Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Chronic oral nicotine treatment protects against striatal degeneration in MPTP‐treated primates

The present studies were done to investigate the effect of long‐term nicotine treatment against nigrostriatal damage in non‐human primates. Monkeys were administered nicotine in drinking water for 6 months to provide chronic but intermittent delivery as with smoking. Plasma nicotine levels ranged from 10 to 15 ng/mL, which were within the range in cigarette smokers. Animals were then lesioned with low doses of the dopaminergic neurotoxin MPTP for several months while nicotine was continued. The results showed that levels of striatal tyrosine hydroxylase, dopamine transporter, vesicular monoamine transporter, dopamine and nicotinic receptors were greater in nicotine‐treated MPTP‐lesioned primates than in lesioned animals not receiving nicotine. Nicotine had no effect in unlesioned animals. Monoamine oxidase activity was similar in unlesioned and lesioned animals treated with or without nicotine, suggesting that nicotine did not exert its effects through changes in MPTP or dopamine metabolism. MPTP‐induced cell loss in the substantia nigra was unaffected by nicotine treatment, indicating that nicotine acts at the striatal level to restore/maintain dopaminergic function. These data further support the possibility that nicotine contributes to the lower incidence of Parkinson's disease in smokers.
The Convergence of VEGF-Neuropilin and YAP/TAZ Signaling Promotes Stem-Like Traits and DNA Repair in Breast Cancer

The role of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) signaling in cancer is wellknown in the context of angiogenesis but is also important in the functional regulation of tumor cells themselves. Notably, autocrine VEGF signaling mediated by its co-receptors called neuropilins (NRPs) appears be essential for sustaining the proliferation and survival of cancer stem cells (CSCs), which are implicated in mediating tumor growth, progression and drug resistance. Therefore, the first half of this thesis focuses on the mechanism of VEGF-NRP-mediated support of CSCs. Aberrant activity of the Hippo pathway effector YAP and TAZ are associated with breast CSCs and have been shown to confer stem celllike properties. I found that VEGF-NRP2 signaling contributes to the activation of YAP/TAZ in various breast cancer cells, which mediates a positive feedback loop that promotes mammosphere formation. VEGF-NRP2 signaling activated the GTPase Rac1, which inhibited the Hippo kinase LATS, which enabled the activity of YAP/TAZ. In complex with the transcription factor TEAD, TAZ then bound and repressed the promoter of the gene encoding the Rac GTPase-activating protein (Rac GAP) β2-chimaerin. By activating GTP hydrolysis, Rac GAPs effectively turn off Rac signaling; hence, YAP/TAZmediated repression of β2-chimaerin sustained Rac1 activity in CSCs. Depletion of β2chimaerin in non-CSCs increased Rac1 activity, YAP/TAZ activation and mammosphere formation. Analysis of breast cancer patients revealed an inverse correlation between β2chimaerin and TAZ expression in tumors. These findings highlight an unexpected role for β2-chimaerin in a feedforward loop of YAP/TAZ activation and the acquisition of CSC properties.
A wireless multichannel optogenetic headstage with on-the-fly spike detection

In this paper, we present a light-weight, wireless optogenetic headstage which provides optical neural stimulation and electrophysiological recording alongside on-the-fly neural signal processing. The proposed headstage is suitable to conduct long terms in-vivo experiments with small freely moving transgenic rodents, and features two implantable LED-coupled optical fibers and two electrophysiological recording channels while being powered by a small Lithium-ion battery. The headstage can transmit the raw neuronal signals or only spike waveforms after applying on-the-fly spike detection, which reduces power consumption by up to 14.5%. The headstage is entirely built using commercial off-the-shelf components, and the miniature design, using rigid-flex PCBs, results into a lightweight (7.4g) and compact device (25×20×15 mm). Low-power consumption is achieved by using on-the-fly spike detection alongside a real-time operating system which brings the headstage autonomy to 3h25 in full operation, including high-output power optical stimulation, micro-volts neuronal signal amplification and wireless transmission of the acquired waveforms.
Developmental coordination disorder in “apparently normal” schoolchildren born extremely preterm

Aims: To determine the prevalence of developmental coordination disorder (DCD) in “apparently normal” extremely premature (<29 weeks) or extremely low birthweight (<1000 g) schoolchildren at 8 years of age and whether motor skill assessments at an earlier age could predict DCD. Method: From a neonatal intensive care unit cohort, 50 of the 53 eligible children (IQ >84 and without disabilities at age 5 and residing in Sydney metropolitan) and full-term classroom controls matched for gender and age were assessed with the Movement Assessment Battery for Children (MABC) at school. Previous Griffith’s Scales (1 and 3 years) and Peabody Motor Scales (3 and 5 years) results were evaluated for prediction. Results: The prevalence of DCD (MABC impairment scores >1 SD below the norm) was significantly higher in the study group than controls (42% vs 8%, respectively), and severe DCD (scores >1.5 SD) was also significantly higher (30% vs 0%). DCD was independently associated with prolonged rupture of membranes and retinopathy of prematurity but not with parental education or occupation. Motor assessment using Peabody Fine Motor Scales at 3 years with a cut-off of <27th centile was the best predictor of DCD (areas under curve 78%). Conclusions: Apparently normal high-risk infants are at risk of motor dysfunction into their school years. Most of these could be identified at age 3.
What Does "Acting White" Really Mean?: Racial Identity Formation and Academic Achievement Among Black Youth

This Article critiques Fordham and Ogbu's (1986) "acting White" hypothesis of Black academic underachievement and provides a reinterpretation of the "acting White" phenomenon. After reviewing the "acting White" hypothesis, the Article considers several recent empirical refutations of Fordham and Ogbu's (1986) article. It then presents a conceptual critique of the hypothesis, employing Cross's (1971, 1991) Nigrescence framework and Spencer's (1995) Phenomenological Variant of Ecological Systems Theory. In the process, the Article reframes the issue of "acting White" from a developmental perspective; and it highlights the question of what "acting White" actually means to African American adolescents--as they engage normative developmental tasks within the context of American racism in all of its manifestations.
rrelated with Brain Structure in Young Adults

Substantial differences exist in the cognitive styles of liberals and conservatives on psychological measures [1]. Variability in political attitudes reflects genetic influences and their interaction with environmental factors [2, 3]. Recent work has shown a correlation between liberalism and conflict-related activity measured by event-related potentials originating in the anterior cingulate cortex [4]. Here we show that this functional correlate of political attitudes has a counterpart in brain structure. In a large sample of young adults, we related self-reported political attitudes to gray matter volume using structural MRI. We found that greater liberalismwas associatedwith increased graymatter volume in the anterior cingulate cortex, whereas greater conservatism was associated with increased volume of the right amygdala. These results were replicated in an independent sample of additional participants. Our findings extend previous observations that political attitudes reflect differences in self-regulatory conflict monitoring [4] and recognition of emotional faces [5] by showing that such attitudes are reflected in human brain structure. Although our data do not determine whether these regions play a causal role in the formation of political attitudes, they converge with previous work [4, 6] to suggest a possible link between brain structure and psychological mechanisms that mediate political attitudes.
The Role of Institutional Innovation in Madukismo Sugar Industry Toward The Sugarcane Farming Production in The Province of Jogjakarta

This research aims are, first analyzing the factors affecting farmers’ opportunities to adopt sugarcane farming organization as considered by Madukismo SP and the second determining the transactional cost of TR Kemitraan, the organization of TR KSU, and the organization of sugarcane farming as Autonomy (TR Mandiri). Research’s findings is farmers’ opportunity to adopt Madukismo SP’s sugarcane farming organizational innovation has been simultaneously affected by sugarcane land wide transaction cost, rendement, the experience of managing sugarcane farming, and respondent education. Considering the transaction cost charged against sugarcane farmers, the farmers with the farming of TR Mandiri bear the higher transaction cost than farmers who adopt the farming of TR KSU and TR Kemitraan. Keywords: Multinomial logistic regression, transaction cost, sugarcane farming as business cooperation (TR KSU) and sugarcane farming as partnership (TR Kemitraan), sugarcane farming as Autonomy (TR Mandiri).
On the moderating role of years of work experience in the Job Demand–Control model

The present study allows for a more flexible Job Demand–Control model by introducing years of work experience as a contextual factor (i.e. moderator). Building on the processes of adaptation and diminishing returns to learning-by-doing, the authors assumed that the relationships between job demands, job control and strain versus learning decrease with the number of years an individual has been working (i.e. years of work experience). Hypotheses were tested using data from Flemish workers during their first years on the labour market (N = 3158). The authors accounted for unobserved individual heterogeneity by means of panel data techniques. Results revealed that the impact of control on both strain and learning decreased with years of work experience (i.e. main effect). The authors also found a significant three-way interaction effect between demands, control and years of work experience for both strain and learning, in line with their expectations.
Mapping a quantitative trait locus for the concentration of β-lactoglobulin in milk, and the effect of β-lactoglobulin genetic variants on the composition of milk from Holstein-Friesian x Jersey crossbred cows

Abstract AIM: To identify quantitative trait loci (QTL) affecting the concentration of β-lactoglobulin in milk, and to evaluate the effect of β-lactoglobulin genetic variants on the concentration of fat, protein and casein in bovine milk. METHODS: A herd of 850 F2 Holstein-Friesian x Jersey crossbred cows was produced through mating six Holstein-Friesian x Jersey F1 bulls of high genetic merit with F1 cows from the national herd. A total of 1,610 herd-test records from 556 second-parity crossbreds were analysed. The concentration of fat, protein and casein in milk was measured at peak, mid- and late lactation, during the production seasons of 2003–2004 and 2004–2005. Liveweight was measured daily. DNA from the F2 animals, their F1 dams and sires, and selected grandsires was genotyped across the genome, initially with 285 microsatellite markers, and subsequently with 6,634 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP). RESULTS: A highly significant QTL for the concentration of β-lactoglobulin in milk was identified, which coincided with the position of the β-lactoglobulin gene on bovine Chromosome 11. No other consistently significant QTL for the concentration of β-lactoglobulin in milk were detected. Cows with the BB β-lactoglobulin genotype produced milk with a 30% lower concentration of β-lactoglobulin than cows with the AA genotype. The β-lactoglobulin polymorphism also explained variation in the proportion of casein in total protein. In addition, the percentage of fat was higher for BB than AA animals, whereas the percentage of total protein, mean daily milk yield and liveweight did not differ between AA and BB animals. CONCLUSIONS: A significant QTL determining the concentration of β-lactoglobulin in milk was identified. Selection of animals for the β-lactoglobulin B-allele may enable the production of milk naturally enriched for casein, thus allowing a potential increase in the yield of cheese. There may be additional future value in production of bovine milk more like human milk, where decreasing the concentration of β-lactoglobulin is desirable.
PEA I and PEA II based implantable haemodynamic monitor: pre clinical studies in sheep.

AIMS The aims of this study were first, to demonstrate that Peak Endocardial Acceleration during isovolumic systole (PEA I) is related to positive peak LVdP/dt, while Peak Endocardial Acceleration during isovolumic relaxation time (PEA II) is related to aortic diastolic pressure (ADP) and to negative peak LVdP/dt; and second, to test if the simultaneous recording of PEA I and PEA II offers a new chance to monitor indexes of LV systolic and diastolic function. METHODS An implantable haemodynamic monitor, based on PEA I and PEA II measurements via a microaccelerometer sensor located in the tip of a pacing lead, screwed into the right ventricle, was tested in nine sheep at baseline and during acute haemodynamic interventions: nitrate (0.1 mg/ kg), metaraminol (0.15 mg/kg), dobutamine (5 microg/kg) infusion. ADP, positive and negative peak LVdP/dt were simultaneously recorded by an aortic and left ventricular Millar catheter. RESULTS PEA I changes were significantly related to positive peak LVdP/dt changes during dobutamine induced inotropic changes (r = 0.83, P < 0.001). PEA II changes were significantly related to both ADP (r = 0.91, P < 0.001) and negative peak LVdP/dt changes (r = 0.92, P < 0.001) during nitrate induced hypotension and metaraminol induced hypertension. CONCLUSION The simultaneous recording of PEA I and PEA II with an implantable system offers a new chance to monitor indexes of LV systolic and diastolic function.
The Effects of Teenage Fatherhood on Young Adult Outcomes

This paper uses national longitudinal data and several new empirical strategies to examine the consequences of teenage fatherhood. The key contribution is to compare economic outcomes of young fathers to young men whose partners experienced a miscarriage rather than a live birth. The results suggest that teenage fatherhood decreases years of schooling and the likelihood of receiving a high school diploma and increases general educational development receipt. Teenage fatherhood also appears to increase early marriage and cohabitation, and has mixed short-term effects on several labor market outcomes.
Development of Non-Contact Fatigue Crack Propagation Monitoring Method Using Air-Coupled Acoustic Emission System

A monitoring system for fatigue crack propagation was developed using a non-contact acoustic emission (AE) monitoring system. The AE signals generated during the plane bending fatigue test were first monitored. The AE generation rate increased after approximately 0.5 of the fatigue life ratio. The maximum amplitude of the AE signals increased with a tendency similar to that of the crack propagation. The sensor sensitivities for the flat and arced surfaces were then compared. The sensitivity improved when the specimen surface was flat. The bar specimen with plane surfaces was used for the AE monitoring of the rotary bending fatigue test. From 0.715 of the fatigue life ratio, the AE generation rate increased after crack generation. The AE signals were detected at an earlier stage of the fatigue life in the flat surface specimen compared with the arc surface specimen during the rotary bending fatigue test. The detection of fatigue cracks in the rotary component at an early stage was possible using a non-contact AE monitoring system.
Surface and depth EEG findings in patients with hippocampal atrophy

Objective To establish if MRI evidence of hippocampal atrophy (HcA) is an independent surrogate of EEG criteria for the diagnosis of medial temporal lobe (MTL) epilepsy (MTLE). Background MRI evidence of HcA has been shown to correlate with mesial temporal sclerosis (MTS), intracranial evidence of MTL seizure onset, and outcome after temporal lobectomy. The reported rate of discordance between scalp ictal EEG recordings and MRI evidence of unilateral HcA ranges from rare to moderate. We examined the surface and depth ictal EEG findings of patients with HcA, as detected by volumetric MRI, to clarify their significance in detecting areas of epileptogenicity in this group of patients. Methods From a group of patients with refractory epilepsy, we identified 119 patients with HcA (97 with unilateral and 13 with bilateral HcA, 9 with HcA and mass lesion). MRI volumetric studies were used to obtain Hc ratios. Absolute volumes were used to detect bilateral atrophy. Surface and depth EEG recordings were analyzed for localization of ictal abnormalities, and their distribution was compared for concordance with the location of HcA. Surgical outcome was reviewed. Results Of the 110 patients with isolated HcA, 63 had surgery; 82% of ictal depth EEG onsets were concordant with the atrophic Hc, and 72% ictal surface EEG onsets were concordant. Four patients with concordant EEG and HcA failed to achieve seizure control with resection of the atrophic Hc. Furthermore, 3 patients with discordant EEG and HcA had resection of the non-atrophic Hc with excellent results. Among the 47 non-operated patients, 54% had discordant or unlocalized ictal depth EEG results and 52% had discordant ictal surface EEG. Four of the 9 lesional patients with HcA had excellent outcome after lesionectomy without hippocampectomy. Conclusion The presence of HcA is not an independent predictor of the site of epileptogenesis.
Limited integrative repair capacity of native cartilage autografts within cartilage defects in a sheep model

The purpose of this study was to investigate integration and cellular outgrowth of native cartilage autografts transplanted into articular cartilage defects. Native cartilage autografts were applied into chondral defects in the femoral condyle of adult sheep. Within the defects, the calcified cartilage layer was either left intact or perforated to induce bone marrow stimulation. Empty defects served as controls. The joints were analyzed after 6 and 26 weeks by macroscopic and histological analysis using the ICRS II Score and Modified O‘Driscoll Scores. Non‐treated defects did not show any endogenous regenerative response and bone marrow stimulation induced fibrous repair tissue. Transplanted native cartilage grafts only insufficiently integrated with the defect borders. Cell death and loss of proteoglycans were present at the margins of the grafts at 6 weeks, which was only partially restored at 26 weeks. Significant cellular outgrowth from the grafts or defect borders could not be observed. Bonding of the grafts could be improved by additional bone marrow stimulation providing ingrowing cells that formed a fibrous interface predominantly composed of type I collagen. Transplanted native cartilage grafts remain as inert structures within cartilage defects and fail to induce integrative cartilage repair which rather demands additional cells provided by additional bone marrow stimulation. © 2014 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 33:? –? , 2015.
Influence of low-level laser therapy on the rate of orthodontic movement: a literature review.

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to review low-level laser therapy (LLLT) protocols that have been used to date, and to indicate which parameters appear to be most effective to guide future research. BACKGROUND DATA Studies assessing the influence of LLLT on the rate of orthodontic tooth movement have produced controversial results as a result of methodological differences. METHODS The MEDLINE(®) database (1975-2012) and the Cochrane library (subject 8) were reviewed. Clinical studies and animal experiments written in English and focusing on the effects of LLLT on the rate of orthodontic movement were browsed. Article selection was conducted by one reviewer and checked by a second investigator. RESULTS A total of 109 articles were identified, of which 14 were selected for detailed analysis. Diode laser was used in all studies with different energies, frequencies, and doses. In animal studies, the most common and effective energy input was 54 J per session daily; in humans, it was 2 J per session on the first days of each month, with 72-96 h intervals. Orthodontic force also influenced orthodontic movement. A force of 10 g/force seems to be indicated for moving molars in rats, versus 150 g for canines in humans. CONCLUSIONS Most authors report positive effects of the use of LLLT on speed increase of orthodontic tooth movement when compared with control or placebo groups. Diode laser, especially gallium aluminum arsenide, used continuously and in direct contact with the irradiated areas, was the most frequent protocol. Further studies are warranted to determine the best protocols with regard to energy, dose, and intervention schedule.
ADAM10‐mediated cleavage of L1 adhesion molecule at the cell surface and in released membrane vesicles

Cells can release membrane components in a soluble form and as membrane vesicles. L1, an important molecule for cell migration of neural and tumor cells, is released by membrane‐proximal cleavage, and soluble L1 promotes cell migration. Release of L1 is enhanced by shedding inducers such as phorbol ester and pervanadate, but it is also enhanced by depletion of cellular cholesterol with methyl‐β‐cyclodextrin (MCD). How such different compounds can induce shedding is presently unknown. We show here that ADAM10 is involved in L1 cleavage, which occurs at the cell surface and in the Golgi apparatus. MCD and pervanadate treatment induced the release of microvesicles containing full‐length L1 and the active form of ADAM10. L1 cleavage occurred in isolated vesicles. L1‐containing microvesicles could trigger haptotactic cell migration. Only the neural L1 form carrying the RSLE signal for clathrin‐dependent endocytosis was recruited and cleaved in vesicles. Phorbol ester treatment activated L1 cleavage predominantly at the cell surface. Our results provide evidence for two pathways of L1 cleavage, based on ADAM10 localization, that can be activated differentially: 1) direct cleavage at the cell surface, and 2) release and cleavage in secretory vesicles most likely derived from the Golgi apparatus. The findings establish a novel role for ADAM10 as a vesicle‐based protease.