Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Inhibitory synaptic potentials resulting from alpha 2‐adrenoceptor activation in guinea‐pig submucous plexus neurones.

Intracellular recordings were obtained from neurones of the guinea‐pig submucous plexus. Inhibitory synaptic potentials (i.p.s.p.s) were compared with hyperpolarizations evoked by brief, local applications of noradrenaline and by superfusion with adrenoceptor agonists. Hyperpolarizing potentials elicited by brief applications of noradrenaline were similar to the i.p.s.p. in latency of onset, amplitude, time course, conductance increase, reversal potential and ionic dependence. Both responses were blocked by low concentrations of Ba2+ and quinine. 6‐hydroxydopamine selectively and irreversibly abolished the i.p.s.p. and resulted in a complete loss of catecholamine fluorescent nerve fibres in the submucous plexus. The alpha 2‐adrenoceptor antagonists, phentolamine, yohimbine and RX781094, reversibly blocked the i.p.s.p. and the noradrenaline hyperpolarization. Prazosin, propranolol, atropine and naloxone had no effect on these responses. Superfusion with noradrenaline and clonidine produced dose‐dependent membrane hyperpolarizations. Noradrenaline and clonidine dose‐hyperpolarization curves were shifted to the right in a parallel fashion by alpha 2‐adrenoceptor antagonists. Determination of the dissociation equilibrium constants for phentolamine, yohimbine and RX781094 showed that the hyperpolarization produced by noradrenaline perfusion is due to alpha 2‐adrenoceptor activation. It is concluded that the release of noradrenaline from sympathetic nerves activates post‐synaptic alpha 2‐adrenoceptors, resulting in the K+ conductance increase which underlies the i.p.s.p. in submucous plexus neurones.
Psychometric Properties of the Spanish Version of the Moos Coping Response Inventory for Youth

The present study examined the psychometric properties of the Spanish version of Moos's Coping Responses Inventory-Youth form in a sample of 1,401 adolescent secondary students (45% boys and 55% girls) ages 12 and 16 years (M = 14.1, SD = 1.4). Basic information as descriptive data and internal consistency reliabilities were given, and intercorrelations for the coping strategies criterion and factorial validity estimated. As in previous reports, the internal consistency was low to moderate. The correlations between scales ranged from . 06 to . 40. Exploratory factor analysis performed on the coping strategies, with oblimin rotation yielded two factors accounting for 49.6% of variance, which broadly reproduced the Approach-Avoidance dichotomy, with alpha values of . 81 and . 64, respectively. Finally, the analysis of criterion validity corroborated the relationship between the use of avoidance strategies and higher psychological symptoms.
PERFORMANCE EVALUATION OF SOME CHILI PEPPER ( CAPSICUM SPP ) GENOTYPES FOR ANTHRACNOSE ( COLLETOTRICHUM CAPSICI ( SYD ) ) RESISTANCE IN SNNP REGION OF ETHIOPIA

Ten chili (Capsicum spp) varieties were screened for resistance to anthracnose (Colletotrichum capsici) in field experiments at two locations, Alaba and Maraqo. Starting seven days after transplanting, plants in each plot were monitored for diseases symptoms and infections. Data on incidence and severity of anthracnose were collected. Besides, the disease progress curve (AUDPC) and yield components were recorded before and after harvest. The data showed that the incidence of anthracnose disease and yield parameters such as dry fruit weight per plant, number of fruit per plant, pulp weight per plant, unmarketable fruits weight per plant, fruit length and days to 50 percent maturity, differed significantly among the tested genotypes at both locations. The majority of the genotypes were rated as moderate resistant to susceptible ones and none of the genotypes was free from the disease at both locations. Total yield per plant was higher at Alaba than Maraqo. This variation is related to the level of disease intensity, which was higher at Maraqo. After thorough multi-location researches, the identified sources of resistance were recommended to be utilized in future pepper breeding programs. Key words/phrases: AUDPC, Fruit weight, Resistance, Screening, Yield.
SR-BI inhibits ABCG1-stimulated net cholesterol efflux from cells to plasma HDL Published, JLR Papers in Press, October 24, 2007.

This study compares the roles of ABCG1 and scavenger receptor class B type I (SR-BI) singly or together in promoting net cellular cholesterol efflux to plasma HDL containing active LCAT. In transfected cells, SR-BI promoted free cholesterol efflux to HDL, but this was offset by an increased uptake of HDL cholesteryl ester (CE) into cells, resulting in no net efflux. Coexpression of SR-BI with ABCG1 inhibited the ABCG1-mediated net cholesterol efflux to HDL, apparently by promoting the reuptake of CE from medium. However, ABCG1-mediated cholesterol efflux was not altered in cholesterol-loaded, SR-BI-deficient (SR-BI−/−) macrophages. Briefly cultured macrophages collected from SR-BI−/− mice loaded with acetylated LDL in the peritoneal cavity did exhibit reduced efflux to HDL. However, this was attributable to reduced expression of ABCG1 and ABCA1, likely reflecting increased macrophage cholesterol efflux to apolipoprotein E-enriched HDL during loading in SR-BI−/− mice. In conclusion, cellular SR-BI does not promote net cholesterol efflux from cells to plasma HDL containing active LCAT as a result of the reuptake of HDL-CE into cells. Previous findings of increased atherosclerosis in mice transplanted with SR-BI−/− bone marrow probably cannot be explained by a defect in macrophage cholesterol efflux.
Efficient Knowledge Distillation from an Ensemble of Teachers

This paper describes the effectiveness of knowledge distillation using teacher student training for building accurate and compact neural networks. We show that with knowledge distillation, information from multiple acoustic models like very deep VGG networks and Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) models can be used to train standard convolutional neural network (CNN) acoustic models for a variety of systems requiring a quick turnaround. We examine two strategies to leverage multiple teacher labels for training student models. In the ﬁrst technique, the weights of the student model are updated by switching teacher labels at the minibatch level. In the second method, student models are trained on multiple streams of information from various teacher distributions via data augmentation. We show that standard CNN acoustic models can achieve comparable recognition accuracy with much smaller number of model parameters compared to teacher VGG and LSTM acoustic models. Additionally we also investigate the effectiveness of using broadband teacher labels as privileged knowledge for training better narrowband acoustic models within this framework. We show the beneﬁt of this simple technique by training narrow-band student models with broadband teacher soft labels on the Aurora 4 task.
Matrix metalloproteinase-1 of gingival fibroblasts influenced by advanced glycation end products (AGEs) and their association with receptor for AGEs and nuclear factor-κB in gingival connective tissue.

BACKGROUND The effect of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) on gingival inflammation has not been fully elucidated. This study aims to investigate the hypothesis that AGEs may enhance the expression of matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) of human gingival fibroblasts (HGFs) and to explore whether the signal pathway receptor for AGE (RAGE)/nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) are involved in the expression of MMP-1 in HGFs. METHODS Cultured HGFs from 12 healthy gingival human tissue samples were coincubated with AGEs for the detection of MMP-1 protein and mRNA. Thirty-six gingival samples were collected and treated for the determination of RAGE, NF-κB, and MMP-1 mRNA level in gingival connective tissues from the participants with chronic periodontitis, diabetes-associated periodontitis, and healthy controls. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and real-time fluorescence reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction were used for the measurement of protein and mRNA level, respectively. In addition, clinical periodontal parameters were also checked. RESULTS AGEs strongly induced MMP-1 mRNA and protein expression in HGFs and in a time- and concentration-dependent manner (P <0.05). In gingival connective tissue, the level of both RAGE mRNA and NF-κB mRNA were higher in patients with periodontitis than in healthy controls (P <0.05). There was significant correlation between the level of RAGE mRNA and NF-κB mRNA (R(2) = 0.90, P <0.05). CONCLUSIONS Accumulation of AGEs may upregulate the expression of MMP-1 by HGFs, which may play a role in the development of diabetes-associated periodontitis, and RAGE/NF-κB pathway may be involved in metabolism of MMP-1 in HGFs.
Molecular Imaging of Matrix Metalloproteinase Expression in Atherosclerotic Plaques of Mice Deficient in Apolipoprotein E or Low-Density-Lipoprotein Receptor

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are expressed in atherosclerotic plaques and play an important role in plaque instability. Methods: Using 99mTc-labeled broad-spectrum MMP inhibitor (MPI), we performed noninvasive imaging of MMP expression with micro-SPECT/micro-CT in mice deficient in apolipoprotein E (ApoE−/−, n = 14), mice deficient in low-density-lipoprotein receptor (LDLR−/−, n = 14), and C57/BL6 mice as controls (n = 7). Seven ApoE−/− and 7 LDLR−/− received a high-cholesterol diet. After in vivo imaging, aortas were explanted, ex vivo images acquired, and the percent injected dose of MPI per gram (%ID/g) determined, followed by histologic characterization of atherosclerotic lesions. Results: MPI uptake was noninvasively visualized in atherosclerotic lesions by micro-SPECT, with confirmation by micro-CT of anatomic location and aortic calcification. %ID/g in each part of the aorta was highest in ApoE−/− that were fed a high-cholesterol diet, followed by LDLR−/− that were fed a high-cholesterol diet, ApoE−/− that were fed normal chow, and LDLR−/− that were fed normal chow. The control mice had minimal MPI uptake. A significant correlation was noted between %ID/g and % area positive for macrophages (r = 0.81, P = 0.009), MMP-2 (r = 0.65, P = 0.013), and MMP-9 (r = 0.62, P = 0.008). Conclusion: This study demonstrates the usefulness of molecular imaging for noninvasive assessment of the extent of MMP expression in various transgenic mouse models of atherosclerosis receiving a normal or hyperlipidemic diet. It is conceivable that such a strategy may be translationally developed for identification of unstable atherosclerotic plaques.
Liver receptor homolog-1 (LRH-1): a potential therapeutic target for cancer

Liver receptor homolog-1 (LRH-1) is a nuclear receptor involved in various biological processes. This nuclear receptor has critical functions in embryonic development as well as in adult homeostasis. Although the physiological functions of LRH-1 in normal breast, pancreas, and intestine have been widely investigated, the dysregulation that occurs during pathological conditions is not well understood. LRH-1 has been implicated in pancreatic, breast, and gastrointestinal cancer, where it exerts its effect of initiation and progression by promoting cell proliferation and metastasis. In addition to mechanistic studies, LRH-1 agonists and antagonists are being explored. Identification and development of endogenous and synthetic ligands has been pursued using computational-based structural analysis. Through ligand identification and a thorough understanding of the pathological roles of LRH-1, new therapeutic avenues for cancer treatment based upon LRH-1 may be a desirable focus for further research.
Photoreceptor degeneration in the RCS rat attenuates dendritic transport and axonal regeneration of ganglion cells.

PURPOSE Photoreceptor loss in the Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) rat deprives the retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) of sensory input, which could interfere with RGC physiology. Whether axonal and dendritic transport is altered, and whether RGCs retain their capacity to regenerate their axons, both in vivo and in culture, was ascertained. METHODS The study was conducted at postnatal days (P) 30 (while most photoreceptors are still intact), P90 (photoreceptors being almost completely absent), and P180 (approximately 3 months after photoreceptor disappearance). RGCs were studied with retrograde transport of the fluorescent dye 4Di-10ASP. Dendritic transport was also studied with 4Di-10ASP that is transported from the cell bodies into the RGC dendrites. Regeneration of RGC axons in vivo was monitored in the grafting paradigm of replacing the cut optic nerve (ON) with a sciatic nerve (SN) piece. Cell counts were performed in retinal wholemounts. Axonal regrowth in vitro was assessed in organotypic cultures of retinal stripes. RESULTS Photoreceptor dystrophy did not adversely affect retrograde axonal transport but attenuated dendritic transport compared with the wild-type control rats. Axons of RGCs were able to regenerate if provided with a SN graft, and regeneration was observed to be similar between RCS and wild-type rats at P30 but differed significantly at P90 and P180. In addition to an age-dependent decline in the regenerative ability, seen also in control animals, the number of RCS RGCs able to regenerate declined drastically beginning at 3 months. It is plausible that the intraretinal reorganization, as a consequence of photoreceptor disappearance, interferes with the regenerative ability of the RGCs. CONCLUSIONS The findings suggest for the first time that diminution of photoreceptor sensory input does not induce detectable death of RGCs until P180, but that it attenuates certain ganglion cell functions like intraretinal dendritic transport and propensity for axonal regeneration.
A temperature-sensitive mutation affecting cilia regeneration, nuclear development, and the cell cycle of Tetrahymena thermophila is rescued by cytoplasmic exchange

A temperature-sensitive mutation was isolated that blocks cilia regeneration and arrests growth in Tetrahymena thermophila. Protein and RNA synthesis and ATP production appeared to be largely unaffected at the restrictive temperature, suggesting that the mutation is specific for cilia regeneration and growth. At the restrictive temperature, mutant cells arrested at a specific point in the cell cycle, after macronuclear S phase and shortly before micronuclear mitosis. Arrested cells did not undergo nuclear divisions, DNA replication, or cytokinesis, so the mutation appears to cause true cell cycle arrest. Surprisingly, the mutation does not appear to affect micronuclear mitosis directly but rather some event(s) prior to micronuclear mitosis that must be completed before cells can complete the cell cycle. The cell cycle arrest was transiently complemented by wild-type cytoplasm exchanged during conjugation with a wild-type cell. Each starved, wild-type cell apparently contained enough rescuing factor to support an average of six cell divisions. Thus, this mutation affects assembly and/or function of at least one but not all of the microtubule-based structures in T. thermophila.
The Biochemical and Molecular Basis for the Divergent Patterns in the Biosynthesis of Terpenes and Phenylpropenes in the Peltate Glands of Three Cultivars of Basil 1

Surface glandular trichomes distributed throughout the aerial parts of sweet basil ( Ocimum basilicum ) produce and store monoterpene, sesquiterpene, and phenylpropene volatiles. Three distinct basil chemotypes were used to examine the molecular mechanisms underlying the divergence in their monoterpene and sesquiterpene content. The relative levels of speciﬁc terpenes in the glandular trichomes of each cultivar were correlated with the levels of transcripts for eight genes encoding distinct terpene synthases. In a cultivar that produces mostly ( R )-linalool, transcripts of ( R )-linalool synthase (LIS) were the most abundant of these eight. In a cultivar that synthesizes mostly geraniol, transcripts of geraniol synthase were the most abundant, but the glands of this cultivar also contained a transcript of an ( R )-LIS gene with a 1-base insertion that caused a frameshift mutation. A geraniol synthase-LIS hybrid gene was constructed and expressed in Escherichia coli , and the protein catalyzed the formation of both geraniol and ( R )-linalool from geranyl diphosphate. The total amounts of terpenes were correlated with total levels of terpene synthase activities, and negatively correlated with levels of phenylpropanoids and phenylalanine ammonia lyase activity. The relative levels of geranyl diphosphate synthase and farnesyl diphosphate synthase activities did not correlate with the total amount of terpenes produced, but showed some correlation with the ratio of monoterpenes to sesquiterpenes. Seeds for SD (Sweet Dani) were obtained from a local nursery. The source of the seeds of EMX and SW cultivars is described in Gang et al. (2001). Seeds were planted in small pots, covered with plastic wrap, and put in the growth chamber for 2 nights. After germination, they were grown in the greenhouse for 1 week and transferred into 500-mL pots. Sunshine Mix no. 1 potting soil was used for planting and plants were grown under constant illumination.
A visual MRI atrophy rating scale for the amyotrophic lateral sclerosis-frontotemporal dementia continuum

Abstract Our objective was to distinguish ALS, ALS-FTD and bvFTD via a novel visual MRI cortical atrophy scale that can be employed in a clinical setting. MRI images of 100 participants (33 ALS, 11 ALS-FTD, 22 bvFTD and 34 controls) were rated in four brain areas: orbitofrontal cortex, anterior temporal pole, anterior cingulate, and motor cortex. Areas were rated on a 5- point Likert scale by two raters blinded to the diagnosis. Results demonstrated that bvFTD patients showed the highest levels of atrophy across all regions, while ALS patients had the lowest atrophy scores. ALS-FTD patients have higher atrophy ratings compared to ALS patients for the motor cortex, anterior cingulate and anterior temporal lobe, with a statistical trend for the orbitofrontal cortex. ALS-FTD patients were not significantly different from bvFTD for any of the brain regions. These findings were confirmed in a post hoc VBM analysis of the same participants. Our study demonstrates that a simple visual MRI rating scale can reliably distinguish ALS, ALS-FTD and bvFTD atrophy patterns in a clinical setting. Motor cortex, anterior cingulate and anterior temporal atrophy emerged as good diagnostic markers for ALS-FTD. Employment of this MRI rating scale can complement clinical diagnostics of patients in the ALS-FTD continuum.
Facial and Bodily Emotion Recognition in Multiple Sclerosis: The Role of Alexithymia and Other Characteristics of the Disease

Abstract Multiple sclerosis (MS) may be associated with impaired perception of facial emotions. However, emotion recognition mediated by bodily postures has never been examined in these patients. Moreover, several studies have suggested a relation between emotion recognition impairments and alexithymia. This is in line with the idea that the ability to recognize emotions requires the individuals to be able to understand their own emotions. Despite a deficit in emotion recognition has been observed in MS patients, the association between impaired emotion recognition and alexithymia has received little attention. The aim of this study was, first, to investigate MS patient’s abilities to recognize emotions mediated by both facial and bodily expressions and, second, to examine whether any observed deficits in emotions recognition could be explained by the presence of alexithymia. Thirty patients with MS and 30 healthy matched controls performed experimental tasks assessing emotion discrimination and recognition of facial expressions and bodily postures. Moreover, they completed questionnaires evaluating alexithymia, depression, and fatigue. First, facial emotion recognition and, to a lesser extent, bodily emotion recognition can be impaired in MS patients. In particular, patients with higher disability showed an impairment in emotion recognition compared with patients with lower disability and controls. Second, their deficit in emotion recognition was not predicted by alexithymia. Instead, the disease’s characteristics and the performance on some cognitive tasks significantly correlated with emotion recognition. Impaired facial emotion recognition is a cognitive signature of MS that is not dependent on alexithymia. (JINS, 2014, 19, 1–11)
Peptide-dopamine interactions in the central nervous system: implications for neuropsychiatric disorders

some peptides may act synergistically in the brain and periphery to coordinate related physiological, endocrine and behavioural responses (Iversen, 1981; Quirion, 1988). Neuropeptides have been shown to coexist with other peptides, with GABA, and with classical catecholamine and indoleamine neurotransmitters (Jones and Hendry, 1986; Hokfelt et al., 1987b). A large number of peptides, including somatostatin, neurotensin, the tachykinins, cholecystokinin, thyrotropin-releasing hormone and the opioid peptides, may affect dopaminergic transmission and/or dopamine receptor binding. Conversely, manipulation of dopaminergic systems has been shown to modify the regional brain content and binding densities of some of these neuropeptides. This review will attempt to summarize the anatomical, electrophysiological, neurochemical, and behavioural evidence for interactions
The Cancer-predisposing Mutation C61G Disrupts Homodimer Formation in the NH2-terminal BRCA1 RING Finger Domain*

The breast and ovarian cancer tumor suppressor gene, BRCA1, encodes for a Zn2+-binding RING finger motif located near the protein NH2 terminus. The RING finger motif is characterized by eight conserved Cys and His residues which form two Zn2+-binding sites termed Site I and Site II. We used limited proteolysis in conjunction with matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectroscopy to investigate the metal binding properties and to probe the solution structures of wild-type and mutant BRCA1 constructs that include the RING finger. Our results show that the RING finger motif is part of a larger proteolysis-resistant structural domain which encompasses the first 110 residues of BRCA1. Analytical gel-filtration chromatography and chemical cross-linking experiments demonstrate that the BRCA1 NH2-terminal domain readily homodimerizes in solution. The cancer-predisposing C61G mutation, which alters a conserved Zn2+-binding residue, abolishes metal binding to Site II of the RING finger motif, while Site I remains intact and functional. The C61G mutation also results in increased proteolytic susceptibility of the COOH-terminal portion of the NH2-terminal domain and perturbs the oligomerization properties of BRCA1.
Prevention of Depressive Symptoms and Promotion of Well-being in Adolescents: A Randomized Controlled Trial of the Smile Program

This study addressed the development and evaluation of the Smile Program whose main objective was the prevention of depression and the promotion of well-being in adolescents. The program is based on interventions that have been shown to be efficacious (a cognitive-behavioral approach). Participants were 89 adolescents (mean age = 13.88 years; SD = 0.95) recruited from a sample of 1212 students from seven schools. Results showed a significant reduction in self-reported depressive symptoms in the intervention group (n= 51) as compared to youth in the control group (n= 38). Based on parents’ report (n=56), youth in the intervention group had significantly better self-esteem at post-test as compared to youth in the control group. At four months post intervention, youth in the intervention group had higher psychological well-being than those in the control group; at the 8-month follow-up, youth in the intervention condition reported better family self-concept.