Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
M1 ipRGCs Influence Visual Function through Retrograde Signaling in the Retina

Melanopsin-expressing intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells (ipRGCs, with five subtypes named M1–M5) are a unique subclass of RGCs with axons that project directly to many brain nuclei involved in non-image-forming functions such as circadian photoentrainment and the pupillary light reflex. Recent evidence suggests that melanopsin-based signals also influence image-forming visual function, including light adaptation, but the mechanisms involved are unclear. Intriguingly, a small population of M1 ipRGCs have intraretinal axon collaterals that project toward the outer retina. Using genetic mouse models, we provide three lines of evidence showing that these axon collaterals make connections with upstream dopaminergic amacrine cells (DACs): (1) ipRGC signaling to DACs is blocked by tetrodotoxin both in vitro and in vivo, indicating that ipRGC-to-DAC transmission requires voltage-gated Na+ channels; (2) this transmission is partly dependent on N-type Ca2+ channels, which are possibly expressed in the axon collateral terminals of ipRGCs; and (3) fluorescence microscopy reveals that ipRGC axon collaterals make putative presynaptic contact with DACs. We further demonstrate that elimination of M1 ipRGCs attenuates light adaptation, as evidenced by an impaired electroretinogram b-wave from cones, whereas a dopamine receptor agonist can potentiate the cone-driven b-wave of retinas lacking M1 ipRGCs. Together, the results strongly suggest that ipRGCs transmit luminance signals retrogradely to the outer retina through the dopaminergic system and in turn influence retinal light adaptation. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Melanopsin-expressing intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells (ipRGCs) comprise a third class of retinal photoreceptors that are known to mediate physiological responses such as circadian photoentrainment. However, investigation into whether and how ipRGCs contribute to vision has just begun. Here, we provide convergent anatomical and physiological evidence that axon collaterals of ipRGCs constitute a centrifugal pathway to DACs, conveying melanopsin-based signals from the innermost retina to the outer retina. We further demonstrate that retrograde signals likely influence visual processing because elimination of axon collateral-bearing ipRGCs impairs light adaptation by limiting dopamine-dependent facilitation of the cone pathway. Our findings strongly support the hypothesis that retrograde melanopsin-based signaling influences visual function locally within the retina, a notion that refutes the dogma that RGCs only provide physiological signals to the brain.
Rayleigh-Taylor and Richtmyer-Meshkov instabilities and mixing in stratified spherical shells.

We study the linear stability of an arbitrary number of spherical concentric shells undergoing a radial implosion or explosion. The system consists of {ital N} incompressible fluids with small amplitude perturbations at each of the {ital N}{minus}1 interfaces. We derive the evolution equation for the perturbation {eta}{sub {ital i}} at interface {ital i}; it is coupled to the two adjacent interfaces via {eta}{sub {ital i}{plus minus}1}. We show that the {ital N}{minus}1 evolution equations are symmetric under {ital n}{leftrightarrow}{minus}{ital n}{minus}1, where {ital n} is the mode number of the spherical perturbation, provided that the first and last fluids have zero density ({rho}{sub 1}={rho}{sub {ital N}}=0). In plane geometry this translates to symmetry under {ital k}{leftrightarrow}{minus}{ital k}. We obtain several analytic solutions for the {ital N}=2 and 3 cases that we consider in some detail. As an application we derive the shock timing that is required to freeze out an amplitude. We also identify critical modes'' that are stable for any implosion or explosion history. Several numerical examples are presented illustrating perturbation feedthrough from one interface to another. Finally, we develop a model for the evolution of turbulent mix in spherical geometry, and introduce a geometrical factor {ital G} relating themore » mixing width {ital h} in spherical and planar geometries via {ital h}{sub spherical}={ital h}{sub planar}{ital G}. We find that {ital G} is a decreasing function of {ital R}/{ital R}{sub 0}, implying that in our model {ital h}{sub spherical} evolves faster (slower) than {ital h}{sub planar} during an implosion (explosion). « less
Leumorphin has an anti‐apoptotic effect by activating epidermal growth factor receptor kinase in rat pheochromocytoma PC12 cells

Endogenous opioid peptides, found in the central and peripheral nervous systems, perform neuromodulatory roles, and display a wide range of functional and pharmacological properties in vitro and in vivo. In this study, we investigated the effects of prodynorphin gene products on intracellular signaling events and cell survival in rat pheochromocytoma PC12 cells. Leumorphin, but not other prodynorphin gene products including dynorphin A, β‐neoendorphin and rimorphin (dynorphin B), increased cell viability in PC12 cells. The cytoprotective effect of leumorphin was dependent on the phosphatidylinositol 3‐kinase and mitogen‐activated protein kinase pathways, but was insensitive to both naloxone, a general antagonist of the opioid receptor, and nor‐binaltorphimine, a specific antagonist of the kappa opioid receptor. Moreover, a competition‐binding assay clearly revealed that leumorphin had another binding site(s) in addition to that for the kappa opioid receptor. Interestingly, leumorphin induced activation of the epidermal growth factor receptor via a Src‐dependent mechanism, which was proved to be responsible for the increased survival response. Flow cytometric and microscopic analysis showed that leumorphin rescued cells from serum deprivation‐induced apoptosis. Collectively, we suggest that leumorphin prevents apoptosis via epidermal growth factor receptor‐mediated activation of the phosphatidylinositol 3‐kinase and mitogen‐activated protein kinase pathways, which occur independent of the kappa opioid receptor.
β-Amyloid Fibrils in Alzheimer Disease Are Not Inert When Bound to Copper Ions but Can Degrade Hydrogen Peroxide and Generate Reactive Oxygen Species*

Background: Metal-associated β-amyloid (Aβ) aggregates are implicated in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer disease. Results: Copper bound Aβ(1–42) aggregates, including fibrils, degrade hydrogen peroxide, forming hydroxyl radicals and carbonyls. Conclusion: Copper-bound Aβ fibrils can retain redox activity. Significance: Aβ fibrils bound to copper are not inert end points and may be a source of oxidative stress in the Alzheimer brain. According to the “amyloid cascade” hypothesis of Alzheimer disease, the formation of Aβ fibrils and senile plaques in the brain initiates a cascade of events leading to the formation of neurofibrillary tangles, neurodegeneration, and the symptom of dementia. Recently, however, emphasis has shifted away from amyloid fibrils as the predominant toxic form of Aβ toward smaller aggregates, referred to as “soluble oligomers. ” These oligomers have become one of the prime suspects for involvement in the early oxidative damage that is evident in this disease. This raises the question whether or not Aβ fibrils are actually “inert tombstones” present at the end of the aggregation process. Here we show that, when Aβ(1–42) aggregates, including fibrils, are bound to Cu(II) ions, they retain their redox activity and are able to degrade hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) with the formation of hydroxyl radicals and the consequent oxidation of the peptide (detected by formation of carbonyl groups). We find that this ability increases as the Cu(II):peptide ratio increases and is accompanied by changes in aggregate morphology, as determined by atomic force microscopy. When aggregates are prepared in the copresence of Cu(II) and Zn(II) ions, the ratio of Cu(II):Zn(II) becomes an important factor in the degeneration of H2O2, the formation of carbonyl groups in the peptide, and in aggregate morphology. We believe, therefore, that Aβ fibrils can destroy H2O2 and generate damaging hydroxyl radicals and, so, are not necessarily inert end points.
The organic preservation of fossil arthropods: an experimental study

Modern arthropod cuticles consist of chitin fibres in a protein matrix, but those of fossil arthropods with an organic exoskeleton, particularly older than Tertiary, contain a dominant aliphatic component. This apparent contradiction was examined by subjecting modern cockroach, scorpion and shrimp cuticle to artificial maturation (350 °C/700 bars/24 h) following various chemical treatments, and analysing the products with pyrolysis–gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (Py–GC/MS). Analysis of artificially matured untreated cuticle yielded moieties related to phenols and alkylated substituents, pyridines, pyrroles and possibly indenes (derived from chitin). n-Alkyl amides, C16 and C18 fatty acids and alkane/alk-1-ene homologues ranging from C9 to C19 were also generated, the last indicating the presence of an n-alkyl component, similar in composition to that encountered in fossil arthropods. Similar pyrolysates were obtained from matured pure C16 and C18 fatty acids. Py–GC/MS of cuticles matured after lipid extraction and hydrolysis did not yield any aliphatic polymer. This provides direct experimental evidence that lipids incorporated from the cuticle were the source of aliphatic polymer. This process of in situ polymerization appears to account for most of the fossil record of terrestrial arthropods as well as marine arthropods that lacked a biomineralized exoskeleton.
A Compact Circularly Polarized Antenna Using an Array of Folded-Shorted Patches

The development and optimization of a circularly polarized (CP) antenna using an array of four folded-shorted patch elements is investigated. The realized antenna is compact ( 0.2λ0 by 0.2λ0), highly integrated, and offers good radiation performance at 400 MHz. A compact coupler-based feeding network for the four elements within the array, integrated into the antenna ground plane, provides a sequential 90° phase difference between the radiating folded-shorted patches. This very compact CP antenna design may be useful for microsatellite and other miniaturized phased array systems for communications.
Jugular bulb position and shape are unrelated to temporal bone pneumatization

The position and shape of the jugular bulb are undependable, and thus can add difficulty to temporal bone surgery. The present study addresses the hypothesis that position and shape of the jugular bulb correlate with the extent of temporal bone pneumatization. Systematic study was done in 25 unilateral cadaver specimens. Pneumatization was determined using both the classic Runström II radiograph, and computed tomography. Jugular bulb shape and position were determined by anatomic dissection and computed tomography. No association of jugular bulb shape or position, with pneumatization, was found. However, the dissection‐determined distance from the plane of the lateral semicircular canal to the roof of the jugular bulb (2 to 15 mm), had a good correlation (r = 0.70, p < .001) with the distance from the internal auditory canal to the apex of the jugular bulb (1.5 to 15.0 mm).
Quantized thermal transport in the fractional quantum Hall effect

We analyze thermal transport in the fractional quantum Hall effect ~FQHE! , employing a Luttinger liquid model of edge states. Impurity mediated interchannel scattering events are incorporated in a hydrodynamic description of heat and charge transport. The thermal Hall conductance KH is shown to provide universal characterization of the FQHE state, and reveals nontrivial information about the edge structure. The Lorenz ratio between thermal and electrical Hall conductances violates the free-electron Wiedemann-Franz law, and for some fractional states is predicted to be negative. We argue that thermal transport may provide a unique way to detect the presence of the elusive upstream propagating modes, predicted for fractions such as n52/3 and n53/5. @S0163-1829~96! 07548-0#
Larviposition by nasopharyngeal bot fly parasites of Columbian black‐tailed deer: a correction

Abstract. Previous reports of Cephenemyia jellisoni Townsend (Diptera: Oestridae) larvipositing onto the lips/lower muzzle of deer, with larvae invading via the mouth, are shown to be erroneous. Additional studies with deer models baited with CO2, 1‐octen‐3‐ol and Deer Trail Scent, and muzzle and nostrils treated with insect adhesive, revealed that only C. apicata Bennett & Sabrosky larviposited onto the lips/lower muzzle; C. jellisoni, by contrast, larviposited into the nostrils. Larval depositions were associated with females of both species observed attacking models. Females of both species also were found stuck on adhesive‐treated, baited models not attended by observers. During several seasons of exposure, such models received 89 C. jellisoni larvipositions into the nostrils and 87 C. apicata larvipositions onto the lips/lower muzzle. In laboratory experiments nearly all larvae of both species remained stuck in adhesive within 1 mm or less of where they were deposited.
The Frobenius FFT

Let Fq be the finite field with q elements and let ω be a primitive n-th root of unity in an extension field Fqd of Fq. Given a polynomial P ∈ Fq [x] of degree less than n, we will show that its discrete Fourier transform (P (ω0), . , P (ωn - 1)) ∈ Fqdn can be computed essentially d times faster than the discrete Fourier transform of a polynomial Q ∈ Fqd [x] of degree less than n, in many cases. This result is achieved by exploiting the symmetries provided by the Frobenius automorphism of Fqd over Fq.
Autoregulating Jump Performance to Induce Functional Overreaching

Abstract Claudino, JG, Cronin, JB, Mezêncio, B, Pinho, JP, Pereira, C, Mochizuki, L, Amadio, AC, and Serrão, JC. Autoregulating jump performance to induce functional overreaching. J Strength Cond Res 30(8): 2242–2249, 2016—The purpose of this study was to determine whether autoregulating jump performance using the minimal individual difference (MID) associated with countermovement jump (CMJ) height could be used to regulate and monitor a training phase that elicited functional overreaching and tapering in team sport athletes. The participants were familiarized with the jump and then the CMJ height reliability was quantified to determine the MID. Countermovement jump height was assessed in the pretesting session (T0), at the end of 4 weeks of intensified training (T1), and after 2 weeks of tapering (T2). Eighteen national level U17 male futsal players were randomly allocated into the regulated group (RG; n = 9) and the control group (CG; n = 9). The RG performed 6 weeks of training with the training load regulated by mean height of CMJ with MID, whereas the CG performed the preplanned training. The differences between groups and across time points were compared by a 2-way analysis of variance. In the RG, the MID loading was increased in weeks 3 and 4 (8.2 and 14.5%, respectively; p < 0.001) compared with the preplanned loading of the CG during the overreaching phase. In the jump results, the RG significantly (p ⩽ 0.05) reduced CMJ height during T1 (effect size [ES] = −0.31; 95% confidence interval [CI]: −0.58 to −0.02); however, there were no significant changes in the CG jump height at T1 and T2. At T2, the RG significantly increased CMJ height above baseline (ES = 0.30; 95% CI: 0.09 to 0.51). Researchers and practitioners could use this autoregulating method to regulate and monitor training load to achieve functional overreaching in youth futsal players.
Coping Strategies Used by Seniors Going through the Normal Aging Process: Does Fear of Falling Matter?

Background: Recent studies show that fear of falling, a frequent fear of community-dwelling seniors, can have a negative impact on their health and quality of life. When fear of falling is intense, it can prompt individuals to limit or avoid certain activities. This activity restriction can lead to premature physical and functional decline and, ultimately, increase the risk for falls. Although activity avoidance/restriction is a common strategy used by seniors to cope with fear of falling, they may use other strategies as well to cope with this fear. However, these other strategies have received little attention to date. Objective: This study aimed at examining and comparing coping strategies used by seniors with and without fear of falling. It also examined if fear of falling is an independent correlate of the use of coping strategies among seniors. Methods: 288 seniors aged 65 years or over and going through the normal aging process were assessed during structured home interviews. Fear of falling was assessed through a single question (Are you afraid of falling? ) and a 4-category response scale (never, occasionally, often, very often). Coping strategies used by participants were assessed with the Inventory of Coping Strategies Used by the Elderly. Results: Findings show that seniors with fear of falling use several coping strategies other than activity avoidance/restriction in their daily functioning. Compared with nonfearful seniors, they tend to use a wider range of coping strategies and use them more frequently. Results also indicate that fear of falling is an independent correlate of diversity and frequency of use of behavioral coping strategies. Conclusion: This study suggests that fall prevention practitioners and researchers should document the range and frequency of use of strategies that seniors may employ to cope with fear of falling. These data could help improve interventions and evaluative research in the domain of fall prevention.
Investigating the mediating role of perceived playfulness in the acceptance of hedonic information systems

With the proliferation of hedonic information systems, understanding users' acceptance of hedonic information systems has become a new topic for practitioners and academics. While perceived playfulness or perceived enjoyment has been found to have a significant influence on the behavioral intention to use hedonic information systems, little research has been conducted to investigate empirically the antecedents of perceived playfulness and the mediating role that perceived playfulness has in user acceptance of hedonic information systems. Thus, the main purpose of this study is to explore the mediating role of perceived playfulness in the psychological process of user acceptance of hedonic online game systems. Based on previous literature, two individual difference variables (i.e., computer self-efficacy and computer anxiety) and three system characteristics variables (i.e., challenge, feedback, and speed) were proposed as potential antecedents of perceived playfulness in the context of massive multiplayer online games. The results indicate that perceived playfulness plays a partial mediating role in the relationship of system characteristics and individual differences to behavioral intention. Both challenge and computer self-efficacy were found to have a significant influence on behavioral intention via perceived playfulness, with computer self-efficacy also having a direct influence on behavioral intention. Computer anxiety, however, was only found to have a direct influence on behavioral intention. Also, neither feedback nor speed was found to have a significant effect on perceived playfulness. The results of this study provide several important implications for research and practices of hedonic information systems/online game design and promotion.
How age diversity on the Board of Directors affects Firm Performance

A great number of studies have shown that the composition of the board of directors can have a significant impact upon firm performance. Early studies on board composition focused on factors such as independence of directors, with the impact of cognitive diversity in decision making gaining recognition only in the last few years. Recent diversity studies have focused on gender diversity with interesting but mixed results. We further explore the relationship between diversity and firm performance by studying the companies listed on the OMX Stockholm exchange between 2005 and 2009. Proportionally selecting one third of companies and every other year - total sample size of 258 measurements - we performed regression analysis of the effects of age diversity on the board (given by standard deviation of ages) upon financial and market performance (given by ROA and Tobin‟s Q respectively). The analysis tested whether age diversity on the board improved firm performance, whether the effects were greater in small firms, and whether nonlinear “diminishing returns” appeared in situations with very high board diversity. As other studies have shown that board size, director tenure and gender diversity can all affect performance, we control for these factors as well as for mean director age, industry and firm size. After discovering that our metrics, ROA and Tobin‟s Q, do not correlate for small and medium size firms, but only for large firms with a market cap above EUR 1 billion, we argue that ROA is a better measurement of firm performance. We found that age diversity significantly affects firm performance as measured by ROA, but not as measured by Tobin‟s Q. We further found that the effects are only evident when the company belongs to the small-cap category with a market cap below EUR 150 million. The size of the effect differs depending on what measurement years are included in the analysis, and how long the time delay is between the measurement of age diversity and firm performance. We found that the effect of age diversity is slightly lower for ROA measured during the same year, compared to ROA measured two years later. Finally, our data did not support conclusions either way as to diminishing returns occuring in situations of extremely high age diversity, as too few such firms were found in the sample. In light of these findings, age diversity should be given equal weight to other considerations when composing a successful corporate board in small firms.
Association of genetic variants with myocardial infarction in Japanese individuals with chronic kidney disease

Summary Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a serious clinical condition that is associated with a high incidence of cardiovascular disease and end-stage renal disease. Although CKD has been recognised as a risk factor for myocardial infarction (MI), genetic factors for predisposition to MI in individuals with CKD have remained largely unknown. The purpose of the present study was to identify genetic variants that confer susceptibility to MI in Japanese individuals with CKD. The study subjects comprised 1,339 Japanese individuals with CKD, including 496 subjects with MI and 843 controls. The genotypes for 248 polymorphisms of 181 candidate genes were determined by a method that combines the polymerase chain reaction and sequence-specific oligonucleotide probes with suspension array technology. An initial screen of allele frequencies by the chi-square test revealed that the 11496G→A (Arg353Gln) polymorphism of F7 (rs6046) was significantly (false discovery rate <0.05) associated with the prevalence of MI in individuals with CKD. Subsequent multivariable logistic regression analysis with adjustment for covariates and a stepwise forward selection procedure also revealed that this polymorphism was significantly (p <0.005) associated with MI, with the variant A (Gln) allele protecting against this condition. Determination of genotype for the 11496G→A (Arg353Gln) polymorphism of F7 may prove informative for assessment of the genetic risk for MI in individuals with CKD.