Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
ON THE NATURE OF THE PROTOTYPE LUMINOUS BLUE VARIABLE AG CARINAE. I. FUNDAMENTAL PARAMETERS DURING VISUAL MINIMUM PHASES AND CHANGES IN THE BOLOMETRIC LUMINOSITY DURING THE S-Dor CYCLE

We present a detailed spectroscopic analysis of the luminous blue variable (LBV) AG Carinae (AG Car) during the last two visual minimum phases of its S-Dor cycle (1985–1990 and 2000–2003). The analysis reveals an overabundance of He, N, and Na, and a depletion of H, C, and O, on the surface of the AG Car, indicating the presence of a CNO-processed material. Furthermore, the ratio N/O is higher on the stellar surface than in the nebula. We found that the minimum phases of AG Car are not equal to each other, since we derived a noticeable difference between the maximum effective temperature achieved during 1985–1990 (22, 800 K) and 2000–2001 (17,000 K). Significant differences between the wind parameters in these two epochs were also noticed. While the wind terminal velocity was 300 km s−1 in 1985–1990, it was as low as 105 km s−1 in 2001. The mass-loss rate, however, was lower from 1985–1990 (1.5 × 10−5 M☉ yr−1) than from 2000–2001 (3.7 × 10−5 M☉ yr−1). We found that the wind of AG Car is significantly clumped (f ≃ 0.10–0.25) and that clumps must be formed deep in the wind. We derived a bolometric luminosity of 1.5 × 106 L☉ during both minimum phases which, contrary to the common assumption, decreases to 1.0 × 106 L☉ as the star moves toward the maximum flux in the V band. Assuming that the decrease in the bolometric luminosity of AG Car is due to the energy used to expand the outer layers of the star, we found that the expanding layers contain roughly 0.6–2 M☉. Such an amount of mass is an order of magnitude lower than the nebular mass around AG Car, but is comparable to the nebular mass found around lower-luminosity LBVs and to that of the Little Homunculus of Eta Car. If such a large amount of mass is indeed involved in the S Dor-type variability, we speculate that such instability could be a failed Giant Eruption, with several solar masses never becoming unbound from the star.
Identification of Brain Nuclei Implicated in Cocaine-Primed Reinstatement of Conditioned Place Preference: A Behaviour Dissociable from Sensitization

Relapse prevention represents the primary therapeutic challenge in the treatment of drug addiction. As with humans, drug-seeking behaviour can be precipitated in laboratory animals by exposure to a small dose of the drug (prime). The aim of this study was to identify brain nuclei implicated in the cocaine-primed reinstatement of a conditioned place preference (CPP). Thus, a group of mice were conditioned to cocaine, had this place preference extinguished and were then tested for primed reinstatement of the original place preference. There was no correlation between the extent of drug-seeking upon reinstatement and the extent of behavioural sensitization, the extent of original CPP or the extinction profile of mice, suggesting a dissociation of these components of addictive behaviour with a drug-primed reinstatement. Expression of the protein product of the neuronal activity marker c-fos was assessed in a number of brain regions of mice that exhibited reinstatement (R mice) versus those which did not (NR mice). Reinstatement generally conferred greater Fos expression in cortical and limbic structures previously implicated in drug-seeking behaviour, though a number of regions not typically associated with drug-seeking were also activated. In addition, positive correlations were found between neural activation of a number of brain regions and reinstatement behaviour. The most significant result was the activation of the lateral habenula and its positive correlation with reinstatement behaviour. The findings of this study question the relationship between primed reinstatement of a previously extinguished place preference for cocaine and behavioural sensitization. They also implicate activation patterns of discrete brain nuclei as differentiators between reinstating and non-reinstating mice.
On the Mechanism of Idioventricular Pacemaker Suppression by Fast Drive

The role of vagal activity, potassium concentration, and temperature in overdrive suppression of ventricular pacemakers, was studied in anesthetized dogs with and without surgical atrioventricular block. The results were as follows. (1) Overdrive of an idioventricular pacemaker during vagal stimulation was followed by a second pause. (2) Hypothermia increased the duration of the vagal and overdrive pauses. (3) Coronary sinus plasma potassium concentration ([K]cs) decreased with the onset of vagal stimulation and increased with overdrive during vagal stimulation. (4) The increase in [K]cs during ventricular overdrive was greater in hypothermia than it was in normothermia when the same absolute rate of overdrive was used and was unchanged when the same relative rate of overdrive was used. (5) Hypothermia increased overdrive suppression more than can be accounted for by the decrease in spontaneous rate, (6) By predriving the ventricles and then overdriving them, the increase in [K]cs was dissociated from the pause duration. It is concluded that during vagal stimulation ventricular arrest is due to the inhibition of idioventricular pacemakers by the sinus node by virtue of its faster rate and that changes in [K]cs are due to rate changes and not to acetylcholine release. Overdrive suppression can be dissociated from an increase in extracellular potassium concentration. Its prolongation in hypothermia provides evidence for a metabolism-dependent mechanism.
Frontiers in Integrative Neuroscience Integrative Neuroscience

in macaques and squirrel monkeys. These results were supported by anatomical studies indicating a connection between the ACC and the periaqueductal gray (PAG), a brainstem structure involved with vocal The ACC was also found to have bidi-rectional connections with auditory associative areas (Barbas et al., 1999), and to exert a predominantly inhibitory control over extensive secondary auditory regions in the superior temporal gyrus (Müller-Preuss et al., 1980). In contrast, no evidence was initially found for an involvement of neocortical areas such as the left ventrolateral prefrontal cortex (VLPFC), which in humans corresponds to Broca's area for articulated speech (comprising Brodmann's areas 44 and 45). A main conclusion of these experiments was the notion that the ACC may be the sole cortical structure for vocal control in non-human primates, differently from the evolutionary branch that led to the origin of the human vocal pathway.
20-Hydroxy-5,8,11,14-eicosatetraenoic Acid Mediates Endothelial Dysfunction via IκB Kinase-Dependent Endothelial Nitric-Oxide Synthase Uncoupling

Endothelial dysfunction and activation occur in the vasculature and are believed to contribute to the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases. We have shown that 20-hydroxy-5,8,11,14-eicosatetraenoic acid (20-HETE), a cytochrome P450 4A-derived eicosanoid that promotes vasoconstriction in the microcirculation, uncouples endothelial nitric-oxide synthase (eNOS) and reduces nitric oxide (NO) levels via the dissociation of the 90-kDa heat shock protein (HSP90) from eNOS. It also causes endothelial activation by stimulating nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) and increasing levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines. In this study, we examined signaling mechanisms that may link 20-HETE-induced endothelial dysfunction and activation. Under conditions in which 20-HETE inhibited NO production, it also stimulated inhibitor of NF-κB (IκB) phosphorylation. Both effects were prevented by inhibition of tyrosine kinases and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK). It is noteworthy that inhibitor of IκB kinase (IKK) activity negated the 20-HETE-mediated inhibition of NO production. Immunoprecipitation experiments revealed that treatment of ionophore-stimulated cells with 20-HETE brings about a decrease in HSP90-eNOS association and an increase in HSP90-IKKβ association, suggesting that the activation by 20-HETE of NF-κB is linked to its action on eNOS. Furthermore, addition of inhibitors of tyrosine kinase MAPK and IKK restored the 20-HETE-mediated impairment of acetylcholine-induced relaxation in rat renal interlobar arteries. The results indicate that 20-HETE mediates eNOS uncoupling and endothelial dysfunction via the activation of tyrosine kinase, MAPK, and IKK, and these effects are linked to 20-HETE-mediated endothelial activation.
A non-additive thermodynamic formalism and applications to dimension theory of hyperbolic dynamical systems

Abstract A non-additive version of the thermodynamic formalism is developed. This allows us to obtain lower and upper bounds for the dimension of a broad class of Cantor-like sets. These are constructed with a decreasing sequence of closed sets that may satisfy no asymptotic behavior. Moreover, they can be coded by arbitrary symbolic dynamics, and the geometry of the construction may depend on all the symbolic past. Applications include estimates of dimension for hyperbolic sets of maps that need not be differentiable.
Affects, Trauma, and Mechanisms of Symptom Formation: A Tribute to John C. Nemiah, MD (1918–2009)

John Nemiah was interested in the impact of emotionally traumatic events on mental and bodily processes and in conceptualizing the psychological defenses and deficits that contribute to the development of psychological and somatic symptoms. He viewed dissociation as the central psychological mechanism in the formation of a spectrum of symptoms, and conceptualized alexithymia as a deficit in the cognitive processing of emotion such that stress-induced arousal could bypass the psyche and produce somatic symptoms. This article briefly reviews some of Nemiah’s conceptual ideas and relates them to several new theories and concepts and findings from empirical research. His concept of the ‘psychic elaboration’ of emotion is consistent with contemporary theories of the cognitive processing of emotions that emphasize the importance of imagery and linguistic symbolizations. Alexithymia is inversely related to mentalization and is associated with insecure attachment styles and emotional trauma, which influence the capacity to regulate affects induced by stressful events. A multiple code theory of emotional information processing links psychological and somatic symptoms to various degrees of dissociation within and between the elements comprising emotion schemas and to compensatory attempts at repair. Recent studies support Nemiah’s view that alexithymia and intrapsychic conflicts may both contribute to the pathogenesis of panic attacks. There is also substantial evidence of an association between childhood trauma and the development of somatic disease in adult life. Secure attachments and well-developed capacities for symbolization and affect regulation seem to render individuals more resilient to the traumas and stressful events of everyday life.
Two neoplastic cell lines with unique features derived from Hodgkin's disease

Two in vitro cell lines (L428, L439) were established from pleural effusions of two patients with Hodgkin's disease. The histological diagnosis was ascertained in both cases by two independent pathologists. The neoplastic nature of the culture cells is indicated by the demonstration of several structural and numerical chromosome abnormalities associated with a monoclonal pattern of marker chromosomes. Heterotransplantation in nude mice was achieved by intracranial inoculation and by subcutaneous transplantation of cultured cells embedded in a plasma clot. EBV‐specific antigens (EBNA, VCA) were not detectable in either cell line. la‐like antigens, receptors for T cells, acid phosphatase and acid esterase were shown to be present in the cultured cells. The L428 and L439 cell line lacked surface‐ or cytoplasmic 1g, HTLA, receptors for C3b, C3d, 1gG‐Fc, mouse E or sheep E, and were devoid of lysozyme, peroxidase and chloracetate esterase. These features do not correspond to those of B cells, T cells, myeloid cells, monocytes or macrophages; the morphology and the marker pattern of the culture cells, however, is identical with that of freshly obtained Hodgkin (H)‐ and Sternberg‐reed (SR)‐ cells, except for the lack of C1g in the in vitro cells, which is explained by the culture conditions. These findings suggest that the L428 and L439 cell lines are indeed derived from H‐ and Sr‐cells and offer the possibility of gaining new information upon the nature of Hodgkin's disease.
EEG alpha: lateral asymmetry related to task, and hypnotizability.

Occipital EEG alpha (8-13 Hz) was recorded separately from the right and left hemispheres of 26 right-handed subjects during analytic (verbal and numerical) tasks, spatial (imagery) tasks, a music task, and a hypnotic susceptibility scale. An alpha laterality score was derived by computing the percent difference in the amplitude of alpha in the two hemispheres. This laterality score was significantly different between the analytic and spatial tasks, and between an eyes-open baseline and an eyes-open measurement during hypnotic amnesia. Because the spatial tasks used in this study are considered “easier” than the analytic or music tasks, the role of task difficulty provides some ambiguity in interpretation. Highly hypnotizable subjects showed significantly more alpha activity (compared to low hypnotizables) in all conditions (both outside hypnosis and within it) except for the eyes-open baseline and the eyes-open measurement following the release of amnesia. No differences were found between low- and high-hypnotizables in the laterality measure. This suggests that the lateral asymmetry of alpha is a function of task rather than of any particular cognitive style that may characterize the hypnotically susceptible. That high hypnotizables showed higher amplitudes of alpha, however, suggests that the overall production of alpha may be positively related to the particular cognitive style that characterizes the person who is able to experience hypnotic phenomena.
Minimizing Energy Consumption Using Cognitive Radio

In this paper, we show how cognitive radio can help minimize energy consumption of a wireless mobile communication device. We propose an energy optimization framework using cognitive radio for a given quality of service requirement based on the channel and the radio capabilities. The cognitive radio not only adjusts modulation, coding, and radiated power, as with conventional adaptive modulation, but also adjusts component characteristics (e.g., power amplifier characteristics) so that the radio operates with the highest energy efficient possible way. Simulation results show that significant energy savings (up to 75%) can be achieved compared to conventional adaptive modulation. This framework also can be applied to optimize radio operations to achieve additional goals.
Capacity control of reversible watermarking by two-thresholds embedding

The distortion introduced by the watermarking depends on the embedded capacity. For the difference expansion reversible watermarking, the classical threshold control does not ensure a fine tuning of the embedding capacity and the simple partial embedding can introduce artifacts. This paper proposes the fine tuning of the capacity by splitting the image into two parts and by marking them with consecutive threshold values. Intermediate capacity values between the ones provided by the thresholds are obtained by varying the ratio between the two parts. The method ensures a fine control of the capacity without introducing artifacts. Experimental results are provided.
Interventions to improve the appropriate use of polypharmacy in older people: a Cochrane systematic review

Objective To summarise the findings of an updated Cochrane review of interventions aimed at improving the appropriate use of polypharmacy in older people. Design Cochrane systematic review. Multiple electronic databases were searched including MEDLINE, EMBASE and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (from inception to November 2013). Hand searching of references was also performed. Randomised controlled trials (RCTs), controlled clinical trials, controlled before-and-after studies and interrupted time series analyses reporting on interventions targeting appropriate polypharmacy in older people in any healthcare setting were included if they used a validated measure of prescribing appropriateness. Evidence quality was assessed using the Cochrane risk of bias tool and GRADE (Grades of Recommendation, Assessment, Development and Evaluation). Setting All healthcare settings. Participants Older people (≥65 years) with ≥1 long-term condition who were receiving polypharmacy (≥4 regular medicines). Primary and secondary outcome measures Primary outcomes were the change in prevalence of appropriate polypharmacy and hospital admissions. Medication-related problems (eg, adverse drug reactions), medication adherence and quality of life were included as secondary outcomes. Results 12 studies were included: 8 RCTs, 2 cluster RCTs and 2 controlled before-and-after studies. 1 study involved computerised decision support and 11 comprised pharmaceutical care approaches across various settings. Appropriateness was measured using validated tools, including the Medication Appropriateness Index, Beers’ criteria and Screening Tool of Older Person's Prescriptions (STOPP)/ Screening Tool to Alert doctors to Right Treatment (START). The interventions demonstrated a reduction in inappropriate prescribing. Evidence of effect on hospital admissions and medication-related problems was conflicting. No differences in health-related quality of life were reported. Conclusions The included interventions demonstrated improvements in appropriate polypharmacy based on reductions in inappropriate prescribing. However, it remains unclear if interventions resulted in clinically significant improvements (eg, in terms of hospital admissions). Future intervention studies would benefit from available guidance on intervention development, evaluation and reporting to facilitate replication in clinical practice.
Detection of Virulence-Associated Genes Not Useful for Discriminating between Invasive and Commensal Staphylococcus epidermidis Strains from a Bone Marrow Transplant Unit

ABSTRACT Because of their biofilm-forming capacity, invasive Staphylococcus epidermidis isolates, which cause the majority of nosocomial catheter-related bloodstream infections (BSIs), are thought to be selected at the time of catheter insertion from a population of less virulent commensal strains. This fact allows the prediction that invasive and contaminating strains can be differentiated via detection of virulence-associated genes. However, the hospital environment may pave the way for catheter-related infections by promoting a shift in the commensal bacterial population toward strains with enhanced virulence. The distribution of virulence-associated genes (icaADBC, aap, atlE, bhp, fbe, embp, mecA, IS256, and IS257), polysaccharide intercellular adhesin synthesis, and biofilm formation were investigated in S. epidermidis strains from independent episodes of catheter-related BSIs in individuals who have received bone marrow transplantation (BMT). The results were compared with those obtained for commensal S. epidermidis isolates from hospitalized patients after BMT and from healthy individuals, respectively. The clonal relationships of the strains were investigated by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. icaADBC, mecA, and IS256 were significantly more prevalent in BSI isolates than in commensal isolates from healthy individuals. However, the prevalence of any of the genes in clonally independent, endogenous commensal strains from BMT patients did not differ from that in invasive BSI strains. icaADBC and methicillin resistance, factors important for the establishment of catheter-related infections, already ensure survival of the organisms in their physiological habitat in the hospital environment, resulting in a higher probability of contamination of indwelling medical devices with virulent S. epidermidis strains. The dynamics of S. epidermidis populations reveal that detection of icaADBC and mecA is not suitable for discriminating invasive from contaminating S. epidermidis strains.
Blocking N-Cadherin Function Disrupts the Epithelial Structure of Differentiating Neural Tissue in the Embryonic Chicken Brain

The cell adhesion molecule N-cadherin is ubiquitously expressed in the early neuroepithelium, with strongest expression in the ependymal lining. We blocked the function of N-cadherin during early chicken brain development by injecting antibodies against N-cadherin into the tectal ventricle of embryos at 4–5 d of incubation [embryonic day 4 (E4)–E5]. N-cadherin blockage results in massive morphological changes in restricted brain regions. At approximately E6, these changes consist of invaginations of pieces of the ependymal lining and the formation of neuroepithelial rosettes. The rosettes are composed of central fragments of ependymal lining, surrounded by an inner ventricular layer and an outer mantle layer. Radial glia processes are radially arranged around the ependymal centers of the rosettes. The normal layering of the neural tissue is thus preserved, but its coherent epithelial structure is disrupted. The observed morphological changes are restricted to specific brain regions such as the tectum and the dorsal thalamus, whereas the ventral thalamus and the pretectum are almost undisturbed. At E10–E11, analysis of late effects of N-cadherin blockage reveals that in the dorsal thalamus, gray matter is fragmented and disorganized; in the tectum, additional layers have formed at the ventricular surface. Together, these results indicate that N-cadherin function is required for the maintenance of a coherent sheet of neuroepithelium in specific brain regions. Disruption of this sheet results in an abnormal morphogenesis of brain gray matter.
OFDM With Index Modulation Using Coordinate Interleaving

Orthogonal frequency division multiplexing with index modulation (OFDM-IM), which uses the indices of the active subcarriers to transmit data, is a recently proposed multicarrier transmission technique. In this letter, we propose coordinate interleaved OFDM-IM (CI-OFDM-IM) by combining OFDM-IM and space-time block codes with coordinate interleaving. In this scheme, the real and imaginary parts of the data symbols are transmitted over different active subcarriers to achieve an additional diversity gain. The average bit error probability (ABEP) of the proposed scheme is derived and its superiority over the reference systems is shown via computer simulations.
Integrating Technology into the Mathematics Classroom An Action Research Study

The purpose of this action research study was to compare the effects of technologyenhanced algebra instruction and traditional algebra instruction in terms of student academic achievement, student motivation, and student attitude towards algebra. In doing this comparison, I also hoped to gain an understanding of how technology was being used by teachers and students in algebra instruction. In my study, I concentrated on comparing two methods of instruction-technology-enhanced algebra instruction and traditional algebra instruction-in three areas: student achievement, student motivation, and student attitude. The study included four teachers and 92 ninth-grade students in five algebra classes. Students in technology-enhanced classes had higher achievement scores, were more motivated, and had a more positive attitude than those in traditional algebra classrooms. Based on these results, I reached conclusions which were presented to stakeholders at my school, and I recommended that schools should increase the use of technology and the amount of technology integration into secondary algebra classrooms.