Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Formation of specific afferent connections in organotypic slice cultures from rat visual cortex cocultured with lateral geniculate nucleus

The development of the cerebral cortex involves the specification of intrinsic circuitry and extrinsic connections, the pattern of inputs and outputs. To investigate the development of a major afferent input to the cortex, we studied the formation of thalamocortical connections in an organotypic culture system. Slices from the lateral thalamus of young rats were cocultured with slices from the visual cortex. Thalamocortical projections in vitro were examined anatomically with fluorescent dyes and physiologically with electrophysiological and optical recording techniques. Axons emerged from thalamic explants radially in all directions. The outgrowth of thalamic fibers and the course of the axonal trajectories were not influenced by the presence of the cocultured cortex. Only those thalamic axons that happened to grow toward the cortical slices invaded their target tissue. Thalamocortical projection cell in vitro had the characteristic morphology of thalamic relay neurons. Cells with the morphology of interneurons were present in thalamic explants, but these neurons did not project to the cocultured cortex. Thalamocortical axons in vitro terminated in their appropriate cortical target layer, formed axonal arbors, and made functional synaptic contacts. Such specific connections between thalamic neurons and their cortical target cells were established regardless of whether thalamocortical axons invaded the cortex from the white matter side or from the pial surface. These results suggest that thalamic projection neurons have an innate mechanism that allows them to recognize their cortical target cells. Thus, intrinsic factors play a significant role in the laminar specification of cortical connections during development.
Care of patients coinfected with HIV and hepatitis C virus: 2007 updated recommendations from the HCV-HIV International Panel.

Chronic hepatitis C (HCV) infection is currently oneof the most clinically relevant comorbidities in theHIV population; overall, it affects one third of HIV-positive individuals [1]. Progression to end-stage liverdisease occurs faster in coinfected patients [2–4] anddecompensated cirrhosis is one of the main causes ofhospitalization and death in this population [5–8]. However, the risk of hepatotoxicity using antiretroviraldrugs is increased in subjects with underlying HCVinfection [9,10]. Therefore, the optimal managementof chronic HCV in HIV-positive patients is currentlyapriority.Several guidelines for caring for HCV infection in HIV-positive individuals have been released [11–15]. Becausenew and relevant information has recently appeared, it isconvenient to update them. Eleven areas have beenidentiﬁed in which new recommendations are particu-larly needed:management of patients with persistently normalaminotransferasesliver ﬁbrosis assessment: when and howpredictors of response to anti-HCV therapy in coinfectedpatientsoptimal dosages of pegylated interferon (pegIFN) andribavirin (RBV)optimal duration of anti-HCV therapytreatment of non-responders and/or relapserscare of patients with end-stage liver diseasetreatment of acute HCV infection in HIV-infectedindividualsmanagement of patients with multiple hepatitis virusesinteractions between HCV medications and antiretroviraldrugshepatotoxicity of antiretroviral drugs.
Expectations of treatment and satisfaction with dentofacial appearance in orthodontic patients.

The aim of this study was to investigate correlations between satisfaction with dental and facial appearance and expectations of orthodontic treatment. The effects of sex and age on these variables were also explored. A sample of 154 patients who applied for orthodontic treatment at the Academic Centre of Dentistry Amsterdam, The Netherlands, completed 2 questionnaires, containing 16 items on satisfaction with facial appearance and 23 items on expectations of orthodontic treatment. First, the structure of the questionnaires was analyzed. Next, correlations between patients' expectations, satisfaction with facial appearance, age, and sex were examined. A multiple regression analysis was used to estimate the effect of the initial facial satisfaction on expectations of orthodontic treatment. Principal components analysis of the questionnaire about expectations showed 4 factors with an Eigenvalue greater than 1, accounting for 72% of the total variance. These were defined as "general well-being," "self-image/appearance," "future dental health," and "oral function. " We found that "satisfaction with facial appearance" could be divided into 2 factors, each with an Eigenvalue greater than 1, accounting for 64% of the total variance. These were interpreted as "general facial appearance" and "dental appearance. " Significant correlations were found between satisfaction with dental appearance and patients' expectations. These correlations were invariant over gender, but not over age. It was concluded that satisfaction with dental appearance is a significant predictor of orthodontic patients' expectations of treatment.
Kinetic Action : Micro and Macro Benchmark-based Performance Analysis of Kinetic Drives Against LevelDB-based Servers

There is an unprecedented growth in the amount of unstructured data. Therefore, key-value object storage is becoming extremely important for its ease of storing and retrieving information. Seagate recently launched direct-access-over Kinetic Ethernet hard drives which incorporate a LevelDB key-value store inside a hard drive. In this work, we employ Micro as well as Macro (Yahoo Cloud Serving Benchmark) to evaluate these drives to try to understand the performance limits, trade-offs, and implications of replacing traditional hard drives with Kinetic Drives in the data centers and High Performance Systems. We perform in-depth throughput and latency benchmarking of these Kinetic Drives (each acting as a tiny independent server) from a client machine connected to them via Ethernet. We compare these results to a SATA-based and a faster SAS-based traditional server running LevelDB. Our CPU-bound functionality sample drives average sequential write throughout of 63 MB/sec and sequential read throughput of 78 MB/sec for 1 MB value sizes and are able to demonstrate unique Kinetic features including direct disk-todisk data transfer. Our Macro Benchmark (YCSB) shows that the full-fledged LevelDB servers outperform the Kinetic Drives for several workloads; however, this is not always the case. For larger value sizes, even these sample Kinetic drives outperform a full server for several different workloads.
The ADAP/SKAP55 Signaling Module Regulates T-Cell Receptor-Mediated Integrin Activation through Plasma Membrane Targeting of Rap1

ABSTRACT Adhesion of T cells after stimulation of the T-cell receptor (TCR) is mediated via signaling processes that have collectively been termed inside-out signaling. The molecular basis for inside-out signaling is not yet completely understood. Here, we show that a signaling module comprising the cytosolic adapter proteins ADAP and SKAP55 is involved in TCR-mediated inside-out signaling and, moreover, that the interaction between ADAP and SKAP55 is mandatory for integrin activation. Disruption of the ADAP/SKAP55 module leads to displacement of the small GTPase Rap1 from the plasma membrane without influencing its GTPase activity. These findings suggest that the ADAP/SKAP55 complex serves to recruit activated Rap1 to the plasma membrane. In line with this hypothesis is the finding that membrane targeting of the ADAP/SKAP55 module induces T-cell adhesion in the absence of TCR-mediated stimuli. However, it appears as if the ADAP/SKAP55 module can exert its signaling function outside of the classical raft fraction of the cell membrane.
Ectopic impulse generation and autoexcitation in single myelinated afferent fibers in patients with peripheral neuropathy and positive sensory symptoms

Microneurographic studies were performed using cutaneous nerves of 8 patients with documented peripheral neuropathy who expressed positive sensory symptoms. Intraneural recordings in single myelinated fibers revealed: (i) ectopic generation of bursts of spontaneous action potentials; (ii) ectopic generation of ongoing repetitive discharges transiently interrupted by natural stimulation of the receptive field; and (iii) repetitive discharges triggered by a preceding action potential. These results provide direct evidence of a peripheral pathophysiological basis for spontaneous and stimulus‐induced paresthesias and dysesthesias in patients with peripheral neuropathy. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Muscle Nerve 21: 1661–1667, 1998
Vacuole-Localized Berberine Bridge Enzyme-Like Proteins Are Required for a Late Step of Nicotine Biosynthesis in Tobacco1[C][W]

Tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) plants synthesize nicotine and related pyridine-type alkaloids, such as anatabine, in their roots and accumulate them in their aerial parts as chemical defenses against herbivores. Herbivory-induced jasmonate signaling activates structural genes for nicotine biosynthesis and transport by way of the NICOTINE (NIC) regulatory loci. The biosynthesis of tobacco alkaloids involves the condensation of an unidentified nicotinic acid-derived metabolite with the N-methylpyrrolinium cation or with itself, but the exact enzymatic reactions and enzymes involved remain unclear. Here, we report that jasmonate-inducible tobacco genes encoding flavin-containing oxidases of the berberine bridge enzyme family (BBLs) are expressed in the roots and regulated by the NIC loci. When expression of the BBL genes was suppressed in tobacco hairy roots or in tobacco plants, nicotine production was highly reduced, with a gradual accumulation of a novel nicotine metabolite, dihydromethanicotine. In the jasmonate-elicited cultured tobacco cells, suppression of BBL expression efficiently inhibited the formation of anatabine and other pyridine alkaloids. Subcellular fractionation and localization of green fluorescent protein-tagged BBLs showed that BBLs are localized in the vacuoles. These results indicate that BBLs are involved in a late oxidation step subsequent to the pyridine ring condensation reaction in the biosynthesis of tobacco alkaloids.
Moniteur hybride de flux d'information pour un langage supportant des pointeurs

Les nouvelles approches combinant controle dynamique et statique de flux d'information sont prometteuses puisqu'elles permettent une approche permissive tout en garantissant la correction de l'analyse realisee vis-a-vis de la non-interference. Dans ce papier, nous presentons une approche hybride de suivi de flux d'information pour un langage gerant des pointeurs. Nous formalisons la semantique d'un moniteur sensible aux flux de donnees qui combine analyse statique et dynamique. Nous prouvons ensuite la correction de notre moniteur vis-a-vis de la non-interference.
A Low-Profile Wideband Surface-Mountable Substrate-Integrated Waveguide Horn Antenna

A low-profile surface-mountable substrate-integrated waveguide (SIW) horn antenna with wideband performance is proposed in this letter. In order to reduce the serious impedance mismatch at the SIW horn aperture resulting from the thin substrate (0.12 λ0), a semi-open SIW horn is designed by gradually detaching upper broadwall while maintaining another one. Furthermore, in order to realize wide bandwidth for the SIW horn antenna, air-vias are drilled into the semi-open horn to realize smooth transition from semi-open horn to free space. Finally, a fabricated prototype is measured, and results indicate that a 35.7% impedance bandwidth ranging from 19.1 to 27.4 GHz and a 31.8% 3 dB gain bandwidth ranging from 19.3 to 26.6 GHz are obtained, respectively. Stable end fire radiation patterns are observed across the operating band.
Modélisation de la fiabilité des macro-composants mécanique à partir de modèles mathématiques et de réseaux de neurones, comparaisons des méthodes

La fiabilite mecanique est un sujet qui interesse la plupart des concepteurs et utilisateurs de systemes techniques. Une des difficultes rencontrees est l'absence ou la pauvrete des modeles permettant de faire des etudes previsionnelles correctes. Le taux de defaillances est souvent considere comme constant, ce qui est manifestement faux en mecanique, d'ou l'interet de l'elaboration d'outils, de modeles ou de methodes plus adaptes. Notre presentation propose deux approches successives pour resoudre cette problematique, un modele a taux de defaillances proportionnel et non constant, completer par des coefficients tenant compte de l'environnement, du processus et de facteurs de conception, une modelisation a partir de reseaux de neurones. La comparaison des methodes et leurs adequations aux donnees de retour d'experiences s'appuie sur une application technique du domaine des industries chimiques (soupapes de surete).
Conhecimentos revelados por tutores em um curso de formação continuada para professores de Matemática na modalidade a distância

Neste trabalho, teve-se o intuito de investigar os conhecimentos revelados por tutores de um curso de formacao continuada para professores de Matematica, oferecido na modalidade a distância. O contexto da investigacao foi o sistema de tutoria do Curso de Aperfeicoamento em Matematica, oferecido pela Rede Estadual do Rio de Janeiro a partir de 2011. Inicialmente, acompanhou-se o trabalho de 32 tutores ao longo de um ano, entre 2011 e 2012, a fim de elencar e tipificar suas intervencoes realizadas em foruns de discussao junto aos cursistas. A partir dos resultados, foi oferecida uma formacao inicial aos tutores ingressantes em 2012, a fim de promover melhoria nas acoes consideradas aquem do esperado. Entre agosto de 2012 e julho de 2013, foram acompanhados, e participaram de um programa de formacao em servico, seis tutores, que constituem os sujeitos desta pesquisa. Para a formacao desses tutores, alem das especificidades do Curso de Aperfeicoamento, houve inspiracao no quadro teorico TPACK (Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge), assumindo que os conhecimentos tecnologicos, pedagogicos e de conhecimento matematico sao fundamentais para o exercicio de suas funcoes. A pesquisa, de natureza qualitativa, utilizou-se de questionarios e de grupos focais para coleta de dados, que foram interpretados a luz da analise tematica de conteudo. As tipologias discursivas encontradas nas intervencoes realizadas pelos tutores nos foruns de discussao permitiram a triangulacao dos dados. As analises indicaram que componentes afetivo-atitudinais tem papel fundamental no exercicio da tutoria no contexto da formacao continuada de professores a distância e, por isso, a pesquisa e concluida com uma proposta de expansao do quadro teorico TPACK, incluindo esses componentes em um quarto tipo de conhecimento, caracterizando o TPACK-OTE (Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge-Online Teacher Education)
Performance optimization of manufacturing systems with time-aggregate production demand

The paper has the purpose of introducing a new model to be used for production planning and control purposes and of developing effective tools for the performance optimization of the considered manufacturing systems. The proposed model will be denoted as "repetitive manufacturing system with time-aggregate production demand" and can be considered as a "variation" of the basic production-to-order model. It also allows to consider the performance optimization problem of the manufacturing system within a "quasi-periodic" framework. Actually, the modelling hypotheses make it possible to think of a "cyclic" behaviour of the machines which have to perform different types of operations. The proposed model can be represented by means of a particular class of Petri nets, the Timed Event Graphs. Through such a representation, significant performance optimization problems can be addressed as reported in the paper.
Nitric oxide in plants: a brief discussion on this multifunctional molecule

Several studies were carried out in order to improve the knowledge about the occurrence and activity of nitric oxide (NO) in plants. Thus, this review discusses some aspects related to NO in plants such as chemical properties, synthesis pathways, physiological effects, antioxidant action, signal transduction, interaction with plant hormones and gene expression. In the last years, many advances have been obtained regarding NO synthesis and its physiological effects in plants. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying its effects remain poorly understood. It is signalized that tight interplays among NO, Ca2+, cyclic ADP ribose (cADPR), and protein kinases need to be investigated in details. In addition, it has not yet been possible to identify a plant enzyme displaying a nitric oxide synthase (NOS)-like activity. The elucidation of such aspects represents a challenge to future studies.
Raynaud's phenomenon in systemic lupus erythematosus.

OBJECTIVE To determine the frequency and nature of clinical manifestations in Brazilian patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and Raynaud's phenomenon. METHODS One hundred twenty-three patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (1982 American Rheumatism Association criteria) and Raynaud's phenomenon (at least two-phase, bilateral color reaction reported by the patient or observed by a physician) referred to the Rheumatology Unit of the Campinas University Hospital were retrospectively compared with 149 systemic lupus erythematosus patients without Raynaud's phenomenon. For each patient, gender, race, age at disease onset, disease duration, follow-up duration, clinical manifestations, and laboratory test findings were recorded. RESULTS Patients with Raynaud's phenomenon were more likely to have skin lesions and/or myalgia/myopathy and less likely to have nephritis and nephrotic syndrome. All five patients with pulmonary hypertension also had Raynaud's phenomenon. Raynaud's phenomenon was less common in younger patients and more common in patients with alopecia. CONCLUSIONS Raynaud's phenomenon was common in systemic lupus erythematosus patients from a tropical country. A better prognosis can be expected in lupus patients with Raynaud's phenomenon except when pulmonary hypertension occurs.
The late cardiac prognosis after Coxsackie-B infection.

Patients with positive Coxsackie-B cultures but without diagnosed myocarditis were subjected to a cardiologic follow-up examination after 2–11 years. At the time of follow-up, the men were at the most 35 years of age and the women were 45 years or less. The possibility of cardiomyopathy was established in two of the 53 cases studied.
Multi-frequency observations of SNR J0453–6829 in the LMC - A composite supernova remnant with a pulsar wind nebula

Context. The Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) is rich in supernova remnants (SNRs), which can be investigated in detail with radio, optical, and X-ray observations. SNR J0453–6829 is an X-ray and radio-bright remnant in the LMC, within which previous studies revealed the presence of a pulsar wind nebula (PWN), making it one of the most interesting SNRs in the Local Group of galaxies. Aims. We study the emission of SNR J0453–6829 to improve our understanding of its morphology, spectrum, and thus the emission mechanisms in the shell and the PWN of the remnant. Methods. We obtained new radio data with the Australia Telescope Compact Array and analysed archival XMM-Newton observations of SNR J0453–6829. We studied the morphology of SNR J0453–6829 from radio, optical, and X-ray images and investigated the energy spectra in the different parts of the remnant. Results. Our radio results confirm that this LMC SNR hosts a typical PWN. The prominent central core of the PWN exhibits a radio spectral index αCore of −0.04 ± 0.04, while in the rest of the SNR shell the spectral slope is somewhat steeper with αShell = −0.43 ± 0.01. We detect regions with a mean polarisation of P (12 ± 4)% at 6 cm and (9 ± 2)% at 3 cm. The full remnant is of roughly circular shape with dimensions of (31 ± 1) pc × (29 ± 1) pc. The spectral analysis of the XMM-Newton EPIC and RGS spectra allowed us to derive physical parameters for the SNR. Somewhat depending on the spectral model, we obtain for the remnant a shock temperature of around 0.2 keV and estimate the dynamical age to 12 000–15 000 years. Using a Sedov model we further derive an electron density in the X-ray emitting material of 1.56 cm −3 , typical for LMC remnants, a large swept-up mass of 830 M� ,a nd an explosion energy of 7.6 × 10 50 erg. These parameters indicate a well evolved SNR with an X-ray spectrum dominated by emission
Role of mRNA termination in regulation of ermK

To study the role of mRNA termination in the regulation of ermK, we introduced mismatches into terminators by in vitro mutagenesis. In wild-type ermK, only truncated transcription products were detected in the absence of induction. In contrast, only the full-length transcript was synthesized in the terminator 1 and terminator 2 double mutants, even in the absence of erythromycin. These results indicate that the expression of ermK is primarily regulated by transcriptional attenuation rather than translational attenuation. We also tested the possible contribution of translational attenuation control to the regulation of ermK by constructing a triple mutant (terminator 1 plus terminator 2 plus the methylase Shine-Dalgarno region). A higher level of beta-galactosidase synthesis was seen in the triple mutant. Therefore, unlike with previously described attenuators, it can be concluded that both transcriptional and translational attenuation contribute to the regulation of ermK, although transcriptional attenuation plays a larger role.
Time course of Ca2+ concentration triggering exocytosis in neuroendocrine cells.

We have used the secretory response of chromaffin cells to estimate the submembrane intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) "seen" by secretory granules during short depolarizations. The rate of secretion during a depolarization was assessed by combining the electrochemical method of amperometry and electrical capacitance measurements. The rate was then related to [Ca2+]i based on a previous characterization of how Ca2+ affects the dynamics of vesicle priming and fusion in chromaffin cells [Heinemann, C. , Chow, R. H. , Neher, E. & Zucker, R. S. (1994) Biophys. J. 67, in press]. Calculated [Ca2+]i rose during the depolarization to a peak of < 10 microM, then decayed over tens of milliseconds. In synapses, vesicles are presumed to be located within nanometers of Ca2+ channels where [Ca2+]i is believed to rise in only microseconds to near steady-state levels of hundreds of micromolar. Channel closure should lead to a decrease in [Ca2+]i also in microseconds. Our findings of the slower time course and the lower peak [Ca2+]i suggest that in chromaffin cells, unlike synapses, Ca2+ channels and vesicles are not strictly colocalized. This idea is consistent with previously published data on dense-core vesicle secretion from diverse cell types.
An Efficient Sensor for Traffic Monitoring and Tracking Applications - Based on Fast Motion Detection at the Areas of Interest

We propose a novel video sensor for real-time motion detection at specific user-defined regions of interest, designed primarily for traffic monitoring, surveillance and tracking applications. Specifically, the new sensor a) supports virtual detectors with a generalized (polygonal) shape, thus providing additional flexibility in the design of detector configurations, b) is based on fast implementations of recent state-of-the art background extraction and update techniques and c) constitutes a generic, inexpensive software solution, which can be used with any video camera. First experimental results confirm that the new video sensor meets the expectations in terms of real-time performance and demonstrates the additional functionalities, according to which it was designed. The final goal is to use this new sensor as an alternative, improved version of embedded motion detection video sensors (like Autoscope®).