Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Some Psychophysiological and Pharmacological Correlates of a Developmental, Cognitive and Motivational Theory a

Publisher Summary This chapter describes some psychophysiological and pharmacological correlates of a developmental, cognitive, and motivational theory. Studies of event-related potentials (ERPs) can probe a level of neural organization that has behavioral meaning. ERP experiments—thereby, encourage us to formulate, precisely, the design problems that are solved by the behaving brain, and to translate these design statements into a formal language that is powerful enough to explain how behavioral, physiological, and pharmacological processes are related. Many learning subjects are minimal adaptive predictors who only learn about relevant cues. Several constellations of properties arise in the thought experiment because, it concludes that several design principles work together to correct errors and test hypotheses about codes that satisfy the stability–plasticity (SP) criterion. The thought experiment requires only some general properties from these constellations for its completion. The mechanisms that subserve these general properties can be specialized in many ways to accomplish specific tasks without destroying the general properties. The thought experiment suggests the minimal general purpose machinery needed to generate SP codes.
Differential Temporal Expression of Members of the Transforming Growth Factor β Superfamily During Murine Fracture Healing

Fracture healing is a unique postnatal repair process in which the events of endochondral and intramembranous bone formation follow a definable temporal sequence. The temporal patterns of messenger RNA (mRNA) expression for members of the transforming growth factor β (TGF‐β) superfamily were examined over a 28‐day period of fracture healing in mouse tibias. Bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP‐2) and growth and differentiation factor 8 (GDF8) showed maximal expression on day 1 after fracture, suggesting their roles as early response genes in the cascade of healing events. Restricted expression of GDF8 to day 1, in light of its known actions as a negative regulator of skeletal muscle growth, suggests that it may similarly regulate cell differentiation early in the fracture healing process. GDF5, TGF‐β2, and TGF‐β3 showed maximal expression on day 7, when type II collagen expression peaked during cartilage formation. In contrast, BMP‐3, BMP‐4, BMP‐7, and BMP‐8 showed a restricted period of expression from day 14 through day 21, when the resorption of calcified cartilage and osteoblastic recruitment were most active. TGF‐β1, BMP‐5 and BMP‐6, and GDF10 were constitutively expressed from day 3 to day 21. However, during the same time period, GDF3, GDF6, and GDF9 could not be detected, and GDF1 was expressed at extremely low levels. These findings suggest that several members of the TGF‐β superfamily are actively involved in fracture healing and although they are closely related both structurally and functionally, each has a distinct temporal expression pattern and potentially unique role in fracture healing.
Practices of knowledge intensive process management: quantitative insights

Purpose – In contemporary businesses, the importance of knowledge workers and the knowledge intensive business processes (KIBPs) is ever increasing, yet they seem very hard to control and manage. The purpose of this paper is to grasp the specific characteristics of KIBPs and how they differ from non‐knowledge intensive business processes (non‐KIBP), also to question how organizations are using business process management (BPM) to manage and improve KIBPs. The differences in maturity and effectiveness of both types of processes are also evaluated.Design/methodology/approach – Data for this research were collected through an online survey. The survey was designed based on a previously conducted exploratory study with semi‐structured interviews as well as the literature. The target group was BPM practitioners and the final sample included 98 respondents. Due to non‐normality, the analyses were conducted with non‐parametric tests. The research questions were analysed using Mann‐Whitney U test and Spearman's c.
White blood cell sister chromatid exchange among a sample of Thai subjects exposed to toluene, an observation

There is a particular concern with toluene because some research has indicated that toluene exposure could result in chronic toxicity including mutagenesis and carcinogenesis. This study aimed to determine the rate of sister chromatid exchanges (SCE), a marker for genotoxicity, and its correlation to the classical urine biomarker for toluene exposure, urine hippuric acid, among a sample of Thai exposed subjects. A total of 26 police (all males) were included in this study. The average (mean ± SD) urine hippuric acid level in these police was 0.8 ± 0.4 mg/g creatinine. The average (mean ± SD) SCE level in these police was 4.5 ± 1.0/cell. The average SCE among the police with high urine hippuric acid levels was non‐significantly higher than the average SCE level of those without (P = 0.41). This implies that the cytogenetic response to toluene was not different between the subjects with and without high toluene exposure. High exposure to toluene seems not to be related to high SCE.
VEGF and inhibitors of TGFβ type-I receptor kinase synergistically promote blood-vessel formation by inducing α5-integrin expression

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and transforming growth factor-β (TGFβ) are potent regulators of angiogenesis. How VEGF and TGFβ signaling pathways crosstalk is not well understood. Therefore, we analyzed the effects of the TGFβ type-I-receptor inhibitors (SB-431542 and LY-2157299) and VEGF on endothelial cell (EC) function and angiogenesis. We show that SB-431542 dramatically enhances VEGF-induced formation of EC sheets from fetal mouse metatarsals. Sub-optimal doses of VEGF and SB-431542 synergistically induced EC migration and sprouting of EC spheroids, whereas overexpression of a constitutively active form of TGFβ type-I receptor had opposite effects. Using quantitative PCR, we demonstrated that VEGF and SB-431542 synergistically upregulated the mRNA expression of genes involved in angiogenesis, including the integrins α5 and β3. Specific downregulation of α5-integrin expression or functional blocking of α5 integrin with a specific neutralizing antibody inhibited the cooperative effect of VEGF and SB-431542 on EC sprouting. In vivo, LY-2157299 induced angiogenesis and enhanced VEGF- and basic-fibroblast-growth-factor-induced angiogenesis in a Matrigel-plug assay, whereas adding an α5-integrin-neutralizing antibody to the Matrigel selectively inhibited this enhanced response. Thus, induction of α5-integrin expression is a key determinant by which inhibitors of TGFβ type-I receptor kinase and VEGF synergistically promote angiogenesis.
A Walking Program for Outpatients in Psychiatric Rehabilitation: Pilot Study

The purposes of this quasi-experimental pilot study were to determine adherence to a 12-week group-based moderate-intensity walking program for sedentary adult outpatients with serious and persistent mental illness and to examine change from baseline to after the walking program in health status (mental and physical health, mood, and psychosocial functioning) and exercise motivation (exercise outcomes expectancies, exercise decisional balance). The 15 volunteers in this study were aged 21 to 65 years and enrolled in psychosocial rehabilitation; they participated in a 12-week walking program meeting three times per week for 1 hr, supplemented with four health information workshops delivered at the beginning of the study. Participants received individual exercise prescriptions determined by preprogram fitness testing and used heart rate monitors during walking sessions. Thirteen participants (87%) completed the study and attended 76% of the walking sessions. Overall, they walked at lower intensity than prescribed, with pulses within target heart rate ranges 35% of the time during Weeks 1 through 4, 26% of the time during Weeks 5 through 8, and 22% of the time during Weeks 9 through 12. However, mood improved (Profile of Mood States, t = -2.51, two-tailed, df = 12, p = .02), as did psychosocial functioning (Multnomah Community Ability Scale, two-tailed, df = 12, t = 2.49, p = .02). The findings indicate a walking group may be feasible for rehabilitation programs. In addition to the known cardiovascular risk-reduction benefits of regular walking, walking may improve mood and psychosocial functioning in adults with serious and persistent mental illness.
Metabolic enzyme diversity in different human thyroid cell lines and their sensitivity to gravitational forces

Many cancer cells show unique protein expression patterns. We used proteome technology including MS, free flow isoelectric focusing and Western blotting to determine current concentrations of metabolic enzymes in healthy and malignant human thyroid cells. Three different types of human thyroid cells were investigated after they had been cultured under equal conditions. MS revealed high quantities of glycolytic enzymes and moderate quantities of citric acid cycle enzymes in malignant FTC‐133 cells with abnormal LDH B‐chains, high quantities of glycolytic enzymes and marginal quantities of citric acid cycle enzymes in normal HTU‐5 cells, and low quantities of glycolytic enzymes and marginal quantities of citrate cycle enzymes in malignant CGTH‐W1 cells with abnormal LDH A‐chains. When an alteration of gene expression activity was challenged physically by removing gravity forces, the concentrations of various glycolytic enzymes were changed in normal and malignant thyroid cells. However, the changes varied among the different cell types. Different cellular alignment of the enzymes could be one reason for the cell type‐specific behavior as demonstrated by histological analysis of alpha‐enolase.
Co-localization of Leukotriene A4Hydrolase with 5-Lipoxygenase in Nuclei of Alveolar Macrophages and Rat Basophilic Leukemia Cells but Not Neutrophils*

The synthesis of leukotriene B4 from arachidonic acid requires the sequential action of two enzymes: 5-lipoxygenase and leukotriene A4hydrolase. 5-Lipoxygenase is known to be present in the cytoplasm of some leukocytes and able to accumulate in the nucleoplasm of others. In this study, we asked if leukotriene A4 hydrolase co-localizes with 5-lipoxygenase in different types of leukocytes. Examination of rat basophilic leukemia cells by both immunocytochemistry and immunofluorescence revealed that leukotriene A4 hydrolase, like 5-lipoxygenase, was most abundant in the nucleus, with only minor occurrences in the cytoplasm. The finding of abundant leukotriene A4 hydrolase in the soluble nuclear fraction was substantiated by two different cell fractionation techniques. Leukotriene A4 hydrolase was also found to accumulate together with 5-lipoxygenase in the nucleus of alveolar macrophages. This result was obtained using both in situand ex vivo techniques. In contrast to these results, peripheral blood neutrophils contained both leukotriene A4hydrolase and 5-lipoxygenase exclusively in the cytoplasm. After adherence of neutrophils, 5-lipoxygenase was rapidly imported into the nucleus, whereas leukotriene A4 hydrolase remained cytosolic. Similarly, 5-lipoxygenase was localized in the nucleus of neutrophils recruited into inflamed appendix tissue, whereas leukotriene A4 hydrolase remained cytosolic. These results demonstrate for the first time that leukotriene A4hydrolase can be accumulated in the nucleus, where it co-localizes with 5-lipoxygenase. As with 5-lipoxygenase, the subcellular distribution of leukotriene A4 hydrolase is cell-specific and dynamic, but differences in the mechanisms regulating nuclear import must exist. The degree to which these two enzymes are co-localized may influence their metabolic coupling in the conversion of arachidonic acid to leukotriene B4.
System modeling and synchronization of nonlinear chaotic systems with uncertainty and disturbance by innovative fuzzy modeling strategy

In this paper, an application of the innovative fuzzy model [1] is applied to simulate and synchronize two classical Sprott chaotic systems with unknown noise and disturbance. In traditional Takagi-Sugeno fuzzy (T-S fuzzy) model, there will be 2N linear subsystems (according to 2N fuzzy rules) and m × 2N equations in the T-S fuzzy system, where N is the number of minimum nonlinear terms and m is the order of the system. Through the new fuzzy model, a complicated nonlinear system is linearized to a simple form - linear coupling of only two linear subsystems and the numbers of fuzzy rules can be reduced from 2N to 2 × N. The fuzzy equations become much simpler. There are two Sprott systems in numerical simulations to show the effectiveness and feasibility of new model.
Limits of BOTDA Range Extension Techniques

Brillouin-based temperature and strain sensors have attracted great attention of both the academic and industrial sectors in the past few decades due to their ability to perform distributed measurements. In particular, Brillouin optical time-domain analysis (BOTDA) systems have been applied in many different scenarios, proving particularly useful in those requiring especially wide coverage ranging extremely long distances, such as in civil structure monitoring, energy transportation, or environmental applications. The extension of the measuring range in these sensors has, therefore, become one of the main areas of research and development around BOTDA. To do so, it is necessary to increase the signal-to-noise ratio of the retrieved signal. So far, several techniques have been applied in order to achieve this goal, such as preamplification before detection, pulse coding, or Raman amplification. Here, we analyze these techniques in terms of their performance limits and provide guidelines that can assist in finding out which is the best configuration to break current range limitations. Our analysis is based on physical arguments as well as current literature results.
Assessing the sustainability of African lion trophy hunting, with recommendations for policy.

While trophy hunting provides revenue for conservation, it must be carefully managed to avoid negative population impacts, particularly for long-lived species with low natural mortality rates. Trophy hunting has had negative effects on lion populations throughout Africa, and the species serves as an important case study to consider the balance of costs and benefits, and to consider the effectiveness of alternative strategies to conserve exploited species. Age-restricted harvesting is widely recommended to mitigate negative effects of lion hunting, but this recommendation was based on a population model parameterized with data from a well-protected and growing lion population. Here, we used demographic data from lions subject to more typical conditions, including source-sink dynamics between a protected National Park and adjacent hunting areas in Zambia's Luangwa Valley, to develop a stochastic population projection model and evaluate alternative harvest scenarios. Hunting resulted in population declines over a 25-yr period for all continuous harvest strategies, with large declines for quotas >1 lion/concession (~0.5 lion/1,000 km2 ) and hunting of males younger than seven years. A strategy that combined periods of recovery, an age limit of ≥7 yr, and a maximum quota of ~0.5 lions shot/1,000 km2 yielded a risk of extirpation <10%. Our analysis incorporated the effects of human encroachment, poaching, and prey depletion on survival, but assumed that these problems will not increase, which is unlikely. These results suggest conservative management of lion trophy hunting with a combination of regulations. To implement sustainable trophy hunting while maintaining revenue for conservation of hunting areas, our results suggest that hunting fees must increase as a consequence of diminished supply. These findings are broadly applicable to hunted lion populations throughout Africa and to inform global efforts to conserve exploited carnivore populations.
SnTox5-Snn5: a novel Stagonospora nodorum effector-wheat gene interaction and its relationship with the SnToxA-Tsn1 and SnTox3-Snn3-B1 interactions.

The Stagonospora nodorum-wheat interaction involves multiple pathogen-produced necrotrophic effectors that interact directly or indirectly with specific host gene products to induce the disease Stagonospora nodorum blotch (SNB). Here, we used a tetraploid wheat mapping population to identify and characterize a sixth effector-host gene interaction in the wheat-S. nodorum system. Initial characterization of the effector SnTox5 indicated that it is a proteinaceous necrotrophic effector that induces necrosis on host lines harbouring the Snn5 sensitivity gene, which was mapped to the long arm of wheat chromosome 4B. On the basis of ultrafiltration, SnTox5 is probably in the size range 10-30 kDa. Analysis of SNB development in the mapping population indicated that the SnTox5-Snn5 interaction explains 37%-63% of the variation, demonstrating that this interaction plays a significant role in disease development. When the SnTox5-Snn5 and SnToxA-Tsn1 interactions occurred together, the level of SNB was increased significantly. Similar to several other interactions in this system, the SnTox5-Snn5 interaction is light dependent, suggesting that multiple interactions may exploit the same pathways to cause disease.
Effects of an Inhibitor of 3 β-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase on Glucose , Lipid Metabolism and Adipose Tissue in a Patient With Type 2 Diabetes

Elevated serum levels of glucocorticoids promote visceral obesity, hyperlipidemia, insulin resistance, as observed in patients with Cushing’s syndrome. Trilostane inhibits the synthesis of cortisol by competitive and reversible blocking of 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, and is used in the treatment of Cushing’s syndrome. We studied effects of trilostane on glucose, lipid metabolism and adipose tissue in a patient with type 2 diabetes who was complicated with Cushing’s syndrome. Trilostane significantly reduced visceral fat, serum lipoproteins including atherogenic lipoproteins, and also increased serum adiponectin in this patient, proposing a new approach for the treatment of obesity and metabolic syndrome.
Three‐dimensional triple quantum‐filtered 23na imaging of rabbit kidney with weighted signal averaging

Low signal‐to‐noise ratio (SNR) has been the main obstacle to multiple quantum‐filtered 23Na imaging becoming an important technique for biologic and clinical applications. Through computer simulations and phantom experiments, we show that the SNR in 23Na imaging can be substantially improved by weighted signal averaging. Three‐dimensional single quantum and triple quantum (TQ)‐filtered 23Na images of an externalized rabbit kidney were collected with this technique. The TQ‐filtered image did not show any signal when the animal was alive. However, upon sacrificing the animal, the renal cortex became clearly visible without any significant increase in signal from the medullary region. This increase in TQ‐flltered signal in the renal cortex may be caused by an increased concentration of intracellular Na+ in the large intracellular space present herein, compared with the medulla. To our knowledge, this study represents the first example of three‐dimensional TQ‐filtered 23Na image of a biological sample.
Effectiveness of feature weight using BPSO in text-dependent writer identification

Writer identification is an authorship authentication process based differences and similarities in handwriting. The main issue in writer identification is how to get the features that invariant to the writer. This study proposes Binary Particle Swarm Optimization (BPSO) based off-line text-dependent to investigate the effectiveness of feature weight in writer identification. BPSO has ability to perform such role since BPSO works on particle level and swarm level. The weight obtained by BPSO it's an average of feature selected times over 10 runs per writer. Then each feature multiplied by its corresponding weight so the features represented by their importance not their values. Off-line text-dependent words from IAM database are used. Moment and statistical features are extracted to represent the handwritten words. Experimental results show an improvement in writer identification performance based feature weight.
Mild alkaline treatment activates spruce wood for enzymatic processing: A possible stage in bio-refinery processes

The structure of wood is so compact that enzymes are too large to penetrate into the structure and thereby attack the wood components for modifications that can be valuable for various purposes. Here we present a pretreatment method based on traditional kraft pulping, which opens the wood structure, so that enzymes are able to attack the wood components. To study this kind of chemical pretreatment, spruce wood samples were treated at similar conditions used in kraft cooking at varying intensities (H-factors). To verify if the structure was “opened” for enzymes, the pretreated wood samples were incubated with a cellulolytic culture filtrate, and the released reducing sugar concentration after the enzymatic hydrolysis was measured. The results indicated that un-pretreated wood fibers could not be attacked by the enzymes, but already relatively mild pretreatment was sufficient for letting the culture filtrate attack wood polysaccharides, and more intensive treatments opened the structure further. The mildest treatments did not cause any significant yield losses of lignin (Klason lignin). Some galactogluco-mannans were however lost during the pretreatments. The mechanisms behind the effect and the technical significance of the method are discussed.
GIST: General Internet Signalling Transport

This document specifies protocol stacks for the routing and transport of per-flow signalling messages along the path taken by that flow through the network. The design uses existing transport and security protocols under a common messaging layer, the General Internet Signalling Transport (GIST), which provides a common service for diverse signalling applications. GIST does not handle signalling application state itself, but manages its own internal state and the configuration of the underlying transport and security protocols to enable the transfer of messages in both directions along the flow path. The combination of GIST and the lower layer transport and security protocols provides a solution for the base protocol component of the "Next Steps in Signalling" framework.
Determination of Bifurcation Angles of the Retinal Vascular Tree through Multiple Orientation Estimation based on Regularized Morphological Openings

This paper describes a new approach to compute bifurcation angles in retinal images. This approach is based on the estimation of multiple orientations at each pixel of a gray retinal image. The main orientations are provided by directional openings whose outputs are regularized in order to extend the orientation information to the whole image. The detection of vessel bifurcations is based on the coexistence of two or more than two different main orientations at the same pixel. Once the bifurcations and crossovers has been identified, bifurcation angles are calculated. The proposed procedure of computing bifurcation angles by means of orientation estimation at all pixels of the gray level image is much more stable than those methods which are based on the skeleton of the vascular tree, since a slight variation of a pixel of the skeleton can produce a significant change in the angle value.