Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
I ncreased cerebral functional connectivity underlying the antinociceptive effects of hypnosis

The neural mechanisms underlying the antinociceptive effects of hypnosis are not well understood. Using positron emission tomography (PET), we recently showed that the activity in the anterior cingulate cortex (midcingulate area 24a 9) covaries with the hypnosis-induced reduction of affective and sensory responses to noxious thermal stimulation [Faymonville et al., Anesthesiology 92 (2000) 1257–1267]. In the present study, we assessed changes in cerebral functional connectivity related to the hypnotic state, compared 15 to simple distraction and the resting state. Nineteen highly hypnotizable right-handed volunteers were studied using H O-PET. The 2 experimental conditions were hot noxious or warm non-noxious stimulation of the right hand during resting state, mental imagery and hypnotic state. Using a psychophysiological interaction analysis, we identified brain areas that would respond to noxious stimulations under the modulatory action of the midcingulate cortex in, and only in, the hypnotic state. Hypnosis, compared to the resting state, reduced pain perception by 50%. Pain perception during rest and mental imagery was not significantly different. Analysis of PET data showed that the hypnotic state, compared to normal alertness (i.e., rest and mental imagery), significantly enhanced the functional modulation between midcingulate cortex and a large neural network encompassing bilateral insula, pregenual anterior cingulate cortex, pre-supplementary motor area, right prefrontal cortex and striatum, thalamus and brainstem. These findings point to a critical role for the midcingulate cortex in the modulation of a large cortical and subcortical network underlying its influence on sensory, affective, cognitive and behavioral aspects of nociception, in the specific context of hypnosis.  2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. Theme: Neural basis of behaviour Topic: Cognition; Motivation and emotion; Neural plasticity
SOX2 Co-Occupies Distal Enhancer Elements with Distinct POU Factors in ESCs and NPCs to Specify Cell State

SOX2 is a master regulator of both pluripotent embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and multipotent neural progenitor cells (NPCs); however, we currently lack a detailed understanding of how SOX2 controls these distinct stem cell populations. Here we show by genome-wide analysis that, while SOX2 bound to a distinct set of gene promoters in ESCs and NPCs, the majority of regions coincided with unique distal enhancer elements, important cis-acting regulators of tissue-specific gene expression programs. Notably, SOX2 bound the same consensus DNA motif in both cell types, suggesting that additional factors contribute to target specificity. We found that, similar to its association with OCT4 (Pou5f1) in ESCs, the related POU family member BRN2 (Pou3f2) co-occupied a large set of putative distal enhancers with SOX2 in NPCs. Forced expression of BRN2 in ESCs led to functional recruitment of SOX2 to a subset of NPC-specific targets and to precocious differentiation toward a neural-like state. Further analysis of the bound sequences revealed differences in the distances of SOX and POU peaks in the two cell types and identified motifs for additional transcription factors. Together, these data suggest that SOX2 controls a larger network of genes than previously anticipated through binding of distal enhancers and that transitions in POU partner factors may control tissue-specific transcriptional programs. Our findings have important implications for understanding lineage specification and somatic cell reprogramming, where SOX2, OCT4, and BRN2 have been shown to be key factors.
Molecular approaches to manipulation of disease resistance genes.

Various molecular approaches are greatly increasing our ability to characterize and manipulate disease resistance genes in plants. Molecular markers are allowing the dissection of monogenic and quantitative resistance. The utility of marker-aided selection in breeding for disease resistance is being evaluated. Markers will soon enhance the effective deployment of resistance genes to provide more stable resistance. Several resistance genes have been charac­ terized at the molecular level. This has led to the identification of several mechanistic classes and provides the opportunity for transgenic disease control strategies. As the mechanisms of detennining specificity and generating vari­ ation at resistance loci are understood in greater detail. they will be manipulated to generate new specificities. probably using microbial selection systems. Disease resistance strategies utilizing classical resistance genes will comple­ ment the use of novel trans genes.
Restraining effect of intact pericardium during acute volume loading.

To determine the effect of the intact pericardium on ventricular end-diastolic pressures (EDP) during acute volume loading, we measured left ventricular (LV) and right ventricular (RV) micromanometer pressure and LV volume using a conductance catheter in eight open-chest, anesthetized dogs. A range of LV pressure and volume was obtained by intravascular volume expansion with the pericardium intact and then over a similar range after removal of the pericardium. Pericardial pressure (Pper) was calculated using static equilibrium analysis as the difference between LVEDP with the pericardium present and absent at a constant LV volume. At the beginning of the fluid infusion (LVEDP 7.3 +/- 1.7 mmHg and RVEDP 4.4 +/- 2.6 mmHg, mean +/- SD), Pper was not different from zero (-1.0 +/- 2.3 mmHg, P not significant). The onset of pericardial restraint (Pper greater than or equal to 0 mmHg) occurred when LVEDP was 9.1 +/- 2.9 mmHg and RVEDP was 4.1 +/- 2.9 mmHg. At low cardiac volumes before fluid infusion, RV transmural pressure was positive and significantly greater than the near zero Pper. After the onset of pericardial restraint, however, RVEDP and Pper increased similarly and were related according to Pper = 1.1 (+/- 0.34) RVEDP - 4.2 (+/- 2.6) mmHg, standard deviation 0.6 +/- 0.8 mmHg, r = 0.98 +/- 0.10. These data indicate that the intact pericardium behaves in two functionally distinct ways. At low cardiac volumes, Pper is zero and the pericardium does not affect LV filling. RV transmural pressure is positive and greater than Pper. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Accelerated growth of networks

In many real growing networks the mean number of connections per vertex increases with time. The Internet, the Word Wide Web, collaboration networks, and many others display this behavior. Such a growth can be called {\em accelerated}. We show that this acceleration influences distribution of connections and may determine the structure of a network. We discuss general consequences of the acceleration and demonstrate its features applying simple illustrating examples. In particular, we show that the accelerated growth fairly well explains the structure of the Word Web (the network of interacting words of human language). Also, we use the models of the accelerated growth of networks to describe a wealth condensation transition in evolving societies.
Effective regulation of affect: An action control perspective on emotion regulation

The present review adopts an action control perspective on emotion regulation, contextualising the gap between emotion control goals (e.g., I want to remain calm) and emotional outcomes (e.g., anger, anxiety, and aggression) in terms of the broader literature on goal pursuit. We propose that failure to effectively regulate emotions can result from difficulties with the self-regulatory tasks of (i) identifying the need to regulate, (ii) deciding whether and how to regulate, and (iii) enacting a regulation strategy. Next we review evidence that a technique traditionally associated with regulating behavioural goals (forming implementation intentions or “if-then” planning) can help to overcome these difficulties. Meta-analysis indicated that forming implementation intentions is effective in modifying emotional outcomes, with a large effect relative to no regulation instructions (k = 21, N = 1306 d + = 0.91, 95% CI = 0.61 to 1.20) and a medium-sized effect relative to goal intention instructions (k = 29, N = 1208, d + = 0.53, 95% CI = 0.42 to 0.65). Our conclusion is that research on emotion regulation might benefit from an action control perspective and the interventions that this perspective offers.
[Is cholecystectomy a risk factor for colorectal cancer? A meta-analysis].

The number of patients subjected to cholecystectomy has increased since the introduction of laparoscopic methods. Therefore, the question of an association between colorectal cancer (CR-Ca) and cholecystectomy (CHE) is again topical. Several studies have been performed investigating the possibility of a link between cholecystectomy and large bowel cancer. The findings recorded in these studies have been varied and in some cases contradictory. In meta-analyses of the different types of studies (prospective and retrospective) the main question, "Is the risk of colorectal cancer higher after cholecystectomy? " was examined. In prospective matched-pairs studies, 1158 patients who had undergone CHE were compared with 1222 controls. The relative risk (RR) was 1.48, and this result was not significant. The four prospective cohort studies compared the frequency of CR-Ca of 22,783 CHE patients with the expected frequency in the population (RR = 0.99). The retrospective studies compared the frequency of previous CHE in 11,797 patients with CR-Ca with the frequency in 33,940 controls without CR-Ca. The calculated odds ratio (O. R.) of the meta-analysis was 1.15, a significant but not clinically relevant increase in risk. Similar results was shown for evaluation of sex difference both in the prospective studies, with an RR of 0.99 for women and 1.00 for men, and in the retrospective studies, with a RR of 1.17 (p < 0.05) for women and 1.09 (n.s.) for men. The results for different location of the tumour show no significant risk differences in prospective studies either for the colon or for the rectum. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Long jumpers with and without a transtibial amputation have different three-dimensional centre of mass and joint take-off step kinematics

Long jumpers with below the knee amputation (BKA) have achieved remarkable performances, yet the underlying biomechanics resulting in these jump distances are unknown. We measured three-dimensional motion and used multi-segment modelling to quantify and compare the centre of mass (COM) and joint kinematics of three long jumpers with BKA and seven non-amputee long jumpers during the take-off step of the long jump. Despite having the same jump distances, athletes with BKA, who used their affected leg for the take-off step, had lower sagittal plane hip and knee joint range of motion and positioned their affected leg more laterally relative to the COM compared to non-amputee athletes. Athletes with BKA had a longer compression phase and greater downward movement of their COM, suggesting that their affected leg (lever) was less rigid compared to the biological leg of non-amputees. Thus, athletes with BKA used a different kinematic mechanism to redirect horizontal to vertical velocity compared to non-amputee athletes. The specific movement patterns of athletes with BKA during the take-off step were constrained by the mechanical properties of the prosthesis. These results provide a basis for coaches and athletes to develop training protocols that improve performance and inform the design of future prostheses.
Budesonide/formoterol for maintenance and reliever therapy in the management of moderate to severe asthma

The Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) guidelines aim at improving asthma control and preventing future risk. For patients with moderate to severe asthma an inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) or an ICS/long‐acting β2‐agonist (LABA) combination with a short‐acting β2‐agonist (SABA) as reliever is recommended. Despite the availability of effective maintenance therapies, a large proportion of patients still fail to achieve guideline‐defined asthma control, and overuse of SABA reliever medication at the expense of ICS is commonly observed. New simplified treatment approaches may offer a solution and assist physicians to achieve overall asthma control. One such treatment approach, which is recommended in the GINA guidelines, is budesonide/formoterol for both maintenance and reliever therapy. This treatment strategy significantly reduces the rate of severe asthma exacerbations compared with ICS/LABA plus SABA and achieves equivalent daily symptom control compared with higher doses of ICS/LABA plus separate SABA for relief. These benefits are achieved at a lower overall steroid load, and budesonide/formoterol maintenance and reliever therapy is well tolerated in patients with moderate to severe asthma. This review discusses current asthma management in patients with moderate to severe disease and examines the evidence for alternative asthma management approaches.
Deterministic small-world graphs and the eigenvalue power law of Internet

Many relevant real-life networks like the WWW, Internet, transportation and communication networks, or even biological and social networks can be modelled by small-world scale-free graphs. These graphs have strong local clustering (vertices have many mutual neighbors), a small diameter and a distribution of degrees according to a power law. On the other hand, the knowledge of the spectrum of a graph is important for the relation which the eigenvalues and their multiplicities have with relevant graph invariants and topological and communication properties such as diameter, bisection width, distances, connectivity, expansion, partitions, edge-loading distribution etc. In this paper we introduce a new family of deterministic small-world graphs, we determine analytically their spectra and we show how these graphs can model the eigenvalue power-law of the Internet network.
Caldesmon mutant defective in Ca2+-calmodulin binding interferes with assembly of stress fibers and affects cell morphology, growth and motility

Despite intensive in vitro studies, little is known about the regulation of caldesmon (CaD) by Ca2+-calmodulin (Ca2+-CaM) in vivo. To investigate this regulation, a mutant was generated of the C-terminal fragment of human fibroblast CaD, termed CaD39-AB, in which two crucial tryptophan residues involved in Ca2+-CaM binding were each replaced with alanine. The mutation abolished most CaD39-AB binding to Ca2+-CaM in vitro but had little effect on in vitro binding to actin filaments and the ability to inhibit actin/tropomyosin-activated heavy meromyosin ATPase. To study the functional consequences of these mutations in vivo, we transfected an expression plasmid carrying CaD39-AB cDNA into Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells and isolated several clones expressing various amounts of CaD39-AB. Immunofluorescence microscopy revealed that mutant CaD39-AB was distributed diffusely throughout the cytoplasm but also concentrated at membrane ruffle regions. Stable expression of CaD39-AB in CHO cells disrupted assembly of stress fibers and focal adhesions, altered cell morphology, and slowed cell cycle progression. Moreover, CaD39-AB-expressing cells exhibited motility defects in a wound-healing assay, in both velocity and the persistence of translocation, suggesting a role for CaD regulation by Ca2+-CaM in cell migration. Together, these results demonstrate that CaD plays a crucial role in mediating the effects of Ca2+-CaM on the dynamics of the actin cytoskeleton during cell migration.
Analytical Solution of Joule-Heating Equation for Metallic Single-Walled Carbon Nanotube Interconnects

In this paper, we address a closed-form analytical solution of the Joule-heating equation for metallic single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs). Temperature-dependent thermal conductivity κ has been considered on the basis of second-order three-phonon Umklapp, mass difference, and boundary scattering phenomena. It is found that κ , in case of pure SWCNT, leads to a low rising in the temperature profile along the via length. However, in an impure SWCNT, κ reduces due to the presence of mass difference scattering, which significantly elevates the temperature. With an increase in impurity, there is a significant shift of the hot spot location toward the higher temperature end point contact. Our analytical model, as presented in this study, agrees well with the numerical solution and can be treated as a method for obtaining an accurate analysis of the temperature profile along the CNT-based interconnects.
Optimization of megavoltage CT scan registration settings for thoracic cases on helical tomotherapy

This study aims to investigate the settings that provide optimum registration accuracy when registering megavoltage CT (MVCT) studies acquired on tomotherapy with planning kilovoltage CT (kVCT) studies of patients with lung cancer. For each experiment, the systematic difference between the actual and planned positions of the thorax phantom was determined by setting the phantom up at the planning isocenter, generating and registering an MVCT study. The phantom was translated by 5 or 10 mm, MVCT scanned, and registration was performed again. A root-mean-square equation that calculated the residual error of the registration based on the known shift and systematic difference was used to assess the accuracy of the registration process. The phantom study results for 18 combinations of different MVCT/kVCT registration options are presented and compared to clinical registration data from 17 lung cancer patients. MVCT studies acquired with coarse (6 mm), normal (4 mm) and fine (2 mm) slice spacings could all be registered with similar residual errors. No specific combination of resolution and fusion selection technique resulted in a lower residual error. A scan length of 6 cm with any slice spacing registered with the full image fusion selection technique and fine resolution will result in a low residual error most of the time. On average, large corrections made manually by clinicians to the automatic registration values are infrequent. Small manual corrections within the residual error averages of the registration process occur, but their impact on the average patient position is small. Registrations using the full image fusion selection technique and fine resolution of 6 cm MVCT scans with coarse slices have a low residual error, and this strategy can be clinically used for lung cancer patients treated on tomotherapy. Automatic registration values are accurate on average, and a quick verification on a sagittal MVCT slice should be enough to detect registration outliers.
The Role of Inter-Alpha-Trypsin-Inhibitor-Heavy-Chain-5 (ITIH5) in Suppressing Pancreatic Cancer Metastasis

Metastasis is the spread of cancer from the site of origin to a distant site, where the colony of malignant cells grows. Growth of malignant cells in secondary sites disrupts organ function and increases the tumor burden on the host. Thus, there is a critical need to understand the factors regulating the spread of cancer cells to distant sites and their growth therein. Over half of all patients diagnosed with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) present with liver metastasis, and five-year survival for these patients is currently three percent. We performed an in vivo screen for PDAC metastasis suppressors using a human whole-genome shRNA library in order to understand factors regulating PDAC metastasis and identified Inter-α-Trypsin Inhibitor Heavy Chain 5 (ITIH5) as a suppressor of PDAC metastasis. Knockdown of ITIH5 significantly increased liver metastasis while high ITIH5 expression was correlated with rounded cell morphology and decreased cell motility and metastasis. ITIH5 is a secreted protein related to plasma protease inhibitors. To test the hypothesis that secretion of ITIH5 is required to suppress metastasis, we deleted the secretion signal sequence of ITIH5 (ITIH5Δs) and compared development of liver metastasis in highly metastatic PDAC cells expressing either control vector, secreted ITIH5, or secretion-deficient ITIH5Δs. Intriguingly, ITIH5Δs was sufficient to recapitulate the effects of secreted ITIH5 on cell morphology, motility and metastasis. These data suggest that ITIH5 may suppress metastasis by an intracellular mechanism not predicted by previously published reports. Understanding how intracellular ITIH5 attenuates PDAC metastasis could reveal new elements of PDAC biology that could become future therapeutic targets for patients affected by this aggressive cancer.
Involvement of the vascular renin-angiotensin system in beta adrenergic receptor-mediated facilitation of vascular neurotransmission in spontaneously hypertensive rats.

This study was conducted to investigate the possible involvement of the vascular renin-angiotensin system in the isoproterenol (ISO)-induced facilitation of adrenergic neurotransmission in the mesenteric vasculature. The isolated, perfused mesenteric vascular beds from normotensive Wistar Kyoto rats (WKY) and spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) were used for these studies. ISO at concentrations from 10(-9) to 10(-6) M caused significantly greater enhancement of the pressor response to periarterial nerve stimulation (PNS) in preparations from SHR than in those from WKY. The pressor responses to exogenous norepinephrine (NE) were, however, inhibited by ISO to a similar degree in preparations from both WKY and SHR. The enhancement of the PNS response produced by ISO was markedly attenuated by propranolol at 5 X 10(-7) M (nonselective beta receptor blocker) and by ICI 118,551 at 5 X 10(-7) M (selective beta-2 receptor blocker), whereas practolol at 5 X 10(-6) M (selective beta-1 receptor blocker) caused a potentiation of the ISO-induced enhancement of responses to PNS in preparations from both WKY and SHR. All three beta blockers generally abolished the ISO-induced inhibition of the pressor responses to exogenous NE. The selective beta-2 adrenergic receptor agonists, salbutamol (3 X 10(-8) to 3 X 10(-7) M) and terbutaline (10(-7) to 3 X 10(-7) M), caused significantly greater enhancement of the PNS response in preparations from SHR than in those from WKY, whereas the selective beta-1 agonist, dobutamine, caused only inhibition of the PNS responses in preparations from both WKY and SHR. These three agonists all tended to reduce the pressor responses to exogenous NE. The ISO-induced enhancement of the responses to PNS was also significantly reduced by either captopril (5 X 10(-6) M) or [Sar1-Ile8]angiotensin II (5 X 10(-7) M) in preparations from SHR. Neither captopril nor [Sar1-lle8] angiotensin II had an effect on the pressor response to NE infusion or on the ISO-induced inhibition of NE responses. Angiotensin I produced an enhancement of the pressor responses to PNS and to NE infusion with the effect being greater on the response to PNS than to NE in the preparations from SHR but not in those from WKY. This enhancement of the PNS response by angiotensin I was abolished by either captopril (5 X 10(-7) M) or [Sar1-Ile8]angiotensin II (5 X 10(-7) M) in preparations from both WKY and SHR. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)