Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The pattern of monosynaptic I a-connections to hindlimb motor nuclei in the baboon: a comparison with the cat

The pattern of la-connections to motor nuclei of 17 hindlimb muscles (or groups of muscles) has been investigated in baboons by intracellular recording of Ia-e.ps. p.s evoked in motoneurons from different muscle nerves. The amplitudes are normalized to 70 mV resting potential and compared with similarly normalized Ia-e.ps. p.s in cats. As in the cat, la-excitation is drawn from a restricted number of muscles and the homonymous effect is usually dominating. Heteronymous connections to many motor nuclei are different in the two species. For example, hip extensors are generally more la-isolated from each other in baboons than in cats, and also knee flexors have fewer Iainterconnections than in cats. A unidirectional Ia-synergism between some hip extensors and knee flexors in cats has changed to a bidirectional one in baboons, with a tendency to lateralization of the connections. Among ankle extensors, soleus has smaller heteronymous I a-connections from its synergic ankle extensors than in cats. In baboons, plantaris is heteronymously I a-excited from gastrocnemius-soleus but not from the intrinsic plantar muscles; whereas in cats there exists a considerable la-projection from the intrinsic plantar muscles but not from gastrocnemius-soleus. There is a corresponding difference in the insertion of the plantaris tendon, which shows that this muscle acts as toe extensor in cats but as ankle extensor in baboons. For most of the motor nuclei, the homonymous as well as the total aggregate of Ia-e.ps. p.s is smaller in the baboon than in the cat; but the amplitude range between different motor nuclei is larger in the baboon. Reciprocal Ia-i.ps. p.s are evoked only after spinal transection or when brain function is depressed. It is postulated that baboons, contrary to cats, have descending tonic inhibition of transmission in the reciprocal la-inhibitory pathway. The phylogenetic flexibility of I a-connections is discussed and contrasted with their ontogenetic stability.
Socioeconomic inequities in invasive cardiac procedures among patients with incident angina pectoris or myocardial infarction

Aims: In many countries, systematic socioeconomic disparities have emerged in the use of invasive cardiac procedures among myocardial infarction patients and hospitalized coronary patients. This study prospectively examined socioeconomic differences in the use of cardiac procedures in a national cohort of incident coronary patients. Methods: The data were based on individual register linkages among 49,846 patients with incident angina pectoris (AP) or myocardial infarction (MI) during one-year follow-up in 1995—98 in Finland. Socioeconomic differences in invasive coronary procedures were examined using proportional hazard models. Results: The analyses showed that women, AP patients, and persons with lower socioeconomic status received fewer procedures during the one-year follow-up than men, MI patients, and those with higher socioeconomic status. Socioeconomic differences in the utilization of cardiac procedures were similar in both AP and MI groups, among both men and women, and by all socioeconomic indicators: social class, education, and income. Disparities were already emerging after the 28-day follow-up among men and women in both patient groups, and they persisted throughout the study period. Controlling for disease severity, comorbidity, and hospital district did not modify the results. Conclusions: Socioeconomic disparities in receiving invasive coronary procedures among AP patients without MI were similar to those in MI patients.
Occurrence of Fusarium Head Blight species and Fusarium mycotoxins in winter wheat in the Netherlands in 2009

Most recent information on the occurrence of Fusarium Head Blight species and related mycotoxins in wheat grown in the Netherlands dates from 2001. This aim of this study was to investigate the incidence and levels of Fusarium Head Blight species and Fusarium mycotoxins, as well as their possible relationships, in winter wheat cultivated in the Netherlands in 2009. Samples were collected from individual fields of 88 commercial wheat growers. Samples were collected at harvest from 86 fields, and 2 weeks before the expected harvest date from 21 fields. In all, 128 samples, the levels of each of seven Fusarium Head Blight species and of 12 related mycotoxins were quantified. The results showed that F. graminearum was the most frequently observed species at harvest, followed by F. avenaceum and M. nivale. In the pre-harvest samples, only F. graminearum and M. nivale were relevant. The highest incidence and concentrations of mycotoxins were found for deoxynivalenol, followed by zearalenone and beauvericin, both pre-harvest and at harvest. Other toxins frequently found – for the first time in the Netherlands – included T-2 toxin, HT-2 toxin, and moniliformin. The levels of deoxynivalenol were positively related to F. graminearum levels, as well as to zearalenone levels. Other relationships could not be established. The current approach taken in collecting wheat samples and quantifying the presence of Fusarium Head Blight species and related mycotoxins is an efficient method to obtain insight into the occurrence of these species and toxins in wheat grown under natural environmental conditions. It is recommended that this survey be repeated for several years to establish inter-annual variability in both species composition and mycotoxin occurrence.
Loss of infectivity ex vivo in plasma of human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients correlates with a high CD4 cell count.

Quantitation of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) in plasma is frequently used to monitor virus load and assess the effect of antiviral agents, but information regarding the stability of the virus is limited. Plasma from patients with CD4 cell counts of < 300/microL was tested by quantitative cultures 1, 4, and 24 h after phlebotomy and after storage at -75 degrees C. Viremia was detected in 18 (69%) of 26 patients. Of 16 samples, 2 (13%) at 4 h and 6 (38%) at 24 h had a significantly lower titer than the sample cultured at 1 h. No culture result after the freezing step was significantly different from the 1-h reference value. The decrease in virus titer over time was observed primarily in patients with CD4 cell counts of > 100/microL. Plasma should not be stored for > 2-4 h at room temperature for HIV-1 culture. If immediate processing is not an option, plasma can be frozen shortly after phlebotomy for later testing without a significant loss of infectious virus.
Hemodynamic and Cardiac Electrophysiologic Effects of Lidocaine–Bupivacaine Mixture in Anesthetized and Ventilated Piglets

Background The sensory blockade induced by a lidocaine–bupivacaine mixture combines the faster onset of lidocaine and the longer duration of bupivacaine. The current study compared the effects of large doses lidocaine (16 mg/kg), bupivacaine (4 mg/kg), and a mixture of 16 mg/kg lidocaine–4 mg/kg bupivacaine on hemodynamic and cardiac electrophysiologic parameters in anesthetized and ventilated piglets. Methods After carotid artery cannulation, a double micromanometer measured mean aortic pressure, left ventricular end diastolic pressure, and the first derivative of left ventricular pressure. Electrocardiogram recording and a bipolar electrode catheter measured RR, PQ, QRS, QTc, JTc, AH, and HV intervals. Lidocaine, bupivacaine, or the mixture was administered intravenously over 30 s, and studied parameters were measured throughout 30 min. Results Mean aortic pressure decreased in all groups (P < 0.05). The first derivative of left ventricular pressure was decreased in all groups (P < 0.001) but to a greater extent with the mixture compared with lidocaine (P < 0.04). RR, QTc, and JTc intervals were similarly increased in all groups (P < 0.05). In all groups, PQ, AH, HV, and QRS intervals were widened (P < 0.001). The lengthening of PQ was greater with bupivacaine (P < 0.02). The lengthening of AH was greater and delayed with bupivacaine compared with lidocaine (P < 0.03). The lengthening of HV and the widening of QRS were greater and delayed with bupivacaine (P < 0.01). The widening of QRS was greater with the mixture than with lidocaine (P < 0.01). Conclusions The alterations of ventricular conduction parameters are greater with 4 mg/kg bupivacaine than with a mixture of 16 mg/kg lidocaine–4 mg/kg bupivacaine, whereas the hemodynamic parameters are similarly altered.
An estimate of the Geosat altimeter wind speed algorithm at high wind speeds

Existing wind speed algorithms for satellite altimeters have been developed from data in the range 0 to 20 m/s. At higher wind speeds the available algorithms diverge alarmingly. By comparing Geosat altimeter values of the radar cross section with model predictions of the surface winds during satellite overpasses of tropical cyclones, a wind speed algorithm valid for wind speeds between 20 and 40 m/s is developed. There is, however, considerable scatter in these data. An error analysis shows that this observed scatter is consistent with the accuracy to which the tropical cyclone wind fields can be inferred. An approximately linear dependence of the radar cross section on wind speed is, however, clearly evident within these data. At the lower limit of its applicability (U10 = 20 m/s), these data are consistent with the previously derived algorithms. At its upper limit (U10 = 40 m/s), mean squared slope values inferred from the radar cross section are consistent with the theoretical upper limit.
Testing Market Efficiency in a Fixed Odds Betting Market

This paper tests the hypothesis of market efficiency for the fixed odds betting market of Swedish trotting head-to-head matches. The hypothesis is carried out by a Wald test within a logistic regression model. Data support rejection of semi-strong efficiency at the 5 percent level of significance, while the weak form efficiency cannot be rejected. Moreover, evaluation of the simple strategy to bet on those horses where, conditional on the estimated model, the expected profit is positive results in a profit of 7.8 percent per bet.
Chemical Therapeutics Discovery & Preclinical Development Antitumor Activity of Saracatinib ( AZD 0530 ) , a cSrc / Abl Kinase Inhibitor , Alone or in Combination with Chemotherapeutic Agents in Gastric Cancer

Src is a nonreceptor tyrosine kinase involved in the cross-talk and mediation of many signaling pathways that promote cell proliferation, adhesion, invasion, migration, and tumorigenesis. Increased Src activity has been reported in many types of human cancer, including gastric cancer. Therefore, this factor has been identified as a promising therapeutic target for cancer treatments, and targeting Src in gastric cancer is predicted to have potent effects. We evaluated the antitumor effect of a c-Src/Abl kinase inhibitor, saracatinib (AZD0530), alone or combined with chemotherapeutic agents in gastric cancer cell lines and a NCI-N87 xenograft model. Among 10 gastric cancer cell lines, saracatinib specifically inhibited the growth and migration/invasion of SNU216 and NCI-N87 cells. Saracatinib blocked the Src/FAK, HER family, and oncogenic signalingpathways, and it inducedG1 arrest andapoptosis in SNU216 andNCI-N87 cells.Apoptosis required induction of the proapoptotic BCL2 family member Bim. Knockdown of Bim using siRNA decreased apoptosis induced by treatment with saracatinib, suggesting that Bim has an important role in saracatinibinducedapoptosis. Saracatinib enhanced the effects of lapatinib, anEGFR/HER2dual inhibitor, in SNU216 and NCI-N87 cells. Furthermore, combined treatment with saracatinib and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) or cisplatin exerted synergistic effects in both saracatinib-sensitive and saracatinib-resistant cells. Consistent with our in vitrofindings, cotreatmentwith saracatinib and 5-FU resulted in enhanced antitumor activity in theNCI-N87 xenografts. These data indicate that the inhibition of Src kinase activity by saracatinib alone or in combination with other agents can be a strategy to target gastric cancer. Mol Cancer Ther; 12(1); 16–26. 2012 AACR.
A project management perspective on student's declarative commitments to goals established within asynchronous communication

Teamwork and technology, even as people are seeing their increased use in organizations, are becoming important components of problem-based learning in academic settings. Yet, fostering computer-assisted teamwork is complex and time consuming. Knowing how and when to intervene would prove useful. This study draws from the field of project management to explore how students commit to project goals using collective asynchronous text-based communication technology. Declarative commitments – goal-orientated public, voluntary, explicit and non-retractable messages comprised of a term, an objective and a focus – made by 34 teams during a four-phase 13-week project were analysed qualitatively and quantitatively. Qualitative results show that declarative commitments voluntarily and formally package information about project constraints into a relatively potent message about tasks, coordination and project completion. Team members' suggestions as to what should be carried out in the project and requests for help often preceded others' declarative commitments. As with persuasive communication (i.e. aimed at changing beliefs, attitudes and behaviours), declarative commitments were followed by demands for clarification, new declarative commitments, confirmations of upheld commitments and clear approvals of what was committed to. Looking at project progression from a broader perspective, quantitative analyses show that declarative commitments did partially mediate the relationship between frequencies of task issues and of task solutions. This was particularly pronounced in the mid-point of the project, but it was not the case during the initial or final phases of the project. Taken together, these results suggest that teachers can facilitate computer-assisted learning and project goal attainment by monitoring asynchronous electronic discussions, and by eliciting and structuring declarative commitments.
Differences in brain glucose metabolism between responders to CBT and venlafaxine in a 16-week randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE Neuroimaging investigations reveal changes in glucose metabolism (fluorine-18-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography [PET]) associated with response to disparate antidepressant treatment modalities, including cognitive behavior therapy (CBT), antidepressant pharmacotherapies, and deep brain stimulation. Using a nonrandomized design, the authors previously compared changes following CBT or paroxetine in depressed patients. In this study, the authors report changes in fluorine-18-fluorodeoxyglucose PET in responders to CBT or venlafaxine during a randomized controlled trial. METHODS Subjects meeting DSM-IV-TR criteria for a major depressive episode and a diagnosis of a major depressive disorder received a fluorine-18-fluorodeoxyglucose PET scan before randomization and after 16 weeks of antidepressant treatment with either CBT (N=12) or venlafaxine (N=12). Modality-specific and modality-independent regional brain metabolic changes associated with response status were analyzed. RESULTS Response rates were comparable between the CBT (7/12) and venlafaxine (9/12) groups. Response to either treatment modality was associated with decreased glucose metabolism bilaterally in the orbitofrontal cortex and left medial prefrontal cortex, along with increased metabolism in the right occipital-temporal cortex. Changes in metabolism in the anterior and posterior parts of the subgenual cingulate cortex and the caudate differentiated CBT and venlafaxine responders. CONCLUSIONS Responders to either treatment modality demonstrated reduced metabolism in several prefrontal regions. Consistent with earlier reports, response to CBT was associated with a reciprocal modulation of cortical-limbic connectivity, while venlafaxine engaged additional cortical and striatal regions previously unreported in neuroimaging investigations.
Inhibitory Motor Control at Five Years as a Function of Prenatal Cocaine Exposure

ABSTRACT. This study examined children's (n = 140, age 5 years) ability to inhibit a motor response as a function of prenatal cocaine exposure. We hypothesized that cocaine-exposed children would perform worse than unexposed children on the Contrary Tapping task. Results indicated that cocaine exposure, high environmental risk, male gender, and low child IQ each were related to poorer inhibitory control. An interaction indicated that cocaine effects were specific to children who lived in relatively low-risk environments. Cocaine-exposed children made an error sooner than unexposed children in low-risk environments but in the same trial as both exposed and unexposed children living in high-risk environments. Potential underlying mechanisms and the importance of examining cocaine exposure effects in the context of children's existing environment are discussed.
Uterine epithelial-sperm interaction, endometrial cycle and sperm storage in the terminal zone of the oviducal gland in the placental smoothhound, Mustelus canis.

The fate of spermatozoa deposited within the female reproductive tract has been described in the smoothhound, Mustelus canis. Evidence of uterine epithelial-sperm interaction is presented, as well as documentation of sperm storage specifically in the terminal zone of the oviducal gland. Sperm fate is correlated with morphology of the endometrial cycle and specificity of storage in the oviducal gland. The endometrium of M. canis undergoes dramatic tissue remodeling associated with gestation. In females harboring fertilized ova or preimplantation yolk-reliant embryos, the uterine epithelium is simple cuboidal with mucous droplets for lubrication. The presence of the embryo elicits a response from the uterus, which becomes modified for nutrient and respiratory exchange into vascular uterine attachment sites that abut the distal aspect of the yolk sac. Areas of the uterus adjacent to the uterine attachment sites are termed paraplacental sites. Uterine attachment sites are simple squamous while the paraplacental epithelium is simple columnar. Paraplacental cells have basal metachromatic vesicles and a dense array of apical cytoplasmic filaments. Immediately postpartum the uterine attachment sites, now termed uterine or placental scars, begin to remodel to a mucous epithelium for the next gestational cycle. Paraplacental cells slough off the apical filamentous portion, and sperm become embedded in the epithelium. Bundled sperm occur throughout gestation in the terminal zone of the oviducal gland. Sperm are not embedded in the terminal zone epithelium as in the uterus. Following sperm release from the uterus, the paraplacental epithelium reverts to a mucous epithelium for the next reproductive cycle. Fertilization is presumed to occur in the anterior oviduct above the oviducal gland. The physiological mechanisms that mediate sperm-uterus attachment, release, and storage in the terminal zone of the oviducal gland are currently under investigation.
Handbook of nutrition, diet and sleep

Over the last century significant advances in technology and science have provided us with a better understanding of the regulation and control of the sleep-wake cycle. Characterization of normal sleep and wakefulness has naturally led to the identification and classification of normal variants and a myriad of sleep disorders. Recent discoveries have begun to uncover the intricate relationships between nutrition, diet, and sleep. This chapter provides a very basic review of sleep-wake regulation, states of alertness, and physiologic correlates to lay the foundation in sleep medicine for which the reader will build upon as they delve into subsequent chapters.
Presence of multiple genotypes in subjects with HPV-16 infection is highly associated with anal squamous intraepithelial lesions in HIV-1 infected males

Objectives The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of abnormal cytological findings, high risk (HR)-HPV genotypes and to identify factors associated with an abnormal cytological findings in a cohort of HIV-infected males. Patients and methods Retrospective observational study on HIV-infected male patients who performed screening in the absence of clinical symptoms. Cytological abnormalities were classified as atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASC-US), low-grade(LSIL) or high high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (HSIL). Logistic regression models were used to identify predictors of having LSIL/HSIL. Results Among 875 pts, abnormal cytology findings were observed in 254 (29%, 95% CI: 26.1%-32.1%) subjects: 142 (16%) had LSIL and 49 (6%) HSIL. Overall, 581 (66%, 95%CI: 63.2%-69.5%) subjects had ≥1 HR-HPV type and 269 (31%) had ≥2 HR HPV types. Multivariate logistic regression showed that subjects with multiple HR-HPV genotypes (OR = 1.351, 95%CI: 1.005–2.111) and with HPV-16 type (OR = 2.032, 95%CI: 1.313–3.146) were more likely to have LSIL/HSIL in addition to a lower CD4+/CD8+ ratio, a previous diagnosis of syphilis and a positive viral load. In another multivariate model, the presence of multiple HPV types in subjects with HPV-16 type was associated with the highest adjusted OR of having a LSIL/HSIL (OR = 2.598, 95%CI: 1.460–4.624). Conclusions In HIV-infected men, the prevalence of abnormal cytological findings was of 29% and of HR-HPV was 66%. The concomitant presence of HPV-16 and multiple HR genotypes was associated with an increased risk of abnormal cytological findings. These data highlight the importance of screening multiple HPV genotypes in HIV-infected patients.
The pancreas as an islet transplantation site. Confirmation in a syngeneic rodent and canine autotransplant model.

CONTEXT The availability of islet transplantation is limited by both the number of donor pancreata and the number of islets required for successful transplantation. There is evidence that the liver presents a less than optimal environment for islets that contributes to short- and long-term beta cell destruction or failure. OBJECTIVE It is our hypothesis that the pancreas is a suitable transplant site and may require fewer islets than standard sites such as the liver or kidney, and could lead to improvements in transplantation outcomes. METHODS To test this hypothesis both a rodent and a canine model were used. Syngeneic rat islets were transplanted to the pancreas, liver, or kidney of Lewis rats. Fasting blood glucose levels were compared for three months as an index of islet function. Dogs received an islet autotransplant to a pancreatic remnant. Insulin and glucose concentrations were followed for six months. RESULTS In the rat, normoglycemia was maintained with 600 islets transplanted in the pancreas in contrast to the liver (3,200 islets) or kidney (1,000-2,000 islets). Dogs remained normoglycemic after receiving an intra-pancreatic islet transplant (mean 7,640+/-3,600 islets). There was no evidence of pancreatitis or nutritional deficiency in either species. CONCLUSIONS The pancreas should be considered as an islet transplant site. The pancreas is the native milieu for islets, and offers the advantage of requiring fewer islets than other conventional sites, thereby increasing the possibility that one donor pancreas may serve one or more recipients.