Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Role of High‐Affinity Dopamine Uptake and Impulse Activity in the Appearance of Extracellular Dopamine in Striatum After Administration of Exogenous L‐DOPA

Abstract: The differential behavioral and neurochemical effects of exogenous L‐DOPA in animals with intact versus dopamine (DA)‐denervated striata raise questions regarding the role of DA terminals in the regulation of dopaminergic neurotransmission after administration of exogenous L‐DOPA. In vivo microdialysis was used to monitor the effect of exogenous L‐DOPA on extracellular DA in intact and DA‐denervated striata of awake rats. In intact striatum, a small increase in extracellular DA was observed after administration of L‐DOPA (50 mg/kg i.p.) but in DA‐denervated striatum a much larger increase in extracellular DA was elicited. Additional experiments assessed the role of high‐affinity DA uptake and impulse‐dependent neurotransmitter release in the effect of exogenous L‐DOPA on extracellular DA in striatum. Pretreatment with GBR‐12909 (20 mg/kg i.p.), a selective DA uptake inhibitor, enhanced the ability of L‐DOPA to increase extracellular DA in intact striatum. However, in DA‐denervated striatum, inhibition of DA uptake did not alter the extracellular DA response to L‐DOPA. Impulse‐dependent neurotransmitter release was blocked by the infusion of tetrodotoxin (TTX; 1 μM), an inhibitor of fast sodium channels, through the dialysis probe. Application of TTX significantly attenuated the L‐DOPA‐induced increase in extracellular DA observed in striatum of intact rats pretreated with GBR‐12909. In a similar manner, TTX infusion significantly attenuated the increase in extracellular DA typically observed in striatum of 6‐OHDA‐lesioned rats after the administration of L‐DOPA. The present results indicate that DA terminals, via high‐affinity uptake, play a crucial role in the clearance of extracellular DA formed from exogenous L‐DOPA in intact striatum. This regulatory mechanism is absent in the DA‐denervated striatum. In addition, this study has shown that DA synthesized from exogenous L‐DOPA primarily is released by an impulse‐dependent mechanism in both intact and DA‐denervated striatum. The latter result suggests an important role for a nondopaminergic neuronal element in striatum that serves as the primary source of extracellular DA formed from exogenous L‐DOPA.
Assessment of Tryptophan Uptake and Kinetics Using 1-(2-18F-Fluoroethyl)-l-Tryptophan and α-11C-Methyl-l-Tryptophan PET Imaging in Mice Implanted with Patient-Derived Brain Tumor Xenografts

Abnormal tryptophan metabolism via the kynurenine pathway is involved in the pathophysiology of a variety of human diseases including cancers. α-11C-methyl-l-tryptophan (11C-AMT) PET imaging demonstrated increased tryptophan uptake and trapping in epileptic foci and brain tumors, but the short half-life of 11C limits its widespread clinical application. Recent in vitro studies suggested that the novel radiotracer 1-(2-18F-fluoroethyl)-l-tryptophan (18F-FETrp) may be useful to assess tryptophan metabolism via the kynurenine pathway. In this study, we tested in vivo organ and tumor uptake and kinetics of 18F-FETrp in patient-derived xenograft mouse models and compared them with 11C-AMT uptake. Methods: Xenograft mouse models of glioblastoma and metastatic brain tumors (from lung and breast cancer) were developed by subcutaneous implantation of patient tumor fragments. Dynamic PET scans with 18F-FETrp and 11C-AMT were obtained for mice bearing human brain tumors 1–7 d apart. The biodistribution and tumoral SUVs for both tracers were compared. Results: 18F-FETrp showed prominent uptake in the pancreas and no bone uptake, whereas 11C-AMT showed higher uptake in the kidneys. Both tracers showed uptake in the xenograft tumors, with a plateau of approximately 30 min after injection; however, 18F-FETrp showed higher tumoral SUV than 11C-AMT in all 3 tumor types tested. The radiation dosimetry for 18F-FETrp determined from the mouse data compared favorably with the clinical 18F-FDG PET tracer. Conclusion: 18F-FETrp tumoral uptake, biodistribution, and radiation dosimetry data provide strong preclinical evidence that this new radiotracer warrants further studies that may lead to a broadly applicable molecular imaging tool to examine abnormal tryptophan metabolism in human tumors.
Sex Offender Populations and Clinical Efficacy

We provide a brief response to a commentary submitted by Rosky in which he questions the rationale and methodological merits of our original study about full-disclosure polygraph outcome differences between juvenile and adult sex offenders. At the heart of Rosky’s substantive concerns is the premise that only research tying polygraphy outcomes to actual recidivism is useful or worthwhile. He also questions the overall utility and validity of polygraphy. We acknowledge and challenge these two points. Furthermore, many of the methodological concerns expressed by Rosky represent either a misunderstanding of our research question, study design, and sample, or a disregard for the explicit declarations we made with respect to our study limitations. Overall, it appears Rosky has accused us of not answering well a question we were not trying to ask. Our response addresses the key substantive and methodological concerns extended by Rosky and clarifies the actual aims and scope of our original study. We also argue that a calm, rational, and scientific discussion is the best approach to understanding how to improve clinical methods used in sex offender treatment.
ENDONEUROSONOGRAPHY: TECHNIQUE AND EQUIPMENT, ANATOMY AND IMAGING, AND CLINICAL APPLICATION

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the usefulness of transendoscopic ultrasound in neurosurgery, we studied two new sonoprobes measuring 6 and 8 French in diameter in 20 fresh specimens. The application and indication are discussed in the first clinical series of 75 patients. METHODS Sonocatheters (ALOKA, Meerbusch, Germany) 1.9 mm (6 French) and 2.4 mm (8 French) in diameter were introduced into the working channel of an endoscope. The preparations were done in nonfixed skulls in a surgical simulation-setting laboratory. Based on these experiences with imaging possibilities, intraoperative transendoscopic ultrasound was applied in 75 patients and a variety of lesions. It was used for imaging (41 patients), targeting (18 patients), and neuronavigation (16 patients) in neuroendoscopy. RESULTS The sonoprobe adds a transverse scan at the tip of the probe to the anterior endoscopic view. This axial scan to the longitudinal axis of the endoscope is geometrically comparable with radar scanning. Three probes working with 10, 15, and 20 MHz were used, resulting in a short penetration with a radius of 3 cm. The orthogonal scanning plane had limitations, which were documented. We observed precise imaging of well known anatomic structures and, moreover, achieved an additional dimension in endoscopy. The axial scan presents the anatomic landmarks like a map at the tip of the endoscope where the endoscope is represented as a spot. The real-time imaging and representation of the tip of the endoscope showed a capacity for navigation. This preclinical study rectified clinical application. The real-time imaging of this technique showed the ability of the navigation of endoscopes to detect more overall movements, such as blood flow or change of ventricle size during endoscopy. The primary benefit in this first clinical series was witnessed in difficult endoscopy cases and complex lesions, but benefit was also observed in cases in which vision through the endoscope alone was obscured. The main limitation was the result of little penetration depth and lack of anterior scanning. CONCLUSION Application of transendoscopic ultrasound is appropriate in neurosurgery. Training is necessary to understand the imaging and the geometry of scans because this technique does not scan along the axis of the endoscope. Further development to overcome the current limits of this technique and more clinical experience are needed.
Age‐related behavioural deficits in transgenic mice expressing the HIV‐1 coat protein gp120

Transgenic mice expressing HIV‐1 coat glycoprotein gp120 in brain glial cells were previously shown to display AIDS dementia‐like neuropathological changes and reduced hippocampal long‐term potentiation. In this report, neuromotor and cognitive performance in 3‐ and 12‐month‐old gp120‐expressing mice was compared with wildtype controls. Rotarod and cage activity measures showed no significant differences between transgenic animals and controls of either age. Open field activity was slightly altered in 12‐month‐old gp120 animals (reduced corner crossings and dwell in centre), but not in the 3‐month‐olds. Cognitive assessment using the Morris water maze showed unimpaired performance in 3‐month‐old mice during acquisition and (no‐platform) probe trials. In 12‐month‐old gp120 animals, escape latency and swimming velocity during the acquisition trials were significantly reduced, but performance improved at roughly the same rate as in control animals. However, the probe trials revealed a highly significant reduction in spatial retention in transgenic mice of this age. This demonstration of age‐dependent impairments in open field activity and spatial reference memory may relate to cognitive and neuromotor deficits seen in a proportion of HIV‐1‐infected individuals.
Effects of high-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation on reducing hemiplegic shoulder pain in patients with chronic stoke: a randomized controlled trial

ABSTRACT Objective: To examine whether high-frequency (10 Hz) repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), applied over the primary motor cortex of the affected hemisphere, could be used to manage hemiplegic shoulder pain (HSP). Methods: Twenty-four chronic stroke patients with chronic HSP, randomly assigned into the rTMS group (10 sessions of high-frequency stimulation) or the sham group (sham stimulation), were performed. The Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) was used to evaluate the intensity of pain at pretreatment, and at 1 day, and 1, 2 and 4 weeks after treatment. Changes in upper-limb motor function were evaluated using the Motricity Index (MI-UL) and modified Brunnstrom Classification (MBC). Results: When compared to pretreatment, the rTMS group showed a significant decrease in the NRS score at 1 day, and 1, 2 and 4 weeks after finishing rTMS sessions, with no significant change in the sham group. The NRS score after the rTMS sessions reduced by 30.1% at 1 day, 29.3% at 1 week, 28.0% at 2 weeks and 25.3% at 4 weeks. Passive shoulder range of motion, MI-UL, and MBC, however, did not significantly change in either group. Conclusions: High-frequency rTMS could be used as a safe, beneficial therapeutic tool to manage HSP. We think it can be used as an adjuvant therapeutic modality to enhance the therapeutic outcome of HSP.
Multiple-enzyme supplementation on digestive traits, carcass characteristics, blood lipid parameters and growth performance of broilers fed a wheat-based diet

Objective A trial was conducted from 11 to 42 d post-hatch to investigate the effectiveness of the supplementation of a multiple-enzyme preparation (Natuzyme Plus) in a wheat-based diet on digesta viscosity, pH and microbial population, villus morphology, feed passage time, nutrient retention, carcass characteristics, blood lipid parameters and growth performance of broiler chickens. Methods Three hundreds 10-d-old male Ross 308 chicks were allocated to three diets with five replicates of 20 birds per replicate. Dietary treatments were i) a wheat-based diet (W), ii) W+Natuzyme Plus (WN; 500 mg/kg of the diet), and iii) a corn-based diet (C). Results Birds fed on the C diet had higher average daily gain (ADG, p<0.01), villus height (VH, p<0.01), total tract apparent retention (TTAR) of nitrogen (NT, p<0.01) and ether extract (EE, p<0.01), nitrogen-corrected apparent metabolizable energy (AMEn, p<0.05), relative weight (RW, % of body weight) of carcass (p<0.05), blood concentration of triglyceride (TG, on d 40 [p<0.01]), total cholesterol (TC, on d 22 [p<0.05]) and low density lipoprotein (LDL, on d 22 [p<0.01] and 40 [p<0.05]), and also lower feed conversion ratio (FCR, p<0.01), digesta viscosity (p<0.01), count of coliforms (p<0.01) and Escherichia coli (p<0.01) and epithelium thickness (ET, p<0.05) than those fed on the W diet. ADG, FCR, VH, ET, TTAR of NT and EE, RW of carcass, blood concentration of TG (on d 40), TC (on d 22) and LDL (on d 22 and 40) values of the WN diet did not show a significant (p>0.05) difference compared to those of the C diet. Compared to those of the W diet, the WN diet showed the higher count of Lactobacilli and lower count of coliforms (p<0.01) and digesta viscosity (p<0.01). Conclusion In general, the results of this study showed that Natuzyme Plus supplementation in a wheat-based diet can be appropriate to achieve a comparable growth performance in broiler chickens to those given the C diet probably through improving digesta viscosity, VH, ET, TTAR of NT and EE, AMEn, count of Lactobacilli and coliforms.
DALI: A Multi Agent System Framework for the Web, Cognitive Robotic and Complex Event Processing

This paper illustrates advances over existing implementation work performed on DALI, which is a logic prolog-based framework for defining agents and Multi-Agent Systems (MAS) developed at University of L’Aquila since 1999, and publicly available. In previous work, DALI features were already extended in view of cognitive robotic applications and Complex Event Processing. Here, we show how to define and implement more efficient and versatile Multi-Agent Systems, capable to interact with real robots.
An Evolutionary Approach to Clustering Ensemble

In this paper we propose a clustering ensemble algorithm based on genetic algorithm. The most important feature of our method is ability to extract the number of clusters. Genetic algorithms have been known as methods with high ability to find the solution of optimization problems. One of these problems is clustering, a process that receives a dataset as input and divides its members into several subsets called cluster (partition or group). The members of each cluster would be alike while members of two different clusters would be as different as possible. One of the common ways to do this is combinational clustering. Combinational clustering will combine the results of different clustering methods or some executions of a clustering method to calculate final clusters. In this paper, an evolutionary combinational clustering method is proposed to find the number of clusters. The evaluation of this method on several common datasets shows the proper performance of proposed method to find final clusters as well as the exact number of clusters.
Event-specific cannabis use and use-related impairment: the relationship to campus traditions.

OBJECTIVE Despite high rates of college cannabis use, little work has identified high-risk cannabis use events. For instance, Mardi Gras (MG) and St. Patrick's Day (SPD) are characterized by more college drinking, yet it is unknown whether they are also related to greater cannabis use. Further, some campuses may have traditions that emphasize substance use during these events, whereas other campuses may not. Such campus differences may affect whether students use cannabis during specific events. The present study tested whether MG and SPD were related to more cannabis use at two campuses with different traditions regarding MG and SPD. Further, given that Campus A has specific traditions regarding MG whereas Campus B has specific traditions regarding SPD, cross-campus differences in event-specific use were examined. METHOD Current cannabis-using undergraduates (N = 154) at two campuses completed an online survey of event-specific cannabis use and event-specific cannabis-related problems. RESULTS Participants used more cannabis during MG and SPD than during a typical weekday, typical day on which the holiday fell, and a holiday unrelated to cannabis use (Presidents' Day). Among those who engaged in event-specific use, MG and SPD cannabis use was greater than typical weekend use. Campus differences were observed. For example, Campus A reported more cannabis-related problems during MG than SPD, whereas Campus B reported more problems during SPD than MG. CONCLUSIONS Specific holidays were associated with more cannabis use and use-related problems. Observed between-campus differences indicate that campus traditions may affect event-specific cannabis use and use-related problems.
Inhibition of NAD+ Glycohydrolase and ADP-ribosyl Cyclase Activities of Leukocyte Cell Surface Antigen CD38 by Gangliosides*

We have recently reported that gangliosides act as inhibitors of ADP-ribosyltransferases and NAD+ glycohydrolases (NADase) of pertussis toxin and the C3 exoenzyme from Clostridium botulinum (Hara-Yokoyama, M., Hirabayashi, Y., Irie, F., Syuto, B., Moriishi, K., Sugiya, H., and Furuyama, S. (1995) J. Biol. Chem. 270, 8115-8121). Here, we investigated the effect of gangliosides on the enzymatic activity of leukocyte cell surface antigen CD38, which is identified as an ecto-NADase (Kontani, K., Nishina, H., Ohoka, Y., Takahashi, K., and Katada, T. (1993) J. Biol. Chem. 268, 16895-16898). Gangliosides GM1a and GQ1bα inhibited the NADase activity in the immunoprecipitate of anti-CD38 antibody from the membrane extract of retinoic acid-treated human leukemic HL-60 cells. Gangliosides also inhibited the NADase activity of the extracellular domain of CD38 antigen that was deprived of the transmembrane domain and was expressed in Escherichia coli as a fusion protein with maltose-binding protein (MBP-CD38). The order of the inhibitory effect of purified ganglioside species on the NADase activity on MBP-CD38 was as follows: GQ1bα > GT1b, GQ1b > GD1a, GD1b, GM1a,GM1b, GD3, GM3. GQ1bα inhibited the NADase of MBP-CD38 in a noncompetitive manner versus NAD+ with a Ki value of about 0.3 μM. Neither ceramide nor the oligosaccharide moiety of GQ1bα had an effect on the NADase activity. GQ1bα, GT1b, and GQ1b also efficiently inhibited the ADP-ribosyl cyclase activity of MBP-CD38. At present, gangliosides are the only endogenous species that can block the enzymatic activity of CD38 antigen. The present results suggest a potential role of gangliosides as inhibitors of the ecto-NADases.
Recruitment of Heterogeneous Nuclear Ribonucleoprotein A1in Vivo to the LMP/TAP Region of the Major Histocompatibility Complex*

Sequences containing the matrix recognition signature were identified adjacent to theLMP/TAP gene cluster in the human and mouse major histocompatibility complex class II region. These sequences were shown to function as nuclear matrix attachment regions (MARs). Three of the five human MARs and the single mouse MAR recruit heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein A1 (hnRNP-A1) in vivo during transcriptional up-regulation of the major histocompatibility complex class II genes. The timing of this recruitment correlates with a rise in mature TAP1 mRNA. Two of the human MARs bind hnRNP-A1 in vitro directly within a 35-bp sequence that shows over 90% similarity to certain Alu repeat sequences. This study shows that MARs recruit and bind hnRNP-A1 upon transcriptional up-regulation.
Two cases of misinterpretation of molecular results in incontinentia pigmenti, and a PCR‐based method to discriminate NEMO/IKKγ dene deletion

Familial incontinentia pigmenti (IP) is a rare X‐linked dominant disorder that affects ectodermal tissues. Over 90% of IP carrier females have a recurrent genomic deletion of exons 4–10 of the NEMO (IKBKG‐IKKγ) gene, which encodes a regulatory component of the IkB kinase complex, required to activate the NF‐kB pathway. In IP, mutations in NEMOlead to the complete loss of NF‐kB activation creating a susceptibility to cellular apoptosis in response to TNF‐α. This condition is lethal for males during embryogenesis while females, who are mosaic as a result of X‐inactivation, can survive. Recently, a second nonfunctional copy of the gene, ΔNEMO, was identified, opposite in direction to NEMO in a 35.5‐kb duplicated sequence tract. PCR‐based detection of the NEMO deletion is diagnostic for IP disease. However, we present instances in which ex 4–10 ΔNEMO pseudogene deletion occurs in unaffected parents of two females with clinically characteristic IP. These were missed by the currently standard PCR‐based method, but can be easily discriminated by a new PCR‐based test reported here that permits unambiguous molecular diagnosis and proper familial genetic counseling for IP. Hum Mutat 21:8–11, 2002. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Landscape‐scale genetic differentiation of a mycangial fungus associated with the ambrosia beetle, Xylosandrus germanus (Blandford) (Curculionidae:Scolytinae) in Japan

Abstract In this study, we examined the genetic structures of the ambrosia fungus isolated from mycangia of the scolytine beetle, Xylosandrus germanus to understand their co‐evolutionary relationships. We analyzed datasets of three ambrosia fungus loci (18S rDNA, 28S rDNA, and the β‐tubulin gene) and a X. germanus locus dataset (cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (COI) mitochondrial DNA). The ambrosia fungi were separated into three cultural morphptypes, and their haplotypes were distinguished by phylogenetic analysis on the basis of the three loci. The COI phylogenetic analysis revealed three distinct genetic lineages (clades A, B, and C) within X. germanus, each of which corresponded to specific ambrosia fungus cultural morphptypes. The fungal symbiont phylogeny was not concordant with that of the beetle. Our results suggest that X. germanus may be unable to exchange its mycangial fungi, but extraordinary horizontal transmission of symbiotic fungi between the beetle's lineages occurred at least once during the evolutionary history of this symbiosis.