Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Low overlap image registration based on both entropy and mutual information measures

In this paper, a new approach to image matching based on both entropy and mutual information measures that can correctly perform association under very low overlap conditions is presented. The method is feature-based, working on a list of interest points detected on the acquired images. Unlike the classical SSD/RanSaC method, our algorithm is robust to the existence of many similar regions in the images, enabling us to handle situations where the interest points correspond to local details of an habitat that is dispersed with a regular-like structure across the ocean bottom. Actually, our method requires only that four corresponding points be detected in the two images being aligned. This allows matching under minimal overlap of the images. The improvement in efficiency of our method, when compared to previous techniques, relies on explicitly accounting for ambiguities in the association between the templates of the two images, thus preventing that useful information be discarded at an early association step.
Erythrocyte Docosahexaenoic Acid Correlates with the Visual Response of Healthy, Term Infants

ABSTRACT: Recent studies have reported that formulafed preterm infants score lower on visual and developmental tests relative to breast-fed preterm infants. This phenomenon has been associated with the presence of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), an omega-3 fatty acid, in breast milk and its absence from infant formula. To investigate the possibility that DHA status of healthy, term infants is also related to neuronal function of the visual pathway, we studied the erythrocyte fatty acid profiles of 16 infants at 22.3 ± 3.9 wk of age and related these to maturity of the visual pathway as assessed by visual-evoked potentials. Healthy, term infants fed breast milk had better visual-evoked potential acuity (p < 0.05) and higher DHA levels (p < 0.001) than infants who received infant formula as their major energy source. There was a positive correlation between erythrocyte DHA and visual-evoked potential acuity (p < 0.01). The data are preliminary and the long-term effects as yet unknown. However, our results suggest that there is an urgent need to evaluate the dietary fatty acid supply of formula-fed term infants.
Melatonin and diet-induced metabolic syndrome in rats: impact on the hypophysial-testicular axis

Abstract Combinations of fructose- and fat-rich diets in experimental animals can model the human metabolic syndrome (MS). In rats, the increase in blood pressure (BP) after diet manipulation is sex related and highly dependent on testosterone secretion. However, the extent of the impact of diet on rodent hypophysial-testicular axis remains undefined. In the present study, rats drinking a 10% fructose solution or fed a high-fat (35%) diet for 10 weeks had higher plasma levels of luteinizing hormone (LH) and lower plasma levels of testosterone, without significant changes in circulating follicle-stimulating hormone or the weight of most reproductive organs. Diet manipulation brought about a significant increase in body weight, systolic BP, area under the curve (AUC) of glycemia after an intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test (IPGTT), and plasma low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, cholesterol, triglycerides, and uric acid levels. The concomitant administration of melatonin (25 μg/mL of drinking water) normalized the abnormally high LH levels but did not affect the inhibited testosterone secretion found in fructose- or high-fat-fed rats. Rather, melatonin per se inhibited testosterone secretion. Melatonin significantly blunted the body weight and systolic BP increase, the increase in the AUC of glycemia after an IPGTT, and the changes in circulating lipid profile and uric acid found in both MS models. The results are compatible with a primary inhibition of testicular function in diet-induced MS in rats and with the partial effectiveness of melatonin to counteract the metabolic but not the testicular sequelae of rodent MS.
Allelic and haplotypic association of GABRA2 with alcohol dependence

Alcohol dependence is a highly prevalent disorder that is associated with serious morbidity and mortality. Because the GABAA neurotransmitter receptor is an important mediator for several behavioral effects of alcohol, genes encoding GABA‐related proteins are functional candidates to influence risk of alcohol dependence. Two genome‐wide scans showed linkage of alcohol dependence to a region on chromosome 4p, which contains a cluster of genes encoding GABAA receptor subunits. A recent effort to fine map that region showed a haplotypic association of alcohol dependence to the gene encoding the GABAA receptor α‐2 subunit (GABRA2). We examined 10 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) spanning the coding region of this gene in samples of European American subjects with alcohol dependence (n = 446), and controls (n = 334) screened to exclude substance use disorders. There was evidence of association to alcohol dependence for seven adjacent markers spanning 98,000 bp in the middle and 3′‐portion of the GABRA2 gene (range of P‐values = 0.008–0.03). When the subset of the alcohol‐dependent subjects excluding those with a diagnosis of cocaine or opioid dependence or major depressive episode (n = 198) was examined, the strength of the association was increased across these 7 SNPs (range of P‐values = 0.002–0.007). Two common haplotypes in this region accounted for 90.8% of chromosomes. The more common haplotype was present in 55.6% of control group chromosomes versus 48.2% of alcohol‐dependent subjects (P = 0.007) and 45.8% of subjects with alcohol dependence but no co‐morbid drug dependence or depression (P = 0.003). These findings replicate and extend recently reported findings, which together underscore the potential contribution of polymorphic variation at the GABRA2 locus to the risk for alcohol dependence. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Redescription of Psilotricha acuminata Stein, 1859 and Revisions of the Genera Psilotricha and Urospinula (Ciliophora, Hypotrichida)

Abstract Psilotricha acuminata was described by Stein in 1859 as the type species of the ciliate genus Psilotricha Stein, 1859. The ciliate has rarely been found since, and its infraciliature has never been described with the aid of silver-impregnation techniques. We have found P. acuminata Stein, 1859 in soil samples from upland grassland in Scotland (U.K.). Living and healthy organisms of P. acuminata are oblong in outline, and dorso-ventrally compressed. They closely resemble ciliates of the genus Euplotes. The main morphological features used for identification of P. acuminata are the very long and sparse cirri, and the two macronuclei. When the ciliate crawls, the cirri appear stiff and directed backwards. Specimens observed from the ventral side have a protruding anterior end, a rounded or acuminate posterior pole, and a “beak-like” projection to the left side of the posterior end. The ciliate shares characters with the Euplotidae (body shape and reduced ciliature) and with the Oxytrichidae (marginal rows, macronuclei, reduced number of transverse cirri). Because the arrangement of the silver-impregnated infraciliature was unknown, and as the only description of the ciliate was that of Stein (1859a, b), the genus Psilotricha became confused with other hypotrich genera, especially Urospinula Corliss, 1960. Here we provide a full redescription of P. acuminata based on living and silver-impregnated specimens, and a revision of the genera Psilotricha Stein, 1859 and Urospinula Corliss, 1960. We resurrect the genus Urospinula, and give an emended diagnosis for both genera. The species now included within the genus Psilotricha are P. acuminata Stein, 1859 (type species); Psilotricha viridis (Penard, 1922) Kahl, 1932; and Psilotricha geleii (Gelei, 1954) Stiller, 1974. Psilotricha viridis sensu Kahl, 1932 and Psilotricha dragescoi Grolière, 1975 are considered incertae sedis.
A comprehensive two‐dimensional map of cytosolic proteins of Bacillus subtilis

Proteomics relying on two‐dimensional (2‐D) gel electrophoresis of proteins followed by spot identification with mass spectrometry is an excellent experimental tool for physiological studies opening a new perspective for understanding overall cell physiology. This is the intriguing outcome of a method introduced by Klose and O'Farrell independently 25 years ago. Physiological proteomics requires a 2‐D reference map on which most of the main proteins were identified. In this paper, we present such a reference map with more than 300 entries for Bacillus subtilis proteins with an isoelectric point (pI) between 4 and 7. The most abundant proteins of exponentially growing cells were compiled and shown to perform mainly housekeeping functions in glycolysis, tricarboxylic acid cycle (TCC), amino acid biosynthesis and translation as well as protein quality control. Furthermore, putative post‐translational modifications were shown at a large scale, with 47 proteins in total forming more than one spot. In a few selected cases evidence for phosphorylation of these proteins is presented. The proteome analysis in the standard pI range was complemented by either stretching the most crowded regions in a narrow pH gradient 4.5–5.5, or by adding other fractions of the total B. subtilis proteome such as alkaline proteins as well as extracellular proteins. A big challenge for future studies is to provide an experimental protocol covering the fraction of intrinsic membrane proteins that almost totally escaped detection by the experimental procedure used in this study. *
Gender specific association of ABCA1 gene R219K variant in coronary disease risk through interactions with serum triglyceride elevation in Turkish adults.

OBJECTIVE ATP binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1) controls the reverse cholesterol transport. Some ABCA1 variants are correlated with serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and other lipid concentrations. We aimed to explore the relationship of ABCA1 gene with both the lipid profile and coronary heart disease (CHD) risk. METHODS Selected 627 individuals of the Turkish Adult Risk Factor Study were genotyped for ABCA1 R219K polymorphism using PCR-RFLP (polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism) method. Student's t-test, one-way ANOVA, Chi-square test, linear and logistic regression was used for statistical analysis. RESULTS We demonstrated a gender-specific effect of the R219K polymorphism on plasma lipids and CHD. In men, while homozygosity of the K allele was associated with increased plasma low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) (p<0.05) and total cholesterol concentrations (p<0.05), carriage of this allele was associated with higher HDL-C concentrations (p<0.05) after adjustment for associated risk factors, but not with CHD. In women, however, without being related to HDL-C levels, each 219K allele was associated with 10% higher triglycerides (TG) concentrations (p<0.05). R219K heterozygosity in women independently doubled (95% CI 1.00; 3.80) the odds ratio for CHD risk in regression models, after adjustment for several variables. Interaction of TG elevation (>140 mg/dL) with CHD was demonstrated in female 219RK genotype carriers. CONCLUSION R219 allele of the ABCA1 gene independently confers CHD risk in heterozygote Turkish women, not via reduced HDL-C, but interacting with elevated TG expressed by the 219K allele, but not in men.
Identification of molecular species of glycerophospholipids and sphingomyelin using electrospray mass spectrometry.

This paper describes the use of positive and negative ion electrospray mass spectrometry (MS) and MS/MS (tandem mass spectrometry) to identify glycerophospholipid and ceramide headgroups and their alkyl, alkenyl and acyl constituents. Molecular ion adducts were the primary products formed by positive ionization, occurring as [M+H]+, [M+Na]+, [M+K]+, [M+formate]+, or [M+acetate]+, depending upon the class of glycerophospholipid and the presence or absence of these ionization-promoting species. Similar (negatively charged) ions corresponding to the loss of the groups listed above were formed in negative ion MS. Positive ion electrospray MS/MS provides information on the nature of the headgroup, with the formation of an ion corresponding to the headgroup itself, or the loss of the headgroup from the molecular ion H+ or Na+ adduct. Acyl constituents are identified during negative ion MS/MS from the formation of their RCOO- ions. The nature of alkyl or alkenyl substituents in glycerophosphoethanolamine (PE) molecular species can be identified from residual ions following the loss of ethanolamine plus loss of the acyl moiety in the sn-2 position, and cyclization of a phosphate oxygen with C-2 of glycerol. In glycerophosphoinositol (PI) species, it appears that an RCO- ion is formed during negative ion MS/MS, possibly to steric interference from the bulky phosphoinositol headgroup that prevents cyclization (and subsequent stabilization) of the ion described for PE species. Positive and negative ion electrospray MS spectra for molecular species of commercial preparations of PE, PI, phosphatidylserine (PS), glycerophosphocholine (PC) and sphingomyelin (SM) produced similar profiles. For phospholipids occurring as Na+ adducts, concentrations above ca. 1 ng/microliter produced significant quantities of both [M+H]+ and [M+Na]+ ions for those molecular species present in the largest quantities, complicating interpretation of the spectra. Complete profiles of molecular species were obtained from as little as 10 picograms of material. Major components of PE were identified from 0.1 picogram total lipid. Using single ion monitoring of the Na+ adduct of beta-acetyl-gamma-O-hexadecyl L-alpha-phosphatidylcholine, 10 femtograms of material was detected. A mixture of 1 nanogram each of PE, PI, PS, and PC was readily resolved into individual molecular species, with little apparent loss of resolution or preferential ionization. Electrospray MS did not provide information on the position (sn-1 or sn-2) of fatty acids, and was not capable of differentiating in all instances between alkyl-acyl and alkenyl-acyl substituents without prior separation of these lipid subclasses. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
First Event-Related Potentials Evidence of Auditory Morphosyntactic Processing in a Subject-Object-Verb Nominative-Accusative Language (Farsi)

While most studies on neural signals of online language processing have focused on a few—usually western—subject-verb-object (SVO) languages, corresponding knowledge on subject-object-verb (SOV) languages is scarce. Here we studied Farsi, a language with canonical SOV word order. Because we were interested in the consequences of second-language acquisition, we compared monolingual native Farsi speakers and equally proficient bilinguals who had learned Farsi only after entering primary school. We analyzed event-related potentials (ERPs) to correct and morphosyntactically incorrect sentence-final syllables in a sentence correctness judgment task. Incorrect syllables elicited a late posterior positivity at 500–700 ms after the final syllable, resembling the P600 component, as previously observed for syntactic violations at sentence-middle positions in SVO languages. There was no sign of a left anterior negativity (LAN) preceding the P600. Additionally, we provide evidence for a real-time discrimination of phonological categories associated with morphosyntactic manipulations (between 35 and 135 ms), manifesting the instantaneous neural response to unexpected perturbations. The L2 Farsi speakers were indistinguishable from L1 speakers in terms of performance and neural signals of syntactic violations, indicating that exposure to a second language at school entry may results in native-like performance and neural correlates. In nonnative (but not native) speakers verbal working memory capacity correlated with the late posterior positivity and performance accuracy. Hence, this first ERP study of morphosyntactic violations in a spoken SOV nominative-accusative language demonstrates ERP effects in response to morphosyntactic violations and the involvement of executive functions in non-native speakers in computations of subject-verb agreement.
Mature Results from a Phase II Trial of Postoperative Concurrent Chemoradiotherapy for Poor Prognosis Cancer of the Esophagus and Gastroesophageal Junction

Introduction: Mature results are presented from a phase II trial of postoperative concurrent chemoradiotherapy in patients with poor-prognosis cancer of the esophagus and gastroesophageal junction after primary surgical resection. Methods: Resected patients with a pathologic stage of T3, N1, or M1a were eligible for this trial. Concurrent chemoradiotherapy was begun between 6 and 10 weeks after surgery and consisted of radiotherapy (1.8 Gy/d to a planned dose of 50.4-59.4 Gy), concurrent with two cycles of 5-fluorouracil (1000 mg/m2/d) and cisplatin (20 mg/m2/d), both given as 4-day continuous intravenous infusions during the first and fourth weeks of the radiation. Results: Between 1995 and 2006, 50 patients were enrolled. The median age was 59 (range, 33-76) years, and most patients were male (86%), Caucasian (96%), and had undergone a transthoracic esophagogastrectomy (74%) for what proved to be a node positive (86%) adenocarcinoma (86%). Postoperative concurrent chemoradiotherapy was accompanied by neutropenia requiring hospitalization for fever in only four patients (8%) and no toxic deaths. With a median follow-up of 47 (range, 36-124) months, the Kaplan-Meier 4-year projected overall survival is 51%, freedom from recurrence 50%, distant metastatic control 56%, and locoregional control 86%. An earlier pathologic stage was the only predictor for a better outcome. Conclusions: This schedule of postoperative concurrent chemoradiotherapy has acceptable toxicity for patients with poor-prognosis esophageal and gastroesophageal junction cancer after surgery. Outcomes are better than historical results after surgery alone and justify further investigation of this approach.
Ouabain impairs cell migration, and invasion and alters gene expression of human osteosarcoma U‐2 OS cells

Ouabain, the specific Na+/K+‐ATPase blocker, has biological activity including anti‐proliferative and anti‐metastasis effects in cancer cell. There is no study to show ouabain inhibiting cell migration and invasion in human osteosarcoma U‐2 OS cells. Thus, we investigated the effect of ouabain on the cell migration and invasion of human osteosarcoma U‐2 OS cells. Results indicated that ouabain significantly decreased the percentage of viable cells at 2.5‐5.0 μM, thus, we selected 0.25‐1.0 μM for inhibiting studies. Ouabain inhibited cell migration, invasion and the enzymatic activities of MMP‐2, and also affected the expression of metastasis‐associated protein in U‐2 OS cells. The cDNA microarray assay indicated that CDH1, TGFBR3, SHC3 and MAP2K6 metastasis‐related genes were increased, but CCND1, JUN, CDKN1A, TGFB1, 2 and 3, SMAD4, MMP13, MMP2 and FN1 genes were decreased. These findings provide more information regarding ouabain inhibited cell migration and invasion and associated gene expressions in U‐2 OS cells after exposed to ouabain.
The elusive link between language control and executive control: A case of limited transfer

We investigated the relationship between language control and executive control by testing three groups of bilinguals (104 participants) and 54 monolinguals in a training and transfer paradigm. Participants practised either a language or a non-linguistic colour/shape switching task and were tested one week later on both tasks. The colour/shape task produced significant immediate improvement with training, which was maintained one week later, but exhibited no cross-task transfer effects. In the dominant language, training effects did not persist after one week, and there were no transfer effects. In the non-dominant language there were significant training effects that lasted one week, and there was also transfer facilitation from prior practice with the colour/shape task, which was limited to a reduction in mixing costs. Despite limited transfer, there were significant correlations between tasks in mixing costs for bilinguals, in switching costs for monolinguals, and in intrusion errors for all participants. Finally, the pattern of costs observed for the two tasks exhibited both similarities and differences across participants. These results imply a limited but significant role for executive control in bilingual language control, possibly playing a stronger role in facilitating non-dominant-language production and in supporting the ability to monitor response outcomes to avoid errors.
Rapid divergence and expansion of the X chromosome in papaya

X chromosomes have long been thought to conserve the structure and gene content of the ancestral autosome from which the sex chromosomes evolved. We compared the recently evolved papaya sex chromosomes with a homologous autosome of a close relative, the monoecious Vasconcellea monoica, to infer changes since recombination stopped between the papaya sex chromosomes. We sequenced 12 V. monoica bacterial artificial chromosomes, 11 corresponding to the papaya X-specific region, and 1 to a papaya autosomal region. The combined V. monoica X-orthologous sequences are much shorter (1.10 Mb) than the corresponding papaya region (2.56 Mb). Given that the V. monoica genome is 41% larger than that of papaya, this finding suggests considerable expansion of the papaya X; expansion is supported by a higher repetitive sequence content of the X compared with the papaya autosomal sequence. The alignable regions include 27 transcript-encoding sequences, only 6 of which are functional X/V. monoica gene pairs. Sequence divergence from the V. monoica orthologs is almost identical for papaya X and Y alleles; the Carica-Vasconcellea split therefore occurred before the papaya sex chromosomes stopped recombining, making V. monoica a suitable outgroup for inferring changes in papaya sex chromosomes. The papaya X and the hermaphrodite-specific region of the Yh chromosome and V. monoica have all gained and lost genes, including a surprising amount of changes in the X.
SPOUSAL INFLUENCES ON HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF OLDER KUWAITI MEN AND WOMEN

Summary The aim of the study was to determine the associations of the self-perceptions of health and social support among Kuwaitis who were 60 years old and older, who either were or were not currently living with a spouse. A sample of 1427 was selected (472 men and 955 women). Social Affairs nurses completed all interviews in the participants’ homes. A single questionnaire was designed; SPSS (version 21) was used for data entry and analysis. Participants living with their spouse reported significantly greater social support, more frequent contact with others and greater strength of social relationships than those without a spouse. Significant differences between those with and without a spouse were observed for all physically assessed and self-reported aspects of health. Of 60 items included in the somatic symptoms, participants with a spouse reported fewer poor health symptoms than those without a spouse. More children living in the same household, along with greater frequency of contact, strength of contact and social support significantly and independently predicted positive somatic symptoms in the total sample as well as in both sexes. Participants with a spouse reported fewer poor health symptoms than did those without a spouse. Having a spouse is a significant benefit to many aspects of elder Kuwaitis’ daily lives, including their health and well-being.