Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
CD40/CD40 Ligand Signaling in Mouse Cerebral Microvasculature After Focal Ischemia/Reperfusion

Background—CD40/CD40 ligand (CD40L) signaling contributes to proinflammatory and prothrombogenic responses in the vasculature. CD40/CD40L expression is elevated in patients after a transient ischemic attack or stroke. The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of CD40/CD40L signaling in cerebral microvascular dysfunction and tissue injury response to middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) and reperfusion. Methods and Results—Intravital fluorescence microscopy was used to visualize the cerebral microcirculation of wild-type (WT), CD40-deficient, and CD40L-deficient mice subjected to 1-hour MCAO and 4-hour reperfusion. The adhesion of platelets and of leukocytes and vascular permeability were measured in postcapillary venules after 4-hour and 1-hour reperfusions, respectively. Cerebral infarct volume was analyzed 24 hours after reperfusion. Platelet and leukocyte adhesion was elevated and blood/brain barrier function was compromised by MCAO in WT mice. Blood cell recruitment and increased permeability were blunted in both CD40-deficient and CD40L-deficient mice. Infarct volume was also reduced in CD40- and CD40L-deficient mice compared with WT mice. Conclusions—Our findings indicate that CD40/CD40L signaling contributes to inflammatory and prothrombogenic responses and brain infarction induced by MCAO and reperfusion. The CD40/CD40L dyad may play a significant pathogenic role in the acute phase of ischemic stroke.
The ASAP II database: analysis and comparative genomics of alternative splicing in 15 animal species

We have greatly expanded the Alternative Splicing Annotation Project (ASAP) database: (i) its human alternative splicing data are expanded ∼3-fold over the previous ASAP database, to nearly 90 000 distinct alternative splicing events; (ii) it now provides genome-wide alternative splicing analyses for 15 vertebrate, insect and other animal species; (iii) it provides comprehensive comparative genomics information for comparing alternative splicing and splice site conservation across 17 aligned genomes, based on UCSC multigenome alignments; (iv) it provides an ∼2- to 3-fold expansion in detection of tissue-specific alternative splicing events, and of cancer versus normal specific alternative splicing events. We have also constructed a novel database linking orthologous exons and orthologous introns between genomes, based on multigenome alignment of 17 animal species. It can be a valuable resource for studies of gene structure evolution. ASAP II provides a new web interface enabling more detailed exploration of the data, and integrating comparative genomics information with alternative splicing data. We provide a set of tools for advanced data-mining of ASAP II with Pygr (the Python Graph Database Framework for Bioinformatics) including powerful features such as graph query, multigenome alignment query, etc. ASAP II is available at .
Agreement between Glucose Trends Derived from Three Simultaneously Worn Continuous Glucose Sensors

Background: Sensors detect the rate and direction of glucose trend. They need to be accurate and reproducible as could be evidenced by strong agreement between multiple sensors. We evaluated this relationship through simultaneously worn glucose sensors using several methods of slope analysis. Methods: Ten type 1 diabetic, insulin pump-treated subjects were studied while simultaneously wearing three CGMS® Gold sensors each. Sensors were placed in the right abdomen (reference), left abdomen, and left upper arm. Sensors were calibrated and chronologically aligned. Data were only interpreted and included if there were 24 hours of data simultaneously obtained from all three sensors. Results: Using a two-point derived slope, increasing the duration of the trend from 5 to 60 minutes improved agreement between sensors. Using a 20-minute rolling average trend (using every 5-minute glucose value during the 20 minutes) improved the agreement to 94.3%. Finally, using whichever of the two comparator sensor rolling average trends was closest to the reference (better of two), the agreement improved to 98.2%. However, for these trend analysis methods, when the absolute reference rate of change was more than 1 mg/dl/min, the agreement decreased. Even with the best analysis approach, at an absolute reference sensor rate of change of >2 mg/dl/min, the agreement between sensors was only 40.0%. Conclusion: Despite several methods of analysis, trend agreement from multiple sensors diminishes as the absolute rate of change of reference glucose increases.
Learning to use word processors: problems and prospects

Computer text editors are powerful, but complex, tools. Particularly in the early stages of learning, the complexity of these tools can cause serious problems for users who are not experienced with computers. The problems of new users were studied by asking the users to think out loud while learning to use word-processing systems. In this paper several of the most typical and debilitating problems these users had understanding and following directions in using training manuals, as well as problems understanding and using interface functions to accomplish word processing tasks, are taxonomized and analyzed. Approaches for improving design features of the interface functions and the training methods used for learning are discussed. Catergories and Subject Descriptors: H.1.2 [Models and Principles]: User/Machine Systems-human factors; human information processing: H.4. 1 [Information Systems Applications] Office Automation--equipment; word processing; 1.2. 6 [Artificial Intelligence]: Learning--analogies; concept learning General Terms: Human Factors Additional
The Relative Influence of Parental Attachment, Peer Attachment, School Attachment, and School Alienation on Delinquency among High School Students in Turkey

ABSTRACT Although numerous studies have confirmed the relationship between social bonds to pro-social others and delinquency in Western countries, research focusing on the same relationship in non-Western countries is scarce. This study contributes to the existing body of knowledge by examining the relationship between social bonds to pro-social others and several types of delinquency among high school students in Turkey. Results showed that the extent of an adolescent’s social bonds with his/her parents, peers, and schools had significant and diverging effects on delinquency. We also found bonds to parents and peers to have moderating effects on how school bonds affect delinquency.
The Conceptual Structure of Social Disputes

We describe and illustrate a new method of graphically diagramming disputants’ points of view called cognitive-affective mapping. The products of this method—cognitive-affective maps (CAMs)—represent an individual’s concepts and beliefs about a particular subject, such as another individual or group or an issue in dispute. Each of these concepts and beliefs has its own emotional value. The result is a detailed image of a disputant’s complex belief system that can assist in-depth analysis of the ideational sources of the dispute and thereby aid its resolution. We illustrate the method with representations of the beliefs of typical individuals involved in four contemporary disputes of markedly different type: a clash over German housing policy, disagreements between Israelis over the meaning of the Western Wall, contention surrounding exploitation of Canada’s bitumen resources, and the deep dispute between people advocating action on climate change and those skeptical about the reality of the problem.
Is the paradox of fiction soluble in psychology?

Abstract If feeling a genuine emotion requires believing that its object actually exists, and if this is a belief we are unlikely to have about fictional entities, then how could we feel genuine emotions towards these entities? This question lies at the core of the paradox of fiction. Since its original formulation, this paradox has generated a substantial literature. Until recently, the dominant strategy had consisted in trying to solve it. Yet, it is more and more common for scholars to try to dismiss it using data and theories from psychology. In opposition to this trend, the present paper argues that the paradox of fiction cannot be dissolved in the ways recommended by the recent literature. We start by showing how contemporary attempts at dissolving the paradox assume that it emerges from theoretical commitments regarding the nature of emotions. Next, we argue that the paradox of fiction rather emerges from everyday observations, the validity of which is independent of any such commitment. This is why we then go on to claim that a mere appeal to psychology in order to discredit these theoretical commitments cannot dissolve the paradox. We bring our discussion to a close on a more positive note by exploring how the paradox could in fact be solved by an adequate theory of the emotions.
Cardioprotective Role of AT2 Receptor in Postinfarction Left Ventricular Remodeling

Abstract—The aim of this study was to determine the role of the AT2 receptor (AT2R) in left ventricular (LV) remodeling after myocardial infarction (MI). The left anterior descending arteries were ligated in AT2R gene knockout (Agtr2-) and wild-type (Agtr2+) mice. The LV remodeling was evaluated by echocardiography and histology over a period of 2 weeks after MI. The infarct sizes in hearts excised from Agtr2+ and Agtr2- mice on day 1 were similar. The mortality rate of Agtr2- mice (62.9%) on day 14 after MI was significantly (P <0.05) higher than that of Agtr2+ mice (39.7%). Accordingly, LV/body weight ratios (3.7±0.2 versus 3.0±0.1 on day 14) and LV end-diastolic (4.8±0.3 versus 3.9±0.4 mm on day 7) and end-systolic (4.4±0.3 versus 3.2±0.6 mm on day 7) dimensions evaluated by echocardiography were significantly greater in Agtr2- than in Agtr2+ mice. The rates of ventricular arrhythmia, rates of cardiac rupture, and blood pressures in the 2 strains were similar after MI. Myocyte cross-sectional areas were increased after MI, but the magnitudes were similar in Agtr2+ and Agtr2- mice, indicating the greater increases in LV dimensions and weight in Agtr2- mice are due to elongation of myocyte length and/or an increase in the interstitial weight (including vasculatures, infiltrated cells, and interstitial fluid). Interstitial fibrosis in remote myocardium was not evident in either strain. These results indicate AT2R plays a significant role in the protection against early development of LV dilation, thereby reducing the early mortality rate after MI.
An associate-predict model for face recognition

Handling intra-personal variation is a major challenge in face recognition. It is difficult how to appropriately measure the similarity between human faces under significantly different settings (e.g., pose, illumination, and expression). In this paper, we propose a new model, called “Associate-Predict” (AP) model, to address this issue. The associate-predict model is built on an extra generic identity data set, in which each identity contains multiple images with large intra-personal variation. When considering two faces under significantly different settings (e.g., non-frontal and frontal), we first “associate” one input face with alike identities from the generic identity date set. Using the associated faces, we generatively “predict” the appearance of one input face under the setting of another input face, or discriminatively “predict” the likelihood whether two input faces are from the same person or not. We call the two proposed prediction methods as “appearance-prediction” and “likelihood-prediction”. By leveraging an extra data set (“memory”) and the “associate-predict” model, the intra-personal variation can be effectively handled. To improve the generalization ability of our model, we further add a switching mechanism — we directly compare the appearances of two faces if they have close intra-personal settings; otherwise, we use the associate-predict model for the recognition. Experiments on two public face benchmarks (Multi-PIE and LFW) demonstrated that our final model can substantially improve the performance of most existing face recognition methods
Subthreshold inactivation of voltage‐gated K+ channels modulates action potentials in neocortical bitufted interneurones from rats

Voltage‐gated K+ channels perform many functions in integration of synaptic input and action potential (AP) generation. In this study we show that in bitufted interneurones from layer 2/3 of the somatosensory cortex, the height and width of APs recorded at the soma are sensitive to changes in the resting membrane potential, suggesting subthreshold activity of voltage‐gated conductances. Attributes of K+ currents examined in nucleated patches revealed a fast subthreshold‐inactivating K+ conductance (Kf) and a slow suprathreshold‐inactivating K+ conductance (Ks). Simulations of these K+ conductances, incorporated into a Hodgkin–Huxley‐type model, suggested that during a single AP or during low frequency trains of APs, subthreshold inactivation of Kf was the primary modulator of AP shape, whereas during trains of APs the shape was governed to a larger degree by Ks resulting in the generation of smaller and broader APs. Utilizing the facilitating function of unitary pyramidal‐to‐bitufted cell synaptic transmission, single back‐propagating APs were initiated in a bitufted interneurone by repeated stimulation of a presynaptic pyramidal cell. Ca2+ imaging and dendritic whole‐cell recordings revealed that modulation of APs, which also affect the shape of back‐propagating APs, resulted in a change in dendritic Ca2+ influx. Compartmental simulation of the back‐propagating AP suggested a mechanism for the modulation of the back‐propagating AP height and width by subthreshold activation of Kf. We speculate that this signal may modulate retrograde GABA release and consequently depression of synaptic efficacy of excitatory input from neighbouring pyramidal neurones.
Activation of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors patterns network activity in the rodent hippocampus

1 Intracellular and extracellular recordings from area CA3 of rat and mouse hippocampal slices revealed two distinct modes of synchronous network activity in response to continuous application of muscarinic acetylcholine receptor (mAChR) agonists. At low concentrations (e.g. 0·1‐1 μM oxotremorine‐M), ‘burst‐mode’ activity comprised regular individual AMPA receptor‐mediated depolarizing events, each generating several action potentials. At higher concentrations (5‐50 μM), ‘theta‐mode’ prevailed in which ordered clusters of depolarizing theta‐frequency oscillations occurred. 2 Whilst theta‐mode activity was abolished by the mAChR antagonist atropine (5 μM), the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) antagonists tubocurarine (100 μM), mecamylamine (100‐500 μM) and dihydro‐β‐erythroidine (250 μM) converted this mode of activity to burst‐mode. 3 Likewise, disruption of synaptically available ACh using inhibitors of choline uptake (hemicholinium‐3; 20‐50 μM) or vesicular ACh transport (vesamicol; 50 μM) converted theta‐mode into burst‐mode activity. 4 Hippocampal slices prepared 2‐3 weeks after transection of the primary cholinergic efferent pathway from the medial septum exhibited reduced vesicular ACh transporter immunoreactivity but still supported nAChR‐dependent theta‐mode activity suggesting that ACh released from this pathway was not critical for the activation of these receptors. 5 In summary, ACh‐mediated activation of nAChRs tailors the pattern of network activity into theta‐frequency depolarizing episodes as opposed to synchronized individual events at much lower frequencies.
Skin manifestations in food allergy

Skin manifestations represent the most often observed clinical symptoms in food allergy. Immediate symptoms are urticaria, angioedema and sudden erythema (flush). Delayed symptoms which can be observed are exanthema and exacerbation or worsening of eczema (most often atopic dermatitis). Since delayed symptoms are difficult to diagnose, oral provocation tests are often necessary for patients with a suspected late onset of symptoms upon food ingestion. There is evidence that besides specific IgE, specific T cells play a role in the deterioration of eczema in atopic dermatitis. Although urticarial skin lesions are most often observed upon oral provocation with a suspected food, the rate of IgE‐mediated food allergy in acute or chronic urticaria is rather low. In some patients suffering from chronic urticaria, intolerance reactions are also suspected. Since no laboratory or skin tests are available yet for the identification of clinically relevant food additives causing urticaria, oral provocation tests are mandatory for these patients.
Taxonomic Organization in Immediate and Delayed Recognition Memory

The effects of organization and taxonomic frequency were examined on both an immediate and a one-week delayed recognition test following a single trial of practice. Lists of semantically related words were presented either randomly or blocked by category. Compared with random presentation, organization (blocking) produced higher confidence ratings on the immediate test and resulted in better recognition memory on the delayed test. Taxonomic frequency did not affect performance on the delayed test. When tested immediately, subjects recognized low-frequency words better than high-frequency words; however, this typical word-frequency effect was observed only in the random condition. The overall pattern of results is compatible with recent versions of generate-recognize models of recognition memory. An interpretation of the present findings is offered in terms of the likelihood that memory nodes are tagged with associated list-marker elements.
Epidemiology of Injection Drug Use

After more than 30 years of research, numerous studies have shown that injection drug use is associated with a wide range of adverse health outcomes such as drug overdoses, drug-related suicidal behaviours, comorbid psychiatric disorders, bloodborne pathogens and other infectious diseases, and traumas. This review explores new trends and prominent issues associated with injection drug use. The dynamic nature of injection drug use is underlined by examining its recent trends and changing patterns in Canada and other “high-income countries. ” Three research topics that could further contribute to the development of comprehensive prevention and intervention strategies aimed at people who inject drugs are also discussed: risk behaviours associated with the injection of prescription opioids, binge injection drug use, and mental health problems as determinants of injection risk behaviours.
A Rational and Efficient Algorithm for View Deletion in Databases

In this paper, we show how techniques from disjunctive logic programming and classical flrst-order theorem proving can be used for efficient (deductive) database updates. The key idea is to tranform the given database together with the update request into a disjunctive logic program and apply disjunctive techniques (such as minimal model reasoning) to solve the original update problem. We present two variants of our algorithm both of which are of polynomial space complexity. One variant, which is based on offline preprocessing, is of polynomial time complexity. We also show that both variants are rational in the sense that they satisfy certain rationality postulates stemming from philosophical works on belief dynamics.
High Abundances of Aerobic Anoxygenic Photosynthetic Bacteria in the South Pacific Ocean

ABSTRACT Little is known about the abundance, distribution, and ecology of aerobic anoxygenic phototrophic (AAP) bacteria, particularly in oligotrophic environments, which represent 60% of the ocean. We investigated the abundance of AAP bacteria across the South Pacific Ocean, including the center of the gyre, the most oligotrophic water body of the world ocean. AAP bacteria, Prochlorococcus, and total prokaryotic abundances, as well as bacteriochlorophyll a (BChl a) and divinyl-chlorophyll a concentrations, were measured at several depths in the photic zone along a gradient of oligotrophic conditions. The abundances of AAP bacteria and Prochlorococcus were high, together accounting for up to 58% of the total prokaryotic community. The abundance of AAP bacteria alone was up to 1.94 × 105 cells ml−1 and as high as 24% of the overall community. These measurements were consistent with the high BChl a concentrations (up to 3.32 × 10−3 μg liter−1) found at all stations. However, the BChl a content per AAP bacterial cell was low, suggesting that AAP bacteria are mostly heterotrophic organisms. Interestingly, the biovolume and therefore biomass of AAP bacteria was on average twofold higher than that of other prokaryotic cells. This study demonstrates that AAP bacteria can be abundant in various oligotrophic conditions, including the most oligotrophic regime of the world ocean, and can account for a large part of the bacterioplanktonic carbon stock.
Peak Luminosities of the Hard States of GX 339-4: Implications for the Accretion Geometry, Disk Mass, and Black Hole Mass

We have analyzed observations of the black hole transient GX 339-4 made with the Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer (RXTE) and the Burst and Transient Source Experiment (BATSE) on board the Compton Gamma-Ray Observatory (CGRO). We have found a nearly linear relation between the peak flux during the low/hard (LH) state that occurs at the beginning of an outburst and the time since the flux peak of the latest LH state identified in the previous outburst. Assuming that the rate at which mass accumulates in the accretion disk between these peaks is constant and that any mass that remains in the disk after an outburst has a negligible effect on the next outburst, this nearly linear relation suggests that the peak flux during the LH state that occurs at the beginning of an outburst is related to the mass in the disk, and thus that the entire disk is probably involved in powering these LH states. We have also found a positive correlation between the peak luminosities of the LH state in the three recent outbursts of GX 339-4 and the peak luminosities of the following HS state. This correlation is similar to the correlations reported previously for Aql X-1, 4U 1705-44, and XTE J1550-564, providing further support for the idea that the accretion flow that powers the LH state is related to the accretion flow that powers the following HS state. Although the luminosity of the LH-to-HS transition varies by up to an order of magnitude, the neutron stars and the black holes are distinguishable in the state transition luminosity. We discuss the implications for the mass determination of the compact stars in the ultraluminous X-ray sources (ULXs).
High Diversity of the Saliva Microbiome in Batwa Pygmies

We describe the saliva microbiome diversity in Batwa Pygmies, a former hunter-gatherer group from Uganda, using next-generation sequencing of partial 16S rRNA sequences. Microbial community diversity in the Batwa is significantly higher than in agricultural groups from Sierra Leone and the Democratic Republic of Congo. We found 40 microbial genera in the Batwa, which have previously not been described in the human oral cavity. The distinctive composition of the salvia microbiome of the Batwa may have been influenced by their recent different lifestyle and diet.