Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Impairment of Fear‐Conditioning Responses and Changes of Brain Neurotrophic Factors in Diet‐Induced Obese Mice

Recent epidemiological studies demonstrate that obesity is related to a high incidence of cognitive impairment. In the present study, cognitive behaviours in diet‐induced obese (DIO) mice fed 60% high‐fat diet for 16 weeks were compared with those in mice fed a control diet (CD) in fear‐conditioning tests including both contextual and cued elements that preferentially depend on the hippocampus and amygdala, respectively. Furthermore, brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and neurotrophin‐3 (NT‐3) content in the brain areas was examined in both CD and DIO mice. In fear‐conditioning tests, the freezing percentages of both contextual fear and cued fear responses in DIO mice were significantly lower than in CD mice. BDNF content in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus of DIO mice was significantly lower than that in CD mice. Its receptor, full‐length TrkB, in the amygdala of DIO mice was significantly decreased compared to that in CD mice, although not in the cerebral cortex, hippocampus and hypothalamus. By contrast, NT‐3 content in the hippocampus, amygdala and hypothalamus of DIO mice was significantly higher than that in CD mice. Its receptor, full‐length TrkC, was not significantly different between CD and DIO mice. The present study demonstrates that DIO mice show impairment of both hippocampus‐dependent contextual and amygdala‐dependent cued responses in the fear‐conditioning tests, as well as an imbalance in the interaction between the BDNF and NT‐3 systems in the cerebral cortex, hippocampus and amygdala related to cognition and fear.
Interaction of some polyhexamethylene biguanides and membrane phospholipids in Escherichia coli.

The interaction between some polyhexamethylene biguanides and the cell envelope of Escherichia coli has been investigated. An amine-ended dimer, (AED, n = 2), a polydisperse mixture (ICI plc) available as the active ingredient of Vantocil IB, (PHMB, n = 5.5), and a high molecular weight fraction, (HMW, n = greater than or equal to 10) of PHMB were used. The sensitivity of batch cultures depleted of magnesium (M-dep), phosphorus (P-dep) or glycerol (C-dep) towards the biocides was assessed by monitoring the rate and extent of potassium ion leakage. P-dep suspensions were particularly resistant to all these agents and possessed less than half the quantity of phospholipid of other cell types. This was compensated for by a proportionate increase in fatty acid and neutral lipid content of the cells. The reduction in phospholipid content was accounted for by decreases in phosphatidylglycerol (PG) and phosphatidylethanolamine (PE). Diphosphatidylglycerol (DPG) and phosphatidylserine (PS) content of the cultures remained unaffected by the depleting nutrient. Fourier-transform n.m. r. spectroscopy was used to study proton nuclei during the interaction of HMW, AED and PHMB with various phospholipid-vesicle preparations. The results strongly suggest that the biocides acted preferentially on the acidic phospholipids PG and DPG, rather than towards PE or PS. Resistance of P-dep cultures therefore reflected reductions in PG content. A molecular basis for the interaction of these compounds and membranes is proposed.
Association analysis between mood disorder and monoamine oxidase gene.

To ascertain whether mood disorders, including bipolar and unipolar, are genetically associated with the monoamine oxidase A (MAOA) or monoamine oxidase B (MAOB) gene in the Chinese population, 132 cases of mood disorder and 88 normal controls were genotyped for the MAOA(CA)n, MAOB(GT)n, and MAOB(TG)n loci by the method of amplification fragment length polymorphism. Among 132 cases with mood disorder, eight alleles (size: 112-126 bp) of locus MAOA(CA)n, 12 alleles (size: 168-198 bp) of locus MAOB(GT)n, and nine alleles (size: 195-213 bp) of locus MAOB(TG)n were observed. Comparison of the allele frequency of the three loci showed no difference between mood disorder cases and normal controls on average. When each group was stratified into several subgroups, significant differences were found. On the MAOA(CA)n locus, the frequency of 116 bp allele was higher in the female bipolar disorder cases (0.2581) compared with that in the female unipolar disorder patients (0.1154) (Z=2.15, p<0. 05). On the MAOB(GT)n locus, the frequency of 180 bp allele was higher in bipolar disorder patients (0.1579) than that in normal controls (0.0678) (Z=2.05, p<0.05). The frequency of this allele was even higher in female bipolar disorder patients (0.1719) than that in female normal controls (0.0541). On the MAOB(TG)n locus, the frequency of 205 bp allele was higher in female bipolar disorder patients (0.6406) than that in female normal controls (0.4375) (Z=2. 17, p<0.05). For the unipolar disorder patients, the frequency of this allele was higher in female cases (0.5222) than that in male cases (0.1818) (Z=3.49, p<0.05). As for association studies, significant association between bipolar disorder and MAOB gene was detected. For the 180 bp allele of MAOB(GT)n, the relative risk (RR) of biploar versus normal control was 2.58 (p<0.05), and the RR of female bipolar disorder versus female normal control was 3.63 (p<0. 05). For the 205 bp allele of MAOB(TG)n, the RR of female bipolar disorder versus female normal control was 2.29 (p<0.05). Am. J. Med. Genet. (Neuropsychiatr. Genet.) 96:12-14, 2000.
Multiplexed LC‐MS/MS analysis of horse plasma proteins to study doping in sport

The development of protein biomarkers for the indirect detection of doping in horse is a potential solution to doping threats such as gene and protein doping. A method for biomarker candidate discovery in horse plasma is presented using targeted analysis of proteotypic peptides from horse proteins. These peptides were first identified in a novel list of the abundant proteins in horse plasma. To monitor these peptides, an LC‐MS/MS method using multiple reaction monitoring was developed to study the quantity of 49 proteins in horse plasma in a single run. The method was optimised and validated, and then applied to a population of race‐horses to study protein variance within a population. The method was finally applied to longitudinal time courses of horse plasma collected after administration of an anabolic steroid to demonstrate utility for hypothesis‐driven discovery of doping biomarker candidates.
The PHQ-9

AbstractOBJECTIVE: While considerable attention has focused on improving the detection of depression, assessment of severity is also important in guiding treatment decisions. Therefore, we examined the validity of a brief, new measure of depression severity. MEASUREMENTS: The Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ) is a self-administered version of the PRIME-MD diagnostic instrument for common mental disorders. The PHQ-9 is the depression module, which scores each of the 9 DSM-IV criteria as “0” (not at all) to “3” (nearly every day). The PHQ-9 was completed by 6,000 patients in 8 primary care clinics and 7 obstetrics-gynecology clinics. Construct validity was assessed using the 20-item Short-Form General Health Survey, self-reported sick days and clinic visits, and symptom-related difficulty. Criterion validity was assessed against an independent structured mental health professional (MHP) interview in a sample of 580 patients. RESULTS: As PHQ-9 depression severity increased, there was a substantial decrease in functional status on all 6 SF-20 subscales. Also, symptom-related difficulty, sick days, and health care utilization increased. Using the MHP reinterview as the criterion standard, a PHQ-9 score ≥10 had a sensitivity of 88% and a specificity of 88% for major depression. PHQ-9 scores of 5, 10, 15, and 20 represented mild, moderate, moderately severe, and severe depression, respectively. Results were similar in the primary care and obstetrics-gynecology samples. CONCLUSION: In addition to making criteria-based diagnoses of depressive disorders, the PHQ-9 is also a reliable and valid measure of depression severity. These characteristics plus its brevity make the PHQ-9 a useful clinical and research tool.
The CD56 adhesion molecule is the major determinant for detecting non‐major histocompatibility complex‐restricted cytotoxic mononuclear cells from the intestinal lamina propria

In this study, specific antibodies against natural killer (NK) cell surface markers identify these cells to be commonly present in normal intestinal mucosa of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and carcinoma patients. Cells expressing the CD56 adhesion molecule were found to be far more abundant than CD16+ cells. Functional studies revealed that cells mediating non‐major histocompatibility complex‐restricted cytotoxicity (NK activity) in the lamina propria express the CD56 surface antigen, whereas only a minority of this activity resides in the population with CD16 expression. This is in contrast with peripheral blood NK cells, which were found to be almost exclusively both CD16+ and CD56+. Moreover, in the lamina propria of the intestine we found CD3+ T lymphocytes not to be involved in spontaneous cell‐mediated killing of tumor cells.
Modeling OFDM irreducible BER with impact of CP length and CFO in multipath channel with small delay dispersion

In this paper, we propose an analytical model for estimating the irreducible bit error ratio BER in multipath channel with small-extent delay dispersion, such as indoor, where the signal-to-noise ratio is high, implying dominance of inter-symbol interference as error-generating mechanism. Both channel and overall orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing OFDM symbols are modeled stochastically, resulting with novel expression for the residual BER prediction that is shown to analytically distinguish power delay profiles with equal delay spreads but having different profile shapes. In addition, the model could simply accommodate insertion of cyclic prefix onto the OFDM symbol, providing a means for either testing adequacy of any applied standard cyclic prefix length or finding its optimal value as a compromise between the performance enhancement achieved by inserting cyclic prefix and the consequently added redundancy. Finally, the model was modified as to include the analysis of effects of subcarrier frequency inaccuracy or Doppler shift, by adding additional equivalent delay dispersion with equal effect on BER degradation, while considering the system virtually free of carrier frequency offset. All analytically achieved results and conclusions are tested and successfully verified by conducted extensive Monte Carlo simulations. Copyright © 2015John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Extracellular and intracellular regulation of oligodendrocyte development: Roles of Sonic hedgehog and expression of E proteins

Recent advances in understanding oligodendrocyte development have revealed the importance of both extra‐ and intracellular molecules in regulating the induction, survival, and proliferation of early oligodendrocyte progenitors. The signaling molecule Sonic hedgehog (Shh) is critical for normal development of oligodendrocytes, although the precise influences of Shh on cells of the oligodendrocyte lineage are unclear. The present study shows that Shh increased the number of oligodendrocyte precursors in both pure cultures of oligodendrocyte precursors and mixed cultures from embryonic rat spinal cord. In pure precursor cultures Shh increased cell survival. In mixed cultures, Shh increased both the survival and proliferation of oligodendrocyte precursors in a concentration dependent manner. One intracellular consequence of exposure to Shh is the activation of transcription factors in oligodendrocyte lineage cells, which are critical for oligodendrocyte development, helix‐loop‐helix (HLH) transcription factors, Olig1 and 2. In many cases, HLH proteins such as Olig1 and Olig2 heterodimerize with other HLH proteins, such as members of the E subfamily, which are critical regulators of cell proliferation and differentiation. Immature (A2B5+) and more mature (O4+) rat oligodendrocyte precursors in dissociated cell culture expressed Olig1 as well as E proteins, HEB and E2A. Similarly, cells bearing the morphology of oligodendrocyte precursors expressed both Olig1 and HEB or E2A. We propose that E2A and/or HEB, possibly in combination with Olig1 and 2, are critical components of oligodendrogenesis and may regulate cell survival, proliferation, and fate decisions in the oligodendrocyte lineage. GLIA 40:55–64, 2002. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Análisis de la seguridad vial española: un modelo integrado para la evaluación de los principales factores de influencia.

Durante decadas, los investigadores han intentado identificar los factores mas importantes que afectan a la seguridad vial, tratando ademas, de medir el grado de tal efecto. Este interes se ha acentuado de forma considerable en los ultimos anos, lo que se ha visto reflejando en el planteamiento de las nuevas politicas estrategicas, con la fijacion de objetivos numericos. Para poder analizar de forma rigurosa el efecto de los factores que influyen sobre la seguridad vial, y poder utilizar dichos resultados para establecer objetivos realistas en los planes estrategicos marcados en las politicas de seguridad vial, es imprescindible disponer de herramientas econometricas adecuadas. En este sentido, cabe destacar la metodologia DRAG, la cual permite solucionar los problemas mas importantes asociados al desarrollo de modelos en series temporales, tales como la heterocedasticidad, la autocorrelacion o la forma funcional, a la vez que presentan una estructura multicapa que analiza las tres dimensiones principales de la seguridad vial (exposicion, frecuencia de accidentes y severidad). Cada una de estas dimensiones es objeto de una ecuacion propia que analiza los principales factores de influencia: variables economicas, infraestructura, climatologia, conductores, caracteristicas del parque, vigilancia, velocidad y medidas legislativas en seguridad, entre otros. Dado el gran exito obtenido en la aplicacion de esta metodologia en diversos paises y regiones, el INSIA ha adaptado la metodologia DRAG a la situacion de la seguridad vial espanola, realizando el modelo DRAG-Espana. Por su mayor interes, este trabajo presenta unicamente los resultados de los modelos desarrollados para accidentes, los cuales estudian los accidentes con heridos y los accidentes mortales de forma diferenciada, lo que ha permitido analizar la diferente influencia de una misma variable sobre estos distintos tipos de accidentes.
Transient VRM Response From a Large Circular Loop Over a Conductive and Magnetically Viscous Half-Space

To effectively characterize the impact of viscous remanent magnetization (VRM) on the transient electromagnetic response, we present a set of analytical expressions for the vertical and radial VRM responses generated by a large circular loop over a magnetically viscous half-space. For a step-off excitation, Néel relaxation theory is used to express the VRM within the half-space as the product of a static on-time magnetization and a time-dependent aftereffect function. Through heuristic and empirical approximations to the elliptic integral of the second kind, we are able to convert Hankel integral-based expressions for static fields into simplified analytical expressions. These were validated with a numerical 1-D forward modeling code. Analytical expressions show that VRM responses are largest near the transmitter wire, and that at the center of a large loop, the strength of the VRM response is inversely proportional to the loop’s radius. We also present an estimate of the crossover time from which the VRM signal starts to dominate the transient response. We found that later crossover times were observed near the centers of large loops and that crossover times were much earlier near the transmitter wire. Also, the magnetic flux density has an earlier crossover time compared with its time derivative. To lower or remove the VRM response in an anticipated survey, our analytical expressions can be used straightforwardly to choose an appropriate loop size, identify the VRM response time window, and select an optimal set of time channels.
Quantitative, Qualitative and Geospatial Methods to Characterize HIV Risk Environments

Increasingly, ‘place’, including physical and geographical characteristics as well as social meanings, is recognized as an important factor driving individual and community health risks. This is especially true among marginalized populations in low and middle income countries (LMIC), whose environments may also be more difficult to study using traditional methods. In the NIH-funded longitudinal study Mapa de Salud, we employed a novel approach to exploring the risk environment of female sex workers (FSWs) in two Mexico/U.S. border cities, Tijuana and Ciudad Juárez. In this paper we describe the development, implementation, and feasibility of a mix of quantitative and qualitative tools used to capture the HIV risk environments of FSWs in an LMIC setting. The methods were: 1) Participatory mapping; 2) Quantitative interviews; 3) Sex work venue field observation; 4) Time-location-activity diaries; 5) In-depth interviews about daily activity spaces. We found that the mixed-methodology outlined was both feasible to implement and acceptable to participants. These methods can generate geospatial data to assess the role of the environment on drug and sexual risk behaviors among high risk populations. Additionally, the adaptation of existing methods for marginalized populations in resource constrained contexts provides new opportunities for informing public health interventions.
Number of children and risk of metabolic syndrome in women.

BACKGROUND In the United States, there is a high prevalence of metabolic syndrome, as defined by The Third Report of the National Cholesterol Education Program Expert Panel on Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Cholesterol in Adults (ATP III). The relationship between reproductive factors and metabolic syndrome in women is unknown. METHODS We examined the association of number of children and breastfeeding history with metabolic syndrome risk among women. We used nationally representative data from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III). A total of 4699 (age > or = 20) nonpregnant women were included in this report. Metabolic syndrome was defined according to ATP III. RESULTS Overall, 22.6% of women were determined to have metabolic syndrome. The rate of metabolic syndrome was significantly higher with increasing numbers of children, demonstrating a dose-response relationship (p < 0.0001). After controlling for age, race/ethnicity, income, education, and other sociodemographic, reproductive, and behavioral risk factors, the odds of metabolic syndrome increased 13% (95% CI, 6%-20%) with each additional child. In a similarly controlled analysis in parous women, the odds of metabolic syndrome decreased 22% (95% CI, 1%-39%) in women with a history of breastfeeding for >1 month. However, both effects were no longer significant after inclusion of body mass index (BMI) categories. CONCLUSIONS In a national sample of women, increasing number of children was associated with higher rates of metabolic syndrome, and history of breastfeeding was associated with decreased rates of metabolic syndrome. The strength of these relationships was decreased after additional adjustment for BMI, suggesting that weight or weight changes may be an important mediator of the effects of parity and breastfeeding on the risk of metabolic syndrome.
Diabetes in an infant with cystic fibrosis

Abstract: Cystic fibrosis (CF)‐related diabetes mellitus is an unusual complication in very young pediatric patients with CF. It is generally associated with more severe clinical manifestations of CF. In this report, we describe a case of diabetes and CF starting in infancy. The patient manifested a form of intermittent diabetes without fasting hyperglycemia, which was exacerbated by steroid treatment during pulmonary disease and occasionally required insulin therapy. Insulin responses to oral and intravenous glucose challenge were low. The clinical and radiological status was stable during the 9‐yr follow‐up. Our patient demonstrates that diabetes may not only represent a complication of CF, as previously maintained, but can also be a co‐morbid condition proceeding along with the exocrine disease. The early occurrence of hyperglycemia in this case may highlight an impairment of β‐cell function, which might be genetically determined. Careful monitoring of the glucose profile and of β‐cell function is indicated in patients with CF to avoid late recognition of diabetes.
Performance of topological texture features to classify fibrotic interstitial lung disease patterns.

PURPOSE Topological texture features were compared in their ability to classify "honeycombing," a morphological pattern that is considered indicative for the presence of fibrotic interstitial lung disease in high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) images. METHODS For 14 patients with known occurrence of honeycombing, a stack of 70 axial, lung kernel reconstructed images was acquired from HRCT chest exams. A set of 964 regions of interest of both healthy and pathological (356) lung tissue was identified by an experienced radiologist. Texture features were extracted using statistical features (Stat), six properties calculated from gray-level co-occurrence matrices (GLCMs), Minkowski dimensions (MDs), and three Minkowski functionals (MFs) (e.g., MF.Euler). A naïve Bayes (NB) and k-nearest-neighbor (k-NN) classifier, a multilayer radial basis functions network (RBFN), and a support vector machine with a radial basis function (SVMrbf) kernel were optimized in a tenfold cross-validation for each texture vector, and the classification accuracy was calculated on independent test sets as a quantitative measure of automated tissue characterization. A Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used to compare two accuracy distributions and the significance thresholds were adjusted for multiple comparisons by the Bonferroni correction. RESULTS The best classification results were obtained by the MF features, which performed significantly better than all the standard Stat, GLCM, and MD features (p < 0.001) for both classifiers. The highest accuracies were found for MF.Euler (93.6%, 94.9%, 94.2%, and 95.0% for NB, k-NN, RBFN, and SVMrbf, respectively). The best groups of standard texture features were a Stat and GLCM ("homogeneity") feature set (up to 91.8%). CONCLUSIONS The results indicate that advanced topological texture features derived from MFs can provide superior classification performance in computer-assisted diagnosis of fibrotic interstitial lung disease patterns when compared to standard texture analysis methods.