Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Chronic Sustained Hypoxia Enhances Both Evoked EPSCs and Norepinephrine Inhibition of Glutamatergic Afferent Inputs in the Nucleus of the Solitary Tract

The nucleus of the solitary tract (NTS) receives inputs from both arterial chemoreceptors and central noradrenergic neural structures activated during hypoxia. We investigated norepinephrine (NE) modulation of chemoreceptor afferent integration after a chronic exposure to sustained hypoxia (CSH) (7–8 d at 10% FIO2). Whole-cell recordings of NTS second-order neurons identified by DiA (1,1′-dilinoleyl-3,3,3′,3′-tetra-methylindocarbocyanine, 4-chlorobenzenesulphonate) labeling of carotid bodies were obtained in a brain slice. Electrical stimulation of the solitary tract was used to evoke EPSCs. CSH exposure increased evoked EPSC (eEPSC) amplitude via both presynaptic and postsynaptic mechanisms. NE dose dependently decreased the amplitude of eEPSCs. NE increased the paired-pulse ratio of eEPSCs and reduced the frequency of miniature EPSCs, suggesting a presynaptic mechanism. EC50 of NE inhibition of eEPSCs was lower in CSH cells (3.0 ± 0.9 μm; n = 5) than in normoxic (NORM) cells (7.6 ± 1.0 μm; n = 7; p < 0.01). NE (10 μm) elicited greater inhibition of eEPSCs in CSH cells (63 ± 2%; n = 16) than NORM cells (45 ± 3%; n = 21; p < 0.01). The α-adrenoreceptor antagonist phentolamine abolished NE inhibition of eEPSCs. CSH enhanced the α2-adrenoreceptor agonist clonidine-mediated inhibition (3 μm; NORM, 23 ± 2%, n = 5 vs CSH, 44 ± 5%, n = 4; p < 0.05) but attenuated α1-adrenoreceptor agonist phenylephrine-mediated inhibition (40 μm; NORM, 36 ± 2%, n = 11 vs CSH, 26 ± 4%, n = 6; p < 0.05). The α2-adrenoreceptor antagonist yohimbine abolished CSH-induced enhancement of NE inhibition of eEPSCs. These results demonstrate that CSH increases evoked excitatory inputs to NTS neurons receiving arterial chemoreceptor inputs. CSH also enhances NE inhibition of glutamate release from inputs to these neurons via presynaptic α2-adrenoreceptors. These changes represent central neural adaptations to CSH.
Modeling of thoughtful behavior with dynamic expert system

The concept of Dynamic Expert System, used in this paper to cope with changing data and knowledge, was introduced at the start of 1990th. Implemented via a quasi-static approach, the Dynamic Expert System presents a certain step forward in the modeling of intelligent behavior, which reminds that of human beings. There are two reasons for such a claim. First, in general case Dynamic Expert System never interrupts its activity, occasionally interrogating the user if it suspects that some of the previously entered data are obsolete or become unsatisfactory in some other way. This mode reminds the behavior of an alive, as it was discussed in a number of our previous publications. The present paper considers a second important reason. It shows that Dynamic Expert System in certain sense resolves the Frame Problems of AI, demonstrating the level of reasoning, which is very close to that of human beings. A simple example of a rule-based traffic light control illustrates this property.
AN ECONOMIC THEORISTS' READING OF SIMONE WEIL*

In Economics individuals are defined by their preferences over the consequences of their own actions and the actions carried out by others. In contrast, Simone Weil depicts the individual as continuously re-constituted by the contact that he establishes with reality via his action. Such an action is aimed at achieving an effect in the physical world, but what makes it human is not success per se, but rather the fact that it stems from reasoning and planning. Affliction is caused by effort carried out mechanically like that of a beast of burden, when the individual has no opportunity to exercise reason for choosing how to confront reality's ever-challenging hazards and necessity. Simone Weil also emphasizes the importance of the socially forged language in affecting the individual's horizon and his ability to act meaningfully. In particular, foresight cannot be assumed in situations of oppression and affliction, which are extremely hard to communicate exactly because they imply an alienation between reason and action. These observations of Simone Weil suggest new dimensions which standard economic modelling has hitherto avoided.
A Closer Look at Checklist Scoring and Global Rating for Four OSCE Stations: Do the Scores Correlate Well?

Introduction: In the marking of objective structured clinical examination (OSCE), checklist scoring and global rating are two commonly used scoring systems. Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine correlations between checklist scores and global ratings for four OSCE stations of different station type. Method: Data for this study was obtained from the Final Year OSCE (n=185). Each station’s score sheet consisted of a detailed checklist of items examined. A global rating scale was also included for the examiner to indicate the global assessment for the station. Spearman’s rho correlation coefficients between checklist scores and global ratings were computed for four stations of different station type. For each station, correlations between checklist scores and global ratings were also checked across the three parallel circuits running concurrently and throughout the four rounds. Result: Spearman’s rho correlation coefficients (ρ) between checklist scores and global ratings for the four stations ranged between 0.62 to 0.88, at p<0.01. Correlation for communication skills station was the highest while correlation for procedural skills station was the lowest. For all stations, ρ ranged between 0.50 to 0.92, at p<0.01 across the circuits and between 0.57 to 0.89, at p<0.01 throughout the rounds. Conclusion: Checklist scores and global ratings correlated well for the station as a whole, as well as across the circuits and also throughout the rounds. Although findings of the study showed both checklist and global rating scale could be used as assessment tools in OSCE, it is suggested that for procedural skills station, checklist is preferred.
Impact of Pole and Slot Combination on Vibrations and Noise of Electromagnetic Origins in Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motors

In low- to medium-power-rated brushless machines, noise of electromagnetic origin is generally prevailing over mechanical and aerodynamic sources. The appropriate combination of pole and slot of a permanent magnet synchronous motor is one of the keys to its performances among which stands noise reduction. This paper investigates configurations regarding this aspect for distributed overlapping and single-layer concentrated nonoverlapping winding configurations. Chosen combinations are 8 poles 48 slots (8p48s), 8p72s, 46p48s and 50p48s. The air-gap flux density is obtained by 2-D finite element analysis (FEA), allowing to compute the electromagnetic pressure. It then serves as input of mechanical and acoustical 3-D FEA models of the stator with carter.
On the intonation of French wh-in-situ questions: What happens before the wh-word is reached?

Previous studies on the intonation of wh-in-situ questions in French have focused mainly on the utterance final movement and ignored the prosodic properties of the region preceding the wh-constituent. Yet, these latter properties are particularly interesting from a processing perspective, as they may help the listener anticipate a question before the wh-word is reached, which might facilitate parsing. In this paper we present the results of a production experiment testing the hypothesis that the prosodic properties of wh-in-situ questions differ from the prosodic properties of their declarative counterparts. The results of the production experiment verified this hypothesis. The subject and the first syllables of the verb are significantly shorter in wh-in-situ questions than in declaratives, while the last syllable of the verb is lengthened in questions. Moreover, we found that the first syllable of the wh-word systematically bears an emphatic accent or C-accent (Rossi 1985, Beyssade et al. 2004). This leads to the hypothesis that the prosodic differences on the syllables preceding the wh-word could well be a side effect of the presence of a C-accent on the wh-word.
The Nature Relatedness Scale

Disconnection from the natural world may be contributing to our planet's destruction. The authors propose a new construct, Nature Relatedness (NR), and a scale that assesses the affective, cognitive, and experiential aspects of individuals' connection to nature. In Study 1, the authors explored the internal structure of the NR item responses in a sample of 831 participants using factor analysis. They tested the construct validity of NR with respect to an assortment of environmental and personality measures. In Study 2, they employed experience sampling methodology examining if NR people spend more time outdoors, in nature. Across studies, NR correlated with environmental scales, behavior, and frequency of time in nature, supporting the reliability and validity of NR, as well as the contribution of NR (over and above other measures) to environmental concern and behavior. The potential of NR as a useful method for investigating human-nature relationships and the processes underlying environmental concern and behaviors are discussed.
The Relationship between Total Quality Management and Quality Performance in the Service Industry: A Theoretical Model

Total quality management (TQM) has been widely considered as the strategic, tactical and operational tool in the quality management research field. It is one of the most applied and well accepted approaches for business excellence besides Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI), Six Sigma, Just-in-Time (JIT), and Supply Chain Management (SCM) approaches. There is a great enthusiasm among manufacturing and service industries in adopting and implementing this strategy in order to maintain their sustainable competitive advantage. The aim of this study is to develop and propose the conceptual framework and research model of TQM implementation in relation to company performance particularly in context with the Indian service companies. It examines the relationships between TQM and company's performance by measuring the quality performance as performance indicator. A comprehensive review of literature on TQM and quality performance was carried out to accomplish the objectives of this study and a research model and hypotheses were generated. Two research questions and 34 hypotheses were proposed to re-validate the TQM practices. The adoption of such a theoretical model on TQM and company's quality performance would help managers, decision makers, and practitioners of TQM in better understanding of the TQM practices and to focus on the identified practices while implementing TQM in their companies. Further, the scope for future study is to test and validate the theoretical model by collecting the primary data from the Indian service companies and using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) approach for hypotheses testing.
Book Reviews: American Politics

revelations of presidential failings. Yet the public could hardly have been disillusioned by a Hayes or a Cleveland, not because of a lesspowerful media system, but because the men themselves promised little and could therefore deliver pretty much what they offered. More recently, the United States' international role may have tempted presidents to rash promises, with Vietnam only the most conspicuous example. Yet all this matters only if presidential images themselves matter, a proposition that is—surprisingly—never actually established by Spragens's contributors. Schwartz makes the cult of Washington not only interesting in itself but central to an understanding of early U.S. political life. Spragens and his contributors ought to have done something at least comparable to justify the price of this quite-expensive volume.
NCPMF-60 induces G2/M cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in human hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cells

We recently established that NCPMF-60, a newly synthesized flavonoid, is an active cytotoxic component. The molecular mechanisms by which NCPMF-60 exerts its cytotoxic activity are currently unknown. In this study, we show that NCPMF-60 induces G2/M phase arrest and apoptosis in human hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cells. After treatment of HepG2 cells with NCPMF-60, cell cycle-related proteins, such as cyclin B1, cyclin H, CDK7, and p-CDK1 (Thr161), were downregulated, whereas p21WAF1/Cip1 and p-CDK1 (Thr14/Tyr15) were upregulated. The activity of CDK1/cyclinB complex was also inhibited by NCPMF-60. In addition, we observed poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase cleavage and activation of caspase 3 and caspase 9. The expression ratio of Bax/Bcl-2 was increased in the treated cells, in which Bax was also upregulated. We also found that the expression of p53 and its phosphorylation at Ser15 accumulated after the treatment of NCPMF-60. Moreover, upregulation of p21WAF1/Cip1, p53-upregulated modifier of apoptosis, and Bax, three p53-target gene products, and the downregulation of Bcl-2 and MDM2, were observed in NCPMF-60-treated cells. However, p53 is not the only regulator in the stimulation of NCPMF-60 on p21 transcriptional level and posttranscriptional level. These results suggested that NCPMF-60 indeed activated the p53 pathway, which may contribute to its induction of cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in HepG2 cells. Collectively, our findings show that cell cycle arrest and apoptosis induced by NCPMF-60 was associated with the activation of p53 pathway and the inhibition of CDK-activating kinase activity in HepG2 cells.
Rheological characteristics of hyaluronic acid based dermal fillers before and after flowing through needles

Hyaluronic acid-based dermal fillers are currently among the most commonly used substances in cosmetic procedures. The present study aims at identifying alterations in the rheological properties of different types of fillers containing hyaluronic acid, before and after flowing through needles. The same analysis is carried out with fillers with and without hyaluronidase.
Workshop-Based Risk Assessment for the Definition of Secure Business Processes

Nowadays, industry and governments are faced with an increasing number of varying threats concerning the security of their valuable business processes. Due to the vast damage potential, organizations are raising their security investments, but often (i) without considering the efficiency of the investments made, (ii) neglect to involve people in order to raise security awareness and (iii) without giving decision makers a feeling about the importance of the decision problem at hand. This work provides an extension to the established risk management solution AURUM and extends its functionality by introducing the AURUM Workshop. It provides a crucial extension that allows the selection of efficient safeguards based on corporate business processes and thereby supports decision makers (i) in refining the basic infrastructure elements to the specific requirements of the corporation, (ii) focusing on the most relevant risks and (iii) in improving their awareness for the problem at hand.
The Hermeneutic Circle Helps to Accumulate Knowledge and Understanding: An Empirical Example of Public Health Nurses’ Experiences of Supporting Multiple-birth Families

In phenomenological research, the reduction is a complex reflective attentiveness required for phenomenological understanding. A literature review revealed that little research has been done on health care professionals working with multiple-birth families. Van Manen’s method has been variously used in nursing science. The aim of this article is to describe the hermeneutic circle and the method of reduction, providing an empirical example of the experiences of public health nurses working with multiple-birth families. The data consisted of open interviews (n = 38) with three participant groups—parents of twins, nurses, and family care workers—written output from them and the researcher’s notes. The phenomena of the lifeworld of multiple-birth families as described by nurses can be expressed as: “recognizing the strain”, “targeting special needs”, and “lightening the load of daily life”. Reduction enables in-depth phenomenological hermeneutic research, helping to see the research stages both as parts and as a whole and the hermeneutic circle that accumulates understanding. Social and health care professionals need to listen more to parents’ voices to better understand the needs and situation of multiple-birth families. More education and training is needed to empower parents of twins. This article can stimulate discussion on phenomenology, hermeneutic research and reduction.
OH Megamasers, Starburst and AGN Activity in Markarian 231

We present MERLIN observations of OH maser and radio continuum emission within a few hundred pc of the core of the Ultra Luminous IR Galaxy Markarian 231. This is the only known OH megamaser galaxy classed as a Seyfert 1. Maser emission is identified with the 1665- and 1667-MHz transitions over a velocity extent of 720 km s −1 . Both lines show a similar position-velocity structure including a gradient of 1.7 km s −1 pc −1 from NW to SE along the 420-pc major axis. The (unresolved) inner few tens of pc possess a much steeper velocity gradient. The maser distribution is modelled as a torus rotating about an axis inclined at � 45 ◦ to the plane of the sky. We estimate the enclosed mass density to be 320 ± 90 M⊙ pc −3 in a flattened distribution. This includes a central unresolved mass of < 8 × 10 6 M⊙. All the maser emission is projected against a region with a radio continuum brightness temperature � 10 5 K, giving a maser gain of � 2.2. The 1667:1665-MHz line ratio is close to 1.8 (the value predicted for thermal emission) consistent with radiatively pumped, unsaturated masers. This behaviour and the kinematics of the torus suggest that the size of individual masing regions is in the range 0.25 4 pc with a covering factor close to unity. There are no very bright compact masers, in contrast to galaxies such as the Seyfert 2 Markarian 273 where the masing torus is viewed nearer edge-on. The comparatively modest maser amplification seen from Markarian 231 is consistent with its classification in the unification scheme for Seyfert galaxies. Most of the radio continuum emission on 50-500 pc scales is probably of starburst origin but the compact peak is 0.4 per cent polarized by a magnetic field running north-south, similar to the jet direction on these scales. There is no close correlation between maser and continuum intensity, suggesting that much of the radio continuum must originate in the foreground and indeed the relative continuum brightness is slightly greater in the direction of the approaching jet. Comparisons with other data show that the jet changes direction close the nucleus and suggest that the sub-kpc disc hosting the masers and starburst activity is severely warped.
Single and Combined Visual Distance Cues

This study investigated the pictorial cues of relative size, relative height, and relative brightness to determine their effects on distance perception. In Experiment 1, we systematically examined (1) the effectiveness and accuracy of each visual cue tested in isolation; (2) whether the forced-choice rating paradigm provides more sensitive measures than those obtained using a simple 2AFC paradigm; (3) whether ROC slopes obtained from the forced-choice rating data are equal to one, as assumed by Signal Detection Theory (SDT); and (4) how the relative effectiveness of each cue may change when the cues are combined to provide consistent or conflicting distance information. A method of constant stimuli procedure was used for each block of trials. Subjects were presented with simulated gray square objects within a visual scene and reported which of two squares appeared closer. For single cues, both relative size and relative height were more effective than relative brightness. The forced-choice rating paradigm was not significantly more sensitive than the 2AFC paradigm, although it did allow us to test some SDT predictions. For combined cues, we found that the relative effectiveness of a given cue in combination with other cues cannot necessarily be predicted from single cue data. These results have implications not only for developing more rigorous and comprehensive models of human spatial perception but also for designing more efficient and effective 3D environments.
Pragmatic assessment of schizophrenic bilinguals' L1 and L2 use : a comparison of three assessment tools

The term "schizophrenia" refers to a psychiatric condition which affects an individual's thought and speech (Eaton and Chen 2006). The verbal expression of schizophrenics can therefore be used as a tool for insight into the nature of schizophrenia as well as the cognitive processes of schizophrenics (Wrobel 1990:1). This thesis reports on a comparative evaluation of three pragmatic assessment tools, namely the Pragmatic Protocol (Prutting and Kirchner 1987), the Profile of Communicative Appropriateness (Penn 1985), and the Framework for Assessing (Children's) Conversational Skills (Rumble 1988), in order to establish which of these tools is most suitable for assessing the first language (L1) and second language (L2) pragmatic abilities of late bilingual schizophrenics. Four late bilingual schizophrenic patients participated in this study. A thirty minute informal interview was conducted with each of the participants in both their L1 and L2 and the speech samples were transcribed and then analysed by means of each of the pragmatic assessment tools. A careful examination of the results yielded by the three assessment tools, showed, firstly, that when presenting the results of a pragmatic assessment of schizophrenic speech, it is crucial that both quantitative and qualitative information be included: if the latter is excluded, a significant amount of information is hidden from the clinicians and/or linguists doing the assessment, as well as the people to whom they report their findings. Secondly, with respect to the characteristics of schizophrenic speech, the three instruments used in this study show that whereas most of the aspects of schizophrenics' linguistic abilities seem intact, their pragmatic skills are definitely impaired. Thirdly, regarding differential symptomatology in bilingual schizophrenics, this study concludes that none of the three assessment tools contributes to a better understanding of this phenomenon, and that, in fact, it is highly unlikely that any pragmatic assessment tool would be able to capture this phenomenon. Finally, it is recommended that clinicians assess bilingual patients in both languages, whenever possible, in order to determine the full range of symptoms experienced by the patient, to gain a better indication of the severity of the illness and to track the progress of the illness.
A Fast Reconstruction Algorithm for Fluorescence Optical Diffusion Tomography Based on Preiteration

Fluorescence optical diffusion tomography in the near-infrared (NIR) bandwidth is considered to be one of the most promising ways for noninvasive molecular-based imaging. Many reconstructive approaches to it utilize iterative methods for data inversion. However, they are time-consuming and they are far from meeting the real-time imaging demands. In this work, a fast preiteration algorithm based on the generalized inverse matrix is proposed. This method needs only one step of matrix-vector multiplication online, by pushing the iteration process to be executed offline. In the preiteration process, the second-order iterative format is employed to exponentially accelerate the convergence. Simulations based on an analytical diffusion model show that the distribution of fluorescent yield can be well estimated by this algorithm and the reconstructed speed is remarkably increased.