Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
4-Aminopyridine produces epileptiform activity in hippocampus and enhances synaptic excitation and inhibition.

Using extra- and intracellular recording techniques, we investigated the epileptiform activity induced by low concentrations (5 and 10 microM) of bath-applied 4-aminopyridine (4-AP) in the CA3 subfield of rat hippocampal slices. We also studied the effects of 4-AP on the excitatory and inhibitory synaptic conductance changes in CA3 neurons produced by mossy fiber stimulation. Low concentrations of 4-AP induced spontaneously occurring epileptiform discharges at extracellular potassium concentrations between 1 and 10 mM. In contrast, picrotoxin and bicuculline produced spontaneous epileptiform discharges at extracellular potassium concentrations between 5 and 10 mM. The paroxysmal depolarizing shift (PDS) induced by 4-AP was also investigated. At potentials between -40 and -10 mV, the waveform of the PDS consisted of a depolarizing component enveloped by a hyperpolarizing component. The amplitude of the depolarizing component of the PDS was a monotonic function of the membrane potential, and the mean measured reversal potential was -25.7 mV. Under voltage-clamp conditions, the measured conductance associated with the depolarizing component of the PDS averaged 110 nS, with a reversal potential of -14.1 mV. Application of 5 microM 4-AP produced an increase in the inhibitory synaptic conductance change calculated from currents measured 15 ms following mossy fiber stimulation. The mean value increased from 35.2 to 58.1 nS (P less than 0.05) without a significant change in reversal potential. A concentration of 10 microM 4-AP also produced an increase in this inhibitory synaptic conductance change (from 53.3 to 66.3 nS, P less than 0.05) but caused a significant depolarization of the reversal potential (from -66.5 to -61.6 mV, P less than 0.05). This change in reversal potential may reflect a prolongation of the excitatory synaptic currents produced by 4-AP that contributes to the current measured 15 ms from the stimulus. Following application of either 5 or 10 microM 4-AP, there were no significant changes in the resting potential or input resistance of the neurons studied. Application of 5 microM 4-AP also significantly increased the amplitude of the measured excitatory synaptic conductance change produced by mossy fiber stimulation (from 27.9 to 44.1 nS, P less than 0.05) without producing a change in the reversal potential. In 5 of 21 neurons studied, a long-lasting outward synaptic current was present at holding potentials near rest following mossy fiber stimulation. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Cellular‐FLIP, Raji isoform (c‐FLIPR) modulates cell death induction upon T‐cell activation and infection

Dysregulation of apoptosis caused by an imbalance of pro‐ and anti‐apoptotic protein expression can lead to cancer, neurodegenerative, and autoimmune diseases. Cellular‐FLIP (c‐FLIP) proteins inhibit apoptosis directly at the death‐inducing signaling complex of death receptors, such as CD95, and have been linked to apoptosis regulation during immune responses. While the isoforms c‐FLIPL and c‐FLIPS are well characterized, the function of c‐FLIPR remains poorly understood. Here, we demonstrate the induction of endogenous murine c‐FLIPR in activated lymphocytes for the first time. To analyze c‐FLIPR function in vivo, we generated transgenic mice expressing murine c‐FLIPR specifically in hematopoietic cells. As expected, lymphocytes from c‐FLIPR transgenic mice were protected against CD95‐induced apoptosis in vitro. In the steady state, transgenic mice had normal cell numbers and unaltered frequencies of B cells and T‐cell subsets in lymphoid organs. However, when challenged with Listeria monocytogenes, c‐FLIPR transgenic mice showed less liver necrosis and better bacterial clearance compared with infected wild‐type mice. We conclude that c‐FLIPR expression in hematopoietic cells supports an efficient immune response against bacterial infections.
Early Changes in Saccadic Eye Movement in Hemiparkinsonian MPTP-Treated Monkeys

The saccadic eye movements declining given the development of Parkinson’s disease (PD) still deserves thorough analysis. Recent studies confirmed that PD patients show poor saccadic control in visuomotor tasks. The purpose of this study was to investigate the dynamics of saccades parameters at the development of 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) model of PD. The gradual decline of saccadic control was studied in two monkeys that executed the visuomotor task with low doses of MPTP being injected at a prolonged period of time. The experiment included investigating the horizontal, vertical, oblique visually guided saccades as well as the corrective saccades triggered by stimuli onset in various loci within a two-dimensional visual field in the Gap-Step-Overlap paradigm. Our study revealed that the execution of visually guided saccades with small amplitude and corrective saccades changed dramatically with MPTP-model progressing. These changes are also confirmed statistically at the presymptomatic stage of MPTP syndrome. Not only our study gives a robust report of PD dynamics development and saccadic control but the obtained data could also be helpful in developing methods for the early diagnosis of PD.
Thermophilic production of polyhydroxyalkanoates by a novel Aneurinibacillus strain isolated from Gudao oilfield, China

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are usually biosynthesized using mesophilic strains, but the fermentation processes often suffer from bacterial contamination. This work reports the screening of thermophilic bacteria capable of producing PHAs under elevated temperatures to reduce the contamination risk. Strain XH2 was isolated from an oilfield and identified as Aneurinibacillus sp. by morphology, physiological‐biochemical characterization, and 16S rDNA phylogenetic analysis. This strain can produce PHA granules, which was detected by Nile red staining and transmission electron microscopic imaging. At 55 °C, 111.6 mg l−1 of PHA was produced in a fermentation medium containing glucose, peptone, and yeast extract. If peptone was removed from the medium, the yield of PHA would be enhanced by 2.4 times. The main monomers of the PHA product were identified to be 3‐hydroxybutyrate and 3‐hydroxyvalerate with a molar ratio of 17.2:1 by gas chromatography‐mass spectroscopy (GC‐MS) and nuclear magnetic resonance analyses. Two minor homologues, 3‐hydroxyoctanoate, and 3‐hydroxy‐4‐phenylbutanoate, were tentatively identified by GC‐MS as well. This is the first report of thermophilic PHA bacterial producer from the Firmicutes phylum.
Prevalence of undiagnosed advanced atrophic corpus gastritis in Finland: an observational study among 4,256 volunteers without specific complaints

Abstract Objective. The objective of this observational study was to estimate the prevalence of advanced atrophic corpus gastritis (ACG) among Finnish adult volunteers without specific complaints using a biomarker blood test. The objective also was to assess the feasibility and acceptance of the biomarker test among the volunteers. Materials and methods. GastroView® biomarker test (Biohit Oyj, Helsinki, Finland) was performed on mostly fingerprick blood samples from 4,256 volunteers (average age 56 years, range 18–92 years), independent of symptoms. GastroView® biomarker test was offered to citizens at public events during 2007–2009. The test consisted of the measurement of pepsinogen I and II levels (and ratio) and H. pylori IgG antibody level in plasma by ELISA. Results. Altogether 3.5% (150 individuals) of all 4,256 volunteers had ACG. In the age group of 70 or over, the prevalence of ACG increased to 8% (62 individuals). Altogether 19% (819 individuals) of all volunteers and 37% (56 individuals) of those with ACG had an ongoing H. pylori infection. In volunteers with ACG, the diagnosis was new in 95% (142 individuals), 5% (7 individuals) had received vitamin B12 supplementation and 13% (20 individuals) had received PPI medication according to a self-administered questionnaire; and 26% (39 individuals) reported gastrointestinal reflux like symptoms. Conclusions. This study shows that advanced ACG is a common disease among Finnish adults, and remains to be undiagnosed in most under the current healthcare practice. The biomarker test shows high feasibility and acceptance among the general public, and is simple to perform even in “field” conditions.
Genetic Mapping of the Cloned Subgroup A Avian Sarcoma and Leukosis Virus Receptor Gene to the TVALocus

ABSTRACT A chicken gene conferring susceptibility to subgroup A avian sarcoma and leukosis viruses (ASLV-A) was recently identified by a gene transfer strategy. Classical genetic approaches had previously identified a locus, TVA, that controls susceptibility to ASLV-A. Using restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) mapping in inbred susceptible (TVA*S) and resistant (TVA*R) chicken lines, we demonstrate that in 93 F2 progeny an RFLP for the cloned receptor gene segregates with TVA. From these analyses we calculate that the cloned receptor gene lies within 5 centimorgans of TVA, making it highly probable that the cloned gene is the previously identified locusTVA. The polymorphism that distinguishes the two alleles ofTVA in these inbred lines affects the encoded amino acid sequence of the region of Tva that encompasses the viral binding domain. However, analysis of the genomic sequence encoding this region of Tva in randomly bred chickens suggests that the altered virus binding domain is not the basis for genetic resistance in the chicken lines analyzed.
Channeling of TCA cycle intermediates in cultured Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Oxidation of [3-13C]propionate was studied in cultured yeast cells, and the distribution of label in the 2- and 3-positions of alanine was detected by 13C NMR. [3-13C]Propionate forms [2-13C]succinyl-CoA in the mitochondria which then enters the citric acid cycle and forms malate through two symmetrical intermediates, succinate and fumarate. If these symmetrical intermediates randomly diffuse from one enzyme to the next in mitochondria as is normally assumed, then 13C labeling in malate C2 and C3 must be equal. However, any direct transfer of metabolites from site to site between succinate thiokinase, succinate dehydrogenase, and fumarase would result in an uneven distribution of 13C in malate C2 and C3 and any molecules derived from malate. Since pyruvate may be derived from malate via the malic enzyme and subsequently converted into alanine by transamination, any 13C asymmetry in alanine C2 and C3 must directly reflect the 13C distribution in the malate pool. During oxidation of [3-13C]propionate, we detect a significant quantity of labeled alanine, where 13C enrichment in C3 is significantly higher than that in C2. Inhibition of succinate dehydrogenase with malonate or creating conditions that increase the chances of a back-reaction (from malate to fumarate) result in a significant decrease in the asymmetric labeling of alanine. Ubiquinone-deficient yeast cells (having only 10% of the oxidative capacity of wild-type cells) could slowly oxidize propionate, but in this case the 13C labeling was equal in the C2 and C3 of alanine, showing that isotope randomization had occurred. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Environment Control with Low-Cost Microcontrollers and Microprocessors: Application for Green Walls

Green wall irrigation procedures are a particularly important and hard task, given that the quality of the green wall depends on them. There is currently a wide variety of irrigation programmers available, with a range of functions and prices, thereby replacing manual activities and making it easier to maintain green walls. This paper proposes the use of low-cost automated irrigation programmers via a freeware called Arduino. The system is based on air and substrate measurements to ensure optimal plant growth and high water-use efficiency. At certain thresholds, the irrigation system is activated. This not only makes irrigation more convenient but also helps to reduce energy consumption, increases irrigation efficiency and saves time. The data is then sent via Transmission Control Protocol using Internet of Things technology, in this case ThingSpeak. The platform compiles the data and presents them in simple graphical format, thus enabling real-time monitoring from wherever there is Internet access. Together with Arduino, the project incorporates the Raspberry pi system that operates like a database via Hypertext Transfer Protocol Wi-Fi received by a Structured Query Language (MySQL) server using Hypertext Preprocessor. These data are used for the subsequent analysis of green wall performance.
Impact of Consumer Price Index and Gross Domestic Saving on Economic Growth in Sri Lanka: An Econometric Analysis Using Johansen Co-Integration Approach

in 2014.These fluctuations of GDP growth rate were mainly caused due to the direct effects of consumer price index, gross domestic saving, money supply, government expenditure, exchange rate, exports prices of imports, interest rate, tax revenue etc. on gross domestic product due to the unstable circumstances of the country. Abstract: An essential goal for any developing country like Sri Lanka is to attain high economic growth. Although there are many factors that affect economic growth (GDP), this paper mainly focuses on Consumer Price Index (CPI) and Gross Domestic Saving (GDS) in Sri Lanka, based on the annual time series data for the period of 1960 - 2016 obtained from the Annual Report of World Bank Economic Indicators and Annual Report of Central Bank of Sri Lanka. The Augmented Dickey Fuller unit root test was employed to check the stationarity among the three variables (GDP, CPI, and GDS). The existence of cointegration of the variables was ensured by the Johansen Co-integration test and then the short-run or long-run association among the variables was assessed by Vector Error Correction (VEC) test. The causal relationships among the variables were checked using Granger Causality test. The empirical findings of this study reveal that all the variables have unit root problem at level, but become stationary after first differencing. The results of Johansen Co-integration tests indicate one cointegration equation while the VEC test recommends no short-run relationship among the variables whereas the existence of a long-run relationship. Correspondingly Granger causality test exhibits a unidirectional causality movement from GDP to GDS. Model adequacy tests were implemented on the residuals of the VECM remarks that there is no heteroscedasticity, no serial correlation, and are normally distributed signifying that the model is good enough. This study satisfies an eminent necessity of how CPI and GDS supportive for economic growth.
The Information Provision in the Corporate Acquisition Process: Why Target Firms Obtain Multiple Fairness Opinions

Using a hand-collected dataset for takeovers from 1996 to 2013, I examine why some target firms obtain a second fairness opinion and the associated wealth effects of doing so. I find that multiple opinions are more likely to be used in deals in which management/investment bank conflicts of interest are high—e.g., buyouts and stapled financing deals. In addition, the use of a second opinion has a significantly positive impact on target shareholders' wealth in these two types of deals. Fairness opinion valuation predominantly relies on accounting data, and the benefit of seeking a second opinion increases with a firm's earnings quality. Collectively, the results suggest that a second opinion is used to facilitate transactions. JEL Classifications: G34; G24; J33.
Comparison of global TEC between IRI TEC and GPS TEC in the spring of 2006

Comparison of the global Total Electron Content (TEC) derived from dual-frequency Global Positioning System (GPS) data and International Reference Ionosphere (IRI) used tomographic models, it has very important significance for IRI upgrading [1]. We investigate the trend of global TEC between IRI TEC and GPS TEC in the spring of 2006. IRI TEC is derived from the IRI-2012 model and GPS TEC is obtained from the International GNSS service (IGS) [1, 2]. By comparing the results, IRI TEC agrees with GPS TEC very well at high latitudes. They are generally in agreement even at low latitudes for the period from evening to morning. However, differences are found from 11:00–17:00 LT at low latitudes. It can be seen that the north-south asymmetry has remarkable effect on both IRI TEC and GPS TEC, especially in the equatorial ionization anomaly (EIA). The strength of EIA crest is obviously higher in north than in south about IRI TEC, it reaches ∼11 TECU around 15° E longitude at 13:00 LT. Meanwhile, EIA crest in daytime is generally exaggerated and the noon-bite out is deep in the IRI TEC than GPS TEC, the difference of noon-bite is about 12 TECU around 105° E longitude at 13:00 LT.
Chronic Intermittent Cold Stress Activates Ovarian Sympathetic Nerves and Modifies Ovarian Follicular Development in the Rat1

Abstract We studied the effects of a chronic intermittent cold stress regime on sympathetic nerve activation and ovarian physiology. This paradigm (4°C for 3 h/day, Monday–Friday, for 3 or 4 wk) does not affect basal plasma levels of corticosterone. After 3 wk of stress, we detected a decrease in noradrenaline (NA) in the ovary, but after 4 wk, this ovarian neurotransmitter concentration increased over that of unstressed control rats. To analyze whether this effect on NA is preceded by an activation of the neurotrophic factor system responsible for growth and survival of sympathetic neurons, we measured both nerve growth factor (NGF) (by enzyme immunoassay) and the intraovarian levels of its low affinity receptor mRNA (by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction). The activation of sympathetic nerves was followed by an increase in NGF concentration without affecting the ovarian levels of either NGF or the mRNA of its receptor. Interestingly, follicular development changed during the stress procedure; after 3 or 4 wk of stress, we found a decrease in preantral healthy follicles without a compensatory increase in atresia. Concomitantly with the increase in NA and NGF in the ovary, we observed that a new population of follicles with hypertrophied thecal cell layers appeared after 4 wk of stress. These results suggest that chronic stress, through an intraovarian neurotrophin-mediated sympathetic activation, produces changes in follicular development that could lead to an impairment of reproductive function.
International Joint Ventures and Technology Diffusion: Evidence from China

This paper investigates international technology diffusion through FDI by explicitly considering the ownership structure of FDI projects with detailed Chinese data. We find that international joint ventures (JVs) generate significantly positive technology diffusion effects, while wholly foreign‐owned firms (WFOs) generate significantly negative competition effects. The differentiated impacts of JVs and WFOs are robust, heterogeneous and causal as shown by our instrumental variable estimation. As for the mechanisms, evidence suggests that JVs bring better technology to the host country, invest more in R&D and employee training, and also provide easier technology access to local firms than WFOs.
University Teachers and Open Educational Resources: Case Studies from Latin America

The Open Education movement has made efforts to systematise experiences and to evaluate the adoption of Open Educational Resources (OER). However, OER adoption is not part of the prevailing paradigm in higher education, both at the global level and in Latin America. This paper describes results of a study that analysed the social representations regarding the development, use, and reuse of OER by university teachers in their pedagogical practices. We conducted a study of 12 cases from Latin American universities using data analysis based on Grounded Theory. The results show that the use and reuse of OER lacks of public and institutional policies. The main agents are teachers organised in teams that support OER adoption. The reasons that encourage the creation of OER are mainly intrinsic, such as the pleasure derived from contributing and sharing, as well as external and related to professional development needs from the reflection on one’s own educational practice. Educators consider it essential to evaluate the resources created so that they can be reused in continuous improvement processes. Commercial use and misappropriation of the works are two of the main tensions identified. The community factor of teaching guides most behaviours in OER adoption in educational institutions and is presented as an inherent part of the development and transformation of the curriculum.
The Effect of House Staff Working Hours on the Quality of Obstetric and Gynecologic Care

OBJECTIVE: To measure the effect of house staff working hours reforms on the quality of obstetric and gynecologic care. METHODS: Sentinel events, medication errors, maternal and neonatal outcomes, and decision making were measured before and after the Accreditation Council of Graduate Medical Education work-hour reforms. Data sources consisted of the perinatal database at MetroHealth Medical Center (Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH), incident reports filed in the hospital department of risk management, the patient-satisfaction database at MetroHealth Medical Center, and the pharmacy medication error database. Two reviewers examined all incident reports separately, and discrepancies were resolved by mutual agreement. RESULTS: Patient demographics did not change across the 2 time periods. Obstetric outcomes were the same for third- and fourth-degree lacerations, umbilical arterial pH less than 7, fever, and the need for general anesthesia. Postpartum hemorrhage and neonatal resuscitations were significantly decreased over time (2% before versus 1% after work-hour restrictions [P = .008], and 30% before versus 26% after work-hour restrictions [P < .001], respectively). The rate of primary cesarean delivery rose from 14% to 16%, a nonsignificant difference (P < .06). There were no differences in rates of cesarean delivery for nonreassuring fetal status, failed induction, labor abnormality, or repeat cesarean delivery. Reported medication errors associated with resident performance were too rare for comparison across time periods. The number of incident reports directly involving residents before and after work-hour restrictions were 3 and 10, respectively—too few to reach statistical significance. CONCLUSIONS: Although problems in physician performance may be underreported, resident work-hour restrictions show minimal evidence of improvement in quality of care. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: II-3
A photonic ADC for radar and EW applications based on modelocked laser

This paper presents a WDM architecture of a photonic analogue to digital converter (ADC) for direct RF sampling in radar and EW digital receiver, the architecture is based on the parallel operation of an array of state-of-the-art electronic ADCs while the photonic sampling is achieved using a mode locked laser (MLL). The parallelisation is implemented through a novel technique for the slicing of the optical spectrum and the time interleaving of the colored pulses. A high dynamic range by bandwidth product of the ADC can be obtained. The MLL overcomes the jitter limitation in conventional electronic quartz references in electronic ADCs and can be also fiber optic distributed as reference clock for the Radar Tx and Rx functions. The test realized on the prototype is reported demonstrating a 5 Gbps sampling rate ADC.