Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Local circuits and ocular dominance columns in monkey striate cortex

The relationships between ocular dominance columns and intrinsic cortical circuitry were examined in brain slices prepared from the striate cortex of macaques. Ocular dominance columns in layer 4C beta were visualized in vitro following anterograde transport of rhodamine injected into the lateral geniculate nucleus in vivo. The axonal and dendritic arborizations of individual layer 4C beta cells were revealed by intracellular fluorescent dye injections. Both qualitative observations and quantitative analysis showed that the dendrites of cells close to borders remained preferentially, although not absolutely, in the “home” column (the column containing the cell body). Thus, the segregated pattern of afferent input appears to have considerable influence on the pattern of dendritic arbors. Similarly, while axon collaterals within layer 4C beta could cross into the adjacent column, their limited lateral spread produced arbors that remained primarily within the home column. The terminal arbors of collaterals that travelled from layer 4C beta to layer 3 had a larger lateral spread, and the termination pattern appeared to be independent of column borders. Thus, our observations indicate that, while the course of many layer 4C beta dendrites appears to be guided by columnar boundaries as defined by geniculate afferents, there exist morphological substrates for intercolumnar interactions even between 4C beta cells. Intercolumnar interactions are seen more commonly in layer 3, however, where larger, denser axon arbors originating from 4C beta cells can freely cross ocular dominance column boundaries.
Additive Noise Response of a Charge Pump Phase-Locked Loop

The additive noise response of a charge pump phase-locked loop in the synchronous mode of operation has been studied. In order to determine the tracking and noise performances of the loop, mean square values of tracking error and local oscillator phase jitter have been analytically obtained. Analytical results agree well with the simulation results obtained here and elsewhere [3]. The analysis performed can be used in choosing different system parameters for optimum system operation. key words: charge pump phase-locked loop, additive noise response, tracking error variance, oscillator phase jitter variance
UAV-based stereo vision for photogrammetric survey in aerial terrain mapping

Recently, Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) technology is becoming useful to solve problems in many applications. The aim of this study is to investigate the use of light weight rotary-wing UAV for mapping simulation model. The objective of this study is to determine the accuracy of the photogrammetric output. This study only concentrates on one type of rotor-wing UAV. It is because rotor-wing units are more stable and able to capture images easily. It allows remote control UAV to be practiced in any environment and urban mapping. In the simulation model, ground control points (GCP) and checked point (CP) were established using total station. The GCP is used in the photogrammetric processes to produce photogrammetric output while the CP is used for accuracy assessment. A Nikon Coolpix consumer digital camera was used for images acquisition of the simulation model where two methods were used. In the first method, the camera was mounted vertically in a rotary-wing UAV and captured the images at an altitude. In the second method, the camera is mounted vertically at a fixed height. The acquired images were processed using photogrammetric software to produce orthophoto and digital elevation model of the simulation model. From this study, it was found that root mean square errors for fixed platform are ±0.002m, ±0.001m, ±0.214m for coordinate x, y and z respectively while the root mean square errors for mobile platform are ±0.002m, ±0.002m, ±0.223m for coordinate x, y and z respectively. It can be concluded that the differences between the mobile and fixed platforms are not significant. In conclusion, UAV system can be used for large scale mapping for aerial terrain mapping.
Nosebleeds in Children as a Potential Marker for Nonaccidental Injury and Serious Underlying Pathology: How Aware Are Hospital Clinicians?

Paediatric epistaxis is common and usually of benign origin. However, the differential diagnosis includes serious underlying pathology (e.g., bleeding disorders and blood cancers) and in the very young can be a marker of potential physical abuse. To assess if paediatric and A&E doctors were aware of the important differential, we asked them to complete a Likert scale questionnaire on several different clinical scenarios. Our results show that a significant proportion of doctors of all grades and in both specialties were either not aware of or not concerned about epistaxis in an infant as a possible sign of nonaccidental injury and were not willing to carry out simple blood tests to investigate recurrent nosebleeds in an older child. Our results highlight the need for education and evidence-based guidelines to avoid missing important, if infrequent, causes of paediatric epistaxis, both in the hospital and community setting.
Ethics of Future Disclosure of Individual Risk Information in a Genetic Cohort Study: A Survey of Donor Preferences

Background Although genetic epidemiologic research has added an element of individualization to epidemiologic research, there is neither agreement nor much discussion on whether donors of genetic samples should be offered an opportunity to receive individualized results regarding their genetic susceptibility to disease. Little is known regarding donors’ preferences for future disclosure of individual results. The purpose of this study is to investigate the actual preferences of such donors with regard to receiving individual results, to explore the factors related to their decision, and then to discuss ethical issues regarding the disclosure of results. Methods Participants (n = 1857) of an ongoing Japanese population-based genetic cohort study in Takashima, Shiga, in 2003, were asked at entry about their preferences with regard being recontacted by researchers in the future and whether they wanted to receive reports on their individual genetic results if genetic problems relevant to their health are discovered for which efficacious interventions might be available. Results Most of the donors wished to be recontacted and receive reports, but some did not want any reports. Those who were younger, former/current drinkers, or had at least 1 parent who had had cancer were more likely to want the results, while those who had at least 1 sibling with a medical history of cancer were less likely to want the results. Conclusion We observed a high level of positive preference for future disclosure of individual genetic results, which is in line with the professional views on the ethics of this issue. A well-considered procedure for ascertaining donors’ preferences for receiving the results of the research is required from an ethical perspective.
KMS states for the generalized gauge action on graph algebras

Given a positive function on the set of edges of an arbitrary directed graph $E=(E^0,E^1)$, we define a one-parameter group of automorphisms on the C*-algebra of the graph $C^*(E)$, and study the problem of finding KMS states for this action. We prove that there are bijective correspondences between KMS states on $C^*(E)$, a certain class of states on its core, and a certain class of tracial states on $C_0(E^0)$. We also find the ground states for this action and give some examples.
Unfair Tax Effects on Bids in an All-Pay Contest with a Possible Tie

This paper examines experimentally the effect of a different payment mechanism in the case of a tie on an agent's willingness to pay (WTP) in a winner-take-all contest. We examine how a small chance to pay tax in case of a tie affects the contest's bids. Our hypothesis is that the tax payment is perceived as unfair and as a result has a non-proportional effect on the bidders. The experimental results indicate that although the probability of a tie is quite low, the participants overweight its importance in determining their bids. As a result, they sharply decrease their bids in the case of a tax which is perceived unfair.
Nanocall: an open source basecaller for Oxford Nanopore sequencing data

Motivation The highly portable Oxford Nanopore MinlON sequencer has enabled new applications of genome sequencing directly in the field. However, the MinlON currently relies on a cloud computing platform, Metrichor (metrichor.com), for translating locally generated sequencing data into basecalls. Results To allow offline and private analysis of MinlON data, we created Nanocall. Nanocall is the first freely-available, open-source basecaller for Oxford Nanopore sequencing data and does not require an internet connection. On two E.coli and two human samples, with natural as well as PCR-amplified DNA, Nanocall reads have ~68% identity, directly comparable to Metrichor ”1D” data. Further, Nanocall is efficient, processing ~500Kbp of sequence per core hour, and fully parallelized. Using 8 cores, Nanocall could basecall a MinlON sequencing run in real time. Metrichor provides the ability to integrate the ”1D” sequencing of template and complement strands of a single DNA molecule, and create a ”2D” read. Nanocall does not currently integrate this technology, and addition of this capability will be an important future development. In summary, Nanocall is the first open-source, freely available, off-line basecaller for Oxford Nanopore sequencing data. Availability Nanocall is available at github.com/mateidavid/nanocall, released under the MIT license. Contact matei.david at oicr.on. ca
Hegemony, International Political Economy and Post-Communist Russia

This book attempts to place the development of post-communist Russia within a wider international context, arguing that events in Russia ‘cannot be understood without understanding those developments that have occurred at the global level’ (p. ). In order to attempt this, Worth employs a neo-Gramscian framework that uses Russia as a test case to ‘help to add greater emphasis to the study of neoliberal hegemony’ (p. ). With this in mind, Worth sets out to provide a bridge in ‘understanding the national/global dichotomy of hegemonic relations as it draws from both the Coxian framework of analysis and that which has been offered by area specialists’ (p. ). This emphasis on the international dimension in post-communist political economy is welcome given the fact that many accounts often neglect the importance of factors at the international level of analysis. Using Russia’s reintegration into the world economy as a case study enables Worth to focus on the degree of freedom that the Russian state enjoyed in negotiating its reintegration within the global order, thus bringing attention to the interplay between international and domestic variables in accounting for developments within Russia. Unfortunately, while the aims of the book are laudable, many who do not agree with the neo-Gramscian analytical framework may feel that the execution falls short in several important areas. Chapter 1 outlines the neo-Gramscian conceptual framework used by Worth throughout the book. Here, positivist approaches to international relations (IR) and international political economy (IPE) are critiqued, and in particular the hegemonic stability theory advanced by realist and liberal scholars. In their place, Worth proposes an approach that mixes elements of the works of Antonio Gramsci and Robert Cox, with the main emphasis placed on the concepts of hegemony (the process by which a ruling class exerts control over society through building consent, rather than resorting to coercion), and trasformismo and Caesarism (passive and non-passive responses at the national level to the hegemonic project). Here, it is suggested that the strategies employed by rulers to enforce the neoliberal hegemony are contingent on the unique circumstances prevailing within a given society. It is the focus on how state–society relations within individual states mediate the effects of neoliberalism at the international level that is a strength of this book. As Worth argues, many existing studies within the neoGramscian and Coxian tradition are too ‘topOwen Worth Hegemony, International Political Economy and Post-Communist Russia
Contrasts with That Delivered Therapeutically Enhances Orthotopic and Osseous Tumor Growth and Osteoprotegerin Overexpression by Breast Cancer Cells

Osteoprotegerin (OPG) acts as a decoy receptor for receptor activator of NF-KB ligand (RANKL), which is a pivotal molecule required for osteoclast formation. In vitro OPG inhibits osteoclast formation and in vivo (administered as Fc-OPG) it reduces hypercalcemia and the establishment of osteolytic lesions in mouse models of tumor cell growth in bone. Osteolysis can be induced by parathyroid hormone– related protein (PTHrP) produced by breast cancer cells that results in an increased osteoblastic RANKL/OPG ratio. We examined the effect of local tumor production of OPG on the ability of breast cancer cells to establish and grow in bone and mammary fat pad. MCF-7 cells or MCF-7 cells overexpressing PTHrP were transfected with full-length OPG and inoculated into the proximal tibiae of athymic nude mice. Mice injected with cells overexpressing PTHrP and OPG showed enhanced tumor growth, increased osteolysis (2-fold compared with MCF-7 cells overexpressing PTHrP), and altered histology that was reflective of a less differentiated (more aggressive) phenotype compared with MCF-7 cells. In contrast, administration of recombinant Fc-OPG reduced tumor growth and limited osteolysis even in mice inoculated with OPG overexpressing cells. Similarly, OPG overexpression by breast cancer cells enhanced tumor growth following orthotopic inoculation. These results indicate that OPG overexpression by breast cancer cells increases tumor growth in vivo and that there are strikingly different responses between therapeutically administered Fc-OPG and full-length OPG produced by tumor cells. (Cancer Res 2006; 66(7): 3620-8)
Financial Reporting Quality of Chinese Reverse Merger Firms: The Reverse Merger Effect or the China Effect?

In this paper, we examine why Chinese reverse merger (RM) firms have lower financial reporting quality. We find that while U.S. RM firms have similar financial reporting quality as matched U.S. IPO firms, Chinese RM firms exhibit lower financial reporting quality than Chinese ADR firms. We further find that Chinese RM firms exhibit lower financial reporting quality than U.S. RM firms. These results indicate that the use of RM process is associated with poor financial reporting quality only in firms from China, where the legal enforcement is weaker than U.S. In addition, we find that compared to Chinese ADR firms, Chinese RM firms have lower CEO turnover performance sensitivity, a measure of bonding incentives, and poorer corporate governance, which in turn explains the lower financial reporting quality in Chinese RM firms. Overall the results suggest that the RM process provides Chinese firms with low bonding incentives and poor governance the opportunity to access the U.S. capital markets, resulting in poor financial reporting quality in Chinese RM firms.
The Utility and Limitations of Neurosphere Assay, CD133 Immunophenotyping and Side Population Assay in Glioma Stem Cell Research

The newly proposed glioma stem cell (GSC) hypothesis may re‐model the way we diagnose and treat the tumor, which highlights the need for a complete knowledge on the genetic and epigenetic “blueprints” of GSCs. To identify the true “stemness” signatures, pure GSC populations are primarily needed. Reliable in vitro methods enriching for GSCs and thereby identifying the key stem‐like characteristics constitute the preliminary step forward. We discuss in this review the current widely used methods for enriching and isolating GSCs, namely neurosphere assay, CD133 Immunophenotyping and side population assay, and detail their limitations and potential pitfalls that could complicate interpretation of corresponding results.
Cortical GABA Interneurons in Neurovascular Coupling: Relays for Subcortical Vasoactive Pathways

The role of interneurons in neurovascular coupling was investigated by patch-clamp recordings in acute rat cortical slices, followed by single-cell reverse transcriptase-multiplex PCR (RT-mPCR) and confocal observation of biocytin-filled neurons, laminin-stained microvessels, and immunodetection of their afferents by vasoactive subcortical cholinergic (ACh) and serotonergic (5-HT) pathways. The evoked firing of single interneurons in whole-cell recordings was sufficient to either dilate or constrict neighboring microvessels. Identification of vasomotor interneurons by single-cell RT-mPCR revealed expression of vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) or nitric oxide synthase (NOS) in interneurons inducing dilatation and somatostatin (SOM) in those eliciting contraction. Constrictions appeared spatially restricted, maximal at the level of neurite apposition, and were associated with contraction of surrounding smooth muscle cells, providing the first evidence for neural regulation of vascular sphincters. Direct perfusion of VIP and NO donor onto the slices dilated microvessels, whereas neuropeptide Y (NPY) and SOM induced vasoconstriction. RT-PCR analyses revealed expression of specific subtypes of neuropeptide receptors in smooth muscle cells from intracortical microvessels, compatible with the vasomotor responses they elicited. By triple and quadruple immunofluorescence, the identified vasomotor interneurons established contacts with local microvessels and received, albeit to a different extent depending on interneuron subtypes, somatic and dendritic afferents from ACh and 5-HT pathways. Our results demonstrate the ability of specific subsets of cortical GABA interneurons to transmute neuronal signals into vascular responses and further suggest that they could act as local integrators of neurovascular coupling for subcortical vasoactive pathways.
An Outcome Assessment of Graduates of Eleven Teacher Education Programs.

This paper reports on a follow-up study of teacher education program graduates that was conducted by a consortium of 11 universities to gain evidence of their students' performance, to determine the effectiveness of their programs, and to compare graduates of 4-year and 5-year teacher education programs. Two instruments were developed and distributed. The first, a survey, was completed by 1,390 graduates and included entry and retention data, self-reports of attitude toward teaching, preferred methods of teaching, and leadership behaviors; the second, a teacher effectiveness survey, provided principals' (N,,481) evaluations of teaching performance. Results include: (1) graduates of extended programs enter teaching at significantly higher rates and show higher rates of retention than do graduates of 4-year programs; (2) great program variation exists among institutions; (3) there are outstanding programs of many types in teacher education; (4) certain institutions produce graduates who stand out in certain outcome areas; and (4) institutions can learn from each other how better to prepare teachers. (Contains 15 references.) (LL) **********************************ic************************************ Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. *********************************************************************** AN OUTCOME ASSESSMENT OF GRADUATES OF ELEVEN TEACHER EDUCATION PROGRAMS Michael D. Andrew Director of Teacher Education University of New Hampshire Department of Education Morrill Hall Durham, New Hampshire 03824-3595
DEFINING SMALL-SCALE FARMERS IN THE SOUTH AFRICAN CONTEXT

South African agriculture is comprised of mainly two categories of farmers -- the subsistence farmers in the former homeland areas and the large-scale commercial (mainly white) farmers. This is in contrast with the situation in many other countries in the world where one would find a whole range of farm sizes, ranging from the very small or subsistence farmer to the very large farmer/agribusiness. The paper highlights the situation of small-scale farmers in an international context and compares it with the South African situation that is totally different. Within this context, this paper has as basic premise that in South Africa the concept of "small-scale farmer" is usually value-laden, creates wrong impressions and is often viewed in a negative light. "Small-scale" is often equated with a backward, nonproductive, non-commercial, subsistence agriculture that we find in parts of the former homeland areas. This paper endeavours to correct the negative perceptions towards smallscale farms by redefining the small-scale farmer and laying to rest the fallacy that small relates to land size only.
Increased Platelet Reactivity in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Is Mediated by a Plasma Factor

Introduction Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive, incurable fibrotic interstitial lung disease with a prognosis worse than many cancers. Its pathogenesis is poorly understood. Activated platelets can release pro-fibrotic mediators that have the potential to contribute to lung fibrosis. We determine platelet reactivity in subjects with IPF compared to age-matched controls. Methods Whole blood flow cytometry was used to measure platelet-monocyte aggregate formation, platelet P-selectin expression and platelet fibrinogen binding at basal levels and following stimulation with platelet agonists. A plasma swap approach was used to assess the effect of IPF plasma on control platelets. Results Subjects with IPF showed greater platelet reactivity than controls. Platelet P-selectin expression was significantly greater in IPF patients than controls following stimulation with 0.1 µM ADP (1.9% positive ±0.5 (mean ± SEM) versus 0.7%±0.1; p = 0.03), 1 µM ADP (9.8%±1.3 versus 3.3%±0.8; p<0.01) and 10 µM ADP (41.3%±4.2 versus 22.5%±2.6; p<0.01). Platelet fibrinogen binding was also increased, and platelet activation resulted in increased platelet-monocyte aggregate formation in IPF patients. Re-suspension of control platelets in plasma taken from subjects with IPF resulted in increased platelet activation compared to control plasma. Conclusions IPF patients exhibit increased platelet reactivity compared with controls. This hyperactivity may result from the plasma environment since control platelets exhibit increased activation when exposed to IPF plasma.
Economic Diversification and Human Development in South Asia

The paper examines the effect of diversification on social welfare in South Asia using the macroeconomic data for the period 1996–2011, with export diversification as a proxy of economic diversification. In this paper, three types of diversification are assessed (i.e. related, unrelated, and overall variety). While unrelated variety and overall variety show increasing trend over the years, related variety seems to show a non-linear inverted U-shaped curve. Estimation results reveal that all three types of variety have a positive and significant relationship with human development in South Asia, which shows that diversification is beneficial for human development in South Asian countries. It is also found that the existing level of human capital significantly moderates the relationship between related variety and social welfare.