Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Cysteine: Depolarization‐Induced Release from Rat Brain In Vitro

Abstract: Compounds released on depolarization in a Ca2+‐dependent manner from rat brain slices were screened to identify candidates for neuroactive substances. Lyophilized superfusates were analyzed by reversed‐phase HPLC after derivatization with 9‐fluorenyl N‐succinimidyl carbonate. One of the compounds that showed an increase of concentration in superfusates in the presence of iodoacetamide was identified as the cysteine (Cys) derivative, S‐carboxamidomethylcysteine, by fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry and other methods. This stable Cys derivative originates from endogenous, extracellular Cys. The finding led to a method for quantification of Cys in superfusates by immediate cooling of the superfusates to 0°C and reaction of Cys with N‐ethylmaleimide. Depolarization‐induced Ca2+‐dependent release of Cys was most prominent in the neocortex, followed by the mesodiencephalon, striatum, and cerebellum. This suggests that Cys is released from a neuronal compartment and might be involved in neurotransmission.
Negative Feedback Regulation of the Secretion and Actions of Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone in Males

Abstract This minireview considers the state of knowledge regarding the interactions of testicular hormones to regulate the secretion and actions of GnRH in males, with special focus on research conducted in rams and male rhesus monkeys. In these two species, LH secretion is under the negative feedback regulation of testicular steroids that act predominantly within the central nervous system to suppress GnRH secretion. The extent to which these actions of testicular steroids result from the direct actions of testosterone or its primary metabolites, estradiol or dihydrotestosterone, is unclear. Because GnRH neurons do not contain steroid receptors, the testicular steroids must influence GnRH neurons via afferent neurons, which are largely undefined. The feedback regulation of FSH is controlled by inhibin acting directly at the pituitary gland. In male rhesus monkeys, the feedback regulation of FSH secretion is accounted for totally by the physiologically relevant form of inhibin, which appears to be inhibin B. In rams, the feedback regulation of FSH secretion involves the actions of inhibin and testosterone and interactions between these hormones, but the physiologically relevant form of inhibin has not been determined. The mechanisms of action for inhibin are not known.
Dependence of Aortic Arch Morphogenesis on Intracardiac Blood Flow in the Left Atrial Ligated Chick Embryo

Partial left atrial ligation before cardiac septation redistributes intracardiac blood flow and produces left ventricular hypoplasia in the chick. We hypothesized that redistributed intracardiac blood flow adversely alters aortic arch development. We ligated the left atrial appendage with a 10‐0 nylon suture at stage 21 chick embryos, then reincubated up to stage 34. Sham embryos had a suture tied adjacent to the atrial wall, and normal controls were unoperated. We measured simultaneous atrioventricular (AV) and dorsal aortic (DAo) blood velocities from stage 24 embryos with an ultrasound pulsed‐Doppler flow meter; and the left and right third and fourth aortic arch blood flow with a laser‐Doppler flow meter. Ventricular and atrial cross‐sectional areas were measured from sequential video fields for planimetry. Intracardiac flow patterns were imaged on video by injecting India ink into the vitelline vein. In separate embryos, radiopaque microfil was injected into the cardiovascular system for μ‐CT scanning. We analyzed the morphologic characteristics of the heart at stage 34. Active AV and DAo stroke volume (mm3), right third and fourth aortic arch blood flow (mm3/s) were all decreased in ligated embryos (P < 0.05) when compared with normal and sham embryos. Ventricular end‐diastolic volume versus normal and sham embryos decreased by 45% and 46%, respectively (P < 0.05). India ink injection revealed altered right aortic arch flow patterns in the ligated embryos compared with normal embryos. μ‐CT imaging confirmed altered arch morphogenesis. Alterations in intracardiac blood flow disrupt both early cardiac morphogenesis and aortic arch selection. Anat Rec, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Scale Elasticity versus Scale Efficiency in Banking

In the early bank cost literature many of the studies found scale elasticities significantly different from unity. As a result, the authors suggested that changes in industry structure could produce cost savings through increased efficiency. Recent bank cost studies improved upon previous methodologies by utilizing flexible functional forms, accounting for multiproduct production processes, estimating scale measures at both the branch and firm level, distinguishing between branch and unit bank technologies resulting from regulatory restrictions, etc. The typical finding from the recent studies is that relatively minor scale economies exist in banking since the scale elasticity measure differs little from a value of unity. This reported finding is usually followed by a general statement that banks operate relatively efficiently with respect to the scale of production and that the potential cost gains from exploiting scale advantages via merger or growth activities appear to be relatively minor. The implication from the conclusions drawn by the authors of numerous studies is that scale elasticity and scale efficiency are essentially synonymous; the derivation of one automatically provides an accurate or approximate value for the other. The purpose of this article is to bring attention to a common confusion in the literature between two relatively straightforward concepts: scale elasticity and scale efficiency. The bank production process is one of the most extensively researched aspects of bank behavior. Until recently, however, studies have not typically evaluated scale efficiency. ' Instead, scale elasticity estimates have been used as a proxy for efficiency, and elasticity measures close to 1.0 are taken to imply that scale inefficiency is trivial. Scale inefficiency is typically assumed to be linearly
Insulin signaling leading to proliferation, survival, and membrane ruffling in C2C12 myoblasts

We have recently shown that insulin induced myogenesis in the mouse C2C12 skeletal muscle cell line by activation of phosphatidylinositol (PI) 3‐kinase/p70S6‐kinase and p38‐mitogen‐activated protein kinase (MAPK) and downregulation of p42/p44‐MAPK. This study investigated the insulin‐signaling pathways involved in mitogenesis, survival, and membrane ruffling in C2C12 myoblasts, a cellular system that besides IGF‐I receptors, expressed a high number of functional insulin receptors. Insulin (10 nM) rapidly stimulated β‐chain insulin receptor and IRS‐1 tyrosine phosphorylation, IRS‐2 being poorly and SHC not phosphorylated at all. However, an association of SHC with IRS‐1 was found under insulin stimulation. Insulin stimulated IRS‐1 association with p85α leading to the activation of PI3‐kinase, and, subsequently AKT and p70S6‐kinases. Moreover, both p42/p44‐ and p38‐MAPKs resulted in phosphorylation after insulin stimulation. Insulin treatment for 24 h produced mitogenesis, as demonstrated by the increase in (3H)‐thymidine incorporation, DNA content, the expression of PCNA and cyclin D1 proteins, and the proportion of cells in S + G2/M phases of the cell cycle. This mitogenic effect of insulin was precluded by inhibition of p70S6‐kinase (either by rapamycin or by the PI3‐kinase inhibitor LY294002) as well as by inhibition of p44/p42‐MAPK with PD098059, but was not affected by inhibition of p38‐MAPK. Serum deprivation of C2C12 myoblasts resulted in growth arrest at the GO/G1 phases of the cell cycle and apoptosis, as detected either by DNA laddering or by increase in the percentage of hypodiploid cells. Insulin rescued serum‐deprived cells from apoptosis in an AKT‐dependent manner, as demonstrated by the inhibition of AKT‐activity by the use of LY294002 and ML‐9, meanwhile neither inhibition of p70S6‐kinase, nor MAPK affected insulin‐induced survival. Finally, we evaluated the capacity of insulin to modulate actin cytoskeleton rearrangement. Insulin stimulation of myoblasts produced membrane ruffling and decreased actin stress fibers; this biological response being dependent of p38‐MAPK, as demonstrated by the use of the p38‐MAPK inhibitors SB203580 or PD169316, but independent of PI3‐kinase and p42/p44‐MAPK. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Differences in Students’ Perceptions of the Community of Inquiry in a Blended Synchronous Delivery Mode

As more post-secondary institutions are turning to non-face-to-face course delivery modes to cater to the emerging needs of the student population, we have yet to find out whether students attending both at a distance and face-to-face have access to equal learning opportunities. A research was conducted in the nursing program taught in the blended synchronous delivery mode at the Cegep de la Gaspesie et des Iles over the winter 2017 semester. Using the Community of Inquiry framework and questionnaire elaborated by Garrison et al. (2000) and later revised by Shea and Bidjerano (2010), face-to-face (n=20) and at-a-distance (n=25) students’ perceptions of the four Community of Inquiry presences (teaching, social, cognitive and learner) were measured and compared. Results of the overall presences comparison reveal that face-to-face participants perceived a stronger teaching presence than students attending from a satellite site, while the distinctive elements of each presence reveal significant difference between students’ perceptions of the teaching, cognitive and learner presences. Additionally, students’ comments provide rich qualitative data that explain the quantitative results obtained.
CIBLAGE D’INFLATION ET CONDUITE DE LA POLITIQUE MONETAIRE EN ALGERIE

Le ciblage d’inflation constitue le developpement le plus important en matiere de politique monetaire durant les vingt-cinq dernieres annees. La stabilisation de l’inflation a des niveaux bas constitue le premier objectif ultime de la politique monetaire dans le cadre de cette strategie du ciblage d’inflation. Ceci implique un engagement institutionnel explicite en faveur de cet objectif. L’independance de la Banque Centrale constitue un prealable en la matiere. A la faveur de l’amendement de la loi relative a la monnaie et au credit, l’Algerie a explicitement designe la stabilite des prix en tant qu’objectif de la politique monetaire. Cela constitue un pas considerable vers la construction d’une architecture institutionnelle adaptee pour le ciblage d’inflation. Un effort particulier doit, neanmoins, etre mene pour accomplir les exigences institutionnelles et techniques indispensables pour rendre le ciblage d’inflation une alternative credible a la politique monetaire «conventionnelle» en Algerie. MOTS CLEFS : Politique monetaire, ciblage d’inflation, inflation anticipee, prevision de l’inflation, engagement institutionnel, independance de la Banque Centrale, anticipations des agents economiques.
Review of zoonotic parasites in medical and veterinary fields in the Republic of Korea.

Zoonotic parasites are animal parasites that can infect humans. The major zoonotic protozoa in the Republic of Korea are Babesia bovis, Chilomastix mesnili, Cryptosporidium parvum, Endolimax nana, Entamoeba coli, Entamoeba hitolytica, Giardia lamblia, Iodamoeba bütschlii, Pneumocystis carinii, Sarcocystis cruzi, and Toxoplasma gondii. The major zoonotic helminths in Korea include trematodes, cestodes, and nematodes. Trematodes are Clonorchis sinensis, Echinostoma hortense, Echinostoma spp. , Fasciola hepatica, Heterophyes nocens, Metagonimus yokogawai, and Paragonimus westermani. Cestodes are Diphyllobothrium latum, Dipylidium caninum, Echinococcus granulosus, Hymenolepis nana, Raillietina tetragona, sparganum (Spirometra spp.), Taenia saginata, T. solium, and T. asiatica. Nematodes are Ancylostoma caninum, Brugia malayi, Capillaria hepatica, Dirofilaria immitis, Gnathostoma dololesi, Gnathostoma spinigerum, Loa loa, Onchocerca gibsoni, Strongyloides stercoralis, Thelazia callipaeda, Trichinella spiralis, Trichostrongylus orientalis, Trichuris trichiura, and Trichuris vulpis. The one arthropod is Sarcoptes scabiei. Many of these parasites have disappeared or were in decline after the 1990's. Since the late 1990's, the important zoonotic protozoa have been C. parvum, E. nana, E. coli, E. hitolytica, G. lamblia, I. buetschlii, P. carinii and T. gondii. The important zoonotic helminths have been C. sinensis, H. nocens, M. yokogawai, P. westermani, D. latum, T. asiatica, sparganum, B. malayi, T. orientalis, T. callipaeda and T. spiralis. However, outbreaks of these parasites are only in a few endemic areas. The outbreaks of Enterobius vermicularis and head lice, human parasites, have recently increased in the kindergartens and primary schools in the Republic of Korea.
Consistent estimation of the FMRI hemodynamic response function in AR(1) noise

Different approaches have been considered so far for non-parametric Hemodynamic Response Function (HRF) estimation in noisy functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI). However, very few methods have considered the temporal correlation of the fMRI times series when estimating the HRF as most of these methods use a Gaussian white noise model. In this paper, this issue is addressed by modeling the noise in fMRI times series by an autoregressive model of order one (AR(1)). Making use of a semiparametric model to characterize the fMRI time series and the AR(1) to model the temporally correlated noise, a generalized least squares estimator for voxelwise consistent non-parametric HRF estimation is derived in this paper. The proposed error structure estimation method has the advantage of not involving any nonparametric estimation. The effectiveness of the proposed HRF estimation procedure is illustrated on both simulated and experimental fMRI data from a finger tapping experiment.
Syncytium formation by recombinant vaccinia viruses carrying bovine parainfluenza 3 virus envelope protein genes

The highly syncytium-inducing M strain and the weakly syncytium-inducing SC strain of bovine parainfluenza 3 virus differ by a single amino acid substitution in each of the hemagglutinin-neuraminidase (HN) and membrane (M) proteins, while their fusion (F) proteins are identical (T. Shioda, S. Wakao, S. Suzu, and H. Shibuta, Virology 162:388-396, 1988). We constructed recombinant vaccinia viruses which express separately the M virus HN (Vac-MHN), SC virus HN (Vac-SCHN), M virus M (Vac-MM), SC virus M (Vac-SCM), and common F (Vac-F) proteins. CV-1 cells were infected with the recombinants, singly or in combination, and implanted onto indicator MDBK cells for syncytium formation. Combinations of Vac-MHN plus Vac-F and Vac-SCHN plus Vac-F induced extensive and weak syncytium formation, respectively. Vac-F alone did not induce syncytium formation, and both Vac-MM and Vac-SCM had no effect on syncytium formation. These findings indicated that the syncytium formation by bovine parainfluenza 3 virus requires both the F and HN proteins and that the extensive syncytium formation by the M virus is due to the M virus HN protein. MSC, another weakly syncytium-inducing virus variant, newly isolated from the M virus, was identical to the M virus in the primary structure of the HN and M proteins but differed from the M virus by a single amino acid residue in the F protein. The combination of the recombinant vaccinia virus expressing the MSC virus F protein and Vac-MHN resulted in weak syncytium formation.
The Relationship Between Personality and Neurocognition Among the American Elderly: An Epidemiologic Study

Background: Although different personality traits have often been associated with different levels of mental activity and cognitive functioning, no previous studies have evaluated the association in a sample that mirrors a nationally-representative sample of elderly individuals. Objective: To evaluate the association between personality traits and neurocognitive functioning among individuals 51 years and older using the Cognition and Aging in the USA (CogUSA) database. Methods: We analyzed the association between personality traits and neurocognitive scores derived from Waves I and II of the study. Neurocognitive functions were modeled as an outcome variable using the Big Five Personality Traits as predictors. Results: All personality traits were associated with higher education except Conscientiousness. Older age was associated with higher levels of the Agreeableness and Openness traits. Extraversion, Conscientiousness and Openness were positively associated with increased neurocognitive function and self-rated present memory. Extraversion and Openness also had a positive association with long-term retrieval. Agreeableness was negatively associated with several neurocognitive functions, while Neuroticism was negatively associated with memory and cognitive effort. Conclusion: Extraversion, Conscientiousness and Openness personality traits are associated with good cognitive health. Individuals scoring high in Neuroticism and Agreeableness might benefit from tailored cognitive interventions to prevent age-related cognitive decline.
Valuing Coral Reefs: A Travel Cost Analysis of the Great Barrier Reef

Abstract This study examines domestic and international travel to the Great Barrier Reef in order to estimate the benefits the reef provides to the 2 million visitors each year. The study explores the problems of functional form and of measuring travel cost for international visits: comparing actual costs, distance, and lowest price fares. The best estimates of the annual recreational benefits of the Great Barrier Reef range between USD 700 million to 1.6 billion. The domestic value to Australia is about USD 400 million, but the estimated value to more distant countries depends on the definition of travel cost and the functional form. The study conclusively demonstrates that there are very high benefits associated with protecting high quality coral reefs.
A Regional-Scale Index for Assessing the Exposure of Drinking-Water Sources to Wildfires

Recent human-interface wildfires around the world have raised concerns regarding the reliability of freshwater supply flowing from severely burned watersheds. Degraded source water quality can often be expected after severe wildfire and can pose challenges to drinking water facilities by straining treatment response capacities, increasing operating costs, and jeopardizing their ability to supply consumers. Identifying source watersheds that are dangerously exposed to post-wildfire hydrologic changes is important for protecting community drinking-water supplies from contamination risks that may lead to service disruptions. This study presents a spatial index of watershed exposure to wildfires in the province of Alberta, Canada, where growing water demands coupled with increasing fire activity threaten municipal drinking-water supplies. Using a multi-criteria analysis design, we integrated information regarding provincial forest cover, fire danger, source water volume, source-water origin (i.e., forested/un-forested), and population served. We found that (1) >2/3 of the population of the province relies on drinking-water supplies originating in forested watersheds, (2) forest cover is the most important variable controlling final exposure scores, and (3) watersheds supplying small drinking water treatment plants are particularly exposed, especially in central Alberta. The index can help regional authorities prioritize the allocation of risk management resources to mitigate adverse impacts from wildfire. The flexible design of this tool readily allows its deployment at larger national and continental scales to inform broader water security frameworks.
Purifying selection maintains highly conserved noncoding sequences in Drosophila.

The majority of metazoan genomes consist of nonprotein-coding regions, although the functional significance of most noncoding DNA sequences remains unknown. Highly conserved noncoding sequences (CNSs) have proven to be reliable indicators of functionally constrained sequences such as cis-regulatory elements and noncoding RNA genes. However, CNSs may arise from nonselective evolutionary processes such as genomic regions with extremely low mutation rates known as mutation "cold spots. " Here we combine comparative genomic data from recently completed insect genome projects with population genetic data in Drosophila melanogaster to test predictions of the mutational cold spot model of CNS evolution in the genus Drosophila. We find that point mutations in intronic and intergenic CNSs exhibit a significant reduction in levels of divergence relative to levels of polymorphism, as well as a significant excess of rare derived alleles, compared with either the nonconserved spacer regions between CNSs or with 4-fold silent sites in coding regions. Controlling for the effects of purifying selection, we find no evidence of positive selection acting on Drosophila CNSs, although we do find evidence for the action of recurrent positive selection in the spacer regions between CNSs. We estimate that approximately 85% of sites in Drosophila CNSs are under constraint with selection coefficients (N(e)s) on the order of 10-100, and thus, the estimated strength and number of sites under purifying selection is greater for Drosophila CNSs relative to those in the human genome. These patterns of nonneutral molecular evolution are incompatible with the mutational cold spot hypothesis to explain the existence of CNSs in Drosophila and, coupled with similar findings in mammals, argue against the general likelihood that CNSs are generated by mutational cold spots in any metazoan genome.
Transnationalizing humour on social media: A linguistic analysis of ideology, identity and didactics in Robert Mugabe Quotes memes1

Humour relies on dominant cultural values and outlooks in its environment in enacting its comic content. However, since humour sometimes encompasses global experiences, it often transcends artificial human barriers. Its transcendence has been facilitated through online digitized content, in the present case—Internet memes. In exploring transnationalization, fifty purposively selected memes are culled from the Facebook group Robert Mugabe Quotes and subjected to critical linguistic analysis. In the evaluation of the data which is achieved through the linguistic examination of cross-cultural themes in the formulation of identity, didactics, and ideology, sixteen memes, representative of the overarching tripartite concerns, are used as exemplifications. Reliant on the bipartite postulations of Critical Linguistic Stylistics—a linguistic theory that examines the style and peculiarities of linguistic data—and Relief Theory of Humour—which considers humour as a platform for the assuagement of tension and emotions, the memes are testamental of prevailing concerns— politics, technology, social/international relations, sex, male–female relations, etc.—in the human society at large. Linguistic markers such as oppositional expressions, capitalization, and other graphological features are annexed in meaning-formation. I conclude that although humour is generally regarded as a light-hearted routine geared towards the provision of momentary relief, a close scrutiny reveals that deep messages targeted at stimulating consciousness and social transformation find provenance in these artefacts.