Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Acute effects of donepezil in healthy young adults underline the fractionation of executive functioning

The cholinergic system is involved in the modulation of both bottom-up and top-down attentional control. Top-down attention engages multiple executive control processes, but few studies have investigated whether all or selective elements of executive functions are modulated by the cholinergic system. To investigate the acute effects of the pro-cholinergic donepezil in young, healthy volunteers on distinct components of executive functions we conducted a double-blind, placebo-controlled, independent-groups design study including 42 young healthy male participants who were randomly assigned to one of three oral treatments: glucose (placebo), donepezil 5 mg or donepezil 7.5 mg. The test battery included measures of different executive components (shifting, updating, inhibition, dual-task performance, planning, access to long-term memory), tasks that evaluated arousal/vigilance/visuomotor performance, as well as functioning of working memory subsidiary systems. Donepezil improved sustained attention, reaction times, dual-task performance and the executive component of digit span. The positive effects in these executive tasks did not correlate with arousal/visuomotor/vigilance measures. Among the various executive domains investigated donepezil selectively increased dual-task performance in a manner that could not be ascribed to improvement in arousal/vigilance/visuomotor performance nor working memory slave systems. Other executive tasks that rely heavily on visuospatial processing may also be modulated by the cholinergic system.
Anatomy of an Endogenous Antagonist: Relationship between Agouti-Related Protein and Proopiomelanocortin in Brain

Agouti-related protein (AGRP) is a recently discovered orexigenic neuropeptide that inhibits the binding and action of alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone derived from proopiomelanocortin (POMC) at the melanocortin 3 receptor (MC3R) and melanocortin 4 receptor (MC4R) and has been proposed to function primarily as an endogenous melanocortin antagonist. To better understand the interplay between the AGRP and melanocortin signaling systems, we compared their nerve fiber distributions with each other by immunohistochemistry and their perikarya distribution with MC3R and MC4R by double in situ hybridization. Although deriving from distinct cell groups, AGRP and melanocortin terminals project to identical brain areas. Both AGRP and melanocortin neurons selectively express the MC3R, which provides a neuroanatomical basis for a dual-input circuit with biological amplification and feedback inhibition. These studies highlight a broader complexity in POMC-mediated behavior in the brain.
Extracellular DNA traps promote thrombosis

Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) are part of the innate immune response to infections. NETs are a meshwork of DNA fibers comprising histones and antimicrobial proteins. Microbes are immobilized in NETs and encounter a locally high and lethal concentration of effector proteins. Recent studies show that NETs are formed inside the vasculature in infections and noninfectious diseases. Here we report that NETs provide a heretofore unrecognized scaffold and stimulus for thrombus formation. NETs perfused with blood caused platelet adhesion, activation, and aggregation. DNase or the anticoagulant heparin dismantled the NET scaffold and prevented thrombus formation. Stimulation of platelets with purified histones was sufficient for aggregation. NETs recruited red blood cells, promoted fibrin deposition, and induced a red thrombus, such as that found in veins. Markers of extracellular DNA traps were detected in a thrombus and plasma of baboons subjected to deep vein thrombosis, an example of inflammation-enhanced thrombosis. Our observations indicate that NETs are a previously unrecognized link between inflammation and thrombosis and may further explain the epidemiological association of infection with thrombosis.
Identification of amino acid residues important for the function of Agrobacterium tumefaciens Irr protein.

The key amino acid residues that influence the function of the Agrobacterium tumefaciens iron response regulator protein (Irr(At) ) were investigated. Several Irr(At) mutant proteins containing substitutions in amino acids corresponding to candidate metal- and haem-binding sites were constructed. The ability of the mutant proteins to repress the promoter of the membrane bound ferritin (mbfA) gene was investigated using a promoter-lacZ fusion assay. A single mutation at residue H94 significantly decreased the repressive activity of Irr(At) . Multiple mutation analysis revealed the importance of H45, H65, the HHH motif (H92, H93 and H94) and H127 for the repressor function of Irr(At) . H94 is essential for the iron responsiveness of Irr(At) . Furthermore, the Irr(At) mutant proteins showed differential abilities to complement the H(2) O(2) -hyper-resistant phenotype of an irr mutant.
Translational vitreous proteomics

The vitreous is an extracellular matrix that is still poorly understood. Although many constituents and characteristics have been previously determined, there are many attributes still being discovered. Currently, using protein arrays, MS, and bioinformatics, the vitreous provides a wealth of knowledge regarding ocular diseases and potential targets for personalized therapeutics.
A Two-Stage Brushless Excitation Method for Hybrid Excitation Synchronous Generator

A two-stage brushless excitation method for hybrid excitation synchronous generators (HESGs) is proposed in this paper. Comparing with the traditional three-stage brushless excitation method, the auxiliary exciter is eliminated. The complete self-excitation is realized. As the main generator of two-stage brushless generation system, a tangential/radial HESG (T/R-HESG) is studied. The exciter is designed for T/R-HESG. The design steps are given. The operation modes of rotating rectifier are analyzed. A 1.5 kVA prototype of a two-stage brushless excitation generation system is made to verify the theoretical design. The measured results agree well with the theoretical design and finite element analysis. It shows that the design of exciter is correct and the two-stage brushless excitation method is feasible.
Robust algorithms for speech reconstruction on mobile devices

An optical data storage system is contemplated, one employing a data-modulated writing laser beam and a non-erasing reading laser beam of predetermined wavelength. Improved optical media for such systems are described, these characterized by multiple layers whose optical characteristics and thickness are chosen to accommodate a prescribed writing and reading energy and wavelength and so provide an "anti-reflection" condition for unrecorded portions of the medium and a relatively higher reflectivity for recorded portions. A preferred optical medium includes a highly reflective aluminum layer, a relatively transparent polymer spacer layer overlying the reflective layer, and an optical absorber (recording) layer overlying the spacer layer. Overcoating structure is specified in some detail; e.g., as a "soft pad" layer (e.g., fluoropolymer) on the absorber, with a "Hard" layer (e.g., radiation-cured acrylic) laid over the "soft pad" as an outer protective overcoat. Also, the "spacer" may be rendered as such a "soft pad".
Depression and multimorbidity: a cross-sectional study of 1,751,841 patients in primary care.

BACKGROUND Depression is common in many chronic physical health disorders, but the nature and extent of physical health comorbidities in depression, particularly within large population-based samples of patients, and how these comorbidities relate to factors such as age, sex, and social deprivation, are unknown. We aimed to assess the nature and extent of multiple physical health comorbidities in primary care patients with depression within a large and representative Scottish dataset. METHOD This study was a cross-sectional secondary data analysis of 314 primary care practices in Scotland (from the Primary Care Clinical Informatics Unit at the University of Aberdeen, Scotland, March 31, 2007), including 143,943 people with depression and 1,280,435 controls. The outcomes assessed were 32 common chronic physical health conditions, adjusted for age, sex, and social deprivation. Depression was defined as a Read code for depression recorded within last year and/or 4 or more antidepressant prescriptions (excluding low-dose tricyclic antidepressants) within the last year. RESULTS Individuals in primary care with depression were more likely than individuals without depression to have every one of the 32 comorbid physical conditions we assessed, even after adjusting for age, sex, and deprivation. The depression group was also significantly more likely to have multiple levels of comorbidity, including 2 physical health conditions (OR = 1.55; 95% CI, 1.53-1.58), 3 physical health conditions (OR = 1.84; 95% CI, 1.81-1.87), 4 physical health conditions (OR = 2.06; 95% CI, 2.01-2.11; P < .001), and 5 or more physical health conditions (OR = 2.65; 95% CI, 2.59-2.71; P < .001). CONCLUSION Depression in primary care is associated with a very wide range of physical health comorbidities and considerable medical burden. The nature and extent of this multimorbidity and the important association with social deprivation have not been previously described within a large and representative dataset of routine primary care data. Our findings have important implications for the integrated management of depression and physical health problems in the United Kingdom and throughout the world.
Different Mechanisms Promote Astrocyte Ca2+ Waves and Spreading Depression in the Mouse Neocortex

Cortical spreading depression (CSD) is thought to play an important role in different pathological conditions of the human brain. Here we investigated the interaction between CSD and Ca2+ waves within the astrocyte population in slices from mouse neocortex (postnatal days 10–14). After local KCl ejection as a trigger for CSD, we recorded the propagation of Ca2+ increases within a large population of identified astrocytes in synchrony with CSD measured as intrinsic optical signal (IOS) or negative DC-potential shift. The two events spread with 39.2 ± 3.3 μm/sec until the IOS and negative DC-potential shift decayed after ∼1 mm. However, the astrocyte Ca2+ wave continued to propagate for up to another 500μm but with a reduced speed of 18.3 ± 2. 5μm/sec that is also typical for glial Ca2+ waves in white matter or culture. While blocking CSD using MK-801 (40 μm), an NMDA-receptor antagonist, the astrocyte Ca2+ wave persisted with a reduced speed (13.2 ± 1.5μm/sec). The specific gap junction blocker carbenoxolon (100μm) did not prevent CSD but decelerated the speed (2.9 ± 0.9μm/sec) of the astrocyte Ca2+ wave in the periphery of CSD. We also found that interfering with intracellular astrocytic Ca2+ signaling by depletion of internal Ca2+ stores does not affect the spread of the IOS. We conclude that CSD determines the velocity of an accompanying astrocytic Ca2+ response, but the astrocyte Ca2+ wave penetrates a larger territory and by this represents a self-reliant phenomenon with a different mechanism of propagation.
Interactive Effects of Jasmonic Acid, Salicylic Acid, and Gibberellin on Induction of Trichomes in Arabidopsis1

Leaf trichomes protect plants from attack by insect herbivores and are often induced following damage. Hormonal regulation of this plant induction response has not been previously studied. In a series of experiments, we addressed the effects of artificial damage, jasmonic acid, salicylic acid, and gibberellin on induction of trichomes in Arabidopsis. Artificial damage and jasmonic acid caused significant increases in trichome production of leaves. The jar1-1 mutant exhibited normal trichome induction following treatment with jasmonic acid, suggesting that adenylation of jasmonic acid is not necessary. Salicylic acid had a negative effect on trichome production and consistently reduced the effect of jasmonic acid, suggesting negative cross-talk between the jasmonate and salicylate-dependent defense pathways. Interestingly, the effect of salicylic acid persisted in the nim1-1 mutant, suggesting that the Npr1/Nim1 gene is not downstream of salicylic acid in the negative regulation of trichome production. Last, we found that gibberellin and jasmonic acid had a synergistic effect on the induction of trichomes, suggesting important interactions between these two compounds.
Speech enhancement using both spectral and spectral modulation domains

This paper proposes a speech enhancement approach that uses both the spectral and spectral modulation domains. In this approach, the noisy speech signal is enhanced simultaneously in the spectral domain, using a minimum mean square error (MMSE) short time spectral amplitude estimator, and in the spectral modulation domain, using a MMSE spectral modulation magnitude estimator. The results of both estimators are then weighted and combined together, using a function based on the a posteriori SNR, to produce the desired enhanced signal. Comparative results using both the segmental SNR and PESQ objective measures are presented for both stationary and non-stationary noises. It is observed that the proposed approach suppresses more noise than the compared approaches, but at the usual compromise of introducing speech distortions.
The sebum excretion rate in rosacea

The sebum excretion rate (SER) was measured in fifty‐five patients with rosacea and 126 control subjects. The mean SER in the patients with rosacea was not increased, nor was there any correlation between SER and severity of rosacea. Our data suggest that seborrhoea plays no part in the pathogenesis of rosacea.
Les régimes douaniers économiques et la maîtrise du coût logistique : cas des entreprises des Départements Français d’Amérique (Guadeloupe, Martinique et Guyane)

Cet article a pour objet de démontrer comment les régimes douaniers économiques peuvent être des outils d’aide à la décision dans le cadre de l’optimisation du coût logistique dans un contexte d’échanges économiques mondialisés. Ce contexte est caractérisé par des relations asymétriques d’intermédiation, qui peuvent engendrer des dysfonctionnements, notamment dans la gestion des activités logistiques des petites et moyennes entreprises. L’analyse de la structure du coût logistique des PME qui externalisent leurs activités logistiques, en relation avec les régimes douaniers économiques, montrent l’existence des relations d’agence entre ces entreprises et leurs partenaires sous-traitants, dans le choix des options de régimes douaniers. Il existe des leviers de gestion pour améliorer l’optimisation des coûts logistiques dans ce contexte.
Production of offspring after sperm chromosome screening: an experiment using the mouse model.

STUDY QUESTION Is it possible to produce offspring after sperm chromosome screening? SUMMARY ANSWER It is possible to produce zygotes after examining the genome of individual spermatozoa prior to embryo production. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY Chromosomal aberrations in gametes are a major cause of pregnancy loss in women treated with assisted reproductive technology. However, to our knowledge, there are no reports on the successful genomic screening of spermatozoa, although some attempts have been made using the mouse as a model. STUDY DESIGN To prevent the transmission of chromosomal aberrations from fathers to offspring, we performed sperm chromosome screening (SCS) prior to fertilization using the mouse as a model. The production of offspring after SCS consists of (i) replication of the sperm chromosomes, (ii) analysis of one copy of the replicated sperm chromosomes, (iii) construction of a zygote using another set of chromosomes and (iv) production of a transferable embryo. MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS A single spermatozoon of a male mouse, with or without a Robertsonian translocation, was injected into an enucleated oocyte to allow the replication of sperm chromosomes. One of the sister blastomeres of a haploid androgenic 2-cell embryo was used for chromosome analysis. The other blastomere was fused with an unfertilized oocyte, activated and allowed to develop to a blastocyst before transfer to a surrogate mother. MAIN RESULTS AND ROLE OF CHANCE With high efficiency, we were able to analyze sperm chromosomes in a blastomere from the androgenic 2-cell embryos and culture zygotes, with and without aberrant chromosomes, to the blastocyst stage before embryo transfer. The karyotypes of the offspring faithfully reflected those of the blastomeres used for SCS. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION This study was conducted using a mouse model; whether or not the method is applicable to humans is not known. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS This study has shown that it is possible to produce zygotes without any paternally inherited aberrations by examining the genome of individual spermatozoa prior to embryo production.
Unique lipoprotein phenotype and genotype associated with exceptional longevity.

CONTEXT Individuals with exceptional longevity have a lower incidence and/or significant delay in the onset of age-related disease, and their family members may inherit biological factors that modulate aging processes and disease susceptibility. OBJECTIVE To identify specific biological and genetic factors that are associated with or reliably define a human longevity phenotype. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS In a case-control design, 213 Ashkenazi Jewish probands with exceptional longevity (mean [SD] age, 98.2 [5.3] years) and their offspring (n = 216; mean [SD] age, 68.3 [6.7] years) were recruited from 1998 to 2002, while an age-matched control group of Ashkenazi Jews (n = 258) and participants from the Framingham Offspring Study (n = 589) were accepted as control groups. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Detailed questionnaires, physical examination, and blood samples were taken, including assessment of lipids and lipoprotein subclass levels and particle sizes by proton nuclear magnetic resonance. Samples were also genotyped for the codon 405 isoleucine to valine (I405V) variation in the cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) gene, which is involved in regulation of lipoprotein and its particle sizes. RESULTS High-density lipoprotein (HDL) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) particle sizes were significantly higher in probands compared with both control groups (P =.001 for both), independent of plasma levels of HDL and LDL cholesterol and apolipoprotein A1 and B. This phenotype was also typical of the proband's offspring but not of the age-matched controls. The HDL and LDL particle sizes were significantly larger in offspring and controls without hypertension or cardiovascular disease, (P =.001 and P =.008, respectively). Furthermore, lipoprotein particle sizes, but not plasma LDL levels, were significantly higher in offspring and controls without the metabolic syndrome (P<.001). Probands and offspring had a 2.9- and 3.6-fold (in men) and 2.7- and 1.5-fold (in women) increased frequency, respectively, of homozygosity for the 405 valine allele of CETP (VV genotype), respectively, compared with controls (P<.001 for both). Those probands with the VV genotype had increased lipoprotein sizes and lower serum CETP concentrations. CONCLUSIONS Individuals with exceptional longevity and their offspring have significantly larger HDL and LDL particle sizes. This phenotype is associated with a lower prevalence of hypertension, cardiovascular disease, the metabolic syndrome, and increased homozygosity for the I405V variant in CETP. These findings suggest that lipoprotein particle sizes are heritable and promote a healthy aging phenotype.
Research on the relationship of co-persistence based on high-frequency financial time series

The corresponding model of realized covariance matrix of in this paper vector high-frequency financial time series is brought forward and the realized vector autoregressive model is set up is this paper.The necessary and sufficient condition of the existence of linear co_persistence in this model and the method of seeking the co_persistence discussed by applying the concepts of persistence co-persistence proposed by Bollerslev and Engle.Under these bases,it is indicated that the co_persistence does not exist in Shanghai and Shenzhen stock markets through empirical analysis.Finally,the meaning and action in dynamic portfolio and risk avoiding are pointed out.
Total plasma homocysteine and cardiovascular risk profile. The Hordaland Homocysteine Study.

OBJECTIVE To estimate the relations between established cardiovascular risk factors and total homocysteine (tHcy) in plasma. DESIGN Health examination survey by the Norwegian Health Screening Service in 1992 and 1993. SETTING General community, Hordaland County of Western Norway. PARTICIPANTS A total of 7591 men and 8585 women, 40 to 67 years of age, with no history of hypertension, diabetes, coronary heart disease, or cerebrovascular disease were included. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE Plasma tHcy level. RESULTS The level of plasma tHcy was higher in men than in women and increased with age. In subjects 40 to 42 years old, geometric means were 10.8 mumol/L for 5918 men and 9.1 mumol/L for 6348 women. At age 65 to 67 years, the corresponding tHcy values were 12.3 mumol/L (1386 men) and 11.0 mumol/L (1932 women). Plasma tHcy level increased markedly with the daily number of cigarettes smoked in all age groups. Its relation to smoking was particularly strong in women. The combined effect of age, sex, and smoking was striking. Heavy-smoking men aged 65 to 67 years had a mean tHcy level 4.8 mumol/L higher than never-smoking women aged 40 to 42 years. Plasma tHcy level also was positively related to total cholesterol level, blood pressure, and heart rate and inversely related to physical activity. The relations were not substantially changed by multivariate adjustment, including intake of vitamin supplements, fruits, and vegetables. CONCLUSIONS Elevated plasma tHcy level was associated with major components of the cardiovascular risk profile, ie, male sex, old age, smoking, high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol level, and lack of exercise. These findings should influence future studies on the etiology and pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease.
SACRAL Syndrome: Spinal Dysraphism, Anogenital, Cutaneous, Renal and Urologic Anomalies, Associated with an Angioma of Lumbosacral Localization

Background: Publications concerning perineal infantile hemangiomas are scarce, and comprise no large series. Objective: Studying clinical features of hemangiomas of the perineal area, complications and associated malformations. Methods: Retrospective analysis of all hemangiomas localized in the perineal area, encountered at the Children’s Hospital in Bordeaux from 1994. Results: Of 49 perineal hemangiomas (34 girls, 15 boys), 5 patients had accompanying malformation, mainly lipomyelomeningocele with tethered cord. The superficial hemangiomas were more represented in males and presented sooner than the nodular counterpart. The average rate of ulceration was 73%, ulcerations developed earlier in the superficial forms than their nodular counterparts (2 vs. 4 months). Conclusion: Superficial perineal hemangiomas are more often complicated by ulceration, and are associated with developmental anomalies. As a counterpart for the PHACE syndrome in facial hemangioma, we propose the acronym SACRAL for perineal hemangiomas: Spinal dysraphism, Anogenital anomalies, Cutaneous anomalies, Renal and urologic anomalies, associated with Angioma of Lumbosacral localization.