Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Application of in vivo microdialysis to the study of cholinergic systems.

The application of in vivo microdialysis to the study of acetylcholine (ACh) release has contributed greatly to our understanding of cholinergic brain systems. This article reviews standard experimental procedures for dialysis probe selection and implantation, perfusion parameters, neurochemical detection, and data analysis as they relate to microdialysis assessments of cholinergic function. Particular attention is focused on the unique methodological considerations that arise when in vivo microdialysis is dedicated expressly to the recovery and measurement of ACh as opposed to other neurotransmitters. Limitations of the microdialysis technique are discussed, as well as methodological adaptations that may prove useful in overcoming these limitations. This is followed by an overview of recent studies in which the application of in vivo microdialysis has been used to characterize the basic pharmacology and physiology of cholinergic neurons. Finally, the usefulness of the microdialysis approach for testing hypotheses regarding the cholinergic systems' involvement in cognitive processes is examined. It can be concluded that, in addition to being a versatile and practical method for studying the neurochemistry of cholinergic brain systems, in vivo microdialysis represents a valuable tool in our efforts to better comprehend ACh's underlying role in a variety of behavioral processes.
Duplicate Maize Wrinkled1 Transcription Factors Activate Target Genes Involved in Seed Oil Biosynthesis1[C][W]

WRINKLED1 (WRI1), a key regulator of seed oil biosynthesis in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana), was duplicated during the genome amplification of the cereal ancestor genome 90 million years ago. Both maize (Zea mays) coorthologs ZmWri1a and ZmWri1b show a strong transcriptional induction during the early filling stage of the embryo and complement the reduced fatty acid content of Arabidopsis wri1-4 seeds, suggesting conservation of molecular function. Overexpression of ZmWri1a not only increases the fatty acid content of the mature maize grain but also the content of certain amino acids, of several compounds involved in amino acid biosynthesis, and of two intermediates of the tricarboxylic acid cycle. Transcriptomic experiments identified 18 putative target genes of this transcription factor, 12 of which contain in their upstream regions an AW box, the cis-element bound by AtWRI1. In addition to functions related to late glycolysis and fatty acid biosynthesis in plastids, the target genes also have functions related to coenzyme A biosynthesis in mitochondria and the production of glycerol backbones for triacylglycerol biosynthesis in the cytoplasm. Interestingly, the higher seed oil content in ZmWri1a overexpression lines is not accompanied by a reduction in starch, thus opening possibilities for the use of the transgenic maize lines in breeding programs.
Effect of Delayed Cassava Planting on Yields and Economic Returns of a Cassava-Groundnut Intercrop in the Democratic Republic of Congo

Cassava intercropping is a common practice in sub-Saharan Africa. In terms of growth pattern, canopy development and nutrient demand, grain legumes are well suited for intercropping with cassava. Due to the inter-specific competition for growth resources, the relative planting time of the component crops has been considered as one of the important management practices for intercropping system productivity. Little information exists on the effect of cassava planting time on yields and economic returns of a cassava-legume intercrop. This study investigated the effect of relative planting times of cassava on yields and economic returns of a cassava-groundnut intercrop. Researcher-managed, field trials were installed in Bas-Congo Province in two consecutive seasons using four different planting times of cassava after the groundnuts. The results indicated that cassava planting time did not affect both grain and biomass yields of groundnut. When cassava was planted 3 weeks after the groundnuts, cassava storage root yields were significantly (P = 0.029) decreased by 48 to 60 % (9.3 to 11.3 t ha-1) over cassava planted at the same time as groundnut. The net revenue of cassava planted 3 weeks after the groundnut was significantly (P = 0.002) decreased by about 70 % over that of cassava planted at the same time or 2 weeks after the groundnuts. Maximum net revenue of $ 1877 ha-1 with a benefit-cost ratio of 2.42 was reported in the treatment of cassava planted at the same time. Benefit-cost ratio was favourable for the pure cassava (3.2 to 3.8) but not favourable for the pure groundnut. Cassava intercropping with groundnut had significantly (P = 0.019) lower profits than the pure cassava. The results suggest that cassava should be planted at the same time or not later than 2 weeks after the groundnuts to maximize yields and economic returns in a cassava-groundnut intercrop.
The Effect of Length of Membership Upon the Utilization of Ambulatory Care Services: A Comparison of Disadvantaged and General Membership Populations in a Prepaid Group Practice

The relationships between duration of membership and the use of outpatient medical care services for disadvantaged and general membership groups in a prepaid group practice were analyzed. The effects of duration of membership upon utilization rates during a six-year study period were estimated by retrospective cohort analyses. Rates were computed for successive three-month intervals. There were no significant start-up effects on use for new enrollees in either study population. This finding is in contrast to what has been reported in other studies. New HMOs or existing HMOs with many new members may not require the additional resources previously thought necessary. Average cohort utilization rates were higher for the disadvantaged cohorts, with the exception of young males 0 to 14 years old. We also examined the persistence of utilization patterns over time. Consistently high users and nonusers were found in both populations. In general, these findings suggest that length of time does not affect ambulatory care use. Age, sex, socioeconomic background and health status are more important than duration of membership in accounting for differences in utilization.
User Behavior Study in the Virtual Community

The development of the virtual community has changed the way of human life and activities. This article focuses on the user behavior study in the virtual world. In this paper, the questionnaire investigation is used to analyze the characteristics of user behaviors in the virtual communities. Some problems, such as trust issue, self-disclosure, trust crisis, and relationship adjustment are discussed.
Maxillae and Mandibles of Male Mosquitoes and Female Autogenous Mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae)

Abstract Maxillae and mandibles of males of 44 species of 12 mosquito genera and females of three autogenous genera and two partially autogenous species were examined under light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The maxillae and mandibles of male mosquitoes are delicate, tape-like structures with lengths characterizing genera or higher level classification units. Five patterns are recognized: (A) long maxillae and mandibles with mandibles longer than maxillae in Anopheles; (B) long maxillae and mandibles with maxillae longer than mandibles in Toxorhynchites; (C) short or intermediate lengths of maxillae with short mandibles in Aedes, Armigeres, Culex, Ochlerotatus, Orthopodomyia, and Uranotaenia; (D) short or intermediate length of maxillae with no mandibles in Mimomyia and Tripteroides; and (E) no maxillae and mandibles in Malaya and Topomyia. Maxillary and mandibular lengths of male mosquitoes show a positive correlation. Length of maxillae and mandibles of autogenous females are reduced to the same level as conspecific males. In contrast, females of partially autogenous species have complete maxillae and mandibles as in females of anautogenous species.
The association of incident hypertension with metabolic health and obesity status: definition of metabolic health does not matter

Metabolically healthy obese (MHO) phenotype refers to obese individuals with a favourable metabolic profile. Its prognostic value remains controversial and may partly depend on differences in how the phenotype is defined. We aimed to investigate whether the MHO phenotype is associated with future development of incident hypertension in a Korean population according to various definitions of metabolic health.
Altering the Lactation Cycle: Is a 60-Day Dry Period Too Long?

The most critical problem for the evaluation of different dry period lengths is the relationship between days dry and subsequent milk production. It is assumed that when a cow is dried off, the loss in the current lactation will be compensated for by greater milk production during the following lactation. However, the process of parturition and initiation of lactation are extremely important events and they are associated with many problems that may result in removal of the individual cow from the herd or in greatly reduced milk production, especially early in the lactation. Therefore, identification of the shortest possible dry period that would allow maximum milk production after parturition is crucial. Indeed there are only a limited number of studies, experimental and observational, that have been conducted to establish the association between minimum dry period and maximum milk yield (MY) in the lactation that follows the dry period. This review will try to address both observational and experimental data to give an understanding about the topic.
Use of an Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae Multiple Mutant as a Vaccine That Allows Differentiation of Vaccinated and Infected Animals

ABSTRACT Vaccination against Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae is hampered by the lack of vaccines inducing reliable cross-serotype protection. In contrast, pigs surviving natural infection are at least partially protected from clinical symptoms upon reinfection with any serotype. Thus, we set out to construct an attenuated A. pleuropneumoniae live vaccine allowing the differentiation of vaccinated from infected animals (the DIVA concept) by successively deleting virulence-associated genes. Based on an A. pleuropneumoniae serotype 2 prototype live negative marker vaccine (W. Tonpitak, N. Baltes, I. Hennig-Pauka, and G.-F. Gerlach, Infect. Immun. 70:7120-7125, 2002), genes encoding three enzymes involved in anaerobic respiration and the ferric uptake regulator Fur were deleted, resulting in a highly attenuated sixfold mutant; this mutant was still able to colonize the lower respiratory tract and induced a detectable immune response. Upon a single aerosol application, this mutant provided significant protection from clinical symptoms upon heterologous infection with an antigenically distinct A. pleuropneumoniae serotype 9 challenge strain and allowed the serological discrimination between infected and vaccinated groups.
Diagnostic criteria for primary progressive multiple sclerosis: A position paper

The unique clinical characteristics of primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS) pose particular diagnostic difficulties, both in excluding other causes of progressive syndromes and in confirming the diagnosis of MS, which is not adequately addressed by current diagnostic criteria. This article presents new diagnostic criteria developed by a group of investigators on the basis of a review of their considerable experience with PPMS. (We conclude that at least 1 year of clinical progression must be documented before a diagnosis of PPMS is made.) Three levels of diagnostic certainty have been defined—definite, probable, and possible—based on clinical findings, abnormal cerebrospinal fluid, abnormalities on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain and spinal cord, and evoked potentials. In definite PPMS, evidence of intrathecal synthesis of immunoglobulin G together with one of the following three MRI criteria is required: (1) nine brain lesions, (2) two spinal cord lesions, or (3) four to eight brain lesions and one spinal cord lesion. Preliminary testing of these criteria was carried out on a cohort of 156 patients participating in a European natural history study of PPMS: 64% fulfilled the criteria for definite PPMS, 35% for probable PPMS, and only 1% for possible PPMS. These criteria now require prospective validation in a cohort of newly diagnosed patients and by postmortem examination. Ann Neurol 2000;47:831–835
Safety and Tolerability of Duloxetine at 60 mg Once Daily in Elderly Patients With Major Depressive Disorder

Objective: To compare the safety and tolerability profile of duloxetine versus placebo in elderly (≥65 years) patients with major depressive disorder (MDD). Methods: Patients were randomized (2:1) to duloxetine 60 mg/d (once daily) (n = 207) or placebo (n = 104) for 8 weeks. Safety and tolerability measures were analyzed in the total cohort of patients, as well as in subgroups defined by age and preexisting hypertension. Results: Patients had a median age of 72 years (65-90 years). No deaths occurred in the study. Discontinuation rates due to adverse events were similar for duloxetine and placebo (9.7% vs 8.7%). Treatment-emergent dry mouth, nausea, and diarrhea occurred significantly (P ≤ 0.05) more frequently with duloxetine compared with placebo. Changes in supine and standing blood pressure (BP) and pulse and in corrected QT (QTc) interval were not significantly different between duloxetine and placebo, except for change in orthostatic systolic BP (−2.45 vs 0.93 mm Hg; P = .017). Incidences of sustained elevation in BP and treatment-emergent orthostatic hypotension were similar for duloxetine compared with placebo (0.5% vs 1.0% and 15.6% vs 20.5%, respectively). The duloxetine group showed significant weight loss compared with the placebo group (−0.73 kg vs −0.13 kg; P = 0.009). Of 5 hepatic analytes, the only significant difference was an increase in alkaline phosphatase in duloxetine compared with placebo (P = 0.017); this difference was not considered clinically relevant. The incidence of 1 or more discontinuation-emergent adverse events was not significantly different between the duloxetine and placebo groups (17.3% vs 11.3%). Conclusions: This study suggests that duloxetine is safe and well tolerated in elderly patients with major depressive disorder.
A block-based background model for moving object detection

Detecting the moving objects in a video sequence using a stationary camera is an important task for many computer vision applications. This paper proposes a background subtraction approach. As first step, the background is initialized using the block-based analysis before being updated in each incoming frame. Our background frame is generated by collecting the blocks background candidates. The block candidate selection is based on probability density function (pdf) computation. After that, the absolute difference between the background frame and each frame of sequence is computed. A noise filter is applied using the Structure/Texture decomposition in order to minimize the noise caused by background subtraction operation. The binary motion mask is formed using an adaptive threshold that was deduced from the weighted mean and variance calculation. To assure the correspondence between the current frame and the background frame, an adaptation of background model in each incoming frame is realized. After comparing results obtained from the proposed method to other existing ones, it was shown that our approach attains a higher degree of efficacy
Effects of Initial GaN Growth Mode on Patterned Sapphire on the Opto-Electrical Characteristics of GaN-Based Light-Emitting Diodes

We have studied the initial growth modes of GaN on patterned sapphire substrate (PSS) with different initial TMGa flow rates. The FWHM of the (102) XRD spectrum of GaN on PSS increased from 470 to 580 arcsec when the initial TMGa flow rate was increased from 80 to 200 sccm. A low TMGa flow rate sufficiently suppresses GaN island growth on the top of the pattern and hence improves GaN crystal quality. The electrical and optical characteristics of GaN-based LEDs on PSS with low initial TMGa were also improved. More than 90% of the GaN LED chips with low initial GaN growth rate can hold the 1-kV machine-mode electrostatic discharge level.
OPTIMIZATION OF CATIONIC LIPID MEDIATED GENE TRANSFER: STRUCTURE-FUNCTION, PHYSICO-CHEMICAL, AND CELLULAR STUDIES

ABSTRACT The rationale design aimed at the enhancement of cationic lipid mediated gene transfer is discussed. These improvements are based on the straight evaluation of the structure-activity relationship and on the introduction of new structures. Much attention have been given to the supramolecular structures of the lipid/DNA complexes, to the effect of serum on gene transfer and to the intracellular trafficking of the lipoplexes. Finally new avenue using reducible cationic lipids has been discussed.
Isolated inferior oblique myectomy for hypertropia.

BACKGROUND Hypertropia is a condition in which one eye is elevated relative to the other, either intermittently or constantly. It causes significant problem either cosmetically or by abnormal head posture and thus needs to be corrected surgically. This study was conducted to evaluate the success rate and complications of isolated inferior oblique myectomy in patients with hypertropia. METHODS Patients having hypertropia (Deviation > 6 prism diopters [PD]) associated with inferior oblique over-action were included in this observational Case-series, conducted from July 2011 to December 2012, at Al Ibrahim eye Hospital, Karachi. Patients underwent unilateral inferior oblique myectomy. Final outcome was considered at the end of three months at which achievement of ≤ 2 PD of hypertropia was considered as a success. RESULTS During the study period, 58 patients were included. Hypertropia was most commonly associated with exotropias 23 (39.7%) followed by esotropias in 18 (31%). Mean angle of hypertropia was reduced from 13.55 ± 4.43 prism diopters to 0.48 ± 1.08 prism diopters. Out of 58 patients, 55 (94.8%) had achieved success after surgery while only 3 (5.2%) patients had residual hypertropia of greater than 2 prism diopters (p = 0.001). No direct complications of procedure observed intra-operatively or up to 3 months post operatively but significant overcorrection of residual horizontal deviation observed after horizontal squint surgery in these eyes. CONCLUSION Isolated inferior oblique myectomy is highly successful and safe surgical procedure for correction of hypertropia.
Accurate calculation of vibrational frequencies using explicitly correlated coupled-cluster theory.

The recently proposed explicitly correlated CCSD(T)-F12x (x = a,b) approximations [T. B. Adler, G. Knizia, and H. -J. Werner, J. Chem. Phys. 127, 221106 (2007)] are applied to compute equilibrium structures and harmonic as well as anharmonic vibrational frequencies for H(2)O, HCN, CO(2), CH(2)O, H(2)O(2), C(2)H(2), CH(2)NH, C(2)H(2)O, and the trans-isomer of 1,2-C(2)H(2)F(2). Using aug-cc-pVTZ basis sets, the CCSD(T)-F12a equilibrium geometries and harmonic vibrational frequencies are in very close agreement with CCSD(T)/aug-cc-pV5Z values. The anharmonic frequencies are evaluated using vibrational self-consistent field and vibrational configuration interaction methods based on automatically generated potential energy surfaces. The mean absolute deviation of the CCSD(T)-F12a/aug-cc-pVTZ anharmonic frequencies from experimental values amounts to only 4.0 cm(-1).
Toxic hepatitis with isoniazid and rifampin. A meta-analysis.

ALT = serum alanine aminotransferase; AST serum aspartate aminotransferase; BIU bilirubin; EMB ethambutol; INH isoniazid; NSM not specifically mentioned; PAS para-aminosalicylate; PZA pyrazinamide; RMP rifampin; S = streptomycin; TH thioacetazone T here is some, although by flO means unanimous, opinion as well as some evidence to suggest that drug-induced hepatitis occurs with greater frequency, and may be more severe, when isoniazid (INH) and rifampin (RMP) are administered in combination than when INH is given alone. It has been speculated that this is due to a drug-drug interaction in which induc
Abnormal somatosensory evoked potentials in two patients with conversion disorder

Abstract On clinical grounds, somatosensory evoked potentials (SEP) and motor evoked potentials (MEP) are currently used to discriminate between hysterical and neurological conditions. The present paper reports on two patients with severe gait disturbance who had the near‐total absence of SEP responses on the scalp during the symptomatic period, which normalized after recovery. These findings, along with others, may shed light on the brain correlates of conversion phenomena.
A recombinant vaccinia virus expressing human carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA)

Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) is a 180‐kDa glycoprotein expressed on most gastrointestinal carcinomas. A 2.4‐kb cDNA clone, containing the complete coding sequence, was isolated from a human colon tumor cell library and inserted into a vaccinia virus genome. This newly developed construct was characterized by Southern blotting, DNA hybridization studies, and polymerase chain reaction analysis. The CEA gene was stably integrated into the vaccinia virus thymidine kinase gene. The recombinant was efficiently replicated upon serial passages in cell cultures and in animals. The recombinant virus expresses on the surface of infected cells a protein product recognized by a monoclonal antibody (COL‐1) directed against CEA. Immunization of mice with the vaccinia construct elicited a humoral immune response against CEA. Pilot studies also showed that administration of the recombinant CEA vaccinia construct was able to greatly reduce the growth In mice of a syngeneic murine colon adenocarcinoma which had been transduced with the human CEA gene. The use of this new recombinant CEA vaccinia construct may thus provide an approach in the specific active immunotherapy of human G1 cancer and other CEA expressing carcinoma types.
Matrilsin expression is a useful marker of submucosal invasion and lymph node metastasis in early stage signet ring cell carcinoma of the stomach

Matrilysin (MMP‐7) is considered to play an important role in tumor progression and metastasis. The aim of this study was to examine the MMP‐7 expression of early‐stage undifferentiated gastric carcinoma, and to investigate differences between gastric signet ring cell (SIG) and other undifferentiated carcinomas (non‐SIG).
Interference of infectious bursal disease virus on antibody production against Newcastle disease and infectious bronchitis virus

This work has the objective of verifying the interference of infectious bursal disease virus in the antibody production against Newcastle disease virus and infectious bronchitis virus. The experiment was carried out with 640 day-old-chicks from a 42 weeks old hen flock. The birds were separated into eight experimental groups (n=80/group) and were submitted to different combinations of vaccinations, with live vaccines, to Newcastle disease, avian infectious bronchitis, and infectious bursal disease with diverse combinations of days of vaccination. We verified that the utilization of polyvalent vaccinal programs have a different efficacy comparing to monovalent vaccinations when Newcastle disease, infectious bronchitis, and infectious bursal disease vaccinations are applied. This way, the use of vaccinations to infectious bursal disease in polyvalent vaccinal programs is desirable due to improvement of NDV response with the presence of IBV by the probable reduction of interference of IBV under NDV.