Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Individual Effects of Seasonal Changes, Visitor Density, and Concurrent Bear Behavior on Stereotypical Behaviors in Captive Polar Bears (Ursus maritimus)

Stereotypical behaviors in captive polar bears (Ursus maritimus) can be detrimental to their welfare. These behaviors can be reduced through enrichment programs but are often not completely eliminated, so identifying potential triggers is important. The present study investigated the influences of seasonal changes, visitor density, and concurrent bear activity on stereotypical behaviors exhibited by 3 captive polar bears at the Toronto Zoo. All bears exhibited these behaviors; however, individual differences were found in duration and form. The male exhibited less stereotypical behavior during spring, and the females exhibited less stereotypical behavior during winter. An increase in visitor density was associated with more stereotypical behavior in 1 female but less stereotypical behavior in the other 2 bears. All bears engaged in more stereotypical behaviors when the other bears were inactive, and 1 female engaged in more stereotypical behaviors when the other bears were out of sight. Further, when conspecifics were active, all bears engaged in less stereotypical behaviors. Given the variability among individual bears, future enrichment programs must be tailored to the needs of individuals to maximize efficacy.
Theoretical conformational analysis for neurotransmitters in the gas phase and in aqueous solution. Norepinephrine.

The natural neurotransmitter (R)-norepinephrine takes the monocationic form in 93% abundance at the physiological tissue pH of 7.4. Ab initio and DFT/B3LYP calculations were performed for 12 protonated conformers of (R)-norepinephrine in the gas phase with geometry optimizations up to the MP2/6-311++G level, and with single-point calculations up to the QCISD(T) level at the HF/6-31G-optimized geometries. Four monohydrates were studied at the MP2/6-31G//HF/6-31G level. In the gas phase, the G1 conformer is the most stable with phenyl.NH(3)(+) gauche and HO(alc). NH(3)(+) gauche arrangements. A strained intramolecular hydrogen bond was found for conformers (G1 and T) with close NH(3)(+) and OH groups. Upon rotation of the NH(3)(+) group as a whole unit about the C(beta)-C(alpha) axis, a 3-fold potential was calculated with free energies for barriers of 3-12 kcal/mol at the HF/6-31G level. Only small deviations were found in MP2/6-311++G single-point calculations. A 2-fold potential was calculated for the phenyl rotation with free energies of 11-13 kcal/mol for the barriers at T = 310 K and p = 1 atm. A molecular mechanics docking study of (R)-norepinephrine in a model binding pocket of the beta-adrenergic receptor shows that the ligand takes a conformation close to the T(3) arrangement. The effect of aqueous solvation was considered by the free energy perturbation method implemented in Monte Carlo simulations. There are 4-5 strongly bound water molecules in hydrogen bonds to the conformers. Although hydration stabilizes mostly the G2 form with gauche phenyl.NH(3)(+) arrangement and a water-exposed NH(3)(+) group, the conformer population becomes T > G1 > G2, in agreement with the PMR spectroscopy measurements by Solmajer et al. (Z. Naturforsch. 1983, 38c, 758). Solvent effects reduce the free energies for barriers to 3-6 and 9-12 kcal/mol for rotations about the C(beta)-C(alpha) and the C(1)(ring)-C(beta) axes, respectively.
Morphology and axonal projection pattern of neurons in the telencephalon of the fire‐bellied toad Bombina orientalis: An anterograde, retrograde, and intracellular biocytin labeling study

The connectivity and cytoarchitecture of telencephalic centers except dorsal and medial pallium were studied in the fire‐bellied toad Bombina orientalis by anterograde and retrograde biocytin labeling and intracellular biocytin injection (total of 148 intracellularly labeled neurons or neuron clusters). Our findings suggest the following telencephalic divisions: (1) a central amygdala–bed nucleus of the stria terminalis in the caudal midventral telencephalon, connected to visceral–autonomic centers; (2) a vomeronasal amygdala in the caudolateral ventral telencephalon receiving input from the accessory olfactory bulb and projecting mainly to the preoptic region/hypothalamus; (3) an olfactory amygdala in the caudal pole of the telencephalon lateral to the vomeronasal amygdala receiving input from the main olfactory bulb and projecting to the hypothalamus; (4) a medial amygdala receiving input from the anterior dorsal thalamus and projecting to the medial pallium, septum, and hypothalamus; (5) a ventromedial column formed by a nucleus accumbens and a ventral pallidum projecting to the central amygdala, hypothalamus, and posterior tubercle; (6) a lateral column constituting the dorsal striatum proper rostrally and the dorsal pallidum caudally, and a ventrolateral column constituting the ventral striatum. We conclude that the caudal mediolateral complex consisting of the extended central, vomeronasal, and olfactory amygdala of anurans represents the ancestral condition of the amygdaloid complex. During the evolution of the mammalian telencephalon this complex was shifted medially and involuted. The mammalian basolateral amygdala apparently is an evolutionary new structure, but the medial portion of the amygdalar complex of anurans reveals similarities in input and output with this structure and may serve similar functions. J. Comp. Neurol. 478:35–61, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Increased concentration of an indigenous proviral mouse mammary tumor virus long terminal repeat-containing transcript is associated with neoplastic transformation of mammary epithelium in C3H/Sm mice

Increased amounts of mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV) proviral transcripts were found in RNA dot blots from MMTV-negative, C3H/Sm mouse mammary tumors which arose spontaneously or were induced by hormonal or chemical carcinogens or both. Other dot blots probed with a long terminal repeat (LTR) probe showed that LTR (MMTV)-containing transcripts were disproportionately represented in these tumor RNAs. Different segments of the MMTV genome were used in sequential hybridizations to Northern blots to determine relative sequence content and size of MMTV transcripts in transformed mammary tissues, as compared with those in lactating mammary glands. Increased amounts of 4.4-kilobase env and 8.1-kilobase genomic MMTV transcripts were detected with an env probe in many of the tumor RNAs examined. Hybridization of the same Northern blots containing tumor RNAs with an LTR probe revealed a 2.2-kilobase transcript which was prominent in RNAs from chemically-induced, hormonally-induced, and spontaneous mammary tumors relative to those from lactating mammary glands. The LTR-containing transcript did not possess significant homology to either env or gag-pol probes. This distinctive, transformation-enhanced, 2.2-kilobase transcript may contain mouse cellular sequences in addition to LTR sequences or it may represent the message for a nonstructural viral protein encoded within the LTR open reading frame of one or more of the four C3H/Sm MMTV proviral genes.
Temporal Coordination between Performing Musicians

Many common behaviours require people to coordinate the timing of their actions with the timing of others' actions. We examined whether representations of musicians' actions are activated in coperformers with whom they must coordinate their actions in time and whether coperformers simulate each other's actions using their own motor systems during temporal coordination. Pianists performed right-hand melodies along with simple or complex left-hand accompaniments produced by themselves or by another pianist. Individual performers' preferred performance rates were measured in solo performance of the right-hand melody. The complexity of the left-hand accompaniment influenced the temporal grouping structure of the right-hand melody in the same way when it was performed by the self or by the duet partner, providing some support for the action corepresentation hypothesis. In contrast, accompaniment complexity had little influence on temporal coordination measures (asynchronies and cross-correlations between parts). Temporal coordination measures were influenced by a priori similarities between partners' preferred rates; partners who had similar preferred rates in solo performance were better synchronized and showed mutual adaptation to each other's timing during duet performances. These findings extend previous findings of action corepresentation and action simulation to a task that requires precise temporal coordination of independent yet simultaneous actions.
Multi-camera occupancy reasoning With a height probability map for efficient shape modeling

This paper deals with the occupancy reasoning in a multi-camera environments. With the recent development of hardware technologies, the use of multiple cameras for vision algorithms has gained more attention because they are useful for conducting 3D reconstruction from the 2D scenes captured by camera sensors and solving occlusion in crowded environments. As cameras involved are increasing, shape modeling from multi-view sequences gains advantages in aspect of accuracy and coverage but not in performance. To build shape model in large spaces efficiently, we estimate three-dimensional occupancy of multiple moving objects for shape modeling by restricting the scanning space within the occupancy region.
Prolonged Electromechanical Interval Unmasks Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Dysplasia/Cardiomyopathy in the Subclinical Stage

Arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia/cardiomyopathy (ARVD/C) is characterized by high incidence of ventricular arrhythmias. Overt ARVD/C is preceded by a subclinical stage with lack of detectable ECG and structural abnormalities. Activation delay is present before structural abnormalities and is a hallmark of arrhythmogenesis. Deformation imaging may unmask activation delay in the subclinical stage.
Membrane properties and synaptic responses of rat striatal neurones in vitro.

1. A tissue slice containing a section of striatum was cut obliquely from rat brain so as to preserve adjacent cortex and pallidum. Intracellular recordings were made from 368 neurones, using either conventional or tight‐seal configurations. 2. Two types of neurone were distinguished electrophysiologically. Principal cells (96%) had very negative resting potentials (‐89 mV) and a low input resistance at the resting membrane potential (39 M omega): membrane conductance (10 nS at ‐65 mV) increased within tens of milliseconds after the onset of hyperpolarization (99 nS at ‐120 mV). Secondary cells (4%) had less negative resting potentials (‐60 mV) and a higher input resistance (117 m omega at the resting potential): hyperpolarization caused an inward current to develop over hundreds of milliseconds that had the properties of H‐current. 3. Most principal cells were activated antidromically by electrical stimulation of the globus pallidus or internal capsule. Intracellular labelling with biocytin showed that principal cells had a medium sized soma (10‐18 microns), extensive dendritic trees densely studded with spines and, in some cases, a main axon which extended towards the globus pallidus. 4. Electrical stimulation of the corpus callosum or external capsule evoked a depolarizing postsynaptic potential. This synaptic potential was reversibly blocked by a combination of 6‐cyano‐7‐nitroquinoxaline‐2,3‐dione (CNQX, 10 microM) and DL‐2‐amino‐5‐phosphonovaleric acid (APV, 30 microM), but was unaffected by bicuculline (30 microM) and picrotoxin (100 microM). The underlying synaptic current had a fast component (time to peak about 4 ms), the amplitude of which was linearly related to membrane potential and which was blocked by CNQX; in CNQX the synaptic current had a slower component (time to peak about 10 ms) which showed voltage dependence typical of N‐methyl‐D‐aspartate (NMDA) receptors. Both currents reversed at ‐5 mV. 5. Focal electrical stimulation within the striatum (100‐300 microns from the site of intracellular recording) evoked a synaptic potential that was partially blocked (45‐95%) by CNQX and APV: the remaining synaptic potential was blocked by bicuculline (30 microM). The bicuculline‐sensitive synaptic current reversed at the chloride equilibrium potential. 6. The findings confirm that the majority of neostriatal neurones (principal cells, medium spiny neurones) project to the pallidum and receive synaptic inputs from cerebral cortex mediated by an excitatory amino acid acting through NMDA and non‐NMDA receptors. These cells also receive synaptic inputs from intrinsic striatal neurones mediated by GABA. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Network condition detection for video transport over wireless Internet

Real-time video transport over wireless Internet faces many challenges due to the heterogeneous network environment. A robust network condition classification algorithm using multiple end-to-end metrics and support vector machine (SVM) is proposed to classify different network events and model the transition pattern of network conditions. End-to-end quality-of-service (QoS) mechanisms like congestion control, error control, and power control can benefit from the network condition information and react to different network situations appropriately. The proposed network condition classification algorithm uses SVM as a classifier to cluster different end-to-end metrics such as end-to-end delay, delay jitter, throughput and packet loss-rate for the HDP traffic with TCP-friendly rate control (TFRC), which is used for video transport. The algorithm is also flexible to classify different numbers of states representing different levels of network events such as wireline congestion and wireless channel loss. Simulation results using ns2 show the effectiveness of the proposed scheme
Sibling pairs with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder: associations of subtypes, symptoms and demographic variables

Background. Affected sibling pairs provide a valuable means of investigating the familial basis of clinical heterogeneity in schizophrenia. Methods. Associations of schizophrenia subtypes, psychotic symptoms (defined by SAPS/SANS and OPCRIT), affective episodes and demographic variables were studied in 109 sibling pairs with DSM-IV schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder. Results. None of the subtypes or affective episodes were significantly associated within pairs. A broad definition of positive formal thought disorder, grandiose delusions and delusions of influence (all from OPCRIT) were modestly associated. There was no excess of same-sex pairs. There were modest associations for age of illness onset, pre-morbid adjustment and illness severity. Caution is required in interpreting the results because many statistical tests were carried out. Conclusions. None of the variables appears to be closely associated with specific genetic or shared environmental factors that contribute liability to schizophrenia. They are at best only weakly associated with such factors, and/or are associated with factors unrelated to the aetiology of schizophrenia.
Altered Functional Connectivity of the Basal Nucleus of Meynert in Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Resting-State fMRI Study

Background: Cholinergic dysfunction plays an important role in mild cognitive impairment (MCI). The basal nucleus of Meynert (BNM) provides the main source of cortical cholinergic innervation. Previous studies have characterized structural changes of the cholinergic basal forebrain in individuals at risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease (AD). However, whether and how functional connectivity of the BNM (BNM-FC) is altered in MCI remains unknown. Objective: The aim of this study was to identify alterations in BNM-FC in individuals with MCI as compared to healthy controls (HCs), and to examine the relationship between these alterations with neuropsychological measures in individuals with MCI. Method: One-hundred-and-one MCI patients and 103 HCs underwent resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI). Imaging data were processed with SPM8 and CONN software. BNM-FC was examined via correlation in low frequency fMRI signal fluctuations between the BNM and all other brain voxels. Group differences were examined with a covariance analysis with age, gender, education level, mean framewise displacement (FD) and global correlation (GCOR) as nuisance covariates. Pearson’s correlation was conducted to evaluate the relationship between the BNM-FC and clinical assessments. Result: Compared with HCs, individuals with MCI showed significantly decreased BNM-FC in the left insula extending into claustrum (insula/claustrum). Furthermore, greater decrease in BNM-FC with insula/claustrum was associated with more severe impairment in immediate recall during Auditory Verbal Learning Test (AVLT) in MCI patients. Conclusion: MCI is associated with changes in BNM-FC to the insula/claustrum in relation to cognitive impairments. These new findings may advance research of the cholinergic bases of cognitive dysfunction during healthy aging and in individuals at risk of developing AD.
A plasmid-based Escherichia coli gene expression system with cell-to-cell variation below the extrinsic noise limit

Experiments in synthetic biology and microbiology can benefit from protein expression systems with low cell-to-cell variability (noise) and expression levels precisely tunable across a useful dynamic range. Despite advances in understanding the molecular biology of microbial gene regulation, many experiments employ protein-expression systems exhibiting high noise and nearly all-or-none responses to induction. I present an expression system that incorporates elements known to reduce gene expression noise: negative autoregulation and bicistronic transcription. I show by stochastic simulation that while negative autoregulation can produce a more gradual response to induction, bicistronic expression of a repressor and gene of interest can be necessary to reduce noise below the extrinsic limit. I synthesized a plasmid-based system incorporating these principles and studied its properties in Escherichia coli cells, using flow cytometry and fluorescence microscopy to characterize induction dose-response, induction/repression kinetics and gene expression noise. By varying ribosome binding site strengths, expression levels from 55— 10,740 molecules/cell were achieved with noise below the extrinsic limit. Individual strains are inducible across a dynamic range greater than 20-fold. Experimental comparison of different regulatory networks confirmed that bicistronic autoregulation reduces noise, and revealed unexpectedly high noise for a conventional expression system with a constitutively expressed transcriptional repressor. I suggest a hybrid, low-noise expression system to increase the dynamic range.
High Developmental Competence of Pig Oocytes after Meiotic Inhibition witha Specific M-Phase Promoting Factor Kinase Inhibitor, Butyrolactone I1

Abstract Butyrolactone I specifically inhibits M-phase promoting factor activation and prevents the resumption of meiosis. These experiments were conducted to examine effects of butyrolactone I on pig oocytes in a serum-free maturation system. The first experiment was conducted to determine the effect of butyrolactone I (0–100 μM) on nuclear maturation. At concentrations of ≥12.5 μM, germinal vesicle breakdown was prevented in >90% of the oocytes after 24 h of culture. In the second experiment, the kinetics of in vitro maturation of butyrolactone I-treated oocytes was investigated. Oocytes were treated with 0 or 12.5 μM butyrolactone I and FSH for 20 h and then cultured with LH in the absence of butyrolactone I for another 24 h. Fewer butyrolactone I-treated oocytes reached MII stage at 36 h compared with controls (5.8% vs. 62.4%, P < 0.01). However, by 44 h, 83.4% of butyrolactone I-treated oocytes reached MII compared with 88.6% of controls. In the third experiment, butyrolactone I-treated oocytes were fertilized and cultured in vitro. No differences (P > 0.05) were found between controls and treated groups in cleavage rate, blastocyst rate, or mean number of cells per blastocyst. Effects of butyrolactone I on mitogen-activated protein kinase activation and localization of microfilaments and active mitochondria were examined by Western blot analysis and laser scanning confocal microscopy, respectively. The results suggested that although butyrolactone I reversibly inhibited germinal vesicle breakdown and mitogen-activated protein kinase activation, it did not affect mitochondrial and microfilament dynamics. Butyrolactone I is a potent inhibitor of nuclear maturation of porcine oocytes, and the inhibition is fully reversible.
1,25‐Dihydroxyvitamin D3 is a potent inducer of nerve growth factor synthesis

1,25‐dihydroxyvitamin D3(1,25‐(OH)2D3), a metabolically active form of vitamin D, is shown to increase in a dose‐dependent manner the cellular pool of NGF mRNA in murine L‐929 fibroblasts cultured in a serum‐free medium. This effect can be detected as early as 3 hours after 1,25‐(OH)2D3 addition and persists for at least 28 hours. It is accompanied by an enhancement of the amount of NGF‐protein secreted in the culture medium. Since the proto‐oncogene c‐fos appears involved in the regulation of the NGF gene (Mocchetti et al.: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 86:3871‐895, 1989; Hengerer et at: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America87:3899‐3903, 1990), the effect of 1,25‐(OH)2D3on c‐fos expression was analysed and compared to that elicited by other inducers of the NGF gene, serum (Wion et al: FEBS‐ Letters 189:37‐41, 1985) and phorbol 12‐myristate 13‐acetate (PMA) (Wion et al: FEBS Letters 262:42‐44, 1990). Addition of serum or PMA to L‐929 cells was; rapidly followed by a transient activation of the c‐fos gene. In contrast,c‐fos transcripts remained undetected in the presence of 1,25‐(OH)3D3 The failure to find any evidence of c‐fos expression suggests that 1,25‐(OH)2D3could enhance the pool of NGF mRNA by a mechanism independent of the c‐fos pathway. The effective concentration range, as low as 10−10 M raises the possibility that 1,25‐(OH)2D3 could represent one of the serum factors that might contribute to the regulation of the NGF gene in vitro and possibly in vivo. This suggests a possible therapeutic interest for 1,25‐(OH)2D3in neurodegenerative diseases.