Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Inspiratory inhibition of vagal responses to baroreceptor and chemoreceptor stimuli in the dog.

1. Single and few‐fibre cardiac efferent filaments were dissected from the cervical vagus nerve of dogs anaesthetized with chloralose and paralysed with pancuronium. 2. Brief selective baroreceptor or chemoreceptor stimuli, given during the expiratory phase of the central respiratory cycle and while the lungs were motionless, evoked trains of action potentials in cardiac vagal efferent fibres. These vagal responses outlasted the duration of the stimuli by 1‐3 s. 3. Brief selective baroreceptor or chemoreceptor stimuli given during the inspiratory phase of the central respiratory cycle (monitored as phrenic discharge) but while the lungs were motionless, failed to evoke reflex increases in discharge. Background vagal discharge was also inhibited during central inspiratory activity. 4. Brief baroreceptor or chemoreceptor stimuli given during lung inflation but in the expiratory phase of the central respiratory cycle (phrenic silence), also failed to evoke any reflex increase in discharge, but left resting vagal tone relatively unaffected. Only when vagal tone was high was it markedly inhibited by lung inflation, in the absence of central inspiratory activity. 5. A point of contrast between the inhibitory effects of lung inflation and of central inspiratory activity is that both tonic and reflexly evoked vagal discharge are inhibited during central inspiratory activity, but lung inflation more markedly inhibits reflexly evoked vagal discharge than tonic vagal discharge. 6. A model is suggested to explain the different mechanisms of inhibition by lung inflation and by central inspiratory activity.
BBK07 Immunodominant Peptides as Serodiagnostic Markers of Lyme Disease

ABSTRACT Lyme disease (LD) is a tick-borne infection caused by the bacterial pathogen Borrelia burgdorferi. Current diagnostic tests mostly use borrelial lysates or select antigens to detect serum antibodies against B. burgdorferi. These immunoassays are not entirely effective, especially for detection of early infection. We have recently characterized an in vivo-induced antigen, BBK07, as a serodiagnostic marker for LD. We now report that in a line blot assay, recombinant BBK07 protein-based detection is 90% sensitive and nearly 100% specific against B. burgdorferi infection in humans. Using an overlapping peptide library of 23 peptides encompassing full-length BBK07, we identified the immunodominant epitopes of BBK07 during human infection. We show that a select combination of amino-terminal peptides significantly enhanced BBK07-based diagnostic accuracy compared to that with the full-length protein. Although in enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) studies BBK07 peptides had overall lower sensitivity than established serodiagnostic peptides, such as the VlsE peptide C6 and OspC peptide pepC10, for the detection of early human LD, a subset of serum samples that failed to recognize either VlsE or OspC peptides were preferentially reactive to BBK07 peptides. These results highlight the fact that BBK07 peptides could be useful to complement the efficacy of VlsE and OspC peptide-based serodiagnostic assays. Finally, using a panel of canine sera, we show that BBK07 peptide is also effective for LD diagnosis in infected dogs. Together, our data show that peptides from the B. burgdorferi surface protein BBK07 are highly specific and sensitive serodiagnostic markers, and we suggest their future use in LD diagnostic assays.
CMOS scaling theory - why our "theory of everything" still works, and what that means for the future

In this paper, the critical importance of scaling theory to the success of CMOS technology can be reviewed and evaluated. The history of CMOS shows that scaling theory has been the dominant theme, but that the evolution of the technology has followed different directions at different times due to constraints imposed by scaling theory. This situation is actually best understood by comparison with the theory of punctuated equilibrium, which is a familiar concept in evolutionary biology. The state of present-day constraints are considered, followed by discussion of some possible options for continuing the progress of CMOS into the future.
Our obsession with metrics is corrupting science

"Not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted. " – William Bruce Cameron Australian universities have been in the media in recent weeks for the dubious treatment of overseas students and the problem of plagiarism. But they are in serious trouble for another reason: their reliance on “bibliometrics” for major decision making. Two international companies, Thomson Reuters and Elsevier, rate the apparent prestige of the journals in which academics' publications appear, and the frequency with which other authors refer to them, i.e. their citations. Two of the key summary results are the Hirsch index (or h-index), which reflects citations, and journal impact factor (JIF), claimed to reflect the importance of journals. Ratings such as these dominate decisions on academic promotions, tenure, grant funding and the status of departments and universities. They have been universally adopted by universities in Australia because of perceived benefits of speed, cost-effectiveness and alleged objectivity. They underpin the government’s Excellence in Research for Australia (ERA). This is of immediate national interest because of the links between these metrics, academic rankings and government funding of science and the universities. Also the potential harm to careers and the very way research is carried out.
KNOWLEDGE IN GLOBAL AND COLOMBIAN ECONOMY

This article demonstrates that knowledge plays a fundamental role in modern economies performance and Colombia has a large technological gap compared to develop countries and even compared to Ibero American countries. This article shows that a 0.5% increase in technological progress would increase Colombian per capita GDP growth in 2.0% during 5 (five) years. Considering that international differences in knowledge use – innovative skills, innovation sources and uses, corporative strategies and institutional conditions are fundamental to explain both, each country contribution to international trade and international differences in income levels (Dosi et al, 1993), Colombian economy situation is critical in this sense.
Serum adiponectin levels in patients with coronary artery disease.

BACKGROUND Adiponectin is an adipocytokine secreted from white adipose tissue. Serum level of adiponectin has been shown to be reduced in several disease states like obesity and diabetes. Hypoadiponectinemia has also been included in the list of newer risk factors for Coronary Artery Disease (CAD). METHODS In this analytical cross-sectional study serum adiponectin level was measured by Enzyme Linked Immunosorbant Assay (ELISA) in 60 cases of coronary artery disease (CAD) (both sexes, aged 40-60 yrs) and 60 healthy controls. RESULTS Low levels of adiponectin were seen in CAD patients as well as controls. These levels were lower as compared to western standards. CONCLUSION Our study conforms to the previous observation of lower serum adiponectin levels in South Asians compared to the western standards. Serum adiponectin level should be considered in the laboratory work-up of CAD patients.
Indoor Mobile Robot Localization and Mapping Based on Ambient Magnetic Fields and Aiding Radio Sources

In robotics, the problem of concurrently addressing the localization and mapping is well defined as simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) problem. Since the SLAM procedure is usually recursive, maintaining a certain error bound on the current position estimate is a critical issue. However, when the robot is kidnapped (i.e., the robot is moved by an intentional or unintentional user) or suffers from locomotion failure (due to large slip and falling), the robot will inevitably lose its current position. In this case, immediate recovery of the robot position is essential for seamless operation. In this paper, we present a method of solving both SLAM and relocation problems by employing ambient magnetic and radio measurements. The proposed SLAM is realized in the Rao-Blackwellized particle filter- and grid-based SLAM frameworks, where we exploit the local heading corrections from the magnetic measurements. For the relocation, we design the location signatures using the magnetic and radio measurements, and examine each of the Monte Carlo localization-based and multilayer perceptron-based relocation methods with real-world data. We implement the proposed SLAM and relocation algorithms in an embedded system and verify the feasibility of the proposed methods as an online robot navigation system.
Occupational Risk Management of Engineered Nanoparticles

The earliest and most extensive societal exposures to engineered nanoparticles are likely to occur in the workplace. Until toxicologic and health effects research moves forward to characterize more broadly the potential hazards of nanoparticles and to provide a scientific basis for appropriate control of nanomaterials in the workplace, current and future workers may be at risk from occupational exposures. This article reviews a conceptual framework for occupational risk management as applied to engineered nanomaterials and describes an associated approach for controlling exposures in the presence of uncertainty. The framework takes into account the potential routes of exposure and factors that may influence biological activity and potential toxicity of nanomaterials; incorporates primary approaches based on the traditional industrial hygiene hierarchy of controls involving elimination or substitution, engineering controls, administrative controls, and use of personal protective equipment; and includes valuable secondary approaches involving health surveillance and medical monitoring.
Estradiol prevents Aβ25 35-inhibited long-term potentiation induction through enhancing survival of newborn neurons in the dentate gyrus

Aim and Methods: Estradiol (E2) is reported to attenuate β-amyloid (Aβ) accumulation and slow the progression of Alzheimer's disease (AD). This study explored the beneficial effect of E2 in AD using histological examination and electrophysiological recording technique in AD model mice created by intracerebroventricular injection of β-amyloid 25–35 (Aβ25–35). Results: Infusion of Aβ25–35 reduced the number of newborn neurons in the 2nd week after birth, a critical period for neurite growth, and impaired high-frequency stimulation-dependent long-term potentiation (LTP) induction in perforant path-granular synapses of hippocampal dentate gyrus (DG). Administration of E2 from the 2nd to 4th week after cell birth in Aβ25–35-mice ameliorated the impairment of newborn neurons and LTP induction in DG. Acute application of E2 failed to increase the newborn neurons and rescue LTP induction in the DG of Aβ25–35-mice. Conclusions: The effect of E2 in Aβ25–35-impaired LTP induction depends on its neuroprotection improvement.
GSM voice evolution using orthogonal subchannels

The explosive growth of mobile communications, and the overly crowded and expensive spectrum have pushed both system engineers and operators to make their systems as spectrally efficient as possible in order to accommodate the increasing traffic demand. This article is a tutorial introduction to the orthogonal subchannel (OSC) technique. OSC was adopted to improve the capacity of the GSM/EDGE radio access network GERAN, and it is a new concept in which two users can simultaneously share the same GSM radio resource (time slot and frequency) in both the downlink and in uplink directions. Potentially, OSC could not only provide increased network capacity, but also reduce network-associated costs through more efficient usage of hardware and spectrum resources. In addition, this article presents some challenges related to this method, as well as solutions and their respective impact. The results provided herein may contribute to guidelines for network dimensioning and optimization, as well as list potential enhancements to the OSC radio resource management mechanisms needed to further exploit the benefits of OSC. Currently, in real OSC network deployments a capacity gain of 50 percent has been achieved at the cell level. As an indication of the importance of OSC, GSMA awarded it (called Quad Rate) the Best Technology Breakthrough award at Mobile World Congress 2012 [1].
Heterotypic dengue infection with live attenuated monotypic dengue virus vaccines: implications for vaccination of populations in areas where dengue is endemic.

BACKGROUND Because infection with any of the 4 Dengue virus serotypes may elicit both protective neutralizing antibodies and nonneutralizing antibodies capable of enhancing subsequent heterotypic Dengue virus infections, the greatest risk for severe dengue occurs during a second, heterotypic Dengue virus infection. It remains unclear whether the replication of live attenuated vaccine viruses will be similarly enhanced when administered to Dengue-immune individuals. METHODS We recruited 36 healthy adults who had previously received a monovalent live Dengue virus vaccine 0.6-7.4 years earlier. Participants were assigned to 1 of 4 cohorts and were randomly chosen to receive placebo or a heterotypic vaccine. The level of replication, safety, and immunogenicity of the heterotypic vaccine virus was compared with that of Dengue virus immunologically naive vaccinees. RESULTS Vaccine virus replication and reactogenicity after monovalent Dengue virus vaccination in naive and heterotypically immune vaccinees was similar. In contrast to naive vaccinees, the antibody response in heterotypically immune vaccinees was broadly neutralizing and mimicked the response observed by natural secondary Dengue virus infection. CONCLUSIONS Enhanced replication of these live attenuated Dengue virus vaccines was minimal in heterotypically immune vaccinees and suggests that the further evaluation of these candidate vaccines in populations with preexisting DENV immunity can proceed safely.
GABA Depolarization Is Required for Experience-Dependent Synapse Unsilencing in Adult-Born Neurons

Neural activity enhances adult neurogenesis, enabling experience to influence the construction of new circuits. GABAA receptor-mediated depolarization of newborn neurons in the adult and developing brain promotes glutamatergic synaptic integration since chronic reduction of GABA depolarization impairs morphological maturation and formation of glutamatergic synapses. Here we demonstrate an acute role of GABA depolarization in glutamatergic synaptic integration. Using proopiomelanocortin enhanced–green fluorescent protein reporter mice, we identify a developmental stage when adult-generated neurons have glutamatergic synaptic transmission mediated solely by NMDA receptors (NMDARs), representing the initial silent synapses before AMPA receptor (AMPAR)-mediated functional transmission. We show that pairing synaptic stimulation with postsynaptic depolarization results in synapse unsilencing that requires NMDAR activation. GABA synaptic depolarization enables activation of NMDARs in the absence of AMPAR-mediated transmission and is required for synapse unsilencing induced by synaptic activity in vitro as well as a brief exposure to an enriched environment in vivo. The rapid appearance of AMPAR-mediated EPSCs and the lack of maturational changes show that GABA depolarization acutely allows NMDAR activation required for initial synapse unsilencing. Together, these results also reveal that adult-generated neurons in a critical period for survival use GABA signaling to rapidly initiate functional glutamate-mediated transmission in response to experience.
Transport With Bimolecular Reactions in a Fracture‐Matrix System: Analytical Solutions With Applications to In Situ Chemical Oxidation

We present analytical solutions for transport with bimolecular reactions in a single fracture embedded within an infinite rock matrix. The fracture and matrix are initially assumed to contain one aqueous species (B) at a uniform concentration. A second aqueous species (A) is injected into the fracture and reacts with B and an additional immobile species (N) in the rock matrix. Under these conditions, moving reaction fronts form and propagate along the fracture and into the rock matrix. We employ a composite similarity variable involving two space variables to derive analytical solutions for all species concentrations and the geometry of reaction fronts in the fracture and matrix. The behavior of the reaction‐diffusion equations in the rock matrix is posed as a Stefan problem. For uniform advection in the fracture, our analytical solutions establish that the reaction fronts propagate as the square root of time in both the matrix and the fracture. Our analytical solutions agree very well with numerical simulations. We extend our analytical solutions to nonuniform flows in the fracture by invoking a travel‐time transformation. We present applications of our analytical solutions to in situ chemical oxidation of dense nonaqueous phase liquids in fractured rock, wherein an oxidant (A, e.g., permanganate) is injected through fractures and consumed by bimolecular reactions with dissolved dense nonaqueous phase liquids (B, e.g., trichloroethylene) and natural organic matter (N) in the fracture and rock matrix. Our analytical solutions are also relevant to a broad class of reactive transport problems in fracture‐matrix systems where moving reaction fronts occur.
Pricing Efficiency in CNX Nifty Index Options Using the Black–Scholes Model: A Comparative Study of Alternate Volatility Measures

This article attempts to determine the method of volatility estimation that prices the CNX Nifty Index options closest to the theoretical price as computed by the Black–Scholes (1973) model. Volatility has been estimated using simple variance, implied volatility, volatility index and the asymmetrical exponential generalised auto-regressive conditional heteroskedasticity (EGARCH) (1,1) model with generalised error distribution innovations. The trend in mispricing has been studied using error estimates and non-parametric tests. Our findings indicate significant mispricing in CNX Nifty Index options. The results of our study will have major implications for investors who use options as part of their portfolios and corporates who use them for risk hedging. Our study is important, as there are only a few studies that examine the pricing efficiency of options with a focus on volatility modelling. Also, our study spans a longer time period than the previous studies. JEL Classification: G14, G32, C14
Rhythmic Auditory-Motor Entrainment Improves Hemiparetic Arm Kinematics During Reaching Movements: A Pilot Study

Abstract Purpose: Recovery of skilled upper limb movement remains a critical focus of rehabilitation in individuals post stroke. Conventional treatments, however, have demonstrated limited capability to produce substantial improvements in poststroke quality of movement. Recently, rhythmic auditory stimulation (RAS) has emerged as efficacious in improving and normalizing limb movements in neurologically impaired populations. This pilot study examined changes in pre- to post-RAS reach kinematics and functional outcomes in survivors of stroke. Method: Five individuals in the chronic poststroke phase participated in a 2-week program of RAS training. Kinematic reaching variables were trunk, shoulder, and elbow segment contribution; movement time; and reach velocity. Functional outcomes were the Wolf Motor Function Test, Motor Activity Log, and Fugl-Meyer Assessment. Results: Post-RAS assessment of reaching kinematics revealed a significant (p < .05) decrease in compensatory trunk movement, increase in shoulder flexion, and a slight increase in elbow extension. Movement time and velocity significantly improved post RAS. Significant gains were observed on all functional assessments. Conclusions: Post RAS, participants demonstrated substantial decreases in compensatory reaching movements. These changes in motor control strategy were paralleled by gains in functional abilities, suggesting that reduced reliance on compensatory movements may translate to improved performance of daily activities.
Characterization of Activity and Expression of Isocitrate Lyase in Mycobacterium avium andMycobacterium tuberculosis

ABSTRACT Analysis by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis revealed thatMycobacterium avium expresses several proteins unique to an intracellular infection. One abundant protein with an apparent molecular mass of 50 kDa was isolated, and the N-terminal sequence was determined. It matches a sequence in the M. tuberculosisdatabase (Sanger) with similarity to the enzyme isocitrate lyase of both Corynebacterium glutamicum and Rhodococcus fascians. Only marginal similarity was observed between this open reading frame (ORF) (termed icl) and a second distinct ORF (named aceA) which exhibits a low similarity to other isocitrate lyases. Both ORFs can be found as distinct genes in the various mycobacterial databases recently published. Isocitrate lyase is a key enzyme in the glyoxylate cycle and is essential as an anapleurotic enzyme for growth on acetate and certain fatty acids as carbon source. In this study we express and purify Icl, as well as AceA proteins, and show that both exhibit isocitrate lyase activity. Various known inhibitors for isocitrate lyase were effective. Furthermore, we present evidence that in both M. avium and M. tuberculosis the production and activity of the isocitrate lyase is enhanced under minimal growth conditions when supplemented with acetate or palmitate.
Deconstructing the sensation of pain: The influence of cognitive processes on pain perception

Phenomena such as placebo analgesia or pain relief through distraction highlight the powerful influence cognitive processes and learning mechanisms have on the way we perceive pain. Although contemporary models of pain acknowledge that pain is not a direct readout of nociceptive input, the neuronal processes underlying cognitive modulation are not yet fully understood. Modern concepts of perception—which include computational modeling to quantify the influence of cognitive processes—suggest that perception is critically determined by expectations and their modification through learning. Research on pain has just begun to embrace this view. Insights into these processes promise to open up new avenues to pain prevention and treatment by harnessing the power of the mind.