Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Growth Factor Treatment and Genetic Manipulation Stimulate Neurogenesis and Oligodendrogenesis by Endogenous Neural Progenitors in the Injured Adult Spinal Cord

Neurons and oligodendrocytes are highly vulnerable to various insults, and their spontaneous replacement occurs to only a limited extent after damage in the adult spinal cord. The environment of injured tissue is thus thought to restrict the regenerative capacity of endogenous neural stem/progenitor cells; strategies for overcoming such restrictions remain to be developed. Here, we combined growth factor treatment and genetic manipulation to stimulate neurogenesis and oligodendrogenesis by endogenous progenitors in vivo. The recombinant retrovirus pMXIG, which was designed to coexpress green fluorescent proteins (GFPs) and a neurogenic/gliogenic transcription factor, was directly injected into the injured spinal cord parenchyma to manipulate proliferative cells in situ. We found that cells expressing Olig2, Nkx2.2, and NG2 were enriched among virus-infected, GFP-positive (GFP+) cells. Moreover, a fraction of GFP+ cells formed neurospheres and differentiated into neurons, astrocytes, and oligodendrocytes in vitro, demonstrating that GFP retroviruses indeed infected endogenous neural progenitors in vivo. Neuronal differentiation of control virus-infected cells did not occur at a detectable level in the injured spinal cord. We found, however, that direct administration of fibroblast growth factor 2 and epidermal growth factor into lesioned tissue could induce a significant fraction of GFP-labeled cells to express immature neuronal markers. Moreover, retrovirus-mediated overexpression of the basic helix-loop-helix transcription factors Neurogenin2 and Mash1, together with growth factor treatment, enhanced the production and maturation of new neurons and oligodendrocytes, respectively. These results demonstrate that endogenous neural progenitors can be manipulated to replace neurons and oligodendrocytes lost to insults in the injured spinal cord.
SECONDARY POISONING OF STOATS AFTER AN AERIAL 1080 POISON OPERATION IN PUREORA FOREST, NEW ZEALAND

New Zealand Journal of Ecology (1999) 23(2): 175-182 ©New Zealand Ecological Society E.C. MURPHY, L. ROBBINS, J.B. Y UNG and J.E. DOWDING 1Science and Research Unit, Department of Conservation, Private Bag 4715, Christchurch, New Zealand. 2Department of Animal Ecology, Massey University, P.O. Box 84, Palmerston North, New Zealand. 3Department of Entomology and Animal Ecology, Lincoln University, P.O. Box 84, Canterbury, New Zealand. 4P.O. Box 36-274, Merivale, Christchurch, New Zealand.
ALCOHOL AND PSYCHOACTIVE SUBSTANCE USE AMONG MEDICAL STUDENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILORIN, NIGERIA

The study was aimed at determining the prevalence and predictive factors associated with alcohol and other psychoactive substance use among medical students of the University of Ilorin. A self administered interview schedule consisting of WHO Students Drug Use Survey Questionnaire, and the General Health Questionnaire-12 were administered to a weighted proportionate sample of the respondents. The most currently used substances were mild stimulants (19.4%), alcohol (12.5%), hypnosedatives (3.4%), tobacco (1.7%), cannabis (1.7%), opioids (0.9%) and organic solvents (0.4%). Parents’ alcohol use, respondents perceived harm of alcohol use, level of religiosity, peers’ influence were found to have significant association with current alcohol use. There was no significant association between respondent’s perceived harm of substance use and current use of tobacco, hypnosedatives, mild stimulants and cannabis. Eighty five percent of respondents had a GHQ score of 0-2 (negative) while 14.7% had a score of 3-12 (positive). There was no significant association between psychiatric morbidity on one hand and current or lifetime substance use on the other. We concluded that while the prevalence of current use of some psychoactive substances has reduced over the past 6 years, others have increased. It was suggested that planners of medical education should continue to lay emphasis on the risks of psychoactive substance use as part of the medical school curriculum. Other governmental and non-governmental bodies should also continue to plan and implement campaigns against substance use, not only among medical students, but the society in general.
Detecting evolutionary relationships across existing fold space, using sequence order-independent profile–profile alignments

Here, a scalable, accurate, reliable, and robust protein functional site comparison algorithm is presented. The key components of the algorithm consist of a reduced representation of the protein structure and a sequence order-independent profile–profile alignment (SOIPPA). We show that SOIPPA is able to detect distant evolutionary relationships in cases where both a global sequence and structure relationship remains obscure. Results suggest evolutionary relationships across several previously evolutionary distinct protein structure superfamilies. SOIPPA, along with an increased coverage of protein fold space afforded by the structural genomics initiative, can be used to further test the notion that fold space is continuous rather than discrete.
A novel hybrid approach using wavelet, firefly algorithm, and fuzzy ARTMAP for day-ahead electricity price forecasting

This paper presents a novel hybrid intelligent algorithm utilizing a data filtering technique based on wavelet transform (WT), an optimization technique based on firefly (FF) algorithm, and a soft computing model based on fuzzy ARTMAP (FA) network in order to forecast day-ahead electricity prices in the Ontario market. A comprehensive comparative analysis with other soft computing and hybrid models shows a significant improvement in forecast error by more than 40% for daily and weekly price forecasts, through the application of a proposed hybrid WT+FF+FA model. Furthermore, low values obtained for the forecast mean square error (FMSE) and mean absolute error (MAE) indicate high degree of accuracy of the proposed model. Robustness of the proposed hybrid intelligent model is measured by using the statistical index (error variance). In addition, the good forecast performance and the rapid adaptability of the proposed hybrid WT+FF+FA model are also evaluated using the PJM market data.
Analysis of Power Lines Uncertain Parameter Influence on Power Line Communications

In this paper, we analyze the effects of power lines parameters' uncertainties on the efficiency of a powerline communication (PLC) system. An estimate of the upper and lower bounds' system response due to the uncertainties is given. The analyzed system is schematized as a connection of multiport devices described by their scattering parameter matrices and an adjoint method for sensitivity calculations, based on the use of a wavelet expansion, is used to determine the bounds. The wavelet based sensitivity analysis allows a direct determination of the time domain sensitivity avoiding computationally expensive convolution integral calculations; in addition a fast and accurate bounds calculation is obtained avoiding statistical Monte Carlo simulations. The bounds determination allows the estimate of noteworthy quantities for the tuning of currently used modulation schemes for PLC such as orthogonal frequency-division modulation.
Impact of incretin hormones on beta-cell function in subjects with normal or impaired glucose tolerance.

The mechanisms by which the enteroinsular axis influences beta-cell function have not been investigated in detail. We performed oral and isoglycemic intravenous (IV) glucose administration in subjects with normal (NGT; n = 11) or impaired glucose tolerance (IGT; n = 10), using C-peptide deconvolution to calculate insulin secretion rates and mathematical modeling to quantitate beta-cell function. The incretin effect was taken to be the ratio of oral to IV responses. In NGT, incretin-mediated insulin release [oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT)/IV ratio = 1.59 +/- 0.18, P = 0.004] amounted to 18 +/- 2 nmol/m(2) (32 +/- 4% of oral response), and its time course matched that of total insulin secretion. The beta-cell glucose sensitivity (OGTT/IV ratio = 1.52 +/- 0.26, P = 0.02), rate sensitivity (response to glucose rate of change, OGTT/IV ratio = 2.22 +/- 0.37, P = 0.06), and glucose-independent potentiation were markedly higher with oral than IV glucose. In IGT, beta-cell glucose sensitivity (75 +/- 14 vs. 156 +/- 28 pmol.min(-1). m(-2). mM(-1) of NGT, P = 0.01) and potentiation were impaired on the OGTT. The incretin effect was not significantly different from NGT in terms of plasma glucagon-like peptide 1 and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide responses, total insulin secretion, and enhancement of beta-cell glucose sensitivity (OGTT/IV ratio = 1.73 +/- 0.24, P = NS vs. NGT). However, the time courses of incretin-mediated insulin secretion and potentiation were altered, with a predominance of glucose-induced vs. incretin-mediated stimulation. We conclude that, under physiological circumstances, incretin-mediated stimulation of insulin secretion results from an enhancement of all dynamic aspects of beta-cell function, particularly beta-cell glucose sensitivity. In IGT, beta-cell function is inherently impaired, whereas the incretin effect is only partially affected.
An HIV Vaccine Is Essential for Ending the HIV/AIDS Pandemic.

Today, highly effective modalities of HIV treatment and prevention are available, and these essential tools, if properly implemented, could end the current HIV/AIDS pandemic. Yet, the pandemic continues.1 Most of the major infectious diseases affecting humans, such as smallpox, polio, and yellow fever, have required effective vaccines for their control and in some cases elimination, and so the question arises whether the HIV/AIDS pandemic can be effectively addressed without an HIV vaccine. The answer to that question is not straightforward, but needs to be addressed from both a theoretical and a practical standpoint. Theoretically, the HIV pandemic can be ended without an HIV vaccine. More than 30 highly effective anti-HIV drugs are currently available. When given in combinations of 3 or more, these medications can durably suppress the virus such that patients who are treated soon after infection and continue therapy throughout their lifetime can expect to have an almost-normal life expectancy. Importantly, effective treatment can reduce the level of virus in a person with HIV so low that it is extremely unlikely that this person will transmit the virus to his or her uninfected sexual partner. This concept is referred
Detection and tuning of non-local conductance in a nanowire

This thesis presents non-local conductance measurements on a total of 16 resonance crossings in a nanowire Cooper pair splitter. The Cooper pair splitter has two gold electrodes acting as the normal contacts and an aluminium electrode acting as the superconducting contact, connected by an InAs nanowire. The majority of the non-local signals consisted of a positive and a negative peak, attributed to the transition of the ground state in the superconductor from a singlet to a doublet state and vice-versa. Afterwards, the bottom gates on the device were used to tune the Cooper pair splitter to several configurations, attempting to find the regime with the highest nonlocal efficiency. The splitter was successfully manipulated, detecting an increase in efficiency after several configurations. This thesis has successfully demonstrated the possibility of configuring a Cooper pair splitter device to a more optimal regime, a step towards creating a reproducible and highly efficient source of entangled electrons.
In Vitro Antimicrobial Long-Term Evaluation of Corneal Preservation Media Against Microorganisms Using A Closed-Chamber Study Model

Purpose: To evaluate the existence of in vitro long-term antimicrobial activity of Optisol-GS against microorganisms related to corneal infection using a closed-chamber study model. Methods: Optisol-GS was contaminated with microorganisms related to corneal infections, and different times after contamination was analyzed using a closed-chamber study model. Microbial growths were analyzed by macroscopic observation. Results: For Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, bacterial growth was observed in samples taken 1 hour through 7 days and 14 days after contamination occurred. For Staphylococcus epidermidis, Streptococcus agalactiae, and Candida albicans, microbial growth was observed in all samples studied. For Streptococcus pneumoniae, bacterial growth was observed in samples taken 1 hour through 72 hours after contamination. For Streptococcus pyogenes, bacterial growth was observed in samples taken 1 hour through 7 days after contamination. For Escherichia coli, bacterial growth was observed in samples taken 1 hour through 48 hours after contamination occurred. Conclusions: We conclude that no in vitro antimicrobial effect for any microorganism analyzed was observed in contaminated Optisol-GS after 72 hours; however, effective antimicrobial activity was observed for S. aureus, Str. pneumoniae, Str. pyogenes, P. aeruginosa, and E. coli after 7 to 10 days.
Death from Compressed-Air Sickness in India

disease of a man working on the river Hooghly Tunnel being constructed by Messrs. John Cochrane & Sons, Ltd., of Westminster, London, is of special interest as it is probably the first report of & deatfy from this disease in India. C. S. , a Punjabi Sikh, aged 20 years, was medically examined on the 25th August, 1930, in the morning and was found fit. for work in " compressed air. " He reported himself for,duty on the same day and worked on the night shift. He was doing well during his two shifts of 3? hours each under a pressure of 36-37 lbs. per
Breast-feeding and sexual abstinence in Papua New Guinea

Summary Data collected in Papua New Guinea between November 1979 and March 1980 show that the main reason for prolonged breast-feeding and sexual abstinence is to ensure the welfare of the mother and child (which is indirectly a means of child spacing). The mean period of breast-feeding for the rural mothers is 21·8 months and for the urban mothers is 20·7 months. The mean duration of sexual abstinence for the rural male respondents is 21·4 months and for the female is 20·2 months. The figures for their urban counterparts are 19·5 months and 16·6 months respectively.
Subcellular localization of neuronal nitric oxide synthase in turtle retina: Electron immunocytochemistry

Recent studies imaging nitric oxide (NO) production in the retina have indicated a much wider distribution of NO production than would be suggested by previous light-microscopic localizations of neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS). To help resolve this discrepancy, the present study analyzed the ultrastructural localization of nNOS-like immunoreactivity (-LI) in all layers of the retina. In the ellipsoids of rod photoreceptors and the accessory elements of double cones, nNOS-LI was associated with some atypical mitochondria. In the outer plexiform layer, nNOS-LI was in some postsynaptic horizontal and bipolar cell processes at photoreceptor ribbon synapses. In some amacrine and ganglion cell somata, nNOS-LI was diffusely localized in the cytoplasm and associated with the endoplasmic reticulum. In the inner plexiform layer, nNOS-LI diffusely filled some amacrine cell processes, while in other amacrine cells nNOS-LI was selectively localized at the presynaptic specializations of conventional synapses. Neuronal NOS-LI was also found at membrane specializations in bipolar cell terminals that were distinct from their normal ribbon synapses. Finally, some nNOS-LI was found in mitochondria in Müller cells. The diverse subcellular localizations of nNOS-LI indicates that NO may play distinct functional roles in many retinal cells, which correlates well with the widespread NO production found in previous NO imaging studies.
The Solution-Focused Inventory: A tripartite taxonomy for teaching, measuring and conceptualising solution-focused approaches to coaching

Solution-focused approaches to facilitating purposeful positive change through methodologies such as coaching have great potential to contribute to the broader human change enterprise. To date there has been limited exposition of psychological theory within the solution-focused arena, and few attempts to articulate taxonomies specific to solution-focused research, teaching and practice, thus restricting the development and broader adoption of the solution-focused paradigm. Drawing on the established solution-focused literature, this paper seeks to address this issue by articulating a tripartite taxonomy for solution-focused coaching based on the framework underpinning the Solution-Focused Inventory. This model consists of three factors: (a) Goal-orientation; (b) Resource Activation; and (c) Problem Disengagement – subscales of the Solution-Focused Inventory. Implications of this taxonomy for teaching, research and practice are discussed and a range of future directions for research explored.
Alternative Medicine Techniques Have Non-Linear Effects on Radiation Response and Can Alter the Expression of Radiation Induced Bystander Effects

Many so-called “alternative medicine” techniques such as Reiki and acupuncture produce very good outcomes for intractable pain and other chronic illnesses but the efficacy is often dismissed as being psychosomatic. However a plausible mechanism does exist i.e. that the treatments alter the electromagnetic fields in living organisms and thereby prevent or reduce activity of neurons which lead to the pain. Low doses of ionising radiation have similar effects on electromagnetic fields and are known to induce signaling cascades in tissues due to ion gradients. To test this hypothesis cell cultures were exposed to Reiki - like and to acupuncture - like treatments, both performed by qualified practitioners. The cells were exposed either before or after the treatment to x-rays and were monitored for production of direct damage or bystander signals. The data suggest that the alternative techniques altered the response of cells to direct irradiation and altered bystander signal mechanisms. We conclude that alternative medicine techniques involving electromagnetic perturbations may modify the response of cells to ionizing radiation. In addition to the obvious implications for mechanistic studies of low dose effects, this could provide a novel target to exploit in radiation protection and in optimizing therapeutic gain during radiotherapy.
Effect of MarA-Like Proteins on Antibiotic Resistance and Virulence in Yersinia pestis

ABSTRACT MarA, an AraC/XylS transcriptional regulator in Escherichia coli, affects drug susceptibility and virulence. Two MarA-like proteins have been found in Yersinia pestis: MarA47 and MarA48. Deletion or overexpression of these proteins in the attenuated KIM 1001 Δpgm strain led to a change in multidrug susceptibility (including susceptibility to clinically relevant drugs). Additionally, lung colonization by the marA47 or marA48 deletion mutant was decreased about 10-fold in a pneumonic plague mouse model. Complementation of the deletions by replacing the deleted genes on the chromosome restored wild-type characteristics. These findings show that two MarA homologs in Y. pestis affect antibiotic susceptibility and virulence.
Does Immunodeficiency in Uremic Patients Promote Dialysis-Related Amyloidosis?

The present study was undertaken to evaluate the immune function of 5 hemodialysis patients with dialysis-related amyloidosis as compared to 6 without, both groups having a dialytic age from 7 to 21 years, and 5 healthy controls. We investigated serum levels of immunoglobulins (IgG, IgA, IgM), made skin tests and measured peripheral lymphocyte subsets using monoclonal antibodies. 1) The absolute numbers of T3, T4 and T8 cells were significantly lower in hemodialysis patients than controls and T3, T4 cells were lower in patients with amyloidosis than in those without: T3 (m ± SD/μl), 387 ± 253 vs 744 ± 207 (p = 0.03); T4, 262 ± 115 vs 589 ± 297 (p = 0.04). 2) Serum levels of IgG and IgM were significantly lower in patients with amyloidosis than in the others: IgG (m ± SD, g/l), 10.2 ± 1.4 vs 15.4 ± 3.2 (p < 0.001); IgM, 0.65 ± 0.28 vs 1.65 ± 0.37 (p < 0.001). 3) Delayed hypersensitivity studied by skin tests showed less than 3 positive antigens in 4/5 patients with amyloidosis against 1/6 patients without. These data suggest there is a marked defect of T-cell help in uremic patients with dialysis-related amyloidosis.
Geriatric thyroidectomy: safety of thyroid surgery in an aging population.

OBJECTIVE To ascertain whether there are incremental risks associated with thyroid surgery in the elderly population. DESIGN Prospective analysis of a consecutive single-surgeon series of patients undergoing thyroid surgery at an academic health center. SETTING Tertiary care health center. PATIENTS The study included patients aged 21 to 35 years and patients 65 years and older who underwent thyroidectomy. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Pathology reports, complications (including rates of temporary and permanent hypocalcemia and temporary and permanent true vocal fold [TVF] paralysis), and need for admission or readmission were included in the analysis. RESULTS There were 86 youthful patients who underwent thyroidectomy between November 2003 and December of 2007; 44 elderly patients underwent surgery during that same time frame. There were no deaths in either cohort, no hematomas, and no cases of permanent TVF paralysis. The elderly patients had a similar rate of complications when compared with the youthful patients, including transient hypocalcemia (12.5% vs 11.1%, respectively) and temporary TVF paresis (2.9% vs 3.9%), but a higher rate of readmission (4.5% vs 1.2%, P = .26). CONCLUSIONS Thyroid surgeons will be faced more often with the prospect of elective thyroid surgery in patients of advanced age as an increasingly aged population emerges and the prevalence of thyroid nodules and thyroid cancer increases. Thyroid surgery in elderly patients is safe and no more dangerous than surgery in youthful patients. There is a slightly higher rate of readmission.
An Update on Treatment and Outcome of Lupus Nephritis in Children

Lupus nephritis (LN) is the most common manifestation of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in children to determine the course and outcome of the disease. Although its prognosis has improved in recent decades, varying degrees of chronic renal impairment, including end-stage renal disease (ESRD), can still develop. Early and adequate treatment in LN protects the kidneys from developing chronic damage. Treatment should be based on the clinical severity of the disease and renal histology. Although there are still many controversies on the best treatment of pediatric LN, corticosteroids (CS) are still the first-line drugs used for induction therapy. Less severe forms of LN do not require specific therapy, apart from the treatment of underlying SLE itself, but focal or diffuse proliferative glomerulonephritis requires more aggressive therapy with different combinations of other immunosuppressive drugs. Induction pro tocols in most centers mainly included intravenous cyclophosphamide (CYC) pulse therapies with promising initial results, although more recent studies have been less encouraging. Oral mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) was shown to be at least equally effective as CYC for induction and maintenance therapies and has now become more commonly utilized in pediatric patients. There have also been increasing reports about successful B-lymphocyte depletion therapy with rituximab (RTX) in recent years. Mizoribine, azathioprine, cyclosporine A, and hydroxychloroquine are other therapeutic agents that are used in many centers for induction and maintenance therapies. Plasma exchange and stem cell transplantation can be used in very severe and refractory cases of SLE. New treatment approaches are still under investigation.