Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Low dihydropyridine receptor density in vasa deferentia of castrated rats

Radioligand binding studies in crude membrane preparations of vasa deferentia of normal rats, with the 1,4‐dihydropyridine (+)‐[3H]‐PN200–110 (isradipine) showed typical saturation isotherms. The binding exhibited a KD of 259 ± 60 pm and Bmax of 144 ± 20 fmol mg−1 protein. The low KD and the stereoselective displacement of (+)‐[3H]‐PN200–110 binding by (+)‐ and (−)‐PN200–110 and by nifedipine suggests that these tissues contain dihydropyridine receptors probably coupled to voltage‐sensitive, L‐type calcium channels. In membrane preparations from vasa deferentia from rats castrated 30 days previously the maximum specific binding was 25 ± 10 fmol mg−1 protein, representing only 11% of total binding; thus, the calculation of reliable KD values was not feasible. These findings suggest that a testicular hormone, possibly testosterone, plays an important role in the regulation of dihydropyridine‐sensitive, voltage‐dependent calcium channels in the rat vas deferens.
Supporting Activity Context Recognition in Context-Aware Middleware

Context-aware middleware is considered as an efficient solution to develop context-aware application, which provides a feasible development platform integrating various sensors and new technologies. With the development of sensors, the research work on the context shift from “location” to “activity” gradually. Then it puts forward a new requirement for context-aware middleware: activity context recognition. In this paper, we first survey the related literature in premier conferences over the past decade, review the main methods of activity context recognition, and conclude its three main facets: basic activity inference, dynamic activity analysis and future activity recommendation. We then propose an intelligent inference engine integrating three popular methods solving three facets mentioned above respectively, which is based on our context-aware middleware. Finally, to evaluate the feasibility of our proposal, we implement two scenarios: bus stop scenario and domestic activity application.
Electroencephalographic spectral correlates of caress-like affective haptic stimuli

This paper describes how brain dynamics, as estimated through spectral analysis of electroencephalographic (EEG) oscillatory rhythms, is modified by quantifiable, affective haptic stimuli. Specifically, 32 healthy subjects (16 females) interacted with a haptic device able to convey caress-like stimuli while varying force and velocity of the device itself. More specifically, 2 values of force (i.e., “strength of the caress”) and 3 velocity levels (i.e. “velocity of the caress”) were combined to control the device during the experiment. Subjects were also asked to self-assess the haptic stimuli in terms of arousal (activation/ deactivation) and valence (pleasure/displeasure) scores. Results, shown in terms of p-values topographic maps, revealed a suppression of the oscillations over the controlateral somatosensory cortex, during caresses performed with the lowest force (2N) and the highest velocity (65 mm/s). This occurred in all of the frequency bands considered, α, β, and γ. Lower velocities (9.4 mm/s and 37 mm/s) did not significantly modify EEG reactivity in such bands. Concerning caresses administered at high force (6N), there was a significant decrease of EEG oscillatory activity focused on mid-frontal electrodes, in all of the considered frequency bands, when the velocity of the caresses was the lowest one. Significant sparse decrease of EEG power spectra, in all of the considered frequency bands, occurred at higher strength and velocity of the caress.
Digital Instruments and Players: Part I - Efficiency and Apprenticeship

When envisaging new digital instruments, designers do not have to limit themselves to their sonic capabilities (which can be absolutely any), not even to their algorithmic power; they must be also especially careful about the instruments' conceptual capabilities, to the ways instruments impose or suggest to their players new ways of thinking, new ways of establishing relations, new ways of interacting, new ways of organizing time and textures; new ways, in short, of playing new musics. This article explores the dynamic relation that builds between the player and the instrument, introducing concepts such as efficiency, apprenticeship and learning curve It aims at constructing a framework in which the possibilities and the diversity of music instruments as well as the possibilities and the expressive freedom of human music performers could start being evaluated.
Performance Investigation of the Novel Solar-Powered Dehumidification Window for Residential Buildings

In this paper, a solar-powered dehumidification window (SPDW), combining a conventional double-glazed building window with a solid desiccant packed bed and a photovoltaic panel, has been proposed to dehumidify the air supplied to a residential building in an energy-saving way. The solid desiccant packed bed was installed between the double layers of the residential window to achieve the compact building-integrated window-dehumidifying system that could be regenerated by solar energy, and the photovoltaic panel was used to compensate the electricity for the operation of the fans to supply the air to the building. To investigate the dehumidification and regeneration performance of the SPDW, the transient moisture removal, dehumidification efficiency, temperature difference between the building inlet and outlet air, heat transfer characteristics, desiccant temperature, regeneration rate, and the power of the fans and the photovoltaic panel were analysed for different inlet air conditions and simulated solar radiation. It was found that, for the system operated under an inlet air temperature of 19.2 °C and a relative humidity of 86.1% during the dehumidification process, the system performed with a maximum transient moisture removal of 7.1 g/kg, a maximum dehumidification efficiency of 58.60%, a maximum temperature difference between the inlet and outlet air of 10.7 °C, and a maximum released adsorption heat absorbed by the dehumidified air of 89.66%. In the regeneration process, the system performed with a maximum desiccant temperature of 35.3 °C, a maximum regeneration rate of 153 g/h, and a maximum power of the photovoltaic panels of 39.83 W under the simulated solar radiation of 900 W/m2. The results from the established semi-empirical model agreed well with the testing results, and the model could be used to predict the water content ratio of the desiccant modules during the dehumidification process under different conditions, which will be helpful in the analysis and application of the SPDW in the future.
The Influence of the Probe Connection on mm-Wave Antenna Measurements

Commonly used connection methods for measuring antennas in the mm-wave range, like connectors or probes, influence the intrinsic behavior of the antenna under test (AUT). It is shown that nearby structures supporting the antenna and probe or connector cause strong interference on the measured antenna pattern. A new connection setup is proposed eliminating the interfering signal. This is confirmed by a detailed simulation model and verified with experimental results. Furthermore, the probe radiates significantly due to the discontinuity from the transitions of the probe tip to the microstrip line. This radiation influences the signal-to-noise ratio, i.e., the dynamic range. Measures are proposed to reduce this interference, resulting in an improved signal-to-noise ratio by approximately 15 dB.
Numerical and experimental study of oxide growth on EUV mask capping layers

The interface roughness of EUV mask multilayers was taken into account for the numerical calculation of blank reflectance, and models for the growth of oxide on Si capping layers were proposed and evaluated. The simulations were then checked and validated with reflectometry measurements at different steps of the mask blank processing as well as for various angles of incidence, and ellipsometry data on layer thickness. The benchmarked models made it possible to characterize EUV mask blank Mo/Si multilayers (period, thickness ratio, number of bilayers), as well as Si capping layers and native oxide layers from reflectivity measurements. This enabled the study, via a combination of experiments and simulations, of the growth of SiO2 layers, bringing deeper understanding into this phenomenon. Finally, the simulations were used to more properly optimize multilayers and quantify the influence of the exposure tool illumination numerical aperture. Having successfully matched reflectivity data around the actinic wavelength, it was also possible to extend the models to inspection wavelengths in order to predict inspection contrast values.
Linear Programming helps solving large multi-unit combinatorial auctions

Previous works suggested the use of Branch and Bound techniques for finding the optimal allocation in (multi-unit) combinatorial auctions. They remarked that Linear Programming could provide a good upper-bound to the optimal allocation, but they went on using lighter and less tight upper-bound heuristics, on the ground that LP was too time-consuming to be used repetitively to solve large combinatorial auctions. We present the results of extensive experiments solving large (multi-unit) combinatorial auctions generated according to distributions proposed by different researchers. Our surprising conclusion is that Linear Programming is worth using. Investing almost all of one's computing time in using LP to bound from above the value of the optimal solution in order to prune aggressively pays off. We present a way to save on the number of calls to the LP routine and experimental results comparing different heuristics for choosing the bid to be considered next. Those results show that the ordering based on the square root of the size of the bids that was shown to be theoretically optimal in a previous paper by the authors performs surprisingly better than others in practice. Choosing to deal first with the bid with largest coefficient (typically 1) in the optimal solution of the relaxed LP problem, is also a good choice. The gap between the lower bound provided by greedy heuristics and the upper bound provided by LP is typically small and pruning is therefore extensive. For most distributions, auctions of a few hundred goods among a few thousand bids can be solved in practice. All experiments were run on a PC under Matlab.
Impaired Excitatory Drive to Spinal Gabaergic Neurons of Neuropathic Mice

Adequate pain sensitivity requires a delicate balance between excitation and inhibition in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord. This balance is severely impaired in neuropathy leading to enhanced pain sensations (hyperalgesia). The underlying mechanisms remain elusive. Here we explored the hypothesis that the excitatory drive to spinal GABAergic neurons might be impaired in neuropathic animals. Transgenic adult mice expressing EGFP under the promoter for GAD67 underwent either chronic constriction injury of the sciatic nerve or sham surgery. In transverse slices from lumbar spinal cord we performed whole-cell patch-clamp recordings from identified GABAergic neurons in lamina II. In neuropathic animals rates of mEPSC were reduced indicating diminished global excitatory input. This downregulation of excitatory drive required a rise in postsynaptic Ca2+. Neither the density and morphology of dendritic spines on GABAergic neurons nor the number of excitatory synapses contacting GABAergic neurons were affected by neuropathy. In contrast, paired-pulse ratio of Aδ- or C-fiber-evoked monosynaptic EPSCs following dorsal root stimulation was increased in neuropathic animals suggesting reduced neurotransmitter release from primary afferents. Our data indicate that peripheral neuropathy triggers Ca2+-dependent signaling pathways in spinal GABAergic neurons. This leads to a global downregulation of the excitatory drive to GABAergic neurons. The downregulation involves a presynaptic mechanism and also applies to the excitation of GABAergic neurons by presumably nociceptive Aδ- and C-fibers. This then leads to an inadequately low recruitment of inhibitory interneurons during nociception. We suggest that this previously unrecognized mechanism of impaired spinal inhibition contributes to hyperalgesia in neuropathy.
Judgment aggregation under constraints

In solving judgment aggregation problems, groups often face constraints. Many decision problems can be modelled in terms the acceptance or rejection of certain propositions in a language, and constraints as propositions that the decisions should be consistent with. For example, court judgments in breach-of-contract cases should be consistent with the constraint that action and obligation are necessary and sufficient for liability; judgments on how to rank several options in an order of preference with the constraint of transitivity; and judgments on budget items with budgetary constraints. Often more or less demanding constraints on decisions are imaginable. For instance, in preference ranking problems, the transitivity constraint is often constrasted with the weaker acyclicity constraint. In this paper, we make constraints explicit in judgment aggregation by relativizing the rationality conditions of consistency and deductive closure to a constraint set, whose variation yields more or less strong notions of rationality. We review several general results on judgment aggregation in light of such constraints.
Expression of Na,K‐ATPase alpha subunit isoforms in the human ciliary body and cultured ciliary epithelial cells

We have analyzed the expression of Na, K‐ATPase alpha subunit isoforms in the transporting ciliary processes of the human eye and in cultured cells derived from non‐pigmented (NPE) and pigmented (PE) ciliary epithelium. Northern hybridization analysis shows that the mRNAs encoding all the three distinct forms of Na, K‐ATPase alpha subunit [alpha 1, alpha 2, and alpha 3] are expressed in the human ciliary processes in vivo. Immunohistochemical analysis using antibodies specific for each of the three alpha subunit isoforms confirms that these polypeptides are present in the microsomal fraction from the human ciliary processes. The monoclonal antibody McB2, which is specific to the Na, K‐ATPase alpha 2 subunit isoform, has been found to decorate specifically the basolateral membrane domains of NPE cells but not of the PE cells, suggesting its expression in vivo only in the ocular NPE ciliary epithelium. However, cultured cells derived from the NPE and PE layers exhibit a different pattern of expression of mRNA and protein for the Na, K‐ATPase alpha subunit isoforms when compared to the tissue. Both the NPE and PE cells express alpha 1 and alpha 3 mRNA and polypeptide, whereas alpha 2 mRNA and polypeptide are undetectable in these cells. The established cell lines derived from the NPE layer express comparable levels of the alpha 1 and alpha 3 isoforms of Na, K‐ATPase as detected in the primary culture. However, the established NPE cell lines are also distinguishable from the normal PE cells when analyzed by Western blot analysis with A × 2 antibodies. The results presented here clearly show that the NPE and PE cells in the ciliary body have a distinct expression of Na, K‐ATPase alpha subunit isoforms as compared to cultured cells.
Beyond PrPres Type 1/Type 2 Dichotomy in Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease

Sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (sCJD) cases are currently subclassified according to the methionine/valine polymorphism at codon 129 of the PRNP gene and the proteinase K (PK) digested abnormal prion protein (PrPres) identified on Western blotting (type 1 or type 2). These biochemically distinct PrPres types have been considered to represent potential distinct prion strains. However, since cases of CJD show co-occurrence of type 1 and type 2 PrPres in the brain, the basis of this classification system and its relationship to agent strain are under discussion. Different brain areas from 41 sCJD and 12 iatrogenic CJD (iCJD) cases were investigated, using Western blotting for PrPres and two other biochemical assays reflecting the behaviour of the disease-associated form of the prion protein (PrPSc) under variable PK digestion conditions. In 30% of cases, both type 1 and type 2 PrPres were identified. Despite this, the other two biochemical assays found that PrPSc from an individual patient demonstrated uniform biochemical properties. Moreover, in sCJD, four distinct biochemical PrPSc subgroups were identified that correlated with the current sCJD clinico-pathological classification. In iCJD, four similar biochemical clusters were observed, but these did not correlate to any particular PRNP 129 polymorphism or western blot PrPres pattern. The identification of four different PrPSc biochemical subgroups in sCJD and iCJD, irrespective of the PRNP polymorphism at codon 129 and the PrPres isoform provides an alternative biochemical definition of PrPSc diversity and new insight in the perception of Human TSE agents variability.
Towards high-accuracy bilingual phrase acquisition from parallel corpora

We report on on-going work to derive translations of phrases from parallel corpora. We describe an unsupervised and knowledge-free greedy-style process relying on innovative strategies for choosing and discarding candidate translations. This process manages to acquire multiple translations combining phrases of equal or different sizes. The preliminary evaluation performed confirms both its potential and its interest.
Neuromodulation and Mitochondrial Transport: Live Imaging in Hippocampal Neurons over Long Durations

To understand the relationship between mitochondrial transport and neuronal function, it is critical to observe mitochondrial behavior in live cultured neurons for extended durations1-3. This is now possible through the use of vital dyes and fluorescent proteins with which cytoskeletal components, organelles, and other structures in living cells can be labeled and then visualized via dynamic fluorescence microscopy. For example, in embryonic chicken sympathetic neurons, mitochondrial movement was characterized using the vital dye rhodamine 1234. In another study, mitochondria were visualized in rat forebrain neurons by transfection of mitochondrially targeted eYFP5. However, imaging of primary neurons over minutes, hours, or even days presents a number of issues. Foremost among these are: 1) maintenance of culture conditions such as temperature, humidity, and pH during long imaging sessions; 2) a strong, stable fluorescent signal to assure both the quality of acquired images and accurate measurement of signal intensity during image analysis; and 3) limiting exposure times during image acquisition to minimize photobleaching and avoid phototoxicity. Here, we describe a protocol that permits the observation, visualization, and analysis of mitochondrial movement in cultured hippocampal neurons with high temporal resolution and under optimal life support conditions. We have constructed an affordable stage-top incubator that provides good temperature regulation and atmospheric gas flow, and also limits the degree of media evaporation, assuring stable pH and osmolarity. This incubator is connected, via inlet and outlet hoses, to a standard tissue culture incubator, which provides constant humidity levels and an atmosphere of 5-10% CO2/air. This design offers a cost-effective alternative to significantly more expensive microscope incubators that don't necessarily assure the viability of cells over many hours or even days. To visualize mitochondria, we infect cells with a lentivirus encoding a red fluorescent protein that is targeted to the mitochondrion. This assures a strong and persistent signal, which, in conjunction with the use of a stable xenon light source, allows us to limit exposure times during image acquisition and all but precludes photobleaching and phototoxicity. Two injection ports on the top of the stage-top incubator allow the acute administration of neurotransmitters and other reagents intended to modulate mitochondrial movement. In sum, lentivirus-mediated expression of an organelle-targeted red fluorescent protein and the combination of our stage-top incubator, a conventional inverted fluorescence microscope, CCD camera, and xenon light source allow us to acquire time-lapse images of mitochondrial transport in living neurons over longer durations than those possible in studies deploying conventional vital dyes and off-the-shelf life support systems.
A Review of Thermoplastic Composites Vapour Permeability Models: Applicability for Barrier Dispersion Coatings

One of the purposes of thermoplastic composites films and barrier dispersion coatings is to minimize the permeation of gases. In both cases, fillers and other additives are added during the film preparation to improve barrier properties. A high level of understanding has resulted from the study of the interaction between filler and polymer phases of thermoplastic composites, and a number of models have been developed to predict the relative permeability of these materials. However, barrier dispersion coatings have not been modelled in this way. The aim of this review was to discuss similarities and differences of thermoplastic composites and barrier dispersion coatings that may influence the applicability of the models for barrier dispersion coatings applied to paper‐based materials. The models were developed as a function of the amount of fillers added in thermoplastic composites films and geometrical characteristics of the fillers such as size, thickness, shape and the distribution of fillers in the film. Two‐ and three‐dimensional models with oriented and random arrangement of fillers were presented. Due to the parallel orientation and the similar length and width of fillers used in barrier dispersion coatings, three‐dimensional models were more suitable to predict relative permeability. These models assumed plate‐ or circular‐shaped fillers with parallel orientation. In order to prove the models, experimental information was required. Very limited data for barrier dispersion coatings with varying the amount of fillers have been reported in the literature. For this reason, further experiments are required under varied combinations of aspect ratio and the volume fraction of fillers. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Payo ff Complementarities and Financial Fragility — Evidence from Mutual Fund Out fl ows 1

Investors’ behavior in financial markets and institutions is largely influenced by their beliefs about other investors’ behavior. In particular, several settings give rise to strategic complementarities, where investors’ incentives to take a certain action increase if they believe more investors are going to take the same action. Such settings generate financial fragility, where the effect of changes in fundamentals on investors’ behavior is amplified. Despite the wide interest, there is virtually no empirical evidence for this mechanism. In this paper, we derive empirical implications from a global-game model and test them using data on mutual fund outflows. Consistent with the theory, we find that in funds with illiquid assets (where complementarities are stronger) outflows are more sensitive to bad past performance than in funds with liquid assets. Moreover, this pattern disappears in funds that are held primarily by large/institutional investors (who can internalize the externalities). We provide evidence that are inconsistent with the alternative explanations based on information conveyed by past performance or on clientele effects.