Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The actions of baclofen on neurones and synaptic transmission in the nucleus tractus solitarii of the rat in vitro.

1. Intracellular and whole‐cell patch recordings were made from sixty‐seven neurones located in the nucleus tractus solitarii (NTS) in transverse slices of rat brainstem. 2. Baclofen at concentrations of 2‐20 microM caused hyperpolarization from normal resting membrane potentials (Vm). This response was associated with a decrease in input resistance (Rm) tested by current pulses in discontinuous current clamp mode when membrane potential was restored to control level by current injection. In single electrode discontinuous voltage clamp mode, baclofen at these concentrations caused a small (< 50 pA) outward current associated with increased membrane conductance measured by voltage steps from holding potentials (Vh) of ‐50 or ‐60 mV. Current‐voltage relations at these Vhs and the results of varying Vh between ‐50 and ‐110 mV during responses to baclofen gave a reversal potential of ‐73 mV. The amplitudes of baclofen responses were related to K+ concentration tested by comparing responses in media containing 1‐24 mM extracellular K+, indicating that postsynaptically baclofen acts via a K+ conductance. 3. These effects were still apparent in the presence of tetrodotoxin (which did not abolish all spontaneous synaptic activity) and also in medium containing a combination of Co2+, the excitatory amino acid antagonist 6‐cyano‐7‐nitro‐quinoxaline‐2,3‐dione (CNQX) and the GABAA antagonist bicuculline which blocked synaptic activity. 4. The amplitude and frequency of spontaneous postsynaptic potentials (spPSPs) and spontaneous postsynaptic currents (spPSCs) were reduced by baclofen at concentrations (1 microM or less) which had no effect on membrane potential or holding current in current or voltage clamp recordings respectively. 5. The amplitude of evoked excitatory (evEPSPs/evEPSCs) and inhibitory (evIPSPs/evIPSCs) synaptic events elicited by electrical stimulation in the vicinity of the tractus solitarius (TS) was reduced by low concentrations of baclofen (250 nM‐1 microM) which did not produce discernible postsynaptic responses. 6. In order to examine the effects of baclofen on excitatory synaptic events without contamination with inhibitory events, stimulation of the TS was carried out in the presence of bicuculline. Conversely to investigate actions on purely inhibitory synaptic responses experiments were carried out with CNQX in the bathing solution. Inhibitory synaptic responses could still be evoked, presumably by stimulation of interneurones in the vicinity of the TS. IPSPs/IPSCs were more sensitive to baclofen than EPSPs/EPSCs. 7. The effects of baclofen on membrane potential or holding current and PSP/PSCs were antagonized by 2‐hydroxysaclofen (400 microM) confirming that baclofen was acting at gamma‐aminobutyric acid (GABA)B receptors. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Hydrological Modeling and Runoff Mitigation in an Ungauged Basin of Central Vietnam Using SWAT Model

The A-Luoi district in Thua Thien Hue province of Vietnam is under extreme pressure from natural and anthropogenic factors. The area is ungauged and suffering from data scarcity. To evaluate the water resources availability and water management, we used Soil and Water Assessment Tools (SWAT). A multi-approach technique was used to calibrate the hydrological model. The model was calibrated in three time scales: daily, monthly and yearly by river discharge, actual evapotranspiration (ETa) and crop yield, respectively. The model was calibrated with Nash-Sutcliffe and R2 coefficients greater than 0.7, in daily and monthly scales, respectively. In the yearly scale, the crop yield inside the model was calibrated and validated with Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) less than 2.4 ton/ha. The water resource components were mapped temporally and spatially. The outcomes showed that the highest mean monthly surface runoff, 323 to 369 mm, between September and November, resulted in extreme soil erosion and sedimentation. The monthly average of actual evapotranspiration was the highest in May and lowest in December. Furthermore, installing “Best Management Practices” (BMPs) reduced surface runoff in agricultural lands. However, using event-based hydrological and hydraulic models in the prediction and simulation of flooding events is recommended in further studies.
Advances in the Estimation of Ice Particle Fall Speeds Using Laboratory and Field Measurements

Accurate estimates for the fall speed of natural hydrometeors are vital if their evolution in clouds is to be understood quantitatively. In this study, laboratory measurements of the terminal velocity yt for a variety of ice particle models settling in viscous fluids, along with wind-tunnel and field measurements of ice particles settling in air, have been analyzed and compared to common methods of computing yt fromthe literature.It is observed that while these methods work well for a number of particle types, they fail for particles with open geometries, specifically those particles for which the area ratio Ar is small (Ar is defined as the area of the particleprojectednormaltotheflow dividedbytheareaofacircumscribing disc). Inparticular, thefallspeeds of stellar and dendritic crystals, needles, open bullet rosettes, and low-density aggregates are all overestimated. These particle types are important in many cloud types: aggregates in particular often dominate snow precipitation at the ground and vertically pointing Doppler radar measurements. Based on the laboratory data, a simple modification to previous computational methods is proposed, based on the area ratio. This new method collapses the available drag data onto an approximately universal curve, and the resulting errors in the computed fall speeds relative to the tank data are less than 25% in all cases. Comparison with the (much more scattered) measurements of ice particles falling in air show strong support for this new method, with the area ratio bias apparently eliminated.
Ki-67 expression in early prostate cancer and associated pathological lesions.

AIM: To assess cell proliferation in early prostate cancer and associated pathological lesions. METHODS: Using the Ki-67 antibody, the cell proliferation index was measured in early stage prostatic carcinoma in 37 incidental tumours diagnosed at transurethral prostatectomy (TURP) and in 20 low volume cancers treated by radical prostatectomy. Proliferation indexes have also been measured in areas of normal peripheral zone, transition zone hyperplasia, atrophic appearing lobules, and high grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia in the radical prostatectomy cases. RESULTS: In the TURP series the proliferation index correlated with grade and stage. Logistic regression analysis, however, showed that Gleason grade was the most reliable predictor of biopsy proven residual disease and clinical progression. In the radical series transition zone carcinoma the proliferation index was half that of peripheral zone carcinoma. The atrophic lobules also showed a high proliferation index of the same order as seen in the peripheral zone carcinoma. Normal peripheral zone showed the lowest proliferation index and in hyperplastic transition zone it was also less than the other areas. CONCLUSIONS: There is only limited support for the correlation of proliferation index with grade in early stage prostatic carcinoma. The findings do not suggest that proliferation index adds to the prognostic information given by grade and stage in pT1 disease. The significant difference in proliferation index in transition zone and peripheral zone carcinomas supports the morphological distinction of these tumour types and is consistent with differences in biological behaviour. The high proliferation index in lobules considered morphologically atrophic is reminiscent of previous observations in which carcinoma was spatially associated with atrophy.
Expression and localization of aquaporin 1 and 3 in human fetal membranes.

OBJECTIVES Aquaporins are a family of water-selective channels that facilitate fluid movement across cell membranes. Specifically, aquaporin 1 (AQP1) and aquaporin 3 (AQP3) have been found to be important in osmotic water movement across membranes. Our goal in this study was (1) to determine whether AQP1 or AQP3 messenger RNA are expressed in the chorioamniotic membrane and, if present, (2) to determine the precise membrane location of these aquaporins. STUDY DESIGN Placentas were collected from women with intact membranes not in labor who underwent elective cesarean sections at term (37-40 weeks). The membranes (amnion and chorion) directly overlying the placenta were sampled as well as the free-floating reflected membranes. RNA and protein were isolated from the amnion and chorion. Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction, Western analysis, and immunohistochemistry were used to determine expression and localization of AQP1 and AQP3. RESULTS AQP1 messenger RNA was found in amnion and chorion from both membrane locations. Western analysis also yielded positive results for amnion and chorion from both locations. Immunohistochemical localization of AQP1 showed it to be present on the apical aspect of the chorionic plate amnion. AQP3 protein was not found in the fetal membranes. CONCLUSIONS AQP1 is present in the fetal membranes. AQP1 may play a role in water movement from the amniotic cavity across the placenta into the fetal circulation. Further studies are needed to clarify our understanding of the role of fetal membrane aquaporins in amniotic fluid homeostasis.
Multiple regression analysis of twin data obtained from selected samples

The multiple regression analysis of twin data in which a cotwin's score is predicted from that of a proband (the member of a twin pair selected because of a deviant score) and the coefficient of relationship provides a powerful test of genetic etiology (DeFries and Fulker: Behav Genet 15:467–473, 1985). Moreover, when an augmented model containing an interaction term is fitted to the same data set, direct estimates of heritability (h2) and the proportion of variance owing to shared environmental influences (c2) are also obtained. In the present paper, the expected partial regression coefficients estimated from these models are derived, and the flexibility of the general approach is illustrated. An extended model is formulated for the analysis of data from combined samples of affected and control twin pairs that yields tests for differential h2 and c2 in the two groups as well as pooled estimates of these parameters. The application of these models is illustrated by an analysis of data from reading‐disabled and control twin pairs. Because of the ease, flexibility, and utility of the multiple regression analysis of twin data, it is an appealing alternative to more traditional model‐fitting approaches.
The reasons why people continue editing Wikipedia content – task value confirmation perspective

Recently, Wikipedia has garnered increasing public attention. However, few studies have examined the intentions of individuals who edit Wikipedia content. Furthermore, previous studies ascribed a ‘knowledge sharing’ label to Wikipedia content editors. However, in this work, Wikipedia can be viewed as a platform that allows individuals to show their expertise. This study investigates the underlying reasons that drive individuals to edit Wikipedia content. Based on expectation-confirmation theory and expectancy-value theory for achievement motivations, we propose an integrated model that incorporates psychological and contextual perspectives. Wikipedians from the English-language Wikipedia site were invited to survey. Partial least square was applied to test our proposed model. Analytical results indicated and confirmed that subjective task value, commitment, and procedural justice were significant to satisfaction of Wikipedians; and satisfaction significantly influenced continuance intention to edit Wikipedia content.
Explorando la Variabilidad Petrográfica entre Vasijas Decoradas y Lisas del Sitio La Palmera 2 (Entre Ríos, Argentina): Hacia un Abordaje Microscópico del Arte Cerámico Prehispánico de la Cuenca del Río Paraná

Este trabajo explora la variabilidad petrografica de un conjunto ceramico procedente de las tierras bajas del Parana medio: especificamente del sitio La Palmera 2 (provincia de Entre Rios, Argentina), con la finalidad de abordar aspectos tecnologicos del arte alfarero de las sociedades que habitaron la region durante el Holoceno tardio. Se ofrece una propuesta de estudio en la que se consideran comparativamente muestras de vasijas lisas y decoradas con distintas tecnicas: pintura roja, incision y modelado zoomorfo. Se analizan asimismo cortes delgados correspondientes a “alfarerias gruesas” o “campanas”, artefactos peculiares de la arqueologia del rio Parana. Los resultados senalan una ausencia de diferencias petrograficas significativas entre las muestras analizadas, sugiriendo que los alfareros aplicaron elecciones tecnicas similares para la manufactura de vasijas lisas y decoradas. Al mismo tiempo, se detectan algunas caracteristicas petrograficas especificas en las “alfarerias gruesas”, indicando la implementacion de elecciones tecnologicas particulares para la elaboracion de estos artefactos.
The use of adalimumab, etanercept, golimumab and infliximab in rheumatic pathologies: variation between label dosage and real-world use

Rheumatoid arthritis (AR), psoriatic arthritis (PSA) and ankylosing spondylitis (AS) are autoimmune systemic diseases characterized by inflammation, pain and joint degeneration. The objective of this study is to evaluate, under the actual conditions of use, dosing patterns of adalimumab, etanercept, golimumab and infliximab in these pathologies, and compare them with the label regimens recommended, as well as evaluating the financial implications of these regimen modifications. The study population included all adult patients diagnosed with RA, PSA or AS who had been treated with adalimumab, etanercept, golimumab and infliximab for at least 6 months between 1 January 2011 and 31 December 2013. The main variable of this study was to assess the dose dispensed for drugs administered subcutaneously and the dose prepared/administered for drugs administered intravenously, and the annual costs of the treatment. A total of 5,428 episodes were included. The mean weekly dose was lower than the standard dose in the three pathologies studied in the patients treated with adalimumab and etanercept (84.3% vs 81.2% for RA, 85.0% vs 78.0% for PSA and 87.8% vs 81.6% for AS). The drugs with highest dose optimization in RA are etanercept (46.3%) followed by adalimumab (46%); however, the highest percentage of patients with major dose optimization corresponds to etanercept (11.6%). Both in the PA and the AS group, we also observed that etanercept is the drug more optimized, corresponding to 53.9 and 43% of patients, respectively. By contrast, 48.5% of patients with RA treated with infliximab required dose intensification; however, infliximab dose intensification in PSA and AS is not so pronounced. The practice of optimization of dose regimens in patients with rheumatic diseases under treatment with anti-TNFα is spreading among professionals, resulting in annual cost reduction in the treatment of rheumatic arthropathies. However, long term follow-up will be necessary to assess the influence of this optimization on health outcomes.
MEDICAL COMPLICATIONS OF PREGNANCY DIABETES COMPLICATING PREGNANCY

Obstetricians use a unique form of classification of diabetes in pregnancy originally proposed by Dr. Priscilla White. The system was designed to estimate the prognosis for pregnancy outcome for women with diabetes who become pregnant. White first described her classification system in a report entitled, “Pregnancy Complicating Diabetes. ” The prognostic system was based on the observation that women in whom diabetes was diagnosed at an earlier age, was of longer duration, or produced vascular complications had a poorer pregnancy prognosis. From an obstetric point of view, diabetes is thought to complicate pregnancy. A large amount of resources is committed to finding, monitoring, and treating diabetes first diagnosed during and presumably induced by pregnancy. White never included an induced form of diabetes in her original classification system; class A diabetes was, in her scheme, subclinical or chemical diabetes that nonetheless preceded pregnancy.
Identification of a single nucleotide polymorphism in the TATA box of the CYP2A6 gene: impairment of its promoter activity.

Human cytochrome P450 2A6 (CYP2A6) constitutes the major nicotine oxidase, and large interindividual differences are seen in the levels of this enzyme, to a great extent caused by the distribution of several different polymorphic gene variants mainly located in the open reading frame (ORF). In the present study, we report a common polymorphism located in the 5' flanking region of CYP2A6 affecting its expression. DHPLC analysis and complete sequence of the open reading frame of the gene from a Turkish individual revealed a -48T > G substitution disrupting the TATA box. Using dynamic allele-specific hybridization (DASH), genotyping of this novel variant (named CYP2A6*9) was carried out in 116 Swedish, 132 Turkish, and 102 Chinese subjects, and the allele frequencies were found to be 5.2, 7.2, and 15.7%, respectively. The significance of the polymorphism was investigated by the construction of luciferase reporter plasmids containing 135 or 500 bp of the 5'-upstream region of the gene transfected into human hepatoma B16A2 cells. The constructs carrying the -48T > G mutation were only expressed at about 50% of the wild-type alleles. It is concluded that the CYP2A6*9 allele might be one of the most common CYP2A6 variants in Caucasians that alters the levels of enzyme expression.
End-binding proteins sensitize microtubules to the action of microtubule-targeting agents

Microtubule-targeting agents (MTAs) are widely used for treatment of cancer and other diseases, and a detailed understanding of the mechanism of their action is important for the development of improved microtubule-directed therapies. Although there is a large body of data on the interactions of different MTAs with purified tubulin and microtubules, much less is known about how the effects of MTAs are modulated by microtubule-associated proteins. Among the regulatory factors with a potential to have a strong impact on MTA activity are the microtubule plus end-tracking proteins, which control multiple aspects of microtubule dynamic instability. Here, we reconstituted microtubule dynamics in vitro to investigate the influence of end-binding proteins (EBs), the core components of the microtubule plus end-tracking protein machinery, on the effects that MTAs exert on microtubule plus-end growth. We found that EBs promote microtubule catastrophe induction in the presence of all MTAs tested. Analysis of microtubule growth times supported the view that catastrophes are microtubule age dependent. This analysis indicated that MTAs affect microtubule aging in multiple ways: destabilizing MTAs, such as colchicine and vinblastine, accelerate aging in an EB-dependent manner, whereas stabilizing MTAs, such as paclitaxel and peloruside A, induce not only catastrophes but also rescues and can reverse the aging process.
Evaluation for sleep apnea in patients with Ehlers–Danlos syndrome and Marfan: a questionnaire study

Sleep complaints are frequently reported by patients with Marfan and Ehlers–Danlos syndrome (EDS). We examined the exact nature of sleep complaints in these patients. A representative sample of Marfan and EDS patients responded to a general sleep questionnaire, including the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) and the Medical Outcomes Study Short‐Form 36 (SF‐36) health‐related quality of life (QOL) questionnaire. Fifteen Marfan patients and 9 EDS patients were evaluated and compared to 24 healthy controls, matched for age, sex and body mass index. Maintaining sleep was frequently disturbed in Marfan (40%, p<0.04) as well as in EDS patients (56%, p<0.01). Sleep apnea was exclusively reported by Marfan patients (27%, p=0.03). Periodic limb movements were much more reported in EDS (67%, p=0.02) than in Marfan (27%, p=0.25) compared to controls (8%). Pain and back complaints were highly presented in both groups, but most pronounced in EDS patients (47% in Marfan versus 77% in EDS). No differences for the scores in the ESS were found. For all SF‐36 questionnaire items, scores were much lower in patient groups, except for emotional problems. We found that sleep complaints were not rare in Marfan and EDS patients and correlated well with different QOL items. Our study calls for greater attention to the presence of apnea, pain and periodic limb movements in these patients.
A genetic map of common bean combining RFLP, RAPD, SCAR and AFLP markers

Introduction: Genetic maps of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L) have been developed with RFLP (1,4, 7) and RAPD (3). The RFLP maps are being cross referenced (2). Other maps will certainly appear as geneticists perform QTL analysis on important quantitative traits. The present map was developed as part of an effort to identify QTL for agronomic traits of common bean. Materials and Methods: DOR 364, a Mesoamerican bred line resistant to BGMV was crossed with G19833, an Andean landrace from Peru called Chaucha Chuga. These two parents are contrasting for root and other morphological traits, resistance to fungal and viral pathogens, and tolerance to manganese toxicity. F5 7 Recombinant Inbred Lines (RILs) were developed. DNA was extracted from 83 lines and digested with 6 restriction enzymes: BAM HI, Dral, Hind III, EcoRJ, EcoRV and Xba. Southern blots were hybridized with 53 probes of the U. Florida map and 3 probes from the UC-Davis map, to create a framework of RFLP. Additionally, AFLP markers were generated through 2 primer combinations used previously in bean (6). Finally, 23 RAPD primers known to generate numerous polymorphisms were amplified on the RILS, as were 7 SCAR. A total of 240 markers were subjected to linkage analysis by Mapmaker. Linkage groups were formed with a LOD 4 probability of error, and subsequently other markers were placed in groups at LOD 3 level of error. Order of markers was checked using PGRJ. Results: All but 29 markers could be joined to linkage groups with confidence, covering 1630 cM. Some markers deviated from an expected 1:1 proportion and were eliminated from the analysis, and others did not link at all. Eleven linkage groups were formed that correspond to those published by Vallejos et al (7) based on the 56 RFLP that were used a framework (Fig. 1). The order of the RFLP was in almost all cases the same as that reported. Many RAPD also appeared to map in the same linkage group and order as reported (Paul Skroch, personal communication). It was observed that most AFLP were randomly distributed throughout the genome, with the exception of linkage groups B3 (C) and BIO (I) which contained 7 AFLP each, compared to an average of 3.2 per group. It has been possible with this population to map root traits (5). Resistance genes for BGMV have also been mapped, and 2 loci for anthracnose resistance, presumably for genes of Andean origin, have been located. Genes for angular leaf spot resistance are being mapped at present. The map is still to be considered preliminary, and more RFLP must be placed on the map, especially those from UC-Davis. In particular, linkage group BE 10 (I) requires more RFLP. Seed is available of the RILs upon request. References: 1. Adam-Blondon, A. , M. Sévignac and M. Dron. 1994. A genetic map of common bean to localize specific resistance genes against anthracnose. Genome 37:915 -924.