Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Dynamic expression of Cx47 in mouse brain development and in the cuprizone model of myelin plasticity

The study shows the dynamic expression of connexin47 (Cx47) in oligodendrocytes and myelin of mice, either in myelinogenesis occurring in early development or in an experimental model of new‐myelinogenesis of adult mice. Cx47 first appeared in the embryonic mouse brain at E10.5 successively the expression increased, principally in regions populated by developing oligodendrocytes. The expression declined postnatally toward adulthood and immunoreactivity was restricted to a few specific areas, such as the corpus callosum, the striatum, the cerebellum, and the spinal cord. Since the expression of Cx47 in developing oligodendrocytes preceded those of Cx32 and Cx29, a role of Cx47 in myelinogenesis was postulated. This hypothesis was tested in a model of re‐myelination, which principally involved the corpus callosum, occurring in adult mice by treatment with cuprizone. Cx47 was upregulated during demyelination and recovered during the remyelination phase. During demyelination, Cx47 was first over‐expressed in the corpus callosum and later, when the myelin virtually disappeared in the injured areas, Cx47 was expressed in astrocytes located inside and closely around the demyelinated areas. The remyelination of injured areas occurred after stopping the administration of cuprizone and continued to complete recovery. In this period the expression of Cx47 shifted from astrocytes to newly‐formed myelin. Thus, Cx47 exhibits in this model a transient and de novo expression in astrocytes with a topographic segregation in the injured areas, only when oligodendrocytes and the myelin were most severely affected. Taken as a whole the evidence suggests that Cx47 play a key role in myelination. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
GABAA receptor‐mediated currents in interneurons and pyramidal cells of rat visual cortex

1 We compared γ‐aminobutyric acid (GABA)‐mediated responses of identified pyramidal cells and fast spiking interneurons in layer V of visual cortical slices from young rats (P11‐14). 2 The frequency of spontaneous inhibitory postsynaptic currents (sIPSCs) was similar in pyramidal cells and interneurons (1.7 vs. 1.9 Hz). For events with 10‐90 % rise times less than 0.9 ms, no significant differences were found in mean amplitude (61 vs. 65 pA), mean rise time (0.58 vs. 0.61 ms), or the first time constant of decay (τ1, 6.4 vs. 6.5 ms) between pyramidal cells and interneurons. The second decay time constant (τ2) was significantly longer in interneurons than in pyramidal cells (49 vs. 22 ms). The difference in sIPSC decay kinetics between two cell types also existed in adult rats (P36‐42), suggesting the kinetic difference is not due to differential development of GABAA receptors in these cell types. 3 The decay kinetics of monosynaptic evoked IPSCs were also longer in interneurons. As in the case of sIPSCs, the difference was accounted for by the second decay time constant. τ1 and τ2 were, respectively, 13 and 64 ms for interneurons and 12 and 47 ms for pyramidal cells. 4 Cell‐attached patch recordings revealed that the mean open time for single Cl− channels in response to 2 μM GABA was significantly longer in interneurons than pyramidal cells (5.0 vs. 2.8 ms). The chord conductance of these channels in interneurons (12 pS) was significantly smaller than in pyramidal cells (15 pS). Single channel currents reversed polarity when the pipette potential was approximately ‐10 mV for both cell types. 5 These results show that there is a functional diversity of GABAA receptors in electrophysiologically and morphologically identified cortical pyramidal cells and interneurons. This diversity might derive from the different molecular composition of the receptors in these two cell types.
Political Dynasties in Democracies: Causes, Consequences and Remaining Puzzles

Kinship often continues to play an important role in determining the ruling class even under modern democratic elections in a wide range of countries. In recent years, academic interest in the causes and consequences of such dynasties has been rapidly expanding. In this introduction to the Feature, we review existing work on political dynasties’ formation and potential implications for socio‐economic outcomes (such as economic growth, distributive policy, and gender representation), and outline a number of questions and challenges that remain important avenues for future research.
Can IATF 16949 certification facilitate and foster Lean Six Sigma implementation? Research from Italy

The purpose of this research is to understand whether the International Automotive Task Force (IATF) 16949 certification for the automotive sector facilitates the implementation of Lean Six Sigma (LSS) tools and methodologies. Moreover, the research evaluates to what extent the LSS tools and methodologies are implemented by companies through the IATF standard. The results of a seven-item questionnaire based on seven hypotheses derived from a review of the IATF 16949 standard were tested. The online questionnaire was completed by 135 Italian practitioners. Italy has about 1500 automotive-related companies that are IATF 16949 certified and has a tradition in terms of the automotive industry. The results from the questionnaire were augmented by the respondents’ notes. The results indicated that 16949 does not facilitate the implementation of Design for Six Sigma and Six Sigma in general or the Single Minute Exchange of Die tool and Total Productive Maintenance methodology. On the other hand, the respondents’ indicated that IATF 16949 had a strong effect on the implementation of the problem-solving methodology, and it affected 5S and other tools as well as tools for improving material flow management. Some particular considerations concerning how companies are obliged by the standard and customers to implement LSS tools and methodologies emerged.
Gene Transfer into Neural Cells In Vitro Using Adenoviral Vectors

Adenoviruses (Ads) have become a very attractive and versatile vector system for delivering genes into brain cells in vitro and in vivo. One of the main attractions of Ads is that they can mediate gene transfer into post‐mitotic cells, i.e. neurons. Ads are easy to grow and manipulate, stable, and their biology is very well understood. This unit is designed to help newcomers into the field, to design, prepare and grow replication‐defective recombinant adenovirus vectors with the aim of transferring genes into neurons and glial cells in primary culture. It provides step‐by‐step methods describing the preparation of brain cell cultures, their infection using recombinant adenovirus vectors and also the assessment of transgene expression using a variety of techniques including fluorescence immunocytochemistry and fluorescence activated cell‐sorting (FACS) analysis. The methods described will be useful to scientists wishing to enter the adenovirus field to construct adenovirus vectors to be used for gene transfer into neural cells.
Exploring trust transfer between internet enterprises and their affiliated internet-only banks

Purpose With the development of information technology, there is a growing trend for internet enterprises in China to launch internet-only banks. This paper aims to explore how the brand trust in an internet enterprise is transferred to the initial trust in its affiliated internet-only bank and how such transfer affects adoption behavior of potential internet-only banking users. Design/methodology/approach Data were obtained from online questionnaires via a well-known Chinese survey website and a popular Chinese social platform, which yielded 486 usable responses for the analysis. Partial least squares was used for testing hypotheses. Findings The results show that brand trust in the internet enterprise increases initial trust in its affiliated internet-only bank. This, in turn, enhances the adoption of internet-only banking. More importantly, these results show that brand trust in the internet enterprise transfers to initial trust in internet-only banking through performance expectancy and perceived risk. Further, the need for interaction moderates the relationship between brand trust and performance expectancy as well as the relationship between brand trust and perceived risk. Originality/value This study provides new insights into the mechanism by which trust is transferred between two affiliated business entities. The results of the study suggest several useful managerial implications for managing the internet-only banks.
Mosaic ring 12p and total anomalous pulmonary venous return

An infant born with total anomalous pulmonary venous return (TAPVR) was found to have an extra chromosome present as a small ring. Spectral karyotyping and FISH analysis identified the material as a duplication involving the short arm of chromosome 12. Previous cases describing a variety of cytogenetic abnormalities that have been associated with TAPVR are reviewed along with prior cases of duplication 12p with their associated findings. We believe ours is the first case to report the occurrence of mosaic ring 12p and its association with TAPVR. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Necrotizing sarcoid granulomatosis: A rarity in childhood

Necrotizing sarcoid granulomatosis (NSG) is characterized by pulmonary nodular infiltrates, a typical histology, and a benign clinical course. The etiology and pathogenesis of the disease are still unknown. In childhood, it is extremely rare, with only three reported cases so far. Here we report on an 8‐year‐old girl, who to our knowledge is the youngest reported patient with NSG. The girl presented with shortness of breath and a sore throat. Chest X‐ray and computed tomography (CT) scan revealed multiple nodular opacities of the lung. The symptoms and radiological findings disappeared within 6 months without any treatment. The diagnosis was based on the typical signs and symptoms of NSG and on the exclusion of other diseases. As abnormal immunological findings such as the lack of specific diphtheria antibodies in spite of vaccination against diphtheria were present, we suggest that immunologic mechanisms could play an etiologic role in the pathogenesis of NSG. In addition, the ratio of CD4+/CD8+ T‐cells in the peripheral blood was significantly reduced, whereas the CD4+/CD8+ T‐cell ratio in the immunohistochemical staining of the lung tissue was elevated. Since this compartmentalization is a typical finding in sarcoidosis, it supports the theory that NSG may represent a variant of sarcoidosis. However, because some characteristics of NSG are uncommon in typical sarcoidosis, NSG may also be an entity in its own right. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2003; 35:407–411. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Population genetic structure of the endangered freshwater crayfish Austropotamobius pallipes, assessed using RAPD markers

Random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis was performed to characterize the genetic diversity of Austropotamobius pallipes, a threatened freshwater crayfish native to Europe. Four decamer primers which generated six unambiguous polymorphic bands were used to analyse crayfish from 21 populations sampled in the major part of its range. Genetic diversity within populations of A. pallipes, estimated by Shannon’s diversity index, ranged from 0 to 0.446 with a mean of 0.159. A UPGMA dendrogram constructed from pairwise ΦST values between populations, revealed three clusters corresponding to populations sampled in the southern, northwestern and eastern part of its range. AMOVA analysis revealed a high genetic structure of A. pallipes populations ΦST=0.814, with 73.11% of the genetic variation distributed between these clusters. It suggests a historical geographical separation of these groups into three refugial areas, probably in the Rhine, Mediterranean and Atlantic basins during recent glaciations. The close genetic relationships between English and western French populations are in accordance with a natural postglacial origin of English populations from individuals having survived in an Atlantic refugium. However, the present results suggest that the Irish stock originated from a human translocation of individuals from an Atlantic refugium.
Incidence, Impact, and Risk Factors for 30-Day Wound Complications Following Elective Adult Spinal Deformity Surgery

Study Design: Case-control study. Objective: To determine the incidence, impact, and risk factors for wound complications within 30 days following elective adult spinal deformity surgery. Methods: Current Procedural Terminology and International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Edition, diagnosis codes were used to query the database for adults who underwent spinal deformity surgery from 2010 to 2014. Patients were separated into groups of those with and without wound complications. Univariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression were used to analyze the influence of patient factors, operative variables, and clinical characteristics on the incidence of postoperative wound complication. This study was qualified as exempt by the Mount Sinai Hospital Institutional Review Board. Results: A total of 5803 patients met the criteria for this study. Wound complications occurred in 140 patients (2.4%) and were significantly associated with other adverse outcomes, including higher rates of unplanned reoperation (P < .0001) and prolonged length of stay (P < .0001). Regardless of fusion length, wound complication rates were higher with a posterior approach (short = 2.7%; long = 3.7%) than an anterior one (short = 2.2%; long = 2.7). According to the multivariate analysis, posterior fusion (odds ratio [OR] = 1.8; P = .010), obese class II (OR = 1.7; P = .046), obese class III (OR = 2.8; P < .0001), preoperative blood transfusion (OR = 6.1; P = .021), American Society of Anesthesiologists class ≥3 (OR = 1.7; P = .009), and operative time >4 hours (OR = 1.8; P = .006) were statistically significant risk factors for wound complications. Conclusion: The 30-day incidence of wound complication in adult spinal deformity surgery is 2.4%. The risk factors for wound complication are multifactorial. This data should provide a step toward developing quality improvement measures aimed at reducing complications in high-risk adults.
Hemorrhagic Shock Induces an S 100 B Increase Associated With Shock Severity

S 100 B is a glial marker of cerebral injury. In a previous clinical study, we found an S 100 B increase within the first 24 h in patients with multiple trauma and hemorrhagic shock but without cerebral trauma. The aim of our current experimental study was to determine whether this posttraumatic S 100 B increase is caused by extracerebral soft tissue injury or by hemorrhagic shock and whether it is associated with the severity of hemorrhagic shock. Hemorrhagic shock was achieved by bleeding anesthetized rats to a mean arterial pressure (MAP) of 30–35 mmHg through a femoral catheter and maintaining this MAP until incipient decompensation. At incipient decompensation, MAP was either increased immediately to 40–45 mmHg (moderate shock) or was maintained until 40% of shed blood had been returned (severe shock), and then increased to 40–45 mmHg. Resuscitation was provided after 40–45 mmHg MAP had been maintained for 40 min. Soft tissue injury was achieved by midline laparotomy performed at the onset of hemorrhagic shock or without shock and was maintained for 30 min. Hemorrhagic shock caused an early S 100 B increase at the onset of decompensation. S 100 B remained increased for 24 h and was significantly higher after severe than after moderate shock. In contrast, soft tissue injury without hemorrhagic shock caused no S 100 B increase. The data presented demonstrate for the first time that the S 100 B increase is induced by hemorrhagic shock and is associated with the severity of shock.
Assessment of Cerebral Autoregulation Patterns with Near-infrared Spectroscopy during Pharmacological-induced Pressure Changes

Background:Previous work has demonstrated paradoxical increases in cerebral oxygen saturation (ScO2) as blood pressure decreases and paradoxical decreases in ScO2 as blood pressure increases. It has been suggested that these paradoxical responses indicate a functional cerebral autoregulation mechanism. Accordingly, the authors hypothesized that if this suggestion is correct, paradoxical responses will occur exclusively in patients with intact cerebral autoregulation. Methods:Thirty-four patients undergoing elective cardiac surgery were included. Cerebral autoregulation was assessed with the near-infrared spectroscopy–derived cerebral oximetry index (COx), computed by calculating the Spearman correlation coefficient between mean arterial pressure and ScO2. COx less than 0.30 was previously defined as functional autoregulation. During cardiopulmonary bypass, 20% change in blood pressure was accomplished with the use of nitroprusside for decreasing pressure and phenylephrine for increasing pressure. Effects on COx were assessed. Data were analyzed using two-way ANOVA, Kruskal–Wallis test, and Wilcoxon and Mann–Whitney U test. Results:Sixty-five percent of patients had a baseline COx less than 0.30, indicating functional baseline autoregulation. In 50% of these patients (n = 10), COx became highly negative after vasoactive drug administration (from −0.04 [−0.25 to 0.16] to −0.63 [−0.83 to −0.26] after administration of phenylephrine, and from −0.05 [−0.19 to 0.17] to −0.55 [−0.94 to −0.35] after administration of nitroprusside). A negative COx implies a decrease in ScO2 with increase in pressure and, conversely, an increase in ScO2 with decrease in pressure. Conclusions:In this study, paradoxical changes in ScO2 after pharmacological-induced pressure changes occurred exclusively in patients with intact cerebral autoregulation, corroborating the hypothesis that these paradoxical responses might be attributable to a functional cerebral autoregulation.
UUhistle: a software tool for visual program simulation

This paper describes UUhistle, a highly interactive program visualization system for introductory programming courses. UUhistle's main novelty is its support for visual program simulation exercises, in which the student takes the role of the computer as executor of a program in order to learn about program dynamics and to demonstrate their understanding. The student needs to predict the steps involved in the execution of a given program and to directly manipulate the elements of a program visualization to show what happens next. Visual program simulation exercises aim to aid learning by promoting a high level of student engagement with visualizations. They are automatically assessable.
Is canine leptospirosis underdiagnosed in southern Ontario? A case report and serological survey.

An eight-year-old city-dwelling Cairn Terrier was presented to a veterinary hospital in acute renal failure with evidence of hepatic insufficiency. The dog was treated symptomatically over three days, during which time vomiting was largely controlled, but it became jaundiced as hepatic insufficiency worsened. Leptospira pomona was demonstrated in large numbers by immunofluorescent staining of urinary sediment. It was isolated and its identity confirmed as L. pomona genotype kennewicki. The source of the infection was thought to be raccoons.Sera from 474 blood samples submitted for diagnostic purposes to two clinical pathology laboratories in southern Ontario were examined with the microscopic agglutination test for antibodies to selected leptospiral serovars. Of the sera tested, 39.2% reacted at titers >/=1:100 with one or more serovars, the majority of all sera (26.2%) reacting at low titers to canicola or icterohaemorrhagiae, or both. These reactions likely resulted from vaccination. A smaller proportion reacted to other serovars tested: autumnalis (3.8%), bratislava (8.2%), grippotyphosa (1.9%), hardjo (3.0%), and pomona (3.2%). Among dogs reacting to these latter serovars (other than bratislava), many had broadly cross-reacting and relatively high titers. One dog with a titer of 1:800 to pomona had had a disease typical of leptospirosis two years previously. Three other dogs with high titers to autumnalis, bratislava, or mixed serovars had clinical histories compatible with leptospirosis.We suggest that leptospiral bacterins for dogs in Ontario be broadened to include at least serovars autumnalis and pomona.
Poverty Incidence among Smallholder Farmers in the Amathole District Municipality, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa

Abstract Strategies aimed at poverty alleviation need to identify factors that are strongly associated with poverty and are amenable to modification by policy. The study employed a household welfare function, approximated by household expenditure per adult equivalent to offer explanation for the incidence of poverty and its correlates. Data were collected from a household level survey of 150 smallholder farmers in the Amathole District Municipality, Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. The Foster, Greer, and Thorbecke (FGT) poverty index was used to analyse the extent and severity of poverty and the results revealed that about 44 percent of the sampled households live below poverty line with average poverty gap of 0.097, while results from the Tobit regression model showed that household head’s gender, age, education, households’ dependency ratio, occupation, security of land rights, credit availability, social capital and assets ownership are important determinants of smallholder farmers’ poverty. Implications for smallholder farmers’ poverty reduction were discussed.
Intensive care unit renal support therapy volume is not associated with patient outcome*

Objective:Evidence suggests that patients requiring high-risk procedures benefit from care at institutions providing a large volume of these procedures. Our objective was to determine whether there is a volume-outcome relationship among intensive care unit patients receiving renal support therapy in two different healthcare systems (France and the United States). Design:Retrospective cohort study. Setting:Two multicenter intensive care unit databases: CUB-Réa (France) and Project IMPACT (United States). Patients:All nonsurgical adults requiring renal support therapy from 1997 to 2007 were included. Interventions:None. Measurements and Main Results:We assessed association of annual renal support therapy volume with intensive care unit and hospital mortality using multivariable modeling, accounting for clustering and adjusting for age, comorbidities, admitting diagnosis, illness severity, pre-intensive care unit length of stay, admission source, and hospital and intensive care unit characteristics. Our final cohorts were 9,449 patients treated in 32 intensive care units in CUB-Réa and 3,498 patients treated in 76 intensive care units in Project IMPACT. Patient demographics did not differ between cohorts. Renal support therapy delivery varied widely across intensive care units (3–129 patients per year in CUB-Réa, 1–66 in Project IMPACT). Overall intensive care unit and hospital mortality rates were 45% and 49% in CUB-Réa and 34% and 47% in Project IMPACT. After adjustment for patient, intensive care unit, and hospital characteristics, there was no association between renal support therapy volume and intensive care unit or hospital mortality whether we treated volume as a continuous measure or quartiles. Higher renal support therapy volume was associated with shorter length of stay only in CUB-Réa. Conclusions:There is a large variation in annual renal support therapy volume across intensive care units in France and the United States but no association of higher volumes with improved outcomes.