Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Phosphorylated Syntaxin 1 Is Localized to Discrete Domains Along a Subset of Axons

Syntaxin 1 is a SNARE protein that plays a central role in synaptic vesicle (SV) exocytosis. We generated an antibody that specifically recognizes a casein kinase II-mediated phosphorylation on serine-14 of syntaxin 1. In this report we show that this phosphorylation occurs in vivo and is developmentally regulated in the rat brain, rising to a level of 40% of the total syntaxin in adult animals. Phosphorylated syntaxin is preferentially associated with SNAP-25 and localizes to discrete domains of the axonal plasma membrane that do not colocalize with pools of synaptic vesicles. These phosphosyntaxin domains may define fusion sites for a novel class of vesicles outside classical active zones.
Selenium requirement for the growth of Clostridium sporogenes with glycine as the oxidant in stickland reaction systems

Clostridium sporogenes was found to have an absolute requirement for selenium to utilize glycine but not proline as oxidant in Stickland-type fermentations. No glycine reductase activity was detectable in cells from media without added selenium. The data indicate that this organism could be used for microbiological assays for very low levels of selenium in certain forms.
The reentrant wideband bandpass/bandstop elliptic filters

This paper presents a novel wideband bandpass/bandstop filter configuration. The new filter is based on the reentrant structure with unequal dielectric constants of the internal and external filling. As a result, additional symmetrical transmission zeros are generated at the lower and upper stop bands of the bandpass filter leading to elliptic function response that improves the pass band and selectivity. The same conclusions are formulated about the bandstop filter in terms of return loss. The general TEM circuit models for the proposed filters in terms of a series connection of the two-ports are presented and then used to determine its electrical parameters. An experimental prototype has been fabricated using conventional printed circuit board technology. Measured S-parameters show acceptable agreement with analytical and full-wave simulations, showing promising potential for a variety of applications.
A symbol estimation scheme for Alamouti coded OFDM systems

In Alamouti coded OFDM systems, the simple decoding at the receiver relies on the assumption that the subchannels are flat fading, decoupled, and quasistatic so that each subchannel does not change over an Alamouti codeword period (two consecutive OFDM symbol periods). When the channel is fast fading, however, these assumptions are not met, resulting in severe performance degradation. In this paper, a sequential decision feedback sequence estimation (SDFSE) scheme with an adaptive threshold (AT) is used to mitigate the performance degradation at a moderate complexity. A new method to set a threshold value is proposed. Simulation results show that the SDFSE with an AT shows significant performance improvement at the cost of a moderate complexity increase.
The influence of oblique viewing on axial and peripheral refraction for emmetropes and myopes

Refraction may be affected by the forces of lids and extraocular muscles when eye direction and head direction are not aligned (oblique viewing) which might potentially influence past findings on peripheral refraction of the eye. We investigated the effect of oblique viewing on axial and peripheral refraction. In a first experiment, cycloplegic axial refractions were determined when subjects’ heads were positioned to look straight‐ahead through an open‐view autorefractor and when the heads were rotated to the right or left by 30° with compensatory eye rotation (oblique viewing). Subjects were 16 young emmetropes (18–35 years), 22 young myopes (19–36 years) and 15 old emmetropes (45–60 years). In a second experiment, cycloplegic peripheral refraction measurements were taken out to ±34° horizontally from fixation while the subjects rotated their heads to match the peripheral refraction angles (eye in primary position with respect to the head) or the eyes were rotated with respect to the head (oblique viewing). Subjects were 10 emmetropes and 10 myopes. We did not find any significant changes in axial or peripheral refraction upon oblique viewing for any of the subject groups. In general for the range of horizontal angles used, it is not critical whether or not the eye is rotated with respect to the head during axial or peripheral refraction.
Early life stress-induced alterations in rat brain structures measured with high resolution MRI

Adverse experiences early in life impair cognitive function both in rodents and humans. In humans this increases the vulnerability to develop mental illnesses while in the rodent brain early life stress (ELS) abnormalities are associated with changes in synaptic plasticity, excitability and microstructure. Detailed information on the effects of ELS on rodent brain structural integrity at large and connectivity within the brain is currently lacking; this information is highly relevant for understanding the mechanism by which early life stress predisposes to mental illnesses. Here, we exposed rats to 24 hours of maternal deprivation (MD) at postnatal day 3, a paradigm known to increase corticosterone levels and thereby activate glucocorticoid receptors in the brain. Using structural magnetic resonance imaging we examined: i) volumetric changes and white/grey matter properties of the whole cerebrum and of specific brain areas; and ii) whether potential alterations could be normalized by blocking glucocorticoid receptors with mifepristone during the critical developmental window of early adolescence, i.e. between postnatal days 26 and 28. The results show that MD caused a volumetric reduction of the prefrontal cortex, particularly the ventromedial part, and the orbitofrontal cortex. Within the whole cerebrum, white (relative to grey) matter volume was decreased and region-specifically in prefrontal cortex and dorsomedial striatum following MD. A trend was found for the hippocampus. Grey matter fractions were not affected. Treatment with mifepristone did not normalize these changes. This study indicates that early life stress in rodents has long lasting consequences for the volume and structural integrity of the brain. However, changes were relatively modest and–unlike behavior- not mitigated by blockade of glucocorticoid receptors during a critical developmental period.
LAS TECNOLOGÍAS DE LA INFORMACIÓN Y LA CO- MUNICACIÓN EN LAS PYMES TURÍSTICAS ANDALU- ZAS: UNA PERSPECTIVA ESTRATÉGICA DE CLUSTER*

Innovation in tourism represents a strategic opportunity to properly manage the growing tourist demand, responding to the demands and needs of customers. This article deals with the relevance that presents information technology and communication in the Andalusia tourism SMEs. To this end, we propose the concept of cluster Andalusia tourism, analyzing, from a strategic perspective, the programs promoted by the Junta de Andalucia, on the areas of online marketing consulting, online management for hoteliers channels and online reputation management. It also sets out actions for tourism businesses within the area.
Data assimilation of OMI NO2 observations for improving air quality forecast over Europe

This paper concerns the improvements of NO2 forecast due to satellite data assimilation. The Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI) aboard NASA Aura satellite provides observations of NO2 columns for air quality study. These satellite observations are assimilated, with the optimal-interpolation method, in an air quality model from Polyphemus, in order to improve NO2 forecasts in Europe. Good consistency is seen in the comparisons of model simulations, satellite data and ground observations before assimilation. The model results with and without assimilation are then compared with ground observations for evaluating the assimilation effects. It is found that in winter the errors between model data and ground observations have been reduced after assimilation, indicating a better NO2 forecast can be obtained using satellite observations. Such improvements are not found in summer, which is probably due to the shorter life time and higher temporal variability of NO2 in the warmer season.
Automating experiments using semantic data in a bioinformatics grid

The transition from laboratory science to in silico e-science has facilitated a paradigmatic shift in the way we conduct modern science. We can use computationally based analytical models to simulate and investigate scientific questions such as those posed by high-energy physics and bioinformatics, yielding high-quality results and discoveries at an unprecedented rate. However, while experimental media have changed, the scientific methodologies and processes we choose for conducting experiments are still relevant. As in the lab environment, experimental methodology requires samples to undergo several processing stages. The staging of operations is what constitutes the in silico experimental process. The use of workflows formalizes earlier ad hoc approaches for representing experimental methodology. We can represent the stages of in silico experiments formally as a set of services to invoke.
Secure neighbor discovery in wireless networks: formal investigation of possibility

Wireless communication enables a broad spectrum of applications, ranging from commodity to tactical systems. Neighbor discovery (ND), that is, determining which devices are within direct radio communication, is a building block of network protocols and applications, and its vulnerability can severely compromise their functionalities. A number of proposals to secure ND have been published, but none have analyzed the problem formally. In this paper, we contribute such an analysis: We build a formal model capturing salient characteristics of wireless systems, most notably obstacles and interference, and we provide a specification of a basic variant of the ND problem. Then, we derive an impossibility result for a general class of protocols we term "time-based protocols," to which many of the schemes in the literature belong. We also identify the conditions under which the impossibility result is lifted. Moreover, we explore a second class of protocols we term "time- and location-based protocols," and prove they can secure ND.
The early topography of thalamocortical projections is shifted in Ebf1 and Dlx1/2 mutant mice

The prevailing model to explain the formation of topographic projections in the nervous system stipulates that this process is governed by information located within the projecting and targeted structures. In mammals, different thalamic nuclei establish highly ordered projections with specific neocortical domains and the mechanisms controlling the initial topography of these projections remain to be characterized. To address this issue, we examined Ebf1-/- embryos in which a subset of thalamic axons does not reach the neocortex. We show that the projections that do form between thalamic nuclei and neocortical domains have a shifted topography, in the absence of regionalization defects in the thalamus or neocortex. This shift is first detected inside the basal ganglia, a structure on the path of thalamic axons, and which develops abnormally in Ebf1-/- embryos. A similar shift in the topography of thalamocortical axons inside the basal ganglia and neocortex was observed in Dlx1/2-/- embryos, which also have an abnormal basal ganglia development. Furthermore, Dlx1 and Dlx2 are not expressed in the dorsal thalamus or in cortical projections neurons. Thus, our study shows that: (1) different thalamic nuclei do not establish projections independently of each other; (2) a shift in thalamocortical topography can occur in the absence of major regionalization defects in the dorsal thalamus and neocortex; and (3) the basal ganglia may contain decision points for thalamic axons' pathfinding and topographic organization. These observations suggest that the topography of thalamocortical projections is not strictly determined by cues located within the neocortex and may be regulated by the relative positioning of thalamic axons inside the basal ganglia.
Contribution of mathematical modelling to the interpretation of bedside tests of cerebrovascular autoregulation

OBJECTIVES Cerebral haemodynamic responses to short and longlasting episodes of decreased cerebral perfusion pressure contain information about the state of autoregulation of cerebral blood flow. Mathematical simulation may help to elucidate which of the indices, that can be derived using transcranial Doppler ultrasonography and trends of intracranial pressure and blood pressure, are useful in clinical tests of autoregulatory reserve. METHODS Time dependent interactions between pressure, flow, and volume of cerebral blood and CSF were modelled using a set of non-linear differential equations. The model simulates changes in arterial blood inflow and storage, arteriolar and capillary blood flow controlled by cerebral autoregulation, venous blood storage and venous outflow modulated by changes in ICP, and CSF storage and reabsorption. The model was used to simulate patterns of blood flow during either short or longlasting decreases in cerebral perfusion pressure. These simulations can be considered as clinically equivalent to a short compression of the common carotid artery, systemic hypotension, and intracranial hypertension. Simulations were performed in autoregulating and non-autoregulating systems and compared with recordings obtained in patients. RESULTS After brief compression of the common carotid artery, a subsequent transient hyperaemia can be interpreted as evidence of intact autoregulation. During longlasting sustained hypoperfusion, a gradual increase in the systolic value of the blood flow velocity waveform along with a decrease in the diastolic value is specific for an autoregulating cerebrovascular system. CONCLUSION Modelling studies help to interpret both clinical and experimental cerebral haemodynamic phenomena and their dependence on the state of autoregulation.
On generating mixing noise signals with basis functions for simulating noisy speech and learning dnn-based speech enhancement models

We first examine the generalization issue with the noise samples used in training nonlinear mapping functions between noisy and clean speech features for deep neural network (DNN) based speech enhancement. Then an empirical proof is established to explain why the DNN-based approach has a good noise generalization capability provided that a large collection of noise types are included in generating diverse noisy speech samples for training. It is shown that an arbitrary noise signal segment can be well represented by a linear combination of microstructure noise bases. Accordingly, we propose to generate these mixing noise signals by designing a set of compact and analytic noise bases without using any realistic noise types. The experiments demonstrate that this noise generation scheme can yield comparable performance to that using 50 real noise types. Furthermore, by supplementing the collected noise types with the synthesized noise bases, we observe remarkable performance improvements implying that not only a large collection of real-world noise signals can be alleviated, but also a good noise generalization capability can be achieved.
Gender Differences in Mathematics Anxiety among Preservice Teachers and Perceptions of Their Elementary and Secondary School Experience with Mathematics.

This study investigated experiential antecedents of mathematics anxiety and associations with gender among preservice student teachers. Participants were 357 students enrolled in the final year of a teacher education program. They responded to the Mathematics Anxiety Rating Scale (Richardson & Suinn, 1972) and a questionnaire to assess experience with mathematics in the elementary and secondary school together with attitudes toward mathematics and beliefs about the subject. Male and female participants did not differ informal mathematics achievement or the time elapsed since taking a mathematics course. Several gender differences were found in perceptions of school mathematics experience, and both men and women reported greater enjoyment of mathematics in elementary school compared with high school. Women expressed less positive beliefs about their use of, and intrinsic interest in, mathematics. Associations between mathematics anxiety and both perceptions of school experience and beliefs about mathematics were higher for women. Negative experience with mathematics in high school was an important precursor of mathematics anxiety, especially among women. Some implications for teacher education programs were reviewed; these emphasize the importance of both teachers' and peers' behavior, especially in the high school environment.
Multi-user encoding for forward error correction in passive optical networks

We propose a method and hardware architecture for error-correction encoding of downstream traffic in a passive optical network. The encoder can handle multiple users using multiple error-correction codes. Our solution further allows transmission of a codeword across multiple timeslots allotted to a user. his ability to spread out the user payload allows decimation of the data processing rate at the user end, leading to lower energy consumption. Hardware emulation based on the developed design shows that our multi-user encoder consumes significantly less power than a system using conventional encoders in parallel.
An Evaluation of College Students' Reactions to Open Book Examinations

TEACHERS at all levels continue to show some interest in the openbook examination as a measurement technique which may offer solutions to problems associated with closed-book testing. Tussing’s (1951) general discussion of the open-book test presents highly optimistic conclusions concerning the advantages of an open-book examination. He suggests that fear and emotional blocks are removed, cheating is eliminated, and the test can be constructed in any of the traditional test forms. Kalish’s (1958) more recent experimental report on the open-book examination concluded that the opportunity to use the text and lecture notes afforded no advantage in test error reduction. However, he also concluded that the openbook examination measures different abilities from the closed-book examination. He concluded, finally, that student ratings of the value of the open-book examination will not be related to their examination scores.
Overexpression of Wnt3a facilitates the proliferation and neural differentiation of neural stem cells in vitro and after transplantation into an injured rat retina

Neural stem cell‐based therapy is a promising option for repair after injury. However, poor stem cell proliferation and insufficient differentiation of the stem cells into neurons are still difficult problems. The present study investigated whether transplantation of neural stem cells (NSCs) genetically modified to express Wnt3a is a promising approach to overcome these difficulties. We explored the possibility that Wnt3a might contribute to the therapeutic effect of NSC transplantation in retinal repair. The relative promotion of proliferation and neural differentiation by modified NSCs was investigated in a rat model of optic nerve crush. A recombinant lentivirus (Lenti‐Wnt3a) was engineered to express Wnt3a. NSCs infected with control lentivirus (Lenti‐GFP) or Lenti‐Wnt3a were transplanted into the subretinal space immediately after the optic nerve crush. The proliferation and neural differentiation activity of the NSCs were assessed in vitro and in vivo. Overexpression of Wnt3a in NSCs induced activation of Wnt signaling, promoted proliferation, and directed the differentiation of the NSCs into neurons both in vitro and in vivo. Our study suggests that Wnt3a can potentiate the therapeutic benefits of NSC‐based therapy in the injured retina. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Socio-economic & demographic determinants of hypertension & knowledge, practices & risk behaviour of tribals in India

Background & objectives: An increase in prevalence of hypertension has been observed in all ethnic groups in India. The objective of the present study was to estimate prevalence and determinants of hypertension among tribals and their awareness, treatment practices and risk behaviours in nine States of India. Methods: A community based cross-sectional study adopting multistage random sampling procedure was carried out. About 120 Integrated Tribal Development Authority villages were selected randomly from each State. From each village, 40 households were covered randomly. All men and women ≥ 20 yr of age in the selected households were included for various investigations. Results: A total of 21141 men and 26260 women participated in the study. The prevalence of hypertension after age adjustment was 27.1 and 26.4 per cent among men and women, respectively. It was higher in the States of Odisha (50-54.4%) and Kerala (36.7-45%) and lowest in Gujarat (7-11.5%). The risk of hypertension was 6-8 times higher in elderly people and 2-3 times in 35-59 yr compared with 20-34 yr. Only <10 per cent of men and women were known hypertensives and more than half on treatment (55-68%). Men with general and abdominal obesity were at 1.69 (CI: 1.43-2.01) and 2.42 (CI: 2.01-2.91) times higher risk of hypertension, respectively, while it was 2.03 (CI=1.77-2.33) and 2.35 (CI 2.12-2.60) times higher in women. Those using tobacco and consuming alcohol were at a higher risk of hypertension compared with the non users. Interpretation & conclusions: The study revealed high prevalence of hypertension among tribals in India. Age, literacy, physical activity, consumption of tobacco, alcohol and obesity were significantly associated with hypertension. Awareness and knowledge about hypertension and health seeking behaviour were low. Appropriate intervention strategies need to be adopted to increase awareness and treatment practices of hypertension among tribals.
The appraisal interview reappraised.

The appraisal interview is one of the most ubiquitous features of life in organisations. It is also one of the most ridiculed. Evidence mounts each year that most such interviews are poorly managed, fail to improve organisational performance, demoralise employees, and subject the managers who administer them to intolerable levels of stress. No wonder that one researcher, unkindly but accurately, has described them as ‘the annual fiasco’ (Pickett, 2003, p. 237). It is typical of the data that a conference of human-resources professionals found over 90% of those present declaring that, if given the chance, they would modify, revise, or even eliminate the performance appraisal system currently used in their organisations (HR Focus, 2000). Thus, appraisal interviews are governed by some seemingly impregnable assumptions that research nevertheless suggests may be invalid – such as that organisations are rational entities, administrative systems are highly reliable, and most people can be trained to be unbiased and candid in their assessments of others (McCauley, 1997). Some have even argued that traditional appraisals are so inherently dysfunctional that they need to be abolished (e.g. Coens & Jenkins, 2000). Their continuing popularity represents another instance of hope triumphing over experience.