Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Hypothalamic leptin‐neurotensin‐hypocretin neuronal networks in zebrafish

Neurotensin (NTS) is a 13 amino acid neuropeptide that is expressed in the hypothalamus. In mammals, NTS‐producing neurons that express leptin receptor (LepRb) regulate the function of hypocretin/orexin (HCRT) and dopamine neurons. Thus, the hypothalamic leptin‐NTS‐HCRT neuronal network orchestrates key homeostatic output, including sleep, feeding, and reward. However, the intricate mechanisms of the circuitry and the unique role of NTS‐expressing neurons remain unclear. We studied the NTS neuronal networks in zebrafish and cloned the genes encoding the NTS neuropeptide and receptor (NTSR). Similar to mammals, the ligand is expressed primarily in the hypothalamus, while the receptor is expressed widely throughout the brain in zebrafish. A portion of hypothalamic nts‐expressing neurons are inhibitory and some coexpress leptin receptor (lepR1). As in mammals, NTS and HCRT neurons are localized adjacently in the hypothalamus. To track the development and axonal projection of NTS neurons, the NTS promoter was isolated. Transgenesis and double labeling of NTS and HCRT neurons showed that NTS axons project toward HCRT neurons, some of which express ntsr. Moreover, another target of NTS neurons is ntsr‐expressing dopaminergeric neurons. These findings suggest structural circuitry between leptin, NTS, and hypocretinergic or dopaminergic neurons and establish the zebrafish as a model to study the role of these neuronal circuits in the regulation of feeding, sleep, and reward. J. Comp. Neurol. 523:831–848, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Broca’s region: linking human brain functional connectivity data and non‐human primate tracing anatomy studies

Brodmann areas 6, 44 and 45 in the ventrolateral frontal cortex of the left hemisphere of the human brain constitute the anterior language production zone. The anatomical connectivity of these areas with parietal and temporal cortical regions was recently examined in an autoradiographic tract‐tracing study in the macaque monkey. Studies suggest strong correspondence between human resting state functional connectivity (RSFC) based on functional magnetic resonance imaging data and experimentally demonstrated anatomical connections in non‐human primates. Accordingly, we hypothesized that areas 6, 44 and 45 of the human brain would exhibit patterns of RSFC consistent with patterns of anatomical connectivity observed in the macaque. In a primary analysis, we examined the RSFC associated with regions‐of‐interest placed in ventrolateral frontal areas 6, 44 and 45, on the basis of local sulcal and gyral anatomy. We validated the results of the primary hypothesis‐driven analysis with a data‐driven partitioning of ventrolateral frontal cortex into regions exhibiting distinct RSFC patterns, using a spectral clustering algorithm. The RSFC of ventrolateral frontal areas 6, 44 and 45 was consistent with patterns of anatomical connectivity shown in the macaque. We observed a striking dissociation between RSFC for the ventral part of area 6 that is involved in orofacial motor control and RSFC associated with Broca’s region (areas 44 and 45). These findings indicate rich and differential RSFC patterns for the ventrolateral frontal areas controlling language production, consistent with known anatomical connectivity in the macaque brain, and suggest conservation of connectivity during the evolution of the primate brain.
Security analysis of current voting systems

Electronic voting (e-voting) has become progressively well known in this technologically-driven world. It is viewed as a way to further strengthen and improve the democratic processes in society. E-voting ought to be implemented in a manner that guarantees sufficient user needs, which means it should provide an easy-to-use user interface. Evoting is also meant to maintain similar security and secrecy standards to those assured by traditional voting system. Thus, the purpose of this paper is to analyze the vulnerabilities that may affect e-voting systems. The paper presents the requirements and the concepts of an e-voting system. We summarize the different phases and the leading actors of e-voting systems and discuss the importance of security in e-voting systems by looking into the claims of hacks on the recent general election in the United States. In this paper, we closely examine some states where calls for recounts in the 2016 general elections were requested due to suspicions in voting systems security. We conclude with security recommendations to lessen or completely eradicate the risks and perils to the security of current voting systems.
Biogenesis of the Posterior Pole Is Mediated by the Exosome/Microvesicle Protein-sorting Pathway*

Background: Polarization of cells along an anterior-posterior axis involves biogenesis of the posterior pole. Results: Cells target proteins to the posterior pole on the basis of higher order oligomerization and plasma membrane binding. Conclusion: The exosome/microvesicle biogenesis pathway also mediates posterior pole biogenesis. Significance: Cells use an internal, signal-independent mechanism for posterior pole biogenesis. Biogenesis of the posterior pole is critical to directed cell migration and other polarity-dependent processes. We show here that proteins are targeted to the posterior pole on the basis of higher order oligomerization and plasma membrane binding, the same elements that target proteins to exosomes/microvesicles (EMVs), HIV, and other retrovirus particles. We also demonstrate that the polarization of the EMV protein-sorting pathway can occur in morphologically non-polarized cells, defines the site of uropod formation, is induced by increased expression of EMV cargo proteins, and is evolutionarily conserved between humans and the protozoan Dictyostelium discoideum. Based on these results, we propose a mechanism of posterior pole biogenesis in which elevated levels of EMV cargoes (i) polarize the EMV protein-sorting pathway, (ii) generate a nascent posterior pole, and (iii) prime cells for signal-induced biogenesis of a uropod. This model also offers a mechanistic explanation for the polarized budding of EMVs and retroviruses, including HIV.
Quantitation of proton NMR spectra of the human brain using tissue water as an internal concentration reference

The use of cerebral water as an internal intensity standard for the quantitation of spatially localized proton spectra of the human brain is investigated. The method is validated on standard samples of N‐acetyl aspartate (NAA) and lactate, and possible sources of error are discussed. Using the STEAM pulse sequence, concentrations of choline, creatine and NAA in frontal lobe white matter are found to be 1.9±0.5, 10.6±1.3 and 16.6±2.3 μmol/g wet wt, respectively, in 10 normal volunteers. In the thalamus, the concentrations are 2.0±0.4, 11.6±2.0 and 17.2±1.3 μmol/g wet wt, respectively. Choline and creatine concentrations are in good agreement with conventional biochemical values: NAA concentrations are found to be three‐fold higher, suggesting overlap of the NAA signal with other compounds. Quantitation relative to tissue water is a convenient and rapid means of quantitating proton spectra of the human brain.
Comparison of Endotoxin Exposure Assessment by Bioaerosol Impinger and Filter-Sampling Methods

ABSTRACT Environmental assessment data collected in two prior occupational hygiene studies of swine barns and sawmills allowed the comparison of concurrent, triplicate, side-by-side endotoxin measurements using air sampling filters and bioaerosol impingers. Endotoxin concentrations in impinger solutions and filter eluates were assayed using theLimulus amebocyte lysate assay. In sawmills, impinger sampling yielded significantly higher endotoxin concentration measurements and lower variances than filter sampling with IOM inhalable dust samplers. Analysis of variance for repeated measures showed that this association remained after controlling for other factors such as replicate, sawmill, sawmill operation, wood type, and interaction terms. Endotoxin concentrations in the swine barns were 10-fold higher on average than in sawmills. These samples demonstrated comparable endotoxin concentration estimates for impinger and filter methods although the variability was lower using the impinger method. In both occupational settings, side-by-side replicates were more uniform for the impinger samples than for the filter samples. This study demonstrates that impinger sampling is an acceptable method for quantitation of area endotoxin concentrations. Further, when sampling is performed with impingers for airborne microorganism quantitation, these same impinger solutions can yield valid endotoxin exposure estimates, negating the need for additional filter sampling.
Bayesian learning for multi-agent coordination

Multi-agent systems draw together a number of significant trends in modern technology: ubiquity, decentralisation, openness, dynamism and uncertainty. As work in these fields develops, such systems face increasing challenges. Two particular challenges are decision making in uncertain and partially-observable environments, and coordination with other agents in such environments. Although uncertainty and coordination have been tackled as separate problems, formal models for an integrated approach are typically restricted to simple classes of problem and are not scalable to problems with tens of agents and millions of states. We improve on these approaches by extending a principled Bayesian model into more challenging domains, using Bayesian networks to visualise specific cases of the model and thus as an aid in deriving the update equations for the system. One approach which has been shown to scale well for networked offline problems uses finite state machines to model other agents. We used this insight to develop an approximate scalable algorithm applicable to our general model, in combination with adapting a number of existing approximation techniques, including state clustering. We examine the performance of this approximate algorithm on several cases of an urban rescue problem with respect to differing problem parameters. Specifically, we consider first scenarios where agents are aware of the complete situation, but are not certain about the behaviour of others; that is, our model with all elements but the actions observable. Secondly, we examine the more complex case where agents can see the actions of others, but cannot see the full state and thus are not sure about the beliefs of others. Finally, we look at the performance of the partially observable state model when the system is dynamic or open. We find that our best response algorithm consistently outperforms a handwritten strategy for the problem, more noticeably as the number of agents and the number of states involved in the problem increase.
Long noncoding RNA HULC modulates the phosphorylation of YB‐1 through serving as a scaffold of extracellular signal–regulated kinase and YB‐1 to enhance hepatocarcinogenesis

Dysregulated expression of long noncoding RNAs has been reported in many types of cancers, indicating that it may play a critical role in tumorigenesis. The long noncoding RNA highly up‐regulated in liver cancer (HULC) was first characterized in hepatocellular carcinoma. However, the detailed mechanisms of HULC remain unclear. Here, we demonstrate a novel mechanism by which long noncoding RNA plays oncogenic roles through modulating the phosphorylation status of its interaction protein. First, we validated the markedly increased expression levels of HULC in hepatocellular carcinoma tissues compared to their adjacent noncancerous tissues. Furthermore, up‐regulation of HULC was correlated with grading and overall survival. Meanwhile, HULC could promote cell proliferation, migration, and invasion in vitro and inhibit cisplatin‐induced apoptosis. Moreover, we show that HULC specifically binds to Y‐box binding protein 1 (YB‐1) protein both in vitro and in vivo. YB‐1 is a major component of translationally inactive messenger ribonucleoprotein particles which keeps mRNA in a silent state. Our study further demonstrated that HULC could promote the phosphorylation of YB‐1 protein, which leads to the release of YB‐1 from its bound mRNA. As a consequence, translation of silenced oncogenic mRNAs would be activated, including cyclin D1, cyclin E1, and matrix metalloproteinase 3. In addition, we found that HULC promotes the phosphorylation of YB‐1 protein mainly through extracellular signal–regulated kinase. Conclusion: We demonstrate that HULC promotes the phosphorylation of YB‐1 through the extracellular signal–regulated kinase pathway, in turn regulates the interaction of YB‐1 with certain oncogenic mRNAs, and consequently accelerates the translation of these mRNAs in the process of tumorigenesis. (Hepatology 2017;65:1612‐1627)
Error estimates for frequency responses calculated from time-domain measurements

Estimates are derived for the errors in frequency responses calculated from measured step or impulse response data. Three error sources are considered-aliasing errors, errors due to random noise added to the amplitudes of the data, and errors due to random noise added to the time coordinates of the data. Two types of error estimates are derived. Pre-measurement estimates are based on easily determined parameters of the signal and noise; post-measurement estimates are based on the difference between two measurements of the same signal. The post-measurement error estimates apply to additional sources of error. The goal of the paper is to give easily used error estimates for easily implemented methods rather than to present the most sophisticated methods.
Preamble computation in automated test case generation using constraint logic programming

BZ‐Testing‐Tools (BZ‐TT) is a tool‐set for automated model‐based test case generation from B abstract machines and Z specifications. BZ‐TT uses boundary testing as well as cause–effect testing on the basis of the formal model. It has been used and validated on several industrial case studies in the domain of critical software: in particular for smart card applications and automotive embedded systems. The main idea of BZ‐TT is to compute a boundary goal for each effect of the operations of the model and then to compute a preamble sequence of operations to place the system under test in such a state that satisfies the goal.
Numerical Terradynamic Simulation Group 11-2001 FLUXNET : A New Tool to Study the Temporal and Spatial Variability of Ecosystem-Scale Carbon Dioxide , Water Vapor , and Energy Flux Densities

FLUXNET is a global network of micrometeorological flux measurement sites that measure the exchanges of car­ bon dioxide, water vapor, and energy between the biosphere and atmosphere. At present over 140 sites are operating on a long-term and continuous basis. Vegetation under study includes temperate conifer and broadleaved (deciduous and evergreen) forests, tropical and boreal forests, crops, grasslands, chaparral, wetlands, and tundra. Sites exist on five con­ tinents and their latitudinal distribution ranges from 70°N to 30°S. FLUXNET has several primary functions. First, it provides infrastructure for compiling, archiving, and distributing carbon, water, and energy flux measurement, and meteorological, plant, and soil data to the science community. (Data and site information are available online at the FLUXNET Web site, http://www-eosdis.oml.gov/FLUXNET/.) Second, the project supports calibration and flux intercomparison activities. This activity ensures that data from the regional networks are intercomparable. And third, FLUXNET supports the synthesis, discussion, and communication of ideas and data by supporting project scientists, workshops, and visiting scientists. The overarching goal is to provide infor­ mation for validating computations of net primary productivity, evaporation, and energy absorption that are being generated by sensors mounted on the NASA Terra satellite. Data being compiled by FLUXNET are being used to quantify and compare magnitudes and dynamics of annual ecosystem carbon and water balances, to quantify the response of stand-scale carbon dioxide and water vapor flux densities to controlling biotic and abiotic factors, and to validate a hierarchy of soil-plant-atmosphere trace gas ex­ change models. Findings so far include 1) net CO ̂ exchange of temperate broadleaved forests increases by about 5.7 g C m“̂ day^ for each additional day that the growing season is extended; 2) the sensitivity of net ecosystem CO ̂ exchange to sunlight doubles if the sky is cloudy rather than clear; 3) the spectrum of CO ̂flux density exhibits peaks at timescales of days, weeks, and years, and a spectral gap exists at the month timescale; 4) the optimal temperature of net CO ̂exchange varies with mean summer temperature; and 5) stand age affects carbon dioxide and water vapor flux densities. ^ESPM, University o f California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California. *^Pflanzenokologie, Universitat Bayreuth, Bayreuth, Germany. Environm ental Science Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak
Exploring the Relationship between E-Government Development and Environmental Sustainability: A Study of Small Island Developing States

Small island developing states (SIDS) are one of the most vulnerable countries for environmental sustainability in the world. To maintain environmental sustainability, the SIDS governments are pursuing many e-government projects, but there is much debate on its effectiveness. In the absence of empirical evidence, this study conducts quantitative analysis to estimate the effects of e-government development on environmental sustainability. Utilizing a panel dataset, we found that the development of e-government not only has direct effects on environmental sustainability, but also indirect effects through the enhancement of government effectiveness. This study emphasized the importance of contingent or intermediary factors in the study of e-government effectiveness. Additionally, after reviewing potential variables, we recommend the effectiveness of government as an important intermediary variable for the environmental sustainability in developing countries, such as SIDS.
Quantification of physical and biological uncertainty in the simulation of the yield of a tropical crop using present-day and doubled CO2 climates

The impacts of climate change on crop productivity are often assessed using simulations from a numerical climate model as an input to a crop simulation model. The precision of these predictions reflects the uncertainty in both models. We examined how uncertainty in a climate (HadAM3) and crop General Large-Area Model (GLAM) for annual crops model affects the mean and standard deviation of crop yield simulations in present and doubled carbon dioxide (CO2) climates by perturbation of parameters in each model. The climate sensitivity parameter (λ, the equilibrium response of global mean surface temperature to doubled CO2) was used to define the control climate. Observed 1966–1989 mean yields of groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) in India were simulated well by the crop model using the control climate and climates with values of λ near the control value. The simulations were used to measure the contribution to uncertainty of key crop and climate model parameters. The standard deviation of yield was more affected by perturbation of climate parameters than crop model parameters in both the present-day and doubled CO2 climates. Climate uncertainty was higher in the doubled CO2 climate than in the present-day climate. Crop transpiration efficiency was key to crop model uncertainty in both present-day and doubled CO2 climates. The response of crop development to mean temperature contributed little uncertainty in the present-day simulations but was among the largest contributors under doubled CO2. The ensemble methods used here to quantify physical and biological uncertainty offer a method to improve model estimates of the impacts of climate change.
Testing Methodology of Embedded DRAMs

The embedded-DRAM (eDRAM) testing mixes up the techniques used for DRAM testing and SRAM testing since an eDRAM core combines DRAM cells with an SRAM interface (the so-called 1T-SRAM architecture). In this paper, we first present our test algorithm for eDRAM testing. A theoretical analysis to the leakage mechanisms of a switch transistor is also provided, based on that we can test the eDRAM at a higher temperature to reduce the total test time and maintain the same retention-fault coverage. Finally, we propose a mathematical model to estimate the defect level caused by wear-out defects under the use of error-correction-code circuitry, which is a special function used in eDRAMs compared to commodity DRAMs. The experimental results are collected based on 1-lot wafers with an 16 Mb eDRAM core.
Neighborhood Context and Breastfeeding Behaviors among Urban Mothers

Background: Research consistently shows that breastfeeding behaviors vary according to individual-level sociodemographic characteristics, yet few studies examine contextual variations in breastfeeding. Objective: The purpose of this study is to examine the association between neighborhood context and breastfeeding among a sample of predominately unmarried urban mothers, a group with relatively low rates of breastfeeding. Methods: This study combines census tract information with data from 2 waves of the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study (n = 4228) to predict the odds of initiating and sustaining breastfeeding. Results: Findings indicate that neighborhood socioeconomic composition, rather than racial or ethnic concentration, is associated with breastfeeding behaviors. More specifically, living in a highly educated neighborhood is associated with higher odds of initiating and sustaining breastfeeding. Conclusion: These results suggest that the breastfeeding behaviors of urban mothers vary according to neighborhood educational context. Understanding how breastfeeding behaviors are shaped by one’s neighborhood environment will allow public health initiatives to more effectively target vulnerable populations.
Restoring Functioning in Bipolar Disorder: Functional Remediation

Learning ObjectivesAfter participating in this activity, learners should be better able to: 1. Assess the importance of remediation programs as adjunctive interventions for patients with bipolar disorder. 2. Evaluate a remediation program to improve functional outcome in euthymic patients with bipolar disorder. AbstractOver the past several years, many evidence-based interventions have proven to be effective as adjunctive therapies in the treatment of bipolar disorder. Only a few, however, have addressed the issue of functional recovery in bipolar euthymic patients, which is difficult to achieve after an affective episode. The functional remediation program has been designed at the Hospital Clinic of Barcelona with the main aim of treating functional impairment in bipolar disorder. The program consists of 21 weekly group sessions and is based on a neuro-cognitive-behavioral approach. Throughout the sessions, euthymic patients are trained in the use of neurocognitive skills to be applied during their daily routines. Modeling techniques, role playing, self-instructions, verbal instructions, positive reinforcement, and metacognitive cues are some of the techniques that are used in the program. The present report aims at explaining this new intervention to improve functional outcomes in euthymic bipolar patients.