Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Double In Situ Hybridization Reveals Overlapping Neuronal Populations Expressing the Low Molecular Weight GTPases Rab3a and Rab3b in Rat Brain

The ras‐related Rab3 gene subfamily codes for small GTP‐binding proteins which control a late step of exocytosis during which vesicles become docked to the plasma membrane. Rab3a and Rab3b are the most abundant Rab3 isoforms expressed in the CNS of mammals. We have shown previously that the Rab3a protein was selectively distributed and expressed in various regions of the rat brain. Here we have determined the pattern of expression of Rab3b mRNA in the brain and compared it with that of Rab3a mRNA. In addition, we examined the co‐expression of these two Rab within individual neurons. In general the Rab3b transcript was detected in many regions which also express Rab3a mRNA but at a lower level than Rab3a, except in the olfactory bulb and in the pituitary where the Rab3b hybridization signal was similar and higher respectively. Double in situ hybridization revealed that Rab3a and Rab3b mRNAs were co‐localized in most neurons, in all brain areas examined. However, in each of these areas, subsets of neurons appeared to preferentially express either Rab3b or Rab3a, or some neurons did not express either Rab3 homologue at detectable levels. These data support the view of a functional specialization of Rab3a and Rab3b in the control of exocytosis in neuronal and neuroendocrine cells.
Estimating the role of scarcity, prices and political fragility in food and fuel riots : a quantitative and agent-based modelling approach

Climate and environmental changes are argued to increase the occurrence of conflict. In particular, two types of conflict seem to be driven by underlying environmental processes: food and fuel riots. Although research focussed on understanding the dynamics that cause food riots exists, the evidence is mixed and a solid quantitative analysis on the factors that cause these type of events is missing. Research on fuel riots is currently non-existent. The aim of this research was hence to identify, quantify and simulate the interconnections between scarcity of natural resources, international prices, political fragility and the occurrence of food and fuel riots. The approach implemented was mainly quantitative, with use of statistics, econometrics and Agent-Based Modelling (ABM). These methods allowed a parameterisation of these relationships and inclusion of the results in three different version of an ABM: Food, Fuel and Food and Fuel ABMs. The findings show that national availability of resources does not significantly impact the occurrence of food and fuel riots, while international prices and national political fragility do. Thresholds above which riots are more likely to happen were identified for both the price of food and fuel. For food, volatility was found to have a bigger impact than absolute prices, while for fuel the evidence was mixed and more research is required. In addition, food and fuel riots increase the likelihood of one another. Although the introduction of these parameters in the ABMs did not add to the predictive power of the underlying statistical models, the ABMs form the basis for further developments, in particular as regards the evolution of shocks to the production of resources and consequences in terms of food and fuel riots. This is evidenced by the scenarios developed and implemented in this thesis.
Adeno‐associated virus vector‐mediated systemic interleukin‐10 expression ameliorates hypertensive organ damage in Dahl salt‐sensitive rats

Inflammation plays an important role in the pathogenesis of hypertension and hypertensive organ damage. Interleukin (IL)‐10, a pleiotropic anti‐inflammatory cytokine, exerts vasculoprotective effects in many animal models. In the present study, we examined the preventive effects of adeno‐associated virus (AAV) vector‐mediated sustained IL‐10 expression against hypertensive heart disease and renal dysfunction in Dahl salt‐sensitive rats.
Chronically Administered Islet Amyloid Polypeptide in Rats Serves as an Adiposity Inhibitor and Regulates Energy Homeostasis

Aims/Hypothesis: Islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP) reduces food intake and body weight in laboratory animals. In addition, IAPP appears to regulate nutrient metabolism. In the present studies, we investigated the effect of chronic IAPP treatment on different aspects of energy homeostasis. Methods: IAPP was infused (25 pmol/kg/min) from subcutaneous osmotic pumps for 2–7 days. Rats in 2 saline-infused control groups were fed ad libitum (AF) or pair-fed (PF) against the IAPP-treated rats. Results: As expected, the IAPP infusion reduced food intake and body weight gain. In addition, the IAPP treatment decreased the epididymal fat pad (vs. PF rats, p < 0.05) and lowered circulating levels of triglycerides (vs. PF rats, p < 0.05), free fatty acids (vs. PF rats, p < 0.05), leptin (vs. both AF and PF rats, p < 0.05) and insulin (vs. AF rats, p < 0.05). In contrast, glucose and protein metabolism in the IAPP-treated rats was largely unchanged, as shown in results regarding serum glucose, glucose transport in skeletal muscle, blood urea nitrogen, and glycogen and protein content in the liver and in skeletal muscle. Conclusion/Interpretation: In summary, chronic IAPP exposure led to a changed lipid metabolism, which was characterized by decreased adiposity, hypolipidemia and hypoleptinemia, and to unchanged glucose and protein homeostasis. These results were similar to those seen in rodents during chronic exposure to another satiety/adiposity regulator, leptin. In conclusion, chronically administered IAPP plays a role as a satiety and adiposity signal in rats, and helps regulate energy homeostasis.
Nonshared environmental influences on teacher-reported behaviour problems: monozygotic twin differences in perceptions of the classroom.

BACKGROUND The identification of specific nonshared environments responsible for the variance in behaviour problems is a key challenge. METHODS Nonshared environmental influences on teacher-reported behaviour problems were explored independently of genetics using the monozygotic (MZ) twin differences design. Six aspects of classroom environment were rated by a representative sample of 570 nine-year-old MZ twins in the UK in different classrooms and were related to their different teachers' reports of prosocial behaviour, hyperactivity, conduct problems, peer problems and emotional symptoms. RESULTS Within-pair differences in perceptions of the classroom were significantly correlated with teacher-reported behaviour problems, indicating that children with less favourable perceptions of their classroom environment were reported by their teachers as less prosocial, more hyperactive, and to have more conduct and peer problems. Socioeconomic status did not significantly moderate any of these relationships. However, parent-reported household chaos was a significant moderator. CONCLUSIONS The classroom environment is related to behaviour problems even when genetic factors are held constant. Classroom environment is more strongly associated with behaviour problems when the home environment is more chaotic.
Significant efficacy of 2-chlorodeoxyadenosine{+/-} rituximab in the treatment of splenic marginal zone lymphoma (SMZL): extended follow-up.

BACKGROUND Splenic marginal zone lymphoma with or without villous lymphocytes (SLVL/SMZL) is an indolent lymphoma that typically affects elderly patients and that has a median survival >10 years. It presents with marked splenomegaly. Treatment is required in symptomatic cases. Splenectomy remains one of the first-line options in patients fit for surgery. The best pharmacological strategy has not yet been identified for poor surgical risk cases. Among different possible chemotherapeutic approaches, purine analogs, alone or in association with Rituximab, seem to be a valid therapeutic choice. PATIENTS AND METHODS Fifty SMZL patients were treated with Cladribine ± anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody. RESULTS Forty-seven of 50 patients were evaluable for response. ORR was 87%: 24 of 47 patients (51%) achieved a complete hematological response (CR), 17 of 47 (36%) a partial response (PR) and 6 (13%) resulted unresponsive. Interestingly, 15 of 24 cases (62%) in CR achieved also a molecular remission. After a median follow-up of 48 months, 7 of 41 responsive cases relapsed and the 5-year PFS was 80%. CONCLUSIONS These data confirm the efficacy of this schedule emphasizing the impact of minimal residual disease even in the outcome of SMZL patients.
Production and perception of coarticulated tones.

In the present study, the distinctive tones of Mandarin were found to coarticulate with adjacent tones in running speech. However, the amount of deviation of a tone from its canonical form due to coarticulation varied depending on the nature of the tonal context. In a context where adjacent tonal values agree (a "compatible" context), the deviation was relatively small. In a context where adjacent tonal values disagree (a "conflicting" context), the deviation was much greater, sometimes even to the extent of changing the direction of a dynamic tone. To examine the perception of coarticulated tones, naturally produced words and phrases were used as stimuli for tone identification. However, their semantic information was removed through waveform editing while all the tonal information contained in the signal remained intact. Identification of tones in the compatible context was highly accurate with or without the original tonal context. Tonal identification for the conflicting context remained accurate only when the tones were presented with the original tonal context. Without the original context, i.e., in isolation, correct tone identification dropped below chance. When the original tonal context was altered, listeners compensated for the altered context as if it had been there originally. It thus seems that, in tone perception, listeners compensate for variations due to coarticulation. Nevertheless, even with the presence of the original context, perceptual identification was better for the compatible context than for the conflicting context, indicating that variation due to coarticulation is not always completely compensated for by listeners.
Global variation in terrestrial conservation costs, conservation benefits, and unmet conservation needs

Our ability to identify cost-efficient priorities for conserving biological diversity is limited by the scarcity of data on conservation costs, particularly at fine scales. Here we address this issue using data for 139 terrestrial programs worldwide. We find that the annual costs of effective field-based conservation vary enormously, across seven orders of magnitude, from <$0.1 to >$1,000,000 per km2. This variation can be closely predicted from positive associations between costs per unit area and an array of indices of local development. Corresponding measures of conservation benefit are limited but show opposing global trends, being higher in less developed parts of the world. The benefit-to-cost ratio of conservation is thus far greater in less developed regions, yet these are where the shortfall in current conservation spending is most marked. Substantially increased investment in tropical conservation is therefore urgently required if opportunities for cost-effective action are not to be missed.
A computational analysis of cysteine and methionine metabolism and its regulation 1 in dairy starter and related bacteria 2 3

3 Mengjin Liu, Celine Prakash, Arjen Nauta, Roland J Siezen, Christof Francke 4 5 1. FrieslandCampina Research, Deventer, the Netherlands 6 2. Center for Molecular and Biomolecular Informatics (260), NCMLS, Radboud University 7 Nijmegen Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands 8 3. NIZO food research, Ede, the Netherlands 9 4. Kluyver Center for Genomics of Industrial Fermentation, Delft, The Netherlands 10 5. Netherlands Bioinformatics Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands 11 6. TI Food and Nutrition, Wageningen, The Netherlands 12 13 Corresponding author mailing address: RUNMC, CMBI, P.O. Box 9101, 6500HB, Nijmegen, the 14 Netherlands. Email: c.francke@cmbi.ru. nl 15 †present address: Hero-Huishan Nutrition Co.,Ltd. , CA10 Shangri-La,8 Pubei Road, Shenbei, 16 Shenyang, China. ‡present address: Laboratory of Gene Regulation and Inflammation, Singapore 17 Immunology Network (SIgN), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 18 Biopolis, Immunos #04-00, 8A Biomedical Grove, Singapore 138648 19
Early Childhood Education in Ethiopia: Present Practices and Future Directions

Over the past several centuries worldwide, in most cases, only children of the nobilities were sent to schools with the intention of sharpening their abilities and preparing them for future leadership. But in the modern era, education is formally recognized as a human right for every individual, irrespective of the individual‘s ability, disability, age, gender, ethnicity, socioeconomic status and other forms of differences. As a modern phenomenon, early childhood education is practiced in Ethiopia. With the opportunities and challenges, the practice of early childhood education continues to grow in coverage and participation. The current Ethiopian government, with the support of UNICEF, has drafted strategic operational plan and guidelines for early childhood care and education, and national policy framework for early childhood care and education. Access to early childhood education is growing over the years. Currently, government, private owners, NGOs, communities, and religious organizations are running ‗O‘ class, child to child and kindergarten programs and playing their part in educating children. Major challenges of the Ethiopian ECE are environment and physical space, curriculum content and pedagogy, early childhood educators and caregivers, partnership with families and communities and access to young children with special needs. In order to improve the practices, the future preschools of Ethiopia should work towards having (1) philosophies and goals, (2) high quality physical environments, (3) developmentally appropriate and effective pedagogy and curriculum, (4) attention to basic and special needs, (5) respect for families and communities, (6) professionally prepared teachers and staff, and (7) rigorous program evaluation.
Feeling Normal Women’s Experiences of Menopause After Infertility

Purpose:To explore women’s experiences of menopause after infertility. Design:Grounded theory Method:Nine menopausal women, ranging in age from 48 to 72, with previous infertility, at various stages of the menopausal transition, including postmenopause, were interviewed in-depth. Three women had conceived a child after infertility treatment, three had adopted children, and three did not have children. The interviews were audiotaped and transcribed verbatim for data analysis. Data were constantly compared against other data, including previous transcripts, to look for evidence of data saturation. Results:A core concept was generated, referred to as “finally feeling normal. ” After feeling abnormal during infertility, these women viewed menopause as a normal transition. They were able to reconcile some aspects of their infertility and embrace a feeling of normalcy. Clinical Implications:Menopause can be positive for women after infertility. Infertility contributed to a unique way of making meaning of menopause that was almost paradoxical: the notion that they can feel normal at the end of their “reproductive” years when they have struggled so long to actually be reproductive. Healthcare providers need to be cognizant of this possible response to menopause, and not automatically “pathologize” these women.
Evidence of Efficient Transovarial Transmission of Culex Flavivirus by Culex pipiens (Diptera: Culicidae)

ABSTRACT This study determined the transovarial transmission (TOT) potential and tissue tropisms of Culex flavivirus (CxFV), an insect-specific flavivirus, in Culex pipiens (L.). Several hundred mosquito egg rafts were collected in the field, transferred to the insectaries, reared to the fourth larval instar, and identified using morphological characteristics. Cx. pipiens were reared to adults, allowed to oviposit in individual containers, and tested for CxFV RNA by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and nucleotide sequencing. Eighteen CxFV RNA-positive females were identified from 26 females that oviposited viable egg rafts. Thirty F1 adults from each positive female were individually tested by RT-PCR for CxFV RNA. Viral RNA was detected in 526 of 540 progeny, and thus, the filial infection rate was 97.4%. Because all 18 positive females produced infected offspring, the TOT prevalence was 100%. These data indicated that efficient TOT of CxFV occurs in nature. To define the tissue tropisms of CxFV, different tissues (salivary glands, ovaries, testes, head, fat bodies, and midguts) were removed from the remainder of the F1 and tested by RT-PCR for CxFV RNA. Viral RNA was detected in all tissues. Additionally, uninfected laboratory-colonized Cx. pipiens were infected with CxFV by needle inoculation, and ovaries were collected at 4, 6, 8, and 12 d postinoculation and tested for CxFV RNA by RT-PCR. Viral RNA was detected at all time points, demonstrating that CxFV infects the ovaries as early as 4 d postinoculation. Surprisingly, however, we were unable to demonstrate transovarial transmission despite the presence of viral RNA in the ovaries. Nevertheless, the experiments performed with field-infected Cx. pipiens demonstrate that TOT is an efficient mechanism by which CxFV is maintained in mosquitoes in nature.
Creating a Multiracial Lesson Plan

The purpose of this project is to teach students about multiracial identity issues. Multiracial populations in the U.S. continue to grow and it’s important for educators to address the needs of these students. A 5-E multiracial literature lesson plan was created for second grade that incorporates KWL and Text-to-World teaching strategies. A second grade class were read two children’s picture books, each featuring a biracial protagonist, and were asked to discuss and evaluate the content and commonalities of these stories. Students recorded what they learned in this lesson in their KWL’s. The results reveal that some students understood the problems multiracial students face, while others learned about individual aspects of the cultures represented in the stories.
MAKING A CAREER IN A MALE-DOMINATED FIELD: THE MEANING OF WORK FOR WOMEN EMPLOYED IN THE FINANCIAL MARKETS

Purpose: This paper aims to analyze the subjective aspects of women who work in the financial market, focusing on the meanings they attribute to their labour activities. Originality/value: Despite the significant academic production about gender, few studies investigate the meaning women attribute to their work activities or analyze the main building elements in the subjective connection between women and a masculine work environment. This study, therefore, extends the literature on gender issues and labor relations, in addition to analyzing the achievements and challenges inherent in the professional choices of women in the contemporary world. Design/methodology/approach: The research was conducted by means of in-depth interviews with 16 women, at different ages and several family structures, who work on asset managers, investment brokers and investment banks. Content analysis was applied to the textual data to interpret and make inferences, using a priori coding. Findings: Data analysis identified that, for these professionals, meaning attribution occurs through the mechanisms of self-esteem, self-efficacy, purpose and belongingness, which are viable due to the success they conquered in a very competitive work environment. Other factors, such as the high incomes earned by the interviewees, also have an important role in the meaning they attribute to their work.
Examining hemodialyzer membrane performance using proteomic technologies

The success and the quality of hemodialysis therapy are mainly related to both clearance and biocompatibility properties of the artificial membrane packed in the hemodialyzer. Performance of a membrane is strongly influenced by its interaction with the plasma protein repertoire during the extracorporeal procedure. Recognition that a number of medium–high molecular weight solutes, including proteins and protein-bound molecules, are potentially toxic has prompted the development of more permeable membranes. Such membrane engineering, however, may cause loss of vital proteins, with membrane removal being nonspecific. In addition, plasma proteins can be adsorbed onto the membrane surface upon blood contact during dialysis. Adsorption can contribute to the removal of toxic compounds and governs the biocompatibility of a membrane, since surface-adsorbed proteins may trigger a variety of biologic blood pathways with pathophysiologic consequences. Over the last years, use of proteomic approaches has allowed polypeptide spectrum involved in the process of hemodialysis, a key issue previously hampered by lack of suitable technology, to be assessed in an unbiased manner and in its full complexity. Proteomics has been successfully applied to identify and quantify proteins in complex mixtures such as dialysis outflow fluid and fluid desorbed from dialysis membrane containing adsorbed proteins. The identified proteins can also be characterized by their involvement in metabolic and signaling pathways, molecular networks, and biologic processes through application of bioinformatics tools. Proteomics may thus provide an actual functional definition as to the effect of a membrane material on plasma proteins during hemodialysis. Here, we review the results of proteomic studies on the performance of hemodialysis membranes, as evaluated in terms of solute removal efficiency and blood–membrane interactions. The evidence collected indicates that the information provided by proteomic investigations yields improved molecular and functional knowledge and may lead to the development of more efficient membranes for the potential benefit of the patient.
Direct-write 3D nanolithography at cryogenic temperatures

Direct-write three-dimensional nanolithography is demonstrated using cryogenic electron beam-induced deposition (EBID). Cryogenic cooling and an electron beam were used to condense and expose the precursor methylcyclopentadienyl(trimethyl)platinum (MeCpPtMe3). The exposure process was modeled by Monte Carlo simulations of electron–condensate interactions, which were used to develop two approaches for the fabrication of three-dimensional self-supporting structures with incorporated gaps. Vertical and lateral resolutions of approximately 150 and 22 nm are demonstrated, and underlying mechanisms that limit resolution and throughput are identified. Resolution can be traded off for condensate exposure efficiency, which is shown to be up to four orders of magnitude greater than that of conventional, room temperature EBID.