Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Thyrotropin‐Releasing hormone gene expression and receptors are differentially modified in limbic foci by seizures

Previous studies using two seizure paradigms, electronconvulsive shock and kindling, suggested potential sites of endogenous thyrotropin‐releasing hormone (TRH) action in specific epileptogenic areas. We studied TRH gene expression and TRH receptors in rat limbic areas using the kindling model of epilepsy. Immunoassayable TRH increased 4‐ to 20‐fold over control levels in specific subregions of the hippocampus 24 hours after a single stage 5 seizure. Concurrently, TRH receptor binding was significantly reduced in hippocampal (23–39%) and amygdaloid (21–22%) membranes. Dramatic temporal and spatial changes in prepro‐TRH messenger RNA were visualized by in situ hybridization histochemistry in the hippocampal dentate gyrus, the piriform cortex, and the amygdala. Peak hybridization occured 6 and 12 hours postictally in these loci and returned toward basal levels by 24 hours. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that TRH may have an important role in the pathophysiology of epilepsy by modulating excitatory processes.
An Optimized Union-Find Algorithm for Connected Components Labeling Using GPUs

In this paper, we report an optimized union-find (UF) algorithm that can label the connected components on a 2D image efficiently by employing the GPU architecture. The proposed method contains three phases: UF-based local merge, boundary analysis, and link. The coarse labeling in local merge reduces the number atomic operations, while the boundary analysis only manages the pixels on the boundary of each block. Evaluation results showed that the proposed algorithm speed up the average running time by more than 1.3X.
Investigating Spatio-Temporal Pattern of Relative Risk of Tuberculosis in Kenya Using Bayesian Hierarchical Approaches

Proper understanding of global distribution of infectious diseases is an important part of disease management and policy making. However, data are subject to complexities caused by heterogeneities across host classes and space-time epidemic processes. This paper seeks to suggest or propose Bayesian spatio-temporal model for modeling and mapping tuberculosis relative risks in space and time as well identify risks factors associated with the tuberculosis and counties in Kenya with high tuberculosis relative risks. In this paper, we used spatio-temporal Bayesian hierarchical models to study the pattern of tuberculosis relative risks in Kenya. The Markov Chain Monte Carlo method via WinBUGS and R packages were used for simulations and estimation of the parameter estimates. The best fitting model is selected using the Deviance Information Criterion proposed by Spiegelhalter and colleagues. Among the spatio-temporal models used, the Knorr-Held model with space-time interaction type III and IV fit the data well but type IV appears better than type III. Variation in tuberculosis risk is observed among Kenya counties and clustering among counties with high tuberculosis relative risks. The prevalence of HIV is identified as the determinant of TB. We found clustering and heterogeneity of TB risk among high rate counties and the overall tuberculosis risk is slightly decreasing from 2002-2009. We proposed that the Knorr-Held model with interaction type IV should be used to model and map Kenyan tuberculosis relative risks. Interaction of TB relative risk in space and time increases among rural counties that share boundaries with urban counties with high tuberculosis risk. This is due to the ability of models to borrow strength from neighboring counties, such that nearby counties have similar risk. Although the approaches are less than ideal, we hope that our study provide a useful stepping stone in the development of spatial and spatio-temporal methodology for the statistical analysis of risk from tuberculosis in Kenya.
Menores influyentes en YouTube. Un espacio para la responsabilidad

Financiado por el Ministerio de Economia, Industria y Competitividad de Espana (2014). Programa Estatal de I+D+i orientado a los retos de la sociedad. Ref. CSO2014-56250-R. Transalfabetismos. Competencias transmedia y estrategias informales de aprendizaje de los adolescents. Entidades participantes: Universidad Pompeu Fabra, Universidad de Alicante, Universidad de La Coruna, Universidad de Cordoba y Universidad Nacional de Educacion a Distancia. IP Carlos Scolari.
Perceptibility of watermarked 3D meshes using a multimodal visuo-haptic interface

In this paper, a preliminary study is conducted in order to measure and analyze the perceptibility of a watermarked 3D virtual object when (1) visual feedback is present, and when (2) visual and haptic feedback are simultaneously available. More specifically, our experiments are intended to assess whether looking at, and touching a 3D mesh could in fact improve the perceptibility of a watermark as opposed to only performing a visual assessment. Preliminary results obtained revealed that this hypothesis is in fact true, and thus can potentially significantly impact the field of 3D digital watermarking; further experiments are however required in order to confirm this conclusion. To the best of our knowledge, this paper is the first in the literature to conduct experiments for the analysis of watermark perceptibility of 3D objects while using a multimodal visuo-haptic interface.
Development and validation of computed tomography derived anthropometric regression equations for estimating abdominal adipose tissue distribution.

The purpose of this study was twofold: (1) to develop multiple regression equations for predicting computed tomography (CT) derived intra-abdominal (IAF), subcutaneous (SCF), and total (TOTF= IAF+SCF) abdominal adipose tissue areas from anthropometric measures in adult white males with a large range of age (18-71 years) and percent body fat (2.0-40.6); and (2) to validate the new and existing equations that used similar Hounsfield Units (HU) for determining IAF for estimating these fat depots. One hundred fifty-one white male subjects had IAF, SCF, and TOTF determined by a single CT scan, skinfold and circumference measures taken and body density determined. Linear intra-correlations and factor analysis procedures were used to identify variables for inclusion in stepwise multiple regression solutions. IAF was estimated from age, waist circumference, the sum of mid-thigh and lower thigh circumferences, and vertical abdominal skinfold. SCF was estimated from age, umbilicus circumference, chest and suprailiac skinfolds. TOTF was estimated from age, body mass index (BMI), chest skinfold, and umbilicus circumference. R2 for IAF, SCF, and TOTF was . 73, . 77, and . 86 respectively. The existing and the new equations were validated on an independent sub-sample of 51 subjects. The only existing equation that met validation criteria had a validation R2 = . 67 for IAF. All three new equations met validation criteria with R2 validations of . 75, . 79, and . 85 for IAF, SCF, and TOTF respectively. It is concluded that the new equations might be used as an inexpensive estimation of IAF, SCF, and TOTF in adult white males varying greatly in age and percent body fat.
Beetroot Juice Increases Human Muscle Force without Changing Ca2+-Handling Proteins

Dietary inorganic nitrate (NO3−) supplementation improves skeletal muscle (SkM) contractile efficiency, and although rodent literature has suggested improvements in calcium handling or redox modifications as likely explanations, the direct mechanism of action in humans remains unknown. Purpose This study aimed to examine the effects of 7 d of beetroot juice (BRJ) supplementation on SkM contractile characteristics and function. Methods Recreationally active males (n = 8) underwent transcutaneous electrical muscle stimulation of the vastus lateralis for the evaluation of contractile characteristics before and after 7 d of BRJ supplementation (280 mL·d−1, ~26 mmol NO3−). An additional group of individuals (n = 8) followed the same supplementation protocol but underwent SkM biopsies pre- and post-supplementation for the determination of proteins associated with calcium handling via Western blotting, and the ratio of reduced/oxidized glutathione (GSH:GSSG), an indicator of cellular redox state, via high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Results After supplementation, there was no change in maximal voluntary force production (602 ± 50 vs 596 ± 56 N) or electrically induced tetanic contractions. By contrast, force production was increased at 10 Hz electrical stimulation (41.1% ± 2.3% vs 37.6% ± 2.4% of peak force, P < 0.05), as was peak twitch tension (164.0 ± 12.5 vs 136.5 ± 7.2 N, P < 0.01) and maximal rates of force development and relaxation (3582.8 ± 382.3 vs 2575.7 ± 196.2 and −2752.4 ± 423.9 vs −2104.4 ± 249.0 N·s−1, respectively, P < 0.05). Despite these measurements implicating a change in calcium handling, the content of associated proteins (SERCA1a, SERCA2a, dihydropyradine receptor, ryanodine receptor, and calsequestrin) and the GSH:GSSG ratio were unaltered by BRJ. Conclusion BRJ supplementation increases force production at low-stimulation frequencies; however, in human SkM, this is independent of changes in redox stress or the expression of protein targets associated with calcium handling.
DNA Microarrays: Experimental Issues, Data Analysis, and Application to Bacterial Systems

DNA microarrays are currently used to study the transcriptional response of many organisms to genetic and environmental perturbations. Although there is much room for improvement of this technology, its potential has been clearly demonstrated in the past 5 years. The general consensus is that the bottleneck is now located in the processing and analysis of transcriptome data and its use for purposes other than the quantification of changes in gene expression levels. In this article we discuss technological aspects of DNA microarrays, statistical and biological issues pertinent to the design of microarray experiments, and statistical tools for microarray data analysis. A review on applications of DNA microarrays in the study of bacterial systems is presented. Special attention is given to studies in the following areas: (1) bacterial response to environmental changes; (2) gene identification, genome organization, and transcriptional regulation; and (3) genetic and metabolic engineering. Soon, the use of DNA microarray technologies in conjunction with other genome/system‐wide analyses (e.g., proteomics, metabolomics, fluxomics, phenomics, etc.) will provide a better assessment of genotype‐phenotype relationships in bacteria, which serve as a basis for understanding similar processes in more complex organisms.
Conspecific plants are better ‘nurses’ than rocks: consistent results revealing intraspecific facilitation as a process that promotes establishment in a hyper-arid environment

In stressful environments, nurse elements, such as shrubs or rocks, facilitate plant recruitment by providing less severe environments for seed germination and seedling survival. As seedlings develop, however, they may compete for resources with their nurse when it is a plant instead of a rock. We examined the role of conspecific plants and rocks as nurses of an endangered Atacama-Desert shrub. Establishment was highest under conspecific plants, revealing that in stressful environments plants can facilitate establishment of their own species. Our study contrasts findings from other environments where recruitment is lowest near plants of the same species.
Treatment with Sitagliptin or Metformin Does Not Increase Body Weight despite Predicted Reductions in Urinary Glucose Excretion

Background: We used a mathematical model to estimate the contribution of urinary glucose excretion (UGE) to reported changes in body weight (BW) following oral antihyperglycemic agent (AHA) therapy. This modeling approach was used to gain novel insight into the mechanisms by which oral AHA affects BW. Methods: Twenty-four hour glucose profiles were used to predict UGE before and after treatment with oral AHA. Model-predicted changes in BW due to reduced UGE were compared with reported changes in BW to quantify non-UGE-dependent effects (fluid retention, food intake, and energy expenditure). Results: In type 2 diabetes patients [hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) >7.3%], the energy lost to UGE is predicted to decrease an average of 100 kcal/day for each 1% decrease in HbA1c. This effect, alone, is predicted to increase BW 1.4 kg after 6 months. Differences from this value reported for changes in BW with oral AHA therapy (+1.4 kg for pioglitazone and rosiglitazone; −0.4 kg for glyburide; −0.9 kg for sitagliptin and vildagliptin; −2.3 kg for metformin) are therefore predicted to be due to additional, non-UGE-dependent mechanisms. Conclusions: Weight gain following thiazolidinedione therapy is predicted to result from both reduced UGE and non-UGE-dependent mechanisms. Reduced UGE alone is predicted to account for most of the weight gain reported following sulfonylurea therapy. Weight loss observed in response to metformin and weight maintenance observed in response to dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors may result from an increase in satiety, energy expenditure, or both.
Sex-specific and non-sex-specific oligomerization domains in both of the doublesex transcription factors from Drosophila melanogaster

The doublesex gene of Drosophila melanogaster encodes the alternatively spliced, sex-specific transcription factors DSXM and DSXF. These factors regulate male- and female-specific transcription of many genes. For example, female-specific transcription of the yolk protein 1 gene is regulated by DSXM repression in males and DSXF activation in females. In this study we used in vitro interaction assays and the in vivo yeast two-hybrid method to identify and examine oligomerization domains of the DSX proteins. A 66-amino-acid segment common to both proteins (amino acids 39 to 104) contains a sequence-specific DNA binding domain and an oligomerization domain (OD1). The OD1 domain oligomerizes up to at least a pentamer, but only dimers bound to a palindromic regulatory site in the yolk protein 1 gene are detected. Both subunits of the OD1 dimer are in contact with DNA. Another segment of each protein (amino acids 350 to 412 for DSXF and 350 to 427 for DSXM) contains a second oligomerization domain (OD2F and OD2M, respectively). The OD2 domains have both sex-specific and non-sex-specific sequences which are necessary for oligomerization. On the basis of sequence analysis, we predict that OD2 oligomerizes through coiled-coil interactions. We speculate that the common function of OD1 and OD2 is to oligomerize the full-length proteins, whereas their specialized functions are to form a dimeric DNA binding unit and a sex-specific transcriptional activation or repression unit.
Association between ADAM12 Single-Nucleotide Polymorphisms and Knee Osteoarthritis: A Meta-Analysis

Objective ADAM12 polymorphisms may be associated with the risk of knee osteoarthritis (KOA), but currently available evidence remains controversial. We performed this meta-analysis to confirm whether ADAM12 polymorphisms were associated with susceptibility of KOA. Methods A comprehensive literature search in PubMed, EMBASE, and ISI Web of Science was conducted to identify observational studies assessing the association between ADAM12 polymorphisms and susceptibility of KOA. The strength of association was indicated as odds ratio (OR) and the corresponding 95% confidence interval (95%CI). Four types of genetic model (additive model, dominant model, recessive model, and allele model) were evaluated for each included study. Subgroup analysis by ethnicity was performed. Results Seven case-control studies comprising a total of 3512 KOA patients and 5405 healthy controls were included in the meta-analysis. A significant association between rs1871054 and increased KOA risk was found in each genetic model. No significant association was found between KOA and rs3740199, rs1044122, or rs1278279 in any genetic model. Conclusion Based on the findings of our study, there was a modest but statistically significant association between rs1871054 and risk of KOA in Asian population, while other polymorphisms (rs3740199, rs1044122, or rs1278279) in ADAM12 were not associated with KOA in any population.
How Extensive is Inter-State Diversion of Recreational Marijuana?

Despite federal prohibition, recreational marijuana is available to 21% of the United States population. A chief concern among policy makers across multiple levels of government and political parties is inter-state diversion of marijuana from states with legal markets to others. We measure this diversion with a natural experiment. Oregon opened a recreational market on October 1, 2015 next to an existing market in Washington, which opened on July 8, 2014. Using comprehensive administrative data on the universe of Washington sales, we find Washington retailers along the Oregon border experienced a 41% decline in sales immediately following Oregon's market opening. Retailers along Washington's borders with Idaho and Canada experienced no such decline. The decline occurred equally across weekdays and weekends, and was largest among the largest transaction sizes, suggesting diversion, not drug tourism, was to blame. Our estimates suggest that 11.9% of the marijuana sold in Washington was diverted out of the state before Oregon legalized and 7.5% remains diverted today.
Stimulation of angiostatic platelet factor‐4 variant (CXCL4L1/PF‐4var) versus inhibition of angiogenic granulocyte chemotactic protein‐2 (CXCL6/GCP‐2) in normal and tumoral mesenchymal cells

Chemokines affect inflammation and cancer through leukocyte attraction and angiogenesis. Here, we demonstrate that CXCL4L1/platelet factor‐4 variant (PF‐4var), a highly angiostatic chemokine, is poorly chemotactic for phagocytes and is inducible in monocytes by inflammatory mediators but remained undetectable in macrophages and neutrophils. In addition, CXCL4L1/PF‐4var production by mesenchymal tumor cells was evidenced in vitro and in vivo by specific ELISA and immunohistochemistry. CXCL4L1/PF‐4var, but not CXCL4/PF‐4, was coinduced with the angiogenic chemokine CXCL6/granulocyte chemotactic protein‐2 (GCP‐2) by cytokines, e.g., IL‐1β and IL‐17, in sarcoma cells, but not in diploid fibroblasts. Furthermore, the induction of CXCL6/GCP‐2 in endothelial cells by IL‐1β was enhanced synergistically by TNF‐α but inhibited by IFN‐γ, which synergized with IL‐1β to produce the angiostatic CXCL10/IFN‐γ‐induced protein‐10. These findings indicate that the equilibrium between angiostatic and angiogenic factors during inflammation and tumor progression is rather complex and differs depending on the chemokine, cell type, and stimulus. Selective intervention in the chemokine network may drastically disturb this delicate balance of angiogenesis and tissue repair. Application of angiostatic CXCL4L1/PF‐4var without attraction of protumoral phagocytes may be beneficial in cancer therapy.
Interaction of cytochrome c with mixed dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine-dimyristoylphosphatidylserine bilayers: a deuterium nuclear magnetic resonance study.

Deuterium nuclear magnetic resonance (2H NMR) was used to study the interaction of cytochrome c (from horse heart) with bilayers of mixed dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine (DMPC) and dimyristoylphosphatidylserine (DMPS). Three types of labeled lipids were used: chain-perdeuterated phosphatidylcholine (DMPC-d54), chain-perdeuterated phosphatidylserine (DMPS-d54), and phosphatidylserine labeled at the alpha-position of the head group (DMPS-d2). Liposomes containing equimolar mixtures of DMPC and DMPS were found to bind cytochrome c with a maximum ratio of about 1 mg of cytochrome c per 1 mg of DMPS. The 2H NMR spectra of equimolar mixtures of DMPC-d54-DMPS and DMPC-DMPS-d54 were examined with and without cytochrome c. No change of the NMR spectra of either DMPC or DMPS could be detected after protein addition, for temperatures both above and below the phospholipid phase transition region. On the other hand, in the liquid-crystalline state, the transverse relaxation time, T2e, was reduced by 30-40% after protein addition. Measurements of the spin-lattice relaxation time, T1, showed, under all circumstances, multiple components. For simplicity, we have examined the shape of the relaxation curves at short and long times. Addition of protein increased by 2-fold the value of the slow T1 component of DMPS-d54 but not that of DMPC-d54. Partially relaxed spectroscopy allowed us to assign this slow component (at least in part) to the methyl group and C2H2 groups near the methyl end of the chains, i.e., far from the binding sites of the extrinsic protein. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
A High Throughput Diamond Search Architecture with Shift Mechanism for 720p Motion Estimation

The paper implements a shift based diamond search architecture, for HDTV videos. High resolution frames like 720p need large memory to store the pixel data. This large pixel data is stored on an external memory and an internal local memory is updated with the pixel data on the reference frame and current frame required for particular diamond search iterations. This is done as internal memory is expensive. However, accessing pixel data from external memory incurs high timing latency. This paper implements a shift based DS architecture to shift data in internal local memory and update from external memory only the pixels which are new to search area. This reduces the redundant operation of accessing same pixel data for successive searches. Even when considering equal latency for internal and external memory access, when simulation was performed on the same sample 720p frame, architectures with no shift block took 173.170ms vs with shift block took 90.564ms. When considering the latency of external memory access this difference in timing becomes largely significant.
Automatic Modulation Recognition of Digital Signals using Wavelet Features and SVM

This paper presents modulation classification method capable of classifying incident digital signals without a priori information using WT key features and SVM. These key features for modulation classification should have good properties of sensitive with modulation types and insensitive with SNR variation. In this paper, the 4 key features using WT coefficients, which have the property of insensitive to the changing of noise, are selected. The numerical simulations using these features are performed. We investigate the performance of the SVM-DDAG classifier for classifying 8 digitally modulated signals using only 4 WT key features (i.e., 4 level scale), and compare with that of decision tree classifier to adapt the modulation classification module in software radio. Results indicated an overall success rate of 95% at the SNR of 10dB in SVM-DDAG classifier on an AWGN channel.
Importance of Head Diameter, Clearance, and Cup Wall Thickness in Elastohydrodynamic Lubrication Analysis of Metal-On-Metal Hip Resurfacing Prostheses

Abstract The main design features of metal-on-metal (MOM) hip resurfacing prostheses in promoting elastohydrodynamic lubrication were investigated in the present study, including the femoral head diameter, the clearance, and the cup wall thickness. Simplified conceptual models were developed, based on equivalent uniform wall thicknesses for both the cup and the head as well as the support materials representing bone and cement, and subsequently used for elastohydrodynamic lubrication analysis. Both typical first- and second-generation MOM hip resurfacing prostheses with different clearances and cup wall thicknesses were considered with a fixed large bearing diameter of 50 mm, as well as a 28 mm diameter MOM total hip replacement bearing for the purpose of comparison. The importance of the head diameter and the clearance in promoting elastohydrodynamic lubrication was confirmed. Furthermore, it was also predicted that a relatively thin acetabular cup in the more recently introduced second-generation MOM hip resurfacing prostheses would be capable of improving elastohydrodynamic lubrication even further.