Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Peroxisome Proliferator Activator Receptor Gamma Coactivator-1α Overexpression in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: A Tale of Two Transgenics

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder manifesting with upper and lower neuron loss, leading to impairments in voluntary muscle function and atrophy. Mitochondrial dysfunction in metabolism and morphology have been implicated in the pathogenesis of ALS, including atypical oxidative metabolism, reduced mitochondrial respiration in muscle, and protein aggregates in the mitochondrial outer membrane. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator-1α (PGC-1α) plays an essential role in the regulation of mitochondrial biogenesis, the process by which existing mitochondria grow and divide. PGC-1α has been previously reported to be downregulated in the spinal cord of individuals with ALS. Towards targeting PGC-1α as a therapeutic mechanism, we have previously reported improved motor function and survival in the SOD1G93A mouse model of ALS by neuron-specific over-expression of PGC-1α under a neuron-specific enolase (NSE) promoter. As pharmacological intervention targeting PGC-1α would result in whole-body upregulation of this transcriptional co-activator, in the current study we investigated whether global expression of PGC-1α is beneficial in a SOD1G93A mouse model, by generating transgenic mice with PGC-1α transgene expression driven by an actin promoter. Actin-PGC-1α expression levels were assayed and confirmed in spinal cord, brain, muscle, liver, kidney, and spleen. To determine the therapeutic effects of global expression of PGC-1α, wild-type, actin-PGC-1α, SOD1G93A, and actin-PGC-1α/SOD1G93A animals were monitored for weight loss, motor performance by accelerating rotarod test, and survival. Overexpression of actin-PGC-1α did not confer significant improvement in these assessed outcomes. A potential explanation for this difference is that the actin promoter may not induce levels of PGC-1α relevant to disease pathophysiology in the cells that are specifically relevant to the pathogenesis of ALS. This evidence strongly supports future therapeutic approaches that target PGC-1α primarily in neurons.
Tracing Self-Reactive B Cells in Normal Mice

Key Points Single-cell culture approach revealed B cell tolerance checkpoints in normal mice. Self-reactivity is elevated in T3 and CD93+ and CD93− anergic B cells in spleen. Both the lifespan and the signaling capacity of BCR vary among self-reactive B cells. BCR transgenic mice dominate studies of B cell tolerance; consequently, tolerance in normal mice expressing diverse sets of autoreactive B cells is poorly characterized. We have used single B cell cultures to trace self-reactivity in BCR repertoires across the first and second tolerance checkpoints and in tolerized B cell compartments of normal mice. This approach reveals affinity “setpoints” that define each checkpoint and a subset of tolerized, autoreactive B cells that is long-lived. In normal mice, the numbers of B cells avidly specific for DNA fall significantly as small pre-B become immature and transitional-1 B cells, revealing the first tolerance checkpoint. By contrast, DNA reactivity does not significantly change when immature and transitional-1 B cells become mature follicular B cells, showing that the second checkpoint does not reduce DNA reactivity. In the spleen, autoreactivity was high in transitional-3 (T3) B cells, CD93+IgM−/loIgDhi anergic B cells, and a CD93− anergic subset. Whereas splenic T3 and CD93+ anergic B cells are short-lived, CD93−IgM−/loIgDhi B cells have half-lives comparable to mature follicular B cells. B cell–specific deletion of proapoptotic genes, Bak and Bax, resulted in increased CD93−IgM−/loIgDhi B cell numbers but not T3 B cell numbers, suggesting that apoptosis regulates differently persistent and ephemeral autoreactive B cells. The self-reactivity and longevity of CD93−IgM−/loIgDhi B cells and their capacity to proliferate and differentiate into plasmacytes in response to CD40 activation in vitro lead us to propose that this persistent, self-reactive compartment may be the origin of systemic autoimmunity and a potential target for vaccines to elicit protective Abs cross-reactive with self-antigens.
Male‐to‐female ratios among NTDs and women's periconceptional intake of folic acid

About a decade ago, a hypothesis was put forward to explain the preponderance of females among neural tube defect (NTD) fetuses. That hypothesis predicts that a woman's higher levels of early gestational intake of methyl groups, such as folic acid, will be associated with lesser male‐to‐female ratio differences in NTD‐affected births, specifically less preponderance of females. We explored this hypothesis in four distinct studies that investigated human NTDs, obtained information on folic acid, and capitalized on timing of folic acid fortification by investigating data that were collected both prior to and after the 1998 initiation of U.S. mandatory folic acid fortification of grains.
Expression of the Long Noncoding RNA GAS5 Correlates with Liver Fibrosis in Patients with Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Background: Advanced liver fibrosis is the most important prognostic factor in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The long noncoding RNA (lncRNA), growth arrest-specific transcript 5 (GAS5), is associated with the inhibition of liver fibrogenesis, and its levels are decreased in cirrhotic liver. Methods: We analyzed 51 patients with NAFLD, the diagnosis of which was confirmed by liver biopsy. Expression of GAS5 in both the liver and plasma of the patients was analyzed using a quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction according to the fibrosis stage. Results: Plasma GAS5 expression was significantly higher in patients with advanced fibrosis than in those without. As the fibrosis progressed, GAS5 expression in plasma increased, with the exception of that in cirrhotic livers. Plasma levels of GAS5 were lower in patients with cirrhosis than in those with advanced fibrosis. Conclusion: Elevated circulating levels of the lncRNA GAS5 are associated with the progression of liver fibrosis prior to the development of cirrhosis.
‘I Would Rather Be Having My Leg Cut off Than a Little Needle’: A Supplementary Qualitative Analysis of Dentally Anxious Children’s Experiences of Needle Fear

Fear of needles is common in childhood, with up to 50% being affected to some degree. In individuals who are dentally anxious, the prevalence may be as high as 91%. Fear of needles, and therefore intra-oral injections can have negative impacts on children’s quality of life and healthcare experiences, including a requirement for pharmacological methods to facilitate dental treatment. The aim of this study is to identify whether dentally anxious children report fear of injections and explore how these children experience a fear of needles in a dental setting. A supplementary analysis of interviews collected as part of two previous studies relating to children with dental anxiety. Five main themes were identified: feelings about needles; the nature of needle fear; the context of the fear, its consequences and how children tried to control the process. Children showed a desire to have control of their healthcare interventions, and wanted to trust the healthcare professionals giving the injections. There is evidence that children with dental anxiety also experience fear of needles, including intra-oral injections. Further primary qualitative research is needed to explore this topic in more depth and to design appropriate child centred interventions to reduce needle fear.
Horses for courses: Learning from functional tests of pulmonary health?

What was once known as a disease confined to early childhood, cystic fibrosis (CF) now for the first time affects more adults than children in most parts of the world. The primary cause of mortality and morbidity is lung disease; yet, with the introduction of newborn screening, aggressive treatment, and cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) modulators, there has been a dramatic shift in life expectancy. Despite a notable improvement in quality of life, CF remains a chronic progressive disease. The current “gold standard” for monitoring lung disease in CF is spirometry, its main outcome being forced expired volume in 1 second (FEV1). Spirometry requires a maximal coordinated effort by the patient and is often not reliably performed until around 8 years of age. Even when patients can perform the maneuver reliably, values are frequently within “normal” ranges up until the mid‐teenage years. This is largely due to the maneuver measuring signal from the peripheral airways very poorly; at best they probably contribute only ~10% to FEV1. A clinically significant change in FEV1 is thought to be 13 percent predicted (ppFEV1), 4 suggesting that there can be substantial damage or changes in the peripheral airways before any “meaningful” changes are seen. As CF lung disease progresses, patients with a ppFEV1 < 30 have a 50% chance of death or transplant (D/T) within 2 years. However, in pediatrics ppFEV1 2 years before death was not a good predictor of mortality with a median ppFEV1 of 53%, ranging from 24% to 102%. 6 With this lack of sensitivity, FEV1 is not one of the parameters used for the lung allocation score used in the United States, Germany, and the Netherlands as part of the transplant waiting list assessment.
Selection and characterization of Bacillus thuringiensis strains toxic against pyralid stored‐product pests

In this study, we present the selection and the characterization of Bacillus thuringiensis strains toxic against pyralid pests of stored products. Among 201 new B. thuringiensis strains isolated from different countries, two strains (BLB249 and BLB384) showed greater toxicity than the commercialized strain B. thuringiensis kurstaki HD1 against Ephestia kuehniella larvae. Morphological, molecular and biochemical investigations revealed that these strains were similar to HD1 but presented different cry gene content. Additional bioassays revealed that only strain BLB249 displayed higher toxicity than HD1 against Plodia interpunctella larvae. The study of Cry protoxin activation by midgut proteases of E. kuehniella and P. interpunctella larvae supported that higher toxicity of BLB249 and BLB384 strains compared to HD1 was not due to differential protoxin activation. Moreover, the toxic strains produced δ‐endotoxins and spores in similar amounts to HD1. Interestingly, the δ‐endotoxin production and the yield of BUPM26 strain were 32.87% and 35.12% greater than that of HD1. The potent insecticidal activities of BLB249 and BLB384 strains and the high level of δ‐endotoxin production by BUPM26 strain make them excellent candidates for use against E. kuehniella and P. interpunctella larvae.
Responses to Selection against Clinical Mastitis in the Norwegian Cattle Population

The genetic trend for clinical mastitis was estimated for Norwegian Cattle, a population in which mastitis resistance has been included in the breeding programme since 1978. More than 1.2 million first-lactation daughters, with clinical mastitis records registered from 1978 to 1995, bred by 2043 sires, were analysed with a linear sire model. For bulls born from 1974 to 1990 a flat genetic trend for clinical mastitis was found. However, bull sires born from 1983 onwards, selected on a breeding goal with increased weight on mastitis relative to milk production, showed consistently larger and favourable selection differentials for mastitis relative to bull sires born earlier, which had an average selection differential of approximately zero. This will influence genetic trend in the population through their sons, which were born from 1990 onwards.
Intervarietal Differences in Karyotype of Tea

Detailed karyotype analyses of 6 cultivars of tea vegetative clones are done. On the basis of centromere position, chromosomes are classified into 6 types. Number of different types varied within the varieties. Both ‘E’ and ‘F’ type are absent in TS 491. Total genomic length and volume are also considered as the parameters. Singnificant variation is observed at the varietal level. TV21, a quality clone, is found quite indifferent in karyotype, total length and volume of the chromosomes. The other characteristic features of this variety is also different from the rest of varieties. The overall study reveals a clear varietal demarcation.
Postcolonial Studies

All periods are postcolonial, but are some more postcolonial than others? According to Gayatri Spivakr, 'In postcoloniality, every metropolitan definition is dislodged. The general mode for the postcolonial is citation, reinscription, rerouting the historica1.2 Or as Deepika Bahri2 remarks: 'Defining the parameters and boundaries of the postcolonial territory is a task not without its challenges. ' To speak of 'The Postcolonial Middle Ages' or 'The Postcolonial Renaissance' may appear anachronistic, even perverse, indeed 'preposterous', to use a term exploited extensively by Pat Parker) 'Protocolonial' may seem a more apt term to describe the past preceding the modern, but are
Detection of beetle damage in forests by X-ray CT image processing

Algumas especies de besouros tem elevado impacto economico em florestas e industrias de moveis. Exemplo recente e aquele produzido pelo besouro Anophophora glabripennis, uma especie conhecida nos Estados Unidos como Asian Longhorn, que tem produzido danos significativos em varias florestas americanas, representando uma ameaca que podera encontrar transporte nao-intencional para paises da America do Sul, inclusive para o Brasil. Neste trabalho e apresentado um novo metodo com base no uso de tomografia de raios X computadorizada (CT) e processamento de imagens digitais para deteccao de injurias causadas por besouros em florestas. Os resultados mostram a correta identificacao da localizacao de besouros em arvores vivas, como tambem fornecem uma avaliacao do estrago temporal causado.
Variations in mass and enzyme activity of rumen microorganisms: Effect of barley and buffer supplements

Four ruminally cannulated cows were used to investigate effect of barley with or without buffer on modifications of mass and enzyme activity in rumen microorganisms. Animals were given restricted feed (80% of ad libitum intake) of 7 kg DM day−1 and with three successive diets. The diet H consisted of 100% Cocksfoot hay. The diet HB was 65% hay with 35% pelleted ground barley with infusion of bicarbonate salt for the diet HBB. The rumen was sampled before (-1 h) and after feeding (+ 5 h) to isolate liquid-and solid-associated microbial population. 15(NH4)2SO4 was continuously infused into the rumen as a microbial marker. For all diets microorganisms associated with particles constituted a mean of 74% of the total rumen microbial mass. The density of microorganisms adherent to particles was similar (P > 0.05) for the different diets and the two sampling times, but fibrolytic enzymes activities (xylanase, CMCase, glycosidases) in this microbial population were maximal (P < 0.001) 23 h after feed intake. Xylanase (P < 0.05) and CMCase (P < 0.01) activities just before feeding varied according to diet; they were highest with diet H and similar between barley supplemented diets. Higher glycosidase activities were measured with diet H and HBB than with diet HB 5 h after feeding.
Transporter gene families in plants: the sulphate transporter gene family: redundancy or specialization?

Analysis of the Arabidopsis genome has indicated that the gene families encoding for specific solute transporters are surprisingly large. An example is the sulphate transporter family, which in Arabidopsis , consists of 14 isoforms showing homology to one another. H(+)-sulphate co-transport has been demonstrated for some, but not all, of these Arabidopsis isoforms. Occurrence of the sulphate transporter is ubiquitous and many examples have been cloned from a variety of plant species, animals and yeast. This is a unique transporter family with no apparent homology to any other transporter type. Phylogenetic analysis of the plant gene or amino acid sequences indicates that there are 5 or more distinguishable clusters within the family of sulphate transporters. Analysis of functional characteristics and patterns of regulation together with localization data, suggests that these groups have specific roles, such as high affinity uptake in the root, translocation in vascular tissues and cell to cell transfer in leaves and seeds. Additionally, some members of this sulphate transporter family may have discrete subcellular locations in plastid or tonoplast membranes. Within individual groups, there are often multiple isoforms from the same species, indicating an even greater degree of specialization or alternatively, redundancy. This mini-review will summarize the available data to distinguish between specialization and redundancy.
Molecular and morphologically distinct Scytosiphon species (Scytosiphonales, Phaeophyceae) display similar antioxidant capacities 1

The taxonomic status of an alga with complanate thalli, occurring in central Chile and belonging to the genus Scytosiphon, was elucidated. Morphological and molecular features demonstrated that, in addition to the known and widespread constricted S. lomentaria (Lyngb.) Link that occurs along the Chilean coast, there is a Scytosiphon with complanate thalli that occurs only in central Chile—S. gracilis Kogame. Morphological analyses of this previously unreported complanate Scytosiphon showed thalli without constrictions, coherent plurilocular sporangia without ascocysts, and phaeophycean hairs arising from cortical cells. Furthermore, sequences of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS1 and ITS2) regions of the complanate Scytosiphon were 99.8% and 100% identical to those detected in S. gracilis from Korea. ITS‐based comparative analyses showed that complanate Scytosiphon grouped in a different clade than S. lomentaria and S. tenellus Kogame from various parts of the world, including Chilean species. Moreover, molecular analyses suggest the occurrence of two distinct ITS types of S. lomentaria in northern Chile, corresponding to the Korean and Greek types. On the other hand, biochemical analyses of copper‐induced antioxidant responses in S. gracilis and S. lomentaria showed an identical increase in antioxidant enzyme activities. These results suggest that copper tolerance might be a constitutive trait in these species of Scytosiphon.
Effect of condensed tannin in cottonseed hulls on endogenous ileal amino acid loss in the growing rat

The effect of condensed tannin (CT) in cottonseed hulls (CSH) on endogenous ileal amino acid flow in the growing rat was evaluated. CSH contain around 900 g kg -1 fibre and 52 g kg -1 total CT. Twenty-four rats were allocated to four semi-synthetic diets, which contained enzymically hydrolysed casein (EHC) as the sole source of dietary nitrogen and chromic oxide as an indigestible marker. Two of the diets contained no CSH while the remaining two contained 50 g kg -1 CSH. At each level of hull inclusion (0 and 50 g kg -1 ), polyethylene glycol (PEG ; MW 3500) was added (6 g kg -1 ) to one of the diets. The effect of CT was assessed by determining endogenous ileal amino acid loss in the presence or absence of PEG, which binds and inactivates CT. The rats were given their respective experimental diets ad libitum for 14 days. Samples of digesta were collected at slaughter from the terminal 15 cm of ileum. The digesta samples were centrifuged and the supernate ultrafiltered. The precipitate plus retentate (MW > 10000) fraction affords an estimate of endogenous loss. Inclusion of CSH in the EHC based diet increased ileal flow of total nitrogen (1387 versus 1623 μg g -1 dry matter intake ; P ≤ 0.05), increased ileal flow of total amino acids (23% ; P ≤ 0.01), and significantly increased ileal flow of several individual amino acids. There was no significant effect of PEG and no PEG x diet interaction, showing that the CSH effects could not be explained by action of CT. The presence of hulls in commercial cottonseed meal would appear to contribute to the reported low apparent ileal amino acid digestibility coefficients for cottonseed meal by increasing endogenous ileal amino acid flow, but this effect is not due to the CT component of the hulls.
Aplysina (Porifera: Demospongiae) species identification through SSCP-ITS patterns

Keratose sponges have no spicules and limited robust morphological characters, causing severe problems for taxonomic classification. Single-strand conformational polymorphism (SSCP) analysis of PCR amplified internal transcribed spacers (ITS) of nuclear ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes was used to elucidate speciation patterns in marine sponges of the genus Aplysina. In this study, Aplysina species with non-ambiguous traditional morphological alpha taxonomy were used to generate standard SSCP-ITS patterns, which were compared with patterns from alleged new species. Our results show that ITS-SSCP patterns allowed the differentiation of Aplysina sponges, demonstrating the advantage of a method that explores the secondary structure compared to direct sequencing.
Management of a mound-building ant, Lasius neoniger Emery, on golf putting greens and tees using delayed-action baits or fipronil.

The ant Lasius neoniger Emery can be a serious pest when its nesting and mound-building activities occur on golf putting greens and tees. Controlling turf-infesting ants is difficult because conventional insecticides usually fail to eliminate the subterranean queen. We compared the attractiveness of commercial and experimental ant baits to L. neoniger workers, and we evaluated baits containing novel, delayed-action toxicants for selective control of L. neoniger on creeping bentgrass, Agrostis stolonifera L. , golf tees. Efficacy of nonbait granular fipronil, a new phenyl pyrazole insecticide, also was evaluated. In choice tests, protein-based baits were more readily taken than baits containing sugar- or oil-based attractants. Abamectin-, hydramethylnon-, or spinosad-based baits significantly reduced numbers of ant mounds and nests when applied either as spot or broadcast treatments. Two commercial baits, Advance Granular Carpenter Ant Bait, containing 0.011% abamectin B 1 , and Maxforce Ant Killer Granular Bait, containing 0.9% hydramethylnon, were especially effective. Spot-treatment with either of these baits, using 1 g of bait per mound, eliminated 88 to 97% of the mounds within 3 d. Broadcast application of fipronil (0.028 kg a.i. ha -1 ) on heavily infested, sand-based creeping bentgrass putting green turf in May provided 80% reduction of ant mounds at 7 d after treatment and 86% reduction at 60 d.
Factors Influencing the Presence of Ethics and CSR Stand-alone Courses in the Accounting Masters Curricula: An International Study

Abstract This paper provides a web-content analysis of the curriculum and subjects of the top accounting and auditing masters identified in the Eduniversal 2012–2013 ratings of the best business schools in the world. The main aim of this study is to analyze the influence exerted by different factors on the extent to which accounting programs are incorporating ethics and corporate social responsibility (CSR) stand-alone courses. The findings of this study do not offer a very optimistic outlook on the extent to which the accounting and auditing top masters ranked by the Eduniversal ratings are offering stand-alone courses related to ethics and CSR. Also, the findings suggest that the presence of ethics and CSR stand-alone subjects in the accounting and auditing masters analyzed is partially explained by the size and the cultural influence exerted by the geographical location.