Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
RNA interference by feeding in vitro–synthesized double‐stranded RNA to planarians: Methodology and dynamics

The ability to assess gene function is essential for understanding biological processes. Currently, RNA interference (RNAi) is the only technique available to assess gene function in planarians, in which it has been induced by means of injection of double‐stranded RNA (dsRNA), soaking, or ingestion of bacteria expressing dsRNA.
Computational analyses of intravascular tracer washout reveal altered capillary‐level flow distributions in obese Zucker rats

Non‐technical summary The time course of washout of a labelled substance confined to the intravascular space of an organ is determined by the statistical distribution of pathway lengths and flows in the vascular network. We used labelled albumin (a plasma marker) washout data from gastrocnemius muscle from healthy versus obese rats to probe the asymmetrical flow distributions in the muscle vasculature, revealing significantly more heterogeneous microvascular flow with more low‐flow capillaries in the obese animals compared to control. Exploration of drug treatments revealed specific combinations that optimally restore the healthy flow distribution in the obese model.
Temperature Dependence of Phase Response Curves for Drug-Induced Phase Shifts

The effectiveness of drugs active in phase-shifting the circadian rhythm of biolu minescent glow in the unicellular dinoflagellate Gonyaulax polyedra differs, depending upon the time of drug exposure (as pulses). For two drugs tested—cycloheximide and anisomycin, both inhibitors of cytosolic protein synthesis—this function, referred to as the drug phase response curve (dPRC), differs, depending upon the ambient temperature. Since dPRCs may differ at different drug concentrations, the effects observed may be attributable to differences in the effectiveness of or recovery from the drugs at different temperatures.
Age-related variance in decisions under ambiguity is explained by changes in reasoning, executive functions, and decision-making under risk

ABSTRACT Previous literature has explained older individuals’ disadvantageous decision-making under ambiguity in the Iowa Gambling Task (IGT) by reduced emotional warning signals preceding decisions. We argue that age-related reductions in IGT performance may also be explained by reductions in certain cognitive abilities (reasoning, executive functions). In 210 participants (18–86 years), we found that the age-related variance on IGT performance occurred only in the last 60 trials. The effect was mediated by cognitive abilities and their relation with decision-making performance under risk with explicit rules (Game of Dice Task). Thus, reductions in cognitive functions in older age may be associated with both a reduced ability to gain explicit insight into the rules of the ambiguous decision situation and with failure to choose the less risky options consequently after the rules have been understood explicitly. Previous literature may have underestimated the relevance of cognitive functions for age-related decline in decision-making performance under ambiguity.
Endogenous glucocorticoids improve myelination via Schwann cells after peripheral nerve injury: An in vivo study using a crush injury model

Glucocorticoids improve the symptoms of peripheral nerve disorders, such as carpal tunnel syndrome and peripheral neuropathy. The effects of glucocorticoids are mainly anti‐inflammatory, but the mechanisms of their effects in peripheral nerve disorders remain unclear. Schwann cells of the peripheral nerves express glucocorticoid receptors (GR), and glucocorticoids enhance the rate of myelin formation in vitro. Therefore, it is possible that the clinical improvement of peripheral nerve disorders by glucocorticoids is due, at least in part, to the modulation of myelination. In this study, an adrenalectomy (ADX) was performed, and followed by a daily injection of either low dose (1 mg/kg) or high dose (10 mg/kg) corticosterone (CORT). We then simulated a crush injury of the sciatic nerves. A sham ADX operation, followed by a simulated crush injury, was conducted as a control. Immunohistochemistry showed that the nuclei of in vivo Schwann cells expressed GR and that glucocorticoids impacted the GR immunoreactivity of the Schwann cells. The mRNA and protein expression of myelin basic protein was significantly lower in the animals given ADX with vehicle than in the sham operation group. However, the expression was restored in the low‐dose CORT replacement group. Morphological analyses showed that the ADX with vehicle group had a significantly lower myelin thickness than did the low‐dose CORT replacement group and the sham operation group. These results suggest that endogenous glucocorticoids have an important role in myelination through the GR in Schwann cells after an in vivo peripheral nerve injury. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Preganglionic and sensory origins of calcitonin gene-related peptide- like and substance P-like immunoreactivities in bullfrog sympathetic ganglia

These experiments further define the organization of peptidergic pathways in the paravertebral sympathetic system of the bullfrog. Populations of axons and synaptic boutons in sympathetic ganglia 9 and 10 were found to express calcitonin gene-related peptide-like immunoreactivity (CGRP-IR) and substance P-like immunoreactivity (SP- IR). CGRP-IR is present in fibers that run through the ganglia and in boutons that make contact with almost half of the principal neurons. SP- IR is also present in fibers within the ganglia and in a rare class of synaptic boutons that are found on less than 1% of the principal neurons. Both forms of immunoreactivity are coexpressed in some nerve fibers and in the rare synaptic boutons that contain SP-IR. Neuropeptide Y-like immunoreactivity (NPY-IR), a marker for C-type postganglionic neurons, was used to identify the postsynaptic targets of boutons containing CGRP-IR and SP-IR. Ninety-five percent of the ganglion cells contacted by CGRP-IR boutons were negative for NPY-IR and are therefore likely to be B-type postganglionic neurons. Similarly, 100% of the ganglion cells contacted by boutons containing SP-IR were negative for NPY-IR. Lesions of the sympathetic chain demonstrated that synaptic boutons containing CGRP-IR arise from neurons whose axons enter the chain rostral to ganglion 7. Cutting the chain between ganglia 8 and 9 eliminates all preganglionic B and C inputs to ganglia 9 and 10. The destruction of the preganglionic C pathway by this lesion was verified by staining ganglia 9 and 10 for luteinizing hormone releasing hormone (LHRH). This lesion also eliminated boutons containing CGRP-IR and drastically reduced the number of ganglionic fibers that stained for CGRP-IR and SP-IR. By contrast, cutting the sympathetic chain between ganglia 6 and 7 spared LHRH-IR in the preganglionic C pathway but still eliminated the boutons that normally express CGRP-IR and reduced the amount of staining for SP- IR. CGRP-IR in the sympathetic ganglia arises from preganglionic and sensory neurons whereas ganglionic SP-IR is purely sensory in origin. In the spinal cord, the preganglionic B and C neurons that innervate ganglia 9 and 10 are located in different segments. In segments that contain preganglionic B cells, but not those that contain C cells, there were 243 +/- 37 (mean +/- SD) neurons in the intermediolateral cell column that express CGRP-IR. However, no cell bodies containing SP- IR were found in this region of the spinal cord. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Outcomes of cryptococcal meningitis in Uganda before and after the availability of highly active antiretroviral therapy.

BACKGROUND Cryptococcal meningitis (CM) is the proximate cause of death in 20%-30% of persons with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome in Africa. METHODS Two prospective, observational cohorts enrolled human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected, antiretroviral-naive persons with CM in Kampala, Uganda. The first cohort was enrolled in 2001-2002 (n = 92), prior to the availability of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), and the second was enrolled in 2006-2007 (n = 44), when HAART was available. RESULTS Ugandans presented with prolonged CM symptoms (median duration, 14 days; interquartile range, 7-21 days). The 14-day survival rates were 49% in 2001-2002 and 80% in 2006 (P < .001). HAART was started 35 +/- 13 days after CM diagnosis and does not explain the improved 14-day survival rate in 2006. In 2006-2007, the survival rate continued to decrease after hospitalization, with only 55% surviving to initiate HAART as an outpatient. Probable cryptococcal-related immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome occurred in 42% of patients, with 4 deaths. At 6 months after CM diagnosis, 18 persons (41%) were alive and receiving HAART in 2007. The median cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) opening pressure was 330 mm H(2)O; 81% of patients had elevated pressure (>200 mm H(2)O). Only 5 patients consented to therapeutic lumbar puncture. There was a trend for higher mortality for pressures >250 mm H(2)O (odds ratio [OR], 2.1; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.9-5.2; P = .09). Initial CSF WBC counts of <5 cells/mL were associated with failure of CSF sterilization (OR, 17.3; 95% CI, 3.1-94.3; P < .001), and protein levels <35 mg/dL were associated with higher mortality (OR, 2.0; 95% CI, 1.2-3.3; P = .007). CONCLUSIONS Significant CM-associated mortality persists, despite the administration of amphotericin B and HIV therapy, because of the high mortality rate before receipt of HAART and because of immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome-related complications after HAART initiation. Approaches to increase acceptance of therapeutic lumbar punctures are needed.
Divergence in style length and pollen size leads to a postmating‐prezygotic reproductive barrier among populations of Silene latifolia

A central tenet of speciation research is the need to identify reproductive isolating barriers. One approach to this line of research is to identify the phenotypes that lead to reproductive isolation. Several studies on flowering plants have shown that differences in style length contribute to reproductive isolation between species, leading us to consider whether style length could act as a reproductive barrier among populations of a single species. This could occur if style length varied sufficiently and pollen size covaried with style length. Populations of Silene latifolia exhibit variation in flower size, including style length, that is negatively correlated with annual precipitation. We show that this divergence in style length has a genetic basis and acts as a reproductive barrier: males from small‐flowered populations produced relatively small pollen grains that were poor at fertilizing ovules when crossed to females from large‐flowered populations, leading to a significant reduction in seed production. Manipulating the distance pollen tubes had to travel revealed that this failure was purely mechanical and not the result of other incompatibilities. These results show that style length acts as a postmating‐prezygotic reproductive barrier and indicate a potential link between ecotypic differentiation and reproductive isolation within a species.
Enhancing exothermic processes in batch reactors using DMC based on models

This paper presents the design of a Dynamic Matrix of Control “DMC” to control exothermic processes, multi-stages type, in batch reactors in order to enhance the production quality. To reach these aims, a set of mathematics models based on the Volterra Series and Laguerre functions are introduced. The obtained results suggest that these systems identified based on mathematical criteria together with a DMC controller can be applied to control exothermic reactions efficiently. The application of the controller in an industrial reactor focused in phenolic resin production was able to overcome the difficulty and risks that involve handling this highly exothermic reaction. Results obtained by using these suggestions indicate that the DMC together with the models identified would be a reliable control system to manufacture high-quality products and moreover with high consistency among batches produced as required nowadays in the global market.
[Effects of electroacupuncture at Fenglong (ST 40) on SOD and MDA in different organs of the hyperlipemia rat].

OBJECTIVE To probe into the target organ of Fenglong (ST 40) and the mechanism in resolving phlegm. METHODS Thirty SD rats were randomly divided into 3 groups, a blank control group, a model group and a Fenglong group, 10 rats in each group. The hyperlipemia rat model was prepared by feeding high fat forage. The blank control group were fed by basic forage each day, and other 2 groups were fed with high fat forage each day. After the rats were fed for 2 weeks, EA was given at "Fenglong" (ST 40) in the rats of the Fenglong group, twice each week, for 10 times. At the end of EA treatment, SOD activities and MDA contents in the spleen, lung, liver and pancreas were detected. RESULTS Acupuncture at "Fenglong" (ST 40) significantly increased SOD activities in the spleen and lung, decreased MDA content in the lung, and had a tendency to decrease SOD activity and to increase MDA content in the liver, while it did not significantly influence SOD activity and MDA content in the pancreas. CONCLUSION The target organs of "Fenglong" (ST 40) regulating SOD activity and MDA content are spleen, lung and liver, particularly, spleen and lung, with no relation with pancreas. It is indicated that the resolving phlegm function of "Fenglong" (ST 40) is related with promoting metabolism of free radiations in special organs.
Embryonic and foetal development of bovine oocytes treated with a combination of butyrolactone I and roscovitine in an enriched medium prior to IVM and IVF

Cattle oocytes were maintained at germinal vesicles (GV) stage for 24 hr using a combination of two specific and potent inhibitors of M‐phase promoting factor (MPF) kinase activity, butyrolactone I (BL‐I) and roscovitine (ROS). The media used for inhibition were (a) TCM‐199 only and (b) TCM‐199 supplemented with serum, hormones and growth factors. The effective doses of inhibitors were 6.25 μM BL‐I and 12.5 μM ROS in medium (a) and 50 μM BL‐I and 12.5 μM ROS in medium (b). After inhibition, about 90% of the oocytes resumed meiosis and reached the metaphase II (MII) stage during 24 hr of maturation. Following fertilisation the percentage of cleavage (D +2), compacted morula (D +6), blastocysts on D +7 and D +8 and the survival to freezing and thawing of grade 1 embryos frozen on D +7 were not different between the experimental treated groups and the control. In order to evaluate early foetal development, two groups of five grade 1 D +7 blastocysts derived from treated oocytes and two groups of five control embryos were transferred nonsurgically in four synchronised recipient heifers. On D +27, the recipients were slaughtered and the foetuses were recovered. In both groups, six foetuses developed out of the 10 embryos transferred. In conclusion, several supplements can be added to the prematuration medium of bovine oocytes without reducing the quality of inhibition but also without improving their subsequent developmental competence versus treated oocytes in TCM‐199 only and versus untreated control. Furthermore, the prematuration step used in this study does not interfere with normal foetal development during the first stages of organogenesis. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 62:513–518, 2002. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Characteristic genomic imbalances in pediatric pheochromocytoma

Pheochromocytoma (PCC) in children is rare, genetically not well described, and often related to a poor prognosis. We detected genomic imbalances in all 14 tumors from children analyzed by comparative genomic hybridization. A combinatorial loss of chromatin from 3p and 11p was a common feature in 10 of 14 (72%) patients, which was a result of either a loss of a total chromosome 3 and a total chromosome 11 in 6 of 10 patients, or confined deletions of their p arms in 4 of 10 patients. All patients exhibiting a loss of 3p and 11p carried VHL mutations. The VHL mutations were constitutive in 9 cases and somatic and restricted to tumor DNA in the remaining tumor. On the other hand, VHL mutations were absent in 4 patients, 2 who had other familial syndromes (NF1, SDHD) and 2 with unknown etiology. Our data show that the pattern of imbalances in the tumor DNA of PCC patients strongly correlated with an underlying familial VHL mutation. Furthermore, we show that true sporadic PCC is rare in childhood. Thus, children with PCC should be checked for a related predisposing gene. This would also identify familial syndrome patients requiring long‐term monitoring for other syndrome‐related malignancies. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Clinical presentation, course, and prognostic factors in lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin's disease and lymphocyte-rich classical Hodgkin's disease: report from the European Task Force on Lymphoma Project on Lymphocyte-Predominant Hodgkin's Disease.

PURPOSE Recent studies have suggested that lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin's disease (LPHD) is both clinically and pathologically distinct from other forms of Hodgkin's disease, including classical Hodgkin's disease (CHD). However, large-scale clinical studies were lacking. This multicenter, retrospective study investigated the clinical characteristics and course of LPHD patients and lymphocyte-rich classical Hodgkin's disease (LRCHD) patients classified according to morphologic and immunophenotypic criteria. MATERIALS AND METHODS Clinical data and biopsy material of all available cases initially submitted as LPHD were collected from 17 European and American centers, stained, and reclassified by expert pathologists. RESULTS The 426 assessable cases were reclassified as LPHD (51%), LRCHD (27%), CHD (5%), non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (3%), and reactive lesion (3%); 11% of cases were not assessable. Patients with LPHD and LRCHD were predominantly male, with early-stage disease and few risk factors. Patients with LRCHD were significantly older. Survival and failure-free survival rates with adequate therapy were similar for patients with LPHD and LRCHD, and were stage-dependent and not significantly better than stage-comparable results for CHD (German trial data). Twenty-seven percent of relapsing LPHD patients had multiple relapses, which is significantly more than the 5% of relapsing LRCHD patients who had multiple relapses. Lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin's disease patients had significantly superior survival after relapse compared with LRCHD or CHD patients; however, this was partly due to the younger average age of LPHD patients. CONCLUSION The two subgroups of LPHD and LRCHD bore a close clinical resemblance that was distinct from CHD; the course was similar to that of comparable nodular sclerosis and mixed cellularity patients. Thorough staging is necessary to detect advanced disease in LPHD and LRCHD patients. The question of how to treat such patients, either by reducing treatment intensity or following a "watch and wait" approach, remains unanswered.
Best practice in early psychosis intervention for Australian indigenous communities: indigenous worker consultation and service model description

Objective: The aim of this study was to identify promising elements of best practice relevant to mainstream mental health service (MHS) delivery of early psychosis intervention (EPI) to Indigenous communities. In a companion paper, a comprehensive literature review identified a promising service model with potential for delivering EPI: an Indigenous sub-team embedded within a mainstream health service. Method: This paper describes a consultation process with Indigenous Mental Health Workers (IMHWs) in south eastern Queensland. A case study of the Sunshine Coast Cultural Healing Program (CHP-SC) was carried out during the consultation process. Results: IMHWs agreed that the Australian clinical guidelines for early psychosis were relevant to improving outcomes for Indigenous patients. IMHWs unanimously identified the CHP-SC as a best practice mainstream MHS for delivering EPI. The CHP-SC, which represented an Indigenous sub-team model, was found to be associated with substantially improved engagement of Indigenous young people. Conclusions: We provisionally conclude that specialist EPI could be delivered by specialist Indigenous sub-teams (rather than specialist EPI teams) embedded in mainstream MHSs that incorporate culturally safe practice and are fully integrated with Indigenous primary care services, and recommend that the model be formally evaluated.
A real-time neuro-computing three-dimensional space vector algorithm for three-phase four-leg converters

Four-leg voltage source converters have successfully been used to nullify the zero-sequence current generated by unbalanced or nonlinear loads. This paper introduces an on-line, simple, intelligent, and computationally efficient neuro-computing classification algorithm for the implementation of three-dimensional space vector modulation (SVM) on four-leg voltage-source inverters. The proposed technique uses the concepts of counter propagation neural networks (CPN) for prism identification, and employs a nonlinear classifier network for tetrahedron identification. Nonlinear function approximations and bulky look up tables are successfully avoided, and exact positioning of the switching instants is obtained. Analytical analysis and simulations on a four-leg voltage-source converter validate the proposed scheme
Pharmaceutical‐mediated inactivation of p53 sensitizes U87MG glioma cells to BCNU and temozolomide

Pifithrin‐α (PFTα) is a small molecule inhibitor of p53. By reversibly blocking apoptosis in response to DNA damage, PFTα protects normal cells from lethal doses of γ‐radiation (Komarov et al., Science, 1999;285:1733–7). We examined the effect of PFTα on the chemosensitivity of a human cancer in which cell cycle arrest, not apoptosis, is the principle cellular consequence of p53 activation. This was of interest because E6 silencing of p53 sensitizes U87MG astrocytic glioma cells to BCNU and temozolomide (TMZ), cytotoxic drugs that are modestly helpful in the treatment of aggressive astrocytic gliomas. We observed that exposure of U87MG cells to PFTα before cytotoxic chemotherapy attenuated p53‐mediated induction of p21WAF1 protein levels, sensitizing U87MG cells to BCNU and TMZ. Sensitization of U87MG cells was associated with G1 arrest, delayed entry into S‐phase and decreased repair of DNA damage by BCNU. Our findings suggest that in addition to protecting normal cells from the toxic effects of radiation and chemotherapy, small molecule inhibitors of p53, like PFTα, might play a role in clinical oncology by sensitizing certain resistant cancers to cytotoxic chemotherapies. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Finite-time attitude stabilization for rigid bodies without angular velocity measurement

This paper investigates the finite-time output feedback stabilization of rigid body attitude dynamics without velocity measurement on the special orthogonal group ( SO(3)). We first transform the stabilization problem on SO(3) into the stabilization issue on its Lie algebra (so(3)) via the logarithm map. The proposed approach consists of exponential coordinates of SO(3) and the output of a nonlinear filter without the knowledge of the control input. Then the finite-time stability of the resulting closed-loop system is proven based on Lyapunov stability theory and geometric homogeneity technique. Since the set of singularities is zero measure, the proposed velocity-free feedback controller guarantees almost global finite-time stability, which is as strong as the topology of SO(3) can permit. Finally, simulations demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach.