Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Organ‐Specific Regulation of Interferon‐γ, Interleukin‐2 and Interleukin‐2 Receptor during Murine Infection with Trypanosoma cruzi

We have studied the expression of IFN‐γ, IL‐2 and IL‐2 receptor (IL‐2R) at the mRNA and protein levels in spleen and lymph node cells from Trypanosoma crizi‐infected BALB/c mice. At 21 days post infection (dpi) (peak of parasitaemia), spleen cells stimulated with Con A for 16 h showed a reduced IFN‐γ, IL‐2 and IL‐2R mRNA production compared with non‐infected controls. Lymph node cells obtained at 4, 21 or 60 dpi produced similar amounts of IFN‐γ, IL‐2 or IL‐2R transcripts after mitogen stimulation as uninfected controls.
A Selective Inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase Dimerization Inhibitor Prevents Systemic, Cardiac, and Pulmonary Hemodynamic Dysfunction in Endotoxemic Mice

Increased nitric oxide (NO) production by inducible NO synthase (NOS2), an obligate homodimer, is implicated in the cardiovascular sequelae of sepsis. We tested the ability of a highly-selective NOS2 dimerization inhibitor (BBS-2) to prevent endotoxin-induced systemic hypotension, myocardial dysfunction, and impaired hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction (HPV) in mice. Mice were challenged with Escherichia Coli endotoxin followed by treatment with BBS-2 or vehicle. Systemic blood pressure was measured before and 4 and 7 h after endotoxin challenge, and echocardiographic parameters of myocardial function were measured before and 7 h after endotoxin challenge. The pulmonary vasoconstrictor response to left mainstem bronchus occlusion, a measure of HPV, was studied 22 h after endotoxin challenge. BBS-2 treatment alone did not alter baseline hemodynamics. BBS-2 treatment blocked NOS2 dimerization and completely inhibited the endotoxin-induced increase of plasma NOx levels. Treatment with BBS-2 after endotoxin administration prevented systemic hypotension and attenuated myocardial dysfunction. BBS-2 also prevented endotoxin-induced impairment of HPV. In contrast, treatment with N-nitro-L-arginine methylester, an inhibitor of all three NOS isoforms, prevented the systemic hypotension but further aggravated the myocardial dysfunction associated with endotoxin challenge. Treatment with BBS-2 prevented endotoxin from causing key features of cardiovascular dysfunction in endotoxemic mice. Selective inhibition of NOS2 dimerization with BBS-2, while sparing the activities of other NOS isoforms, may prove to be a useful treatment strategy in sepsis.
Lytic Induction Therapy for Epstein-Barr Virus-Positive B-Cell Lymphomas

ABSTRACT A novel therapy for Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-positive tumors involves the intentional induction of the lytic form of EBV infection combined with ganciclovir (GCV) treatment. Virally encoded kinases (thymidine kinase and BGLF4) which are expressed only during the lytic form of infection convert GCV (a nucleoside analogue) into its active, cytotoxic form. However, tightly latent EBV infection in B cells has made it difficult to identify drugs that can be used clinically to induce lytic viral infection in B-cell lymphomas. Here we demonstrate that gemcitabine and doxorubicin (but not 5-azacytidine, cis-platinum, or 5-fluorouracil) induce lytic EBV infection in EBV-transformed B cells in vitro and in vivo. Gemcitabine and doxorubicin both activated transcription from the promoters of the two viral immediate-early genes, BZLF1 and BRLF1, in EBV-negative B cells. This effect required the EGR-1 motif in the BRLF1 promoter and the CRE (ZII) and MEF-2D (ZI) binding sites in the BZLF1 promoter. GCV enhanced cell killing by gemcitabine or doxorubicin in lymphoblastoid cells transformed with wild-type EBV, but not in lymphoblastoid cells transformed by a mutant virus (with a deletion in the BZLF1 immediate-early gene) that is unable to enter the lytic form of infection. Most importantly, the combination of gemcitabine or doxorubicin and GCV was significantly more effective for the inhibition of EBV-driven lymphoproliferative disease in SCID mice than chemotherapy alone. In contrast, the combination of zidovudine and gemcitabine was no more effective than gemcitabine alone. These results suggest that the addition of GCV to either gemcitabine- or doxorubicin-containing chemotherapy regimens may enhance the therapeutic efficacy of these drugs for EBV-driven lymphoproliferative disease in patients.
Control of fuel cell/battery/supercapacitor hybrid source for vehicle applications

This paper presents a control algorithm for utilizing a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) as a main power source and storage devices (batteries and supercapacitors) for dc distributed system, particularly for future FC vehicle applications. This strategy is based on a standard dc bus voltage regulation, which takes into account the slowest dynamics of a fuel cell (FC) and the fastest dynamics of a supercapacitor bank. The principle is based on frequency approach that the FC dynamics are limited to avoid fuel starvation problems and the battery dynamics are also limited to reduce its stress. Its originality lies in using only the supercapacitor for supplying the energy required to achieve the dc bus voltage regulation, the battery for supplying the energy to keep the supercapacitor charged, and the FC for supplying the energy to keep the battery charged. To validate the proposed principle, a hardware system is realized by analog circuits and numerical calculations by dSPACE. Experimental results with small-scale devices (a PEMFC: 500-W, 50-A; a battery bank: 68-Ah, 24-V; and a supercapacitor bank: 292-F, 30-V) authenticate the excellent control algorithm during motor drive cycle.
Low-Power High-Performance Asymmetrical Double-Gate Circuits Using Back-Gate-Controlled Wide-Tunable-Range Diode Voltage

This paper presents a new power-reduction scheme using a back-gate-controlled asymmetrical double-gate device with robust data-retention capability for high-performance logic/SRAM power gating or variable/dynamic supply applications. The scheme reduces the transistor count, area, and capacitance in the header/footer device and provides a wide range of virtual ground (GND) or supply voltage. Physical analysis and numerical mix-mode device/circuit-simulation results confirm that the proposed scheme can be applied to low-power high-performance circuit applications in 65-nm technology node and beyond. Variable/dynamic supply or GND voltage using the proposed scheme improves read and write margins in scaled SRAM without degrading read and write performance.
Evolution of the dusty infrared luminosity function from z = 0 to z = 2.3 using observations from Spitzer

Aims. We derive the evolution of the infrared luminosity function (LF) over the last 4/5ths of cosmic time using deep 24 and 70 μm imaging of the GOODS North and South fields. Methods. We use an extraction technique based on prior source positions at shorter wavelengths to build the 24 and 70 μm source catalogs. The majority (93%) of the sources have a spectroscopic (39%) or a photometric redshift (54%) and, in our redshift range of interest (i.e., 1.3 < z < 2.3) ~20% of the sources have a spectroscopic redshift. To extend our study to lower 70 μm luminosities we perform a stacking analysis and we characterize the observed L_(24/(1 + z)) vs. L_(70/(1 + z)) correlation. Using spectral energy distribution (SED) templates which best fit this correlation, we derive the infrared luminosity of individual sources from their 24 and 70 μm luminosities. We then compute the infrared LF at z ~ 1.55 ± 0.25 and z ~ 2.05 ± 0.25. Results. We observe the break in the infrared LF up to z ~ 2.3. The redshift evolution of the infrared LF from z = 1.3 to z = 2.3 is consistent with a luminosity evolution proportional to (1 + z)^(1.0 ± 0.9) combined with a density evolution proportional to (1 + z)^9−1.1 ± 1.5). At z ~ 2, luminous infrared galaxies (LIRGs: 10^(11)L_⊙ < L_(IR) < 10^(12) L_⊙) are still the main contributors to the total comoving infrared luminosity density of the Universe. At z ~ 2, LIRGs and ultra-luminous infrared galaxies (ULIRGs: 10^(12)L_⊙ < L_(IR)) account for ~49% and ~17% respectively of the total comoving infrared luminosity density of the Universe. Combined with previous results using the same strategy for galaxies at z < 1.3 and assuming a constant conversion between the infrared luminosity and star-formation rate (SFR) of a galaxy, we study the evolution of the SFR density of the Universe from z = 0 to z = 2.3. We find that the SFR density of the Universe strongly increased with redshift from z = 0 to z = 1.3, but is nearly constant at higher redshift out to z = 2.3. As part of the online material accompanying this article, we present source catalogs at 24 μm and 70 μm for both the GOODS-North and -South fields.
OCULAR EFFECTS OF ORAL AND DERMAL APPLICATION OF DIMETHYL SULFOXIDE IN ANIMALS

DMSO was administered by gastric intubation to six pairs (male and female) of young adult beagle dogs a t doses of 0, 2.5, 5, 10, 20 and 40 gm/kg/ day, five days a week. During the first week DMSO was given in physiological saline; thereafter, a 50%) aqueous solution was used. During the second week of drug administration, the two animals receiving 40 gm/ kg were removed from drug for five days. DMSO administration was reinstituted in the third week a t a dose of 20 gm/kg, twice daily. Since the animals would not tolerate this dosage, the dose was changed to 10 gm/ kg twice daily. Both dogs at 20 gm/kg/day, the two dogs originally receiving 40 gm/kg/ day, and one of two dogs a t the 10 gm/kg/day dosage were unable to tolerate these doses. Administration of DMSO was continued for 23 weeks (107 doses) at which time the drug was withdrawn from the seven survivors which were then observed for an additional 31 weeks. The dogs were then humanely killed, and histologic examination was performed. The dogs were examined by indirect and direct ophthalmoscopy under 0.5% tropicamide-induced mydriasis prior to testing and a t a minimum of monthly intervals during dosing and after withdrawal.
Staying connected while on the move

As people integrate use of the cell phone into their lives, do they view it as just an update of the fixed telephone or assign it special values? This study explores that question in the framework of gratifications sought and their relationship both to differential cell phone use and to social connectedness. Based on a survey of Taiwanese college students, we found that the cell phone supplements the fixed telephone as a means of strengthening users’ family bonds, expanding their psychological neighborhoods, and facilitating symbolic proximity to the people they call. Thus, the cell phone has evolved from a luxury for businesspeople into an important facilitator of many users’ social relationships. For the poorly connected socially, the cell phone offers a unique advantage: it confers instant membership in a community. Finally, gender was found to mediate how users exploit the cell phone to maintain social ties.
LINKAGE TO THE MATING‐TYPE LOCUS ACROSS THE GENUS MICROBOTRYUM: INSIGHTS INTO NONRECOMBINING CHROMOSOMES

Parallels have been drawn between the evolution of nonrecombining regions in fungal mating‐type chromosomes and animal and plant sex chromosomes, particularly regarding the stages of recombination cessation forming evolutionary strata of allelic divergence. Currently, evidence and explanations for recombination cessation in fungi are sparse, and the presence of evolutionary strata has been examined in a minimal number of fungal taxa. Here, the basidiomycete genus Microbotryum was used to determine the history of recombination cessation for loci on the mating‐type chromosomes. Ancestry of linkage with mating type for 13 loci was assessed across 20 species by a phylogenetic method. No locus was found to exhibit trans‐specific polymorphism for alternate alleles as old as the mating pheromone receptor, indicating that ages of linkage to mating type varied among the loci. The ordering of loci in the ancestry of linkage to mating type does not agree with their previously proposed assignments to evolutionary strata. This study suggests that processes capable of influencing divergence between alternate alleles may act at loci in the nonrecombining regions (e.g., gene conversion) and encourages further work to dissect the evolutionary processes acting upon genomic regions that determine mating compatibility.
Bilingualism, dementia, cognitive and neural reserve.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW We discuss the role of bilingualism as a source of cognitive reserve and we propose the putative neural mechanisms through which lifelong bilingualism leads to a neural reserve that delays the onset of dementia. RECENT FINDINGS Recent findings highlight that the use of more than one language affects the human brain in terms of anatomo-structural changes. It is noteworthy that recent evidence from different places and cultures throughout the world points to a significant delay of dementia onset in bilingual/multilingual individuals. This delay has been reported not only for Alzheimer's dementia and its prodromal mild cognitive impairment phase, but also for other dementias such as vascular and fronto-temporal dementia, and was found to be independent of literacy, education and immigrant status. SUMMARY Lifelong bilingualism represents a powerful cognitive reserve delaying the onset of dementia by approximately 4 years. As to the causal mechanism, because speaking more than one language heavily relies upon executive control and attention, brain systems handling these functions are more developed in bilinguals resulting in increases of gray and white matter densities that may help protect from dementia onset. These neurocognitive benefits are even more prominent when second language proficiency and exposure are kept high throughout life.
The effect of AVP-V2 receptor stimulation on local GFR in the rat kidney.

The effect of AVP-V2 receptor agonist desmopressin, dDAVP, its non-peptide antagonist OPC-31260 and vehicle infusion on glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in the outer, middle and inner cortex was studied in both hydropenic and water diuretic Inactin anaesthetized female Sprague-Dawley rats using the aprotinin method. Two subsequent GFR measurements were carried out in the same kidney by injection of 125I- and 131I-labelled aprotinin before and after i.v. infusion of dDAVP, OPC-31260 or the vehicle. Acute infusion of dDAVP in hydropenic rats increased total GFR by 14% relative to vehicle infusion, whereas in water diuretic rats it had no effect relative to vehicle. No significant changes in arterial pressure (Pa) or renal blood flow (RBF) were recorded. Infusion of OPC-31260 reduced total GFR by 11% compared with vehicle. These results are consistent with the findings that a presensitization of the vasculature by high plasma levels of AVP is necessary for the renal vascular effects mediated by the V2 or V2-like receptors to occur. The ratio between inner and outer cortex GFR remained unchanged from control to experimental condition as follows: dDAVP infusion in hydropenic rats, 0.504 vs. 0.494 in control; vehicle infusion in hydropenic rats, 0. 393 vs. 0.392; OPC-31260 infusion in hydropenic rats, 0.517 vs. 0. 523; dDAVP in water diuretic rats, 0.547 vs. 0.543; vehicle in water diuretic rats, 0.413 vs. 0.417. Thus no significant difference in the GFR response was observed between superficial and deep cortical layers of the rat kidney.
Imaging of prion diseases

Prion diseases are caused by self‐replicating proteins that induce lethal neurodegenerative disorders. In the last decade, the understanding of the different clinical, pathological, and neuroimaging phenotypes of this group of disorders has evolved paralleling the advances in prion molecular biology. From an imaging standpoint, the implementation of diffusion‐weighted imaging in routine practice has markedly facilitated the detection of prion diseases, especially Creutzfeldt‐Jakob. Less frequent prion‐related disorders, including genetic diseases, may also benefit from progresses in the field of quantitative diffusion‐weighted imaging, MR spectroscopy or molecular imaging. Herein, we present a review of the neuroimaging features of the prion disorders known to affect humans emphasizing the important contribution of MRI in the diagnosis of this group of disorders. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2012;35:998‐1012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
A gyro-enhanced smart-phone framework to develop motion-based user interfaces for animation and virtual environments

In this paper, the mobile phone is presented as an alternative device to interact with animation systems and virtual environments, including video games. Basically, we show how the gyroscope of a mobile device can work as a sensor to control the pose and motion of a mobile device controlled object or character in a 3D virtual world. More specifically, we introduce a framework that enables the development and rapid prototyping of motion-based user interfaces for animation systems and virtual environments. This framework provides tools to capture and control the motion of mobile devices-binded objects in a 3D virtual scene over a wireless communication channel via a simple, fast and efficient protocol named Open Sound Control (OSC).
Suppressive rod-cone interactions: evidence for separate retinal (temporal) and extraretinal (spatial) mechanisms in achromatic vision.

We investigated the influence of selective rod light and dark adaptation on cone-mediated sensitivity to monocular displays modulated sinusoidally in both spatial and temporal domains. Rod light adaptation (1) increased sensitivity to high spatial frequencies [> or = 8 cycles per degree (cpd)] flickered slowly (< or = 2 Hz), an effect that we refer to as grating suppressive rod-cone interaction (gSRCI); (2) increased sensitivity to low spatial frequencies (< or = 2 cpd) flickered rapidly (> or = 8 Hz), an effect that we refer to as flicker suppressive rod-cone interaction (fSRCI); and (3) had relatively little influence on intermediate temporal-spatial-frequency combinations. The magnitudes of both gSRCI and fSRCI increased as the retinal position of the test display was increasingly displaced parafoveally. In parafoveal retina, both forms of suppressive rod-cone interaction increased as the overall dimension of the test stimulus decreased. However, sensitivity to high spatial frequencies is equally well influenced by adaptation of the viewing and the contralateral eye, while the adapted state of the nonviewing eye negligibly influences sensitivity to rapid flicker. Moreover, gSRCI cannot be observed with a small (30-arcmin) grating restricted to the fovea, while fSRCI is a prominent effect with small foveal test stimuli. Collectively, these results and neurobiological evidence suggest that fSRCI reflects a mechanism restricted to distal retinal, while gSRCI involves extraretinal neural circuitry.
Head circumference is an independent clinical finding associated with autism.

Occipitofrontal circumference (OFC) is one of the few physical findings in autism that varies significantly from the norm and is distinct and measurable. As part of a study of genetic heterogeneity of autism, we scrutinized data from a large sample of patients with idiopathic autism (N = 137), using OFC as the categorizing variable. The OFC standard deviation (OFCSD) values of the autistic propositi (0.61+/-1.6) varied significantly from that of the normal population (0.0+/-1.0), (P<0.001). Comparison of the macrocephalic (OFCSD > 2.0, N = 32) with the normocephalic individuals (-2 SD < OFCSD < +2 SD, N = 95) showed no significant differences in sex ratio, morphological status, IQ, seizure prevalence, or recurrence risks. The macrocephalic individuals were slightly less apt than those with normocephaly to have a family history of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) (P<0.05). Each clinical subgroup of autism propositi, defined on the basis of phenotypic status, type of onset, seizure history, or IQ, had a higher than normal mean OFC indicating that macrocephaly is an independent clinical trait in autism. As in the non-autistic population, macrocephaly was highly familial with 45% of the macrocephalic and 37% of the normocephalic propositi having at least one macrocephalic parent. Microcephaly, however, was an independent significant variable that predicted the presence of other phenotypic or genetic traits and outcome. The microcephalic patients were more likely to have abnormal physical morphology, structural brain malformations, lower IQ, and seizures. Their sex ratio was closer to normal, and their relatives had a higher incidence of seizures.
Second Language Feedback Abolishes the “Hot Hand” Effect during Even-Probability Gambling

Research into language–emotion interactions has revealed intriguing cognitive inhibition effects by emotionally negative words in bilinguals. Here, we turn to the domain of human risk taking and show that the experience of positive recency in games of chance—the “hot hand” effect—is diminished when game outcomes are provided in a second language rather than the native language. We engaged late Chinese-English bilinguals with “play” or “leave” decisions upon presentation of equal-odds bets while manipulating language of feedback and outcome value. When positive game outcomes were presented in their second language, English, participants subsequently took significantly fewer gambles and responded slower compared with the trials in which equivalent feedback was provided in Chinese, their native language. Positive feedback was identified as driving the cross-language difference in preference for risk over certainty: feedback for previous winning outcomes presented in Chinese increased subsequent risk taking, whereas in the English context no such effect was observed. Complementing this behavioral effect, event-related brain potentials elicited by feedback words showed an amplified response to Chinese relative to English in the feedback-related negativity window, indicating a stronger impact in the native than in the second language. We also observed a main effect of language on P300 amplitude and found it correlated with the cross-language difference in risk selections, suggesting that the greater the difference in attention between languages, the greater the difference in risk-taking behavior. These results provide evidence that the hot hand effect is at least attenuated when an individual operates in a non-native language.
Flavonoids and Cardiovascular Disease

Diets high in flavonoids have long been associated with nutritional recommendations, a healthy lifestyle, and the prevention of chronic diseases. However, identification of specific beneficial effects from specific flavonoids and flavonoid-rich foods has been a challenging area, probably due to a nonessential or conditional role for flavonoids in human nutrition. Nonetheless, recent efforts in the area of high flavonoid–containing foods and cardiovascular disease have begun providing the first demonstrations of specific effects and mechanisms of action in well-controlled studies. The early studies have shown that flavonoids have several anti-atherosclerotic activities including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antiproliferative, antiplatelet, and provessel function activities. Cholesterol-lowering and antihypertensive effects of flavonoids have been studied and appear minimal in humans. The studies also demonstrate several possible mechanisms and pleiotropic effects of flavonoids that may be active in reduction in the risk of cardiovascular disease. Several subclasses of flavonoids may contribute toward the apparent beneficial effects and include flavones, flavonols, flavanones, catechins isoflavones, proanthocyanidins, and anthocyanidins. Further studies are necessary for confirmation of the beneficial effects, identification of dose-response relationships, and identification the most bioactive flavonoids.