Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Intrathecal application with liposome-entrapped Fasudil for cerebral vasospasm followingsubarachnoid hemorrhage in rats

To date, the pharmacological approach to cerebral vasospasm following subarachnoid hemorrhage has been hampered in part by an inability to attain sufficiently high concentrations of vasodilator drugs in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). To overcome this limitation of current drug therapy, we have developed a sustained-release preparation of protein kinase inhibitor Fasudil. Cerebral vasospasm in rats was induced by double-injection method. Treated rats received 0.417 mg liposome-entrapped Fasudil via the cisterna magna and control rats received drug-free liposomes in the same manner. The diameter of the basilar artery was assessed at 7 days after the initial blood injection. Vasoconstriction of the rat basilar artery was significantly reduced in group treated with liposomal Fasudil compared to the control group (treated group: 87.7 +/- 6.18%, n= 10; control group: 66.3 +/- 9.82%, n = 10; ***P< 0.001). This new approach for cerebral vasospasm may have significant potential for use in the clinical setting.
Over-ground and robotic-assisted locomotor training in adults with chronic stroke: a blinded randomized clinical trial

Purpose: The purpose was to compare the effectiveness of robotic-assisted body weight supported treadmill training using the Lokomat® to over-ground gait training (OGT) in adults with chronic stroke. Methods: Participants were randomly assigned to the Lokomat® or OGT interventions. Both protocols included 40 sessions over 8 weeks. Primary outcome measures were the 10-meter walk test and 6-minute walk distance. Secondary measures included the Functional Independence MeasureTM locomotion score, Fugl-Meyer Lower Extremity Motor Score (FM-LE), Barthel Index, and Stroke Impact Scale. Blinded assessors tested the participants at baseline, post-intervention, and 3-month follow-up. Results: Eleven Lokomat® and nine OGT participants completed the study. Within group differences in the FM-LE score and Barthel Index occurred over time from baseline to post-intervention and baseline to 3-month follow-up. No other within group differences and no between group differences were observed. Conclusions: Although walking measures did not show significant changes between groups, LE motor function and physical functional levels improved over time within both groups. The Lokomat® may allow aggressive locomotor training, particularly for the lower functioning patients who wish to improve walking ability due to apparent eased therapist physical burden, when compared to OGT, although an increased risk of skin breakdown is present. Implications for Rehabilitation Survivors of chronic stroke can continue to improve in motor recovery and functional ability after intensive over-ground or robotic-assisted locomotor training. Over-ground and robotic-assisted locomotor training appear to equivalently enhance motor recovery and functional ability in low functioning survivors of chronic stroke. Risk of skin breakdown is significant with roboticassisted locomotor training.
Consumer perception of risk associated with eating genetically engineered soybeans is less in the presence of a perceived consumer benefit.

OBJECTIVE To determine whether perceived benefit alters personal risk perception associated with eating genetically engineered soybeans, consumer desire for labeling, preferred phrase on a label symbol, and desired information in an educational brochure. DESIGN Comparison of responses of two consumer groups who completed one of two survey versions. SUBJECTS/SETTINGS One hundred fifty supermarket shoppers, age 21 years and older, for each survey or n=300 total. Focus groups and a pilot test were used to develop the final survey in which consumers read a description of a genetically engineered soybean with either no obvious consumer benefit or an obvious consumer benefit and then completed a set of attitude questions and evaluated a voluntary label design and educational brochure content. Main outcome measures were mean opinion scores of personal risk and desire for labeling and ranking of desired label phrase and brochure topics. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS Chi;(2) and t Tests were used. RESULTS Consumers reading about the soybean with obvious consumer benefit were significantly more comfortable eating these than those reading about the soybean with no obvious consumer benefit (2.9+/-1.1 vs 3.4+/-1.0, respectively; P</=.001). However, the groups did not differ in desire for labeling of foods made with these soybeans or preferred brochure content. They did differ significantly in preferred phrase on the symbol (P</=.05). APPLICATIONS/CONCLUSIONS Dietitians can use descriptions of genetic engineering applications such as those in this study to help consumers assess these applications. Dietitians can play a critical role in explaining labeling terms and designing educational materials when the FDA finalizes voluntary labeling regulations for genetically engineered foods.
Nutrient utilisation and methane emissions in Sahiwal calves differing in residual feed intake

The presented study aimed at investigating the residual feed intake (RFI) of Sahiwal calves, nutrient utilisation as affected by RFI and its relationship with methane (CH4) emissions and some blood metabolites. Eighteen male Sahiwal calves (10–18 months of age; mean body weight 133 kg) were fed ad libitum with a total mixed ration. After calculating RFI for individual calves (−0.40 to +0.34 kg DM/d), they were divided into three groups with low, medium and high RFI, respectively. Dry matter intake (DMI) was higher (p < 0.05) in Group High RFI, whereas digestibility of all nutrients except crude protein and ether extract was significantly higher in Group Low RFI. Nitrogen balance was also significantly higher in Group Low RFI (20.2 g/d) than in Group High RFI (17.0 g/d). Average daily gain and feed conversion ratio were similar among the groups. With exception of glucose, concentrations of all measured blood metabolites were higher in Group High RFI (p < 0.05). Compared with Group High RFI, the CH4 emission of Group Low RFI was significantly lower (on the basis g/d and g/kg DMI by 11% and 19%, respectively). Furthermore, the CH4 emission [g/d] was significantly correlated with RFI (r = 0.77). Because higher feed efficiency and less CH4 production were observed in Group Low RFI, it was concluded that RFI can be used as a measure of feed efficiency, which has a potential to select Sahiwal calves for lowered CH4 emissions.
Left Auditory Cortex Specialization for Vertical Harmonic Structure of Chords

Abstract: The representation of consonant and dissonant chords in the auditory cortex was investigated using low‐noise functional magnetic resonance imaging and different experimental paradigms to separate the effects of vertical harmony from those of other musical features. The results revealed higher activation by consonant compared with dissonant chords in the left posterior auditory cortex, suggesting contributions of mechanisms of encoding the acoustical chord structure rather than mechanisms based on sequential integration of chords.
"Bare Branches" and the Marriage Market in Rural China

Using data from a village survey in rural China, this study explores the relationships between current prevalence of involuntary bachelorhood and its causes and social consequences at the village level. We find that bachelors, intercounty marriage, and marriage fraud exist in all regions, and are expected to become more serious with the increasing surplus of males born after 1980 entering the marriage market. The marriage squeeze and social problems related to the bachelors are more frequent in less-developed western villages, and heterogeneity within central villages is significant. Economic and sociodemographic factors are shown to be the major causes of the prevalence of bachelors at the village level in contemporary rural China. Our findings confirm the negative consequences of the marriage squeeze, and effective policies are urgently needed to respond to and prevent more negative consequences of gender imbalance in the foreseeable future.
Musculoskeletal adaptations to training with the advanced resistive exercise device.

UNLABELLED Resistance exercise has been used as a means to prevent the musculoskeletal losses associated with spaceflight. Therefore, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration designed the Advanced Resistive Exercise Device (ARED) to replace the initial device flown on the International Space Station. The ARED uses vacuum cylinders and inertial flywheels to simulate, in the absence of gravity, the constant mass and inertia, respectively, of free weight (FW) exercise. PURPOSE To compare the musculoskeletal effects of resistance exercise training using the ARED with the effects of training with FW. METHODS Previously untrained, ambulatory subjects exercised using one of two modalities: FW (6 men and 3 women) or ARED (8 men and 3 women). Subjects performed squat, heel raise, and dead lift exercises 3 d·wk(-1) for 16 wk. Squat, heel raise, and dead lift strength (one-repetition maximum; using FW and ARED), bone mineral density (via dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry), and vertical jump were assessed before, during, and after training. Muscle mass (via magnetic resonance imaging) and bone morphology (via quantitative computed tomography) were measured before and after training. Bone biomarkers and circulating hormones were measured before training and after 4, 8, and 16 wk. RESULTS Muscle strength, muscle volume, vertical jump height, and lumbar spine bone mineral density (via dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry and quantitative computed tomography) significantly increased (P ≤ 0.05) in both groups. There were no significant differences between groups in any of the dependent variables at any time. CONCLUSIONS After 16 wk of training, ARED exercise resulted in musculoskeletal effects that were not significantly different from the effects of training with FW. Because FW training mitigates bed rest-induced deconditioning, the ARED may be an effective countermeasure for spaceflight-induced deconditioning and should be validated during spaceflight.
Plasticity of GABA‐ and glutamate‐containing terminals in the mouse thalamic ventrobasal complex deprived of vibrissal afferents: An immunogold‐electron microscopic study

GABA and glutamate immunogold staining demonstrated that nerve cells of the thalamic ventrobasal complex (VB) of mice were positive exclusively for glutamate. None of the neuronal perikarya reacted the GABA antibody. By using alternate thin sections of the normal VB, it was also shown that large “specific” somatosensory and small corticothalamic terminals, both of which contained spherical synaptic vesicles, exhibited only glutamate‐like immunoreactivity. A third axonal type, containing flat‐ovoid synaptic vesicles, stained only for GABA.
Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition

Maintaining antioxidant potential of fresh fruits and vegetables after harvest Jose A. Villa-Rodriguez a , H. Palafox-Carlos a , Elhadi M. Yahia b & Gustavo A. GonzalezAguilar a a Centro de Investigación en Alimentación y Desarrollo, A.C. , Carretera a la Victoria km. 0.6, Apartado Postal 1735 , Hermosillo , 83000 , Sonora , México b Human Nutrition Program, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro, Avenida de las Ciencias S/N, 76230, Juriquilla , Querétaro , Qro , México Accepted author version posted online: 25 Sep 2013.
Shape Tracking and Production Using Hidden Markov Models

This paper is concerned with an application of Hidden markov Models (HMMs) to the generation of shape boundaries from image features. In the proposed model, shape classes are defined by sequences of "shape states" each of which has a probability distribution of expected image feature types (features "symbols"). The tracking procedure uses a generalization of the well-known Viterbi method by replacing its search by a type of "beam-search" so allowing the procedure, at any time, to consider less likely features (symbols) as well the search for an instantiable optimal state sequences. We have evaluated the model's performace on a variety of image shape types and have also developed a new performance measure defined by an expected Hamming distance between predicted and observed symbol sequences. Result point to the use of this type of model for the depiction of shape boundaries when it is necessary to have accurate boundary annotations as, for example, occurs in Cartogrpahy.
Radiochemical Purity, at Expiry, and Radiochemical Stability of Iodine-131 Labelled Meta-iodobenzylguanidine Concentrates for Intravenous Infusion

Summary Aim: The determination of the amount of free [131I]iodide in [13lI]meta-iodobenzylguanidine (1131I]MIBG) concentrates for intravenous infusion under different storage conditions derived from daily practice. Method: The percentage of free [131I]iodide was determined in [131I]MIBG concentrates (1.6-3.9 GBq in 7.5 ml), kept on dry ice (up to expiry, 3 days after production) or, after thawing, at room temperature (up to 24 h). A validated solid phase extraction (SPE) assay was used. Results: Free [131 Niodide increased from 1.9% ± 0.34% at production to 4.4% ± 0.67% (mean ± SD; n = 5) at expiry in 3.7 GBq per 7.5 ml [131I]MIBG infusion concentrates, stored on dry ice (-78° C). At room temperature, formation of free [131 Niodide was found to be dependent on the radioactive concentration of the fluid. [131I]iodide levels increased from 3.1%, immediately after thawing, to 6.6% and 16.6% at t = 5 and 24 h, respectively, for a 3.9 GBq per 7.5 ml concentrate. Conclusion: The investigated formulation of [131I]MIBG concentrates, stored in its original packing containing dry ice, can generally be used up to expiry. After thawing, the undiluted concentrates should be administered to a patient within 3.5 h.
Antifungal properties of organic extracts of eight Cistus L. species against postharvest citrus sour rot

The effectiveness of methanol and chloroform extracts of eight Cistaceae species to control citrus sour rot decay, caused by Geotrichum citri‐aurantii, was investigated in both in vitro and in vivo conditions. Methanol extracts of these plant species exhibited more interesting activity against G. citri‐aurantii, in both in vitro and in vivo conditions, compared with chloroforme extracts. Under in vitro trials, obtained results showed that methanol extracts of all tested plants revealed a highest significant antifungal activity with inhibition zones that ranged between 12·33 and 16·33 mm in diameter. All tested methanol extracts totally inhibited spore germination when tested at 10 mg ml−1. Incidence of sour rot was significantly lowered to 11·11% when fruits were treated with Cistus populifolius and Cistus ladanifer methanol extracts compared with 100% in the control. The disease severity was lowered to 5·19% and 6·04% when fruits were treated with the same methanol extracts respectively.
Plant parasitic nematode survival and detection to inform biosecurity risk assessment

Plant parasitic nematodes (PPN) are known to survive periods of desiccation, an ability that increases the risk of them surviving unintentional transport between countries. To investigate nematode survival in soil subject to prolonged storage, soil collected from a native forest and an organic orchard was stored separately in cupboards at ambient temperature for 36 months. Subsamples were taken at 0, 3, 6, 12, 13, 24 and 36 months to determine the presence of plant parasitic and total nematodes using a standard misting technique. Pratylenchus was used as a model to determine if PPNs that had been under prolonged storage were able to infect plant hosts at 13, 24 and 36 months. Overall, the total number of nematodes recovered from stored soil declined over time, with differences in species diversity determined by molecular methods, related to soil origin. No PPN were recovered in soil stored beyond 13 months using the three-day misting technique. By comparison, Pratylenchus nematodes, using a baiting method, were found to successfully invade host plant roots (ryegrass and white clover) even after 36 months storage and were observed to produce offspring at 13 months. Baiting was not effective for Pratylenchus found in soil originally collected from the forest but was for orchard soil, a result attributed to the lack of suitable host plants for the Pratylenchus species found in forest soil. This study demonstrated, that in protected environments, nematodes could survive for at least 36 months and were observed to produce offspring at 13 months. Baiting with a host plant was more sensitive in detecting nematodes than using the misting extraction technique, although this approach only works where the host plant is known. Without a priori knowledge of the nematode-plant host association, plant baiting may also produce false negatives. In the context of plant biosecurity and providing an accurate risk assessment in soil contaminants, the development of a generic test for PPN that induces nematodes in a resting stage to emerge and respond to a cue would enhance the probability of detection. However, as assessments at the border are often time limited, a molecular based bioassay that can be used to indicate the presence of multiple species of live PPN species may be a more feasible option for risk assessments. Copyright Lee T. Aalders et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. NeoBiota 36: 1–16 (2017) doi: 10.3897/neobiota.36. 11418 http://neobiota.pensoft. net DATA PAPER Advancing research on alien species and biological invasions A peer-reviewed open-access journal
Processing of auditory stimuli during tonic and phasic periods of REM sleep as revealed by event‐related brain potentials

SUMMARY The brain has been reported to be more preoccupied with dreams during phasic than during tonic REM sleep. Whether these periods also differ in terms of the processing of external stimuli was examined. Event‐related brain potentials (ERPs) to a frequent standard tone of 1000 Hz (P= 97%) and infrequent deviant tones of 1100 and 2000 Hz (P= 1.5% for each) were recorded (n= 13) during wakefulness and nocturnal sleep. An ERP wave (called REM‐P3) resembling a waking P3 wave was larger for the 2000 Hz deviant during tonic than during phasic REM sleep. Also the P210 wave was larger during tonic than during phasic REM sleep. A reliable mismatch negativity component appeared only in wakefulness. In summary, these results support the hypothesis that the brain is more ‘open’ for changes in an auditory input during tonic than phasic REM sleep.
Diversity of Salmonella serotypes in cull (market) dairy cows at slaughter.

OBJECTIVE To determine the diversity of Salmonella serotypes isolated from a large population of cull (market) dairy cows at slaughter. DESIGN Cross-sectional study. SAMPLE POPULATION Salmonella organisms isolated from the cecal-colon contents of 5,087 market dairy cows. PROCEDURE During winter and summer 1996, cecal-colon contents of cull dairy cows at slaughter were obtained from 5 US slaughter establishments. Specimens were subjected to microbiologic culturing for Salmonella spp at 1 laboratory. Identified isolates were compared with Salmonella isolation lists published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Veterinary Services Laboratory (NVSL) for approximately the same period. The Simpson diversity index was used to calculate the likelihood that Salmonella isolates selected randomly by establishment were different. RESULTS Of 58 Salmonella serotypes identified, Salmonella ser. Montevideo was the most prevalent. Two of the top 10 CDC serotypes identified from in 1996, Salmonella ser. Typhimurium and S Montevideo, appeared on our top 10 list; 8 of the top 10 were found on NVSL listings. Thirty-one of 59 S. Typhimurium isolates were identified as DT104 and found at a west slaughter establishment, 30 during the winter and 1 during the summer. The greatest diversity of serotypes was at a southeast establishment during the summer; the least diversity was at a central establishment in the winter. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE 58 Salmonella serotypes were isolated from market dairy cows at slaughter and could pose a threat for food-borne illness. Salmonella Montevideo was the most frequently isolated serotype and may contribute substantially to salmonellosis in dairy cattle.
Quantitative electroencephalogram (qEEG) in combat veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

Only a small number of studies have used quantitative electroencephalography (qEEG) in research of the post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The results are not consistent. The aim of the present investigation was to compare qEEG in combat veterans with and without PTSD. The hypothesis is that differences among qEEG characteristics will be found regarding the presence/absence of PTSD. Seventy-nine combat veterans with PTSD comprised the experimental group and 37 veterans without PTSD were included as controls. After the informed consent, they were investigated by the resting EEG recordings. The results demonstrate that PTSD veterans had decreased alpha power and increased beta power. These results suggest an altered neurobiology in PTSD. Various explanations have been offered for alpha activity decrease observed in PTSD veterans. Increased beta rhythm may play a role as a potential marker in differentiating subtypes of PTSD.
A ΔRaf1–ER‐inducible oncogenic zebrafish liver cell model identifies hepatocellular carcinoma signatures

Although the underlying molecular mechanism of hepatocellular carcinoma remains unclear, signalling pathways essential in cell survival and growth are altered, including the Raf–MEK–MAPK pathway. This pathway can be activated by hepatitis B or C virus infections and the ectopic expression of the Raf‐1 oncogene is frequently seen in hepatocellular carcinomas. In addition, the Raf–MEK–MAPK pathway was also shown to be deregulated in zebrafish liver tumours. Based on the genetic conservation between zebrafish and human liver tumours, the zebrafish was used as an animal model to better understand the molecular basis of hepatocellular carcinoma. Here we establish an inducible oncogenic zebrafish cell model, in which oncogenic human Raf‐1(ΔRaf1) can be post‐transcriptionally activated in zebrafish liver cells by administration of 4‐hydroxytamoxifen (4HT). The ΔRaf1 activation resulted in the hyperactivation of the zebrafish MEK–ERK cascade, promoted cell growth and proliferation, and inhibited apoptosis. The mitogenic transformation of the ZFL–ΔRaf1–ER cells was confirmed by in vivo allo‐transplantation and in silico microarray analyses. Gene expression profiling of cells treated with 4HT and a MEK‐inhibitor identified a Raf–MEK‐dependent signature set. This transcriptome response was compared to zebrafish and human liver cancer transcriptomes. We identified, and validated by quantitative PCR, a set of genes transcriptionally regulated by hyperactive MAPK signalling in ZFL–ΔRaf1–ER cells, zebrafish liver tumours and human liver tumours, suggesting that the in vitro zebrafish liver cell model can be used for further study of the molecular basis of human hepatocellular carcinoma. The molecular targeting of the commonly regulated hepatocellular carcinoma genes using the ZFL–ΔRaf1–ER cell model can be applied for high‐throughput preclinical target discovery. Copyright © 2011 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.