Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Spatial partitioning and asymmetric hybridization among sympatric coastal steelhead trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss irideus), coastal cutthroat trout (O. clarki clarki) and interspecific hybrids

Hybridization between sympatric species provides unique opportunities to examine the contrast between mechanisms that promote hybridization and maintain species integrity. We surveyed hybridization between sympatric coastal steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss irideus) and coastal cutthroat trout (O. clarki clarki) from two streams in Washington State, Olsen Creek (256 individuals sampled) and Jansen Creek (431 individuals sampled), over a 3‐year period. We applied 11 O. mykiss‐specific nuclear markers, 11 O. c. clarki‐specific nuclear markers and a mitochondrial DNA marker to assess spatial partitioning among species and hybrids and determine the directionality of hybridization. F1 and post‐F1 hybrids, respectively, composed an average of 1.2% and 33.6% of the population sampled in Jansen Creek, and 5.9% and 30.4% of the population sampled in Olsen Creek. A modest level of habitat partitioning among species and hybrids was detected. Mitochondrial DNA analysis indicated that all F1 hybrids (15 from Olsen Creek and five from Jansen Creek) arose from matings between steelhead females and cutthroat males implicating a sneak spawning behaviour by cutthroat males. First‐generation cutthroat backcrosses contained O. c. clarki mtDNA more often than expected suggesting natural selection against F1 hybrids. More hybrids were backcrossed toward cutthroat than steelhead and our results indicate recurrent hybridization within these creeks. Age analysis demonstrated that hybrids were between 1 and 4 years old. These results suggest that within sympatric salmonid hybrid zones, exogenous processes (environmentally dependent factors) help to maintain the distinction between parental types through reduced fitness of hybrids within parental environments while divergent natural selection promotes parental types through distinct adaptive advantages of parental phenotypes.
Protective effects of quercetine on the neuronal injury in frontal cortex after chronic toluene exposure

The aim of this study was designed to evaluate the possible protective effects of quercetine (QE) on the neuronal injury in the frontal cortex after chronic toluene exposure in rats. The rats were randomly allotted into one of the three experimental groups, namely, groups A (control), B (toluene treated) and C (toluene-treated with QE), where each group contains 10 animals. Control group received 1 ml of normal saline solution, and toluene treatment was performed by the inhalation of 3000 ppm toluene in an 8-h/day and 6-day/week order for 12 weeks. The rats in QE-treated group was given QE (15 mg/kg body weight) once a day intraperitoneally for 12 weeks, starting just after toluene exposure. Tissue samples were obtained for histopathological investigation. To date, no histopathological changes of neurodegeneration in the frontal cortex after chronic toluene exposure in rats by QE treatment have been reported. In this study, the morphology of neurons in the QE treatment group was well protected. Chronic toluene exposure caused severe degenerative changes, shrunken cytoplasm and extensively dark picnotic nuclei in neurons of the frontal cortex. We conclude that QE therapy causes morphologic improvement in neurodegeneration of frontal cortex after chronic toluene exposure in rats. We believe that further preclinical research into the utility of QE may indicate its usefulness as a potential treatment on neurodegeneration after chronic toluene exposure in rats.
Mutual Antagonism of Target of Rapamycin and Calcineurin Signaling*

Growth and stress are generally incompatible states. Stressed cells adapt to an insult by restraining growth, and conversely, growing cells keep stress responses at bay. This is evident in many physiological settings, including for example, the effect of stress on the immune or nervous system, but the underlying signaling mechanisms mediating such mutual antagonism are poorly understood. In eukaryotes, a central activator of cell growth is the protein kinase target of rapamycin (TOR) and its namesake signaling network. Calcineurin is a conserved, Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein phosphatase and target of the immunosuppressant FK506 (tacrolimus) that is activated in yeast during stress to promote cell survival. Here we show yeast mutants defective for TOR complex 2 (TORC2) or the essential homologous TORC2 effectors, SLM1 and SLM2, exhibited constitutive activation of calcineurin-dependent transcription and actin depolarization. Conversely, cells defective in calcineurin exhibited SLM1 hyperphosphorylation and enhanced interaction between TORC2 and SLM1. Furthermore, a mutant SLM1 protein (SLM1ΔC14) lacking a sequence related to the consensus calcineurin docking site (PxIxIT) was insensitive to calcineurin, and SLM1ΔC14 slm2 mutant cells were hypersensitive to oxidative stress. Thus, TORC2-SLM signaling negatively regulates calcineurin, and calcineurin negatively regulates TORC2-SLM. These findings provide a molecular basis for the mutual antagonism of growth and stress.
Parylene-based flexible imaging device for physiological measurement of rodent brain

In this paper, we propose a parylene-based flexible complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) imaging device and demonstrate its application for the brain blood flow measurement of a mouse. The fabricated device shows good flexibility and stable imaging of the brain surface of a mouse. This result indicates a possibility to realize a wide field-of-view sensor array device that can measure the entire brain surface simultaneously.
Factors potentially associated with chemotherapy-induced anemia in patients with solid cancers.

PURPOSE Chemotherapy-induced anemia (CIA) is one of the most important causes of anemia in cancer patients. This study was conducted to describe the prevalence and characteristics of CIA in solid cancer patients in the Chinese population, and to explore the relationship of white blood cell (WBC) or platelet decrease with CIA. METHODS Data on age, gender, tumor diagnosis, anti-cancer treatment and blood cell analyses were available from 220 untreated non-anemic cancer patients who received at least 2 cycles of chemotherapy, and the data were analyzed to assess their relationship with CIA or its severity. RESULTS 139 patients (63.2%) presented anemia, most being Grade 1 or 2. Esophageal and lung cancers were associated with a high prevalence. G3/4 leucopenia and decrease of platelets were identified as independent risk factors for the occurrence of CIA. Moreover, G3/4 leucopenia, decrease of platelet and G3/4 thrombocytopenia were found to be also associated with the severity of CIA. Cisplatin-containing regimens were a main potential factor in causing CIA, although significant association was only found on univariate analysis. CONCLUSION Anemia or decrease in hemoglobin are common in Chinese cancer patients receiving chemotherapy. Cisplatin-containing regimens might be an important factor influencing the occurrence of CIA. Our analysis firstly described some risk factors, such as decrease of platelets or WBCs, severity of leucopenia or thrombocytopenia, associated with the occurrence and severity of CIA.
Hospitalization and mortality of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

OBJECTIVE To describe hospitalization and mortality outcomes of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in the general population. METHODS Hospitalizations of patients with SLE (n = 76,961) were identified from the US Nationwide Inpatient Sample, spanning 5 years from 1998 to 2002. Correlates of mortality were analyzed using logistic regression, while those of hospitalization charges were studied using median regressions. RESULTS Overall, 11% of all hospitalizations were for SLE and/or lupus flare. There were 2454 (3.1%) hospitalizations that ended in death. Half of all deaths occurred within 7 days after admission. There were 3 peaks in mortality risk after admission, the first on Day 6, the second Day 33, the third Day 57. Patients in higher income strata and those with private insurance had better mortality outcomes than the rest. Hospitalization charges were expensive, at about US $10,000 per incident. Hospital charges were driven primarily by length of stay and number of medical procedures. CONCLUSION Hospitalizations for SLE are expensive, and 1 in 30 hospitalizations culminates in death. There appears to be a trimodal pattern in the time risk of death following admission. Patients with higher socioeconomic status and those with private insurance were less likely to die in hospital.
Differences in Innovative Behavior Among Hospital-Based Registered Nurses

BACKGROUND: The 2010 Institute of Medicine report, ‘The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health’, advocated for nurses to innovate in their practice, research, and education. However, little is known about the innovative behavior of registered nurses or whether there are differences in innovative behavior among registered nurses. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this article is to describe the innovative behavior of hospital-based registered nurses and understand the differences in innovative behavior when registered nurses are categorized into various demographic groups. METHODS: A survey of 251 hospital-based registered nurses from 9 hospitals in California was administered to assess demographic characteristics and innovative behavior, measured through Scott and Bruce’s Individual Innovative Behavior Scale. RESULTS: Hospital-based registered nurses, on average, reported moderate levels of innovative behavior. There were statistically significant differences in innovative behavior when registered nurses were categorized according to specialty certification, role, level of education, hospital size, and hospital innovativeness. CONCLUSIONS: To support innovative behavior, organizations should provide opportunities for specialty certification and increasing levels of education.
Drosophila asterless and Vertebrate Cep152 Are Orthologs Essential for Centriole Duplication

The centriole is the core structure of centrosome and cilium. Failure to restrict centriole duplication to once per cell cycle has serious consequences and is commonly observed in cancer. Despite its medical importance, the mechanism of centriole formation is poorly understood. Asl was previously reported to be a centrosomal protein essential for centrosome function. Here we identify mecD, a severe loss-of-function allele of the asl gene, and demonstrate that it is required for centriole and cilia formation. Similarly, Cep152, the Asl ortholog in vertebrates, is essential for cilia formation and its function can be partially rescued by the Drosophila Asl. The study of Asl localization suggests that it is closely associated with the centriole wall, but is not part of the centriole structure. By analyzing the biogenesis of centrosomes in cells depleted of Asl, we found that, while pericentriolar material (PCM) function is mildly affected, Asl is essential for daughter centriole formation. The clear absence of several centriolar markers in mecD mutants suggests that Asl is critical early in centriole duplication.
Vitamin K deficiency and osteopenia in vitamin D-deficient elderly women with Parkinson's disease.

OBJECTIVE To assess the influence of vitamin K on bone mineral density (BMD) in vitamin-D-deficient women with Parkinson's disease (PD). DESIGN Cross-sectional study. SETTING Neurology department at a university medical center in Japan. PARTICIPANTS Sixty-two women with PD (mean age, 70.7yr) and 62 age-matched controls. Patients were divided into 2 groups according to their functional capabilities: group A (independent: stages I-II of Hoehn and Yahr stages of Parkinson's disease, n = 26); and group B (dependent: Hoehn and Yahr stages 3-5; n = 36). INTERVENTIONS Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Sera were analyzed to relate vitamin K concentrations to bone-related biochemical indices. BMD was measured by computed radiograph densitometry. RESULTS Group B had significantly lower metacarpal BMD (P <.0001) lower serum concentrations of vitamin K1 (P <.01) and 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OHD; P <.0001) than group A. Serum undercarboxylated osteocalcin levels were higher in group B than in group A (P <.0001). The serum concentration of vitamin K1 correlated positively with that of 25-OHD (r =.735, P <.0001), and negatively with undercarboxylated osteocalcin (r = -.751, P <.0001) and Hoehn and Yahr stages (r =.787, P <.0001). Multiple regression analysis identified Hoehn and Yahr stages, vitamin K1, 25-OHD, and undercarboxylated osteocalcin as independent determinants of BMD (P <.0364.0003). CONCLUSION In functionally dependent women with PD, nutritional vitamin K1 deficiency is believed to reduce production of fully carboxylated osteocalcin, causing reduced BMD.
MiR‐133b Promotes Neural Plasticity and Functional Recovery After Treatment of Stroke with Multipotent Mesenchymal Stromal Cells in Rats Via Transfer of Exosome‐Enriched Extracellular Particles

To test, in vivo, the hypothesis that exosomes from multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) mediate microRNA 133b (miR‐133b) transfer which promotes neurological recovery from stroke, we used knockin and knockdown technologies to upregulate or downregulate the miR‐133b level in MSCs (miR‐133b+MSCs or miR‐133b−MSCs) and their corresponding exosomes, respectively. Rats were subjected to middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAo) and were treated with naïve MSCs, miR‐133b+MSCs, or miR‐133b−MSC at 1 day after MCAo. Compared with controls, rats receiving naïve MSC treatment significantly improved functional recovery and exhibited increased axonal plasticity and neurite remodeling in the ischemic boundary zone (IBZ) at day 14 after MCAo. The outcomes were significantly enhanced with miR‐133b+MSC treatment, and were significantly decreased with miR‐133b−MSC treatment, compared to naïve MSC treatment. The miR‐133b level in exosomes collected from the cerebral spinal fluid was significantly increased after miR‐133b+MSC treatment, and was significantly decreased after miR‐133b−MSC treatment at day 14 after MCAo, compared to naïve MSC treatment. Tagging exosomes with green fluorescent protein demonstrated that exosomes‐enriched extracellular particles were released from MSCs and transferred to adjacent astrocytes and neurons. The expression of selective targets for miR‐133b, connective tissue growth factor and ras homolog gene family member A, was significantly decreased in the IBZ after miR‐133b+MSC treatment, while their expression remained at similar elevated levels after miR‐133b−MSC treatment, compared to naïve MSC treatment. Collectively, our data suggest that exosomes from MSCs mediate the miR‐133b transfer to astrocytes and neurons, which regulate gene expression, subsequently benefit neurite remodeling and functional recovery after stroke. STEM Cells 2013;31:2737–2746
Serum interleukin-1 and interleukin-6 are correlated neither with oxidized low density lipoprotein, nor with low-grade inflammation in patients with type 2 diabetes.

INTRODUCTION In vitro studies have shown that oxidized, low density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) stimulates macrophages to release interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β). In this study, we aimed to investigate the correlation between ox-LDL and IL-6 and IL-1β levels in the peripheral circulation of patients with type 2 diabetes, and normal controls. We measured serum high sensitivity CRP (hs-CRP) levels in order to define basal inflammation in patients and controls. METHODS A total of 40 patients with type 2 diabetes, and 40, age, sex, and body mass index (BMI) -matched healthy adults were enrolled in the study. Fasting blood sugar (FBS), lipid profile, creatinine, ox-LDL, IL-6, IL-1β and hs-CRP levels were measured. RESULTS Patients with type 2 diabetes had higher serum FBS, HbA1C, high density lipoprotein cholesterol, LDL, ox-LDL/LDL ratio and hs-CRP levels than controls. The higher serum ox-LDL/LDL ratio in patients with type 2 diabetes remained significant after multiple adjustments for age, BMI, FBS and HbA1C, (0.65 [0.59-0.71] vs 0.49 [0.41-0.56]; p<0.001) using general linear models. Serum IL-1β levels were significantly higher in women than in men with type 2 diabetes; this was not the case in controls. Postmenopausal women in patient and control groups had higher serum IL-6 levels than premenopausal women. There was no significant correlation between serum ox-LDL, ox-LDL/LDL ratio, IL-6, IL-1β and hs-CRP levels in patients with type 2 diabetes. CONCLUSION Inflammatory cytokines such as IL-1β and IL-6 lose their discriminatory power with respect to chronic inflammation in patients with type 2 diabetes.
Selecting mating pairs with linear programming techniques.

Mate selection can increase progency merit if overall merit is nonlinear for one or more component traits. An index of expected progeny merit could be calculated for all possible mating pairs, and the set of pairs with the highest progeny mean could be selected. There are serious computational problems for more than a few males and females. To select and mate f, females, and m, males, from n of each, with k0 females per male, would require (nf)(nm)f! /(k0! )m evaluations. Linear programming algorithms can determine the optimal strategy efficiently by considering only a subset of these possibilities. Let pi ij be the index of progency merit of the ith sire mated to the jth dam and Xij be the decision variable for that mating (restricted to 0 or 1). Then the problem of selecting mating pairs can be stated as: maximize sigma i sigma j pi ij Xij, subject to sigma i Xij less than or equal to 1, sigma j Xij less than or equal to k0, sigma i sigma j Xij = f, and Xij = 0 or 1. By including an artificial sire and an artificial dam and choosing appropriate merit values for the artificial matings, this problem can be solved by efficient "transportation" algorithms. These algorithms could be used to develop rational mating packages for dairy artificial insemination studs provided that an objective evaluation of progeny merit could be formulated, provided that merit is not simply additively inherited.
Efficiency of Protection of Guinea Pigs against Infection with Bacillus anthracis Spores by Passive Immunization

ABSTRACT The efficacy of passive immunization as a postexposure prophylactic measure for treatment of guinea pigs intranasally infected with Bacillus anthracis spores was evaluated. Antisera directed either against the lethal toxin components (PA or LF) or against a toxinogenic strain (Sterne) were used for this evaluation. All antisera exhibited high enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay titers against the corresponding antigens, high titers of neutralization of cytotoxicity activity in an in vitro mouse macrophages cell line (J774A.1), as well as in vivo neutralization of toxicity when administered either directly to Fisher rats prior to challenge with the lethal toxin or after incubation with the lethal toxin. In these tests, anti-LF antiserum exhibited the highest neutralization efficiency, followed by anti-Sterne and anti-PA. The time dependence and antibody dose necessary for conferring postexposure protection by the various antibodies of guinea pigs infected with 25 50% lethal doses of Vollum spores was examined. Rabbit anti-PA serum was found to be the most effective. Intraperitoneal injections of anti-PA serum given 24 h postinfection protected 90% of the infected animals, whereas anti-Sterne and anti-LF were less effective. These results further emphasizes the importance of anti-PA antibodies in conferring protection against B. anthracis infection and demonstrated the ability of such antibodies to be effectively applied as an efficient postexposure treatment against anthrax disease.
Rearrangement of receptive field topography after intracortical and peripheral stimulation: the role of plasticity in inhibitory pathways

Intracortical microstimulation (ICMS) of a single site in the somatosensory cortex of rats and monkeys for 2-6 h increases the number of neurons responsive to the skin region corresponding to the ICMS-site receptive field (RF), with very little effect on the position and size of the ICMS-site RF, and the response evoked at the ICMS site by tactile stimulation. Large changes in RF topography are also observed following several weeks of repetitive stimulation of a restricted skin region during tactile frequency discrimination training in monkeys. It has been suggested that these changes in RF topography are caused by competitive learning in excitatory pathways. This paper analyses the possible role of lateral inhibitory synaptic plasticity in producing cortical plasticity after ICMS and peripheral conditioning in adult animals. The `EXIN' (afferent excitatory and lateral inhibitory) synaptic plasticity rules are used to model RF changes after ICMS and peripheral stimulation. The EXIN model produces RF topographical changes similar to those observed experimentally. It is shown that lateral inhibitory pathway plasticity is sufficient to model RF changes and increase in position discrimination after peripheral stimulation. Several novel and testable predictions are made based on the EXIN model.
Cribra orbitalia: Prevalence in contemporary populations

The prevalence of cribra orbitalia (CO) is often used as an indicator of the general health status of past populations. Although debates as to its exact etiology are still ongoing, cribra is generally accepted to be the result of an anemic condition. Cribra has been reported to be declining in modern populations or even to be absent. The aim of this study was to compare modern, historic, and prehistoric prevalences of CO to assess whether it has changed through time and if it still occurs in contemporary populations. CO in skeletons (n = 844) from two widely different regions, the northeastern US and the central Gauteng area of South Africa, were compared in order to evaluate temporal trends. The sample comprised 245 prehistoric, 381 historic, and 218 modern skeletons. In adult skeletons the prevalence was found to be lower in historic South Africans (2.23%) than in historic North Americans (6.25%). It was lower in modern North Americans than in modern South Africans (12.35 and 16.8%, respectively). Its prevalence in prehistoric North Americans (11.86%) was also not much different from that of modern North Americans (12.35%). The frequency of CO in historic South African juveniles was higher (10.71%) than in historic North American juveniles (1.35%). Modern South African children had a lower frequency (25.14%) than modern American juveniles (40%), although the sample in the North American group was small. It seems that CO is still present in modern populations, and that health may indeed have declined for some groups in recent times. Clin. Anat. 29:823–830, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.