Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Fluoxetine induces paradoxical effects in C57BL6/J mice: comparison with BALB/c mice

The C57BL6/J mouse is the most commonly used strain in genetic investigations and behavioural tests. However, only a few studies have used C57BL6/J mice to assess the effects of antidepressant compounds. We carried out a study to compare the behavioural effects of fluoxetine (FLX) in a model of depression in two mice strains: C57BL6/J and BALB/c. We used an 8-week unpredictable chronic mild stress (UCMS) protocol during which FLX was administered (15 mg/kg, oral) from the third week to the end of the protocol. We found that UCMS induced degradation of the coat state in the two strains. Moreover, as expected, we observed that FLX elicited antidepressant-like effects in the BALB/c mice by reducing the coat state deterioration and the latency of grooming in splash test. However, in the C57BL6/J mice, it did not induce this action, but instead triggered an opposite effect: an increased sniffing latency in the novelty suppression of feeding test. We conclude that FLX exerts a paradoxical effect in the C57Bl6/J strain. This observation is consistent with some clinical features of hyper-reactivity to FLX observed in humans. Therefore, the UCMS protocol used in C57Bl6/J mice could be a good model to study the mechanisms of the paradoxical effects caused by selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors.
A Statistical Approach to Reliability Estimation for Fingerprint Recognition

In this work we focus in the reliability estimation of biometric systems output. We explain why this is a very important problem when deploying a biometric system and face it using a statistical approach. In particular, we present a solution based in the a- contrario approach widely used in the image processing field. We show how this strategy could be adapted and its key advantages with respect to other state-of-the-art reliability measures. A comprehensive set of experiments is used to validate the approach, using different fingerprints databases, matching systems, and comparing the performance with other state-of-the-art confidence measure strategies.
A Novel Forward-Link Multiplexed Scheme in Satellite-Based Internet of Things

Satellite communication has the potential to play a key role in many applications of Internet of Things (IoT). In this paper, we consider a satellite-based IoT and investigate the technology that can improve the spectral efficiency. In general, one beam in satellite systems serves one user. To serve multiple users, time division multiplexing or frequency division multiplexing is usually used. In this paper, we propose a novel forward-link multiplexed scheme, by which the signals of different users can be transmitted simultaneously using the same frequency band. Specifically, at the transmitter, we first map each combination of the users’ constellation points to a higher-order constellation point, which is referred to as constellation coding, and then transmit such higher-order modulation signals. At the user side, after receiving and detecting the transmitted signal, each user obtain its own signal by the corresponding demapping, which is referred to as constellation decoding. The total system capacity over an additive white Gaussian noise channel is analyzed in this paper. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed scheme can greatly improve the spectral efficiency.
Three-dimensional Visualization of Ultrasound Backscatter Statistics by Window-modulated Compounding Nakagami Imaging

In this study, the window-modulated compounding (WMC) technique was integrated into three-dimensional (3D) ultrasound Nakagami imaging for improving the spatial visualization of backscatter statistics. A 3D WMC Nakagami image was produced by summing and averaging a number of 3D Nakagami images (number of frames denoted as N) formed using sliding cubes with varying side lengths ranging from 1 to N times the transducer pulse. To evaluate the performance of the proposed 3D WMC Nakagami imaging method, agar phantoms with scatterer concentrations ranging from 2 to 64 scatterers/mm3 were made, and six stages of fatty liver (zero, one, two, four, six, and eight weeks) were induced in rats by methionine-choline-deficient diets (three rats for each stage, total n = 18). A mechanical scanning system with a 5-MHz focused single-element transducer was used for ultrasound radiofrequency data acquisition. The experimental results showed that 3D WMC Nakagami imaging was able to characterize different scatterer concentrations. Backscatter statistics were visualized with various numbers of frames; N = 5 reduced the estimation error of 3D WMC Nakagami imaging in visualizing the backscatter statistics. Compared with conventional 3D Nakagami imaging, 3D WMC Nakagami imaging improved the image smoothness without significant image resolution degradation, and it can thus be used for describing different stages of fatty liver in rats.
Effect of imposed strain and annealing temperature on uniform elongation in A5052 alloy processed by accumulative roll bonding

The relation between strain and uniform elongation, and the effect of low-temperature annealing, were examined using an Al-Mg alloy (A5052) processed by accumulative roll bonding (ARB). Specimens were deformed by ARB for 1 to 7 cycles at room temperature, and then subjected to isochronal annealing for 30 min at temperatures ranging from 100 to 300 °C. Tensile properties, hardness, and grain boundary structure before and after annealing were investigated. The uniform elongation of ARB-processed specimens decreases with increasing ARB cycles. However, the elongation is improved by low-temperature annealing for specimens processed by ARB of 3 or more cycles. Higher strain in the ARB process results in higher uniform elongation after annealing, even though the specimens have the same value of 0.2% proof stress. This improvement of the uniform elongation by annealing is caused by annihilation of dislocations inside ultra-fine grains, which are developed by ARB of 3 or more cycles.
Development of Nano-C/C Composites with Bacterial Cellulose and Tribological Properties

Bacterial cellulose (BC) is one of the eco-friendly materials, and is synthesized by several species of bacterium. In this paper, the fabrication method of Carbon/Carbon composites made from BC and Phenol resin, and its tribological properties were investigated. In order to clarify the effect of temperature in fabricating process on tribological properties, the testing specimens were carbonized at various carbonizing temperatures and heating rates. The tribology test for nano-C/C composites was conducted under dry sliding condition. The mean friction coefficient took the low values of 0.12 ~ 0.20 for 10°C°·h-1, the specific factors of wear element loss varied at 2.71×10-10 ~ 8.33×10-10 mm2/N. It was revealed from the experimental results that with an increase in the carbonizing temperature, nano-C/C composites exhibited better wear resistance, higher hardness and bending strength.
Protective Effect of Aloe vera Extract against Bisphenol A Induced Testicular Toxicity in Wistar Rats

Objective Bisphenol A (BPA), an endocrine-disrupting chemical, has been considered as a possible risk factor for fertility because it induces testicular toxicity. Thus, we sought to analyze the effect of Aloe vera as plant with antioxidant properties on tissues and oxidative stress parameters in male rats. Materials and Methods In this experimental study, 50 adult male Wistar rats (200 ± 20 g) have been used in this 56 day study. Animals were completely randomized and divided into five groups: A1(control), A2(vehicle control), A3 (Aloe vera gel 300 mg/kg), B1(BPA 20 µg/kg bw) and B2(Aloe vera gel+ BPA). At the end of the study, the rats were anesthetized and 2 ml blood samples were obtained for evaluation of oxidative stress markers. Also, both testes were collected for histological examinations. Results BPA significantly decreased (P<0.05) body and testis weights. Seminiferous tubule diameter (STD) and height of seminiferous epithelium (HSE), were significantly decreased (P<0.05) in the groups receiving BPA as compared to the control. There was also a reduction in the quantity of spermatocyte and spermatids. Moreover, malondialdehyde (MDA) increased and thiol protein (G-SH) decreased. But, co-administration of Aloe vera with BPA accelerated the total antioxidant capacity and testicular tissue structure healing. Conclusion According to our findings, Aloe vera gel extract can overcome the damaging effects of BPA on the reproductive system of rats and protects rats’ testes against BPA-induced toxicity.
Mainlandization, the ICAC, and the Seriousness Attached by Local Politicians to Corruption in Post-1997 Hong Kong

To date, few studies have focused on how the public has perceived the effectiveness of the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC). Furthermore, little is known about how the public has assessed the functions of the ICAC during the political-economic convergence between Hong Kong and mainland China since 1997. This study attempts to explore local politicians’ perceptions towards the ICAC in post-1997 Hong Kong. The quantitative data show that the important historical juncture of mainlandization has been politicized in Hong Kong and has deeply influenced the seriousness attached by local politicians to corruption. Moreover, a mediating path of the effect of “Conflict of Interest” on the “Perceived Seriousness of Corruption” has been found, that is, mainlandization is found to have brought about increased levels of conflict of interest among government officials, which has weakened the symbolic anti-corruption function of the ICAC and, in turn, has affected the perceived seriousness attached to corruption.
Enhancing impact crater contours to increase recognition rates

This paper introduces an enhancement to the edge detection procedures that are part of a general methodology which aims at increasing the robustness of the automatic recognition of impact craters on planetary surfaces. It is demonstrated that the proposed improvement is a major contribution to increase the recognition rates and to simultaneously diminish the rates of false positives. Its performance is evaluated through a comparison with other classic edge detectors, which are applied to a set of images of the surface of Mars acquired by the MOC instrument aboard Mars Global Surveyor, a probe currently orbiting the
Glucosylsphingosine Promotes α-Synuclein Pathology in Mutant GBA-Associated Parkinson's Disease

Glucocerebrosidase 1 (GBA) mutations responsible for Gaucher disease (GD) are the most common genetic risk factor for Parkinson's disease (PD). Although the genetic link between GD and PD is well established, the underlying molecular mechanism(s) are not well understood. We propose that glucosylsphingosine, a sphingolipid accumulating in GD, mediates PD pathology in GBA-associated PD. We show that, whereas GD-related sphingolipids (glucosylceramide, glucosylsphingosine, sphingosine, sphingosine-1-phosphate) promote α-synuclein aggregation in vitro, glucosylsphingosine triggers the formation of oligomeric α-synuclein species capable of templating in human cells and neurons. Using newly generated GD/PD mouse lines of either sex [Gba mutant (N370S, L444P, KO) crossed to α-synuclein transgenics], we show that Gba mutations predispose to PD through a loss-of-function mechanism. We further demonstrate that glucosylsphingosine specifically accumulates in young GD/PD mouse brain. With age, brains exhibit glucosylceramide accumulations colocalized with α-synuclein pathology. These findings indicate that glucosylsphingosine promotes pathological aggregation of α-synuclein, increasing PD risk in GD patients and carriers. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Parkinson's disease (PD) is a prevalent neurodegenerative disorder in the aging population. Glucocerebrosidase 1 mutations, which cause Gaucher disease, are the most common genetic risk factor for PD, underscoring the importance of delineating the mechanisms underlying mutant GBA-associated PD. We show that lipids accumulating in Gaucher disease, especially glucosylsphingosine, play a key role in PD pathology in the brain. These data indicate that ASAH1 (acid ceramidase 1) and GBA2 (glucocerebrosidase 2) enzymes that mediate glucosylsphingosine production and metabolism are attractive therapeutic targets for treating mutant GBA-associated PD.
Oridonin Targets Multiple Drug-Resistant Tumor Cells as Determined by in Silico and in Vitro Analyses

Drug resistance is one of the main reasons of chemotherapy failure. Therefore, overcoming drug resistance is an invaluable approach to identify novel anticancer drugs that have the potential to bypass or overcome resistance to established drugs and to substantially increase life span of cancer patients for effective chemotherapy. Oridonin is a cytotoxic diterpenoid isolated from Rabdosia rubescens with in vivo anticancer activity. In the present study, we evaluated the cytotoxicity of oridonin toward a panel of drug-resistant cancer cells overexpressing ABCB1, ABCG2, or ΔEGFR or with a knockout deletion of TP53. Interestingly, oridonin revealed lower degree of resistance than the control drug, doxorubicin. Molecular docking analyses pointed out that oridonin can interact with Akt/EGFR pathway proteins with comparable binding energies and similar docking poses as the known inhibitors. Molecular dynamics results validated the stable conformation of oridonin docking pose on Akt kinase domain. Western blot experiments clearly revealed dose-dependent downregulation of Akt and STAT3. Pharmacogenomics analyses pointed to a mRNA signature that predicted sensitivity and resistance to oridonin. In conclusion, oridonin bypasses major drug resistance mechanisms and targets Akt pathway and might be effective toward drug refractory tumors. The identification of oridonin-specific gene expressions may be useful for the development of personalized treatment approaches.
Emotion perception deficits following traumatic brain injury: A review of the evidence and rationale for intervention

While the cognitive disturbances that frequently follow severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) are relatively well understood, the ways in which these affect the psychosocial functioning of people with TBI are yet to be determined and have thus received little attention in treatment research. Growing evidence indicates that a significant proportion of individuals with TBI demonstrate an inability to recognize affective information from the face, voice, bodily movement, and posture. Because accurate interpretation of emotion in others is critical for the successful negotiation of social interactions, effective treatments are necessary. Until recently, however, there have been no rehabilitation efforts in this area. The present review examines the literature on emotion perception deficits in TBI and presents a theoretical rationale for targeted intervention. Several lines of research relevant to the remediation of emotion perception in people with TBI are considered. These include work on emotion perception remediation with other cognitively impaired populations, current neuropsychological models of emotion perception and underlying neural systems, and recent conceptualizations of remediation processes. The article concludes with a discussion of the importance of carrying out efforts to improve emotion perception within a contextualized framework in which the day-to-day relevance of training is clear to all recipients. (JINS, 2008, 14, 511–525.)
Characterization of Biofilm Formation in [Pasteurella] pneumotropica and [Actinobacillus] muris Isolates of Mouse Origin

[Pasteurella] pneumotropica biotypes Jawetz and Heyl and [Actinobacillus] muris are the most prevalent Pasteurellaceae species isolated from laboratory mouse. However, mechanisms contributing to their high prevalence such as the ability to form biofilms have not been studied yet. In the present investigation we analyze if these bacterial species can produce biofilms in vitro and investigate whether proteins, extracellular DNA and polysaccharides are involved in the biofilm formation and structure by inhibition and dispersal assays using proteinase K, DNase I and sodium periodate. Finally, the capacity of the biofilms to confer resistance to antibiotics is examined. We demonstrate that both [P.] pneumotropica biotypes but not [A. ] muris are able to form robust biofilms in vitro, a phenotype which is widely spread among the field isolates. The biofilm inhibition and dispersal assays by proteinase and DNase lead to a strong inhibition in biofilm formation when added at the initiation of the biofilm formation and dispersed pre-formed [P.] pneumotropica biofilms, revealing thus that proteins and extracellular DNA are essential in biofilm formation and structure. Sodium periodate inhibited the bacterial growth when added at the beginning of the biofilm formation assay, making difficult the assessment of the role of β-1,6-linked polysaccharides in the biofilm formation, and had a biofilm stimulating effect when added on pre-established mature biofilms of [P.] pneumotropica biotype Heyl and a majority of [P.] pneumotropica biotype Jawetz strains, suggesting that the presence of β-1,6-linked polysaccharides on the bacterial surface might attenuate the biofilm production. Conversely, no effect or a decrease in the biofilm quantity was observed by biofilm dispersal using sodium periodate on further biotype Jawetz isolates, suggesting that polysaccharides might be incorporated in the biofilm structure. We additionally show that [P.] pneumotropica cells enclosed in biofilms were less sensitive to treatment with amoxicillin and enrofloxacin than planktonic bacteria. Taken together, these findings provide a first step in understanding of the biofilm mechanisms in [P.] pneumotropica, which might contribute to elucidation of colonization and pathogenesis mechanisms for these obligate inhabitants of the mouse mucosa.
[Role of autophagy in fasudil-induced Rho kinase inhibition for protection against myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats].

OBJECTIVE To investigate the changes of autophagy in ischemic myocardium of rats treated with fasudil for inhibiting Rho kinase. METHODS The hearts isolated from male Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to 30 min of occlusion of the left anterior descending artery followed by 120 min of reperfusion with or without treatment with fasudil or fasudil+Wort. The left ventricular hemodynamics were continuously recorded, and the coronary effluent was collected during the reperfusion to determine lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels. The mRNA expressions of autophagy-related genes Atg5 and Beclin1 and apoptosis-related genes bax and bcl-2 were detected by RT-PCR, and the protein expression of caspase-3 was detected by Western blotting. RESULTS Compared with I/R group, fasudil significantly improved the left ventricular developed pressure, maximal rise/fall rate of left ventricular pressure and rate pressure product, reduced LDH release during reperfusion, increased Atg5 and Beclin1 mRNA expression and the ratio of Bcl-2/Bax, and lowered caspase 3 protein expression. The autophagy inhibitor Wort significantly attenuated the effect of fasudil in the rat hearts. CONCLUSION Fasudil treatment for inhibiting Rho kinase promoted autophagy in ex vivo rat heart to protect against myocardial ischima-reperfusion injury possibly by reducing apoptosis of the cardiac myocytes.
TCF-1 Inhibits IL-17 Gene Expression To Restrain Th17 Immunity in a Stage-Specific Manner

T cell factor 1 (TCF-1) is expressed in both developing and mature T cells and has been shown to restrain mature T cell–mediated Th17 responses by inhibiting IL-17 expression. However, it is not clear when TCF-1 is required in vivo to restrain the magnitude of peripheral Th17 responses and what the molecular mechanisms responsible for TCF-1–regulated IL-17 gene expression are. In this study, we showed that conditional deletion of TCF-1 at the early but not later CD4+CD8+ double-positive stage in mice enhanced Th17 differentiation and aggravated experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, which correlates with abnormally high IL-17 expression. Expression of TCF-1 in TCF-1–deficient thymocytes but not TCF-1–deficient Th17 cells inhibited IL-17 expression. TCF-1 binds to IL-17 promoter regions, and deletion of two TCF-1 binding sites relieves TCF-1–mediated inhibition of IL-17 promoter activity. Lastly, wild-type TCF-1, but not a TCF-1 mutant that has no intrinsic histone deacetylase activity, was able to inhibit IL-17 expression in TCF-1 deficient mouse thymocytes. Thus, our study demonstrates the requirement of TCF-1 in vivo at stages earlier than double-positive cells to restrain peripheral Th17 immunity by directly binding and inhibiting IL-17 promoter in its intrinsic histone deacetylase–dependent manner.
Mentoring new surgeons: can we avoid the learning curve?†

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Oxidative capacity varies along the length of healthy human tibialis anterior

During exercise skeletal muscles use the energy buffer phosphocreatine. The post‐exercise recovery of phosphocreatine is a measure of the oxidative capacity of muscles and is traditionally assessed by 31P magnetic resonance spectroscopy of a large tissue region, assuming homogeneous energy metabolism. To test this assumption, we collected spatially resolved spectra along the length of human tibialis anterior using a home‐built array of 31P detection coils, and observed a striking gradient in the recovery rate of phosphocreatine, decreasing along the proximo‐distal axis of the muscle. A similar gradient along this muscle was observed in signal changes recorded by 1H muscle functional MRI. These findings identify intra‐muscular variation in the physiology of muscles in action and highlight the importance of localized sampling for any methodology investigating oxidative metabolism of this, and potentially other muscles.