Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Regulation of Gastroduodenal Motility: Acyl Ghrelin, Des-Acyl Ghrelin and Obestatin and Hypothalamic Peptides

Real-time measurements for gut motility in conscious rats or mice combined with intracerebroventricular or intravenous injection of peptide agonists or antagonists allow us to understand the regulatory mechanism of gastrointestinal motility. Neuropeptide Y (NPY) in the arcuate nucleus in the hypothalamus stimulates the fasted motility in the duodenum, while urocortin in the paraventricular nucleus inhibits fed and fasted motility in the antrum and duodenum. Acyl ghrelin exerts stimulatory effects on the motility of the antrum and duodenum in both the fed and fasted state of animals. NPY Y2 and Y4 receptors in the brain may mediate the action of acyl ghrelin, and vagal afferent pathways might be involved in this mechanism. Des-acyl ghrelin exerts inhibitory effects on the motility of the antrum but not on the motility of the duodenum in the fasted state of animals. CRF type 2 receptor in the brain may mediate the action of des-acyl ghrelin, and vagal afferent pathways might not be involved in this mechanism. Obestatin exerts inhibitory effects on the motility of the antrum and duodenum in the fed state but not in the fasted state of animals. CRF type 1 and type 2 receptors in the brain may mediate the action of obestatin, and vagal afferent pathways might be partially involved in this mechanism.
Formally based profiling for higher-order functional languages

We present the first source-level profiler for a compiled, nonstrict, higher-order, purely functional language capable of measuring time as well as space usage. Our profiler is implemented in a production-quality optimizing compiler for Haskell and can successfully profile large applications. A unique feature of our approach is that we give a formal specification of the attribution of execution costs to cost centers. This specification enables us to discuss our design decisions in a precise framework, prove properties about the attribution of costs, and examine to effects of different program transformations on the attribution of costs. Since it is not obvious how to map this specification onto a particular implementation, we also present an implementation-oriented operational semantics, and prove it equivalent to the specification.
Job Search and Hyperbolic Discounting: Structural Estimation and Policy Evaluation

This Paper estimates the structural parameters of a job search model with hyperbolic discounting and endogenous search effort. It estimates quantitatively the degree of hyperbolic discounting, and assesses its implications for the impact of various policy interventions aimed at reducing unemployment. The model is estimated using data on unemployment spells and accepted wages from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth (NLSY). The likelihood function explicitly incorporates all the restrictions implied by the optimal dynamic programming solution to the model. Both observed and unobserved heterogeneity are accounted for. The results point to a substantial degree of hyperbolic discounting, especially for low and medium wage workers. The structural estimates are also used to evaluate alternative policy interventions for the unemployed. Estimates based on a model with exponential discounting may lead to biased inference on the economic impact of policies.
Relationship between Size Summation Properties, Contrast Sensitivity and Response Latency in the Dorsomedial and Middle Temporal Areas of the Primate Extrastriate Cortex

Analysis of the physiological properties of single neurons in visual cortex has demonstrated that both the extent of their receptive fields and the latency of their responses depend on stimulus contrast. Here, we explore the question of whether there are also systematic relationships between these response properties across different cells in a neuronal population. Single unit recordings were obtained from the middle temporal (MT) and dorsomedial (DM) extrastriate areas of anaesthetized marmoset monkeys. For each cell, spatial integration properties (length and width summation, as well as the presence of end- and side-inhibition within 15° of the receptive field centre) were determined using gratings of optimal direction of motion and spatial and temporal frequencies, at 60% contrast. Following this, contrast sensitivity was assessed using gratings of near-optimal length and width. In both areas, we found a relationship between spatial integration and contrast sensitivity properties: cells that summated over smaller areas of the visual field, and cells that displayed response inhibition at larger stimulus sizes, tended to show higher contrast sensitivity. In a sample of MT neurons, we found that cells showing longer latency responses also tended to summate over larger expanses of visual space in comparison with neurons that had shorter latencies. In addition, longer-latency neurons also tended to show less obvious surround inhibition. Interestingly, all of these effects were stronger and more consistent with respect to the selectivity for stimulus width and strength of side-inhibition than for length selectivity and end-inhibition. The results are partially consistent with a hierarchical model whereby more extensive receptive fields require convergence of information from larger pools of “feedforward” afferent neurons to reach near-optimal responses. They also suggest that a common gain normalization mechanism within MT and DM is involved, the spatial extent of which is more evident along the cell’s preferred axis of motion.
Fluctuation dynamo and turbulent induction at low magnetic Prandtl numbers

This paper is a detailed report on a programme of direct numerical simulations of incompressible nonhelical randomly forced magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) turbulence that are used to settle a long-standing issue in the turbulent dynamo theory and demonstrate that the fluctuation dynamo exists in the limit of large magnetic Reynolds number Rm ≫ 1 and small magnetic Prandtl number Pm ≪ 1. The dependence of the critical Rmc for dynamo versus the hydrodynamic Reynolds number Re is obtained for 1 ≲ Re ≲ 6700. In the limit Pm ≫ 1, Rmc is at most three times larger than for the previously well established dynamo at large and moderate Prandtl numbers: Rmc ≲ 200 for Re ≳ 6000 compared to Rmc ∼ 60 for . The stability curve Rmc(Re) (and, it is argued, the nature of the dynamo) is substantially different from the case of the simulations and liquid-metal experiments with a mean flow. It is not as yet possible to determine numerically whether the growth rate of the magnetic energy is in the limit Re ≫ Rm ≫ 1, as should be the case if the dynamo is driven by the inertial-range motions at the resistive scale, or tends to an Rm-independent value comparable to the turnover rate of the outer-scale motions. The magnetic-energy spectrum in the low-Pm regime is qualitatively different from the Pm ⩾ 1 case and appears to develop a negative spectral slope, although current resolutions are insufficient to determine its asymptotic form. At , the magnetic fluctuations induced via the tangling by turbulence of a weak mean field are investigated and the possibility of a k−1 spectrum above the resistive scale is examined. At low Rm < 1, the induced fluctuations are well described by the quasistatic approximation; the k−11/3 spectrum is confirmed for the first time in direct numerical simulations. Applications of the results on turbulent induction to understanding the nonlocal energy transfer from the dynamo-generated magnetic field to smaller-scale magnetic fluctuations are discussed. The results reported here are of fundamental importance for understanding the genesis of small-scale magnetic fields in cosmic plasmas.
Angiogenesis and tumor growth inhibition by a matrix metalloproteinase inhibitor targeting radiation-induced invasion

In this study, we have evaluated the interactions between ionizing radiation and a matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) inhibitor. Using Matrigel invasion assays, we show that ionizing radiation induced a dose-dependent increase in the invasive phenotype of cultured B16 melanoma cells and that conditioned medium from these irradiated B16 cells promoted endothelial cell [human microvascular endothelial cells (HMEC)] invasiveness. To determine whether the radiation-induced changes in invasive phenotype could be due to changes in MMP activation, we have tested the ability of the MMP inhibitor Metastat to modulate the ionizing radiation–induced invasive phenotype using both an in vitro melanoma model and a mouse s.c. tumor model. In these studies, Metastat inhibited the ionizing radiation–induced invasive phenotype in cultured B16 cells and similarly inhibited the increase in HMEC invasion induced by conditioned medium from irradiated B16 cells. Conversely, ionizing radiation increased B16 MMP-2 activity and the conditioned medium from irradiated B16 induced HMEC MMP-2 activity. To further investigate the interaction between ionizing radiation and MMP activation, we then studied the effects of ionizing radiation on downstream effectors of the MMP system. We found that ionizing radiation induced vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) secretion by B16 melanoma cells and that this secretion was inhibited by Metastat. Similarly, conditioned medium from irradiated B16 was also able to increase VEGF secretion in HMECs. Moreover, ionizing radiation–induced melanoma cell invasiveness was partially inhibited by an anti-VEGF monoclonal antibody. In vivo, ionizing radiation plus concomitant Metastat yielded the greatest growth inhibition of melanoma s.c. tumors and this effect correlated with inhibition of angiogenesis as measured by both Doppler ultrasonography and platelet/endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1 staining. Finally, ionizing radiation modulated MMP-2, VEGF, and VEGF receptor expression in these tumor samples using immunohistochemistry. Taken together, these results suggest that there is an ionizing radiation–induced tumor survival pathway and a possible paracrine ionizing radiation–induced stimulatory pathway emanating from tumor cells toward the endothelial bed that is impeded when Metastat is given simultaneously. This model could provide in vivo evidence of the antitumor efficacy of combining a MMP inhibitor with ionizing radiation to target radiation-induced invasion and angiogenesis.
Pronociceptive and Antinociceptive Effects of Buprenorphine in the Spinal Cord Dorsal Horn Cover a Dose Range of Four Orders of Magnitude

Due to its distinct pharmacological profile and lower incidence of adverse events compared with other opioids, buprenorphine is considered a safe option for pain and substitution therapy. However, despite its wide clinical use, little is known about the synaptic effects of buprenorphine in nociceptive pathways. Here, we demonstrate dose-dependent, bimodal effects of buprenorphine on transmission at C-fiber synapses in rat spinal cord dorsal horn in vivo. At an analgesically active dose of 1500 μg·kg−1, buprenorphine reduced the strength of spinal C-fiber synapses. This depression required activation of spinal opioid receptors, putatively μ1-opioid receptors, as indicated by its sensitivity to spinal naloxone and to the selective μ1-opioid receptor antagonist naloxonazine. In contrast, a 15,000-fold lower dose of buprenorphine (0.1 μg·kg−1), which caused thermal and mechanical hyperalgesia in behaving animals, induced an enhancement of transmission at spinal C-fiber synapses. The ultra-low-dose buprenorphine-induced synaptic facilitation was mediated by supraspinal naloxonazine-insensitive, but CTOP-sensitive μ-opioid receptors, descending serotonergic pathways, and activation of spinal glial cells. Selective inhibition of spinal 5-hydroxytryptamine-2 receptors (5-HT2Rs), putatively located on spinal astrocytes, abolished both the induction of synaptic facilitation and the hyperalgesia elicited by ultra-low-dose buprenorphine. Our study revealed that buprenorphine mediates its modulatory effects on transmission at spinal C-fiber synapses by dose dependently acting on distinct μ-opioid receptor subtypes located at different levels of the neuraxis.
Rainfall, land use and woody vegetation cover change in semi‐arid Australian savanna

1 The relative roles of climate and management for driving changes in woody cover in savannas over the past century are the subject of active debate. Perspectives arising from short‐term, small‐scale, local experiments are rarely tested over larger scales and longer time frames. 2 Regression analysis and aerial photography were used to assess the relative importance of land‐use history (fire and grazing), rainfall and initial woody cover (woody cover at the beginning of a sample period relative to the range of woody cover expressed within a land type) in accounting for rates of change in overstorey and understorey cover between the 1940s and 1990s in central Queensland, Australia. Analyses included 279 site‐period combinations representing five semi‐arid eucalypt savanna land‐types within a 125 755 km2 region. 3 Fire and grazing variables provided no explanatory power. In general, relative rainfall (rainfall for a given period standardized against mean annual rainfall) was positively related and initial woody cover negatively related to rates of change in both the overstorey and the understorey. The interaction between rainfall and initial woody cover was significant, reflecting the fact that increases in cover coincided with low initial cover when rainfall is higher than average, whereas decreases in cover typically occurred with high initial cover, regardless of rainfall. 4 On average, overstorey and understorey cover increased over the second half of the 20th century. This pattern is consistent with the first half of the 20th century having more intense droughts and being drier overall than the relatively wet second half. 5 The findings highlight the primary importance of interactions between rainfall fluctuations and density dependence as determinants of large‐scale, long‐term woody plant cover dynamics in savannas subject to large rainfall excess and deficit over multiyear time‐scales.
A Theoretical Framework for Assessing Students' Cognitive Engagement through Computer-supported Collaborative Learning

Online learning has been addressed as one of the emerging method of learning with multiple learning approaches. However, researchers raised the question whether the computer-mediated educational programmes as in online learning do meet the quality. They call for the investigation of the textual material being produced during online discussions to analyze critical thinking and interactivity. Several previous researches also managed to identify the degree of students' cognitive engagement and found that students' cognitive engagement are at the lower level. In the presented paper, a theoretical framework is proposed for the rationale of addressing the above issue.
The Moderating Impact of Perceived Organizational Support on the Relationship between Technostress and Role Stress

The study examined whether employees perceived high technostress are destined to experience role stress at a higher level than those perceived low technostress. We used data collected from 450 employees to investigate the moderating effects of perceived organizational support on the relationship between technostress and role stress. The result indicates that: (1) technostress perceived by employees is positively related to role stress; (2) perceived organizational support moderates the relationship between technostress and role conflict such that the relationship will be negative when perceived organizational support is higher; (3) perceived organizational support doesn't significantly moderates the relationship between technostress and role overload. The paper contributes in two ways: First, the paper validate the negative impact of technostress in organization theoretically; Second, the significant moderating of perceived organizational support imply the negative impact of technology can be mend by the change of ldquosocial systemrdquo in modern organization regarded as a socio-technical system.
Wind power prediction risk indices based on numerical weather prediction ensembles

The large-scale integration of wind generation imposes several difficulties in the management of power systems. Wind power forecasting up to a few days ahead contributes to a secure and economic power system operation. Prediction models of today are mainly focused on spot or probabilistic predictions of wind power. However, in many applications, endusers require additional tools for the on-line estimation of the uncertainty of the predictions. One solution to this is prediction risk indices, computed on wind power forecast ensembles derived from numerical weather prediction ensembles. This paper investigates the usefulness of such risk indices as a complement to usual wind power forecasts for informing on the expected level of uncertainty and the risk for large forecast errors. Results show that risk indices are useful to extract information from power ensembles and can give valuable information about the expected prediction uncertainty.
Dynamics of solar coronal loops II. Catastrophic cooling and high-speed downflows

This work addresses the problem of plasma condensation and "catastrophic cooling" in solar coronal loops. We have carried out numerical calculations of coronal loops and find several classes of time-dependent solutions (static, periodic, irregular), depending on the spatial distribution of a temporally constant energy deposition in the loop. Dynamic loops exhibit recurrent plasma condensations, accompanied by high-speed downflows and transient brightenings of transition region lines, in good agreement with features observed with TRACE. Furthermore, these results also offer an explanation for the recent EIT observations of De Groof et al. (2004) of moving bright blobs in large coronal loops. In contrast to earlier models, we suggest that the process of catastrophic cooling is not initiated by a drastic decrease of the total loop heating but rather results from a loss of equilibrium at the loop apex as a natural consequence of heating concentrated at the footpoints of the loop, but constant in time.
Contention Bounds for Combinations of Computation Graphs and Network Topologies.

Abstract : Network topologies can have significant effect on the costs of algorithms due to inter-processor communication. Parallel algorithms that ignore network topology can suffer from contention along network links. However, for particular combinations of computations and network topologies, costly network contention may inevitably become a bottleneck, even for optimally designed algorithms. We obtain a novel contention lower bound that is a function of the network and the computation graph parameters. To this end, we compare the communication bandwidth needs of subsets of processors and the available network capacity (as opposed to per-processor analysis in most previous studies). Applying this analysis we improve communication cost lower bounds for several combinations of fundamental computations on common network topologies.
The News Media's Role In Election Campaigns: A Big Audience Or A Big Yawn?

Theories about the influence of the media on people's voting decisions during election campaigns have a long history in mass communication research. From early notions of direct and immediate media effects, models of the 1960s proposed a 'reinforcement not change' orthodoxy. But such a position is challenged by newer formulations centred on what people learn from the media, and how news is framed and interpreted. This paper examines the attention people pay to media during elections using the 1996 Australian Election Study as a case study. This secondary analysis shows that voters do not pay much attention to elections news, although they remian interested in politics.
Consumption expenditure and female poverty : a review of the evidence

This paper sets out to answer two questions. First, are poor females at a significant disadvantage compared to males and non-poor females in terms of welfare indicators of such as health, education, nutrition, labor force participation, and time use? Second, are female-headed households over-represented among the poor? To answer these questions and maintain consistency in the definition of poverty, this review limits itself to the literature that includes consumption expenditure (or income) welfare measures. This includes more than 60 Poverty Assessments carried out by the World Bank since 1994 as well as other recent published and unpublished studies. There is considerable variation in the nature and extent of gender inequality across countries, making it difficult to generalize that disparities between women and men are systematically larger below the poverty line. The evidence surrounding the incidence of poverty in female-headed households is also found to be country and case specific. For example, in a given context, de jure female-headed households may be disproportionately poor while de facto households are not. The evidence indicates that a more nuanced approach to understanding the relationship between headship and poverty is needed. This includes accounting for differences in household structure and as well as analyzing the process of household formation.
Impulse control disorders in patients with Parkinson's disease receiving dopamine replacement therapy: evidence and implications for the addictions field.

AIMS To describe the prevalence, phenomenology and correlates of 'impulse control disorders' (ICDs) in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) treated with dopamine replacement therapy (DRT); to assess the strength of the evidence that DRT plays a contributory causal role in these disorders; and to highlight the implications of these disorders for research in the addiction field. METHODS PubMed and Web of Science databases were searched and the reference lists of papers examined. RESULTS The prevalence of ICDs in Parkinson's patients using DRT varied between 3.5% and 13.6%, depending on the severity and range of disorders assessed. PD patients with ICDs were: generally younger; had an earlier onset of PD; had a personal or family history of substance abuse or an ICD; and were more likely to be treated with dopamine receptor agonists (DA agonists) than levodopa (l-dopa). There is reasonable evidence that dopaminergic medications play a causal role in ICDs in that they occur at a higher rate in an otherwise low-risk population of adults, begin after initiation of DA agonist therapy and cease upon its discontinuation. A causal relationship is biologically plausible, but the role of other factors (such as concurrent mood disorders) remain to be clarified by better-controlled studies. CONCLUSIONS Impulse control disorders among patients with Parkinson's disease receiving dopamine replacement therapy may provide a unique opportunity for addiction researchers to study the neurobiology of impulsive forms of behaviour (such as problem gambling) that appear to be caused, in part, by the therapeutic use of dopamine receptor agonists.