Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Temperature effects on neuronal membrane potentials and inward currents in rat hypothalamic tissue slices

Preoptic–anterior hypothalamic (PO/AH) neurones sense and regulate body temperature. Although controversial, it has been postulated that warm‐induced depolarization determines neuronal thermosensitivity. Supporting this hypothesis, recent studies suggest that temperature‐sensitive cationic channels (e.g. vanilloid receptor TRP channels) constitute the underlying mechanism of neuronal thermosensitivity. Moreover, earlier studies indicated that PO/AH neuronal warm sensitivity is due to depolarizing sodium currents that are sensitive to tetrodotoxin (TTX). To test these possibilities, intracellular recordings were made in rat hypothalamic tissue slices. Thermal effects on membrane potentials and currents were compared in PO/AH warm‐sensitive, temperature‐insensitive and silent neurones. All three types of neurones displayed slight depolarization during warming and hyperpolarization during cooling. There were no significant differences in membrane potential thermosensitivity for the different neuronal types. Voltage clamp recordings (at −92 mV) measured the thermal effects on persistent inward cationic currents. In all neurones, resting holding currents decreased during cooling and increased during warming, and there was no correlation between firing rate thermosensitivity and current thermosensitivity. To determine the thermosensitive contribution of persistent, TTX‐sensitive currents, voltage clamp recordings were conducted in the presence of 0.5 μm TTX. TTX decreased the current thermosensitivity in most neurones, but there were no resulting differences between the different neuronal types. The present study found no evidence of a resting ionic current that is unique to warm‐sensitive neurones. This supports studies suggesting that neuronal thermosensitivity is controlled, not by resting currents, but rather by currents that determine rapid changes in membrane potential between successive action potentials.
Unusual field dependence of remanent magnetization in granular CrO2: the possible relevance of piezomagnetism

We present low field thermoremanent magnetization (TRM) measurements in granular CrO2 and composites of ferromagnetic (FM) CrO2 and antiferromagnetic (AFM) Cr2O3. TRM in these samples is seen to display two distinct timescales. A quasi-static part of remanence, appearing only in the low field regime, exhibits a peculiar field dependence. TRM is seen to first rise and then fall with increasing cooling fields, eventually vanishing above a critical field. Similar features in TRM have previously been observed in some antiferromagnets that exhibit the phenomenon of piezomagnetism. Scaling analysis of the TRM data suggest that presumably piezomoments generated in the AFM component drive the FM magnetization dynamics in these granular systems in the low field regime.
Languages Evolve in Punctuational Bursts

Linguists speculate that human languages often evolve in rapid or punctuational bursts, sometimes associated with their emergence from other languages, but this phenomenon has never been demonstrated. We used vocabulary data from three of the world's major language groups—Bantu, Indo-European, and Austronesian—to show that 10 to 33% of the overall vocabulary differences among these languages arose from rapid bursts of change associated with language-splitting events. Our findings identify a general tendency for increased rates of linguistic evolution in fledgling languages, perhaps arising from a linguistic founder effect or a desire to establish a distinct social identity.
Assessment of genetic diversity in crop plants - an overview

Crop plant evolution either natural or human-directed, is primarily based on existing genetic diversity in the population. Diversity can be described as the degree of differentiation between or within species. Existing intraand inter-specific differences are at the base of all crop improvement programmes. If all the individuals within the species would have been similar, then possibly there could not have been any scope for improvement in plant performances for different traits. Since the beginning of systematic plant breeding, natural variability and divergence between crops have been extensively identified and used in improvement of crop species. However, with the progress of time, natural variability got depleted due to (i) lopsided breeding practices focusing on improvement of only few traits (like yield and its component traits), (ii) frequent use of few selected genotypes as parents in varietal development programme and (iii) introduction of few outstanding lines to many countries thereby leading to increased genetic similarity between modern crop cultivars. Reduced genetic variability and diversity among crop plant species has raised serious concern among agricultural workers. With reduced genetic diversity, further improvement in crop varieties will be an arduous task. Breaking yield barriers will become difficult and plant breeders will be unable to meet the requirements arising out of ever-increasing demand on account of exploding population. Genetic diversity becomes more important in context of climatic change and associated unforeseen events as it may serve as the reservoir of many novel traits conferring tolerance to different biotic and abiotic stresses. Genetic diversity is the underlying cause of many important agriculturally important phenomena like heterosis and transgressive segregation. Diverse lines are needed for defect correction of commercial varieties and development of novel varieties. Hence, identification of diverse lines (if available), creation of diversity (if not available or limited) and its subsequent utilization are the major goals of any crop improvement programmes. In this context, knowledge on all aspects of genetic diversity viz., factors affecting genetic diversity, different methods of diversity analysis, their measurement and the softwares for carrying statistical analysis becomes imperative in order to utilize them prudently. Many reviews have been written focusing on vital issues like changes in genetic diversity under plant breeding,1 genetic vulnerability of modern crop cultivars,2 conservation and utilization of genetic resources3,4 assessment of genetic diversity using molecular markers5 and measurement of genetic diversity using statistical tools.6–8 In the present review, an attempt is being made for comprehensive compilation of overall concepts in the area of genetic diversity, which could be of immense significance for extending knowledge and meaningful research.
Dental considerations for the patient with diabetes

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is one of the most frequent pathologies that dentists encounter, due to its high prevalence worldwide. It is diagnosed by the repeated obtaining of fasting plasma glucose levels of 126 mg/ dl or higher, or glycosylated hemoglobin of 6’5% or higher. Diabetes (especially if it is not well controlled) brings with it a greater risk of periodontal disease, which is the most frequent complication. On the other hand, the possible influence of periodontal disease on glycemic control is still not well established. Other reported manifestations are xerostomia, sialadenosis and burning mouth syndrome. With regard to dental caries, oral lichen planus and candidosis, recent studies have not revealed a significantly higher incidence in these patients. For dental treatment, the type of diabetes suffered, the treatment given for the disease, and the glycemic control status (using the glycosylated hemoglobin test) should be known. Patients should receive short morning appointments to reduce stress. The dentist has to be aware of the possible occurrence of an acute complication (hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia). Furthermore, these patients suffer from delayed wound healing and major susceptibility to infections.
Synaptic Pathology of Alzheimer's Disease a

Prospective clinico‐pathological studies on dementia in Alzheimer's disease (AD), performed during the past decades, revealed a relatively poor correlation between the degree of clinical deficit and the severity of the typical neuropathological lesions of AD, the amyloid plaques and the neurofibrillary tangles. More recent data, obtained by electron microscopy, immunocytochemical as well as immunochemical techniques indicate that synaptic loss may be a better structural correlate of dementia than other brain lesions. Synaptic pathology is reflected by a loss of all major components of small synaptic vesicles and most peptides, stored in large dense cored vesicles. The significant increase of chromogranin A proprotein, a major component of large dense cored vesicles, may rather represent a defect of protein processing than preservation of a specific synaptic subpopulation. Within the brain of AD patients, the degree of synaptic loss is uneven. Most prominent reduction of synapses is found in the outer parts of the dentate gyrus molecular layer, possibly reflecting the destruction of neurons, located in the layer 2 of the entorhinal cortex. However, within the neocortex, no preferential loss of synapses in any of the cortical layers has been found. Cerebral amyloid deposition in diffuse plaques has little effect on synapse density and structure. However, within the dense amyloid core of a classical plaque, synapses are completely lost. In the surrounding neuritic portion of the plaques, synaptophysin reactivity is frequently increased, due to enlargement of synaptic boutons and to accumulation of synaptophysin in dystrophic axons. Although the reason for synapse loss in AD is yet unknown, most results suggest that it may reflect degeneration of neurons, projecting into the respective cortical areas.
Comparative Risk: Good or Bad Heuristic?

Simply trying to eradicate heuristics and biases from medical decisions will not work and is deeply misguided. In many situations, a heuristic or bias can provide a shortcut to an effective decision (Gigerenzer 2008) or can counter the impact of other heuristics and biases. It is often impossible to determine whether a heuristic or bias harms or helps a decision, because of the complexity of thought and the difficulty of defining and measuring the quality of a decision or its rationality.
Supplementation with a Flavanol‐rich Lychee Fruit Extract Influences the Inflammatory Status of Young Athletes

Flavanol‐rich lychee fruit extract (FRLFE) is a processed lychee fruit extract that is higher in flavanols (monomers, dimers and trimers) than its unprocessed counterpart. FRLFE exerts antioxidant activities in vitro and is expected to protect against inflammation and tissue damage. However, the physiological effects of FRLFE intake have not been explored in vivo. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of FRLFE supplementation on inflammation and tissue damage in young athletes during intense physical training. Twenty healthy male long‐distance runners at a university were randomly assigned to receive FRLFE or placebo in a double‐blind manner. Blood and serum parameters associated with inflammation, tissue damage and oxidative stress were evaluated before (pre‐training), during (mid‐training) and after (post‐training) a 2‐month training period. Some parameters, including the white blood cell count, were significantly modified by FRLFE supplementation. Compared with the placebo group, the change in the serum interleukin‐6 level between pre‐ and mid‐training were significantly lower in the FRLFE group, while the change in the transforming growth factor‐β level between pre‐ and post‐training was significantly greater in the FRLFE group. These findings suggest that FRLFE supplementation may suppress inflammation or tissue damage caused by high‐intensity exercise training. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Essentials of a Productive Nurse Work Environment

Background: Staff nurse work environments must be improved. To do so, their quality must be measured. The Essential of Magnetism (EOM) tool measures eight characteristics of a productive and satisfying work environment identified by staff nurses in magnet hospitals as essential to quality patient care. The EOM items are based on grounded theory and are used to measure attributes of the work environment as functional processes. The EOMII is a revision of two of the subscales of the EOM. Objectives: To test the hypotheses that staff nurses in hospitals designated as having excellent work environments (Magnet) will score significantly higher on the EOMII and on two outcome indicators than will their counterparts in Comparison hospitals. Additional aims include establishing the psychometric properties of the EOMII; updating the National Magnet Hospital Profile; ascertaining relationships between nurse attribute, work, and contextual variables and the characteristics of a productive work environment; and investigating the relationship between the magnet structure, care processes and relationships and two single-item indicators, overall job satisfaction, and nurse-assessed quality of patient care. Methods: This was a secondary analysis of aggregated data from 10,514 staff nurses in 34 hospitals who completed the EOMII and the two outcome indicators. Results: The EOMII is a valid and reliable measure of the quality of work environment from a staff nurse perspective. The hypotheses were confirmed. There are differences in essentials and outcome variables by (a) context-nurses in magnet hospitals report the most productive work environment; (b) education-master's prepared nurses report the most favorable environments; (c) experience-the most inexperienced and the most experienced report the most satisfying, productive environments; and (d) clinical unit-medical and surgical specialty and outpatient units report the healthiest work environments. Discussion: The primacy of magnet designation as a contextual variable indicating a quality work environment was affirmed. A larger percentage of magnet hospitals meet the magnet profile now than in 2003. Item analysis of the EOMII subscales provides guidance on how to improve the unit work environment. Suggestions are made for additional study and research.
Pulmonary function and aerobic capacity in asymptomatic bariatric candidates with very severe morbid obesity.

PURPOSE Aerobic capacity and respiratory function may be compromised in obesity, but few studies have been done in highly obese bariatric candidates. In a prospective study, these variables were documented in the preoperative period, aiming to define possible physiologic limitations in a apparently healthy and asymptomatic population. METHOD Forty-six consecutively enrolled adults (age 39.6 +/- 8.4 years, 87.0% females, body mass index /BMI 49.6 +/- 6.3 kg/m2) were analyzed. Ventilatory variables were investigated by automated spirometry, aerobic capacity was estimated by a modified Bruce test in an ergometric treadmill, and body composition was determined by bioimpedance analysis. RESULTS Total fat was greatly increased (46.4 +/- 4.6% of body weight) and body water reduced (47.3 +/- 4.6 % body weight), as expected for such obese group. Spirometric findings including forced vital capacity of 3.3 +/- 0.8 L and forced expiratory volume-1 second of 2.6 +/- 0.6 L were usually acceptable for age and gender, but mild restrictive pulmonary insufficiency was diagnosed in 20.9%. Aerobic capacity was more markedly diminished, as reflected by very modest maximal time (4.5 +/- 1.1 min) and distance (322 +/-142 m) along with proportionally elevated maximal oxygen consumption (23.4 +/- 9.5 mL/kg/min) achieved by these subjects during test exercise. CONCLUSIONS 1) Cardiopulmonary evaluation was feasible and well-tolerated in this severely obese population; 2) Mean spirometric variables were not diminished in this study, but part of the population displayed mild restrictive changes; 3) Exercise tolerance was very negatively influenced by obesity, resulting in reduced endurance and excessive metabolic cost for the treadmill run; 4) More attention to fitness and aerobic capacity is recommended for seriously obese bariatric candidates;
Potentially amyloidogenic conformational intermediates populate the unfolding landscape of transthyretin: Insights from molecular dynamics simulations

Protein aggregation into insoluble fibrillar structures known as amyloid characterizes several neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's, Huntington's and Creutzfeldt‐Jakob. Transthyretin (TTR), a homotetrameric plasma protein, is known to be the causative agent of amyloid pathologies such as FAP (familial amyloid polyneuropathy), FAC (familial amyloid cardiomiopathy) and SSA (senile systemic amyloidosis). It is generally accepted that TTR tetramer dissociation and monomer partial unfolding precedes amyloid fibril formation. To explore the TTR unfolding landscape and to identify potential intermediate conformations with high tendency for amyloid formation, we have performed molecular dynamics unfolding simulations of WT‐TTR and L55P‐TTR, a highly amyloidogenic TTR variant. Our simulations in explicit water allow the identification of events that clearly discriminate the unfolding behavior of WT and L55P‐TTR. Analysis of the simulation trajectories show that (i) the L55P monomers unfold earlier and to a larger extent than the WT; (ii) the single α‐helix in the TTR monomer completely unfolds in most of the L55P simulations while remain folded in WT simulations; (iii) L55P forms, early in the simulations, aggregation‐prone conformations characterized by full displacement of strands C and D from the main β‐sandwich core of the monomer; (iv) L55P shows, late in the simulations, severe loss of the H‐bond network and consequent destabilization of the CBEF β‐sheet of the β‐sandwich; (v) WT forms aggregation‐compatible conformations only late in the simulations and upon extensive unfolding of the monomer. These results clearly show that, in comparison with WT, L55P‐TTR does present a much higher probability of forming transient conformations compatible with aggregation and amyloid formation.
Binge Drinking Aggravates the Outcomes of First-Attack Severe Acute Pancreatitis

Objectives: To study the association of binge drinking and the outcomes of severe acute pancreatitis (SAP). Methods: This retrospective study included 347 patients with first-attack SAP from January 2001 to February 2004. On the basis of the history of binge drinking or not, the patients were divided into the alcohol (n = 77) and the control groups (n = 270). Clinical data of the 2 groups were compared. Results: Patient age and comorbidity were similar between the 2 groups. There were more men (64, 83.1%) than women (13, 16.9%; P < 0.05) in the alcohol and the control groups (111, 41.1%; P < 0.05). The 2 groups had significant differences in admission serum triglyceride levels (5.0 ± 5.0 vs 3.0 ± 3.5, P < 0.05), Balthazar computed tomographic score (6.3 ± 5.4 vs 4.2 ± 4.5, P < 0.05), and Acute Physiology and Chronic Heath Evaluation II score (19.1 ± 5.1 vs 16.2 ± 6.0, P < 0.05). Total mortality and the incidences of complications were higher in the alcohol group than in the control group (P < 0.05). Conclusions: Binge drinking might be a contributor to the aggravation of first-attack SAP.
An Exploratory, Post-Harvest Comparison of Ecological and Economic Characteristics of Forest Stewardship Council Certified and Uncertified Northern Hardwood Stands

ABSTRACT As more forest entities worldwide consider pursuing Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification, a critical question remains on whether stand-level management impacts differ between certified and uncertified forests. To begin to answer this question, we measured forest structure on three FSC-certified stands, three uncertified stands, and six adjacent unharvested reference stands (12 stands total) composed primarily of sugar maple (Acer saccharum) on non-industrial private properties in central Vermont, USA. The certified and uncertified partial harvests reduced total tree biomass and live tree carbon storage by one-third compared to reconstructed pre-harvest conditions. Both treatments also contained significantly lower densities of saplings and some mid-size trees compared to non-harvested references due to similar impacts from harvesting. The net present value of merchantable sugar maple over 10 year projections was consistently lower on certified than uncertified stands, but this difference was insignificant at discount rates from 4–8%. The certified stands contained significantly greater total residual volumes of coarse woody debris (standing and downed) than uncertified stands, although the debris was smaller than that found in unmanaged mature forests. Overall, our data suggest that FSC-certified harvested stands in northern hardwood forests have similar sugar maple timber value, aboveground live tree carbon storage value, similar live tree structure, and greater residual coarse woody debris than uncertified harvested stands.
Advanced Approaches to Characterize the Human Intestinal Microbiota by Computational Meta-analysis

Goals We describe advanced approaches for the computational meta-analysis of a collection of independent studies, including over 1000 phylogenetic array datasets, as a means to characterize the variability of human intestinal microbiota. Background The human intestinal microbiota is a complex microbial community, consisting of several thousands of phylotypes, is specific for each individual, and impacts health and disease. We have developed a phylogenetic microarray, the Human Intestinal Tract Chip, to address the microbial diversity of the intestinal microbiota and used this tool to generate large datasets. It is of significant interest to use these datasets to be able to provide relations between microbial taxa, describe the extent and type of variability of the microbiota in the human gut, and establish relations between microbial taxa and their interaction with the host, intestinal location, or genotype. Results We present an advanced computational meta-analysis approach for studying human intestinal microbiota, outline the advantages and disadvantages of such a meta-analysis, and reflect it to analogous approaches in other fields. Finally, we illustrate the potential of this meta-analysis by identifying salient signatures of site-specific microbial communities, describe impact of genotype, and provide first examples of relevant relations between microbial taxa. Discussion We are in the process of designing and applying appropriate methods for carrying out a full meta-analysis of the present data. Beyond that, the next large challenges in future meta-analyses lie in the integration of data from several heterogeneous measurement methods such as next generation sequencing techniques, metaproteomics, or metabolomics. Conclusion We have shown the feasibility of an advanced computational meta-analysis of the large datasets derived from the human intestinal microbiota.