Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Modulation of motor function by stress: a novel concept of the effects of stress and corticosterone on behavior

Stress and stress hormones affect a variety of behaviors and cognitive abilities. The influences of stress and glucocorticoids on motor function, however, have not been characterized although the presence of glucocorticoid receptors in the motor system has been documented. Here we demonstrate that stress and the stress hormone corticosterone influence motor system function in rats. Groups of adult female Long‐Evans rats underwent either a daily stress‐inducing procedure (immobilization or swimming in cold water) or oral corticosterone treatment. While these treatments continued, animals were tested in skilled reaching and skilled walking tasks for a period of 2 weeks. Both acute (day 1) and chronic (day 14) stress and corticosterone treatment reduced skilled movement accuracy in reaching and walking and increased performance speed. Furthermore, both chronic stress and chronic corticosterone treatment altered skilled movement patterns in the reaching task. These findings indicate that stress modulates motor system function and that these effects are partially mediated by glucocorticoids. To examine whether stress‐induced changes might also derive from enhanced emotionality, rats were treated with the benzodiazepine diazepam. Based on an inverted U‐shaped dose–response relationship, a moderate dose of diazepam significantly improved reaching success while at the same time reducing corticosterone levels. Thus, stress‐associated emotional responses such as anxiety might account for diminished movement accuracy. These results suggest that stress affects the motor system both directly via hormonal changes and indirectly via changes in emotionality. These findings are discussed with respect to the role of stress in motor system function and movement disorders.
Chapter 9; Substance Abuse

SUMMARY Alcohol abuse poses special risks for increased morbidity and mortality among older adults, contributing to the heightened use of medical resources and the related increase in medical costs. Although the prevalance of alcohol use disorders in the older adults is generally less than that found in younger groups, it is expected to increase with the aging of the “baby-boom” generation. In spite of this, little attention has focused on developing, and evaluating the efficacy of, treatment programs for older adults with alcohol related disorders. This article discusses the availability of effective treatment strategies for older alcohol abusers and reviews the epidemiological and outcomes research literatures related to alcohol abuse and older adults. The few empirical studies that examine outcomes associated with the treatment of older substance abusers reveal positive outcomes, especially when “age-specific,” cognitive-behavioral, and less confrontational treatment approaches are employed.
Localizing transcripts to single cells suggests an important role of uncultured deltaproteobacteria in the termite gut hydrogen economy

Significance Most environments host a poorly understood microbial diversity. In recent years, work on gene inventories and metagenomics has revealed much about the microbial species and metabolic genes that may be present in situ; however, connecting microbial species with environmental function has lagged. Here a combination of emerging single-cell and other approaches revealed the gut microbes that may catalyze a key activity in their termite hosts. The results implicate a previously unappreciated deltaproteobacterium living on a gut protist. Identifying microbes responsible for particular environmental functions is challenging, given that most environments contain an uncultivated microbial diversity. Here we combined approaches to identify bacteria expressing genes relevant to catabolite flow and to locate these genes within their environment, in this case the gut of a “lower,” wood-feeding termite. First, environmental transcriptomics revealed that 2 of the 23 formate dehydrogenase (FDH) genes known in the system accounted for slightly more than one-half of environmental transcripts. FDH is an essential enzyme of H2 metabolism that is ultimately important for the assimilation of lignocellulose-derived energy by the insect. Second, single-cell PCR analysis revealed that two different bacterial types expressed these two transcripts. The most commonly transcribed FDH in situ is encoded by a previously unappreciated deltaproteobacterium, whereas the other FDH is spirochetal. Third, PCR analysis of fractionated gut contents demonstrated that these bacteria reside in different spatial niches; the spirochete is free-swimming, whereas the deltaproteobacterium associates with particulates. Fourth, the deltaproteobacteria expressing FDH were localized to protozoa via hybridization chain reaction-FISH, an approach for multiplexed, spatial mapping of mRNA and rRNA targets. These results underscore the importance of making direct vs. inference-based gene–species associations, and have implications in higher termites, the most successful termite lineage, in which protozoa have been lost from the gut community. Contrary to expectations, in higher termites, FDH genes related to those from the protozoan symbiont dominate, whereas most others were absent, suggesting that a successful gene variant can persist and flourish after a gut perturbation alters a major environmental niche.
SPIKING INDUCED BY COOLING IN THE MYOCARDIUM OF THE LOBSTER PANULIRUS JAPONICUS

The heart rate of crustaceans changes with variations in ambient temperature within the normal environmental range (Maynard, 1960). The temperature coefficient (Q10) of the heart rate of crabs over the range 4­19 °C is about 2 (Florey and Kriebel, 1974). There are few studies of the heart response to a rapid change in temperature, although aquatic crustaceans often meet with warm or cold water masses (Spaargaren and Achituv, 1977). Electromechanical coupling of muscle fibres becomes less effective with decreasing temperature (Dudel and Ruedel, 1968), but a mechanism has been described that compensates for the tonus effect during leg muscle activity (Fischer and Florey, 1981). Compensatory mechanisms may also exist for heart muscle, and I have recently found that myocardial cells of a marine lobster begin to produce large action potentials in response to cooling. Lobster myocardial fibres develop tension in response to excitatory junction potentials (EJPs) generated by impulse activity of motor neurones in the cardiac ganglion (Van der Kloot, 1970; Anderson and Cooke, 1971; Kuramoto and Kuwasawa, 1980; Kuramoto and Ebara, 1984a). The heart tension produced is fed back to the cardiac ganglion because the cardiac neurones are sensitive to filling pressure (Maynard, 1960; Kuramoto and Ebara, 1984a, 1885, 1988, 1991). Thus, the responses of the isolated heart to cooling will result from the combined activities of the cardiac ganglion and the muscle cells. This report focuses on the development of a spiking response by the myocardial cells when the heart is cooled. The spikes produced correspond to enhanced contractions of the myocardium, suggesting that the myocardial cells may use this as a mechanism to compensate for the reduced efficacy of excitation­contraction coupling that occurs with falling temperature. Lobsters (Panulirus japonicus Von Siebolt, both sexes, approximately 200 g, N=25) were reared in an indoor aquarium continuously supplied with fresh natural sea water. Seasonal changes of aquarium temperature ranged from 15 to 25 °C. The isolated hearts were subjected to cooling experiments. The rate of cooling ranged from 1 to 3 °C min-1, the magnitude from 1 to 6 °C and the duration from 5 to 6 min. The methods for perfusing and recording from the isolated hearts were substantially the same as those used previously (Kuramoto and Ebara, 1984a, 1985, 1988, 1991). The perfusion saline was switched to warm or cold. Bath temperature near the heart was monitored with a platinum sensor (1 k omega at 0 °C). Myocardial membrane potentials were measured with glass microelectrodes (3 mol l-1 KCl, 10­30 M omega). Muscle tension was recorded using a strain gauge.
Research on the cooperative working principle of coupling mechanism in driving wireless charging for electric vehicle

The dynamic charging technology of electric vehicle (EV) is a new kind of charging method, which can solve the problem of long charging time, low energy density and limited driving distance. This paper is more focus on the optimization design of receiving coil of the EV driving wireless charging system. And an innovative multi-coupling structure that can cooperative operate is proposed. By building system model, the effects on the system transmission efficiency caused by the cooperative operating between coils in different situations is discussed. A prototype is built to experiment on the driving wireless charging process of EV. The results indicated that the system transmission efficiency can be improved by the cooperative operating mode between coils, and the receiving coil designed by this article meets the needs of practical application.
Conversion in vivo from an early dominant Th0/Th1 response to a Th2 phenotype during the development of collagen‐induced arthritis

Over the past decade, the central role of T cells in the process of collagen‐induced arthritis (CIA) has been extensively documented. The inflammatory features of CIA and its successful modulation after treatment in vivo with Th2 lymphokines, known to down‐regulate proinflammatory cytokines, classify CIA as a Th1‐mediated disease. However, no direct evidence for the presence of the different T helper subsets has been obtained. To identify the collagen‐specific CD4+ T cell subset(s) developing during the course of CIA, lymph nodes from susceptible DBA/1 mice (H‐2q) were harvested at different times after injection of bovine type II collagen in Freund's complete adjuvant and checked by enzyme‐linked immunospot assay for the production of interferon (IFN)‐γ and interleukin (IL)‐4. The results clearly showed that type II collagen‐specific T cells secreting either IFN‐γ, IL‐4, or both, develop early in vivo, before the onset of arthritis: the number of IFN‐γ‐secreting cells was already maximal 15 days after immunization, whereas more IL‐4‐secreting cells were found at day 30, just before the onset of clinical arthritis. Another strategy was to establish collagen‐specific CD4+ T cell lines and sublines in vitro and to analyze their lymphokine secretion pattern. Lines generated 8 days after immunization displayed a mixed lymphokine secretion pattern characteristic of Th0 cells or of a mixture of Th1 and Th2 cells. After limiting dilution of a day 8 line, 60% of the growing sublines were Th0‐like (secreting IFN‐γ, IL‐4, and IL‐5), and 25% were Th1 (secreting IFN‐γ). By day 25 post‐immunization, 33% of the generated sublines were Th0‐like, 11% Th1, and 56% Th2 (secreting IL‐4 and IL‐5). Moreover, all the sublines raised from the lymph nodes of arthritic mice harvested at day 55 secreted high amounts of Th2 lymphokines, and only 3 out of 14 also produced some IFN‐γ. This study demonstrates that during the course of CIA the collagen‐specific CD4+ T cell response shifts in vivo from a dominant Th0/Th1 response to a clear Th2 phenotype. These results contribute to our understanding of the collagen‐specific CD4+ T helper subsets which develop during the induction and clinical phases of CIA.
Effects of vitamin E on cardiovascular and microvascular outcomes in high-risk patients with diabetes: results of the HOPE study and MICRO-HOPE substudy.

OBJECTIVES Experimental and observational studies suggest that vitamin E may reduce the risk of cardiovascular (CV) events and of microvascular complications in people with diabetes. However, data from randomized clinical trials are limited. Therefore, we evaluated the effects of vitamin E supplementation on major CV outcomes and on the development of nephropathy in people with diabetes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS The Heart Outcomes Prevention Evaluation (HOPE) trial is a randomized clinical trial with a 2 x 2 factorial design, which evaluated the effects of vitamin E and of ramipril in patients at high risk for CV events. Patients were eligible for the study if they were 55 years or older and if they had CV disease or diabetes with at least one additional coronary risk factor. The study was designed to recruit a large number of people with diabetes, and the analyses of the effects of vitamin E in this group were preplanned. Patients were randomly allocated to daily treatment with 400 IU vitamin E and with 10 mg ramipril or their respective placebos and were followed for an average of 4.5 years. The primary study outcome was the composite of myocardial infarction, stroke, or CV death. Secondary outcomes included total mortality, hospitalizations for heart failure, hospitalizations for unstable angina, revascularizations, and overt nephropathy. RESULTS There were 3,654 people with diabetes. Vitamin E had a neutral effect on the primary study outcome (relative risk = 1.03, 95% CI 0.88-1.21; P = 0.70), on each component of the composite primary outcome, and on all predefined secondary outcomes. CONCLUSIONS The daily administration of 400 IU vitamin E for an average of 4.5 years to middle-aged and elderly people with diabetes and CV disease and/or additional coronary risk factor(s) has no effect on CV outcomes or nephropathy.
Predictive value of the HAS-BLED and ATRIA bleeding scores for the risk of serious bleeding in a "real-world" population with atrial fibrillation receiving anticoagulant therapy.

BACKGROUND Despite the clear net clinical benefit of oral anticoagulation for stroke prevention in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF), the occurrence of major bleeding events may be devastating. The HAS-BLED (hypertension, abnormal renal/liver function, stroke, bleeding history or predisposition, labile international normalized ratio, elderly, drugs/alcohol concomitantly) bleeding risk score was first described in 2010 and is recommended in European and Canadian guidelines to estimate major bleeding risk. In 2011, the Anticoagulation and Risk Factors in Atrial Fibrillation (ATRIA) study group described a new bleeding risk scheme for AF, which includes five weighted risk factors: anemia, severe renal disease, age ≥ 75 years, previous hemorrhage, and diagnosed hypertension. We assessed the predictive value of the ATRIA bleeding score in a large cohort of patients with AF receiving anticoagulant therapy, compared with the well-validated HAS-BLED score. METHODS We recruited consecutive patients with AF receiving anticoagulant therapy from our outpatient anticoagulation clinic with an INR between 2.0 and 3.0 during the previous 6 months' clinic visits. During follow-up, major bleeding events were assessed. We assessed both bleeding risk scores as quantitative variables or as dichotomized variables (low-moderate risk vs high risk). Model performance was evaluated by calculating C statistics, and the improvement in predictive accuracy was evaluated by calculating the net reclassification improvement (NRI) and the integrated discrimination improvement (IDI). RESULTS We included 937 patients (49% men; median age, 76 years). Median (interquartile range) follow-up was 952 (785-1,074) days, during which 79 (8%) suffered a major bleeding event (annual rate, 3.2%). The HAS-BLED score had a model performance (based on C statistics) similar to that of the ATRIA score as a quantitative variable (C statistic, 0.71 vs 0.68; P = .356) but was superior to the ATRIA score when analyzed as a dichotomized variable (C statistic, 0.68 vs 0.59; P = .035). Both NRI and IDI analyses demonstrated that the HAS-BLED score more accurately predicted major bleeding episodes than did the ATRIA risk score, as reflected in the percentage of events reclassified correctly. CONCLUSION The HAS-BLED score shows significantly better prediction accuracy than the weighted (and more complex) ATRIA score. Our findings reinforce the incremental usefulness of the simple HAS-BLED score over other published bleeding risk scores in patients with AF receiving anticoagulant therapy.
Developing Intercultural Skills for Hospitality Students in China

Abstract Intercultural awareness and skills are important competencies for hospitality and tourism management program graduates due to the internationalization of the tourism industry. Graduates will work with coworkers and serve customers from diverse cultural backgrounds. With the exponential growth of China’s tourism industry, an examination of intercultural awareness and skills education in China’s hospitality and tourism higher education is needed. This study employed a qualitative approach by interviewing 11 educators in Chinese mainland universities on their views of the current status of intercultural awareness education, their role in this learning process, and how their program offerings enhance students’ learning of cultural diversity. Implications for administrators and faculty members are discussed.
Animal Models for Influenza Virus Pathogenesis and Transmission

Influenza virus infection of humans results in a respiratory disease that ranges in severity from sub-clinical infection to primary viral pneumonia that can result in death. The clinical effects of infection vary with the exposure history, age and immune status of the host, and also the virulence of the influenza strain. In humans, the virus is transmitted through either aerosol or contact-based transfer of infectious respiratory secretions. As is evidenced by most zoonotic influenza virus infections, not all strains that can infect humans are able to transmit from person-to-person. Animal models of influenza are essential to research efforts aimed at understanding the viral and host factors that contribute to the disease and transmission outcomes of influenza virus infection in humans. These models furthermore allow the pre-clinical testing of antiviral drugs and vaccines aimed at reducing morbidity and mortality in the population through amelioration of the virulence or transmissibility of influenza viruses. Mice, ferrets, guinea pigs, cotton rats, hamsters and macaques have all been used to study influenza viruses and therapeutics targeting them. Each model presents unique advantages and disadvantages, which will be discussed herein.
The Law and Economics of Blockholder Disclosure

The Securities and Exchange Commission is currently considering a rulemaking petition that advocates tightening the rules under the Williams Act, which regulates the disclosure of large blocks of stock in public companies. In this Article, we explain why the Commission should not view the proposed tightening as a merely “technical” change needed to meet the objectives of the Williams Act, provide market transparency, or modernize its regulations. The drafters of the Williams Act made a conscious choice not to impose an inflexible 5% cap on pre-disclosure accumulations of shares to avoid deterring investors from accumulating large blocks of shares. We argue that the proposed changes to the SEC’s rules should similarly be examined in the larger context of the optimal balance of power between incumbent directors and these blockholders. We discuss the beneficial and documented role that outside blockholders play in corporate governance and the adverse effect that any tightening of the Williams Act’s disclosure thresholds can be expected to have on such blockholders. We explain that there is currently no evidence that trading patterns and technologies have changed in ways that would make it desirable to tighten these disclosure thresholds. Furthermore, since the passage of the Williams Act, the rules governing the balance of power between incumbents and outside blockholders have already moved significantly in favor of the former — both in absolute terms and in comparison to other jurisdictions — rather than the latter.Our analysis provides a framework for the comprehensive examination of the rules governing outside blockholders that the Commission should pursue. In the meantime, we argue, the Commission should not adopt new rules that would tighten the disclosure thresholds that apply to blockholders. Existing research and available empirical evidence provide no basis for concluding that such tightening would protect investors and promote efficiency. Indeed, there is a good basis for concern that such tightening would harm investors and undermine efficiency.
Compared effects of morphine and nickel chloride on NK cell activity in vitro in rats and monkeys

The measurement of natural killer (NK) cell activity often is recommended as an endpoint for inclusion in the non‐clinical immunotoxicity evaluation of environmental chemicals and pharmaceuticals. To date, most data on the impact of immunotoxicants on NK cell activity have been obtained in the rat. Because non‐human primates often are used in the safety evaluation of new medicinal products, there is a need to compare chemically induced changes in NK cell activity between rats and primates. In this study, the in vitro effects of nickel chloride and morphine hydrochloride were investigated on NK cell activity in the rat and the cynomolgus monkey. Despite some species‐specific differences in the techniques used, rather similar results were obtained in the two species. At the higher concentration, nickel chloride induced a significant decrease in NK cell activity in the ranges of 21.6–24.3% (rat) and 34.4–42.2% (monkey), depending on the effector‐to‐target cell ratio used, and morphine hydrochloride induced a decrease in the ranges of 23.7–34.7% (rat) and 59.1–68.0% (monkey). These results suggest that NK cell activity can be used as a reliable endpoint for the assessment of immune effects during safety evaluation studies in the cynomolgus monkey. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Blink Rate: A Possible Measure of Fatigue

The literature on blink rate as a measure of fatigue is reviewed. The evidence of increases in blink rate as a function of time on task is compelling. However, variables other than time on task also affect blink rate. These variables range from perceptual demandingness of the task to cognitive variables. Other aspects of blinking, such as flurries of blinks, timing with respect to information-processing demands, and blink closure duration, are reviewed as additional variables sensitive to task demands and fatigue effects.