouse “song” as a model of mammalian vocal learning is limited, but mouse song has the potential to be an indispensable model to study genetic mechanisms for vocal patterning and behavioral sequences.
School Administrator Perceptions of Cyberbullying Facilitators and Barriers to Preventive Action: A Qualitative Study

Background. Schools are often held responsible for preventing or addressing cyberbullying, yet little is known about school administrator perceptions of cyberbullying and the challenges they face in addressing this public health issue. Aims. The goal of this study is to examine school administrators’ perceptions of the facilitators of cyberbullying and barriers to primary and secondary prevention strategies. Method. Public school administrators (N = 36) participated in in-depth interviews about bullying and discussed their experiences with cyberbullying and their perceptions of cyberbullying facilitators and barriers to prevention. Results. Three main themes arose from the analysis: (1) cyberbullying as a major challenge; (2) facilitators of cyberbullying and barriers to preventive action, including parents and technology; and (3) prevention efforts, including unclear jurisdiction for action, primary versus secondary prevention efforts, and technology attributes that facilitate school response to bullying. Discussion. Although administrators perceive cyberbullying as a major challenge facing their schools, they are often unsure about appropriate primary and secondary prevention efforts. Relationships with parents and police complicate response and prevention as schools attempt to navigate unclear jurisdiction. Additionally, technology presents a challenge to schools because it is seen as an enabler of cyberbullying, a facilitator of prevention, and a necessary part of education efforts. Conclusion. Lack of research on prevention strategies, parents’ knowledge and attitudes, and confusion about responsibility for addressing cyberbullying are barriers to action. Findings suggest administrators could benefit from additional clarity on which strategies are most effective for primary prevention of cyberbullying, and that prevention strategies should proactively involve parents to promote effective collaboration with schools.
Dynamic Mechanism Design: A Myersonian Approach

We study mechanism design in dynamic quasilinear environments where private information arrives over time and decisions are made over multiple periods. We make three contributions. First, we provide a necessary condition for incentive compatibility that takes the form of an envelope formula for the derivative of an agent's equilibrium expected payoff with respect to his current type. It combines the familiar marginal effect of types on payoffs with novel marginal effects of the current type on future ones that are captured by “impulse response functions. ” The formula yields an expression for dynamic virtual surplus that is instrumental to the design of optimal mechanisms and to the study of distortions under such mechanisms. Second, we characterize the transfers that satisfy the envelope formula and establish a sense in which they are pinned down by the allocation rule (“revenue equivalence”). Third, we characterize perfect Bayesian equilibrium‐implementable allocation rules in Markov environments, which yields tractable sufficient conditions that facilitate novel applications. We illustrate the results by applying them to the design of optimal mechanisms for the sale of experience goods (“bandit auctions”).
Doxycycline Hyclate Treatment of Experimental Canine Ehrlichiosis Followed by Challenge Inoculation with Two Ehrlichia canis Strains

ABSTRACT Dogs were experimentally inoculated with Ehrlichia canis Florida to assess the efficacy of doxycycline hyclate for the treatment of acute ehrlichiosis. Treatment with doxycycline eliminated infection in eight of eight dogs. Untreated infected control dogs appeared to eliminate the infection or, alternatively, suppress the degree of ehrlichiemia to a level not detectable by tissue culture isolation or PCR or by transfusion of blood into recipient dogs. Prior infection did not infer protection against homologous (strain Florida) or heterologous (strain NCSU Jake) strains of E. canis. We conclude that doxycycline hyclate is an effective treatment for acuteE. canis infection; however, these results may not be applicable to chronic infections in nature. Spontaneous resolution of infection, induced by the dog’s innate immune response, provides evidence that an E. canis vaccine, once developed, might potentially confer protective immunity against the organism.
Bounding delays in packet-routing networks

We consider the problem of computing the average packet delay in a general dynamic packet-routing network with Poisson input stream, during steady-state. Any packet-routing network can be formulated as a queueing network, where each server has a constant service time and the packets are served in a rst-comerst served (FCFS) order. If each server had exponentiallydistributed service time, queueing theory techniques could be used to determine the expected packet delay. However, it is not known how to compute the average packet delay for all but the simplest networks with constant time servers. It has been conjectured that to get an upper bound on expected packet delay in the constant service network, one can simply replace each constant time server with an exponential server of equal mean service time. We prove that for a large class of networks, this conjecture is true, but that there exists a network for which it is false. This large class of networks is the Markovian queueing networks. Markovian queueing networks are important because they include many packet-routing networks where the packets are routed to random destinations.
Controlling the morphological and electro-optical properties of polymer dispersed liquid crystals

Polymer dispersed liquid crystals have shown potential as the basis for a new display screen technology which can be used to produce flexible displays. The work presented here investigates the properties during the synthesis process of PDLCs, which affect the electro-optical properties of the films produced. An investigation is performed through the use of small angle light scattering, and small angle neutron scattering, into the thermodynamic phase properties of the initial liquid crystal monomer solution from which the PDLCs are formed. Through the use of small angle light scattering and ESEM the phase separation mechanism is determined and the morphological properties of films formed under different thermodynamic conditions are investigated and linked to the electro-optical properties of test films. It is shown that due to the rod like nature of liquid crystal molecules that the monomer/liquid crystal phase properties cannot be explained by classic polymer solution thermodynamics. Phase separation is shown to occur by one of two mechanisms depending upon whether or not a crosslinking monomer species is present, either a gel phase separation mechanism or a viscoelastic mechanism. Depending upon the initial thermodynamic properties of the system the formation of a polymer network can either act to promote (resulting in a large droplet morphology size) or suppress (resulting in small impure liquid crystal droplets) phase separation. This in turn is linked to the effectiveness of films formed under given conditions as potential display devices. With thanks to EPSRC and Sony MSL, Stuttgart for funding
Routine HIV Screening in France: Clinical Impact and Cost-Effectiveness

Background In France, roughly 40,000 HIV-infected persons are unaware of their HIV infection. Although previous studies have evaluated the cost-effectiveness of routine HIV screening in the United States, differences in both the epidemiology of infection and HIV testing behaviors warrant a setting-specific analysis for France. Methods/Principal Findings We estimated the life expectancy (LE), cost and cost-effectiveness of alternative HIV screening strategies in the French general population and high-risk sub-populations using a computer model of HIV detection and treatment, coupled with French national clinical and economic data. We compared risk-factor-based HIV testing (“current practice”) to universal routine, voluntary HIV screening in adults aged 18–69. Screening frequencies ranged from once to annually. Input data included mean age (42 years), undiagnosed HIV prevalence (0.10%), annual HIV incidence (0.01%), test acceptance (79%), linkage to care (75%) and cost/test (€43). We performed sensitivity analyses on HIV prevalence and incidence, cost estimates, and the transmission benefits of ART. “Current practice” produced LEs of 242.82 quality-adjusted life months (QALM) among HIV-infected persons and 268.77 QALM in the general population. Adding a one-time HIV screen increased LE by 0.01 QALM in the general population and increased costs by €50/person, for a cost-effectiveness ratio (CER) of €57,400 per quality-adjusted life year (QALY). More frequent screening in the general population increased survival, costs and CERs. Among injection drug users (prevalence 6.17%; incidence 0.17%/year) and in French Guyana (prevalence 0.41%; incidence 0.35%/year), annual screening compared to every five years produced CERs of €51,200 and €46,500/QALY. Conclusions/Significance One-time routine HIV screening in France improves survival compared to “current practice” and compares favorably to other screening interventions recommended in Western Europe. In higher-risk groups, more frequent screening is economically justifiable.
High-Speed imaging reveals opposing effects of chronic stress and antidepressants on neuronal activity propagation through the hippocampal trisynaptic circuit

Antidepressants (ADs) are used as first-line treatment for most stress-related psychiatric disorders. The alterations in brain circuit dynamics that can arise from stress exposure and underlie therapeutic actions of ADs remain, however, poorly understood. Here, enabled by a recently developed voltage-sensitive dye imaging (VSDI) assay in mouse brain slices, we examined the impact of chronic stress and concentration-dependent effects of eight clinically used ADs (belonging to different chemical/functional classes) on evoked neuronal activity propagations through the hippocampal trisynaptic circuitry (HTC: perforant path → dentate gyrus (DG) → area CA3 → area CA1). Exposure of mice to chronic social defeat stress led to markedly weakened activity propagations (“HTC-Waves”). In contrast, at concentrations in the low micromolar range, all ADs, which were bath applied to slices, caused an amplification of HTC-Waves in CA regions (invariably in area CA1). The fast-acting “antidepressant” ketamine, the mood stabilizer lithium, and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) exerted comparable enhancing effects, whereas the antipsychotic haloperidol and the anxiolytic diazepam attenuated HTC-Waves. Collectively, we provide direct experimental evidence that chronic stress can depress neuronal signal flow through the HTC and demonstrate shared opposing effects of ADs. Thus, our study points to a circuit-level mechanism of ADs to counteract stress-induced impairment of hippocampal network function. However, the observed effects of ADs are impossible to depend on enhanced neurogenesis.
Brontornis burmeisteri Moreno & Mercerat, un Anseriformes (Aves) gigante del Mioceno Medio de Patagonia, Argentina

Brontornis burmeisteri Moreno & Mercerat, a giant Anseriformes (Aves) from the Middle Miocene of Patagonia, Argentina. Since its original description, Brontornis burmeisteri was considered as closely related to the family Phorusrhacidae (Gruiformes). Brontornis is known only by scarce postcranial remains, fragmentary mandibles and a quadrate bone. All the material comes from the Miocene of Santa Cruz Province, Argentina. A reanalysis of this material indicates that Brontornis may be more properly included within the Anseriformes as a basal member of this group, together with Diatryma and the extinct family Dromornithidae. Its inclusion within the Anseriformes suggests a more complex evolutionary history of the poorly known paleoavifaunas of South America.
Adiponectin Cardioprotection After Myocardial Ischemia/Reperfusion Involves the Reduction of Oxidative/Nitrative Stress

Background— Several clinical studies have demonstrated that levels of adiponectin are significantly reduced in patients with type 2 diabetes and that adiponectin levels are inversely related to the risk of myocardial ischemia. The present study was designed to determine the mechanism by which adiponectin exerts its protective effects against myocardial ischemia/reperfusion. Methods and Results— Adiponectin−/− or wild-type mice were subjected to 30 minutes of myocardial ischemia followed by 3 hours or 24 hours (infarct size and cardiac function) of reperfusion. Myocardial infarct size and apoptosis, production of peroxynitrite, nitric oxide (NO) and superoxide, and inducible NO synthase (iNOS) and gp91phox protein expression were compared. Myocardial apoptosis and infarct size were markedly enhanced in adiponectin−/− mice (P<0.01). Formation of NO, superoxide, and their cytotoxic reaction product, peroxynitrite, were all significantly higher in cardiac tissue obtained from adiponectin−/− than from wild-type mice (P<0.01). Moreover, myocardial ischemia/reperfusion–induced iNOS and gp91phox protein expression was further enhanced, but endothelial NOS phosphorylation was reduced in cardiac tissue from adiponectin−/− mice. Administration of the globular domain of adiponectin 10 minutes before reperfusion reduced myocardial ischemia/reperfusion–induced iNOS/gp91phox protein expression, decreased NO/superoxide production, blocked peroxynitrite formation, and reversed proapoptotic and infarct-enlargement effects observed in adiponectin−/− mice. Conclusion— The present study demonstrates that adiponectin is a natural molecule that protects hearts from ischemia/reperfusion injury by inhibition of iNOS and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate-oxidase protein expression and resultant oxidative/nitrative stress.
Nodavirus Infection of Sea Bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) Induces Up-Regulation of Galectin-1 Expression with Potential Anti-Inflammatory Activity12

Sea bass nervous necrosis virus is the causative agent of viral nervous necrosis, a disease responsible of high economic losses in larval and juvenile stages of cultured sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax). To identify genes potentially involved in antiviral immune defense, gene expression profiles in response to nodavirus infection were investigated in sea bass head kidney using the suppression subtractive hybridization (SSH) technique. A total of 8.7% of the expressed sequence tags found in the SSH library showed significant similarities with immune genes, of which a prototype galectin (Sbgalectin-1), two C-type lectins (SbCLA and SbCLB) from groups II and VII, respectively, and a short pentraxin (Sbpentraxin) were selected for further characterization. Results of SSH were validated by in vivo up-regulation of expression of Sbgalectin-1, SbCLA, and SbCLB in response to nodavirus infection. To examine the potential role(s) of Sbgalectin-1 in response to nodavirus infection in further detail, the recombinant protein (rSbgalectin-1) was produced, and selected functional assays were conducted. A dose-dependent decrease of respiratory burst was observed in sea bass head kidney leukocytes after incubation with increasing concentrations of rSbgalectin-1. A decrease in IL-1β, TNF-α, and Mx expression was observed in the brain of sea bass simultaneously injected with nodavirus and rSbgalectin-1 compared with those infected with nodavirus alone. Moreover, the protein was detected in the brain from infected fish, which is the main target of the virus. These results suggest a potential anti-inflammatory, protective role of Sbgalectin-1 during viral infection.
Two-sided Certification: The market for Rating Agencies

Certifiers contribute to the sound functioning of markets by reducing a symmetric information. They, however, have been heavily criticized during the 2008-09 financial crisis. This paper investigates on which side of the market a monopolistic profit-maximizing certifier offers his service. If the seller demands a rating, the certifier announces the product quality publicly, whereas if the buyer requests a rating it remains his private information. The model shows that the certifier offers his service to sellers and buyers to maximize his own profit with a higher share from the sellers. Overall, certifiers increase welfare in specific markets. Revenue shifts due to the financial crisis are also explained.
Potential for Extrinsic Incubation Temperature to Alter Interplay Between Transmission Potential and Mortality of Dengue-Infected Aedes aegypti

The extrinsic incubation period is a critical component in the assessment of arboviral transmission potential. It defines the time it takes for a mosquito to become infectious following exposure to an arbovirus. Since this is a temporal process, the lifespan of a mosquito is intimately tied to the extrinsic incubation period and thus transmission potential of these viruses. Temperature is a known effector of both vector competence (the ability of a vector to transmit a pathogen) and mosquito mortality, but the interaction among temperature, vector competence, and mosquito mortality is not well characterized. Herein, we investigate this interaction for dengue virus, serotype 2, and its primary vector Aedes aegypti where we found that at 30 °C, infection and/or dissemination shortened the average lifespan of the mosquito and that when considering only mosquitoes with a disseminated infection, those incubated at 26 °C lived significantly longer.