Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Background colour matching by a crab spider in the field: a community sensory ecology perspective

SUMMARY The question of whether a species matches the colour of its natural background in the perspective of the correct receiver is complex to address for several reasons; however, the answer to this question may provide invaluable support for functional interpretations of colour. In most cases, little is known about the identity and visual sensory abilities of the correct receiver and the precise location at which interactions take place in the field, in particular for mimetic systems. In this study, we focused on Misumena vatia, a crab spider meeting the criteria for assessing crypsis better than many other models, and claimed to use colour changes for both aggressive and protective crypsis. We carried out a systematic field survey to quantitatively assess the exactness of background colour matching in M. vatia with respect to the visual system of many of its receivers within the community. We applied physiological models of bird, bee and blowfly colour vision, using flower and spider spectral reflectances measured with a spectroradiometer. We observed that crypsis at long distance is systematically achieved, exclusively through achromatic contrast, in both bee and bird visions. At short distance, M. vatia is mostly chromatically detectable, whatever the substrate, for bees and birds. However, spiders can be either poorly discriminable or quite visible depending on the substrate for bees. Spiders are always chromatically undetectable for blowflies. We discuss the biological relevance of these results in both defensive and aggressive contexts of crypsis within a community sensory perspective.
Fructus Benincasae Recens Extract Prevents Cytokine‐Induced Nitric Oxide Formation and Cytotoxicity of RINm5F Cells

Abstract Cytokines produced by immune cells infiltrating pancreatic islets are important mediators of β‐cell destruction in insulin‐dependent diabetes mellitus. In this study, the effects of Fructus Benincasae Recens (FBR) extract on cytokine‐induced β‐cell dysfunction were examined. Fructus Benincasae Recens extract completely protected interleukin‐1β (IL‐1β) and interferon‐γ (IFN‐γ)‐mediated cytotoxicity in rat insulinoma cell line (RINm5F). Incubation with FBR extract resulted in a significant reduction of IL‐1β and IFN‐γ‐induced nitric oxide (NO) production, a finding that correlated well with reduced levels of the inducible form of NO synthase (iNOS) mRNA and protein. The molecular mechanism by which FBR extract inhibited iNOS gene expression appeared to involve the inhibition of NF‐κB activation. Our results revealed the possible therapeutic value of FBR extract for the prevention of diabetes mellitus progression.
Thoracic myelopathy caused by ossification of the ligamentum flavum: a report of 18 cases.

OBJECT Thoracic myelopathy caused by ossification of the ligamentum flavum (OLF) is a rare entity, most evident in Japan. The authors studied the clinical manifestations, radiological aspects, surgical treatment, and pathogenesis of this disease. METHODS Eighteen patients with OLF-induced thoracic myelopathy underwent laminectomy. The severity of myelopathy varied. Complete paraplegia was seen in three cases. Compression of the upper and middle third of the thoracic spine was evident in six cases and of the lower third in 12 cases. Multilevel OLF was demonstrated in 13 cases. In most cases, the ossified ligamentum flavum appears as a V-shaped lesion on computerized tomography and magnetic resonance images. In all patients the diameter of the posterior spinal canal, already narrowed, was further exacerbated by the OLF. Laminectomy was limited to the levels of compression, and the ligamentum flavum was resected in all cases. The symptoms and signs improved in 13 cases and stabilized in four cases. In one case symptoms recurred as a result of ossified lesions forming at other sites. Histological examination showed that the mode of development of the ossified ligaments was endochondral ossification. CONCLUSIONS Reports of OLF-induced myelopathy are rare and mainly described in Japan. The incidence also seems high in North Africa. An early laminectomy limited to the level of compression is recommended. Ossified ligamentum flavum is different from the calcification of the ligamentum flavum, which is due to crystal deposits.
Animal Models of Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis: Of Mice and Man

The epidemic occurrence of obesity has led to a rapid increase in the incidence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in industrial countries. The disease spectrum includes hepatic steatosis, lobular inflammation with steatohepatitis (NASH) and varying degrees of liver fibrosis, which can progress to cirrhosis. Hepatocellular carcinoma can develop in patients with NASH, even in the absence of cirrhosis. The majority of patients with primary NASH exhibit risk factors that define the metabolic syndrome including insulin resistance and visceral obesity. However, only a minority of patients with NAFLD progress to end-stage liver disease and, so far, predictors to identify these patients are not available. The course of disease progression appears to be slow and develops progressively over years, modulated by genetic susceptibility, nutritional misbehavior and environmental factors. Although risk factors have been identified in epidemiological studies, little is known about disease initiation and progression. This review summarizes the existing animal models of NAFLD, focusing on genetic and dietary models, and discusses their applicability in studying signaling events involved in steatohepatitis. Despite the shortcomings inherent to all experimental models, research in this field has helped to identify potential therapeutic targets and, thus, contributed significantly to our understanding of this disease. The validation and search for new in vivo and in vitro models will propagate the understanding of NASH and help clinicians to develop new treatment modalities.
In VivoInduced Malignant Hyperthermia in Pigs. III. Localization of Calcium in Skeletal Muscle Mitochondria by Means of Electronmicroscopy and Microprobe Analysis

Biceps femoris muscle biopsies of malignant hyperthermia susceptible (MH+) and non‐susceptible (MH‐) Dutch Landrace pigs were studied ultrastructurally, and exchangeable calcium was demonstrated, using the antimonate precipitation technique in combination with electron probe x‐ray microanalysis. Biopsies were taken before and during the administration of halothane‐plus‐succinylcholine and after dantrolene sodium treatment of the animals. MH+ muscle, taken before the MH triggering, showed a high proportion (about 35%) of cells with supercontraction. Both MH+ and MH‐ muscle had broad but nearly identical ranges of cell diameter. Core‐like structures were occasionally present in muscle from MH+ pigs. Muscle mitochondria from the MH+ pigs accumulated large amounts of calcium in their matrix compartment during the halothane‐plus‐succinylcholine induced MH crisis. This calcium loading in the course of time caused swelling and structural damage to the mitochondria. Skeletal muscle mitochondria from MH+ pigs did not show such a reaction pattern on challenge with halothane and succinylcholine. It is concluded that in MH+ pigs the challenge brings about an increase in myoplasmic free calcium, which is predominantly due to calcium influx from the extracellular fluid. This rise in cytosolic calcium causes the mitochondria to accumulate the cation in an energy‐dependent way. These findings are discussed in relation to the diverging halothane and caffeine contraction responses of aerobic type I and anaerobic type II muscle fibres.
Frequent detection of acute primary HIV infection in men in Malawi

Background: Acute (antibody-negative) HIV infection is associated with high transmission potential but is rarely recognized. Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: We examined the prevalence and predictors of acute HIV infection among 1361 consecutive male outpatients attending sexually transmitted disease (STD; n = 929) and dermatology (n = 432) clinics in Lilongwe, Malawi. Serum specimens negative for HIV antibodies were screened by HIV RNA PCR using a highly specific pooling/resolution testing algorithm. Results: Five-hundred and fifty-three men (40.6%) were HIV antibody positive and 24 (1.8%) had acute HIV infection; 23 of 24 acutely infected men were from the STD clinic, where they represented 4.5% of all HIV antibody-negative men and 5.0% of all HIV infections. HIV RNA levels for acutely infected men were significantly higher [median (interquartile range), 6.10 (5.19–6.54) log10 HIV RNA copies/ml] than for 58 HIV antibody-positive men [4.42 (3.91–4.95) log10 copies/ml; P < 0.0001]. The factor most strongly associated with acute HIV infection was STD clinic attendance: (odds ratio, 15.2; 95% confidence interval, 2.04–113.0). In multivariate analysis considering only STD patients, factors associated with acute HIV infection included inguinal adenopathy, genital ulceration and age 24–26 years, the age stratum associated with peak incidence of HIV infection among Malawian men. Conclusions: Traditional HIV antibody tests alone are not sufficient to exclude HIV infection among men with acute STD in Malawi due to a surprising proportion of acute HIV infections in this population. Alternative screening methods are required for diagnosis of acute HIV infection; such screening could be important for research and for prevention of the sexual transmission of HIV in select populations.
Real-time PCR in detection and quantitation of Leishmania donovani for the diagnosis of Visceral Leishmaniasis patients and the monitoring of their response to treatment

Sustained elimination of Visceral Leishmaniasis (VL) requires the reduction and control of parasite reservoirs to minimize the transmission of Leishmania donovani infection. A simple, reproducible and definitive diagnostic procedure is therefore indispensable for the early and accurate detection of parasites in VL, Relapsed VL (RVL) and Post Kala-azar Dermal Leishmaniasis (PKDL) patients, all of whom are potential reservoirs of Leishmania parasites. To overcome the limitations of current diagnostic approaches, a novel quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) method based on Taqman chemistry was devised for the detection and quantification of L. donovani in blood and skin. The diagnostic efficacy was evaluated using archived peripheral blood buffy coat DNA from 40 VL, 40 PKDL, 10 RVL, 20 cured VL, and 40 cured PKDL along with 10 tuberculosis (TB) cases and 80 healthy endemic controls. Results were compared to those obtained using a Leishmania-specific nested PCR (Ln-PCR). The real time PCR assay was 100% (95% CI, 91.19–100%) sensitive in detecting parasite genomes in VL and RVL samples and 85.0% (95% CI, 70.16–94.29%) sensitive for PKDL samples. In contrast, the sensitivity of Ln-PCR was 77.5% (95% CI, 61.55–89.16%) for VL samples, 100% (95%CI, 69.15–100%) for RVL samples, and 52.5% (95% CI, 36.13–68.49%) for PKDL samples. There was significant discordance between the two methods with the overall sensitivity of the qPCR assay being considerably higher than Ln-PCR. None of the assay detected L. donovani DNA in buffy coats from cured VL cases, and reduced infectious burdens were demonstrated in cured PKDL cases who remained positive in 7.5% (3/40) and 2.5% (1/40) cases by real-time PCR and Ln-PCR, respectively. Both assays were 100% (95% CI, 95.98–100) specific with no positive signals in either endemic healthy control or TB samples. The real time PCR assay we developed offers a molecular tool for accurate detection of circulating L. donovani parasites in VL, PKDL and RVL patients, as well as being capable of assessing response to treatment. As such, this real time PCR assay represents an important contribution in efforts to eliminate VL.
Comparison of three methods for measuring the time spent in physical activity.

PURPOSE Three methods for measuring time spent in daily physical activity (PA) were compared during a 21-d period among 83 adults (38 men and 45 women). METHODS Each day, participants wore a Computer Science and Applications, Inc. (CSA) monitor and completed a 1-page, 48-item PA log that reflected time spent in household, occupational, transportation, sport, conditioning, and leisure activities. Once a week, participants also completed a telephone survey to identify the number of minutes spent each week in nonoccupational walking and in moderate intensity and hard/very hard-intensity PA. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Spearman rank-order correlations. Three equations developed to compute CSA cut points for moderate and hard/very hard PA were also compared with the PA logs and PA survey. RESULTS There was modest to good agreement for the time spent in different PA intensity categories between the three CSA cut point methods (r = 0.43-0.94, P < 0.001). Correlations between the CSA and PA logs ranged from r = 0.22 to r = 0.36, depending on the comparisons. Correlations between the survey items and PA logs were r = 0.26-0.54 (P < 0.01) for moderate and walking activities and r < 0.09 (P > 0.05) for hard/very hard activities. Correlations between the survey items and the CSA min per day varied according to the method used to compute the CSA intensity cut points. CONCLUSIONS The results were consistent with findings from other PA validation studies that show motion sensors, PA logs, and surveys reflect PA; however, these methods do not always provide similar estimates of the time spent in resting/light, moderate, or hard/very hard PA.
Provisión de infraestructura de transporte en América Latina: experiencia reciente y problemas observados

Resumen Existe una relacion positiva entre la provision de infraestructura y el crecimiento economico y por ende, el rol de la infraestructura de transporte es preponderante. Junto con esta, de manera inseparable, aparecen los servicios de transporte brindados sobre aquella: mejores servicios de transporte dependen de condiciones apropiadas de provision de la infraestructura, y junto con otros factores economicos asociados, apoyan las mejoras en la productividad y la competitividad de una region, coadyuvando al crecimiento economico. El presente estudio tiene por objetivo analizar la situacion de la infraestructura de transporte en America Latina y sus caracteristicas mas destacadas, base sobre la cual se pueda elaborar un mejor entendimiento para el diseno y ejecucion de politicas publicas y privadas en materia de infraestructura de transporte, condicion imprescindible para sostener y profundizar el desarrollo economico y el combate a la pobreza latinoamericana. La divergencia entre las dinamicas de crecimiento de la oferta y la demanda de infraestructura de transporte requiere una prevencion pronta, y decisiones politicas nacionales y regionales por la aparicion de las insuficiencias criticas en el transporte, para evitar que la falta de infraestructura se convierta en un obstaculo para el desarrollo en America Latina.
Energy expenditure estimation during normal ambulation using triaxial accelerometry and barometric pressure

Energy expenditure (EE) is an important parameter in the assessment of physical activity. Most reliable techniques for EE estimation are too impractical for deployment in unsupervised free-living environments; those which do prove practical for unsupervised use often poorly estimate EE when the subject is working to change their altitude by walking up or down stairs or inclines. This study evaluates the augmentation of a standard triaxial accelerometry waist-worn wearable sensor with a barometric pressure sensor (as a surrogate measure for altitude) to improve EE estimates, particularly when the subject is ascending or descending stairs. Using a number of features extracted from the accelerometry and barometric pressure signals, a state space model is trained for EE estimation. An activity classification algorithm is also presented, and this activity classification output is also investigated as a model input parameter when estimating EE. This EE estimation model is compared against a similar model which solely utilizes accelerometry-derived features. A protocol (comprising lying, sitting, standing, walking, walking up stairs, walking down stairs and transitioning between activities) was performed by 13 healthy volunteers (8 males and 5 females; age: 23.8 ± 3.7 years; weight: 70.5 ± 14.9 kg), whose instantaneous oxygen uptake was measured by means of an indirect calorimetry system (K4b2, COSMED, Italy). Activity classification improves from 81.65% to 90.91% when including barometric pressure information; when analyzing walking activities alone the accuracy increases from 70.23% to 98.54%. Using features derived from both accelerometry and barometry signals, combined with features relating to the activity classification in a state space model, resulted in a estimation bias of −0.00 095 and precision (1.96SD) of 3.54 ml min−1 kg−1. Using only accelerometry features gives a relatively worse performance, with a bias of −0.09 and precision (1.96SD) of 5.99 ml min−1 kg−1, with the largest errors due to an underestimation of when walking up stairs.
[Effects of electromagnetic radiation on RAF/MEK/ERK signaling pathway in rats hippocampus].

AIM To study the development of changes for signaling molecules related to Raf/MEK/ERK pathway in hippocampus of rats after electromagnetic radiation, and investigate the mechanisms of radiation injury. METHODS Rats were exposed to X-HPM, S-HPM and EMP radiation source respectively, and animal model of electromagnetic radiation was established. Western blot was used to detect the expression of Raf-1, phosphorylated Raf-1 and phospholylated ERK. RESULTS The expression of Raf-1 down-regulated during 6 h-14 d after radiation, most significantly at 7 d, and recovered at 28 d. There was no significant difference between the radiation groups. The expression of phosphorylated Raf-1 and phosphorylated ERK both up-regulated at 6 h and 7 d after radiation, more significantly at 6 h, and the two microwave groups were more serious for phosphorylated ERK. During 6 h-14 d after S-HPM radiation, the expression of phosphorylated Raf-1 increased continuously, but phosphorylated ERK changed wavily, 6 h and 7 d were expression peak. CONCLUSION Raf/MEK/ERK signaling pathway participates in the hippocampus injury induced by electromagnetic radiation. The excessive activation of ERK pathway may result in the apoptosis and death of neurons, which is the important mechanism of recognition disfunction caused by electromagnetic radiation.
Stereological investigation of age‐related changes of myelinated fibers in the rat cortex

In the present study, the cortex volume, total volume, total length and mean diameter of the myelinated fibers in the cortices of young, middle‐aged, and aged Long‐Evans rats were quantitatively investigated by using stereological methods and electron microscopy techniques. There were no significant differences in the myelinated fibers between young and middle‐aged rat cortex. The cortex volume and the total length of the myelinated fibers in the cortex of aged rats were significantly lower than those of young and middle‐aged rats. However, no significant difference was found in the total volume of the myelinated fibers among three groups. The disproportional changes in the total length and total volume of the myelinated fibers in the cortex of aged rats and the absolute distribution of the total length of the myelinated fibers in the cortex of the three groups suggested that the age‐induced decrease of the myelinated fibers might be due mainly to a loss of the myelinated fibers with smaller diameters. The present results together with our previous findings indicated that the age‐related changes of the myelinated fibers occurred widely in the central nervous system and that the age‐related changes of the myelinated fibers in cortex occurred later than those in white matter. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Lytic Granule Polarization, Rather than Degranulation, Is the Preferred Target of Inhibitory Receptors in NK Cells

Natural cytotoxicity is achieved by polarized release of perforin and granzymes at the NK cell–target cell immunological synapse. Signals for granule polarization and degranulation can be uncoupled in NK cells, which raises the question of their respective sensitivity to inhibitory receptors. Expression of either HLA-C or HLA-E on the human cell line 721.221 blocked granule polarization, degranulation, and CD16-dependent MIP-1α secretion by NK cell clones that expressed inhibitory receptors of matching HLA specificity. To test inhibition of signals for polarization and degranulation separately, Drosophila S2 cells expressing ICAM-1 with either HLA-C or HLA-E were used. CD16-dependent degranulation and MIP-1α secretion were not fully inhibited, suggesting that other receptor–ligand interactions, which occur with 721.221 cells, contribute to inhibition. In contrast, HLA-C or HLA-E on S2 cells coexpressing ICAM-1 or ULBP1 were sufficient to block granule polarization induced by either LFA-1 or NKG2D, even during concomitant CD16-dependent degranulation. Similarly, expression of a ligand for NKR-P1A on S2 cells inhibited granule polarization but not CD16-induced degranulation. Therefore, granule polarization, rather than degranulation, is the preferred target of inhibitory receptors in NK cells.
Early Life Family Conflict, Social Interactions, and Carotid Artery Intima-Media Thickness in Adulthood

Objective Conflict in early life family environments is known to affect psychosocial functioning and coping styles into adulthood and is reported to negatively affect access to psychosocial resources that are critical to the management of stress. However, it remains unknown whether early life family conflict similarly affects subclinical cardiovascular disease (CVD) in adulthood. We predicted that family conflict in early life would be associated with greater mean intima-media thickness (IMT), a subclinical marker of CVD risk, in adulthood. Methods Data were collected in a community sample of 503 adults (47.4 % male, mean [standard deviation] age = 42.8 [7.3] years). Associations between family conflict in early life with IMT (assessed using B-mode ultrasound) in adulthood were examined using regression analysis. We also tested for indirect effects of early life family conflict on mean IMT through ecological momentary assessment reports of social interactions, diversity of social roles, and perceived social support. Results Linear regression analyses adjusted for demographics and physiological risk factors showed conflict in early life associated with greater mean IMT (&bgr; = 0.08, t(447) = 2.13, p = . 034, R2 = 0.46). Early life conflict was significantly related to diversity of social roles, perceived social support, and ecological momentary assessment reports of pleasant and social conflict interactions. Significant indirect effects of early life conflict on mean IMT were observed through fewer pleasant social interactions and more frequent social conflict interactions in adulthood (&bgr; = 0.001 [95% confidence interval = 0.0001–0.0014] and &bgr; = 0.001 [95% confidence interval = 0.0002–0.0015], respectively). Conclusions These findings provide initial evidence that family conflict in early life heightens CVD risk in adulthood, in part by shaping the quality of adulthood social interactions.