Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Functional anatomy of the thalamus in the blind mole rat Spalax ehrenbergi: An architectonic and electrophysiologically controlled tracing study

The occipital cortex of the naturally blind mole rat, Spalax ehrenbergi, is occupied by an area of somatosensory representation. To date, no visual cortex has been identified electrophysiologically. In order to determine whether there are corresponding modifications in the thalamus, thalamocortical connections were studied with neuroanatomical tracing methods. Three different fluorescent tracers were injected under electrophysiological control into distinct cortical areas. Injections into the somatosensory head/face and hindlimb/trunk areas of representation revealed a posteromedial ventral nucleus and a posterolateral ventral nucleus, respectively. Additional somatotopic labeling was found in an area dorsomedial to the two ventral nuclei. This structure may be equivalent to the posterior nuclear complex in the laboratory rat. Injections into the auditory cortex of the mole rat resulted in labeling of the medial geniculate body. In contrast to the situation in the laboratory rat, in which a prominent dorsolateral geniculate body and a ventrolateral geniculate body assume dorsolateral positions, the somatosensory thalamus of the mole rat almost reaches the dorsolateral surface. This finding is corroborated by the results of the architectonic study, which failed to reveal a differentiated lateral geniculate body. Our observations suggest that the thalamocortical visual system in the mole rat is minute, whereas the somatosensory system is expanded. This situation fits the mode of life of this subterranean animal, for which touch is more important than vision. © 1994 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Optimal Mortgage Design

This article studies optimal mortgage design in a continuous-time setting with volatile and privately observable income, costly foreclosure, and a stochastic market interest rate. We show that the features of the optimal mortgage are consistent with an option adjustable-rate mortgage (option ARM). Under the optimal contract, the borrower is given discretion of how much to repay until his balance reaches a certain limit. The default rates and interest rate payment on the mortgage correlate positively with the market interest rate. Gains from using the optimal contract relative to simpler mortgages are the biggest for those who face more income variability, buy pricey houses given their income level, or make little or no down payment. Our model thus may help to explain a high concentration of option ARMs among riskier borrowers. The Author 2010. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of The Society for Financial Studies. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oxfordjournals.org. , Oxford University Press.
Seabird parents provision their chick in a coordinated manner

Pair collaborative behavior may play an important role in avian reproduction. However, evidence for this mainly comes from certain ecological groups (e.g. passerines). We studied the coordination of parents in foraging and its effect on food provisioning rate and chick growth in a small seabird, the Dovekie (Little auk, Alle alle). The species exhibits a dual foraging strategy, where provisioning adults make foraging trips of short (mean ~2 h; to provide food for the chick) and long duration (mean ~ 13 h; mainly for adults self-maintenance, although the food is also brought to the chick). We expected that offspring would benefit if parents coordinate their foraging patterns: one making short trips in the time when the other performing the long one. We examined this hypothesis using Monte Carlo randomization tests on field data collected during observations of individually marked birds. We found that parents did indeed adjust provisioning, making their long and short trips in an alternating pattern with respect to each other. Furthermore, we found that a higher level of coordination is associated with a lower variability in the duration of inter-feeding intervals, although this does not affect chick growth. Nevertheless, our results provide compelling evidence on the coordinated behavior of breeding partners.
Compulsory Order of Substrate Binding to Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 Thymidine Kinase

Isothermal titration calorimetry has been used to investigate the thermodynamic parameters of the binding of thymidine (dT) and ATP to herpes simplex virus type 1 thymidine kinase (HSV1 TK). Binding follows a sequential pathway in which dT binds first and ATP second. The free enzyme does not bind ATP, whose binding site becomes only accessible in the HSV1 TK·dT complex. At pH 7.5 and 25 °C, the binding constants are 1.9 × 105 m −1 for dT and 3.9 × 106 m −1 for ATP binding to the binary HSV1 TK·dT complex. Binding of both substrates is enthalpy-driven and opposed by a large negative entropy change. The heat capacity change (ΔCp) obtained from ΔH in the range of 10–25 °C is −360 cal K−1 mol−1 for dT binding and −140 cal K−1 mol−1 for ATP binding. These large ΔCp values are incompatible with a rigid body binding model in which the dT and ATP binding sites pre-exist in the free enzyme. Values of ΔCp andTΔS strongly indicate large scale conformational adaptation of the active site in sequential substrate binding. The conformational changes seem to be more pronounced in dT binding than in the subsequent ATP binding. Considering the crystal structure of the ternary HSV1 TK·dT·ATP complex, a large movement in the dT binding domain and a smaller but substantial movement in the LID domain are proposed to take place when the enzyme changes from the substrate-free, presumably more open and less ordered conformation to the closed and compact conformation of the ternary enzyme-substrate complex.
Differential In Vivo Regulation of mRNA Encoding the Norepinephrine Transporter and Tyrosine Hydroxylase in Rat Adrenal Medulla and Locus Ceruleus

Abstract: To investigate the regulation of norepinephrine transporter mRNA in vivo, we analyzed the effects of reserpine on its expression in the rat adrenal medulla and locus ceruleus. First, PCR was used to clone a 0.5‐kb rat cDNA fragment that exhibits 87% nucleotide identity to the corresponding human norepinephrine transporter cDNA sequence. In situ, the cDNA hybridizes specifically within norepinephrine‐secreting cells, but in neither dopamine nor serotonin neurons, suggesting strongly it is a partial rat norepinephrine transporter cDNA. Reserpine, 10 mg/kg administered 24 h premortem, decreased steady‐state levels of norepinephrine transporter mRNA in the adrenal medulla by ∼65% and in the locus ceruleus by ∼25%, as determined by quantitative in situ hybridization. Northern analysis confirmed the results of the in situ hybridization analysis in the adrenal medulla but did not detect the smaller changes observed in the locus ceruleus. Both analyses showed that reserpine increased tyrosine hydroxylase expression in the adrenal medulla and locus ceruleus. These results suggest that noradrenergic neurons and adrenal chromaffin cells can coordinate opposing changes in systems mediating catecholamine uptake and synthesis, to compensate for catecholamine depletion.
Apolipoprotein E polymorphisms and ischaemic stroke: a two‐center Greek study

Apolipropotein E(apoE) is a plasma protein exhibiting three common isoforms (E2, E3, E4). Its involvement in lipoprotein metabolism may have an impact on stroke occurrence. As results in the literature are inconclusive further studies are needed to elucidate its role. Our objective was to study the role of apoE isoforms and the interplay with environmental risk factors in patients with first ischaemic stroke occurrence in the Greek population.
The role of dietary cholesterol in the regulation of postprandial apolipoprotein B48 levels in diabetes

The atherogenicity of intestinally derived postprandial lipoproteins has been confirmed in a number of recent studies. We have shown abnormalities in postprandial lipoprotein metabolism in diabetic patients, a group with an increased susceptibility to atherosclerosis. This study examined the relationship between dietary cholesterol and the postprandial, intestinally derived, apolipoprotein B48 and apolipoprotein B100 from the liver. We compared 10 non‐insulin‐dependent (Type 2, NIDDM) diabetic patients and 10 age‐matched non‐diabetic control subjects. Fasting blood was taken and subjects were fed a cholesterol‐free, high fat meal. Blood samples were repeated at 2 h, 4 h, 6 h, and 8 h postprandial. The following week fasting blood was collected and subjects were given the same meal with 1g of added cholesterol. Blood was collected at the same time points. Chylomicrons and very low density lipoprotein were isolated by sequential ultracentrifugation and their lipoprotein composition determined. Apolipoproteins B48 and B100 were separated by gradient gel electrophoresis and quantified by densitometric scanning using a low density lipoprotein apolipoprotein B100 standard. Post prandial chylomicron cholesterol and triglyceride increased after the high cholesterol meal in both groups (p < 0.001). The postprandial chylomicron apolipoprotein B48 response of both diabetic and control subjects to the cholesterol meal was less than to the cholesterol‐free meal (p < 0.001). Fasting very low density lipoprotein apolipoprotein B48 was higher in diabetic patients compared to control subjects and their postprandial increase following the cholesterol‐free meal was significantly greater (p < 0.001). There was a 10‐fold increase in the incremental postprandial VLDL apolipoprotein B48 area under the curve after the cholesterol‐rich meal in the diabetic patients compared to a 3‐fold increase in control subjects. The postprandial very low density lipoprotein apolipoprotein B100 was similar in the two groups with both meals. The study demonstrates a very significant increase in the amount of intestinally derived small apolipoprotein B48‐associated particles in the very low density lipoprotein fraction following a cholesterol‐rich meal in diabetic patients. Synthesis rather than clearance may be the major cause of the increase in these atherogenic postprandial particles. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Optimized CMOS RF-DC converters for remote wireless powering of RFID applications

In this paper, we present for the first time a novel optimization procedure which allows to maximize the efficiency of RF-DC energy harvester converters, taking into account the contributions of the matching network. Thanks to this procedure, we have designed and realized a CMOS RF-DC converter operating in a very wide range of input power -14÷+1dBm with a peak efficiency of 45% The RF-DC converter provides a constant output voltage ~2V in the whole input power range thanks to a smart voltage regulator integrated with the converter.
A comparative toxicological investigation of perfluorocarboxylic acids in rats by fluorine-19 NMR spectroscopy.

Male Fischer-344 rats administered a single intraperitoneal dose of perfluoro-n-octanoic acid (PFOA) or perfluoro-n-decanoic acid (PFDA) display a similar "wasting toxicity" characteristic of perfluorocarboxylic acids, with marked differences in temporal expression. Food/water consumption and urine output were monitored daily in PFOA-treated, PFDA-treated, and control rats. Fluorine-19 nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy was used to monitor these fluorocarbons and possible fluoro metabolites in vivo, and to correlate differences in elimination with differences in effective toxicity. The data reveal a prolonged hypophagic response to PFDA and a more acute but transient response associated with PFOA treatment. PFOA causes a greater decline in food consumption than PFDA within the first 24 h postdose. PFOA-treated rats also show a ca. 2.5-fold increase in urine output on day 1, with only a slight increase in water consumption. In contrast to PFDA, PFOA-treated rats recover from hypophagia within 8 days. Fluorine-19 NMR spectra of various bodily fluids and liver in vivo display resonances of the parent PFOA or PFDA compounds and do not reveal any evidence of metabolism. Inorganic fluoride from dietary sources is detected in urine from both exposed and control rats. Differences in the route of excretion of PFOA vs PFDA are apparent from the spectral signal-to-noise ratio. The data suggest that PFOA is more readily excreted in the urine while PFDA is preferentially carried in bile. These apparent differences in elimination may account for their observed differences in effective toxicity. The acute transient toxicity and higher LD50 associated with PFOA may result from its rapid renal clearance. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Potential Risk of Radiotherapy on Fertility among Male Cancer Survivors

The potential impact of radiotherapy on male fertility depends mainly on the total radiotherapy dose, tumor location, treatment volume, fractionation schedule, pre-treatment fertility status, and post-treatment survival of type-A spermatogonia. Very low doses of direct testicular radiation could cause damage to the germinal epithelium. Doses above 0.8Gy result in azoospermia and doses below 0.8Gy give rise to oligospermia, with complete recovery (return to pre-irradiation sperm concentration), within 9-18 months following 1Gy or less, 30 months for 2-3Gy and 5 years or more for doses of 4Gy and above. Leydig cells are more resistant to damage from radiotherapy than the germinal epithelium. Direct testicular irradiation of 20Gy, in 10 fractions, could increase the LH levels, with a decrease in serum testosterone level. Scattered testicular irradiation is more common. Unlike the majority of normal tissues, radiation doses to the germinal epithelium of the testis given in fractionated courses cause more gonadal damage than single doses. scattered testicular doses of 0.2-0.7, 0.7-1.2, and more than 1.2Gy can cause transient oligospermia, transient azoospermia and prolonged azoospermia respectively. Leydig cell function is usually preserved with scattered doses up to 20Gy in prepubertal boys and 30Gy in sexually mature men. If the hypothalamic-pituitary axis falls within the radiation fields, the patient is at risk of developing hypopituitarism with subsequent long-term gonadotrophin deficiency in 30-60% of cases receiving high dose radiation (50-70Gy) as in pituitary tumor and nasopharyngeal carcinoma.
Use of the Laryngeal Mask Airway in Children with Upper Respiratory Tract Infections: A Comparison with Endotracheal Intubation

Several studies suggest that placement of an endotracheal tube (ETT) in a child with an upper respiratory infection (URI) increases the risk of complications.However, the development of the laryngeal mask airway (LMA) has provided anesthesiologists with an alternative means of airway management. This study was therefore designed to evaluate the use of the LMA in children with URIs and to compare it with the ETT. The study sample consisted of 82 pediatric patients (3 mo to 16 yr of age) who presented for elective surgery with an URI. Patients with URIs were randomly allocated to receive either an ETT (n = 41) or a LMA (n = 41) and were followed for the appearance and severity of any perioperative complications. The two groups were similar with respect to age, gender, anesthesia and surgery times, number of attempts at tube placement, and presenting URI symptoms. There were no differences between groups in the incidence of cough, breath-holding, excessive secretions, or arrhythmias. Although one patient in the ETT group required a muscle relaxant for laryngospasm, the overall incidence of laryngospasm was similar between the two groups. There was, however, a significantly greater incidence of mild bronchospasm in the ETT group compared with the LMA group (12.2% vs 0%, P < 0.05). The incidence of major arterial oxygen desaturation events (Spo2 <90%) during placement of the airway device was also significantly increased in the ETT group (12.5% vs 0%, P < 0.05). Furthermore, the total number of all episodes of respiratory complications, i.e., breath-holding, laryngospasm, bronchospasm, and major oxygen desaturation, was significantly greater in the ETT group (35 vs 19, P < 0.05). Despite this, all respiratory complications were easily managed, and there were no adverse sequelae. Although the risks associated with anesthetizing a child with an URI remain controversial, results from this study suggest that the LMA offers a suitable alternative to the ETT for use in children with URIs. Implications: This study compares the use of the laryngeal mask airway with the endotracheal tube for airway management in children with upper respiratory infections. Results suggest that if the decision is made to proceed with anesthesia for the child with an upper respiratory infection, then the laryngeal mask airway provides a suitable alternative to the endotracheal tube. (Anesth Analg 1998;86:706-11)
Newer concepts for imaging anomalous aortic origin of the coronary arteries in adults

Of the different kinds of coronary anomalies observed in adults, anomalous origin of a coronary artery from the opposite sinus of Valsalva with an “interarterial” course (ACAOS) entails a high risk of clinical consequences related to the intramural course of the ectopic coronary artery. We review current imaging modalities for differentiating this condition from generally benign coronary anomalies and for quantifying the severity of individual cases. For identifying ACAOS, noninvasive modalities (echocardiography, computed tomographic angiography, and coronary magnetic resonance angiography) are preferred: the favored modalities are transthoracic echocardiography in children and multidetector computed tomography in adults. For evaluating the pathophysiologic mechanisms of ischemia in ACAOS and subclassifying the severity of individual forms, coronary intravascular ultrasonography provides enhanced temporal and spatial resolution. The critical quantifiable features of the coronary anatomy in ACAOS seem to be hypoplasia, lateral compression at the level of the intramural course, and possibly exercise‐related further narrowing of the proximal ectopic segment. Definitive guidelines are being developed for the optimal workup and treatment of ACAOS. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Renal toxicity mediated by glucose degradation products in a rat model of advanced renal failure

Background In peritoneal dialysis (PD) residual renal function contributes to improved patient survival and quality of life. Glucose degradation products (GDP) generated by heat sterilization of PD fluids do not only impair the peritoneal membrane, but also appear in the systemic circulation with the potential for organ toxicity. Here we show that in a rat model of advanced renal failure, GDP affect the structure and function of the remnant kidney.
Imaging‐guided convection‐enhanced delivery and gene therapy of glioblastoma

In a prospective phase I/II clinical study, we treated eight patients suffering from recurrent glioblastoma multiform with stereotactically guided intratumoral convection‐enhanced delivery of an HSV‐1‐tk gene–bearing liposomal vector and systemic ganciclovir. Noninvasive identification of target tissue together with assessment of vector‐distribution volume and the effects of gene therapy were achieved using magnetic resonance imaging and positron emission tomography. The treatment was tolerated well without major side effects. In two of eight patients, we observed a greater than 50% reduction of tumor volume and in six of eight patients focal treatment effects. Intracerebral infusion of contrast medium before vector application displayed substantial inhomogeneity of tissue staining indicating the need of test infusions to monitor the mechanical distribution of vectors. Visualization of therapeutic effects on tumor metabolism and documentation of gene expression using positron emission tomography indicated that molecular imaging technology appears to be essential for the further development of biological treatment strategies.
The role of alpha-folate receptor-mediated transport in the antitumor activity of antifolate drugs.

PURPOSE Raltitrexed, pemetrexed, lometrexol, and ZD9331 are antifolate drugs transported into cells via the ubiquitously expressed reduced-folate carrier. They display also high affinity for the alpha-folate receptor (alpha-FR), a low capacity folate transporter that is highly overexpressed in some epithelial tumors. The role of alpha-FR in the activity of the antifolates has been evaluated in two alpha-FR-overexpressing cell lines grown in a physiological concentration of folate (20 nM R,S-Leucovorin). EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN AND RESULTS A431-FBP cells (transfected with the alpha-FR) were 3-5-fold more sensitive to the antifolates than A431 cells. KB cells (constitutive alpha-FR overexpression) were less sensitive to the drugs when coexposed to 1 microM folic acid to competitively inhibit binding to the alpha-FR. Raltitrexed, pemetrexed, and lometrexol are polyglutamated in cells leading to drug retention, e.g., the raltitrexed 4- and 24-h IC(50)s in A431 cells were approximately 0.6 and 0.008 microM, respectively, compared with 0.003 microM for 72-h continuous exposure. A431-FBP cells were approximately 3-fold more sensitive to raltitrexed and pemetrexed at all exposure times. ZD9331 is not polyglutamated, and the 4- and 24-h IC(50)s in A431 cells were >100 and approximately 100 microM, respectively, reducing to 2 and 0.1 microM, respectively, in A431-FBP cells. The ZD9331 4- and 24-h IC(50)s in KB cells were 20 and 1 microM, respectively, and reversible by coaddition of 1 microM folic acid. An in situ thymidylate synthase assay demonstrated continued thymidylate synthase inhibition after ZD9331-treated A431-FBP and KB, but not A431, cells were placed in drug-free medium for 16 h. A model is proposed in which the antifolates accumulate in the alpha-FR/endosomal apparatus, leading to slow release into the cytoplasm. In particular, this leads to cellular retention of the nonpolyglutamatable ZD9331. CONCLUSIONS Antifolate drugs, particularly ZD9331, have the potential for increased efficacy in tumors that highly overexpress the alpha-FR.
A search for arteriovenous anastomoses in human skin using ultrasound Doppler.

The possible existence of arteriovenous anastomoses (AVAs) in skin regions of the head and thorax has been investigated using the synchronous vasomotion of the AVAs. Simultaneous pairs of blood velocity recordings were made using pulsed, bidirectional Doppler ultrasound. In each pair of registrations, blood velocity was recorded in a reference artery supplying a skin area known to contain AVAs (the radial artery) together with one of four other arteries investigated, i.e. the facial artery, the angular artery, the temporal artery, and the cutaneous branches of the lateral thoracic artery. The typical large, regular fluctuations in blood velocities caused by synchronous vasomotion in the AVAs in the skin of the hand and fingers were observed invariably in the radial artery. Similar flow variations were found in the angular artery. The fluctuations in this and the radial artery were, in turn, found to be synchronous. However, we have not been able to find the flow pattern characteristic of AVA vasomotion in the temporal artery or in the cutaneous branches of the lateral thoracic artery. These results show that the skin area of the nose supplied by the angular artery contains AVAs. These AVAs partly may explain the important role of face skin in temperature regulation. These results also support the earlier assumptions that there are no or very few AVAs in the skin areas supplied by the temporal artery and the cutaneous branches of the lateral thoracic artery.