Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Identification, classification and anatomical segregation of cells with X‐like and Y‐like properties in the lateral geniculate nucleus of old‐world primates.

1. All the cells (158) that we studied in the lateral geniculate nuclei of Macaca nemestrina and Macaca irus could be distinguished as either X‐like or Y‐like on the basis of their responses to tests developed to classify cat retinal and lateral geniculate nucleus cells. These tests include responses to stationary spots, fast moving wands and moving gratings. 2. Response latencies to electrical stimulation of the optic chiasm were determined for 130 cells; no X‐like cell showed a latency shorter than 1‐7 ms, no Y‐like cell showed a latency longer than 1‐6 ms. Primate lateral geniculate nucleus cells with X‐like properties thus receive their excitatory input from retinal cells with slowly conducting axons and these most probably include the tonic ganglion cells described by Gouras (1968, 1969); Y‐like lateral geniculate nucleus cells are driven by retinal cells with faster conducting axons, most probably including the phasic ganglion cells described by Gouras. 3. Wiesel & Hubel (1966) classified monkey lateral geniculate nucleus cells into four main types based on their receptive‐field properties, as revealed by spectrally and spatially distinct stimuli. We find that all Type I and Type II cells show X‐like properties; all type IV cells show Y‐like properties. Type III consists of a subtype that show X‐like properties, here termed Type IIIx, and a subtype that show Y‐like properties, here termed Type IIIy. 4. The first cells encountered as the micro‐electrode reached the lateral geniculate nucleus were always X‐like. In some penetrations only X‐like cells were encountered as the electrode moved downward through the lateral geniculate nucleus. In the remaining penetrations, after recording X‐like cells through most of the lateral geniculate nucleus, Y‐like cells were then encountered. No X‐like cells were found below Y‐like cells. thus these two classes of cells are anatomically segregated within the primate lateral geniculate nucleus. Electrode marking showed the borger between X‐like and Y‐like cells to correspond to the border between the paro‐ and magnocellular layers of the lateral geniculate nucleus. Thus X‐like cells (i.e. Types I, II and IIIx) occur in the parvocellular layers, Y‐like cells (i.e. Types IIIy and IV)in the magnocellular layers.
Heart Rate Break Point May Coincide with the Anaerobic and Not the Aerobic Threshold

Recently, Conconi et al. (4) proposed that the point where heart rate departs from linearity in an incremental exercise test is a good predictor of the aerobic threshold (AeT, i.e., the exercise intensity at which blood lactate concentration increases systematically above resting levels). We hypothesized that this heart rate break point (BrP) is a better predictor of the anaerobic threshold (AnT, i.e., the exercise intensity at which blood lactate concentration shows a rapid rise during an incremental test). To test this hypothesis, 11 subjects with different levels of conditioning were tested on a cycle ergometer using a progressive incremental exercise protocol. Heart rate from EKG tracings and blood samples for lactate determination were taken every minute. The results showed the following significant correlation coefficients when the variables were expressed in watts: AeT and AnT = 0.92; AeT and BrP = 0.89; AnT and BrP = 0.97. The AeT was significantly lower than the BrP (166.4 +/- 52.6 W and 234.5 +/- 69.5 W). There was no significant difference between the AnT and BrP (240.0 +/- 67.1 W and 234.5 +/- 69.5 W). Another group consisting of 16 subjects performed two tests to evaluate the reproducibility of the BrP. Although a ventilatory AnT (defined as a consistent decrease in the fraction of expired CO2) was noted in all the tests, eight subjects failed to demonstrate a BrP in at least one of the evaluations, even though post-exercise blood lactate levels and peak heart rates were consistent with a maximal effort. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Spatial variability of Spanish sardine (Sardinella aurita) abundance as related to the upwelling cycle off the southeastern Caribbean Sea

The Sardinella aurita fishery off northeastern Venezuela, region of seasonal wind-driven coastal-upwelling, accounts for 90% of the Caribbean Sea small pelagic catch. This law-protected artisanal fishery takes place up to ~10 km offshore. The spatial distribution, number of schools, and biomass of S. aurita were studied using eight hydro-acoustic surveys (1995–1998). The study included the analysis of satellite-derived sea surface temperature and chlorophyll-a. Surveys were grouped by strong, weak, and transitional upwelling seasons. Relationships between these observations were analyzed using Generalized Additive Models. Results show that during the primary upwelling season (January-May) sardines were widely distributed in upwelling plumes that extended up to 70 km offshore. In the other hand, during the weak upwelling season (September-October) higher sardine densities were found within 10 Km off the coastal upwelling foci. The number of small pelagic schools was directly correlated with small pelagic densities; however, regardless of the season, higher numbers of small pelagic schools were always closer to the shoreline, especially during warm conditions. These two behaviors increase the availability and catchability of sardines for the artisanal fishery during the warm season, regardless of the total stock size. Using this evidence, we pose the hypothesis that the collapse of the regional S. aurita fishery in 2005 was due to a combination of stressful habitat conditions sustained since 2004. These included bottom-up factors due to food scarcity caused by weak upwelling, combined with top-down stress due to overfishing, as sardines accumulated in narrow diminished upwelling plumes located close to the coast. The increased catchability within easily accessible upwelling foci led to the demise of this biological resource, which as of 2014 had not yet recovered. Environmental conditions affecting the sardine habitat needs to be taken into account for the management of this stock. For example, during years with weak upwelling, special measures should be taken during the warm season on the second half of the year to avoid further pressure on the stock.
Experiences and Challenges of Women Leaders in Sub-Saharan Africa

There is little research on non-Western women managers and leaders in general, and on African women in particular. More attention could be given to influences that shape leadership experiences in order to better understand African women leadership practices. The purpose of this paper is to examine the challenges females in positions of leadership face in the context of sub-Saharan Africa. In so doing, it addresses a gap in the literature on the experiences of female leaders in a non-Western context. The paper reviews articles in the printed media on African female leaders produced in sub-Saharan Africa. The articles identify a number of challenges sub-Saharan African women leaders face, including societal culture, occupational culture, sex stereotypes, and lack of access to education. Studies such as this one can provide insight into how African leaders behave, as well as raise implications of their behavior for organizational and socioeconomic outcomes, with a view to improving their effectiveness.
Modulation of pPS10 host range by DnaA

Narrow‐host‐range plasmid pPS10, originally found in Pseudomonas savastanoi, is unable to replicate in other strains such as Escherichia coli. Here, we report that the establishment of pPS10 in E. coli can be achieved by a triple mutation in the dnaA gene of E. coli (dnaA403), leading to Q14amber, P297S and A412V changes in the DnaA host replication protein (DnaA403 mutant). As the E. coli strain used contained double amber suppressor mutations (supE, supF), the amber codon in dnaA403 can be translated into glutamine or tyrosine. Genetic analysis of DnaA proteins containing either the individual changes or their different combinations suggests that the P297S mutation is crucial for the establishment of the pPS10 replicon in E. coli. The data also indicate that the P297S change is toxic to the cell and that the additional mutations in DnaA403 could contribute to neutralize this toxicity. To our knowledge, this work reports the first chromosome mutant described in the literature that allows the host range broadening of a plasmid, highlights the essential role played by DnaA in the establishment of pPS10 replicon in E. coli and provides support for the hypothesis that interactions between RepA and DnaA modulate the establish‐ment of pPS10 in that bacteria and probably in other species.
Apparent life-threatening events presenting to a pediatric emergency department.

OBJECTIVE To review the etiology, clinical decision-making process, and outcomes of apparent life-threatening events (ALTEs) presenting to a children's hospital emergency department (ED). DESIGN Retrospective patient record review. SUBJECTS One hundred thirty infants under the age of 1 year fulfilling the diagnostic definition of an apparent life-threatening event. RESULTS In a calendar year, 130 infants presented to a large children's hospital ED. The total number of ALTEs studied was 196. The median age was 2 months, and 50% of infants had a normal clinical examination. Eighty-three percent of ALTEs resulted in admission to the hospital. The approach to investigation and management of an ALTE during admission appeared unstructured. Discharge diagnoses, both from the ED and the inpatient service, were numerous, the most common being convulsion, febrile convulsion, GOR, and lower respiratory tract infection. The diagnosis frequently changed in those attending more than once. Eighteen months after cessation of data collection, no infants had died. Follow-up information revealed a higher-than-expected prevalence of asthma and seizures. CONCLUSIONS This is a diverse group of infants, many of whom appear normal following the ALTE. There are many possible diagnoses, but diagnosis correlates poorly with presenting symptoms. It also appears that many commonly performed investigations conducted in this group of infants may not be those that are most helpful for diagnosis, and doctors may be making diagnoses with little supportive evidence. Until research on this group of "first-presentation" infants provides management guidelines for family and emergency doctors, it may be prudent to advise that all such infants presenting with an ALTE should be admitted for a period of observation and further investigation. This would help ensure more accurate diagnosis, as well as provide reassurance for the family.
Evaluating the Economic and Social Implications of Participation in Clean Vehicle Rebate Programs: Who’s In, Who’s Out?

To motivate consumers to buy fuel-efficient vehicles, governments have established national and state incentives to change purchasing behaviors. With California’s Clean Vehicle Rebate Project (CVRP) as a case study, this paper assesses the distribution of rebates across census tracts and socioeconomic divisions. Race–ethnicity, income, and socioeconomic and environmental disadvantage were used to understand variations in rebate allocation across census tracts in California between 2010 and 2015. Ordinary least squares (OLS) and negative binomial regressions were conducted to identify the definitive effect that income played in obtaining rebates: wealthier census tracts secure more rebates. Furthermore, this analysis determined a significant and negative relationship between the proportion of Hispanic and African-American residents and the number of rebates received per household, even when controlling for income. These findings suggest that the distribution of CVRP rebates is problematic across economic and racial–ethnic lines, especially given current policies pertaining to climate change equity. This paper aims to inform researchers and policy makers about the barriers of rebate access and provides a discussion to address this de facto bias in rebate allocation by income and race–ethnicity.
Sedation and memory: studies with a histamine H-1 receptor antagonist

The influence of sedation on the effect of an H-1 receptor antagonist on various cognitive functions, including memory, were evaluated. Diphenhydramine (50, 75 and 100mg) and lorazepam (0.5 and 1.5mg) were given on single occasions to 12 healthy volunteers (six males, six females) aged 20–33 (mean 23.4) years. Subjective assessments of sedation, sleep latencies, digit symbol substitution, choice reaction time, sustained attention and memory recall were studied 1.0h before and 0.5, 2.0 and 3.5h after drug ingestion. The study was double blind, placebo controlled and with a crossover design. With all doses of diphenhydramine there was subjective sedation, reduced sleep latencies and impairments in performance on the digit symbol substitution, choice reaction time and sustained attention tasks. No effects were observed with 0.5mg lorazepam. With 1.5mg lorazepam there was subjective sedation, fewer digit symbol substitutions, slowed choice reaction time, impaired attention and memory, but no effect on sleep latencies. Contrast analysis of data measured at all time points showed that although there was no difference in the effect of diphenhydramine (100mg) and lorazepam (1.5mg) on those tasks without a memory component, response times were slower with lorazepam on those tasks with a memory component. However, both 100mg diphenhydramine and 1.5mg lorazepam impaired prompted recall measured at 2h post-ingestion only. It is considered that impaired memory is not necessarily associated with sedation, and that impairment of memory with drugs that lead to sedation may be effected through neuronal systems independent of those that affect arousal.
Multiple Epulides in 13 Cats

Epulides account for 0-7.8% of tumors in surveys of feline oral neoplasms. A review of the literature revealed no reports of multiple epulides in cats. Multiple, concurrent epulides were diagnosed microscopically in 13 cats. Fibromatous and ossifying epulides were diagnosed in 11 of 13 cats and fibromatous epulides were diagnosed in 2 of 13 cats. Microscopically, these epulides were nonencapsulated, well-vascularized, infiltrative, highly cellular neoplasms that expanded the gingiva and were composed of haphazardly arranged, spindle-shaped to stellate cells amid a dense, collagenous stroma. Osseous foci were a feature in the fibromatous and ossifying epulides. The mitotic rate was low and there was marked hyperplasia of the overlying gingiva with a prominent downgrowth of epithelial cords. These tumors recurred in 8 of 13 cats following surgical excision. While uncommon, multiple epulides in cats have a high incidence of recurrence but do not appear to have metastatic potential.
DREAM: Dynamic Resource and Task Allocation for Energy Minimization in Mobile Cloud Systems

To cope with increasing energy consumption in mobile devices, the mobile cloud offloading has received considerable attention from its ability to offload processing tasks of mobile devices to cloud servers, and previous studies have focused on single type tasks in fixed network environments. However, real network environments are spatio-temporally varying, and typical mobile devices have not only various types of tasks, e.g., network traffic, cloud offloadable/nonoffloadable workloads but also capabilities of CPU frequency scaling and network interface selection between WiFi and cellular. In this paper, we first jointly consider the following three dynamic problems in real mobile environments: 1) cloud offloading policy, i.e., determining to use local CPU resources or cloud resources; 2) allocation of tasks to transmit through networks and to process in local CPU; and 3) CPU clock speed and network interface controls. We propose a DREAM algorithm by invoking the Lyapunov optimization and mathematically prove that it minimizes CPU and network energy for given delay constraints. Trace-driven simulation based on real measurements demonstrates that DREAM can save over 35% of total energy than existing algorithms with the same delay. We also design DREAM architecture and demonstrate the applicability of DREAM in practice.
Detection of K-ras gene mutation at codon 12 by pancreatic duct brushing for pancreatic cancer.

OBJECTIVE To assess the diagnostic value of endoscopic pancreatic duct brushing in detecting mutation of the K-ras gene at codon 12 in cytologic specimens from patients with pancreatic cancer. METHODS Thirty-five patients treated at Changhai Hospital, Shanghai between 1999 and 2001 were enrolled. Their cells obtained by pancreatic duct brushing during endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) were suspended with phosphate buffer solution (PBS). DNA of the cells was extracted and mutation of the K-ras gene at codon 12 detected by means of PCR-SSCP. RESULTS The K-ras gene mutation rate of pancreatic cancer was 70%, which was higher than that of chronic pancreatitis (14%, P<0.05). K-ras gene mutation was not found in patients with pancreatic cystocarcinoma and duodenum carcinoma. As to the location of pancreatic cancer, no significant difference was observed between the head, the body and tail. The sensitivity, specificity, accuracy of pancreatic duct brushing in detecting pancreatic cancer was 70%, 94%, and 83%, respectively. CONCLUSION K-ras analysis of pancreatic brushing samples is helpful in the diagnosis of patients with early pancreatic cancer.
Acute hyperinsulinemia, androgen homeostasis and insulin sensitivity in healthy man.

The acute effects of hyperinsulinemia on androgen homeostasis and a possible association of androgens to insulin sensitivity, serum lipids and lipoproteins and to lipid oxidation were examined in 19 healthy males (27 +/- 1 yrs, body mass index 24 +/- 1 kg/m2). In each subject, a 240 min euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp was performed and glucose and lipid oxidation were determined by indirect calorimetry. During hyperinsulinemia serum sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) concentration decreased by 5% (P < 0.01), insulin-like growth factor binding protein (IGFBP-1) by 88% (P < 0.001) and dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEAS) by 12% (P < 0.001), with no change in total or free testosterone concentrations. In the basal state, IGFBP-1 and C-peptide were inversely related (r = -0.54, P < 0.05). Fasting concentrations of serum free testosterone (r = 0.59, P < 0.01) and DHEAS (r = 0.47, P < 0.05) correlated positively with serum free fatty acid (FFA) concentrations during hyperinsulinemia, but not with fasting FFA level. Lipid oxidation rate in the basal state correlated positively to the decline in SHBG (r = 0.61, P < 0.01) and DHEAS concentrations (r = 0.62, P < 0.01) during hyperinsulinemia. While the fasting serum high density lipoprotein cholesterol level correlated positively with the insulin-induced decline in DHEAS level (r = 0.58, P < 0.01), no associations were found between serum androgens and total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein cholesterol or triglyceride concentrations. Insulin sensitivity was not related to SHBG, IGFBP-1, DHEAS or testosterone concentrations. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
The Natural Rate of Interest in a Nonlinear DSGE Model

This paper investigates how and to what extent nonlinearity, including the zero lower bound on the nominal interest rate, affects the estimates of the natural rate of interest in a dynamic stochastic general equilibrium model with sticky prices and wages. We find that the estimated natural rate of interest in a nonlinear model is substantially different from that in its linear counterpart because of a contractionary effect of the zero lower bound, and that other nonlinearities such as price and wage dispersion, from which a linear model abstracts, play a minor role in identifying the natural rate.
NK and NKT Cell-Independent Contribution of Interleukin-15 to Innate Protection against Mucosal Viral Infection

ABSTRACT Interleukin-15 (IL-15) is essential for the development, maturation, and function of NK and NKT cells, which are critical components of the innate immune defense against viral infections. We recently showed that mice lacking IL-15 and/or NK/NKT cells are significantly more susceptible to intravaginal (IVAG) herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) infection than control mice. For this study, we examined whether IL-15 has any direct antiviral activity, independent of NK/NKT cells, in innate protection against HSV-2 infection. A sensitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for murine IL-15 was developed and used to show that IVAG HSV-2 infection induces IL-15 in vaginal washes. Using immunohistochemistry, we detected IL-15-positive cells in the submucosa and vaginal epithelium following IVAG HSV-2 infection. Local, but not systemic, delivery of murine recombinant IL-15 (mrIL-15) to the genital mucosae of IL-15−/− and RAG-2−/− γc−/− mice, which both lack NK and NKT cells, resulted in significant reductions in HSV-2 titers in genital washes and 60% survival following IVAG HSV-2 challenge. Furthermore, we showed that IL-15 is important for CpG oligodeoxynucleotide (ODN)-induced innate protection against genital HSV-2 infection. While 100% of CpG ODN-treated RAG2−/− γc−/− mice, which are capable of producing IL-15 but lack NK/NKT cells, survived an IVAG HSV-2 challenge, only 60% of CpG ODN-treated IL-15−/− mice survived, and all of these mice had similar vaginal viral titers to those in control mice by day 3 postchallenge. Lastly, a treatment of RAW264.7 cells with mrIL-15 induced the production of tumor necrosis factor alpha and beta interferon (IFN-β), but not IFN-α, and significantly protected them against HSV-2 infection in vitro. The results of these studies indicate that IL-15 can act independently of NK/NKT cells in mediating the innate defense against viral infection.
Vaginal colonization with Gardnerella vaginalis and anaerobic curved rods.

Ninety-four women colonized with anaerobic curved rods (CR) and/or Gardnerella vaginalis, were studied. Of these women, 34 were culture-positive for the long variant of CR. Eight of these latter women also harboured the short variant of these bacteria. In women colonized with CR, none had a predominance of lactobacilli in their vaginal flora, which was the case in 26 of the 60 women not harbouring CR. G. vaginalis was isolated from all 94 women. Mycoplasma hominis occurred significantly more often in women colonized with CR and G. vaginalis as compared with women not harbouring CR, but who were colonized with G. vaginalis (p less than 0.0005). The recovery rate of chlamydiae and gonococci was remarkably low, i.e. the organisms were isolated from one case each. Women colonized with CR complained of foul-smelling vaginal discharge significantly more often than women not found to harbour such organisms (p less than 0.001). In all women with CR, the number of leukocytes per high-power field of vaginal secretion exceeded that of 'clue cells'. Such cells were found in all patients with CR, but not in women with a lactobacilli-dominated flora, despite the fact that they all harboured G. vaginalis. Bacterial vaginosis might be due to a symbiotic infection with G. vaginalis and CR, possibly in conjunction with other anaerobes and/or M. hominis.