Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The organization of frontoparietal cortex in the tree shrew (Tupaia belangeri): II. Connectional evidence for a frontal‐posterior parietal network

Tree shrews are small squirrel‐like mammals that are the closest living relative to primates available for detailed neurobiological study. In a recent study (Remple et al. [2006] J. Comp. Neurol. 497:133–154), we provided anatomical and electrophysiological evidence that the frontoparietal cortex of tree shrews has two motor fields (M1 and M2) and five somatosensory fields (3a, 3b, S2, somatosensory caudal area [SC], and parietal ventral area [PV]). In the present study, we injected anatomical tracers into M1, M2, 3a, 3b, SC, and posterior parietal cortex to establish the ipsilateral cortical connections of these areas. The results provide evidence for a number of new cortical areas including medial motor and somatosensory areas (MMA and MSA), three posterior parietal areas (PPd, PPv, and PPc), and an area ventral to temporal inferior cortex (TIV). M1 receives topographic projections from M2, MMA, 3a, and PPv, and nontopographic connections from the temporal anterior and dorsal areas (TA and TD), PPc, TIV, and MSA. The connections of M2 are similar to those of M1, except that M2 receives denser projections from TIV, PPc, and dorsal frontal cortex and sparser input from M1. Areas 3a, 3b, and SC receive dense topographic projections from each other, S2, and PV and sparser connections from PPd and PPv. Area 3a receives additional input from posterior parietal and temporal regions and from M1 and MMA. Overall, the frontoparietal connections of tree shrew cortex are most similar to those of prosimian primates and quite different from those of more distant relatives such as rats. J. Comp. Neurol. 501:121–149, 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
School Drop-Out and Push-Out Factors in Brazil: The Role of Early Parenthood, Child Labor, and Poverty

This paper aims to identify the major drop-out and push-out factors that lead to school abandonment in an urban surrounding-the shantytowns of Fortaleza, Northeast Brazil. The authors use an extensive survey addressing risk factors faced by the population in these neighborhoods, which cover both in-school and out-of-school youth of both genders. They focus on the role of early parenthood, child labor, and poverty in pushing teenagers out of school. The potential endogeneity of some of the determinants is dealt with in the empirical analysis. The authors take advantage of the rich set of variables available and apply an instrumental variables approach. Early parenthood is instrumented with the age declared by the youngsters as the ideal age to start having sexual relationships. Work is instrumented using the declared reservation wage (minimum salary acceptable to work). Results indicate that early parenthood has a strong impact of driving teenagers out of school. Extreme poverty is another factor lowering school attendance, as children who have suffered hunger at some point in their lives are less likely to attend school. In this particular urban context, working does not necessarily have a detrimental effect on school attendance, which could be linked to the fact that dropping out of school leads most often to inactivity and not to work.
Modafinil for the treatment of fatigue in lung cancer: results of a placebo-controlled, double-blind, randomized trial.

PURPOSE Fatigue is a distressing symptom occurring in more than 60% of patients with cancer. The CNS stimulants modafinil and methylphenidate are recommended for the treatment of cancer-related fatigue, despite a limited evidence base. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of modafinil in the management of fatigue in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). PATIENTS AND METHODS Adults with advanced NSCLC and performance status of 0 to 2, who were not treated with chemotherapy or radiotherapy within the last 4 weeks, were randomly assigned to daily modafinil (100 mg on days 1 to 14; 200 mg on days 15 to 28) or matched placebo. The primary outcome was change in Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy (FACIT) -Fatigue score from baseline to 28 days, adjusted for baseline fatigue and performance status. Secondary outcomes included safety and patient-reported measures of depression, daytime sleepiness, and quality of life. RESULTS A total of 208 patients were randomly assigned, and 160 patients (modafinil, n = 75; placebo, n = 85) completed questionnaires at both baseline and day 28 and were included in the modified intention-to-treat analysis. FACIT-Fatigue scores improved from baseline to day 28 (mean score change: modafinil, 5.29; 95% CI, 2.57 to 8.02; placebo, 5.09; 95% CI, 2.54 to 7.65), but there was no difference between treatments (0.20; 95% CI, -3.56 to 3.97). There was also no difference between treatments for the secondary outcomes; 47% of the modafinil group and 23% of the placebo group stated that the intervention was not helpful. CONCLUSION Modafinil had no effect on cancer-related fatigue and should not be prescribed outside a clinical trial setting. Its use was associated with a clinically significant placebo effect.
Living While Black

This article examines the effects of select social stressors on the quality of life among Black Americans. Specifically, the authors created a state-level Living While Black index, which includes the Black poverty level by state, the number of Black prisoners by state, the lack of access to health care per Black population, the Black infant mortality rate, the Black homicide rate, and dollars per Black population of Black businesses. Using multivariate statistical techniques, the authors carried out a first-order test of the influence of the living while Black measures on a quality of life index comprising the following measures: number of days per month 5 or more drinks, percentage of Blacks indicating they have mental health problems, suicide rates by state for Blacks, and years of life lost per state for Blacks. The article concludes by discussing the implications of the findings and directions for future research.
Perspectives on Coaching Pace Skill in Distance Running: A Commentary

INTRODUCTION Bradley Young’s paper presents an insightful challenge to the dominant conception of coaching distance runners, whereby training a runner to race is best done as a repetitive practice, e.g., repeating intervals at a specific pace. This widely held belief dates back to early experiments in interval training conducted by Woldemar Gerschler and Dr. Hans Reindell of the University of Freiburg in Germany in the late 1930’s.
The recovery potential of intrinsically versus extrinsically motivated off‐job activities

Thus far, studies on employee recovery have produced mixed findings about which off-job activities contribute or impede recovery. We suggest that the recovery potential of an off-job activity depends on the employee's motivation for the activity. Based on Self-Determination theory, we expect that leisure activities (social, low-effort, physical activities), particularly lead to next morning recovery when one has intrinsic, as opposed to extrinsic, motivational tendencies for the activity. Likewise, the harmful effects of high-duty off-job activities (work-related tasks, household chores, care tasks) are expected to be less severe when one is intrinsically, and not extrinsically, motivated for the tasks. During five consecutive days, 74 employees (356 data points) recorded the hours spent on six off-job activities before going to sleep, and their feelings of exhaustion and recovery the next morning, while overall motivation for each of the six activities was measured by a general questionnaire. As predicted, the positive relationship between leisure activities and next morning recovery was more pronounced among employees with greater inherent intrinsic, in comparison with extrinsic motivation for the activity. Moreover, intrinsic motivation attenuated the positive relationship between high-duty tasks and next morning exhaustion. Our findings highlight the importance of intrinsic motivation for the recovery potential of off-job activities.
Tetracycline Resistance Genes in Campylobacter jejuni and C. coli Isolated From Poultry Carcasses

Background: Campylobacter is one of the leading bacterial species causing foodborne illnesses in humans. Antimicrobial agents have been extensively used for treatment of Campylobacter infections; but in the recent years, both animal and human isolates of this bacterium have shown resistance to several antibiotics such as tetracycline. Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of genetic determinants of tetracycline resistance in Campylobacter spp. recovered from poultry carcasses in Shiraz, Iran. Materials and Methods: Eighty-three thermophilic Campylobacter spp. Isolates were first identified based on multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and then screened for presence of tetracycline resistance genes (tet (A), tet (B), tet (O) and te (S)) by PCR. Results: The overall prevalence of Campylobacter jejuni and C. coli among the examined isolates was 51.8% and 48.2%, respectively. Tetracycline resistance genes of tet (B) and tet (S) were not seen among these Campylobacter spp. Isolates, whereas the most common tet gene identiﬁed was tet (O), found in 83.1% (69/83) of all the isolates. The tet (O) gene sequence comparison between C. jejuni and C. coli showed 100% similarity and these sequences (JX853721and JX853722) were also identical to the homologous sequences of other strains of Campylobacter spp. existing in the GenBank databases. In addition, tet (A) was found in 18% (15/83) of Campylobacter spp. isolates. To our knowledge, this represents the first report of tet (A) in Campylobacter spp. There was 100% homology between the sequences of tet (A) from this study (JX891463 and JX891464) and the tet (A) sequences mentioned for other bacteria in the GenBank databases. Conclusions: The high prevalence of tet (O) resistance gene along with new detection of tet (A) resistance gene in Campylobacter spp. isolated from poultry carcasses revealed an extensive tetracycline resistance among Campylobacter isolates from poultry in Iran. It emphasized the need for cautious use of tetracycline in poultry production to decrease the extension of tetracycline-resistant Campylobacter spp.
Xenoandrogenic Activity in Serum Differs across European and Inuit Populations

Background Animal and in vitro studies have indicated that human male reproductive disorders can arise as a result of disrupted androgen receptor (AR) signalling by persistent organic pollutants (POPs). Our aim in the present study was to compare serum xenoandrogenic activity between study groups with different POP exposures and to evaluate correlations to the POP proxy markers 2,2′,4,4′,5,5′-hexachlorobiphenyl (CB-153) and 1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)-ethylene (p,p′-DDE). Methods We determined xenoandrogenic activity in the serum fraction containing the lipophilic POPs but free of endogenous hormones. Adult male serum (n = 261) from Greenland, Sweden, Warsaw (Poland), and Kharkiv (Ukraine) was analyzed. Xenoandrogenic activity was determined as the effect of serum extract alone (XAR) and in the presence of the synthetic AR agonist R1881 (XARcomp) on AR transactivated luciferase activity. Results The study groups differed significantly with respect to XARcomp activity, which was increased in the Inuits and decreased in the European study groups; we observed no difference for XAR activity. We found the highest level of the AR antagonist p,p′-DDE in Kharkiv, and accordingly, this study group showed the highest percent of serum samples with decreased XARcomp activities. Furthermore, the percentage of serum samples with decreased XARcomp activities followed the p,p′-DDE serum level for the European study groups. No correlations between serum XAR or XARcomp activities and the two POP markers were revealed. Conclusions The differences in XARcomp serum activity between the study groups suggest differences in chemical exposure profiles, genetics, and/or lifestyle factors.
Whole Genome Sequence and Phylogenetic Analysis Show Helicobacter pylori Strains from Latin America Have Followed a Unique Evolution Pathway

Helicobacter pylori (HP) genetics may determine its clinical outcomes. Despite high prevalence of HP infection in Latin America (LA), there have been no phylogenetic studies in the region. We aimed to understand the structure of HP populations in LA mestizo individuals, where gastric cancer incidence remains high. The genome of 107 HP strains from Mexico, Nicaragua and Colombia were analyzed with 59 publicly available worldwide genomes. To study bacterial relationship on whole genome level we propose a virtual hybridization technique using thousands of high-entropy 13 bp DNA probes to generate fingerprints. Phylogenetic virtual genome fingerprint (VGF) was compared with Multi Locus Sequence Analysis (MLST) and with phylogenetic analyses of cagPAI virulence island sequences. With MLST some Nicaraguan and Mexican strains clustered close to Africa isolates, whereas European isolates were spread without clustering and intermingled with LA isolates. VGF analysis resulted in increased resolution of populations, separating European from LA strains. Furthermore, clusters with exclusively Colombian, Mexican, or Nicaraguan strains were observed, where the Colombian cluster separated from Europe, Asia, and Africa, while Nicaraguan and Mexican clades grouped close to Africa. In addition, a mixed large LA cluster including Mexican, Colombian, Nicaraguan, Peruvian, and Salvadorian strains was observed; all LA clusters separated from the Amerind clade. With cagPAI sequence analyses LA clades clearly separated from Europe, Asia and Amerind, and Colombian strains formed a single cluster. A NeighborNet analyses suggested frequent and recent recombination events particularly among LA strains. Results suggests that in the new world, H. pylori has evolved to fit mestizo LA populations, already 500 years after the Spanish colonization. This co-adaption may account for regional variability in gastric cancer risk.
Target Selection in Area V4 during a Multidimensional Visual Search Task

Natural scenes typically contain multiple objects that are unique in different stimulus dimensions so that an object with feature contrast to surrounding objects draws attention and pops out. Furthermore, if we have previous knowledge about the dimension in which a target object differs from the surrounding objects, we will attend to that dimension and more easily detect the target. Our aims here were to elucidate neural mechanisms underlying this type of attention by recording neuronal activities from area V4 and to investigate how visual signals encoding feature contrast between objects are modulated by attention specific to a particular dimension. To accomplish this, we trained monkeys to do a multidimensional visual search task in which two singleton stimuli, unique in the color or shape dimension, were presented with four other identical stimuli. The monkeys had to search for the singleton stimulus that was unique in the instructed dimension while the search dimension was switched between shape and color. We found that individual V4 neurons carry visual signals encoding feature contrast in either shape or color, and this signal is modulated depending on the search dimension. Population responses to the target singleton stimulus were significantly higher than to others, regardless of the search dimension. In most V4 neurons, however, significant response increases occurred only when one particular singleton stimulus was the target. These findings suggest that interaction between bottom-up signals encoding feature contrast between stimuli and top-down signals encoding search dimension occurs in V4 and facilitates adaptive selection of targets in a complex visual environment.
A Latino Scorecard for Higher Education

A Latino scorecard is presented for higher education institutions using an index of eight measures for resources, effectiveness, diversity, equity, affordability, and access. It is applied to public 4-year institutions in Texas and shows that institutions located in South Texas and those with higher resources do better relative to Latino students. The scorecard can inform Latino parents on how institutions perform relative to Latinos and provide objective information on performance to colleges and universities to institutions.
‘They do not relate to Black people like us’: Black teachers as role models for Black pupils

Growing concerns about the experience and achievement of Black pupils (especially Black males) underpin calls for more Black people to serve as teacher and lay mentor role models in schools. Calls for increased numbers of Black teacher role models assume firstly, that Black teachers regard themselves as role models and want to perform such a role in school. Secondly, that Black pupils will automatically see Black teachers as role models for Black pupils and make a connection between the behaviour modelled by Black teachers and their own behaviour, aspirations or achievement. Thirdly, that Black teachers are the most appropriate role models for Black pupils. This article draws on empirical data to explore these assumptions and to illustrate the ways in which they are flawed.
In Vitro Evidence Supports Membrane Alanyl Aminopeptidase N as a Receptor for a Plant Virus in the Pea Aphid Vector

ABSTRACT Insect-borne plant viruses cause significant agricultural losses and jeopardize sustainable global food production. Although blocking plant virus transmission would allow for crop protection, virus receptors in insect vectors are unknown. Here we identify membrane alanyl aminopeptidase N (APN) as a receptor for pea enation mosaic virus (PEMV) coat protein (CP) in the gut of the pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum, using a far-Western blot method. Pulldown and immunofluorescence binding assays and surface plasmon resonance were used to confirm and characterize CP-APN interaction. PEMV virions and a peptide comprised of PEMV CP fused to a proline-rich hinge (-P-) and green fluorescent protein (CP-P-GFP) specifically bound to APN. Recombinant APN expressed in Sf9 cells resulted in internalization of CP-P-GFP, which was visualized by confocal microscopy; such internalization is an expected hallmark of a functional gut receptor. Finally, in assays with aphid gut-derived brush border membrane vesicles, binding of CP-P-GFP competed with binding of GBP3.1, a peptide previously demonstrated to bind to APN in the aphid gut and to impede PEMV uptake into the hemocoel; this finding supports the hypothesis that GBP3.1 and PEMV bind to and compete for the same APN receptor. These in vitro data combined with previously published in vivo experiments (S. Liu, S. Sivakumar, W. O. Sparks, W. A. Miller, and B. C. Bonning, Virology 401:107–116, 2010, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.virol.2010.02.009) support the identification of APN as the first receptor in a plant virus vector. Knowledge of this receptor will provide for technologies based on PEMV-APN interaction designed to block plant virus transmission and to suppress aphid populations. IMPORTANCE A significant proportion of global food production is lost to insect pests. Aphids, in addition to weakening plants by feeding on their sap, are responsible for transmitting about half of the plant viruses vectored by insects. Growers rely heavily on the application of chemical insecticides to manage both aphids and aphid-vectored plant viral disease. To increase our understanding of plant virus-aphid vector interaction, we provide in vitro evidence supporting earlier in vivo work for identification of a receptor protein in the aphid gut called aminopeptidase N, which is responsible for entry of the plant virus pea enation mosaic virus into the pea aphid vector. Enrichment of proteins found on the surface of the aphid gut epithelium resulted in identification of this first aphid gut receptor for a plant virus. This discovery is particularly important since the disruption of plant virus binding to such a receptor may enable the development of a nonchemical strategy for controlling aphid-vectored plant viruses to maximize food production.
Crystal Structure of an Indole-3-Acetic Acid Amido Synthetase from Grapevine Involved in Auxin Homeostasis[W]

The crystal structure of an indole-3-acetic acid amido synthetase from Vitis vinifera involved in auxin homeostasis is presented. Residues likely to be involved in acyl group, amino acid, and ATP substrate binding have been identified, and this information provides a tool for designing new, effective auxins. Auxins are important for plant growth and development, including the control of fruit ripening. Conjugation to amino acids by indole-3-acetic acid (IAA)-amido synthetases is an important part of auxin homeostasis. The structure of the auxin-conjugating Gretchen Hagen3-1 (GH3-1) enzyme from grapevine (Vitis vinifera), in complex with an inhibitor (adenosine-5′-[2-(1H-indol-3-yl)ethyl]phosphate), is presented. Comparison with a previously published benzoate-conjugating enzyme from Arabidopsis thaliana indicates that grapevine GH3-1 has a highly similar domain structure and also undergoes a large conformational change during catalysis. Mutational analyses and structural comparisons with other proteins have identified residues likely to be involved in acyl group, amino acid, and ATP substrate binding. Vv GH3-1 is a monomer in solution and requires magnesium ions solely for the adenlyation reaction. Modeling of IAA and two synthetic auxins, benzothiazole-2-oxyacetic acid (BTOA) and 1-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA), into the active site indicates that NAA and BTOA are likely to be poor substrates for this enzyme, confirming previous enzyme kinetic studies. This suggests a reason for the increased effectiveness of NAA and BTOA as auxins in planta and provides a tool for designing new and effective auxins.
Prognostic significance of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio in patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma: a meta-analysis

Systemic inflammation responses can be reflected by peripheral blood count and combine index like the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte (NLR). The NLR has been reported to be a poor prognostic indicator in cancer recently. However, the prognostic effect of the NLR in patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) still unclear yet. We conducted this meta-analysis aiming to evaluate the pooled value of NLR in prognosis as well as clinical characteristics in malignant pleural mesothelioma. A total of 11 studies with 1533 patients were included in this meta-analysis, in which 10 studies investigated the prognosis role of NLR using hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). The elevated NLR was detected to be associated with a poor overall survival (OS)(HR=1.48, 95%CI=1.16-1.89, P < 0.001). The significant prognostic roles of NLR were also indicated in subgroup analyses. NLR level was also associated with histology instead of gender, stage or performance status (PS) score. These findings suggested that the elevated NLR could be a potential prognostic factor for malignant pleural mesothelioma patients and might be associated with histology as an efficient clinical index to stratify patients.