Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Cholecystokinin and hypothalamic corticotrophin‐releasing factor participate in endotoxin‐induced hypophagia

Cholecystokinin (CCK) provides a meal‐related signal that activates brainstem neurons, which have reciprocal interconnections with the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus. Neurons that express corticotrophin‐releasing factor (CRF) in the hypothalamus possess anorexigenic effects and are activated during endotoxaemia. This study investigated the effects of CCK1 receptor blockade on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)‐induced hypophagia and hypothalamic CRF neuronal activation. Male Wistar rats were pretreated with a specific CCK1 receptor antagonist (devazepide; 1 mg kg−1; i.p.) or vehicle; 30 min later they received LPS (100 μg kg−1; i.p.) or saline injection. Food intake, corticosterone responses and Fos–CRF and Fos–α‐melanocyte‐stimulating hormone (α‐MSH) immunoreactivity in the hypothalamus and Fos–tyrosine hydroxylase immunoreactivity in the nucleus of the solitary tract (NTS) were evaluated. In comparison with saline treatment, LPS administration decreased food intake and increased plasma corticosterone levels, as well as the number of Fos–CRF and Fos– tyrosine hydroxylase double‐labelled neurons in vehicle‐pretreated rats; no change in Fos–α‐MSH immunoreactivity was observed after LPS injection. In saline‐treated animals, devazepide pretreatment increased food intake, but it did not modify other parameters compared with vehicle‐pretreated rats. Devazepide pretreatment partly reversed LPS‐induced hypophagia and Fos–CRF and brainstem neuronal activation. Devazepide did not modify the corticosterone and Fos–α‐MSH responses in rats treated with LPS. In conclusion, the present data suggest that LPS‐induced hypophagia is mediated at least in part by CCK effects, via CCK1 receptor, on NTS and hypothalamic CRF neurons.
Diagnosing Expertise: Human Capital, Decision Making, and Performance among Physicians

Expert performance is often evaluated assuming that good experts have good outcomes. We examine expertise in medicine and develop a model that allows for two dimensions of physician performance: decision making and procedural skill. Better procedural skill increases the use of intensive procedures for everyone, while better decision making results in a reallocation of procedures from fewer low-risk to high-risk cases. We show that poor diagnosticians can be identified using administrative data and that improving decision making improves birth outcomes by reducing C-section rates at the bottom of the risk distribution and increasing them at the top of the distribution.
The two-dimensional thiophosphate CsCrP2S7

The quaternary title compound, caesium chromium(III) heptathiodiphosphate(V), CsCrP2S7, has been synthesized using the reactive halide flux method. It is isotypic with other AMP2S7 (A = alkali metal; M = Cr, V or In) structures and consists of two-dimensional ∞ 2[CrP2S7]− layers extending parallel to (001) which are separated from each other by Cs+ ions (symmetry 2). The layer is built up from slightly distorted octahedral [CrS6] units (symmetry 2) and bent [P2S7] units consisting of two corner-sharing [PS4] tetrahedra. The [CrS6] octahedra share two edges and two corners with the [PS4] tetrahedra. There are only van der Waals interactions present between the layers. The Cs+ ions are located in this van der Waals gap and stabilize the structure through weak ionic interactions. The classical charge balance of the title compound can be expressed as [Cs+][Cr3+][P5+]2[S2−]7.
Comparison between performance with a pushrim-activated power-assisted wheelchair and a manual wheelchair on the Wheelchair Skills Test

Purpose. To test the hypothesis that people using a pushrim-activated power-assisted wheelchair (PAPAW) can accomplish a wider range of wheelchair skills than when using a manual wheelchair (MWC). Methods. We studied 30 able-bodied participants, using within-participant comparisons. Participants used a manual wheelchair equipped with both PAPAW and regular MWC rear wheels, and rear anti-tip devices (Arc-RADs) that permitted wheelie-like function. We trained participants to perform the wheelchair skills of the Wheelchair Skills Training Program (WSTP, Version 2.4). From the Wheelchair Skills Test (WST, Version 2.4), we calculated pass-fail success rates for the 50 individual skills and a total percentage WST score. Results. The mean (±SD) total WST scores were 89.3 (±7.0)% for the PAPAW and 88.8 (±8.4)% for the MWC, with a mean difference of 0.6 (±5.6)% (p = 0.59). Qualitative observations suggested that skills requiring a higher force on the pushrim (e.g., incline ascent) were performed more easily with the PAPAW, whereas skills requiring greater control of the wheelchair (e.g., wheelie-dependent skills) were performed more easily with the MWC. Conclusion. Overall wheelchair skill performance with the PAPAW is not superior to that when using the MWC. The PAPAW may be helpful for specific skills that require more wheel torque, but the additional torque appears to be disadvantageous when performing skills that require greater control.
Learning Patterns, Decision Approach, and Value of Information

This paper reports on research designed to provide insights into the relationships between different information structures, decision approaches of decision makers and learning patterns. The motivation for the study arose from the work done previously by Mock [16]. This section of this paper summarizes the research findings from [16], and develops a motivation for investigating the additional decision-information variables. Some research findings regarding these variables are then summarized, followed by a discussion of the results of this study.
Lethal Lapses – How a Positive Interest Rate Shock Might Stress Life Insurers

Life insurers typically grant policyholders a surrender option. We demonstrate that the resulting lapse risk could materialise in the form of a "policyholder run" if interest rates were to increase sharply. An inverse stress test based on a unique set of regulatory panel data suggests that German life insurers have become less resistant to an upward interest rate shock in the course of the financial and sovereign debt crisis from 2007 to 2011. Despite the challenges presented by the low-interestrate environment, the situation has not deteriorated since then. In light of the quantitative easing (QE) of monetary policy in the euro area, life insurers may find it difficult to continue this positive trend.
An MR‐compatible bicycle ergometer for in‐magnet whole‐body human exercise testing

An MR‐compatible ergometer was developed for in‐magnet whole‐body human exercise testing. Designed on the basis of conventional mechanically braked bicycle ergometers and constructed from nonferrous materials, the ergometer was implemented on a 1.5‐T whole‐body MR scanner. A spectrometer interface was constructed using standard scanner hardware, complemented with custom‐built parts and software to enable gated data acquisition during exercise. High‐quality 31P NMR spectra were reproducibly obtained from the medial head of the quadriceps muscle of the right leg of eight healthy subjects during two‐legged high‐frequency pedaling (80 revolutions per minute) at three incremental workloads, including maximal. Muscle phosphocreatine content dropped 82%, from 32.2 ± 1.0 mM at rest to 5.7 ± 1.1 mM at maximal workload (mean ± standard error; n = 8), indicating that the majority of quadriceps motor units were recruited. The cardiovascular load of the exercise was likewise significant, as evidenced by heart rates of 150 (±10%) beats per minute, measured immediately afterward. As such, the newly developed MR bicycling exercise equipment offers a powerful new tool for clinical musculoskeletal and cardiovascular MR investigation. The basic design of the ergometer is highly generic and adaptable for application on a wide selection of whole‐body MR scanners. Magn Reson Med, 2010. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
GLOBALIZATION AND REAL GDP: NEW EVIDENCE USING PANEL VECTOR AUTOREGRESSION

The existence and the direction of the relationship between globalization and real GDP (RGDP) are very debatable. By employing annual data of 92 countries from 1970 to 2011, we apply Pedroni’s [Econometric Theory, 20, (2004) 597–625] panel cointegration test and the panel vector autoregressions (VARs) model, proposed by Love and Zicchino [Quarterly Review of Economics and Finance, 46(2), (2006) 190–210], to investigate again the relationship between these two variables. The results first present the weak evidence of cointegration between RGDP and overall globalization and its three main sub-indices. Second, the empirical evidence shows a bidirectional causality between RGDP and overall globalization, economic as well as social, but higher political globalization harms RGDP in the sample countries. Hence, we offer evidence for a clear bidirectional effect between RGDP and each globalization index in Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries, but not in non-OECD ones. Several empirical implications and suggestions are proposed through our observations.
Sensitivity of Monkey B Virus (Cercopithecine herpesvirus 1) to Antiviral Drugs: Role of Thymidine Kinase in Antiviral Activities of Substrate Analogs and Acyclonucleosides

ABSTRACT Herpes B virus (B virus [BV]) is a macaque herpesvirus that is occasionally transmitted to humans where it can cause rapidly ascending encephalitis that is often fatal. To understand the low susceptibility of BV to the acyclonucleosides, we have cloned, expressed, and characterized the BV thymidine kinase (TK), an enzyme that is expected to “activate” nucleoside analogs. This enzyme is similar in sequence and properties to the TK of herpes simplex virus (HSV), i.e., it has a broad substrate range and low enantioselectivity and is sensitive to inhibitors of HSV TKs. The BV enzyme phosphorylates some modified nucleosides and acyclonucleosides and l enantiomers of thymidine and related antiherpetic analogs. However, the potent anti-HSV drugs acyclovir (ACV), ganciclovir (GCV), and 5-bromovinyldeoxyuridine were poorly or not phosphorylated by the BV enzyme under the experimental conditions. The antiviral activities of a number of marketed antiherpes drugs and experimental compounds were compared against BV strains and, for comparison, HSV type 1 (HSV-1) in Vero cell cultures. For most compounds tested, BV was found to be about as sensitive as HSV-1 was. However, BV was less sensitive to ACV and GCV than HSV-1 was. The abilities of thymidine analogs and acyclonucleosides to inhibit replication of BV in Vero cell culture were not always proportional to their substrate properties for BV TK. Our studies characterize BV TK for the first time and suggest new lead compounds, e.g., 5-ethyldeoxyuridine and pencyclovir, which may be superior to ACV or GCV as treatment for this emerging infectious disease.
Occurrence of ENaC Subunit mRNA and Immunocytochemistry of the Channel Subunits in Taste Buds of the Rat Vallate Papilla a

ABSTRACT: Epithelial Na+ channels (ENaCs) are thought to mediate the amiloride‐blockable salt taste. The rat vallate papilla does not contribute to amiloride‐blockable salt taste, yet the presence of ENaC‐mRNA in this tissue has been reported. Is ENaC actually contained in the taste cells, or is it merely present in the supporting lingual epithelium? To avoid contamination by ENaC contained in the lingual epithelium, we physically isolated taste buds from the vallate papilla and used mRNA purification followed by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) to investigate the presence of ENaC‐type message in the isolated buds. mRNA of α‐, β‐ and γ‐subunits was detected, the α‐signal being the strongest. These results provide first molecular evidence for the presence of ENaC subunits in taste buds that were isolated from the posterior tongue and were free of epithelial contamination. In addition, we used immunohistochemistry to show ENaC‐like reactivity in posterior tongue taste cells. Interestingly, the immunoreactivity was not predominantly apical but was intracellular and close to or at the basolateral membrane. The function of basolateral ENaC‐type channels is unknown. Possibly, the channels are normally closed or of very low open probability in the resting state.
Antibodies to the retina N‐acetylgalactosaminylphosphotransferase inhibit neurite outgrowth

The neural retina N‐acetylgalactosaminylphospho‐transferase (GalNAcPTase) is a cell surface molecule (Balsamo and Lilien, 1980, 1983; Balsamo et al., 1986a) that is tightly associated with, and glycosy‐lates, the calcium‐dependent, cell‐cell adhesion molecule, N‐cadherin (Balsamo and Lilien, 1990). N‐cad‐herin has been implicated in neuronal attachment and neurite outgrowth when at the surface of cels (Bixby et al., 1987, 1988; Matsunaga et al., 1988; Neugebauer et al., 1988; Tomaselli et al., 1988). The intimate association of the GalNAcPTase and N‐cadherin prompted us to test the possibility that the GalNAcPTase is also involved in the process of neurite outgrowth. We tested the effect of one polyclonal and two monoclonal anti‐GalNAcPTase antibodies in cultures of chick neural retina cells extending neurites on substrates requiring N‐cadherin, beta inte‐grin receptors, or the chicken homologue of L1, G4. The length and number of neurites produced were dramatically reduced on all of these substrates by the polyclonal and one of the monoclonal anti‐GalNAcPTase antibodies. The second monoclonal antibody bound to the cell surface but was not inhibitory, indicating that it reacts with a different epitope. The mechanism through which the retina cell surface GalNAcPTase may modulate neurite outgrowth on many substrates is discussed.
Academic Performance and Engagement of Educational Opportunity Program Students in a College Algebra Extended Class at the State University of New York, New Platz

Problem The purpose of this study was to describe the academic performance of a group of Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) students in a College Algebra Extended Program (CAEP) at the University of New York, New Paltz. Generally, EOP students are admitted with low mathematics placement scores. In the past, they would have been required to do remedial math. However, since college remedial math is no longer available, the CAEP was implemented to remedy this problem. This study was conducted to examine how a small group of EOP students performed in this course. Method A descriptive research design was used to examine the performance of the EOP students in the CAEP class. Twelve students completed the course. Data collected included attitudes towards the course using both surveys and personal interviews, pretest and posttest algebra performance, homework, quizzes, midterm and final examinations, learning styles, and concept model application test. Parametric and non-parametric statistics were used to analyze quantitative data while content-analysis was used for the interview data. Results Students showed significant improvement between pretest and posttest scores (36% increase). There was no significant relationship between math performance and gender or race. Math Placement Level (MPL) was significant related with performance on workshop assignments while learning style was related significantly with performance on homework assignments. The workshop index score (measure of concepts mastery) and performance in quizzes, workshop, and midterm exam were significantly correlated with their performances on the final exam. Students preferred classroom and workshop learning environments to online pedagogy; however, they found online resources to be most helpful when rich in problem-solving examples. Conclusions Although a College Algebra Extended program can provide success in helping students pass college algebra, students may need more time to assimilate the large amounts of information covered. Knowledge of students’ MPL and mastery of math concepts may be used to better place EOP students in College Algebra course as well as indicate helpful pedagogical approaches to math instructions and learning. Pedagogical approaches that allowed active learning and opportunity for group instruction and learning were major contributors to students’ success in learning college algebra.
Internal Factors of Gender Imbalance in the Malaysian Higher Educational Institutions

Statistics have shown that the female-heavy gender imbalance in the higher educational institutions is a global issue, and some educationists have made a specific prediction that it is a continuous trend. This study examined the internal factors of gender imbalance in the higher educational institutions: the gender differences in thinking styles and ability to pay attention. The results indicated that male students are more creative but less able to pay attention to learning stimuli than their female counterparts. The findings implied that attempts should be made to move away from the current rote learning approach towards interactive teaching methods to accommodate the more creative but less attentive males.
The changes in plasma serotonin levels after hormone therapy and their relationship with estrogen responsiveness on bone in postmenopausal women.

CONTEXT Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors have shown to be associated with an increased risk of fractures. It has been suggested that circulating serotonin is an important regulatory factor and that estrogen may regulate bone metabolism through the serotonin pathway. OBJECTIVE Our objective was to determine the association between plasma serotonin level and bone turnover before and after hormone therapy (HT) in postmenopausal women. PARTICIPANTS AND DESIGN In this parallel comparative study using age-matched controls, 80 postmenopausal women (21 control, 59 receiving HT) aged 46-64 yr were assessed. The plasma levels of serotonin, serum concentrations of osteocalcin and carboxyterminal telopeptides, and bone mineral density (BMD) were measured at baseline and after 3 months and 1 yr of HT. RESULTS The plasma serotonin level was significantly correlated with serum total alkaline phosphatase level at baseline (r = -0.223, P = 0.048) but not with serum osteocalcin (r = -0.217, P = 0.056) or carboxyterminal telopeptides (r = -0.217, P = 0.054). There was no significant association between baseline serotonin and BMD measured at the spine or femur. The median decrements of circulating serotonin from baseline were -9.3% (interquartile range -34.0 to 53.6%) and -7.2% (-25.5 to 64.5%) at 3 months and 1 yr of HT, respectively. These changes were not significantly different from those in the control group. The short-term changes of circulating serotonin at 3 months after HT did not show significant association with the changes in BMD measured at the lumbar spine or proximal femur 1 year after HT. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that circulating serotonin may reflect bone turnover status, but it is not a strong enough predictor of bone loss to use as a bone marker. Moreover, serial measurements of plasma serotonin after short-term treatment with estrogen cannot predict the long-term responsiveness of bone to estrogen, suggesting that the bone-preserving effect of estrogen is independent of the peripheral action of serotonin on bone.
Characteristics of local excitatory circuits studied with glutamate microapplication in the CA3 area of rat hippocampal slices.

1. Local neuronal circuits in CA3 of hippocampal slices were studied by recording excitatory and inhibitory postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs and IPSPs) intracellularly during glutamate microapplication in CA3. Control experiments validated this approach by providing evidence that glutamate microdrops stimulated neurons but not axons-of-passage or axon terminals in CA3. 2. Glutamate microdrops (10-20 mM, 10-20 microns diam) increased the firing frequency of extracellularly recorded dentate granule cells for 5-10 s when applied to their somata but not when applied to their mossy fiber axons and terminals in the hilus and in CA3. 3. Glutamate microapplications to granule cell somata, but not to mossy fiber axons, also increased the frequency of intracellularly recorded EPSPs in CA3 pyramidal cells for 5-10 s. This provided a second line of evidence that glutamate did not cause firing in mossy fiber axons synapsing in CA3. 4. In slices where the CA3 region was surgically separated from the dentate gyrus and CA2, glutamate microdrops placed in the CA3 stratum pyramidale within 400 microns of intracellularly recorded pyramidal cells increased the frequency of EPSPs and IPSPs. Tetrodotoxin (1 microgram/ml) blocked these increases in PSP frequency, indicating that they did not result from glutamate-induced depolarization and associated transmitter release from presynaptic terminals. Increases in PSP frequency were interpreted to reflect glutamate activations of CA3 neurons with local synaptic connections to recorded cells. 5. Low concentrations of picrotoxin (PTX, 5-10 microM) blocked glutamate-induced increases in IPSP frequency and often revealed increases in EPSP frequency where they were not previously observed. This suggests that recurrent inhibitory circuits normally mask or block transmission through recurrent excitatory pathways in CA3. 6. In five experiments following PTX treatment (7.5-10 microM), large and prolonged (up to 2 min) increases in EPSP frequency were observed in CA3 pyramidal cells to glutamate microapplications in CA3. Rhythmic epileptiform bursts eventually occurred in two of these cases, suggesting that the protracted increases in EPSP frequency represent a form of reverberating excitation during a transition from normal to epileptic states. 7. Sixteen CA3 pyramidal cells were recorded in PTX (5-10 microM) during glutamate microapplications at 200 and 400 microns on each side of the recording site. The most consistent glutamate-induced increases in EPSP frequency occurred to microapplications 200 microns from recording sites on the hilar side. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Energy Efficient R&D Investment and Aggregate Energy Demand: Evidence from OECD Countries

This paper present a different perspective in the debate on energy efficiency and energy demand by classifying the impact of efficiency measures into direct and indirect effect (rebound effect). It examines the direct effect of energy efficient R&D capital on energy demand. Using a sample of OECD countries, we find evidence of negative own-R&D capital elasticity with respect to energy demand. Moreover, we find evidence of heterogeneity in the predicted impact of energy efficient R&D capital, with the USA having the largest accumulated reduction in energy demand and Portugal with the smallest. Overall, our empirical results suggest a reasonable reduction in energy demand and the associated CO2 emissions from an increase in energy efficient R&D investment based on the direct effect, which differ between the countries, suggesting possible differences in abatement cost and the level of implementation of energy efficient R&D activities.