Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Retention of Ingested Latex Particles in Peyer's Patches of Germfree and Conventional Mice 1

Abstract Conventional and germfree mice ingested a suspension of 2-μm latex particles in drinking water for a 15-day period. Number and distribution of intestinal Peyer's patches did not differ significantly in the two types of mice. Cleared Peyer's patches were compared with regard to size and particle content. The location of particles within Peyer's patch follicles of germfree mice was similar to that of conventional mice, but the latter had significantly larger follicles and greater accumulations of latex particles. Latex concentration varied with patch location. Proximal patches contained the majority of particles in germfree mice, whereas particles were most abundant in distal patches of conventional mice. The results show that particle uptake into Peyer's patches takes place even in the complete absence of bacteria in the gut.
Repositório institucional: potencializando a visibilidade da produção cientifica do centro de humanidades da UFC

A gestão da informação científica é de suma importância às Instituições de Ensino Superior (IES), pois é neste ambiente que há múltiplas possibilidades de compartilhamento de ideias e desenvolvimento de novos conhecimentos, favorecendo a comunicação científica no âmbito acadêmico. O presente artigo tem por objetivo apresentar as ações desenvolvidas e os desafios vivenciados pelos membros do projeto de extensão intitulado “Repositório Institucional: Preservação da Memória Científica dos Docentes do Centro de Humanidades” da Universidade Federal do Ceará. O procedimento metodológico adotado se caracteriza por ser experimental. Ao decorrer dos cinco meses de funcionamento do projeto, observamos que a grande maioria dos docentes do Centro de Humanidades desconhece a resolução da instituição sobre o depósito da produção científica no repositório institucional, não possuem interatividade com o mesmo e, consequentemente, não arquivam as produções científicas. Em relação às experiências vivenciadas pelos membros do projeto verifica-se que as atividades fazem um elo entre a abordagem teórica de sala e a prática desenvolvida no projeto, permitindo uma reflexão da prática bibliotecária em relação ao gerenciamento de recursos digitais.
Performance Analysis of Ad Hoc Routing Protocols for Various Battery Model in VANET using QUALNET

VANET (Vehicular Adhoc Network) is a technology that used moving objects as nodes in a network to create a mobile or cellular network. VANET turns every participating car into a wireless router or node, allowing cars approximately 100 to 300 meters of each other to connect and, in turn, create a network with a wide range. In this paper we review different Ad-hoc routing Protocol, Reactive, Proactive and Hybrid Protocol in to consideration different VANET constraint like height, speed, etc. in genuine traffic scenario and measurement under various battery models for energy conservation. Reactive (AODV) and Proactive (OLSR) and Hybrid (ZRP) Protocols are evaluated for battery models such as, Duracell AA (MX-1500), Duracell AAA (MN-2400), Duracell AAA (MX-2400), Panasonic AA, and Panasonic AAA, using Qualnet Simulator. Energy Consumption and conservation are hot topics for research these days under the category of WSN and VANET. On the basis of our simulations, we analyze the residual battery charge and these results can be taken for the selection of optimum battery and routing protocol for VANET.
GABA‐mediated spatial and temporal asymmetries that contribute to the directionally selective light responses of starburst amacrine cells in retina

• Starburst amacrine cells (SACs), interneurons that are essential to the generation of direction selectivity in the retina, depolarize to light stimuli that move centrifugally away from them, but hyperpolarize to stimuli that move centripetally towards them. • These directionally selective light responses are dependent on the differential distribution of the Cl− cotransporters NKCC (which mediates GABA‐evoked depolarizations by increasing intracellular Cl−) and KCC2 (which mediates GABA‐evoked hyperpolarizations by decreasing intracellular Cl−) on SAC proximal and distal dendrites, respectively. • We show computationally that directionally selective light responses can be produced in both starburst cell bodies and distal dendrites if (1) there is an intracellular Cl− concentration gradient along SAC dendrites and (2) the response of the dendrites to GABA is relatively long lasting. • The location of NKCC and KCC2 in different compartments of individual neuronal processes may be an important means by which the brain encodes information.
Stent-assisted coil placement for unruptured cerebral aneurysms.

OBJECT The treatment of wide-necked cerebral aneurysms represents a challenging problem for neurosurgeons. The recent development of stents has provided clinicians with the ability to treat these aneurysms while keeping the parent vessel patent. The long-term occlusion rate of aneurysms treated with stent-assisted coil placement has yet to be investigated. The authors report the use of a new intracranial stent-the Neuroform microstent-in the treatment of unruptured wide-necked cerebral aneurysms. METHODS Thirty-two patients harboring unruptured wide-necked intracranial aneurysms underwent a stent-assisted coil placement procedure. Patients were pretreated with antiplatelet agents, and a stent was positioned across the neck of the aneurysm. The next step was the insertion of coils into the aneurysm cavity. Patients received anticoagulation therapy for 24 hours after the procedure. All 32 patients with unruptured wide-necked cerebral aneurysms were suitable candidates for this procedure. Occlusion of at least 90% of the aneurysm was achieved in 24 patients (75%) and 0% occlusion was observed in five patients (15%). Two patients experienced thromboembolic events, one of which was directly related to the stent. The overall complication rate was 6.3%. CONCLUSIONS Intracranial stents will be used more frequently in the new era of endovascular management of widenecked cerebral aneurysms. With some technical improvements and more data on long-term occlusion rates, this new modality should improve the occlusion of wide-necked cerebral aneurysms while protecting the parent vessel.
BAY 1000394, a Novel Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor, with Potent Antitumor Activity in Mono- and in Combination Treatment upon Oral Application

Deregulated activity of cyclin-dependent kinases (CDK) results in loss of cell-cycle checkpoint function and increased expression of antiapoptotic proteins, which has been directly linked to the molecular pathology of cancer. BAY 1000394 inhibits the activity of cell-cycle CDKs CDK1, CDK2, CDK3, CDK4, and of transcriptional CDKs CDK7 and CDK9 with IC50 values in the range between 5 and 25 nmol/L. Cell proliferation was inhibited at low nanomolar concentration in a broad spectrum of human cancer cell lines. In cell-based assays, the inhibition of phosphorylation of the CDK substrates retinoblastoma protein, nucleophosmin, and RNA polymerase II was shown. Cell-cycle profiles were consistent with inhibition of CDK 1, 2, and 4 as shown in cell-cycle block and release experiments. The physicochemical and pharmacokinetic properties of BAY 1000394 facilitate rapid absorption and moderate oral bioavailability. The compound potently inhibits growth of various human tumor xenografts on athymic mice including models of chemotherapy resistance upon oral dosing. Furthermore, BAY 1000394 shows more than additive efficacy when combined with cisplatin and etoposide. These results suggest that BAY 1000394 is a potent pan-CDK inhibitor and a novel oral cytotoxic agent currently in phase I clinical trials. Mol Cancer Ther; 11(10); 2265–73. ©2012 AACR.
EFFECT OF T-ACTIVIN ON CELLULAR IMMUNE RESPONSE IN BALB/C MICE WITH L-5178-Y LYMPHOMA

T-activin is a complex of immunologically active peptides (MW 1.2-6 KDa) derived from the thymuses of different animal species. To study immunomodulatory and antitumor effect of T-activin and its relation with type 1 and type 2 cytokines, immunosuppressed mice with L-5178-Y lymphoma were treated with subcutaneous T-activin. T-activin treatment increased life span and reduced the increase in body weight observed in lymphoma-bearing mice. Effect of T-activin on cellular immune response was evaluated with delayed hypersensitivity test to DNFB and splenic lymphoproliferative response. Both depressed immune response to DNFB and depressed proliferative response observed in lymphoma-bearing mice were totally reverted with T-activin treatment to values observed in control mice treated. In order to know the relation between the above results and cytokine production and T cell subsets, concentrations of IFN- and IL-4 in culture supernatants were determined by ELISA and T cell subsets were determined using flow cytometric analysis. Recovery was not observed in IL-4 levels but complete recovery was observed in IFN- levels. On the other hand, T-activin reversed the lymphoma-induced increment of CD4+ T cells and with this the CD4/CD8 ratio was restored to control value. These findings suggest that the mechanism through which T-activin exerts its antitumor effect is by inducing a type 1 response through IFN- production, thereby promoting cellular immune response.
Diagnostic systémique de l’adaptabilité du territoire camarguais face à la montée du niveau de la mer

Le programme de recherche « CAMPLAN - Gestion integree d’un hydrosysteme : Camargue et Plan-du-Bourg », mene par l’UMR ESPACE en collaboration avec le bureau d’etude Ressource et la Tour du Valat, part du constat dresse par plusieurs gestionnaires d’espaces naturels de ce territoire : une incapacite croissante de la gouvernance de l’eau a maintenir les capacites d’adaptation du systeme hydraulique face aux changements globaux, et tout specialement face a l’elevation du niveau marin. Notre contribution a ce programme de recherche s’est attachee a mettre en relation les connaissances produites par les chercheurs de l’equipe pour identifier les elements qui, dans le fonctionnement du systeme territorial, sont favorables et defavorables a l’adaptation. La complexite et l’ampleur des connaissances rassemblees ont necessite une approche systemique. Une analyse de la structure des relations constitutives du systeme camarguais a permis d’identifier deux voies d’adaptation, et au sein de celles-ci ont ete analyses les points de blocage et les elements favorables a l’adaptabilite du territoire camarguais.
HIV-1 Envelope Glycan Moieties Modulate HIV-1 Transmission

ABSTRACT The HIV-1 envelope protein (Env) is heavily glycosylated, with approximately 50% of the Env molecular mass being contributed by N-glycans. HIV-1 Env N-glycans shield the protein backbone and have been shown to play key roles in determining Env structure, surface exposure, and, consequently, antigenicity, infectivity, antibody neutralization, and carbohydrate and receptor binding. Studies of HIV-1 glycosylation have focused mainly on the position of glycosylation, rather than the types of glycans. Also, the role of Env glycan moieties on HIV-1 transmission has not been systematically defined. Using viruses with modified Env glycan content and heterogeneity, we examined the effects of Env glycan moieties on the major events of HIV-1 transmission. Compared to viruses with less oligomannose and more complex Env glycans, viruses with more oligomannose and less complex glycans more efficiently (i) transcytosed across an epithelial cell monolayer, (ii) attached to monocyte-derived macrophages (MDMs), (iii) bound monocyte-derived dendritic cells (MoDCs), and (iv) trans-infected primary lymphocytes via MoDCs. However, viruses with more oligomannose and less complex glycans displayed impaired infectivity in TZMbl cells, MDMs, primary lymphocytes, and fresh human intestinal tissue. Thus, N-linked Env glycans display discordant effects on the major events of HIV-1 transmission, with mature oligosaccharide structures on Env playing a crucial role in HIV-1 infection. Env glycosylation should be taken into consideration in the development of vaccine strategies to interdict HIV-1 transmission. IMPORTANCE HIV-1 Env N-glycans shield the protein backbone and play key roles in determining Env structure and surface exposure, thereby impacting Env antigenicity, infectivity, antibody neutralization, and carbohydrate and receptor binding. Studies of HIV-1 glycosylation have focused mainly on the position of glycosylation, rather than the types of glycans. In the study described in this report, we investigated systematically the role of Env glycan moieties on HIV-1 transmission. We show that N-linked Env glycans display discordant effects on the major events of HIV-1 transmission. These data indicate that Env glycan moieties impact HIV-1 transmission and that modulation of Env glycan moieties offers a potential strategy for the development of therapeutic or prophylactic vaccines against HIV-1.
Implicit coding for very low bit rate image compression

We explore an image compression scheme that does not rely on the usual additive decomposition of an input image into a set of predefined spanning functions. The proposed scheme only encodes implicit properties of the image and reconstructs an estimate by constrained high pass energy minimization. This has particular advantages for very low bit rate perceptually oriented image compression. We show experimental results in a context where we mainly target the smooth areas and the edges of the image.
Improving Physical Activity and Metabolic Syndrome Indicators in Women: A Transtheoretical Model-Based Intervention

Background: This study aimed at investigating the impact of an educational intervention based on transtheoretical model to increase physical activity and improve metabolic syndrome indicators in women. Methods: In this quasi-experimental study, 142 women with metabolic syndrome were randomly assigned to the case and control group (each group 71 participants). SECQ (Marcus), processes of change (Marcus), decisional balance (Bandura) and self-efficacy (Nigg) questionnaires and International Physical Activities Standard Questionnaire in preintervention, 3 and 6 months after intervention were completed. Furthermore, abdominal obesity, triglycerides (TG), and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) were measured. Physical activity intervention based on transtheoretical model (TTM) was performed in the case group. Finally, data were analyzed by SPSS (16) (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA) and repeated measure ANOVA, independent t-test and Freidman was used. A two-tailed P value, lower than 0.05, was considered to be statistically significant. Results: After the intervention, physical activity level increased in the intervention group, and they also progressed in stages of change, but the people in the control group had regressed. All changes in TTM constructs were significant in the intervention group during the time and differences in pros and cons were not significant in the control group. Abdominal obesity and TG has significantly reduced, and HDL has increased in the intervention group. In the control group, there was a significant increase in TGs and a decrease in HDL. Conclusions: Physical activity training based on TTM can improve physical activity and metabolic syndrome indicators in women.
Single-cell RNA-seq reveals intrinsic and extrinsic regulatory heterogeneity in yeast responding to stress

From bacteria to humans, individual cells within isogenic populations can show significant variation in stress tolerance, but the nature of this heterogeneity is not clear. To investigate this, we used single-cell RNA sequencing to quantify transcript heterogeneity in single S. cerevisiae cells treated with and without salt stress, to explore population variation and identify cellular covariates that influence the stress-responsive transcriptome. Leveraging the extensive knowledge of yeast transcriptional regulation, we uncovered significant regulatory variation in individual yeast cells, both before and after stress. We also discovered that a subset of cells decouple expression of ribosomal protein genes from the environmental stress response, in a manner partly correlated with the cell cycle but unrelated to the yeast ultradian metabolic cycle. Live-cell imaging of cells expressing pairs of fluorescent regulators, including the transcription factor Msn2 with Dot6, Sfp1, or MAP kinase Hog1, revealed both coordinated and decoupled nucleocytoplasmic shuttling. Together with transcriptomic analysis, our results reveal that cells maintain a cellular filter against decoupled bursts of transcription-factor activation but mount a stress response upon coordinated regulation, even in a subset of unstressed cells.
Asynchronous Learning Using a Hybrid Learning Package: A Teacher Development Strategy in Geography

This article analyses the rationale for the development of a Web-based teacher-upgrading programme and discusses the main issues of in-service professional upgrading of working adults using the WWW. In-service upgrading has been an accepted avenue for retraining practising teachers in Singapore to keep abreast of changing curriculum requirements as well as infusion of information technology in teaching and learning. To cope with the teachers’ busy work schedule and many school commitments upgrading courses were offered to the teachers primarily asynchronously, using the Internet platform with some integrated synchronous sessions. Issues of adult learning in a learner-controlled adaptive learning environment, and life-long learning were addressed through an IT-infused asynchronous mode, providing the much-needed freedom in time management for the course participants. The development also includes delivery of high definition graphics through a customized hybrid system of CD-ROM and Web that addresses image-downloading bottleneck and thereby overcomes a basic problem of distance learning in geo-spatial education. Finally reflections on the attending adult learners’ responses to such an upgrading programme are discussed.
J an 2 00 4 Spatial patterns of desynchronization bursts in networks

We adapt a previous model and analysis method (the master stability function), extensively used for studying the stability of the synchronous state of networks of identical chaotic oscillators, to the case of oscillators that are similar but not exactly identical. We find that bubbling induced desynchronization bursts occur for some parameter values. These bursts have spatial patterns, which can be predicted from the network connectivity matrix and the unstable periodic orbits embedded in the attractor. We test the analysis of bursts by comparison with numerical experiments. In the case that no bursting occurs, we discuss the deviations from the exactly synchronous state caused by the mismatch between oscillators.
Fast Active Quenching Circuit for Reducing Avalanche Charge and Afterpulsing in InGaAs/InP Single-Photon Avalanche Diode

We characterize three different quenching circuits for InGaAs/InP single-photon avalanche diodes (SPADs) operated in gated mode: i) a simple passive quenching circuit; ii) an active quenching circuit; and iii) a fast active quenching circuit. For each of these, we acquire the shape of the avalanche current, at different excess biases, by reconstructing the waveform of the photons emitted from the detector during an avalanche and we simultaneously measure the afterpulsing probability and the dependence of dark count rate on gate period (to estimate the maximum count rate). We prove that the avalanche charge reduction is in agreement with the reduction of afterpulsing probability, giving a four-time decrease in afterpulsing when employing the fast active quenching circuit compared to the simple passive quenching circuit.
High Rate of Simkania negevensis among Canadian Inuit Infants Hospitalized with Lower Respiratory Tract Infections

To determine the prevalence of Simkania negevensis in causing pulmonary infections in children, nasopharyngeal washes were obtained from 22 infants hospitalized with acute bronchiolitis in the Baffin Island, Canada. 14 (63.6%) were positive for S. negevensis. Mixed infections with other respiratory viruses were common. All patients recovered without specific antibiotic treatment. Even though a high prevalence of S. negevensis was found, this organism may potentially well be an opportunistic agent rather than a true pathogen.
A novel method to assess the full genome methylation profile using monoclonal antibody combined with the high throughput based microarray approach

In this work we demonstrate a novel method of methylation detection that utilises immunoaffinity to detect the presence of methylated DNA hybridised to a cDNA microarray. We use a monoclonal antibody specific to 5 methyl cytidine to detect the presence of 5 methyl cytosine in genomic DNA from human fibroblasts bearing the karyotype 45 XO. We report that over 2900 genes show the presence of methylation in this condition. We also report that 165 genes are consistently methylated in all replicates of these experiments. The methylated genes show a uniform distribution over all the chromosomes. The gene ontology of these also indicates no functional correlation between the genes that are methylated. We detect the presence of methylation in IGF2, an imprinted gene and thus known to harbour DNA methylation. The method is extremely specific and offers a quick and efficient way to analyse the methylation landscape on a high throughput scale. This method uses existing technology to assess methylation and thus can integrate very efficiently into any platform used.
The catecholaminergic innervation of the claustrum of the pig

Over the past decades, the number of studies employing the pig brain as a model for neurochemical studies has dramatically increased. The key translational features of the pig brain are the similarities with the cortical and subcortical structures of the human brain. In addition, the caudalmost part of the pig claustrum (CL) is characterized by a wide enlargement called posterior puddle, an ideal structure for physiological recordings. Several hypotheses have been proposed for CL function, the key factor being its reciprocal connectivity with most areas of the cerebral cortex and selected subcortical structures. However, afferents from the brainstem could also be involved. The brainstem is the main source of catecholaminergic axons that play an important neuromodulatory action in different brain functions. To study a possible role of the CL in catecholaminergic pathways, we analyzed the presence and the distribution of afferents immunostained with antibodies against tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and dopamine betahydroxylase (DBH) in the pig CL. Here we show that the CL contains significant TH immunoreactive axons contacting perikarya, whereas projections staining for DBH are very scarce. Our findings hint at the possibility that brainstem catecholaminergic afferents project to the CL, suggesting (i) a possible role of this nucleus in functions controlled by brainstem structures; and, consequently, (ii) its potential involvement in the pathophysiology of neurodegenerative pathologies, including Parkinson's disease (PD).