Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Expression of multiple Na+,K+‐ATPase genes reveals a gradient of isoforms along the nonpigmented ciliary epithelium: Functional implications in aqueous humor secretion

The Na+,K+‐ATPase α1, α2, and α3 subunit isoforms have been shown to be differentially expressed in the nonpigmented (NPE) and pigmented (PE) cells of the ocular ciliary epithelium (CE)(Martin‐Vasallo et al., J. Cell. Physiol., 141: 243‐252, 1989; Ghosh et al., J. Biol. Chem., 265:2935‐2940, 1990). In this study we analyzed and compared the pattern of expression of the multiple Na+,K+‐ATPase α (α1, α2, α3) subunit genes with the pattern of expression of the Na+,K+‐ATPase β (β1, β2) subunit genes along the bovine CE. We have selected three regions in the CE, referred to as (1) the anterior region of the pars plicata, near the iris; (2) the middle region of the pars plicata; and (3) the posterior region of the pars plana, near the ora serrata. Using isoform‐specific cDNA probes and antibodies for the Na+,K+‐ATPase α1, α2, α3, β1, and β2 subunits on Northern and Western blot analysis, we found that mRNA and polypeptides are expressed in all three CE regions with different abundance. The pattern of expression of α and β isoforms detected along the NPE cell layer suggests a gradient of α1, α2, α3, β1, and β2 mRNAs and polypeptides that correlates with decreasing Na+,K+‐ATPase activity from the most anterior region at the pars plicata towards the posterior region at the ora serrata. We also found marked differences in the pattern of immunolocalization of Na+,K+‐ATPase α1, α2, α3, β1, and β2 subunit isoforms in different regions of the CE. In the anterior region, NPE cells stained intensely at the basal lateral membrane with specific monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies for each of the α (α1, α2, α3) and β (β1, β2) Na,K‐ATPase isoforms. In the middle and posterior regions of the CE, NPE cells showed lower or absent levels of staining with α1, α2, α3, and β1 antibodies, although staining with β2 was abundant. In contrast, PE cells throughout the CE were stained at the basal lateral membrane by antibodies to α1 and β1, while no staining signals were detected with the rest of the antibodies (i.e. α2, α3, and β2). Our results support the conclusion that the three α and two β isoforms of the Na+,K+‐ATPase are differentially expressed in the two cell layers that make up the CE. These results also suggest that the expression of the Na+,K+‐ATPase α and β subunit isoforms may underlie subtle differences along the NPE cell layer in ion transport.
Life-History Tactics: A Review of the Ideas

This review organizes ideas on the evolution of life histories. The key life-history traits are brood size, size of young, the age distribution of reproductive effort, the interaction of reproductive effort with adutl mortality, and the variation in these traits among an individual's progeny. The general theoretical problem is to predict which combinations of traits will evolve in organisms living in specified circumstances. First consider single traits. Theorists have made the following predictions: (1) Where adult exceeds juvenile mortality, the organism should reproduce only once in its lifetime. Where juvenile exceeds adult mortality, the organism should reproduce several times. (2) Brood size should maximize the number of young surviving to maturity, summed over the lifetime of the parent. But when optimum brood-size varies unpredictably in time, smaller broods should be favored because they decrease the chances of total failure on a given attempt. (3) In expanding populations, selection should minimize age at maturity. In stable populations, when reproductive success depends on size, age, or social status, or when adult exceeds juvenile mortality, then maturation should be delayed, as it should be in declining populations. (4) Young should increase in size at birth with increased predation risk, and decrease in size with increased resource availability. Theorists have also predicted that only particular combinations of traits should occur in specified circumstances. (5) In growing populations, age at maturity should be minimized, reproductive effort concentrated early in life, and brood size increased. (6) One view holds that in stable environments, late maturity, multiple broods, a few, large young, parental care, and small reproductive efforts should be favored (K-selection). In fluctuating environments, early maturity, many small young, reduced parental care, and large reproductive efforts should be favored (r-selection). (7) But another view holds that when juvenile mortality fluctuates more than adult mortality, the traits associated with stable and fluctuating environments should be reversed. We need experiments that test the assumptions and predictions reviewed here, more comprehensive theory that makes more readily falsifiable predictions, and examination of different definitions of fitness.
Clinical and genetic aspects of spinocerebellar degeneration

After decades of confusion as a result of the marked clinical variability of spinocerebellar degeneration, molecular analyses have permitted the identification of loci and genes, which constitute the basis of a new classification. However, even greater genetic heterogeneity is suspected and several phenotypes, such as complex forms of spastic paraplegia and autosomal recessive ataxias, have not yet been thoroughly explored. Unexpectedly, the genes responsible for Friedreich's ataxia and a form of autosomal recessive spastic paraplegia place these diseases in the category of mitochondrial disorders. The unstable mutations caused by trinucleotide repeat expansions are responsible for a growing number of inherited cerebellar ataxias.
A methodology for enterprise systems post-implementation change management

Purpose Enterprise systems (ESs) are hard to maintain, since they embed a large fraction of organisational data and tasks, which are often intertwined and highly interdependent. The purpose of this paper is to propose a methodology for enterprise resource planning (ERP) post-implementation change management to support business analysts during perfective maintenance. Design/methodology/approach The methodology draws a parallel line with engineering change management and considers the steps of mapping the dependencies among ES components, understanding the ripple effects of change, and defining metrics to quantify and assess the impact of change. The methodology is instantiated in the case of ERP systems, for which a tool has also been implemented and evaluated by ERP implementation experts. Findings Experts positively evaluated the proposed methodology. General design principles to instantiate the methodology in the case of systems other than ERP have been derived. Originality/value While existing ESs change management methodologies help to identify the need for change, the proposed methodology help to structure the change process, supporting the task of perfective maintenance in an efficient way.
Alterations of postsynaptic density proteins in the hippocampus of rat offspring from the morphine‐addicted mother: Beneficial effect of dextromethorphan

Infants passively exposed to morphine or heroin through their addicted mothers usually develop characteristic withdrawal syndrome of morphine after birth. In such early life, the central nervous system exhibits significant plasticity and can be altered by various prenatal influences, including prenatal morphine exposure. Here we studied the effects of prenatal morphine exposure on postsynaptic density protein 95 (PSD‐95), an important cytoskeletal specialization involved in the anchoring of the NMDAR and neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS), of the hippocampal CA1 subregion from young offspring at postnatal day 14 (P14). We also evaluated the therapeutic efficacy of dextromethorphan, a widely used antitussive drug with noncompetitive antagonistic effects on NMDARs, for such offspring. The results revealed that prenatal morphine exposure caused a maximal decrease in PSD‐95 expression at P14 followed by an age‐dependent improvement. In addition, prenatal morphine exposure reduced not only the expression of nNOS and the phosphorylation of cAMP responsive element‐binding protein at serine 133 (CREBSerine‐133), but also the magnitude of long‐term depression (LTD) at P14. Subsequently, the morphine‐treated offspring exhibited impaired performance in long‐term learning and memory at later ages (P28–29). Prenatal coadministration of dextromethorphan with morphine during pregnancy and throughout lactation could significantly attenuate the adverse effects as described above. Collectively, the study demonstrates that maternal exposure to morphine decreases the magnitude of PSD‐95, nNOS, the phosphorylation of CREBSerine‐133, and LTD expression in hippocampal CA1 subregion of young offspring (e.g., P14). Such alterations within the developing brain may play a role for subsequent neurological impairments (e.g., impaired performance of long‐term learning and memory). The results raise a possibility that postsynaptic density proteins could serve an important role, at least in part, for the neurobiological pathogenesis in offspring from the morphine‐addicted mother and provide tentative therapeutic strategy. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Hippocampal AMPA and NMDA mRNA levels correlate with aberrant fascia dentata mossy fiber sprouting in the pilocarpine model of spontaneous limbic epilepsy

There is considerable controversy whether aberrant fascia dentata (FD) mossy fiber sprouting is an epiphenomena related to neuronal loss or a pathologic abnormality responsible for spontaneous limbic seizures. If mossy fiber sprouting contributes to seizures, then reorganized axon circuits should alter postsynaptic glutamate receptor properties. In the pilocarpine‐status rat model, this study determined if changes in alpha amino‐3‐hydroxy‐5‐methyl‐4‐isoxazole‐propionate (AMPA) and n‐methyl‐D‐aspartic acid (NMDA) receptor subunit mRNA levels correlated with mossy fiber sprouting. Sprague‐Dawley rats were injected with pilocarpine (320 mg/kg; i.p.) and maintained in status epilepticus for 6 to 8 hours (pilocarpine‐status). Rats were killed during the: (1) latent phase after neuronal loss but before spontaneous limbic seizures (day 11 poststatus; n = 7); (2) early seizure phase after their first seizures (day 25; n = 7); and (3) chronic seizure phase after many seizures (day 85; n = 9). Hippocampi were studied for neuron counts, inner molecular layer (IML) neo‐Timm's staining, and GluR1–3 and NMDAR1–2b mRNA levels. Compared with controls, pilocarpine‐status rats in the: (1) latent phase showed increased FD GluR3, NMDAR1, and NMDAR2b; greater CA4 and CA1 NMDAR1; and decreased subiculum GluR1 hybridization densities; (2) early seizure phase showed increased FD GluR3, increased CA1 NMDAR1, and decreased subiculum NMDAR2b densities; and (3) chronic seizure phase showed increased FD GluR2; increased FD and CA4 GluR3; decreased CA1 GluR2; and decreased subiculum GluR1, GluR2, NMDAR1, and NMDAR2b levels. In multivariate analyses, greater IML neo‐Timm's staining: (1) positively correlated with FD GluR3 and NMDAR1 and (2) negatively correlated with CA1 and subiculum GluR1 and GluR2 mRNA levels. These results indicate that: (1) hippocampal AMPA and NMDA receptor subunit mRNA levels changed as rats progressed from the latent to chronic seizure phase and (2) certain subunit alterations correlated with mossy fiber sprouting. Our findings support the hypothesis that aberrant axon circuitry alters postsynaptic hippocampal glutamate receptor subunit stoichiometry; this may contribute to limbic epileptogenesis. J. Neurosci. Res. 54:734–753, 1998. © 1998 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
HSPRO acts via SnRK1-mediated signaling in the regulation of Nicotiana attenuata seedling growth promoted by Piriformospora indica

Nicotiana attenuata HSPRO (NaHSPRO) is a negative regulator of seedling growth promoted by the fungus Piriformospora indica. Homologs of NaHSPRO in Arabidopsis thaliana (i.e., AtHSPRO1 and AtHSPRO2) are known to physically interact with the AKINβγ subunit of the SnRK1 complex.2 To investigate whether NaHSPRO is associated with SnRK1 function during the stimulation of seedling growth by P. indica, we studied N. attenuata plants silenced in the expression of NaGAL83 (as-gal83 plants)—a gene that encodes for the regulatory β-subunit of SnRK1—and plants silenced in the expression of both NaHSPRO and NaGAL83 (ir-hspro/as-gal83 plants). The results showed that P. indica differentially stimulated the growth of both as-gal83 and ir-hspro/as-gal83 seedlings compared with control seedlings, with a magnitude similar to that observed in ir-hspro seedlings. Thus, we showed that, similar to NaHSPRO, NaGAL83 is a negative regulator of seedling growth stimulated by P. indica. We propose that the effect of NaHSPRO on seedling growth is associated with SnRK1 signaling.
Sistemas wearable baseados em métodos de visão computacional para auxiliar pessoas com deficiência visual

Pessoas cegas ou com baixa visao sofrem inumeras dificuldades na realizacao de atividades do cotidiano. Esforcos tem sido despendidos para a concepcao de sistemas assistivos que facilitem a realizacao de tarefas especificas por pessoas com deficiencia visual. Em particular, o campo da Visao Computacional tem muito a contribuir. Nesta Tese de Doutorado, foi proposta uma abordagem de reconhecimento de face em tempo real, simples e eficiente, para o desenvolvimento de sistemas wearable com recursos hardware limitados, dentro do escopo de aplicacoes que visam auxiliar pessoas cegas e com baixa visao. A abordagem proposta foi testada e validada por meio do desenvolvimento de dois sistemas, que atuaram como estudos de caso desta pesquisa. Tais sistemas usaram como componentes principais de hardware o sensor Microsoft Kinect for Windows (Kinect) e o relogio inteligente Samsung Galaxy Gear (Gear). O sistema baseado no Kinect utiliza o sensor como um dispositivo wearable, executa deteccao de face e usa coerencia temporal juntamente com um procedimento biometrico simples para gerar um som associado com a pessoa identificada, virtualizado em sua posicao 3D estimada. Da mesma forma, o sistema baseado no Gear realiza todo o procedimento de identificacao de pessoas, com pequenas diferencas tecnologicas, mas sem estimar posicao 3D. Experimentos de acuracia e desempenho foram realizados e comparados tanto com abordagens tradicionais como abordagens do estado-da-arte em reconhecimento de face. A validacao usou uma nova base de dados de videos RGB-D coletados com o Kinect, denominada Unicamp Kinect Face Database, com 600 videos de 30 individuos, contendo variacoes de iluminacao, planos de fundo e padroes de movimento, e que sera disponibilizada publicamente. Outras bases de dados, existentes na literatura, tambem foram consideradas. O consumo de bateria foi estimado por meio de experimentos realizados usando o hardware do relogio inteligente. Os resultados mostraram que, em media, a abordagem proposta supera os metodos de reconhecimento de face tradicionais, mas exige muito menos recursos computacionais (memoria, processamento e bateria) quando comparada com as tecnicas existentes na literatura, considerando-a mais adequada para as restricoes do hardware wearable e para aplicacoes de escopo limitado. Alem disso, uma abordagem alternativa de reconhecimento de pessoas no escuro, baseada na abordagem original, foi proposta usando apenas os dados de profundidade providos pelo Kinect. Finalmente, foram conduzidos experimentos para avaliacao da interacao do usuario com os sistemas, tanto com usuarios cegos e de baixa visao como com usuarios vendados, a fim de encontrar problemas criticos, possibilidades de melhorias nos sistemas e as melhores formas para realizacao dos feedbacks de audio. Tais experimentos mostraram resultados encorajadores. Abstract
Cross Domain Privacy Protection for Location-Based Services

Network operators gradually open their interfaces to formerly hidden services that foster the development of a new class of mobile applications which are operated by 3 party providers and take into account context information such as the user’s location. As a result, the inclusion of the network operators’ infrastructure provides many new possibilities and the potential to change the way in which mobile devices are used in everyday life. However, this development raises important issues such as the protection of the users location information and privacy while using location-based services. In this paper we illustrate a service architecture together with a novel and flexible privacy enhancing mechanism that allows the realization of the highly postulated pay-as-you-go model for location-based services. We further specify mobile applications that operate on the exchange of location information even between different network operators while still meeting mandatory legal requirements.
Effect of Etanercept on Insulin Sensitivity in Nine Patients with Psoriasis

Metabolic syndrome is associated to chronic low grade inflammation, characterized by increased levels of inflammatory cytokines, such as Tumor Necrosis Factor-α (TNF-α) and Interleukin-6 (IL-6). In particular, TNF-α causes a decrease in the insulin-stimulated kinases related to the early phases of the insulin cascade, thereby leading to insulin resistance. Etanercept is a human fusion protein used in the treatment of psoriasis and inflammatory arthritis. It blocks inflammatory response by interfering in the binding of TNF-α to its receptors. The aim of this case report study is to verify the effect of Etanercept on insulin sensitivity, lipid profile and inflammatory status in psoriatic patients. Nine psoriatic patients with stable, active, plaque type psoriasis were enrolled and treated with Etanercept for 24 weeks. We found an improvement in the metabolic assessment with a significant reduction of insulin plasma levels. In particular, this treatment allows to maintain their euglycemic state with lower insulin plasma levels, as confirmed by the improved Homeostasis Model Assessment (HOMA) index. We conclude that Etanercept, probably acting on inflammation, improves insulin sensitivity in psoriatic subjects.
The Relation of Humor to Depression and Personality

The present study focused on an assessment of humor, depression, and personality. 38 male and 91 female college students responded to five self-report questionnaires, i.e., Martin and Lefcourt's Situational Humor Response Questionnaire and Coping Humor Scale, Svebak's Sense of Humor Questionnaire, Zimmerman's Inventory to Diagnose Depression, and the Eysenck Personality Inventory. Analysis indicated that individuals who scored lower on the depression scale tended to score higher on the Coping Humor Scale, Extraversion, and Neuroticism. Also, individuals scoring higher on the humor scales tended to score higher on Extraversion and Emotional Stability. These personality factors appear to be strongly related to the sense of humor construct and depression. Perhaps the personality factors of introversion and neuroticism may be employed to identify a predisposition toward depression.
Sensor-Augmented Pump Therapy for A1C Reduction (STAR 3) Study

OBJECTIVE To examine the effects of crossing over from optimized multiple daily injection (MDI) therapy to sensor-augmented pump (SAP) therapy for 6 months, and the effects of 18 months’ sustained use of SAP. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS The 6-month, single-crossover continuation phase of Sensor-Augmented Pump Therapy for A1C Reduction (STAR 3) provided SAP therapy to 420 subjects who completed the 1-year randomized study. The primary outcome was change in A1C in the crossover group. RESULTS A1C values were initially lower in the continuing-SAP group than in the crossover group (7.4 vs. 8.0%, P < 0.001). A1C values remained reduced in the SAP group. After 3 months on the SAP system, A1C decreased to 7.6% in the crossover group (P < 0.001); this was a significant and sustained decrease among both adults and children (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Switching from optimized MDI to SAP therapy allowed for rapid and safe A1C reductions. Glycemic benefits of SAP therapy persist for at least 18 months.
Sleep mode implementation issues in green base stations

In this paper, we focus on practical issues when implementing sleep mode in base stations. Our aim being to reduce energy consumption without affecting the Quality of Service (QoS) perceived by users, we expose some problems that my occur when applying sleep mode and propose practical solutions to cope with the resulting QoS degradation. We namely consider activation time issue that may result in blocking new or handover calls, and the ping-pong effect resulting in unnecessary ON/OFF oscillations. We show, using a realistic large-scale simulator, how to choose sleep mode implementation that achieves the best tradeoff between QoS preservation and energy consumption reduction.
On spacing policies for highway vehicle automation

This paper develops a framework for the design and evaluation of spacing policies for adaptive cruise control. Spacing policies are evaluated from the point of view of string stability, traffic flow stability and traffic flow capacity. The standard constant time-gap spacing policy can guarantee string stability but is shown to suffer from poor traffic capacity and traffic flow instability. An "ideal" spacing policy is proposed that evolves naturally from the evaluation framework. The proposed spacing policy is a nonlinear function of speed. It provides string stability and traffic flow stability as well as a higher traffic flow capacity compared to the standard time-gap controller. An associated result proved in the paper shows that traffic flow stability implies string stability for flow volumes up to a described maximum value.
Childhood Helicobacter pylori infection in a murine model: maternal transmission and eradication by systemic immunization using bacterial antigen–aluminium hydroxide

In humans, transmission of Helicobacter pylori is thought to occur largely during childhood. Infected mothers are generally considered to be the main source of the pathogen. However, little is known about when and how often maternal transmission of H. pylori occurs during childhood. In the present study, we examined these issues in an experimental murine model. Pregnant C57BL/6 mice, infected experimentally with H. pylori, delivered and nursed their litters. The stomachs of the infants were isolated and assessed for transmission of H. pylori. We also investigated the effect of systemic immunization using H. pylori antigen–aluminium hydroxide (AlOH) with regard to providing anti‐H. pylori immunity and eradicating the maternally transmitted bacteria in infants. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to examine the presence of transmitted bacteria and their eradication. Maternal transmission of H. pylori varied widely during the nursing period, but almost all litters showed bacterial transmission at 2 weeks postpartum. Systemic immunization with bacterial antigen–AlOH eradicated the bacteria in most litters; this immunization induced a local decrease of Th2 cytokines and a local increase of Th1 cytokines in the gastric tissue, as determined by ELISA. Our results indicate that our H. pylori vaccine provides not only protection, but also eradication of the already transmitted H. pylori.
An Extended Generalized Matrix Pencil Method to Synthesize Multiple-Pattern Frequency-Invariant Linear Arrays

This letter develops an extended generalized matrix pencil method (EGMPM) for the synthesis of multiple-pattern frequency-invariant linear arrays. In this method, all the pattern data sampled from different frequencies and different patterns are organized into a Hankel matrix. The problem of estimating the best common excitations and locations is converted into solving a singular value decomposition and some least-square problems. The previously proposed generalized matrix pencil method and extended matrix pencil method are both special cases of the EGMPM. A set of numerical experiments on Chebyshev pattern, shaped pattern, Taylor pattern, pencil-beam pattern, and flat-beam pattern is shown to validate the proposed method.