Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Chronotopic fiber reordering and the distribution of cell adhesion and extracellular matrix molecules in the optic pathway of fetal ferrets

We have examined the age‐related reordering of optic axons as they pass through the chiasmatic region in fetal ferrets. Proportions of young and old optic axons were determined from electron micrographs taken sequentially through the prechiasmatic nerve, chiasm, and tract. This “chronotopic” reordering of axons was shown to emerge gradually, beginning rostral to the fusion of the two optic nerves, but continuing to develop caudal to the chiasmatic midline. Segregation of young from old optic axons was most pronounced within the optic tract. We then compared the emergence of this fiber reorganization to the distribution of cell adhesion and extracellular matrix molecules and to the glial architecture within the pathway. Using immunohistochemistry, the distributions of the cell adhesion molecules L1, NCAM, and TAG‐1 and the extracellular matrix molecules laminin‐1 and chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans (CSPGs) were determined. Among these, only the distribution of CSPGs was observed to change in a manner that complemented the segregation of young from old optic axons. CSPGs were densest in the deeper parts of the optic tract, coincident with radial glial fibers that turn to course within the region of the oldest optic axons. Both the glial architecture and the CSPG distribution form as a consequence of the invasion of the first optic axons, shown by the developmental sequence of each, and by the fact that these glial and molecular features fail to form in the absence of optic axons. The data suggest a model in which the gradient of CSPGs across the depth of the tract contributes to the formation of the chronotopic fiber reordering by providing a relatively unfavorable environment for subsequent axonal growth. The CSPGs may do so by interfering with adhesion molecules on optic axons that normally promote elongation. J. Comp. Neurol. 380:355–372, 1997. © 1997 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Functional analysis of complexes with mixed primary and secondary cellulose synthases

In higher plants, cellulose is synthesized by cellulose synthase complexes, which contain multiple isoforms of cellulose synthases (CESAs). Among the total 10 CESA genes in Arabidopsis, recessive mutations at three of them cause the collapse of mature xylem cells in inflorescence stems of Arabidopsis (irx1cesa8, irx3cesa7 and irx5cesa4). These CESA genes are considered secondary cell wall CESAs. The others (the function CESA10 is still unknown) are thought to be specialized for cellulose synthesis in the primary cell wall. A split-ubiquitin membrane yeast two-hybrid system was used to assess interactions among four primary CESAs (CESA1, CESA2, CESA3, CESA6) and three secondary CESAs (CESA4, CESA7, CESA8). Our results showed that primary CESAs could physically interact with secondary CESAs in a limited fashion. Analysis of transgenic lines showed that CESA1 could partially rescue irx1cesa8 null mutants, resulting in complementation of the plant growth defect, collapsed xylem and cellulose content deficiency. These results suggest that mixed primary and secondary CESA complexes are functional using experimental set-ups.
ANALYSIS OF PRIMARY SCHOOL TEACHERS' CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT PRACTICES: IMPLICATION FOR TEACHER EDUCATION CURRICULUM

The study investigated teachers’ classroom management practices with the aim of determining their effectiveness for curriculum delivery. A total of one hundred (100) primary school teachers from ten (10) randomly selected primary schools from Kaduna metropolis were used for the study. A questionnaire tagged “ Analysis of Primary School Teachers’ Classroom Management Practices” (APSTCMP) was used to collect data from respondents. The result of the findings revealed that pupils in classrooms with highly structured classroom management practices demonstrated more appropriate behaviour and positive learning outcome than students in classrooms haphazardly managed by teachers. It was therefore concluded that classroom management practices provide the structure to support teacher behaviour thus increasing the success of classroom instruction. Teacher proficiency in classroom management is therefore, necessary to ignite successful environments that will encourage appropriate student behaviour and positive learning outcome. It was therefore recommended among others, that the curriculum for teacher training colleges should include an in-depth programme or course in classroom management skills in order to provide teachers with content knowledge and opportunities to develop proficiency in classroom management. Article visualizations:
Adipose tissue‐derived progenitors for engineering osteogenic and vasculogenic grafts

The current need for bone grafts in orthopedic and reconstructive surgery cannot be satisfied by autologous tissue transplant due to its limited availability and significant associated morbidity. Tissue engineering approaches could supply sufficient amounts of bone substitutes by exploiting the ability to harvest autologous osteogenic progenitors associated with suitable porous materials. However, the generation of clinically relevant‐sized constructs is critically hampered by limited vascularization, with consequent engraftment and survival only of a thin outer shell, upon in vivo implantation. To overcome this limitation, different non‐mutually exclusive approaches have recently been developed to promote or accelerate graft vascularization, from angiogenic growth factor gene delivery to surgical pre‐vascularization of the construct before implantation. A simple, promising strategy involves the co‐culture of vasculogenic cells to form an intrinsic vascular network inside the graft in vitro, which can rapidly anastomose with the host blood vessels in vivo. Recent data have shown that adipose tissue‐derived stromal vascular fraction (SVF) may provide an efficient, convenient, and autologous source for both osteogenic and endothelial cells. When SVF progenitors were cultured in appropriate bioreactor systems and ectopically implanted, a functional vascular network connected to the host was formed concomitantly to bone formation. Future studies should aim at demonstrating that this approach effectively supports survival of scaled up cell‐based bone grafts at an orthotopic site. The procedure should also be adapted to become compatible with an intra‐operative timeline and complemented with the definition of suitable potency markers, to facilitate its development into a simplified, reproducible, and cost‐effective clinical treatment. J. Cell. Physiol. 225: 348–353, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Oral and Craniofacial Findings of Binder Syndrome: Two Case Reports

Binder syndrome is a malformative midfacial alteration, known also as maxillonasal dysplasia or maxillonasal dysostosis. In this article, two cases of affected patients are reported, and the features of the condition are reviewed. One case presents a cleft lip. Hypotheses about etiology, pathogenesis, and classification of the syndrome are illustrated. This work provides a contribution for the delineation of a differential diagnostic procedure.
Randomized clinical trial of laparoscopic total (Nissen) versus posterior partial (Toupet) fundoplication for gastro‐oesophageal reflux disease based on preoperative oesophageal manometry

Laparoscopic fundoplication is an accepted treatment for symptomatic gastro‐oesophageal reflux disease. The aim of this study was to clarify whether total (Nissen) or partial (Toupet) fundoplication is preferable, and whether preoperative oesophageal manometry should be used to determine the degree of fundoplication performed.
[Efficiency and side effects of antiretroviral treatment of HIV infected pregnant women].

OBJECTIVE Antiretroviral treatment (ART) of pregnant women and newborn reduces the vertical HIV transmission below 2 % but long term effects are still not clear. METHOD We analyzed the data of 59 children born to HIV infected women. RESULTS The median observation time was 404 (14-740) days. There was no vertical HIV transmission (95 %-confidence interval [CI] 0-5.1 %). Among 6 children without prenatal ART one child with congenital diaphragmatic hernia was born. In 53 infants with prenatal ART we observed 19 congenital malformations (35.8 %, 95 %-CI 23.2-50.6 %). Three were severe malformations (5.7 %, 95 %-CI 1.2-15.5 %): one supraorbital hemangioma (after zidovudine), one athetoid cerebral palsy without evidence of mitochondrial dysfunction (after zidovudine), and one unilateral femoral hypoplasia (after short term zidovudine, lamivudine, and efavirenz in late pregnancy). Sixteen minor malformations were found (30.1 %, 95 %-CI 21.2-43.8 %): ventricular septal defect (closed spontaneously after 6 months), atrial septal defect, transient and persistent pulmonary stenoses, hexadactylies, unilateral hearing impairment, dystopic kidney, subependymal bleeding cysts, and mild dilation of ventricles. CONCLUSIONS ART prevents vertical HIV transmission. All women should be advised ART during pregnancy and delivery. The prevalence of malformations after prenatal/perinatal ART appears considerably high. Therefore, detailed information for the parents and long term follow-up of all children exposed to antiretroviral drugs are crucial.
High-Resolution Temporal Profiling of Transcripts during Arabidopsis Leaf Senescence Reveals a Distinct Chronology of Processes and Regulation[C][W][OA]

This work presents a high-resolution time-course analysis of gene expression during development of a leaf from expansion through senescence. Enrichment in ontologies, sequence motifs, and transcription factor families within genes showing altered expression over time identified both metabolic pathways and potential regulators active at different stages of leaf development and senescence. Leaf senescence is an essential developmental process that impacts dramatically on crop yields and involves altered regulation of thousands of genes and many metabolic and signaling pathways, resulting in major changes in the leaf. The regulation of senescence is complex, and although senescence regulatory genes have been characterized, there is little information on how these function in the global control of the process. We used microarray analysis to obtain a high-resolution time-course profile of gene expression during development of a single leaf over a 3-week period to senescence. A complex experimental design approach and a combination of methods were used to extract high-quality replicated data and to identify differentially expressed genes. The multiple time points enable the use of highly informative clustering to reveal distinct time points at which signaling and metabolic pathways change. Analysis of motif enrichment, as well as comparison of transcription factor (TF) families showing altered expression over the time course, identify clear groups of TFs active at different stages of leaf development and senescence. These data enable connection of metabolic processes, signaling pathways, and specific TF activity, which will underpin the development of network models to elucidate the process of senescence.
[The norms of SF-36 scale scores in urban and rural residents of Sichuan province].

OBJECTIVE To develop the norms of SF-36 in Sichuan, China. METHODS A total of 1603 rural residents and 646 urban residents were surveyed. Both the US scaling criteria and China scaling criteria were used to score the 8 domains of the SF-36 and compared with the norms of Hong Kong and US populations. RESULTS The scores of the 8 domains of the SF-36 using China scaling criteria were highly correlated with those using the US scaling criteria, with correlation coefficients greater than 0.98, however, the mean scores using the two scaling criteria were different significantly. The norms of the Sichuan population were more similar to the Hong Kong norms than the US norms. The scores of the SF-36 were different between different age and sex groups and between urban and rural populations. CONCLUSION We have developed the norms of SF-36 by age/sex groups in urban and rural population of Sichuan, China.
Simple and robust saturation‐based slice selection for ultrashort echo time MRI

To present a new method for localizing signal within a two‐dimensional (2D) slice suitable for ultrashort echo time (UTE) imaging, called saturation‐based UTE (sat‐UTE). The new method digitally subtracts two acquisitions that are nonselectively excited with and without selective saturation of the slice of interest.
The Inter-Organizational Summit on Education and Training (ISET) 2010 Survey on the Influence of the Houston Conference Training Guidelines

A conference specific to the education and training of clinical neuropsychology was held in 1997, which led to a report published in the Archives of Clinical Neuropsychology (Hannay, J., Bieliauskas, L., Crosson, B., Hammeke, T., Hamsher, K., & Koffler, S. (1998). Proceedings of the Houston Conference on Specialty Education and Training in Clinical Neuropsychology. Archives of Clinical Neuropsychology, 13, 157–250. ). The guidelines produced by this conference have been referred to as the Houston Conference (HC) guidelines. Since that time, there has been considerable discussion, and some disagreement, about whether the HC guidelines produced a positive outcome in the training of neuropsychologists. To explore this question and determine how widely the HC guidelines were implemented, a meeting was held in 2006. Present and past leaders of the American Psychological Association Division 40 (Clinical Neuropsychology), the National Academy of Neuropsychology, and the Association of Postdoctoral Programs in Clinical Neuropsychology met to discuss the possible need for an Inter-Organizational Summit on Education and Training (ISET). A decision was reached to have the ISET Steering Committee conduct a survey of clinical neuropsychologists that could address the extent to which HC guidelines were present in the specialty and whether the influence of the HC guidelines was positive. An online survey was constructed, with data gathered in 2010. The current paper presents and discusses the ISET survey results. Specific findings need to be viewed cautiously due to the relatively low response rate. However, with some direct parallels to a larger recent survey of clinical neuropsychologists, the following general conclusions appear well founded: (a) the demographics of respondents in the ISET survey are comparable with a recent larger professional practice survey and thus may reasonably represent the specialty; (b) the HC guidelines appear to have been widely adopted by training programs, in that a large proportion of younger practitioners endorsed having had HC-adherent training; and (c) HC-adherent training is associated with a higher frequency endorsement of being well prepared to engage in key professional activities subsequent to the completion of training when compared with those not having HC-adherent training. Overall, the ISET Steering Committee has concluded that the HC guidelines have been widely adopted and that trainees associate participation in HC-adherent training as advantageous. A potential revision based on unfavorable outcomes is deemed unnecessary. Nonetheless, the ISET Steering Committee recognizes that training needs change as a function of the broadening of our field and the introduction of related new technologies, which may prompt updates. The ISET Steering Committee supports the idea that periodic review and updating of training models may be is prudent.
Changes in respiratory mechanics and gas exchange during the acute respiratory distress syndrome

Background: The time course of impairment of respiratory mechanics and gas exchange in the acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) remains poorly defined. We assessed the changes in respiratory mechanics and gas exchange during ARDS. We hypothesized that due to the changes in respiratory mechanics over time, ventilatory strategies based on rigid volume or pressure limits might fail to prevent overdistension throughout the disease process.
Respiratory Infection of Turkeys with Listeria monocytogenes Scott A

Abstract The pathogenesis of L. monocytogenes strain Scott A was studied by challenging day-old male turkey poults by air sac inoculation with tryptose phosphate broth containing 100 cfu (control), 104, 105, and 106 cfu (low challenge), or 107 and 108 cfu (high challenge) of the Scott A (serotype 4b) strain of L. monocytogenes. Mortality at 2 wk postinfection (PI) ranged from 25% for low challenge to 100% for high challenge (P = 0.0001). Gross and histopathological lesions were observed in heart, liver, spleen, lung, and bursa of Fabricius of mortalities at 4 days PI. Listeria monocytogenes challenge resulted in significantly decreased relative weight of the bursa of Fabricius and increased relative weight of the spleen, and L. monocytogenes was isolated by direct plating of liver, pericardium, brain, and both left and right stifle joint synovium (knee) cultures, as well as gall bladder, yolk sac, and cecal tonsil from transfer swabs onto Listeria-selective agar. Isolates were confirmed as positive using Gram stain, biochemical tests, and the Biolog system. High challenge resulted in confirmed L. monocytogenes isolation from 48% of left knee and 59% of right knee cultures. Low challenge resulted in isolation of L. monocytogenes from 11% of both left and right knee cultures. These results suggest that L. monocytogenes Scott A colonization of turkey knee synovial tissue can initiate in day-of-age poults and that L. monocytogenes Scott A can be invasive through air sac infection.
Parallel FPGA routing: Survey and challenges

As transistor scaling is slowing down [1], other opportunities for ensuring continuous performance increase have to be explored. Field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) are in the spotlight these days: not only due to their malleability and energy efficiency, but also because FPGAs have recently been integrated into the cloud [2]. The latter makes them available to everyone in need of the immense computing power and data throughput they can offer. However, one important issue needs to be resolved first — the time to compile an industrial-scale design for an FPGA must be drastically reduced. Researchers have been looking for ways to accelerate FPGA routing through parallelism, since routing is one of the most time-consuming compilation steps. However, the ideal solution has not been found yet. This paper provides a survey of parallel FPGA routers, with the aim to identify their strengths and weaknesses, thus suggesting directions to take in further efforts for acceleration.
Pervasive post‐transcriptional control of genes involved in amino acid metabolism by the Hfq‐dependent GcvB small RNA

GcvB is one of the most highly conserved Hfq‐associated small RNAs in Gram‐negative bacteria and was previously reported to repress several ABC transporters for amino acids. To determine the full extent of GcvB‐mediated regulation in Salmonella, we combined a genome‐wide experimental approach with biocomputational target prediction. Comparative pulse expression of wild‐type versus mutant sRNA variants revealed that GcvB governs a large post‐transcriptional regulon, impacting ∼1% of all Salmonella genes via its conserved G/U‐rich domain R1. Complementary predictions of C/A‐rich binding sites in mRNAs and gfp reporter fusion experiments increased the number of validated GcvB targets to more than 20, and doubled the number of regulated amino acid transporters. Unlike the previously described targeting via the single R1 domain, GcvB represses the glycine transporter CycA by exceptionally redundant base‐pairing. This novel ability of GcvB is focused upon the one target that could feedback‐regulate the glycine‐responsive synthesis of GcvB. Several newly discovered mRNA targets involved in amino acid metabolism, including the global regulator Lrp, question the previous assumption that GcvB simply acts to limit unnecessary amino acid uptake. Rather, GcvB rewires primary transcriptional control circuits and seems to act as a distinct regulatory node in amino acid metabolism.
Salvage robotic radical prostatectomy

Failure of non-surgical primary treatment for localized prostate cancer is a common occurrence, with rates of disease recurrence ranging from 20% to 60%. In a large proportion of patients, disease recurrence is clinically localized and therefore potentially curable. Unfortunately, due to the complex and potentially morbid nature of salvage treatment, radical salvage surgery is uncommonly performed. In an attempt to decrease the morbidity of salvage therapy without sacrificing oncologic efficacy, a number of experienced centers have utilized robotic assistance to perform minimally invasive salvage radical prostatectomy. Herein, we critically evaluate the existing literature on salvage robotic radical prostatectomy with a focus on patient selection, perioperative complications and functional and early oncologic outcomes. These results are compared with contemporary and historical open salvage radical prostatectomy series and supplemented with insights we have gained from our experience with salvage robotic radical prostatectomy. The body of evidence by which conclusions regarding the efficacy and safety of robotic salvage radical prostatectomy can be drawn comprises fewer than 200 patients with limited follow-up. Preliminary results are promising and some outcomes have been favorable when compared with contemporary open salvage prostatectomy series. Advantages of the robotic platform in the performance of salvage radical prostatectomy include decreased blood loss, short length of stay and improved visualization. Greater experience is required to confirm the long-term oncologic efficacy and functional outcomes as well as the generalizability of results achieved at experienced centers.