Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Amplification and linearization of distal synaptic input to cortical pyramidal cells.

1. Computer simulations were used to study the effect of voltage-dependent calcium and potassium conductances in the apical dendritic tree of a pyramidal cell on the synaptic efficacy of apical synaptic input. The apical tuft in layers 1 and 2 is the target of feedback projections from other cortical areas. 2. The current, Isoma, flowing into the soma in response to synaptic input was used to assess synaptic efficacy. This measure takes full account of all the relevant nonlinearities in the dendrities and can be used during spiking activity. Isoma emphasizes current flowing in response to synaptic input rather than synaptically induced voltage change. This measure also permits explicit characterization of the input-output relationship of the entire neuron by computing the relationship between presynaptic input and postsynaptic output frequency. 3. Simulations were based on two models. The first was a biophysically detailed 400-compartment model of a morphologically characterized layer 5 pyramidal cell from striate cortex of an adult cat. In this model eight voltage-dependent conductances were incorporated into the somatic membrane to provide the observed firing behavior of a regular spiking cell. The second model was a highly simplified three-compartment equivalent electrical circuit. 4. If the dendritic tree is entirely passive, excitatory synaptic input of the non-N-methyl-D-aspartate (non-NMDA) type to layers 1, 2, and 3 saturate at very moderate input rates, because of the high input impedance of the apical tuft. Layers 1 and 2 together can deliver only 0.25 nA current to the soma. This modest effect is surprising in view of the important afferents that synapse on the apical tuft and is inconsistent with experimental data indicating a more powerful effect. 5. We introduced in a controlled manner a voltage-dependent potassium conductance in the apical tuft, gK, to prevent saturation of the synaptic response. This conductance was designed to linearize the relationship between presynaptic input frequency and the somatic current. We also introduced a voltage-dependent calcium conductance along the apical trunk, gCa, to amplify the apical signal, i.e., the synaptic current reaching the soma. 6. To arrive at a specific relationship between the presynaptic input rate and the somatic current delivered by the synaptic input, we derived the activation curves of gK and gCa either analytically or numerically. The resultant voltage-dependent behavior of both conductances was similar to experimentally measured activation curves. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Sexing Adult Pale-Winged Starlings Using Morphometric and Discriminant Function Analysis

Accurate sexing of birds is vital for behavioral studies but can be a real problem in the field, especially for monomorphic species. Our goal here was to characterize the morphology of male and female monomorphic pale-winged starlings (Onychognathus nabouroup), a South African sturnid whose plumage is sexually monomorphic. Morphological measurements of genetically sexed animals indicated that males were statistically larger than females for five measurements: Mass, tail length, tarsus length and wing length. By using a Discriminant Function Analysis based on the measurements taken by one ringer, we were able to predict correctly the sex of 81.10% of the birds of data collected in the field and 77.9% of museum skins independently of year of capture and ringer. The model developed here should be useful for further field studies of this species.
Quality of life in dementia: the role of non-cognitive factors in the ratings of people with dementia and family caregivers

ABSTRACT Background: The validity of self-reported quality-of-life (QoL) assessments of people with dementia (PWD) is a critical issue. We designed this study to determine the non-cognitive factors that are associated with self-reported QoL and PWD QoL as rated by family caregivers. Methods: Using a cross-sectional study, we assessed QoL of 41 people with mild Alzheimer's disease (AD). The individuals with AD and their family caregivers completed the Quality of Life in Alzheimer's Disease Scale (QoL-AD), the Assessment Scale of Psychosocial Impact of the Diagnosis of Dementia (ASPIDD), the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), the Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) scale, the Cornell Scale for Depression in Dementia (CSDD), the Pfeffer Functional Activities Questionnaire (FAQ), and the Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI). Univariate and multivariate regression analyses were conducted to examine the contribution of the various cofactors. Results: We observed a significant difference (t = 3.292, p < 0.01, d = 0.727) in the QoL measures of PWD after comparing self-reported assessments with the assessments of family caregivers. Linear regression analysis demonstrated that awareness of disease was related to PWD QoL-AD scores. Both the education levels of family caregivers and the depressive symptoms in PWD were related to the family caregivers’ ratings of PWD QoL. Conclusions: The difference between self-reported QoL and family caregivers’ ratings of QoL in people with mild dementia indicated that cognitive impairment was not the primary factor that accounted for the differences in the QoL assessments. Our findings suggested that non-cognitive factors, such as awareness of disease and depressive symptoms, played an important role in the differences between the self-reported AD QoL ratings and the caregivers’ AD QoL ratings. A major implication is that discrete measures such as cognition or level of function are likely to miss important factors that influence QoL.
Purification and characterization of glutamate N‐acetyltransferase involved in citrulline accumulation in wild watermelon

Citrulline is an efficient hydroxyl radical scavenger that can accumulate at concentrations of up to 30 mm in the leaves of wild watermelon during drought in the presence of strong light; however, the mechanism of this accumulation remains unclear. In this study, we characterized wild watermelon glutamate N‐acetyltransferase (CLGAT) that catalyses the transacetylation reaction between acetylornithine and glutamate to form acetylglutamate and ornithine, thereby functioning in the first and fifth steps in citrulline biosynthesis. CLGAT enzyme purified 7000‐fold from leaves was composed of two subunits with different N‐terminal amino acid sequences. Analysis of the corresponding cDNA revealed that these two subunits have molecular masses of 21.3 and 23.5 kDa and are derived from a single precursor polypeptide, suggesting that the CLGAT precursor is cleaved autocatalytically at the conserved ATML motif, as in other glutamate N‐acetyltransferases of microorganisms. A green fluorescence protein assay revealed that the first 26‐amino acid sequence at the N‐terminus of the precursor functions as a chloroplast transit peptide. The CLGAT exhibited thermostability up to 70 °C, suggesting an increase in enzyme activity under high leaf temperature conditions during drought/strong‐light stresses. Moreover, CLGAT was not inhibited by citrulline or arginine at physiologically relevant high concentrations. These findings suggest that CLGAT can effectively participate in the biosynthesis of citrulline in wild watermelon leaves during drought/strong‐light stress.
Lateral nasal gland secretion in the anaesthetized dog.

The effects of pharmacological and nervous stimuli on the flow of secretion from the dog lateral nasal gland following catheterization are described. Drugs were injected close‐arterially into the arterial supply to the nose, or intravenously. Cholinergic agonists (pilocarpine, methacholine), given intravenously (I.V.) or intra‐arterially (I.A.), and stimulation of the vidian nerve produced a copious flow of secretion which was blocked by atropine. The adrenoceptor agonists phenylephrine (alpha) and salbutamol (beta 2), given I.V. or I.A. , and stimulation of the vagosympathetic nerve produced a small but consistent flow of secretion. Histamine (50 micrograms), substance P (0.1 micrograms) and prostaglandin E1 (1‐5 micrograms), injected I.A. , produced small flows of secretion. Bradykinin (25 ng‐50 micrograms), 5‐hydroxytryptamine (100 ng‐50 micrograms) and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) (10 ng‐50 micrograms) did not cause secretion. The total protein content, the composition of secretions as revealed by sodium dodecyl sulphate‐polyacrylamide agarose gel electrophoresis, and changes in [Na] and [K] in relation to flow of secretion are described. Differences in ion and protein concentrations, and in protein composition, are described for vidian nerve‐induced and vagosympathetically induced secretions. Electron microscopy revealed that the gland contains serous cells in the secretory region, and ducts morphologically similar to the intercalated, striated and excretory ducts of salivary glands.
The Dynamics of Soybean Leaf and Shoot Apical Meristem Transcriptome Undergoing Floral Initiation Process

Flowering process governs seed set and thus affects agricultural productivity. Soybean, a major legume crop, requires short-day photoperiod conditions for flowering. While leaf-derived signal(s) are essential for the photoperiod-induced floral initiation process at the shoot apical meristem, molecular events associated with early floral transition stages in either leaves or shoot apical meristems are not well understood. To provide novel insights into the molecular basis of floral initiation, RNA-Seq was used to characterize the soybean transcriptome of leaf and micro-dissected shoot apical meristem at different time points after short-day treatment. Shoot apical meristem expressed a higher number of transcripts in comparison to that of leaf highlighting greater diversity and abundance of transcripts expressed in the shoot apical meristem. A total of 2951 shoot apical meristem and 13,609 leaf sequences with significant profile changes during the time course examined were identified. Most changes in mRNA level occurred after 1short-day treatment. Transcripts involved in mediating responses to stimulus including hormones or in various metabolic processes represent the top enriched GO functional category for the SAM and leaf dataset, respectively. Transcripts associated with protein degradation were also significantly changing in leaf and SAM implicating their involvement in triggering the developmental switch. RNA-Seq analysis of shoot apical meristem and leaf from soybean undergoing floral transition reveal major reprogramming events in leaves and the SAM that point toward hormones gibberellins (GA) and cytokinin as key regulators in the production of systemic flowering signal(s) in leaves. These hormones may form part of the systemic signals in addition to the established florigen, FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT). Further, evidence is emerging that the conversion of shoot apical meristem to inflorescence meristem is linked with the interplay of auxin, cytokinin and GA creating a low cytokinin and high GA environment.
Taurine supplementation enhances nutrient‐induced insulin secretion in pancreatic mice islets

Taurine (TAU), a naturally occurring sulfur‐containing amino acid, is found at high concentrations in plasma and mammalian tissues and regulates osmolarity, ion channel activity, and glucose homeostasis. Several reports have shown that physiological plasma TAU levels seem to be important for adequate beta (β)‐cell function and insulin action, since low concentrations of TAU in the plasma have been reported in the pre‐diabetic and diabetic states.
Hypoxia-inducible factor-dependent signaling between triple-negative breast cancer cells and mesenchymal stem cells promotes macrophage recruitment

Significance The recruitment of host stromal cells, such as macrophages and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), to the primary tumor is a critical step toward cancer malignancy. We have identified signals that are exchanged between breast cancer cells (BCCs) and MSCs. This signaling increases the recruitment of both MSCs and macrophages to primary tumors and increases metastasis of BCCs to lymph nodes and lungs. Reduced oxygen levels (hypoxia) in breast cancers are associated with increased risk of metastasis and decreased patient survival. We show that hypoxia stimulates signaling between BCCs and MSCs due to the activity of hypoxia-inducible factors (HIFs). Drugs that block HIF activity prevent signaling and macrophage recruitment, which suggests that they may be useful additions to breast cancer therapy. Intratumoral hypoxia induces the recruitment of stromal cells, such as macrophages and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), which stimulate invasion and metastasis by breast cancer cells (BCCs). Production of macrophage colony-stimulating factor 1 (CSF1) by BCCs is required for macrophage recruitment, but the mechanisms underlying CSF1 expression have not been delineated. Triple-negative breast cancers have increased expression of genes regulated by hypoxia-inducible factors (HIFs). In this study, we delineate two feed-forward signaling loops between human MDA-MB-231 triple-negative BCCs and human MSCs that drive stromal cell recruitment to primary breast tumors. The first loop, in which BCCs secrete chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 16 (CXCL16) that binds to C-X-C chemokine receptor type 6 (CXCR6) on MSCs and MSCs secrete chemokine CXCL10 that binds to receptor CXCR3 on BCCs, drives recruitment of MSCs. The second loop, in which MSCs secrete chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 5 that binds to C-C chemokine receptor type 5 on BCCs and BCCs secrete cytokine CSF1 that binds to the CSF1 receptor on MSCs, drives recruitment of tumor-associated macrophages and myeloid-derived suppressor cells. These two signaling loops operate independent of each other, but both are dependent on the transcriptional activity of HIFs, with hypoxia serving as a pathophysiological signal that synergizes with chemokine signals from MSCs to trigger CSF1 gene transcription in triple-negative BCCs.
Effects of short chain fatty acids and carbon dioxide on magnesium transport across sheep rumen epithelium

Short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and CO2 have been shown to stimulate net Mg2+ efflux from the isolated reticulorumen in vivo. To investigate the underlying mechanisms of Mg2+ transport we performed Ussing chamber and microelectrode experiments and measured 28Mg2+ fluxes across sheep rumen epithelium in vitro. In the presence of SCFAs mucosal‐to‐serosal Mg2+ flux (Jm‐sMg) amounted to 82.3 +/− 7.8 nmol cm‐2 h‐1 and serosal‐to‐mucosal Mg2+ flux (Js‐mMg) to 3.2 +/− 0.7 nmol cm‐2 h‐1. Replacing SCFAs with gluconate caused a 50% reduction of Jm‐sMg, whereas Js‐mMg was not affected. Among the SCFAs, n‐butyrate was more effective in stimulating Jm‐sMg than acetate, propionate or iso‐butyrate. Eliminating HCO3(‐)‐CO2 from SCFA‐containing solutions did not affect Mg2+ fluxes, whereas the same replacement in SCFA‐free solutions led to a further reduction in Jm‐sMg. Jm‐sMg decreased after the addition of ethoxyzolamide to SCFA‐free, bicarbonate buffered solutions. Decreasing mucosal pH from 6.4 to 5.4 increased Jm‐sMg in SCFA‐free, bicarbonate buffered solutions. SCFAs had no effect on the apical membrane potential of rumen epithelial cells. The experiments show that both SCFAs and CO2 stimulate Mg2+ transport through an increase in Jm‐sMg, most probably via stimulation of a Mg(2+)‐2H+ exchange mechanism. SCFAs may have additional metabolic effects on Mg2+ transport.
Uncertainty, Extreme Outcomes and Climate Change: A Critique

Building upon the work of Pindyck (2012), I show how different assumptions regarding the utility and damage functions can support the immediate adoption of a stringent abatement policy. I employ an additive rather than a multiplicative form for the utility function and a damage function that accounts for extreme climate change. Using the distribution for temperature change and the economic impact provided by Pindyck (2012), based on information from the IPCC (2007) and recent IAMs, I estimate a simple measure of "willingness to pay". My specifications lead to significantly higher estimations for the WTP than in Pindyck and in some extreme cases to a value close to 1. Although one could not strongly argue which is the right specification for the model, the analysis suggests that seemingly small differences in modelling can have very different policy implications.
Broadband Circularly Polarized Patch Antenna With Parasitic Strips

A patch antenna with parasitic strips is presented for wideband circular polarization. In order to broaden the axial-ratio (AR) bandwidth of the original corner-truncated patch, four parasitic strips are sequentially rotated and gap-coupled around the patch. A capacitive-coupled feed with a small disc on the top of the feeding probe is utilized to obtain a wide impedance-matching bandwidth. Moreover, another disc-loaded shorting pin is placed at the center of the antenna to adjust the squint beams and improve the gains along +z-axis. Measured results show that the proposed antenna with a low profile of 0. 13λ0 obtains a global bandwidth of 24% (2.32-2.95 GHz) for |S11| <; -10 dB, AR <; 3 dB, and average gain of 8 dBic.
Digital urbanism in a transitional economy – a review of India’s municipal e-governance policy

ABSTRACT The basic premise of India’s new urban agenda rests on widespread application Information Technology (IT) tools to improve the quality of data infrastructure, services delivery and citizen interface in existing cities. These digital urban projects are being rolled out through a complex multilayered partnership arrangement between the state agencies, the corporate sector and international agencies. This paper analyses implementation challenges of this technocentric top-down urban agenda, due to sharp spatio-economic digital divide and institutional capacity deficits. Years of neglect had made the India’s municipal bodies weak and suffer skilled human resource shortage in the areas of IT and e-governance. The paper argues that unless the e-governance applications are internalized by the elected municipal bodies, it can result in gradual outsourcing of municipal governance and reduce opportunities for public participation in local governance. Moreover, digital literacy and network infrastructure require substantial strengthening in small- and medium-sized cities, to avoid further digital polarization.
Serglycin-independent Release of Active Mast Cell Proteases in Response to Toxoplasma gondii Infection*

Earlier studies identified serglycin proteoglycan and its heparin chains to be important for storage and activity of mast cell proteases. However, the importance of serglycin for secretion and activity of mast cell proteases in response to parasite infection has been poorly investigated. To address this issue, we studied the effects on mast cell proteases in serglycin-deficient and wild type mice after peritoneal infection with the obligate intracellular parasite Toxoplasma gondii. In line with previous results, we found severely reduced levels of cell-bound mast cell proteases in both noninfected and infected serglycin-deficient mice. However, serglycin-deficient mice secreted mast cell proteases at wild type levels at the site of infection, and enzymatic activities associated with mast cell proteases were equally up-regulated in wild type and serglycin-deficient mice 48 h after infection. In both wild type and serglycin-deficient mice, parasite infection resulted in highly increased extracellular levels of glycosaminoglycans, including hyaluronan and chondroitin sulfate A, suggesting a role of these substances in the general defense mechanism. In contrast, heparan sulfate/heparin was almost undetectable in serglycin-deficient mice, and in wild type mice, it was mainly confined to the cellular fraction and was not increased upon infection. Furthermore, the heparan sulfate/heparin population was less sulfated in serglycin-deficient than in wild type mice indicative for the absence of heparin, which supports that heparin production is dependent on the serglycin core protein. Together, our results suggest that serglycin proteoglycan is dispensable for normal secretion and activity of mast cell proteases in response to peritoneal infection with T. gondii.
Activation of Bacillus subtilis transcription factor sigma B by a regulatory pathway responsive to stationary-phase signals

Alternative transcription factor sigma B of Bacillus subtilis controls a stationary-phase regulon induced under growth conditions that do not favor sporulation. Little is known about the metabolic signals and protein factors regulating the activity of sigma B. The operon containing the sigma B structural gene has the gene order orfV-orfW-sigB-rsbX, and operon expression is autoregulated positively by sigma B and negatively by the rsbX product (rsbX = regulator of sigma B). To establish the roles of the orfV and orfW products, orfV and orfW null and missense mutations were constructed and tested for their effects on expression of the sigma B-dependent genes ctc and csbA. These mutations were tested in two contexts: in the first, the sigB operon was under control of its wild-type, sigma B-dependent promoter, and in the second, the sigB operon promoter was replaced by the inducible Pspac promoter. The principal findings are that (i) the orfV (now called rsbV) product is a positive regulator of sigma B-dependent gene expression; (ii) the orfW (now called rsbW) product is a negative regultor of such expression; (iii) sigma B is inactive during logarithmic growth unless the rsbW product is absent; (iv) the rsbX, rsbV, and rsbW products have a hierarchical order of action; and (v) both the rsbV and rsbW products appear to regulate sigma B activity posttranslationally. There are likely to be at least two routes by which information can enter the system to regulate sigma B: via the rsbX product, and via the rsbV and rsbW products.
Fractal approach in petrology: Small-angle neutron scattering experiments with volcanic rocks.

Following Mandelbrot's pioneering work in 1977, we attempt to use the concept of fractal dimension in petrology. Fractal dimension is an intensive property of matter which offers a quantitative measure of the degree of surface roughness. Neutron scattering experiments have been performed on 18 volcanic rocks from different localities. The scattered intensity as a function of the momentum transfer obeys a power law whose exponent varies, for the rock samples presented, between -3 and -4. We conclude that, at the molecular level, our volcanic rocks are not fractal volumes. With regard to the particle-matrix interface, it is not possible to provide a determination at the present stage of research. Our findings suggest it is feasible to verify the degree of surface irregularity at a resolution which is relevant to many aspects of petrology.
Asset pricing and downside risk in the Australian share market

ABSTRACT As downside risk has been identified as a separate risk exposure to investors, we investigate whether downside beta and co-skewness exposure impact on the return to investors in Australian equities. Although considered as a developed market, the Australian Securities Exchange merits separate investigation, as it is small and concentrated on some sectors, when compared with the major developed markets. As realized returns are a proxy for expected returns, we separately examine conditional returns in upturn and downturn periods. We find that both downside risks are separately priced by investors, and that our results are unaffected by the inclusion of a range of company characteristics. We subsequently confirm that returns to each downside risk are not related. In robustness tests, we conclude that the return to downside risk cannot be explained by a size, a value, or a momentum premium. Although it also has explanatory power, the inclusion of a leverage factor also does not reduce the explanatory power of downside risk.