Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Further evidence for the involvement of a hippocampal cGMP/cGMP‐dependent protein kinase cascade in memory consolidation

HIPPOCAMPAL cyclic GMP (cGMP) has been recently postulated to participate in an early phase of memory consolidation of an inhibitory avoidance learning in rats. Here we report on the effects of the intrahippocampal infusion of a soluble guanylyl cyclase inhibitor (LY 83583) in the consolidation of one-trial step-down inhibitory avoidance and on the effect of this task on hippocampal cGMP levels and cGMP-dependent protein kinase (PKG) activity. Bilateral intrahippocampal administration of LY 83583 (2.5 μg per side) caused full amnesia for inhibitory avoidance when given immediately (0 min) after training, but not 30 min post-training. Rats submitted to the inhibitory avoidance task showed a significant increase in both cGMP levels and in PKG activity in the hippocampus at 0 min after training. No changes were observed 30 min after training. These findings provide further evidence that the hippocampal cGMP/PKG cascade is involved in the early stages of memory formation of an inhibitory avoidance task in rats.
Range-Wide Conservation Genetics of Buff-Breasted Sandpipers (Tryngites subruficollis)

ABSTRACT. Range-wide monitoring of shorebirds (Aves: Charadriiformes) suggests that many species are declining. For most species, it is unknown whether distinct population units exist, which makes management and conservation difficult. One shorebird of conservation concern, the Buff-breasted Sandpiper (Tryngites subruficollis), is a New World migrant that breeds at Arctic latitudes in North America and Russia and winters in southeastern South America. We conducted a molecular survey of samples representing each of three migratory regions (breeding, migration, and wintering) using nine polymorphic microsatellite loci and 1.5 kb of highly variable mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) from the cytochrome b gene and mtDNA control region. We analyzed contemporary population structure, demographic trends, and phylogeographic patterns. Overall, microsatellite and mtDNA analyses revealed that Buff-breasted Sandpipers are panmictic both regionally and at a global scale, with no signal of a recent genetic bottleneck. The mtDNA analyses revealed a pattern of haplotype diversity consistent with an expansion from a single refugium (Tajima's D: -2.27, P < 0.01; Fu's Fs: -30.6, P < 0.0001), after the height of the Wisconsinan glaciation (8,400–45,000 years before present). Overall, our molecular analyses suggest that Buff-breasted Sandpipers should be treated as a single conservation unit, and management efforts for this species should focus on limiting future declines to ensure that genetic viability is maintained.
MM2-thalamic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease-Neuropathological, biochemical and transmission studies identify a distinctive prion strain

Citation for published version: Suardi, S, Moda, F, Di Fede, G, Indaco, A, Ruggerone, M, Campagnani, I, Langeveld, J, Terruzzi, A, Brambilla, A, Zerbi, P, Fociani, P, Bishop, M, Will, R, Manson, J, Giaccone, G & Tagliavini, F 2012, 'MM2thalamic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease-Neuropathological, biochemical and transmission studies identify a distinctive prion strain' Prion, vol 6, no. 4 (Suppt 1), pp. 42-43.
Subject space: a state-persistent model for publish/subscribe systems

Many conventional models of publish/subscribe systems have limitations. Some models lack the flexibility for expressive subscription semantics, and others exhibit undesirable behaviors under certain situations. This paper introduces the subject space model, a new model for publish/subscribe systems. The major difference between this model and existing ones is that it persists the states of both publications and subscriptions in the system and notifies subscribers only when the states of their subscriptions change from false to true. A novel indexing technique is described for indexing the positions of objects and subscriptions in subject spaces, so that their state information can be retrieved and evaluated very quickly. The performance of the indexing technique is demonstrated in a prototype of a subject space publish/subscribe kernel.
Biomarkers in the Diagnosis of Alzheimer’s Disease: Are We Ready?

Although clinical manifestations of cognitive dysfunction and impairments of activities of daily living are the current standard measures for the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease, biomarkers are receiving increasing attention in research centers as possible early diagnostic measures or as surrogate measures of the ongoing pathology. In preparation for the upcoming development of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th ed; DSM-V) nosology, the American Psychiatric Association has sponsored an effort to reassess the current approaches to diagnosis in dementia in general and Alzheimer’s disease in particular. This article focuses on the potential use of biomarkers in the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease, in the monitoring of mild cognitive impairment, and as possible prognostic markers in normal controls at risk for dementia. Most advanced information is available with the biomarkers found in the cerebrospinal fluid, but there are many other potential biomarkers using blood, brain imaging, or a combination. The current biomarker approaches to diagnosis are reviewed along with a special emphasis on near-term recommendations and further research directions. (J Geriatr Psychiatry Neurol 2006;19:172-179)
Gene therapy for malignant liver disease

For most patients with advanced or multifocal hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) or with metastatic malignant liver disease treatment options are limited, resulting in a poor prognosis. Novel therapeutic strategies such as gene therapy are therefore urgently required. Gene therapeutic approaches use gene delivery systems (vectors) to introduce DNA constructs as therapeutic agents into living cells. Antitumour strategies include the reintroduction of tumour suppressor genes into tumour cells, the expression of foreign enzymes to render tumours susceptible to treatment with chemotherapeutic agents and the enhancement of tumour immunogenicity by expressing immunomodulatory genes or by genetic vaccination with tumour antigens. Furthermore, gene therapy may be also used for anti-angiogenesis to reduce tumour growth and metastatic potential. Other novel approaches aim at the development of genetically altered replication competent viruses, which selectively replicate in tumour cells inducing cell lysis. Although most clinical trials of antitumour gene therapy so far have failed to induce strong therapeutic effects, further improvement of antitumour gene therapy may finally result in potent clinical treatment options for patients with malignant liver tumours.
Palmitoylation of Progressive Rod-Cone Degeneration (PRCD) Regulates Protein Stability and Localization*

Progressive rod-cone degeneration (PRCD) is a photoreceptor outer segment (OS) disc-specific protein with unknown function that is associated with retinitis pigmentosa (RP). The most common mutation in PRCD linked with severe RP phenotype is substitution of the only cysteine to tyrosine (C2Y). In this study, we find that PRCD is post-translationally modified by a palmitoyl lipid group at the cysteine residue linked with RP. Disrupting PRCD palmitoylation either chemically or by genetically eliminating the modified cysteine dramatically affects the stability of PRCD. Furthermore, in vivo electroporation of PRCD C2Y mutant in the mouse retina demonstrates that the palmitoylation of PRCD is important for its proper localization in the photoreceptor OS. Mutant PRCD C2Y was found in the inner segment in contrast to normal localization of WT PRCD in the OS. Our results also suggest that zDHHC3, a palmitoyl acyltransferase (PAT), catalyzes the palmitoylation of PRCD in the Golgi compartment. In conclusion, we find that the palmitoylation of PRCD is crucial for its trafficking to the photoreceptor OS and mislocalization of this protein likely leads to RP-related phenotypes.
Stochastic 3D Modeling of the GDL Structure in PEMFCs Based on Thin Section Detection

We propose a mathematical model to describe the microstructure of the gas diffusion layer (GDL) in proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) based on tools from stochastic geometry. The GDL is considered as a stack of thin sections. This assumption is motivated by the production process and the visual appearance of relevant microscopic images. The thin sections are modeled as planar [two-dimensional (2D)] random line tessellations which are dilated with respect to three dimensions. Our 3D model for the GDL consists of several layers of these dilated line tessellations. We also describe a method to fit the proposed model to given GDL data provided by scanning electron microscopy images which can be seen as 2D projections of the 3D morphology. In connection with this, we develop an algorithm for the segmentation of such images which is necessary to obtain the required structural information from the given grayscale images.
Luteinizing hormone secretion and corpus luteum function in cows receiving two levels of progesterone.

The objectives of this experiment were to determine if subnormal levels of progesterone (P4) indicative of luteal insufficiency influence (1) pulsatile release of luteinizing hormone (LH), (2) the interval to the preovulatory surge of LH after removal of P4, and (3) the secretion of P4 during the estrous cycle subsequent to administration of subnormal levels of P4. On Day 5 (Day = 0 day of estrus) of the estrous cycle, cows received P4-releasing intravaginal devices (PRID) to produce normal (2 PRIDs; n = 7) or subnormal (0.5 PRID; n = 6) concentrations of P4. Five cows served as controls. On Day 10, serial blood samples were collected from all cows. Collection of blood samples was again initiated on Day 17 in cows receiving PRIDs. The PRIDs were removed and blood collection continued for 78 h. Daily blood samples were collected from all animals for 42 days subsequent to estrus (estrous cycles 1 and 2, respectively). During estrous cycle 1, mean concentration of P4 was lower (p less than 0.05) and frequency of pulses of LH was higher (p less than 0.05) in cows receiving subnormal P4 than in cows receiving normal P4 and control cows. Plasma concentrations of estradiol (E2) were higher (p less than 0.05) on Days 9-16 of estrous cycle 1 in cows receiving subnormal P4 than in cows receiving normal P4 or in control cows. Concentrations of E2 were greater (p less than 0.05) at 6, 18, and 30 h following removal of PRIDs in cows receiving subnormal P4 than in cows receiving normal P4. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Polarization dependence of ultrafast nonlinear refraction in an AlGaAs waveguide at the half-band gap.

We have obtained the polarization dependence of ultrafast nonlinear refraction by measuring the orientational dependence of self-phase modulation and cross-phase modulation in an Al0.18Ga0. 82As waveguide at a frequency just beneath the two-photon absorption edge. It was found that nonlinear refraction exhibits a considerable anisotropy in accordance with theoretical calculations for GaAs. It was also found, as predicted, that perpendicular cross-phase modulation behaves differently from the isotropic Kleinmann result appropriate to silica fibers.
Exploring the Functional Landscapes of Gene Sets with Interactive Multidimensional Scaling

We present a multidimensional-scaling algorithm and novel visualization tool for interactive exploration of the functional roles of genes in a gene set. We reference a popular database of gene attributes to build a two-dimensional projection of a user’s set of query genes that reveals the functional structure of a set of genes as well the relationship of the query genes to the whole gene landscape, including approximate ‘enrichment’ analysis. We show that the projection effectively visualizes broad biologically meaningful structures in the gene landscape. We also show that the visualization and interaction methods provide users with better context and enable more ﬂuid and rapid preliminary exploration than previously existing tools, demonstrated through two use cases. We discuss possibilities for improving the performance of the algorithm to capture more ﬁne-grained relationships be-tween genes.
Cyclooxygenase-2 and angiogenesis in prostate cancer

Chronic inflammation has been associated with resulting in malignancies in prostate cancer patients. In the May 2005 issue of Clinical Cancer Research, a study by Wang et al. demonstrates a relationship between COX-2 expression and the local chronic inflammation within prostate cancer and the increased angiogenesis. Confirming the existence and extent of this relationship is essential in the determination of therapeutic modalities for the prevention and treatment of prostate cancer.
Apoptosis induction of cardiomyocytes and subsequent fibrosis after irradiation and neoadjuvant chemotherapy

Abstract Purpose: Breast cancer treatments can induce important cardiovascular complications. The aim of this study was to evaluate cardiac alterations after irradiation and chemotherapy in an animal model. Material and methods: Wistar rats were divided into three groups: Control, TC+ IR (received chemotherapy and irradiation) and IR (received only irradiation). After 5 months, echocardiography was performed, the animals were euthanized, and the left ventricle was analyzed using light microscopy techniques and Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). Results: Echocardiography showed decreases in ejection fraction and cardiac output, in TC+ IR group. Both TC+ IR and IR showed reduced intramyocardial vessel-to-cardiomyocyte ratio, increased connective tissue, cardiomyocyte hypertrophy, increased numbers of apoptotic nuclei and increased Bax/Bcl2 expression. We also observed increased Transforming growth factor (TGF) beta 1 mRNA expression in both groups, but type 1 Procollagen expression was increased in TC+ IR group only. Conclusions: The study suggests that the induced cardiac remodelling begins with the reduction of intramyocardial vessels in the left ventricle tissue. The main consequence is the loss of cardiomyocytes through apoptosis, leading to the replacement of healthy tissue by fibrous tissue. It was observed that the damage caused by the combination of irradiation and chemotherapy induced functional alterations that did not occur when the animals were only irradiated.
Decline in CD4+ cell numbers in cats with naturally acquired feline immunodeficiency virus infection

T-cell subsets were studied by fluorescence-activated cell sorter analysis in 57 feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV)-seropositive cats with naturally acquired FIV infection to see whether CD4(+)-CD8+ alterations were comparable to those observed in human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients. CD4+ values were decreased and CD8+ values were increased. The CD4+/CD8+ ratio was reduced to 1.6, compared with 3.3 in 33 FIV-seronegative control cats. Variance analysis of data showed a significant influence of FIV seropositivity, sex, and spaying of female cats on CD4+ values. CD8+ values were significantly influenced by FIV seropositivity, age, and breed. These findings indicate a similarity between FIV and human immunodeficiency virus infections, as far as alterations of T-cell subsets are concerned.
L'approche collaborative de recherche en éducation: un rapport nouveau à établir entre recherche et formation

Les auteurs exposent les composantes d'un modele de recherche collaborative lie a une certaine facon de faire de la recherche «avec» plutot que «sur» les praticiens. C'est sous l'angle de la double fonction de recherche et de formation, a concilier dans la demarche collaborative, que leur modele est aborde. Le texte situe historiquement l'emergence de l'idee de collaboration de recherche en education et presente les trois facettes complementaires du modele: a) une definition conceptuelle du modele conduit a preciser le sens donne aux notions de recherche et de formation; b) le modele est illustre par une description de cinq projets differents bases sur une demarche collaborative commune; c) une lecture transversale des cinq projets conduit a discuter des composantes du modele.
Nicotine addiction.

From the Division of Clinical Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Medical Service, San Francisco General Hospital Medical Center; and the Departments of Medicine, Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, University of California, San Francisco — both in San Francisco. Address reprint requests to Dr. Benowitz at the Division of Clinical Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, University of California, San Francisco, Box 1220, San Francisco, CA 94143-1220, or at nbenowitz@medsfgh . ucsf.edu.
The Role of Selected Organizational Variables in Learning from Written Instruction

Abstract : Improvements in the readability of Navy textual material obviously depends upon such traditional factors as word and sentence length. It would seem reasonable, however, that if text is to be readable, but also learnable and recallable, factors relating to how the ideas in the text are organized will be important. Two experiments investigated the recall of text with different organizational schemes, read differing numbers of times, by high and low verbal ability trainees. Inferences for both educational practice and research are drawn from these findings.
Research of Enterprise Resource Planning in a Specific Enterprise

Enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems for manufacturing sector are commercially available. However, most existing commercial systems are likely to have some problems, and it can be hard to apply these general ERP systems to the task of resource planning in a specific enterprise. From integrated systems engineering perspectives, this paper presents a research of ERP for an enterprise with unique features. Based on the analysis of necessities, the methods and models of developing an ERP system for the enterprise are discussed and designed.
Clinical screening of monoclonal antibodies 323/A3, cSF‐25 and K928 for suitability of targetting tumours in the upper aerodigestive and respiratory tract

&NA; Immunohistochemical characterization of three monoclonal antibodies (MAbs), designated 323/A3, SF‐25 and K928, on a panel of 330 head and neck and lung tumours indicated their potential for targetting tumours in the upper aerodigestive and respiratory tract. Subsequently, MAbs were screened in a clinical phase I/II radioimmunoscintigraphic (RIS) trial for the detection of primary tumours and lymphnode metastases in patients with histologically proven squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (HNSCC). In 10 HNSCC patients MAbs 323/A3 F(ab')2 (n=3), chimeric (mouse‐human) SF‐25 IgG (n=1), and K928 IgG (n=6) were evaluated for their suitability for tumour targetting. Monoclonal antibodies 323/A3 and K928 were shown to be capable of detection of HNSCC. However, there was uptake at nontumour sites, for MAb 323/A3 in the thyroid gland, liver and skeleton, probably bone marrow, and for MAb K928 in liver, spleen and the skeleton, probably bone marrow. At a higher K928 dose, uptake in the liver was diminished but still substantial. cSF‐25 was not capable of detecting HNSCC, due to the rapid and extensive uptake at non‐tumour sites such as liver, spleen, brain and the skeleton, probably bone marrow. Radioactivity uptake at non‐tumour sites could be mainly explained by the presence of good accessible antigenic sites and will definitely limit the application of these pan‐carcinoma MAbs for therapeutic purposes.
Isolation , Screening and Selection of Fungal Strains for Potential Cellulase and Xylanase Production

The present study was aimed to isolate, screen and identify the potential cellulase and xylanase producing fungi from the soil samples collected from different areas of Haryana. Total one hundred fifty one fungal isolates were isolated from these soil samples were then screened by using selective media (i.e. CMC and Xylan agar) in order to determine the potency of microbes in producing cellulase and xylanase which were indicated by clear zones formation around the cultures. This qualitative screening which showing greater cellulase and xylanase indexes were subjected to enzyme activity tests by Dinitrosalicylic acid (DNS) method. Maximum enzyme production was achieved at 30°C, pH of 6.0 by Trichoderma atroviride on 5 th day of incubation.
Effects of hydrofluoroalkane and dry powder-formulated corticosteroids on sputum inflammatory markers in asthmatic patients.

BACKGROUND Inhaled corticosteroids are powerful drugs that can suppress airway inflammation in asthmatic patients. Deposition of most of the inhaled corticosteroid occurs mainly in the central airways. However, a new hydrofluoroalkane formulation of beclomethasone dipropionate (HFA-BDP) is preferentially deposited in the distal airways. Inflammatory characteristics of induced sputum have been shown to differ in samples collected early after sputum induction compared with later. OBJECTIVE To compare the effects of HFA-BDP and budesonide in a dry powder inhaler (DPI-BUD) on inflammatory cells and inflammatory cytokine expression in early and late induced sputa compared with placebo. METHODS Seventeen patients with mild, intermittent bronchial asthma were randomly assigned to two treatment groups: eight patients received HFA-BDP and nine patients received DPI-BUD. Each patient was treated with one of the active treatments and placebo (for four weeks), with a two-week washout interval in between. Inflammatory cells and expression of interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-5 were measured in early and late induced sputa before and after active treatment, as well as before and after placebo treatment using immunocytochemistry and in situ hybridization. RESULTS Compared with placebo, eosinophils were significantly reduced in both early and late induced sputa after HFA-BDP treatment (P<0.05), whereas DPI-BUD had a significant effect only on early induced sputum. Both HFA-BDP and DPI-BUD decreased IL-4 expression in early and late induced sputa, but the effect was more prominent with HFA-BDP. IL-5 expression was reduced in both early and late induced sputa after HFA-BDP treatment. DPI-BUD significantly decreased IL-5 expression in early but not in late induced sputum. The number of lymphocytes was not altered by either treatment. CONCLUSIONS HFA-BDP reduced eosinophilic inflammation and T helper 2-type cytokine expression in both early and late induced sputa, whereas the effect of DPI-BUD on inflammation was predominantly demonstrated in early induced sputum.
Design and traveling experiment of an omnidirectional holonomic mobile robot

There exist three kinds of type, i.e., longitudinal, circumferential and lateral wheels for the class of the orthogonal-wheel assembly mechanisms in omnidirectional and holonomic mobile robots. We first analyze these types in the realization of mechanical structure and control system. We then develop an omnidirectional holonomic mobile robot using the lateral wheel assembly to obtain the much simpler control system. Several experimental results indicated that the mobile robot had a desirable full mobility and smooth motion. In order to realize a feedback control based on the model information, the dynamic model and a resolved acceleration control system are also described. The effectiveness of the control system is demonstrated by a computer simulation.