Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Neuropeptide Y Innervation and Neuropeptide-Y-Y1-Receptor-Expressing Neurons in the Paraventricular Hypothalamic Nucleus of the Mouse

The paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus (PVH) serves as integrator and link between the neuroendocrine and autonomic nervous systems. Neuropeptide-Y (NPY)-producing neurons in the arcuate nucleus project to the PVH, where neurons expressing NPY Y1 receptor (Y1R) have been demonstrated. This projection has been suggested to be involved in the regulation of parameters related to energy metabolism, e.g. food intake and thermoregulation. The present study aimed at characterizing this pathway and chemically defining Y1R-expressing neurons by means of immunohistochemistry. The densely distributed NPY-immunoreactive (ir) terminals in the PVH co-stained for agouti gene-related protein (AGRP) mainly in the medial parvocellular regions, indicating an origin in the arcuate nucleus. This was in contrast to noradrenergic/adrenergic terminals in the PVH, which were less frequently seen to contain NPY-like immunoreactivity. Furthermore, AGRP-ir terminals were seen forming abundant close appositions on Y1R-ir cell bodies. Double staining revealed co-existence of Y1R-like immunoreactivity and immunoreactivities for thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) and, to a minor extent, cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript peptide in parvocellular neurons. No Y1R-like immunoreactivity was noted in parvocellular neurons expressing corticotropin-releasing hormone or in magnocellular neurons expressing vasopressin or oxytocin. The present results suggest that the arcuatoparaventricular NPY projection targets the TRH neurons preferentially via the Y1R, whereas the NPYergic regulation of corticotropinergic and magnocellular neurons may be relayed through other subtypes of NPY receptors. This study further defines the link between NPY-induced feeding and the hypothalamus-pituitary-thyroid axis.
Imitating the cost of males: A hypothesis for coexistence of all‐female sperm‐dependent species and their sexual host

Abstract All‐female sperm‐dependent species are particular asexual organisms that must coexist with a closely related sexual host for reproduction. However, demographic advantages of asexual over sexual species that have to produce male individuals could lead both to extinction. The unresolved question of their coexistence still challenges and fascinates evolutionary biologists. As an alternative hypothesis, we propose those asexual organisms are afflicted by a demographic cost analogous to the production of males to prevent exclusion of the host. Previously proposed hypotheses stated that asexual individuals relied on a lower fecundity than sexual females to cope with demographic advantage. In contrast, we propose that both sexual and asexual species display the same number of offspring, but half of asexual individuals imitate the cost of sex by occupying ecological niches but producing no offspring. Simulations of population growth in closed systems under different demographic scenarios revealed that only the presence of nonreproductive individuals in asexual females can result in long‐term coexistence. This hypothesis is supported by the fact that half of the females in some sperm‐dependent organisms did not reproduce clonally.
SUBCELLULAR DISTRIBUTION OF HYPERICIN IN HUMAN CANCER CELLS

Confocal laser microspectrofluorometric measurements on human T47D mammary tumor cells have been performed to assess the intracellular distribution of hypericin within the various cell compartments: cytoplasmic membrane, cytoplasm and nucleus. Confocal fluorescence measurements obtained from microvolumes (˜ 1 μm3) located within the three sites of interest show that, while being primarily located in the cell membrane and cytoplasm after a short‐term incubation in a 10−6M hypericin‐containing culture medium, hypericin actually reaches the inside of the cell nucleus after a long‐term incubation (210 min). Moreover, owing to the relative fluorescence quantum yields of hypericin determined in vitro when the molecule interacts with DNA, membrane and protein model systems, it is assumed that there is a significant accumulation of the drug into the cell nucleus. Consequently, the nucleus has to be considered as a possible target for the toxic action of hypericin.
Human T leukaemia virus type 1 (HTLV‐1) specific T‐helper cell response: clonal fluctuations and repertoire heterogeneity

The naive T‐helper (Th) repertoire specific for HTLV‐1 envelope (env) has been examined on antigen specific T‐cell lines and clones from non‐immune individuals. Clonal heterogeneity was determined by analysing the T‐cell receptor (TCR) Vβ gene usage and by sequencing the hypervariable regions of the TCR genes. Fluctuations in the Vβ gene usage were determined by comparing the TCR Vβ gene profiles of T‐cell lines at different times. We found that a diverse repertoire for HTLV‐1 env could be triggered in vitro. Diverse Vβ genes were used by the same line tested at different times, suggesting that clonal composition of an antigen‐specific T‐cell line is not constant in vitro. Clones in fact may be up‐ and down‐regulated and clonotypes undetectable at one time point can emerge upon subsequent restimulation. Therefore evaluation of the clonal composition of a T‐cell line gives a snapshot of the dominant clones at the time of analysis, and does not tell the whole picture of the antigen‐specific ensemble. Furthermore, by sequencing the TCR genes, we identified clones with identical Vβ gene usage which differed in hypervariable regions (CDR3), indicating their derivation from independent precursors and contributing to overall clonal heterogeneity. If these data can be extended to HTLV‐1‐infected patients studied in vivo, the Th cell repertoire specific for HTLV‐1 env may prove very heterogenous, with important implications for vaccine development.
Cardiovascular reactivity to psychophysiological stressors: association with hypotensive effects of isometric handgrip training

BackgroundIsometric handgrip (IHG) training has been found to have hypotensive effects in normotensive and hypertensive samples. Mechanisms responsible for the reductions in arterial blood pressure have been suggested, but remain equivocal. ObjectiveTo investigate whether cardiovascular reactivity to cold pressor and serial subtraction stressors are associated with changes in resting systolic blood pressure found with IHG training. MethodsAfter completion of an 8 week IHG training program and a 6 month detraining washout period, 17 healthy older participants (66±2 years) completed cold pressor (2 min at 4±1°C) and serial subtraction (2 min) stressor tasks to assess cardiovascular reactivity. ResultsCompared with baseline, cold pressor and serial subtraction stressor significantly increased systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, and heart rate (P<0.001). Heart rate reactivity was significantly different between the cold pressor and serial subtraction tasks (P<0.001). Residualized reductions in systolic blood pressure from IHG training were strongly correlated with serial subtraction task reactivity scores [Systolic blood pressure: r(16) = −0.58, diastolic blood pressure: r(16) = −0.66, heart rate: r(16) = −0.53, P<0.05], but not with cold pressor reactivity [r(16)<0.14, P>0.50]. ConclusionThe association between serial subtraction task reactivity and hypotensive effects of IHG training may hint at myocardial mediating mechanisms behind IHG training attenuations and may provide a method for identifying patients who stand to benefit from IHG training.
Parallelized Stochastic Gradient Markov Chain Monte Carlo algorithms for non-negative matrix factorization

Stochastic Gradient Markov Chain Monte Carlo (SG-MCMC) methods have become popular in modern data analysis problems due to their computational efficiency. Even though they have proved useful for many statistical models, the application of SG-MCMC to non-negative matrix factorization (NMF) models has not yet been extensively explored. In this study, we develop two parallel SG-MCMC algorithms for a broad range of NMF models. We exploit the conditional independence structure of the NMF models and utilize a stratified sub-sampling approach for enabling parallelization. We illustrate the proposed algorithms on an image restoration task and report encouraging results.
Sirolimus: a potent new immunosuppressant for liver transplantation.

BACKGROUND Sirolimus (rapamycin) is a new immunosuppressant that appears to be synergistic with cyclosporine in kidney transplantation, but with a different side-effect profile. This pilot study evaluated sirolimus in liver transplantation. METHODS Patients undergoing orthotopic liver transplantation for primary tumors (8), and later for nonmalignant disease (7), received one of three sirolimus-based immunosuppressive regimens. Protocol A comprised sirolimus, microemulsion cyclosporine (target whole blood concentration: 100 ng/ml), and prednisolone; protocol B omitted prednisolone; and protocol C was sirolimus alone. By 3 months after transplantation, all patients were receiving sirolimus as monotherapy. RESULTS Fifteen patients were treated with a follow-up of 117-806 days. Rejection was more common on monotherapy than double therapy, and absent on triple therapy. The drug was generally well tolerated, with only three patients discontinuing sirolimus: one for hyperlipidemia, one for pneumocystis pneumonia, and one for inability to tolerate the taste of the drug. Two patients discontinued cyclosporine early, both as a result of neurological complications; they continued on sirolimus monotherapy. Five patients died; one suffered a cardiac arrest, and four died from sepsis in association with graft-versus-host disease, recurrent tumor, a paralyzed right hemidiaphragm, and primary nonfunction. CONCLUSIONS Sirolimus combined with cyclosporine provided potent immunosuppression of liver allografts, and sirolimus monotherapy was adequate and well tolerated as maintenance therapy. Side effects of sirolimus over the short period of follow-up were uncommon and reversible with dose reduction or cessation of therapy.
Regional asymmetries in monetary policy transmission: The case of the Greek regions

Monetary policy is unlikely to have a uniform impact on the real economic activity across regions with different industrial structures. This study measures the heterogeneous effects of monetary policy on regional and sectoral output of the 13 regions in Greece over the period 1980 to 2009. By using an unrestricted vector autoregressive model and the impulse response analysis, our results show that an interest rate shock affects the economic activity across regions differently. Furthermore in our investigation, we use a panel vector autoregressive model so as to investigate the dynamic variation of the impact of interest rates controlling also for time and cross regions fixed effects associated with specific time invariant regions' characteristics as well as with time variant characteristics attributed to the integration process of these regions. Finally, in identifying the channel of monetary policy transmission in the Greek regions, we investigate the role of Greek regional industrial structures in explaining these variations.
Uncovering Inequalities: Addressing the (RE)Production of Power Relations within Financial Aid Processes utilizing Institutional Ethnography

Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.tacoma. uw.edu/ias_masters Part of the Accessibility Commons, Educational Assessment, Evaluation, and Research Commons, Education Economics Commons, Higher Education Commons, Higher Education Administration Commons, Social and Philosophical Foundations of Education Commons, Special Education Administration Commons, and the Women's Studies Commons
Herbert Kaufman's Forest Ranger Thirty Years Later: From Simplicity and Homogeneity to Complexity and Diversity

How has the world of the forest ranger and public administration changed over the past three decades? Using Herbert Kaufman's classic study, The Forest Ranger, as a base point for their discussion, Tipple and Wellman focus on contextual changes that have transformed the U.S. Forest Service and the world of the ranger. The relatively closed system of the 1950s has been opened through environmental legislation and increased public involvement. Earlier emphasis on efficiency and economy is now offset by a stress on representativeness and responsiveness. The authors see parallel developments in the public administration field in general, and they discuss the implications of these changesforpractitioners, educators,
Co-localization of insulin-like growth factor binding protein 3 and fibronectin in human articular cartilage.

OBJECTIVE The anabolic cytokine insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) stimulates chondrocyte synthesis of matrix macromolecules and several lines of evidence suggest that it has a major role in maintaining articular cartilage and possibly in cartilage repair. Despite the apparent importance of IGF-I in articular cartilage metabolism and its potential importance in joint diseases, little is known about the regulation of IGF-I activity within the tissue. Insulin-like growth factor binding proteins (IGFBPs) bind IGF-I and can modify its activity. At least three IGFBPs are expressed by chondrocytes: IGFBP-3, -4 and -5. Localization of IGFPBs in the articular cartilage extracellular matrix (ECM) could create reservoirs of IGF-I within the articular cartilage ECM and thereby regulate local IGF-I levels. We hypothesized that ECM molecules bind and concentrate IGFPBs in the pericellular/territorial matrix. DESIGN Semi-quantitative immunohistological measures of co-localization were used to compare the spatial distribution of IGFBP-3, -4, and -5 with the distributions of three peri-cellularly-enriched matrix molecules fibronectin, tenascin-C, and type VI collagen in osteoarthritic and non-osteoarthritic human articular cartilage. Purified proteins were used in an agarose diffusion assay to compare IGFBP-3 binding to the same three matrix proteins. RESULTS IGFBP-3 associated with fibronectin in the pericellular/territorial matrix (approximately 40% co-localization) but not with tenascin-C, or type VI collagen (approximately 6% and approximately 15% co-localization respectively, P< 0.05). Neither IGFBP-4, nor IGFBP-5 were associated with any of the three ECM proteins (P< 0.05). In agarose diffusion assays IGFBP-3 interacted with fibronectin and heparan sulfate proteoglycan but not with type VI collagen or tenascin-C. CONCLUSIONS Direct binding between purified IGFBP-3 and fibronectin and the strong co-localization the two proteins in the cartilage matrix support the hypothesis that IGFPB-3 and fibronectin help regulate local IGF-I levels.
A comparative analysis of grading systems in renal adenocarcinoma

While the histological grade of a renal cell carcinoma is of prognostic significance there is poor concordance amongst pathologists in the use of these grading systems. Many grading systems have been described, but none has achieved widespread acceptance. The objective of this study was to assess the degree of interobserver variation amongst four experienced pathologists in their use of four commonly applied grading systems. The pathologists reviewed a series of 88 cases of renal cell carcinoma. Grades were detailed on a proforma which consisted of a breakdown of each grading system. Cohen's kappa was calculated for each pair of observers for each system. The mean kappa scores for each system were compared using the Tukey honestly significant differences method. Mean kappa was highest for the grading system of Syrjanen and Hjelt and this grading system also had a higher mean kappa than two of the other systems tested. The most striking feature of the results was the degree to which the pathologists differed in their assessments. The grading system of Syrjanen and Hjelt was shown to be subject to less interobserver variability than other commonly used classifications and we are of the opinion that it should become the standard method.
Boundary Extraction of Breast Ultrasonic Images

The accurate boundary extraction is an essential preprocessing step for computerized analysis of a breast ultrasonic image. In this study, a novel approach based on the wavelet transform and the dynamic programming is proposed to extract tumor boundaries from breast ultrasonic images. Firstly, a rectangular region-of-interest (ROI) is manually selected from the ultrasonic image, followed by the ROI-based preprocessing for the noise reduction and image enhancement. Then an initial boundary of the tumor is obtained using the wavelet transform. To achieve a more accurate result, a dynamic programming algorithm based on the active contour model is applied to adjust the initial boundary. Experiments on 45 breast ultrasonic images have shown that this proposed method is a promising technique for the boundary extraction of breast tumor on ultrasonic images
Estimation of time-varying human arm stiffness using electromyogram signal

Human arm stiffness is important in movement stability in unstable or novel environments. Therefore measurement of the arm stiffness is necessary to study on control mechanisms involved in stabilization and adaptation to environments dynamics. Previous techniques, did not measure time-varying stiffness explicitly. Here we introduce a novel method to estimate arm stiffness using EMG signals. In this method, muscles activation levels are related to joints torques and stiffness. We derived analytical relations to calculate arm stiffness using joints dynamics. This method was used to find arm stiffness profile in 12 subjects, before a reaching movement task. Results imply that this method can be used to find time-varying profile of the arm stiffness.
Bilateral upper limb lymphoedema associated with psoriatic arthritis: a case report and review of the literature

Lymphoedema is an unusual extra‐articular feature of rheumatoid arthritis and has rarely been described in psoriatic arthritis. We report a 41‐year‐old man with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis who developed bilateral lymphoedema of the upper extremities. Lymphoscintigraphy showed absent lymphatic drainage in the right arm and a subnormal increase in lymphatic flow under manual exertion in both arms. Colour Doppler ultrasound studies did not reveal venous or arterial abnormalities. Conservative management and therapy with cyclosporin (for worsening arthritis) resulted in partial resolution of the lymphoedema and improvement of flow parameters on the right side upon repeat lymphoscintigraphy.
Genetic polymorphism of CYP1A1, CYP2D6, GSTM1 and GSTT1 and susceptibility to acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in Indian children

Biotransformation plays a crucial role in carcinogen activity and many genetic polymorphisms in xenobiotic metabolising enzymes have been associated with an increased risk of cancer. Such polymorphisms can lead to considerable variation in the activities of these enzymes, which are crucial in carcinogen and drug metabolism. These variations could play a role in the risk of developing paediatric acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) by their varying action on environmental carcinogens.
Identification of Proteins Involved in the Heat Stress Response of Bacillus cereus ATCC 14579

ABSTRACT To monitor the ability of the food-borne opportunistic pathogen Bacillus cereus to survive during minimal processing of food products, we determined its heat-adaptive response. During pre-exposure to 42°C, B. cereus ATCC 14579 adapts to heat exposure at the lethal temperature of 50°C (maximum protection occurs after 15 min to 1 h of pre-exposure to 42°C). For this heat-adaptive response, de novo protein synthesis is required. By using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis, we observed 31 heat-induced proteins, and we determined the N-terminal sequences of a subset of these proteins. This revealed induction of stress proteins (CspB, CspE, and SodA), proteins involved in sporulation (SpoVG and AldA), metabolic enzymes (FolD and Dra), identified heat-induced proteins in related organisms (DnaK, GroEL, ClpP, RsbV, HSP16.4, YflT, PpiB, and TrxA), and other proteins (MreB, YloH, and YbbT). The upregulation of several stress proteins was confirmed by using antibodies specific for well-characterized heat shock proteins (HSPs) of B. subtilis. These observations indicate that heat adaptation of B. cereus involves proteins that function in a variety of cellular processes. Notably, a 30-min pre-exposure to 4% ethanol, pH 5, or 2.5% NaCl also results in increased thermotolerance. Also, for these adaptation processes, protein synthesis is required, and indeed, some HSPs are induced under these conditions. Collectively, these data show that during mild processing, cross-protection from heating occurs in pathogenic B. cereus, which may result in increased survival in foods.
Jejunal and gastric mucosal perfusion versus splanchnic blood flow and metabolism: An observational study on postcardiac surgical patients

ObjectivesTo evaluate the association between changes in total splanchnic and mucosal perfusion, assessed either by gastric tonometry or jejunal laser Doppler flowmetry in postcardiac surgical patients. DesignA prospective, observational study. SettingsA general intensive care unit in a tertiary care center. PatientsTwelve, postoperative cardiac surgery patients were studied. InterventionsPatients were treated according to clinical routine. Total splanchnic blood flow (indocyanine green extraction), jejunal mucosal perfusion (laser Doppler flowmetry), gastric mucosal-arterial Pco2 gradients, and splanchnic lactate uptake were studied during four 30-min measurements periods, each separated by a period of 1 hr. Measurements and Main ResultsThere was no consistent association between either total splanchnic and local mucosal perfusion or between gastric and jejunal perfusion as assessed by two different techniques. The Pco2 gradient increased from 0.73 ± 0.21 kPa to 1.15 ± 0.30 kPa (p < .05), and splanchnic oxygen extraction increased from 40% ± 9% to 49% ± 14% (p < .01). ConclusionsIn this observational study on postcardiac surgical patients, local mucosal perfusion did not reflect total splanchnic blood flow and vice versa. Either changes in gastric and jejunal mucosal perfusion were different or increasing tissue metabolism was responsible for the observed lack of association between tonometry, laser Doppler flowmetry, and total splanchnic blood flow. Increasing mucosal arterial Pco2 gradient and splanchnic oxygen extraction may reflect a mismatch between splanchnic perfusion and metabolic demands.
Ant aggression and evolutionary stability in plant–ant and plant–pollinator mutualistic interactions

Mutualistic partners derive a benefit from their interaction, but this benefit can come at a cost. This is the case for plant–ant and plant–pollinator mutualistic associations. In exchange for protection from herbivores provided by the resident ants, plants supply various kinds of resources or nests to the ants. Most ant–myrmecophyte mutualisms are horizontally transmitted, and therefore, partners share an interest in growth but not in reproduction. This lack of alignment in fitness interests between plants and ants drives a conflict between them: ants can attack pollinators that cross‐fertilize the host plants. Using a mathematical model, we define a threshold in ant aggressiveness determining pollinator survival or elimination on the host plant. In our model we observed that, all else being equal, facultative interactions result in pollinator extinction for lower levels of ant aggressiveness than obligatory interactions. We propose that the capacity to discriminate pollinators from herbivores should not often evolve in ants, and when it does it will be when the plants exhibit limited dispersal in an environment that is not seed saturated so that each seed produced can effectively generate a new offspring or if ants acquire an extra benefit from pollination (e.g. if ants eat fruit). We suggest specific mutualism examples where these hypotheses can be tested empirically.