Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Quantitative autoradiographic characterization of the binding of (+)-5-methyl-10,11-dihydro-5H-dibenzo[a,d]cyclohepten-5, 10-imine ([3H]MK-801) in rat brain: regional effects of polyamines.

The distribution and properties of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors, labeled with [3H](+)-5-methyl-10, 11-dihydro-5H-dibenzo[a,d]cyclohepten-5 5,10-imine (MK-801), were examined in rat brain. In sections of brain mash, the kinetics of association and dissociation of [3H]MK-801 were monophasic in the presence of 100 microM glutamate and glycine, and Scatchard transformations of saturation isotherms resulted in linear plots. Inhibition of the binding of [3H]MK-801 by other noncompetitive antagonists produced competition curves with Hill coefficients close to 1.0, consistent with a simple bimolecular interaction between the radioligand and the receptor. Scatchard plots based upon densitometric measurements of [3H]MK-801 binding in serial sections of rat brain were also linear, with dissociation constant values ranging from 5.0 to 8.4 nM in different regions at the level of the hippocampus. The distribution of [3H]MK-801 binding sites paralleled the distribution of NMDA displaceable L-[3H]glutamate binding sites. One exception was the cerebellar granule cell layer, where the density of binding sites for [3H]MK-801 was extremely low. The relative density of [3H]MK-801 to NMDA displaceable L-[3H]glutamate binding sites was approximately 1 to 2, consistent with the existence of two transmitter recognition sites per NMDA receptor. The modulatory effects of polyamines on [3H]MK-801 binding were studied in washed brain sections. The polyamine agonists spermine and spermidine enhanced [3H]MK-801 binding in all regions studied, with increases ranging from 18% in the thalamus to 106% in the ventromedial striatum. The effects of spermine and spermidine in these regions were highly correlated. Diethylenetriamine, which blocks the effects of spermidine, by itself produced decreases in the binding of [3H]MK-801 in most regions ranging from 5 to 21% but increased binding in parts of the striatum by 3 to 22%. The decrease in binding produced by diethylenetriamine in different brain regions was negatively correlated with the increase in binding produced by the agonists, suggesting that variability in the residual concentration of endogenous polyamines contributes to the regional variability of agonist effects. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Gdnf is mitogenic, neurotrophic, and chemoattractive to enteric neural crest cells in the embryonic colon

Glial‐derived neurotrophic factor (Gdnf) is required for morphogenesis of the enteric nervous system (ENS) and it has been shown to regulate proliferation, differentiation, and survival of cultured enteric neural crest–derived cells (ENCCs). The goal of this study was to investigate its in vivo role in the colon, the site most commonly affected by intestinal neuropathies such as Hirschsprung's disease. Gdnf activity was modulated in ovo in the distal gut of avian embryos using targeted retrovirus‐mediated gene overexpression and retroviral vector‐based gene silencing. We find that Gdnf has a pleiotropic effect on colonic ENCCs, promoting proliferation, inducing neuronal differentiation, and acting as a chemoattractant. Down‐regulating Gdnf similarly induces premature neuronal differentiation, but also inhibits ENCC proliferation, leading to distal colorectal aganglionosis with severe proximal hypoganglionosis. These results indicate an important role for Gdnf signaling in colonic ENS formation and emphasize the critical balance between proliferation and differentiation in the developing ENS. Developmental Dynamics 240:1402–1411, 2011. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Spectropolarimetric device for determination of optical anisotropic parameters of crystals

Experimental spectropolarimeter device for simultaneous determination of birefringence, dichroism and parameters of an optical activity of crystals is designed and is made. The given device can be utilized for research of real structure of crystals, of the control both quality crystals also optical polarization elements of anisotropic optics (phase plate, polarization prisms). For determination of optical parameters of crystal plates the measurement of light intensity transmitted through a sample disposed between arbitrary oriented polarizer and analyzer is carried out. Control of device and processing of outcomes of experiment implement with the help of the designed software package. For an estimation of capabilities of the given device the measurements optically active crystal (quartz), absorptive crystal (ruby, mica), phase plates are conducted.
A solution to the unit-commitment problem using integer-coded genetic algorithm

This paper presents a new solution to the thermal unit-commitment (UC) problem based on an integer-coded genetic algorithm (GA). The GA chromosome consists of a sequence of alternating sign integer numbers representing the sequence of operation/reservation times of the generating units. The proposed coding achieves significant chromosome size reduction compared to the usual binary coding. As a result, algorithm robustness and execution time are improved. In addition, generating unit minimum up and minimum downtime constraints are directly coded in the chromosome, thus avoiding the use of many penalty functions that usually distort the search space. Test results with systems of up to 100 units and 24-h scheduling horizon are presented.
Surface drawing

We present Surface Drawing, a medium which provides direct control over the creation of a wide range of intricate shapes. Surface Drawing addresses several key issues in creative expression and perceptual thinking by providing a direct link between the motions of the hand and the forging of shapes. Surfaces are created by moving a hand, instrumented with a special glove, through space in a semi-immersive 3D display and interaction environment (the Responsive Workbench). This technique allows both novices and experts to create intricate forms without the perceptual constraints of a rigid mathematical structure, large toolset, or a reduction of modeling to editing. In Surface Drawing the design space can be freely explored during the modeling process without the need to plan the construction of the final shape. In particular it supports unconstrained erasing and buildup of new geometry. This is achieved through the use of a novel incremental construction method for triangulated meshes, the Cookie Cutter algorithm. It allows the user to freely grow, join, and erase surfaces based on hand motions. We report on our experiences with the system and present results created by artists and designers exploring problems in industrial design, character design, and fine art.
Data flow testing as model checking

This paper presents a model checking-based approach to dataflow testing. We characterize dataflow oriented coverage criteria in temporal logic such that the problem of test generation is reduced to the problem of finding witnesses for a set of temporal logic formulas. The capability of model checkers to construct witnesses and counterexamples allows test generation to be fully automatic. We discuss complexity issues in minimal cost test generation and describe heuristic test generation algorithms. We illustrate our approach using CTL as temporal logic and SMV as model checker.
Characterization of Immiscible Elastomer Blends

Abstract Considerable improvements have been made in the analysis of elastomer blends for composition, morphology and filler inter-phase distribution. GC, IR, NMR and thermal analysis (DTG, DSC, TG) techniques can provide quantitative information on composition. The latter three methods, along with SAXS, SANS, DMTA and microscopy (LM phase contrast, TEM, SEM, AFM) are also useful for resolving differences in blend homogeneity. The microscopical techniques are the most useful for characterizing morphology. TEM, in conjunction with cryosectioning and staining techniques, has provided the best means of resolving filler distribution to date. However, new AFM scanning modes may provide improved analyses in the future. Carbon black inter-phase distribution in blends of NR, SBR and BR can be controlled reasonably well by blending Banbury mixed masterbatches containing the desired carbon black loading in each polymer. Transfer of carbon black from one elastomer to another is favored by low unsaturation for the po.
Fabrication of free-standing PEDOT:PSS nanofiber mats using electrospinning

In this work, a free-standing nanofibers mat of conducting polymer, Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) Polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS) is fabricated. PEDOT:PSS solution is blended with widely studied water soluble polymers, poly vinyl alcohol (PVA) and poly ethylene oxide (PEO), and is electrospun. Electrospinning parameters such as applied voltage and flow rate are optimized and fibers of diameter 200-300 nm are obtained, as characterized by scanning electron microscopy. Further, ternary blends are prepared by increasing the PEDOT:PSS content with respect to PEO and PVA, and uniform fibers with diameter of less than 200 nm are obtained. Fiber mats are analyzed using contact angle measurement and change in hydrophilicity with respect to increase in PEDOT:PSS concentration is studied.
Chorionic gonadotropin stimulation of angiogenesis and pericyte recruitment.

CONTEXT During the periimplantation period, human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) plays a key role by increasing the uterine blood flow through uterine vessel vasodilatation but also through angiogenesis. Indeed, we previously demonstrated that hCG contributes to endothelial cell recruitment and vessel formation. OBJECTIVE In this study, hCG was proposed as an arteriogenic factor that could promote perivascular cell recruitment and vessel stabilization. DESIGN The aortic ring assay, a three-dimensional ex vivo angiogenesis system mimicking all the steps of the angiogenesis process was used to study the impact of hCG on pericyte recruitment and vessel maturation. SETTING The study was conducted at a university hospital laboratory. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Perivascular cell proliferation, migration, and apposition were quantified by computerized image analysis. RESULTS Physiological concentrations of hCG (10-400 IU/ml) significantly enhanced pericyte sprouting and migration and gave rise to the maturation and coverage of endothelial capillaries. In a three-dimensional coculture model of endothelial and perivascular cells, hCG enhanced vessel tube formation and endothelial/mural cell adhesion. In addition, hCG stimulated the proliferation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells. The specificity of these effects was determined by using an anti-hCG blocking antibody. Signaling pathways implicated on this hCG effect is protein kinase A and phospholipase C/protein kinase C dependent for the proliferative effect but only phospholipase C/protein kinase C for the migrative process. CONCLUSIONS Our findings highlight a novel paracrine role of this early embryonic signal in vessel maturation by stimulating perivascular cell recruitment, migration, and proliferation.
Novel missense mutations and a 288‐bp exonic insertion in PAX9 in families with autosomal dominant hypodontia

We describe the molecular analysis of three families with hypodontia involving primarily molar teeth and report two novel mutational mechanisms. Linkage analysis of two large families revealed that the hypodontia was linked to the PAX9 locus. These two families revealed missense mutations consisting of a glutamic acid substitution for lysine and a proline substitution for leucine within the paired domain of PAX9. A pair of identical twins affected with hypodontia in a third family demonstrated a 288‐bp insertion within exon 2 that resulted in a putative frameshift mutation and a premature stop codon. The insertion was associated with the loss of 7‐bp from exon 2. A block of 256‐bp of sequence within the insertion was completely identical to downstream sequence from the second intron of the PAX9 gene. These studies extend the spectrum of mutations in PAX9 associated with hypodontia to include heretofore undescribed categories, including missense mutations. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Thermomechanical postbuckling analysis of laminated composite shells

The nonlinear response of laminated composite structures subjected to thermal loads is investigated. Analysis is performed using a refined theory and an associated finite element model for geometrically nonlinear analysis of laminated composite shell structures. The model is based on a third-order displacement field which accounts for both transverse shear and transverse normal deformations. Numerical studies of simply-supported plates and cylindrical panels indicate that when the panels are free to expand or contract in the transverse direction, the predicted critical buckling temperatures do not depend significantly upon whether or not transverse normal deformations are explicitly accounted for in the analysis model. However, the critical buckling temperatures are strongly dependent upon whether or not the transverse normal deformations are restrained along the boundaries of the panels. 25 refs.
Two flavors of dynamical quarks on anisotropic lattices

We report on our study of two-flavor full QCD on anisotropic lattices using $O(a)$-improved Wilson quarks coupled with a renormalization-group-improved glue. The bare gauge and quark anisotropies corresponding to the renormalized anisotropy $\ensuremath{\xi}{=a}_{s}{/a}_{t}=2$ are determined as functions of $\ensuremath{\beta}$ and $\ensuremath{\kappa},$ which cover the region of spatial lattice spacings ${a}_{s}\ensuremath{\approx}0.28--0.16\mathrm{fm}$ and ${m}_{\mathrm{PS}}{/m}_{V}\ensuremath{\approx}0.6--0.9. $ The calibrations of the bare anisotropies are performed with the Wilson loop and the meson dispersion relation at four lattice cutoffs and 5--6 quark masses. Using the calibration results we calculate the meson mass spectrum and the Sommer scale ${r}_{0}. $ We confirm that the values of ${r}_{0}$ calculated for the calibration using pseudoscalar and vector meson energy momentum dispersion relations coincide in the continuum limit within errors. This work serves to lay the groundwork for studies of heavy quark systems and the thermodynamics of QCD including the extraction of the equation of state in the continuum limit using Wilson-type quark actions.
Postprandial ghrelin, cholecystokinin, peptide YY, and appetite before and after weight loss in overweight women with and without polycystic ovary syndrome.

BACKGROUND Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common condition associated with obesity and with reproductive and metabolic dysfunction. Abnormalities in appetite regulation in PCOS patients may contribute to difficulties in weight management. OBJECTIVE We aimed to examine appetite, appetite hormones, and ad libitum food consumption before and after weight loss in overweight women with and without PCOS. DESIGN Overweight age- and weight-matched women with (n = 14) and without (n = 14) PCOS undertook an 8-wk energy-restricted diet (5185.3 +/- 141.6 kJ/d). At baseline and study end, subjects consumed a test meal (936 kJ; 25% of energy from protein, 9% from fat, and 67% from carbohydrate). Subjective appetite and circulating glucose, insulin, ghrelin, cholecystokinin, and peptide YY were assessed at 0, 15, 30, 45, 60, 90, 120, and 180 min. A mixed buffet lunch was then offered to assess ad libitum food intake. RESULTS Weight loss (4.2 +/- 3.9 kg) did not differ significantly between the 2 groups. Women with PCOS had significantly (P = 0.023) lower ghrelin concentrations before and after weight loss than did women without PCOS. The degree of postprandial ghrelin suppression was lower at weeks 0 (P = 0.048) and 8 (P = 0.069) in women with PCOS than in women without PCOS. There were no significant differences between the 2 groups in appetite responses, buffet consumption, or fasting or postprandial peptide YY and cholecystokinin before or after weight loss. CONCLUSIONS PCOS was associated with lower fasting ghrelin and a smaller postprandial ghrelin suppression both before and after weight loss but was not associated with other postprandial gut peptides, subjective satiety, or food intake. It is not clear whether appetite regulation is impaired in PCOS.
GABAergic Excitation of Vasopressin Neurons: Possible Mechanism Underlying Sodium-Dependent Hypertension

Rationale: Increased arginine-vasopressin (AVP) secretion is a key physiological response to hyperosmotic stress and may be part of the mechanism by which high-salt diets induce or exacerbate hypertension. Objective: Using deoxycorticosterone acetate-salt hypertension model rats, we sought to test the hypothesis that changes in GABAA receptor–mediated inhibition in AVP-secreting magnocellular neurons contribute to the generation of Na+-dependent hypertension. Methods and Results: In vitro gramicidin-perforated recordings in the paraventricular and supraoptic nuclei revealed that the GABAergic inhibition in AVP-secreting neurons was converted into excitation in this model, because of the depolarization of GABA equilibrium potential. Meanwhile, in vivo extracellular recordings in the supraoptic nuclei showed that the GABAergic baroreflexive inhibition of magnocellular neurons was transformed to excitation, so that baroreceptor activation may increase AVP release. The depolarizing GABA equilibrium potential shift in AVP-secreting neurons occurred progressively over weeks of deoxycorticosterone acetate-salt treatment along with gradual increases in plasma AVP and blood pressure. Furthermore, the shift was associated with changes in chloride transporter expression and partially reversed by bumetanide (Na+-K+-2Cl– cotransporter inhibitor). Intracerebroventricular bumetanide administration during deoxycorticosterone acetate-salt treatment hindered the development of hypertension and rise in plasma AVP level. Muscimol (GABAA agonist) microinjection into the supraoptic nuclei in hypertensive rats increased blood pressure, which was prevented by previous intravenous V1a AVP antagonist injection. Conclusions: We conclude that the inhibitory-to-excitatory switch of GABAA receptor–mediated transmission in AVP neurons contributes to the generation of Na+-dependent hypertension by increasing AVP release. We speculate that normalizing the GABA equilibrium potential may have some utility in treating Na+-dependent hypertension.
Second Space: A Generative Model for the Blogosphere

Analysing complex natural phenomena often requires synthesized data that matches observed characteristics. Graph models are widely used in analyzing the Web in general, but are less suitable for modeling the Blogosphere. While blog networks resemble many properties of Web graphs, the dynamic nature of the Blogosphere, its unique structure and the evolution of the link structure due to blog readership and social interactions are not captured by the existing models. We describe an agent-based simulation model to construct blog graphs that exhibit properties similar to the real world blog networks in their degree distributions, degree correlation, clustering coefficient and reciprocity. The model can help researchers analyze the Blogosphere and facilitates the development and testing of new algorithms.
The Empirical Merton Model

Although the Merton model of corporate debt as equivalent to safe debt minus a put option on the firm’s assets fails to match observed credit spreads, we show that portfolios of long Treasuries and short traded put options (“pseudo bonds”) closely match the properties of traded corporate bonds. Pseudo bonds display a credit spread puzzle that is stronger at short horizons, unexplained by standard risk factors, and unlikely to be solely due to illiquidity. We illustrate a novel, model-free benchmarking methodology to run data-based counterfactuals, with applications to credit spread biases, the impact of asset uncertainty, and bankrelated rollover risk. For their comments, we thank Jack Bao, Alexander David, Peter Feldhutter, Stefano Giglio, Zhiguo He, J.B. Heaton, Steven Heston, Francis Longstaff, Monika Piazzesi, Steve Schaefer, Yang Song, Suresh Sundaresan, and seminar participants at Bocconi University, Stockholm School of Economics, Bank of Canada, Federal Reserve Board, and University of Maryland. We thank Bryan Kelly for providing data on the tail risk factor. The views expressed herein are the authors’ and do not necessarily reflect those of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.
A New Extension of Larman's Operation Contracts for Security Properties Injection and Verification during the System's Internal Behavior Elaboration

Lately, there have been many types of study works addressing the model-driven security so that to incorporate the security verification during system's development process or modeling phase basing on Model-Driven Architecture that deploys Unified Modelling Language standard as the meta-model for different system's abstractions. To the best of our knowledge, most of these works have been addressing security rules verification after deployment phase and without taking into account security infrastructure generation, deducing the source code corresponding to the functional and non-functional aspect at the same time. In this current work, we have concentrated our efforts on non-functional components, business logic, and quality of services of the systems so that to reduce design mistakes and generating secure software applications that respect the criteria's of the software engineering qualities. To do that, we have proposed a new meta-model for Java platform allowing to improve the MDA methodology to inject the security architecture description and security properties verification during software development process. Therefore, security properties will be described in the form of secure models represented through Security profile and enriched through the Object Constraint Language designed to add the security constraints to security models. Basing on the new approach, an Intermediate Structural Model (ISM) is obtained from chosen Platform Specific Model (PSM) to enrich the functional code with other improvements instead generating the source code directly. In this context, ISM will be improved with security rules and constraints about confidentiality, availability, non-repudiation, data integrity, and data encryption after its generation from sequence diagram of system internal behavior that respects the proposed meta-model. Finally, the final code will be generated from sequence diagram of system's internal behavior such as application security configuration, methods signatures and their bodies, persistent entities, and the security objects.
Stabilizing Adversarial Nets With Prediction Methods

Adversarial neural networks solve many important problems in data science, but are notoriously difficult to train. These difficulties come from the fact that optimal weights for adversarial nets correspond to saddle points, and not minimizers, of the loss function. The alternating stochastic gradient methods typically used for such problems do not reliably converge to saddle points, and when convergence does happen it is often highly sensitive to learning rates. We propose a simple modification of stochastic gradient descent that stabilizes adversarial networks. We show, both in theory and practice, that the proposed method reliably converges to saddle points, and is stable with a wider range of training parameters than a non-prediction method. This makes adversarial networks less likely to "collapse," and enables faster training with larger learning rates.