Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Purinergic neuron-to-glia signaling in the enteric nervous system.

BACKGROUND & AIMS Enteric glia are intimately associated with neurons in the enteric nervous system (ENS) and display morphologic and molecular similarities to central nervous system (CNS) astrocytes. Enteric glia express neurotransmitter receptors, suggesting that, like astrocytes, they are active participants in neuronal communication. In the ENS, the purine adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is co-released with the neurotransmitters noradrenaline and acetylcholine. Enteric glia express purinergic receptors and respond to ATP in vitro, suggesting that enteric glia participate in functional gastrointestinal responses to nerve signaling. We investigated whether enteric glia are activated by ATP released from enteric neurons. METHODS Synaptic activity was elicited in enteric neurons by electrically stimulating interganglionic connectives in the myenteric plexus of the guinea pig colon. Activity in enteric glial cells was detected by imaging intracellular calcium in situ. RESULTS Neuronal stimulation elicited increases in intracellular calcium in enteric glial cells that were blocked by tetrodotoxin, the nonselective purinergic receptor antagonist pyridoxal phosphate-6-azo(benzene-2,4-disulfonic acid) tetrasodium salt hydrate (PPADS), and the phospholipase C inhibitor U73122. Furthermore, enteric glia responded robustly to exogenously applied ATP in situ, and the ATP response was blocked by PPADS and U73122. Data from pharmacologic profiling and immunohistochemical analyses support the hypothesis that P2Y4 is the major functional receptor underlying the ATP response in enteric glia. CONCLUSIONS Our results provide direct evidence for functional purinergic neuron-glia communication in the enteric nervous system, raising the possibility that ATP released with neurotransmitters during enteric synaptic transmission functions to signal to enteric glia.
Proteomic analysis of synaptosomes using isotope‐coded affinity tags and mass spectrometry

Synaptosomes are isolated synapses produced by subcellular fractionation of brain tissue. They contain the complete presynaptic terminal, including mitochondria and synaptic vesicles, and portions of the postsynaptic side, including the postsynaptic membrane and the postsynaptic density (PSyD). A proteomic characterisation of synaptosomes isolated from mouse brain was performed employing the isotope‐coded affinity tag (ICAT) method and tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS). After isotopic labelling and tryptic digestion, peptides were fractionated by cation exchange chromatography and cysteine‐containing peptides were isolated by affinity chromatography. The peptides were identified by microcapillary liquid chromatography‐electrospray ionisation MS/MS (μLC‐ESI MS/MS). In two experiments, peptides representing a total of 1131 database entries were identified. They are involved in different presynaptic and postsynaptic functions, including synaptic vesicle exocytosis for neurotransmitter release, vesicle endocytosis for synaptic vesicle recycling, as well as postsynaptic receptors and proteins constituting the PSyD. Moreover, a large number of soluble and membrane‐bound molecules serving functions in synaptic signal transduction and metabolism were detected. The results provide an inventory of the synaptic proteome and confirm the suitability of the ICAT method for the assessment of synaptic structure, function and plasticity.
Increased regional homogeneity in internet addiction disorder: a resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging study.

BACKGROUND Internet addition disorder (IAD) is currently becoming a serious mental health problem among Chinese adolescents. The pathogenesis of IAD, however, remains unclear. The purpose of this study applied regional homogeneity (ReHo) method to analyze encephalic functional characteristic of IAD college students under resting state. METHODS Functional magnetic resonanc image (fMRI) was performed in 19 IAD college students and 19 controls under resting state. ReHo method was used to analyze the differences between the average ReHo in two groups. RESULTS The following increased ReHo brain regions were found in IAD group compared with control group: cerebellum, brainstem, right cingulate gyrus, bilateral parahippocampus, right frontal lobe (rectal gyrus, inferior frontal gyrus and middle frontal gyrus), left superior frontal gyrus, left precuneus, right postcentral gyrus, right middle occipital gyrus, right inferior temporal gyrus, left superior temporal gyrus and middle temporal gyrus. The decreased ReHo brain regions were not found in the IAD group compared with the control group. CONCLUSIONS There are abnormalities in regional homogeneity in IAD college students compared with the controls and enhancement of synchronization in most encephalic regions can be found. The results reflect the functional change of brain in IAD college students. The connections between the enhancement of synchronization among cerebellum, brainstem, limbic lobe, frontal lobe and apical lobe may be relative to reward pathways.
DC components in pantograph arcing: mechanisms and influence of various parameters

Pantograph arcing generates a net DC voltage which create interference with the track circuit signaling, saturate transformer core, generate even harmonics, create problems on control of the switching of power electronics and drives. Experiments were conducted by Bombardier Transportation and ABB as a part of the ICE project to understand the physical processes that generates this DC component, the coupling mechanisms and the distribution paths, the identification of DC vulnerable components and their response to this DC. The amplitude of the DC voltage shows a wide variation with respect to applied voltage, train speed, type of electrical load, gap between the contact wire and the pantograph and current. In this paper, the authors analyzed those experimental data to understand the typical nature of sliding arc between the pantograph and the contact wire and possible mechanisms involved with this.
Platelet Dysfunction in Asphyxiated Newborn Piglets Resuscitated with 21% and 100% Oxygen

Hemostatic disturbances are common in asphyxiated newborns after resuscitation. We compared platelet function in hypoxic newborn piglets reoxygenated with 21% or 100% oxygen. Piglets (1–3 d, 1.5–2.1 kg) were anesthetized and acutely instrumented for hemodynamic monitoring. After stabilization, normocapnic hypoxia was induced with an inspired oxygen concentration of 10–15% for 2 h. Piglets were then resuscitated for 1 h with 21% or 100% oxygen, followed by 3 h with 21% oxygen. Platelet counts and collagen (2, 5, and 10 μg/mL)-stimulated whole blood aggregation were studied before hypoxia and at 4 h of post-hypoxia/reoxygenation. Platelet function was studied using transmission electron microscopy and by measuring plasma thromboxane B2 (TxB2) and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and -9 levels. Control piglets were sham-operated without hypoxia/reoxygenation. The hypoxemic (PaO2 33 mm Hg) piglets developed hypotension with metabolic acidosis (pH 7.02–7.05). Upon reoxygenation, piglets recovered and blood gases gradually normalized. At 4 h reoxygenation, platelet aggregation ex vivo was impaired as evidenced by a rightward-downward shifting of the concentration-response curves. Electron microscopy showed features of platelet activation. Plasma MMP-9 but not MMP-2 activity significantly increased. Resuscitation with 100% but not 21% oxygen increased plasma TxB2 levels. Platelet counts decreased after hypoxia/reoxygenation but were not different between groups during the experiment. Resuscitation of hypoxic newborn piglets caused platelet activation with significant deterioration of platelet aggregation ex vivo and increased plasma MMP-9 levels. High oxygen concentrations may aggravate the activation of prostaglandin-thromboxane mechanistic pathway.
The use of proxies in community integration research.

OBJECTIVE To assess the level of agreement between persons with various disabilities and their proxies in reporting community integration outcomes using the Craig Handicap Assessment and Reporting Technique (CHART). DESIGN Reliability study. SETTING Participants living in the community for a minimum of 6 months after onset of disability or completion of inpatient rehabilitation. PARTICIPANTS Persons (n = 983) with disability resulting from amputation, burn, multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injury (SCI), stroke, or traumatic brain injury and their self-selected proxies. INTERVENTIONS Telephone interview of subjects (FIM instrument, CHART); proxies (CHART). FIM instrument assesses the degree of assistance with physical and cognitive subscales; CHART measures community integration in 6 subscales: physical, cognitive, and economic independence, and mobility, social integration, and occupation. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) were used to assess participant-proxy agreement, and stepwise multiple regressions were used to identify patterns of difference in agreement based on disability type and demographic variables. RESULTS Thirty-seven of the 38 items examined for the entire sample yielded moderate to strong ICCs. Multiple regression analyses indicated that proxies overrated participants with severe functional cognitive disabilities on the mobility subscale (p < .001), overrated participants with less than a high school education on the total CHART score (p < .01), and underrated participants with SCIs on the occupation subscale (p < .01). Differences in all cases, however, were less than 6 points out of a possible score of 100 per subscale. CONCLUSIONS Participant-proxy agreement across the 6 disability groups provided evidence in support of the inclusion of proxy data for persons with various types of disabilities in community integration research.
Ca2+‐independent phosphorylation of myosin in rat caudal artery and chicken gizzard myofilaments

1 Smooth muscle contraction is activated primarily by the Ca2+‐calmodulin (CaM)‐dependent phosphorylation of the 20 kDa light chains (LC20) of myosin. Activation can also occur in some instances without a change in intracellular free [Ca2+] or indeed in a Ca2+‐independent manner. These signalling pathways often involve inhibition of myosin light chain phosphatase and unmasking of basal kinase activity leading to LC20 phosphorylation and contraction. 2 We have used demembranated rat caudal arterial smooth muscle strips and isolated chicken gizzard myofilaments in conjunction with the phosphatase inhibitor microcystin‐LR to investigate the mechanism of Ca2+‐independent phosphorylation of LC20 and contraction. 3 Treatment of Triton X‐100‐demembranated rat caudal arterial smooth muscle strips with microcystin at pCa 9 triggered a concentration‐dependent contraction that was slower than that induced by pCa 4.5 or 6 but reached comparable steady‐state levels of tension. 4 This Ca2+‐independent, microcystin‐induced contraction correlated with phosphorylation of LC20 at serine‐19 and threonine‐18. 5 Whereas Ca2+‐dependent LC20 phosphorylation and contraction were inhibited by a synthetic peptide (AV25) based on the autoinhibitory domain of myosin light chain kinase (MLCK), Ca2+‐independent, microcystin‐induced LC20 phosphorylation and contraction were resistant to AV25. 6 Ca2+‐independent LC20 kinase activity was also detected in chicken gizzard smooth muscle myofilaments and catalysed phosphorylation of endogenous myosin LC20 at serine‐19 and/or threonine‐18. This is in contrast to MLCK which phosphorylates threonine‐18 only after prior phosphorylation of serine‐19. 7 Gizzard Ca2+‐independent LC20 kinase could be separated from MLCK by differential extraction from myofilaments and by CaM affinity chromatography. Its activity was resistant to AV25. 8 We conclude that inhibition of smooth muscle myosin light chain phosphatase (MLCP) unmasks the activity of a Ca2+‐independent LC20 kinase associated with the myofilaments and distinct from MLCK. This kinase, therefore, probably plays a role in Ca2+ sensitization and Ca2+‐independent contraction of smooth muscle in response to stimuli that act via Ca2+‐independent pathways, leading to inhibition of MLCP.
The Dutch Central Sensitization Inventory (CSI): Factor Analysis, Discriminative Power, and Test-Retest Reliability

Objectives:A standardized assessment of central sensitization can be performed with the Central Sensitization Inventory (CSI), an English questionnaire consisting of 25 items relating to current health symptoms. The aim of this study was to translate the CSI into Dutch, to perform a factor analysis to reveal the underlying structure, examine its discriminative power, and test-retest reliability. Methods:The CSI was first translated into Dutch. A factor analysis was conducted on CSI data of a large group of chronic pain patients (n=368). The ability to discriminate between chronic pain patients (n=188) and pain-free controls (n=49) was determined and the test-retest reliability for chronic pain patients (n=36) and controls (n=45) with a time interval of 3 weeks was evaluated. Results:The exploratory factor analysis resulted in a 4-factor model based on 20 items, representing the domains “General disability and physical symptoms” (Cronbach &agr;=0.80), “Higher central sensitivity”(Cronbach &agr;=0.78), “Urological and dermatological symptoms”(Cronbach &agr;=0.60), and “Emotional distress”(Cronbach &agr;=0.80). Furthermore, a parsimonious second-order factor model was found, where the factor “General central sensitization” was underlying the 4 first-order factors. Chronic pain patients scored significantly worse on all 4 factors. The test-retest reliability was excellent values in both chronic pain patients (ICC=0.88) and controls (ICC=0.91). Discussion:The original CSI was translated into Dutch and did not reveal any problems during data acquisition. The domains represented by the 4 factors may be useful in setting up specific patient profiles and treatment targets. To conclude, the Dutch CSI revealed 4 distinguishable domains, showed good internal consistency for the total score and 3 out of 4 domains, good discriminative power, and excellent test-retest reliability.
Variable dielectric constants by structured porosity for passive ceramic components

In this paper, different densities within a ceramic are used to provide a wide, continuous range of cofirable dielectric constants for high frequency applications. Cofiring different ceramic materials together to make a single, unified structure to obtain different dielectric constant combinations is quite difficult due to phase stability issues and shrinkage mismatches. However, using various levels of porosity in order to alter the effective dielectric constant in the same material allows cofiring of different dielectric constants into a single unit. Since the structure is made from a single material, the varying porosities can be made compatible. Large scale aligned porosity using a microcellular structure allows for an extremely wide range of dielectric constants, ranging from 90 to 9.15, while maintaining a low loss tangent. Examples using the cofiring of the different density ceramics include a stratified medium cavity resonator and a buried dielectric resonator internal to a microcellular substrate.
Species differences in the tissue distribution of catechol and methylsulphonyl metabolites of 2,4,5,2',5'-penta- and 2,3,4,2',3',6'-hexachlorobiphenyls in rats, mice, hamsters and guinea pigs

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are metabolized to phenolic or methylsulphonyl PCBs (MeSO2-CBs) in animal species. The study determined the species differences in the tissue distribution of persistent PCB metabolites in rats, mice, hamsters and guinea pigs 4 days after exposure to 2,4,5,2',5'-pentachlorobiphenyl (CB101) or 2,3,4,2',3',6'-hexachlorobiphenyl (CB132). For CB101 metabolism, the hydroxylation in rats, mice and hamsters occurred primarily at the 3'-position in the 2',5'-dichlorinated phenyl ring, whereas the hydroxylation in guinea pigs occurred preferentially at the 3-position. Metabolite profiles in tissues of hamsters were dominated by 3',4'-catechol-CB101, whereas metabolite profiles in rats and mice were dominated by 3'- or 4'-MeSO2-CBs. For CB132 metabolism, rats and mice produced 4'- and 5'-MeSO2-CBs at similar concentration ratios, whereas guinea pigs produced MeSO2-CBs at higher levels and selectively retained 5'-MeSO2-CB in liver. In contrast, hamsters preferentially produced 4',5'-catechol-CB132 that was retained in serum. Consequently, hamsters produced catechols, whereas guinea pigs produced meta-substituted MeSO2-CBs, preferentially from CB132. These findings indicate that PCBs with 2,3,6-chlorine substitution are preferred substrates for the formation of catechols or MeSO2-CBs and the differences in metabolite profiles are related to species-dependent metabolic capacities.
Compulsive buying: a report of 20 cases.

BACKGROUND Compulsive buying is a probably common but little studied disorder. To further characterize this syndrome, the authors assessed 20 compulsive buyers. METHOD Twenty consecutive psychiatric patients with problematic buying behavior characterized as (1) uncontrollable; (2) markedly distressing, time-consuming, and/or resulting in family, social, vocational, and/or financial difficulties; and (3) not occurring only in the context of hypomanic or manic symptoms were evaluated with structured diagnostic interviews. Family histories of psychiatric disorders and patients' responses to psychological and biological treatments were also assessed. RESULTS Nineteen (95%) of the compulsive buyers studied had lifetime diagnoses of major mood disorders. Sixteen (80%) had lifetime diagnoses of anxiety disorders, 8 (40%) had impulse control disorders, and 7 (35%) had eating disorders. First-degree relatives displayed a high prevalence of mood disorders. Nine (69%) of 13 patients receiving thymoleptics at the time of compulsive buying episodes reported reduction or remission of their buying symptoms. CONCLUSION Compulsive buying may cause significant psychological, interpersonal, and financial difficulties; may co-occur with other psychiatric disorders; may be treatable; and, thus, should be further studied as a mental disorder in its own right. To this end, preliminary operational criteria for its diagnosis are proposed.
Novel Response to Microtubule Perturbation in Meiosis

ABSTRACT During the mitotic cell cycle, microtubule depolymerization leads to a cell cycle arrest in metaphase, due to activation of the spindle checkpoint. Here, we show that under microtubule-destabilizing conditions, such as low temperature or the presence of the spindle-depolymerizing drug benomyl, meiotic budding yeast cells arrest in G1 or G2, instead of metaphase. Cells arrest in G1 if microtubule perturbation occurs as they enter the meiotic cell cycle and in G2 if cells are already undergoing premeiotic S phase. Concomitantly, cells down-regulate genes required for cell cycle progression, meiotic differentiation, and spore formation in a highly coordinated manner. Decreased expression of these genes is likely to be responsible for halting both cell cycle progression and meiotic development. Our results point towards the existence of a novel surveillance mechanism of microtubule integrity that may be particularly important during specialized cell cycles when coordination of cell cycle progression with a developmental program is necessary.
Neuraxin, a novel putative structural protein of the rat central nervous system that is immunologically related to microtubule‐associated protein 5.

During screening of a rat spinal cord lambda gt11 cDNA library with poly‐ and monoclonal antibodies against the postsynaptic glycine receptor a cDNA was isolated which covers an open reading frame encoding a protein of calculated mol. wt 94 kd. Sequence analysis identified a novel type of neuron‐specific protein (named neuraxin) which is characterized by an unusual amino acid composition, 12 central heptadecarepeats and putative protein and/or membrane interaction sites. The gene encoding neuraxin appears to be unique in the haploid rat genome and conserved in higher vertebrates. Northern blot and in situ hybridization revealed neuraxin mRNA to be expressed throughout the rodent central nervous system (CNS). In spinal cord, neuraxin transcripts were abundant in motoneurons which also expressed glycine receptor subunit mRNA. A bacterial fusion protein containing approximately 90% of the neuraxin sequence was found to specifically bind tubulin. Polyclonal neuraxin antibodies cross‐reacted with microtubule‐associated protein 5 (MAP5), and a monoclonal antibody against MAP5 recognized the neuraxin fusion construct. Based on these data we suggest that neuraxin is related to MAP5 and may be implicated in neuronal membrane‐microtubule interactions.
CD44/Cellular prion protein interact in multidrug resistant breast cancer cells and correlate with responses to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in breast cancer patients

Multidrug resistance (MDR) is one of the most important factors leading to chemotherapeutic failure in patients with breast cancer. The invasive/metastatic ability of MDR cells is strengthened compared with their parental cells. However, the mechanisms underlying MDR have not been fully elucidated. We found that CD44 and the cellular prion protein (PrPc) were both overexpressed in MDR cells (MCF7/Adr and H69AR). Subsequently, we chose the human breast cancer cell line MCF7/Adr, which is resistant to adriamycin, for further research. We discovered that PrPc physically and functionally interacted with CD44. The knockdown of CD44 or PrPc by siRNA in MCF7/Adr cells inhibited cell migration, invasion and proliferation in vitro. However, when the MCF7/Adr cells transfected with CD44 siRNA were incubated with 10 times the peak plasma concentration (PPC) of taxol, their invasive ability was again enhanced. In the breast‐carcinoma tissue samples, a significant correlation between the CD44 expression and the PrPc expression was observed in the postneoadjuvant‐chemotherapy (NAC) cases. Moreover, in Group 2, which was unresponsive to NAC, the CD44 and PrPc expression levels were significantly increased in the post‐NAC cases compared with the pre‐NAC cases using the paired‐samples t‐test. These data indicate that the CD44/PrPc interaction enhances the malignancy of breast cancer cells and affects the responses to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in breast cancer patients. Therefore, blocking the CD44/PrPc interaction may improve outcomes in chemorefractory breast cancer patients. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The Choice of Dynamic Portfolio Based on the Information Update

This paper studies the effects of parametric uncertainty of the first two moments about risky asset return on the choice of dynamic portfolio under incomplete information.In the continuous-time framework,it analyzes them qualitatively according to the closed-form solution of the optimal portfolio choice.Then in the discrete-time framework,gives their quantitative results according to the empirical study form two different sample of Shanghai Exchange Composite Index.Result shows: the uncertainty of parameter leads to negative(positive) investment horizon effects when investor's risk aversion is more(less) than that of logarithmic investor;the effects of parametric uncertainty will weaken when investor uses more past data in his estimation,or when his risk aversion increases;portfolio selection under parametric uncertainty can explain the puzzle of risk premium.This study demonstrates that the problem of parametric uncertainty should be taken into account in the context of dynamic portfolio choice.