Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Pre-synaptic control of remote fear extinction in the neocortex

Consolidation of remote memory enhances immediate early genes induction (IEGs), augments the expression of the pre-synaptic growth associated protein-43 (GAP-43), and increases the density and size of dendritic spines in anterior cingulate (aCC) and infra-limbic (ILC) cortices. Remote memory extinction, however, does not uniformly alter consolidation-induced structural changes. In the aCC, the density, but not the size, of spines is reset to pseudo-conditioning levels while novel thin spines are formed in the ILC. Whether IEGs and GAP-43 also undergo region-specific changes upon remote memory extinction is undetermined. Here we confirm in the same batch of mice that c-Fos induction and GAP-43 expression are increased in both the aCC and the ILC 36 days after contextual fear conditioning. We then show that, in both regions, remote memory extinction is associated with decrease of c-Fos induction but no change in GAP-43 expression thus revealing similar, although protein-specific, pre-synaptic adaptations in aCC and ILC neurons. These observations, in addition to our previous report of region-specific post-synaptic structural changes, disclose a complex pattern of extinction-driven neocortical alterations suitable to support erasure or reinstatement of fear according to the environment demand.
HDR Video Compression Using High Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC)

It is only a matter of time before High Dynamic Range (HDR) video content becomes commercially available. It is necessary, therefore, to develop proper video compression standards that address the peculiarities of this content and enable the introduction of this technology to the consumer market. So far there is no dedicated standard for HDR content. This paper investigates the performance of the emerging High Efficient Video Coding (HEVC) standard on HDR content and compares it with that of the H.264/AVC standard. Performance evaluations show that HEVC outperforms the H.264/AVC standard by 22.47% to 58.61% in terms of bitrate or 1.02 dB to 4.88 dB in terms of PSNR in the case of HDR content. Keywords-HEVC; H.264/AVC; HDR compression
Generation of a Conditional Allele of the Transcription Factor Atonal Homolog 8 (Atoh8)

Atonal Homolog 8 (Atoh8) is a basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factor that is highly conserved across species and expressed in multiple tissues during embryogenesis. In the developing pancreas, Atoh8 is expressed in endocrine progenitors but declines in hormone-positive cells, suggesting a role during early stages of the endocrine differentiation program. We previously generated a whole-body Atoh8 knockout but early lethality of null embryos precluded assessment of Atoh8 functions during organ development. Here we report the generation of a conditional Atoh8 knockout mouse strain by insertion of two loxP sites flanking exon 1 of the Atoh8 gene. Pancreas-specific Atoh8 knockout (Atoh8 Δpanc) mice were obtained by mating this strain with a Pdx1-Cre transgenic line. Atoh8 Δpanc mice were born at the expected mendelian ratio and showed normal appearance and fertility. Pancreas weight and gross pancreatic morphology were normal. All pancreatic cell lineages were present, although endocrine δ (somatostatin) cells were modestly augmented in Atoh8 Δpanc as compared to control neonates. This increase did not affect whole-body glucose tolerance in adult knockout animals. Gene expression analysis in embryonic pancreases at the time of the major endocrine differentiation wave revealed modest alterations in several early endocrine differentiation markers. Together, these data argue that Atoh8 modulates activation of the endocrine program but it is not essential for pancreas formation or endocrine differentiation in the mouse. Given the ubiquitous expression pattern of Atoh8, the availability of a mouse strain carrying a conditional allele for this gene warrants further studies using temporally regulated Cre transgenic lines to elucidate time or cell-autonomous functions of Atoh8 during development and in the adult.
E-commerce in Brazil: Local Adaptation of a Global Technology

Brazil presents an interesting case study of local factors influencing the adoption and impacts of e-commerce. It is a large developing country in which some segments of the economy are technologically sophisticated while others are quite backward. Based on existing knowledge of Brazil’s economic and policy environment and its experience with other information technologies, we develop three themes that encompass a priori expectations about the diffusion and impacts of e-commerce. First is the expected leadership of the financial sector, driven by strong IT capabilities and a historical orientation toward automation. Next is the leadership of large firms in adopting e-commerce, driven by economies of scale and scope that enhance the perceived benefits of adoption. Third is the relative importance of local versus global forces in driving e-commerce diffusion. Unlike other countries in which globalization is a driver of e-commerce diffusion, Brazil’s relatively low international integration of the manufacturing industry, its large size, and its historical inward orientation are expected to reduce the role of global factors as e-business drivers. We analyse results from a ten-country survey of 2,100 firms, including 200 in Brazil, to examine these propositions in the light of empirical evidence. We find support for each of the themes. In addition we find that the lack of an adequate legal and regulatory environment to support e-commerce has been an important barrier to adoption.
Development, psychometric properties and new validity evidences of the web-based computerized adaptive test of English eCat

Se describe la construccion del test eCat y se informa de las consecuencias que su funcionamiento ha tenido en sus propiedades psicometricas. Los resultados obtenidos en una muestra de 3224 estudiantes mostraron que el banco tiene una adecuada fiabilidad y validez convergente en relacion a los autoinformes de dominio del ingles. Las simulaciones realizadas mostraron que las estimaciones carecian de sesgo y que el test ha de tener al menos 15 items para alcanzar una precision razonable. A partir de las 7254 aplicaciones del test disponibles, se han vuelto a obtener las propiedades psicometricas y se han comparado con las previstas antes de la aplicacion. Se aportan nuevas evidencias de validez. This paper describes the process of constructing the eCat test and provides information on the effects its normal operation had on its psychometric properties. Results obtained from 3224 students revealed that the 225 item pool has adequate reliability and good convergent validity with respect to self-reported English proficiency. Simulations showed that ability estimations are essentially unbiased and that a stopping criterion of over 15 items is required to achieve a reasonable level of precision. From 7254 eCat administrations the test psychometric properties have been computed again and compared with those of the preoperational eCat. Additional validity evidences are also presented.
TrkB Downregulation Is Required for Dendrite Retraction in Developing Neurons of Chicken Nucleus Magnocellularis

The chick embryo (Gallus domesticus) is one of the most important model systems in vertebrate developmental biology. The development and function of its auditory brainstem circuitry is exceptionally well studied. These circuits represent an excellent system for genetic manipulation to investigate mechanisms controlling neural circuit formation, synaptogenesis, neuronal polarity, and dendritic arborization. The present study investigates the auditory nucleus, nucleus magnocellularis (NM). The neurotrophin receptor TrkB regulates dendritic structure in CNS neurons. TrkB is expressed in NM neurons at E7–E8 when these neurons have dendritic arbors. Downregulation of TrkB occurs after E8 followed by retraction of dendrites and by E18 most NM cells are adendritic. Is cessation of TrkB expression in NM necessary for dendritic retraction? To answer this question we combined focal in ovo electroporation with transposon mediated gene transfer to obtain stable expression of Doxycycline (Dox) regulated transgenes, specifically TrkB coexpressed with EGFP in a temporally controlled manner. Electroporation was performed at E2 and Dox added onto the chorioallointoic membrane from E7.5 to E16. Expression of EGFP had no effect on development of the embryo, or cell morphology and organization of auditory brainstem nuclei. NM cells expressing EGFP and TrkB at E17–E18 had dendrites and biophysical properties uncharacteristic for normal NM cells, indicating that cessation of TrkB expression is essential for dendrite retraction and functional maturation of these neurons. These studies indicate that expression of transposon based plasmids is an effective method to genetically manipulate events in mid to late embryonic brain development in chick.
A Novel Lightweight Instruction Scheduling Algorithm for Just-in-Time Compiler

In this paper, we present a lightweight algorithm of instruction scheduling to reduce the pipeline stalls on XScale. The algorithm is designed for and implemented in a J2ME Just-In-Time (JIT) compiler. It is not based on Directed Acyclic Graphs (DAGs) or expression trees, but a novel data structure namely extended dependency matrix (EDM). The algorithm has almost linear time complexity to one order of magnitude less of the code length in practice, and linear to the code length in the worst cases. It consumes only about 1 KB constant memory space. On the benchmarks we studied, it can eliminate up to 41% data dependency stalls at runtime. The algorithm is on average 2 times faster than a list scheduling implementation, in terms of compilation time. On all benchmarks we studied, the performance is more than 90% as efficient as that obtained using more time and memory consuming algorithms on average.
Adaptive Control for Improved Transparency in Haptic Interaction with Virtual Environments ADAPTIVE CONTROL FOR IMPROVED TRANSPARENCY IN HAPTIC INTERACTION WITH VIRTUAL ENVIRONMENTS

Impedance-type haptic devices are being developed for applications requiring high output forces and large workspaces. The natural dynamics of such haptic interfaces can be significant enough to interfere with the user’s perception of the virtual environment both in free motion and in contact. In such cases, the haptic control algorithm must be able to reduce /alter the apparent dynamics of the interface. In addition, due to stability constraints, conventional spring-damper controllers are unable to render highly stiff environments. In this thesis, adaptive nonlinear controllers have been proposed to improve the stability and transparency in haptic rendering. Through a separation of control and dynamic simulation, the proposed controllers can couple impedance-type haptic devices with impedance and admittance-type virtual environment simulators. The intervening dynamics of the interface, subject to stability constraints, can be replaced with an adjustable mass-damper tool within the proposed framework. Nonlinear dynamics for haptic device and parametric uncertainty in user’s arm dynamics are considered in the design of controllers which require position, velocity and force measurements. The transparency and stability of the proposed haptic control systems are investigated using a Lyapunov analysis. The effect of one sample time computation delay in a discrete-time implementation of the controller on the closed-loop stability of iv the control system is studied analytically. It is shown that the use of a discretetime low-pass filter on selected terms in the control action can significantly improve the system stability margin for reducing the device perceived inertia. The formulation of an optimization problem allows for automatic selection of the filter parameters to balance impedance reduction against noise amplification in the loop. The controllers are implemented on a two-axis impedance-type haptic device for interacting with impedance and admittance-type virtual environments. In the impedance-type environment, interaction with a virtual wall is modeled by a spring-damper coupler. This model along with an alternative constraint-based rigid wall model are employed in the admittance-type simulations. Although the two controllers behave similarly in free motion, the controller for admittance-type environments is capable of rendering significantly stiffer rigid contacts. Moreover, the proposed controllers demonstrate a highly improved transparency compared to that achievable by conventional spring-damper virtual couplers.
Young adults with severe intellectual disability: Culture, parent, and sibling impact

ABSTRACT Background Having a child with intellectual disability impacts all family members, with both parents and siblings having to adjust. Negative impact on the typically developing sibling, specifically, has been shown to vary based on caregiving responsibilities and mothers’ stress level. Method This study gathered information from 238 Latina and Anglo mothers of young adults with intellectual disability to explore sibling negative impact related to maternal stress, positive feelings about parenting, sibling diagnostic category, and cultural group. Results Mothers experiencing more stress reported higher levels of sibling impact; mothers with more positive feelings about parenting reported lower levels of negative impact, with Latina mothers reporting higher levels of stress and positive feelings about parenting. Anglo mothers, however, were less likely to designate a sibling as a future caregiver. Conclusions These findings suggest culture and diagnostic classification should be given more attention relative to their impact on typically developing siblings.
Discovery of Seven Novel Mammalian and Avian Coronaviruses in the Genus Deltacoronavirus Supports Bat Coronaviruses as the Gene Source of Alphacoronavirus and Betacoronavirus and Avian Coronaviruses as the Gene Source of Gammacoronavirus and Deltacoronavirus

ABSTRACT Recently, we reported the discovery of three novel coronaviruses, bulbul coronavirus HKU11, thrush coronavirus HKU12, and munia coronavirus HKU13, which were identified as representatives of a novel genus, Deltacoronavirus, in the subfamily Coronavirinae. In this territory-wide molecular epidemiology study involving 3,137 mammals and 3,298 birds, we discovered seven additional novel deltacoronaviruses in pigs and birds, which we named porcine coronavirus HKU15, white-eye coronavirus HKU16, sparrow coronavirus HKU17, magpie robin coronavirus HKU18, night heron coronavirus HKU19, wigeon coronavirus HKU20, and common moorhen coronavirus HKU21. Complete genome sequencing and comparative genome analysis showed that the avian and mammalian deltacoronaviruses have similar genome characteristics and structures. They all have relatively small genomes (25.421 to 26.674 kb), the smallest among all coronaviruses. They all have a single papain-like protease domain in the nsp3 gene; an accessory gene, NS6 open reading frame (ORF), located between the M and N genes; and a variable number of accessory genes (up to four) downstream of the N gene. Moreover, they all have the same putative transcription regulatory sequence of ACACCA. Molecular clock analysis showed that the most recent common ancestor of all coronaviruses was estimated at approximately 8100 BC, and those of Alphacoronavirus, Betacoronavirus, Gammacoronavirus, and Deltacoronavirus were at approximately 2400 BC, 3300 BC, 2800 BC, and 3000 BC, respectively. From our studies, it appears that bats and birds, the warm blooded flying vertebrates, are ideal hosts for the coronavirus gene source, bats for Alphacoronavirus and Betacoronavirus and birds for Gammacoronavirus and Deltacoronavirus, to fuel coronavirus evolution and dissemination.
Effect of Religious Day on Prosocial Behavior: A Field Study

ABSTRACT It has previously been suggested that prosociality is correlated with the degree of religiousness. However, experimental and meta-analytical studies cast doubt on the existence of such a relationship. Due to the controversy over the link between religiousness and prosocial behavior, and the existence of only a small number of ecological experiments focusing on this relationship, we tested the effect of a religious salient day, a previously uninvestigated effect, on prosocial behavior. Specifically, across two experiments (N = 405) and in an ecological setting in Portugal, we tested whether prosocial behavior would increase on a religious salient day compared to a non-religious regular day. We found a gender-related effect: Women, on a religious day, were more inclined to agree to a prosocial behavior than on a non-religious day, whereas men did not change their behavior. We discuss such a difference in behavior, as well as the implications of our studies.
Distinct fusion properties of synaptotagmin-1 and synaptotagmin-7 bearing dense core granules

Adrenal chromaffin cells express two synaptotagmin isoforms, Syt-1 and Syt-7. Isoforms are usually sorted to separate secretory granules, are differentially activated by depolarizing stimuli, and favor discrete modes of exocytosis. It is proposed that stimulus/Ca+-dependent secretion in the chromaffin cell relies on selective Syt isoform activation.
Mapping Dialectal Variation by Querying Social Media

We propose a Bayesian method of estimating a conditional distribution of data given metadata (e.g., the usage of a di-alectal variant given a location) based on queries from a big data/social media source, such as Twitter. This distribution is structurally equivalent to those built from traditional experimental meth-ods, despite lacking negative examples. Tests using Twitter to investigate the geographic distribution of dialectal forms show that this method can provide distributions that are tightly correlated with existing gold-standard studies at a fraction of the time, cost, and effort.
Bank of Canada Banque du Canada Working Paper 96-13 / Document de travail 96-13 Speculative Behaviour , Regime-Switching and Stock Market Crashes

This paper uses regime-switching econometrics to study stock market crashes and to explore the ability of two very different economic explanations to account for historical crashes. The first explanation is based on historical accounts of "manias and panics. " Its key features are that "overvaluation" increases the probability and expected size of a crash. Using U.S. data for 1926-89, we find considerable support for this model’s predictions. The second explanation is based on switches in fundamentals. Simulations show that switching fundamentals can cause markets to mimic speculative behaviour. However, switches in fundamentals do not coincide with most stock market crashes.
Validation Issues induced by an Automatic Pre-Annotation Mechanism in the Building of Non-projective Dependency Treebanks

In order to build large dependency treebanks using the CDG Lab, a grammar-based dependency treebank development tool, an annotator usually has to fill a selection form before parsing. This step is usually necessary because, otherwise, the search space is too big for long sentences and the parser fails to produce at least one solution. With the information given by the annotator on the selection form the parser can produce one or several dependency structures and the annotator can proceed by adding positive or negative annotations on dependencies and launching iteratively the parser until the right dependency structure has been found. However, the selection form is sometimes difficult and long to fill because the annotator must have an idea of the result before parsing. The CDG Lab proposes to replace this form by an automatic pre-annotation mechanism. However, this model introduces some issues during the annotation phase that do not exist when the annotator uses a selection form. The article presents those issues and proposes some modifications of the CDG Lab in order to use effectively the automatic pre-annotation mechanism.
Testing Measurement Invariance of Hedonic and Eudaimonic Entertainment Experiences Across Media Formats

ABSTRACT The aim of this study is to investigate the measurement invariance of media users’ entertainment experiences as conceptualized by two-process models of entertainment (i.e., enjoyment and appreciation) across different media formats. With this purpose, the present research relates to the recent rise of entertainment research, embracing more and more media types and formats with which entertainment experiences may occur. At the same time, it addresses a methodological issue that has rarely been addressed in communication research. Focusing on one of the most often used measurement instruments in entertainment research, on three different media formats (political talk shows, comedies, and dramas), the study finds evidence for configural, metric, and scalar invariance for the scale. The theoretical and practical implications of the findings are discussed.
A Bernoulli-Gaussian Approach to the Reconstruction of Noisy Signals with Finite Rate of Innovation

Recently, it was shown that a large class of non-bandlimited signals that have a finite rate of innovation, such as streams of Diracs, non-uniform splines and piecewise polynomials, can be perfectly reconstructed from a uniform set of samples taken at the rate of innovation [1]. While this is true in the noiseless case, in the presence of noise the finite rate of innovation property is lost and exact reconstruction is no longer possible. In this paper we consider the problem of reconstructing such signals when noise is present. We focus on the case when a discrete-time signal is made up of a sum of weighted Diracs and we propose a stochastic reconstruction method based on the Bernoulli-Gauss model and on a maximum a posteriori optimization. Our approach is numerically stable and yields precise reconstruction by sampling the signal way below the Nyquist rate, significantly outperforming commonly used subspace methods [2, 3]. Applications of our method can be found in acquisition and processing of signals in wideband communication systems, such as ultra-wideband (UWB) systems.
Volatile Compounds Profile of Sous-Vide Cooked Pork Cheeks as Affected by Cooking Conditions (Vacuum Packaging, Temperature and Time)

The volatile organic compound (VOC) profile of pork cheeks as affected by the cooking conditions was investigated. Pork cheeks were cooked under different combinations of temperature (60 °C or 80 °C), time (5 or 12 h) and vacuum (vacuum or air-packaged). As a general rule, the VOCs originating from lipid degradation were positively affected by the cooking temperature and negatively by the cooking time, reaching the highest amounts in pork cheeks cooked at 80 °C during 5 h and the lowest in samples cooked at 80 °C during 12 h. On the contrary, VOCs originated from amino acids and Maillard reactions were positively affected by both factors. The proportion between lipid degradation and amino acids reactions was estimated by the hexanal/3-methylbutanal ratio, which reached its highest values in samples cooked at 60 °C during 5 h in the presence of air and the lowest values in samples cooked at 80 °C during 12 h, regardless of the vacuum status.