Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Dynamic Network Activation of Hypothalamic MCH Neurons in REM Sleep and Exploratory Behavior

Most brain neurons are active in waking, but hypothalamic neurons that synthesize the neuropeptide melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH) are claimed to be active only during sleep, particularly rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. Here we use deep-brain imaging to identify changes in fluorescence of the genetically encoded calcium (Ca2+) indicator GCaMP6 in individual hypothalamic neurons that contain MCH. An in vitro electrophysiology study determined a strong relationship between depolarization and Ca2+ fluorescence in MCH neurons. In 10 freely behaving MCH-cre mice (male and female), the highest fluorescence occurred in all recorded neurons (n = 106) in REM sleep relative to quiet waking or non-REM sleep. Unexpectedly, 70% of the MCH neurons had strong fluorescence activity when the mice explored novel objects. Spatial and temporal mapping of the change in fluorescence between pairs of MCH neurons revealed dynamic activation of MCH neurons during REM sleep and activation of a subset of the same neurons during exploratory behavior. Functional network activity maps will facilitate comparisons of not only single-neuron activity, but also network responses in different conditions and disease. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Functional activity maps identify brain circuits responding to specific behaviors, including rapid eye movement sleep (REM sleep), a sleep phase when the brain is as active as in waking. To provide the first activity map of individual neurons during REM sleep, we use deep-brain calcium imaging in unrestrained mice to map the activity of hypothalamic melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH) neurons. MCH neurons were found to be synchronously active during REM sleep, and also during the exploration of novel objects. Spatial mapping revealed dynamic network activation during REM sleep and activation of a subset of the neurons during exploratory behavior. Functional activity maps at the cellular level in specific behaviors, including sleep, are needed to establish a brain connectome.
Data Intensive Imaging for 3D Atom Probe

Atom Probe Tomography (APT) combines atomic imaging with a time-of-flight mass spectrometer to provide direct space three-dimensional, atomic-scale resolution images of materials with the chemical identities of all the detected atoms. Quantitative analysis of APT data through advanced data mining methods enhances the chemical characterization of alloy systems and accounts for the statistical uncertainty associated with missing data and the physics of preferential evaporation. Most techniques currently used to extract precipitate topology and interface information from APT data are efficient; however, they are based on homogenization of the rich point cloud data which inherently loses some information. Furthermore, these methods require a specified, usually heuristic, concentration-level to draw iso-contours in order to extract characteristics of the precipitate topology. These twin issues of homogenization and heuristics are compelling rationale for the development of a robust, scalable, heuristic-free, graph-based framework [1].
Gene-Environment and Gene-Treatment Interactions in Type 2 Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes has rapidly emerged as a global health crisis. Because population-level genetic changes take many generations to occur, this epidemic is almost certainly primarily a consequence of recent environmental changes; nonetheless, diabetes does appear to occur preferentially in genetically predisposed populations, which suggests that the effects of pre-existing susceptibility genes have been triggered by recent shifts in nongenetic factors. Predisposition is influenced by the level of certain environmental exposures, personal factors, access to good-quality primary care, and by genotype. Interactions between genetic and nongenetic risk factors are hypothesized to raise diabetes risk in a synergistic manner; reciprocally, health-enhancing changes in behavior, body composition, or medication may reduce the risk of disease conveyed by genetic factors. Defining the nature of these interactions and identifying ways through which reliable observations of gene-environment interactions (GEIs) can be translated into the public health setting might help 1 ) optimize targeting of health interventions to persons most likely to respond well to them, 2 ) improve cost- and health-effectiveness of existing preventive and treatment paradigms; 3 ) reduce unnecessary adverse consequences of interventions; 4 ) increase patient adherence to health practitioners’ recommendations; and 5 ) identify novel interventions that are beneficial only in a defined genetic subgroup of the population. In this Perspective, we describe the rationale and evidence relating to the existence of gene-environment and gene-treatment interactions in type 2 diabetes. We discuss the tried, tested, and often-failed approaches to investigating gene-lifestyle interactions in type 2 diabetes; we discuss some recent developments in gene-treatment interactions (pharmacogenetics); and we look forward to the strategies that are likely to dominate these fields of research in the future. We conclude with a discussion of the requirements for translating findings from these future studies into a form where they can be used to help predict, prevent, or treat diabetes. Here we …
Equine arteritis virus subgenomic mRNA synthesis: analysis of leader-body junctions and replicative-form RNAs

In addition to the genomic RNA, a 3' coterminal nested set of six subgenomic mRNAs is produced in equine arteritis virus (EAV)-infected cells. The seven viral RNAs are also 5' coterminal, since they all contain a 206-nucleotide common leader sequence which is identical to the 5' end of the genome. A conserved penta-nucleotide sequence motif, 5' UCAAC 3', was shown to be present at the junctions between the leader and body sequences in each of the mRNAs. In addition, two alternative junction sites were detected for mRNA 3. Seven replicative-form (RF) RNAs (RFs I to VII), corresponding to the genomic RNA and each of the subgenomic EAV mRNAs, could be prepared from lysates of infected cells. The minus-strand RNA contents of these RF RNAs were analyzed by using an RNase protection assay with an RNA probe containing the mRNA 2 leader-body junction. It was established that RF II contained a negative-stranded copy of mRNA 2, including a complementary leader sequence. The presence of subgenomic minus-strand RNA in RFs is indicative of a function as a transcription template during the production of EAV subgenomic mRNAs.
Contributions of Hot and Cool Self-Regulation to Preschool Disruptive Behavior and Academic Achievement

The construct of self-regulation can be meaningfully distinguished into hot and cool components. The current study investigated self-regulation in a sample of 926 children aged 3–5 years old. Children's performance on self-regulatory tasks was best described by two latent factors representing hot and cool regulation. When considered alone, hot and cool regulation were both significantly correlated with disruptive behavior and academic achievement. When considered together, cool regulation was uniquely associated with academic achievement, while hot regulation was uniquely associated with inattentive-overactive behaviors. Results are discussed with respect to treatment studies that directly target improvement in children's self-regulation.
Species‐specific injury‐induced cell proliferation in the hippocampus and subventricular zone of food‐storing and nonstoring wild birds

Cells are continuously born and incorporated into the adult hippocampus (HP). Adult neurogenesis might act to increase the total number of cells or replace dead cells. Thus, neurogenesis might be a primary factor in augmenting, maintaining, or even recovering functions. In zebra finches, HP injury increases cell proliferation in the HP and stem cell rich subventricular zone (SVZ). It is unknown what effect injury has on a species dependent upon the HP for survival in the wild. In food‐storing birds, recovery of caches is seasonal, necessary for survival, dependent upon the HP and is concomitant with a peak in HP neurogenesis. During the fall, food‐storing black‐capped chickadees (BCCs) and nonstoring dark‐eyed juncos (DEJs) were captured and given a unilateral penetrating lesion to the HP one day later. On day 3, birds were injected with the mitotic marker 5‐bromo‐2′‐deoxyuridine (BrdU) and perfused on day 10. If unlesioned, more BrdU‐labeled cells were observed in the HP and SVZ of BCCs compared to DEJs, indicating higher innate cell proliferation or incorporation in BCCs. If lesioned, BrdU‐labeled cells increased in the injured HP of both species; however, lesions caused larger increases in DEJs. DEJs also showed increases in BrdU‐labeled cells in the SVZ and contralateral HP. BCCs showed no such increases on day 10. Thus, during the fall food‐storing season, storers showed suppressed injury‐induced cell proliferation and/or reduced survival rates of these new cells compared to nonstorers. These species differences may provide a useful model for isolating factors involved in cellular responses following injury. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Develop Neurobiol, 2010
Time Scales of Critical Events Around the Cretaceous-Paleogene Boundary

Impact Dating The large mass extinction of terrestrial and marine life—most notably, non-avian dinosaurs—occurred around 66 million years ago, at the boundary between the Cretaceous and Paleogene periods. But attributing the cause to a large asteroid impact depends on precisely dating material from the impact with indicators of ecological stress and environmental change in the rock record. Renne et al. (p. 684; see the Perspective by Pälike) acquired high-precision radiometric dates of stratigraphic layers surrounding the boundary, demonstrating that the impact occurred within 33,000 years of the mass extinction. The data also constrain the length of time in which the atmospheric carbon cycle was severely disrupted to less than 5000 years. Because the climate in the late Cretaceous was becoming unstable, the large-impact event appears to have triggered a state-shift in an already stressed global ecosystem. Radiometric dating establishes the mass extinction that killed the dinosaurs as synchronous with a large asteroid impact. [Also see Perspective by Pälike] Mass extinctions manifest in Earth's geologic record were turning points in biotic evolution. We present 40Ar/39Ar data that establish synchrony between the Cretaceous-Paleogene boundary and associated mass extinctions with the Chicxulub bolide impact to within 32,000 years. Perturbation of the atmospheric carbon cycle at the boundary likely lasted less than 5000 years, exhibiting a recovery time scale two to three orders of magnitude shorter than that of the major ocean basins. Low-diversity mammalian fauna in the western Williston Basin persisted for as little as 20,000 years after the impact. The Chicxulub impact likely triggered a state shift of ecosystems already under near-critical stress.
Ancient Initial Letters Indexing

Discrimination of images is necessary in many tasks, either understanding or indexing for example. Here we are concerned by indexing. More precisely we are working about initial letters extracted from early Renaissance printed documents as an application. Different observation levels can be considered according to the applications, either details can be observed or more globally what could be called the style. Here we are concerned with a global view of image. Then we are going to present a new method to index ornamental letters in ancient books. We show how the Zipf law, originally used in mono-dimensional domains can be adapted to the image domain. We use it as a model to characterize the distribution of patterns occurring in these special images that are initial letters. Based on this model some new features are extracted and we show their efficiency for image indexing and retrieval
Systemic Abnormalities in Children with Congenital Optic Disc Excavations

Abstract Purpose: Together with optic disc hypoplasia, excavated optic disc anomalies represent the most frequent congenital abnormality involving the optic nerve head. The purpose of the present study was to retrospectively review the results of a screening for extraocular abnormalities in children presenting with congenital optic disc excavations. Materials and methods: The medical records of 37 patients diagnosed with a unilateral or bilateral non glaucomatous optic disc excavation were retrospectively reviewed to analyze the result of the extra ocular evaluation and to report the associated ocular abnormalities. Results: An ocular abnormality was observed in conjunction with the excavated optic disc in 31% of the eyes. The systematic investigations revealed the presence of at least one extra-ocular disorder in 48% of the cases, and the optic disc excavation could be considered as syndromic in 30% of patients. The prevalence of extraocular malformations was significantly higher in infants presenting with associated ocular malformations or abnormal vision/development. Conclusions: The present study suggests that a systematic approach to search for any associated systemic abnormalities could be envisioned in patients presenting with congenital excavated optic discs, and particularly those presenting with abnormal vision, associated ocular defects or abnormal development.
Profiling of tryptophan-related plasma indoles in patients with carcinoid tumors by automated, on-line, solid-phase extraction and HPLC with fluorescence detection.

BACKGROUND Profiling of the plasma indoles tryptophan, 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP), serotonin, and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) is useful in the diagnosis and follow-up of patients with carcinoid tumors. We describe an automated method for the profiling of these indoles in protein-containing matrices as well as the plasma indole concentrations in healthy controls and patients with carcinoid tumors. METHODS Plasma, cerebrospinal fluid, and tissue homogenates were prepurified by automated on-line solid-phase extraction (SPE) in Hysphere Resin SH SPE cartridges containing strong hydrophobic polystyrene resin. Analytes were eluted from the SPE cartridge by column switching. Subsequent separation and detection were performed by reversed-phase HPLC combined with fluorometric detection in a total cycle time of 20 min. We obtained samples from 14 healthy controls and 17 patients with metastasized midgut carcinoid tumors for plasma indole analysis. In the patient group, urinary excretion of 5-HIAA and serotonin was compared with concentrations of plasma indoles. RESULTS Within- and between-series CVs for indoles in platelet-rich plasma were 0.6-6.2% and 3.7-12%, respectively. Results for platelet-rich plasma serotonin compared favorably with those obtained by single-component analysis. Plasma 5-HIAA, but not 5-HTP was detectable in 8 of 17 patients with carcinoid tumors. In the patient group, platelet-rich plasma total tryptophan correlated negatively with platelet-rich plasma serotonin (P = 0.021; r = -0.56), urinary 5-HIAA (P = 0.003; r = -0.68), and urinary serotonin (P <0.0001; r = -0.80). CONCLUSIONS The present chromatographic approach reduces analytical variation and time needed for analysis and gives more detailed information about metabolic deviations in indole metabolism than do manual, single-component analyses.
Quantitative morphologic analysis of boulder shape and surface texture to infer environmental history: A case study of rock breakdown at the Ephrata Fan, Channeled Scabland, Washington

Boulder morphology reflects both lithology and climate and is dictated by the combined effects of erosion, transport, and weathering. At present, morphologic information at the boulder scale is underutilized as a recorder of environmental processes, partly because of the lack of a systematic quantitative parameter set for reporting and comparing data sets. We develop such a parameter set, incorporating a range of measures of boulder form and surface texture. We use standard shape metrics measured in the field and fractal and morphometric classification methods borrowed from landscape analysis and applied to laser-scanned molds. The parameter set was pilot tested on three populations of basalt boulders with distinct breakdown histories in the Channeled Scabland, Washington: (1) basalt outcrop talus; (2) flood-transported boulders recently excavated from a quarry; and (3) flood-transported boulders, extensively weathered in situ on the Ephrata Fan surface. Size and shape data were found to distinguish between flood-transported and untransported boulders. Size and edge angles (∼120°) of flood-transported boulders suggest removal by preferential fracturing along preexisting columnar joints, and curvature data indicate rounding relative to outcrop boulders. Surface textural data show that boulders which have been exposed at the surface are significantly rougher than those buried by fan sediments. Past signatures diagnostic of flood transport still persist on surface boulders, despite ongoing overprinting by processes in the present breakdown environment through roughening and fracturing in situ. Further use of this quantitative boulder parameter set at other terrestrial and planetary sites will aid in cataloging and understanding morphologic signatures of environmental processes.
Tomatidine promotes the inhibition of 24-alkylated sterol biosynthesis and mitochondrial dysfunction in Leishmania amazonensis promastigotes

SUMMARY Leishmaniasis is a set of clinically distinct infectious diseases caused by Leishmania, a genus of flagellated protozoan parasites, that affects ∼12 million people worldwide, with ∼2 million new infections annually. Plants are known to produce substances to defend themselves against pathogens and predators. In the genus Lycopersicon, which includes the tomato, L. esculentum, the main antimicrobial compound is the steroidal glycoalkaloid α-tomatine. The loss of the saccharide side-chain of tomatine yields the aglycone tomatidine. In the present study, we investigated the effects of tomatidine on the growth, mitochondrial membrane potential, sterol metabolism, and ultrastructure of Leishmania amazonensis promastigotes. Tomatidine (0·1 to 5 μM) inhibited parasite growth in a dose-dependent manner (IC50=124±59 nM). Transmission electron microscopy revealed lesions in the mitochondrial ultrastructure and the presence of large vacuoles and lipid storage bodies in the cytoplasm. These structural changes in the mitochondria were accompanied by an effective loss of mitochondrial membrane potential and a decrease in ATP levels. An analysis of the neutral lipid content revealed a large depletion of endogenous 24-alkylated sterols such as 24-methylene-cholesta-5, 7-dien-3β-ol (5-dehydroepisterol), with a concomitant accumulation of cholesta-8, 24-dien-3β-ol (zymosterol), which implied a perturbation in the cellular lipid content. These results are consistent with an inhibition of 24-sterol methyltransferase, an important enzyme responsible for the methylation of sterols at the 24 position, which is an essential step in the production of ergosterol and other 24-methyl sterols.
Self-regulatory training for helping students with special needs to learn mathematics

Previous research suggests that self-regulation interventions are effective in improving students’ self-regulatory skill and school performance in a wide variety of educational domains. Inspired by social cognitive theory (Schunk & Zimmerman, 1997) and goal setting theory (Locke & Latham, 1990), I designed, implemented, and examined the beneficial impact of a two-part intervention to teacher effective self-regulation (i.e., goal setting and self-reflection) of 62 high school students with special needs (40 males, 22 females) during in-class math instruction. Results indicate that the two-part intervention led to high self-efficacy judgments and to better math performance compared to students with special needs who were randomly assigned into a delayedtreatment control group. Students in the intervention group also perceived the math instruction they received more positively. Results also show that, after participating in the intervention, all participants students with special needs increased their variety of selfregulatory strategies, and attributed their performance to more controllable (e.g., effort, strategy) causes. The gains in self-regulatory strategies and adaptive attributions, while significant in their own right, helped students experience a significant gain in their postintervention math performance as well. Abstract Approved: Thesis Supervisor Title and Department
Production of the bioinsecticide Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. israelensis with deltamethrin increases toxicity towards mosquito larvae

Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. israelensis is a bioinsecticide used for larval mosquito control and it represents a safe alternative to chemical insecticides. Despite its environmental safety, it is less efficient and persistent than chemical insecticides. To bypass these limitations, we propose to combine the advantages of chemical and biological insecticides by producing Bti in a medium supplemented with a chemical insecticide (DDT, deltamethrin, permethrin, propoxur or temephos). Among the investigated insecticides, the addition of deltamethrin in the medium induced a higher toxicity (over 6·72‐fold) of the composite deltamethrin‐Bti towards mosquito larvae as compared to Bti alone. This was mainly due to the insertion of deltamethrin into the membranes of Bti spores, as evidenced by a quantification of membrane‐extracted deltamethrin by HPLC. This composite larvicide is a promising tool to decrease the quantity of chemicals dispersed in the environment, to increase the efficacy of Bti and to facilitate its widespread use as a transition between chemical and biological insecticides. Further experiments are required to characterize the mechanisms that underline the incorporation of deltamethrin into Bti to optimize the production and the toxicity of this composite larvicide.
Learning and Change in the Adult Years: A Developmental Perspective. First Edition. Jossey-Bass Higher and Adult Education Series. Jossey-Bass Social and Behavioral Service Series.

Does the capacity to learn increase or decrease over time? How does the sense of self and identity change over the adult years? What are the educational implications of that change? And how can teachers acknowledge the experience their adult students bring to the classroom? In this book, Mark C. Tennant and Philip Pogson draw on the field of developmental psychology to provide new insights into the critical connections between experience and learning in all areas of adult education and training. Integrating findings from both adult developmental psychology and adult teaching and learning, the authors examine how experience generates developmental change. They look at how the relationship between self and others changes across the lifespan and, in turn, affects the teacher-learner relationship. And they describe the processes that promote separateness, indepAndence, interdepAndence, and autonomy in adult learners. " Learning and Change in the Adult Years" thoroughly explores the role of development in adult learning, the investment of 'self' in learning, and the link between social development and personal development to give teachers and trainers both the concepts and tools for promoting autonomy and self-direction in learners. Mark Tennant is dean of faculty and professor of adult education in the Faculty of Education, University of Technology, Sydney. He has published numerous articles in international journals on the theme of lifespan development and learning. His book "Psychology and Adult Learning" won the 1990 Cyril Houle Award for outstanding literature in adult education. Philip Pogson is staff development manager at the University of Sydney, Australia. He has held a number of positions in education and training at both the university level and in vocational training for the long term disadvantaged unemployed.