Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The structure and micromechanics of elastic tissue

Elastin is a major component of tissues such as lung and blood vessels, and endows them with the long-range elasticity necessary for their physiological functions. Recent research has revealed the complexity of these elastin structures and drawn attention to the existence of extensive networks of fine elastin fibres in tissues such as articular cartilage and the intervertebral disc. Nonlinear microscopy, allowing the visualization of these structures in living tissues, is informing analysis of their mechanical properties. Elastic fibres are complex in composition and structure containing, in addition to elastin, an array of microfibrillar proteins, principally fibrillin. Raman microspectrometry and X-ray scattering have provided new insights into the mechanisms of elasticity of the individual component proteins at the molecular and fibrillar levels, but more remains to be done in understanding their mechanical interactions in composite matrices. Elastic tissue is one of the most stable components of the extracellular matrix, but impaired mechanical function is associated with ageing and diseases such as atherosclerosis and diabetes. Efforts to understand these associations through studying the effects of processes such as calcium and lipid binding and glycation on the mechanical properties of elastin preparations in vitro have produced a confusing picture, and further efforts are required to determine the molecular basis of such effects.
Neogene origins and implied warmth tolerance of Amazon tree species

Tropical rain forest has been a persistent feature in South America for at least 55 million years. The future of the contemporary Amazon forest is uncertain, however, as the region is entering conditions with no past analogue, combining rapidly increasing air temperatures, high atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations, possible extreme droughts, and extensive removal and modification by humans. Given the long-term Cenozoic cooling trend, it is unknown whether Amazon forests can tolerate air temperature increases, with suggestions that lowland forests lack warm-adapted taxa, leading to inevitable species losses. In response to this uncertainty, we posit a simple hypothesis: the older the age of a species prior to the Pleistocene, the warmer the climate it has previously survived, with Pliocene (2.6–5 Ma) and late-Miocene (8–10 Ma) air temperature across Amazonia being similar to 2100 temperature projections under low and high carbon emission scenarios, respectively. Using comparative phylogeographic analyses, we show that 9 of 12 widespread Amazon tree species have Pliocene or earlier lineages (>2.6 Ma), with seven dating from the Miocene (>5.6 Ma) and three >8 Ma. The remarkably old age of these species suggest that Amazon forests passed through warmth similar to 2100 levels and that, in the absence of other major environmental changes, near-term high temperature-induced mass species extinction is unlikely.
Cellular Metabolites Enhance the Light Sensitivity of Arabidopsis Cryptochrome through Alternate Electron Transfer Pathways[C][W][OPEN]

In vivo analysis of cryptochromes revealed that these blue light receptor flavoproteins undergo significant changes in light sensitivity resulting from interactions with cellular metabolites. The results support a mechanism of flavin reduction in cryptochrome signaling and provide a paradigm for studying flavoprotein photochemistry in an intracellular environment. Cryptochromes are blue light receptors with multiple signaling roles in plants and animals. Plant cryptochrome (cry1 and cry2) biological activity has been linked to flavin photoreduction via an electron transport chain comprising three evolutionarily conserved tryptophan residues known as the Trp triad. Recently, it has been reported that cry2 Trp triad mutants, which fail to undergo photoreduction in vitro, nonetheless show biological activity in vivo, raising the possibility of alternate signaling pathways. Here, we show that Arabidopsis thaliana cry2 proteins containing Trp triad mutations indeed undergo robust photoreduction in living cultured insect cells. UV/Vis and electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy resolves the discrepancy between in vivo and in vitro photochemical activity, as small metabolites, including NADPH, NADH, and ATP, were found to promote cry photoreduction even in mutants lacking the classic Trp triad electron transfer chain. These metabolites facilitate alternate electron transfer pathways and increase light-induced radical pair formation. We conclude that cryptochrome activation is consistent with a mechanism of light-induced electron transfer followed by flavin photoreduction in vivo. We further conclude that in vivo modulation by cellular compounds represents a feature of the cryptochrome signaling mechanism that has important consequences for light responsivity and activation.
Hepatitis E seroprevalence and seroconversion among US military service members deployed to Afghanistan.

BACKGROUND Hepatitis E virus (HEV) has been recognized as a threat to military forces since its discovery. Although HEV seroprevalence in Afghanistan is not known, HEV infection is thought to be highly endemic in that country. This study determined the incidence of HEV seroconversion among United States (US) service members who were deployed to Afghanistan, as well as the prevalence of antibodies to HEV prior to the deployment. METHODS A random sample of 1500 subjects was selected from the cohort of service members who were deployed to Afghanistan between 2002 and 2006. Predeployment and postdeployment serum samples from these subjects were tested by enzyme immunoassay for total antibodies to HEV. Results. The seroprevalence of antibodies to HEV in US service members prior to deployment was 1.1%. The seroconversion rate among service members deployed to Afghanistan was 0.13%. CONCLUSIONS Although subpopulations may be at higher risk for HEV exposure during deployment, the risk among US service members deployed to Afghanistan in this study was low. Previously implemented and current preventive measures in theater appear to have been adequate. With future deployments to new areas or changes in military operations in areas of risk, continued surveillance for HEV infection in the military will be warranted.
The relationship between head and neck position and endotracheal tube intracuff pressure in the pediatric population

Over the past few years, there has been a change in clinical practice with a transition to the use of cuffed instead of uncuffed endotracheal tubes (ETTs) in pediatric patients. These changes have led to concerns regarding unsafe intracuff pressures in pediatric patients, which may result in postoperative morbidity. To avoid these issues, it is generally suggested that the intracuff pressure be maintained at ≤30 cmH2O. The current study prospectively assesses the changes in intracuff pressure related to alterations in head and neck position in pediatric patients.
Anti-ulcer effect of Nigella sativa Linn. against gastric ulcers in rats

world 1–3 . It is active as an aromatic, respiratory stim ulant, diuretic, hypoglycemic, anti tumour and an analg esic 4–6 . The seed contains alkaloids nigellicin, nigellidin, quanazoline, tannin, steroid α-spinasterol, campsterol, cholesterol, stigmas 7-en-3-beta-ol, stigmasterol and flavonoids of trigillin quercetin -3-glucoside 7–11 . The study assumes significance in the context that prolonged use of synthetic anti-ulcer drugs leads to adverse drug reactions and a search for new anti -ulcer agents that retain therapeutic efficacy and are devoid of adverse drug reaction is warranted. A study of the efficacy of an extract of N. sativa in gastric ulcer with pylorus ligation and aspirin-induced ulcers was undertaken in a rat model. Seeds of N. sativa Linn. were purchased from the local market and their identific ation was confirmed. The seeds were dried and crushed into coarse powder which was used for extraction with alcohol (95% v/v) using Soxhlet apparatus. The extract was evaporated under vacuum. The extractive value (%w/w) of the alcoholic dry extract was 4.25%. Male albino rats weighing between 140 and 175 g were selected for pyloric ligation ul cer model 12 . Rats were divided into three groups, each group consisting of six animals. Animals were fasted for 24 h. One group received normal saline 2 ml/kg (negative control), the second group received ranitidine 20 mg/kg by oral route (positive control) and the third group received alcoholic extract of N. sativa (150 mg/kg) by oral route, 30 min prior to pyloric ligation. Animals were sacr ificed 4 h later and the stomach was opened to collect the gastric contents. The total volume of gastric content was measured. The gastric contents were centr ifuged at 1000 rpm for 10 min. One ml of the supernatent liquid was pipe tted out and diluted to 10 ml with distilled water. The solution was titrated against 0.01N NaOH using Topfer’s reagent as indicator, to the e ndpoint when the solution turned to orange colour. The volume of NaOH needed was taken as corresponding to the free aci dity. Titration was further continued till the solution r egained pink colour. The volume of NaOH required was noted and was taken as corr esponding to the total acidity. Acidity was expressed as:
Systemic proteasomal inhibitor exposure enhances dopamine turnover and decreases dopamine levels but does not affect MPTP‐induced striatal dopamine depletion in mice

The validation of an in vivo proteasomal inhibitor (PSI) model to translate ubiquitin‐proteasomal‐system dysfunction involved in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease (PD) into a commonly accepted animal model is ongoing. Here we first report the effects of systemic administration of the proteasomal inhibitor Z‐lle‐Glu(OtBu)‐Ala‐Leu‐CHO (3 mg/kg, s.c., six times over 2 weeks) alone to extend the rat model to mice. Second we investigate the consequences of PSI pretreatment 42 weeks before an acute treatment with the neurotoxin 1‐methyl‐4‐phenyl‐1,2,3,6‐tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) in C57bl/6 mice. HPLC postmortem neurochemistry showed a significant increase in dopamine turnover and decrease of striatal dopamine levels, only 14 weeks after PSI treatment, but no enhancement of dopamine turnover or differences in striatal dopamine levels when comparing MPTP with MPTP plus PSI treatment. Behavioral analysis (rotarod, open field activity) did not indicate that PSI affects this type of motor behavior. Systemic PSI administration in mice appears not to be a valid animal model under the experimental conditions used. Potential solutions are discussed. Synapse 62:85–90, 2008. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
An acoustic study of the ‘pre-aspirated trill’ in narrative Cibaeño Dominican Spanish

This paper examines the acoustic characteristics of the Cibaeño Dominican Spanish ‘pre-aspirated’ trill. The data are based on narrative speech of ten native speakers from the Cibao region. The findings reveal that the segment is most often produced as a period of pre-breathy voice followed by a single tap, [hr]. The second most frequently occurring production involves pre-breathy voice and a trill. The term pre-breathy-voiced vibrant is proposed as a more appropriate characterization of the Cibaeño Dominican Spanish trill.
Attachment Style and Mental Health: A 1-Year Follow-Up Study of Mothers of Infants with Congenital Heart Disease

The longitudinal contribution of attachment style to mental health was examined among mothers of infants with Congenital Heart Disease (CHD). Eighty-five mothers of newborns with CHD completed self-report scales tapping attachment style, appraisal of motherhood, ways of coping with motherhood tasks, and mental health 2 weeks after the infant’s CHD diagnosis and 1 year later. Mothers’ attachment anxiety and avoidance at Time 1 were related to poor mental health at the same point of time. In addition, attachment avoidance at Time 1 predicted further deterioration of mental health from Time 1 to Time 2. Attachment style at Time 1 also predicted the ways mothers appraised and coped with motherhood tasks, which, in turn, were related to mental health changes. The theoretical implications of the data were discussed.
Attenuated Left Prefrontal Activation during a Verbal Fluency Task in Patients with Depression

Functional neuroimaging studies on patients with depression have found abnormal activity in the left prefrontal and anterior cingulate cortex compared with healthy controls. Other studies have shown that these regions become active in healthy subjects during verbal fluency tasks, while patients with depression show impaired performance on such tasks. We used functional magnetic resonance imaging to investigate changes in cerebral blood oxygenation associated with a verbal fluency task in depressed patients and healthy volunteers. In contrast to 10 age- and sex-matched healthy control subjects who activated the left prefrontal cortex and the anterior cingulate cortex during word generation, 10 depressed subjects showed attenuated activation in the left prefrontal cortex and did not show significant activation in the anterior cingulate cortex. These findings suggest that impaired performance during verbal fluency task in depressed patients is associated with abnormal neural responses within these regions.
A Psychological Perspective of Financial Panic

In spite of large number of financial crises, often depicted as episodes of financial panic, the notion of panic in financial markets is not very well understood. Many have argued that in order to understand financial crises, and in particular panic events, we need to go beyond classic economic arguments. This paper is an effort in that direction, in which we attempt to give a psychological account of panic and of panic in financial markets in particular, by discussing uncertainty, the desire for predictability and control, the illusion of control, and confidence. We suggest how one might incorporate these psychological insights into existing economic models.
The Impact of Automatic Identification on Supply Chain Operations

Automated Identification (Auto ID) applications can provide corporate information systems with the identity of each physical item in the supply chain in an automated and timely manner. The real time availability of item identity allows other information, related to the item, to be drawn on in order to assess both the current state of the product and future actions required. In the context of supply chain operations, widespread introduction of such systems represents a major opportunity to overhaul and improve tracking and tracing systems, process control and inventory management. In the longer term, it is possible that Auto ID systems may enable a complete re‐engineering of the supply chain, by removing a number of the constraints that limit today's supply chain structures. In this paper, we review some key challenges in supply chain operations and introduce the main elements of an Auto ID system. Using a simple categorization of supply chain operations, areas for short term deployment of Auto ID are identified and opportunities for longer term re‐engineering of different sections of the supply chain are highlighted.
A factor from Actinomyces viscosus T14V that specifically aggregates Streptococcus sanguis H1

A highly specific aggregation factor for Streptococcus sanguis H1 (AFH1) was obtained by lysozyme treatment of Actinomyces viscosus T14V. At 1 micrograms/ml, AFH1 aggregated a suspension of S. sanguis H1, with which A. viscosus T14V coaggregates by a mechanism not inhibited by lactose: even at much higher levels AFH1 caused little or no aggregation of streptococci from other coaggregation groups (J. O. Cisar et al., Infect. Immun. 24:742-752, 1979). The most active fraction of AFH1 obtained by gel chromatography (near the void volume of Bio-Gel A1.5 m) reacted as a single antigen with anti-A. viscosus T14V serum and was unrelated to the fimbrial antigens of A. viscosus T14V. Smaller molecular fractions, at high levels, inhibited aggregation of S. sanguis H1 by high-molecular-weight AFH1 as well as coaggregation of S. sanguis H1 with A. viscosus T14V. The AFH1 fraction with high aggregating activity was composed of approximately 53% cell wall components (alanine, glutamine, lysine, N-acetylglucosamine, and N-acetylmuramic acid). 40% polysaccharide (N-acetylgalactosamine, rhamnose, and 6-deoxytalose), and 7% protein; teichoic acid was not detected. The fraction which inhibited aggregation and coaggregation contained much less of the cell wall constituents and more of the polysaccharide than the fraction with potent aggregating activity. Aggregation was completely prevented either by treating AFH1 with 0.01 M periodate at 25 degrees C for 4 h or by treating S. sanguis H1 with heat or pronase. A role for electrostatic forces in the aggregation was indicated by: (i) NaCl inhibition of aggregation, and (ii) a great decrease in aggregation potency as a result of chemical modification of either cationic or anionic groups of AFH1. On the other hand, NaCl reversed the aggregation only very weakly. The overall data suggest that a carbohydrate-protein interaction may be dominant in the aggregation of S. sanguis H1 by AFH1 and in the coaggregation of S. sanguis H1 with A. viscosus T14V.
Spike-timing-dependent plasticity in 'small world' networks

Biologically plausible excitatory networks develop a stable synchronized pattern of activity due to synaptic refractoriness (short term depression). The introduction of spike-timing-dependent plasticity (STDP) modiﬁes the weights of synaptic connections in such a way that synchronization of neuronal activity is considerably weakened. By changing network connections to include long-distance connections according a power law distribution (’small world’ topology) we found that synchronization could be much better sustained, despite STDP inﬂuence.
Situational patterns in coping with primary Sjo¨gren's syndrome

The complexities involved in primary Sjögren's syndrome (primary SS) were examined by designing and testing an instrument for evaluating the occurrence and severity of various biopsychosocial stressors as perceived by primary SS patients (63 women, six men) and at examining the situational patterns involved in appraising and coping with stressful episodes. The results indicated symptoms of fatigue, eye discomfort, dryness of the mouth and sleep disturbances to be particularly stressful. Women were found to be more likely than men - and patients with less education more likely than those with higher education - to report a stressor as occurring and experiencing it as stressful. The situational approach was seen to yield more specific information on the actual appraisal and coping processes used by the patients for exercising control in the specific encounters experienced as highly stressful, particularly with respect to educational resources and the place of men and women in society.
Enterprise, Deprivation and Social Exclusion: The Role of Small Business in Addressing Social and Economic Inequalities

1. Introduction: Enterprise and Deprivation. Alan Southern 2. Enterprise: A Route Out of Disadvantage and Deprivation? Julian Frankish, Richard Roberts and David Storey 3. Blind Faith: Entrepreneurship and the Revitalization of Inner-City Minority Communities. Timothy Bates and Alicia Robb 4. Ethnic Entrepreneurs and Urban Regeneration. Trevor Jones and Monder Ram 5. Race, Space, and the Dynamics of Self-Employment. Casey J. Dawkins 6. All Underserved Markets Are Not Created Equal: Why the Private Sector Alone Will Not Address the Capital Needs Have Distressed Us Communities. Julia Sass Rubin 7. Access to Finance in Deprived Areas: Has the Government Lost Interest? Karl Dayson 8. Working Life in Rural Micro-Enterprises: Old Forms of Organisation in the New Economy. Susan Baines, Jane Wheelock and Elizabeth Oughton 9. Entrepreneurship, Social Exclusion and Worklessness. Simon Pemberton 10. The Hidden Enterprise Culture. Colin C. Williams 11. Locating Enterprise and Placing Wealth: Entrepreneurship and Place-Based Enterprises in Depleted Communities. Doug Lionais 12. Discursive Chasms: An Examination of the Language and Promotion of Social Enterprise. Carole Howorth, Caroline Parkinson and Matthew MacDonald 13. Can The Market Deliver The Goods? A Critical Review of the Social Enterprise Agenda. Geoff Whittam and Kean Birch 14. Micro-Enterprise and Cooperative Development in Economically Marginalized Communities in the US. Jessica Gordon Nembhard 15. Alternative Forms of Enterprise. Peter North 16. Conclusion: The Role of Enterprise in Addressing Social and Economic Inequalities. Alan Southern and Caroline Parkinson
Patterns of cortical degeneration in an elderly cohort with cerebral small vessel disease

Emerging noninvasive neuroimaging techniques allow for the morphometric analysis of patterns of gray and white matter degeneration in vivo, which may help explain and predict the occurrence of cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease. A single center prospective follow‐up study (Radboud University Nijmegen Diffusion tensor and Magnetic resonance imaging Cohort study (RUN DMC)) was performed involving 503 nondemented elderly individuals (50–85 years) with a history of symptomatic cerebral small vessel disease (SVD). Age was associated with a global reduction in cortical thickness, and this relationship was strongest for ventrolateral prefrontal cortex, auditory cortex, Wernicke's area, superior temporal lobe, and primary visual cortex. Right and left hemispheres differed in the thickness of language‐related areas. White matter (WM) lesions were generally negatively correlated with cortical thickness, primarily in individuals over the age of 60, with the notable exception of Brodmann areas 4 and 5, which were positively correlated in age groups 50–60 and 60–70, respectively. The observed pattern of age‐related decline may explain problems in memory and executive functions, which are already well documented in individuals with SVD. The additional gray matter loss affecting visual and auditory cortex, and specifically the head region of primary motor cortex, may indicate morphological correlates of impaired sensory and motor functions. The paradoxical positive relationship between WM lesion volume and cortical thickness in some areas may reflect early compensatory hypertrophy. This study raises a further interest in the mechanisms underlying cerebral gray and white matter degeneration in association with SVD, which will require further investigation with diffusion weighted and longitudinal MR studies. Hum Brain Mapp, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Altered lipid metabolism and impaired clearance of cholesterol in plasma of Swiss-Webster mice fed cyclopropenoid fatty acids

24 Introduction 25 Methods 28 Results 32 Discussion 36 IV. Impaired Clearance, Elimination and Metabolism of Plasma Cholesterol Esters Associated with Hypercholesteremia in Mice Fed Dietary Cyclopropenoid Fatty Acids 52 Abstract 53 Introduction 54 Methods 56 Results 61 Discussion 6553 Introduction 54 Methods 56 Results 61 Discussion 65