Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Glycinergic Pacemaker Neurons in PreBötzinger Complex of Neonatal Mouse

The preBötzinger complex (preBötC) is essential for normal respiratory rhythm generation in rodents, for which the underlying mechanisms remain unknown. Excitatory preBötC pacemaker neurons are proposed to be necessary for rhythm generation. Here we report the presence of a population of preBötC glycinergic pacemaker neurons. We used rhythmic in vitro transverse slice preparations from transgenic mice where neurons expressing the glycine transporter 2 (GlyT2) gene coexpress enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP). We combined epifluorescence and whole-cell patch-clamp recording to study preBötC EGFP-labeled, i.e., glycinergic, inspiratory-modulated neurons with pacemaker properties. We defined glycinergic pacemaker neurons as those preBötC EGFP neurons that exhibited the following: (1) ectopic bursting in rhythmic slices when depolarized during their normally silent period and (2) bursting when depolarized in nonrhythmic slices (following AMPA receptor blockade). Forty-two percent of EGFP-labeled neurons were inspiratory (n = 48 of 115), of which 23% (n = 11 of 48 inspiratory; 10% of the total recorded) were pacemakers. We conclude that there is a population of preBötC inspiratory-modulated glycinergic, presumably inhibitory, pacemaker neurons that constitute a substantial fraction of all preBötC pacemaker neurons. These findings challenge contemporary models for respiratory rhythmogenesis that assume the excitatory nature of preBötC pacemaker neurons. Testable and nontrivial predictions of the functional role of excitatory and inhibitory pacemaker neurons need to be proposed and the necessary experiments performed.
Do points, levels and leaderboards harm intrinsic motivation?: an empirical analysis of common gamification elements

It is heavily debated within the gamification community whether specific game elements may actually undermine users' intrinsic motivation. This online experiment examined the effects of three commonly employed game design elements -- points, leaderboard, levels -- on users' performance, intrinsic motivation, perceived autonomy and competence in an image annotation task. Implementation of these game elements significantly increased performance, but did not affect perceived autonomy, competence or intrinsic motivation. Our findings suggest that points, levels and leaderboards by themselves neither make nor break users' intrinsic motivation in non-game contexts. Instead, it is assumed that they act as progress indicators, guiding and enhancing user performance. While more research on the contextual factors that may potentially mediate the effects of game elements on intrinsic motivation is required, it seems that the implementation of points, levels, and leaderboards is a viable means to promote specific user behavior in non-game contexts.
Compressive sensing of image reconstruction using multi-wavelet transforms

By given a sparse signal in a high dimensional space, compressive sensing system, which combines with sampling and compression, can reconstruct that signal accurately and efficiently from fewer linear measurements much less than its actual dimension using sparse priors of signal. Currently, researchers always use orthogonal wavelet to represent the images. But the wavelet only has single scaling function and can not simultaneously satisfy the orthogonality, high vanishing moments, compact support, symmetry characteristic and regularity. Developed from the theory of wavelet, multi-wavelet transform, which can simultaneously satisfy the five characteristics, provides a great potential to obtain high-performance coding. According to the three main steps (Sparse representation, measurement matrix, reconstruction algorithm) of compressive sensing image reconstruction, this paper proposes a compressive sensing image reconstruction based on sparse representation of the image in multi-wavelet transform domain while using Orthogonal Matching Pursuit iterative as the reconstruction algorithm. The experimental results show that the reconstructed image has batter vision quality and a good performance on PSNR. Meanwhile, the algorithm of reconstruction gets a faster convergence rate.
ON IMITATION : FROM MIRROR NEURONS TO MEMES Volume 1 Mechanisms of Imitation and Imitation in Animals

Brain imaging techniques allow the mapping of cognitive functions onto neural systems, but also the understanding of mechanisms of human behavior. In a series of imaging studies we have described a minimal neural architecture for imitation. This architecture comprises a brain region that codes an early visual description of the action to be imitated, a second region that codes the detailed motor specification of the action to be copied, and a third region that codes the goal of the imitated action. Neural signals predicting the sensory consequences of the planned imitative action are sent back to the brain region coding the early visual description of the imitated action, for monitoring purposes ("my planned action is like the one I have just seen"). The three brain regions forming this minimal neural architecture belong to a part of the cerebral cortex
Apicoplast Lipoic Acid Protein Ligase B Is Not Essential for Plasmodium falciparum

Lipoic acid (LA) is an essential cofactor of α-keto acid dehydrogenase complexes (KADHs) and the glycine cleavage system. In Plasmodium, LA is attached to the KADHs by organelle-specific lipoylation pathways. Biosynthesis of LA exclusively occurs in the apicoplast, comprising octanoyl-[acyl carrier protein]: protein N-octanoyltransferase (LipB) and LA synthase. Salvage of LA is mitochondrial and scavenged LA is ligated to the KADHs by LA protein ligase 1 (LplA1). Both pathways are entirely independent, suggesting that both are likely to be essential for parasite survival. However, disruption of the LipB gene did not negatively affect parasite growth despite a drastic loss of LA (>90%). Surprisingly, the sole, apicoplast-located pyruvate dehydrogenase still showed lipoylation, suggesting that an alternative lipoylation pathway exists in this organelle. We provide evidence that this residual lipoylation is attributable to the dual targeted, functional lipoate protein ligase 2 (LplA2). Localisation studies show that LplA2 is present in both mitochondrion and apicoplast suggesting redundancy between the lipoic acid protein ligases in the erythrocytic stages of P. falciparum.
Public Policy and Ethnicity: The Politics of Ethnic Boundary Making

List of Tables Acknowledgements Notes on Contributors Introduction: Of Mohammed, Murals and Maori Ceremony E.Rata & R.Openshaw Freedom, Identity Construction and Cultural Closure: The Taniwha, the Hijab and the Weiner Schnitzel as Boundary Makers E.Kolig The Politics of Ethnic Boundary Making E.Rata Culturalism, Neoliberalism and the State: The Rise and Fall of Neotraditionalist Ideologies in the South Pacific A.Babadzan The Paradox of Indigenous Rights T.van Meijl Ethnicity in Business: The Case of New Zealand Maori M.Devlin Re-politicising Race: The Anglian Church in New Zealand C.Tremewan Putting Ethnicity into Policy: A New Zealand Case Study R.Openshaw Race and Ethnicity in United Kingdom Public Policy: Education and Health L.Culley & J.Demaine Ethnic Measurement as a Policy-Making Tool P.Callister Challenging Ethnic Explanations for Educational Failure R.Nash Dogmas of Ethnicity J.Clark Historical Revisionism in New Zealand: Always Winter and Never Christmas G.Butterworth References Index
Headgroup-Dependent Membrane Catalysis of Apelin−Receptor Interactions Is Likely

Apelin is the peptidic ligand for the G-protein-coupled receptor APJ. The apelin−APJ system is important in cardiovascular regulation, fluid homeostasis, and angiogenesis, among other roles. In this study, we investigate interactions between apelin and membrane-mimetic micelles of the detergents sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), dodecylphosphocholine (DPC), and 1-palmitoyl-2-hydroxy-sn-glycero-3-[phospho-rac-(1-glycerol)] (LPPG). Far-ultraviolet circular dichroism spectropolarimetry and diffusion-ordered spectroscopy indicate that apelin peptides bind to micelles of the anionic detergents SDS and LPPG much more favorably than to zwitterionic DPC micelles. Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy allowed full characterization of the interactions of apelin-17 with SDS micelles. Titration with paramagnetic agents and structural determination of apelin-17 in SDS indicate that R6−K12 is highly structured, with R6−L9 directly interacting with headgroups of the micelle. Type I β-turns are initiated between R6 and L9, and a well-defined type IV β-turn is initiated at S10. Furthermore, binding of apelin-17 to SDS micelles causes structuring of M15-F17, with no evidence for direct binding of this region to the micelles. These results are placed into the context of the membrane catalysis hypothesis for peptide−receptor binding, and a hypothetical mechanism of APJ binding and activation by apelin is advanced.
Statistical Default Models and Incentives

The likelihood that a bank loan will default is of interest to both regulators and investors. Under the Basel II regulatory guidelines, a bank must hold capital in proportion to the riskiness of its assets. The probability of default is a pri mary determinant of the riskiness of a loan. Investors, in turn, price a loan in the secondary market based on its expected cash flow, which again depends on the default probability. How should market participants assess the default probability on a pool of bank loans? It is natural to consider historical data on loan condi tions and default rates, and to estimate a statisti cal model that can be used to predict defaults going forward. Such statistical models have been widely used across the financial markets, to enhance market liquidity and impose capital requirements on financial institutions. The accuracy of predictions from statistical models was especially poor in the subprime mortgage market in the period from August 2007 onwards.1 We argue that one cause for this failure was that these models relied entirely on hard information variables and ignored changes in the incentives of lenders to collect soft infor
Evidence of Dividend Catering Theory in Malaysia: Implications for Investor Sentiment

This study investigates the key determinants of corporate performance in Malaysia. Using panel data (2002-2007) of 361 companies listed in Malaysia, the study finds dividend per share, use of debt, number of board members, and last year’s performance to be the most significant determinants of corporate performance across four selected industries: trading or services, property, consumer products, and industrial products. This study also finds that dividend per share is influenced by market performance and is followed by last year’s dividend and size of the dividend. These findings exhibit the presence of dividend catering incentives. As such, market demand for dividends drives corporate dividends. The study concludes that investor sentiment influences corporate decisions in Malaysia.
Understanding the Interaction of Multiple Jurisdictions for Highway Investment : 1 ! Viability of Public-Private Partnership Alternatives 2 ! 3 ! 4 ! 5 !

1! 2! Observing that highway public-private partnerships (P3s) have been rare for projects that cross 3! jurisdictional boundaries, this study attempts to evaluate strategic interactions of multiple 4! governments in terms of their road network investment, with the prospect to partner with a 5! private firm. There is a gap in the literature regarding network level analyses of investment 6! behavior in partnership with the private sector. In undertaking this complex analysis, this paper 7! presents a model with which to investigate how governments strategically interact with each 8! other in making these decisions. Numerical analysis of the model on a highly stylized highway 9! network was conducted to serve as the foundation for investigating various complex policy 10! alternatives not only on stylized networks but also on real highway networks. The analysis 11! demonstrated that two jurisdictions, in maximizing respective welfare given the best response of 12! the counterpart, raised toll and increased the capacity for the link that served inter-jurisdictional 13! commuters, relative to the other links. Welfare losses and negative profitability resulted. The 14! analysis suggested the analytical framework could be a tool to inform decision makers on 15! possible consequences of various policy scenarios, including the use of P3s for such contexts.
An Investigation of Reading Rate Patterns and Retrieval Outcomes of Elementary School Students with E-books

While many studies have examined the capabilities of e-books to promote children’s reading abilities, more extensive investigations of the related reading patterns and outcomes seem necessary before this technology is widely adopted. This study used a reading rate tracking technique to collect the reading rate data from 24 sixthgraders participating in six reading tasks. After each reading task, the students were asked to complete a retrieval test in order to assess their reading outcomes. Using a two-stage cluster analysis method, this study identified two different reading rate patterns, the Coherent and Fluctuant Readers, from 2,820 on-reading records collected by a reading rate tracking technique. The characteristics of the patterns not only represent the changes in specific reading rate related to different groups, but can also be regarded as the extrinsic indications of various reading actions or navigation strategies, and are thus somewhat associated with the retrieval outcomes. Moreover, this study also found that e-book reading is plausibly able to promote the student’s retrieval as compared with reading printed books. Future research can examine how these patterns result in different outcomes, and thus further help teachers as they seek to guide students’ reading of e-books.
Examination of MARCO Activity on Dendritic Cell Phenotype and Function Using a Gene Knockout Mouse

We have reported the upregulation of MARCO, a member of the class A scavenger receptor family, on the surface of murine and human dendritic cells (DCs) pulsed with tumor lysates. Exposure of murine tumor lysate-pulsed DCs to an anti-MARCO antibody led to loss of dendritic-like processes and enhanced migratory capacity. In this study, we have further examined the biological and therapeutic implications of MARCO expression by DCs. DCs generated from the bone marrow (bm) of MARCO knockout (MARCO-/-) mice were phenotypically similar to DCs generated from the bm of wild-type mice and produced normal levels of IL-12 and TNF-α when exposed to LPS. MARCO-/- DCs demonstrated enhanced migratory capacity in response to CCL-21 in vitro. After subcutaneous injection into mice, MARCO-/- TP-DCs migrated more efficiently to the draining lymph node leading to enhanced generation of tumor-specific IFN-γ producing T cells and improved tumor regression and survival in B16 melanoma-bearing mice. These results support targeting MARCO on the surface of DCs to improve trafficking and induction of anti-tumor immunity.
Hardware Implementation of the Fuzzy Fingerprint Vault System

The user authentication using fingerprint information not only provides the convenience but also high security. However, the fingerprint information for user authentication can cause serious problems when it has been compromised. It cannot change like passwords, because the user only has ten fingers on two hands. Recently, there is an increasing research of the fuzzy fingerprint vault system to protect fingerprint information. The research on the problem of fingerprint alignment using geometric hashing technique carried out. This paper proposes the hardware architecture fuzzy fingerprint vault system based on geometric hashing. The proposed architecture consists of software and hardware module. The hardware module has charge of matching between enrollment hash table and verification hash table. Based on the experimental results, the execution time of the proposed system with 36 real minutiae is 0.2 second when 100 chaff minutiae, 0.53 second when 400 chaff minutiae.
Strategic Drivers and Organizational Impediments to E-Business Performance: A Latent Class Assessment

Despite the waning of popular enthusiasm for e-business following the bursting of the tech bubble, there is still considerable awareness amongst leading corporations of the strategic potential of the Internet and related technologies. What remains poorly understood is why certain firms are successful in capturing the potential of sophisticated information technologies - in particular e-business systems - while others remain hesitant or unable to change. Building on the major theoretical arguments in strategic management, this paper investigates the complex drivers of e-business performance. At the aggregate level, we report a mediation effect between the underlying drivers of e-business performance. More importantly, however, latent class modeling techniques enable us to show that these variables are heavily influenced by the unobservable heterogeneity across firms. Four distinct types of firms populate our data, and the relationship between performance and its underlying determinants varies greatly between them. The implication is that a single model cannot explain the relationship between environment, structure, feasibility, managerial beliefs and performance.
Group Cognitive Behavior Therapy Reversed Insula Subregions Functional Connectivity in Asthmatic Patients

Background: Group cognitive behavior therapy (GCBT) is an effective treatment in improving self-management behaviors and quality of life for asthmatic patients. However, the mechanisms by which GCBT improves asthma-related clinical symptoms remain unknown. Previous studies have indicated that insula is an important region involved in the neuropathology of asthma. Therefore, we examined the possible alteration of functional connectivity (FC) in insula subregions after GCBT in asthmatic patients. Methods: Forty-two asthmatic patients and 60 healthy controls (HCs) received resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) scan and clinical assessments, 17 asthmatic patients completed GCBT treatment consisting of 8 sessions, and then received rs-fMRI scan and clinical assessments. Results: Asthmatic patients had greater left ventral anterior insula (vAI) FC with the left cerebellum posterior lobe, right middle temporal gyrus, and bilateral anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), but less FC with bilateral postcentral gyrus, bilateral occipital lobe, and left precentral gyrus compared with HCs. FC between left posterior insula and left medial frontal gyrus also increased in the patients. In addition, right vAI showed increased FC with right caudate and left putamen. FC between right dorsal anterior insula (dAI) and left calcarine however decreased. The increase in FC in insula subregions were significantly improved following GCBT. FC between the left vAI connectivity and left postcentral gyrus was positively correlated with the percentage of improvement in 17-items Hamilton depression rating scale scores, and FC between the right dAI and left calcarine was negatively associated with the improvement percentage in asthma control test scores. Conclusions: This study in the first time demonstrated that GCBT led to significant improvement of FC between insula subregions and other brain regions. Clinical Trial Registration: An investigation of therapeutic mechanism in asthmatic patients: based on the results of Group Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (Registration number: ChiCTR-COC-15007442) (http://www.chictr.org.cn/usercenter.aspx).
Envelope models for the supersoft X-ray emission of V1974 Cyg

The evolution of the soft X-ray emission of V1974 Cyg has been simulated by a white dwarf envelope model with steady hydrogen burning. The comparison of the results obtained from ROSAT observations with the results of our envelope models indicates that the post-outburst evolution of the nova can be explained by steady H-burning on either a 0.9 $M_{\odot }$ white dwarf with 50% degree of mixing between solar-like accreted material and the ONe degenerate core, or on a 1.0 $M_{\odot}$ ONe white dwarf with 25% mixing.
Measuring Client-Vendor Distance in Global Outsourceing Relationships: A Conceptual Model

The objective of this paper is to develop a conceptual model for client-vendor distance in global IS outsourcing relationships as previous research on this issue is scarce. A multi-dimensional construct is deductively developed deploying the theory of psychic distance as a theoretical lens. A key finding is that client-vendor distance in global IS outsourcing relationships is constituted by several characteristics that go beyond language barriers, geographical distance, and cultural distance. Thus, the paper lays the grounds for the development of a theory-based measurement model of client-vendor distance in IS. Furthermore, subtle differences exist between nearand offshoring arrangements concerning the relevance and strength of individual dimensions.
Living and Dying for Sex

A mechanistic understanding of aging has yet to be described; this paper puts forth a new theory that has the potential to explain aging in all sexually reproductive life forms. The theory also puts forth a new definition of aging – any change in an organism over time. This definition includes not only the changes associated with the loss of function (i.e. senescence, the commonly accepted definition of aging), but also the changes associated with the gain of function (growth and development). Using this definition, the rate of aging would be synonymous with the rate of change. The rate of change/aging is most rapid during the fetal period when organisms develop from a single cell at conception to a multicellular organism at birth. Therefore, ‘fetal aging’ would be determined by factors regulating the rate of mitogenesis, differentiation, and cell death. We suggest that these factors also are responsible for regulating aging throughout life. Thus, whatever controls mitogenesis, differentiation and cell death must also control aging. Since life-extending modalities consistently affect reproduction, and reproductive hormones are known to regulate mitogenesis and differentiation, we propose that aging is primarily regulated by the hormones that control reproduction (hence, the Reproductive-Cell Cycle Theory of Aging). In mammals, reproduction is controlled by the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis hormones. Longevity inducing interventions, including caloric restriction, decrease fertility by suppressing HPG axis hormones and HPG hormones are known to affect signaling through the well-documented longevity regulating GH/IGF-1/PI3K/Akt/Forkhead pathway. This is exemplified by genetic alterations in Caenorhabditis elegans where homologues of the HPG axis pathways, as well as the daf-2 and daf-9 pathways, all converge on daf-16, the homologue of human Forkhead that functions in the regulation of cell cycle events. In summary, we propose that the hormones that regulate reproduction act in an antagonistic pleiotrophic manner to control aging via cell cycle signaling; promoting growth and development early in life in order to achieve reproduction, but later in life, in a futile attempt to maintain reproduction, become dysregulated and drive senescence.
C*-envelopes of tensor algebras for multivariable dynamics

Abstract We give a new very concrete description of the C*-envelope of the tensor algebra associated to a multivariable dynamical system. In the surjective case, this C*-envelope is described as a crossed product by an endomorphism and as a groupoid C*-algebra. In the non-surjective case, it is a full corner of such an algebra. We also show that when the space is compact the C*-envelope is simple if and only if the system is minimal.
Towards Joint Learning in Multiagent Systems Through Opportunistic

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