Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Seasonal Regulation of Membrane and Intracellular Corticosteroid Receptors in the House Sparrow Brain

A number of studies have demonstrated seasonal regulation of the adrenocortical response to stress, or of corticosteroid binding globulins, but very few studies have examined seasonal regulation of corticosteroid receptor levels. As a result, there have been few attempts to produce an integrated picture of seasonal plasticity of the stress response. We measured baseline and stress‐induced corticosterone (CORT), corticosteroid binding globulin and neuronal cytosolic and membrane corticosteroid receptor levels in male and female, wild‐caught house sparrows (Passer domesticus) during three different seasons over the annual cycle (nesting, molting and winter). We identified three neuronal corticosteroid receptors in the house sparrow brain: two intracellular receptors and one membrane‐associated receptor. Little is known about corticosteroid receptors in neuronal membranes of avian and mammalian species, but we found that the levels of membrane corticosteroid receptors varied seasonally, being lowest during the nesting season. Cytosolic corticosteroid receptor numbers (both low and high affinity receptors) also varied seasonally. In contrast to the membrane bound receptors, however, the numbers of low and high affinity cytosolic receptors were lowest during winter. In addition, mean levels of total basal and stress‐induced CORT in the plasma varied seasonally. Both basal and stress‐induced levels of total CORT were significantly higher during nesting than during winter or molt. Finally, corticosteroid binding globulin levels in plasma were also seasonally regulated, in a pattern similar to total CORT, so that estimated free CORT levels did not vary between seasons. These data indicate that multiple components of the stress response are seasonally regulated in birds obtained from wild populations. Interactions between these regulated components provide a basis for seasonal differences in behavioural and physiological responses to stress.
Differential Effects of Systemic Versus Central Routes ofAdministration of L-Type Calcium Channel Blockers onPentylenetetrazole-Induced Seizures in Mice -

Objective: Despite a large number of studies have been reported that L-type voltage dependent calcium channel (VDCC) blockers have anticonvulsant properties, in the vast majority of these experimental studies, VDCC blockers have given through systemic but not central routes of administration. The discrepancies of the anticonvulsant role of VDCC blockers may be due to a potential confounding cardiovascular effect of VDCC blockers, in pretended central action following their systemic administration. In an attempt to clarify such criticism, we examined the effects of three different VDCC blockers such as amlodipine, verapamil and diltiazem on pentylenetetrazole (PTZ)-induced seizures after their systemic intraperitoneal (ip) administration and compared these results with those obtained after their intracerebroventricular (icv) administration in mice. Methods: Adult male Swiss-Webster mice were used in the study. After 50 min and 30 min following ip and icv. administrations of VDCCBs, respectively, each mouse received a single subcutaneous (sc) injection of 85mg/kg of PTZ and was monitored continuously for 30 min for the appearance of clonic convulsions. The latency of the on-set time of clonic seizures was also recorded. Results: Ip administration of amlodipine (3 and 5 mg/kg), verapamil and diltiazem (30 and 50 mg/kg) significantly prolonged on-set time of the PTZ-induced seizures. By contrast, icv administration of amlodipine, verapamil and diltiazem (10, 30 and 80mg) had no significant effect on the on-set time of the seizures. Conclusions: Our results suggest that systemic administered VDCC blockers possess anticonvulsant activity on PTZ-induced seizures. However, lack of anticonvulsant effect of centrally administered L-type VDCC blockers on PTZ-induced seizures indicates that they modulate PTZ-induced seizures by a peripheral, rather than a central mode of action.
Fast partitioning of parameterized 45-degree polygons into parameterized trapezoids

In this paper, an approach to the partitioning of parameterized 45-degree polygons into parameterized trapezoids by using horizontal cuts is proposed. In the process of partitioning a parameterized 45-degree polygon, the proposed approach invokes a mixed integer linear programming solver only once and can rapidly obtain results of comparing linear expressions. Compared with previous partitioning programs, the program implementing the proposed approach is very efficient and can achieve more than 100× speed-up while partitioning large parameterized polygons or parameterized polygons with complex constraints. The approach can be used as the basis to build trapezoidal corner stitching data structures for parameterized 45-degree layouts so that models of layout-induced parasitics can be generated automatically.
Turbo Channel Estimation Using the 'Iterative Soft Interference Cancelation and Correlation' (I-SICC)

Abstract-We present a simple but efficientalgorithm that iteratively refines the channel estimate in a turbo equalizer exploiting soft feedback (a-posteriori likelihoods) from the decoder. This algorithm, denoted as 'Soft Interference Cancelation and Correlation' (SICC), repeatedly performs an interference cancelation step followed by correlation with symbol estimates derived from the output of the decoder. The novelty lies in two facts: first, the moments of the likelihood ratio density at the decoder output are used to remove the bias of the estimate. Second, an iterative version (I-SICC) is proposed where a data block is evaluated repeatedly without activation of the channel decoder. It is shown that this variant significantly outperforms its non iterative version.
Radar-vision fusion for vehicle detection by means of improved haar-like feature and AdaBoost approach

This work describes a vehicle detection system that uses fusion of vision and radar data. The radar provides a first estimation of the lateral position of vehicle candidates and the related distance information. This information is used to define a region of interest (ROI) that is subject to verification. A video camera is used for the verification purpose. The projection of the ROI onto the image plane is scanned via an AdaBoost object detection algorithm, and thus radar detection can be verified and more specific data of the vehicle's 3D position and width can be given. Moreover, the distance information provided by radar is used to choose optimal parameters during the visual detection process, e.g. properties of the scan window and parameters for fusing detections. In addition, mutual information for haar-like feature selection is used to increase detection rates.
A Practical Approach to Runtime Verification of Real-Time Properties for Java Programs

Given the intractability of exhaustively verifying software, the use of runtime-verification to verify single execution paths at runtime, is becoming increasingly popular in industrial settings. In this paper we present dynamic communicating automata with timers and events to describe properties of systems, implemented in LARVA, an event-based runtime verification tool for monitoring temporal and contextual properties of Java programs. We give the mathematical framework behind LARVAand show how real time logics can be translated into LARVAproviding additional benefits to the runtime monitoring framework. These benefits include guarantees on the memory upperbound required for the monitoring system and guarantees on the effect of varying the execution speed of the system with regards to real-time properties.
The effects of theta-burst stimulation on sleep and vigilance in humans

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) has become a popular tool to modulate neuronal networks and associated brain functions in both clinical and basic research. Yet few studies have examined the potential effects of cortical stimulation on general levels of vigilance. In this exploratory study, we used theta-burst protocols, both continuous (cTBS) and intermittent (iTBS) patterns, to examine whether inhibition or excitation of the left dorso-lateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC) was able to induce reliable and acute changes to vigilance measures, compared to the left dorso-lateral associative visual cortex (dlAVC) as a control site in line with previous work. Partially sleep restricted participants underwent four separate sessions in a single day, in a between subjects design for TBS stimulation type and within subjects for locaton, each consisting of maintenance of wakefulness test (MWT), a sleep latency test, and a psychomotor vigilance task (PVT). TBS significantly affected measures of sleep consolidation, namely latency to sleep stage 2 and sleep efficiency, but had no effects on sleep drive or psychomotor vigilance levels for either TBS type or location. Contrary to our initial hypothesis of the dlAVC as a control site, stimulation to this region resulted in the largest differential effects between stimulation types. Moreover, the effect of TBS was found to be consistent throughout the day. These data may provide the basis for further investigation into therapeutic applications of TBS in sleep disorders.
Seasonal Influenza Vaccine Allocation in the Canadian Population during a Pandemic

Introduction: Emerging data suggest that receipt of the seasonal influenza vaccine may be associated with an enhanced risk of infection with pandemic (H1N1) 2009 (pH1N1). We sought to evaluate different seasonal vaccination strategies during a pandemic in the presence of varying levels of pH1N1 infection risk following seasonal influenza vaccine receipt. Methods: We developed a deterministic, age-structured compartmental model of influenza transmission in the presence of two circulating strains (pH1N1 and seasonal). We examined the effect of different seasonal vaccination strategies on total influenza-attributable mortality in the Canadian population for the 2009-2010 influenza season. Results: Seasonal vaccination strategies that focused on individuals aged ≥65 or delayed seasonal vaccine delivery until January tended to minimize mortality. In the presence of low levels (<2%) of co-circulating seasonal influenza, mortality estimates were sensitive to the seasonal vaccine-associated relative risk (RR), with small increases in RR resulting in enhanced mortality compared to the no seasonal vaccination option. Timing of the peak of pH1N1 activity and the amount of circulating seasonal influenza modified the impact of enhanced risk on total mortality. Discussion: In the presence of uncertainty surrounding enhanced risk of pH1N1 acquisition with seasonal vaccine receipt, delaying seasonal vaccine delivery or restricting vaccine to individuals aged ≥65 may reduce overall influenza-attributable mortality in the Canadian population.
Avoiding Costly Conservation Mistakes: The Importance of Defining Actions and Costs in Spatial Priority Setting

Background The typical mandate in conservation planning is to identify areas that represent biodiversity targets within the smallest possible area of land or sea, despite the fact that area may be a poor surrogate for the cost of many conservation actions. It is also common for priorities for conservation investment to be identified without regard to the particular conservation action that will be implemented. This demonstrates inadequate problem specification and may lead to inefficiency: the cost of alternative conservation actions can differ throughout a landscape, and may result in dissimilar conservation priorities. Methodology/Principal Findings We investigate the importance of formulating conservation planning problems with objectives and cost data that relate to specific conservation actions. We identify priority areas in Australia for two alternative conservation actions: land acquisition and stewardship. Our analyses show that using the cost surrogate that most closely reflects the planned conservation action can cut the cost of achieving our biodiversity goals by half. We highlight spatial differences in relative priorities for land acquisition and stewardship in Australia, and provide a simple approach for determining which action should be undertaken where. Conclusions/Significance Our study shows that a poorly posed conservation problem that fails to pre-specify the planned conservation action and incorporate cost a priori can lead to expensive mistakes. We can be more efficient in achieving conservation goals by clearly specifying our conservation objective and parameterising the problem with economic data that reflects this objective.
Correlation Between HER2 Determined by Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization and Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction of the Oncotype DX Test

The human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) gene is amplified and its protein product overexpressed in about 20% of invasive breast cancers. Despite more than a decade of efforts to standardize HER2 testing, controversy persists regarding the most optimal testing method. Recently, Oncotype DX reports have begun including HER2 results in addition to the previously reported Recurrence Score. We compared HER2 results obtained by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) in our laboratories with HER2 results obtained by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) as documented in the Oncotype DX report. We then sought to identify potentially significant characteristics in the discrepant cases. We identified breast cancer patients with estrogen receptor-positive, lymph node–negative tumors who had Oncotype DX testing performed between September 2008 and March 2012. Patient and tumor characteristics including HER2 FISH and Oncotype DX test results were recorded. Image analysis was performed on cases with discrepancy between the HER2 FISH and Oncotype DX HER2 results to determine the relative proportion of invasive tumor. Eight of 194 (4.1%) cases showed discrepancy between HER2 FISH and Oncotype DX RT-PCR results. Although the overall percent agreement (96%) and percent negative agreement (100%) were high, percent positive agreement was only 50%. Three of 8 (38%) discrepant cases showed heterogeneous amplification by FISH. Seven of 8 (88%) discrepant cases had <50% invasive tumor in the Oncotype DX tissue block. Percent positive agreement between HER2 FISH and Oncotype DX RT-PCR is low. Multiple factors may contribute to this discrepancy including a suboptimal microdissection and possibly heterogeneous amplification of HER2 gene in some cases.
An Effective Hybrid Firefly Algorithm with Harmony Search for Global Numerical Optimization

A hybrid metaheuristic approach by hybridizing harmony search (HS) and firefly algorithm (FA), namely, HS/FA, is proposed to solve function optimization. In HS/FA, the exploration of HS and the exploitation of FA are fully exerted, so HS/FA has a faster convergence speed than HS and FA. Also, top fireflies scheme is introduced to reduce running time, and HS is utilized to mutate between fireflies when updating fireflies. The HS/FA method is verified by various benchmarks. From the experiments, the implementation of HS/FA is better than the standard FA and other eight optimization methods.
American Educational Research Association 2000, New Orleans: Roundtable Metacognitive Self-Regulation and Problem-Solving: Expanding the Theory Base Through Factor Analysis

This instrument development study had two goals. First, we had the pragmatic goal of developing a measurement tool that would be valid for research and useful for assessment and intervention in classrooms. Second, we sought to develop theory in the area of self-regulated learning. To accomplish these goals, we began with theory-driven ideas and existing instruments, and combined these with constructs that emerged from exploratory factor analysis. Our results indicate that metacognitive awareness and regulatory skills in a problem-solving context are comprised of five independent factors: Knowledge of Cognition, Objectivity, Problem Representation, Subtask Monitoring, and Evaluation. This research had two phases. In the first phase, we reviewed current techniques for measuring variables related to metacognition and self-regulation and decided on a self-report measure— mainly for pragmatic reasons. Next, data was collected using two existing inventories related to metacognition and problem solving. After eliminating items based on reliability analyses, remaining items were factor-analyzed resulting in five factors. In the second phase, a new inventory was developed focusing on these five factors. Again, reliability analyses were conducted, and the remaining items were factor-analyzed. Our results have important implications for education. They indicate that there are five particular metacognitive and self-regulatory constructs relevant to problem solving. Being able to identify and delineate these constructs further should allow our educational research and teacher professional development teams to begin providing teachers with a set of tools and training resources to help them promote student self-regulation in their classrooms. These resources would be important to teachers who are concerned not only about what students learn but also about how they learn it. Further, our analyses indicate that the constructs measured by the IMSR are independent, and therefore a student may show preferences or “styles” of metacognitive strengths and weaknesses that depend upon his or her unique combination of constructs. If these “styles” can be further understood and delineated, it might be possible to train students to habitually use particular regulatory behaviors.
Phenotypic and Morphological Properties of Germinal Center Dark Zone Cxcl12-Expressing Reticular Cells

The germinal center (GC) is divided into a dark zone (DZ) and a light zone (LZ). GC B cells must cycle between these zones to achieve efficient Ab affinity maturation. Follicular dendritic cells (FDCs) are well characterized for their role in supporting B cell Ag encounter in primary follicles and in the GC LZ. However, the properties of stromal cells supporting B cells in the DZ are relatively unexplored. Recent work identified a novel stromal population of Cxcl12-expressing reticular cells (CRCs) in murine GC DZs. In this article, we report that CRCs have diverse morphologies, appearing in open and closed networks, with variable distribution in lymphoid tissue GCs. CRCs are also present in splenic and peripheral lymph node primary follicles. Real-time two-photon microscopy of Peyer’s patch GCs demonstrates B cells moving in close association with CRC processes. CRCs are gp38+ with low to undetectable expression of FDC markers, but CRC-like cells in the DZ are lineage marked, along with FDCs and fibroblastic reticular cells, by CD21-Cre– and Ccl19-Cre–directed fluorescent reporters. In contrast to FDCs, CRCs do not demonstrate dependence on lymphotoxin or TNF for chemokine expression or network morphology. CRC distribution in the DZ does require CXCR4 signaling, which is necessary for GC B cells to access the DZ and likely to interact with CRC processes. Our findings establish CRCs as a major stromal cell type in the GC DZ and suggest that CRCs support critical activities of GC B cells in the DZ niche through Cxcl12 expression and direct cell–cell interactions.
Use of a metric in supervisory control of probabilistic discrete event systems

Abstract This work represents a natural extension of our work on optimal probabilistic supervisory control of probabilistic discrete event systems (PDESs). In that work, a pseudometric on the initial states of two probabilistic generators that represent probabilistic systems is used to measure the distance between the two systems. The pseudometric is given a fixed point characterization. This paper gives a logical characterization of the same pseudometric such that the distance between two systems is measured by a formula that distinguishes between the systems the most. A trace characterization of the pseudometric is then derived from the logical characterization. Further, the solution of the problem of approximation of a given probabilistic generator with another generator of a prespecified structure is suggested such that the new model is as close as possible to the original one in the pseudometric. The significance of the approximation is then discussed.
Gender differences in the marriage and cohabitation income premium*

Using data from the 1979 National Longitudinal Survey of Youth, I identify causal effects of marriage and cohabitation on total family income. My goals are to compare men’s and women’s changes in financial status upon entering unions and to assess the relative contributions of adjustments in own income, income pooling, and changes in family size. Changes in own income that are due to intrahousehold specialization prove to be minor for both men and women relative to the effects of adding another adult’s income to the family total. Women gain roughly 55% in needs-adjusted, total family income, regardless of whether they cohabit or marry, whereas men’s needs-adjusted income levels remain unchanged when men make these same transitions.
Advances in stem-cell–generated transplantation therapy for Parkinson's disease

Introduction: Human pluripotent stem cells have the potential to differentiate into different cell lineages of the human body, including dopaminergic (DA) neurons. Previous studies have shown that stem-cell–derived DA neurons can improve the motor deficits of Parkinson's disease (PD) animal models. That is why current research interests focus on the development of stem-cell–derived neural cells for transplantation therapies for PD patients. Areas covered: This review article emphasizes the safety and efficacy requirements of human pluripotent stem-cell–derived neural cells and usage of reliable preclinical animal models prior to clinical trials. The current advances and hurdles related to cell production, differentiation and transplantation are also summarized. Expert opinion: Before entering the clinic, transplantable cell populations must be differentiated and characterized according to good manufacturing practice (GMP) regulations both in vitro and in vivo. Taking into account the rapid development of the stem-cell field and technological improvements in cell preparations and GMP facilities, we think that pluripotent stem-cell–derived DA neurons will offer a relevant cell therapy option for treatment of PD in the near future.