Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Renal Protein Phosphatase 2A Activity and Spontaneous Hypertension in Rats

The impaired renal paracrine function of dopamine in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) is caused by hyperphosphorylation and desensitization of the renal D1 dopamine receptor. Protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) is critical in the regulation of G-protein–coupled receptor function. To determine whether PP2A expression and activity in the kidney are differentially regulated in genetic hypertension, we examined the effects of a D1-like agonist, fenoldopam, in renal cortical tubules and immortalized renal proximal tubule cells from normotensive Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY) and SHR. In cortical tubules and immortalized proximal tubule cells, PP2A expression and activities were greater in cytosol than in membrane fractions in both WKY and SHR. Although PP2A expressions were similar in WKY and SHR, basal PP2A activity was greater in immortalized proximal tubule cells of SHR than WKY. In immortalized proximal tubule cells of WKY, fenoldopam increased membrane PP2A activity and expression of the regulatory subunit PP2A-B56&agr;, effects that were blocked by the D1-like antagonist SCH23390. Fenoldopam had no effect on cytosolic PP2A activity but decreased PP2A-B56&agr; expression. In contrast, in immortalized proximal tubule cells of SHR, fenoldopam decreased PP2A activity in both membranes and cytosol but predominantly in the membrane fraction, without affecting PP2A-B56&agr; expression; this effect was blocked by the D1-like antagonist SCH23390. We conclude that renal PP2A activity and expression are differentially regulated in WKY and SHR by D1-like receptors. A failure of D1-like agonists to increase PP2A activity in proximal tubule membranes may be a cause of the increased phosphorylation of the D1 receptor in the SHR.
Flexible and Approximate Computation through State-Space Reduction

In the real world, insufficient information, limited computation resources, and complex problem structures often force an autonomous agent to make a decision in time less than that required to solve the problem at hand completely. Flexible and approximate computations are two approaches to decision making under limited computation resources. Flexible computation helps an agent to flexibly allocate limited computation resources so that the overall system utility is maximized. Approximate computation enables an agent to find the best satisfactory solution within a deadline. In this paper, we present two state-space reduction methods for flexible and approximate computation: quantitative reduction to deal with inaccurate heuristic information, and structural reduction to handle complex problem structures. These two methods can be applied successively to continuously improve solution quality if more computation is available. Our results show that these reduction methods are effective and efficient, finding better solutions with less computation than some existing well-known methods.
Imperfection for realistic image synthesis

Creating objects with surface imperfections is accomplished through texture specification and generation techniques. Based on fractal subdivision techniques and relatively simple distribution models, a wide class of surface imperfections may be generated, combined and rendered. The surface effects include scratches, splotches, smudges, corrosion, mould, stains and rust. A rule-based system is used to position the various surface imperfections on the texture map, and a simple natural language interface is used to specify the kinds of imperfections and their generative parameters through adverbs and prepositional phrases. Results along some of the imperfection dimensions are illustrated.
Natural proofs versus derandomization

We study connections between Natural Proofs, derandomization, and the problem of proving "weak" circuit lower bounds such as NEXP ⊄ TC0, which are still wide open. Natural Proofs have three properties: they are constructive (an efficient algorithm A is embedded in them), have largeness (A accepts a large fraction of strings), and are useful (A rejects all strings which are truth tables of small circuits). Strong circuit lower bounds that are "naturalizing" would contradict present cryptographic understanding, yet the vast majority of known circuit lower bound proofs are naturalizing. So it is imperative to understand how to pursue un-Natural Proofs. Some heuristic arguments say constructivity should be circumventable. Largeness is inherent in many proof techniques, and it is probably our presently weak techniques that yield constructivity. We prove: Constructivity is unavoidable, even for NEXP lower bounds. Informally, we prove for all "typical" non-uniform circuit classes C, NEXP ⊄ C if and only if there is a polynomial-time algorithm distinguishing some function from all functions computable by C-circuits. Hence NEXP ⊄ C is equivalent to exhibiting a constructive property useful against C. There are no P-natural properties useful against C if and only if randomized exponential time can be "derandomized" using truth tables of circuits from C as random seeds. Therefore the task of proving there are no P-natural properties is inherently a derandomization problem, weaker than but implied by the existence of strong pseudorandom functions. These characterizations are applied to yield several new results. The two main applications are that NEXP ∩ coNEXP does not have nlog n size ACC circuits, and a mild derandomization result for RP.
Role of Green Spaces in Favorable Microclimate Creating in Urban Environment (Exemplified by Italian Cities)

The article represents a brief analysis of factors that influence the development of an urban green space system: territorial and climatic conditions, cultural and historical background as well as the modern strategy of historic cities development. The introduction defines the concept of urban greening, green spaces and green space distribution. The environmental parameters influenced by green spaces are determined. By the example of Italian cities the principles of the urban greening system development are considered: the historical aspects of formation of the urban greening system in Italian cities are analyzed, the role of green spaces in the formation of the urban environment structure and the creation of a favorable microclimate is determined, and a set of measures aimed at its improvement is highlighted. The modern principles of urban greening systems development and their characteristic features are considered. Special attention is paid to the interrelation of architectural and green structures in the formation of a favorable microclimate and psychological comfort in the urban environment; various methods of greening are considered by the example of existing architectural complexes depending on the climate of the area and the landscape features. The examples for the choice of plants and the application of compositional techniques are given. The results represent the basic principles of developing an urban green spaces system. The conclusion summarizes the techniques aimed at the microclimate improvement in the urban environment.
Genome-wide meta-analysis points to CTC1 and ZNF676 as genes regulating telomere homeostasis in humans

Leukocyte telomere length (LTL) is associated with a number of common age-related diseases and is a heritable trait. Previous genome-wide association studies (GWASs) identified two loci on chromosomes 3q26.2 (TERC) and 10q24.33 (OBFC1) that are associated with the inter-individual LTL variation. We performed a meta-analysis of 9190 individuals from six independent GWAS and validated our findings in 2226 individuals from four additional studies. We confirmed previously reported associations with OBFC1 (rs9419958 P = 9.1 × 10−11) and with the telomerase RNA component TERC (rs1317082, P = 1.1 × 10−8). We also identified two novel genomic regions associated with LTL variation that map near a conserved telomere maintenance complex component 1 (CTC1; rs3027234, P = 3.6 × 10−8) on chromosome17p13.1 and zinc finger protein 676 (ZNF676; rs412658, P = 3.3 × 10−8) on 19p12. The minor allele of rs3027234 was associated with both shorter LTL and lower expression of CTC1. Our findings are consistent with the recent observations that point mutations in CTC1 cause short telomeres in both Arabidopsis and humans affected by a rare Mendelian syndrome. Overall, our results provide novel insights into the genetic architecture of inter-individual LTL variation in the general population.
Patterns of psychiatric diagnoses in inpatient and outpatient psychiatric settings in Saudi Arabia

Abstract Objective: This study aimed to explore the current patterns of psychiatric diagnoses in inpatient and outpatient psychiatric settings in Saudi Arabia. Methods: Cross-sectional study was conducted on patients seeking psychiatric advice at six hospitals in the five main regions of Saudi Arabia. The data were primarily obtained by reviewing patient charts. Results: Total of 1,205 patients were recruited. The majority was unemployed (71.4%), had a low level of education (85.5%), and had low income (61.9%). The most common psychiatric diagnoses among inpatients were schizophrenia (55.8%), bipolar disorder (23.3%) and major depressive disorder (7.2%). The most common psychiatric diagnoses among outpatients were major depressive disorder (29.3%), schizophrenia (28.9%), generalized anxiety disorder (15.6%) and bipolar disorder (11.5%). Primary psychotic disorders and secondary psychiatric disorders were significantly more frequent among men whereas primary bipolar disorders and depressive disorders were significantly more frequent among women in both inpatient and outpatient settings. Psychotic and bipolar disorders were significantly more frequent among younger patients whereas depressive disorders were significantly more frequent among older patients; anxiety disorders were of similar frequency in all age groups.
The relationship between VFR travel and Quality of Life

Recently, there has been increasing scholarly interest in the relationship between tourism and Quality of Life (QOL). A number of studies revealed that tourism can increase people's QOL and aid feelings of happiness. Focus has been on leisure tourism; highlighting that vacations will improve the QOL of most people, and in some cases is a critical component. The problem is that not everyone is able to engage in tourism experiences. People classified as socio-economically disadvantages such as those on lower household incomes may not be able to engage in tourism. However, based on an analysis of over 80,000 respondents, it was found that many such people are actually engaging in a particular type of tourism - VFR travel. It is argued that VFR may provide a means through which some socio-economically disadvantaged people can participate in tourism and as a result, improve their QOL.
Learning and maintaining new vocabulary in persons with aphasia: Two controlled case studies

Background: Novel word learning of persons with aphasia is little studied, even though a better understanding of learning processes would inform development of effective treatment strategies. Recent evidence suggests some remaining verbal learning capacity in persons with aphasia. Long-term maintenance of newly learned active vocabulary has not been reported previously in persons with aphasia. Aims: To explore learning and long-term maintenance of novel words in persons with aphasia. Methods & Procedures: Two English-speaking males with chronic anomic aphasia and two age-matched controls were taught novel names of 20 unfamiliar objects. Half of the words were taught with semantic information (definition) and half without. Participants were instructed to learn the names. The experiment included four training sessions, one post-training test and four follow-up tests administered 1 week, 4 weeks, 8 weeks, and 6 months post-training. We tested explicit learning of the new names through visual confrontation naming. In addition, incidental learning of semantic information was probed over the follow-up period. Outcomes & Results: The two participants with aphasia learned 6–8 of the 20 novel names during the training. However, this new vocabulary dissipated during the 6-month follow-up. As expected, the controls showed better performance both in acquisition and in maintenance of the new vocabulary over the follow-up period. As regards the accuracy of semantic information, the aphasic participant with semantic impairment demonstrated worse incidental learning of semantic information than controls and the participant with intact lexical semantics. Conclusions: Some new vocabulary can be acquired even in chronic aphasia but the ability to spontaneously retrieve the newly learned words gradually dissipates over the weeks following learning. Our results also indicate an interaction between the level of lexical-semantic processing skills and incidental learning of new lexical-semantic knowledge in aphasia.
A taxonomy of indoor and outdoor positioning techniques for mobile location services

Wireless positioning determination has received increased attention during the past few years. Several wireless applications have been envisaged when mobile terminal location can be determined with sufficient accuracy at any time. In this paper, we attempt to identify the various indoor and outdoor positioning techniques that can be used for the provision of mobile and wireless applications and services. In order to maximize the benefits of this research in the area of positioning technologies, we propose a novel taxonomy with detailed analysis and evaluation of these techniques based on the accuracy that is needed for various mobile location-based services.
5‐HT1A and 5‐HT7 receptors differently modulate AMPA receptor‐mediated hippocampal synaptic transmission

We have studied the effects of 5‐HT1A and 5‐HT7 serotonin receptor activation in hippocampal CA3‐CA1 synaptic transmission using patch clamp on mouse brain slices. Application of either 5‐HT or 8‐OH DPAT, a mixed 5‐HT1A/5‐HT7 receptor agonist, inhibited AMPA receptor‐mediated excitatory post synaptic currents (EPSCs); this effect was mimicked by the 5‐HT1A receptor agonist 8‐OH PIPAT and blocked by the 5‐HT1A antagonist NAN‐190. 8‐OH DPAT increased paired‐pulse facilitation and reduced the frequency of mEPSCs, indicating a presynaptic reduction of glutamate release probability. In another group of neurons, 8‐OH DPAT enhanced EPSC amplitude but did not alter paired‐pulse facilitation, suggesting a postsynaptic action; this effect persisted in the presence of NAN‐190 and was blocked by the 5‐HT7 receptor antagonist SB‐269970. To confirm that EPSC enhancement was mediated by 5‐HT7 receptors, we used the compound LP‐44, which is considered a selective 5‐HT7 agonist. However, LP‐44 reduced EPSC amplitude in most cells and instead increased EPSC amplitude in a subset of neurons, similarly to 8‐OH DPAT. These effects were respectively antagonized by NAN‐190 and by SB‐269970, indicating that under our experimental condition LP‐44 behaved as a mixed agonist. 8‐OH DPAT also modulated the current evoked by exogenously applied AMPA, inducing either a reduction or an increase of amplitude in distinct neurons; these effects were respectively blocked by 5‐HT1A and 5‐HT7 receptor antagonists, indicating that both receptors exert a postsynaptic action. Our results show that 5‐HT1A receptors inhibit CA3‐CA1 synaptic transmission acting both pre‐ and postsynaptically, whereas 5‐HT7 receptors enhance CA3‐CA1 synaptic transmission acting exclusively at a postsynaptic site. We suggest that a selective pharmacological targeting of either subtype may be envisaged in pathological loss of hippocampal‐dependent cognitive functions. In this respect, we underline the need for new selective agonists of 5‐HT7 receptors. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Keystroke Dynamics Advances for Mobile Devices Using Deep Neural Network

Recent popularity in mobile devices has raised concerns on mobile technology security, as not only sensitive and private data are being stored on mobile devices, but also allowing remote access to other high value assets. This drives research efforts to new mobile technology security methods. Fortunately, new mobile devices are equipped with advanced sensor suite, enabling a multi-modal biometrics authentication solution, to include voice, face, gait, signature, and keystroke authentication, among others. Compared with other modalities, keystroke authentication offer some very attractive features: 1) non-intrusive, either password or free-text typing keystroke authentication can be applied without affecting users’ daily user of the device; 2) it can work on continuous authentication mode for free typing; 3) it can leverage a unique set of advanced build in sensors, including accelerometer and gyroscope to capture rich typing information than raw timing pattern. We present a deep learning approach
Universal Natural Shapes: From Unifying Shape Description to Simple Methods for Shape Analysis and Boundary Value Problems

Gielis curves and surfaces can describe a wide range of natural shapes and they have been used in various studies in biology and physics as descriptive tool. This has stimulated the generalization of widely used computational methods. Here we show that proper normalization of the Levenberg-Marquardt algorithm allows for efficient and robust reconstruction of Gielis curves, including self-intersecting and asymmetric curves, without increasing the overall complexity of the algorithm. Then, we show how complex curves of k-type can be constructed and how solutions to the Dirichlet problem for the Laplace equation on these complex domains can be derived using a semi-Fourier method. In all three methods, descriptive and computational power and efficiency is obtained in a surprisingly simple way.
PITUITARY ABLATION FOR DIABETIC RETINOPATHY

In others treatment, in the generally accepted sense of the term, is kept to a minimum and the emphasis is largely on prevention; because of their similarity to health services in industry these are referred to as "occupational -or industrial services". Between these two extremes, a wide variety of arrangements is to be found, depending on such factors as the general policy of the university, budgetary considerations, size of the university, presence -or absence of a medical school, and availability of other local health resources. Services in Australia are undoubtedly moulded, first, by the non-residential nature -ot most of our universities already referred to, and, second, by the pattern of medical practice in this country with its stress on the maintenance of a close relationship between the patient and his private doctor, especially the family doctor. This circumstance should not be thought of as being unduly restrictive, but rather as freeing the student health services to devote more attention to the unique role that they can fulfil.
Linking data for public administrations

Private and public enterprises suffer from the exponential growth of new data, becoming available both internally within their organizations as externally on the web. Existing databases and applications are not set up to be using these increasingly complex data sources. We present a novel approach designed for a tax agency for gaining much more powerful and sustainable access to their data sources by linking them internally as well externally with the Web of Data. The flexible and rapid linking of our approach avoids costly mergers or consolidation of databases or in-depth re-programming of data applications. In this paper we describe a prototype which effectively links organizational data about persons, organizations, buildings and locations that are spread over different databases, which enables the inclusion and the connection with the Web of Data.
The Epidemiology and Surveillance of Culicoides-borne Diseases of Ruminants in the UK

Between 2006 and 2011 two Culicoides-borne diseases of ruminants emerged in Europe: bluetongue virus serotype-8 (BTV-8) and Schmallenberg virus (SBV). This thesis sought to answer questions arising from this developing disease landscape, to better inform policymakers, stakeholder groups and disease modellers. SBV spread rapidly through Europe, reaching the UK in January 2012. However, in 2014 no cases were reported. It was unknown if this was a lack of circulation, or a lack of reporting. A freedom from disease study was designed. 1444 sheep, born between October 2014 and April 2015, were sampled from 131 farms from Cornwall to Kent. Samples were tested by ELISA for antibodies against SBV, 5 positive samples were confirmed negative by VNT. Circulation of SBV in 2015 in the south of England was concluded to have been unlikely. Like SBV, BTV-8 had circulated throughout Europe, only to be controlled by movement restrictions and vaccination. Subsequently, Europe was declared BTV-8 free in 2010 and vaccination production halted. In 2015 BTV-8 re-emerged in Europe. An online questionnaire determined that respondents from smaller farms, those that had previously vaccinated against BTV-8 and those who were deemed to be ‘risk adverse’ were all more likely to want to vaccinate, and more willing to pay more to vaccinate. Voluntary vaccination only achieved an 80% uptake if vaccination was free and after BTV-8 cases were reported in the UK despite 90% of farmer respondents stating they believed it important to keep BTV-8 out of the UK. Not all farmers vaccinated all of their flock/herd previously. This survey highlights the complex issues surrounding voluntary vaccination at the farm perceived risk versus cost level. The mechanisms for how either virus successfully overwintered are still poorly understood. A cross-sectional study demonstrated that Culicoides vectors are active during peak lambing periods inside lambing sheds. A longitudinal study the following lambing season demonstrated that Culicoides were more abundant indoors than outdoors, and demonstrated activity of gravid and parous Culicoides over the winter. This demonstrates a possible mechanism for overwintering of BTV-8 and SBV in the south of England. SBV re-emerged in 2016. A questionnaire was designed to determine the impact of SBV on the 2016/2017 lambing period. The impact was found to be highly comparable to a previous study of the 2012/2013 outbreak. Additionally SBV confirmed and suspected farms were more likely to have mated earlier in the season. If SBV continues to re-emerge cyclically then the impact of disease will continue to be significant unless intervention is taken. These studies have added to our understanding of, and farmer response to, the SBV and BTV-8 outbreaks, and added to policymakers, stakeholders groups and disease modellers knowledge.