Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Analgesic Effects of Supraspinal μ and δ Opioid Receptor Agonists Are Potentiated during Persistent Inflammation

This study examined the antihyperalgesic and antinociceptive effects of opioid receptor agonists microinjected in the rostral ventromedial medulla (RVM) of rats 4 hr, 4 d, and 2 weeks after the induction of an inflammatory injury by injection of complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) in one hindpaw. Nociceptive sensitivity of the ipsilateral, inflamed and the contralateral, uninflamed hindpaws was determined by the radiant-heat paw withdrawal test. The antihyperalgesic potency of the μ opioid receptor agonist [d-Ala2,N-Me-Phe4,Gly5-ol]enkephalin (DAMGO), determined for the inflamed hindpaw, was enhanced 4 d and 2 weeks after injury. The antinociceptive potency of DAMGO, determined for the contralateral, uninflamed hindpaw, was also progressively enhanced 4 hr, 4 d, and 2 weeks after injury. The magnitude of enhancement paralleled the chronicity of the injury. The greatest potentiation occurred 2 weeks after injury when the ED50value of DAMGO in CFA-treated rats was one-tenth that in saline-treated rats. The antihyperalgesic and antinociceptive effects of the δ opioid receptor agonist [d-Ala2,Glu4]deltorphin were also increased 2 weeks after injury. These results indicate that peripheral inflammatory injury alters the pharmacology of excitatory and inhibitory inputs that modulate the activity of RVM neurons in such a manner as to enhance the effects of opioid agonists in this region. These changes have ramifications not only for the alleviation of hyperalgesia at the site of injury but also for opioid-induced antinociception at sites remote to the injury as revealed by increases in the potency of opioid agonists to suppress nociceptive responses of the contralateral, uninflamed hindpaw.
Reply to Dr. Finsterer “Callosal Agenesis and Left Ventricular Hypertrabeculation/Noncompaction”

Reply to Dr. Finsterer ‘‘Callosal Agenesis and Left Ventricular Hypertrabeculation/Noncompaction’’ Antonio Richieri-Costa,* Dagma V.M. Abramides, Luciana P. Maximino, Celia M. Giacheti, and Dionisia A.C. Lamonica Departamento de Gen etica M edica, HRAC-USP, Bauru, Sao Paulo, Brazil Departamento de Fonoaudiologia, FOB-USP, Bauru, Sao Paulo, Brazil Departamento de Fonoaudiologia, UNESP, Marı́lia, Sao Paulo, Brazil
Nitrogen interactions with medusahead (Taeniatherum caput-medusae ssp. asperum) seedbanks

Medusahead is an invasive annual grass that, once established, severely affects range-land productivity and stability. Medusahead builds large seedbanks in the litter and on the soil surface. Effective weed control of medusahead involves either inhibiting germination from the seedbank, eliminating the seedbank, or enhancing germination so that plants are available for control. The purpose of this study was to determine the influence of nitrogen enrichment, immobilization, and nitrification inhibition treatments in the field on the size and germination status of medusahead seedbanks. The germination status of medusahead seeds in seedbanks was determined by periodically collecting field samples of surface soil and litter and bioassaying them in greenhouse emergence tests. Control seedbanks had increased seedling emergence with KNO3 or GA3 enrichment of the bioassay substrate. The combination of these two materials increased emergence. Nitrogen enrichment increased seedling establishment in the field. Carbon enrichment in the field decreased seedling establishment and increased medusahead seeds in seedbanks. Nitrapyrin treatment decreased medusahead in the field similar to carbon enrichment. In comparison to the control or other treatments, GA3 enrichment was not as effective in increasing emergence from nitrapyrin-treated bioassay samples. The combination of carbon and nitrapyrin treatments was very effective in eliminating medusahead emergence in the field, but in wetter years, it never completely eliminated medusahead seedling recruitment and subsequent reproduction. These treatments have promise for influencing succession in medusahead infestations if an adapted perennial species, capable of competing under low nitrogen levels, becomes available.
Accumulaton of Metal and Metal Mixture in the Spleen, Brain and Muscle Tissues of Tilapia nilotica

Accumulation of zinc and copper in the spleen, brain and muscle tisses of Tilapia nilotica was investigated by using copper (0.1, 0.5 and 1.0 ppm) and zinc (1.0, 5.0 and 10.0 ppm) and copper-zinc mixture (0.1+1.0, 0.5+5.0 and 1.0+10.0 ppm) in the medium for the periods of 30 and 60 days. No mortality was observed during the exposure to of copper, zinc and copper-zinc mixtures over 60 days In both cases (alone and mixture) the highest levels of zinc and copper were accumulated in the spleen, whereas accumulation was the lowest in the brain. Accumulation of a metal in the tissues decreased in the presence of the other metal.
Beyond the keyhole perspective: Quantitative and full repertoire imaging of T- and B-cell receptors using next generation sequencing

In this thesis we have demonstrated how next generation sequencing (NGS) can be used to screen the complete T-cell receptor and B-cell receptor (TCR and BCR) repertoires and identify, quantify and follow individual adaptive immune responses through time and place. As none of these objectives could be accomplished with conventional approaches this does move us beyond the keyhole perspective. We - and others - have shown how this technology has numerous applications in fundamental research and in research aimed at understanding infectious diseases, autoimmune diseases and lymphoproliferative cancer. Moreover, diagnostic tests leveraging NGS for TCR- and BCR analysis are being developed to aid patients and doctors in clinical decision-making. Therefore these NGS based protocols have the potential to be true game changers in our quest to understand the behavior of lymphocytes that are key players in keeping us healthy.
Genetic linkage and complex diseases: A response

I am grateful for the opportunity to respond to some of the excellent comments made by such a distinguished group of colleagues. The issue which seems to have engendered the greatest divergence of opinion is rationale and motivation for linkage studies. Certainly, the primary motivating force for a linkage study must be the belief that at least one detectable locus underlies the trait of interest. The real issue, therefore, is the basis for such a belief. For Morton [1990], the belief is based on an obvious mendelian pattern of inheritance (i .e. , low population frequency, high frequency in relatives, and consistency with mendelian transmission), or, if not so obvious by eye, at least by a segregation analysis which indicates the presence of a “megaphenic” effect. By contrast, Elston and Wilson [I9901 suggest that prior segregation analysis is not nccessary to motivate a linkage study, provided “interesting” pedigrees can be found. Presumably, an “interesting” pedigree is one that scems compatible with autosomal dominant inheritance. While adoption and twin studies may strengthen our belief that genes play a role in causing a disease, in the absence of a clear mendelian inheritance pattern for at least a subset of cases, or a “megaphenic” result from segregation analysis, it may be extremely difficult, or impossible, to determine a priori the number of genes involved and the magnitude of their effects. Although segregation analysis, if carefully done, can increase confidence in the existence of measurable genetic effects, one should be careful in automatically ruling out measurable genetic effects from a negative segregation analysis result, because, as Gershon [ 19901 has indicated, there are cases where monogenic, oligogenic, and polygenic inheritance are difficult to distinguish. Whereas in the single locus mendelian case linkage analysis cannot fail to locate the causative locus, providcd sufficient material is available, in the non-mendelian case linkage anal-
Hidroquímica do rio Solimões na região entre Manacapuru e Alvarães: Amazonas - Brasil

Este trabalho discute as caracteristicas fisico-quimicas das aguas dos rios Solimoes, Purus e seus afluentes, coletadas em novembro de 2004 no Estado do Amazonas, entre as cidades de Manacapuru-Alvaraes e Anama-Pirarauara. Foram realizadas analises fisico-quimicas (temperatura, pH, condutividade eletrica, turbidez, Ca2+, Na+, K+, Mg2+, HCO3-, SO42-, Cl-), de elementos-traco (Li, B, Al, Sc, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Cu, Zn, As, Se, Rb, Sr, Mo, Cd, Sb, Cs, Ba, Pb, La, Ce e U) e isotopos de estroncio. Os parâmetros analisados e a composicao quimica mostram que as aguas dos rios e igarapes da regiao central da Amazonia sao quimicamente distintas entre si. As aguas brancas do Solimoes sao calcicas-bicarbonatadas e as do Purus bicarbonatadas, os respectivos afluentes sao sodico-potassico-bicarbonatados e sodico-potassico-sulfatados. Isso acarreta aguas brancas fracamente acidas a neutras e mais condutivas, enquanto as pretas sao menos mineralizadas, mais acidas, especialmente as do Purus. O Ba, Sr, Cu, V e As mais elevados diferenciam as aguas brancas do Solimoes das do Purus, bem como os afluentes do primeiro em relacao ao segundo. Esse conjunto de caracteristicas indicam que tanto o Solimoes, como o Purus e os respectivos afluentes, estao submetidos a condicoes geologicas/ambientais distintas. A influencia do aporte de sedimentos dos Andes e diluida ao longo da bacia do Solimoes e se reflete na formacao das varzeas dos Solimoes e Purus. Por outro lado as rochas crustais, representadas pelos escudos das Guianas e Brasileiro tambem contribuem, mas em menor proporcao.
Un Algoritmo Modular para el Seguimiento de Partículas en Videos de Microscopía

En el presente trabajo se aborda el problema de seguimiento de una poblacion de particulas (como celulas, microorganismos o entes autopropulsados en general) en videos de microscopia optica y la extraccion de informacion cuantitativa conﬁable de manera automatizada. Para ello se propone un esquema modular de procesamiento compuesto por las siguientes etapas: i) deteccion de particulas; ii) reconstruccion de trayectorias; iii) analisis de trayectorias. El modulo de deteccion se basa en la extraccion de extremos locales en el Laplaciano de la funcion intensidad, evitando asi el empleo de tecnicas de binarizacion y la consecuente perdida de precision en localizacion. Para la reconstruccion de trayectorias se establece un criterio que aprovecha las restricciones de proximidad espacial y continuidad temporal en el movimiento de las particulas. El metodo propuesto se evalua y compara experimentalmente empleando secuencias y metricas conocidas en la literatura, obteniendose resultados alentadores.
Effect of dietary carbohydrate‐to‐lipid ratios on growth, lipid deposition and metabolic hepatic enzymes in juvenile Senegalese sole (Solea senegalensis, Kaup)

A study was undertaken to determine the effect of various dietary carbohydrate-to-lipid ratios on growth performance, whole-body composition and tissue lipid content in Senegalese sole (Solea senegalensis) juveniles. Data on the dietary regulation of key hepatic enzymes of the lipogenic and glycolytic pathways (glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, G6PD; malic enzyme, ME; fatty acid synthetase, FAS; pyruvate kinase, PK and glucokinase, GK) were also generated. Four isonitrogenous (crude protein: 52% dry matter (DM)) diets were formulated to contain one of two lipid levels (11% and 21% DM). Within each dietary lipid level, the nature of the carbohydrate fraction (raw or extruded peas) was varied. Triplicate groups of 54 sole (initial body weight: 23.6±1.2 g) were grown in recirculated seawater over 67 days. Fish were fed using automated feeders. At the end of the study, whole-body, liver, viscera and muscle samples were withdrawn for analyses. During the experimental period, the mean fish weight about doubled in all treatments. No significant differences were found in growth performance (ranging from 1.1% to 1.4% body weight day−1) among dietary treatments. High-fat diets increased whole-body fat content. Similarly, daily fat gain ranged from 0.54 to 0.78 g kg−1 day−1 and highest values were found in fish fed high-lipid diets. Dietary treatments also affected tissue lipid content (liver, viscera and muscle), with highest values in fish fed high-fat diets. The nature of dietary carbohydrates had little influence on performance criteria, but affected tissue lipid deposition. The activities of G6PD, ME and FAS were depressed by elevated levels of dietary lipid, confirming the inhibitory effect of dietary fats on lipid biosynthesis. At both dietary lipid levels, ME and FAS activities were little affected by dietary carbohydrate. Activities of PK and GK were not affected by the starch level of the diets. In Senegalese sole juveniles, the lipogenic pathway is more susceptible to modulation by dietary means (particularly through lipid intake) than the glycolytic pathway.
Immobilization ofSaccharomyces cerevisiaein Calcium Alginate Gel and Its Application to Bottle-Fermented Sparkling Wine Production

The production of bottle-fermented sparkling wine using yeasts immobilized into calcium alginate beads is reported. In particular, the concentration of cells in the gel, the kinetics of fermentation, the transfer of calcium during fermentation, and the clarity and quality of the sparkling wines obtained were studied. The results show that: ( 1 ) the use of immobilized cells does not cause any significant change in the refermentation processes; ( 2 ) a relationship exists between the quantity of beads used and the increase of calcium content in sparkling wine; ( 3 ) cell release does not affect the clarity of the wine; and ( 4 ) the main components (ethanol, organic acids, total nitrogen, and higher alcohols) are not appreciably different in sparkling wines obtained by immobilized yeasts when compared with traditional sparkling wines, but some differences are found as regards certain amino acids and some aroma components.
Fate of 2‐sulphanylethyl acetate and 3‐sulphanylpropyl acetate through beer aging

Sulphanylalkyl alcohols and their corresponding acetates were investigated in 14 commercial Belgian beers. Although it was the major peak at the pulsed-flame photometric detector, the empyreumatic 2-sulphanylethyl acetate was found at concentrations below its individual odour threshold, estimated at 40mg/L (0–4mg/L in most fresh beers, 5–12mg/L in three fresh high-bitter beers). Both the Ehrlich pathway and hop constituents contribute to this content. In 11 of the investigated samples, synthesis of 2SE-A and 3-sulphanylpropyl acetate (roasted, burned) continued during the first three months of storage. Although below their individual thresholds, these compounds might interact by synergy with other aged flavours. As yeast was absent from most of the investigated bottles, chemical degradation of precursors is suspected.
Gaseous nitrogen loss from temperate perennial grass and clover dairy pastures in south-eastern Australia

The use of nitrogen (N) fertiliser on dairy pastures in south-eastern Australia has increased exponentially over the past 15 years. Concerns have been raised about the economic and environmental impact of N loss through volatilisation and denitrification. Emissions of NH3, N2, and N2O were measured for 3 years in the 4 different seasons from a grazed grass/clover pasture, with or without 200 kg N fertiliser/ha, applied as ammonium nitrate and urea. Nitrogen-fertilised treatments lost significantly more N than the control treatments in all cases. More NH3 was lost from urea-fertilised treatments than from either the control or ammonium nitrate treatments, whereas ammonium nitrate treatments lost significantly more N through denitrification than the control or urea treatments in all seasons, except for summer. More NH3 was lost in summer than in the other seasons, whereas denitrification and N2O losses were highest in winter and lowest in summer. The total annual NH3 loss from the control, ammonium nitrate, and urea treatments averaged 17, 32, and 57 kg N/ha.year, respectively. Annual denitrification losses were estimated at around 6, 15, and 13 kg N/ha.year for the control, ammonium nitrate, and urea treatments, respectively. Total gaseous N losses were estimated to be 23, 47, and 70 kg N/ha.year from the control, ammonium nitrate, and urea treatments respectively. Although the use of ammonium nitrate fertiliser would significantly reduce NH3 volatilisation losses in summer, this fertiliser costs 45% more per unit N than urea, so there is no economic justification for recommending its use over urea for the other seasons. However, the use of urea during the cooler, wetter months may result in significantly less denitrification loss. The results are discussed in terms of potential management strategies to improve fertiliser efficiency and reduce adverse effects on the environment.
REVIEW ARTICLE THE DORSAL HORN OF THE SPINAL CORD

Recent advances in techniques, especially the intraneuronal injection of the enzyme horseradish peroxidase, have led to a new ear in our understanding of spinal cord structure and function. Input to the cord is precisely organized: the primary afferent fibres from different types of receptors distribute their anatomically specific collaterals to particular parts of the dorsal horn, afferent fibres from the skin lay down a precise somatotopic map, input to the dorsal horn from descending systems is also distributed in a localized way. The neurones of the dorsal horn are varied in both structure and function, even so some quite specific cell types can be identified and the dendritic trees may respect laminar boundaries as determined cytoarchitectonically (although the majority of neurones have dendrites that cut across these boundaries). The output pathways from the dorsal horn are many and various, but again they arise from cells in definite parts of the dorsal horn. The dorsal horn must be considered as a well-organized, and complex, part of the central nervous system. It cannot be considered as a structural or functional unit but is made up of many interacting parts that process input from the primary afferent fibres, from other levels of the spinal cord and from many descending pathways from the brain.
Accelerated evolution of early angiosperms: Evidence from ranunculalean phylogeny by integrating living and fossil data

The new discovery of angiosperm remains in the Jehol Biota of northeastern China contributes to our understanding of the origin and early evolution of flowering plants. The earliest eudicot genus with reproductive organs, Leefructus, was recently documented from the Lower Cretaceous Yixian Formation at 125.8–123.0 Ma, and was reconsidered to be close to the extant family Ranunculaceae based on gross morphology. However, this hypothesis has not been tested using a cladistic approach. To determine the possible allies of Leefructus within extant eudicots, we constructed a 66 morphological data matrix. Molecular and morphological analyses of extant Ranunculales combined with the fossil suggest that it has an affinity with the Ranunculaceae. The earliest fossil record of the eudicots is 127–125 Ma based on tricolpate pollen grains. Thus, we suggest a hypothesis that the basal eudicots might have experienced an accelerated evolution and diversification during the latest Barremian and earliest Aptian, leading to the stem groups of at least six extant families or lineages, 10–15 Myr earlier than currently documented. Angiosperms have undergone multiple uneven pulses of radiation since their origin. Many key character innovations occurred in different stages that could have triggered those radiations in concert with various biotic and abiotic factors.
The implementation crisis in conservation planning: could “mental models” help?

Core to the planning–implementation gap in conservation is the failure to achieve the necessary shared vision and collaboration among typically diverse stakeholder groups to translate conservation assessments and plans into sustained on‐ground outcomes for conservation. We suggest that a process of describing and sharing mental models—the cognitive frameworks that people use to interpret and understand the world—provides promising and as yet underutilized techniques for conservation planners to improve implementation success. The processes and techniques associated with the mental models concept have been applied in a variety of fields including business and organization science, risk analysis, education, natural resource management, and climate change adaptation. Our review of mental models illustrates that their application can strengthen the success of conservation planning by: (1) contributing to clear and open communication between stakeholders; (2) aiding in overcoming obstacles to incorporating multiple sources of knowledge; (3) enabling shared ownership of a conservation plan; and (4) improving social assessments. Techniques to explicitly communicate mental models can contribute to each phase of a conservation planning process—assessment, planning, management, and review. Conservation planners have much to gain by eliciting and sharing mental models in conservation planning processes.
Polimorfismos gênicos do fator de crescimento endotelial vascular (VEGF) em gestantes com distúrbios hiperglicêmicos.

BARREIRO, E.G. Gene polymorphisms of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in pregnant women with hyperglycemic disorders 2009. Master thesis (Cellular and Tissue Biology) – Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, 2009. The angiogenesis is a process essential for placental formation. Among the many factors involved in this biological event, the factor most active is the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), whose production is controlled by genes, which may present different polymorphic variants. The functional consequences of these changes are not yet fully elucidated, although some have been associated with an impairment of angiogenesis in various biological systems. Moreover, morphological changes in distribution and arrangement of the placental vessels were described in the placenta of pregnant women with hyperglycemic disorders such as diabetes mellitus and mild hyperglycemia. Particularly in cases of mild hyperglycemia, the observed vascular adaptation seems to be related to the maintenance of functional placenta. In diabetes, this finding was correlated with the atypical gene and protein expression of certain angiogenic factors in maternalfetal interface, while in other hyperglycemic conditions the likely participation of these factors has not been fully determined. Thus, based on the hypothesis that placental vascular changes in hyperglycemic pregnant women may be due to atypical expression or production of VEGF and that this in turn may be caused by gene polymorphisms, the objective of this study was to assess polymorphisms of this gene factor growth in placentas of women with hyperglycemic disorders. The analysis of the polymorphisms of the VEGF gene was performed in fragments of chorionic villi of normoglycemic, mild hyperglycemic and diabetic pregnant women, respectively named of group IA, IB and IIB. All specimens were provided by the Serviço de Serviço de Diabetes e Gravidez da Faculdade de Medicina de Botucatu – UNESP. Genotyping of the VEGF gene polymorphisms -460C/T, -634G/C and 936C/T was done by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and restriction fragment length polymorphism methods. The frequency of VEGF alleles and genotype distribution were compared among the hyperglycemic and control groups. The genotype frequencies were in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. We have observed significant differences of VEGF -460C/T polymorphism between the hyperglycemic placentas (IB X IIB), but not compared to control group. Statistical differences in the genotypic and allelic frequencies of C of VEGF -634G/C were detected