Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Climbing Fibre Responses in Olivo‐cerebellar Slice Cultures. II. Dynamics of Cytosolic Calcium in Purkinje Cells

The generation of climbing fibre responses in cerebellar Purkinje cells has been analysed in co‐cultured slices of rat cerebellum and inferior olive. Complex spikes were evoked in Purkinje cells by climbing fibre activation or by intrasomatic injection of depolarizing current pulses. Microfluorometric measurements of cytosolic free calcium ([Ca2+]i) by means of intracellularly injected fura‐2 combined with intracellular recordings revealed that both types of complex spikes were accompanied by a transient rise in [Ca2]i, which was most prominent at dendritic locations. Synaptically induced Ca2+ transients were completely and reversibly abolished by 6‐cyano‐7‐nitroquinoxaline‐2–3‐dione (CNQX, 5 μM), an antagonist of the ionotropic action mediated by non‐N‐methyl‐d‐aspartate excitatory amino acid receptors. Ca2+ transients evoked by injections of depolarizing current pulses were not affected by CNQX. These observations indicate that Ca2+ transients induced by climbing fibre activity are generated by voltage‐gated Ca2+ channels, which are activated by a CNQX‐sensitive synaptic depolarization.
Chemical functionalities at the silica surface determining its reactivity when inhaled. Formation and reactivity of surface radicals.

Reactive radicals at the surface of quartz or other SiO2 polymorphs have been studied by EPR in relation to their possible role in pathogenicity. All the examined dusts bear the characteristic radicals of silica ground in air: Si, SiO. , SiO.2 (peroxyradical) and O2. - (superoxide ion), but some also show additional spectral lines belonging to other radical forms. Comparison of standard quartz dusts (DQ-12, Min-u-sil 5) with a natural quartz and with what obtained by grinding a very pure quartz crystal indicates that to a higher purity corresponds a higher radical population. Cristobalite and vitreous silica exhibit similar spectra, with larger proportion by respect to quartz, of partially reduced oxygen forms. The reactivity of the silica surface towards O2 and NaClO aqueous solutions are investigated by examining the modification in the EPR spectra induced by these treatments. A possible mechanism for fibrogenicity is proposed whereby, within the activated macrophage, a catalytic reaction occurs between surface functionalities and macrophage oxygen metabolites. This reaction would trigger the abnormal production of fibroblast stimulating factors, ending up with silicosis.
A recommender system based on trust and semantics in collaborative systems using a new measure of association

One of the most popular techniques used in recommender systems is collaborating filtering. In this technique it is usual that Pearson's correlation is used to find the similarity between users. It is a known fact that Pearson's correlation is not suitable for measuring the strength of nonlinear relations. Since Spearman's correlation is in fact Pearson's correlation applied to ranks and does not work well in non-monotone relationships and since measures like Kendal's tau do not work well in small samples, we introduce a new measure of association to be used in collaborative systems which we shall call alpha. Our investigations show it leads to better MAE. We also propose a method by combining Alpha and trust propagation and add a new algorithm to semantic similarity for confronting the problems with cold startand it leads to better coverage.
Estimation of Noise in Images: An Evaluation

Abstract Six methods for estimating the standard deviation of white additive noise in images are surveyed and evaluated experimentally by application to a set of images showing different degrees of contrast, edge details, texture, etc. The results show that on average, the most reliable estimate is obtained by prefiltering the image to suppress the image structure and then computing the standard deviation value from the filtered data.
Vertebrate Claudin/PMP22/EMP22/MP20 family protein TMEM47 regulates epithelial cell junction maturation and morphogenesis

Background: TMEM47 is the vertebrate orthologue of C. elegans VAB‐9, a tetraspan adherens junction protein in the PMP22/EMP/Claudin family of proteins. VAB‐9 regulates cell morphology and adhesion in C. elegans and TMEM47 is expressed during kidney development and regulates the activity of Fyn. The conserved functions of VAB‐9 and TMEM47 are not well understood. Results: expression of TMEM47 in C. elegans functionally rescues vab‐9 mutations. Unlike Claudins, expression of TMEM47 in L fibroblasts does not generate tight junction strands; instead, membrane localization requires E‐cadherin expression. Temporally, TMEM47 localizes at cell junctions first with E‐cadherin before ZO‐1 colocalization and in polarized epithelia, TMEM47 colocalizes with adherens junction proteins. By immunoprecipitation, TMEM47 associates with classical adherens junction proteins, but also with tight junction proteins Par6B and aPKCλ. Over‐expression of TMEM47 in MDCK cells decreases apical surface area, increases activated myosin light chain at cell–cell contacts, disrupts cell polarity and morphology, delays cell junction reassembly following calcium switch, and selectively interferes with tight junction assembly. Reduced TMEM47 expression results in opposite phenotypes. Conclusions: TMEM47 regulates the localization of a subset of tight junction proteins, associated actomyosin structures, cell morphology, and participates in developmental transitions from adherens to tight junctions. Developmental Dynamics 245:653–666, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Perceived Harms and Social Norms in the Use of Electronic Cigarettes and Smokeless Tobacco

Perceptions of harms and social norms influence the use of conventional tobacco cigarettes, but little research is available about their combined relationship with e-cigarette and smokeless tobacco use. We conducted a cross-sectional survey of 309 individuals from central Illinois. We explored (1) demographic predictors of perceived harms and social norms related to e-cigarette and smokeless tobacco use, and (2) whether perceived harms, social norms, or both were important predictors of e-cigarette and smokeless tobacco use. E-cigarette perceptions of harm were consistent across all demographic characteristics. Smokeless tobacco perceptions of harm were unrelated to age, race, and sex, but lower education and income were associated with lower perceived harm (p < .05). E-cigarette social norms were less favorable among non-whites (p < .05) but did not vary by other demographic characteristics. Only less education was associated with more favorable social norms of smokeless tobacco (p < .05). Higher perceived harms were related to lower use of e-cigarettes and smokeless tobacco (p < .05). Perceived social norms were not associated with product use. This study provides preliminary support for implementing broad-based health messaging efforts that focus more on the potential harms of e-cigarette and smokeless tobacco use than on social norms.
Low voltage low power analog circuit design OTA using signal attenuation technique in universal filter application

This paper presents a new configuration for a linear operational transconductance amplifier (OTA) using a signal attenuation technique. The OTA is designed to operate with a ±0.8V supply voltage and consumes 0.45mW power. All simulations are performed by ELDO model BSIM3v3 technology CMOS TSMC 0. 18μm. The simulation results of this circuit showed a high DC gain of 73.6dB with a unity frequency of 50.19MHz and a total harmonic distortion of -60.81dB at 100 kHz for an input voltage of 1Vpp. Based on this circuit, a voltage mode universal filter has been implemented. The simulation results are in a good agreement with the theoretical calculations.
Infratentorial approach to the pineal region in the prone position: Concorde position. Technical note.

✓ The authors present a new technique for surgery in the pineal region: a supracerebellar approach with the patient in the prone position. The surgeon sits on the left side of the patient, who lies prone with the head flexed and higher than the heart level (“Concorde position”). The main advantages of this arrangement over the sitting position include less fatigue on the part of the surgeon and decreased likelihood of air embolism. Fourteen patients have been operated on in this position. Pooling of blood in the operating field is rarely a problem.
White Matter Microstructural Integrity and Executive Function in Parkinson's Disease

Abstract Recent studies suggest that white matter abnormalities contribute to both motor and non-motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease. The present study was designed to investigate the degree to which diffusion tensor magnetic resonance imaging (DTI) indices are related to executive function in Parkinson's patients. We used tract-based spatial statistics to compare DTI data from 15 patients to 15 healthy, age- and education-matched controls. We then extracted mean values of fractional anisotropy (FA) and mean diffusivity (MD) within an a priori frontal mask. Executive function composite Z scores were regressed against these DTI indices, age, and total intracranial volume. In Parkinson's patients, FA was related to executive composite scores, and both indices were related to Stroop interference scores. We conclude that white matter microstructural abnormalities contribute to cognitive deficits in Parkinson's disease. Further work is needed to determine whether these white matter changes reflect the pathological process or a clinically important comorbidity. (JINS, 2013, 19, 1–6)
Fast-forward solvers for the low-frequency detection of buried dielectric objects

It is known that the extended Born approximation (ExBorn) is much faster than the method of moments (MoM) in the study of electromagnetic scattering by three-dimensional (3-D) dielectric objects, while it is much more accurate than the Born approximation at low frequencies. Hence, it is more applicable in the low-frequency numerical simulation tools. However, the conventional ExBorn is still too slow to solve large-scale problems because it requires O(N/sup 2/) computational load, where N is the number of unknowns. In this paper, a fast ExBorn algorithm is proposed for the numerical simulation of 3-D dielectric objects buried in a lossy Earth. When the buried objects are discretized with uniform rectangular mesh and the Green's functions are extended appropriately, the computational load can be reduced to O(N log N) using the cyclic convolution, cyclic correlation, and fast Fourier transform (FFT). Numerical analysis shows that the fast ExBorn provides good approximations if the buried target has a small or moderate contrast. If the contrast is large, however, ExBorn will be less accurate. In this case, a preconditioned conjugate-gradient FFT (CG-FFT) algorithm is developed, where the solution of the fast ExBorn is chosen as the initial guess and the preconditioner. Numerical results are given to test the validity and efficiency of the fast algorithms.
Construire un moteur d'indexation

We present here an indexing engine which is covered by a technology transfer agreement between the University and the private sector. This engine is currently included in various applications used by international organizations. The document collections which are indexed are large and multilingual. The particular elements of the technical specifications are the starting pint of our analysis; then we look at the design and technology choices made to meet the performance and volume constraints. The optimal use of memory, calculations and storage resources is discussed. The serialization and parallelization of processes are analyzed.
The evaluation of the effectiveness of health education interventions in clinical practice: a continuing methodological challenge.

AIM This paper examines the methodological issues arising from an evaluation of the effectiveness of a health education project undertaken to increase Hong Kong Chinese women's knowledge of the prevention of cervical cancer and the uptake of screening. BACKGROUND The significance of health promotion to the prevention of diseases currently affecting contemporary society has become increasingly recognized. Within the context of health promotion health education continues to provide an important preventive strategy. Indeed the leading causes of mortality such as coronary heart disease and cancer lend themselves well to health education interventions. However the evaluation of the effectiveness of health education remains complex and raises some important methodological issues. DESIGN The project used a health education intervention as the major preventive strategy and employed multiple methods of evaluation to assess its effectiveness. Outcome evaluation consisted of a confidential questionnaire administered at two points in time to measure changes in health-related behaviour and knowledge. It also included the collection of data from service providers to assess changes in the uptake of cervical cancer screening. Process evaluation involved the use of focus groups with randomly selected groups of women who had participated in the health education intervention and a diary kept by the project nurse. FINDINGS Methodological issues identified in the evaluation of the project included the extent to which changes in health-related knowledge and behaviour could be attributed to the intervention, the sensitivity of outcome measures and challenges in developing methods of process evaluation appropriate to the target population. CONCLUSIONS The findings highlight the complexity of designing effective evaluation strategies for health education and the need to consider these issues in the development of both process and outcome evaluation.
Politics in packaged software implementation

The academic literature relating to the political issues of information systems is fairly well established. However, there are relatively few empirical studies relating to the political issues associated with the organisational implementation of package software. The aim of this paper is to offer a modest contribution via case study research with an analysis of a packaged software implementation at an organisation based in the United Kingdom. The study raises issues that support and question some of the notions inherent in many political theories relating to information systems. The study also highlights the multifarious and complex nature of politics in the development of packaged software implementation.
Endowment Effects and Contribution Strategies in Public Good Experiments

Abstract: We investigate behavior in a laboratory public good experiment with unique endowment schemes that allow a wider range of contribution strategies than in standard voluntary contribution mechanism (VCM) experiments. A baseline treatment follows a standard VCM design (subjects receive 10 tokens in each of 10 rounds that may be allocated between a private account and a group account). In a new carry-over treatment, any tokens not allocated to the group account in the current period are made available for contributions in future periods. Under full endowment, subjects receive 100 tokens in round one (rather than 10 tokens per round for each of 10 rounds). In the pledge treatment, subjects’ allocation decisions for an initial endowment of 100 tokens may be changed in any round and are binding only for the final round. We find that the size of the effective endowment and whether contributions are binding significantly impact subject decision making. Deviations from the free riding outcome are greater when subjects have a larger portion of their total endowment earlier in the experiment, and subjects contribute less when their contribution decisions are binding.
Relapsing Bilateral Uveitis and Papilledema in Sinus Histiocytosis with Massive Lymphadenopathy (Rosai-Dorfman Disease)

Sinus histiocytosis with massive lymphadenopathy (Rosai-Dorfman disease) is a non-hereditary histiocytic proliferative disorder affecting young people, with extranodal manifestations in 28-43% of cases. Eye involvement is infrequent. Lymphoproliferation in the soft tissues of the orbit and in the lids has been reported in 12% of cases but intraocular involvement is rare. We describe the case of a 12-year-old boy affected by Rosai-Dorfman disease with bilateral relapsing uveitis and papilledema that appeared four years before the onset of lymphadenopathy.
Development of an Individual Device for Exhaled Breath Temperature Measurement

Different thermometers have been constructed over the decades to measure the temperature of the body to help detect and monitor morbid states. They yield slightly different estimates of the core body temperature depending on the proximity of the measurement site to the internal milieu of the organism, the principle of temperature assessment, and the specific characteristics of the gauging devices. Evaluation of the exhaled breath temperature (EBT) has been recently suggested as a new method to detect inflammatory processes in the conducting airways due to changes in the blood flow perfusion of their walls and adjacent structures. While the first reported EBT experiments required sealed laboratory environment and sophisticated equipment, we designed a simple handheld instrument for EBT measurement and proven its precision, reproducibility and validity in subjects with asthma. We now describe the construction principles of our instrument, the procedure to test the fitness for purpose of the separate units and the novel features of the newest prototypes outfitted with microprocessor and memory. We also outline the potential clinical applications of an individual device for EBT measurement.
Biological Synthesis of Copper Nanoparticles and its impact-a Review

During the last decade, arrays of exploratory experiments conducted to gauge the solid impact of nanotechnology have comparatively proved its efficiency. Nanoparticles (Nps) are solid particles with dimensions between 1 to 100 nm. At present, Copper (Cu) nanoparticles find wide applications in agricultural, industrial engineering and technological fields. In agriculture much effort has been made in recent years to ascertain the necessity of certain minor elements in the economy of plants. Bionanotechnology combines biological principles with physical and chemical approaches to produce nano-sized particles with specific functions. Though the use of nanoscience in agriculture has been predominantly theoretical, yet effective antibacterial activities shown by Cu Nps for agriculture has fascinated the researches in the arena of nanotechnology, leading to the development of intensively clean, cost-effective and efficient biosynthesis techniques of Cu Nps. Global emphasis is given to the importance of biological synthesis either extracellularly or intracellularly. The impact of biosynthesized Cu has been studied on a few plant species at their very early growth stages. This manuscript reviews the biosynthesis, characterization and risks of Cu Nps.
The cerebellum, LTD, and memory: alternative views.

I n t r o d u c t i o n The idea that cerebellum stores motor memories has become so commonplace in the scientific literature that it is often presented uncritically as a fact. Even many of today's medical school textbooks state that motor memories are localized in the cerebellum and that the subcellular substrates of these memories have been identified in that structure. Such prospects, if true, would be very exciting; however, it should be pointed out that there is nothing close to unanimity among cerebellar scientists on even the most basic of these points and that any consensus about "cerebellar motor learning" represents the view of a limited number of research groups that perform experiments on a limited number of preparations. Thus, one point of our paper is to emphasize that the idea of cerebellar motor learning has not been demonstrated and thus remains one of the most highly speculative hypotheses in the neurosciences--even after more than three decades of active investigation. A second issue is that rules for the alleged cellular substrate of motor learning, long-term depression (LTD) of Purkinje cell activity, have become so indeterminate and ambiguous as to justify a total reevaluation of the idea that LTD is a bona fide mechanism of any learning process. That point is significantly reinforced by a critical evaluation of the most recent behavioral and neurophysiological data obtained from gene knockout rodents. Nevertheless, an impressive volume of research has been performed on the cerebellar systems in the context of cellular-molecular biology and behavior. Thus, we may now place many of those findings into a modern context to formulate hypotheses that are more easily testable than the rather t imeworn idea of "cerebellar learning. " As is well recognized, the concept of "cerebellar motor learning" originates from the highly speculative and completely theoretical works of Brindley (1964), Marr (1969), and Albus (1971). These works can be credited for their clarity and breathtaking views of the cerebellar neuronal circuitry. These works were so bold as to specify distinct functions for each of the inhibitory interneurons of the cerebellar cortex--Golgi, basket, and stellate cel ls--during the learning process, neurons about which very little in vivo neurophysiology has ever been obtained, even with our advantage of 30 years of further research. Nevertheless, the most critical aspect of the Brindley-Marr-Albus models was the assumption that the climbing fibers had to play a "teacher" role for the purpose of modifying the efficacy of the parallel fiber-Purkinje cell synapse. The functional consequence of such climbing fiber-induced plasticity was to change the pattern of Purkinje cell output in specific sensory contexts to generate novel (i.e., learned) movements. In these conceptions, the olivocerebellar system played only an indirect role in movement, through its functional interaction with parallel fiber synapses. Conversely, the mossy fiber-parallel fiber system was viewed as a motor command system
Robust Inline Data Reduction Technique in Multi-tenant Storage

Data deduplication has gained increasing popularity as a space-reduction approach in backup storage systems. One of the main challenges for centralized data deduplication is the scalability of fingerprintindex search. In existing system, deduplication mainly focuses on backup system. In this paper, we propose a system that effectively exploits similarity and locality of data blocks to achieve high duplicate elimination and well balanced load at low RAM overhead in a runtime storage environment. The main idea is to employ an algorithm by considering random data chunks which are similar with adjacent data chunk, and eliminate duplicate chunks from the storage system, and then further enhance the resemblance detection efficiency. This would further help us to enhance the data delivery capabilities in cloud storage system with reduced latency and high throughput.