Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Early environmental factors differentially affect voluntary ethanol consumption in adolescent and adult male rats.

BACKGROUND Previous studies using the maternal separation (MS) model have shown that environmental factors early in life affect adult ethanol consumption. Prolonged MS is related to enhanced propensity for high adult ethanol intake when compared to short MS. Less is known about the environmental impact on adolescent ethanol intake. In this study, the aim was to compare establishment of voluntary ethanol consumption in adolescent and adult rats subjected to different rearing conditions. METHODS Wistar rat pups were separated from their mother 0 minutes (MS0), 15 minutes (MS15), or 360 minutes (MS360) daily during postnatal days (PNDs) 1 to 20. After weaning, the male rats were divided into two groups; rats were given free access to water, 5 and 20% ethanol at either PND 26 or 68. Ethanol was provided in 24-hour sessions three times per week for 5 weeks. RESULTS MS resulted in altered ethanol consumption patterns around the pubertal period but otherwise the rearing conditions had little impact on ethanol consumption in adolescents. In adults, the establishment of ethanol consumption was dependent on the rearing condition. The adult MS0 and MS15 rats had a stable ethanol intake, whereas the MS360 rats increased both their ethanol intake and preference over time. CONCLUSIONS With the use of intermittent access to ethanol, new data were provided, which confirm the notion that MS360 represents a risk environment related to higher ethanol intake compared to MS15. The adolescent rats had higher ethanol intake than adult rats but the consumption was independent of rearing condition. Experiences during the first three postnatal weeks thus affect the establishment of voluntary ethanol consumption differently in adolescent and adult rats. Further studies are now warranted to examine the consequences of a combination of early environmental influence and high adolescent ethanol intake.
A Novel Model of P‐Glycoprotein Inhibitor Screening Using Human Small Intestinal Organoids

P‐glycoprotein (P‐gp), an important efflux transporter in intestine, regulates the bioavailability of orally taken drugs. To develop an in vitro model that preferably mimics the physiological microenvironment of human intestine, we employed the three‐dimensionally (3D) cultured organoids from human normal small intestinal epithelium. It was observed that the intestinal crypts could efficiently form cystic organoid structure with the extension of culture time. Furthermore, the physiological expression of ABCB1 was detected at both mRNA and protein levels in cultured organoids. Rhodamine 123 (Rh123), a typical substrate of P‐gp, was actively transported across 3D organoids and accumulated in the luminal space. This transport process was also inhibited by verapamil and mitotane. In summary, the above‐mentioned model based on human small intestinal 3D organoids is suitable to imitate the small intestinal epithelium and could be used as a novel in vitro model especially for P‐gp inhibitor screening.
Characterization of adhesive interactions between mast cells and laminin isoforms: evidence of a principal role for α6 integrin

Mast cells are known to adhere to laminin, although there is limited information on the characteristics of this event. To further examine this adhesive interaction, we thus determined the adherence of murine mast cell lines and primary bone marrow cultured mast cells (BMCMC) to murine laminin (mLN), human placental laminin‐1 (hLN), merosin (laminin‐2) and various laminin fragments, concentrating on activating stimuli, the involvement of integrins, and the effect on mast cell activation. Murine mast cells were found to adhere to both mLN and hLN and to merosin, not only following exposure to phorbol 12‐myristate 13‐acetate (PMA), but also after FcεRI aggregation or addition of stem cell factor (SCF). Adhesion to laminin was partially inhibited by soluble E8 and PA22‐2, both fragments of laminin that promote mast‐cell adhesion when bound on surfaces. Mast‐cell lines and BMCMC consistently expressed high levels of α6 integrin. Antibody to α6 blocked spontaneous and inhibited activated mast‐cell adhesion to hLN, and inhibited mast‐cell adhesion to mLN and its fragment E8. Mast‐cell adhesion to both laminin isoforms increased FcεRI‐mediated mast‐cell secretion. These observations demonstrate that mast‐cell attachment to laminin is promoted by physiological stimuli, is mediated principally by α6 integrin, and results in enhanced cell activation.
Palaeoclimatic changes explain Anatolian mountain frog evolution: a test for alternating vicariance and dispersal events

Holarctic biodiversity has been influenced by climatic fluctuations since the Pliocene. Asia Minor was one of the major corridors for postglacial invasions in the Palearctic. Today this area is characterized by an extraordinarily rich fauna with close affiliation to European, Asian and Indo‐African biota. However, exact scenarios of range expansion and contraction are lacking. Using a phylogeographical approach we (i) identify monophyletic lineages among Anatolian mountain frogs and (ii) derive a spatio‐temporal hypothesis for the invasion process in Anatolia. We sequenced 540 bp of the mitochondrial 16S rRNA gene from 40 populations of mountain frogs from Anatolia, the Elburz Mountains and the Caucasus. Our samples comprise all known species and subspecies: Rana macrocnemis macrocnemis, R. m. tavasensis, R. m. pseudodalmatina, R. camerani and R. holtzi. They include the type localities of four of these taxa. We used a nested clade analysis (NCA) to infer historical and recurrent events that account for the observed geographical distribution of haplotypes. None of the extant species is monophyletic. Based on a molecular clock calibration using homologous sequences of Western Palearctic water frogs of the same genus, we estimated that a basic radiation into three lineages c. 2 Mya was followed by several dispersal and fragmentation events. The geographical distribution of resident and widespread haplotypes allows us to infer and date scenarios of range expansion and fragmentation that are aligned with dramatic climatic oscillations that have occurred during the last 600 000 years. Consequently, Pliocene and Pleistocene climatic oscillations triggered the evolution of Anatolian mountain frogs through an interplay of vicariance and dispersal events.
Face-specific and domain-general visual processing deficits in children with developmental prosopagnosia

Evidence suggests that face and object recognition depend on distinct neural circuitry within the visual system. Work with adults with developmental prosopagnosia (DP) demonstrates that some individuals have preserved object recognition despite severe face recognition deficits. This face selectivity in adults with DP indicates that face- and object-processing systems can develop independently, but it is unclear at what point in development these mechanisms are separable. Determining when individuals with DP first show dissociations between faces and objects is one means to address this question. In the current study, we investigated face and object processing in six children with DP (5–12-years-old). Each child was assessed with one face perception test, two different face memory tests, and two object memory tests that were matched to the face memory tests in format and difficulty. Scores from the DP children on the matched face and object tasks were compared to within-subject data from age-matched controls. Four of the six DP children, including the 5-year-old, showed evidence of face-specific deficits, while one child appeared to have more general visual-processing deficits. The remaining child had inconsistent results. The presence of face-specific deficits in children with DP suggests that face and object perception depend on dissociable processes in childhood.
The complement system in pediatric systemic lupus erythematosus, atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome, and complocentric membranoglomerulopathies

Purpose of reviewThis review summarizes the recent advances in complement biology and the evolving understanding of these contributions to the pathophysiology and treatment of predominantly pediatric disease syndromes. Recent findingsIdentification of lupus patients with complete deficiencies of one of the plasma complement proteins enabled the field to move beyond the notion of complement as a laboratory curiosity. Clinical investigation of the manifestations observed in deficient patients has further defined the biology of the system in normal individuals. Definition of the assembly of the C3 convertases, particularly that of the alternative pathway and its regulation, has led to the appreciation that the complement system includes membrane inhibitors that are every bit as important as those in plasma. The exploration of disease states in which significant complement deposition occurs has moved the field away from consideration of this finding as a bystander effect. Dissection of these syndromes has led to the unanticipated finding of a central role for function-altering mutations in the complement proteins that form or regulate the alternative pathway C3 convertase and has opened the door to new therapeutic approaches. The disease states discussed in the review – pediatric systemic lupus erythematosus, atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome, and the complocentric membranoglomerulopathies – illustrate this evolutionary history of complement biology. SummaryThis review emphasizes that both the lack of classical pathway complement activation and excessive activation of the alternative pathway contribute to distinct disease pathogenesis, and emphasizes the critical importance of homeostatic regulation, in both plasma and in tissues, of the system as a whole.
Reduced serum creatine kinase activity in inflammatory rheumatic diseases.

OBJECTIVE To determine if serum CK activity is reduced in inflammatory rheumatic diseases and to evaluate whether this phenomenon is linked to disease activity or steroid therapy. METHODS Serum CK activity was measured in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE, n = 52), rheumatoid arthritis (RA, n = 80), ankylosing spondylitis (AS, n = 82), spondyloarthropathies other than AS (SpA, n = 22), and a miscellaneous group (MI, n = 27), and in 103 control patients with noninflammatory arthropathies (NIA). Laboratory variables of inflammatory activity such as ESR, CRP, platelet count, and hemoglobin (and anti-DNA antibodies and complement levels in SLE) were measured at the same time. Daily dose of steroids was also evaluated. RESULTS Serum CK activity was significantly reduced in SLE (mean +/- SD: 49 +/- 41 IU/l), RA (68 +/- 41 IU/l), SpA (88 +/- 53 IU/l), and MI (75 +/- 32 IU/l) compared to controls (111 +/- 38 IU/l) (p = 0.002 for SpA and p < 0.001 for the other groups). No differences in CK values were observed between AS and controls, although AS patients with peripheral arthritis had lower serum CK activity than those without (80 +/- 32 vs 121 +/- 62 IU/l, respectively, p < 0.05. ESR, CRP, and platelets correlated inversely with CK values in RA, AS, and MI. In the SpA group only ESR correlated inversely with CK. In SLE, a positive correlation was found between CK values and CH50 and a negative one with anti-DNA levels. Patients taking steroids had significantly lower CK activity than those without corticotherapy. However, multivariate analysis showed that only inflammatory activity and no steroids had an effect in reducing CK activity. CONCLUSION Serum CK activity is significantly reduced in several inflammatory rheumatic diseases. Inflammatory activity seems to play the major role in this phenomenon.
Role of Nuclear Factor‐KB in Colon Cancer Cell Apoptosis Mediated by Aminopyropheophorbide Photosensitization

Aminopyropheophorbide (APP) is a second generation of photosensitizer for photodynamic therapy (PDT). We demonstrated that APP strongly absorbed red light and, after being taken up by colon cancer cells (HCT‐116 cells), was localized in cytoplasmic and internal membranes but not in mitochondria. The APP‐mediated photosensitization was cytotoxic for HCT‐116 cells through an induction of apoptosis. Indeed, DNA fragmentation (DNA laddering and terminal deoxyuridine nick‐end labeling) and chromatin condensation (4′,6‐diamidine‐2′‐phenylindole staining) could be visualized soon after photosensitization. Because nuclear factor (NF)‐KB is involved in the response to many photosensitizers, we also demonstrated its nuclear translocation in two waves: a rapid and transient one, followed by a slow and sustained phase. The NF‐KB turned out to be involved in an antia‐poptotic response to APP‐mediated photosensitization because the HCT‐116 cell line expressing the dominant negative mutant of inhibitor‐KBα was more sensitive to apoptosis as measured by DNA fragmentation and caspase activation. These data unambiguously show that a membrane‐located photosensitizer can lead to effective apoptosis, reinforcing the idea that PDT can be an effective means to eradicate colon cancer cells.
TISSUE MIGRATION CAPABILITY OF LARVAL AND ADULT BRUGIA PAHANGI

Infection with mosquito-born filarial nematodes occurs when hosts are bitten by a vector carrying the infective third stage larvae (L3) of the parasites. These larvae, deposited on the skin by the feeding mosquito, are presumed to enter the skin via the vector-induced puncture wound. Larvae of Brugia spp. must then migrate from the entry site, penetrate various skin layers, and locate a lymphatic vessel that leads to their lymphatic predilection site. We have recently established an intradermal (ID) infection model using B. pahangi and the Mongolian gerbil, allowing us to investigate the migratory capability of B. pahangi. Larval and adult parasites recovered from the peritoneal cavities of gerbils were capable of establishing an infection following ID (larvae) or subcutaneous (adult) injection. Third and fourth stage larvae both migrated away from the injection site within hours, although data suggest they localize to different lymphatic tissues at 3 days postinfection (DPI). Immature adult (28 day) B. pahangi also migrated away from their SC inoculation site within 7 DPI. Mature (45 day) adult B. pahangi displayed little migration away from the SC infection site, suggesting tissue migration may be limited to developing stages of the parasite.
Gender differences in salary and practice ownership expectations of matriculating veterinary students.

OBJECTIVE To examine gender differences in initial and long-term salary and practice ownership expectations among first-year veterinary students. DESIGN Survey. SAMPLE First-year veterinary students at the North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine during 2000 through 2003 and 2005 through 2009. PROCEDURES A 1-page survey was distributed to students during orientation exercises or on the first day of a first-year course on ethics and jurisprudence. Students were asked to indicate their expected salary at graduation and in 5-year increments after graduation and to indicate whether they expected to own a practice after graduation. RESULTS Responses were obtained from 567 female and 120 male students. There was no significant difference in initial salary expectations between male and female students. However, men had higher expectations for salary increases over the course of their career, so that expected salary was significantly higher for men than for women 5 years after graduation and beyond. A significantly greater percentage of men (69/93 [74.2%]) than women (242/499 [48.5%]) indicated they expected to own a practice. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Although male and female veterinary students had similar expectations with regard to initial salaries, the male students had higher long-term salary expectations and were more likely to indicate an expectation to become a practice owner. Differences in expectations may lead to differences in behavior when those expectations are or are not met.
Parent-Child Communication and Parental Involvement in Latino Adolescents

This study examines the associations among parent-child relationship characteristics, acculturation and enculturation, and child externalizing symptoms in a sample of 40 Latino parent-adolescent dyads. Specifically, the associations between parent-child relationship characteristics (i.e., communication and parental involvement) and adolescents' externalizing symptoms are examined. Also examined is whether the relationship between these two aspects of the parent-child relationship and adolescent functioning would be moderated by acculturation and enculturation differences between parents and their children. Significant relationships are found among parent-child communication, parental involvement, and child externalizing behaviors; however, neither the acculturation nor enculturation gap moderates these associations.
Superoxide Dismutase, Catalase, Glutathione Peroxidase and Xanthine Oxidase in Diabetic Rat Lenses

The activities of the protective enzymes, superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase and of xanthine oxidase, an enzyme acting as a source of O–2, were measured in the lenses of alloxan-induced diabetic and control rats. Superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activities were found to be significantly decreased, while catalase and xanthine oxidase activities were increased. This means that the ratio of the oxidant/antioxidant enzymes increases in the diabetic rat lens, suggesting an increased oxidative stress. This imbalance is possibly an important contributing factor in the pathogenesis of diabetic cataract.
Iowa Gambling Task performance and emotional distress interact to predict risky sexual behavior in individuals with dual substance and HIV diagnoses

HIV+ substance-dependent individuals (SDIs) show emotional distress and executive impairment, but in isolation these poorly predict sexual risk. We hypothesized that an executive measure sensitive to emotional aspects of judgment (Iowa Gambling Task; IGT) would identify HIV+ SDIs whose sexual risks were influenced by emotional distress. We assessed emotional distress and performance on several executive tasks in 190 HIV+ SDIs. IGT performance interacted significantly with emotional distress, such that only in better performers were distress and risk related. Our results are interpreted using the somatic marker hypothesis and indicate that the IGT identifies HIV+ SDIs for whom psychological distress influences HIV risk.
Re-emerging fowlpox: Evaluation of isolates from vaccinated flocks

Vaccines of fowlpox or pigeonpox virus origin have been routinely used for more than half a century to prevent fowlpox in commercial poultry in areas where the disease is endemic. However, in recent years, outbreaks of fowlpox have occurred in previously vaccinated flocks. One possible explanation for this problem is the emergence of variant strains of fowlpox virus (FPV). A second, not mutually exclusive, postulate is that the novel FPV exhibit enhanced virulence due to the integration of avian reticuloendotheliosis virus (REV) into their genomes. To determine if immunological variance and/or the acquisition of REV nucleotide sequences could be responsible for the ineffectiveness of current vaccines, the ability of two commercial vaccine viruses and four, recently isolated, field strains to protect chickens against challenge with one of the more virulent field viruses was evaluated. Adequate protection was provided by the vaccines and two of the four field isolates. Interestingly, the two isolates that were not protective, as well as the challenge strain, failed to elicit a strong humoral antibody response. As to possible REV participation, an antibody response to this virus was only found in those chickens receiving one of the ''protective'' field strains, despite the presence of REV coding sequences in all four field viruses. While REV long terminal repeats of variable lengths were detected in the genomes of all FPV strains used in this study, only the DNAs of the field strains appeared to have intact REV provirus. This retention of foreign DNA may enhance the pathogenesis of FPV, although other factors may be involved.
The Towns of Roman Britain

Achnowledgements Achnowledgements to Second Edition List of Illustrations Notes on References Preface to Second Edition Introduction 1. What were towns and how did they develop? 2. What part did towns play in the province? 3. Towns as provincial capitals: London 4. The coloniae: Colchester, Lincoln, Gloucester and York 5. The first civitas capitals: Canterbury, Chelmsford and Verulamium 6. From client kingdom to civitas: Caistor-by-Norwich, Chichester, Silchester and Winchester 7. Flavian expansion: Cirencester, Dorchester, Exeter, Leicester and Wroxeter 8. Hadrianic stimulation: Caerwent, Carmarathen, Brough-on-Humber and Aldborough 9. Town-life or life in towns? Abbreviations used in the Notes and Bibliography Notes Bibiography Index
Satisfacción del paciente en una unidad de hemodiálisis: Objetivo de calidad asistencial en enfermería

La evaluacion de la satisfaccion de los pacientes permite por un lado identificar aquellas areas deficitarias desde el punto de vista del paciente y por otro parte nor sirve para evaluar los resultados de los cuidados, ya que las necesidades del paciente son el eje sobre el que se articulan las prestaciones asistenciales. Los objetivos son: 1. Determinar el grado de satisfaccion de los pacientes en hemodialisis cronica en relacion con la atencion recibida y 2, Conocer los aspectos del proceso asistencial que generan mayor satisfacion e identificar oportunidades de mejora. Estudio descriptivo transversal a todos los pacientes en tratamiento con hemodialisis cronica de la unidad de HD del hospital de referencia para nefrologia del Area 8 de la Comunidad de Madrid, entre marzo y abril de 2004. Se administro el cuestionario SERVQHOS modificado.Cada item se puntuo en una escala Likert (de 1 a 5) segun el grado de satisfaccion. Para el analisis de datos se utilizo el programa SPSS. Se utilizo el Alpha de Cronbach para el analisis de la fiabilidad. La muestra la constituyeron 61 cuestionarios con una tasa de respuesta del 98,3%. 51,8% de los pacientes eran hombres y el 48,2% mujeres. Edad media 71,18% +/- 13,3 anos. La puntuacion media obtenida en la primera parte del cuestionario fue superior a 3,5 en todos los atributos analizados excepto en la "facilidad para llegar al hospital" y la "comunicacion que le personal de la unidad mantiene con los familiares". Los aspectos que influyen en la satisfaccion de los pacientes son "la puntualidad de las sesiones de hemodialisis" , "la rapidez con que se consigue lo que necesita" , "el interes del personal de enfermeria por los pacientes" y el "tiempo de espera para ser atendido por el medico". La satisfaccion media global fue de 3,81. No se encontro correlacion entre las variables sociodemograficas y el nivel de satisfaccion.
Human violence recognition and detection in surveillance videos

In this paper, we focus on the important topic of violence recognition and detection in surveillance videos. Our goal is to determine if a violence occurs in a video (recognition) and when it happens (detection). Firstly, we propose an extension of the Improved Fisher Vectors (IFV) for videos, which allows to represent a video using both local features and their spatio-temporal positions. Then, we study the popular sliding window approach for violence detection, and we re-formulate the Improved Fisher Vectors and use the summed area table data structure to speed up the approach. We present an extensive evaluation, comparison and analysis of the proposed improvements on 4 state-of-the-art datasets. We show that the proposed improvements make the violence recognition more accurate (as compared to the standard IFV, IFV with spatio-temporal grid, and other state-of-the-art methods) and make the violence detection significantly faster.