Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Symbiont modifies host life-history traits that affect gene flow

The evolution of herbivore–host plant specialization requires low levels of gene flow between populations on alternate plant species. Accordingly, selection for host plant specialization is most effective when genotypes have minimal exposure to, and few mating opportunities with individuals from, alternate habitats. Maternally transmitted bacterial symbionts are common in insect herbivores and can influence host fecundity under a variety of conditions. Symbiont-mediated effects on host life-history strategies, however, are largely unknown. Here, we show that the facultative bacterial symbiont Candidatus Regiella insecticola strikingly alters both dispersal and mating in the pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum. Pea aphids containing Regiella produced only half the number of winged offspring in response to crowding and, for two out of three aphid lineages, altered the timing of sexual reproduction in response to conditions mimicking seasonal changes, than did aphids lacking Regiella. These symbiont-associated changes in dispersal and mating are likely to have played a key role in the initiation of genetic differentiation and in the evolution of pea aphid–host plant specialization. As symbionts are widespread in insects, symbiont-induced life history changes may have promoted specialization, and potentially speciation, in many organisms.
Prevention of autoimmune destruction of syngeneic islet grafts in spontaneously diabetic nonobese diabetic mice by a combination of a vitamin D3 analog and cyclosporine.

BACKGROUND Type 1 diabetes is characterized by the presence of an autoimmune memory, responsible for the destruction of even syngeneic islet grafts. This recurrence of autoimmunity is partly responsible for the need of extensive immunosuppression in pancreas and islet transplantation in type 1 diabetic patients. The aim of the study was to evaluate the capacity of a 20-epi-analog of vitamin D3, KH1060, both alone and in combination with cyclosporine (CsA) to prevent diabetes recurrence in syngeneic islet grafts in nonobese diabetic (NOD) mice. METHODS Spontaneously diabetic NOD mice grafted with syngeneic islets (n=500) under the kidney capsule were treated with KH1060, CsA, or a combination of both drugs from the day before transplantation until recurrence or 60 days after transplantation. RESULTS Vehicle-treated mice showed a recurrence of diabetes in 100% of cases (n=17) within 4 weeks. Treatment with high doses of CsA (15 mg/kg/day) or KH1060 (1 microg/kg/2 days) significantly prolonged islet survival (60 days and 50 days, respectively, versus 9.5 days in controls; P<0.001 and P<0.0001). Mice treated with subtherapeutical doses of both drugs combined (KH1060 0.5 microg/kg/2 days + CsA 7.5 mg/kg/day) had significant prolongation of graft survival (48 days; P<0.001) and more importantly, four of five mice that were still normoglycemic 60 days after transplantation showed no recurrence after discontinuation of all treatment. Histology of the grafts of control and combination-treated mice demonstrated that graft infiltration and islet destruction were less severe in grafts of combination-treated mice. Cytokine mRNA analysis in the grafts 6 days after transplantation revealed a clear suppression of interleukin-12 and T helper 1 cytokines and higher levels of interleukin-4 in combination-treated mice. CONCLUSIONS KH1060, an analog of 1,25(OH)2D3, delays autoimmune disease recurrence after syngeneic islet transplantation in NOD mice, both alone and especially in combination with CsA, possibly restoring tolerance to beta cells in 30% of cases.
Effect of Item Arrangement on Perceived Numerosity: Randomness vs Regularity

Subjects were shown pairs of dot patterns, a regular one and a randomly arranged set, and were asked to say which appeared more numerous. In three experiments using 53 college students regular patterns appeared significantly more numerous than random arrays, with an average illusion of 5.5%. The results were discussed in relation to the breakdown of conservation of number.
Grain Yield Stability Analysis of Lentil Genotypes by Additive Main Effects and Multiplicative Interactions Model

This paper presents the yields and several stability parameters of additive main effects and multiplicative interactions (AMMI) model in ten improved lentil genotypes which tested in very diverse environmental conditions in Iran. The F-Gollob indicated that first three interaction principle component analysis (IPCA) axis of AMMI model was significant while cross validation procedure through RMSPD (root mean square prediction difference) values indicated only first an IPCA axis of AMMI model was adequate for GE interaction interpretation. According to EV1, D1, AMGE1, SIPC1 and ASV parameters, genotypes ILL 6037, ILL6199 and cultivar Gachsaran were the most stable genotypes. Based on EVF parameter, genotypes FLIP 96-9L, FLIP 96-4L and ILL 7946 and according to DF parameter genotypes FLIP 96-9L, ILL 7946 and ILL 6199 were the most stable genotypes. Genotypes FLIP 92-12L, ILL 7946 and ILL 6199 based on SIPCF parameter and genotypes FLIP 82-1L, FLIP 96-9L and ILL6199 based on AMGEF parameter were the most stable genotypes. According to the rank correlation coefficients, mean yield did not has any positive significant correlation with AMMI model parameters but showed negative significant correlation with EV1, D1, AMGE1, SIPC1 and ASV parameters. The results of factor analysis of AMMI stability parameters and mean yield indicated that only SIPCF following to EVF parameters would be useful for simultaneously selecting for high yield and stability. A scatter plot of the rotated scores of the first two factors indicated the AMMI stability parameters classified as two distinct classes that corresponded to different static and dynamic concepts of yield stability.
Spinal dural arterio-venous fistula: clinico-radiological profile and outcome following surgical occlusion in an Indian neurosurgical center.

BACKGROUND Spinal dural arteriovenous fistula (SDAVF) is a common type of spinal vascular lesion. However, there has not been any published study on its clinico-radiological characteristics or surgical outcome from India. AIM The aim of this study was to determine the clinico-radiological features of patients with SDAVF, outcomes following surgical ligation of the fistula and the various factors involved. MATERIALS AND METHODS Patients who were operated for SDAVF were studied for demographic details, symptoms, clinical severity, radiological features and neurological outcome in the form of improvement in gait disability grades. Appropriate statistical tests were performed. RESULTS There were 22 (19 males, 3 females) patients of SDAVF who underwent surgical ligation with a mean age of 55 years. The mean duration of symptoms at presentation was 15 months. Three patients had acute onset while the rest had insidious onset of symptoms. Out of the 22 patients, 11 (50%) had motor weakness as the first symptom, 13 (59%) were bedridden and 19 (86.4%) had bladder involvement at presentation. Thirteen patients had fistulae in thoracic spine, whereas eight had fistulae in the lumbar spine. All had a favorable outcome in the form of at least non-progression of gait disability (14 had improvement while 8 had stabilized). The improvement was non-significantly associated with younger age, acute onset, ambulant status and fistula below T9. It was inversely associated with pain as the first symptom and fluctuant clinical course. CONCLUSION Surgical occlusion of SDAVF is usually associated with either improvement or stabilization of motor weakness.
ELEKTRONİK TİCARET VE KOBİ’LERE ETKİLERİ

Internet kullaniminin yayginlasmasiyla birlikte bir yandan e-ticaret surecine katilimcilar artarken, diger yandan da e-ticaret hacminin toplam ticaret hacmi icindeki payi hizli bir sekilde buyumektedir. E-ticaret hizli bir sekilde yayginlasirken isletmelere onemli maliyet avantajlari sunmakta ve isletmelerin verimli-liklerini artirmaktadir. Internet ve e-ticaret, sinirli imkanlari nedeniyle dis ticaret surecine yeterince kati-lamayan KOBI’lerinde uluslararasi piyasalara acilmalarina imkan saglamistir. KOBI’ler boylece yuksek yatirim ve harcama yapmadan uluslararasi pazarlara girebilme, bu pazarlara urun sunabilme firsatina ka-vusmuslardir.
Tracking Multiple Particles in Fluorescence Time-Lapse Microscopy Images via Probabilistic Data Association

Tracking subcellular structures as well as viral structures displayed as `particles' in fluorescence microscopy images yields quantitative information on the underlying dynamical processes. We have developed an approach for tracking multiple fluorescent particles based on probabilistic data association. The approach combines a localization scheme that uses a bottom-up strategy based on the spot-enhancing filter as well as a top-down strategy based on an ellipsoidal sampling scheme that uses the Gaussian probability distributions computed by a Kalman filter. The localization scheme yields multiple measurements that are incorporated into the Kalman filter via a combined innovation, where the association probabilities are interpreted as weights calculated using an image likelihood. To track objects in close proximity, we compute the support of each image position relative to the neighboring objects of a tracked object and use this support to recalculate the weights. To cope with multiple motion models, we integrated the interacting multiple model algorithm. The approach has been successfully applied to synthetic 2-D and 3-D images as well as to real 2-D and 3-D microscopy images, and the performance has been quantified. In addition, the approach was successfully applied to the 2-D and 3-D image data of the recent Particle Tracking Challenge at the IEEE International Symposium on Biomedical Imaging (ISBI) 2012.
Multicenter phase II and translational study of cetuximab in metastatic colorectal carcinoma refractory to irinotecan, oxaliplatin, and fluoropyrimidines.

PURPOSE This multicenter study evaluated the antitumor activity of cetuximab, an immunoglobulin G1 antibody directed at the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), in metastatic colorectal carcinoma (CRC) refractory to irinotecan, oxaliplatin, and a fluoropyrimidine. It also evaluated the safety, pharmacokinetics, immunokinetics, and biologic determinants of activity. PATIENTS AND METHODS Patients with metastatic CRC, whose tumors demonstrated EGFR immunostaining and were refractory to irinotecan, oxaliplatin, and fluoropyrimidines, were treated with cetuximab at a loading dose of 400 mg/m2 followed by 250 mg/m2 weekly. An independent review committee (IRC) reviewed responses. Blood was collected for cetuximab pharmacokinetics and to detect antibodies to cetuximab. EGFR gene sequencing of the tyrosine kinase domain and gene copy number assessments were performed. RESULTS The response rates in 346 patients, as determined by the investigators and IRC, were 12.4% (95% CI, 9.1 to 16.4) and 11.6% (95% CI, 8.4 to 16.4). The median progression-free survival (PFS) and survival times were 1.4 months (95% CI, 1.4 to 2.1) and 6.6 months (95% CI, 5.6 to 7.6), respectively. An acneiform rash occurred in 82.9% of patients; grade 3 rash was observed in 4.9%. Response and survival related strongly to the severity of the rash. In contrast, clinical benefit did not relate to EGFR immunostaining. EGFR tyrosine kinase domain mutations were not identified, and EGFR gene copy number did not relate to response or PFS, but to survival (P = .03). CONCLUSION Cetuximab is active and well tolerated in metastatic CRC refractory to irinotecan, oxaliplatin, and fluoropyrimidines. The severity of rash was related to efficacy. Neither EGFR kinase domain mutations nor EGFR gene amplification appear to be essential for response to cetuximab in this setting.
Impact of Hyperlipidemia and Statins on Ischemic Stroke Outcomes after Intra-Arterial Fibrinolysis and Percutaneous Mechanical Embolectomy

Background: Endovascular recanalization therapies are an increasingly employed treatment strategy in acute cerebral ischemia. The determinants of the final clinical outcome after endovascular treatment have been understudied. We investigated the effects of hyperlipidemia and statins on acute ischemic stroke outcomes after endovascular procedures. Methods: An inquiry of a prospectively maintained stroke registry was conducted. Endovascular procedures were performed using recombinant tissue plasminogen activator, prourokinase or the Merci device within 12 hours after symptom onset. The analyzed outcomes were revascularization, hemorrhage and excellent functional outcome (Rankin score of 0–1 at 3 months). The analyses included χ2 and Wilcoxon rank sum, logistic regression (for multivariate analyses with binary outcomes) and linear regression (for continuous outcomes). Significance was set at p < 0.05. Results: We included 142 patients, 80% treated with intra-arterial fibrinolysis, 22% with percutaneous mechanical embolectomy and 27% treated with intravenous fibrinolysis prior to endovascular intervention. Age (OR = 0.956, 95% CI = 0.927–0.986, p = 0.0041), National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score on admission (OR = 0.881, 95% CI = 0.812–0.957, p = 0.0025) and history of hyperlipidemia (OR = 0.284, 95% CI = 0.08–0.99, p = 0.0478) were negatively associated with excellent functional outcome at 3 months. Every 50 mg/dl increment in the total cholesterol level resulted in 64% decrease in the odds of excellent functional outcome (OR = 0.36, 95% CI = 0.447–0.882, p = 0.0253). History of hyperlipidemia decreased the likelihood of neurological improvement (p = 0.0462) and was associated with a higher NIHSS score at 7 days or discharge. Statin use was related to an average 6.5-unit NIHSS decrease at discharge (p = 0.0168). Statins were not associated with increased frequency of recanalization or symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage. Conclusions: History of hyperlipidemia may have a negative impact on the outcomes of acute ischemic stroke treated with intra-arterial fibrinolysis or percutaneous mechanical embolectomy. Statin use before and after these procedures may be related to better neurological outcomes. Larger prospective studies are needed to endorse these findings.
&agr;vß3-Integrin–Targeted Magnetic Resonance Imaging for the Assessment of Early Antiangiogenic Therapy Effects in Orthotopic Breast Cancer Xenografts

ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to investigate magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with &agr;vß3-integrin–targeted ultrasmall superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (RGD-USPIO) for the in vivo monitoring of early antiangiogenic therapy effects in experimental breast cancer. Materials and MethodsOrthotopic human breast cancer (MDA-MB-231) xenograft-bearing severe combined immunodeficiency mice were imaged before and after a 1-week therapy with the vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-antibody bevacizumab or placebo (n = 10 per group, daily intraperitoneal injections of bevacizumab or a volume-equivalent placebo solution, respectively) on a clinical 3 T scanner (Magnetom Skyra; Siemens Healthcare, Erlangen, Germany) before and 60 minutes after the intravenous injection of RGD-USPIO (P04000; Guerbet, Villepinte, France). R2 relaxometry employing a T2-weighted spin-echo sequence with 4 echo times (echo time, 20/40/60/80 milliseconds; repetition time, 3800 milliseconds; matrix, 128 × 128; field of view, 50 × 50; slice thickness, 1.2 mm; time to acquisition, 25 minutes) was used as semiquantitative measure to determine RGD-USPIO endothelial binding. In addition, the T2-weighted images were used to perform volumetric tumor response assessments. Imaging results were validated by ex vivo multiparametric immunohistochemistry with regard to &agr;vß3-integrin expression, microvascular density (CD31), proliferation (Ki-67), and apoptosis (TUNEL). ResultsRGD-USPIO endothelial binding was significantly reduced after vascular endothelial growth factor inhibition, compared with the control group in which an increased endothelial binding was detected ([INCREMENT]R2Therapy = −0.80 ± 0.78 s−1; [INCREMENT]R2Control = +0.27 ± 0.59 s−1; P = 0.002). Correspondingly, immunohistochemistry revealed a significantly lower &agr;vß3-integrin expression (91 ± 30 vs 357 ± 72; P < 0.001), microvascular density (CD31, 109 ± 46 vs 440 ± 208; P < 0.001), tumor cell proliferation (Ki-67, 4040 ± 1373 vs 6530 ± 1217; P < 0.001), as well as significantly higher apoptosis (TUNEL, 11186 ± 4387 vs 4017 ± 1191; P = 0.004) in the therapy compared with the control group. Contrary to the changes in &agr;vß3-integrin expression detected by RGD-USPIO MRI, morphology-based tumor response assessments did not show a significant intergroup difference in tumor volume development over the course of the experiment (&Dgr;VolTherapy +71 ± 40 &mgr;L vs &Dgr;VolControl +125 ± 81 &mgr;L; P > 0.05). ConclusionsRGD-USPIO MRI allows for the noninvasive assessment of &agr;vß3-integrin expression in the investigated breast cancer model. RGD-USPIO MRI may be applicable for the in vivo monitoring of early antiangiogenic therapy effects in experimental breast cancer, generating possible complementary molecular imaging biomarkers to morphology-based tumor response assessments.
Results of Double-blind, Multicentre Study with Ritodrine in Premature Labour

A double-blind placebo-controlled multicentre study with ritodrine, a β-mimetic uterine relaxant, has been performed in 91 patients in premature labour. All patients were treated according to a fixed dosage scheme consisting of an intravenous infusion followed by oral tablets for a total of seven days. Ritodrine arrested premature labour in 80%, the placebo in 48% of the patients (P=0·02). This short treatment, however, was usually not sufficient to prolong gestation till term. Apart from a slight to moderate rise in maternal heart rate and a slight rise in systolic blood pressure, ritodrine did not give rise to any maternal or fetal side effects. The problems of patient selection and of evaluation of the results are discussed.
An overview on the current status of partial discharge measurements on AC high voltage cable accessories

High voltage power cables and their accessories are vital components of the electrical power network. Because of this, reliable operation over their lifetime is essential to minimize failures during service. As in-service failures most often incur very high costs, condition monitoring of high voltage cable accessories is becoming increasingly of interest and is being applied. Monitoring of partial discharge (PD) is currently the most common method implemented. This article discusses the fundamental aspects of PD and its measurement on high voltage power cable accessories. The article begins with discussing the various PD measurement techniques, which are explained and compared. Finally, the results of typical measurements on high voltage cable accessories are shown, and their consequences in operation are discussed.
The direct costs of untreated comorbid insomnia in a managed care population with major depressive disorder

Abstract Objectives: Previous research has shown that untreated insomnia has significant direct and indirect burden. Despite the high comorbidity of insomnia and Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), no studies have attempted to determine the economic costs among patients diagnosed with MDD and insomnia. The purpose of this study was to estimate the economic burden of comorbid untreated insomnia within an adult and elderly population with MDD. Design: A retrospective, observational study comparing direct health care costs in insomnia patients with MDD to a matched non-insomniacs group with MDD that had MDD and no insomnia. Data was from taken from managed care claims database in the United States. Measurements and results: A large managed care claims database was used to identify MDD subjects (aged ≥18 years) anytime between 01/01/1998 to 11/30/2007 using MDD-specific ICD-9-CM diagnoses. Insomniacs with MDD (n = 38,213) were selected from this cohort using insomnia-specific ICD-9-CM codes or hypnotic use. Costs were calculated for the twelve months prior to initiating insomnia treatment/diagnosis. Direct costs were compared with 1:1 matched non-insomniacs with MDD. Total direct costs included inpatient, outpatient, emergency room (ER) and drug costs. Cost outcomes were analyzed using a generalized linear model with gamma distribution and log link, and GEE estimation. Insomniacs with MDD had statistically greater (p < 0.01) total outpatient visits 8.34 (SE = 0.04) vs non-insomniacs with MDD 7.26 (SE = 0.04); MDD-related visits 3.9 (SE = 0.04) vs non-insomniacs with MDD 2.1 (SE = 0.02); and antidepressant prescriptions 5.0 (SE = 0.03) vs non-insomniacs with MDD 4.2 (SE = 0.03). Overall direct costs for insomniacs with MDD were significantly (p < 0.001) higher than non-insomniacs with MDD ($4858 vs $4007). Similar direct cost differences ($1007) were found in a sample of elderly (aged ≥65 years) patients (n = 2756) mean age = 75.6 yrs. Conclusions: Untreated insomnia within an adult and elderly comorbid MDD population is associated with higher MDD-related and overall direct costs compared to MDD without insomnia. Key limitations associated with this study make it likely that the direct costs and appearance of comorbidities may have been underestimated. These include that: the non-insomnia with MDD group may have untreated/undiagnosed insomnia; some identified cases were likely treated with over-the-counter or behavioral treatment; and that other drugs may have been used for insomnia were not considered for this study and may have been taken for another condition. Future research needs to determine whether treating comorbid insomnia within a MDD population is cost-effective.
Inhibition of Glutamatergic Synaptic Input to Spinal Lamina IIo Neurons by Presynaptic α2-Adrenergic Receptors

Pan, Yu-Zhen, De-Pei Li, and Hui-Lin Pan. Inhibition of glutamatergic synaptic input to spinal lamina IIo neurons by presynaptic 2-adrenergic receptors. J Neurophysiol 87: 1938–1947, 2002; 10.1152/jn.00575. 2001. Activation of spinal 2-adrenergic receptors by the descending noradrenergic system and 2-adrenergic agonists produces analgesia. However, the sites and mechanisms of the analgesic action of spinally administered 2-adrenergic receptor agonists such as clonidine are not fully known. The dorsal horn neurons in the outer zone of lamina II (lamina IIo) are important for processing nociceptive information from C-fiber primary afferents. In the present study, we tested a hypothesis that activation of presynaptic 2-adrenergic receptors by clonidine inhibits the excitatory synaptic input to lamina IIo neurons. Whole cell voltage-clamp recordings were performed on visualized lamina IIo neurons in the spinal cord slice of rats. The miniature excitatory postsynaptic currents (mEPSCs) were recorded in the presence of tetrodotoxin, bicuculline, and strychnine. The evoked EPSCs were obtained by electrical stimulation of the dorsal root entry zone or the attached dorsal root. Both mEPSCs and evoked EPSCs were abolished by application of 6-cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione. Clonidine (10 M) significantly decreased the frequency of mEPSCs from 5.8 0.9 to 2.7 0.6 Hz (means SE) without altering the amplitude and the decay time constant of mEPSCs in 25 of 27 lamina IIo neurons. Yohimbine (2 M, an 2-adrenergic receptor antagonist), but not prazosin (2 M, an 1adrenergic receptor antagonist), blocked the inhibitory effect of clonidine on the mEPSCs. Clonidine (1–20 M, n 8) also significantly attenuated the peak amplitude of evoked EPSCs in a concentration-dependent manner. The effect of clonidine on evoked EPSCs was abolished in the presence of yohimbine (n 5). These data suggest that clonidine inhibits the excitatory synaptic input to lamina IIo neurons through activation of 2-adrenergic receptors located on the glutamatergic afferent terminals. Presynaptic inhibition of glutamate release from primary afferents onto lamina IIo neurons likely plays an important role in the analgesic action produced by activation of the descending noradrenergic system and 2-adrenergic agonists.