Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
GIRK channels and peripheral opioid analgesia 1264 In view of the rising importance of mouse models and of novel gene therapeutic approaches in pain research and analgesic drug development

Opioid agonists such as morphine are the gold standard for the treatment of severe pain. Their effects are mediated by m, d and k‐opioid receptors that function as G protein‐coupled receptors (GPCRs). Despite the widespread use of opioids to control pain, their clinical effectiveness is hampered by adverse side effects that result mainly from activation of receptors in the central nervous system (CNS). Such effects include apnea and addiction and have recently lead to an epidemic of overdoses, death and abuse (Paulozzi et al, 2012; Schumacher et al, 2009).
The Relationship Between Schizotypy and Reactive Aggression in Western Adults Is Mediated by Victimization

Abstract A large body of literature suggests that schizophrenia and nonclinical schizotypal personality traits, or “schizotypy,” are associated with increased aggression. However, recent studies focused on school-aged Asian samples have examined the relationship between schizotypal personality and 2 distinct forms of aggression: reactive and proactive aggression. This study aimed to investigate whether schizotypal personality traits would be associated more strongly with reactive, compared with proactive, aggression in an adult Western sample and whether victimization experiences mediated the schizotypy-reactive aggression relation. One hundred twenty-one Australian university undergraduates completed self-report inventories measuring levels of schizotypal personality, reactive and proactive aggression, and victimization. Results showed that, as hypothesized, schizotypal personality traits were more strongly associated with reactive than proactive aggression and that victimization experiences mediated the schizotypy-reactive aggression relationship. While acknowledging the limitations of nonclinical schizotypy research, the findings are discussed with regard to possible implications for the treatment of aggression in schizophrenia.
Factor Associated with Neutral Sphingomyelinase Activity Mediates Navigational Capacity of Leukocytes Responding to Wounds and Infection: Live Imaging Studies in Zebrafish Larvae

Factor associated with neutral sphingomyelinase activity (FAN) is an adaptor protein that specifically binds to the p55 receptor for TNF (TNF-RI). Our previous investigations demonstrated that FAN plays a role in TNF-induced actin reorganization by connecting the plasma membrane with actin cytoskeleton, suggesting that FAN may impact on cellular motility in response to TNF and in the context of immune inflammatory conditions. In this study, we used the translucent zebrafish larvae for in vivo analysis of leukocyte migration after morpholino knockdown of FAN. FAN-deficient zebrafish leukocytes were impaired in their migration toward tail fin wounds, leading to a reduced number of cells reaching the wound. Furthermore, FAN-deficient leukocytes show an impaired response to bacterial infections, suggesting that FAN is generally required for the directed chemotactic response of immune cells independent of the nature of the stimulus. Cell-tracking analysis up to 3 h after injury revealed that the reduced number of leukocytes is not due to a reduction in random motility or speed of movement. Leukocytes from FAN-deficient embryos protrude pseudopodia in all directions instead of having one clear leading edge. Our results suggest that FAN-deficient leukocytes exhibit an impaired navigational capacity, leading to a disrupted chemotactic response.
A Low-Complexity Iterative Channel Estimation and Detection Technique for Doubly Selective Channels

In this paper, we propose a low-complexity iterative joint channel estimation, detection and decoding technique for doubly selective channels. The key is a segment-by-segment frequency domain equalization (FDE) strategy under the assumption that channel is approximately static within a short segment. Guard gaps (for cyclic prefixing or zero padding) are not required between adjacent segments, which avoids the power and spectral overheads due to the use of cyclic prefix (CP) in the conventional FDE technique. A low-complexity bi-directional channel estimation algorithm is also developed to exploit correlation information of time-varying channels. Simulation results are provided to demonstrate the efficiency of the proposed algorithms.
Social attraction mediated by fruit flies' microbiome

Larval and adult fruit flies are attracted to volatiles emanating from food substrates that have been occupied by larvae. We tested whether such volatiles are emitted by the larval gut bacteria by conducting tests under bacteria-free (axenic) conditions. We also tested attraction to two bacteria species, Lactobacillus brevis, which we cultured from larvae in our lab, and L. plantarum, a common constituent of fruit flies' microbiome in other laboratory populations and in wild fruit flies. Neither larvae nor adults showed attraction to axenic food that had been occupied by axenic larvae, but both showed the previously reported attraction to standard food that had been occupied by larvae with an intact microbiome. Larvae also showed significant attraction to volatiles from axenic food and larvae to which we added only either L. brevis or L. plantarum, and volatiles from L. brevis reared on its optimal growth medium. Controlled learning experiments indicated that larvae experienced with both standard and axenic used food do not perceive either as superior, while focal larvae experienced with simulated used food, which contains burrows, perceive it as superior to unused food. Our results suggest that flies rely on microbiome-derived volatiles for long-distance attraction to suitable food patches. Under natural settings, fruits often contain harmful fungi and bacteria, and both L. brevis and L. plantarum produce compounds that suppress the growth of some antagonistic fungi and bacteria. The larval microbiome volatiles may therefore lead prospective fruit flies towards substrates with a hospitable microbial environment.
Nitric oxide is a potential mediator of hepatic inflammation and fibrogenesis in autoimmune hepatitis

Abstract Background. Despite advances in the understanding of the pathophysiological basis of autoimmune hepatitis (AIH), it is still difficult to delineate the mechanisms involved in progression from hepatic inflammation toward fibrosis. Our aim was to study serum concentrations of NO in AIH of different histological severity and possible effects of immunosuppressive therapy on NO production. Materials and methods. We studied serum NO metabolites (NOx) in 47 consecutive patients with AIH and in 28 age- and sex-matched controls. Results. Serum NOx concentrations were higher in AIH patients than in controls (10.3 (4.5–27.3 µmol/L) vs. 4.3 (1.6–14.3 µmol/L), p < 0.001). According to liver histology, median NOx concentrations were significantly higher in patients with severe interface hepatitis compared to patients with mild-moderate interface hepatitis (12.3 (4.5–27.3 µmol/L) vs. 9.3 (4.6–20.3 µmol/L), p = 0.029). Similarly, serum NOx concentrations were significantly higher in patients with advanced fibrosis than in those with early fibrosis (12.2 (4.6–27.3 µmol/L) vs. 9.3 (6.6–12.8 µmol/L), p = 0.018). NOx concentrations decreased in 16 AIH patients who were tested also after biochemical remission was achieved (12.6 (4.5–22.8 µmol/L) at baseline and 5.9 (2.8–10.5 µmol/L) after remission, p = 0.001). Conclusion. This study shows that serum NOx levels are associated with the histological severity of AIH. Hepatocyte inflammation and injury may activate hepatic stellate cells and kupffer cells, and the consequences may include release of NO, which ultimately promotes hepatic fibrosis. Immunosuppressive therapy inhibits this process and the production of NO.
Classifying without discriminating

Classification models usually make predictions on the basis of training data. If the training data is biased towards certain groups or classes of objects, e.g., there is racial discrimination towards black people, the learned model will also show discriminatory behavior towards that particular community. This partial attitude of the learned model may lead to biased outcomes when labeling future unlabeled data objects. Often, however, impartial classification results are desired or even required by law for future data objects in spite of having biased training data. In this paper, we tackle this problem by introducing a new classification scheme for learning unbiased models on biased training data. Our method is based on massaging the dataset by making the least intrusive modifications which lead to an unbiased dataset. On this modified dataset we then learn a non-discriminating classifier. The proposed method has been implemented and experimental results on a credit approval dataset show promising results: in all experiments our method is able to reduce the prejudicial behavior for future classification significantly without loosing too much predictive accuracy.
Ion Channel Fluctuations in Pure Lipid Bilayer Membranes: Control by voltage

Lipid bilayer membranes are shown to represent a dielectric barrier, which due to the thermodynamic fluctuations in membrane thickness, reversibly breaks down forming ion channels of discrete conductivity. The probability of the phenomenon is controlled by the electrostatic membrane potential (voltage) as well as by pH, pCa, surface pressure and temperature. Ion channel probability increases with the isothermal monolayer compressibilities. The thermodynamics theory is used to explain voltageas well as surface pressure induced ion channels observed in pure synthetic lipid bilayers in the absence of protein, polypeptide, or detergent. Ion channel localisation in the bilayer is demonstrated by variation of bilayer area and boundary conditions. Patch-clamp and Montal-Mueller techniques gave the same results. Many of the discrete steps in membrane current look indistinguishable from protein induced ion channels. It is concluded that ion channels are hydrophilic defects produced as a consequence of the thermodynamic fluctuations in the two-dimensional bimolecular phospholipid lattice. This manuscript was newly typesetted in 2004 but is otherwise identical to the original manuscript from 1989.
Tactile-emotion synesthesia

We discuss experiments on two individuals in whom specific textures (e.g., denim, wax, sandpaper, silk, etc.) evoked equally distinct emotions (e.g., depression, embarrassment, relief, and contentment, respectively). The test/retest consistency after 8 months was 100%. A video camera recorded subjects' facial expressions and skin conductance responses (SCR) were monitored as they palpated different textures. Evaluators' ratings significantly correlated with the valence of synesthetes' subjective reports, and SCR was significantly enhanced for negative synesthetic emotions. We suggest this effect arises from increased cross-activation between somatosensory cortex and insula for ‘basic’ emotions and fronto-limbic hyperactivation for more subtle emotions. It may represent an enhancement of pre-existing evolutionarily primitive interactions between touch and emotions.
Course and predictors of weight gain in people with first-episode psychosis treated with olanzapine or haloperidol

Background Substantial weight gain is common with many atypical antipsychotics. Aims To evaluate the extent, time course and predictors of weight gain and its effect on study retention among people with first-episode psychosis treated with olanzapine or haloperidol. Method Survival analysis assessed time to potentially clinically significant weight gain (⩾7%) and the effect of weight gain on study retention. Weight gain during the 2-year study was summarised using last-observation-carried-forward (LOCF), observed cases and study completion approaches. Results After 2 years of treatment, LOCF mean weight gain was 10.2 kg (s.d.=10.1) for olanzapine (n=131) and 4.0 kg (s.d.=7.3) for haloperidol (n=132); observed cases mean weight gain was 15.4 kg (s.d.=10.0) for olanzapine and 7.5 kg (s.d.=9.2) for haloperidol. Change in body mass index was significantly predicted only by treatment group (P < 0.0001). Conclusions Olanzapine was associated with significantly greater weight gain than haloperidol, with both leading to greater weight gain than previously described.
The Organization and Control of Intra-Limb Anticipatory Postural Adjustments and Their Role in Movement Performance

Anticipatory Postural Adjustments (APAs) are commonly described as unconscious muscular activities aimed to counterbalance the perturbation caused by the primary movement, so as to ensure the whole-body balance, as well as contributing to initiate the displacement of the body center of mass when starting gait or whole-body reaching movements. These activities usually create one or more fixation chains which spread over several muscles of different limbs, and may be thus called inter-limb APAs. However, it has been reported that APAs also precede voluntary movements involving tiny masses, like a flexion/extension of the wrist or even a brisk flexion of the index-finger. In particular, such movements are preceded by an intra-limb APA chain, that involves muscles acting on the proximal joints. Considering the small mass of the moving segments, it is unlikely that the ensuing perturbation could threaten the whole-body balance, so that it is interesting to enquire the physiological role of intra-limb APAs and their organization and control compared to inter-limb APAs. This review is focused on intra-limb APAs and highlights a strict correspondence in their behavior and temporal/spatial organization with respect to inter-limb APAs. Hence it is suggested that both are manifestations of the same phenomenon. Particular emphasis is given to intra-limb APAs preceding index-finger flexion, because their relatively simple biomechanics and the fact that muscular actions were limited to a single arm allowed peculiar investigations, leading to important conclusions. Indeed, such paradigm provided evidence that by granting a proper fixation of those body segments proximal to the moving one APAs are involved in refining movement precision, and also that APAs and prime mover activation are driven by a shared motor command.
Comparison of oxidative stress among migraineurs, tension-type headache subjects, and a control group

Background: A primary headache, particularly migraine, is associated with oxidative stress during the attack. However, data regarding the interictal state in migraineurs and in those with tension-type headache (TTH) is limited. Objectives: (1) To assess the oxidative stress in migraineurs and TTH subjects in between the episodes and (2) to see if there is a difference in the degree of oxidative stress in the different subtypes of migraine and TTH. Materials and Methods: Fifty migraineurs, 50 patients with TTH, and 50 control subjects were included in this study after screening for the exclusion criteria. Diagnosis of headache was made according to the International Classification of Headache Disorders (ICHD)-2 criteria. A venous blood sample was collected from the antecubital vein at least 3 days after the last attack of headache. The sample was centrifuged immediately and the plasma was stored at –70°C. The ferric reducing activity of plasma (FRAP) and the malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were assessed using colorimetric methods. Statistical analysis was done with the help of SPSS for Windows, v 11.0. One way ANOVA with post hoc Tukey test, independent sample t test, univariate regression, and multivariate regression analysis were done as indicated. Results: Migraineurs had higher values of MDA and FRAP than the subjects in the other two groups (P<0.001). No difference was observed between the TTH group and the control group. FRAP levels were significantly higher in subjects who had mixed migraine (migraine with aura and without aura) as compared to those with only migraine without aura (mean difference 196.1; 95% CI = 27.3 to 364.9; P = 0.01). Similarly, oxidative stress was significantly higher in patients with episodic TTH as compared to those with chronic TTH (FRAP t = 3.16; P = 0.003 and MDA t = 2.75; P = 0.008). Conclusions: This study suggests that oxidative stress continues even between headache episodes in migraineurs but not in those with TTH. This could probably be consequent to the different pathophysiological mechanisms of TTH and migraine.
Geographical Patterns of Parasite Infracommunities in the Rough Scad, Trachurus lathami Nichols, in the Southwestern Atlantic Ocean

Abstract: We assessed temporal variability in parasite infections of rough scad (Trachurus lathami) in 3 samples from Miramar (MI) in 2008, separated by periods of 1 mo, and 2 samples from Villa Gesell (VG), 1 each in 2008 and 2009 (Buenos Aires Province, Argentina), respectively. A sample was also obtained from Cabo Frio (CF) (Brazil) in 2009 to compare differences in parasite communities between fish from this locality and each Argentinean locality. All rough scad were parasitized by at least 1 of 27 parasite species. Similarity-based multivariate analysis revealed significant differences between localities, but temporal homogeneity in each Argentinean locality. Overall, prevalence and abundance of parasite species were most similar between samples from MI and VG, while the greatest differences occurred between samples from MI and CF. A canonical analysis of principal coordinates showed significant differences among samples. Grillotia carvajalregorum was the most important species in determining the position of Argentinean samples, especially those from MI, while Ectenurus virgulus, Raphidascaris sp. , and Hysterothylacium sp. were the most important species related to fish from CF. The parasite assemblage of T. lathami showed a notable temporal persistence within the same locality and a high variability at the spatial scale, suggesting the existence of 3 independent stocks of T. lathami in South Atlantic waters.
Waiting for the Big One: the Continued Earthquake Risk of Port-au-Prince, Haiti

The M7.0 earthquake in Haiti in 2010 was one of the most devastating in recorded history. Originally thought to have occurred along the Enriquillo-Plantain Garden Fault (EPGF), geologic, geodedic and seismologic studies following the earthquake have identified that the earthquake source was actually on the Leogane plain. This observation is a sobering one, as it signifies that the expected “Port-au-Prince earthquake”, linked with the rupture of the Enriquillo-Plantain Garden Fault, is still very much expected. While this is known, the geological evidence by itself has generated little traction for promoting risk reduction actions in the reconstruction of the city, nor in municipal planning in general. This paper therefore develops a realistic scenario of damages in the event of the rupture of the EPGF. Based on a M 7.0 rupture scenario of the EPGF, simulated spatially correlated ground-motion intensity fields are generated, and used in turn to simulate damages. The exposure model and fragility of buildings are analyzed based on the damage assessment of 400,000 buildings evaluated by the Haitian Ministry of Public Works following the 2010 earthquake. Since real data forms the basis for both fragility and exposure models, this scenario provides a very realistic example of potential damages caused by the expected “Port-auPrince earthquake. ”
Vaccination with DNA Encoding the Immunodominant LACK Parasite Antigen Confers Protective Immunity to Mice Infected with Leishmania major

To determine whether DNA immunization could elicit protective immunity to Leishmania major in susceptible BALB/c mice, cDNA for the cloned Leishmania antigen LACK was inserted into a euykaryotic expression vector downstream to the cytomegalovirus promoter. Susceptible BALB/c mice were then vaccinated subcutaneously with LACK DNA and challenged with L. major promastigotes. We compared the protective efficacy of LACK DNA vaccination with that of recombinant LACK protein in the presence or absence of recombinant interleukin (rIL)-12 protein. Protection induced by LACK DNA was similar to that achieved by LACK protein and rIL-12, but superior to LACK protein without rIL-12. The immunity conferred by LACK DNA was durable insofar as mice challenged 5 wk after vaccination were still protected, and the infection was controlled for at least 20 wk after challenge. In addition, the ability of mice to control infection at sites distant to the site of vaccination suggests that systemic protection was achieved by LACK DNA vaccination. The control of disease progression and parasitic burden in mice vaccinated with LACK DNA was associated with enhancement of antigen-specific interferon-γ (IFN-γ) production. Moreover, both the enhancement of IFN-γ production and the protective immune response induced by LACK DNA vaccination was IL-12 dependent. Unexpectedly, depletion of CD8+ T cells at the time of vaccination or infection also abolished the protective response induced by LACK DNA vaccination, suggesting a role for CD8+ T cells in DNA vaccine induced protection to L. major. Thus, DNA immunization may offer an attractive alternative vaccination strategy against intracellular pathogens, as compared with conventional vaccination with antigens combined with adjuvants.
Collaborative Output Tasks and their Effects on Learning English Comparative Adjectives

This study aimed to examine the effect of two types of collaborative output tasks on Iranian EFL learners’ comparative adjectives with two or more syllables. Thirty Iranian EFL learners participated in this study which were then divided into two experimental and one control groups; one experimental group received dictogloss task in 4-pairs and the other experimental group was given text reconstruction editing task in 6-pairs. Using pretest, posttests and delayed posttests, the data were collected through a grammaticality judgment test (GJT) and audiorecording of the learners’ interaction. Comparing the mean scores of three groups in GJT generally indicated that experimental groups gained more than the control group and text reconstruction editing group outperformed dictogloss group in noticing and learning the English comparative adjectives with two or more syllables. The transcripts of the students' verbal interactions indicated that text reconstruction editing group generated larger number of turns and language related episodes (LREs) in comparison to dictogloss group. Findings of this study also indicated that the majority of problems encountered in all the dyads were correctly solved in both dictogloss and text reconstruction editing groups, while the dictogloss group correctly solved more LREs in comparison to the text reconstruction editing group which showed that the dictogloss group was better regarding the quality of LREs. It can be concluded that the current study found evidence in support of Swain and her Received: 14/08/2016 Accepted: 02/07/2017 ∗ Corresponding author Journal of Teaching Language Skills, 36(1), Spring 2017 2 colleagues' claims (e.g. Kowal & Swain, 1994) that task implementation required the learners to produce output collaboratively which in turn leads to the internalization of grammatical features.