Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Adult Hippocampal Neurogenesis, Synaptic Plasticity and Memory: Facts and Hypotheses

The demonstration that progenitor cells in regions of the adult mammalian brain such as the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus can undergo mitosis and generate new cells that differentiate into functionally integrated neurons throughout life has marked a new era in neuroscience. In recent years, a wide range of investigations has been directed at understanding the physiological mechanisms and functional relevance of this form of brain plasticity. Our current knowledge of adult hippocampal neurogenesis indicates that the production of new cells in the brain follows a multi-step process during which newborn cells are submitted to various regulatory factors that influence cell proliferation, maturation, fate determination and survival. As details of the dynamics of morphological maturation and functional integration of newborn neurons in corticohippocampal circuits have become clearer, an increasing number of studies have examined how environmental and/or behavioural factors can modulate neurogenesis and affect hippocampal-dependent learning and memory. In this article we present an overview of recent literature that relates neurogenesis to hippocampal function on the basis of correlative studies investigating the modulation of neurogenesis by learning and behavioural experience, and the consequences of the loss of hippocampal neurogenesis for memory function. We also highlight experimental evidence that immature neurons exhibit unique electrophysiological characteristics and therefore may constitute a specific cell population particularly inclined to undergo activity-dependent plasticity. Moreover, we review recent work that reveals an unsuspected mechanistic link between synaptic plasticity and the proliferation and survival of new hippocampal neurons. From the present background of research, we argue that the incorporation of functional adult-generated neurons into existing neural networks provides a higher capacity for plasticity, which may favour the encoding and storage of certain types of memories. Depending on their birth date and maturation stage, new neurons might be implicated in the encoding/storage process of the task at hand or may help future learning experience. Finally, we highlight critical issues to be addressed in order to decipher the exact contribution of newly generated neurons to cognitive functions.
Use of ECDF-based features and ensemble of classifiers to accurately detect mobility activities of people using accelerometers

We look at the problem of using accelerometer in smartphones to detect mobility activities of users. The activities are internally composed of several simple activities. One can perform the task of distinguishing the activities using classic classification techniques with two different data representations namely, statistical features and ECDF-based features. Our recommendation in this paper is to use the latter as it suits better for mobility activities. Our major contribution is to explore the challenge of class imbalance in detecting mobility activities. To handle that challenge, we propose use of an ensemble of a classification model. It improves accuracy of detection over standalone classification models. To evaluate performance of the recommended technique, we use transportation by a metro train as a running case study. We consider two activities during the metro train travel. They are (a) whether user is at a metro train station or (b) in a metro train. Our recommended technique results in precision of 98% for the case study. It is significantly more than the state-of-the-art value of 70% for a similar case study. This case study finds its applications in the area of smart city analytics, for instance, our solution could be used to estimate rush at metro stations. In the long run, it can also be used to enhance navigation services to account for delays at metro stations into their algorithms.
Self-similarity And Multifractality In FinancialAsset Returns

This paper presents an empirical investigation of scaling and the multifractal properties of financial asset returns. It discusses the key intuition relative to the applicability of scaling processes and the broader class of multifractal processes to financial phenomena. The cumulative return distribution of positive and negative tails at the different time intervals are linear. This presents strong evidence that returns exhibit power-law scaling in the tails. To test the multifractal properties of returns, we use the sample absolute moment of the aggregated return series. These moments do not scale linearly with different lags. In the other words, the scaling exponent is nonlinear in lags. These results indicate that the returns are multifractal.
Variation in the prevalence of chronic bronchitis among smokers: a cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE Given the wide variations in prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease observed between populations with similar levels of exposure to tobacco smoke, we aimed to investigate the possibility of variations in prevalence of chronic bronchitis (CB) between two geographically distinct smoking populations in rural Karnataka, India. DESIGN The Burden of Obstructive Lung Disease (BOLD) questionnaire was administered to all men aged >30 years in a cross-sectional survey. The χ(2) and Fisher's exact tests were used to compare CB prevalence in the two populations. Logistic regression was used to analyse the impact of multiple variables on the occurrence of CB. RESULTS Two samples of 2322 and 2182 subjects were included in the study. In non-smokers, CB prevalence did not differ between the populations. However, it was significantly different between smoking populations (44.79% vs. 2.13%, P < 0.0001). Logistic regression indicated that, in addition to smoking, region, age, occupational dust exposure and type of house were associated with higher likelihood of CB. An interaction between smoking and area of residence was found (P < 0.001) and appeared to explain the effect of region (without interaction). CONCLUSION A significant difference in CB prevalence was observed between male populations from two areas of Karnataka state, including when stratified by smoking status. No significant difference was observed between non-smokers.
Perioperative activin A concentrations as a predictive marker of neurologic abnormalities in children after open heart surgery.

BACKGROUND Ischemic-reperfusion injury of the brain is a major adverse event after cardiac surgery, especially when extracorporeal circuits are used. Because brain injury induces local overproduction of activin A, we measured plasma concentrations in children after open heart surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) to investigate the potential of measuring activin A for early identification of infants at risk for brain damage. METHODS We evaluated 45 infants (age <1 year) with congenital heart defects: 36 without overt neurologic injury, and 9 with neurologic injury on day 7 after the surgical procedure. Blood samples were taken before surgery, during surgery before CPB, at the end of CPB, at the end of surgery, and at 12 h after surgery. Neurologic development was assessed before surgery and on postoperative day 7. RESULTS Activin A concentrations increased significantly during surgery (P <0.0001) to a maximum at the end of CPB. Infants who developed abnormal neurologic sequelae had concentrations significantly higher (P <0.0001, all comparisons) than patients with normal neurologic outcome at all evaluated times, but not before surgery. Activin A had a sensitivity of 100% (95% CI, 66%-100%) and a specificity of 100% (95% CI, 90%-100%) as a single marker for predicting neurologic abnormalities (area under the ROC curve, 1.0). CONCLUSIONS Activin A increases in children who experience poor neurologic outcomes after open heart surgery, and its assay may help in early identification of infants at risk for brain damage.
Haptic Assembly and Prototyping: An Expository Review

An important application of haptic technology to digital product development is in virtual prototyping (VP), part of which deals with interactive planning, simulation, and verification of assembly-related activities, collectively called virtual assembly (VA). In spite of numerous research and development efforts over the last two decades, the industrial adoption of haptic-assisted VP/VA has been slower than expected. Putting hardware limitations aside, the main roadblocks faced in software development can be traced to the lack of effective and efficient computational models of haptic feedback. Such models must 1) accommodate the inherent geometric complexities faced when assembling objects of arbitrary shape; and 2) conform to the computation time limitation imposed by the notorious frame rate requirements---namely, 1 kHz for haptic feedback compared to the more manageable 30-60 Hz for graphic rendering. The simultaneous fulfillment of these competing objectives is far from trivial. This survey presents some of the conceptual and computational challenges and opportunities as well as promising future directions in haptic-assisted VP/VA, with a focus on haptic assembly from a geometric modeling and spatial reasoning perspective. The main focus is on revisiting definitions and classifications of different methods used to handle the constrained multibody simulation in real-time, ranging from physics-based and geometry-based to hybrid and unified approaches using a variety of auxiliary computational devices to specify, impose, and solve assembly constraints. Particular attention is given to the newly developed 'analytic methods' inherited from motion planning and protein docking that have shown great promise as an alternative paradigm to the more popular combinatorial methods.
Recombination of Poliovirus RNA Proceeds in Mixed Replication Complexes Originating from Distinct Replication Start Sites

ABSTRACT Genetic recombination occurs frequently during replication of picornaviruses. To explore the intracellular site and structures involved in recombination, HeLa cells were infected with poliovirus type 1 Mahoney and type 2 Sabin. The two genomes were located by fluorescent in situ hybridization and confocal microscopy. For hybridization, type-specific fluorescent riboprobes were used to visualize the same genomic region where, in parallel, recombination was demonstrated with type-specific reverse transcription-PCR and sequencing. The hybridization analysis indicated that >85% of the replication complexes contained both type 1 and type 2 RNA sequences aligned at a lateral distance of 50 nm or less. Sequential infection of cells ruled out the possibility that the high percentage of mixed replication complexes was due to aggregation of input virus. Visualization of input genomic RNA over time showed that the viral genomes migrated to relatively few distinct, and thus presumably specific, perinuclear sites where replication started. The first recombinant RNA strands could be detected concomitantly with the onset of RNA replication. The limited number of start sites for replication may be the reason for the observed preferential formation of mixed replication complexes, each accommodating several parental RNA strands and thus allowing recombination.
Calcium influx and intracellular stores in angiotensin II stimulation of normal and hyperplastic pituitary cells

Gonzalez Iglesias,Arturo, Graciela Diaz-Torga, Victoria Lux-Lantos, Carlos Libertun, and Damasia BecuVillalobos. Calcium influx and intracellular stores in angiotensin II stimulation of normal and hyperplastic pituitary cells. Am. J. Physiol. 277 (Endocrinol. Metab. 40): E455– E463, 1999. —In rat pituitary cells from estrogen-induced hyperplasia, angiotensin II (ANG II) does not evoke a clear spike elevation of intracellular Ca21 concentration ([Ca]i) but induces a plateau increase. The present work was undertaken to establish whether this difference was related to a differential participation of intracellular and/or plasma membrane Ca21 channels. We first tested the effect of 10 nM ANG II on [Ca]i in the absence of extracellular Ca21 in cells depolarized with 25 mM K1 or in the presence of blockers of L-type voltage-sensitive Ca21 channels (VSCC). These treatments did not alter spike elevation in [Ca]i in controls but reduced plateau levels in hyperplastic cells. Intracellular Ca21 stores were similar in both groups, as assessed by thapsigargin treatment, but this drug abolished spike increase in controls and scarcely modified plateau levels in hyperplastic cells. Finally, inositol trisphosphate (InsP3) production in response to ANG II was significantly higher in control cells. We conclude that the observed plateau rise in hyperplastic cells results mainly from Ca21 influx through VSCC. In contrast, in control cells, the ANG II-induced spike increase in [Ca]i results from mobilization of Ca21 from thapsigargin-sensitive internal channels, activated by higher inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate generation.
Reliability and Validity of the Stanford Presenteeism Scale

Objective: This study reports the reliability and validity of the 13-item Stanford Presenteeism Scale (SPS). The SPS differs from similar scales by focusing on knowledge-based and production-based workers. Methods: Data were obtained from administrative and medical claims databases and from a survey that incorporated the SPS, SF-36, and the Work Limitations Questionnaire. Results: Sixty-three percent (7797) of employees responded. Cronbach's alpha (0.83) indicates adequate reliability. Factor analysis identified two underlying factors, “completing work” and “avoiding distraction. ” Knowledge-based workers load on “completing work” (&agr; = 0.97), whereas production-based workers load on “avoiding distraction” (&agr; = 0.98). There were significant and positive relationships between the SPS, SF-36, and Work Limitations Questionnaire. Conclusions: The SPS demonstrates a high degree of reliability and validity and may be ideal for employers who seek a single scale to measure health-related productivity in a diverse employee population.
Global Imbalances: "Made in the USA" or "Made in China"?

Three facts have characterized the pre-crisis debates in macroeconomics: the increase in the US current account decit, the decline in interest rates and the increase in the share of US assets in global portfolios. Caballero, Farhi and Gourinchas (2008) described these "anomalies" as being external to the United States. The high saving rates in Asian countries in the aftermath of the collapse of their financial markets led to a high demand for American nancial assets rather than domestic Asian ones, which were now considered unsafe. Our paper uses the basic model provided by Caballero, Farhi and Gourinchas to investigate whether an alternative explanation for these three facts, namely, the increase in American consumption. We show that the increase in US consumption would indeed cause a rise in capital flows towards the US (fact 1), but interest rates would rise rather than decrease (fact 2), and the share of american assets in global portfolios would not be affected (fact 3).
``Circle the Wagons and Defend the Faith''

Commentators expressed contrasting views on the authors' examination of scientific achievement and editorial board membership in the management discipline. In response, the authors address key points with which they disagree and hold fast to their admonitory conclusions, neither compromising nor retreating from the recounting of base facts. If the authors' conclusions have prompted a measure of cognitive dissonance, they hope that any associated discomfort will lead to action on the part of all of the discipline's journals and their sponsoring organizations.
Synthesis, Characterization and Anti-inflammatory Activity of 1, 2, 4 Triazole Derivatives

A series of 1, 2, 4 triazole derivatives were synthesized and evaluated for their anti-inflammatory activity by paw edema test. All the synthesized compounds were in good agreement with spectral and physical data. Most of the compounds synthesized were active and the most potent synthesized compounds showed greater % inhibition than the standard drug ibuprofen. Conclusions could be drawn from the synthesized compounds that sulfonyl group plays an important role in anti-inflammatory activity. The Cut off LD50 was found to be 500mg/kg for all synthesized compounds when given orally.
Allantoin and Allantoic Acid in the Nitrogen Economy of the Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata [L.] Walp.).

The ureides, allantoin and allantoic acid, represented major fractions of the soluble nitrogen pool of nodulated plants of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata [L.] Walp. cv. Caloona) throughout vegetative and reproductive growth. Stem and petioles were the principal sites of ureide accumulation, especially in early fruiting.Labeling studies using (14)CO(2) and (15)N(2) and incubation periods of 25 to 245 minutes indicated that synthesis of allantoin and allantoic acid in root nodules involved currently delivered photosynthate and recently fixed N, and that the ureides were exported from nodule to shoot via the xylem. From 60 to 80% of xylem-borne N consisted of ureides; the remainder was glutamine, asparagine, and amino acids. Allantoin predominated in the soluble N fraction of nodules and fruits, allantoin and allantoic acid were present in approximately equal proportions in xylem exudate, stems, and petioles.Extracts of the plant tissue fraction of nitrogen-fixing cowpea nodules contained glutamate synthase (EC 2.6.1.53) and glutamine synthetase (EC 6.3.1.2), but little activity of glutamate dehydrogenase (EC 1.4.1.3). High levels of uricase (EC 1.7.3.3) and allantoinase (EC 3.5.2.5) were also detected. Allantoinase but little uricase was found in extracts of leaflets, pods, and seeds.Balance sheets were constructed for production, storage, and utilization of ureide N during growth. Virtually all (average 92%) of the ureides exported from roots was metabolized on entering the shoot, the compounds being presumably used as N sources for protein synthesis.
Gene Regulatory Networks Governing Lung Specification

The epithelial lining of the respiratory system originates from a small group of progenitor cells in the ventral foregut endoderm of the early embryo. Research in the last decade has revealed a number of paracrine signaling pathways that are critical for the development of these respiratory progenitors. In the post‐genomic era the challenge now is to figure out at the genome wide level how these different signaling pathways and their downstream transcription factors interact in a complex “gene regulatory network” (GRN) to orchestrate early lung development. In this prospective, we review our growing understanding of the GRN governing lung specification. We discuss key gaps in our knowledge and describe emerging opportunities that will soon provide an unprecedented understanding of lung development and accelerate our ability to apply this knowledge to regenerative medicine. J. Cell. Biochem. 115: 1343–1350, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
In vitro Invasiveness of Human Breast Cancer Cells Is Promoted by Low Density Lipoprotein Receptor-Related Protein

Low density lipoprotein receptor-related protein/α2-macroglobulin receptor (LRP) is a surface membrane endocytic receptor, one of whose many functions is the regulation of plasminogen activator-mediated cell migration. LRP is known to have a role in migration and invasion, but its direct involvement has been demonstrated only in non-tumour cells. We investigated six breast cancer cell lines and a normal mammary epithelial cell clone for surface and total cellular LRP expression, and confirmed that its presence corresponds to the ability to invade and migrate in vitro. We showed that LRP in the tumour cell lines is expressed at a wide range of levels: from ∼300 to ∼6,300 sites per cell. Four of the breast cancer cell lines expressed LRP at over 1,000 sites/cell and were markedly invasive in our assay, the remainder of the cell lines and the normal clone having far fewer LRP sites and lacking invasive ability. We further showed that the migratory and invasive abilities of a highly invasive breast cancer cell line are both inhibited by receptor-associated protein, a unique LRP ligand which normally has a solely intracellular distribution but which, when added to culture medium, can inhibit all other ligand interactions with this receptor.
The use of a centrifuge-free RABiT-II system for high-throughput micronucleus analysis

The cytokinesis-block micronucleus (CBMN) assay is considered as the most suitable biodosimetry method for automation. Previously, we automated this assay on a commercial robotic biotech high-throughput system (RABiT-II) adopting both a traditional and an accelerated micronucleus protocol, both using centrifugation steps for lymphocyte harvesting and washing, after whole blood culturing. Here we describe further development of our accelerated CBMN assay protocol for using on High Throughput/High Content Screening (HTS/HCS) robotic systems without a centrifuge. This opens the way for implementation of the CBMN assay on a wider range of commercial automated HTS/HCS systems and thus increases the potential capacity of dose estimates following a mass-casualty radiological event.
Identi cation of Technology Shocks Using Misspeci ed VARs

Studies that seek to evaluate the e¤ects of technology shocks often employ structural VARs identi ed with long-run restrictions. In the presence of a mismatch between the number of lags the data-generating process involves and the number of lags included in the VAR, estimates based on long-run restrictions can be largely biased. In this paper, I o¤er an alternative method that substantially reduces this bias associated with the standard longrun procedure. I show how the method can be employed to reduce misspeci cation bias in a large class of maximum-share-type identi cation problems. I assess the performance of the proposed approach using Monte Carlo simulations and demonstrate that it outperforms a range of methods including the standard long-run approach under most commonly adopted parametrizations of the real business cycle and new Keynesian models. Application of the procedure to the post-war U.S. data reveals that per-capita hours exhibit a positive humpshaped impulse response pro le in the face of a technology shock. Keywords: Technology Shocks, Long-run Restrictions, Adjusted Maximum Share Identi cation JEL classi cation: E2, E3 University of Colorado at Boulder, Department of Economics, 256 UCB, Boulder, CO, 80309, USA, tel: (303) 492 2585, email:demirel@colorado.edu. I would like to thank Mario Crucini, two anonymous reviewers, Elmar Mertens, Carlos Martins-Filho, Murat Iyigun and seminar and session participants at the University of ColoradoBoulder, 2011 meetings of the Society for Computational Economics, and Fall 2012 Midwest Macroeconomics Conference for useful comments and suggestions.