Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Homeostatic plasticity mechanisms are required for juvenile, but not adult, ocular dominance plasticity

Ocular dominance (OD) plasticity in the visual cortex is a classic model system for understanding developmental plasticity, but the visual cortex also shows plasticity in adulthood. Whether the plasticity mechanisms are similar or different at the two ages is not clear. Several plasticity mechanisms operate during development, including homeostatic plasticity, which acts to maintain the total excitatory drive to a neuron. In agreement with this idea, we found that an often-studied substrain of C57BL/6 mice, C57BL/6JOlaHsd (6JOla), lacks both the homeostatic component of OD plasticity as assessed by intrinsic signal imaging and synaptic scaling of mEPSC amplitudes after a short period of dark exposure during the critical period, whereas another substrain, C57BL/6J (6J), exhibits both plasticity processes. However, in adult mice, OD plasticity was identical in the 6JOla and 6J substrains, suggesting that adult plasticity occurs by a different mechanism. Consistent with this interpretation, adult OD plasticity was normal in TNFα knockout mice, which are known to lack juvenile synaptic scaling and the homeostatic component of OD plasticity, but was absent in adult α-calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II;T286A (αCaMKIIT286A) mice, which have a point mutation that prevents autophosphorylation of αCaMKII. We conclude that increased responsiveness to open-eye stimulation after monocular deprivation during the critical period is a homeostatic process that depends mechanistically on synaptic scaling during the critical period, whereas in adult mice it is mediated by a different mechanism that requires αCaMKII autophosphorylation. Thus, our study reveals a transition between homeostatic and long-term potentiation–like plasticity mechanisms with increasing age.
Dynamics of Software Development Crowdsourcing

The emergence of online labor markets has concentrated a lot of attention on the prospect of using crowdsourcing for software development, with a potential to reduce costs, improve time-to-market, and access high-quality skills on demand. However, crowdsourcing of software development is still not widely adopted. A key barrier to adoption is a lack of confidence that a task will be completed on time with the required quality standards. While good managers can develop good, intuitive estimates of task completion when assigning work to their team members, they might lack similar intuition for individuals drawn from an online crowd. The phrase, "Post and Hope" is thus sometimes used when talking about the crowdsourcing of software-development tasks. The objective of this paper is to show the value of replacing the traditional, intuitive assessment of a team's capability with a quantitative assessment of the crowd, derived through analysis of historical performance on similar tasks. This analysis will serve to transform "Post and Hope" to "Post and Expect. " We demonstrate this by analyzing data about tasks performed on two popular crowdsourcing platforms: Topcoder and Upwork. Analysis of historical data from these platforms indicates that the platforms indeed demonstrate some level of predictability in task completion. We have identified certain factors that consistently contribute to task completion on both the platforms. Our findings suggest that a data-driven decision processes can play an important role in successful adoption of crowdsourcing practice for software development.
DGAT1, GH, GHR, PRL and PRLR polymorphism in water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis).

The polymorphism of several genes has been shown to affect the milk composition traits in dairy cattle, including DGAT1-exon8 K232A, GH-intron3 MspI, GH-exon5 AluI, GHR-exon8 F279Y, PRL-exon3 RsaI and PRLR-exon3 S18N. However, the polymorphism and effects of these genes on the milk traits of water buffalo are still unclear. In this study, four DNA pooling samples from Murrah, Nili-ravi, Murrah-Nili-Swamp crossbreed and Chinese swamp buffalo were constructed, respectively, and polymorphism of these sites was investigated using PCR-Single-strand conformation polymorphism and sequencing. Twenty-eight inter-specific single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNPs) were found in these six assayed gene fragments between buffalo and dairy cattle, including nine intra-specific SNPs among buffalo groups. All buffalo fixed a K allele genotype in DGAT1-exon8, MspI(+) restriction site(c nucleotide) and AluI(+) site(c nucleotide) at intron3 and exon5 of GH gene, F allele genotype of F279Y mutation in GHR gene, RsaI(-) restriction site at PRL-exon3/exon4 and N allele genotype of S18N mutation at PRLR-exon3. It provides an indirect evidence that water buffalo have fixed alleles with genotypes reported in dairy cattle, which is thought to be responsible for high milk fat, high protein content and low milk yield. Moreover, three new intra-specific SNPs were found including 275th bp (c/t) in DGAT1 of Murrah buffalo, 109th bp (t/a) in PRL-exon3/exon4 and 43rd bp (c/t) in PRLR-exon3 of Chinese swamp buffalo. Information provided in this study will be useful in further studies to improve buffalo breeding for better lactation performances.
Mergers and Acquisitions Trends – The Indian Experience

This paper measures the mergers and acquisitions sector of India from 1991 to 2010 with the help of time-series data along with major recent worldwide developments. The time series analysis makes clear the trend in mergers and acquisitions activity in India and is categorized broadly three ways, namely, the era of consolidation (1991 – 1995), the era of foreign acquisitions (1995 – 2002) and the era of venturing abroad (2002 – 2012). It is valuable to take note of the impact of recent changes in the economic, political and social environment of the world in different sectors and sub-sectors of the economy. Mergers and acquisitions is the sector which is highly elastic in its behavior with respect to changes of government policies and political factors. This paper also categorizes trends in manufacturing and non-manufacturing sectors to provide definite evidence for motives and reasons behind the particular behavior observed, and the prospective future of mergers and acquisitions activity in India.
Indocyanine Green Fluorescence Imaging-Guided Surgery in Primary and Metastatic Liver Tumors

Background. After surgery for liver tumors, recurrence rates remain high because of residual positive margins or undiagnosed lesions. It has been suggested that detection of hepatic tumors can be obtained with near-infrared fluorescence imaging (FI). Indocyanine green (ICG) has been used with contrasting results. The aims of this study were to explore ICG-FI-guided surgery methodology and to assess its potential applications. Materials and Methods. Out of 14 patients with liver tumors, 5 were not operated on, and 9 patients (3 primary and 6 metastatic tumors) underwent surgery. ICG (0.5 mg/kg) was injected intravenously 24 hours before surgery. Fluorescence was investigated prior to resection to detect liver lesions, during hepatic transection to guide surgery, on both cross-section and benchtop to assess surgical margins, and for pathological evaluation. Results. All operations were successful and had a short duration. ICG-FI detected all already known lesions (n = 10), and identified 2 additional small tumors (1 hepatocarcinoma and 1 metastasis, diagnostic improvement = 20%). Two hepatocarcinomas were hyperfluorescent; the remaining one, with a central hypofluorescent area and a hyperfluorescent ring, was indeed a mixed cholangiohepatocarcinoma. All metastatic nodules were hypofluorescent with a hyperfluorescent rim. In all cases, in vivo and ex vivo fluorescence revealed clear liver margins. Postoperative pathological examination greatly benefited of liver fluorescence to assess radicality. Conclusion. ICG-FI-guided surgery was shown to be an effective tool to improve both intraoperative staging and radicality in the surgical treatment of primary and metastatic liver tumors.
Inactivation of p27Kip1 promotes chemical mouse liver tumorigenesis in the resistant strain C57BL/6J

The biochemical function of p27Kip1 as an inhibitor of cyclin‐dependent kinases is well‐established, but the role of p27 as a tumor suppressor depends on specific cellular contexts. Previous studies using p27 knockout mice on mixed C57BL/6J × 129/Sv strain background did not find a tumor suppressor role of p27 in the liver. An important feature of mouse liver tumorigenesis is strain‐dependent tumor susceptibility. Here, we determined the role of p27 in liver tumorigenesis in C57BL/6J mice, a liver tumor resistant strain, in response to a diethylnitrosamine (DEN) and phenolbarbital (PB) two‐stage carcinogenesis protocol. At 6 mo of age, while livers of DEN–PB treated p27+/+ and p27−/− C57BL/6J mice appeared morphologically normal, p27−/− livers, but not p27+/+ livers, contained readily detectable glucose‐6‐phosphatase (G6Pase)‐deficient foci. At the 9‐mo time point, p27−/− mice developed significantly enhanced liver tumor phenotypes than p27+/+ mice as demonstrated by increased numbers and sizes of liver surface nodules, increased liver‐to‐body weight ratios, and increased numbers of G6Pase‐deficient nodules and histologically diagnosed foci and adenomas in liver sections. Hepatic lesions in p27−/− livers contained more proliferating hepatocytes than lesions in p27+/+ livers, while the numbers of apoptotic cells appeared similar in lesions of both genotypes. Unexpectedly, tumors in p27−/− livers contained only slightly elevated Cdk2 kinase activity compared with normal livers. These results reveal a liver tumor suppressor role of p27 in this resistant mouse strain, and the need to further study the role of Cdk2 kinase in liver tumor promotion by p27 inactivation. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
P3A-6 The Effect of Including Fiber Orientation in Simulated 3D Ultrasound Images of the Heart

We have examined the effect of muscle fiber orientation on simulated ultrasound images. In ultrasound simulation studies, the myocardium is usually modeled as a cloud of uncorrelated point scatterers. This approach successfully generates a fully developed speckle pattern, but it does not reproduce any effects of image anisotropy which is seen in vivo. We hypothesize that some of these effects are caused by the varying orientation of myocardium muscle fibers relative to the ultrasonic beam. Images of the septal wall of a pig heart were obtained in vitro, and the dominating fiber direction in each layer was found from the backscattered signal. A segment of the heart muscle was then modeled as a grid of point scatterers correlated in the direction of the muscle fibers, as determined experimentally. Ultrasound images of this model were simulated by using a k-space based convolution approach. The simulated images showed a line of increased intensity where the fiber direction was nearly perpendicular to the beam direction, similar to the experimental results. We conclude that inclusion of the orientation of the muscle fibers is important, in order to generate realistic ultrasound images
Algibacter undariae sp. nov., isolated from a brown algae reservoir.

A Gram-stain-negative, non-flagellated, rod-shaped bacterial strain able to move by gliding, designated WS-MY9(T), was isolated from a brown algae reservoir in South Korea. Strain WS-MY9(T) grew optimally at 25 °C, at pH 7.0-8.0 and in the presence of 2 % (w/v) NaCl. A neighbour-joining phylogenetic tree based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain WS-MY9(T) clustered with the type strain of Algibacter lectus with a bootstrap resampling value of 100 %. Strain WS-MY9(T) exhibited 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity values of 98.5 and 96.7 % to the type strains of A. lectus and Algibacter mikhailovii, respectively, and less than 96.1 % sequence similarity to other members of the family Flavobacteriaceae. Strain WS-MY9(T) contained MK-6 as the predominant menaquinone and anteiso-C15 : 0, iso-C17 : 0 3-OH, iso-C15 : 1 G and iso-C15 : 0 as the major fatty acids. The major polar lipids of strain WS-MY9(T) were phosphatidylethanolamine and two unidentified lipids. The DNA G+C content of strain WS-MY9(T) was 35.0 mol% and its DNA-DNA relatedness value with A. lectus KCTC 12103(T) was 15 %. The phylogenetic and genetic distinctiveness and differential phenotypic properties revealed that strain WS-MY9(T) is separate from the two recognized species of the genus Algibacter. On the basis of the data presented, strain WS-MY9(T) represents a novel species of the genus Algibacter, for which the name Algibacter undariae sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is WS-MY9(T) ( = KCTC 32259(T) = CCUG 63684(T)).
Young Europeans: A New Political Generation?

Young people in Europe are often described as apolitical non-participants in the civic culture of their own states and the European Union (EU). Using empirical data based on group discussions (n = 324) in 29 European states (104 locations; 2000 young people aged between 11 and 19), this paper challenges this, and suggests that many young people have distinct political views and are motivated to participate in both political discussions and traditional and non-traditional forms of participation. They are particularly interested in a range of current issues, largely around human rights, migration and (anti-)nationalism, and the article illustrates this with examples from a range of countries. Human rights issues raised concerned their perception of contemporary injustices, which were constructed as European values and formed a significant element in their self-identification as Europeans, and a general unwillingness to be identified with ‘the nation’. This broad pan-European analysis suggests that young people see themselves in many ways as a politically distinct cohort, a generation with different political values than those of their parents and grandparents.
Evaluation of structural and mechanical properties of electrospun nano-micro hybrid of poly hydroxybutyrate-chitosan/silk scaffold for cartilage tissue engineering

Background: One of the new methods of scaffold fabrication is a nano-micro hybrid structure in which the properties of the scaffold are improved by introducing nanometer and micrometer structures. This method could be suitable for scaffold designing if some features improve. Materials and Methods: In this study, electrospun nanofibers of 9% weight solution of poly (3-hydroxybutyrate) (P3HB) and a 15% weight of chitosan by trifluoroacetic acid were coated on both the surface of a silk knitted substrate in the optimum condition to improve the mechanical properties of scaffolds for cartilage tissue engineering application. These hybrid nano-micro fibrous scaffolds were characterized by structural and mechanical evaluation methods. Results: Scanning electron microscopy values and porosity analysis showed that average diameter of nanofibers was 584.94 nm in electrospinning part and general porosity was more than 80%. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy results indicated the presence of all elements without pollution. The tensile test also stated that by electrospinning, as well as adding chitosan, both maximum strength and maximum elongation increased to 187 N and 10 mm. It means that the microfibrous part of scaffold could affect mechanical properties of nano part of the hybrid scaffold, significantly. Conclusions: It could be concluded that P3HB-chitosan/silk hybrid scaffolds can be a good candidate for cartilage tissue engineering.
Adaptive Dissemination for Mobile Electronic Health Record Applications with Proactive Situational Awareness

Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) has been an emerging trend in the enterprise, including the healthcare domain. However, efficient and personalized content delivery for data intensive applications remains a technical challenge. In this work, we explore a mobile electronic health record (EHR) web application for general practitioners (GPs) on the road for patient visits. Keeping all the health records up to date on a tablet is impossible due to resource constraints of the device, and dynamic planning of home visits. We therefore investigate how to deliver the right information at the right time under variable connectivity and limited resource availability. We present a flexible framework that capitalizes on situational awareness for proactive and adaptive content delivery to mobile applications. It leverages distributed probabilistic models and dynamic decision networks to improve the overall user experience with better on-device resource utilization. The added value is that it lifts the burden from the GP to customize and personalize the application by learning data consumption patterns in different contexts. Compared to baseline scenarios for this particular use case, our framework shows an improvement in the precision and recall with an acceptable runtime overhead for memory and CPU.
The effects of networks and autonomy on foreign-owned subsidiary competence development in Taiwan

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the role of networks and autonomy in competence development of foreign-owned subsidiaries (FOS) located in Taiwan. Design/methodology/approach Survey data have been collected from FOS located in the mid-range emerging economy of Taiwan and analysed using structured equation modelling and fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) techniques. Findings The results show that decision-making autonomy and intra-organisational networks are important factors for primary and support competence development. However, by using fsQCA technique the authors also show that many subsidiaries differ from that main pattern. For instance, local business and non-business networks can also contribute to primary competence development, but only in high autonomy subsidiaries. Originality/value The originality of this paper lies in the detailed investigation of how fine grained network relationship strengths (intra-, business-, non-business local networks) affect different levels of subsidiary competencies (primary and support activities). The authors also provide novelty in applying a combination of symmetric (structural-equation modelling – partial least squared) and non-symmetric (fsQCA) analytical techniques.
A note on Cheney's nonrecursive list-compacting algorithm

Cheney's list-compacting algorithm [1] goes into an infinite loop when it traces a circular list consisting exclusively of non-items. While it may be reasonable to say that such lists should not exist, it would be very difficult to legislate out of existence programs which illegally create such lists because of bugs, and it would not do for the garbage collector to break down in this instance.
PlasmoDB: exploring genomics and post-genomics data of the malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum

Abstract The recent completion of the genome sequence of Plasmodium falciparum 3D7 provides the foundation for genome-wide analysis of the parasite. In addition to DNA and gene sequence data, postgenomic methods including microarray-based transcript profiling and high-throughput proteomics are now accessible to Plasmodium researchers. The Plasmodium Genome database () was developed to provide rapid and convenient access to the terabytes of genomic-scale data now being generated around the world. All data are available in a relational framework, permitting convenient downloading, browsing, and analysis. Combinatorial use of data analysis tools enables powerful data mining queries, such as combining gene and protein expression data to monitor changes through various life-cycle stages. Functional predictions can be used to explore potential targets for antimalarial drug development. This report outlines the use of PlasmoDB to examine redox-active functions in Plasmodium.
Conformational Space Comparison of GnRH and lGnRH-III using Molecular Dynamics, Cluster Analysis and Monte Carlo Thermodynamic Integration

Abstract The conformational space available to GnRH and 1GnRH-III was compared using 5.2 ns constant temperature and pressure molecular dynamics simulations with explicit TIP3P solvation and the AMBER v. 5.0 force field. Cluster analysis of both trajectories resulted in two groups of conformations. Results of free energy calculations, in agreement with previous experimental data, indicate that a conformation with a turn from residues 5 through 8 is preferred for GnRH in an aqueous environment. By contrast, a conformation with a helix from residues 2 through 7 with a bend from residues 6 through 10 is preferred for 1GnRH-III in an aqueous environment. The side chains of His2 and Trp3 in 1GnRH-III occupy different regions of phase space and participate in weakly polar interactions different from those in GnRH. The unique conformational properties of 1GnRH-III may account for its specific anti cancer activity.
Prostanoids: early mediators in the secondary injury that develops after unilateral pulmonary contusion.

BACKGROUND We have previously shown a sequence of events after unilateral pulmonary contusion that suggests the release of blood-borne prostanoid mediators and that culminates in refractory bilateral pulmonary failure. PURPOSE To determine the role of platelet-derived thromboxane and endothelial-derived prostacyclin in the primary and secondary injury after unilateral blunt chest trauma, and to determine whether pretreatment with the cyclooxygenase inhibitor indomethacin alters the progression of secondary injury. METHODS Anesthetized, ventilated (FIO2 = 0.50) pigs received a unilateral, blunt injury to the right thorax (n = 20) or sham injury (n = 5) and were monitored for 24 hours. Either indomethacin (5 mg/kg i.v.; n = 10) or its saline vehicle (n = 10) were administered 15 minutes before injury. Serial bronchoalveolar lavages of each lung were analyzed for protein and neutrophil (polymorphonuclear neutrophil (PMN)) content. RESULTS Contusion caused profound hypoxemia; PaO2 partially recovered within 1 hour of injury to 50% of baseline. Thereafter, worsening hypoxemia required positive end-expiratory pressure. With indomethacin compared with vehicle, PaO2 was higher at any given level of positive end-expiratory pressure (p < 0.05). There was an early increase in serial bronchoalveolar lavage protein on the injured side (peak at 2 hours), with a delayed pulmonary capillary leak on the contralateral side (peak at 6 hours), which correlated with increasing PMN infiltration; this was reduced by 40 to 60% with indomethacin (p < 0.05). Thromboxane peaked within 1 hour after contusion at 800% baseline, then fell off rapidly. This peak preceded the maximal increase in permeability and was completely blocked by indomethacin. Prostacyclin slowly rose to 300% baseline by 3 hours and remained elevated; this change was blocked by indomethacin for 18 hours. CONCLUSIONS Contusion of the right thorax induced a delayed pulmonary capillary leak in the left lung, which reflects a progressive secondary inflammatory response. Elevations in thromboxane and prostacyclin preceded progressive bilateral PMN infiltration. Indomethacin blocked thromboxane and prostacyclin and attenuated, but did not prevent, the progression to pulmonary failure. Overall, these data suggest that prostanoids are released soon after unilateral contusion and initiate an inflammatory response in both lungs that is sustained by PMN infiltration.