Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Immature astrocytes promote CNS axonal regeneration when combined with chondroitinase ABC

Regeneration of injured adult CNS axons is inhibited by formation of a glial scar. Immature astrocytes are able to support robust neurite outgrowth and reduce scarring, therefore, we tested whether these cells would have this effect if transplanted into brain injuries. Utilizing an in vitro spot gradient model that recreates the strongly inhibitory proteoglycan environment of the glial scar we found that, alone, immature, but not mature, astrocytes had a limited ability to form bridges across the most inhibitory outer rim. In turn, the astrocyte bridges could promote adult sensory axon re‐growth across the gradient. The use of selective enzyme inhibitors revealed that MMP‐2 enables immature astrocytes to cross the proteoglycan rim. The bridge‐building process and axon regeneration across the immature glial bridges were greatly enhanced by chondroitinase ABC pretreatment of the spots. We used microlesions in the cingulum of the adult rat brains to test the ability of matrix modification and immature astrocytes to form a bridge for axon regeneration in vivo. Injured axons were visualized via p75 immunolabeling and the extent to which these axons regenerated was quantified. Immature astrocytes coinjected with chondroitinase ABC‐induced axonal regeneration beyond the distal edge of the lesion. However, when used alone, neither treatment was capable of promoting axonal regeneration. Our findings indicate that when faced with a minimal lesion, neurons of the basal forebrain can regenerate in the presence of a proper bridge across the lesion and when levels of chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans (CSPGs) in the glial scar are reduced. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.Develop Neurobiol 70: 826–841, 2010
Cornell Scale for Depression in Dementia

BESKRIVELSE Baggrunden for udviklingen af CSDD var, at de fleste andre in­ strumenter til vurdering af depression er baseret på patientens egne oplysninger via spørgeskema eller interview, hvilket er en mindre pålidelig metode, hvis patienten pga. demens er præget af kognitive vanskeligheder eller svækket dømmekraft. CSDD lægger derfor hovedvægten på oplysninger fra en informant, f.eks. en primær omsorgsperson, med godt kendskab til pa­ tienten.
Oral Application of Magnesium-L-Threonate Attenuates Vincristine-induced Allodynia and Hyperalgesia by Normalization of Tumor Necrosis Factor-&agr;/Nuclear Factor-&kgr;B Signaling

Background: Antineoplastic agents, including vincristine, often induce neuropathic pain and magnesium deficiency clinically, but the causal link between them has not been determined. No drug is available for treating this form of neuropathic pain. Methods: Injection of vincristine (0.1 mg · kg-1 · day-1, intraperitoneally, for 10 days) was used to induce nociceptive sensitization, which was accessed with von Frey hairs and the plantar tester in adult male Sprague–Dawley rats. Magnesium-L- threonate was administered through drinking water (604 mg · kg-1 · day-1). Extracellular and intracellular free Mg2+ were measured by Calmagite chromometry and flow cytometry. Molecular biologic and electrophysiologic experiments were performed to expose the underlying mechanisms. Results: Vincristine injection induced allodynia and hyperalgesia (n = 12), activated tumor necrosis factor-&agr;/nuclear factor-&kgr;B signaling, and reduced free Mg2+ in cerebrospinal fluid by 21.7 ± 6.3% (mean ± SD; n = 13) and in dorsal root ganglion neurons by 27 ± 6% (n = 11). Reducing Mg2+ activated tumor necrosis factor-&agr;/nuclear factor-&kgr;B signaling in cultured dorsal root ganglion neurons. Oral application of magnesium-L-threonate prevented magnesium deficiency and attenuated both activation of tumor necrosis factor-&agr;/nuclear factor-&kgr;B signaling and nociceptive sensitization (n = 12). Mechanistically, vincristine induced long-term potentiation at C-fiber synapses, up-regulated N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor type 2B subunit of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor, and led to peptidergic C-fiber sprouting in spinal dorsal horn (n = 6 each). The vincristine-induced pathologic plasticity was blocked by intrathecal injection of nuclear factor-&kgr;B inhibitor (n = 6), mimicked by tumor necrosis factor-&agr;, and substantially prevented by oral magnesium-L-threonate (n = 5). Conclusions: Vincristine may activate tumor necrosis factor-&agr;/nuclear factor-&kgr;B pathway by reduction of intracellular magnesium, leading to spinal pathologic plasticity and nociceptive sensitization. Oral magnesium-L-threonate that prevents the magnesium deficiency is a novel approach to prevent neuropathic pain induced by chemotherapy.
Evaluation of Bangkok sewage sludge for possible agricultural use

Bangkok (Thailand) covers more than 1 500 km2 and has 10 million inhabitants. The disposal of wastewater is creating huge problems of pollution. The estimated amount of sewage sludge was estimated to be around 108 tonnes dry matter (DM) per day in 2005. In order to find a lasting way of disposal for this sewage sludge, the suitability of the sludge produced from three waste-water treatment plants for use as fertilizing material was investigated. Monthly samplings and analysis of sewage sludge from each plant showed that the composition of sludge varied according to the area of collection and period of sampling, and there was no link to rainfall cycle. Plant nutrient content was high (i.e. total N from 19 to 38 g kg-1 DM) whereas organic matter content was low. The concentrations of heavy metals varied between sludge samples, and were sometimes higher than the EU or US regulations for sewage sludge use in agriculture. Faecal coliforms were present in the sludge from one of the plants, indicating a possible contamination by night soil. In order to decrease this potentially pathogenic population the sewage sludge should be heated by composting. As the C/N ratio of sewage sludge was low (around 6) some organic by-products with high carbon content could be added as structural material to enhance the composting.
A low power CMOS voltage reference circuit with subthreshold MOSFETs

In this paper, a novel approach is proposed for the design of Low power CMOS bandgap reference circuit. In the literature, an inversion technique is proposed to make the voltage reference to be independent of temperature by using parasitic bipolar transistors. In the above technique, this paper proposes the use of MOSFETs operating in subthreshold region for generating a voltage with negative temperature coefficient. The performance of the proposed scheme is studied by implementing the bandgap reference circuit for 1.2 V in TSMC035 CMOS process. Studies through Mentorgraphics IC station and Eldo simulator demonstrate that the proposed scheme has a voltage reference with temperature coefficient of less than 50 ppm/degC over the temperature range of -10degC to 120degC. The proposed scheme results in eighteen times lesser area and dissipates ten times lower power compared with that using parasitic bipolar transistors. The circuit technique has been validated using both NMOS and PMOS diode connected subthreshold MOSFETs for generating voltages with negative temperature coefficient.
Histopathological hoof laminar changes in horses with Pituitary Pars Intermedia Adenoma : cases report

Laminitis in horses is often associated with endocrine disorders, especially the pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID) in older animals. Morphologic exams of the laminar tissue of the hoof were performed in two horses with suspected PPID, with no clinical signs of laminitis. Changes compatible with laminitis of endocrine origin were observed, such as rounding of the nuclei of the basal cells, thinning and stretching of the secondary epidermal laminae and tissue proliferation. PPID horses with no clinical signs of laminitis may be affected by lesions of the laminar tissue of the hoof that compromise the integrity of the dermal-epidermal junction and may develop clinical symptoms of the disease. It has been suggested that the development stage of endocrine laminitis is longer, but further studies should be conducted to confirm it.
A CMOS-compatible electronic synapse device based on Cu/SiO2/W programmable metallization cells

In this work, the resistance plasticity of Cu/SiO2/W programmable metallization cell devices is experimentally explored for the emulation of biological synapses. PMC devices were fabricated with foundry friendly materials using standard processes. The resistance can be continuously increased or decreased with both dc and voltage pulse programming. Impedance spectroscopy results indicate that the gradual change of resistance is attributable to the expansion or contraction of a Cu-rich layer within the device. Pulse programming experiments further show that the pulse amplitude plays a more important role in resistance change than pulse width, which is consistent with the proposed ‘dual-layer’ device model. The dense resistance-state distribution, 1 V operating voltage and inherent CMOS-compatibility suggests its potential application as electronic synapse in neuromorphic computing.
Does Identity Precede Intimacy? Testing Erikson’s Theory on Romantic Development in Emerging Adults of the 21st Century

Erikson stated that healthy identity development during adolescence is a precursor of intimacy in romantic relationships during emerging adulthood. However, from a developmental contextual perspective, there are reasons to question this strict developmental ordering. Using interview and questionnaire data from a longitudinal study on 93 adolescents, the authors tested whether ego development in middle adolescence predicts intimacy in emerging adulthood. Second, the authors examined whether identity achievement at the transition to adulthood mediates this link. Results revealed direct links between early ego development (age 15) and intimacy in romantic relationships (age 25). No paths were found from earlier intimacy to later ego development. No gender differences occurred. Relational identity achievement, an integrative identity construct measured at age 24, fully mediated the association between earlier ego development and later intimacy. This study confirms Erikson’s old ideas on the developmental ordering of identity and intimacy for youngsters in the 21st century. Moreover, it highlights the integrative function of relational identity for later mature intimacy.
Polyprotein processing of Theiler's murine encephalomyelitis virus

To investigate polyprotein processing of Theiler's murine encephalomyelitis viruses, we analyzed in vitro translation reactions programmed by in vitro-derived transcripts from an infectious full-length cDNA clone of the DA strain of Theiler's virus. To help identify the proteinases that carried out the processing, we modified the DA cDNA clone transcription template by linearization with different restriction endonucleases that generate templates of different lengths or by constructing linker insertion or deletion mutations or both in putative proteinase-coding regions. Protein 3C carried out most of the cleavages of the polyprotein, as is true for the other picornaviruses that have been studied. A second proteinase also appeared active at the LP12A-2B junction. A protein of slightly faster mobility than the leader protein was seen with translation of transcripts derived from DA cDNA but not GDVII cDNA. This protein may be synthesized from an alternative initiation site in the DA leader-coding region out of phase with the polyprotein reading frame. Our findings are relevant to ongoing investigations of the abnormal virus expression seen in DA virus late demyelinating disease, since polyprotein processing is critical in regulating picornaviral gene expression.
Understanding teacher attraction and retention drivers: addressing teacher shortages

The attraction and retention of teachers is a problem faced by schools worldwide and possibly more so in the public sector. One possible solution to this problem is likely to be better targeting of attraction and retention drivers of value to teachers. This paper presents the findings from a qualitative study conducted in Australia. The study used electronic in-depth interviews and an online survey to interrogate the reasons teachers are attracted to the profession and what drives their decision to either stay or leave. Participants in the study were both serving and retired teachers. The majority of respondents cited intrinsic motivators as the reasons for joining the teaching profession and among the serving teachers, those with higher intrinsic motivational drivers exhibited a more positive intention to remain. While both groups viewed extrinsic rewards in the form of pay, the school environment and working conditions as important, intrinsic motivation had most influence on intention to stay in the profession. Countries worldwide provide education for their people through school systems and growing teacher shortages are a challenge for schools globally. Education benefits societies through building human capital, aiding economic growth and enabling political participation (Steering Committee for the Review of Government Service Provision, Commonwealth of Australia [SCRGSP], 2006), thus teacher shortages pose a threat to learning outcomes over the longer term. All schools depend on an available skilled and professional teaching workforce to achieve educational outcomes and critical for their success is the ability to attract, recruit and retain high quality teachers (Department of Education & Training Western Australia [DETWA], 2004). Currently the Western Australian government employs close to 20,000 teachers in the public sector and these are supported by teachers in the private and religious sector schools. Shortages are most apparent in specific areas, such as English as a second language, mathematics and the sciences, and with placement of teachers in remote areas; however, a Productivity Commission Report identified problems are expected to increase and widen over time (Department of Education [DOE], 2011). According to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development [OECD], (2011) “. many advanced economies already face [teacher shortages] and that will grow in the near future as large numbers of teachers reach retirement age. Even where general teacher supply and demand are in balance, many countries face shortages of specialist teachers and shortages in schools serving disadvantaged or isolated communities” (OECD, 2011, p.10). One estimate is that by 2016 primary schools around the world will face a shortage of 18 million teachers. This includes a 13 million shortfall in teachers in low-income regions and a further 5 million shortages in industrialised countries (Australian Associated Press [AAP], 2007).
The Impact of the Degree of Responsibility and Mutual Decision Making on Choices under Risk

We study experimentally how the responsibility for the payoffs of different number of others influences the choices under risk and how choice within group changes these decisions. We find strong support for the blame avoidance hypothesis: subjects who choose for others match the average risk preferences, as if others were choosing for themselves. The number of others who are influenced by the decision seems unimportant. The effect is not symmetric: subjects are more reluctant to make riskier choices for others. However, mutual responsibility diffuses blame and encourages subjects to make riskier choices for others than when choosing individually.
Management of anesthesia for cesarean section in parturients with placenta previa with/without placenta accreta: a retrospective study.

OBJECTIVES The aim of this retrospective study was to review placenta previa cases and determine the prognostic factors effective on morbidity and mortality and to evaluate the strategy of anesthetic management. MATERIAL AND METHODS 65 women with placenta previa scheduled for elective or emergency cesarean sections from 2004 to 2009 were examined. Patient demographic data, surgery and obstetric characteristics, anesthetic techniques, blood transfusions, the values of hemoglobin and complications were recorded. RESULTS Mostly general anesthesia was preferred in the parturients with placenta previa (86.2%, 56/65). 9 patients (13.8%), 2 of whom were converted to general anesthesia due to bleeding and prolonged surgery received regional anesthesia. 37 of 65 women (56.9%) with placenta previa had had cesarean sections previously. More than half of these patients (21/37, 56.7%) had abnormally invasive placentation and 16 of 21 cases underwent cesarean hysterectomy. The incidence of complications in women with previous cesarean section with abnormally invasive placentation was higher than in the other women (p < .0001). Three patients were transferred to the intensive care unit; 2 were intubated and mechanical ventilation was applied, and 1 died of hemorrhage. CONCLUSIONS Anesthetic management is important for parturients with placenta previa who had previous cesarean section or abnormally invasive placentation. We found that general anesthesia was our method of preference for placenta previa as we wished to avoid the risk of bleeding. However, regional anesthesia can be safe in patients lacking any abnormally invasive placentation.
Telomere length measurement on the Roche LightCycler 480 Platform.

BACKGROUND The average length of telomeres as measured in genomic DNA from human peripheral blood leukocytes is proving to be a potential biomarker of great interest, particularly with respect to studies of aging, specific diseases, and the effects of various stresses on overall health. AIMS The aim of this study was to establish an effective real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) method for telomere length measurement on the Roche LightCycler® 480 (LC480) real-time PCR platform. METHODS Measurement of relative average telomere length was achieved by comparing products amplified from telomere-specific primers and single copy reference gene primers in a ratio (T/S). RESULTS Extensive testing led us to conclude that a modification of the original two-plate T/S assay was more compatible with this platform than the recently developed single-plate assay, and that choice of hot-start Taq polymerase and intercalating dye were critical factors. CONCLUSIONS This modified assay generates reliable measurements as judged by correlation with data derived by the telomeric restriction fragment Southern blot-based method.
Photosynthetic Apparatus in Roseateles depolymerans 61A Is Transcriptionally Induced by Carbon Limitation

ABSTRACT Production of a photosynthetic apparatus in Roseateles depolymerans 61A, a recently discovered freshwater β-Proteobacterium showing characteristics of aerobic phototrophic bacteria, was observed when the cells were subjected to a sudden decrease in carbon sources (e.g., when cells grown with 0.1 to 0.4% Casamino Acids were diluted or transferred into medium containing ≤0.04% Casamino Acids). Accumulation of bacteriochlorophyll (BChl) a was observed in the presence of oxygen and was enhanced under semiaerobic conditions (2% oxygen) but was reduced in the presence of light. Similarly to what has been reported regarding some aerobic phototrophic bacteria belonging to the α subclass of the Proteobacteria, viability of the cells in the carbon source-free medium was prolonged under aerobic-light (10 W m−2) conditions, possibly due to photosynthetic energy conversion, but was not prolonged under aerobic-dark conditions. The puf operon, which encodes most of the apoproteins of light-harvesting and reaction center complexes, was sequenced, and the effect of changes in Casamino Acids concentrations, oxygen, and light on its expression was estimated by the accumulation of its mRNA. The expression of the puf operon was induced by the decrease in carbon sources, similarly to what was observed for the accumulation of BChl a under aerobic and semiaerobic conditions (≥0.2% O2), and was reduced in the presence of light. Transcription of the R. depolymerans puf operon is considered to be controlled by changes in carbon nutrients in addition to oxygen tension and light intensity.
Experimental determination of network quality of service in Ethernet: UDP, OPC, and VPN

As network speeds continue to increase, the delays at the application layers can become more important than the delays on the network. These delays can be significant for control system applications, but are not often specified. Network protocol standards are often more focused on transmission reliability and correctness than on transmission delays. For many control system applications, timeliness is more important than accuracy. Recognizing the importance of the application-layer delays, this paper presents the results of a series of experiments on the quality of service in Ethernet networks. For UDP, OPC, and VPN communications, the end-to-end time delays are measured and characterized. The different factors that contribute to the delays are discussed. The paper concludes with some comments on future research directions
Timing Randomly Spaced Events Using the Threshold-Voltage Shift in Disordered Semiconductors

This paper discusses the concept of using the threshold-voltage shift in disordered-semiconductor-based thin- film transistors to measure the time of occurrence of randomly spaced events of interest. We call the experimental circuit an "analog clock. " The analog clock is shown to be accurate while, at the same time, being simple in design using just one transistor.
High prevalence of hyperhomocysteinemia in critically ill patients

Objective: To test the hypothesis that the prevalence of hyperhomocysteinemia is increased in critically ill patients and correlates with disease severity and mortality in these patients. Design: A prospective study. Setting: Three medical intensive care units at the University of Vienna Medical School serving both medical and surgical patients. Patients: All consecutive admissions (n = 56) during a period of 4 wks. A total of 112 age‐ and gender‐matched healthy individuals constituted the control group. Interventions: None. Measurements and Main Results: Blood samples were drawn within 24 hrs after admission for analysis of total homocysteine (tHcy), folate, vitamin B6 levels, and vitamin B12 levels as well as to identify the 677C→T polymorphism in the gene coding for the enzyme 5, 10‐methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase. Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation III scores at admission and 24 hrs after admission as well as 30‐day survival were documented in all patients. Hyperhomocysteinemia was more prevalent in critically ill patients (16.1%; 95% confidence interval, 7.6% to 28.3%) compared with age‐ and gender‐matched healthy individuals (5.4%; 95% confidence interval, 2.0% to 11.3%; chi‐square test; p = .022). There was no difference in tHcy plasma concentrations in the first 24 hrs after admission to an intensive care unit between survivors and nonsurvivors. The 5,10‐methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase 677C→T polymorphism had no influence on tHcy levels and survival of intensive care unit patients. Conclusions: The prevalence of hyperhomocysteinemia is increased in critically ill patients compared to age‐ and gender‐matched healthy individuals. The clinical significance of this finding remains to be determined.