Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Design of spreading codes for quasi-synchronous CDMA with intercell interference

The recently proposed loosely synchronized (LS) spreading code can in principle realize an intracell-interference-free quasi-synchronous code-division multiple-access (QS-CDMA) system by creating a wide enough interference-free window (IFW). However, the problem of minimizing intercell interference (ICI) in a cellular QS-CDMA system remains an open issue. Addressing the problem from a sequence design viewpoint, the key challenge is how to generalize the known construction of a single LS code to the design of many families of generalized LS (GLS) codes so that a desirable code family can be selected for the realization of a low-ICI cellular QS-CDMA system. Our main contribution is a systematic construction of new families of GLS codes with favorable intercode cross-correlation properties within a certain window, while maintaining the desirable IFW property. Many such code families can be obtained from our construction by choosing different Hadamard matrices and different uncorrelated complementary pairs. Their effectiveness with respect to some meaningful evaluation criteria are compared. In particular, by a simplified system bit-error rate analysis, it is demonstrated that a new GLS code family significantly outperforms the conventional scrambled LS codes.
Peripheral cross-linguistic interference in the acquisition of accusative clitics by Romanian–Hungarian simultaneous bilinguals

Abstract This paper presents the results of the first study of the acquisition of Accusative clitics in Romanian by Romanian–Hungarian bilingual children. Our data show that the acquisition route is similar to the one in a monolingual setting. An interesting observation which arises from this study is that two structures which are superficially similar in the two languages favour the occurrence of non-target constructions, unavailable in either of the two languages. They occur under bilingual conditions via non-language-specific mechanisms, such as comparison and analogy. This is why their use, age of onset, and end of influence are subject to individual variation. Their analysis reveals that even structures which are the result of non-language-specific mechanisms, when drawing on morpho-syntactic knowledge, can fall within the range of constructions made available by Universal Grammar. The same superficial similarity seems to boost the acquisition of clitics by Romanian–Hungarian bilinguals.
Molecular phylogeny of eastern Asian species of Amanita (Agaricales, Basidiomycota): taxonomic and biogeographic implications

The phylogenetic relationships, taxonomy and biogeography of the genus Amanita with emphasis on eastern Asian species were estimated using sequence data from both internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions and large subunit (nLSU) of nuclear ribosomal DNA. The separation of the two traditionally accepted subgenera was not well supported. Each section of Amanita, Vaginatae, Caesareae, Phalloideae, Validae and Amidella was supported as monophyletic by different methods of analysis and data sets of different regions. The monophyly of section Lepidella remained unclear. A few biogeographic and taxonomic implications were inferred: (1) few species of Amanita are widely distributed throughout eastern Asia, Europe and North America. Samples of some previously recognized disjunct species in the Northern Hemisphere were not monophyletic. Thus, the putative intercontinental disjunct distributions of these species were not supported in this study; (2) biogeographic relationships between Amanita of eastern Asia and Europe are relatively close and several taxa are common to both regions, while paired or closely related species between eastern Asia and North America are relatively common, but rarely have been confirmed as disjunct populations of the same species by molecular data yet. A number of species of Amanita in North America labelled with names based on European materials should be regarded as distinct species; (3) a few genetically cryptic species of Amanita in southwestern China need to be delimited; and (4) variations in colour and morphology of the fruit bodies in A. parvipantherina from different localities should be interpreted as modifications of environment.
Ginsenoside Rg1 Ameliorates Behavioral Abnormalities and Modulates the Hippocampal Proteomic Change in Triple Transgenic Mice of Alzheimer's Disease

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is one of the most common neurodegenerative diseases, so far, there are no effective measures to prevent and cure this deadly condition. Ginsenoside Rg1 (Rg1) was shown to improve behavioral abnormalities in AD; however, the potential mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, we pretreated 7-month-old 3xTg-AD mice for 6 weeks with Rg1 and evaluated the effects of Rg1 on the behaviors and the protein expression of hippocampal tissues. The behavioral tests showed that Rg1 could improve the memory impairment and ameliorate the depression-like behaviors of 3xTg-AD mice. Proteomic results revealed a total of 28 differentially expressed hippocampal proteins between Rg1-treated and nontreated 3xTg-AD mice. Among these proteins, complexin-2 (CPLX2), synapsin-2 (SYN2), and synaptosomal-associated protein 25 (SNP25) were significantly downregulated in the hippocampus of 3xTg-AD mice compared with the WT mice, and the treatment of Rg1 modulated the expression of CPLX2 and SNP25 in the hippocampus of 3xTg-AD mice. The expression of CPLX2, SYN2, and SNP25 was further validated by Western blot analysis. Taken together, we concluded that Rg1 could be a potential candidate drug to improve the behavioral deficits in AD via modulating the expression of the proteins (i.e., CPLX2, SYN2, and SNP25).
Intracellular Changes in Ions and Organic Solutes in HalotolerantBrevibacterium sp. Strain JCM 6894 after Exposure to Hyperosmotic Shock

ABSTRACT In the present study we aimed to observe the intracellular responses when there was a hyperosmotic shock with a large shift in ionic strength in nutrient-rich and nutrient-poor external environments in order to clarify the availability of substrates. To do this, we used the halotolerant organism Brevibacterium sp. strain JCM 6894, which is able to grow in the presence of a wide range of salt concentrations. Hyperosmotic shock was induced by transferring cells in the late exponential phase of growth in a complex medium containing 0.5 M NaCl into either old or fresh culture medium containing 2 M NaCl. Changes in the growth rate, in the pH of the medium, and in the internal cation or organic solute concentrations in the cytosol after an upshock were analyzed as a function of incubation time. The cells exhibited very different responses to upshocks in fresh culture medium and in old culture medium; in fresh culture medium, growth was stimulated and the medium became more acidic, whereas the old culture medium repressed growth and the medium became more alkaline. The intracellular free Na+ concentrations remained low (80 nmol mg of protein−1) after an upshock in fresh culture medium, although they quickly increased twofold in the old culture medium. In contrast, K+ ions immediately accumulated in the cells in fresh culture medium, whereas K+ ions were taken up quite slowly in old culture medium. Furthermore, the cells placed in fresh culture medium transiently accumulated alanine and glutamine in response to the upshock, but the cells placed in old culture medium did not. Growth of the Brevibacterium strain at higher levels of salinity was supported by ectoine synthesis but was not observed after the shift to high-osmolarity conditions in the old culture. In the fresh culture, however, ectoine was vigorously synthesized in cells for more than 5 h after the upshock; the concentration of ectoine in cells was more than 3,500 nmol mg of protein−1 at 10 h, which corresponded to a ninefold increase compared to the concentration before the shock. These findings are consistent with the results of an analysis of the extracellular medium composition before and after the upshock.
Effects of carbon dioxide on the searching behaviour of the root-feeding clover weevil Sitona lepidus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

Abstract The respiratory emission of CO2 from roots is frequently proposed as an attractant that allows soil-dwelling insects to locate host plant roots, but this role has recently become less certain. CO2 is emitted from many sources other than roots, so does not necessarily indicate the presence of host plants, and because of the high density of roots in the upper soil layers, spatial gradients may not always be perceptible by soil-dwelling insects. The role of CO2 in host location was investigated using the clover root weevil Sitona lepidus Gyllenhall and its host plant white clover (Trifolium repens L.) as a model system. Rhizochamber experiments showed that CO2 concentrations were approximately 1000 ppm around the roots of white clover, but significantly decreased with increasing distance from roots. In behavioural experiments, no evidence was found for any attraction by S. lepidus larvae to point emissions of CO2, regardless of emission rates. Fewer than 15% of larvae were attracted to point emissions of CO2, compared with a control response of 17%. However, fractal analysis of movement paths in constant CO2 concentrations demonstrated that searching by S. lepidus larvae significantly intensified when they experienced CO2 concentrations similar to those found around the roots of white clover (i.e. 1000 ppm). It is suggested that respiratory emissions of CO2 may act as a ‘search trigger’ for S. lepidus, whereby it induces larvae to search a smaller area more intensively, in order to detect location cues that are more specific to their host plant.
Structural Alterations in Depression: Cellular Mechanisms Underlying Pathology and Treatment of Mood Disorders

ABSTRACT Basic and clinical studies over the past 10 years have lead to a fundamental shift in our understanding of mood disorders. These studies demonstrate that mood disorders and stress are accompanied by structural alterations in the brain; moreover, these structural alterations are reversible with antidepressant treatment. These alterations include changes in the length and number of neuronal processes, the number of neurons and glia, and even the rate of neurogenesis in the adult brain. Work is also being conducted to identify the molecular mechanisms underlying these changes and the adaptations that are critical to the therapeutic actions of antidepressant treatment. Some of the intracellular targets include second messengers, gene transcription factors, and neurotrophic factors that could oppose the actions of stress and depression. Taken together, this exciting new work describes and details structural alterations of limbic brain regions that are extremely dynamic and adaptive. Further understanding of the abnormalities in these systems that lead to mood disorders will provide more efficacious and possibly faster-acting therapeutic interventions.
Home monitoring improves endpoint efficiency in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis

The objective of this study was to investigate the reliability, feasibility and analytical impact of home-based measurement of forced vital capacity (FVC) and dyspnoea as clinical endpoints in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Patients with IPF performed weekly home-based assessment of FVC and dyspnoea using a mobile hand-held spirometer and self-administered dyspnoea questionnaires. Weekly variability in FVC and dyspnoea was estimated, and sample sizes were simulated for a hypothetical 24-week clinical trial using either traditional office-based interval measurement or mobile weekly assessment. In total, 25 patients were enrolled. Mean adherence to weekly assessments over 24 weeks was greater than 90%. Compared with change assessment using baseline and 24-week measurements only, weekly assessment of FVC resulted in enhanced precision and power. For example, a hypothetical 24-week clinical trial with FVC as the primary endpoint would require 951 patients using weekly home spirometry compared with 3840 patients using office spirometry measures at weeks 1 and 24 only. The ability of repeated measures to reduce clinical trial sample size was influenced by the correlation structure of the data. Home monitoring can improve the precision of endpoint assessments, allowing for greater efficiency in clinical trials of therapeutics for IPF. Home monitoring improves endpoint efficiency in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis #AdvancesinILD @ERSTalk http://ow.ly/F5L930bUypH
Potential applications of interventional radiology in veterinary medicine.

JAVMA, Vol 233, No. 10, November 15, 2008 F the description of percutaneous arterial catheterization by Seldinger in the 1950s, angiography developed into a widely used and essential diagnostic tool in human medicine. Technologic advances have since helped transform this diagnostic modality into a subspecialization with enormous therapeutic potential. Interventional radiology involves the use of contemporary imaging techniques such as fluoroscopy and specialized equipment such as catheters, guidewires, and stents for therapeutic purposes. The field has grown considerably over the past 20 years, and many IR techniques are considered the gold standard for treatment of various conditions in human patients. Although IR techniques would also seem to be applicable to veterinary medicine, they currently have not been widely adopted. Techniques that have been described include coil embolization for treatment of patent ductus arteriosus, stenting for treatment of tracheal collapse, coil embolization of the carotid and maxillary arteries for treatment of hemorrhage associated with mycosis of the auditory tube diverticula in horses, and coil embolization for treatment of intrahepatic PSSs in dogs. Other techniques that have been described in human medicine could potentially have applicability in veterinary medicine, although many are still investigational at this time. The purpose of the present review was to provide an overview of IR in veterinary medicine, including potential advantages and disadvantages and a description of the equipment that is needed. Although there is an overlap between IR and interventional cardiology, techniques involved with interventional cardiology are beyond the scope of the present review.
Copper coordination polymers based on single-chain or sheet structures involving dinuclear and tetranuclear copper(II) units: synthesis, structures, and magnetostructural correlations.

Reactions between the potentially pentadentate (N(2)O(3)), trianionic double Schiff-base ligand 2,6-bis[[(2-hydroxyethyl)imino]methyl]-4-methylphenol (H(3)L) and Cu(CH(3)CO(2))(2) or Cu(ClO(4))(2), in the presence of NaN(3), give novel coordination polymers with chain {[Cu(2)(H(2)L)(N(3))(3)](2). H(2)O}(n) (1) or sheet [Cu(2)(H(2)L)(N(3))(3)](n) (2) and [Cu(2)(HL)(N(3))](n)[ClO(4)](n) (3) structures, respectively. These clusters are comprised of repeating dinuclear units (1) or their dimers (2 and 3). In these compounds, H(3)L acts as a tridentate (N(2)O) monoanionic (1), tetradentate (ON(2)O) monoanionic (2), or pentadentate (O(3)N(2)) dianionic (3) ligand. Compound [Cu(2)(HL)(N(3))(2)(H(2)O)]. 0.5CH(3)OH (4) formed from the reaction of Cu(CH(3)CO(2))(2) with H(3)L under reflux, which did not afford crystals suitable for X-ray studies. X-ray structure determinations have revealed that the basic building block in 1-3 comprises two copper centers bridged through one mu-phenolate O atom from H(2)L(-) or HL(2-) and one mu-azido(N1,N1) ion. Compounds 1-3 unveil three different ways in which this Cu(2) basic unit may be organized in the crystalline phase at the supramolecular level through a variety of bridging interactions involving additional azide ligands or alkoxide groups from the side arms of the ligand H(3)L. Bulk magnetization measurements have served to demonstrate that the magnetic interactions are completely dominated by the strong antiferromagnetic coupling occurring within the Cu(2) building block, with coupling constants ranging from 330 to 560 cm(-1) (in the H = -JS(1)S(2) convention). These results together have been incorporated with data from the few related copper dimers reported exhibiting the same bridging pattern into a study aimed at extracting possible magnetostructural correlations within this Cu(2) unit. An earlier predicted correlation between J and the angle formed by the phenoxide bridge and the Cu(2) core has been identified for the first time.
The Effectiveness of School-Based Anti-Bullying Programs

Youth violence, including bullying and other serious violent behaviors, has received increased political and scientific attention over the past several decades. Although violent behavior among youth and in the schools has declined over the past decade, the victimization of children by other children in school settings remains a major issue of concern. In response, a number of prevention and intervention programs have been developed to reduce the incidence of bullying and violence in schools. This meta-analysis attempted to examine the effect of school-based anti-bullying programs. Results suggested a significant effect for anti-bullying programs (r = .12). However, this result seemed to be slightly influenced by publication bias and did not meet the adopted threshold for “practical significance. ” The effect for programs targeted specifically at at-risk youth was slightly better, but overall, anti-bullying programs produce little discernible effect on youth participants. Reasons that anti-bullying programs may produce little effective change are discussed.
Assessment of Filtration Bleb and Endplate Positioning Using Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Eyes Implanted with Long-Tube Glaucoma Drainage Devices

Background To evaluate ocular fluid filtration and endplate positioning in glaucomatous eyes with long-tube glaucoma drainage devices (GDDs) using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and the effects of various factors on postoperative intraocular pressure (IOP). Methods This observational case series included 27 consecutive glaucomatous eyes (18 men, 7 women; mean age ± standard error, 63.0±2.0 years) who underwent GDD implantation (n = 8 Ahmed Glaucoma Valves [AGV] and n = 19 Baerveldt Glaucoma Implants [BGI]). Tubes were inserted into the pars plana in 23 eyes and anterior chamber in 4 eyes. Six months postoperatively, high-resolution orbital images were obtained using 3-Tesla MRI with head-array coils, and the filtering bleb volume, bleb height, and distances between the anterior endplate edge and corneal center or limbus or between the endplate and orbital wall were measured. Results In MR images obtained by three-dimensional fast imaging employing steady-state acquisition (3D-FIESTA) sequences, the shunt endplate was identified as low-intensity signal, and the filtering bleb was identified as high-intensity signals above and below the endplate in all eyes. The 6-month-postoperative IOP level was correlated negatively with bleb volume (r = -0.4510, P = 0.0182) and bleb height (r = -0.3954, P = 0.0412). The postoperative IOP was significantly (P = 0.0026) lower in BGI-implanted eyes (12.2±0.7 mmHg) than AGV-implanted eyes (16.7±1.2 mmHg); bleb volume was significantly (P = 0.0093) larger in BGI-implanted eyes (478.8±84.2 mm3) than AGV-implanted eyes (161.1±52.3 mm3). Other parameters did not differ. Conclusions The presence of intraorbital/periocular accumulation of ocular fluid affects postoperative IOP levels in eyes implanted with long-tube GDDs. Larger filtering blebs after BGI than AGI implantations explain lower postoperative IOP levels achieved with BGI than AGV. The findings will contribute to better understanding of IOP reducing mechanism of long-tube GDDs.
Regulation of Phosphatidylcholine Metabolism in Chinese Hamster Ovary Cells by the Sterol Regulatory Element-binding Protein (SREBP)/SREBP Cleavage-activating Protein Pathway*

Sterol regulation-defective (SRD) 4 cells expressing a mutant sterol regulatory element-binding protein (SREBP) cleavage-activating protein (SCAP D443N) and Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells stably expressing SCAP (CHO-SCAP) and SCAP D443N (CHO-SCAP-D443N) have increased cholesterol and fatty acid synthesis because of constitutive processing of SREBPs. We assessed whether constitutive activation of SREBPs also influenced the CDP-choline pathway for phosphatidylcholine (PtdCho) biosynthesis. Relative to control CHO 7 cells, SRD 4 cells displayed increased PtdCho synthesis and degradation as indicated by a 4–6-fold increase in [3H]choline incorporation into PtdCho and 10–15-fold increase in intracellular [3H]glycerophosphocholine. [3H]Phosphocholine levels in SRD 4 cells were reduced by over 10-fold, suggesting enhanced activity of CTP:phosphocholine cytidylyltransferase α (CCTα). CHO-SCAP and CHO-SCAP D443N cells displayed modest increases in [3H]choline incorporation into PtdCho (2-fold) and only a 2-fold reduction in [3H]phosphocholine. Elevated PtdCho metabolism in SRD 4, compared with SCAP-overexpressing cells, was correlated with fatty acid synthesis. Inhibition of fatty acid synthesis by cerulenin resulted in almost complete normalization of PtdCho synthesis and choline metabolite profiles in SRD 4 cells, indicating that fatty acids or a fatty acid-derived metabolite was responsible for up-regulation of PtdCho synthesis. In contrast to apparent activation in vivo, CCTα protein, mRNA, and in vitro activity were reduced in SRD 4 cells and unchanged in SCAP transfected cells. Unlike control and SCAP transfected cells, CCTα in SRD 4 cells was localized by immunofluorescence to the nuclear envelope, suggesting that residual enzyme activity in these cells was in an active membrane-associated form. Translocation of CCTα to the nuclear envelope was reproduced by treatment of CHO 7 cells with exogenous oleate. We conclude that the SREBP/SCAP pathway regulates PtdCho synthesis via post-transcriptional activation of nuclear CCTα by fatty acids or a fatty acid-derived signal.
Synergistic Inhibition by Combination of Fluoride and Xylitol on Glycolysis by Mutans Streptococciand Its Biochemical Mechanism

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the combined inhibitory effect of fluoride and xylitol on acid production by mutans streptococci, Streptococcus mutans NCTC10449 and Streptococcus sobrinus 6715, from glucose under strictly anaerobic conditions at fixed pH 5.5 and 7.0. The bacteria were grown in a tryptone-yeast extract broth under strictly anaerobic conditions (N2: 80%; H2: 10%; CO2: 10%). Reaction mixtures for acid production from glucose contained bacterial cells with fluoride (0–6.4 mM) and/or xylitol (60 mM). Acidic end products of glucose fermentation and intracellular glycolytic intermediates were assayed. The combination of fluoride and xylitol inhibited acid production more effectively than fluoride or xylitol alone. In the presence of fluoride and xylitol, the proportion of lactic acid in the total amount of acidic end products decreased, while the proportion of formic and acetic acids increased. Analyses of intracellular glycolytic intermediates revealed that xylitol inhibited the upper part of the glycolytic pathway, while fluoride inhibited the lower part. This study indicates that fluoride and xylitol together have synergistic inhibitory effects on the acid production of mutans streptococci and suggests that xylitol has the potential to enhance inhibitory effects of low concentrations of fluoride.