Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
KCC2 expression supersedes NKCC1 in mature fiber cells in mouse and rabbit lenses

Purpose Na-K-Cl cotransporter 1 (NKCC1) and K-Cl cotransporter 2 (KCC2) have fundamental roles in neuron differentiation that are integrated with gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and glutamate receptors, GABA synthesized by GAD25/65/67 encoded by GAD1/GAD2 genes, and GABA transporters (GATs). Cells in the eye lens express at least 13 GABA receptor subunits, α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA) and N-methyl D-aspartate (NMDA) glutamate receptors, GAD1/GAD2, GAT1–4 and vGAT, and NKCC1. NKCC1:KCC2 ratios determine the switch in GABA actions from trophic/growth promoting early in development to their classic inhibitory roles in adult neurons. Lens epithelial cells cover the anterior surface and differentiate to elongated fiber cells in the lens interior with comparable morphology and sub-cellular structures as neurons. NKCC1 is expressed before KCC2 in neuron development and increases cell chloride, which stimulates differentiation and process formation. Subsequently, KCC2 increases and extrudes cell chloride linked with maturation. KCC2 has an additional structural moonlighting role interacting with F-actin scaffolding in dendritic spine morphogenesis. We examined KCC2 versus NKCC1 spatial expression in relation to fiber cell developmental status within the lens. Methods Immunofluorescence and immunoblots were used to detect expression in mouse and rabbit lenses. Results NKCC1 was restricted to peripheral elongating lens fiber cells in young adult mouse and rabbit lenses. Lens KCC2 expression included the major KCC2b neuronal isoform and was detected in interior fiber cells with decreased NKCC1 expression and localized at the membranes. Lens expression of RE-1 silencing transcription factor (REST) regulated KCC2 is consistent with GAD1 and GAD2, several GABA and glutamate receptor subunits, miR-124, and other REST-regulated genes expressed in lenses. Conclusions NKCC1 in peripheral elongating fiber cells is superseded by KCC2 expression in interior mature fiber cells that also express >20 additional integral GABA biology genes, AMPA/NMDA glutamate receptors, and an array of accessory proteins that together underlie morphogenesis in neurons. The present findings provide further evidence that this fundamental neuronal regulation is extensively conserved in lens and identify additional parallels in the morphogenetic programs that underlie lens fiber cell and neuronal differentiation and contribute to the development of visual acuity.
Consistent visual words mining with adaptive sampling

State-of-the-art large-scale object retrieval systems usually combine efficient Bag-of-Words indexing models with a spatial verification re-ranking stage to improve query performance. In this paper we propose to directly discover spatially verified visual words as a batch process. Contrary to previous related methods based on feature sets hashing or clustering, we suggest not trading recall for efficiency by sticking on an accurate two-stage matching strategy. The problem then rather becomes a sampling issue: how to effectively and efficiently select relevant query regions while minimizing the number of tentative probes? We therefore introduce an adaptive weighted sampling scheme, starting with some prior distribution and iteratively converging to unvisited regions. Interestingly, the proposed paradigm is generalizable to any input prior distribution, including specific visual concept detectors or efficient hashing-based methods. We show in the experiments that the proposed method allows to discover highly interpretable visual words while providing excellent recall and image representativity.
High-Density Lipoprotein Deficiency and Dyslipoproteinemia Associated With Venous Thrombosis in Men

Background—Although dyslipoproteinemia is associated with arterial atherothrombosis, little is known about plasma lipoproteins in venous thrombosis patients. Methods and Results—We determined plasma lipoprotein subclass concentrations using nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and antigenic levels of apolipoproteins AI and B in blood samples from 49 male venous thrombosis patients and matched controls aged <55 years. Venous thrombosis patients had significantly lower levels of HDL particles, large HDL particles, HDL cholesterol, and apolipoprotein AI and significantly higher levels of LDL particles and small LDL particles. The quartile-based odds ratios for decreased HDL particle and apolipoprotein AI levels in patients compared with controls were 6.5 and 6.0 (95% CI, 2.3 to 19 and 2.1 to 17), respectively. Odds ratios for apolipoprotein B/apolipoprotein AI ratio and LDL cholesterol/HDL cholesterol ratio were 6.3 and 2.7 (95% CI, 1.9 to 21 and 1.1 to 6.5), respectively. When polymorphisms in genes for hepatic lipase, endothelial lipase, and cholesteryl ester transfer protein were analyzed, patients differed significantly from controls in the allelic frequency for the TaqI B1/B2 polymorphism in cholesteryl ester transfer protein, consistent with the observed pattern of lower HDL and higher LDL. Conclusions—Venous thrombosis in men aged <55 years old is associated with dyslipoproteinemia involving lower levels of HDL particles, elevated levels of small LDL particles, and an elevated ratio of apolipoprotein B/apolipoprotein AI. This dyslipoproteinemia seems associated with a related cholesteryl ester transfer protein genotype difference.
Modelling Patient States in Intensive Care Patients by Kanak Bikram Kshetri

Extensive bedside monitoring in hospital Intensive Care Units (ICU) has resulted in a deluge of information on patient physiology. Consequently, clinical decision makers have to reason with data that is simultaneously large and high-dimensional. Mechanisms to compress these datasets while retaining their salient features are in great need. Previous work in this area has focused exclusively on supervised models to predict specific hazardous outcomes like mortality. These models, while effective, are highly specific and do not generalize easily to other outcomes. This research describes the use of non-parametric unsupervised learning to discover abstract patient states that summarize a patient's physiology. The resulting model focuses on grouping physiologically similar patients instead of predicting particular outcomes. This type of cluster analysis has traditionally been done in small, low-dimensional, error-free datasets. Since our real-world clinical dataset affords none of these luxuries, we describe the engineering required to perform the analysis on a large, highdimensional, sparse, noisy and mixed dataset. The discovered groups showed cohesiveness, isolation and correspondence to natural groupings. These groups were also tested for enrichment towards survival, Glasgow Coma Scale values and critical heart rate events. In each case, we found groups which were enriched and depleted towards those outcomes. Thesis Supervisor: Prof. Peter Szolovits Title: Professor of Computer Science and Engineering Thesis Supervisor: Dr. Rohit Joshi Title: Postdoctoral Associate
A Fast Intra-mode Decision Scheme for HEVC

Compared with H.264/AVC, the newly published High Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC) standard improves the intra prediction by introducing much more prediction modes and novel techniques, which brings great computational burden. Although the rough mode decision (RMD) scheme in HEVC provides a way to speed up the process, it does not consider the similarity of neighboring modes to reduce the number of candidate modes. In this paper, we introduce a combined strategy for HEVC in intra prediction by utilizing parent PU candidate list, early termination of candidate list and mode group generation. Experimental results show that the proposed fast mode decision scheme significantly reduce the computation complexity with slight BD-rate increase, compared with the standard HM-9.0.
Clustering of galaxies in a hierarchical universe — III. Mock redshift surveys

This is the third paper in a series which combines N-body simulations and semi-analytic modelling to provide a fully spatially resolved simulation of the galaxy formation and clustering processes. Here we extract mock redshift surveys from our simulations: a Cold Dark Matter model with either Omega_0=1 (tauCDM) or Omega_0=0.3 and Lambda=0.7 (LambdaCDM). We compare the mock catalogues with the northern region (CfA2N) of the Center for Astrophysics (CfA) Redshift Surveys. We study the properties of galaxy groups and clusters identified using standard observational techniques and we study the relation of these groups to real virialised systems. Most features of CfA2N groups are reproduced quite well by both models with no obvious dependence on Omega_0. Redshift space correlations and pairwise velocities are also similar in the two cosmologies. The luminosity functions predicted by our galaxy formation models depend sensitively on the treatment of star formation and feedback. For the particular choices of Paper I they agree poorly with the CfA survey. To isolate the effect of this discrepancy on our mock redshift surveys, we modify galaxy luminosities in our simulations to reproduce the CfA luminosity function exactly. This adjustment improves agreement with the observed abundance of groups, which depends primarily on the galaxy luminosity density, but other statistics, connected more closely with the underlying mass distribution, remain unaffected. Regardless of the luminosity function adopted, modest differences with observation remain. These can be attributed to the presence of the ``Great Wall'' in the CfA2N. It is unclear whether the greater coherence of the real structure is a result of cosmic variance, given the relatively small region studied, or reflects a physical deficiency of the models.
Bayesian social learning in linear networks of agents with random behavior

In this paper, we consider the problem of social learning in a network of agents where the agents make decisions on K hypotheses sequentially and broadcast their decisions to others. Each agent in the system has a private observation that is generated by one of the hypotheses. All the observations are independently generated from the same hypothesis. We study a setting where the agents randomly choose to make decisions prudently or non-prudently. A prudent decision is based on the private observation of the agent and all the previous decisions, whereas a non-prudent decision relies only on the private observation of the agent. We present a Bayesian learning method for the agents that exploits the information from other decisions. We analyze the asymptotical property of this system. A proof is presented that with the proposed decision policy, the posterior probability of the true hypothesis converges to one in probability. Simulation results are also provided.
Edge universality of correlated Gaussians

We consider a Gaussian random matrix with correlated entries that have a power law decay of order d > 2 and prove universality for the extreme eigenvalues. A local law is proved using the self-consistent equation combined with a decomposition of the matrix. This local law along with concentration of eigenvalues around the edge allows us to get a bound for extreme eigenvalues. Using a recent result of the Dyson-Brownian motion, we prove universality of extreme eigenvalues.
An efficient implementation of Java's remote method invocation

Java offers interesting opportunities for parallel computing. In particular, Java Remote Method Invocation provides an unusually flexible kind of Remote Procedure Call. Unlike RPC, RMI supports polymorphism, which requires the system to be able to download remote classes into a running application. Sun's RMI implementation achieves this kind of flexibility by passing around object type information and processing it at run time, which causes a major run time overhead. Using Sun's JDK 1.1. 4 on a Pentium Pro/Myri.net cluster, for example, the latency for a null RMI (without parameters or a return value) is 1228 &mu;sec, which is about a factor of 40 higher than that of a user-level RPC. In this paper, we study an alternative approach for implementing RMI, based on native compilation. This approach allows for better optimization, eliminates the need for processing of type information at run time, and makes a light weight communication protocol possible. We have built a Java system based on a native compiler, which supports both compile time and run time generation of marshallers. We find that almost all of the run time overhead of RMI can be pushed to compile time. With this approach, the latency of a null RMI is reduced to 34 &mu;sec, while still supporting polymorphic RMIs (and allowing interoperability with other JVMs).
The strategies of Chinese and Indian software multinationals: implications for internationalization theory

China and India are emerging as major entrants into the international software industry. Both are rapidly learning through outsourcing with multinational enterprises (MNEs) from advanced nations, yet their paths to this dynamic sector are very different. Chinese software firms have focused on their domestic market by working with foreign MNEs, while they move cautiously abroad. Indian firms, which are already large, continue to expand overseas as well as to climb the value chain. Different approaches to MNEs provide useful perspectives. At the same time, the innovation systems approach is necessary to explain the foundations of the industry. The article provides hypotheses and tests them. It concludes that learning internationalization processes are different in Chinese and Indian MNEs, and provides explanations for the different patterns.
Selective Combination of Evidence for Topic Distillation using Document and Aggregate-level Information

The combination of evidence for Information Retrieval has been studied extensively in order to increase effectiveness. In this paper, we study the selective application of different retrieval approaches on a per-query basis for Web Information Retrieval. Our methodology is based on the assumption that not all queries benefit from a uniform retrieval approach. In order to select the most appropriate retrieval approaches for each query, we use evidence from the hyperlink structure of the retrieved documents and also from the distribution of aggregates, that is the groups of documents from the same domain. Our experimental results show that it is possible to obtain important improvements in retrieval effectiveness by using simple statistical decision mechanisms on a per-query basis.
The long-term course of seizure susceptibility in two patients with juvenile myoclonic epilepsy

We have observed epileptic seizures of juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (JME) to be surprisingly sensitive to higher mental activity. The purpose of the present study was to examine changes over time in seizure susceptibility in two patients with JME who we followed-up for over 20 years. During the period, they were repeatedly subjected to provocative cognitive tasking, that is, to 'neuropsychological EEG activation'. Tasks included reading, speaking, writing, written arithmetic, mental calculation, and spatial construction. During the first 15 years after the onset of symptoms, higher mental activities, mainly associated with use of the hands, i.e. writing, written calculation, and spatial construction, as well as physiological factors, such as sleep deprivation, awakening, and fatigue, precipitated the seizures. Generalized tonic-clonic and absence seizures but not myoclonic seizures disappeared almost completely after antiepileptic treatment. After age 30, the provocative effect of higher mental activities persisted, and the myoclonic seizures decreased under same drug regimen. These observations suggest that the pathophysiology of JME improves with time but persists for a long time, and that it is closely related to a neural network involved in higher mental activities mainly associated with use of the hands rather than in physiological factors emphasized in prior reports.
Targeting of Drosophila Rhodopsin Requires Helix 8 but Not the Distal C-Terminus

Background The fundamental role of the light receptor rhodopsin in visual function and photoreceptor cell development has been widely studied. Proper trafficking of rhodopsin to the photoreceptor membrane is of great importance. In human, mutations in rhodopsin involving its intracellular mislocalization, are the most frequent cause of autosomal dominant Retinitis Pigmentosa, a degenerative retinal pathology characterized by progressive blindness. Drosophila is widely used as an animal model in visual and retinal degeneration research. So far, little is known about the requirements for proper rhodopsin targeting in Drosophila. Methodology/Principal Findings Different truncated fly-rhodopsin Rh1 variants were expressed in the eyes of Drosophila and their localization was analyzed in vivo or by immunofluorescence. A mutant lacking the last 23 amino acids was found to properly localize in the rhabdomeres, the light-sensing organelle of the photoreceptor cells. This constitutes a major difference to trafficking in vertebrates, which involves a conserved QVxPA motif at the very C-terminus. Further truncations of Rh1 indicated that proper localization requires the last amino acid residues of a region called helix 8 following directly the last transmembrane domain. Interestingly, the very C-terminus of invertebrate visual rhodopsins is extremely variable but helix 8 shows conserved amino acid residues that are not conserved in vertebrate homologs. Conclusions/Significance Despite impressive similarities in the folding and photoactivation of vertebrate and invertebrate visual rhodopsins, a striking difference exists between mammalian and fly rhodopsins in their requirements for proper targeting. Most importantly, the distal part of helix 8 plays a central role in invertebrates. Since the last amino acid residues of helix 8 are dispensable for rhodopsin folding and function, we propose that this domain participates in the recognition of targeting factors involved in transport to the rhabdomeres.
Accruals Management with Financing and Investing Transactions

This paper examines the behavior of accounting accruals when a firm creates or participates in business transactions with outside entities that can shift accruals from operating to non-operating categories within its income statement, thus helping to manage a specific income statement bottom line (such as pro-forma earnings) in a desired way, or shift the accruals between the firm and the outside entities, thus selectively either adding accruals as desired or removing the negative consequences of reversing accruals. Such complex accruals-shifting transactions involving an investing cash flow or a financing cash flow were a common theme in several recent accounting scandals. While previous research has documented the reversal of accruals over time, this paper shows how the above types of transactions modify the normal reversal of accruals over time. Several example transactions are used to illustrate these two types of disruptions to the normal reversal of accruals. The paper also provides a model of the effect of accruals-shifting transactions on the balance sheet composition of operating assets and the means of financing them, and develops balance sheet proxies for the use of financing and investing transactions to manage accruals. ________________________ I appreciate the comments received on an earlier draft from Eli Amir, Hemang Desai, Ying Li, and Peter Pope. Accruals Management with Financing and Investing Transactions
Teaching freshmen design, creativity and programming with LEGOs and Labview

For the past 3 years LEGOs have been used to teach design, creativity, and structured programming to freshmen mechanical engineering students at the University of Nevada, Reno. MECH 151 is a 3-credit hour course offered as the second semester of a first year mechanical engineering design sequence. The class utilizes a project-based learning environment, which consists of approximately 10 design projects of increasing difficulty and scope. The course culminates with a robot battle and a presentation to local K-12 schools. Assessment methods include student surveys, external evaluators, evaluation of projects, and enrollment data. The use of LEGOs was found appealing to the students while providing an excellent medium for teaching design, programming, and creativity. Student enrollment has grown over 2 fold since the introduction of LEGOs.
Safety and tolerability of montelukast in placebo‐controlled pediatric studies and their open‐label extensions

Montelukast is a potent leukotriene‐receptor antagonist administered once daily that provides clinical benefit in the treatment of asthma and allergic rhinitis in children and adults. Because of its wide use as a pediatric controller, there is a need for a further review of the safety and tolerability of montelukast in children.
Recurring and Novel Class Detection Using Class-Based Ensemble for Evolving Data Stream

Streaming data is one of the attention receiving sources for concept-evolution studies. When a new class occurs in the data stream it can be considered as a new concept and so the concept-evolution. One attractive problem occurring in the concept-evolution studies is the recurring classes from our previous study. In data streams, a class can disappear and reappear after a while. Existing studies on data stream classification techniques either misclassify the recurring class or falsely identify the recurring classes as novel classes. Because of the misclassification or false novel classification, the error rates increases on those studies. In this paper we address the problem by defining a novel ensemble technique “class-based” ensemble which replaces the traditional “chunk-based” approach in order to detect the recurring classes. We discuss the details of two different approaches in class-based ensemble and explain and compare them in detail. Different than the previous studies in the field, we also prove the superiority of both “class-based” ensemble method over state-of-art techniques via empirical approach on a number of benchmark data sets including Web comments as text mining challenge.
Postswitching Negative Word of Mouth

Previous research has extensively studied the determinants of customer loyalty and switching behavior but has given little attention to what happens after a customer has switched away from a service provider. In this article, the perhaps most important manifestation of such postswitching behavior—namely, postswitching negative word of mouth (PNWOM)—is investigated. Drawing from dissonance theory, hypotheses are developed and tested in an empirical study. Results from the telecommunications industry indicate that PNWOM is given frequently and that product involvement, market mavenism, perceived risk, satisfaction with the new provider, and the reason for switching the provider explain PNWOM. Implications for customer management are discussed.
Modesty, liberty, equality: Negotiations of gendered principles of piety among Muslim women who cover

This article draws on a qualitative research study with Muslim women who cover to investigate how they represent the Islamic virtue of modesty. The article details findings that Muslim women elaborate modesty as an autonomous labour of ethical self-regulation and a relational virtue that is concerned with devotion to family and the de-sexualisation of day-to-day social interactions. It argues from analysis of representational content and dynamics that these accounts of modesty involve processes of affirming as well as resisting the liberal norms of equality, sexuality and agency that define Muslim veiling in the eyes of others.