Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
FGF-2 Overexpression Increases Excitability and Seizure Susceptibility but Decreases Seizure-Induced Cell Loss

Fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF-2) has multiple, pleiotropic effects on the nervous system that include neurogenesis, neuroprotection and neuroplasticity. Thus, alteration in FGF-2 expression patterns may have a profound impact in brain function, both in normal physiology and in pathology. Here, we used FGF-2 transgenic mice (TgFGF2) to study the effects of endogenous FGF-2 overexpression on susceptibility to seizures and to the pathological consequences of seizures. TgFGF2 mice display increased FGF-2 expression in hippocampal pyramidal neurons and dentate granule cells. Increased density of glutamatergic synaptic vesicles was observed in the hippocampus of TgFGF2 mice, and electrophysiological data (input/output curves and patch-clamp recordings in CA1) confirmed an increase in excitatory inputs in CA1, suggesting the presence of a latent hyperexcitability. Indeed, TgFGF2 mice displayed increased susceptibility to kainate-induced seizures compared with wild-type (WT) littermates, in that latency to generalized seizure onset was reduced, whereas behavioral seizure scores and lethality were increased. Finally, WT and TgFGF2 mice with similar seizure scores were used for examining seizure-induced cellular consequences. Neurogenesis and mossy fiber sprouting were not significantly different between the two groups. In contrast, cell damage (assessed with Fluoro-Jade B, silver impregnation and anti-caspase 3 immunohistochemistry) was significantly lower in TgFGF2 mice, especially in the areas of overexpression (CA1 and CA3), indicating reduction of seizure-induced necrosis and apoptosis. These data suggest that FGF-2 may be implicated in seizure susceptibility and in seizure-induced plasticity, exerting different, and apparently contrasting effects: favoring ictogenesis but reducing seizure-induced cell death.
Elimination of impulsive disturbances from archive audio files – comparison of three noise pulse detection schemes

The problem of elimination of impulsive disturbances (such as clicks, pops, ticks, crackles, and record scratches) from archive audio recordings is considered and solved using autoregressive modeling. Three classical noise pulse detection schemes are examined and compared: the approach based on open-loop multi-step-ahead signal prediction, the approach based on decision-feedback signal prediction, and the double threshold approach, based on analysis of residual errors. It is shown that the accuracy of the classical schemes can be significantly improved by means of combining the results of forward time and backward time signal processing.
Steady-State Solutions to Dynamic Optimization Models with Inequality Constraints

Many problems in resource economics are inherently dynamic in the sense that time is essential to the analysis. As a consequence, dynamic optimization models have played a much larger role in resource economics than in economics in general. While general techniques are available for solving dynamic optimization problems (dynamic programming and Pontryagin's Maximum Principle), computational considerations usually limit direct application of these methods to empirical models with one or two state variables. This severely constrains the realism and accuracy of the model. In many cases, however, it is possible to determine steady-state solutions to much larger problems even if the full solution cannot be determined. Since the time paths of the optimal control and state variables typically converge to a steady-state, knowledge of the optimal steady-state provides valuable information which can be used for managing the resource.1 In a recent paper, Burt and Cummings (1977) derived conditions to be satisfied by steady-state solutions to optimization problems in resource economics. While their model is general with respect to functional forms, it does not allow inequality constraints on the state and control variables. This would seem to be a serious limitation for many problems in resource economics where there may be a priori restrictions on the range of feasible control values as well as restrictions depending on current values of the state variables. The purpose of this paper is to extend the analysis of Burt and Cummings (1977) to the case of inequality constraints involving state
Optimising memory management for Belief Propagation in Junction Trees using GPGPUs

Belief Propagation (BP) in Junction Trees (JT) is one of the most popular approaches to compute posteriors in Bayesian Networks (BN). Such approach has significant computational requirements that can be addressed by using highly parallel architectures (i.e., General Purpose Graphic Processing Units) to parallelise the message update phases of BP. In this paper, we propose a novel approach to parallelise BP with GPGPUs, which focuses on optimising the memory layout of the BN tables so to achieve better performance in terms of increased speedup, reduced data transfers between the host and the GPGPU, and scalability. Our empirical comparison with the state of the art approach on standard datasets confirms significant improvements in speedups (up to +594%), and scalability (as our method can operate on networks whose potential tables exceed the global memory of the GPGPU).
Evaluation of adipocytokine levels and vascular functions in young aged to middle aged men with idiopathic hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism.

OBJECTIVE Hypogonadism has major effects on the urogenital system, in addition to other systems, the cardiovascular system in particular. There have been few studies conducted on markers of atherosclerosis, such as flow mediated dilatation (% FMD), carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) and adipocytokine levels in idiopatic hypogonadotropic hypogonadal (IHH) males mostly in adult patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between androgens and adipocytokines and parameters of vascular functions in hypogonadal men. MATERIALS AND METHODS The study population consisted of 11 treatment naive IHH patients (group 1) and 15 age-matched healthy control males (group 2). A fasting blood sample was obtained for leptin, adiponectin and resistin. The endothelial functions were evaluated by studying % FMD and CIMT by high resolution B-mode ultrasound. RESULTS No significant differences in age, body mass index, systolic and diastolic blood pressure were recorded between the two groups. The leptin level was significantly higher in group 1, whereas adiponectin and resistin levels were same between two groups. There was a negative correlation between total testosterone and carotid intima-media thickness (r=-0.656, p=0.008), and a negative correlation between total testosterone and leptin level (r=-0.794, p<0.001). No correlation was found between leptin and CIMT (p=0.184). CONCLUSION Testosterone deficiency in hypogonadal men is associated with vascular parameters of atherosclerosis. The findings may establish indications for testosterone replacement therapy in hypogonadal men.
Objective Functions for Topography : AComparison of Optimal MapsGeo

Topographic mappings are important in several contexts, including data visualization, connectionist representation, and cortical structure. Many diierent ways of quantifying the degree of topography of a mapping have been proposed. In order to investigate the consequences of the varying assumptions that these diierent approaches embody, we have optimized the mapping with respect to a number of diierent measures for a very simple problem-the mapping from a square to a line. The principal results are that (1) diierent objective functions can produce very diierent maps, (2) only a small number of these functions produce mappings which match common intuitions as to what a topographic mapping \should" actually look like for this problem, (3) the objective functions can be put into certain broad categories based on the overall form of the maps, and (4) certain categories of objective functions may be more appropriate for particular types of problem than other categories.
On characterizing hypergraph regularity

Szemerédi's Regularity Lemma is a well‐known and powerful tool in modern graph theory. This result led to a number of interesting applications, particularly in extremal graph theory. A regularity lemma for 3‐uniform hypergraphs developed by Frankl and Rödl [8] allows some of the Szemerédi Regularity Lemma graph applications to be extended to hypergraphs. An important development regarding Szemerédi's Lemma showed the equivalence between the property of ϵ‐regularity of a bipartite graph G and an easily verifiable property concerning the neighborhoods of its vertices (Alon et al. [1]; cf. [6]). This characterization of ϵ‐regularity led to an algorithmic version of Szemerédi's lemma [1]. Similar problems were also considered for hypergraphs. In [2], [9], [13], and [18], various descriptions of quasi‐randomness of k‐uniform hypergraphs were given. As in [1], the goal of this paper is to find easily verifiable conditions for the hypergraph regularity provided by [8]. The hypergraph regularity of [8] renders quasi‐random “blocks of hyperedges” which are very sparse. This situation leads to technical difficulties in its application. Moreover, as we show in this paper, some easily verifiable conditions analogous to those considered in [2] and [18] fail to be true in the setting of [8]. However, we are able to find some necessary and sufficient conditions for this hypergraph regularity. These conditions enable us to design an algorithmic version of a hypergraph regularity lemma in [8]. This algorithmic version is presented by the authors in [5]. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Random Struct. Alg. , 21: 293–335, 2002
Boosting the Performance of Iterative Closest Point Scan Matching Algorithms using Quad Trees

This paper presents a boosting approach to improve the robustness and accuracy of iterative closest point (ICP) scan matching algorithms. The focus is on reducing the correspondence error by providing a more complete and denser frame of reference to match new scans. Using our approach a new scan is matched simultaneously against all relevant scans observed in the past. By making use of the efficient quad tree data structure this can be realized with the preservation of real-time performance. In our experiments we illustrate the significant gains in robustness and accuracy that can be the result when the presented boosting framework is applied.
Long-Run Restrictions for Structural VAR Models

This chapter explains econometric methods related to VARs and cointegration. We first introduce a broader concept of cointegration that allows us to treat the case in which a vector time series includes both stationary and nonstationary variables. In the previous chapters, cointegration is only defined for a vector time series that does not include stationary variables. Then we discuss a method to impose long-run restrictions for VARs with stationary variables for which the nonstationary variables in the vector time series are not cointegrated. When the nonstationary variables are cointegrated, it is convenient to reparameterize the VAR in a specific format called an Error Correction Model (ECM) or a Vector ECM (VECM). We will introduce a structural ECM by considering a foreign exchange rate model in which prices and the exchange rate adjusts toward a long-run equilibrium level. A method to estimate the structural speed of the adjustment coefficient toward the long-run equilibrium level will be discussed. Then we will discuss long-run and short-run restrictions imposed on VECM.
FPGA design of a coordinate descent data detector for large-scale MU-MIMO

We propose a new, low-complexity data-detection algorithm and a corresponding high-throughput FPGA design for 3GPP LTE-based large-scale (or massive) multi-user (MU) multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) wireless communication systems. Our algorithm performs approximate minimum mean-square error (MMSE) data detection using coordinate descent (CD), which enables near-MMSE performance at low computational complexity, even for systems with hundreds of antennas at the base station (BS). We design a high-throughput VLSI architecture for 3GPP LTE wideband systems with a deep and interleaved pipeline, which can be parametrized at design time to support various antenna configurations. Our CD-based data detector achieves 379Mb/s throughout, while using 24 k LUTs and 771 DSP units on a Xilinx Virtex-7 FPGA for a 128 BS antenna, 8 user large-scale MU-MIMO system.
Inflammatory Cytokines Stimulate Adrenomedullin Expression Through Nitric Oxide–Dependent and –Independent Pathways

A body of evidence indicates that the production of adrenomedullin (ADM) in vivo is activated in states of inflammation. Our aim was to characterize the intracellular signaling pathways along which inflammation leads to a stimulation of ADM expression. For this purpose, we characterized the effects of inflammatory cytokines, tumor necrosis factor-&agr; (100 &mgr;g/L), interleukin-1&bgr; (20 &mgr;g/L), and interferon-&ggr; (0.5 U/L) on ADM gene expression in rat aortic vascular smooth muscle cells (AVSMCs). We found that inflammatory cytokines induced a time-dependent 12-fold upregulation of ADM mRNA in AVSMCs that was paralleled by a substantial increase in inducible NO synthase mRNA expression. The stimulatory effect of cytokines on ADM gene expression was attenuated by NO deprivation induced by N&ohgr;-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (1 mmol/L) and was in part mimicked by the NO donor S-nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine (100 &mgr;mol/L). The cGMP analog 8-bromo-cGMP (100 &mgr;mol/L) had no effect on ADM gene expression, and inhibition of cGMP production by 1H-oxodiazolo-quinoxalin-1 (ODQ, 200 &mgr;mol/L) was not able to abrogate the increase of ADM mRNA induced by NO donation using S-nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine (100 &mgr;mol/L). The significant induction of ADM gene expression by inflammatory cytokines and NO donation was also observed in mesangial cells, endothelial cells, and hepatocytes. These findings suggest that NO is a direct activator of ADM gene expression in a variety of cell types and that inflammatory cytokines stimulate ADM expression via both NO-dependent and -independent mechanisms. The stimulatory effect of NO appears to not be related to the classic guanylate cyclase–cGMP pathway.
A novel fiber-fault polling monitoring scheme based on 2D pre-coding technique for PONs with optimized decision probability

We propose a novel fiber-fault polling monitoring scheme using optical 2D-pre-coding technique for passive optical networks. This scheme contains Probe Pulse Pre-coding module, Link Failure Recognition module and Decoder module. We adopt an effective polling monitoring strategy to improve the detection decision probability. Simulation shows that our proposed scheme supports the monitoring of up to 64 clients with an SNR of 9.722 dB and has optimized decision probability above 95%.
Pseudoexon activation increases phenotype severity in a Becker muscular dystrophy patient

We report a dystrophinopathy patient with an in‐frame deletion of DMD exons 45–47, and therefore a genetic diagnosis of Becker muscular dystrophy, who presented with a more severe than expected phenotype. Analysis of the patient DMD mRNA revealed an 82 bp pseudoexon, derived from intron 44, that disrupts the reading frame and is expected to yield a nonfunctional dystrophin. Since the sequence of the pseudoexon and canonical splice sites does not differ from the reference sequence, we concluded that the genomic rearrangement promoted recognition of the pseudoexon, causing a severe dystrophic phenotype. We characterized the deletion breakpoints and identified motifs that might influence selection of the pseudoexon. We concluded that the donor splice site was strengthened by juxtaposition of intron 47, and loss of intron 44 silencer elements, normally located downstream of the pseudoexon donor splice site, further enhanced pseudoexon selection and inclusion in the DMD transcript in this patient.
WeightedCluster Library Manual A practical guide to creating typologies of trajectories in the social sciences with R

This manual has a twofold aim: to present the WeightedCluster library and offer a step-by-step guide to creating typologies of sequences for the social sciences. In particular, this library makes it possible to represent graphically the results of a hierarchical cluster analysis, to group identical sequences in order to analyse a larger number of sequences, to compute a set of measures of partition quality and also an optimized PAM (Partitioning Around Medoids) algorithm taking account of weightings. The library also offers procedures to facilitate the choice of a particular clustering solution and to choose the optimal number of groups. In addition to the methods, we also discuss the building of typologies of sequences in the social sciences and the assumptions underlying this operation. In particular we clarify the place that should be given to the creation of typologies in the analysis of sequences. We thus show that these methods offer an important descriptive point of view on sequences by bringing to light recurrent patterns. However, they should not be used in a confirmatory analysis, since they can point to misleading conclusions.
Globalization and ideology : ethics committees and global clinical trials in South Africa and Brazil

This study aims to explore the ideological implications of globalization, asking whether the global diffusion of guidelines and economic schemes leads to a parallel diffusion of interpretations, hopes and ideologies. I focus on the globalization of clinical trials sponsored by pharmaceutical companies to assess the efficacy and safety of new therapeutic compounds. I analyze the ways in which this globalization has been framed by the members of ethics committees, which are bodies responsible for assessing clinical research proposals submitted by both multinational companies and local researchers. I focus on the situations of South Africa and Brazil, two countries that have witnessed an important expansion in the number of global clinical studies conducted in their territories. My theoretical framework is the theory of communicative action proposed by German sociologist Jürgen Habermas. According to this theory, social actors can be either self-oriented and frame the social context as an instrument (instrumental rationality), or take other actors into account and search for intercomprehension (communicational rationality). Even though the presence of these two rationalities was detected in my study, it was seen that rationalities are composed by sub-groups, specks of rationalities, which I propose to name mentalities. The description and interpretation of the seven mentalities identified in my study (pragmatic, bioethical, technical, healing, communitarian, analytical and critical) is the main task undertaken in this thesis. Interpreting mentalities is important to understand the political debates taking place in South Africa and Brazil (and, potentially, other countries). To engage in debates, social actors frequently mobilize claims and ideas gleaned from different mentalities. Over the last decades, the bioethical, technical and healing mentalities have acquired an important force and legitimacy. However, discordant discourses continue to be voiced, drawing on the ideological tools provided by the analytical and critical mentalities. Thus, ethics committees can be seen as a political arena, reproducing broad social debates.
Learning classifier system using both labeled and unlabeled data

In this paper, we propose a Semi-UCS, which is an extension of the classical sUpervised Classifier System (UCS) [1] for semi-supervised learning tasks. A UCS works under a supervised learning scheme and uses only labeled data to train the system. In the Semi-UCS, we add an additional semi-supervised learning component to the original UCS, enablingthe LCS to learn from both labeled and unlabeled data. We provide three methods of how this semi-supervised learning component can be implemented: self-learning method, k-NN distance measure method and tri-training method. The Semi-UCS enlarges UCS's' application domains into semi-supervised settings and is a great addition to the LCS's model family. Experimental results on benchmark data sets of UCI repository have shown that Semi-UCS reaches a good performance for semi-supervised learning tasks.
Complementizers and Finite Verbs in German Sentence Structure

In this paper, 1 we discuss a new approach to the analysis of the verb second phenomenon in German. The analysis builds on empirical generalizations previously studied in the GB framework. It accounts for the movement of nite verbs without lexical rules, traces or a feature inv(erted), and it eliminates the Head-Filler-Schema for unbounded dependencies. We show that a lexical theory of the elements at the left periphery of nite sentences allows natural empirical generalizations that phrase structure-based accounts and previous HPSG analyses have not been able to provide. 1 GB Approaches In many GB approaches to German syntax, a functional projection CP accounts for verb fronting (movement to C 0) in verb initial (V1) and verb second (V2) clauses. In verb nal clauses with a lexical complementizer (c-VF clauses), the complementizer is in C 0 position, thus preventing verb movement. In V2 clauses, an XP constituent moves to the speciier position of the CP (Spec-CP). Embedded w-clauses have a moved XP w-constituent which functions as a complementizer. They are always verb nal (w-VF) clauses. The four types of clauses are illustrated in (1) and are assigned the syntactic structure shown in gure 1. (1) a. daa Hans das Buch kauft that Hans the book buys that Hans buys the book b. kauft Hans das Buch buys Hans the book does Hans buy the book c. das Buch kauft Hans the book buys Hans Hans buys the book d. (ich weii nicht) was Hans kauft (I don't know) what Hans buys I don't know what Hans buys 1 We are very greatful to Thilo GG otz,
RED : An Internet Redirection Service

In this paper we propose RED, a general lightweight Internet redirection service that can be easily used by any distributed Internet application. We present the desig n, discuss the strengths and limitations of RED and evaluate it s accuracy. Our preliminary experiments show that the result s produced by RED are close to optimal for wide-area distributed applications with few or medium server replicas.
Mesoscopic simulator data to perform dynamic origin-destination matrices estimation in urban context

The aim of this paper is to explore a new approach to obtain better traffic demand (Origin-Destination, OD matrices) for dense urban networks using traffic simulation data. From reviewing existing methods, from static to dynamic OD matrix evaluation, possible deficiencies in the approach could be identified. To improve the global process of traffic demand estimation, this paper is focusing on a new methodology to determine dynamic OD matrices for urban areas characterized by complex route choice situation and high level of traffic controls. An iterative bi- level approach will be used to perform the OD estimation. The Lower Level (traffic assignment) problem will determine, dynamically, the utilization of the network by vehicles using heuristic data from mesoscopic traffic simulator particularly adapted for urban context. The Upper Level (matrix adjustment) problem will proceed to an OD estimation using optimization least square techniques. In this way, a full dynamic and continuous estimation of the final OD matrix could be obtained. First evaluation of the proposed approach and conclusions are presented.