Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
An anatomical substrate for the inhibitory gradient in the VLVp of the owl

The interaural difference in the level of sounds is an important cue for the localization of the sound's source. In the barn owl, a keen auditory predator, this binaural cue is first computed in the nucleus ventralis lemnisci laterale, pars posterior (VLVp), a cell group found within the fibers of the lateral lemniscus. Its neurons are excited by inputs from the contralateral ear and inhibited by inputs to the ipsilateral ear and are therefore sensitive indicators of interattral level difference. The excitation arrives by a direct input from the contralateral nucleus arigularis, a cochlear nucleus, and the inhibition is mediated by a commissural projection that interconnects the VLVps of the two sides. The dorsally located neurons in the VLVp are more heavily inhibited than those found more ventrally, thus giving rise to a gradient of inhibition. This inhibitory gradient plays a central role in recent models of VLVp function. We present evidence based on standard anterograde tracing methods that this gradient of inhibition is mediated by a dorsoventral gradient in the density of synaptic inputs from the contralateral VLVp, the source of inhibition. Specifically, injection of tracers into one VLVp, regardless of the position of the injection within the nucleus, produced a vertically oriented field of label that was densest along the dorsal margin of the contralateral VLVp and became sparser at more ventral levels. Furthermore, we found that injections into the medial and lateral aspects of the nucleus produced this dorsoventrally graded field of label along the medial and lateral aspects of the contralateral VLVp, respectively. Finally, we confirmed an earlier observation suggesting that the anterior and posterior aspects of one VLVp project to the anterior and posterior aspects of the contralateral nucleus, respectively. © 1995 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Green@CU: An environmental game for residential accommodation

The importance of using games for supporting behavioural and attitudinal change has been explored in the literature, most recently the games for change movement has promulgated the use of games for supporting altruistic changes that have a positive impact upon the environment. This paper presents a Serious Game designed for University students and its main aim is to educate them about environmental issues. In particular, the focus lies in the importance of saving energy. A user study with 42 participants assessed the feeling of presence of the whole virtual learning experience.
Dejeneratif lomber kanal darliği nedeniyle dekompresif laminektomi ve posterior enstrümantasyon uygulanan hastalarda cerrahi sonuçlarin ileriye dönük analizi

Amac: Bu calismada, dejeneratif lomber kanal darligi olan hastalarda genis cerrahi dekompresyon ve beraberinde posterior enstrumantasyonun sonuclari degerlendirildi. Calisma plani: Dejeneratif lomber kanal darligi nedeniyle omurga dekompresyonu ve beraberinde enstrumantasyonlu posterior fuzyonla tedavi edilen 37 ardisik hasta (14 erkek, 23 kadin; ort. yas 64; dagilim 36-82) ileriye donuk olarak degerlendirildi. Ameliyattan once semptomlarin ortalama suresi 24 ay (dagilim 12-60 ay) idi. Ameliyat oncesinde, alti hastada dejeneratif spondilolistez (derece 1), iki hastada da dejeneratif lomber skolyoz vardi. Dort hastada bir duzeyde, 16 hastada iki duzeyde, 11 hastada uc duzeyde ve alti hastada dort duzeyde dekompresyon uygulandi. Yedi hastada beraberinde diskektomi de uygulandi. Hastalar ameliyat oncesinde ve sonrasinda Oswestry Engellilik Indeksi ve agri icin (bacak ve bel agrisi) gorsel analog skala ile degerlendirildi. Ayrica, hastalarin ameliyat sonuclarindan memnuniyet duzeyleri sorgulandi. Ortalama takip suresi 4.6 yil (dagilim 1-7 yil) idi. Sonuclar: Ameliyat oncesinde Oswestry Engellilik Indeksi skoru ortalamasi %60.5, genel agri skoru ortalamasi 7.5 idi. Ameliyat sonrasinda Oswestry Engellilik Indeksi skoru anlamli olarak %36.8’e, genel agri skoru 3.5’e dustu (p<0.001). Hastalarin ameliyat oncesi ve sonrasi yurume mesafeleri sirasiyla soyleydi: 1000 metreden fazla (6 ve 14 hasta), 500-1000 metre (5 ve 7 hasta), 500 metreden az (26 ve 16 hasta). Ameliyat sonrasinda 20 hasta herhangi bir analjezik kullanmazken, sekiz hasta haftalik olarak analjezik kullanmaktaydi. Yirmi alti hasta cerrahi sonuclardan memnun oldugunu, dokuz hasta biraz memnun oldugunu, iki hasta ise sonuclardan memnun olmadigini bildirdi. Yirmi iki hastada (%59.5) sonuclar mukemmel veya iyi bulundu. Hicbir hastada revizyon ameliyati gerekmedi. Cikarimlar: Dejeneratif lomber kanal darligi olan hastalarin cogu dekompresyon cerrahisinden yarar gormektedir. Ameliyat oncesinde semptom suresi daha uzun olan ve eslik eden hastaliklari bulunan olgularda sonuclar genellikle kotu olmakta ve bu hastalarin ameliyat sonuclarindan memnuniyeti de daha az olmaktadir. Anahtar sozcukler: Dekompresyon, cerrahi; laminektomi; lomber vertebra; kanal darligi/cerrahi; tedavi sonucu.
Role of Triose Phosphate Utilization in photosynthetic response of rice to variable carbon dioxide levels and plant source-sink relations

This study aimed to understand the physiological bases of rice photosynthesis response to C source-sink imbalances, with focus on dynamics of the photosynthetic parameter TPU (Triose Phosphate Utilization). A dedicated experiment was replicated twice on IR64 indica rice cultivar in controlled environments. Plants were grown under the current ambient CO2 concentration until heading, thereafter, two CO2 treatments (400 and 800 μmol mol−1) were compared in the presence and absence of a panicle pruning treatment modifying the C sink. At two weeks after heading, photosynthetic parameters derived from CO2 response curves, and nonstructural carbohydrate content of flag leaf and internodes were measured 3-4 times of day. Spikelet number per panicle and flag leaf area on the main culm were recorded. Net C assimilation and TPU decreased progressively after midday in panicle-pruned plants, especially under 800 μmol mol−1. This TPU reduction was explained by sucrose accumulation in the flag leaf resulting from the sink limitation. It is suggested that TPU is involved in rice photosynthesis regulation under elevated CO2 conditions, and that sink limitation effects should be considered in crop models. Highlight This study provide new insights in the effect of C source-sink relationships on rice photosynthesis. TPU should be considered in photosynthesis studies under severe source-sink imbalance at elevated CO2.
Effects of postnatal depression on infant development

There is good evidence that parental psychiatric disorder has a deleterious effect on child development. Rutter has outlined a number of possible reasons for this.1 First, there may be a direct pernicious impact on the child of exposure to the parental disorder. Second, there may be an indirect impact via the effect of the parental disorder on interpersonal behaviour in general and parenting in particular. Finally, the impact may be via third factor variables, such as the social adversity commonly associated with psychiatric disorder, or genetic or constitutional factors. Depression arising in the postnatal period could have an impact on infant development via each of these causal pathways. The infant’s extreme dependency on their caretaker, their sensitivity to interpersonal contacts,2 and the fact that, in the great majority of cases, the mother constitutes the infant’s primary environment in the first postnatal months, make the question of the impact of depression occurring at this time one of particular importance. An account is given below of the evidence implicating postnatal depression in adverse infant outcome. This evidence is then examined in the light of the possible causal frameworks outlined above. A number of studies have examined the 1 to 2 year old infants of mothers who have had a postnatal depression.3-8 These studies have generally found an association between early maternal depression and adverse cognitive and emotional infant development. Two studies have reported on the cognitive outcome of 12 to 18 month old infants of mothers who had had a postnatal depression. Lyons-Ruth et al , in a comparison of American mothers and infants who had been referred to an infant intervention service with matched community controls,3 found that increased levels of maternal depression were significantly related at 1 year to poorer infant mental and motor development as …
A self-calibrating multi-VCO PLL scheme with leakage and capacitive modulation mitigations

We investigate the prospect of low-jitter wide frequency range high-speed clocking implementation. A novel architecture features multi-LCVCO with mitigation of dormant VCO leakage current and capacitive modulation is proposed. The new scheme decouples the typical trade-offs between tuning-range, achievable speed and jitter-performances. It enables high frequency low jitter PLL design with sizable tuning range in nowadays highly leaky standard CMOS. A novel self calibration method is presented to seamlessly activate a proper VCO with a proper switched-tuning band to bias the PLL in its optimal operating point. Hence, design requirements for critical circuits including the VCO, the first divide-by-2 and the loop-filter are relaxed. The proposed scheme was implemented and validated in silicon.
Advance directives and the impact of timing. A qualitative study with Swiss general practitioners.

PRINCIPLES Advance directives are seen as an important tool for documenting the wishes of patients who are no longer competent to make decisions in regards to their medical care. Due to their nature, approaching the subject of advance directives with a patient can be difficult for both the medical care provider and the patient. This paper focuses on general practitioners' perspectives regarding the timing at which this discussion should take place, as well as the advantages and disadvantages of the different moments. METHODS In 2013, 23 semi-structured face-to-face interviews were performed with Swiss general practitioners. Interviews were analysed using qualitative content analysis. RESULTS In our sample, 23 general practitioners provided different options that they felt were appropriate moments: either (a) when the patient is still healthy, (b) when illness becomes predominant, or (c) when a patient has been transferred to a long-term care facility. Furthermore, general practitioners reported uncertainty and discomfort regarding initiating the discussion. CONCLUSION The distinct approaches, perspectives and rationales show that there is no well-defined or "right" moment. However, participants often associated advance directives with death. This link caused discomfort and uncertainty, which led to hesitation and delay on the part of general practitioners. Therefore we recommend further training on how to professionally initiate a conversation about advance directives. Furthermore, based on our results and experience, we recommend an early approach with healthy patients paired with later regular updates as it seems to be the most effective way to inform patients about their end-of-life care options.
Shaping and preserving β‐cell identity with microRNAs

The highly sophisticated identity of pancreatic β‐cells is geared to accomplish its unique feat of providing insulin for organismal glucose and lipid homeostasis. This requires a particular and streamlined fuel metabolism which defines mature β‐cells as glucose sensors linked to an insulin exocytosis machinery. The establishment of an appropriate β‐cell mass and function during development as well as the maintenance of their identity throughout life are necessary for energy homeostasis. The small non‐coding RNAs, microRNAs (miRNAs), are now well‐recognized regulators of gene transcripts, which in general are negatively affected by them. Convincing evidence exists to view miRNAs as major actors in β‐cell development and function, suggesting an important role for them in the distinctive β‐cell ‘identity card’. Here, we summarize key features that associate miRNAs and the establishment of the appropriate β‐cell identity and its necessary maintenance during their ‘long life’.
Predicting verbal memory decline following anterior temporal lobectomy (ATL)

Objective: To develop a multivariate risk factor model for predicting postoperative verbal memory decline in an individual patient following dominant or nondominant anterior temporal lobectomy (ATL). Methods: The authors studied 132 consecutive ATL patients who 1) were older than 16 years at surgery, 2) had estimated preoperative Full Scale IQ score of >69, 3) had unilateral language dominance based on the intracarotid amobarbital procedure (IAP), and 4) underwent neuropsychological testing at baseline and ≥6 months postoperatively (mean 1.2 years). Five potential risk factors for postoperative verbal memory decline were selected a priori that reflect the functional adequacy of the to-be-resected temporal lobe. These were 1) resection in the dominant hemisphere, 2) MRI findings other than exclusively unilateral mesial temporal sclerosis, intact preoperative 3) immediate and 4) delayed verbal memory function, and 5) intact IAP memory performance following injection contralateral to the seizure focus. Verbal memory decline was defined using two verbal memory tests and published reliable change indices. Results: Thirty-eight percent of the sample declined reliably on one or both verbal memory measures. Logistic regression analysis demonstrated that all five risk factors were significantly and independently associated with outcome, with side of surgery having the strongest association (p < 0.0001) and preoperative immediate verbal memory the weakest (p < 0.05). Conclusions: An individual patient’s risk for postoperative verbal memory decline following dominant or nondominant ATL can be predicted using clinical data routinely available preoperatively (side of surgery, qualitative MRI, baseline memory testing, IAP performance). This information may be useful for preoperative patient counseling.
Actin-Propelled Invasive Membrane Protrusions Promote Fusogenic Protein Engagement During Cell-Cell Fusion

To Fuse or Not to Fuse? Cell-cell fusion is poorly understood, although we know that in the nematode, Caenorhabditis elegans, it involves cell-surface fusogens and in the fly, Drosophila, the actin cytoskeleton plays a role. Shilagardi et al. (p. 359) reconstituted a high-efficiency, inducible cell-fusion culture system, in which they found that the C. elegans fusogen, Eff-1, induced a low level of cell-cell fusion that was enhanced by coexpression with a cell adhesion molecule, Sticks and stones (Sns), required for myoblast fusion in Drosophila. Sns-enhanced cell-cell fusion was mediated by dynamic actin polymerization that generated invasive membrane protrusions at sites of fusion. An inducible Drosophila cell-fusion system reveals the interplay between cellular fusion proteins and actin-driven membrane remodeling. Cell-cell fusion is critical for the conception, development, and physiology of multicellular organisms. Although cellular fusogenic proteins and the actin cytoskeleton are implicated in cell-cell fusion, it remains unclear whether and how they coordinate to promote plasma membrane fusion. We reconstituted a high-efficiency, inducible cell fusion culture system in the normally nonfusing Drosophila S2R+ cells. Both fusogenic proteins and actin cytoskeletal rearrangements were necessary for cell fusion, and in combination they were sufficient to impart fusion competence. Localized actin polymerization triggered by specific cell-cell or cell-matrix adhesion molecules propelled invasive cell membrane protrusions, which in turn promoted fusogenic protein engagement and plasma membrane fusion. This de novo cell fusion culture system reveals a general role for actin-propelled invasive membrane protrusions in driving fusogenic protein engagement during cell-cell fusion.
Wideband circularly polarized hybrid dielectric resonator antenna with bi‐directional radiation characteristics for various wireless applications

In this article, a wideband circularly polarized (CP) dielectric resonator (DR) over an asymmetric‐slot radiator based hybrid‐DR antenna is proposed with bi‐directional radiation characteristics. Bi‐directional CP radiation of the dual sense is obtained using a rectangular‐DR over asymmetric‐rectangular‐slot radiator with L‐shaped feed line. The asymmetric‐slot radiator feed by L‐shaped stub with the coplanar waveguide is used for generating two orthogonal modes, namely TE x δ11 and TEy1δ1 in the combined (rectangular‐DR and asymmetric‐slot radiator) hybrid‐DR antenna, which is verified by the distribution of electric field inside the rectangular DRA. The measured reflection coefficient bandwidth (S11 < −10 dB) and axial ratio (AR) bandwidth (AR < 3 dB) of the hybrid‐DR antenna are 80.5% (1.87‐4.39 GHz) and 43.8% (1.75‐2.73 GHz), respectively. The antenna radiation is in the broadside (θ = 0°, ϕ = 0°) direction as well as in the backside (θ = 180°, φ = 0°) direction with equal magnitudes in both the directions. Right‐handed and left‐handed CP waves are achieved respectively, in the boresight (+Z) and the backside (−Z) directions. The proposed CP hybrid‐DR antenna gives an average gain of 3.55 dBic and radiation efficiency of 95.0% in both directions. The proposed antenna covers various wireless useful bands such as ISM 2400 band, Wi‐Fi, Bluetooth, and Wi‐MAX (2.5‐2.7 GHz).
Effect of the long-term application of organic matter on soil carbon accumulation and GHG emissions from a rice paddy field in a cool-temperate region, Japan. -I. Comparison of rice straw and rice straw compost -

ABSTRACT The influence of the long-term combination of rice straw removal and rice straw compost application on methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions and soil carbon accumulation in rice paddy fields was clarified. In each of the initial and continuous application fields (3 and 39−51 years, respectively), three plots with different applications of organic matter were established, namely, rice straw application (RS), rice straw compost application (SC) and no application (NA) plots, and soil carbon storage (0−15 cm), rice grain yield and CH4 and N2O fluxes were measured for three years. The soil carbon sequestration rate by the organic matter application was higher in the SC plot than in the RS plot for both the initial and continuous application fields, and it was lower in the continuous application field than in the initial application field. The rice grain yield in the SC plot was significantly higher than those in the other plots in both the initial and continuous application fields. Cumulative CH4 emissions followed the order of the NA plot < the SC plot < the RS plot for both the initial and continuous application fields. The effect of the organic matter application on the N2O emissions was not clear. In both the initial and continuous application fields, the increase in CH4 emission by the rice straw application exceeded the soil carbon sequestration rate, and the change in the net greenhouse gas (GHG) balance calculated by the difference between them was a positive, indicating a net increase in the GHG emissions. However, the change in the GHG balance by the rice straw compost application showed negative (mitigating GHG emissions) for the initial application field, whereas it showed positive for the continuous application field. Although the mitigation effect on the GHG emissions by the combination of the rice straw removal and rice straw compost application was reduced by 21% after 39 years long-term application, it is suggested that the combination treatment is a sustainable management that can mitigate GHG emissions and improve crop productivity.
Synergy between an antiangiogenic integrin alphav antagonist and an antibody-cytokine fusion protein eradicates spontaneous tumor metastases.

The suppression and eradication of primary tumors and distant metastases is a major goal of alternative treatment strategies for cancer, such as inhibition of angiogenesis and targeted immunotherapy. We report here a synergy between two novel monotherapies directed against vascular and tumor compartments, respectively, a tumor vasculature-specific antiangiogenic integrin alphav antagonist and tumor-specific antibody-interleukin 2 (IL-2) fusion proteins. Simultaneous and sequential combination of these monotherapies effectively eradicated spontaneous liver metastases in a poorly immunogenic syngeneic model of neuroblastoma. This was in contrast to controls subjected to monotherapies with either an antiangiogenic integrin alphav antagonist or antibody-IL-2 fusion proteins, which were only partially effective at the dose levels applied. Furthermore, simultaneous treatments with the integrin alphav antagonist and tumor-specific antibody-IL-2 fusion proteins induced dramatic primary tumor regressions in three syngeneic murine tumor models, i.e., melanoma, colon carcinoma, and neuroblastoma. However, each agent used as monotherapy induced only a delay in tumor growth. A mechanism for this synergism was suggested because the antitumor response was accompanied by a simultaneous 50% reduction in tumor vessel density and a 5-fold increase in inflammatory cells in the tumor microenvironment. Subsequently, tumor necrosis was demonstrated only in animals receiving the combination therapy, but not when each agent was applied as monotherapy. The results suggest that these synergistic treatment modalities may provide a novel and effective tool for future therapies of metastatic cancer.
Early predictive value of multifunctional skin-infiltrating lymphocytes in anticancer immunotherapy

Bioassays that predict clinical outcome are essential to optimize cellular anticancer immunotherapy. We have recently developed a robust and simple skin test to evaluate the capacity of tumor-specific T cells to migrate, recognize their targets and exert effector functions. This bioassay detects T cells with an elevated antineoplastic potential and hence rapidly identifies patients responding to immunotherapy.
The Kronecker Theory of Power Law Graphs — DRAFT —

An analytical theory of power law graphs is presented based on the Kronecker graph generation technique. The analysis uses Kronecker exponentials of complete bipartite graphs to formulate the the substructure of such graphs. This allows various high level quantities (e.g. degree distribution, betweenness centrality, diameter, eigenvalues, and isoparametric ratio) to be computed directly from the model parameters. The implications of this work on “clustering” and “dendragram” heuristics are also discussed.
Fibrinolysis parameters in the acute and post ischemic stroke patients

Article history: Received on: 12/12/2016 Accepted on: 23/01/2017 Available online: 30/04/2017 Analysis of fibrinolysis of the haemostasis system of the patients with acute ischemic stroke as well as one year past acute phase of ischemic stroke were performed. The significant inhibition of fibrinolytic potential of the post stroke patients were showed. The development of both pathological conditions accompanied by lengthening of time of the euhlobulin fraction lysis and FXIIa-dependent fibrinolysis. Moreover cardioembolic ischemic stroke were inherent more threatening performance. Lower activity of plasmonogen as well as α2-antiplasmin in blood plasma of the patients with atherothrombotic ischemic stroke was showed. Both tested pathological conditions were accompanied with abnormal concentrations of t-PA and PAI-1. Even one year past stroke attack the disorders in fibrinolysis still saved.