Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of fluoxetine on maximal electroshock seizures in mice: acute vs chronic administration.

There are no definite reports regarding the effects of chronic fluoxetine on animal models of epilepsy. Since chronically administered fluoxetine, in comparison to acutely administered fluoxetine has different effects on CNS, the present study was undertaken to investigate the effect of acute and chronic fluoxetine pretreatment, on a median anticonvulsant dose (ED50) of phenytoin in male ICR albino mice. Additionally, the effects of fluoxetine pretreatment on median convulsive current (CC50) in the presence and absence of phenytoin were investigated and results were compared. The maximal electroshock seizure (MES) test was used to estimate the ED50of phenytoin. The electroshock threshold test was used to estimate CC50. ED50and CC50values were calculated by probit analysis. The effects of the chronic and acute fluoxetine groups on the ED50of phenytoin were significantly different (P<0.05), and on CC50this difference was not statistically significant. Chronic fluoxetine insignificantly increased the ED50of phenytoin and decreased the CC50while acute fluoxetine decreased the ED50of phenytoin and increased the CC50. Our results indicate that chronic fluoxetine does not have an antiepileptic property and it may have dubious proconvulsant properties, contrary to acute fluoxetine.
Dlx Homeobox Genes Promote Cortical Interneuron Migration from the Basal Forebrain by Direct Repression of the Semaphorin Receptor Neuropilin-2*

Dlx homeobox genes play an important role in vertebrate forebrain development. Dlx1/Dlx2 null mice die at birth with an abnormal cortical phenotype, including impaired differentiation and migration of GABAergic interneurons to the neocortex. However, the molecular basis for these defects downstream of loss of Dlx1/Dlx2 function is unknown. Neuropilin-2 (NRP-2) is a receptor for Class III semaphorins, which inhibit neuronal migration. Herein, we show that Neuropilin-2 is a specific DLX1 and DLX2 transcriptional target by applying chromatin immunoprecipitation to embryonic forebrain tissues. Both homeobox proteins repress Nrp-2 expression in vitro, confirming the functional significance of DLX binding. Furthermore, the homeodomain of DLX1 and DLX2 is necessary for DNA binding and this binding is essential for Dlx repression of Nrp-2 expression. Of importance, there is up-regulated and aberrant expression of NRP-2 in the forebrains of Dlx1/Dlx2 null mice. This is the first report that DLX1 or DLX2 can function as transcriptional repressors. Our data show that DLX proteins specifically mediate the repression of Neuropilin-2 in the developing forebrain. As well, our results support the hypothesis that down-regulation of Neuropilin-2 expression may facilitate tangential interneuron migration from the basal forebrain.
Gene Cloning and Characterization of a Novel Cellulose-Binding β-Glucosidase from Phanerochaete chrysosporium

ABSTRACT Analysis of a 2.4-kb cDNA of the cellulose-binding extracellular β-glucosidase (CBGL) from Phanerochaete chrysosporiumsuggested that CBGL is organized into two domains, an N-terminal cellulose-binding domain and a C-terminal catalytic domain. Genomic sequence analysis suggested that cbgl is encoded by 30 exons. Southern analysis of DNA from homokaryotic cultures indicated that CBGL is encoded by two alleles, cbgl-1 andcbgl-2, of a single gene.
La construction dynamique du sens

La place centrale de la polysemie dans les langues force a considerer la construction du sens des enonces comme un processus dynamique, dans lequel le sens de chaque unite est determine par l'enonce qui la contient, en meme temps qu'elle contribue a construire le sens du tout. C'est a la modelisation de ce double mouvement qu'est consacre cet article, qui montre comment un modele construit dans le cadre mathematique de la theorie des systemes dynamiques, et son implementation a l'aide de reseaux connexionnistes permettent dans une certaine mesure de rendre compte de la complexite de ce phenomene.
Analysis of the exchange rate of the Chinese Renminbi

Seit 21 Jahrhundert steht die chinesische Regierung, insbesondere von Vereinigten Staaten von Amerika (USA) sowie Japan Seiten, in der Kritik ihre RMB-Wechselkurs-Politik kunstlich zu kontrollieren, damit die heimischen Exporte begunstigt, bzw. Importe einschrankt. In dieser Arbeit wird untersucht, ob der reale Wechselkurs des chinesischen Renminbi gegenuber einem Wahrungskorb unterschatzt ist. Okonometrische Modells FEER, BEER sowie ERER werden in diese Arbeit berechnet, damit diesem Zweck zu erreichen. Die Arbeit ist folgendermasen aufgebaut: Kapital 1 ist Einleitung. In Kapitel 2 werden die wichtigsten Theorien zur Ermittlung von gleichgewichtigen Wechselkursen erklart und diskutiert. Zuerst werde ich die 3 wichtige Werke beschreiben: Kaufkraftparitatentheorie (PPP), Theory of International Indebtedness, und Theory of Interest Rate Parity. Damit man das reales Wechselkurs und die Gleichgewicht und Abweichung des realen Wechselkurses verstehen kann. In der dritte Kapitel wird die Entwicklung des chinesischen Wechselkurssystems beschrieben. Im vierten Kapitel wird auf den aktuellen Stand der Chinesische RMB dargestellt. Fur die Frage, dass inwieweit wird Renminbi unterbewertet, mussen einige wichtigste Modelle und Finanztheorien beschreiben werden. Der Balassa-Samuelson Effekt, Fundamental Equilibrium Exchange Rates(FEER), Equilibrium Real Exchange Rate (ERER), Behavioral Equilibrium Exchange Rate (BEER) werden in Kapitel 5 diskutiert. In Kapitel 6 und Kapitel 7 sollen das Internationales Problem der RMB und das Einfluss der Anderung des Wechselkurses der RMB vermittelt werden.
Etudes structurales de différents processus biologiques impliquant les ARN de transfert

Le travail retranscrit dans cette these regroupe l'etude de differents processus biologiques impliquant les ARN de transfert. Premierement, dans le cadre de l'etude du role de la proteine de nucleocapside (NC) dans la formation du complexe d'initiation de la transcription inverse du VIH-1, un site de fixation fort et specifique de la NC a ete identifie sur le bras D de l'ARNtLys3 — l'ARNt servant d'amorce a la transcriptase inverse lors de la synthese du brin d'ADNc(-). Cette fixation permet d'une part la fusion des interactions tertiaires entre les bras T et D de l'ARNtLys3 et pourrait d'autre part etre l'un des facteurs deplacant l'equilibre vers la formation de l'hybride ARNtLys3/ARN viral. L'etude structurale par RMN du complexe NC/bras D s'est heurtee a des problemes d'echange chimique dans la gamme intermediaire–rapide de l'echelle de temps spectrale. L'utilisation de sequences de type CPMG–HSQC a permis d'ameliorer le rapport signal/bruit des experiences RMN, et particulierement celui des signaux des residus de l'interface. Ceci nous a permis d'identifier les residus de la NC impliques dans la reconnaissance du bras D. Deuxiemement, la structure de la m1A58 methyltransferase de T. thermophilus (TrmI) — une enzyme de modification des ARNt — a ete resolue par cristallographie et affinee a 1.7 A. Ceci a permis d'identifier trois residus potentiellement impliques dans la catalyse et/ou la reconnaissance du substrat ARNt (D170, Y78 et Y194). La production de variants de TrmI au niveau de ces residus ainsi que des etudes d'amarrage moleculaire d'une adenine au site actif ont permis de confirmer cette hypothese et de proposer un role catalytique pour chacun d'eux. Parallelement, des etudes par gel natif et par spectrometrie de masse en conditions non denaturantes ont montre une stoechiometrie 1/2 pour le complexe entre l'enzyme TrmI tetramerique et le substrat ARNt. Troisiemement, la resolution de la structure cristallographique de l'ARNtfMet initiateur d'E. coli a revele une conformation unique de la region de l'anticodon. Cette conformation unique est associee au paires GC de la tige anticodon, caracteristiques des ARNt initiateurs. Cette conformation particuliere — dans laquelle la base A37 ne vient pas s'empiler entre les bases 36 et 38, comme dans tous les ARNt elongateurs — permet de mettre en lumiere de nombreux resultats biochimiques de la litterature et suggere un mecanisme par lequel la machinerie de l'initiation de la traduction pourrait discriminer l'ARNt initiateur de tous les ARNt cellulaires.
Rawls' Linguistic Analogy: A Study of the 'Generative Grammar' Model of Moral Theory Described by John Rawls in 'A Theory of Justice.' (Phd Dissertation, Cornell University, 2000)

The aim of the dissertation is to formulate a research program in moral cognition modeled on aspects of Universal Grammar and organized around three classic problems in moral epistemology: (1) What constitutes moral knowledge? (2) How is moral knowledge acquired? (3) How is moral knowledge put to use? Drawing on the work of Rawls and Chomsky, a framework for investigating (1)-(3) is proposed. The framework is defended against a range of philosophical objections and contrasted with the approach of developmental psychologists like Piaget and Kohlberg.One chapter consists of an interpretation of the analogy Rawls draws in A Theory of Justice between moral theory and generative linguistics. A second chapter clarifies the empirical significance of Rawls' linguistic analogy by formulating a solution to the problem of descriptive adequacy with respect to a class of commonsense moral intuitions, including those discussed in the trolley problem literature originating in the work of Foot and Thomson. Three remaining chapters defend Rawls' linguistic analogy against its critics. In response to Hare's objection that Rawls' conception of moral theory is too empirical and insufficiently normative, it is argued that Hare fails to acknowledge both the centrality of the problem of empirical adequacy in the history of moral philosophy and the complexity of Rawls' approach to the problem of normative adequacy. In response to Nagel's claim that the analogy between moral theory and linguistics is false because whatever native speakers agree on is English, but whatever ordinary individuals agree in condemning is not necessarily wrong, it is argued that the criticism ignores both Rawls' use of the competence-performance distinction and the theory-dependence of the corresponding distinction in linguistics. In response to Dworkin's claim that Rawls' conception of moral theory is incompatible with naturalism and presupposes constructivism, it is argued that Dworkin's distinction between naturalism and constructivism represents a false antithesis; neither is an accurate interpretation of the model of moral theory Rawls describes in 'A Theory of Justice. ' The thesis concludes by situating Rawls' linguistic analogy within the context of broader debates in moral philosophy, metaethics, natural law theory, the theory of moral development, and the cognitive and brain sciences.
Hypoxic Pulmonary Vasoconstriction: Physiology and Anesthetic Implications

Hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction (HPV) represents a fundamental difference between the pulmonary and systemic circulations. HPV is active in utero, reducing pulmonary blood flow, and in adults helps to match regional ventilation and perfusion although it has little effect in healthy lungs. Many factors affect HPV including pH or PCO2, cardiac output, and several drugs, including antihypertensives. In patients with lung pathology and any patient having one-lung ventilation, HPV contributes to maintaining oxygenation, so anesthesiologists should be aware of the effects of anesthesia on this protective reflex. Intravenous anesthetic drugs have little effect on HPV, but it is attenuated by inhaled anesthetics, although less so with newer agents. The reflex is biphasic, and once the second phase becomes active after about an hour of hypoxia, this pulmonary vasoconstriction takes hours to reverse when normoxia returns. This has significant clinical implications for repeated periods of one-lung ventilation.
Mitochondria‐mediated mitigatory role of curcumin in cisplatin‐induced nephrotoxicity

Cisplatin (CP) is one of the most potent chemotherapeutic anti‐tumour drugs, and it has been implicated in renal toxicity. Oxidative stress has been proven to be involved in CP‐induced toxicity including nephrotoxicity. However, there is paucity of literature involving role of mitochondria in mediating CP‐induced renal toxicity, and its underlying mechanism remains unclear. Therefore, the present study was undertaken to examine the antioxidant potential of curcumin (CMN; a natural polyphenolic compound) against the mitochondrial toxicity of CP in kidneys of male rats. Acute toxicity was induced by a single intra‐peritoneal injection of CP (6 mg kg−1). We studied the ameliorative effect of CMN pre‐treatment (200 mg kg−1) on the toxicity of CP in rat kidney mitochondria. CP caused a significant elevation in the mitochondrial lipid peroxidation (LPO) levels and protein carbonyl (PC) content. Pre‐treatment of rat with CMN significantly replenished the mitochondrial LPO levels and PC content. It also restored the CP‐induced modulatory effects on altered enzymatic and non‐enzymatic antioxidants in kidney mitochondria. We hypothesize that the reno‐protective effects of CMN may be related to its predisposition to scavenge free radicals, and upregulate antioxidant machinery in kidney mitochondria. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
SWB Planar Antenna Technology

Recent advancements of the super-wideband (SWB) planar antennas are reviewed, where the progress in SWB metal-plate monopole antennas, SWB printed monopole antennas and the SWB printed slot antennas is introduced and compared. In addition, a SWB printed antenna with the band-notched function is also presented.
AVALIAÇÃO DE METODOLOGIAS PARA A DETECÇÃO DE CEPAS DE STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS RESISTENTES À METICILINA (MRSA) E ANÁLISE DO PERFIL DE SENSIBILIDADE FRENTE AOS ANTIMICROBIANOS EM UM HOSPITAL TERCIÁRIO

Foram estudadas 73 cepas de S. aureus que apresentaram resistencia a oxacilina e/ou cefoxitina na metodologia convencional e automacao, isoladas do Hospital Universitario de Santa Maria no ano de 2008. O perfil de sensibilidade frente aos antimicrobianos foi avaliado atraves da difusao do disco e automacao. Para o antimicrobiano vancomicina, foi realizada tambem a metodologia de microdiluicao em caldo. As amostras analisadas apresentaram resistencia superior a 75% aos agentes β-lactâmicos, macrolideos, aminoglicosideos, lincosamidas e quinolonas e sensibilidade de 73,97% ao sulfametoxazol-trimetoprima. Houve 100% de sensibilidade a linezolida, daptomicina e vancomicina. Na deteccao dos MRSA o disco de oxacilina detectou um numero maior de cepas resistentes comparado a cefoxitina. A automacao teve desempenho equivalente ao disco de oxacilina. A associacao de duas metodologias, automacao e disco de oxacilina, pode ser uma boa alternativa a ser adotada pelos laboratorios.
The index of elliptic operators on compact manifolds

1. A. H. Clifford, Naturally totally ordered commutative semigroups, Amer. J. Math. 76(1954), 631-646. 2. , Totally ordered commutative semigroups, Bull. Amer. Math. Soc. 64 (1958), 305-316. 3. O. Holder, Die Axiome der Quantitât und die Lehre vom Mass, Ber. Verh. Sachs. Ges. Wiss. Leipzig Math.-Phys. Kl. 53 (1901), 1-64. 4. T. Tamura, Commutative nonpotent archimedean semigroup with cancellation law. I, J. Gakugei Tokushima Univ. 8 (1957), 5-11.
The effect of sperm DNA fragmentation on miscarriage rates: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

STUDY QUESTION Is there an association between high levels of sperm DNA damage and miscarriage? SUMMARY ANSWER Miscarriage rates are positively correlated with sperm DNA damage levels. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY Most ejaculates contain a subpopulation of sperm with DNA damage, also referred to as DNA fragmentation, in the form of double or single-strand breaks which have been induced in the DNA prior to or following ejaculation. This DNA damage may be particularly elevated in some subfertile men, hence several studies have examined the link between sperm DNA damage levels and conception and miscarriage rates. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION A systematic review and meta-analysis of studies which examined the effect of sperm DNA damage on miscarriage rates was performed. Searches were conducted on MEDLINE, EMBASE and the Cochrane Library without any language restrictions from database inception to January 2012. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS We used the terms 'DNA damage' or 'DNA fragmentation' combined with 'miscarriage', 'abortion' or 'pregnancy' to generate a set of relevant citations. Data extraction was performed by two reviewers. Study quality was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Meta-analysis of relative risks of miscarriage was performed with a random effects model. Subgroup analyses were performed by the type of DNA damage test, whether the sperm examined were prepared or from raw semen and for pregnancies resulting from IVF or ICSI treatment. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE We identified 16 cohort studies (2969 couples), 14 of which were prospective. Eight studies used acridine orange-based assays, six the TUNEL assay and two the COMET assay. Meta-analysis showed a significant increase in miscarriage in patients with high DNA damage compared with those with low DNA damage [risk ratio (RR) = 2.16 (1.54, 3.03), P < 0.00001)]. A subgroup analysis showed that the miscarriage association is strongest for the TUNEL assay (RR = 3.94 (2.45, 6.32), P < 0.00001). LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION There is some variation in study characteristics, including the use of different assays and different thresholds for DNA damage and the definition of pregnancy loss. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS The use of methods which select sperm without DNA damage for use in assisted conception treatment may reduce the risk of miscarriage. This finding indicates that assays detecting DNA damage could be considered in those suffering from recurrent pregnancy loss. Further research is necessary to study the mechanisms of DNA damage and the potential therapeutic effects of antioxidant therapy. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S) None.
Sex differences for the recognition of direct versus averted gaze faces

Gaze direction plays a central role in face recognition. Previous research suggests that faces with direct gaze are better remembered than faces with averted gaze. We compared recognition of faces with direct versus averted gaze in male versus female participants. A total of 52 adults (23 females, 29 males) and 46 children (25 females, 21 males) completed a computerised task that assessed their recognition of faces with direct gaze and faces with averted gaze. Adult male participants showed superior recognition of faces with direct gaze compared to faces with averted gaze. There was no difference between recognition of direct and averted gaze faces for the adult female participants. Children did not demonstrate this sex difference; rather, both male and female youth participants showed better recognition of faces with direct gaze compared to averted gaze. A large body of previous research has revealed superior recognition of faces with direct, compared to averted gaze. However, relatively few studies have examined sex differences. Our findings suggest that gaze direction has differential effects on face recognition for adult males and females, but not for children. These findings have implications for previous explanations of better recognition for direct versus averted gaze.
cAMP-induced Cytoskeleton Rearrangement Increases Calcium Transients through the Enhancement of Capacitative Calcium Entry*

In this report we investigated the correlation between cell morphology and regulation of cytosolic calcium homeostasis. Type I astrocytes were differentiated to stellate process-bearing cells by a 100-min exposure to cAMP. Differentiation of cortical astrocytes increased the magnitude and duration of calcium transients elicited by phospholipase C-activating agents as measured by single cell Fura-2-based imaging. Calcium imaging showed differences in the spatial pattern of the response. In both differentiated and the control cells, the response originated in the periphery and gradually extended into the center of the cell. However, the elevation of cytosolic calcium concentration ([Ca2+] i ) was particularly evident within the processes and adjacent to the inner cell membrane of the differentiated astrocytes. In addition, differentiation significantly prolonged the duration of the [Ca2+] i elevation. Potentiation of the calcium transients was mimicked by forskolin-induced differentiation and abolished by a specific protein kinase-A blocker. Conversely, the enhancement of the calcium transients was not mimicked by brief exposure to cAMP not causing morphological differentiation, and in PC12 cells that did not undergo morphological changes after 100 min of cAMP treatment. Impairing cAMP-induced cytoskeleton re-organization, by means of cytochalasin D and nocodazole, prevented the potentiation of the calcium transients in cAMP-treated astrocytes. Phospholipase C activity and sensitivity to inositol (1,4,5)-trisphosphate were not involved in the enhancement of the calcium responses. Also, potentiation of the calcium transients was dependent on extracellular calcium. Calcium storage and thapsigargin-depletable intracellular calcium reservoirs were analogously not increased in differentiated astrocytes. Rearrangement of the cell shape also caused a condensation of the endoplasmic reticulum and altered the spatial relationship between the endoplasmic reticulum and the cell membrane. In conclusion, morphological rearrangements of type I astrocytes increase the magnitude and the duration of agonist-induced calcium transients via enhancement of capacitative calcium entry and is associated with a spatial reorganization of the relationship between cell membrane and the endoplasmic reticulum structures.
Application of toxicogenomics to genetic toxicology risk assessment

Based on the assumption that compounds having similar toxic modes of action induce specific gene expression changes, the toxicity of unknown compounds can be predicted after comparison of their molecular fingerprints with those obtained with compounds of known toxicity. These predictive models will therefore rely on the characterization of marker genes. Toxicogenomics (TGX) also provides mechanistic insight into the mode of toxicity, and can therefore be used as an adjunct to the standard battery of genotoxicity tests. Promising results, highlighting the ability of TGX to differentiate genotoxic from non‐genotoxic carcinogens, as well as DNA‐reactive from non‐DNA reactive genotoxins, have been reported. Additional data suggested the possibility of ranking genotoxins according to the nature of their interactions with DNA. This new approach could contribute to the improvement of risk assessment. TGX could be applied as a follow‐up testing strategy in case of positive in vitro genotoxicity findings, and could contribute to improve our ability to identify the molecular mechanism of action and to possibly better assess dose–response curves. TGX has been found to be less sensitive than the standard genotoxicity end‐points, probably because it measures the whole cell population response, when compared with standard tests designed to detect rare events in a small number of cells. Further validation will be needed (1) to better link the profiles obtained with TGX to the established genotoxicity end‐points, (2) to improve the gene annotation tools, and (3) to standardise study design and data analysis and to better evaluate the impact of variability between platforms and bioinformatics approaches. Environ. Mol. Mutagen. 48:369‐379, 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.