Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Recruitment of the Sonic hedgehog signalling cascade in electroconvulsive seizure‐mediated regulation of adult rat hippocampal neurogenesis

Electroconvulsive seizure (ECS) induces structural remodelling in the adult mammalian brain, including an increase in adult hippocampal neurogenesis. The molecular mechanisms that underlie this increase in the proliferation of adult hippocampal progenitors are at present not well understood. We hypothesized that ECS may recruit the Sonic hedgehog (Shh) pathway to mediate its effects on adult hippocampal neurogenesis, as Shh is known to enhance the proliferation of neuronal progenitors and is expressed in the adult basal forebrain, a region that sends robust projections to the hippocampus. Here we demonstrate that the ECS‐induced increase in proliferation of adult hippocampal progenitors was completely blocked in animals treated with cyclopamine, a pharmacological inhibitor of Shh signalling. Our results suggest that both acute and chronic ECS enhance Shh signalling in the adult hippocampus, as we observed a robust upregulation of Patched (Ptc) mRNA, a component of the Shh receptor complex and a downstream transcriptional target of Shh signalling. This increase was rapid and restricted to the dentate gyrus, where the adult hippocampal progenitors reside. In addition, both acute and chronic ECS decreased Smoothened (Smo) mRNA, the other component of the Shh receptor complex, selectively within the dentate gyrus. However, ECS did not appear to influence Shh expression within the basal forebrain, the site from which it has been suggested to be anterogradely transported to the hippocampus. Together, our findings demonstrate that ECS regulates the Shh signalling cascade and indicate that the Shh pathway may be an important mechanism through which ECS enhances adult hippocampal neurogenesis.
Improved quantitation of minimal residual disease in multiple myeloma using real-time polymerase chain reaction and plasmid-DNA complementarity determining region III standards.

The complementarity determining region III of the rearranged immunoglobulin heavy chain gene has been the target for tumor-specific PCR assays for the detection and follow-up of B-cell malignancies. Previously, these assays have relied on gel-based end point data collection methods (i.e., band densitometry) and, thus, have provided at best a semiquantitative assessment of tumor levels. We show the development of a novel, real-time TaqMan PCR assay to quantitate residual multiple myeloma cells in clinical samples after high-dose chemotherapy and autologous stem cell transplantation. We provide evidence that real-time PCR is reproducible, sensitive, and quantitative. In a 40-replicate PCR experiment targeting the beta-actin gene, the coefficient of variation for threshold cycle data was 1.6%, whereas it increased to 13.6% and 31%, respectively, for end point fluorescence and gel densitometry. Moreover, in an experiment directly comparing standard curves obtained from band densitometry and threshold cycle data, the standard curve constructed from threshold cycle data had a multiple R2 value of 1.00 and demonstrated a dynamic range >4 logs, compared with the 2-log linear range of gel densitometry. Finally, we show that when a complementarity determining region III-specific PCR primer is used in conjunction with a consensus primer for the immunoglobulin heavy chain joining gene, plasmid DNA can be used as a readily available and effective substitute for clonal plasma-cell genomic DNA when preparing standards. By applying real-time PCR to the analysis of clinical samples, we are able to quantitate levels of tumor involvement with unparalleled reproducibility and statistical confidence. Real-time PCR technology may well provide the accuracy and reliability necessary for minimal residual disease detection to have real prognostic significance.
Awareness of diabetes, hypertension, and hypercholesterolemia in Malaysia

Policy interventions for cardiovascular diseases require individual awareness of ailments. Such awareness is also key to individuals making changes to their lifestyle and dietary habits. The present study investigated the association of sociodemographic, health, and lifestyle factors with the awareness and prevalence of three ailments: diabetes, hypertension, and hypercholesterolemia.
Dynamic single-user ofdm adaptation for ieee 802.11 systems

Earlier paper have demonstrated that the achievable throughput of OFDM systems can benefit significantly from individual modulation/transmit power selection on a per sub-carrier basis according to the actual gain of individual sub-carriers (so called dynamic OFDM scheme). Usage of such approach requires, however, providing support for additional functionality like: acquisition of the sub-carrier gains, signaling of the used modulation types between the sender and receiver, etc. Therefore dynamic OFDM is actively pursued for future radio interfaces, rather then considered as extension of existing OFDM based standards. In this paper we present for the first time a proposal how the widely accepted IEEE 802.11a/g systems might be extended to support the dynamic OFDM in a single-user (point-to-point) setting while assuring backward compatibility. We address these issues by a) presenting a set of protocol modifications; and b) a performance evaluation of the suggested extension (referred further on to as single-user 802.11 DYN mode) demonstrating the potential of performance improvement.
Universal image coding using multiscale recurrent patterns and prediction

In this paper we present a new method for image coding that is able to achieve good results over a wide range of image types. This work is based on the multidimensional multiscale parser (MMP) algorithm (M. de Carvalho et al., 2002), allied with an intra frame image predictive coding scheme. MMP has been shown to have, for a large class of image data, including texts, graphics, mixed images and textures, a compression efficiency comparable (and, in several cases, well above) to the one of state-of-the-art encoders. However, for smooth grayscale images, its performance lags behind the one of wavelet-based encoders, as JPEG2000. In this paper we propose a novel encoder using MMP with intra predictive coding, similar to the one used in the H.264/AVC video coding standard. Experimental results show that this method closes the performance gap to JPEG-2000 for smooth images, with PSNR gains of up to 1.5 dB. Yet, it maintains the excellent performance level of the MMP for other types of image data, as text, graphics and compound images, lending it a useful universal character.
A unifying theory of synaptic long-term plasticity based on a sparse distribution of synaptic strength

Long-term synaptic plasticity is fundamental to learning and network function. It has been studied under various induction protocols and depends on firing rates, membrane voltage, and precise timing of action potentials. These protocols show different facets of a common underlying mechanism but they are mostly modeled as distinct phenomena. Here, we show that all of these different dependencies can be explained from a single computational principle. The objective is a sparse distribution of excitatory synaptic strength, which may help to reduce metabolic costs associated with synaptic transmission. Based on this objective we derive a stochastic gradient ascent learning rule which is of differential-Hebbian type. It is formulated in biophysical quantities and can be related to current mechanistic theories of synaptic plasticity. The learning rule accounts for experimental findings from all major induction protocols and explains a classic phenomenon of metaplasticity. Furthermore, our model predicts the existence of metaplasticity for spike-timing-dependent plasticity Thus, we provide a theory of long-term synaptic plasticity that unifies different induction protocols and provides a connection between functional and mechanistic levels of description.
Relationship Between Angiographic Vasospasm and Regional Hypoperfusion in Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage

Background and Purpose— Angiographic vasospasm frequently complicates subarachnoid hemorrhage and has been implicated in the development of delayed cerebral ischemia. Whether large-vessel narrowing adequately accounts for the critical reductions in regional cerebral blood flow underlying ischemia is unclear. We sought to clarify the relationship between angiographic vasospasm and regional hypoperfusion. Methods— Twenty-five patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage underwent cerebral catheter angiography and 15O-positron emission tomographic imaging within 1 day of each other (median of 7 days after subarachnoid hemorrhage). Severity of vasospasm was assessed in each intracranial artery, whereas cerebral blood flow and oxygen extraction fraction were measured in 28 brain regions distributed across these vascular territories. We analyzed the association between vasospasm and perfusion and compared frequency of hypoperfusion (cerebral blood flow <25 mL/100 g/min) and oligemia (low oxygen delivery with oxygen extraction fraction ≥0.5) in territories with versus without significant vasospasm. Results— Twenty-four percent of 652 brain regions were supplied by vessels with significant vasospasm. Cerebral blood flow was lower in such regions (38.6±12 versus 48.7±16 mL/100 g/min), whereas oxygen extraction fraction was higher (0.48±0.19 versus 0.37±0.14, both P<0.001). Hypoperfusion was seen in 46 regions (7%), but 66% of these were supplied by vessels with no significant vasospasm; 24% occurred in patients without angiographic vasospasm. Similarly, oligemia occurred more frequently outside territories with vasospasm. Conclusions— Angiographic vasospasm is associated with reductions in cerebral perfusion. However, regional hypoperfusion and oligemia frequently occurred in territories and patients without vasospasm. Other factors in addition to large-vessel narrowing must contribute to critical reductions in perfusion.
Analyzing Motorcycle Crash Pattern and Riders’ Fault Status at a National Level: A Case Study from Iran

Motorcycle crashes constitute a significant proportion of traffic accidents all over the world. The aim of this paper was to examine the motorcycle crash patterns and rider fault status across the provinces of Iran. For this purpose, 6638 motorcycle crashes occurred in Iran through 2009-2012 were used as the analysis data and a two-step clustering approach was adopted as the analysis framework. Firstly, hierarchical clustering (HC) was applied to group the provinces into homogenous clusters, based on the distribution of crash characteristics in each province. In the second step, the latent class clustering (LCC) was employed to investigate the crash patterns and rider fault status among the provinces. The provincial groupings were found to be an influential factor in the final crash clusters implying the effectiveness of the proposed framework. Results of LCC also indicated that Cluster 8 with the highest percentages of not wearing helmet, unlicensed and under 21 years old riders, had the highest percentage of fatal crashes. In addition, the motorcyclists seemed to be less responsible in the pedestrian-motorcycle crashes. Accordingly, training programs for the riders in the license issuance process about the risk of pedestrian-motorcycle crashes could help mitigate this type of crashes. Generally, analyzing the culpability in pedestrian-motorcycle crashes might be a good topic for future research. Further discussions on the crash patterns are provided. Finally, the combined use of HC and LCC should not be regarded as an alternative to the other more qualitative predictive methods, but as a preliminary analysis tool to provide insights over the road safety condition at the national level.
CORRELATION BETWEEN THE METACOGNITIVE SELF AND SELECTED FORMS OF MUSICAL TRAINING

The paper presents the concept of the metacognitive self and its correlations with selected features of musical training. Accurate insight into deviations from the rationality in one’s behaviour might be related to deliberate planning, analysing, and evaluating performance, as well as explaining the factors contributing to the results of musical training. It has been also assumed that the level of the metacognitive self could depend on the specific features of training, such as intensity and duration. Research tools included a questionnaire constructed for the aim of the study, which measured variables associated with musical behaviour and the MJ-40 Scale, assessing the accuracy in the recognition of one’s own irrationality. The MJ-40 Scale comprises five subscales: judgemental biases, memory biases, irra tionality in thinking, recognition of social influence and reco gni tion of conflict between morality and efficiency. The technique of computer-assisted personal interviewing (CAPI) was adopted in the re search. The results show a significant correlation in the duration of musical training and accuracy in the perception of one’s own behaviour. The number of years devoted to musical training and the proportion of time spent on improvising during everyday practice, facilitate more frequent reflection on cognitive pro cesses and thereby enhance accuracy in the recognition of one’s own irrationality. The presented study might provide insight into self-perception processes, specifically self-knowledge determined by the psychological processes entailed in musical training. As the previous descriptions and explanations of the relations between musical behaviour and the metacognitive self are incomplete, further research is necessary.
Early Childhood Overweight and Asthma and Allergic Sensitization at 8 Years of Age

Objectives: Our aim was to examine the associations between high BMI and changes in BMI status during the first 7 years of life and asthma and allergic sensitization at age 8 years. Methods: A birth cohort of newborn infants was followed for 8 years. Repeated parental questionnaires provided information on environmental exposures and health outcomes. Information on height and weight during childhood was retrieved from preschool and school health care records. The analyses included the 2075 children for whom information was available on weight and height, as well as on asthma, at age 8 years. Results: A high BMI (≥85th percentile) at age 1, 4, and/or 7 years was associated with an increased risk of asthma at age 8 years. However, no significant association was observed among children with high BMI at age 12 and/or 18 months (early age) or at age 4 years who developed a normal BMI by age 7 years. The risk was increased among children with high BMI at age 7 years, regardless of their earlier weight. Moreover, we observed an increased risk of sensitization to inhalant allergens among children with high BMI at age 7 years. Conclusions: Our study indicates that high BMI during the first 4 years does not increase the risk of asthma at school age among children who have developed a normal weight by age 7 years. However, high BMI at age 7 years is associated with an increased risk of asthma and sensitization to inhalant allergens.
Inducible versus constitutive social immunity: examining effects of colony infection on glucose oxidase and defensin-1 production in honeybees

Honeybees use a variety of defence mechanisms to reduce disease infection and spread throughout the colony. Many of these defences rely on the collective action of multiple individuals to prevent, reduce or eradicate pathogens—often referred to as ‘social immunity’. Glucose oxidase (GOX) and some antimicrobial peptides (e.g. defensin-1 or Def1) are secreted by the hypopharyngeal gland of adult bees on larval food for their antiseptic properties. Because workers secrete these compounds to protect larvae, they have been used as ‘biomarkers’ for social immunity. The aim of this study was to investigate if GOX and Def1 are induced after pathogen exposure to determine whether its production by workers is the result of a collective effort to protect the brood and colony in response to a pathogen challenge. Specifically, we quantified GOX and Def1 in honeybee adults before and after colony-level bacterial infection by American foulbrood ((AFB), Paenibacillus larvae). Overall, our results indicate that levels of GOX and Def1 are not induced in response to pathogenic infections. We therefore conclude that GOX and Def1 are highly constitutive and co-opted as mechanisms of social immunity, and these factors should be considered when investigating immunity at the individual and colony level in social insects.
Calcium dependence and distribution of calcium‐activated chloride channels in Xenopus oocytes

1 The Ca2+‐dependent Cl− current (ICl,Ca), expressed in the plasma membrane of Xenopus oocytes, was examined in excised inside‐out macropatches using a rapid perfusion system. 2 Application of Ca2+‐containing Ringer solution resulted in the activation of a current whose reversal potential shifted to the right by 51 + 5.2 mV when Cl− in the pipette solution was lowered from 119.3 to 10 mm. No currents were generated when Ca2+ was omitted from the solution. The current is therefore a Ca2+‐activated Cl− one. 3 Following exposure to Ca2+, the half‐time for activation of ICl,Ca was not voltage dependent, whereas deactivation was strongly so. 4 I Cl,Ca was stable in the continuous presence of Ca2+ and showed no sign of inactivation or adaptation. 5 Comparison of the size of the currents (normalized to pipette resistance) from the animal and vegetal poles revealed that ICl,Ca had a highly polarized distribution. The current density was almost 10 times higher in the animal pole. 6 The results suggest that Cl− channels provide a continuous and reliable indication of submembranous Ca2+, at least in an excised patch, and the clustering of the Cl− channels renders it necessary to exert caution in interpreting results involving the kinetics of Ca2+ signalling, when ICl,Ca is used as the sole monitor of calcium.
An Evaluation of a Non-contact Biomotion Sensor with Actimetry

Actimetry is a widely accepted technology for the diagnosis and monitoring of sleep disorders such as insomnia, circadian sleep/wake disturbance, and periodic leg movement. In this study we investigate a very sensitive non-contact biomotion sensor to measure actimetry and compare its performance to wrist-actimetry. A data corpus consisting of twenty subjects (ten normals, ten with sleep disorders) was collected in the unconstrained home environment with simultaneous non-contact sensor and ActiWatch actimetry recordings. The aggregated length of the data is 151 hours. The non-contact sensor signal was mapped to actimetry using 30 second epochs and the level of agreement with the ActiWatch actimetry determined. Across all twenty subjects, the sensitivity and specificity was 79% and 75% respectively. In addition, it was shown that the non-contact sensor can also measure breathing and breathing modulations. The results of this study indicate that the non-contact sensor may be a highly convenient alternative to wrist-actimetry as a diagnosis and screening tool for sleep studies. Furthermore, as the non- contact sensor measures breathing modulations, it can additionally be used to screen for respiratory disturbances in sleep caused by sleep apnea and COPD.
The Qualitative Report The Qualitative Report

Abstract Despite much research into mate selection, non-heterosexual populations are often only included for comparison purposes, while trans people and their partners are overlooked. This study attempts to address this using qualitative methodology to explore the mate selection of the partners of trans people. Six participants were recruited from online communities and interviewed via instant messaging, the results were then analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. The author organised the results into four themes. Theme one: Identities/relationships which defy categorisation, Theme Two: Attractive traits and mate selection, Theme Three: Impact of past romantic relationships, other relationships and life changes and Theme Four: The self as a source of strength. These results challenge the traditional conclusions of mate selection studies, emphasising the need for more qualitative research.
Urbanization and hospital admission rates for alcohol and drug abuse: a follow-up study of 4.5 million women and men in Sweden.

AIMS This study analyses whether the level of urbanization is associated with hospital admissions for alcohol and drug abuse, after adjustment for individual demographic and socio-economic characteristics. DESIGN Follow-up study from 31 December 1996 to 31 December 1999. SETTING Sweden. PARTICIPANTS The entire Swedish population aged 25-64 yeras, in total 4.5 million women and men. MEASUREMENTS Hospital admission rates for alcohol abuse (12,812 events) and drug abuse (6459 events). Level of urbanization was defined by population density and divided into quintiles. Cox proportional hazard models were used to analyse the data. FINDINGS The results showed an apparent gradient for both women and men; with increasing level of urbanization the hospital admission rates for alcohol abuse and drug abuse increased sharply. After adjustment for age, marital status, education and immigrant status, the hazard ratios for hospital admission for alcohol abuse were 1.76 [confidence interval (CI) = 1.58-1.96] for women and 1.71 (CI = 1.60-1.82) for men in the most densely populated areas (quintile 5). For drug abuse the corresponding hazard ratios were 1.89 (CI = 1.67-2.15) for women and 2.38 (CI = 2.12-2.67) for men. CONCLUSIONS A high level of urbanization was associated with increased hospital admission rates for alcohol abuse and drug abuse. The level of urbanization should be considered in the distribution of resources for prevention and treatment of alcohol and drug abuse.
Variation in the oxytocin receptor gene (OXTR) is associated with differences in moral judgment

Moral judgments are produced through the coordinated interaction of multiple neural systems, each of which relies on a characteristic set of neurotransmitters. Genes that produce or regulate these neurotransmitters may have distinctive influences on moral judgment. Two studies examined potential genetic influences on moral judgment using dilemmas that reliably elicit competing automatic and controlled responses, generated by dissociable neural systems. Study 1 (N = 228) examined 49 common variants (SNPs) within 10 candidate genes and identified a nominal association between a polymorphism (rs237889) of the oxytocin receptor gene (OXTR) and variation in deontological vs utilitarian moral judgment (that is, judgments favoring individual rights vs the greater good). An association was likewise observed for rs1042615 of the arginine vasopressin receptor gene (AVPR1A). Study 2 (N = 322) aimed to replicate these findings using the aforementioned dilemmas as well as a new set of structurally similar medical dilemmas. Study 2 failed to replicate the association with AVPR1A, but replicated the OXTR finding using both the original and new dilemmas. Together, these findings suggest that moral judgment is influenced by variation in the oxytocin receptor gene and, more generally, that single genetic polymorphisms can have a detectable effect on complex decision processes.