Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
INHIBITION OF NUCLEAR RECONSTRUCTION BY DITHIOTHREITOL

sequential processes that occur during nuclear reconstitution : first each individual chromosome becomes surrounded by a double membrane with pores characteristic of a nuclear membrane (Harris, 1962; Longo, 1972), then the membranebounded chromosome vesicles (karyomeres) fuse Sea Urchins to form a single membrane-bounded nucleus containing the full complement of chromosomes (Wilson, 1925 ; Mazia, 1961 ; Longo, 1972) . This sequence of events suggests that it should be possible to obtain chromosomes separated during interphase, each in its own "nuclear" membrane, by inhibiting the second step of nuclear reconstitution, the fusion of chromosomal vesicles . Such a cell would then possess many small micronuclei instead of one large nucleus ; in fact, as many micronuclei as there are chromosomes . In an experiment involving the application of dithiothreitol (DTT) to cleaving sea urchin embryos, we noticed a distinct change in the morphology of all interphase nuclei. In each blastomere of twoor four-cell embryos that had been incubated in the presence of DTT from before the first cleavage, the nucleus appeared multivesiculated. It occurred to us that the multivesiculated nucleus might actually be an aggregate of unfused karyomeres . Earlier studies on dividing cells and of the effects of compounds that block the formation of disulfide bonds have noted interferences with the normal dynamic behavior of the nuclear membrane at mitosis (Hughes, 1949; Mazia, 1961) . It therefore seemed reasonable to hypothesize that DTT was producing a multivesiculate nucleus by inDTT BRIEF NOTES
To eat or not to eat? Effect of fasting prior to abdominal sonography examinations on the quality of imaging under routine conditions: A randomized, examiner-blinded trial

Objective. Although often recommended, it is unclear whether fasting enhances the imaging quality of abdominal sonography examinations. The aim of this study was to produce experimental evidence of the effect of fasting on the imaging quality of abdominal organs. Material and methods. Formally consenting medical inpatients who underwent elective abdominal sonography examinations at a university medical center were randomized to either a fasting or a non-fasting preparation. Blinded examiners evaluated the imaging quality of 11 anatomical regions. The primary end-point was the proportion of completely evaluable patients for each region. In secondary analyses, values of an imaging index reflecting the mean imaging quality of all regions (range 0–1) were compared. Results. Of 280 screened patients, 102 (36%) met the exclusion criteria and 35 (13%) declined participation. Of the 143 randomized patients, 130 (91%) were included in the primary analyses (66 fasting, 64 non-fasting). The proportion of completely evaluable patients did not differ significantly for any of the 11 regions, but a large nominal difference occurred for the gallbladder (45/66 (73%) fasting versus 34/64 (56%) non-fasting patients, p=0.051). The median (range) imaging index was 0.57 (0.14–0.95) for fasting and 0.43 (0.00–1.00) for non-fasting subjects (p =0.078). A significant (p=0.002) difference favoring fasting was detected in the post-hoc subgroup analyses for male patients. Conclusions. For examinations of the gallbladder and for male patients, fasting might improve the sonographic imaging quality to some extent. Overall, no significant improvement in the imaging quality of abdominal organs was reached with a fasting preparation.
Atmospheric Dynamic and Thermodynamic Processes Driving the Western North Pacific Anomalous Anticyclone during El Niño. Part II: Formation Processes

AbstractIn Part I, the authors showed that northerly anomalies associated with the Rossby wave response to El Nino heating anomalies in the equatorial central Pacific lead to the southward advection of low moist enthalpy air forming the western North Pacific anomalous anticyclone (WNPAC). Why does such a remote forcing not cause the formation of the anomalous anticyclone in El Nino–developing summer? The physical mechanism responsible for the timing of the WNPAC formation is investigated in Part II. Through both an observational analysis and idealized numerical model experiments, the authors find that the onset timing of the WNPAC relies on the following three factors. The first is a sign change (from positive to negative) of the meridional gradient of background low-level specific humidity over the key tropical western North Pacific (WNP) region in November. The second is a sign change (from positive to negative) of the meridional gradient of background relative vorticity, which efficiently reduces the w.
Two-Dimensional Localization of Virtual Sound Sources in Cochlear-Implant Listeners

Objective: To test localization of sound sources in horizontal and vertical dimensions in cochlear-implant (CI) listeners using clinical bilateral CI systems. Design: Five bilateral CI subjects listened via their clinical speech processors to noises filtered with subject-specific, behind-the-ear microphones and head-related transfer functions. Subjects were immersed in a visual virtual environment presented via a head-mounted display. Subjects used a manual pointer to respond to the perceived sound location and received visual response feedback via the head-mounted display during the tests. The target positions were randomly distributed in two-dimensional space over an azimuth range of 0° to 360° and over an elevation range of −30° to +80°. In experiment 1, the signal level was roved in the range of ±2.5 dB from trial to trial. In experiment 2, the signal level was roved in the range of ±5 dB. Results: CI subjects were generally worse at sound localization than normal-hearing listeners tested in a previous study, in both the horizontal and vertical dimensions. In the horizontal plane, subjects could determine the correct side and locate the target within the side at better than chance performance. In the vertical plane, with a smaller level-roving range, subjects could determine the correct hemifield at better than chance performance but could not locate the target within the correct hemifield. The target angle and response angle were correlated as expected. The response angle and signal level range were also correlated, raising concerns that subjects were using only level cues for the task. With a larger level-roving range, the number of front-back confusions increased. The correlation between the target and response angles decreased, whereas the correlation between the level and response angle did not change, which is an indication that the subjects were relying heavily on level cues. Conclusions: For the horizontal plane, the results are in agreement with previous CI studies performed in the horizontal plane with a comparable range of targets. For the vertical plane, CI listeners could discriminate front from back at better than chance performance; however, there are strong indications that the broadband level, not the spectral profile, was used as the primary localization cue. This study indicates the necessity of new CI processing strategies that encode spectral localization cues.
Cognitive-behavioural therapy for schizophrenia.

The Insight into Schizophrenia Research Group ([Turkington et al , 2002][1]) should be congratulated in reporting results of a large study of cognitive—behavioural therapy (CBT) plus educational handouts v . usual care in patients with post-acute schizophrenia. Perhaps because of space
Mass balance of the Antarctic ice sheet

The Antarctic contribution to sea-level rise has long been uncertain. While regional variability in ice dynamics has been revealed, a picture of mass changes throughout the continental ice sheet is lacking. Here, we use satellite radar altimetry to measure the elevation change of 72% of the grounded ice sheet during the period 1992–2003. Depending on the density of the snow giving rise to the observed elevation fluctuations, the ice sheet mass trend falls in the range −5–+85 Gt yr−1. We find that data from climate model reanalyses are not able to characterise the contemporary snowfall fluctuation with useful accuracy and our best estimate of the overall mass trend—growth of 27±29 Gt yr−1—is based on an assessment of the expected snowfall variability. Mass gains from accumulating snow, particularly on the Antarctic Peninsula and within East Antarctica, exceed the ice dynamic mass loss from West Antarctica. The result exacerbates the difficulty of explaining twentieth century sea-level rise.
Foraging Ranges of Insectivorous Bats Shift Relative to Changes in Mosquito Abundance

The need to develop effective management strategies for insectivorous bat populations requires an understanding of factors influencing habitat use. Availability of pest prey, such as mosquitoes is likely to be one such factor. To assess whether this is the case, we radio-tracked Vespadelus vulturnus Thomas (little forest bat), a predator of Aedes vigilax Skuse (saltmarsh mosquito), in saltmarsh and adjacent coastal swamp forest during periods of high and low Ae. vigilax abundance. When mosquito abundance in structurally-open saltmarsh was similar to the more cluttered coastal swamp forest, use of saltmarsh by V. vulturnus was disproportionately greater than its availability, with saltmarsh selected preferentially for foraging. However, at times of low Ae. vigilax abundance in saltmarsh, use of saltmarsh by V. vulturnus was reduced and all habitats were used in proportion to availability in the study area. This is the first radio-tracking study to demonstrate a shift in foraging range by an insectivorous bat species correlated with fluctuations in the distribution and abundance of a particular prey resource. The shift in foraging range by V. vulturnus, corresponding with a spatio-temporal variation in abundance of Ae. vigilax highlights the importance of mosquitoes as a dietary item. Broadscale pest control of Ae. vigilax may have ecological implications for the diet and habitat use of V. vulturnus. An adaptive management approach is proposed, whereby careful monitoring of insectivorous bat populations is recommended before and after any application of broadscale mosquito control measures. We also suggest a precautionary approach is taken such that broadscale control of mosquitoes avoids the lactation period of bats, a time when their energetic demands are greatest and when there is reduced risk of contracting mosquito-borne diseases transmitted by Ae. vigilax.
The DNA content of spermatozoa from different strains of mice.

Certain morphological characters of mammalian spermatozoa have been shown to have a high heritability (Beatty, 1970). Sperm dimensions may be altered by genetic selection (Woolley, 1970). In addition to the biological action ofthe genes, the actual mass of the DNA and proteins, which constitute the major components of the head, may affect the sperm phenotype. Unlike genetically active cells in which nuclear size is governed, to a certain extent, by metabolic factors, the sperm genome is condensed, homogeneous and inactive. It might therefore be expected that head size would be influenced both by the quantity of DNA present and by the way it is condensed. Thus diploid spermatozoa have enlarged heads (Beatty & Fechheimer, 1972), whereas spermatozoa with abnormally small heads might have a lower Feulgen\p=m-\DNAcontent than morphologically normal members of the same ejaculate (Gledhill, 1970). The size differences described in the latter studies probably reflect alterations in sperm chromatin structure affecting the availability of Feulgen-reactive sites. When the DNA contents of small and normal spermatozoa were compared by ultraviolet (u.v.) absorption methods, no significant differences were observed (Gledhill, 1970). There are also many instances in the literature of variations in Feulgen\p=m-\ and u.v. -DNA contents in morphologically normal spermatozoa of fertile and subfertile animals (Leuchtenberger, Leuchtenberger, Schrader & Weir, 1956; Leidl & Stolla, 1969; Gledhill, 1970), although no actual measurements of sperm head dimensions were recorded in some of these studies. Expected variations in the DNA content, as in Xand Y-bearing spermatozoa can be detected chemically but not morphologically (Beatty, 1970; Evans, 1972). In an attempt to clarify the relationship between genome and head size, Feulgen-DNA measurements were made in strains of mice in which variations in morphology have been reported (Beatty & Sharma, 1960). Four inbred strains were studied : A, JBT, CBA and C57. The spermatozoa of these strains are known to differ from each other in the size and shape of the head and midpiece. If head area alone is considered, A > CBA > JBT > C57, but the only significant differences are those involving C57 (see Table 1). Two males from each strain, aged between 9 and 11 weeks, were used. Spermatozoa from the ductus deferens were dispersed in a small volume of saline and smeared on glass slides. Each slide (A series) bore a total of eight * Present address: The Department of Zoology, Australian National University, Canberra, A.C. T. , Australia. t Agricultural Research Council Unit of Animal Genetics.
Pharmacological Manipulation of Neuronal Ensemble Activity by Reverse Microdialysis in Freely Moving Rats: A Comparative Study of the Effects of Tetrodotoxin, Lidocaine, and Muscimol

To be able to address the question how neurotransmitters or pharmacological agents influence activity of neuronal populations in freely moving animals, the combidrive was developed. The combidrive combines an array of 12 tetrodes to perform ensemble recordings with a moveable and replaceable microdialysis probe to locally administer pharmacological agents. In this study, the effects of cumulative concentrations of tetrodotoxin, lidocaine, and muscimol on neuronal firing activity in the prefrontal cortex were examined and compared. These drugs are widely used in behavioral studies to transiently inactivate brain areas, but little is known about their effects on ensemble activity and the possible differences between them. The results show that the combidrive allows ensemble recordings simultaneously with reverse microdialysis in freely moving rats for periods at least up to 2 wk. All drugs reduced neuronal firing in a concentration dependent manner, but they differed in the extent to which firing activity of the population was decreased and the in speed and extent of recovery. At the highest concentration used, both muscimol and tetrodotoxin (TTX) caused an almost complete reduction of firing activity. Lidocaine showed the fastest recovery, but it resulted in a smaller reduction of firing activity of the population. From these results, it can be concluded that whenever during a behavioral experiment a longer lasting, reversible inactivation is required, muscimol is the drug of choice, because it inactivates neurons to a similar degree as TTX, but it does not, in contrast to TTX, affect fibers of passage. For a short-lasting but partial inactivation, lidocaine would be most suitable.
Phosphorylation of Cytidine, Deoxycytidine, and Their Analog Monophosphates by Human UMP/CMP Kinase Is Differentially Regulated by ATP and Magnesium

Human UMP/CMP kinase (cytidylate kinase; EC 2.7.4.14) is responsible for phosphorylation of CMP, UMP, and deoxycytidine monophosphate (dCMP) and also plays an important role in the activation of pyrimidine analogs, some of which are clinically useful anticancer or antiviral drugs. Previous kinetic data using recombinant or highly purified human UMP/CMP kinase showed that dCMP, as well as pyrimidine analog monophosphates, were much poorer substrates than CMP or UMP for this enzyme. This implies that other unidentified mechanisms must be involved to make phosphorylation of dCMP or pyrimidine analog monophosphates inside cells by this enzyme possible. Here, we reevaluated the optimal reaction conditions for human recombinant human UMP/CMP kinase to phosphorylate dCMP and CMP (referred as dCMPK and CMPK activities). We found that ATP and magnesium were important regulators of the kinase activities of this enzyme. Free magnesium enhanced dCMPK activity but inhibited CMPK activity. Free ATP or excess ATP/magnesium, on the other hand, inhibited dCMPK but not CMPK reactions. The differential regulation of dCMPK versus CMPK activities by ATP or magnesium was also seen in other 2′-deoxypyrimidine analog monophosphates (deoxyuridine monophosphate, 5-fluorodeoxyuridine monophosphate, 1-β-d-arabinofuranosylcytosine monophosphate, and gemcitabine monophosphate) versus their ribose-counterparts (UMP and 5-fluorouridine monophosphate), in a similar manner. The data suggest that the active sites of human UMP/CMP kinase for dCMP and for CMP cannot be identical. Furthermore, enzyme inhibition studies demonstrated that CMP could inhibit dCMP phosphorylation in a noncompetitive manner, with Ki values much higher than its own Km values. We thus propose novel models for the phosphorylation action of human UMP/CMP kinase.
Differential targeting of nNOS and AQP4 to dystrophin-deficient sarcolemma by membrane-directed α-dystrobrevin

α-Dystrobrevin associates with and is a homologue of dystrophin, the protein linked to Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophies. We used a transgenic approach to restore α-dystrobrevin to the sarcolemma in mice that lack dystrophin (mdx mice) to study two interrelated functions: (1) the ability of α-dystrobrevin to rescue components of the dystrophin complex in the absence of dystrophin and (2) the ability of sarcolemmal α-dystrobrevin to ameliorate the dystrophic phenotype. We generated transgenic mice expressing α-dystrobrevin-2a linked to a palmitoylation signal sequence and bred them onto the α-dystrobrevin-null and mdx backgrounds. Expression of palmitoylated α-dystrobrevin prevented the muscular dystrophy observed in the α-dystrobrevin-null mice, demonstrating that the altered form of α-dystrobrevin was functional. On the mdx background, the palmitoylated form of α-dystrobrevin was expressed on the sarcolemma but did not significantly ameliorate the muscular dystrophy phenotype. Palmitoylated dystrobrevin restored α-syntrophin and aquaporin-4 (AQP4) to the mdx sarcolemma but was unable to recruit β-dystroglycan or the sarcoglycans. Despite restoration of sarcolemmal α-syntrophin, neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) was not localized to the sarcolemma, suggesting that nNOS requires both dystrophin and α-syntrophin for correct localization. Thus, although nNOS and AQP4 both require interaction with the PDZ domain of α-syntrophin for sarcolemmal association, their localization is regulated differentially.
Endogenous Interleukin-10 Is Required for Prevention of a Hyperinflammatory Intracerebral Immune Response in Listeria monocytogenes Meningoencephalitis

ABSTRACT To analyze the role of interleukin-10 (IL-10) in bacterial cerebral infections, we studied cerebral listeriosis in IL-10-deficient (IL-10−/−) and wild-type (WT) mice, the latter of which express high levels of IL-10 in both primary and secondary cerebral listeriosis. IL-10−/− mice succumbed to primary as well as secondary listeriosis, whereas WT mice were significantly protected from secondary listeriosis by prior intraperitoneal immunization withListeria monocytogenes. Meningoencephalitis developed in both strains; however, in IL-10−/− mice the inflammation was more severe and associated with increased brain edema and multiple intracerebral hemorrhages. IL-10−/− mice recruited significantly increased numbers of leukocytes, in particular granulocytes, to the brain, and the intracerebral cytokine (tumor necrosis factor, IL-1, IL-12, gamma interferon, and inducible nitric oxide synthase) and chemokine (crg2/IP-10, RANTES, MuMig, macrophage inflammatory protein 1α [MIP-1α], and MIP-1β) transcription was enhanced compared to that in WT mice. Despite this prominent hyperinflammation, the frequencies of intracerebral L. monocytogenes-specific CD8+ T cells were reduced and the intracerebral bacterial load was not reduced in IL-10−/− mice compared to WT mice. Following intraperitoneal infection, IL-10−/− mice exhibited hepatic hyperinflammation without better bacterial clearance; however, in contrast to the mice with cerebral listeriosis, they did not succumb, illustrating that intrinsic factors of the target organ have a strong impact on the course and outcome of the infection.
The role of school physical activity programs in child body mass trajectory.

BACKGROUND Physical activity at school can support obesity prevention among youth. This paper assesses the role of existing school physical activity programs for a national cohort from first grade to fifth grade. METHODS We analyzed a cohort from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Survey-Kindergarten Cohort which included 8246 children in 970 schools across the country. Growth curve models estimate the effect of physical education (PE) and recess on individual child body mass trajectories controlling for child and school characteristics. Hierarchical models allow for unobserved school and child effects. RESULTS Among first graders, 7.0% met the National Association of Sport and Physical Education (NASPE) recommended time for PE and 70.7% met the recommended time for recess in the previous week. Boys experienced a greater increase in body mass than girls. Meeting the NASPE recommended time for recess was associated with a 0.74 unit decrease in BMI (body mass index) percentile for children overall. Meeting the NASPE recommendation for physical education was associated with 1.56 unit decrease in BMI percentile among boys but not girls. CONCLUSIONS We find evidence that meeting the national recommendations for PE and recess is effective in mitigating body mass increase among children.
Localized Production of IL-10 Suppresses Early Inflammatory Cell Infiltration and Subsequent Development of IFN-γ–Mediated Lyme Arthritis

IL-10 is a nonredundant inflammatory modulator that suppresses arthritis development in Borrelia burgdorferi-infected mice. Infected C57BL/6 (B6) IL-10−/− mice were previously found to have a prolonged IFN-inducible response in joint tissue. Infection of B6 IL-10 reporter mice identified macrophages and CD4+ T cells as the primary sources of IL-10 in the infected joint tissue, suggesting that early local production of IL-10 dampened the proarthritic IFN response. Treatment of B6 IL-10−/− mice with anti–IFN-γ reduced the increase in arthritis severity and suppressed IFN-inducible transcripts to wild-type levels, thereby linking dysregulation of IFN-γ to disease in the B6 IL-10−/− mouse. Arthritis in B6 IL-10−/− mice was associated with elevated numbers of NK cell, NKT cell, α/β T cell, and macrophage infiltration of the infected joint. FACS lineage sorting revealed NK cells and CD4+ T cells as sources of IFN-γ in the joint tissue of B6 IL-10−/− mice. These findings suggest the presence of a positive-feedback loop in the joint tissue of infected B6 IL-10−/− mice, in which production of inflammatory chemokines, infiltration of IFN-γ–producing cells, and additional production of inflammatory cytokines result in arthritis. This mechanism of arthritis is in contrast to that seen in C3H/He mice, in which arthritis development is linked to transient production of type I IFN and develops independently of IFN-γ. Due to the sustained IFN response driven by NK cells and T cells, we propose the B6 IL-10−/− mouse as a potential model to study the persistent arthritis observed in some human Lyme disease patients.