Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of Central Serotonin Depletion on Blood Pressure and the Renin System in Rats

In the present study we examined the effect of depletion of central nervous system serotonin by 5,7-dihydroxytryptamine on blood pressure in male Wistar rats. We also analyzed the relationship between the serotonergic and renin-angiotensln systems. Blood pressure was determined before and after intracisternal administration of 5,7-dihydroxytryptamine, 200 μg hi saline with 1 mg/ml ascorbic acid (n=9). Control rats (n=8) received intracisternal vehicle. Before sacrifice, blood and cerebrospinal fluid samples were obtained. The brain was dissected in several areas. Serotonin, norepinephrine, angiotensinogen, and reninlike concentrations were determined in the brain parenchyma; angiotensinogen concentration was evaluated in cerebrospinal fluid and plasma samples; plasma renin activity was also measured. Treatment produced a significant decrease in blood pressure (−10 nun Hg; p < 0.025) and, simultaneously, a high depletion of serotonin stores in the studied central areas (p < 0.001), except in the cerebral cortex. Reninlike concentration was increased in the medulla oblongata (p < 0.005) and the bramstem (p < 0.02) after 5,7-dihydroxytryptamine treatment. Angiotensinogen concentration was decreased in the hypothalamus and elevated in the spinal cord. Angiotensinogen concentration in cerebrospinal fluid, plasma angiotensinogen concentration, and plasma renin activity did not change with treatment. Serotonin concentration in the cerebrospinal fluid remained unchanged, while the 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid level was diminished (− 47%; p < 0.001). Intracisternal administration of 5,7-dihydroxytryptamine produced a hypotensive effect in normal rats and several modifications of the renin-angiotensin complex, suggesting a relationship between the monoaminergic and peptidergic systems.
Fast Coding Unit size decision algorithm for intra coding in HEVC

The recursive quad-tree structure of Coding Unit (CU) in HEVC can improve coding efficiency while the encoding complexity is increased significantly. In this paper, a fast CU size decision algorithm to reduce the complexity of HEVC intra coding is proposed. It introduces the early termination method based on the statistics of rate-distortion costs in CU splitting process. Experimental results show the encoding time can be reduced by 24% on average without significant loss of BD-rate.
Global path-following control of underactuated ships under deterministic and stochastic sea loads

SUMMARY This paper presents a new method to design global path-following controllers for underactuated ships under both deterministic and stochastic sea loads. The path-following errors are first interpreted in a moving frame attached to the path. These errors are then to be stabilized at the origin by a design of controllers based on backstepping and Lyapunov's direct methods. Weak and strong nonlinear Lyapunov functions are introduced to overcome difficulties caused by underactuation and Hessian terms induced by stochastic differentiation rule, and to guarantee boundedness of the sway velocity. Potential projection functions are introduced to design update laws that provide bounded estimates of the mean values and covariances of the disturbances. Simulations are included to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach.
Beat Synchronization across the Lifespan: Intersection of Development and Musical Experience

Rhythmic entrainment, or beat synchronization, provides an opportunity to understand how multiple systems operate together to integrate sensory-motor information. Also, synchronization is an essential component of musical performance that may be enhanced through musical training. Investigations of rhythmic entrainment have revealed a developmental trajectory across the lifespan, showing synchronization improves with age and musical experience. Here, we explore the development and maintenance of synchronization in childhood through older adulthood in a large cohort of participants (N = 145), and also ask how it may be altered by musical experience. We employed a uniform assessment of beat synchronization for all participants and compared performance developmentally and between individuals with and without musical experience. We show that the ability to consistently tap along to a beat improves with age into adulthood, yet in older adulthood tapping performance becomes more variable. Also, from childhood into young adulthood, individuals are able to tap increasingly close to the beat (i.e., asynchronies decline with age), however, this trend reverses from younger into older adulthood. There is a positive association between proportion of life spent playing music and tapping performance, which suggests a link between musical experience and auditory-motor integration. These results are broadly consistent with previous investigations into the development of beat synchronization across the lifespan, and thus complement existing studies and present new insights offered by a different, large cross-sectional sample.
A cell cycle analysis of growth-related genes expressed during T lymphocyte maturation

Fetal liver or bone marrow-derived T lymphocyte precursors undergo extensive, developmentally regulated proliferation in response to inductive signals from the thymic microenvironment. We have used neonatal mouse thymocytes size-separated by centrifugal elutriation to study the cell cycle stage-specific expression of several genes associated with cell proliferation. These include genes involved in the biosynthesis of deoxyribonucleotide precursors, such as dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR), thymidylate synthase (TS), and the M1 and M2 subunits of ribonucleotide reductase, as well as c-myc, a cellular oncogene of unknown function. Using nuclear run-on assays, we observed that the transcription rates for these genes, with the exception of TS, are essentially invariant not only throughout the cell cycle in proliferating cells, but also in noncycling (G0) cells. The TS gene showed a transient increase in transcription rate in cells which bordered between a proliferating and nonproliferating status. Studies of an elutriated T cell line, S49.1, yielded similar results, indicating that the process of immortalization has not affected the transcriptional regulation of these genes. Analysis of steady-state mRNA levels using an RNase protection assay demonstrated that the levels of DHFR and TS mRNA accumulate as thymocytes progress through the cell cycle. In contrast, only the M2 subunit of ribonucleotide reductase showed cyclic regulation. Finally, in contrast to cultured cell models, we observed an abrupt fivefold increase in the steady- state level of c-myc mRNA in the transition from G1 to S-phase. We conclude from these studies that the transcriptional regulation of specific genes necessary for cellular proliferation is a minor component of the developmental modulation of the thymocyte cell cycle.
Influence of wood ash on soil chemical composition and biochemical parameters of young Scots pine

Short-term effects of different doses (0.25 and 0.5 kg m -2 ) of wood ash fertilization in a field experiment in a 20-year-old Scots pine stand on a nutrient-poor sandy soil (Arenosol) was studied in North Estonia. Soil chemical properties, nutrient accumulation, soluble carbohydrates, starch, hemicellulose, cellulose, and lignin were used as biochemical indicators for the assessment of the state of trees from 2000 until 2005. Changes in the soil upper horizon (30 cm) showed an increase in the pH and in the concentrations of K, Ca, B, Mg, and other elements, except N, after treatment. Statistical relationships were found between the doses of wood ash used in the treatment and the mineral composition of the soil. Changes in soil properties brought about changes in nutrient accumulation into trees and the needle diagnosis showed an essential increase in the K, Mg, Fe, Mn, and Zn concentrations in needles. No statistically significant changes were observed in the concentrations of soluble carbohydrate (tendency to decrease), starch (tendency to increase), and structural carbohydrates, but a somewhat higher accumulation of cellulose and lignin was registered in the needles of Scots pine. The effect of wood ash on carbohydrate metabolism and lignin synthesis seemed to depend on the seasonal development stage of needles and climatic conditions.
Risk factors for childhood drowning in rural regions of a developing country: a case–control study

Background: Descriptive epidemiological studies have shown that childhood drowning rates are higher in developing countries, with an increasing trend in rural areas. Aim: To examine risk factors associated with childhood drowning in rural China. Methods: Participants included parents of all children aged 1–14 years who died of drowning between 2002 and 2004 in 20 districts in GuangXi Province, and two age- and gender-matched controls each. Behavioral characteristics of the child and the children’s caregivers were collected using a questionnaire and analyzed using logistic regression. Results: Boys (60%) and children aged 1–4 years (48%) were over-represented among the cases; 62% occurred within 500 m of the school or home. Protective fencing or warning signs were found at only two sites. None of the children’s caregivers knew how to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation. For children aged 1–4 years significant risk factors included poor health of the caregiver (OR 3.1; 95% CI 1.9 to 5.8), not using flotation devices (OR 2.3; 95% CI 1.4 to 4.5) and no proper swimming lessons (OR 1.8; 95% CI 1.1 to 5.5). For children aged 5–14 years, the main risk factors were that the child did not have the experience of playing near or in water regularly (OR 2.7; 95% CI 1.8 to 7.4) and lack of close supervision (OR 1.9; 95% CI 1.3 to 5.6). Conclusion: Risk factors identified in this study suggest that childhood drowning in rural areas in developing countries could be prevented by providing safety educational programs, which should focus on constant adult supervision and the use of flotation devices when children play in and near water.
Tight Upper Bounds for the Domination Numbers of Graphs With Given Order and Minimum Degree

Let $\gamma (n,\delta)$ denote the largest possible domination number for a graph of order $n$ and minimum degree $\delta$. This paper is concerned with the behavior of the right side of the sequence $$\gamma (n,0) \ge \gamma (n,1) \ge \cdots \ge \gamma (n,n-1) = 1. $$ We set $ \delta _k(n) = \max \{ \delta \, \vert \, \gamma (n,\delta) \ge k \}$, $k \ge 1. $ Our main result is that for any fixed $k \ge 2$ there is a constant $c_k$ such that for sufficiently large $n$, $$ n-c_kn^{(k-1)/k} \le \delta _{k+1}(n) \le n - n^{(k-1)/k}. $$ The lower bound is obtained by use of circulant graphs. We also show that for $n$ sufficiently large relative to $k$, $\gamma (n,\delta _k(n)) = k$. The case $k=3$ is examined in further detail. The existence of circulant graphs with domination number greater than 2 is related to a kind of difference set in ${\bf Z}_n$.
A Connectome-Based Comparison of Diffusion MRI Schemes

Diffusion MRI has evolved towards an important clinical diagnostic and research tool. Though clinical routine is using mainly diffusion weighted and tensor imaging approaches, Q-ball imaging and diffusion spectrum imaging techniques have become more widely available. They are frequently used in research-oriented investigations in particular those aiming at measuring brain network connectivity. In this work, we aim at assessing the dependency of connectivity measurements on various diffusion encoding schemes in combination with appropriate data modeling. We process and compare the structural connection matrices computed from several diffusion encoding schemes, including diffusion tensor imaging, q-ball imaging and high angular resolution schemes, such as diffusion spectrum imaging with a publically available processing pipeline for data reconstruction, tracking and visualization of diffusion MR imaging. The results indicate that the high angular resolution schemes maximize the number of obtained connections when applying identical processing strategies to the different diffusion schemes. Compared to the conventional diffusion tensor imaging, the added connectivity is mainly found for pathways in the 50–100mm range, corresponding to neighboring association fibers and long-range associative, striatal and commissural fiber pathways. The analysis of the major associative fiber tracts of the brain reveals striking differences between the applied diffusion schemes. More complex data modeling techniques (beyond tensor model) are recommended 1) if the tracts of interest run through large fiber crossings such as the centrum semi-ovale, or 2) if non-dominant fiber populations, e.g. the neighboring association fibers are the subject of investigation. An important finding of the study is that since the ground truth sensitivity and specificity is not known, the comparability between results arising from different strategies in data reconstruction and/or tracking becomes implausible to understand.
Perceptual sensitivity to first harmonic amplitude in the voice source.

Little is known about the perceptual importance of changes in the shape of the source spectrum, although many measures have been proposed and correlations with different vocal qualities (breathiness, roughness, nasality, strain.) have frequently been reported. This study investigated just-noticeable differences in the relative amplitudes of the first two harmonics (H1-H2) for speakers of Mandarin and English. Listeners heard pairs of vowels that differed only in the amplitude of the first harmonic and judged whether or not the voice tokens were identical in voice quality. Across voices and listeners, just-noticeable-differences averaged 3.18 dB. This value is small relative to the range of values across voices, indicating that H1-H2 is a perceptually valid acoustic measure of vocal quality. For both groups of listeners, differences in the amplitude of the first harmonic were easier to detect when the source spectral slope was steeply falling so that F0 dominated the spectrum. Mandarin speakers were significantly more sensitive (by about 1 dB) to differences in first harmonic amplitudes than were English speakers. Two explanations for these results are possible: Mandarin speakers may have learned to hear changes in harmonic amplitudes due to changes in voice quality that are correlated with the tones of Mandarin; or Mandarin speakers' experience with tonal contrasts may increase their sensitivity to small differences in the amplitude of F0 (which is also the first harmonic).
Diurnal pattern of proopiomelanocortin gene expression in the arcuate nucleus of proestrous, ovariectomized, and steroid-treated rats: a possible role in cyclic luteinizing hormone secretion.

Opiate peptides are thought to modulate the pattern of LH release in female rats. We tested the hypothesis that changes in proopiomelanocortin (POMC) gene expression occur in proestrous (PRO) and ovariectomized (OVX) steroid-treated rats which may explain their unique patterns of LH secretion. Using in situ hybridization, we examined whether diurnal changes in POMC gene expression occur in the arcuate nucleus. Four groups of rats were used in this study. 1) PRO rats were used after exhibiting at least two consecutive 4-day estrous cycles; 2) OVX rats were killed 9 days after ovariectomy; 3) estradiol (E2)-treated rats were OVX for 7 days and then treated for 2 days; and 4) E2-progesterone (P4)-treated rats were treated with E2 as described above, and on day 9 at 1030 h, P4 was administered. Rats were killed at 2300, 0300, 1000, 1300, 1500, 1800, or 2300 h, beginning on the evening of diestrous day 2 or day 8 after ovariectomy. POMC gene expression exhibited a diurnal rhythm on PRO. Levels of mRNA rose during the morning, peaked between 0300-1000 h, and decreased by 2300 h. In E2-treated rats, which exhibited a LH surge similar in timing to the PRO surge, POMC mRNA levels exhibited a diurnal rhythm strikingly similar to that observed in PRO animals. OVX abolished the rhythm; however, average POMC mRNA levels across the 24-h period were not significantly different from those in PRO or E2-treated rats. P4 treatment increased POMC mRNA levels by 2300 h compared to those in all other experimental groups. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Incidence of postpartum anestrus among buffaloes in and around Jabalpur

Aim: Postpartum anestrus is one of the major problems in buffalo reproduction; the knowledge of its incidence may be helpful to adopt preventive and therapeutic measures for improvement of reproductive efficiency and thus production of the dairy animals. Materials and Methods: To investigate the incidence of postpartum anestrus, a total 6105 Murrah and upgraded Murrah buffaloes were surveyed in and around the district of Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, India. Among these, 4708 and 1397 buffaloes were surveyed in organized and unorganized rearing system, respectively. Among the organized farms, 2050 and 2658 buffaloes were observed in good and moderate managemental condition, respectively. Anestrus and sub estrus were confirmed by per rectal examination and serum progesterone estimation. Results: The overall incidence of anestrus was recorded 29.12%. The incidence of anestrus was recorded 25.84% and 40.15 %, respectively, in organized and unorganized rearing system, and among organized farms it was 22.58% and 28.36% in good and moderate managemental conditions, respectively. The incidence of anestrus in summer, rainy, and winter season was found to be 66.28%, 22.51%, and 11.25%, respectively. Based on per-rectal examination and serum progesterone concentration, 60.58 per cent buffaloes were classified as true anestrus, 20.88 per cent as sub estrus, and 18.52 per cent anestrus due to other unknown conditions. Conclusion: These results indicated that the incidence of anestrus, especially true anestrus, was higher at farmer's door. Moreover, the incidence of anestrus was higher in summer season and hence appropriate preventive and or therapeutic measures as per the type of anestrus need to be undertaken.
Intracellular Pathogen Leishmania donovani Activates Hypoxia Inducible Factor-1 by Dual Mechanism for Survival Advantage within Macrophage

Recent evidence established a crucial role for mammalian oxygen sensing transcription factor hypoxia inducible factor-1 (HIF-1) in innate immunity against intracellular pathogens. In response to most of these pathogens host phagocytes increase transcription of HIF-1α, the regulatory component of HIF-1 to express various effector molecules against invaders. Leishmania donovani (LD), a protozoan parasite and the causative agent of fatal visceral leishmaniasis resides in macrophages within mammalian host. The mechanism of HIF-1 activation or its role in determining the fate of LD in infected macrophages is still not known. To determine that J774 macrophages were infected with LD and about four-fold increase in HIF-1 activity and HIF-1α expression were detected. A strong increase in HIF-1α expression and nuclear localization was also detected in LD-infected J774 cells, peritoneal macrophages and spleen derived macrophages of LD-infected BALB/c mice. A two-fold increase in HIF-1α mRNA was detected in LD-infected macrophages suggesting involvement of a transcriptional mechanism that was confirmed by promoter activity. We further revealed that LD also induced HIF-1α expression by depleting host cellular iron pool to affect prolyl hydroxylase activity resulting in to stabilization of HIF-1α. To determine the role of HIF-1 on intracellular LD, cells were transfected with HIF-1α siRNA to attenuate its expression and then infected with LD. Although, initial infection rate of LD in HIF-1α attenuated cells was not affected but intracellular growth of LD was significantly inhibited; while, over-expression of stabilized form of HIF-1α promoted intracellular growth of LD in host macrophage. Our results strongly suggest that LD activates HIF-1 by dual mechanism for its survival advantage within macrophage.
Longevity and Metabolism in Drosophila melanogaster

We measured age-specific metabolic rates in 2861 individual Drosophila melanogaster adult males to determine how genetic variation in metabolism is related to life span. Using recombinant inbred (RI) lines derived from populations artificially selected for long life, resting metabolic rates were measured at 5, 16, 29, and 47 days posteclosion, while life spans were measured in the same genotypes in mixed-sex population cages and in single-sex vials. We observed much heritable variation between lines in age-specific metabolic rates, evidence for genotype × age interaction, and moderate to large heritabilities at all ages except the youngest. Four traits exhibit evidence of coordinate genetic control: day 16 and day 29 metabolic rates, life span in population cages, and life span in vials. Quantitative trait loci (QTL) for those traits map to the same locations on three major chromosomes, and additive genetic effects are all positively correlated. In contrast, metabolic rates at the youngest and oldest ages are unrelated to metabolic rates at other ages and to survival. We suggest that artificial selection for long life via delayed reproduction also selects for increased metabolism at intermediate ages. Contrary to predictions of the “rate of living” theory, we find no evidence that metabolic rate varies inversely with survival, at the level of either line means or additive effects of QTL.
Serum Ghrelin Levels in Children With Celiac Disease

Objectives Ghrelin, a gastrointestinal hormone, has effects on nutrient intake and growth. Because celiac disease (CD) has intestinal histopathologic alterations and subsequent malnutrition and/or growth failure, we hypothesized that there would be alterations in serum ghrelin levels of those patients. In this study, we aimed to determine serum ghrelin levels in childhood CD, to observe probable alterations under gluten-free diet (GFD), and to see whether there is a relationship between ghrelin levels and the presentation of the disease and/or diet compliance. Methods Thirty-six children with CD and 10 healthy children were included. Serum fasting ghrelin level was measured using radioimmunoassay method. After 6 months under GFD, sera of 19 patients were retested for ghrelin level. Results Mean serum ghrelin levels in children with CD and in controls were 478.2±154.6 and 108.3±49.1 pg/mL, respectively (P<0.001). Serum ghrelin level was not different in different clinical presentations. Ghrelin was negatively correlated with body mass index, both in healthy children and in children with CD on admission (P<0.01). Ghrelin level was lower after 6 months under GFDcompared with the level detected on admission (P<0.001), but was still higher compared with that of healthy children (P<0.001). Strict diet compliance lowered ghrelin level, although not statistically. Conclusions Ghrelin is increased in childhood CD and is responsive to GFD. Further studies are needed to clarify the mechanism underlying its action in CD.
A High-Efficiency AC-to-DC Adaptor With a Low Standby Power Consumption

A two-stage burst mode control scheme for an AC-to-DC adaptor is proposed in this paper. An upper limit for the output voltage is set to turn off both AC/DC and DC/DC controllers at no load. The burst-mode operations of the DC/DC and the AC/DC converters are in turn enabled when reaching the lower limit of the output voltage. Load analysis at standby mode is performed. A 50-mW no-load power loss is observed on an 80 W/12 V prototype adaptor.