Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Dramatically Amplified Thoracic Sympathetic Postganglionic Excitability and Integrative Capacity Revealed with Whole-Cell Patch-Clamp Recordings

Abstract Thoracic paravertebral sympathetic postganglionic neurons (tSPNs) comprise the final integrative output of the distributed sympathetic nervous system controlling vascular and thermoregulatory systems. Considered a non-integrating relay, what little is known of tSPN intrinsic excitability has been determined by sharp microelectrodes with presumed impalement injury. We thus undertook the first electrophysiological characterization of tSPN cellular properties using whole-cell recordings and coupled results with a conductance-based model to explore the principles governing their excitability in adult mice of both sexes. Recorded membrane resistance and time constant values were an order of magnitude greater than values previously obtained, leading to a demonstrable capacity for synaptic integration in driving recruitment. Variation in membrane resistivity was the primary determinant controlling cell excitability with vastly lower currents required for tSPN recruitment. Unlike previous microelectrode recordings in mouse which observed inability to sustain firing, all tSPNs were capable of repetitive firing. Computational modeling demonstrated that observed differences are explained by introduction of a microelectrode impalement injury conductance. Overall, tSPNs largely linearly encoded injected current magnitudes over a broad frequency range. Thus, whole-cell recordings reveal tSPNs have more dramatically amplified excitability than previously thought, with greater intrinsic capacity for synaptic integration and with the ability for maintained firing to support sustained actions on vasomotor tone and thermoregulatory function. Rather than acting as a relay, these studies support a more responsive role and possible intrinsic capacity for tSPNs to drive sympathetic autonomic function.
The Adaptive Remodeling of Endothelial Glycocalyx in Response to Fluid Shear Stress

The endothelial glycocalyx is vital for mechanotransduction and endothelial barrier integrity. We previously demonstrated the early changes in glycocalyx organization during the initial 30 min of shear exposure. In the present study, we tested the hypothesis that long-term shear stress induces further remodeling of the glycocalyx resulting in a robust layer, and explored the responses of membrane rafts and the actin cytoskeleton. After exposure to shear stress for 24 h, the glycocalyx components heparan sulfate, chondroitin sulfate, glypican-1 and syndecan-1, were enhanced on the apical surface, with nearly uniform spatial distributions close to baseline levels that differed greatly from the 30 min distributions. Heparan sulfate and glypican-1 still clustered near the cell boundaries after 24 h of shear, but caveolin-1/caveolae and actin were enhanced and concentrated across the apical aspects of the cell. Our findings also suggest the GM1-labelled membrane rafts were associated with caveolae and glypican-1/heparan sulfate and varied in concert with these components. We conclude that remodeling of the glycocalyx to long-term shear stress is associated with the changes in membrane rafts and the actin cytoskeleton. This study reveals a space- and time- dependent reorganization of the glycocalyx that may underlie alterations in mechanotransduction mechanisms over the time course of shear exposure.
Damage imaging in a laminated composite plate using an air-coupled time reversal mirror

We demonstrate the possibility of selectively imaging the features of a barely visible impact damage in a laminated composite plate by using an air-coupled time reversal mirror. The mirror consists of a number of piezoelectric transducers affixed to wedges of power law profiles, which act as unconventional matching layers. The transducers are enclosed in a hollow reverberant cavity with an opening to allow progressive emission of the ultrasonic wave field towards the composite plate. The principle of time reversal is used to focus elastic waves at each point of a scanning grid spanning the surface of the plate, thus allowing localized inspection at each of these points. The proposed device and signal processing removes the need to be in direct contact with the plate and reveals the same features as vibrothermography and more features than a C-scan. More importantly, this device can decouple the features of the defect according to their orientation, by selectively focusing vector components of motion into the object, through air. For instance, a delamination can be imaged in one experiment using out-of-plane focusing, whereas a crack can be imaged in a separate experiment using in-plane focusing. This capability, inherited from the principle of time reversal, cannot be found in conventional air-coupled transducers.
Morphing the minimal and full-length hammerhead ribozymes: implications for the cleavage mechanism

Abstract The hammerhead ribozyme is a small, intensively studied catalytic RNA, and has been used as a prototype for understanding how RNA catalysis works. In 2003, the importance of a set of tertiary contacts that appear in natural sequences of the hammerhead RNA was finally understood. The presence of these contact regions in stems I and II in ‘full-length hammerhead ribozymes’ is accompanied by an up to 1000-fold catalytic rate enhancement, indicating a profound structural effect upon the active site. Although the new structure resolved most of what appeared to be irreconcilable differences with mechanistic studies in solution, it did so in a way that is simultaneously reconcilable with earlier crystallographic mechanistic studies, within the limits imposed by the truncated sequence of the minimal hammerhead. Here we present an analysis of the correspondence between the full-length and minimal hammerhead crystal structures, using adiabatic morphing calculations that for the first time test the hypothesis that the minimal hammerhead structure occasionally visits the active conformation, both in solution and in the crystalline state in a sterically allowed manner, and argue that this is the simplest hypothesis that consistently explains all of the experimental observations.
A Whole-Brain Investigation of White Matter Microstructure in Adolescents with Conduct Disorder

Background The biological basis of severe antisocial behaviour in adolescents is poorly understood. We recently reported that adolescents with conduct disorder (CD) have significantly increased fractional anisotropy (FA) of the uncinate fasciculus (a white matter (WM) tract that connects the amygdala to the frontal lobe) compared to their non-CD peers. However, the extent of WM abnormality in other brain regions is currently unclear. Methods We used tract-based spatial statistics to investigate whole brain WM microstructural organisation in 27 adolescent males with CD, and 21 non-CD controls. We also examined relationships between FA and behavioural measures. Groups did not differ significantly in age, ethnicity, or substance use history. Results The CD group, compared to controls, had clusters of significantly greater FA in 7 brain regions corresponding to: 1) the bilateral inferior and superior cerebellar peduncles, corticopontocerebellar tract, posterior limb of internal capsule, and corticospinal tract; 2) right superior longitudinal fasciculus; and 3) left cerebellar WM. Severity of antisocial behavior and callous-unemotional symptoms were significantly correlated with FA in several of these regions across the total sample, but not in the CD or control groups alone. Conclusions Adolescents with CD have significantly greater FA than controls in WM regions corresponding predominantly to the fronto-cerebellar circuit. There is preliminary evidence that variation in WM microstructure may be dimensionally related to behaviour problems in youngsters. These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that antisocial behaviour in some young people is associated with abnormalities in WM ‘connectivity’.
Dreaming and REM sleep are controlled by different brain mechanisms

The paradigmatic assumption that REM sleep is the physiological equivalent of dreaming is in need of fundamental revision. A mounting body of evidence suggests that dreaming and REM sleep are dissociable states, and that dreaming is controlled by forebrain mechanisms. Recent neuropsychological, radiological, and pharmacological findings suggest that the cholinergic brain stem mechanisms that control the REM state can only generate the psychological phenomena of dreaming through the mediation of a second, probably dopaminergic, forebrain mechanism. The latter mechanism (and thus dreaming itself) can also be activated by a variety of nonREM triggers. Dreaming can be manipulated by dopamine agonists and antagonists with no concomitant change in REM frequency, duration, and density. Dreaming can also be induced by focal forebrain stimulation and by complex partial (forebrain) seizures during nonREM sleep, when the involvement of brainstem REM mechanisms is precluded. Likewise, dreaming is obliterated by focal lesions along a specific (probably dopaminergic) forebrain pathway, and these lesions do not have any appreciable effects on REM frequency, duration, and density. These findings suggest that the forebrain mechanism in question is the final common path to dreaming and that the brainstem oscillator that controls the REM state is just one of the many arousal triggers that can activate this forebrain mechanism. The “REM-on” mechanism (like its various NREM equivalents) therefore stands outside the dream process itself, which is mediated by an independent, forebrain “dream-on” mechanism.
On Higher-Order Description Logics

We investigate an extension of Description Logics with higher-order capabilities, based on Henkin-style semantics. Our study starts from the observation that the various possibilities of adding higher-order constructs to a DL form a spectrum of increasing expressive power, including domain metamodeling, i.e., using concepts and roles as predicate arguments, and full metamodeling, providing the ability of using the language constructors and operators as predicate arguments, in the style of RDF. We argue that higher-order features of the former type are sufficiently rich and powerful for the modeling requirements arising in many relevant situations, and therefore we carry out an investigation of the computational complexity of reasoning in DLs extended with such features. In particular, we show that adding domain metamodeling capabilities to expressive DLs has no impact on the complexity of the various reasoning tasks.
The effect of changes in feeding patterns on the performance of pigs

A short account of work carried out by the authors was given. A full presentation will be published (Strong, Shirling & Passmore, 1967). The summary of this paper is as follows: Food which provided from 2960 to 7880 kcal in excess of requirements was eaten by sixteen subjects, each for a period of 4 days. The proportion of the nutrients lost in the faeces was not increased during overfeeding. The metabolic rates were in no case increased by an amount equivalent to more than 15% of the excess calories. The increase could be attributed to the specific dynamic effect of the extra dietary protein. The gains in weight ranged from 370 to 5460 g/4 days and the calorie equivalent of the weight gained varied from 1-1 to 10.0 kcal/g. These variations can be attributed to variations in the amount of water retained. Analysis of their respiratory exchanges suggests that most subjects stored from 400 to 1500 g carbohydrate in the tissues, possibly in the form of muscle glycogen.
What determines the capacity of autoassociative memories in the brain? Network

Threshold-linear (graded response) units approximate the real firing behaviour of pyramidal neurons in a simplified form, suited to the analytical study of large autoassociative networks. Here we extend previous results on threshold-linear networks to a much larger class of models, by considering different connectivities (including full feedback, highly diluted and multilayer feedforward architectures), different forms of Hebbian learning rules, and different distributions of firing rates (including realistic, continuous distributions of rates). This allows an evaluation of the main factors which may affect, in real cortical networks, the capacity for storage and retrieval of discrete firing patterns.In each case a single equation is derived, which determines both αc, the maximum number of retrievable patterns per synapse, and Im, the maximum amount of retrievable information per synapse. It is shown that: 1. Non-speeific effects, such as those usually ascribed to inhibition, or to neuramodulatary afferen.
A rewriting paradigm for program and algorithm animation

The dichotomy between programs and data projects itself onto two paradigms in software visualisation: programs are visualised by program animation, and data is visualised by algorithm animation. We put forward a programming paradigm where, like functional or logic programming, and some rewriting paradigms, programs and data are represented at the same level-program are just one particular kind of data. Animation of these programs/algorithms breaks the dichotomy and leads to an alternative perspective on visualisation. Our paradigm is a graphical one, and thus is exceptionally well suited for visualisation.
Aneuploidy Screening for Embryo Selection

Abstract Chromosome abnormalities are extremely common in human oocytes and embryos and are associated with a variety of negative outcomes for both natural cycles and those using assisted conception techniques. Embryos containing the wrong number of chromosomes (aneuploidy) may fail to implant in the uterus, miscarry, or lead to children with serious medical problems (e.g., Down syndrome). Preimplantation genetic screening (PGS) is a method that seeks to improve the outcomes of assisted reproductive treatments, such as in vitro fertilization (IVF), by ensuring that the embryos chosen for transfer to the uterus are chromosomally normal. Here we summarize published and novel data concerning the frequency and variety of chromosomal abnormalities seen in oocytes and embryos at the cleavage and blastocyst stages of development. Clinical outcomes of studies using PGS are presented, and the controversy over the use of chromosome screening as a tool for embryo selection is discussed. We describe validation and preliminary clinical data from the new generation of methods being used for PGS, including comparative genomic hybridization (CGH), microarrays (aCGH and single nucleotide polymorphism arrays), and quantitative polymerase chain reaction. These methodologies allow comprehensive chromosomal analysis, provide high accuracy, and have yielded encouraging preliminary clinical data. The combination of advances in genetics and embryology seems poised to usher in a new era in the treatment of infertility.
A multilevel analysis on predicting mathematics performance in Chinese primary schools: implications for practice

The acquisition of mathematical literacy in primary school is a complex process that is influenced by a large set of variables. A multilevel model was applied to identify significant predictors of mathematics performance in Chinese primary schools. Data were obtained from 10,959 students of six grades from primary schools in rural/urban areas, within five provinces with different developmental levels. At the school level, the aggregated socioeconomic status of a school is a significant predictor of math performance (x(2)=4.3, df=1, p<. 05), until the individual reading level is included. At the class level, grade is a significant predictor. Teacher's graduation level predicts performance (x(2)=4.84, df=1, p=. 03), until individual students' metacognition level is added. At the student level, reading performance (x(2)=434.87, df=1, p<. 00), mathematics self-efficacy (x(2)=392.62, df=1, p<. 00) and metacognition (x(2)=756.62, df=1, p<. 00) play a large and significant role. Socioeconomic status of family is a weak and polynomial predictor. The results reveal that individual background variables are important predictors and explain 46.67% of the total variance in math performance. After controlling for student characteristics, school and class level variables disappear as predictors, implying an interaction between contextual and individual variables. The present research findings have next to theoretical implication also policy implications for Chinese mathematics education. Firstly, the educational quality between provinces seem to be balanced, but the school quality within a province does not seem to be balanced. Secondly, there seems to be a need for a quality control related to the output of open teacher training institutions. Thirdly, remedial or intervention programs have to be put in place, to be proactive as to difficulties of students with different language backgrounds.
Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries in Female Athletes

The mechanism underlying gender disparity in anterior cruciate ligament injury risk is likely multifactorial in nature. Several theories have been proposed to explain the mechanisms underlying the gender difference in anterior cruciate ligament injury rates. These theories include the intrinsic variables of anatomical, hormonal, neuromuscular, and biomechanical differences between genders and extrinsic variables. Identification of both extrinsic and intrinsic risk factors associated with the anterior cruciate ligament injury mechanism may provide direction for targeted prophylactic treatment to high-risk individuals.
Heparin inhibits ligand binding to the leukocyte integrin Mac-1 (CD11b/CD18).

BACKGROUND The clinical benefits of heparin reach beyond its anticoagulative properties. Recently, it has been described that leukocytes adhere on immobilized heparin mediated by the integrin Mac-1 (CD11b/CD18, alphaMbeta2, or CR3). Because inhibition of this versatile adhesion molecule could explain various aspects of the beneficial clinical effects of heparin, we evaluated whether soluble heparin modulates Mac-1 function in vitro and in vivo. METHODS AND RESULTS Binding of unfractionated heparin to Mac-1 on PMA-stimulated monocytes and granulocytes was directly demonstrated in flow cytometry, whereas no binding of heparin was detected on unstimulated leukocytes. Unfractionated heparin inhibited binding of the soluble ligands fibrinogen, factor X, and iC3b to Mac-1. Adhesion of the monocytic cell line THP-1 and of peripheral monocytes and granulocytes to immobilized ICAM-1 was impaired by unfractionated heparin, to the same extent as with inhibition of Mac-1 by monoclonal antibodies such as c7E3. Low-molecular-weight heparin also inhibits binding of fibrinogen to Mac-1. Additionally, flow cytometry of whole blood preparations of patients treated with unfractionated heparin revealed an inhibitory effect of heparin on the binding of fibrinogen to Mac-1 that correlates (n= 48, r=0.63, P<0.001) to the extent of prolongation of the activated partial thromboplastin time. CONCLUSIONS We describe a pharmacologically relevant property of heparin that may contribute to its benefits in clinical use. The binding of heparin to Mac-1 and the resulting inhibition in binding of Mac-1 ligands may directly modulate coagulation, inflammation, and cell proliferation.
Quantifying driver cell phone use at signalized intersections using software-defined radio

Abstract Objective: This article outlines a data collection process that quantifies driver cell phone use using a software-defined radio (SDR) at a signalized intersection. Cell phone use while driving has been shown to be factor that increases the risk of a crash incident. Both operational and enforcement strategies can be applied at locations where high driver cell phone use is identified. Methods: A baseline driver cell phone use observation was made at the intersection, where 9,699 vehicles were observed at the intersection of Carlton Road and State Route 31 (Pennington Road) in Ewing, New Jersey. An SDR cell phone detection device created as part of this study was then deployed at the same intersection to determine whether the SDR device could detect an active cell phone signal. The identification of vehicle cell phone activity using the SDR was conducted a sample of 4,000 vehicles. A visual observation, along with a motion detection camera, was made alongside the SDR to visually confirm cell phones use. Results: Of the 4,000 vehicles sampled using the SDR cell phone detection device, 6.1% of the a.m. peak travel time and 7.6% of the p.m. peak travel time had an active cellular device. A concurrent visual field verification of driver cell phone use showed that approximately 57% (a.m. peak) and 67% (p.m. peak) of the SDR-detected cell phones were visually confirmed to be associated with distracted cell phone use. Conclusions: Once characterized, the frequency of driver cell phone use can be used to justify changes to signal timing protocols. These adjustments could include extending the signal’s “all-red time” or holding “yellow time” longer in order to properly clear the intersection. These data can also be used to identify locations that may require more enforcement measures to dissuade driver cell phone use. Furthermore, the impact of anti–cell phone campaigns or new laws can be quantified by measuring before and after cell phone use in the near term rather than waiting for crash studies at intersections to be completed and analyzed.
Errors in Logic and Statistics Plague a Meta-Analysis (Response to Andow and Lövei 2012)

As we noted previously (Shelton et al. 2009a, b), we strongly believe in the power of meta-analyses to help advance our collective understanding of the potential risks of Bt crops for nontarget organisms by identifying negative, neutral, and positive effects of the technology in both laboratory and field studies. Although we agree on this point, it is equally important that such studies do not contain errors in logic or statistics. We acknowledge that Andow and Lovei (2012) have corrected a statistical error in their previous publications (Lovei et al. 2009), but point out another statistical error (see below) in their latest letter. However, more important than these statistical errors, we question their continued attribution of hazard to a protein rather than, more accurately, to poor prey or host quality. We believe this is an error in logic. Therefore, we strongly oppose the latest statement by Andow and Lovei (2012) that their conclusions of detectable nonzero effects of Cry proteins on nontarget organisms were “… criticized by Shelton et al. (2009a, b) on statistical grounds. ” They missed the point again. Our primary criticism then and now is that they continue to ignore prey and host-quality effects and the ecological context in their effort to inform risk assessment. Besides the fault in logic of ignoring prey or host quality, we also take issue with the statement in their latest letter (Andow and Lovei 2012): “We conclude not that there could have been type II error, but that there has been type II error. ” Given the nature of …