Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Structural Correlates of CA2 and CA3 Pyramidal Cell Activity in Freely-Moving Mice

Plasticity within hippocampal circuits is essential for memory functions. The hippocampal CA2/CA3 region is thought to be able to rapidly store incoming information by plastic modifications of synaptic weights within its recurrent network. High-frequency spike-bursts are believed to be essential for this process, by serving as triggers for synaptic plasticity. Given the diversity of CA2/CA3 pyramidal neurons, it is currently unknown whether and how burst activity, assessed in vivo during natural behavior, relates to principal cell heterogeneity. To explore this issue, we juxtacellularly recorded the activity of single CA2/CA3 neurons from freely-moving male mice, exploring a familiar environment. In line with previous work, we found that spatial and temporal activity patterns of pyramidal neurons correlated with their topographical position. Morphometric analysis revealed that neurons with a higher proportion of distal dendritic length displayed a higher tendency to fire spike-bursts. We propose that the dendritic architecture of pyramidal neurons might determine burst-firing by setting the relative amount of distal excitatory inputs from the entorhinal cortex. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT High-frequency spike-bursts are thought to serve fundamental computational roles within neural circuits. Within hippocampal circuits, spike-bursts are believed to serve as potent instructive signals, which increase the efficiency of information transfer and induce rapid modifications of synaptic efficacies. In the present study, by juxtacellularly recording and labeling single CA2/CA3 neurons in freely-moving mice, we explored whether and how burst propensity relates to pyramidal cell heterogeneity. We provide evidence that, within the CA2/CA3 region, neurons with higher proportion of distal dendritic length display a higher tendency to fire spike-bursts. Thus, the relative amount of entorhinal inputs, arriving onto the distal dendrites, might determine the burst propensity of individual CA2/CA3 neurons in vivo during natural behavior.
Genetic Variability and Correlation Studies in Sugarcane

The genetic variability, heritability, genetic advance and correlations were studied for ten characters, viz:, millable canes/dump, mternodes/cane, stalk weight, stalk girth kg-brix, sucrose content in juice, purity coefficient, invert sugar, ccs/cane and fibre content of 35 treatments (11 parents and 24 F1). The phenotypic and genotypic coefficient of variance indicated that selection may be done for kg-brix, millable canes/clump, invert sugar, ccs/cane, stalk weight and mternodes/cane. These characters are of great value to the breeder for selection. The millable canes/dump, internodes/cane, stalk weight, kg-brix and ccs/cane(kg) are positively and significantly associated with each other. Positive significant association of stalk girth was found with stalk weight, kg-brix, invert sugar, ccs/cane. Therefore, millable canes/dump, internodes/cane, stalk weight, kg-brix, ccs/cane and stalk girth should he given due weightage during selection.
Global climate change and ocean upwelling

The influence of global greenhouse warming on the ocean's biological productivity may be more complicated and weaker than that proposed by Bakun (1990). A doubled carbon dioxide simulation made with the Canadian Climate Centre atmospheric general circulation model coupled to a simplified mixed layer ocean model suggests that the midlatitude continents do not all follow the Bakun scenario in developing anomalous low pressure in summer and enhancing coastal winds favorable to upwelling. In the open ocean the equatorial and subpolar zonal upwelling bands and the subtropical downwelling bands generally weaken as winds diminish owing to the weakening of the equator-to-pole temperature gradient in the lower troposphere under global warming. With a weakening of open ocean upwelling and an absence of enhanced coastal upwelling, the overall effect of global warming could be to decrease the global biological productivity.
Altered resting cerebral blood flow specific to patients with diabetic retinopathy revealed by arterial spin labeling perfusion magnetic resonance imaging

Background Previous neuroimaging studies have shown that patients with diabetic retinopathy (DR) were accompanied by abnormalities in cerebral functional and structural architecture, whereas the resting cerebral blood flow (CBF) alterations in patients with DR are not well understood. Purpose To explore CBF alterations in patients with DR using pseudo-continuous arterial spin labeling (pCASL) imaging. Material and Methods Thirty-one individuals with DR (15 men, 16 women; mean age = 53.38 ± 9.12 years) and 33 healthy controls (HC) (12 men, 21 women; mean age = 51.61 ± 9.84 years) closely matched for age, sex, and education, underwent pCASL imaging scans. Two-sample T test was conducted to compare different CBF values between two groups. Results Patients with DR exhibited significantly increased CBF values in the left middle temporal gyrus (Brodmann’s area, BA 22) and the bilateral supplementary motor area (BA3) and decreased CBF values in the bilateral calcarine (BA17,18) and bilateral caudate relative to HC group (two-tailed, voxel level at P < 0.01, Gaussian random field (GRF), cluster level at P < 0.05). Moreover, the HbA1c (%) level showed a positive correlation with CBF values in the bilateral caudate (r = 0.473, P = 0.007) in patients with DR. Conclusion Our results highlighted that patients with DR had abnormal CBF values in the visual cortices, caudate, middle temporal gyrus, and supplementary motor area, which might reflect vision and sensorimotor and cognition dysfunction in patients with DR. These findings might help us to understanding the neural mechanism of patients with DR.
Effect of Starter Addition on the Physicochemical, Microbiological and Sensory Characteristics of Pasteurized Milk White Cheese (Gibna bayda)

Aims: This study was conducted to determine the effect of starter culture addition on the physicochemical, microbiological and sensory characteristics of white cheese (Gibna Bayda) during the storage period (5°C/ 45 days). Methodology: Two treatments were prepared: Treatment 1 (T1): cheese manufactured with pasteurized milk with Lactobacillus bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophilus (1:1) at the level of 2% (w/v); Treatment 2 (T2): the control; cheese manufactured with pasteurized milk without starter cultures. After cheese manufacture, physicochemical, microbiological and sensory characteristics were determined at 1, 15, 30 and 45-day intervals. Results: Results showed that the starter culture addition did not significantly (P>.05) affect all physiochemical characteristics of cheese, except for the ash content which was high in cheese manufactured with the addition of starter culture. The addition of the starter inﬂuenced the microbiological quality of the cheese, with total viable bacteria, Staphylococcus aureus and yeasts and moulds counts being significantly (P<.05) low. Furthermore, the cheese made with an added starter culture showed high scores of colour, taste and flavour. The storage period significantly affected all characteristics of the cheese, except for the fat content of the control, which remained unchanged during all storage periods. Conclusion: The results of this study show that starter culture (Lactobacillus bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophilus) (1:1) is likely to be a suitable culture for Sudanese white cheese.
Transcription os Granzyme A and B Genes Is Differentially Regulated during Lymphoid Ontogeny By Klaus Ebnet, Christiaan N. Levelt, Thao T. Tran,

Summary During development, thymocytes express a number of genes typical for activated peripheral T lymphocytes, including granzymes. We have now analyzed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), immunohistochemistry, and cytochemistry fetal liver cells and thymocytes at various developmental stages for the expression of granzyme A-G genes. At days 13-17 of gestation, only granzyme B but none of the other granzymes is expressed in fetal liver. In the most immature, Pgp-l+IL2Rc~-, thymocyte subpopulation mRNAs for granzymes A-C but not for granzymes D-G are detectable. Upon further differentiation via Pgp-1- IL-2Ko~ + into more mature Pgp-l-IL-2Rc~- thymocytes the level of expression of granzymes A, B, and C gradually declines reaching its lowest level at the CD4+8 + double positive stage. In fetal thymic lobes depleted of lymphoid cells by treatment with deoxyguanosine, no transcripts for granzymes A, B, and C were found indicating that the PCR signals are derived exclusively from early precaxrsor T/natural killer (NK) lineage cells rather than from residual stromal elements. In mature CD4+CD8 - and CD4-CD8 + thymocytes, granzyme B mRNA is found at similar levels in both subsets whereas granzyme A mRNA is expressed selectively in the CD4-CD8 + subset. Enzymatic activity of granzyme A was only seen in a fraction of CD4-CD8 + thymocytes negative for heat stable antigen (HSA) but not in the more immature HSA + fraction of CD4-CD8 § thymocytes. The data suggest that (a) granzyme B is a pro-thymocyte marker for all T/NK lineage cells; (b) granzyme A transcripts are associated with thymocytes with the potential to develop into the CD8 + lineage; and (c) granzyme A enzymatic activity is only expressed in the most mature CD4-CD8 + stage, suggesting that granzyme proteins are not involved in early stages of thymocyte development.
Effects of heavy metal pollution on hepatosomatic ındex and vital organ histology in Alburnus mossulensis from Karasu River

In this study, histological effects of water pollution to freshwater cyprinid, Alburnus mossulensis, was investigated. Water, sediment, and fish samples were taken from four stations in Karasu River Erzurum, Turkey between June and September in 2015? 2016. In water and sediment samples, the concentrations of Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Se, Br, Sr, and Pb were detected. Histopathological changes in gill, liver, and kidney tissues were determined by degree of tissue change DTC , and hepatosomatic index HSI was calculated. The mean concentrations of heavy metals in water and sediment samples were lower at station 4. The trend of some metal contents found in the fish was in increasing order of Zn < Cu < Cr < Pb. The observations on histopathology included cellular degeneration, congestion, dilatation, vacuolization, edema, vasodilatation, hyperplasia, hypertrophy, infiltration, melanomacrophage aggregates, glomerulopathy, fibrosis, and necrosis. It was observed that the DTC and HSI values in fish varied significantly from station to station. The results showed that the higher severity of histopathological alterations in the fish tissues was strongly correlated with agricultural and domestic activities in the area.
From Adaptive Readiness to Adaptation Results: Implementation of Student Career Construction Inventory and Testing the Career Construction Model of Adaptation

This study evaluates the empirical applicability of the career construction model of adaptation (CCMA) by collecting evidence about the validity of the Student Career Construction Inventory (SCCI) from a sample of Turkish high school students and examining the relations between adaptive readiness, adaptability resources, adapting responses, and adaptation results. To test the model, we conducted two studies with samples of high school students in Ankara, Turkey (n 1 = 251; n 2 = 694). In the first study, the SCCI was translated into Turkish and psychometric properties of the inventory were assessed. To validate the four-factor structure of the SCCI Turkish High School Form, two different levels of confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) were applied to 251 participants. The results of CFA demonstrated that the data for the SCCI Turkish high school sample fit the theoretical model very well. The internal consistency of the SCCI was determined as 0.72 for crystallizing, 0.75 for exploring, 0.85 for deciding, 0.73 for preparing, and 0.90 for the total. In the second study, the CCMA, consisting of four dimensions (adaptive readiness, adaptability resources, adapting responses, and adaptation results), was empirically tested by using the SCCI, which had been tested for validity in the first study. The results of serial mediation analysis supported the CCMA, indicating that adaptive readiness indirectly influenced adaptability resources, adapting responses, and adaptation results.
ONTOGENIC MORPHOLOGY AND ENZYME ACTIVITIES OF THE INTESTINAL TRACT OF THE NILE TILAPIA, Oreochromis niloticus

The gross intestinal configuration of the Nile tilapia intestine changed dramatically from a short, straight intestinal tube at hatch (day 0) to a very complex, c oiling pattern first attained at 9 weeks post-hatch. During the developmental period, gut length increased from 90% to 410% of body length. The rate of increase in both intesti al and body lengths took place at an acce lerating rate as the fish aged. The great intestinal length provides an advantage to the fish in digestion and absorption of nutrients present in the less energy-efficient herbivorous diet. Formulation of commercial diets to match the development of the fish’s intestine may offer commercial advantage. Appearance, localization and distribution of intestinal enzymes were observed in the fish at hatch and at mature stages using enzyme histochemistry. At hatch (day 0), most gut enzymes were already present in the intestinal brush border. As the fish matured, activities of the enzymes were widely distributed along the intestinal tract. The early appearance and broad distribution of activities of all studied intestinal enzymes may be one factor contributing to the rapid growth rate characteristic of tilapia, which differs markedly from other fish species. To investigate the possibility of using alfalfa as a potential protein food replacement in tilapia, the effects of different levels of alfalfa in feeds on growth and intestinal enzyme
The Influence of Stereotype Threat and Implicit Theories of Emotion on Gender Differences in Emotional Intelligence

The current study investigated the effects of stereotype threat on emotional intelligence (EI) performance and the utility of implicit theories of emotion (ITE; fixed/growth mind-set) to reduce stereotype threat effects. In Experiment 1, 186 adults received one of four EI stereotype conditions (threat, boost, nullified threat, and control) and then completed measures of ability-based EI and ITE. The results revealed that women outperform men in the “threat to men” and control conditions and that ITE moderated this gender difference. In the nullified threat condition, men with a growth mind-set outperformed men with a fixed mind-set. In Experiment 2, EI stereotypes and ITE were manipulated. The results from 452 adults indicated that the ITE manipulation affected men’s EI performance but not women’s. Overall, men adopting a growth mind-set demonstrated trends in which they outperformed men adopting a fixed mind-set. Implications related to the reduction of gender disparities in EI performance are discussed.
Prostaglandin E2 Regulates Neutrophil Survival Via EP2/PKA/NR4A2 Signalling in the Context of COPD

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a neutrophil-associated pulmonary condition that is accompanied by chronic inflammation. Neutrophil lifespan is typically controlled by constitutive apoptosis, but their prolonged persistence at inflammatory sites is implicated in COPD pathology. However, current COPD therapies are inadequate at targeting neutrophilia. Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) is a potent pro-survival mediator in neutrophils that is increased in COPD. Therefore, PGE2 may contribute to neutrophilic accumulation in COPD lungs and the resolution of inflammation may be achieved by decreasing neutrophil lifespan. Specifically, it was hypothesised that PGE2 modulates protein kinase A (PKA)-dependent neutrophil lifespan through a specific prostaglandin (EP) receptor subtype, and that the nuclear receptors NR4A2 or NR4A3 are downstream effectors of PKA-mediated neutrophil survival. Human polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN) were isolated from the blood of healthy volunteers and COPD patients. Cellular apoptosis was assessed by light microscopy and phosphatidyl serine exposure. Gene expression of PGE2 and NR4A receptors was measured by RT-PCR and qPCR. Additionally, a novel approach uses murine neutrophils (mNO) derived from cultures of bone-marrow progenitors, conditionally immortalised by expression of a chimeric Hoxb8 protein. RNAi strategies to knock down NR4A2 and NR4A3 in mNO were undertaken. PGE2 and a pharmacological EP2 receptor agonist induced PKA-dependent PMN survival and NR4A2 expression by qPCR. Likewise, PGE2-induced PKA survival was blocked by EP2 receptor antagonism. Interestingly, the inflammatory mediator LPS increased EP2 and EP4 expression by qPCR in healthy control and COPD PMN. Consistently, LPS induced early PKA-dependent survival and enhanced late PGE2 survival. Additionally, RNAi-mediated knockdown of NR4A2 in mNO decreased cell numbers during mNO differentiation. In conclusion, EP2 is the dominant receptor subtype in PGE2/PKA survival in PMN. In the context of COPD, LPS further enhances PGE2 survival through increased prostaglandin receptor expression. Moreover, this study links the nuclear receptor NR4A2 to neutrophil survival induced by the PGE2/PKA signalling axis, potentially providing a novel, specific molecular target for neutrophilia in COPD.
Apical Dominance in Apple (Malus domestica Borkh): The Possible Role of Indole-3-Acetic Acid (IAA)

The effect of IAA on apical dominance in apple buds was examined in relation to changes in proton density (free water) and membrane lipid composition in lateral buds. Decapitation induced budbreak and enhanced lateral bud growth. IAA replaced apical control of lateral buds and maintained paradormancy. Maximal inhibition was obtained when IAA was applied immediately after the apical bud was removed; delaying application reduced the effect of IAA. An increase in proton density in lateral buds was observed 2 days after decapitation, whereas the change in membrane lipid composition occurred 4 days later. Removing the terminal bud increased membrane galacto- and phospholipids and the ratio of unsaturated to corresponding saturated fatty acids. Decapitation also decreased the ratio of free sterols to phospholipids in lateral buds. Applying thidiazuron to lateral buds of decapitated shoots enhanced these effects, whereas applying IAA to the terminal end of decapitated shoots inhibited the increase of proton density and prevented changes in membrane lipid composition in lateral buds. These results suggest that change in water movement alters membrane lipid composition and then induces lateral bud growth. IAA, presumably produced by the terminal bud, restricts the movement of water to lateral buds and inhibits their growth in apple. found a higher ratio of free to bound water in the bud upon release from dormancy. Additional water moved into the buds as a result of treatment with thidiazuron (TDZ), a cytokinin-type growth regulator that activates lateral bud growth (Wang et al., 1986). Thus, MRI provides quantitative data on the state of water during paradormancy and thereafter. Biological membranes are the fundamental active sites for many specific enzyme activities; membranes transport ions and act as hormonal receptors (Brenner, 1984). Low temperatures or TDZ increased the degree of unsaturation of fatty acids in the membrane lipids of apple buds, changing polar head group composition, increasing membrane phospholipid content, and changing sterol levels and composition. The ratio of sterols to phospholipids decreased during budbreak and bud growth (Wang and Faust, 1990; Wang et al., 1988a), indicating that increased membrane fluidity is concomitant with budbreak and rapid bud growth. Because movement of water into cells upon induction of growth in lateral buds may involve changes in membrane structure, evaluat- ing membrane structure during growth induction seemed perti- nent. The primary purpose of this study was to determine the inhibitory effect of IAA on lateral bud growth of apple in relation to the state of water and changes in membrane composition.
Principal component analysis of electroencephalographic activity during sleep and wakefulness in the spider monkey (Ateles geoffroyi)

The study of electroencephalographic (EEG) activity during sleep in the spider monkey has provided new insights into primitive arboreal sleep physiology and behavior in anthropoids. Nevertheless, studies conducted to date have maintained the frequency ranges of the EEG bands commonly used with humans. The aim of the present work was to determine the EEG broad bands that characterize sleep and wakefulness in the spider monkey using principal component analysis (PCA). The EEG activity was recorded from the occipital, central, and frontal EEG derivations of six young‐adult male spider monkeys housed in a laboratory setting. To determine which frequencies covaried and which were orthogonally independent during sleep and wakefulness, the power EEG spectra and interhemispheric and intrahemispheric EEG correlations from 1 to 30 Hz were subjected to PCA. Findings show that the EEG bands detection differed from those reported previously in both spider monkeys and humans, and that the 1–3 and 2–13 Hz frequency ranges concur with the oscillatory activity elucidated by cellular recordings of subcortical regions. Results show that applying PCA to the EEG spectrum during sleep and wakefulness in the spider monkey led to the identification of frequencies that covaried with, and were orthogonally independent of, other frequencies in each behavioral vigilance state. The new EEG bands differ from those used previously with both spider monkeys and humans. The 1–3 and 2–13 Hz frequency ranges are in accordance with the oscillatory activity elucidated by cellular recordings of subcortical regions in other mammals.
Anosmia in COVID-19: Mechanisms and Significance

Abstract The global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) remains a challenge for prevention due to asymptomatic or paucisymptomatic patients. Anecdotal and preliminary evidence from multiple institutions shows that these patients present with a sudden onset of anosmia without rhinitis. We aim to review the pathophysiology of anosmia related to viral upper respiratory infections and the prognostic implications. Current evidence suggests that SARS-CoV-2-related anosmia may be a new viral syndrome specific to COVID-19 and can be mediated by intranasal inoculation of SARS-CoV-2 into the olfactory neural circuitry. The clinical course of neuroinvasion of SARS-CoV-2 is yet unclear; however, an extended follow-up of these patients to assess for neurological sequelae, including encephalitis, cerebrovascular accidents, and long-term neurodegenerative risk may be indicated.