Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Effects of Kainic Acid-Induced Seizure on Gene Expression of Brain Neurotransmitter Receptors in Mice Using RT2 PCR Array

Introduction: Kainic acid (KA) induces neuropathological changes in specific regions of the mouse hippocampus comparable to changes seen in patients with chronic temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE). According to different studies, the expression of a number of genes are altered in the adult rat hippocampus after status epilepticus (SE) induced by KA. This study aimed to quantitatively evaluate changes in the gene expression of brain neurotransmitter receptors one week after administration of kainic acid in the mouse hippocampus. Methods: We used 12 BALB/c mice in this study and randomly divided them into 2 groups. To both groups, saline (IP) was administered for 7 days, and on the last day, KA (10 mg/kg, IP) was injected 30 minutes after administration of saline. Subsequently, behavioural changes were observed in mice. Then, in one group (1 day group), 2 hours and in another group (7 days group), 7 days after KA administration, the hippocampus tissue of mice was removed and used for gene expression analyses. Total brain RNA was isolated and reversely transcribed. We performed qPCR using RT2 Profiler TMPCR Array Mouse Neurotransmitter Receptors and Regulators (QIAGEN) containing primers for 84 genes. In this regard, we selected 50 related genes for KA model. Results: Our results showed significant changes in the gene expression of GABAA subunits receptors, including α1-α3, α5, α6, β2, β3, γ1, ρ, and rho1-2 on day 7 compared with the day 1. Conclusion: Expression of both inhibitory and excitatory receptors changed after one week. Further studies are needed to find more molecular changes in the gene expression of brain neurotransmitter receptors and regulators over longer periods of time in KA models using RT2 PCR array.
Pyroelectric Infrared (PIR) Sensor Based Event Detection

Pyroelectric Infrared (PIR) Sensor Based Event Detection Emin Birey Soyer M.S. in Electrical and Electronics Engineering Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Enis Cetin July 2009 Pyroelectric Infra-red (PIR) sensors have been extensively used in indoor and outdoor applications as they are low cost, easy to use and widely available. PIR sensors respond to IR radiating objects moving in its viewing range. The current sensors give an output of logical one when they detect a hot object’s motion and a logical zero when there is no moving hot object. In this method, only moving objects can be detected and the rate of false alarm is high. New types of PIR sensors are more sophisticated and more capable. They have a lower false alarm ratio compared to classical ones. Although they can distinguish pets and humans, again they can only be used for detection of hot object motions due to the limitations caused by the usage of the simple comparator structure inside. This structure is unalterable, not flexible for development, and not suitable for implementing algorithms. A new approach is developed to use PIR sensors by modifying the sensor circuitry. Instead of directly using the output of a classical PIR sensor, an analog signal is extracted from the PIR output and it is sampled. As a result, intelligent signal processing algorithms can be developed using the discrete-time sensor signal. In this way, it is possible to develop human, pet and flame detection methods. It is also possible to find the direction of moving objects and
Capacidades Dinâmicas em Organizações Sem Fins Lucrativos: Uma Proposta de mensuração para o terceiro setor

Alem da vantagem competitiva sustentada, a abordagem das Capacidades Dinâmicas tem sido empregada para explicacao do desenvolvimento continuo dos recursos e das capacidades organizacionais e sua relacao com o desempenho organizacional (ZAHRA; SAPIENZA; DAVIDSSON, 2006; TONDOLO; BITENCOURT, 2014;). Este estudo tem como objetivo geral propor um instrumento de mensuracao das Capacidades Dinâmicas para o contexto das organizacoes do Terceiro Setor. Para atender ao objetivo, foi desenvolvido um ensaio teorico, por meio de uma revisao de literatura baseando-se em Baumeister e Leary (1997) e Torraco (2005, 2016). Dessa forma, partiu-se dos estudos de Teece et al. (1997) e Wang e Ahmed (2007) como os norteadores para a compreensao das Capacidades Dinâmicas. Com vistas a ampliar entendimentos das dimensoes das Capacidades Dinâmicas, juntamente, com perspectiva do Terceiro Setor, foram realizadas buscas na base Spell para os estudos nacionais e na base Scopus para os estudos internacionais, nos meses de maio e julho de 2017. Como resultado, apresenta-se um instrumento de aplicacao quantitativa composto por 32 questoes distribuidas em 4 dimensoes (capacidade adaptativa, capacidade absortiva, capacidade inovativa e capacidade mobilizadora). Desta forma, pretende-se contribuir com a pesquisa e a realidade gerencial das organizacoes do Terceiro Setor.
Infrared stereo calibration for unmanned ground vehicle navigation

The problem of calibrating two color cameras as a stereo pair has been heavily researched and many off-the-shelf software packages, such as Robot Operating System and OpenCV, include calibration routines that work in most cases. However, the problem of calibrating two infrared (IR) cameras for the purposes of sensor fusion and point could generation is relatively new and many challenges exist. We present a comparison of color camera and IR camera stereo calibration using data from an unmanned ground vehicle. There are two main challenges in IR stereo calibration; the calibration board (material, design, etc.) and the accuracy of calibration pattern detection. We present our analysis of these challenges along with our IR stereo calibration methodology. Finally, we present our results both visually and analytically with computed reprojection errors.
Real-time tracking of an unpredictable target amidst unknown obstacles

This paper describes a new approach to keep a moving target into the field of view of a robot, despite obstacles. Unlike previous work, this approach does not assume that a complete or partial model of the target's behavior is available, nor that a map of the obstacles is given. At approximately 10 IIz, the robot constructs a local map of the environment from range data, localizes the target in this map, and computes its new velocity command. This command is selected to minimize a function that measures the risk that the target may escape the robot's field of view by crossing an occlusion ray created by an obstacle. The risk function defined in this paper combines a reactive term, whose minimization handles immediate threats, and a look-ahead term, whose minimization improves the robot's future ability to react to evading motions of the target. The experimental robotic system has been remarkably successful at tracking a target performing brisk maneuvers and swift turns behind obstacles.
New 0.18‐μm CMOS pulse generator for impulse radio ultra‐wideband communication systems

This article presents a new circuit to generate a higher‐order derivative Gaussian pulse for the impulse radio ultra‐wideband (IR‐UWB) communication systems. This IR‐UWB pulse generator is designed and measured with the TSMC 0.18‐μm CMOS process. The circuit is able to generate a symmetrical and low‐ringing pulse in a frequency band from 3.1 to 10.6 GHz. Our work shows that the pulse generator's output pulse width is 500 ps with an amplitude of 40 mV (peak to peak). The measurement results validate our design and the circuit functionality. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 49: 342–345, 2007; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.22132
Temporal dynamics of ocular position dependence of the initial human vestibulo-ocular reflex.

PURPOSE While an ideal vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) generates ocular rotations compensatory for head motion, during visually guided movements, Listing's Law (LL) constrains the eye to rotational axes lying in Listing's Plane (LP). The present study was conducted to explore the recent proposal that the VOR's rotational axis is not collinear with the head's, but rather follows a time-dependent strategy intermediate between LL and an ideal VOR. METHODS Binocular LPs were defined during visual fixation in eight normal humans. The VOR was evoked by a highly repeatable transient whole-body yaw rotation in darkness at a peak acceleration of 2800 deg/s2. Immediately before rotation, subjects regarded targets 15 or 500 cm distant located at eye level, 20 degrees up, or 20 degrees down. Eye and head responses were compared with LL predictions in the position and velocity domains. RESULTS LP orientation varied both among subjects and between individual subject's eyes, and rotated temporally with convergence by 5 +/- 5 degrees (+/-SEM). In the position domain, the eye compensated for head displacement even when the head rotated out of LP. Even within the first 20 ms from onset of head rotation, the ocular velocity axis tilted relative to the head axis by 30% +/- 8% of vertical gaze position. Saccades increased this tilt. Regardless of vertical gaze position, the ocular rotation axis tilted backward 4 degrees farther in abduction than in adduction. There was also a binocular vertical eye velocity transient and lateral tilt of the ocular axis. CONCLUSIONS These disconjugate, short-latency axis perturbations appear intrinsic to the VOR and may have neural or mechanical origins.
Detection of Airborne Stachybotrys chartarum Macrocyclic Trichothecene Mycotoxins in the Indoor Environment

ABSTRACT The existence of airborne mycotoxins in mold-contaminated buildings has long been hypothesized to be a potential occupant health risk. However, little work has been done to demonstrate the presence of these compounds in such environments. The presence of airborne macrocyclic trichothecene mycotoxins in indoor environments with known Stachybotrys chartarum contamination was therefore investigated. In seven buildings, air was collected using a high-volume liquid impaction bioaerosol sampler (SpinCon PAS 450-10) under static or disturbed conditions. An additional building was sampled using an Andersen GPS-1 PUF sampler modified to separate and collect particulates smaller than conidia. Four control buildings (i.e., no detectable S. chartarum growth or history of water damage) and outdoor air were also tested. Samples were analyzed using a macrocyclic trichothecene-specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). ELISA specificity was tested using phosphate-buffered saline extracts of the fungal genera Aspergillus, Chaetomium, Cladosporium, Fusarium, Memnoniella, Penicillium, Rhizopus, and Trichoderma, five Stachybotrys strains, and the indoor air allergens Can f 1, Der p 1, and Fel d 1. For test buildings, the results showed that detectable toxin concentrations increased with the sampling time and short periods of air disturbance. Trichothecene values ranged from <10 to >1,300 pg/m3 of sampled air. The control environments demonstrated statistically significantly (P < 0.001) lower levels of airborne trichothecenes. ELISA specificity experiments demonstrated a high specificity for the trichothecene-producing strain of S. chartarum. Our data indicate that airborne macrocyclic trichothecenes can exist in Stachybotrys-contaminated buildings, and this should be taken into consideration in future indoor air quality investigations.
AMYNA: A security generator framework

Security has always been an important concern in Computer Systems. In this paper we focus on zero-day, memory-based attacks, one of the top three most dangerous attacks according to the MITRE ranking, and propose AMYNA, a novel security generator framework/model. , which can automatically create personalized optimum security solutions. Motivated by the most prevailing security methods, which target a limited set of attacks, but do so efficiently and effectively, we present the idea and architecture of AMYNA, which can automatically combine security methods represented in a high-level model in order to produce a security solution with elevated security coverage.
MPSK signals modulation classification using sixth-order cumulants

New features based on sixth-order cumulants are proposed for classification of MPSK signals. Theoretical analysis justifies that the ability of suppressing multi-path fading improves as as the order number of cumulants features increases. Performance of proposed approach is demonstrated via computer simulations. The multi-path channel is assumed to be FIR model. MPSK signals are corrupted by Gaussian noise. The simulation results of probability of correct classification show that sixth-order cumulants method work better than fourth-order cumulants under the deeply multi-path fading channel environments and the fourth-order cumulants method work better than sixth-order cumulants when the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) is lower than or equal to 0dB.
THE ATMOSPHERIC RADIATION MEASUREMENT PROGRAM CLOUD RADARS : OPERATIONAL MODES

Abstract During the past decade, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), through the Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) Program, has supported the development of several millimeter-wavelength radars for the study of clouds. This effort has culminated in the development and construction of a 35-GHz radar system by the Environmental Technology Laboratory (ETL) of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Radar systems based on the NOAA ETL design are now operating at the DOE ARM Southern Great Plains central facility in central Oklahoma and the DOE ARM North Slope of Alaska site near Barrow, Alaska. Operational systems are expected to come online within the next year at the DOE ARM tropical western Pacific sites located at Manus, Papua New Guinea, and Nauru. In order for these radars to detect the full range of atmospheric hydrometeors, specific modes of operation must be implemented on them that are tuned to accurately detect the reflectivities of specific types of hydrometeors. The set.
Impact of Nanoparticle On Enzymes Activity In Oreochromis Mossambicus

Toxicity of Titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2-NPs) to freshwater fish, Oreochromis mossambicus is assessed in this work. The endpoint of this study has focussed the disturbances in the vital enzyme profile of fish exposed to TiO2-NPs. Superoxide dismutase (SOD), Catalase (CAT), Peroxidase (POD) and Lipid per Oxidation (LPO) levels in brain, gill and liver tissues of tilapia were analysed and observed that these values were concentration and duration dependent. The results obtained in this study have projected a statistically significant decrease (P < 0.05) in SOD, CAT and POD activities and an increase (P < 0.05) in LPO levels in selected tissues of fish exposed to 50, 100 and 150 ppm TiO2-NPs. Further, this finding suggests that there is an oxidative stress in fish. Moreover, the depletion of antioxidant enzymes activities and the elevation of LPO in liver tissue are higher indicating that the liver might be the most susceptible organ to TiO2-NPs exposure. Thus hepatotoxicity is underlined in this work.
Stress of Nursing Students Studying Online

Stress impacts both quality and length of life (Bowman, 2005; Sapolsky, 1998), but the stress of learning is yet to be understood. Recent researchers attempt to explain how stress can both increase and hamper learning, but no studies were found that linked learning stress to life long stress. Until recently no technologies could measure the biophysical variables in normal activities of life. Invasive technologies made it difficult to study people in vivo. The Allostatic Load Theory provides a foundation for the study as learning begins at the earliest stages of life and continues until old age (Alfarez, Wiegert, & Krugers, 2006; McEwen, 1998). Research indicates stress over long periods induces a variety of chronic diseases (Kiecolt-Glaser, McGuire, Robles, & Glaser, 2002; Blair, Granger, & Raza, 2005). Weight gain, hypertension, osteoporosis, immunosuppression, insulin resistance, atherosclerosis, and cardiovascular disease are a few complications of long term stress (Karlamangla, Singer, McEwen, Rowe, Seeman, 2002). The ultimate result is death. Stress may be the largest public health issue for the new century. Since learning stress is known to reduce memory transfer (Shors, 2006), the reduction of stress becomes an instructional design issue (Molinari, Dupler, & Lungstrom, 2005) Stress prevents learning by limiting perceptions, impairing thinking, and hampering transfer of capabilities during performance (Wu, Song, Tian-Bao, Li, He, Ge, Wang, 2007; McGaugh, 2004; Kuhlmann, Piel & Wolf, 2005). The problems later trigger more stressful performance events (Sapolsky, 1998). Background
Alterations in steroidogenesis in alligators (Alligator mississippiensis) exposed naturally and experimentally to environmental contaminants.

Many environmental contaminants alter the reproduction of animals by altering the development and function of the endocrine system. The ability of environmental contaminants to alter the endocrine system of alligators was studied both in a descriptive study in which juvenile alligators from a historically contaminated lake were compared to animals from a control lake and in an experimental study in which hatchling control alligators were exposed in ovo to several endocrine-disrupting standards and two modern-use herbicides. Endocrine status was assessed by examining plasma hormone concentrations, gonadal-adrenal mesonephros (GAM) aromatase activity, and gonadal histopathology. In the descriptive study, juvenile alligators from the contaminated lake had significantly lower plasma testosterone concentrations (29.2 pg/ml compared to 51.3 pg/ml), whereas plasma 17 beta-estradiol concentrations did not vary when compared to controls. GAM aromatase activity was significantly decreased n the alligators from the contaminated lake (7.6 pmol/g/hr compared to 11.4 pmol/g/hr). In the experimental study, the endocrine-disrupting standards had the expected effects. 17 beta-Estradiol and tamoxifen caused sex reversal from male to female, with a corresponding increase in aromatase activity. Vinclozolin had no apparent effect on male or female alligators. Among the herbicides tested, atrazine induced GAM aromatase activity in male hatchling alligators that was neither characteristic of males nor females, although testicular differentiation was not altered. Exposure to 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid had no effect on the endocrine parameters that were measured. Together, these studies show that exposure to some environmental chemicals (such as atrazine) can alter steroidogenesis in alligators, but the endocrine alterations previously noted for Lake Apopka, Florida, alligators can not be fully explained by this mechanism. ImagesFigure 1.
Classification Using the 1-FLNMAP Neural Network

A novel neural network, namely sigma Fuzzy Lattice Neural network with MAPping or-FLNMAP for short, is presented and applied to classification of text (documents) from the Brown Corpus benchmark collection of documents. The-FLNMAP is presented here as an enhanced extension of the fuzzy-ARTMAP neural network in the framework of fuzzy lattices. An individual-FLNMAP's classification accuracy is improved by training an ensemble of-FLNMAP modules on different permutations of the training data. Several different vector representations of a document are employed. The results, in a series of experiments, compare favorably with the results by other classification algorithms including K-Nearest Neighbor and Naïve Bayes Classifiers.
Assessment of Measures of Scalar Time Series Analysis in Discriminating Preictal States

We evaluate a large number of measures used in the statistical and nonlinear analysis of EEG as to their power in discriminating different preictal states. Some new measures are proposed and the analysis involves also feature time series, such as local minima and maxima, the time between them, as well as interspike intervals. The measures are computed on consecutive non-overlapping segments of 30 s of multichannel scalp EEG at the preictal period of several hours. The discrimination power of each measure is assessed by the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve computed on measure values grouped in different preictal stages. The results on 7 epileptic EEG records show that simple measures have the same, and at cases better, power in discriminating preictal states than other more sophisticated measures.
In-band amplify and forward cooperative diversity for the orthogonal complementary coded CDMA networks

This study proposes synchronous in-band amplify and forward relaying for the orthogonal complementary coded Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) networks. In any relay assisted system, in order to achieve diversity, the destination terminal should combine the replicas of the information signal from the source and relay terminals. The two replicas should be sent in orthogonal channels such as either in different time slots or different frequency bands for successful detection at the destination. Unlike the previous studies, in this paper we propose amplify and forward cooperative diversity strategy where the relays operate in the same band and in the same time slot for the direct sequence complementary coded CDMA (DS/CC-CDMA) networks. In traditional CDMA networks with conventional code sets, it is not possible for the relays operate in the same band and in the same time slot. This work shows that the complementary coded CDMA networks can accommodate in-band and in-time relay terminals without any interference.
The Effects of Disaster on Women's Reproductive Health in Developing Countries

The objective of this study is to empirically test the effects of disasters which include natural as well as human made disasters such as armed conflict on women's reproductive health in developing countries. Data from 128 developing countries are used. It was found that average number of deaths from natural disasters and armed conflict in the East Asia and Pacific region was not significantly different from the rest of the developing world. The data are examined using structural equation analysis. This study finds that ‘armed conflict’ in developing countries presents significant reproductive health risks. The implications are discussed.
Yes, There Is Little Hope in Theory of Mind Research

Montgomery’s article (this issue) contains a well-constructed and thought-provoking blend of conceptual analysis, metatheoretical contrast and critique, and empirical data illustrating a social constructivist perspective on the development of the use of the verb hope. There has been little discussion of the concept of hope in the empirical and theoretical literature, and I have learned a great deal from this paper. I hope, so to speak, that developmentalists will take up Montgomery’s well-considered suggestions for future research on this neglected topic. As one who has employed conceptual analysis in my own work [for a how-to guide, see Racine, 2015] and has investigated relations between children’s use of mental state language and social cognitive development [e.g., Tafreshi & Racine, 2016], including the application of the social constructivist perspective that Montgomery illustrates [e.g., Racine, Carpendale, & Turnbull, 2006, 2007], I will first use this commentary to put Montgomery’s work in context and explain its significance and implications. I then discuss the social constructivist metatheory from a more critical perspective by making some remarks about Montgomery’s use of Wittgenstein that he employs to justify social constructivism and critique theory-theory. I conclude with some reflections on the role of metatheoretical work in social cognitive developmental research.