Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Spontaneous Activity Defines Effective Convergence Ratios in an Inhibitory Circuit

Many neurons fire spontaneously, and the rate of this firing is subject to neuromodulation. How this firing affects functional connectivity within a neural network remains largely unexplored. Here we show that changes in spontaneous firing of cartwheel interneurons in the mouse dorsal cochlear nucleus (DCN) alter the effective convergence ratio of interneurons onto their postsynaptic targets through short-term synaptic plasticity. Spontaneous firing of cartwheel cells led to activity-dependent synaptic depression of individual cartwheel synapses. Depression was rapid and profound at stimulation frequencies between 10 and 200 Hz, suggesting the presence of high release probability (Pr) vesicles at these inhibitory synapses. Weak, transient synaptic facilitation could be induced after synapses were predepressed, indicating that low-Pr vesicles are also recruited, and may thus support steady-state transmission. A two-pool vesicle depletion model with 10-fold differences in Pr could account for the synaptic depression over a wide range of stimulus conditions. As a result of depression during high spontaneous activity, more cartwheel interneurons were required for effective inhibition. Convergence of four interneurons was sufficient to compensate for the effects of depression during physiologically expected rates of activity. By simulating synaptic release during spontaneous firing, we found that recruitment of low-Pr vesicles at the synapse plays a critical role in maintaining effective inhibition within a small population of interneurons. The interplay between spontaneous spiking, short-term synaptic plasticity, and vesicle recruitment thus determines the effective size of a convergent neural network. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT We examined the relationship between the structure of a small neural circuit and the properties of its individual synapses. Successful synaptic inhibition of a target cell firing requires a critical inhibitory synaptic strength. Synapses often become depressed during spontaneous presynaptic activity, and this increases the number of presynaptic neurons needed to mediate inhibition. We show that depression is limited by the presence of a pool of vesicles that resist depletion. Thus, the size of this vesicle pool determines the size of the circuit needed to mediate inhibition during different patterns of activity.
Audio noise canceler using Adaline Network in adaptive filter configuration

The use of Artificial Neural Networks with different type of configuration has enabled to develop many applications with higher complex degree. This paper presents an implementation example of noise canceller using Adaline Network for evaluation of performance when change different parameters in audio acquisition, also an analysis of synaptic weights to evaluate the performance of adaptive filter is done. In this document the mathematical modeling of adaptive canceler, the structure for acquisition and algorithm implementation into Matlab are presented. The results show a variant performance using differentes parameters, but when using the correct values parameters the performance better.
Surgical embolectomy for large vessel occlusion of anterior circulation

Abstract Object. The aim of this study was to assess the technical details and the efficacy and safety of surgical embolectomy for occlusion of large vessels in the anterior circulation. Methods. Twenty-three consecutive patients with acute ischemic stroke attributed to embolic occlusion of large arteries of the anterior circulation who underwent treatment with surgical embolectomy were retrospectively reviewed. Twenty patients were treated based on data from magnetic resonance angiography (MRA)–diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) mismatch, while three other patients had contraindications to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and were treated based on computed tomography (CT) and digital subtraction angiography (DSA) findings. Clinical outcomes, including recanalization rate, recanalization time, complications, modified Rankin Scale (mRS) at 3 months, and National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score improvement at 1 month, were evaluated. Results. Among the 23 patients (median age, 80 years; median presenting NIHSS score, 21 points), the occlusion site was the internal carotid artery (ICA) terminus in six patients, the M1 segment of the middle cerebral artery (MCA) in 10 patients, and the M2 division of the MCA in seven patients. Final recanalization status was thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) 3 in 21 patients (91%). Median recanalization time from symptom onset and from start of surgery was 282 min and 70 min, respectively. One patient (4.3%) had symptomatic haemorrhage. Three patients (13%) had brain oedema due to massive infarction of affected vessel area; two of these patients had undergone embolectomy based on CT findings and had successful recanalization, while one patient underwent embolectomy based on MRI findings and did not have successful recanalization. All 18 patients who underwent embolectomy based on MRA–DWI mismatch and had successful recanalization did not develop additional confluent ischaemic lesion on postoperative DWI. At 3 months, seven patients (30%) had a mRS score of 0–2, eight patients (35%) had a mRS score of 3, and none of the patients had died. Sixteen patients (70%) demonstrated NIHSS score improvement of more than eight points at 1 month. Conclusion. Surgical embolectomy for occlusion of large vessels in the anterior circulation resulted in a high complete recanalization rate with an acceptable safety profile. Use of MRA–DWI mismatch as an indication for surgical embolectomy was associated with a reduced complication rate.
Neck circumference is an accurate and simple index for evaluating overweight and obesity in Han children

Background: The prevalence of obesity has reached alarming levels in recent years. Neck circumference (NC) has been shown to be an indicator of central adiposity. Aim: The purpose of this study was to analyse whether NC can be used to determine overweight and obesity in Han Chinese children. Subjects and methods: In 2011, anthropometric measurements were gathered in a cross-sectional, population-based study of 2847 Han children aged 7–12 years. Overweight and obesity were defined according to the 2004 Chinese obesity task force definition. Receiver operating characteristic curve analyses were conducted to assess the accuracy of NC as a diagnostic test for elevated body mass index (BMI) (overweight and obesity). Results: The prevalence of overweight and obesity in boys was 18.0% and 26.0%, respectively, and 11.7% and 15.7%, respectively, for girls. The mean NC in boys was significantly greater than in girls (29.2 ± 3.1 cm vs 28.1 ± 2.8 cm, p < 0.001). NC was significantly correlated with age, BMI and waist circumference in both boys and girls (p < 0.001 for all comparisons). NC cut-off values for elevated BMI were between 27.4∼31.3 cm in boys and 26.3∼31.4 cm in girls. The sensitivities were 75.5∼86.7% in boys and 80.0∼92.5% in girls. The specificities were 73.9∼91.7% in boys and 74.7∼93.3% in girls. Conclusion: The present study demonstrates that NC is a simple, inexpensive and accurate measurement that may be used to identify overweight and obesity in Han children.
Actions of the sodium channel inhibitor 202W92 on rat midbrain dopaminergic neurons

Excessive glutamatergic activity is implicated in Parkinson's disease (PD) and sodium channel blockade, resulting in inhibition of glutamate release, is a potential therapeutic approach to PD therapy. Beneficial effects of riluzole and lamotrigine have been reported in animal models of PD, but these compounds have relatively low potency as sodium channel inhibitors and also inhibit N and P/Q‐type calcium channels. 202W92, a structural analog of lamotrigine, is a potent sodium channel inhibitor, with no effect on N, P/Q‐type channels. Here we present the effects of 202W92 on single patch‐clamped dopaminergic neurons. 202W92 (≥10 μM) inhibited spontaneous action potential firing and reduced amplitude and frequency of evoked action potentials. It also inhibited the frequency of 4‐aminopyridine (4‐AP)‐ and electrically evoked excitatory postsynaptic currents (EPSCs) and GABAergic inhibitory postsynaptic currents (IPSCs), with >80% inhibition at 10 μM (IC50 1.5 μM). EPSC and IPSC amplitudes were partially inhibited. 202W92 did not affect postsynaptic responses to locally applied glutamate and GABA, nor spontaneously occurring mini‐IPSCs. These actions of 202W92 are compatible with sodium channel inhibition and depression of transmitter release. Synapse 48:123–130, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Encoding of Ca2+ signals by differential expression of IP3 receptor subtypes

Inositol 1,4,5‐trisphosphate (IP3) plays a key role in Ca2+ signalling, which exhibits a variety of spatio‐temporal patterns that control important cell functions. Multiple subtypes of IP3 receptors (IP3R‐1, ‐2 and ‐3) are expressed in a tissue‐ and development‐specific manner and form heterotetrameric channels through which stored Ca2+ is released, but the physiological significance of the differential expression of IP3R subtypes is not known. We have studied the Ca2+‐signalling mechanism in genetically engineered B cells that express either a single or a combination of IP3R subtypes, and show that Ca2+‐signalling patterns depend on the IP3R subtypes, which differ significantly in their response to agonists, i.e. IP3, Ca2+ and ATP. IP3R‐2 is the most sensitive to IP3 and is required for the long lasting, regular Ca2+ oscillations that occur upon activation of B‐cell receptors. IP3R‐1 is highly sensitive to ATP and mediates less regular Ca2+ oscillations. IP3R‐3 is the least sensitive to IP3 and Ca2+, and tends to generate monophasic Ca2+ transients. Furthermore, we show for the first time functional interactions between coexpressed subtypes. Our results demonstrate that differential expression of IP3R subtypes helps to encode IP3‐mediated Ca2+ signalling.
Y‐STR haplotype diversity in distinct linguistic groups from East Timor

East Timor is a country which harbors multiple ethnolinguistic groups generally assigned to an Austronesian or Papuan ancestry. The present study aimed to characterize Y‐chromosome haplotype diversity in East Timor, and to test possible population structures based on linguistic and/or geographical information. Using a set of 12 Y‐chromosome‐specific STRs (DYS19, DYS389I and II, DYS390, DYS391, DYS392, DYS393, DYS385, DYS437, DYS438, and DYS439), haplotypes were established in 342 individuals from 12 linguistic groups (Tetum, Kwaimina, Galoli, Wetarese, Dawan, Mambai, Kemak, Tokodede, Bunak, Makasai, Makalero, and Fataluku) belonging to the three major ethnolinguistic groups in East Timor: two from the Timorese‐Austronesian branch (Fabronic and Ramelaic), and a third including languages related to a Trans‐New Guinea phylum (Papuan). High values of haplotype diversity, average gene diversity, and mean number of pairwise differences per locus were found in all 12 linguistic groups, except for the Wetarese from the island of Ataúro. Analysis of genetic variance (AMOVA) and pairwise genetic distance analysis showed that the East Timor population is genetically structured, and if the Bunak and Wetarese are excluded, samples group well with respect to their language affinities, and furthermore, the most genetically homogeneous groups are those following the broad ethnolinguistic classifications. Bunak and Wetarese behave as outsider groups, and are genetically more closely related to populations classified in a different linguistic group. Am. J. Hum. Biol. 18:691–701, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Assessment of DNA damage in sperm after repeated non-invasive sampling in zebrafish Danio rerio.

Repeated non-invasive sampling of zebrafish Danio rerio sperm was conducted, sperm counts were obtained and a method for measurement of DNA damage in sperm was developed and validated (single-cell gel electrophoresis, comet, assay). DNA damage in sperm increased with concentration of hydrogen peroxide (H2 O2 , 0-200 µM), and in vitro exposure of sperm to 200 µM H2 O2 produced 88·7 ± 3·9% tail DNA compared to unexposed controls [12 ± 0·7% tail DNA (mean ± s.e., n = 3)]. Frequency of sperm sampling (sampled every 2, 4 or 7 days) did not affect DNA damage in sperm, but sperm counts decreased 57 and 22% for fish sampled every 2 or 4 days, respectively.
Accounting for the determinants of wealth concentration in the US

What are the fundamental determinants of high wealth concentration in the US? The recent literature has put forward high concentration of labor income, capital income risk and bequests as potential reasons. We use data on the joint distribution of earnings, capital income and wealth to identify the relevance of each component, and find that labor income differences are the most relevant source of wealth dispersion for most households. Heterogeneity in asset returns are crucial for generating the thick right tail of the wealth distribution for the wealthiest 0.01% of households. The findings are driven by the high correlation between earnings and wealth, and the substantial share of earned income among top income groups observed in the data.
Australian Passenger Vehicle Classification and Distance-Based Charging: Current Practices and the Way Forward

Road congestion and infrastructure funding challenges have become a major concern in urban centres in Australia. Recent debates pertaining to private motor vehicle usage have renewed interest in alternative road user charging (RUC) to internalise the external costs associated with private motor vehicle usage. One possible solution is distance‐based charging (DBC), which could provide a more transparent road pricing system. We review the salient features of RUC and DBC, the costs associated with private vehicle usage that DBC is expected to capture, and undertake an analysis of existing vehicle classification systems that underpin current RUC schemes within Australia. Based on this, we propose a new vehicle classification system that could be used to support the design of a workable DBC scheme.
Robust GaN Electronics for Highly Reliable BF and RF Analog Systems in Aerospace Applications

The reliability and robustness of electronic subsystems dedicated to control and communications in the aerospace sector is more than ever one of the key points for safety and security, essentially during landing operations. As aircraft manufacturers have to diversify their mean of communication system's control (Full-Duplex and System), the reliability can be improved both by setting redundant remote networks, and also by using matched technologies for increased performances and robustness: the wide band-gap Gallium Nitride technology (GaN) newly developed fits perfectly to the requirements of systems such as Microwave Landing System (MLS) or Distance Measuring Equipments (DME) used during the final landing approach. Actually, GaN technology takes advantage of a natural immunity to electromagnetic perturbations, and is suitable for circuit design in the RF frequency band (up to 5 GHz for aircraft applications). The GaN based circuits are able to improve transceiver's efficiency (and so the radio-link budget) thanks to their low noise figure (receiver) and high output power (transmitter), reducing digital bit error rate during the code demodulation. This point is crucial while electronic runs in an urban environment. Moreover, the next electronic systems developed for " composite aircraft " will be more exposed to high electric field and CEM problems in circuits. Furthermore, this GaN integrated technology allows a reduction of volume for transmitter's subsystems , and is easy to setup (aircraft maintenance): the risk of immobilisation during the aircraft exploitation will be reduced and his maintainability will be easier. Finally, this technology is also perfectly suited for ground navigation control systems such as radar. This work presents the challenge for civil and military future avionic systems by making use of GaN based technologies.
Role of [18F]-fluoro-2-deoxy-d-glucose positron emission tomography in early and late therapy assessment of patients with advanced Hodgkin lymphoma treated with bleomycin, etoposide, adriamycin, cyclophosphamide, vincristine, procarbazine and prednisone

Abstract The prognostic value of positron emission tomography (PET) in early therapy response assessment, after completion of chemotherapy and 3 months after the end of treatment in advanced Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) remains to be defined. We report the results of 69 patients with first presentation of advanced HL. [18F]-fluoro-2-deoxy-d-glucose (FDG)-PET scan was performed after four cycles (PET-4), on completion of chemotherapy after 6/8 cycles (PET-6/8) and 3 months after the completion of chemotherapy (PET 3-months). Median follow-up was 55 months. The negative predictive value (NPV) for PET-4, PET-6/8 and PET 3-months was 98%, 95% and 97%, respectively. The 4-year progression-free survival (PFS) for PET-4 negative (n = 51) and PET-4 positive (n = 18) patients was 96% and 78%, respectively (p = 0.016). The 4-year PFS for PET-6/8 negative (n = 59) and PET-6/8 positive (n = 9) patients was 95% and 78%, respectively (p = 0.046). Patients with a large mediastinal mass constituted nearly all of the PET-4 positive (16/18) and PET-6/8 positive (8/9) patients. After radiotherapy of PET-6/8 positive patients, PET 3-months was negative in 64 (97%) and positive in two (3%) patients. PET 3-months after the end of chemotherapy was of limited value when the interim PET-4 was negative. Interim PET after four cycles of bleomycin, etoposide, adriamycin, cyclophosphamide, vincristine, procarbazine and prednisone (BEACOPP) is a strong prognostic marker for PFS in advanced HL.
Highly mobile DNA segment of IncI alpha plasmid R64: a clustered inversion region

When R64 DNA was digested with EcoRI, two DNA fragments not equimolar to the plasmid DNA were produced. A DNA region including these fragments was cloned (pKK009), and the pKK009 DNA sample was found to be a mixture of six or more DNA species with EcoRI, PstI, and AvaI cleavage sites at different positions, suggesting a complex rearrangement of DNA. When a part of the pKK009 DNA was removed by HindIII digestion, 33 different types of plasmids (pKK010-series plasmids) were obtained out of 58 clones tested, but no DNA rearrangement could be observed. On the basis of a comparison of the detailed restriction maps of these pKK010-series plasmids, we propose a model in which four DNA segments invert independently or in groups within the 1.95-kilobase region of R64, so that the arrangements of these four segments change randomly. The fixed pKK010-series plasmid DNA was again rearranged in the presence of R64, indicating that trans-acting gene function may be present to mediate the DNA rearrangement. The gene (tentatively designated as rci) was located on a 4.5-kilobase E9' fragment of R64.
Preferential Resistance of Dopaminergic Neurons to the Toxicity of Glutathione Depletion Is Independent of Cellular Glutathione Peroxidase and Is Mediated by Tetrahydrobiopterin

Abstract: Depletion of glutathione in the substantia nigra is one of the earliest changes observed in Parkinson’s disease (PD) and could initiate dopaminergic neuronal degeneration. Nevertheless, experimental glutathione depletion does not result in preferential toxicity to dopaminergic neurons either in vivo or in vitro. Moreover, dopaminergic neurons in culture are preferentially resistant to the toxicity of glutathione depletion, possibly owing to differences in cellular glutathione peroxidase (GPx1) function. However, mesencephalic cultures from GPx1‐knockout and wild‐type mice were equally susceptible to the toxicity of glutathione depletion, indicating that glutathione also has GPx1‐independent functions in neuronal survival. In addition, dopaminergic neurons were more resistant to the toxicity of both glutathione depletion and treatment with peroxides than nondopaminergic neurons regardless of their GPx1 status. To explain this enhanced antioxidant capacity, we hypothesized that tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4) may function as an antioxidant in dopaminergic neurons. In agreement, inhibition of BH4 synthesis increased the susceptibility of dopaminergic neurons to the toxicity of glutathione depletion, whereas increasing BH4 levels completely protected nondopaminergic neurons against it. Our results suggest that BH4 functions as a complementary antioxidant to the glutathione/glutathione peroxidase system and that changes in BH4 levels may contribute to the pathogenesis of PD.
1,3-β-D-Glucan contamination of common antimicrobials.

BACKGROUND 1,3-β-D-Glucan (BDG) is a fungal cell wall constituent used in the diagnosis of invasive fungal infections. BDG testing, although endorsed by the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer, suffers from limited specificity. False-positive results have been linked to haemodialysis membranes, blood products, antineoplastic agents and antimicrobial use. OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to determine whether false-positive BDG results in the context of antimicrobial use are caused by BDG present in infusion solutions. METHODS We obtained 35 antimicrobial drugs (30 antibiotics and 5 antifungals) and analysed their BDG content using two different assays. RESULTS Twenty-five antimicrobials (20 antibiotics and all the tested antifungals) contained enough BDG to trigger a positive test. Depending on the substance, BDG varied between 9 and 2818 pg/mL. CONCLUSIONS A majority of the available antimicrobial substances contained BDG, potentially limiting the utility of BDG testing in the context of prior exposure to these drugs. As the cumulative effects of repeated BDG exposure are unknown, efforts to reduce contamination should be considered.