Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Impact of the toxic dinoflagellate Alexandrium catenella on Pacific oyster reproductive output: application of flow cytometry assays on spermatozoa

The toxic dinoflagellate Alexandrium catenella recurrently blooms on the coasts of France and produces Paralytic Shellfish Toxins (PSTs) that accumulate in bivalves. These toxins can affect various physiological functions including reproduction. The present study aims to validate measurements of sperm viability, DNA content and mi- tochondrial membrane potential in Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas using flow cytometry coupled with fluorescent markers, and to use these measurements to assess the cellular parameters of sperm from Pacific oysters exposed to A. catenella. These parameters may influence fertilization, embryogenesis and larval development in free-spawning shellfish. Sperm viability and DNA content estimation were assessed using SYBR-14, which only penetrates cells with intact membranes. Cell mortality was measured with propidium iodide (PI), which penetrates cells with membrane damage. Mitochondrial membrane potential, used as an estimate of mitochondrial function, was measured using JC-1 dye, which selectively enters into mitochondria and reversibly changes colour from green to orange as the membrane potential increases. To assess the effect of toxic algae on oyster sperm, broodstock (ripe oysters) were fed toxic (A. catenella) or non toxic (Heterocapsa triquetra) dinoflagellates at 250 cell ml −1 for 9 days. After this exposure period, mature oysters were stripped and cellular responses of sperm analysed. Average DNA staining, as measured by SYBR- 14, appeared lower and more variable in gametes from A. catenella-exposed oysters than in those from control oysters fed H. triquetra. Additionally, mitochondrial membrane potential of sperm from A. catenella-exposed oysters was sig- nificantly higher (1.5 fold) than that of sperm produced by oysters fed H. triquetra. Both the increase of mitochondrial membrane potential and the modification of DNA structure can be expected to impact spermatozoa ability to fertilize oocytes and could thus impact related reproductive processes.
Maldevelopment of visual motion processing in humans who had strabismus with onset in infancy

Binocular experience in infancy is necessary for the normal development of the visual cortex. However, it is not known whether binocular experience also affects the processing of specific kinds of visual information such as motion. We now report deficits in visual motion processing in 7 adult humans who lacked binocularity in infancy because of strabismus. As probes for assessing visual motion processing, we used the initiation of smooth pursuit eye movements and the judgment of target velocity independent of eye movement. Monocular viewing was essential to reveal the deficits. For horizontal pursuit, strabismic subjects showed nasal-temporal asymmetries, such that nasally directed target motion evoked more vigorous pursuit. For vertical pursuit, strabismics showed up-down asymmetries, such that upward target motion evoked more vigorous pursuit. In addition, strabismics had abnormalities in the relative effectiveness of different parts of the visual field for initiating both horizontal and vertical pursuit. Psychophysical judgements of horizontal target velocity revealed deficits analogous motion was perceived as faster than temporally directed motion, even when the 2 directions of motion were actually presented at the same speed. The magnitude of the motion processing deficits in each subject was correlated with the severity of the clinical signs of the strabismus. Our results suggest 2 possible interpretations. Maldevelopments of visual motion processing may cause strabismus in infancy, or alternatively, strabismus in the critical period for visual development may cause a maldevelopment of visual motion processing.
The Timing Hypothesis and Hormone Replacement Therapy: A Paradigm Shift in the Primary Prevention of Coronary Heart Disease in Women. Part 1: Comparison of Therapeutic Efficacy

The long‐held belief that outcome data from intervention trials in men are generalizable to women has created the framework in which the primary prevention of coronary heart disease (CHD) in women is viewed, but over the past decade, data have accumulated to refute such a supposition of generalizability. These lines of evidence concern the sex‐specific efficacy of CHD primary prevention therapies and timing of postmenopausal hormone replacement therapy (HRT) initiation according to age and time since menopause as modifiers of efficacy and risk. Although the standard primary prevention therapies of statins and aspirin reduce CHD in men, neither therapy reduces CHD and, more importantly, mortality in women under primary prevention conditions. Nonetheless, HRT significantly reduces CHD and mortality in primary prevention when it is initiated in women who are younger than 60 or are less than 10 years since menopause. Herein, the efficacy of the commonly used therapies for the primary prevention of CHD in women, statins, aspirin, and postmenopausal HRT is discussed. The comparative risks of these therapies will be discussed in Part 2 of this series.
Whole-slide imaging digital pathology as a platform for teleconsultation: a pilot study using paired subspecialist correlations.

CONTEXT -Whole-slide imaging technology offers promise for rapid, Internet-based telepathology consultations between institutions. Before implementation, technical issues, pathologist adaptability, and morphologic pitfalls must be well characterized. OBJECTIVE -To determine whether interpretation of whole-slide images differed from glass-slide interpretation in difficult surgical pathology cases. DESIGN -Diagnostically challenging pathology slides from a variety of anatomic sites from an outside laboratory were scanned into whole digital format. Digital and glass slides were independently diagnosed by 2 subspecialty pathologists. Reference, digital, and glass-slide interpretations were compared. Operator comments on technical issues were gathered. RESULTS -Fifty-three case pairs were analyzed. There was agreement among digital, glass, and reference diagnoses in 45 cases (85%) and between digital and glass diagnoses in 48 (91%) cases. There were 5 digital cases (9%) discordant with both reference and glass diagnoses. Further review of each of these cases indicated an incorrect digital whole-slide interpretation. Neoplastic cases showed better correlation (93%) than did cases of nonneoplastic disease (88%). Comments on discordant cases related to digital whole technology focused on issues such as fine resolution and navigating ability at high magnification. CONCLUSIONS -Overall concordance between digital whole-slide and standard glass-slide interpretations was good at 91%. Adjustments in technology, case selection, and technology familiarization should improve performance, making digital whole-slide review feasible for broader telepathology subspecialty consultation applications.
Automatic Stabilization of Image Sequences

This paper presents a technique to automatically process image sequences taken with handheld cameras into stabilized animations. This involves the alignment of images of different viewpoints and the detection and stabilization of the scenes static background while preserving the motion of moving objects. For this we present two different approaches that each solve subproblems. The first approach aligns the images by tracking SIFT features through the sequence and calculating linear mappings for each image. The second approach refines the results of the first by using block-motion analysis to divide the images into foreground and background segments, correcting the motion vectors of each segment and rendering a final sequence using the corrected motion vectors. The effectiveness of both approaches is demonstrated on several sample
Development of a rat central venous catheter model for evaluation of vaccines to prevent Staphylococcus epidermidis and Staphylococcus aureus early biofilms

Indwelling central venous catheters are a common and important source of nosocomial Staphylococcus epidermidis and S. aureus infections, causing increased morbidity and mortality during hospitalization. A model was developed to reflect the clinical situation of catheter colonization by transient hematogeneously spread staphylococci, in order to investigate potential vaccine candidates. Rats were cannulated in the right jugular vein, followed by challenge through the tail vein with either S. epidermidis RP62a, or S. aureus Becker. At 24 hr post challenge, colonizing bacteria were found to be present on the catheter in an early biofilm, as evidenced by the presence of polysaccharide intercellular adhesin (PIA). For vaccination studies, rats were first immunized, surgically cannulated, and then challenged via the tail vein. At 24 hr post challenge, the catheters were harvested and cultured on mannitol salt agar plates. The catheters were scored as positive if there was outgrowth of bacterial colonies, and negative if no colonies were observed. A S. epidermidis antigen (SERP0630, MenD), and a S. aureus antigen (SACOL1138, iron regulated surface determinant B, IsdB) were found to have significant protective activity in this model, compared to mock immunized controls. Using SERP0630 as the test immunogen, it was also determined that a single vaccination of rats after cannulation was sufficient for significant catheter protection. This model may be used to evaluate antigens for protective activity against transient hematogenous spread of staphylococci resulting in catheter colonization and early biofilm formation.
Análise da eficiência relativa dos programas de pós-graduação acadêmicos em Administração, Contabilidade e Turismo

O objetivo deste artigo e apresentar um modelo alternativo de analise da eficiencia dos programas de pos-graduacao academicos em Administracao, Contabilidade e Turismo, vinculados as instituicoes de ensino superior publicas e privadas. O estudo tem como base teorica a eficiencia e a otimizacao de recursos, tomando como referencia a maximizacao do retorno, sujeito as limitacoes de recursos. Como modelo analitico foi utilizada a Analise Envoltoria de Dados (DEA), enquanto tecnica nao parametrica de analise da eficiencia relativa. Os resultados apontaram que os programas de pos-graduacao foram mais eficientes em 2006, seguido por 2004 e 2005, respectivamente. Notou- se ainda que, em media, os programas vinculados as instituicoes privadas de ensino foram mais eficientes que os da rede publica no trienio 2004/2006. Os gestores desses programas podem utilizar a analise da eficiencia relativa como estrategia de benchmarking, adotando as melhores praticas observadas nos programas eficientes, visando a maximizacao da eficiencia em sua gestao. Palavras-chave: desempenho, Analise Envoltoria de Dados.
The effects of α2‐adrenoceptor antagonists on the inhibition of 1‐(2,5‐dimethoxy‐4‐iodophenyl)‐2‐aminopropane (DOI)‐induced head shakes by 5‐HT1A receptor agonists in the mouse

1 8‐Hydroxy‐2‐(di‐n‐propylamino) tetralin (8‐OH‐DPAT), gepirone, buspirone and ipsapirone dose‐dependently antagonized the head‐shakes induced by 1‐(2,5‐dimethoxy 4‐iodophenyl)‐2‐amino propane hydrochloride (DOI) (1.0 mg kg−1) in mice, when these agents were given i.p. 10 min beforehand. 2 para‐Chlorophenylalanine (pCPA) abolished the effect of 8‐OH‐DPAT (0.1 mg kg−1) and of buspirone (1.0 mg kg−1). (±)‐Pindolol (5.0 mg kg−1) also antagonized the effect of 8‐OH‐DPAT(0.1 mg kg−1). 3 The α2‐adrenoceptor antagonists, RX811059 (1.0 mg kg−1), idazoxan (0.5 mg kg−1), yohimbine (1.0 mg kg−1) and 1‐(2‐pyrimidinyl)‐piperazine (1‐PP) (2.0 mg kg−1) i.p. prevented the antagonistic effect of 8‐OH‐DPAT (0.1 mg kg−1) on DOI‐head‐shakes. 4 Orally‐administered buspirone, given 60 min beforehand, only reduced DOI‐head‐shakes at doses of 60 mg kg−1 and above. However, when buspirone (1.0 mg kg−1) was administered orally twice daily for 21 days, DOI‐head‐shakes were significantly reduced when tested 60 min after the first daily dose on days 5, 12 and 21 and 48 h after withdrawal. 5 A single oral dose of buspirone (1.0 mg kg−1) strongly antagonized DOI‐head‐shakes when given 24 h after the last of 4 daily doses of 1‐PP (2.0 mg kg−1, p.o.) but had no effect on DOI‐head‐shakes 24 h after the last of 4 daily doses of water (p.o.). 6 A single oral dose of 1‐PP (2.0 mg kg−1) abolished the inhibitory effect of i.p. buspirone (1.0 mg kg−1) on DOI‐head‐shakes in mice which had received water (p.o.) daily on the 4 previous days but not in mice which had received 1‐PP (2.0 mg kg−1, p.o.) on these days. 7 The ability of 5‐HT1A receptor agonists to antagonize DOI‐head‐shakes may be due to an effect at presynaptic 5‐HT receptors. It is suggested that 1‐PP, formed from buspirone, may act at α2‐adrenoceptors to prevent acutely administered oral buspirone from antagonizing DOI‐head shakes, but that tolerance occurs to this effect of 1‐PP, thus revealing the inhibitory effect of buspirone when the latter is given repeatedly.
Polymorphisms in the SEEK1 and SPR1 genes on 6p21.3 associate with psoriasis in the Swedish population

Abstract: Psoriasis is a chronic skin disease that results in red and scaly lesions. Several psoriasis susceptibility loci have been identified across the genome, of which PSORS1 on 6p21.3 is predominant. There is an ongoing debate regarding whether the HLA‐C allele, Cw*0602, can be considered the major predisposing factor in this region. Investigation of other genes in the PSORS1 region with regard to psoriasis may provide alternate candidates to HLA‐C. We have characterized two overlapping genes, SEEK1 and SPR1. SEEK1 encodes two putative protein isoforms: the first being one of 152 amino acids from the full‐length splice‐isoform (exon 1–6), and the second being one of 100 amino acids from an alternate splice‐isoform (exon 1 and 6). SPR1 encodes a highly conserved protein of 134 amino acids, and in addition to characterization of human SPR1 we report the cloning of its orthologs in mouse and pig. Both SEEK1 and SPR1 are expressed in normal and psoriasis skin. In a case–control study, five of the nine single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) found in SEEK1 were associated with psoriasis, while one of the four SNPs found in SPR1 showed association. Testing the Cw*0602 confounding status revealed that two of the SEEK1 SNPs showed Cw*0602‐independent association, while the SPR1 SNP showed Cw*0602‐dependent association. The second exon of SEEK1, containing the two Cw*0602‐independent SNPs, showed the highest concentration of the psoriasis‐associating SNPs, but did not appear to be translated.
Photosensitized Inactivation of Plasmodium falciparum‐ and Babesia divergens‐Infected Erythrocytes in Whole Blood by Lipophilic Pheophorbide Derivatives

Background and objectives: Blood transfusions can transmit parasitic infections, such as those caused by Plasmodium (malaria), Trypanosoma cruzi (Chagas' disease), and Babesia (babesiosis). A higher degree of blood transfusion safety would be reached if methods were available for inactivating such parasites. Materials and methods: We evaluated the effectiveness of photosensitization using lipophilic pheophorbide and red light illumination to eradicate red blood cells infected with Plasmodium falciparum, and with Babesia divergens, in whole blood. Fluorescence microscopy and conventional fluorometry showed the specific accumulation of pheophorbide derivatives in the RBC infected with either parasite, compared with uninfected RBC. The effectiveness of different derivatives in eradicating infected RBC was first estimated in parasite cultures. Results: The best photosensitizer was the N‐(4‐butanol) phrophorbide derivative (Ph4‐OH) at 0.2 μM concentration and 5‐min illumination. In whole blood, the eradication of RBC infected with B. divergens and P. falciparum was obtained with 2 μM Ph4‐OH and 10 and 20 min illumination, respectively. Under these conditions of photosensitization, low levels of RBC hemolysis were noted even after 2 weeks of storage at 4 °C and a subsequent 48‐hour incubation at 37 °C. No reduction of negative charges on treated RBC was noted and no increase in methemoglobin content. Conclusion: In plasma, Ph4‐OH is mainly transported by high‐density lipoproteins (HDL). This high affinity for HDL may explain the selective accumulation of lipophilic pheophorbide derivatives in the intracellular parasites. Photosensitization with pheophorbide derivatives may be a promising approach to inactivation of transfusion‐transmissible parasites and viruses in blood bank units.
Spatial patterns in mass balance of the Siple Coast and Amundsen Sea sectors, West Antarctica

Abstract Local rates of change in ice-sheet thickness were calculated at 15 sites in West Antarctica using the submergence velocity technique. This method entails a comparison of the vertical velocity of the ice sheet, measured using repeat global positioning system surveys of markers, and local long-term rates of snow accumulation obtained using firn-core stratigraphy. Any significant difference between these two quantities represents a thickness change with time. Measurements were conducted at sites located ~100–200km apart along US ITASE traverse routes, and at several isolated locations. All but one of the sites are distributed in the Siple Coast and the Amundsen Sea basin along contours of constant elevation, along flowlines, across ice divides and close to regions of enhanced flow. Calculated rates of thickness change are different from site to site. Most of the large rates of change in ice thickness (~10cm a–1 or larger) are observed in or close to regions of rapid flow, and are probably related to ice-dynamics effects. Near-steady-state conditions are calculated mostly at sites in the slow-moving ice-sheet interior and near the mainWest Antarctic ice divide. These results are consistent with regional estimates of ice-sheet change derived from remote-sensing measurements at similar locations in West Antarctica
Hermeneutika Gadamer Sebagai Teknik Analisi Pesan Dakwah

This article discusses Gadamer's hermeneutics to understand and analyse the messages of Da’wa, including the rational importance of interconnection and integration between hermeneutic theories developed in the West and in Islamic world, especially regarding to the message of Da’wa in Islamic communication. In addition, the principal key issues to be addressed in this article are related to how the development of hermeneutic itself. The author argues that Gadamer's hermeneutics Ricoeur approach applied in the Islamic communication is able to be an alternative to delivering a message of Da’wah that is open, inclusive and constructive. Keywords : hermeneutics, Gadamer Ricoeur, analytical techniques, message of da’wa ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Artikel ini membahas tentang hermeneutika Gadamer untuk memahami dan menganalisis pesan dakwah, termasuk rasional pentingnya interkonneksi dan integrasi antara teori-teori hermeneutika yang berkembang di Barat dan khazanah keilmuan Islam, khususnya menyangkut pesan dakwah dalam komunikasi Islam. Selain itu, pokok perma–salahan utama yang akan dijawab dalam artikel ini adalah terkait dengan bagaimana perkembangan pemikiran herme–neutik itu sendiri. Penulis berpendapat bahwa pendekatan hermeneutika Gadamer Ricoeur yang diaplikasikan dalam komunikasi Islam ternyata dapat menjadi sebuah alternatif penyampaian pesan dakwah yang terbuka, inklusif dan mengandung pesan yang membangun. Kata Kunci: hermeneutika, Gadamer Ricoeur, teknik analisis, pesan dakwah
Proteoglycans mediate malaria sporozoite targeting to the liver

Malaria sporozoites are rapidly targeted to the liver where they pass through Kupffer cells and infect hepatocytes, their initial site of replication in the mammalian host. We show that sporozoites, as well as their major surface proteins, the CS protein and TRAP, recognize distinct cell type‐specific surface proteoglycans from primary Kupffer cells, hepatocytes and stellate cells, but not from sinusoidal endothelia. Recombinant Plasmodium falciparum CS protein and TRAP bind to heparan sulphate on hepatocytes and both heparan and chondroitin sulphate proteoglycans on stellate cells. On Kupffer cells, CS protein predominantly recognizes chondroitin sulphate, whereas TRAP binding is glycosaminoglycan independent. Plasmodium berghei sporozoites attach to heparan sulphate on hepatocytes and stellate cells, whereas Kupffer cell recognition involves both chondroitin sulphate and heparan sulphate proteoglycans. CS protein also interacts with secreted proteoglycans from stellate cells, the major producers of extracellular matrix in the liver. In situ binding studies using frozen liver sections indicate that the majority of the CS protein binding sites are associated with these matrix proteoglycans. Our data sug‐gest that sporozoites are first arrested in the sinusoid by binding to extracellular matrix proteoglycans and then recognize proteoglycans on the surface of Kupffer cells, which they use to traverse the sinusoidal cell barrier.
Analysis of a YAC with human telomeres and oriP from epstein-barr virus in yeast and 293 cells.

One approach to the construction and propagation of a mammalian artificial chromosome is to build it up in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, using a yeast artificial chromosome (YAC) base. We have demonstrated that circular YACs carrying the Epstein-Barr virus origin of plasmid replication ( oriP ) are maintained as stable, episomal elements in human cells. We wished to determine whether this technology could be extended, to generate linear extrachromosomal elements. Here, we describe the generation of retrofitting constructs, which permit the addition of human telomeres and the oriP domain to YACs. The constructs contain 0.8 kb of human telomere sequence separated by a unique Not I site from 0.7 kb of Tetrahymena telomere sequence. These constructs seed telomere formation with approximately 40-60% efficiency in human 293-EBNA and HT1080 cells whether or not the Tetrahymena sequence is removed by Not I digestion. A detailed analysis demonstrates that YACs carrying the human telomere cassettes on both arms show instability of the telomere sequences in S.cerevisiae at a frequency of approximately 50%. Introduction of correctly retrofitted, linear oriP YACs into human 293-EBNA cells by lipofection resulted in the generation of circular extrachromosomal elements varying in size from 8 to 300 kb. However, no apparently linear YACs could be detected, suggesting that extrachromosomal maintenance of DNA with the oriP /EBNA-1 system is not compatible with linear molecules capped by telomeres.