Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Eicosanoids and nitric oxide influence induction of reactive gliosis from spreading depression in microglia but not astrocytes

Microglia and astrocytes are transformed into reactive glia (RG) by brain disease and normal function. Eicosanoids and nitric oxide (NO), two intercellular mediators, may influence gliosis. We investigated how drugs that alter production of these paracrine signals effect induction of glial reactivity from spreading depression. Unilateral (left) neocortical spreading depression was induced in 95 halothane anesthetized rats by intracortical injections of 0.5 M KCl, with or without drug treatment (five animals/group). Immunohistochemical staining (IS) intensity using the OX‐42 and anti‐glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) antibodies determined reactivity in microglia and astrocytes, respectively. After 3 days, brains were processed for OX‐42 and GFAP‐IS and mean optical densities (OD) of IS were measured. Average OD's (for OX‐42) and the log ratio (left/right) of OD's (OX‐42 and GFAP) were compared to normal animals. Spreading depression induced significant log ratios for both OX‐42‐ and GFAP‐IS (P's < 0.01). However, dexamethasone (aglucocorticoid), nordihydroguaiaretic acid (a lipoxygenase inhibitor), and nitroprusside (a NO donor) prevented significant left sided and log ratio OD values for microglia (P's > 0.05). L‐Name, a NO synthase inhibitor, caused significant increases in left and right OD's for microglia (P's < 0.05). Mepacrine, a phospholipase A2 inhibitor, Indomethacin, a cyclooxygenase inhibitor, and phenylephrine, an adrenergic agonist, did not prevent induction of significant OX‐42 log ratios (P's < 0.01, 0.05, 0.01), and resulted in increases in left side OD's (P's < 0.01, 0.05, 0.05). Significant GFAP log ratios occurred after spreading depression in all drug groups, P's < 0.01. Thus, induction of reactivity in microglia is more sensitive to eicosanoids and NO than in astrocytes. © 1996 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The effect of diets rich in and free from additives on the behavior of children with hyperkinetic and learning disorders.

Abstract Thirty-nine children in a summer camp were given the Feingold Diet, which eliminates artificial additives and salicylate-containing foods, for 1 week, followed by administration for 1 week of food containing those ingredients. The behavior of all children was monitored by videotape for 4-minute intervals at mealtime. All children were classified by public school psychologists as having moderate to severe learning disorders; 18 were also hyperkinetic, and 17 were taking medication for the latter condition. Three raters blind to the respective diets the children were on rated the children's behavior for motor restlessness, disorganized behavior, and misbehavior. No significant differences were found in behaviors during weeks 1 and 2. The authors conclude that the Feingold Diet has no beneficial effect on most children with learning disorders, or on hyperkinetic children taking medication.
TIME-DEPENDENT RANDOM EFFECT POISSON RANDOM FIELD MODEL FOR POLYMORPHISM WITHIN AND BETWEEN TWO RELATED SPECIES

TIME-DEPENDENT RANDOM EFFECT POISSON RANDOM FIELD MODEL FOR POLYMORPHISM WITHIN AND BETWEEN TWO RELATED SPECIES by Shilei Zhou Dr. Amei Amei, Examination Committee Chair Associate Professor of Mathematical Sciences University of Nevada Las Vegas Molecular evolution is partially driven by mutation, selection, random genetic drift, or combination of the three factors. To quantify the magnitude of these genetic forces, a previously developed time-dependent fixed effect Poisson random field model provides powerful likelihood and Bayesian estimates of mutation rate, selection coefficient, and species divergence time. The assumption of the fixed effect model that selection intensity is constant within a genetic locus but varies across genes is obviously biologically unrealistic, but it serves the original purpose of making statistical inference about selection and divergence between two related species they are individually at mutation-selection-drift inequilibrium. By relaxing the constant selection assumption, this dissertation derives a within-locus random effect model in which the selective intensity of non-synonymous mutation in a gene is treated as a iii random sample from some underlying normal distribution and applies a Bayesian framework to make statistical inference about various genetic parameters. Also, a new N-ADAM-mixing Markov chain Monte Carlo sampler is created to provide better sampling strategy and fastens the convergence speed. Furthermore, to conquer the computational cost of the developed model this dissertation proposes a MPI parallel computing scheme which boosts the calculation speed by ten times.
Are speculators informed

The positions of hedgers and speculators are correlated with returns in a number of futures markets, but there is much debate as to the interpretation of such a relationship – whether it reflects private information, liquidity, or trend-chasing behavior. This paper studies the relationship between positioning of hedgers and speculators and returns in equity futures markets. I propose a novel test of the private information hypothesis: analyzing the effect of public announcements about futures positions on prices, using high-frequency data in short windows around the announcements. I find that the revelation of speculators’ positions is informative to investors more broadly, supporting the private information view.
Gastric surgery is not a risk for Barrett's esophagus or esophageal adenocarcinoma.

BACKGROUND & AIMS The contribution of duodeno-gastroesophageal reflux to the development of Barrett's esophagus has remained an interesting but controversial topic. The present study assessed the risk for Barrett's esophagus after partial gastrectomy. METHODS The data of outpatients from a medicine and gastroenterology clinic who underwent upper gastrointestinal endoscopy for any reason were analyzed in a case-control study. A case population of 650 patients with short- segment and 366 patients with long-segment Barrett's esophagus was compared in a multivariate logistic regression to a control population of 3047 subjects without Barrett's esophagus or other types of gastroesophageal reflux disease. RESULTS In the case population, 25 (4%) patients with short-segment and 15 (4%) patients with long-segment Barrett's esophagus presented with a history of gastric surgery compared with 162 (5%) patients in the control population, yielding an adjusted odds ratio of 0.89 with a 95% confidence interval of 0.54-1.46 for short-segment and an adjusted odds ratio of 0.71 (0.30-1.72) for long-segment Barrett's esophagus. Similar results were obtained in separate analyses of 64 patients with Billroth-1 gastrectomy, 105 patients with Billroth-2 gastrectomy, and 33 patients with vagotomy and pyloroplasty for both short- and long-segment Barrett's esophagus. Caucasian ethnicity, the presence of hiatus hernia, and alcohol consumption were all associated with elevated risks for Barrett's esophagus. CONCLUSIONS Gastric surgery for benign peptic ulcer disease is not a risk factor for either short- or long-segment Barrett's esophagus. This lack of association between gastric surgery and Barrett's esophagus suggests that reflux of bile without acid is not sufficient to damage the esophageal mucosa.
Gamma Radiation Effects on Different Varieties of SiGe:C HBT Technologies

We have studied the ionization damage produced by gamma irradiation on transistors from three different varieties of SiGe:C HBT technologies from Innovation for High Performance Microelectronics (IHP), Germany. The results show strong gain degradations at the highest doses, with an indication of damage saturation. We did not observe strong differences in radiation tolerance among the three different technologies. These studies are in the framework of the radiation assurance tests of SiGe BiCMOS technologies for their possible application in the front-end readout electronics of the detector modules of the future ATLAS upgrade for the Super-LHC, but space-oriented applications are also considered. A comparison is presented with previous gamma irradiations of different SiGe technologies in the literature.
Carcinogenesis in mouse stomach by simultaneous activation of the Wnt signaling and prostaglandin E2 pathway.

BACKGROUND & AIMS Accumulating evidence indicates that prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)), a downstream product of cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2), plays a key role in gastric tumorigenesis. The Wnt pathway is also suggested to play a causal role in gastric carcinogenesis. However, the molecular mechanism remains poorly understood of how the Wnt and PGE(2) pathways contribute to gastric tumorigenesis. To investigate the role of Wnt and PGE(2) in gastric cancer, we have generated transgenic mice that activate both pathways and examined their phenotypes. METHODS We constructed K19-Wnt1 transgenic mice expressing Wnt1 in the gastric mucosa using the keratin 19 promoter. We then crossed K19-Wnt1 mice with another transgenic line, K19-C2mE, to obtain K19-Wnt1/C2mE compound transgenic mice. The K19-C2mE mice express COX-2 and microsomal prostaglandin E synthase-1 (mPGES-1) in the stomach, showing an increased gastric PGE(2) level. We examined the gastric phenotypes of both K19-Wnt1 and K19-Wnt1/C2mE mice. RESULTS K19-Wnt1 mice had a significant suppression of epithelial differentiation and developed small preneoplastic lesions consisting of undifferentiated epithelial cells with macrophage accumulation. Importantly, additional expression of COX-2 and mPGES-1 converted the preneoplastic lesions in the K19-Wnt1 mice into dysplastic gastric tumors by 20 weeks of age. Notably, we found mucous cell metaplasia in the glandular stomach of the K19-Wnt1/C2mE mice as early as 5 weeks of age, before the dysplastic tumor development. CONCLUSIONS Wnt signaling keeps the gastric progenitor cells undifferentiated. Simultaneous activation of both Wnt and PGE(2) pathways causes dysplastic gastric tumors through the metaplasia-carcinoma sequence.
Cryptochromes, Phytochromes, and COP1 Regulate Light-Controlled Stomatal Development in Arabidopsis[W]

In Arabidopsis thaliana, the cryptochrome (CRY) blue light photoreceptors and the phytochrome (phy) red/far-red light photoreceptors mediate a variety of light responses. COP1, a RING motif–containing E3 ubiquitin ligase, acts as a key repressor of photomorphogenesis. Production of stomata, which mediate gas and water vapor exchange between plants and their environment, is regulated by light and involves phyB and COP1. Here, we show that, in the loss-of-function mutants of CRY and phyB, stomatal development is inhibited under blue and red light, respectively. In the loss-of-function mutant of phyA, stomata are barely developed under far-red light. Strikingly, in the loss-of-function mutant of either COP1 or YDA, a mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase, mature stomata are developed constitutively and produced in clusters in both light and darkness. CRY, phyA, and phyB act additively to promote stomatal development. COP1 acts genetically downstream of CRY, phyA, and phyB and in parallel with the leucine-rich repeat receptor-like protein TOO MANY MOUTHS but upstream of YDA and the three basic helix-loop-helix proteins SPEECHLESS, MUTE, and FAMA, respectively. These findings suggest that light-controlled stomatal development is likely mediated through a crosstalk between the cryptochrome-phytochrome-COP1 signaling system and the mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathway.
Photocatalytic reduction of Cr(VI) and Ni(II) in aqueous solution by synthesized nanoparticle ZnO under ultraviolet light irradiation: a kinetic study

Photocatalytic removal of Cr(VI) and Ni(II) from aqueous solution using synthesized nanoparticle ZnO under ultraviolet (UV) light irradiation was studied in this work. Firstly, nanoparticle ZnO was prepared by the chemical method with an organic chemical inhibitor. Then removal efficiency of Cr(VI) and Ni(II) by nanoparticle ZnO was investigated with variation of the solution pH, ZnO dosage, contact time and initial Cr(VI) and Ni(II) concentration. Maximum removal of Cr(VI) and Ni(II) was observed at near‐neutral pH because the reduced photocatalytic activity of ZnO at exceedingly low and high pH values originates from either acidic/photochemical corrosion of the catalyst and/or surface passivation with Zn(OH)2. As the ZnO dosage increased, the removal efficiency of Cr(VI) and Ni(II) was continuously enhanced, but was gradually decreased above 1.25 g/l due to the increased blockage of the incident UV light used for the photocatalytic reaction. The optimum ZnO dosage was determined as 1 g/l. Removal efficiencies of Cr(VI) and Ni(II) decreased as initial Cr(VI) and Ni(II) concentration increased, due to an increased inhibition effect on the surface of ZnO resulting from the decreased reaction sites on the surface of ZnO required for the further photocatalytic reaction.
Distribution and effects of tachykinin‐like peptides in the stomatogastric nervous system of the crab, Cancer borealis

The rhythmically active pyloric and gastric mill motor patterns in the stomatogastric ganglion of the crab, Cancer borealis, are influenced by modulatory projection neurons whose somata are located primarily in the other ganglia of the stomatogastric nervous system. One of these projection neurons exhibits substance P‐like immunolabeling. However, bath application of substance P does not influence these motor patterns. To determine whether a different peptide is responsible for the substance P‐like immunolabeling, we studied the presence and physiological effects of the locustatachykinins and the leucokinins, two families of tachykininlike peptides originally identified in insect nervous systems. Locustatachykinin‐hke immunolabeling has the same distribution in the stomatogastric nervous system as substance P‐like immunolabeling and colocalizes with it in the majority of immunopositive structures. Preincubation of locustatachykinin antibody with substance P, and preincubation of substance P antibody with locustatachykinin, blocks subsequent immunolabeling in the stomatogastric nervous system. In contrast, we found no leucokinin‐like immunolabeling in this system. Bath application to the stomatogastric ganglion of individual locustatachykinins or leucokinins excited the pyloric rhythm in a state‐dependent manner. Each peptide family had distinct effects on the pyloric rhythm. Thus, both of these tachykinin‐like peptide families are likely related to native neuropeptides that influence the pyloric rhythm. Furthermore, a member of the locustatachykinin family is likely to be the source of the previously identified substance P‐like immunoreactivity in the stomatogastric nervous system. © 1995 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The Secretory System of Arabidopsis

Abstract Over the past few years, a vast amount of research has illuminated the workings of the secretory system of eukaryotic cells. The bulk of this work has been focused on the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, or on mammalian cells. At a superficial level, plants are typical eukaryotes with respect to the operation of the secretory system; however, important differences emerge in the function and appearance of endomembrane organelles. In particular, the plant secretory system has specialized in several ways to support the synthesis of many components of the complex cell wall, and specialized kinds of vacuole have taken on a protein storage role—a role that is intended to support the growing seedling, but has been co-opted to support human life in the seeds of many crop plants. In the past, most research on the plant secretory system has been guided by results in mammalian or fungal systems but recently plants have begun to stand on their own as models for understanding complex trafficking events within the eukaryotic endomembrane system.
Reconciling the divide between strategic HRM practices and work-life balance: conceptualising a career-life balance audit

The effective management of employees’ work-life balance (WLB) requires organisations to recognise and account for the array of work and non-work roles that impact their employees’ working-lives. Despite the literary attention given to the ‘work-life balance’ in recent years, however, contemporary researchers still note the concept’s inadequacy both in terms of its definition and administration. Research suggests that in order to manage the WLB effectively, human resource managers should consider better representing the employees’ perspective in their management of the WLB. This paper attempts to facilitate this through the conceptualisation of a Career-Life Balance Impact Audit. Such an audit would provide employees with an avenue to express their WLB needs and career aspirations formally with their employer, and provide a firm with a potentially powerful basis upon which to implement their job evaluation/design and performance management processes
Multi-view, broadband, acoustic classification of marine animals

Marine ecosystems provide basic and fundamental living resources for hu-mans [1]. Of these resources, perhaps the ones with the most direct influence on human life are fishes and the associated fisheries around the globe. In regard to fish populations in the ocean, there has been increasing evidence showing that many of these resources are being significantly depleted [2, 3], and new strategies of ecosystem-based management and marine protected areas (MPAs) are being recommended [1, 4, 5]. For zooplankton, research has demonstrated a strong correlation between increasing Sea Surface Temperature due to global warming and zooplankton abundance [6], and populations of the California Current have declined by 80 % during the last 60 years [7]. As the complexities of ecosystem management increase with the changes to management paradigms and the need to collect comprehensive data grows, new technologies must be developed, including advanced remote sensing methods for animal abundance estimation [8].
Orcinol derivative compound with antioxidant properties protects Langerhans islets against streptozotocin damage

To design and synthesize an orcinol derivative compound, 3‐formyl‐2,4‐dihydroxy‐5,6‐dimethyl sodium benzoate (A4), as an antioxidant molecule and to test its effects on oxidative stress in an in‐vitro model of apoptosis of pancreatic rat beta cells induced by streptozotocin (STZ).
Identification of ENV determinants in V3 that influence the molecular anatomy of CCR5 utilization.

The V3 loop of the ENV glycoprotein exerts a dominant influence on the interaction of gp120 with coreceptors. Primary env genes cloned from sequential isolates from two seroconverters revealed Pro-->Ala conversion in the conserved GPG motif of the V3 crown in seven of 17 R5 ENV. ENV containing the GPG motif in the V3 crown had fusogenic activity with chimeric receptors containing either the N terminus or loops of CCR5, whereas those with the GAG variant utilized only the former. Site-directed mutagenesis of multiple primary and prototypic R5 env genes demonstrated that the GPG motif was necessary for dual utilization of the N terminus and body of CCR5 in both gain and loss-of-function experiments. All ENV containing the GPG V3 crown showed CCR5 binding in the presence of soluble CD4, whereas it was not detected with the GAG variants. Molecular dynamic simulations of a V3 peptide predicts that the Pro-->Ala substitution results in a conformational change with loss of the crown structure. These studies demonstrate that sequences in the third hypervariable region determine the specificity of coreceptor utilization for fusion, and that a conserved motif in the crown directly influences the molecular anatomy of the interaction between gp120 and CCR5.
Magnetic Resonance Colonography with Fecal Tagging: An Innovative Approach Without Bowel Cleansing

To date, virtual colonography mandates bowel cleansing in a manner similar to colonoscopy. Because more than half of patients undergoing bowel preparation complain about negative side effects, patient acceptance is negatively impacted. To assure high patient acceptance of MR colonography, bowel cleansing needs to be eliminated. This can be accomplished by fecal tagging, a concept based on altering the signal intensity of stool by adding contrast-modifying substances to regular meals. This article describes different fecal tagging approaches and points out both advantages and limitations of these strategies.
The Effect of Linseed Oil and Kelp Meal in Diets on Fatty Acid Profile of Rabbitfish Siganus Rivulatus

Marine fish are an excellent source of dietary protein and omega-3 highly unsaturated fatty acids (n-3 HUFA). Various researchers claim that wild caught fish are healthier to consume than aquacultured fish. The assumption is that the diet of the wild fish is healthier and that translates to humans consuming the fish. The spinefoot rabbit fish is an herbivorous marine fish with a healthy fatty acid profile. Because diet can significantly influence the fatty acid profile of fish, we tested the effect of dietary non-marine lipids on rabbitfish proximate composition and fatty acid profile. Spinefoot rabbitfish juveniles were maintained in 50L glass tanks connected to a recirculating system. Fish were offered one of four dietary treatments with three replicate tanks per treatment. Three feeds were formulated to contain lipids with various fatty acid profiles. One diet was formulated with fish oil (Rich in EPA and DHA), one with linseed oil (Rich in alpha linolenic acid, ALA) and the third with linseed oil supplemented with DHA. Additionally, a commercial feed was tested as a reference and all results were compared to those of fish from another experiment that were reared using a high protein and lipid commercial diet. Results show that flesh of wild rabbitfish does not contain significantly more EPA and DHA than flesh of fish offered diets rich in ALA. Flesh of rabbitfish that consumed EPA and DHA in their diets contained significantly more of these two n-3 HUFA than flesh of wild fish. The present study demonstrates that consumption of aquacultured rabbitfish is as beneficial as, if not more beneficial than consumption of wild caught fish.