Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Factors influencing the duration of blood-feeding by laboratory-reared and wild Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) from Trinidad, West Indies.

The time taken by Aedes aegypti to take a bloodmeal was determined under laboratory and field conditions in Trinidad. Eggs from field-collected females were reared under nutrient-limited (low diet) and nutrient-adequate (high diet) conditions. Blood-feeding times indicated that 71% of the females from the low-diet group were fast feeders (< 2 min) compared with 40% of the female from the high-diet group. Subsequent tests of the F1 and F2 progeny of the fast-feeding females indicated that the fast-feeding characteristic was not maintained. Similarly, testing of colonized Ae. aegypti (ST JOSEPH) indicated that, although 48% of the first, adult females were fast feeders (< 2 min), there was no apparent selection for the fast-feeding characteristic in mass-rearing of the F1 and F2 progeny from these females. Mean wing length (range = 1.66-2.94 cm) of the colonized females (2.67 cm) was more similar to that of females from the high-diet group (2.62 cm) than to that of females from the low-diet group (1.85 cm). Although wing lengths of females from landing collections in St Joseph, Trinidad, varied from 2.28-2.76 cm [mean (S.D.) = 2.46 (0.11) cm], there was no significant correlation between wing length and blood-feeding time on humans. The mean (S.D.) duration of blood-feeding for the wild Ae. aegypti, 179 (32) s, was comparable with that for females reared in the laboratory under nutrient-adequate conditions. Although the blood-feeding times for the wild females ranged from 107-282 s, only 2% (1 of 40) exhibited fast feeding times (< 2 min). Even though it is well known that mosquito size determines the probability of 'feeding success,' the duration of blood-feeding by wild Ae. aegypti on humans appeared independent of mosquito size (although the sample size was small). There may therefore be a genetic component to mosquito feeding speed, this trait being quickly lost during colonization and modulated by environmental factors.
Does melatonin improve sleep in older people? A randomised crossover trial.

STUDY OBJECTIVE to determine whether melatonin will improve quality of sleep in healthy older people with age-related sleep maintenance problems. DESIGN a double blind randomised placebo controlled crossover trial in healthy older volunteers. SETTING a largely urban population, Auckland, New Zealand. PARTICIPANTS participants were part of the larger Possible Role of Melatonin in Sleep of Elders study. People 65 years or more of age were recruited through widespread advertising. We screened 414 potential participants by mail using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, and selected 194 for clinic interview. Exclusions included depression, cognitive impairment, hypnosedative medications, sleep phase abnormalities, medical and/or environmental problems that might impair sleep. Twenty normal and 20 problem sleepers were randomly allocated for this study from a larger sample of 60 normal and 60 problem sleepers. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS 24-hour urine 6-sulphatoxymelatonin was measured to estimate melatonin secretion in each participant. Five milligrams of melatonin, or matching placebo were each taken at bedtime for 4 weeks, separated by a 4-week washout period. Sleep quality was measured using sleep diaries, the Leeds Sleep Evaluation Questionnaire, and actigraphy. There was a significant difference between the groups in self-reported sleep quality indicators at entry, but no difference in melatonin secretion. Melatonin did not significantly improve any sleep parameter measured in either group. CONCLUSION 5 mg of fast release melatonin taken at bedtime does not improve the quality of sleep in older people with age-related sleep maintenance problems.
Prevalence and Characterization of the Mechanisms of Macrolide, Lincosamide, and Streptogramin Resistance in Isolates ofStreptococcus pneumoniae

ABSTRACT Of a total of 147 erythromycin-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae isolates, 64 (43.5%) were resistant to erythromycin, clindamycin, and streptogramin B (MLSBphenotype), 57 of which possessed the ermB gene. Eighty-two (55.8%) were resistant to erythromycin alone (M phenotype), 81 of which possessed the mefE gene. One was erythromycin and streptogramin B resistant but susceptible to clindamycin (MS phenotype) and possessed neither the erm gene nor the mefEgene.
Comparative phylogeography reveals a shared impact of pleistocene environmental change in shaping genetic diversity within nine Anopheles mosquito species across the Indo‐Burma biodiversity hotspot

South‐East Asia is one of the world’s richest regions in terms of biodiversity. An understanding of the distribution of diversity and the factors shaping it is lacking, yet essential for identifying conservation priorities for the region’s highly threatened biodiversity. Here, we take a large‐scale comparative approach, combining data from nine forest‐associated Anopheles mosquito species and using statistical phylogeographical methods to disentangle the effects of environmental history, species‐specific ecology and random coalescent effects. Spatially explicit modelling of Pleistocene demographic history supports a common influence of environmental events in shaping the genetic diversity of all species examined, despite differences in species’ mtDNA gene trees. Populations were periodically restricted to allopatric northeastern and northwestern refugia, most likely due to Pleistocene forest fragmentation. Subsequent southwards post‐glacial recolonization is supported by a north–south gradient of decreasing genetic diversity. Repeated allopatric fragmentation and recolonization have led to the formation of deeply divergent geographical lineages within four species and a suture zone where these intraspecific lineages meet along the Thai–Myanmar border. A common environmental influence for this divergence was further indicated by strong support for simultaneous divergence within the same four species, dating to approximately 900 thousand years ago (kya). Differences in the geographical structuring of genetic diversity between species are probably the result of varying species’ biology. The findings have important implications for conservation planning; if the refugial regions and suture zone identified here are shared by other forest taxa, the unique and high levels of genetic diversity they house will make these areas conservation priorities.
Effect of traps on transient bit-line current behavior in word-line stacked nand flash memory with poly-Si body

We characterized the behavior of transient bit-line current (IBL) during reading after giving a pre-bias (Vpre) to two different cells in 3-D stacked NAND flash memory having poly-Si body. Depending on the dominance of charge trapping in blocking dielectric or the interface between the tunneling oxide and the poly-Si body, opposite behavior was observed. To identify the cause, we systematically analyzed the capture and emission of charges in two trap sites by investigating transient IBL behaviors during reading with various Vpres and fast & pulsed I-Vs. The carrier life time and trap density associated with grain size were extracted to substantiate different trap density with the vertical position of cells.
The newborn with hearing loss: detection in the nursery.

BACKGROUND Early detection of hearing loss coupled with appropriate early intervention is critical to speech, language, and cognitive development. These competencies serve as the foundation for later academic skills. For these reasons, many states are undertaking aggressive efforts to screen all newborns before hospital discharge. Universal detection of hearing loss in newborns is a three-stage process composed of 1) the birth admission screen, 2) follow-up and diagnosis, and 3) intervention services. Breakdown at any stage jeopardizes the entire effort. The goals of this research are to examine the birth admission screen by reviewing outcome measurements for 54 228 Texas newborns and to evaluate factors that impact outcomes positively or negatively. METHODOLOGY All newborns were screened for hearing loss using a physiologic test of auditory function; either screening auditory brainstem responses or transient evoked otoacoustic emissions. Screening occurred in the newborn and intensive care nurseries, before hospital discharge in 9 sites as part of the nursery protocol. Patients. A total of 54 228 newborns were available for screening. OUTCOME MEASURES Four measures were evaluated and are reported: the number of births screened, the number of newborns who passed the screen before discharge, the number of infants who returned for follow-up, and the number of infants identified with hearing loss. A Birth Screening Performance Index is also calculated. RESULTS Results are reported for calendar years 1994, 1995, 1996, and through June 1997. A total of 54 228 newborns were available for screening; 52 508 were screened before hospital discharge during their birth admission and 50 721 passed this screen. Infants returning for follow-up screen as outpatients numbered 1224. Over this 31/2-year span, 113 infants who failed the birth admission screening had hearing loss that was sensorineural in nature. From these data, the estimated incidence of hearing loss is 3.14/1000 infants. CONCLUSIONS Screening in the nursery with low false-positive rates can be achieved when three elements are present: audiology involvement, hospital support, and automated data and information management. Follow-up measures need improvement. Better tracking methods may help assure that at-risk newborns are connected to services.
Procedural knowledge processing based on area representation using a neural network

In this paper, a neural network is proposed which can deal with procedural knowledge based on area representation. The area representation expresses information by a group of neurons. Since it can be considered as a combination of localized representation and distributed representation, it has many advantages such as robustness, high efficiency for information representation, potential ability to treat similarity of data and so on. The proposed network based on area representation is constructed to store and recall procedural knowledge. We performed various kinds of computer simulations to examine the validity and effectiveness of the proposed network.
Robust correlations between action potential duration and the properties of synaptic connections in layer 4 interneurones in neocortical slices from juvenile rats and adult rat and cat

Many studies of cortical interneurones use immature rodent tissue, while many recordings in vivo are made in adult cats. To determine the extent to which interneuronal circuitry studied with one approach can transfer to another, we compared layer 4 interneurones and their local connections across two age groups and two species and with similar connections in layers 3 and 5, using two common recording techniques: dual whole cell recordings at 20°C and dual sharp electrode recordings at 35°C. In each group, a range of morphological and electrophysiological characteristics was observed. In all groups, however, positive correlations were found between the width of the action potential and rise times and widths at half‐amplitude of EPSPs and IPSPs and the EPSP paired pulse ratio. Multipolar interneurones with narrow spikes generated the fastest IPSPs in pyramidal cells and received the briefest, most strongly depressing EPSPs, while bitufted interneurones with broader spikes and adapting and burst firing patterns activated the broadest IPSPs and received the slowest, most strongly facilitating/augmenting EPSPs. Correlations were similar in all groups, with no significant differences between adult rat and cat, or between layers, but events were four times slower in juveniles at 20°C. Comparisons with previous studies indicate that this is due in part to age, but in large part to temperature. Studies in adults were extended with detailed analysis of synaptic dynamics, which appeared to decay more rapidly than at juvenile connections. EPSPs exhibited the complexity in time course of facilitation, augmentation and depression previously described in other adult neocortical connections. That is, the time course of recovery from facilitation or depression rarely followed a simple smooth exponential decay. Facilitation and depression were not always maximal at the shortest interspike intervals, and recovery was often interrupted by peaks and troughs in mean EPSP amplitude with a periodicity around 80 Hz.
Development of SPAD value-based linear models for non-destructive estimation of photosynthetic pigments in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Chlorophyll content in leaf which can be measured and expressed as SPAD values, is a good indicator of plant health. The present study aimed to develop linear models for studying relationship between SPAD values and spectrophotometrically determined chlorophylls and carotenoid contents in leaves of 468 wheat genotypes. The SPAD values were taken in the flag leaves at heading stage. Chlorophyll a (Chl a), chlorophyll b (Chl b), total chlorophyll (total Chl) and total carotenoids (total Car) contents were assessed using dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) extraction method. To estimate photosynthetic pigment content in leaves, SPAD value-based linear models were developed and Chla (Chlb = 0.0690 x SPAD Value - 1.082), Chla (Chlb = 0.021 x SPAD Value 0.396), total Chl (Total chlorophyll = 0.090 x SPAD Value - 1.477) and total carotenoids (Total Carotenoids = 0.013 x SPAD Value 0.074) were estimated. The present study reports development of linear model for quantification of the photosynthetic pigment content in wheat leaves using chlorophyll meter.
The Plasma Membrane Lactate Transporter MCT4, but Not MCT1, Is Up-regulated by Hypoxia through a HIF-1α-dependent Mechanism*

The monocarboxylate transporter MCT4 mediates lactic acid efflux from most tissues that are dependent on glycolysis for their ATP production. Here we demonstrate that expression of MCT4 mRNA and protein was increased >3-fold by a 48-h exposure to 1% O2, whereas MCT1 expression was not increased. The effect was mimicked by CoCl2 (50 μm), suggesting transcriptional regulation by hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α). The predicted promoters for human MCT1, MCT2, and MCT4 were cloned into the pGL3 vector and shown to be active (luciferase luminescence) under basal conditions. Only the MCT4 promoter was activated (>2-fold) by hypoxia. No response was found in cells lacking HIF-1α. Four potential hypoxia-response elements were identified, but deletion analysis implicated only two in the hypoxia response. These were just upstream from the transcription start site and also found in the mouse MCT4 promoter. Mutation of site 2 totally abolished the hypoxic response, whereas mutation of site 1 only reduced the response. Gel-shift analysis demonstrated that nuclear extracts of hypoxic but not normoxic HeLa cells contained two transcription factors that bound to DNA probes containing these hypoxia-response elements. The major shifted band was abolished by mutation of site 2, and supershift analysis confirmed that HIF-1α bound to this site. Binding of the second factor was abolished by mutation of site 1. We conclude that MCT4, like other glycolytic enzymes, is up-regulated by hypoxia through a HIF-1α-mediated mechanism. This adaptive response allows the increased lactic acid produced during hypoxia to be rapidly lost from the cell.
Indian study on epidemiology of asthma, respiratory symptoms and chronic bronchitis in adults (INSEARCH).

SETTING Field sites in 12 districts in different parts of India. OBJECTIVE To determine the nationwide population prevalence of and risk factors for asthma and chronic bronchitis (CB) in adults. DESIGN A standardised validated questionnaire based on the International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease's 1984 questionnaire was used to assess asthma and CB prevalence. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to determine the risk factor associations. Estimates standardised to the 2011 population projection estimates for India were used to calculate the national disease burden. RESULTS A total of 85,105 men and 84,470 women from 12 urban and 11 rural sites were interviewed. One or more respiratory symptoms were present in 8.5% of individuals. The overall prevalence of asthma and CB was respectively 2.05% (adults aged ≥15 years) and 3.49% (adults aged ≥35 years). Advancing age, smoking, household environmental tobacco smoke exposure, asthma in a first-degree relative, and use of unclean cooking fuels were associated with increased odds of asthma and CB. The national burden of asthma and CB was estimated at respectively 17.23 and 14.84 million. CONCLUSION Asthma and CB in adults pose an enormous health care burden in India. Most of the associated risk factors are preventable.
Functional proteomic analysis of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in rat models: Enoyl–coenzyme a hydratase down‐regulation exacerbates hepatic steatosis

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has emerged as a common public health problem that can progress to end‐stage liver disease. A high‐fat diet (HFD) may promote the development of NAFLD through a mechanism that is poorly understood. We adopted a proteomic approach to examine the effect of HFD on the liver proteome during the progression of NAFLD. Male Sprague‐Dawley rats fed an HFD for 4, 12, and 24 weeks replicated the progression of human NAFLD: steatosis, nonspecific inflammation, and steatohepatitis. Using two‐dimensional difference gel electrophoresis (DIGE) combined with matrix‐assisted laser desorption ionization time of flight/time of flight analysis, 95 proteins exhibiting significant changes (ratio ≥ 1.5 or ≤−1.5, P < 0.05) during the development of NAFLD were identified. Biological functions for these proteins reflected phase‐specific characteristics during the progression of the disease. The potential role of enoyl–coenzyme A hydratase (ECHS1), an enzyme that catalyzes the second step of mitochondrial fatty acid beta‐oxidation, received further investigation. First, the reduced protein level of ECHS1 was validated both in rat models and in patients with biopsy‐proven hepatic simple steatosis via immunoblotting or immunohistochemical analysis. Then the small interfering RNA (siRNA)–mediated knockdown of ECHS1 in the murine hepatocyte cell line alpha mouse liver 12 (AML12) demonstrated increased cellular lipid accumulation induced by free fatty acid (FFA) overload. Furthermore, using a hydradynamic transfection method, the in vivo silencing effect of siRNA duplexes targeting ECHS1 was further investigated in mice. Administering ECHS1 siRNA specifically reduced the expression of ECHS1 protein in mice liver, which significantly exacerbated the hepatic steatosis induced by an HFD. Conclusion: Our results revealed that ECHS1 down‐regulation contributed to HFD‐induced hepatic steatosis, which may help clarify the pathogenesis of NAFLD and point to potential targets for therapeutic interventions. (HEPATOLOGY 2010.)
Biologic and biochemical differences between in vitro and in vivo passaged friend erythroleukemia cells. I. Tumorigenicity and capacity to metastasize

Cloned interferon‐sensitive (745) and interferon‐resistant (3CI‐8) Friend erythroleukemia cells (FLC) passaged in vitro, are not very tumorigenic when first injected intraperitoneally (i.p.) into syngeneic DBA/2 mice although they do form solid tumors when injected subcutaneously (s.c.). By serially passaging FLC (either 745 or 3CI‐8 cells) i.p. in DBA/2 mice, we obtained two different FLC lines capable of growing i.p. and inducing tumor ascites. The s.c. injection of DBA/2 mice with these in vivo passaged FLC resulted in tumor metastases in the liver and spleen, whereas metastases were not observed in mice inoculated s.c. with in vitro passaged FLC. The capacity of in vivo passaged FLC to metastasize was acquired after several i.p. passages. This highly malignant behavior was a stable characteristic of these cells. All the clones derived from in vivo passaged FLC and passaged more than 14 times in vitro induced hemorrhagic ascites when injected i.p., and metastasized to the liver and spleen when injected s.c. The phenotype of sensitivity or resistance to the inhibitory effect of alpha/beta mouse interferon on virus replication and cell multiplication was conserved during serial i.p. passages and maintained in the clones derived from in vivo passaged cells. These FLC showed a decreased capacity to differentiate in vitroupon treatment with dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) and a reduced production of Friend leukemia virus with respect to the original clones passaged in vitro.
Biodegradability of the molluscicidal saponins of Phytolacca dodecandra.

The biodegradability of water-extracted saponins of berries from the Endod plant, Phytolacca dodecandra L'Herit, was evaluated under OECD standardized conditions. Persistence of the saponins was evaluated by determination of saponin concentrations in water over a 30-day period, using a quantitative HPLC method and a semiquantitative hemolytic assay, which is considered a potential field method. The two methods were compared. Bioassays were simultaneously conducted using Biomphalaria glabrata fresh water snails to assess the molluscicidal potency over time. All experiments were carried out in water, which was chemically balanced to sustain snails, and to one set river water was added to the medium to mimic natural conditions. (1) Saponin concentrations in water treated with an aqueous extract of P. dodecandra cultivar E44 were stable for 2 days then rapidly decreased during the third and fourth day. Lethal concentrations to snails were LC50 = 9.6 mg/l (95% CI: 6.3 to 19.4) in one set and LC50 = 6.8 mg/l (95% CI: 5.4 to 12.2) in the other. Adding river water to one set of the experiments had no effect on the mean saponin concentration over time (F = 0.02, P = >0.05). (2) Comparison of the hemolytic assay with the HPLC method showed no significant difference in mean saponin concentrations (t = 0.32, P > 0.05, 95% CI: -2.67 to 3.64), and a correlation of r2 = 0.88 between the two methods. (3) The saponin fraction of an aqueous extract of P. dodecandra was readily biodegraded (t1/2 = 15.8 h), and the complete consumption within a 10-day window indicates ready degradability in aquatic environments under aerobic conditions. (4) These results show that the use of Endod berries for snail control in schistosomiasis-infested water bodies is environmentally acceptable.