Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A developmental stretch-and-fill process that optimises dendritic wiring

The way in which dendrites spread within neural tissue determines the resulting circuit connectivity and computation. However, a general theory describing the dynamics of this growth process does not exist. Here we obtain the first time-lapse reconstructions of neurons in living fly larvae over the entirety of their developmental stages. We show that these neurons expand in a remarkably regular stretching process that conserves their shape. Newly available space is filled optimally, a direct consequence of constraining the total amount of dendritic cable. We derive a mathematical model that predicts one time point from the previous and use this model to predict dendrite morphology of other cell types and species. In summary, we formulate a novel theory of dendrite growth based on detailed developmental experimental data that optimises wiring and space filling and serves as a basis to better understand aspects of coverage and connectivity for neural circuit formation. In brief We derive a detailed mathematical model that describes long-term time-lapse data of growing dendrites; it optimises total wiring and space-filling. Highlights Dendrite growth iterations guarantee optimal wiring at each iteration. Optimal wiring guarantees optimal space filling. The growth rule from fly predicts dendrites of other cell types and species. Fly neurons stretch-and-fill target area with precise scaling relations. Phase transition of growth process between fly embryo and larval stages.
Argyria: Report of a case associated with abnormal electroencephalographic and brain scan findings

The argyria in the 83-yearold patient in this case had developed 40 years earlier secondary to · the use of Argyrol brand nasal packings, which had been used for the treatment of sinusitis Qver a 2-year period. Discolorations of the patient's skin varied from slightly silver hues to highly pronounced silver-blue pigmentations. Computed tomographic scans revealed that the patient had ill-defined lucencies in the parietal areas of the brain bilaterally. Seizure activity of the grand mal type also was exhibited by the patient. The fipdings from this case are examined in light of the current literature regarding argyria. The benign nature of argyria is questioned. Causes of argyria, complications, the course of the disorder, and the efficacy of various ~atments are reviewed.
Antimicrobial resistance genes in Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae, Haemophilus parasuis and Pasteurella multocida isolated from Australian pigs.

OBJECTIVE To identify genes associated with the observed antimicrobial resistance in Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae, Haemophilus parasuis and Pasteurella multocida isolated from Australian pigs. DESIGN Isolates with known phenotypic resistance to β-lactams, macrolides and tetracycline were screened for the presence of antimicrobial resistance genes. PROCEDURE A total of 68 A. pleuropneumoniae, 62 H. parasuis and 20 P. multocida isolates exhibiting phenotypic antimicrobial resistance (A. pleuropneumoniae and P. multocida) or elevated minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) (H. parasuis) to any of the following antimicrobial agents - ampicillin, erythromycin, penicillin, tetracycline, tilmicosin and tulathromycin - were screened for a total of 19 associated antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs) by PCR. RESULTS The gene bla ROB-1 was found in all ampicillin- and penicillin-resistant isolates, but none harboured the bla TEM-1 gene. The tetB gene was found in 76% (74/97) of tetracycline-resistant isolates, 49/53 A. pleuropneumoniae, 17/30 H. parasuis and 8/14 P. multocida. One A. pleuropneumoniae isolate harboured the tetH gene, but none of the 97 isolates had tetA, tetC, tetD, tetE, tetL, tetM or tetO. A total of 92 isolates were screened for the presence of macrolide resistance genes. None was found to have ermA, ermB, ermC, erm42, mphE, mefA, msrA or msrE. CONCLUSION The current study has provided a genetic explanation for the resistance or elevated MIC of the majority of isolates of Australian porcine respiratory pathogens to ampicillin, penicillin and tetracycline. However, the macrolide resistance observed by phenotypic testing remains genetically unexplained and further studies are required.
Disposition kinetics and metabolism of omeprazole in extensive and poor metabolizers of S-mephenytoin 4'-hydroxylation recruited from an Oriental population.

To explore the relationship between omeprazole disposition and genetically determined S-mephenytoin 4'-hydroxylation phenotype status, we examined the kinetic variables of omeprazole and its two primary metabolites in plasma (5-hydroxyomeprazole and omeprazole sulfone) and the excretion profile of its principal metabolite in urine (5-hydroxyomeprazole) in eight extensive (EMs) and eight poor metabolizers (PMs) recruited from a Korean population. Each subject received a p.o. dose of 20 mg of omeprazole as an enteric-coated formulation, and blood and urine samples were collected up to 24 hr postdose. Omeprazole and its metabolites were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection. The mean omeprazole area under the concentration-time curve (AUC), elimination half-life (T1/2) and apparent p.o. clearance were significantly (P less than .001) greater, longer and lower, respectively, in PMs than in EMs. The mean peak concentration and AUC of 5-hydroxyomeprazole and AUC ratio of 5-hydroxyomeprazole to omeprazole were significantly (P less than .01 to .001) less in PMs than in EMs. The mean peak plasma concentration, AUC of omeprazole sulfone and ratio of omeprazole sulfone to omeprazole were greater (P less than .001) and T1/2 was longer (P less than .001) in PMs than in EMs. The mean cumulative urinary excretion of 5-hydroxyomeprazole up to 24 hr postdose was significantly (P less than .001) less in PMs than in EMs. In addition, the log10 4'-hydroxymephenytoin excreted in urine correlated significantly (P less than .01) with the apparent p.o. clearance of omeprazole and half-lives of omeprazole, 5-hydroxyomeprazole and omeprazole sulfone. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Embedded package inductor for high speed SerDes design

An embedded inductor structure is introduced in the high speed IC package design. The inductor under the IC bumps serves a key signal integrity enabler for high speed IO interface, such as SerDes running over 10Gbps. It improves the return loss and the insertion loss for high performance transceiver as well as reduces the silicon cost and resistances by replacing the on-die compensation schemes. The paper presents an overview of the construction of these inductors including representative results modeled and simulated based on the production package layout.
Hybrid Multiple Access System Based on Non Orthogonality and Sparse Code

In this paper, a hybrid access system based on non- orthogonality and sparse code is proposed. Non- orthogonal multiple access (NOMA) applied to a communications network can exploit higher spectral efficiency than conventional orthogonal multiple access (OMA) scheme by using channel gain difference. Sparse code multiple access (SCMA) scheme can give massive connectivity by using sparsely spread code and message passing algorithm (MPA). Therefore, we propose a hybrid access system to use the advantages of two schemes which are mentioned above. The hybrid system supports near and far users simultaneously by using NOMA scheme and data for near users is transmitted by SCMA scheme. We present the results of two kinds of simulations, i.e., bit error rate simulation and throughput simulation, to verify the superiority of the proposed system.
MIC Distributions and Evaluation of Fungicidal Activity for Amphotericin B, Itraconazole, Voriconazole, Posaconazole and Caspofungin and 20 Species of Pathogenic Filamentous Fungi Determined Using the CLSI Broth Microdilution Method

For filamentous fungi (moulds), species-specific interpretive breakpoints and epidemiological cut-off values (ECVs) have only been proposed for a limited number of fungal species–antifungal agent combinations, with the result that clinical breakpoints are lacking for most emerging mould pathogens. In the current study, we have compiled minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) data for 4869 clinical mould isolates and present full MIC distributions for amphotericin B, itraconazole, voriconazole, posaconazole, and caspofungin with these isolates which comprise 20 species/genera. In addition, we present the results of an assessment of the fungicidal activity of these same five antifungal agents against a panel of 123 mould isolates comprising 16 of the same species.
Physiological importance of endosomal acidification: potential role in proximal tubulopathies

Purpose of reviewIn recent years, there have been significant advances in our understanding of the molecular mechanisms relating proximal tubule abnormalities to the pathogenesis of renal Fanconi syndrome. This review focuses on the role of intra-endosomal acidification-machinery proteins (V-ATPase, CLC-5, NHE-3), as well as apical receptors (megalin and cubilin), in the receptor-mediated endocytosis pathway and in the pathogenesis of proximal tubulopathies. Recent findingsAnimal models, including CLC-5 and megalin knockout mice, cubilin-deficient dogs and cadmium-toxicity studies in rats, have shed light on defects leading to low-molecular-weight proteinuria. In particular, the important contribution of defective endosomal acidification and membrane-protein recycling to the pathogenesis of the Fanconi syndrome has emerged from these studies. These observations, together with recent findings in patients with Dent's disease, Lowe's syndrome, autosomal-dominant idiopathic Fanconi syndrome and Imerslund-Grasbeck disease, show that the proteinuria of the Fanconi syndrome is more generalized than previously suspected. High concentrations of polypeptides, including hormones, vitamin-binding proteins and chemokines in urine from these patients and animals may play an important role in the progressive renal failure that is associated with the syndrome. SummaryThe molecular mechanism of proximal tubule protein reabsorption, which is defective in renal Fanconi syndrome, includes a crucial role for endosomal acidification-machinery proteins, in particular the V-ATPase and CLC-5 chloride channels, in the trafficking and acidification-dependent recycling of apical membrane proteins, including the endocytotic receptors megalin and cubilin. An increased understanding of the roles of V-ATPase and CLC-5 in proximal tubule endosomal acidification, in the regulation of the megalin/cubilin-mediated endocytosis pathway and finally in the pathogenesis of human Fanconi syndrome will help in the devising of appropriate strategies for therapeutic intervention for this disorder.
Effects of chlorpromazine and phencyclidine on mouse C2 acetylcholine receptor kinetics.

Patch‐clamp techniques were used to record acetylcholine‐ (ACh) activated single‐channel currents in cell‐attached membrane patches from myotubes of the mouse cell line, C2. The effects of the phenothiazine derivative chlorpromazine (CPZ) and of the hallucinogen phencyclidine (PCP) on ACh‐activated single‐channel properties were studied under conditions where both compounds are positively charged (pH 7.2). The single‐channel conductance was unaffected by either CPZ or PCP at concentrations ranging from 10 to 500 nM. 10‐200 nM‐CPZ and PCP led to shortened mean burst times. CPZ and PCP effects on mean burst times were voltage independent and did not vary in a simple linear manner with concentration. 10‐200 nM‐CPZ and PCP did not reduce channel opening frequencies, suggesting that the fraction of non‐conducting state (occupied, blocked or desensitized) favoured at equilibrium was not significant at these concentrations. On the other hand, concentrations of CPZ and PCP higher than 300 nM did lead to depressed channel opening frequencies. In addition, we observed that, at these concentrations, the shortened burst duration reverses to the longer values found at lower effector concentrations. The effects of CPZ and PCP on ACh‐activated single‐channel kinetics are interpreted in terms of current models of ACh‐receptor structure and conformational transitions.
Carotid sinus hypersensitivity: block of the sternocleidomastoid muscle does not affect responses to carotid sinus massage in healthy young adults

The arterial baroreflex is crucial for short‐term blood pressure control – abnormal baroreflex function predisposes to syncope and falling. Hypersensitive responses to carotid baroreflex stimulation using carotid sinus massage (CSM) are common in older adults and may be associated with syncope. The pathophysiology of this hypersensitivity is unknown, but chronic denervation of the sternocleidomastoid muscles is common in elderly patients with carotid sinus hypersensitivity (CSH), and is proposed to interfere with normal integration of afferent firing from the carotid baroreceptors with proprioceptive feedback from the sternocleidomastoids, producing large responses to CSM. We hypothesized that simulation of sternocleidomastoid “denervation” using pharmacological blockade would increase cardiovascular responses to CSM. Thirteen participants received supine and tilted CSM prior to intramuscular injections (6–8 mL distributed over four sites) of 2% lidocaine hydrochloride, and 0.9% saline (placebo) in contralateral sternocleidomastoid muscles. Muscle activation was recorded with electromyography (EMG) during maximal unilateral sternocleidomastoid contraction both pre‐ and postinjection. Supine and tilted CSM were repeated following injections and responses compared to preinjection. Following lidocaine injection, the muscle activation fell to 23 ± 0.04% of the preinjection value (P < 0.001), confirming neural block of the sternocleidomastoid muscles. Cardiac (RRI, RR interval), forearm vascular resistance (FVR), and systolic arterial pressure (SAP) responses to CSM did not increase after lidocaine injection in either supine or tilted positions (supine: ΔRRI −72 ± 31 ms, ΔSAP +2 ± 1 mmHg, ΔFVR +4 ± 4%; tilted: ΔRRI −20 ± 13 ms, ΔSAP +2 ± 2 mmHg, ΔFVR +2 ± 4%; all P > 0.05). Neural block of the sternocleidomastoid muscles does not increase cardiovascular responses to CSM. The pathophysiology of CSH remains unknown.
Cryodamage on sperm chromatin according to different freezing methods, assessed by AO test.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate cryodamage effects on human sperm chromatin, motility and cryosurvival rate after freeze-thawing, compared between liquid nitrogen vapour and computerized program freezer, assessed by acridine orange staining method (AO test). MATERIAL AND METHOD Fifty semen samples were used. After semen analysis, each semen sample was mixed with cryoprotective media and divided into 2 straws. The first straw was frozen with liquid nitrogen vapour and the second with computerized program freezer. After 1 month of cryostorage, semen samples were thawed. Sperm chromatin integrity, motility, morphology, vitality and sperm cryosurvival rate were determined. RESULTS DNA damage was significantly greater (p < 0.001) following freezing with liquid nitrogen vapour than with computerized program freezer. Furthermore, the computerized program freezing method significantly provided superior post-thaw sperm motility, vitality and cryosurvival rate, compared with the liquid nitrogen vapour freezing method. CONCLUSION Computerized program freezing is recommended as a first choice method for routine cryostorage.
A CMOS WCDMA/WLAN Digital Polar Transmitter With AM Replica Feedback Linearization

This paper presents a 65 nm CMOS digital polar transmitter with on-chip power amplifier (PA) for WCDMA and WLAN application. The proposed architecture is composed of a digital interpolation filter for up-sampling of the input amplitude-control word (ACW), a 9-bit switched-capacitor array for the digital polar modulation (DPM), and a 6-bit PA array to achieve the output power range for the target applications. A linearization technique is implemented by adaptively changing the PA bias voltage according to the RF envelope. To generate this bias voltage, the RF envelope of the PA input is extracted by a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) with the ACW signals as its input. A scaled replica of the PA, which only needs to operate at the Amplitude Modulation (AM) frequency, is employed to sense the RF envelope and to regulate the PA bias voltage with an analog feedback loop to minimize the distortion in the AM path. Even without amplitude pre-distortion, the transmitter system measures RMS-EVM of 2.83% and 4.07% for WCDMA and WLAN 54-Mb/s 64-QAM OFDM respectively while providing a peak output power of 20.4 dBm with PAE 32.3%.
Does the efficacy of BCG decline with time since vaccination?

OBJECTIVE To investigate whether the protective efficacy of bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) against tuberculosis decreases with time since vaccination. DESIGN A quantitative review of all 10 randomized trials of BCG against tuberculosis in purified protein derivative (PPD)-negative individuals, that presented data for discrete periods. For each trial, we derived log rate ratios for the annual change in the efficacy of BCG. We also compared efficacy in the first two years, and the first 10 years, to that in the rest of the trial. RESULTS There was considerable heterogeneity between trials in the annual change in the efficacy of BCG. In seven efficacy decreased overtime, while in three it increased. Average annual change in efficacy was not related to overall efficacy. Efficacy also varied between trials in the first two years after vaccination, at more than two years after vaccination and in the first ten years after vaccination. However the variation in efficacy between trials more than 10 years after vaccination was not statistically significant (P = 0.26). We therefore calculated that the average efficacy more than 10 years after vaccination was 14% (95% confidence interval -9% to 32%). CONCLUSION BCG protection can wane with time since vaccination. There is no good evidence that BCG provides protection more than 10 years after vaccination.
Managing SMEs' Collaboration Across Organizational Boundaries Within a Regional Business Ecosystem

Small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) often engage in relationships with external partners that complement their activities in improving their products and services in order to maintain their market share in a competitive landscape. In this chapter, we present a case that focuses on SMEs’ perspective on managing and organizing inter-company collaboration within a regional business. We explore how purposefully managed mutual knowledge flows across organizational boundaries applied by SMEs contribute to the development of the ecosystem they are immersed in. Our key findings include insights into the advantages offered by being embedded within regional ecosystem boundaries, such as low transaction costs and reduced risks of opportunistic behaviors, environmental opportunities for external knowledge sourcing or increase of the sphere of influence. We also highlight accompanied challenges, such as low autonomy and control over the partners and indicate shared issues and responsibilities crucial for further ecosystem development. As a conclusion, we offer a set of recommendations both for managers and policymakers concerning general organizational requirements and governing structures.
Non-real time content scheduling in wireless data networks

Non-real time content delivery constitutes a major portion wireless data services in 3G networks. The per-packet performance guarantees required for real-time applications, such as voice and streaming media, is achieved through conventional flow-based scheduling mechanisms. However, for data services, such scheduling mechanisms cannot be used since the key performance measure for non-real time applications is the total download time. In this paper, we present a two-layer scheduling architecture that combines content-aware scheduling with opportunistic scheduling. In terms of content-awareness, the proposed scheduling policy provides guarantees to the download time of a content. Furthermore, through parallelizing the schedule and using opportunistic channel usage, the scheme achieves higher throughput. Extensive simulations verify the efficiency of our proposed schemes and provide insights into the behavior of the scheduling algorithms.
Is essential tremor a single entity?

Essential tremor (ET) is a frequent movement disorder. The new tremor classification has subdivided ET into the classical form with bilateral action tremor of the hands with or without involvement of further tremor locations and without any other explaining signs or symptoms for the tremor and into ‘ET plus’ which comes additionally with further neurological signs of unknown origin. This will provide a better foundation for subclassifying the condition. The immediate cause of ET is a preformed oscillating network within the central nervous system as revealed with electrophysiological methods. The reason why this network is getting into the tremor mode is unclear. Pathology has so far not convincingly proved neurodegeneration for the condition but possibly adaptive changes of the brain particularly in the cerebellum are likely. Genetics have not yet provided insight into the molecular causes of the condition but several genetic diseases presenting with an ET syndrome have been uncovered. Treatment options cover medication (propranolol, primidone, topiramate) and surgical interventions with deep brain stimulation, gamma‐knife surgery and the recently introduced magnetic resonance imaging guided focused ultrasound lesioning. Further progress is awaited from the better integration of large prospective cohort assessment and basic science studies on the possible etiologies. In particular, aging‐related tremor may explain a large number of the patients seen in clinical practice. Currently ET is considered a clinically relatively uniform condition with presumably various underlying etiologies.
Congruence successions in compositions

A composition is a sequence of positive integers, called parts, having a fixed sum. By an m-congruence succession, we will mean a pair of adjacent parts x and y within a composition such that x=y(modm). Here, we consider the problem of counting the compositions of size n according to the number of m-congruence successions, extending recent results concerning successions on subsets and permutations. A general formula is obtained, which reduces in the limiting case to the known generating function formula for the number of Carlitz compositions. Special attention is paid to the case m=2, where further enumerative results may be obtained by means of combinatorial arguments. Finally, an asymptotic estimate is provided for the number of compositions of size n having no m-congruence successions.