Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Comparison of Two Repeated Restraint Stress Paradigms on Hypothalamic‐Pituitary‐Adrenal Axis Habituation, Gonadal Status and Central Neuropeptide Expression in Adult Male Rats

The available evidence continues to illustrate an inhibitory influence of male gonadal activity on the hypothalamic‐pituitary‐adrenal (HPA) axis under acute stress. However, far less is known about how these systems interact during repeated stress. Because HPA output consistently declines across studies examining repeated restraint, the potential mechanisms mediating this habituation are often inferred as being equivalent, even though these studies use a spectrum of restraint durations and exposures. To test this generalisation, as well as to emphasise a potential influence of the male gonadal axis on the process of HPA habituation, we compared the effects of two commonly used paradigms of repeated restraint in the rodent: ten daily episodes of 0.5 h of restraint and five daily episodes of 3 h of restraint. Both paradigms produced comparable declines in adrenocorticotrophic hormone and corticosterone between the first and last day of testing. However, marked differences in testosterone levels, as well as corticotrophin‐releasing hormone (CRH) and arginine vasopressin (AVP) expression, occurred between the two stress groups. Plasma testosterone levels remained relatively higher in animals exposed to 0.5 h of restraint compared to 3 h of restraint, whereas forebrain gonadotrophin‐releasing hormone (GnRH) cell counts increased in both groups. AVP mRNA was increased after 3 h, but not after 0.5 h of repeated restraint, in the medial parvicellular paraventricular nucleus and in the posterior bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BST), and increased with 0.5 h of repeated restraint in the medial amygdala. CRH mRNA was increased after 3 h, but not after 0.5 h of repeated restraint, in the central amygdala and anterior BST. The data obtained illustrate that, despite comparable declines in HPA responses, the pathways recruited for stress adaptation appear to be distinct between restraint groups. Given the extreme sensitivity of limbic AVP to testosterone, and conversely CRH to circulating glucocorticoids, whether differences in endocrine profiles might explain these neuropeptide differences remains to be seen. Nonetheless, the present study provides several new entry points for testing gonadal influences on stress‐specific HPA habituation.
Uncertainties in PM2.5 Gravimetric and Speciation Measurements and What We Can Learn from Them

ABSTRACT The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the federal land management community (National Park Service, United States Fish and Wildlife Service, United States Forest Service, and Bureau of Land Management) operate extensive particle speciation monitoring networks that are similar in design but are operated for different objectives. Compliance (mass only) monitoring is also carried out using federal reference method (FRM) criteria at approximately 1000 sites. The Chemical Speciation Network (CSN) consists of approximately 50 long-term-trend sites, with about another 250 sites that have been or are currently operated by state and local agencies. The sites are located in urban or suburban settings. The Interagency Monitoring of Protected Visual Environments (IMPROVE) monitoring network consists of about 181 sites, approximately 170 of which are in nonurban areas. Each monitoring approach has its own inherent monitoring limitations and biases. Determination of gravimetric mass has both negative and positive artifacts. Ammonium nitrate and other semivolatiles are lost during sampling, whereas, on the other hand, measured mass includes particle-bound water. Furthermore, some species may react with atmospheric gases, further increasing the positive mass artifact. Estimating aerosol species concentrations requires assumptions concerning the chemical form of various molecular compounds, such as nitrates and sulfates, and organic material and soil composition. Comparing data collected in the various monitoring networks allows for assessing uncertainties and biases associated with both negative and positive artifacts of gravimetric mass determinations, assumptions of chemical composition, and biases between different sampler technologies. All these biases are shown to have systematic seasonal characteristics. Unaccounted-for particle-bound water tends to be higher in the summer, as does nitrate volatilization. The ratio of particle organic mass divided by organic carbon mass (Roc) is higher during summer and lower during the winter seasons in both CSN and IMPROVE networks, and Roc is lower in urban than nonurban environments. IMPLICATIONS Particulate matter less than 2.5 microns in size (PM2.5) National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) are based on gravimetric analysis of particulate matter collected on a Teflon substrate, using federal reference methodologies, whereas compliance under the Regional Haze Rule (RHR) is based on atmospheric extinction, derived from measurements of individual aerosol species. Gravimetric mass can be over- or underestimated because of volatilization issues and water retention by inorganic species, whereas species-specific estimates of mass are dependent on assumptions concerning their detailed chemical composition. Over- or underestimation of aerosol species or gravimetric mass could result in violation of standards or failure to meet visibility goals established under the RHR.
Fabrication of the InP nanopillars

This paper presents a way to fabricate nanopillars of InP, which is obtained based on the nanosphere mask by electrochemical etching. The nanopillars are cylinder-shaped, and the smallest feature size can be ∼5nm. The results have shown that the formation of the nanopillars is devoted to the areas of the tangency between the nanospheres and the wafer. The blue shift peak of photoluminescence spectra was observed in room temperature, and it was approximately 21meV and attributed to the quantum confinement effect.
CFO Estimation and Compensation in SC-IFDMA Systems

Single carrier interleaved frequency division multiple access (SC-IFDMA) has been recently receiving much attention for uplink multiuser access in the next generation mobile systems because of its lower peak-to-average transmit power ratio (PAPR). In this paper, we investigate the effect of carrier frequency offset (CFO) on SC-IFDMA and propose a new low-complexity time domain linear CFO compensation (TD-LCC) scheme. The TD-LCC scheme can be combined with successive interference cancellation (SIC) to further improve the system performance. The combined method will be referred to as TD-CC-SIC. We shall study the use of user equipment (UE) ordering algorithms in our TD-CC-SIC scheme and propose both optimal and suboptimal ordering algorithms in the MMSE sense. We also analyze both the output SINR and the BER performance of the proposed TD-LCC and TD-CC-SIC schemes. Simulation results along with theoretical SINR and BER results will show that the proposed TD-LCC and TD-CC-SIC schemes greatly reduce the CFO effect on SC-IFDMA. We also propose a new blind CFO estimation scheme for SC-IFDMA systems when the numbers of subcarrier sets allocated to different UEs are not the same due to their traffic requirements. Compared to the conventional blind CFO estimation schemes, it is shown that by using a virtual UE concept, the proposed scheme does not have the CFO ambiguity problem, and in some cases can improve the throughput efficiency since it does not need to increase the length of cyclic prefix (CP).
A re-examination of the phylogenetic relationship between the causal agents of carrot black rot, Alternaria radicina and A. carotiincultae

The phylogenetic relationship between Alternaria radicina and A. carotiincultae was reexamined based on morphology, sequence analysis of rDNA (ITS and mitochondrial small subunit [mtSSU]), protein coding genes (actin [ACT], β-tubulin, chitin synthase [CHS], translation elongation factor [EF-1a], Alternaria allergen a1 [Alt a1], and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase [gpd]), and RAPD and ISSR analysis of total genomic DNA. Although some morphological characters overlapped to a degree, with A. radicina isolates expressing moderate variation and A. carotiincultae isolates being highly uniform, A. carotiincultae could be differentiated from A. radicina based on significantly greater growth rate on potato dextrose agar (PDA) or acidified PDA (APDA) and average number of transverse septa per conidium. Sequence of rDNA and two protein coding genes, ACT and CHS, were invariant between species. However polymorphism with the EF-1a, β-tubulin, and Alt a1 gene strictly separated the population of A. radicina and A. carotiincultae as distinct lineages, as did RAPD and ISSR analysis. The polymorphic gpd gene did not strictly separate the two species. However isolates of A. radicina encompassed several haplotypes, one of which was the exclusive haplotype possessed by A. carotiincultae isolates, suggesting evidence of incomplete lineage sorting. The results suggest that A. carotiincultae is closely related to A. radicina but is a recently divergent and distinct lineage, which supports its status as a separate species.
Agency Theory and Alternative Predictions for Life Insurers: An Empirical Test

Agency theory predicts higher expenses in firms organized as mutuals than in stock companies. Other theories predict advantages for mutual life insurers. Using regression analysis on data from 41 companies through 19 years, this study finds significant differences in general insurance expenses between mutual and stock life insurers, but cannot refute the possibility that the differences are due to sales force expenses. Both higher commissions and higher expenses are found in companies operating outside New York's jurisdiction.
Scene Recognition for Complicated UAV Images Based on Land Surface Classification of Superpixel

Scene recognition has been playing a central role in image processing. In this filed, researchers usually construct a semantic feature model of images. However, the feature model can't intuitively and effectively represent the image for complicated images of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). To solve this problem, we propose the idea of divide and rule to decompose scene recognition into superpixel segmentation and surface classification. In this process, an adaptive superpixel segmentation method based on UAV metadata is proposed to segment image into superpixel regions with identical surface. Then, multi-features combination and sparse coding semantic feature are used to respectively describe the image complexity and the content of superpixel regions. It's shown that the accuracy of scene recognition reaches 95% in samples of complicated UAV images testifying that our algorithm can recognize scenes in complicated UAV images by rule and line.
Smoke shooter: Introducing danger of smoking to school children with persuasive technology

Children need to have adequate information on danger of smoking because smoking is bad to their health. This can be achieved by using persuasive technology to change the attitudes or behaviors of the users through persuasion and social influence. The objectives of this research are to provide a new medium for campaigning on the danger of smoking and to propose a conceptual framework based on Bandura' Social Learning Theory and Fogg' Behavior Model. This research will apply the principles of persuasive technology into interactive mobile game to influence children behavior into rejecting smoking habits from the early age. Future work will develop and evaluate mobile game prototype based on the conceptual framework proposed.
Guaranteed Student Loans and Subsidies: Who Captures the Rents?

The paper analyzes effects of borrower interest rates and student lender subsidies on federally guaranteed student loan volumes from 1988 to 1994 and from 1996 to 2006. In present and past policy debates, some have contended that lender subsidy cuts would cause some lenders to reduce loan supply or to leave the student loan market. A simple model of the student loan market suggests that if lenders receive economic rents due to overly generous subsidies, small changes in subsidy levels should not affect loan supply. The empirical results based on a variety of GMM panel estimators find evidence of a link between higher SAP margins and higher loan volumes is weak or inconclusive for both the 1988-1994 and 1996-2006 periods. This suggests that subsidy reductions had no discernable effect on student loan volumes. Results also suggest that higher real borrower interest rates reduce student loan volumes for public colleges and universities.
Energy Efficiency Investments in the Home: Swiss Homeowners and Expectations about Future Energy Prices

Abstract Using conjoint choice experiments, we surveyed 473 Swiss homeowners about their preferences for energy efficiency home renovations. We find that homeowners are responsive to the upfront costs of the renovation projects, government-offered rebates, savings in energy expenses, time horizon over which such savings would be realized, and thermal comfort improvement. The implicit discount rate is low, ranging from 1.5 to 3%, depending on model specification. This is consistent with Hassett and Metcalf (1993) and Metcalf and Rosenthal (1995), and with the fact that our scenarios contain no uncertainty. Respondents who feel completely uncertain about future energy prices are more likely to select the status quo (no renovations) in any given choice task and weight the costs of the investments more heavily than the financial gains (subsidies and savings on the energy bills). Renovations are more likely when respondents believe that climate change considerations are important determinants of home renovations.
Analysis of VIX Markets with a Time-Spread Portfolio

ABSTRACT This paper explores the relationship between option markets for the S&P500 (SPX) and Chicago Board Options Exchange’s CBOE’s Volatility Index (VIX). Results are obtained by using the so-called time-spread portfolio to replicate a future contract on the squared VIX. The time-spread portfolio is interesting because it provides a model-free link between derivative prices for SPX and VIX. Time spreads can be computed from SPX put options with different maturities, which results in a term structure for squared volatility. This term structure can be compared to the VIX-squared term structure that is backed-out from VIX call options. The time-spread portfolio is also used to measure volatility-of-volatility (vol-of-vol) and the volatility leverage effect. There may emerge small differences in these measurements, depending on whether time spreads are computed with options on SPX or options on VIX. A study of 2012 daily options data shows that vol-of-vol estimates utilizing SPX data will reflect the volatility leverage effect, whereas estimates that exclusively utilize VIX options will predominantly reflect the premia in the VIX-future term structure.
Hepatocellular Carcinoma and Markers of Apoptosis (bcl-2, bax, bcl-x): Prognostic Significance

Patients with tumors expressing promoters of apoptosis (bax) versus inhibitors of apoptosis (bcl-2, bcl-x) may have increased survival. The purpose of this study was to determine the frequency of expression of apoptotic markers in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and their relationship with prognosis. Seventy HCC were immunostained for bcl-2, bax, and bcl-x. Staining intensity in tumor cells was graded 0 to 3+. Follow-up data were available for mean survival (57 cases) and death rates (58 cases). These values and clinical parameters were related to prognosis. Staining frequency for bcl-2, bax, and bcl-x was 20%, 66%, and 60%, respectively. Immunostaining intensity of bax correlated with overall survival and death rates: of 57 patients, the 37% with 0 to 1+ intensity had a median survival of 6.6 months, the 63% with 2 to 3+ intensity had a median survival of 31.9 months (P = 0.05); 86% of 19 patients with 0 to 1+ intensity died, and 50% of 36 patients with 2 to 3+ intensity died (P < 0.05). Intensity of bcl-x staining tended to correlate with survival: of the 57 patients with 0 to 1+, 42% had a median survival of 32.7 months compared with 5.8 months in the 58% with 2 to 3+ intensity (P = 0.06). By multivariate analysis, this relationship held for bax (P = 0.011) and bcl-x (P = 0.048). There was no correlation between bcl-2 expression, stage, or gender and prognosis. Patients with bax-expressing HCC experience improved survival compared with those with no or low bax expression, in uni- and multivariate models. Patients with no or low bcl-x tended toward improved survival compared with patients with more bcl-x in their HCC. bcl-2 expression did not correlate with prognosis.
Targeting Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus with Short Salt-Resistant Synthetic Peptides

ABSTRACT The seriousness of microbial resistance combined with the lack of new antimicrobials has increased interest in the development of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) as novel therapeutics. In this study, we evaluated the antimicrobial activities of two short synthetic peptides, namely, RRIKA and RR. These peptides exhibited potent antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, and their antimicrobial effects were significantly enhanced by addition of three amino acids in the C terminus, which consequently increased the amphipathicity, hydrophobicity, and net charge. Moreover, RRIKA and RR demonstrated a significant and rapid bactericidal effect against clinical and drug-resistant Staphylococcus isolates, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), vancomycin-intermediate S. aureus (VISA), vancomycin-resistant S. aureus (VRSA), linezolid-resistant S. aureus, and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis. In contrast to many natural AMPs, RRIKA and RR retained their activity in the presence of physiological concentrations of NaCl and MgCl2. Both RRIKA and RR enhanced the killing of lysostaphin more than 1,000-fold and eradicated MRSA and VRSA isolates within 20 min. Furthermore, the peptides presented were superior in reducing adherent biofilms of S. aureus and S. epidermidis compared to results with conventional antibiotics. Our findings indicate that the staphylocidal effects of our peptides were through permeabilization of the bacterial membrane, leading to leakage of cytoplasmic contents and cell death. Furthermore, peptides were not toxic to HeLa cells at 4- to 8-fold their antimicrobial concentrations. The potent and salt-insensitive antimicrobial activities of these peptides present an attractive therapeutic candidate for treatment of multidrug-resistant S. aureus infections.
Stimulation of IS1 excision by bacteriophage P1 ref function

Lysogenization by a c1ts variant of coliphage P1, P1c1.100, markedly increased the frequency of reversion of a galT::IS1 mutation. The formation of Gal+ colonies presumably occurs by microhomologous recombination between the 9-base-pair repeats in galT (CGCCGCTAC) generated by the transposition of IS1. The responsible P1 gene, ref, has been cloned and sequenced. ref encodes a 22.8-kilodalton protein and is located near the P1 site-specific recombination function, cre. Expression of ref was repressed by P1 c+. The absence of a distinctive ribosome-binding site is consistent with a poor translation of ref from an expression vector in vivo. Placement of a ribosome-binding site before ref resulted in the extensive synthesis of the Ref protein. Ref stimulated precise excision in recB or himA cells, but not in recA mutants. Ref was active in lexA3 mutants, suggesting that the recombination activity of RecA was directly involved in the reaction. We have constructed a P1c1.100 ref::Tn10 mutant. The absence of Ref did not appear to restrict dramatically the ability of P1 to grow lytically or to form lysogens. Thus, the role of ref in the physiology of P1 remains to be determined.
The Extended Retrosigmoid Approach: An Alternative to Radical Cranial Base Approaches for Posterior Fossa Lesions

OBJECTIVE: The extended retrosigmoid approach is presented as a simple and safe modification of the traditional retrosigmoid approach, with increased exposure resulting from a limited mastoidectomy and skeletonization of the sigmoid sinus. METHODS: Patients with posterior fossa vascular lesions treated with the extended retrosigmoid approach between 1997 and 2003 were reviewed. A detailed description of the surgical approach, as well as case illustrations, is provided. We present a video narrated by the senior author in which a description of the technique is offered. RESULTS: Thirty-eight patients underwent this approach to manage 40 lesions, including 15 dural arteriovenous fistulae, 9 arteriovenous malformations, 10 cavernous malformations, and 6 aneurysms. The extended retrosigmoid approach differs from the traditional approach with its C-shaped skin incision, posterior mastoidectomy, and extensive dissection of the sigmoid sinus, craniotomy rather than craniectomy, and anterior mobilization of the sinus with the dural flap. CONCLUSION: The application of the extended retrosigmoid approach to a series of complex lesions in the posterior fossa demonstrates its applicability as an alternative to radical cranial base approaches. The extended retrosigmoid approach requires a fundamental change in the management of the sigmoid sinus. The neurosurgeon must be familiar with petrous bone anatomy, experienced dissecting through bone using a high-speed drill, and comfortable working directly over a major venous sinus. The technical modifications of the extended retrosigmoid approach can be incorporated into the neurosurgical repertoire and will enhance exposure of the cerebellopontine angle and deep vascular structures, thereby minimizing the need for brain retraction and other transpetrous approaches.
A Qualitative Study of a Team-teaching Classroom and a Traditional One-teacher Classroom in an Elementary School Setting

A QUALITATIVE STUDY OF A TEAM-TEACHING CLASSROOM AND A TRADITIONAL ONE-TEACHER CLASSROOM IN AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL SETTING by Johnny Darrell Thompson This study describes tw o heterogeneously grouped second-grade classrooms during the 1998-99 school year. One class featured collaborative team teaching, and the second class was taught by a traditional single teacher. There were 33 regular education students and nine at-risk students in the team classroom and 14 regular education students and eight atrisk students in the one-teacher classroom. One hundred three interviews were conducted with 21 students in the team classroom and 18 students in the one-teacher classroom, with 13 parents, with three teachers, and with the school principal. The researcher observed the two classes 61 times from September to May. Data were organized according to the respondents’ perspectives and the observation entries on four themes: classroom social climate; instruction and its effects, including provisions for small-group and individual assistance; distribution o f teachers’ roles and tasks; and information on the practice o f teaming. Regular education and at-risk students in both classes reported that school was a highly positive experience, that their teachers provided motivating instruction; and the social climate was one o f group cohesion and help from everyone. Parents confirmed the students’ perceptions. Teachers reported that they felt confident meeting the needs o f nearly all students in both classroom settings. The school principal agreed with the teachers but believed that it was easier for the teamteaching pair to meet their goals. The researchers’ field notes supported the interview data. Results were interpreted by defining the general themes that emanated from the data and by delineating guidelines for effective teaming and elaborating on problems to be avoided in collaborative team-teaching partnerships. In the classrooms included in this study. Collaborative team teaching appears to offer an important alternative to traditional single­ teacher models for both regular education and at-risk students.