Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Time course and calcium dependence of transmitter release at a single ribbon synapse

At the first synapse in the auditory pathway, the receptor potential of mechanosensory hair cells is converted into a firing pattern in auditory nerve fibers. For the accurate coding of timing and intensity of sound signals, transmitter release at this synapse must occur with the highest precision. To measure directly the transfer characteristics of the hair cell afferent synapse, we implemented simultaneous whole-cell recordings from mammalian inner hair cells (IHCs) and auditory nerve fiber terminals that typically receive input from a single ribbon synapse. During a 1-s IHC depolarization, the synaptic response depressed >90%, representing the main source for adaptation in the auditory nerve. Synaptic depression was slightly affected by α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid receptor desensitization; however, it was mostly caused by reduced vesicular release. When the transfer function between transmitter release and Ca2+ influx was tested at constant open probability for Ca2+ channels (potentials >0 mV), a super linear relation was found. This relation is presumed to result from the cooperative binding of three to four Ca2+ ions at the Ca2+ sensor. However, in the physiological range for receptor potentials (−50 to −30 mV), the relation between Ca2+ influx and afferent activity was linear, assuring minimal distortion in the coding of sound intensity. Changes in Ca2+ influx caused an increase in release probability, but not in the average size of multivesicular synaptic events. By varying Ca2+ buffering in the IHC, we further investigate how Ca2+ channel and Ca2+ sensor at this synapse might relate.
1-{4-[(1H-1,2,4-Triazol-1-yl)methyl]benzyl}-1H-1,2,4-triazol-4-ium perchlorate

In the crystal structure of the title compound, C12H13N6 +·ClO4 −, the cation, located about an inversion center, is monoprotonated, and one H atom is disordered over two sites on N atoms of the two triazole rings, each with an occupancy factor of 0.5. The perchlorate anion has C 2 symmetry, the Cl atom and one O atom lying on the twofold rotation axis; the anion is thus disordered over two sites of equal occupancy. In the cation, the triazole ring makes a dihedral angle of 84.75 (7)° with the plane of the benzene ring. In the crystal, intermolecular N—H⋯N hydrogen bonding between the triazole and triazolium rings links the cations into a wave-like supramolecular chain. Weak intermolecular C—H⋯N and C—H⋯O hydrogen bonding is also present.
Think about it This Way: Attribute Agenda-Setting Function of the Press and the public's Evaluation of a Local Issue

This study examined the attribute agenda-setting function of the media, which refers to significant correspondence between prominent issue attributes in the media and the agenda of attributes among audiences. An opinion survey on a local issue and a content analysis of a local newspaper revealed that, by covering certain issue aspects more prominently, the media increase the salience of these aspects among audience members. We also found an important outcome of attribute agenda setting, attribute priming effects. Findings indicated that issue attributes salient in the media were functioning as significant dimensions of issue evaluation among audience members. This study concluded that the media, by emphasizing certain attributes of an issue, tell us “how to think about” this issue as well as “what to think about. ”
COMPARISON AMONG SEQUENTIAL SUBOPTIMAL APPROACHES WITH FOCUS ON STOCHASTIC PRODUCTION PLANNING

Within a decision-making hierarchy of production planning process, the majority of problems are dependent on the time component and strongly sensitive to endogenous and exogenous components. These problems can be related to an important class of stochastic optimal control. Difficulties in providing a closed-loop policy for them, lead to search for sub-optimal alternatives. In this paper, four different sub-optimal procedures are investigated in relation to their implementation by dynamic programming algorithm. Based on an aggregated production-planning problem, a case study is considered with the purpose of comparing the different procedures. The best one is used to provide scenarios relating to the future use of material resources of the company. Copyright@2002IFAC
Recent progress and challenges of organometal halide perovskite solar cells

We review recent progress in the development of organometal halide perovskite solar cells. We discuss different compounds used to construct perovskite photoactive layers, as well as the optoelectronic properties of this system. The factors that affect the morphology of the perovskite active layer are explored, e.g. material composition, film deposition methods, casting solvent and various post-treatments. Different strategies are reviewed that have recently emerged to prepare high performing perovskite films, creating polycrystalline films having either large or small grain size. Devices that are constructed using meso-superstructured and planar architectures are summarized and the impact of the fabrication process on operational efficiency is discussed. Finally, important research challenges (hysteresis, thermal and moisture instability, mechanical flexibility, as well as the development of lead-free materials) in the development of perovskite solar cells are outlined and their potential solutions are discussed.
A novel supervised multi-model modeling method based on k-means clustering

A supervised multi-model modeling method is proposed for the nonlinear system in this paper. In the traditional k-means clustering method, the error of modeling multi-model is always ignored or even not considered in the clustering process. So, this unsupervised clustering method has large modeling error. In the new modeling method, the initial clusters are firstly obtained by the k-means clustering, then the data of clusters are reclassified considering the modeling errors of the multi-model, at last the new precise model parameters are obtained. The paper has given the analysis of the rationality of the method. In the end of the paper, the simulation results of the wastewater treatment process show that the supervised multi-model modeling method can improve the modeling precision and predictive performance.
Equalization algorithm for distributed energy storage systems in islanded AC microgrids

This paper presents a centralized strategy for equalizing the state of charge of distributed energy storage systems in an islanded ac microgrid. The strategy is based on a simple algorithm denoted as equalization algorithm, which modifies the charge or discharge ratio on the time, for distributed energy storage systems, within a determined period of time in order to equalize the state of charge. The proposed approach has been tested in a MATLAB/Simulink model of the microgrid where the performance of the proposed strategy was verified.
Adapting the windshield survey model to community health education.

Originally developed to locate environmental conditions conducive to the incubation and spread of communicable disease, the windshield survey technique (1) was successfully adapted for employment by aides in a health education project designed to persuade more women in target populations to have Papanicolaou smear tests annually (2). The Health Education Aide Trainee (HEAT) projeet was conducted in three major California neighborhoods: the Western Addition area of San Francisco (an inner city, predominately black ghetto), sections of Oakland (Fruitvale and East Oakland) with mixed ethnic populations (American Indian, Spanish speaking, oriental, and black), and a rural section of southern Alameda County. The target population in rural Alameda County was primarily Spanish speaking. The Alameda County residents usually had only seasonal employment, primarily in agriculture, either in the fields or in the canning and packing sheds. Employment opportunities in the urban communities were varied. Technique
Obtaiment of Pudu ( Pudu pudu ) deer Embryos by the Somatic Nuclear Transfer Technique

The pudu (Pudu pudu) is the smallest of South American deer species; it reaches no more than 40 cm at the withers and weights less than 15 kg (Blumberg, 2002). It is a deer native to Chile and Argentine and can be found from sea level up to 1700 meters of altitude. In Chile it is distributed from 35o10'S (VII Region) to 46o45'S (XI Region). This species has been considered endangered in accordance with the Red Book from the World Union for Nature (U.I.C.N.) and the appendix 1 of the CITES (Glade, 1993).
Proceedings of the 27th Canadian Conference on Computational Geometry, CCCG 2015, Kingston, Ontario, Canada, August 10-12, 2015

When applying iterative compression to solve an optimization problem, we construct a smaller auxiliary graph from the input graph, solve the problem on this smaller graph, and then use the solution to solve the original problem. We present a variant of this approach in which the smaller graph inherits the connectivity properties of the original graph. This is especially useful when trying to solve embedding or routing problems. We present three applications which illustrate this. To warm up we present a simple linear time algorithm which tests planarity and embeds a planar input in the plane. We then present, for every fixed k, a linear time algorithm which determines if an input graph has crossing number at most k, and obtains a corresponding embedding if it does. Finally we present a linear time algorithm which given four vertices s1,s2,t1,t2 of a graph G determines if there are 2 vertex disjoint paths P1 and P2 such that Pi contains si and ti. It either finds the desired two paths or an embedding up to 3-cuts of G in a disc which proves that the paths cannot exist. As well as introducing the new technique, our talk will highlight some of the connections between graph minor theory and embedding algorithms. (This is a joint work with Kenichi Kawarabayashi and Zhentao Li).
Protein Tyrosine Kinase 6 Directly Phosphorylates AKT and Promotes AKT Activation in Response to Epidermal Growth Factor

ABSTRACT Protein tyrosine kinase 6 (PTK6) is a nonmyristoylated Src-related intracellular tyrosine kinase. Although not expressed in the normal mammary gland, PTK6 is expressed in a majority of human breast tumors examined, and it has been linked to ErbB receptor signaling and AKT activation. Here we demonstrate that AKT is a direct substrate of PTK6 and that AKT tyrosine residues 315 and 326 are phosphorylated by PTK6. Association of PTK6 with AKT occurs through the SH3 domain of PTK6 and is enhanced through SH2 domain-mediated interactions following tyrosine phosphorylation of AKT. Using Src, Yes, and Fyn null mouse embryonic fibroblasts (SYF cells), we show that PTK6 phosphorylates AKT in a Src family kinase-independent manner. Introduction of PTK6 into SYF cells sensitized these cells to physiological levels of epidermal growth factor (EGF) and increased AKT activation. Stable introduction of active PTK6 into SYF cells also resulted in increased proliferation. Knockdown of PTK6 in the BPH-1 human prostate epithelial cell line led to decreased AKT activation in response to EGF. Our data indicate that in addition to promoting growth factor receptor-mediated activation of AKT, PTK6 can directly activate AKT to promote oncogenic signaling.
AlGaN/GaN Polarization-Doped Field-Effect Transistors With Graded Heterostructure

The design, fabrication, and characterization of AlGaN/GaN polarization-doped field-effect transistors (PolFETs) with graded heterostructure are presented in this paper. The 3-D profiles of carriers are obtained across the graded AlGaN/GaN heterostructure grown on a sapphire substrate, which brings about some novel features. The dc transfer and frequency characteristics exhibit bias-insensitive throughout the low- and high-voltage operating regions, demonstrating the potential for high linearity applications. In addition, dynamic I-V measurement was carried out to analyze the trapping behaviors. Negligible current collapses were observed in the unpassivated PolFETs with graded heterostructure, which can be explained in the aspect of unique energy band profiles of AlGaN/GaN graded heterostructures.
Feedback stabilization of a nonholonomic wheeled mobile robot

When a nonlinear system is not stabilizable by a smooth state feedback, it is common to think of the discontinuous feedback as being the alternative. However, another possibility is to consider a smooth time-varying feedback in which the independent time index plays the role of an extra variable. This possibility is illustrated in the case of two degrees-of-freedom nonholonomic wheeled mobile robot for which the globally stabilizing smooth feedback is derived. <<ETX>>
Inhibition of Complement Activation with EDTA in Vivo during Sham Hemodialysis

To check whether in vivo EDTA prevents complement activation resulting from blood contact with the dialyzer membrane, sham hemodialysis (HD) was performed in seven healthy volunteers using Cuprophan hollow-fiber dialyzers. Blood samples were drawn from the arterial and venous blood lines of the dialyzer before and after EDTA was infused into the arterial line. Venous line plasma C3a concentrations before EDTA infusion were significantly higher than after EDTA. Also, venous line plasma C3a concentrations before and after EDTA infusion were significantly higher than in the arterial line. These results indicate that complement activation can be attenuated by EDTA during sham HD. Technical improvements in the procedure may permit complete inhibition of complement activation.
Mining opinions on the basis of their affectivity

Recent reports reveal that users daily consult Web communities opinions for getting an idea about a product/service before they buy it. Furthermore, the same users, freely and without a direct economic return, collaborate in posting new reviews to the community. In most of cases these posts contain an affective content that is needed to explain the meaning of the review, and that is ignored by recent opinion mining techniques. In this work, we propose an affective annotation model of shared reviews, which takes into account the affectivity expressed by the Web community. The annotation model is then used for improving opinion mining results. A case study demonstrating the effectiveness of the approach is also provided. The method can be exploited to better organize the collaborative work of reviews management, and to better take advantage of reviews inside the community.
Viral genotypes and response to interferon in patients with acute prolonged hepatitis B virus infection of adulthood in Japan

Acute hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection was diagnosed in 57 adults admitted to Toranomon Hospital in Tokyo, Japan. Genotypes of HBV were determined by a serological method and compared to those in 1,077 patients with chronic hepatitis B. The distribution of genotypes were: genotype A (acute, 22.8% vs. chronic, 1.9%; P < 0.00001); B (14.0% vs. 9.4%); C (43.9% vs. 87.7%, P = 0.004); D (1.8% vs. 0.2%); F (1.8% vs. 0.2%); and unable to be typed (15.8% vs. 0.6%, P = 0.001). The infection persisted in seven (12%) of them. They included six (86%) of the seven patients who received prednisolone or glycyrrhizin during an acute phase of illness and one of the 41 (2%) who did not (P = 0.01). Interferon was given to the seven patients with acute prolonged HBV infection, and four of them responded by clearing hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) and surface antigen (HBsAg) from serum. Of the four responders, one was infected with HBV genotype B and three with genotype C. HBsAg persisted in the remaining three patients all of whom were infected with HBV genotype A, and HBeAg stayed positive in one of them. These results indicate that HBV genotype A prevails in Japanese patients with acute hepatitis B, and suggest a high efficacy of interferon in the adult patients with acute prolonged HBV infection, except in those infected with HBV genotype A. J. Med. Virol. 68:522–528, 2002. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Ovum pick-up in cattle: a 25 yr retrospective analysis

Repeated oocyte collection by transvaginal ultrasound-guided follicular puncture (Ovum Pick-Up: OPU), implicitly associated to in vitro embryo production (IVEP), has become alternative and competitive to superovulation for embryo production in cattle. It is alternative because it can be applied successfully irrespective of the reproductive status of the donor, i.e. in pregnant and acyclic animals, in those having patent tube or genital tract infections and in animals insensitive to superovulatory treatment. It is competitive because it can yield more transferable embryos per donor on a monthly basis. Through the years, the number of transferable embryos provided by OPU has significantly increased mainly due to the technological improvement of IVEP. However, limits to OPU application remain due to lower pregnancy rate of in vitro vs. in vivo produced embryos or non optimal cooperation between OPU practitioners and IVF laboratories. This review will focus on the technical modifications proposed for improving OPU efficiency, the analysis of the physiological parameters that affect OPU and IVEP efficiency and, finally, the use of OPU as a tool to study and manipulate reproductive activity in cattle.
Characterization of lipid-rich plaques using spectroscopic optical coherence tomography

Abstract. Intravascular optical coherence tomography (IV-OCT) is a high-resolution imaging method used to visualize the internal structures of walls of coronary arteries in vivo. However, accurate characterization of atherosclerotic plaques with gray-scale IV-OCT images is often limited by various intrinsic artifacts. In this study, we present an algorithm for characterizing lipid-rich plaques with a spectroscopic OCT technique based on a Gaussian center of mass (GCOM) metric. The GCOM metric, which reflects the absorbance properties of lipids, was validated using a lipid phantom. In addition, the proposed characterization method was successfully demonstrated in vivo using an atherosclerotic rabbit model and was found to have a sensitivity and specificity of 94.3% and 76.7% for lipid classification, respectively.
An Effective Single Solar Cell Equivalent Circuit Model for Two or More Solar Cells Connected in Series

We report on the development of a simplified single solar cell equivalent circuit model which describes two or more solar cells that are connected in series with the device parameters of a single effective solar cell. The model depends only on the voltage that is applied to the device, and effective device parameters can be calculated from subcell parameters. The constraints for the applicability of the effective model are discussed. The effective model is applicable if it is possible to determine its effective diode parameters-either by calculation or by extraction from data.
Abnormalities in hemispheric specialization of caudate nucleus connectivity in schizophrenia.

IMPORTANCE Hemispheric specialization of the human brain is a marker of successful neurodevelopment. Altered brain asymmetry that has been repeatedly reported in schizophrenia may represent consequences of disrupted neurodevelopment in the disorder. However, a complete picture of functional specialization in the schizophrenic brain and its connectional substrates is yet to be unveiled. OBJECTIVES To quantify intrinsic hemispheric specialization at cortical and subcortical levels and to reveal potential disease effects in schizophrenia. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS Resting-state functional connectivity magnetic resonance imaging has been previously used to quantitatively measure hemispheric specialization in healthy individuals in a reliable manner. We quantified the intrinsic hemispheric specialization at the whole brain level in 31 patients with schizophrenia and 37 demographically matched healthy controls from November 28, 2007, through June 29, 2010, using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging. RESULTS The caudate nucleus and cortical regions with connections to the caudate nucleus had markedly abnormal hemispheric specialization in schizophrenia. Compared with healthy controls, patients exhibited weaker specialization in the left, but the opposite pattern in the right, caudate nucleus (P < .001). Patients with schizophrenia also had a disruption of the interhemispheric coordination among the cortical regions with connections to the caudate nucleus. A linear classifier based on the specialization of the caudate nucleus distinguished patients from controls with a classification accuracy of 74% (with a sensitivity of 68% and a specificity of 78%). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE These data suggest that hemispheric specialization could serve as a potential imaging biomarker of schizophrenia that, compared with task-based functional magnetic resonance imaging measures, is less prone to the confounding effects of variation in task compliance, cognitive ability, and command of language.
Role of Magnetic Resonance for Assessing Structure and Function of Trabecular Bone

The strength of trabecular bone and its resistance to fracture traditionally have been associated with apparent density. This paradigm assumes that neither the ultrastructural nor microstructural make-up of the bone is altered during aging and osteoporosis. During the past decade there has been growing evidence from both laboratory and clinical studies against this view. Recent advances in noninvasive imaging technology, notably micro-magnetic resonance imaging (&mgr; MRI) and computed tomography, offer an opportunity to test the hypothesis that architecture is an independent contributor to bone strength. MRI appears to be ideally suited for this task because bone marrow has uniform high signal intensity while bone appears with background intensity, thus yielding a binary system tomographic system. However, in vivo trabecular bone imaging is hampered by the limited signal-to-noise ratio that precludes voxel sizes much smaller than trabecular thickness, which would be required to yield a bimodal intensity histogram for segmentation of the image into bone and marrow. The resulting partial volume blurring leads to fuzzy boundaries. Successful structure analysis thus demands more elaborate processing strategies. This article reviews new approaches conceived in the authors' laboratory toward acquisition, processing, and structural analysis of trabecular bone images in the limited spatial resolution regimen of in vivo &mgr; MRI. These methods are shown to provide detailed insight into the three-dimensional trabecular network topology and scale at the distal radius or distal tibia that typically serve as surrogate sites. The &mgr; MRI–derived structural parameters are shown to be associated with the bone's biomechanical properties and fracture resistance. Further, the technology has advanced to a stage permitting serial studies in laboratory animals and humans as a means to evaluate the effects of treatment. The method currently is confined to peripheral skeletal sites, and its extension to typical fracture sites such as the proximal femur hinges on further advances in detection sensitivity.