Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Memory’s Penumbra: Episodic Memory Decisions Induce Lingering Mnemonic Biases

New for Old? When confronted with a visual stimulus, such as an object or a scene, the brain decides whether it is new, and thus deserves to be encoded as a new memory, or old, which triggers the retrieval of the previously encoded memory. When shown a series of stimuli, some of which are similar to, but not identical to, old memories, it becomes necessary to switch back and forth between encoding and retrieval processing. Using behavioral tasks performed by human test subjects, Duncan et al. (p. 485) took advantage of the fact that switching takes a second or two and found that a subsequent object, presented before switching has occurred, was more likely to be identified as new when the previous object was new, and identified as old when the previous object was old. It takes time for the hippocampus to switch between laying down new memories and recalling old ones. How do we decide if the people we meet and the things we see are familiar or new? If something is new, we need to encode it as a memory distinct from already stored episodes, using a process known as pattern separation. If familiar, it can be used to reactivate a previously stored memory, by a process known as pattern completion. To orchestrate these conflicting processes, current models propose that the episodic memory system uses environmental cues to establish processing biases that favor either pattern separation during encoding or pattern completion during retrieval. To assess this theory, we measured how people’s memory formation and decisions are influenced by their recent engagement in episodic encoding and retrieval. We found that the recent encoding of novel objects improved subsequent identification of subtle changes, a task thought to rely on pattern separation. Conversely, recent retrieval of old objects increased the subsequent integration of stored information into new memories, a process thought to rely on pattern completion. These experiments provide behavioral evidence that episodic encoding and retrieval evoke lingering biases that influence subsequent mnemonic processing.
FOOD SAFETY KNOWLEDGE AND ATTITUDE OF CONSUMERS OF VARIOUS FOOD SERVICE ESTABLISHMENTS

ABSTRACT In the present study, food safety knowledge and attitude of 300 consumers from nine different categories of food service establishments (FSEs) were assessed. Results revealed that most consumers (60%) eating at various FSEs were young, in the age group of 18–35 years. Some of the consumers could identify the carriers for foodborne diseases such as cholera, food poisoning and jaundice, but most of them did not know about the carriers of typhoid, gastroenteritis and amebiosis. Most of the consumers received information on food safety from family and friends. A positive association was seen between education of consumers and frequency of receiving information from various sources such as magazines, TV/radio, posters/hoardings, newspapers, school/colleges, health workers and family/friends. Most consumers had a positive attitude toward food hygiene, and they believed in punishing street food vendors who violated the food safety norms. Most consumers believed that government intervention would help in improving the quality of street foods. A lot of better-educated food handlers believed that adherence to norms on the personal hygiene of the food handler should be made compulsory, and that training of persons in street food service is essential to ensure quality of food and food safety. In conclusion, various sources of information should be used to increase consumer awareness on food safety. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS In the present study, situational analysis was conducted to obtain data on food safety knowledge and attitude of consumers. Results indicated that although some of the consumers could identify the carriers for foodborne diseases, such as cholera, food poisoning and jaundice, most of them did not know about the carriers of typhoid, gastroenteritis and amebiosis. Thus, efforts should be made to educate consumers about the relation between food and diseases and the importance of making proper food choices for consumption. Most consumers had a positive attitude toward food safety and believed government intervention would help in improving the quality of street foods. Such data can form the basis for seeking the attention of government to undertake measures to improve the quality of foods served at various food outlets. Also, it was found that very few consumers received information on food safety from various sources like magazines, TV/radio, posters, newspapers, health workers, nongovernment organizations, etc. This calls for attention of food safety educators to use a variety of audio-visual aids to spread the messages on food safety. Such area-specific data on consumers' knowledge on food safety can assist in developing food safety education programs.
Bright Side of Lignin Depolymerization: Toward New Platform Chemicals

Lignin, a major component of lignocellulose, is the largest source of aromatic building blocks on the planet and harbors great potential to serve as starting material for the production of biobased products. Despite the initial challenges associated with the robust and irregular structure of lignin, the valorization of this intriguing aromatic biopolymer has come a long way: recently, many creative strategies emerged that deliver defined products via catalytic or biocatalytic depolymerization in good yields. The purpose of this review is to provide insight into these novel approaches and the potential application of such emerging new structures for the synthesis of biobased polymers or pharmacologically active molecules. Existing strategies for functionalization or defunctionalization of lignin-based compounds are also summarized. Following the whole value chain from raw lignocellulose through depolymerization to application whenever possible, specific lignin-based compounds emerge that could be in the future considered as potential lignin-derived platform chemicals.
Neural adaptive control of two-link manipulator with sliding mode compensation

We develop a new neurocontroller for robot manipulators. A simple dynamic neural network is used to estimate the unknown robot manipulators, then the direct linearization controller is derived via this neuro-identifier. Since the approximation capability is limited, another robust sliding mode compensator is addressed. In this paper we give a bound for the identification error of the parallel neuro-identifier, and establish a bound for the tracking error of the hybrid controller.
PI4P and PI(4,5)P2 Are Essential But Independent Lipid Determinants of Membrane Identity

Phosphoinositide Contributions To study the roles of phosphoinositides in the plasma membrane of mammalian cells, Hammond et al. (p. 727, published online 21 June; see the Perspective by Fairn and Grinstein) engineered phosphatase molecules that could be targeted to the membrane on demand, where they would alter the concentrations of the phospholipids phosphatidylinositol (4,5)-bisphosphate [PI(4,5)P2] and phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate (PI4P). PI4P was thought to provide a major source for the synthesis of PI(4,5)P2, but depletion of PI4P did not have much affect on synthesis of PI(4,5)P2. Instead, PI4P appears to help to establish the negative charge at the membrane and thus promote electrostatic interactions with positively charged amino acids in membrane-associated proteins and influencing function of ion channels. The phospholipid phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate defines important physical properties of the cell membrane. The quantitatively minor phospholipid phosphatidylinositol (4,5)-bisphosphate [PI(4,5)P2] fulfills many cellular functions in the plasma membrane (PM), whereas its synthetic precursor, phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate (PI4P), has no assigned PM roles apart from PI(4,5)P2 synthesis. We used a combination of pharmacological and chemical genetic approaches to probe the function of PM PI4P, most of which was not required for the synthesis or functions of PI(4,5)P2. However, depletion of both lipids was required to prevent PM targeting of proteins that interact with acidic lipids or activation of the transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 cation channel. Therefore, PI4P contributes to the pool of polyanionic lipids that define plasma membrane identity and to some functions previously attributed specifically to PI(4,5)P2, which may be fulfilled by a more general polyanionic lipid requirement.
Cilia at the Node of Mouse Embryos Sense Fluid Flow for Left-Right Determination via Pkd2

Distinguishing Right from Left In most vertebrates during embryonic development, rotational movement of the cilia within a structure in the embryo, known as the node, generates unidirectional flow required for future left-right asymmetry of the internal organs. The flow may transport a determinant molecule or provide mechanical force. However, it is not clear how the flow is sensed. Yoshiba et al. (p. 226, published online 13 September; see the Perspective by Norris and Grimes) show that nodal flow in mouse embryos is sensed by the cilia of perinodal cells located at the edge of the node, in a manner dependent on Pkd2, a Ca2+-permeable cation channel that has been implicated in polycystic kidney disease in humans. A Ca2+ channel implicated in polycystic kidney disease helps to establish the left-right body axis of the mammalian embryo. Unidirectional fluid flow plays an essential role in the breaking of left-right (L-R) symmetry in mouse embryos, but it has remained unclear how the flow is sensed by the embryo. We report that the Ca2+ channel Polycystin-2 (Pkd2) is required specifically in the perinodal crown cells for sensing the nodal flow. Examination of mutant forms of Pkd2 shows that the ciliary localization of Pkd2 is essential for correct L-R patterning. Whereas Kif3a mutant embryos, which lack all cilia, failed to respond to an artificial flow, restoration of primary cilia in crown cells rescued the response to the flow. Our results thus suggest that nodal flow is sensed in a manner dependent on Pkd2 by the cilia of crown cells located at the edge of the node.
Dizygotic monochorionic twin pregnancy conceived following intracytoplasmic sperm injection treatment and complicated by twin‐twin transfusion syndrome and blood chimerism

We report a case of a dizygotic monochorionic twin pregnancy preceded by intracytoplasmic sperm injection treatment including assisted hatching. On ultrasound examination at 25 weeks' gestation the twins, which had been assumed to be monochorionic, were found to be of different sexes. Karyotyping and zygocity determination were performed on amniotic fluid and showed the twins to be dizygotic with normal female and male karyotypes. There were clinical and sonographic signs of twin–twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS), and Cesarean delivery was performed at 32 weeks' gestation. At birth the twins were phenotypically a normal male and a normal female. Histology of the placenta showed it to be monochorionic diamniotic. Blood chimerism was found postnatally as both infants had the karyotypes 46,XX[13]/46,XY[17]. Chimerism was not found in cells from a buccal swab at 6 months of age.
Path planning using lazy PRM

Describes an approach to probabilistic roadmap planners (PRMs). The overall theme of the algorithm, called Lazy PRM, is to minimize the number of collision checks performed during planning and hence minimize the running time of the planner. Our algorithm builds a roadmap in the configuration space, whose nodes are the user-defined initial and goal configurations and a number of randomly generated nodes. Neighboring nodes are connected by edges representing paths between the nodes. In contrast with PRMs, our planner initially assumes that all nodes and edges in the roadmap are collision-free, and searches the roadmap at hand for a shortest path between the initial and the goal node. The nodes and edges along the path are then checked for collision. If a collision with the obstacles occurs, the corresponding nodes and edges are removed from the roadmap. Our planner either finds a new shortest path, or first updates the roadmap with new nodes and edges, and then searches for a shortest path. The above process is repeated until a collision-free path is returned. Lazy PRM is tailored to efficiently answer single planning queries, but can also be used for multiple queries. Experimental results presented in the paper show that our lazy method is very efficient in practice.
Assessment of Early Results of Fibrinolytic Treatment of Acute Ischemia of the Lower Limbs

Acute ischemia of lower limbs due to thrombosis of large arteries is associated with high mortality and high rate of dangerous complications. Isolated intraarterial thrombolysis may improve prognosis of patients at high operative risk. The aim of the study was to assess early results of local thrombolytic therapy (recombinant tissue plasminogen activator r-tPA) of acute ischemia of lower limbs (duration of ischemia up to 15 days) in patients with poor general condition and with a history of vascular operations. material and methods. Local intraarterial thrombolysis was performed in 35 patients who had developed acute ischemia of lower limbs due to thrombosis, in Chair and Clinic of General, Vascular and Transplantation Surgery, Warsaw Medical University in the period of time between 2003 and 2006. Twenty six of these patients previously underwent implantation of grafts made of artificial material. Signs and symptoms of ischemia persisted from several hours to 15 days. Nine patients were classified as ASA-IV, 26 patients as ASA-III on the risk scale. Thrombolytic therapy involved local infusion of recombinant tissue plasminogen activator r-tPA (Actylise) through a catheter inserted into the common femoral artery (contralateral to the ischemic limb). When thrombolysis was completed, heparin (given at a prophylactic dose) was started and continued until discharge. Results. Thrombolytic therapy resulted in vessel patency in 18 out of 35 treated patients (51%). Treatment effectiveness increased with shortening of duration of the limb ischemia. During thrombolytic therapy, one patient developed gastrointestinal bleeding that despite treatment resulted in death. In ten treated patients local bleeding from the puncture site was found, treated with compression in 9 patients while one patient required surgical intervention (evacuation of hematoma). Neither death nor limb amputation occurred during the hospitalization of 18 patients after the successful thrombolysis. Three patients required angioplasty due to vascular stenoses found in angiography as the cause of thrombosis. After unsuccessful thrombolysis, necrosis of peripheral parts of the limbs occurred and due to lack of possibility of further vascular reconstruction, amputation was required. Surgical restoration of vessel patency performed in the remaining 12 patients was successful in eight patients, while unsuccessful in the other 4 patients who also required limb amputation. Three deaths occurred in this group, caused by heart failure after the procedure of restoration of vessel patency. conclusions. Our results indicate that local thrombolytic therapy can be effective in rescuing a limb at risk in patients with contraindications to surgical treatment. key words: fibrinolytic treatment, acute ischemia of the lower limbs POLSKI PRZEGLĄD CHIRURGICZNY 10.2478/v10035-010-0048-3 2010, 82, 6, 337–340
Systematic Localization of Common Disease-Associated Variation in Regulatory DNA

Predictions of Genetic Disease Many genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified loci and variants associated with disease, but the ability to predict disease on the basis of these genetic variants remains small. Maurano et al. (p. 1190; see the Perspective by Schadt and Chang; see the cover) characterize the location of GWAS variants in the genome with respect to their proximity to regulatory DNA [marked by deoxyribonuclease I (DNase I) hypersensitive sites] by tissue type, disease, and enrichments in physiologically relevant transcription factor binding sites and networks. They found many noncoding disease associations in regulatory DNA, indicating tissue and developmental-specific regulatory roles for many common genetic variants and thus enabling links to be made between gene regulation and adult-onset disease. Genetic variants that have been associated with diseases are concentrated in regulatory regions of the genome. Genome-wide association studies have identified many noncoding variants associated with common diseases and traits. We show that these variants are concentrated in regulatory DNA marked by deoxyribonuclease I (DNase I) hypersensitive sites (DHSs). Eighty-eight percent of such DHSs are active during fetal development and are enriched in variants associated with gestational exposure–related phenotypes. We identified distant gene targets for hundreds of variant-containing DHSs that may explain phenotype associations. Disease-associated variants systematically perturb transcription factor recognition sequences, frequently alter allelic chromatin states, and form regulatory networks. We also demonstrated tissue-selective enrichment of more weakly disease-associated variants within DHSs and the de novo identification of pathogenic cell types for Crohn’s disease, multiple sclerosis, and an electrocardiogram trait, without prior knowledge of physiological mechanisms. Our results suggest pervasive involvement of regulatory DNA variation in common human disease and provide pathogenic insights into diverse disorders.
Impairment of endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation in cadmium-hypertensive rats

Abnormalities in the production and/or release of relaxing factors from the endothelium have been implicated in the development of hypertension in several animal models. Endothelium-dependent relaxation has been reported to be impaired in thoracic aorta in experimentally induced and genetically hypertensive rats. Present study has extented these observations to thoracic aorta of cadmium-hypertensive rats. The possible role of alterations in oxidant status was also studied. Hypertension was induced by the intraperitoneal administration of 1 mg/kg/day cadmium for 15 days. Mechanical responses produced by acetylcholine (ACh, 10— 9—10—4 M) and sodium nitroprusside (SNP, 10—10—10— 5 M) were studied on phenylephrine-precontracted thoracic aorta rings from control and cadmium-hypertensive rats. Serum nitric oxide (NO) and aortic malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were measured. ACh-induced relaxation was attenuated in aorta from cadmium-hypertensive rats, whereas relaxation responses to SNP did not differ significantly between the groups. Exposure of aortic rings to NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME, 10 —4 M) resulted in a significantly greater inhibition of relaxation response to ACh in aortic rings of cadmium-hypertensive rats as compared with control rats. Incubation with L-arginine (L-Arg, 10 —3 M) caused a similar reversal of the inhibition of ACh-induced relaxation by L-NAME in both groups. Serum NO levels were decreased and aortic MDA levels were increased in cadmium-treated rats as compared with control rats. However, the differences between the groups did not reach a statistical significance. These findings suggested that the reduction in endothelium-dependent relaxation may play a role in cadmium-induced hypertension as it was in many other hypertension models.
UV Dosage Levels in Summer: Increased Risk of Ozone Loss from Convectively Injected Water Vapor

Water In, Ozone Out The danger of stratospheric ozone loss burst into public awareness in the 1980s, when the Antarctic ozone hole was discovered and described. Since then, the specter of ozone depletion in other locations, notably the Arctic, has been identified. Ozone loss is not confined to high latitudes, however, nor is it only the result of the addition of anthropogenic compounds containing chlorine and bromine in the stratosphere, as Anderson et al. (p. 835, published online 26 July; see the Perspective by Ravishankara) now demonstrate. Data from the atmosphere above the continental United States revealed that convective injection of water vapor into the stratosphere affects the free radical chemistry involving the (mostly anthropogenic) chlorine and bromine, thus accelerating ozone loss. This process could become important in the stratospheric ozone budget if the frequency and intensity of these water-injection events, which are most common in the summer, increase as a result of global warming. Convective injection of water vapor into the stratosphere increases the rate of ozone destruction there. The observed presence of water vapor convectively injected deep into the stratosphere over the United States can fundamentally change the catalytic chlorine/bromine free-radical chemistry of the lower stratosphere by shifting total available inorganic chlorine into the catalytically active free-radical form, ClO. This chemical shift markedly affects total ozone loss rates and makes the catalytic system extraordinarily sensitive to convective injection into the mid-latitude lower stratosphere in summer. Were the intensity and frequency of convective injection to increase as a result of climate forcing by the continued addition of CO2 and CH4 to the atmosphere, increased risk of ozone loss and associated increases in ultraviolet dosage would follow.
The Biological Underpinnings of Namib Desert Fairy Circles

Fairies? No, Termites! Fairy circles consist of circles of perennial vegetation that grow within otherwise mostly barren desert habitat on the southwest coast of Africa. Many hypotheses have been put forward to explain the creation and maintenance of fairy circles. Using long-term data collected on the distribution and physical and biological components of these features, Juergens (p. 1618) found that the circles are generated by the actions of the sand termite, which removes vegetation produced following intermittent rains. Once generated, the circles collect water, which sustains the growth of perennial vegetation at the edges of the circles, allowing for long-term persistence of the termites. Termites alter local soil conditions to facilitate the growth of grasses, generating patterns in the desert. The sand termite Psammotermes allocerus generates local ecosystems, so-called fairy circles, through removal of short-lived vegetation that appears after rain, leaving circular barren patches. Because of rapid percolation and lack of evapotranspiration, water is retained within the circles. This process results in the formation of rings of perennial vegetation that facilitate termite survival and locally increase biodiversity. This termite-generated ecosystem persists through prolonged droughts lasting many decades.
Effects of methomyl on lipid peroxidation and antioxidant enzymes in rat erythrocytes: In vitro studies

Erythrocytes are a convenient model to understand the membrane oxidative damage induced by various xenobiotic pro-oxidants. This study was designed to investigate the possibility of methomyl (Lannate® 90% SP), S-methyl N-(methylcarbamoyloxy) thioacetimidate, to induce oxidative stress response in rat erythrocytes in vitro. Erythrocytes were incubated for 4 hours at 37°C with different concentrations (0.0, 0.1, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 mM) of methomyl. The results showed that methomyl decreased acetylcholinesterase (AChE), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione S-transferase (GST) activities and increased level of lipid peroxidation (LPO) as well as the percentage of haemolysis. The response occurred in a concentration-dependent manner. The study suggested that methomyl has the capability to induce oxidative damage as evidenced by increasing LPO and perturbations in various antioxidant enzymes.