Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Pharmacological reduction of adult hippocampal neurogenesis modifies functional brain circuits in mice exposed to a cocaine conditioned place preference paradigm

We investigated the role of adult hippocampal neurogenesis in cocaine‐induced conditioned place preference (CPP) behaviour and the functional brain circuitry involved. Adult hippocampal neurogenesis was pharmacologically reduced with temozolomide (TMZ), and mice were tested for cocaine‐induced CPP to study c‐Fos expression in the hippocampus and in extrahippocampal addiction‐related areas. Correlational and multivariate analysis revealed that, under normal conditions, the hippocampus showed widespread functional connectivity with other brain areas and strongly contributed to the functional brain module associated with CPP expression. However, the neurogenesis‐reduced mice showed normal CPP acquisition but engaged an alternate brain circuit where the functional connectivity of the dentate gyrus was notably reduced and other areas (the medial prefrontal cortex, accumbens and paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus) were recruited instead of the hippocampus. A second experiment unveiled that mice acquiring the cocaine‐induced CPP under neurogenesis‐reduced conditions were delayed in extinguishing their drug‐seeking behaviour. But if the inhibited neurons were generated after CPP acquisition, extinction was not affected but an enhanced long‐term CPP retention was found, suggesting that some roles of the adult‐born neurons may differ depending on whether they are generated before or after drug–contextual associations are established. Importantly, cocaine‐induced reinstatement of CPP behaviour was increased in the TMZ mice, regardless of the time of neurogenesis inhibition. The results show that adult hippocampal neurogenesis sculpts the addiction‐related functional brain circuits, and reduction of the adult‐born hippocampal neurons increases cocaine seeking in the CPP model.
Simulation of Microhollow Cathode Discharge With Planar and Hollow Anodes

The 3-D fluid models of microhollow cathode discharge (MHCD) with both planar- and hollow-anode structures are presented. In the planar-anode structure, the highest densities are ~1018 and ~1019 m-3 for electron and ion, respectively, and the electron mean energy is in tens of electronvolts. In the hollow-anode structure, densities and electron mean energy are higher than in planar one, which indicates that this structure is more attractive than the planar one. The influences of pressure on the MHCD have also been discussed.
d-Psicose increases energy expenditure and decreases body fat accumulation in rats fed a high-sucrose diet

Abstract We investigated the anti-obesity effects of d-psicose by increasing energy expenditure in rats pair-fed the high-sucrose diet (HSD). Wistar rats were divided into two dietary groups: HSD containing 5% cellulose (C) and 5% d-psicose (P). The C dietary group was further subdivided into two groups: rats fed the C diet ad libitum (C-AD) and pair-fed the C diet along with those in the P group (C-PF). Resting energy expenditure during darkness and lipoprotein lipase activity in the soleus muscle were significantly higher in the P group than in the C-PF group. Serum levels of glucose, leptin and adiponectin; glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activities in the liver and perirenal adipose tissue; and body fat accumulation were all significantly lower in the P group than in the C-PF group. The anti-obesity effects of D-psicose could be induced not only by suppressing lipogenic enzyme activity but also by increasing EE in rats.
Tertiary care centre adherence to unified guidelines for management of periprosthetic joint infections: a gap analysis.

BACKGROUND The success rate of surgical treatment for periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) remains inconsistent in the literature. Variability in PJI clinical guidelines and surgeon adherence to guidelines could affect treatment success. The objectives of this study were to appraise current recommendations for PJI management and develop a unified clinical standard of care, to perform a gap analysis of PJI cases in a tertiary institution to determine the rate of guideline adherence, and to determine if adherence to unified PJI guidelines affected 2-year treatment outcomes. METHODS We appraised the PJI guidelines from 3 academic medical societies, and consistent statements were aggregated. We retrospectively reviewed all PJI cases in a tertiary care institution. We defined PJI based on Musculoskeletal Infection Society PJI criteria. Surgeon adherence to preoperative, intraoperative, surgical and medical management guidelines was calculated, and we evaluated the association between guideline adherence and 2-year treatment outcomes. RESULTS The institutional rate of PJI was 1.13% (38 of 3368). Treatment success was 57.8% at 2 years. Unified guideline adherence percentages varied substantially: 92% of patients had preoperative erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein, 97% had intraoperative tissue cultures, 42% had appropriate preoperative arthrocentesis, and 74% underwent guideline-appropriate surgery. Performing appropriate preoperative arthrocentesis significantly correlated with positive treatment outcomes at 2 years (p = 0.028). CONCLUSION Adherence to PJI guidelines varies considerably, indicating that clinicians are either unaware of them or do not recognize their value for PJI treatment. This study shows the need for institution-based PJI treatment pathways that are consistent with published guidelines and the need to monitor adherence.
The Early Protective Thymus-Independent Antibody Response to Foot-and-Mouth Disease Virus Is Mediated by Splenic CD9+ B Lymphocytes

ABSTRACT Infection of mice with cytopathic foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) induces a rapid and specific thymus-independent (TI) neutralizing antibody response that promptly clears the virus. Herein, it is shown that FMDV-infected dendritic cells (DCs) directly stimulate splenic innate-like CD9+ B lymphocytes to rapidly (3 days) produce neutralizing anti-FMDV immunoglobulin M antibodies without T-lymphocyte collaboration. In contrast, neither follicular (CD9−) B lymphocytes from the spleen nor B lymphocytes from lymph nodes efficiently respond to stimulation with FMDV-infected DCs. The production of these protective neutralizing antibodies is dependent on DC-derived interleukin-6 (IL-6) and on CD9+ cell-derived IL-10 secretion. In comparison, DCs loaded with UV-inactivated FMDV are significantly less efficient in directly stimulating B lymphocytes to secrete TI antibodies. A critical role of the spleen in the early production of anti-FMDV antibodies in infected mice was also demonstrated in vivo. Indeed, either splenectomy or functional disruption of the marginal zone of the spleen delays and reduces the magnitude of the TI anti-FMDV antibody response in infected mice. Together, these results indicate that in addition to virus localization, the FMDV-mediated modulation of DC functionality is a key parameter that collaborates in the induction of a rapid and protective TI antibody response against this virus.
Novel Roles for the AIDA Adhesin from Diarrheagenic Escherichia coli: Cell Aggregation and Biofilm Formation

ABSTRACT Diarrhea-causing Escherichia coli strains are responsible for numerous cases of gastrointestinal disease and constitute a serious health problem throughout the world. The ability to recognize and attach to host intestinal surfaces is an essential step in the pathogenesis of such strains. AIDA is a potent bacterial adhesin associated with some diarrheagenic E. coli strains. AIDA mediates bacterial attachment to a broad variety of human and other mammalian cells. It is a surface-displayed autotransporter protein and belongs to the selected group of bacterial glycoproteins; only the glycosylated form binds to mammalian cells. Here, we show that AIDA possesses self-association characteristics and can mediate autoaggregation of E. coli cells. We demonstrate that intercellular AIDA-AIDA interaction is responsible for bacterial autoaggregation. Interestingly, AIDA-expressing cells can interact with antigen 43 (Ag43)-expressing cells, which is indicative of an intercellular AIDA-Ag43 interaction. Additionally, AIDA expression dramatically enhances biofilm formation by E. coli on abiotic surfaces in flow chambers.
Moving in Between Mammography: Screening Decisions of American Indian Women in Vermont

Breast cancer is a leading cause of cancer death among American Indian women, with mammography screening rates below the national average for this population. A grounded theory study, conducted with Vermont American Indian women, explicated factors that influence mammography decision making. The authors examined mammography decision making across the breast cancer screening continuum: women with a history of consistent annual mammograms, women who were under users or nonusers of mammography, and women who were breast cancer survivors. The generated theory, Moving in Between Mammography, describes the decision-making process and factors that influenced women’s participation in routine mammography screening. Specific influencing factors addressed include Connecting to Nativeness, Taking Care of Self, Financing Health Care, and (Mis)Trusting the Health Care System. Implications and directions for future research are addressed.
Tectonic synthesis of the Olympic Mountains segment of the Cascadia wedge, using two‐dimensional thermal and kinematic modeling of thermochronological ages

A fully coupled two‐dimensional kinematic and thermal model of a steady state accretionary wedge, constrained by an extensive data set of fission track and (U‐Th)/He ages for apatite and zircon, is here used to investigate the development of the Olympic Mountains segment of the Cascadia accretionary wedge. The model has two main free parameters: , the maximum rate of erosion for a generic erosion function operating at the top of the wedge, and α, the distribution of sedimentary accretion into the wedge. The best fit values for and α and their confidence limits are determined through an iterative search of parameter space. This study represents the first time that such inversion methods have been used to quantify the thermal‐kinematic evolution of an accretionary wedge. Our results suggest that horizontal transport plays an important role in the exhumation trajectories experienced by material passing through the Cascadia wedge. At a 95% confidence interval, 80 to 100% of the sedimentary sequence from the subducting Juan de Fuca Plate has been accreted at the front of the wedge offshore of the Olympics over the past 14 m.y. This frontally accreted material must then traverse the entire width of the wedge prior to its eventual exposure in the Olympic forearc high. Assessed in this two‐dimensional framework, the fission track and (U‐Th)/He age data sets from the Olympic Mountains are all best fit by of 0.9–1.0 mm yr−1, despite variation in the timescales relevant to the three chronometers. This result supports the hypothesis that the Olympic Mountains segment of the Cascadia accretionary wedge has been in a flux steady‐state since ∼14 Ma. The demonstration of a flux balance across the Cascadia margin also suggests that margin‐parallel transport has not had a significant role in driving uplift of the Olympic Mountains.
A Pilot Study of Determinants of Ongoing Participation in EnhanceFitness: A Community-Based Group Exercise Program for Older Adults

Background and Purpose:Physical activity has many benefits for older adults, but adherence is often low. The purposes of this study were to (1) identify motivators and barriers for participation in EnhanceFitness (EF), a group-based exercise program; and (2) quantitatively examine the association between motivators, barriers and individual characteristics, and ongoing participation in the program. Methods:This was a prospective, cross-sectional study. We mailed a pilot, investigator-developed survey to assess motivators and barriers to exercising to 340 adults who started a new EF class, regardless of their attendance rate. We precoded surveys on the basis of class attendance, with former participants defined as having no attendance a month or more before a 4-month fitness check. Results:Of the 241 respondents (71% response rate), 61 (25%) were precoded as former participants and 180 (75%) as current participants. The mean age of respondents was 71 years and they were predominately female (89%). More than half of respondents were whites (58%), and almost half were married (46%). Former participants reported lower total motivation scores than current participants (P < .01) and had a significantly higher mean total barrier score (P < .001). The effects of 5 barriers (“Class was too hard,” “Class was too easy,” “I don't like to exercise,” “Personal illness,” and “Exercise caused pain”) and 2 motivators (“I want to exercise” and “I plan exercise as part of my day”) were significantly different between current and former participants. Discrete event history models show that dropout was related positively to ethnicity (whites were more likely to drop out) and health-related barriers. Discussion:In newly formed EF classes, participants who drop out report more program, psychosocial, and health barriers, and fewer program and psychosocial motivators. Total barrier score and health barriers significantly predict a participant's dropping out, and white ethnicity is associated with a higher likelihood of dropping out. Conclusions:Employing strategies that address health barriers to participation could improve attendance rates for group-based exercise programs.
Not All Zirconia Femoral Heads Degrade In Vivo

Degradation of yttria-stabilized zirconia femoral heads in vivo has been linked to increased roughening and even fracture of the femoral head. To determine whether magnesia-stabilized zirconia is better suited to resist degradation, we characterized the monoclinic phase concentration, surface topography, and microhardness of retrieved zirconia femoral heads. From previous work, we expected yttria-stabilized zirconia heads to undergo considerable tetragonal-to-monoclinic phase transformation in vivo, leading to considerably increased roughness and decreased microhardness, whereas magnesia-stabilized zirconia heads would not experience phase transformation and thus would not roughen or exhibit decreased microhardness. We studied seven yttria-stabilized zirconia and 12 magnesia-stabilized zirconia femoral heads. Yttria-stabilized zirconia heads explanted after 5 years exhibited a rough orange peel-like surface under light microscopy and were rougher than magnesia-stabilized zirconia heads (average roughness approximately 20 nm versus 7.5 nm, respectively), likely attributable to increased mono-clinic phase transformation (approximately 37% by weight) caused by low-temperature aging. The microhardness of yttria-stabilized zirconia heads decreased with age, but the relationship was not noteworthy. In contrast, magnesia-stabilized zirconia retrievals showed no change in monoclinic phase concentration, surface roughness, or microhardness with age. The properties of the yttria-stabilized zirconia evaluated in our study deteriorated in vivo, whereas magnesia-stabilized zirconia did not degrade and appears to be a superior biomaterial for bearing in total joint arthroplasty.
Genome-wide target specificities of CRISPR-Cas9 nucleases revealed by multiplex Digenome-seq

We present multiplex Digenome-seq to profile genome-wide specificities of up to 11 CRISPR-Cas9 nucleases simultaneously, saving time and reducing cost. Cell-free human genomic DNA was digested using multiple sgRNAs combined with the Cas9 protein and then subjected to whole-genome sequencing. In vitro cleavage patterns, characteristic of on- and off-target sites, were computationally identified across the genome using a new DNA cleavage scoring system. We found that many false-positive, bulge-type off-target sites were cleaved by sgRNAs transcribed from an oligonucleotide duplex but not by those transcribed from a plasmid template. Multiplex Digenome-seq captured many bona fide off-target sites, missed by other genome-wide methods, at which indels were induced at frequencies <0.1%. After analyzing 964 sites cleaved in vitro by these sgRNAs and measuring indel frequencies at hundreds of off-target sites in cells, we propose a guideline for the choice of target sites for minimizing CRISPR-Cas9 off-target effects in the human genome.
Convergence of a Semi-Lagrangian Scheme for the One-Dimensional Vlasov-Poisson System

A semi-Lagrangian scheme is proposed for solving the periodic one-dimensional Vlasov--Poisson system in phase space on unstructured meshes. The distribution function f(t,x,v) and the electric field E(t,x) are shown to converge to the exact solution values in the $L^{\infty}$ norm. The rate of convergence is in O(h4/3).
Expression of Id2 in the second heart field and cardiac defects in Id2 knock‐out mice

The inhibitor of differentiation Id2 is expressed in mesoderm of the second heart field, which contributes myocardial and mesenchymal cells to the primary heart tube. The role of Id2 in cardiac development is insufficiently known. Heart development was studied in sequential developmental stages in Id2 wildtype and knockout mouse embryos. Expression patterns of Id2, MLC‐2a, Nkx2.5, HCN4, and WT‐1 were analyzed. Id2 is expressed in myocardial progenitor cells at the inflow and outflow tract, in the endocardial and epicardial lineage, and in neural crest cells. Id2 knockout embryos show severe cardiac defects including abnormal orientation of systemic and pulmonary drainage, abnormal myocardialization of systemic and pulmonary veins, hypoplasia of the sinoatrial node, large interatrial communications, ventricular septal defects, double outlet right ventricle, and myocardial hypoplasia. Our results indicate a role for Id2 in the second heart field contribution at both the arterial and the venous poles of the heart. Developmental Dynamics 240:2561–2577, 2011. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Reduced port laparoscopic gastrectomy: A review, techniques, and perspective

Reduced port laparoscopic surgery has been used increasingly. It is a concept that has grown out of the various efforts aimed at minimally invasive surgery, with SILS being the ultimate reduced port technique. Reduced port laparoscopic surgery has been used to perform sleeve gastrectomy in bariatric surgery and excision of benign gastric submucosal tumor, applications that generally do not require lymph node dissection or complicated reconstruction. It can be done safely, result in a permanent cure, and offer good cosmetic outcomes. Reduced port laparoscopic surgery for gastric cancer has a short history, and its usefulness has not yet been fully established. This review describes the present situation and challenges faced as well as standardized procedures and the future prospects of reduced port laparoscopic gastrectomy for gastric cancer, which my team performs almost daily. These aspects of reduced port laparoscopic surgery are presented in light of the literature.
Clinical and cognitive factors associated with verbal memory task performance in patients with schizophrenia.

OBJECTIVE The authors have previously shown the role of depression, slowing of processing speed, and selective attention deficit in verbal memory task performance in schizophrenia. They wished to determine the specific contribution of each of these factors to various types of memory impairment. METHOD The negative symptom score from the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale, the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale score, a measure of processing speed, and a measure of selective attention were entered as predictors in regression analyses. Furthermore, analyses of covariance were conducted on the memory measures to test the significance of the differences between schizophrenic patients and healthy comparison subjects after control for processing speed and selective attention. RESULTS Depression was associated only with deep encoding reflected by semantic clustering. Selective attention was associated only with superficial encoding reflected by serial recall. Slowing of processing speed was associated with both deep and superficial encoding. Negative symptoms were not associated with memory impairment except for the avolition item from the Scale for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms. Processing speed accounted for all the group differences on the memory measures that reflected superficial encoding. In addition, a subgroup of patients with no or minor depression was not significantly impaired on deep encoding relative to the healthy comparison group. CONCLUSIONS The authors suggest that verbal memory impairment in schizophrenia is a consequence of depression and slowness, rather than a primary feature of the disease.
The RepEval 2017 Shared Task: Multi-Genre Natural Language Inference with Sentence Representations

This paper presents the results of the RepEval 2017 Shared Task, which evaluated neural network sentence representation learning models on the Multi-Genre Natural Language Inference corpus (MultiNLI) recently introduced by Williams et al. (2017). All of the five participating teams beat the bidirectional LSTM (BiLSTM) and continuous bag of words baselines reported in Williams et al. The best single model used stacked BiLSTMs with residual connections to extract sentence features and reached 74.5% accuracy on the genre-matched test set. Surprisingly, the results of the competition were fairly consistent across the genre-matched and genre-mismatched test sets, and across subsets of the test data representing a variety of linguistic phenomena, suggesting that all of the submitted systems learned reasonably domain-independent representations for sentence meaning.
Simultaneous oral therapeutic and intravenous ¹⁴C-microdoses to determine the absolute oral bioavailability of saxagliptin and dapagliflozin.

AIM To determine the absolute oral bioavailability (F(p.o.) ) of saxagliptin and dapagliflozin using simultaneous intravenous ¹⁴C-microdose/therapeutic oral dosing (i.v.micro + oraltherap). METHODS The F(p.o.) values of saxagliptin and dapagliflozin were determined in healthy subjects (n = 7 and 8, respectively) following the concomitant administration of single i.v. micro doses with unlabelled oraltherap doses. Accelerator mass spectrometry and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry were used to quantify the labelled and unlabelled drug, respectively. RESULTS The geometric mean point estimates (90% confidence interval) F(p.o) . values for saxagliptin and dapagliflozin were 50% (48, 53%) and 78% (73, 83%), respectively. The i.v. micro had similar pharmacokinetics to oraltherap. CONCLUSIONS Simultaneous i.v. micro + oraltherap dosing is a valuable tool to assess human absolute bioavailability.