Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effects of cerebrolysin on nerve growth factor system in the aging rat brain

Background: Aging is associated with some cognitive decline and enhanced risk of development of neurodegenerative diseases. It is assumed that altered metabolism and functions of neurotrophin systems may underlie these age-related functional and structural modifications. CerebrolysinTM (CBL) is a neuropeptide mixture with neurotrophic effects, which is widely used for the treatment of stroke and traumatic brain injury patients. It is also evident that CBL has an overall beneficial effect and a favorable benefit-risk ratio in patients with dementia. However, the effects of CBL on cognition and brain neurotrophin system in normal aging remain obscure. Objective: The aim of the present study was to examine the age-related modifications of endogenous neurotrophin systems in the brain of male Wistar rats and the effects of CBL on learning and memory as well as the levels neurotrophins and their receptors. Methods: Old (23–24 months) and young (2–3 months) male Wistar rats were used for the study. A half of animals were subjected to CBL course (2.5 ml/kg, 20 i.p. injections). Behavior of rats was studied using the open field test and simple water maze training. The contents of NGF and BDNF were studied using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; the expression of neurotrophin receptors was estimated by Western-blot analysis. Results: CBL treatment did not affect general status, age-related weight changes, general locomotor activity as well as general brain histology. In a water maze task, a minor effect of CBL was observed in old rats at the start of training and no effect on memory retention was found. Aging induced a decrease in neurotrophin receptors TrkA, TrkB, and p75NTR in the neocortex. CBL counteracted effects of aging on neocortical TrkA and p75NTR receptors and decreased expression of proNGF without influencing overall NGF levels. BDNF system was not significantly affected by CBL. Conclusion: The pro-neuroplastic “antiaging” effects of CBL in the neocortex of old animals were generally related to the NGF rather than the BDNF system.
Regional Variation in the Density of Essential Genes in Mice

In most species, and particularly in vertebrates, the percentage of genes absolutely required for survival, the essential genes, has not been estimated. To obtain this estimation, we used the mouse as an experimental model to carry out high-efficiency N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea (ENU) mutagenesis screens in two balancer chromosome regions, and compared our results to a third previously published screen. The number of essential genes in each region was predicted based on allele frequencies. We determined that the density of essential genes differs by up to an order of magnitude among genomic regions. This indicates that extrapolating from regional estimates to genome-wide estimates of essential genes has a huge variance. A particularly high density of essential genes on mouse Chromosome 11 coincides with a high degree of regional linkage conservation, providing a possible causal explanation for the density variation. This is the first demonstration of regional variation in essential gene density in the mouse genome.
Dilated Cardiomyopathy and Heart Failure Caused by a Mutation in Phospholamban

Molecular etiologies of heart failure, an emerging cardiovascular epidemic affecting 4.7 million Americans and costing 17.8 billion health-care dollars annually, remain poorly understood. Here we report that an inherited human dilated cardiomyopathy with refractory congestive heart failure is caused by a dominant Arg → Cys missense mutation at residue 9 (R9C) in phospholamban (PLN), a transmembrane phosphoprotein that inhibits the cardiac sarcoplasmic reticular Ca2+–adenosine triphosphatase (SERCA2a) pump. Transgenic PLNR9C mice recapitulated human heart failure with premature death. Cellular and biochemical studies revealed that, unlike wild-type PLN, PLNR9C did not directly inhibit SERCA2a. Rather, PLNR9C trapped protein kinase A (PKA), which blocked PKA-mediated phosphorylation of wild-type PLN and in turn delayed decay of calcium transients in myocytes. These results indicate that myocellular calcium dysregulation can initiate human heart failure—a finding that may lead to therapeutic opportunities.
Anti-Inflammatory Action of Angiotensin 1-7 in Experimental Colitis

Background There is evidence to support a role for angiotensin (Ang) 1–7 in reducing the activity of inflammatory signaling molecules such as MAPK, PKC and SRC. Enhanced angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) expression has been observed in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) suggesting a role in its pathogenesis, prompting this study. Methods The colonic expression/activity profile of ACE2, Ang 1–7, MAS1-receptor (MAS1-R), MAPK family and Akt were determined by western blot and immunofluorescence. The effect of either exogenous administration of Ang 1–7 or pharmacological inhibition of its function (by A779 treatment) was determined using the mouse dextran sulfate sodium model. Results Enhanced colonic expression of ACE2, Ang1-7 and MAS1-R was observed post-colitis induction. Daily Ang 1–7 treatment (0.01–0.06 mg/kg) resulted in significant amelioration of DSS-induced colitis. In contrast, daily administration of A779 significantly worsened features of colitis. Colitis-associated phosphorylation of p38, ERK1/2 and Akt was reduced by Ang 1–7 treatment. Conclusion Our results indicate important anti-inflammatory actions of Ang 1–7 in the pathogenesis of IBD, which may provide a future therapeutic strategy to control the disease progression.
Active control of flexible one-link manipulators using wavelet networks

SUMMARY The design of control laws for flexible manipulators is known to be a challenging problem, when using a conventional actuator, i.e., a motor with gear. This is due to the friction of the nonlinear actuator, which causes torque dead zone and stick-slip behavior, thereby hampering the good performance of the control system. The torque needed to attenuate the vibrations, although calculated by the control law, is consumed by the friction inside the actuator, rendering it ineffective to the flexible structure control. Nonlinear friction varies with different operational conditions of the actuator and a friction compensation mechanism based on these models cannot always keep a good performance. This study proposes a new control strategy using wavelet network to friction compensation. Experimental results obtained with a flexible manipulator attest to the good performance of the proposed control law.
Social support and peer norms scales for physical activity in adolescents.

OBJECTIVES To evaluate psychometric properties of a Social Support and Peer Norms Scale in 5th-7th grade urban girls. METHODS Baseline data from 509 girls and test-retest data from another 94 girls in the Midwestern US were used. RESULTS Cronbach's alpha was . 83 for the Social Support Scale and . 72 for the Peer Norms Scale, whereas test-re-test reliability was . 78 for both scales. Exploratory factor analysis suggested a single factor structure for the Social Support Scale, and a 3-factor structure for the Peer Norms Scale. Social support was correlated with accelerometer-measured physical activity (r = .13, p = .006), and peer norms (r = .50, p < .0001). CONCLUSIONS Both scales have adequate psychometric properties.
A Survey of Methods for Volumetric Scene Reconstruction from Photographs

Scene reconstruction, the task of generating a 3D model of a scene given multiple 2D photographs taken of the scene, is an old and difficult problem in computer vision. Since its introduction, scene reconstruction has found application in many fields, including robotics, virtual reality, and entertainment. Volumetric models are a natural choice for scene reconstruction. Three broad classes of volumetric reconstruction techniques have been developed based on geometric intersections, color consistency, and pair-wise matching. Some of these techniques have spawned a number of variations and undergone considerable refinement. This paper is a survey of techniques for volumetric scene reconstruction.
A novel 4H-SiC pinched barrier rectifier

In this paper, design, fabrication and experimental analysis of a novel 4H-SiC pinched barrier rectifier (PBR) are presented. The operation mechanism of the pinched barrier is analyzed by numerical simulation and energy band diagrams. PN junction depth (Xj) and spacing (S) parameters in the diode structure are carefully designed to achieve a prototype optimal structure, and both forward and reverse characteristics are compared with those of JBS diodes by experimental results. It is demonstrated that, only by simply adjusting the PN junction depth and spacing parameters, the pinched barrier diode can obtain relatively optimal performance close to that of JBS diodes. The addition of channel doping concentration (Nch) consideration for the structure design can achieve further improvements and superior performances than JBS diodes. In comparison with the optimum JBS diode design (S=1.2pm), for an on-set voltage control of 0.8V, PBR diode with optimum design sets of S and Nch can achieve a wider trade-off window (S≤0.8pm) between the device forward and reverse performances. Furthermore, PBR diode can achieve superior performance with lower forward voltage drop (1.3V) than JBS diode (1.6V) for the same reverse blocking capability (∼1600V). The performance limit of PBR diode is also explored in this paper. For a minimum limit on-set voltage control of 0.6 V, a lowest voltage drop of 1.1V as well as a wide design window can be achieved.
Inter-domains security management (IDSM) model for IP multimedia subsystem (IMS)

In this paper we propose architecture and design methodology for the inter-domains security management (IDSM) model for the IP multimedia system (IMS), which is standardized by third generation partnership project (3GPP) and 3GPP2 as next generation mobile networks. The IDSM model is based on trust domain relationship between different network domain operators using policy based security associations and managements. The design methodology introduces inter-domains security gateways for generating and managing keys and certificates based on public key infrastructure (PKI) architecture. IPSec protocol is used for implementing confidentiality and integrity protection. This research work is part of secure service provisioning (SSP) framework for the IMS playground and third generation beyond (3Gb) testbed at the FOKUS Fraunhofer Institute.
On the feasibility of static analysis for BGP convergence

Internet Service Providers can enforce a fine grained control of Interdomain Routing by cleverly configuring the Border Gateway Protocol. However, the price to pay for the flexibility of BGP is the lack of convergence guarantees. Network protocol design literature introduced several sufficient conditions that routing policies should satisfy to guarantee convergence. However, to our knowledge, none of these conditions has yet been exploited to automatically check BGP policies for convergence.
Exchange Rate Policy and the Management of Official and Private Capital Flows in Africa

During the 1990s a number of African central banks succeeded in bringing inflation to relatively low levels while maintaining a market-determined exchange rate. These central banks were generally reluctant to fully subordinate exchange rate targets to monetary targets, however, particularly in the face of large external shocks. We focus on the management of highly persistent shocks to aid flows, including PRSP-related increases in net flows, in the presence of currency substitution by the domestic private sector. Such shocks have beneficent long-run effects, but when currency substitution is high they can produce dramatic macroeconomic management problems in the short run. What is the appropriate mix of money and exchange rate targeting in such cases, and the role of temporary sterilization? We analyze these and related issues in an intertemporal optimizing model that allows a portion of aid to be devoted to reducing the government's seigniorage requirement. This creates a strong link between official aid flows and private capital flows, giving rise to tradeoffs reminiscent of the literature on private capital inflows in emerging markets. When the credibility of policymakers' commitment to low inflation is firm, some degree of dirty floating, with little or no sterilization of increases in the monetary base, is the most attractive approach.
Religious affiliation and economic development: a recent literature review

This article provides an overview of the recent literature relevant to the study of the relation between economics and religion. The paper also appeals to the critical review on the implications of religious markets and church-state relation. The study argues that economic development depress religiosity. Subsequent comments will be linked to a much more comprehensive literature on the social and economic consequences of religious beliefs.
Genetic suppression of the circadian Clock mutation by the melatonin biosynthesis pathway

Most laboratory mouse strains including C57BL/6J do not produce detectable levels of pineal melatonin owing to deficits in enzymatic activity of arylalkylamine N-acetyltransferase (AANAT) and N-acetylserotonin O-methyl transferase (ASMT), two enzymes necessary for melatonin biosynthesis. Here we report that alleles segregating at these two loci in C3H/HeJ mice, an inbred strain producing melatonin, suppress the circadian period-lengthening effect of the Clock mutation. Through a functional mapping approach, we localize mouse Asmt to chromosome X and show that it, and the Aanat locus on chromosome 11, are significantly associated with pineal melatonin levels. Treatment of suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) explant cultures from Period2Luciferase (Per2Luc) Clock/+ reporter mice with melatonin, or the melatonin agonist, ramelteon, phenocopies the genetic suppression of the Clock mutant phenotype observed in living animals. These results demonstrate that melatonin suppresses the Clock/+ mutant phenotype and interacts with Clock to affect the mammalian circadian system.
Bmc Medical Research Methodology Open Access Performance of Statistical Models to Predict Mental Health and Substance Abuse Cost

Background: Providers use risk-adjustment systems to help manage healthcare costs. Typically, ordinary least squares (OLS) models on either untransformed or log-transformed cost are used. We examine the predictive ability of several statistical models, demonstrate how model choice depends on the goal for the predictive model, and examine whether building models on samples of the data affects model choice.
Using gradient correlation for sub-pixel motion estimation of video sequences

A highly accurate and computationally efficient method is presented suitable for the estimation of motion in video sequences. The method is based on the maximization of the spatial gradient cross-correlation function, which is computed in the frequency domain and therefore can be implemented by fast transformation algorithms. We present enhancements to the baseline gradient-correlation algorithm, which further improve performance, especially in the presence of manually induced additive Gaussian noise. We also present a comparative performance analysis, which demonstrates that the proposed method outperforms the state-of-the-art in frequency-domain motion estimation, in the shape of phase correlation.
Diabetes mellitus and tuberculosis in countries with high tuberculosis burdens: individual risks and social determinants.

BACKGROUND A growing body of evidence supports the role of type 2 diabetes as an individual-level risk factor for tuberculosis (TB), though evidence from developing countries with the highest TB burdens is lacking. In developing countries, TB is most common among the poor, in whom diabetes may be less common. We assessed the relationship between individual-level risk, social determinants and population health in these settings. METHODS We performed individual-level analyses using the World Health Survey (n = 124,607; 46 countries). We estimated the relationship between TB and diabetes, adjusting for gender, age, body mass index, education, housing quality, crowding and health insurance. We also performed a longitudinal country-level analysis using data on per-capita gross domestic product and TB prevalence and incidence and diabetes prevalence for 1990-95 and 2003-04 (163 countries) to estimate the relationship between increasing diabetes prevalence and TB, identifying countries at risk for disease interactions. RESULTS In lower income countries, individuals with diabetes are more likely than non-diabetics to have TB [univariable odds ratio (OR): 2.39; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.84-3.10; multivariable OR: 1.81; 95% CI: 1.37-2.39]. Increases in TB prevalence and incidence over time were more likely to occur when diabetes prevalence also increased (OR: 4.7; 95% CI: 1.0-22.5; OR: 8.6; 95% CI: 1.9-40.4). Large populations, prevalent TB and projected increases in diabetes make countries like India, Peru and the Russia Federation areas of particular concern. CONCLUSIONS Given the association between diabetes and TB and projected increases in diabetes worldwide, multi-disease health policies should be considered.
Managing Racial Differences

Potential sources of variance were examined to explain within-group differences in White managers’ abilities to manage non-White employees. Majority manager and minority employee survey responses were matched to form 142 superior-subordinate cross-race dyads. Ethnic identity development, ethnic group self-identification, education, and participation in diversity training were measured. Additionally, the relationship between ethnic identity and minority employee perceptions of managerial support were examined. Results show that almost 20% of the majority respondents defined their ethnicity as something other than White. Findings suggest that majority members who perceive themselves as a minority (e.g., German American) may have developed a higher ethnic identity as a result of exploring their own ethnic background. Although education and participation in diversity training were not related to ethnic identity development, a significant relationship was found between the interaction of manager and employee ethnic identity and managerial support. Implications for corporate diversity initiatives are discussed.
Study Abroad Decisions: Determinants & Perceived Consequences

This study examined factors influencing students’ decisions to study abroad and the perceived impact of such experiences. Findings identified intellectual and personal growth, career enhancement potential, ability to graduate on time, cost, and financial aid availability as the most important “program-related” considerations, and exposure to other cultures and desire to live independently as key “non-program” factors. Development of deeper intercultural understanding, sensitivity, global mindedness, interpersonal skills, and tolerance were the key learning. Factor analysis confirmed “Cultural Understanding and Personal Growth” and “Cultural Tolerance” as the top decision criteria. Statistically significant differences were observed with respect to study abroad locations.
Beyond Counting: New Perspectives on the Active IPv4 Address Space

In this study, we report on techniques and analyses that enable us to capture Internet-wide activity at individual IP address-level granularity by relying on server logs of a large commercial content delivery network (CDN) that serves close to 3 trillion HTTP requests on a daily basis. Across the whole of 2015, these logs recorded client activity involving 1.2 billion unique IPv4 addresses, the highest ever measured, in agreement with recent estimates. Monthly client IPv4 address counts showed constant growth for years prior, but since 2014, the IPv4 count has stagnated while IPv6 counts have grown. Thus, it seems we have entered an era marked by increased complexity, one in which the sole enumeration of active IPv4 addresses is of little use to characterize recent growth of the Internet as a whole. With this observation in mind, we consider new points of view in the study of global IPv4 address activity. Our analysis shows significant churn in active IPv4 addresses: the set of active IPv4 addresses varies by as much as 25% over the course of a year. Second, by looking across the active addresses in a prefix, we are able to identify and attribute activity patterns to networkm restructurings, user behaviors, and, in particular, various address assignment practices. Third, by combining spatio-temporal measures of address utilization with measures of traffic volume, and sampling-based estimates of relative host counts, we present novel perspectives on worldwide IPv4 address activity, including empirical observation of under-utilization in some areas, and complete utilization, or exhaustion, in others.
Self-Esteem and Trait Importance Moderate Cultural Differences in Self-Evaluations

It is widely assumed that East Asians evaluate themselves less positively than do Westerners, but this assumption lacks consistent support. In this report, the authors provide evidence that cultural differences in self-evaluations are moderated by two factors: trait importance and self-esteem. American and Chinese college students completed a self-esteem scale and then evaluated themselves on traits that varied in their cultural importance. Culture and trait importance did not affect the self-evaluations of high self-esteem participants, but did affect the self-evaluations of low self-esteem participants. Whereas low self-esteem Americans evaluated their agentic qualities more positively than did low self-esteem Chinese, low self-esteem Chinese evaluated their communal qualities more positively than did low self-esteem Americans. The discussion considers the implications of these findings for theories of cultural differences and self-esteem functioning.
Internet Addiction - Time to be Taken Seriously?

The rise and popularity of the Internet as a communication medium has become an ever-increasing part of many people’s day-to-day lives. Coupled with the rise in popularity and usage, there have been a growing number of reports in the popular press about excessive use of the internet under the guise of “Internet addiction”, “Internet Addiction Disorder” (IAD) and “Internet Addiction Syndrome” (IAS). For instance, in as early as 1995, Newsweek reported that 2% to 3% of the online community have serious “Internet addictions” and spend most of their waking time surfing and chatting in this medium (Hamilton and Kalb, 1995). Although the concept of “Internet addictions” and its derivatives appear to have its supporters in the popular press, there is a form of “knee-jerk scepticism” amongst the academic community not least among those working in the field of addiction research. It is not hard to understand the scepticism shown. For many people, the concept of Internet addiction seems far-fetched particularly if their concepts and definitions of addiction involve the taking of drugs. Despite the predominance of drug-based definitions of addiction, there is now a growing movement which views a number of behaviours as potentially addictive including many behaviours which do not involve the ingestion of a psychoactive drug (e.g. gambling, computer game playing, exercise, sex, and now the Internet). Such diversity has led to new all encompassing definitions of what constitutes addictive behaviour. Throughout my research career examining the psychology of gambling, I have consistently tried to argue that excessive gambling is no