Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Rotenone Model of Parkinson Disease

Chronic infusion of rotenone (Rot) to Lewis rats reproduces many features of Parkinson disease. Rot (3 mg/kg/day) was infused subcutaneously to male Lewis rats for 6 days using Alzet minipumps. Control rats received the vehicle only. Presence of 0.1% bovine serum albumin during the isolation procedure completely removed rotenone bound to the mitochondria. Therefore all functional changes observed were aftereffects of rotenone toxicity in vivo. In Rot rat brain mitochondria (Rot-RBM) there was a 30-40% inhibition of respiration in State 3 and State 3U with Complex I (Co-I) substrates and succinate. Rot did not affect the State 4Δψ of RBM and rat liver mitochondria (RLM). However, Rot-RBM required two times less Ca2+ to initiate permeability transition (mPT). There was a 2-fold increase in \batchmode \documentclass[fleqn,10pt,legalpaper]{article} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amsmath} \pagestyle{empty} \begin{document} \(\mathrm{O}_{2}^{{\bar{{\cdot}}}}\) \end{document} or H2O2 generation in Rot-RBM oxidizing glutamate. Rot infusion affected RLM little. Our results show that in RBM, the major site of reactive oxygen species generation with glutamate or succinate is Co-I. We also found that Co-II generates substantial amounts of reactive oxygen species that increased 2-fold in the Rot-RBM. Our data suggest that the primary mechanism of the Rot toxic effect on RBM consists in a significant increase of \batchmode \documentclass[fleqn,10pt,legalpaper]{article} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amsmath} \pagestyle{empty} \begin{document} \(\mathrm{O}_{2}^{{\bar{{\cdot}}}}\) \end{document} generation that causes damage to Co-I and Co-II, presumably at the level of 4Fe-4S clusters. Decreased respiratory activity diminishes resistance of RBM to Ca2+ and thus increases probability of mPT and apoptotic cell death. We suggest that the damage to Co-I and Co-II shifts \batchmode \documentclass[fleqn,10pt,legalpaper]{article} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amsmath} \pagestyle{empty} \begin{document} \(\mathrm{O}_{2}^{{\bar{{\cdot}}}}\) \end{document} generation from the CoQ10 sites to more proximal sites, such as flavines, and makes it independent of the RBM functional state.
Inter-laboratory comparison study for pyrrolizidine alkaloids in animal feed using spiked and incurred material

Pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) are hepatotoxic metabolites produced by plants. PAs in animal feed can cause acute or chronic intoxications in animals and can be transferred to milk. An inter-laboratory comparison study among 12 laboratories, using their own methods of analysis, was conducted for the detection and quantification of PAs in animal feed. The participants were asked to quantify PAs in a blank test sample, a blank test sample to be spiked with a provided spiking mixture of seven PA standards, and a test sample contaminated with common groundsel (Senecio vulgaris). Ten of the participating laboratories used an LC-MS/MS method, one used an LC-ToF-MS method, and one used a GC-MS method. None of the laboratories reported false-negative samples, while two laboratories reported false-positive results in the blank sample. z-scores were calculated for each laboratory for seven PAs in test samples B and C. z-scores varied considerably between laboratories for the concentrations of the free bases and less for the N-oxides, probably due to the lower levels of the free bases as compared with the N-oxides in the contaminated feed. Questionable or unsatisfactory results for the z-scores were obtained for 8% of the cases for the spiked sample and for 12% of the incurred sample. Three laboratories scored consequently positive or negative results. No preferred method for quantification of PAs in feed could be identified within the methods used for this study due to the relatively small number of participants. It was concluded that this inter-laboratory study shows that the methods used for PA detection need further development for accurate estimation of PAs in contaminated feed.
Changing Beliefs and Practices in Women With Breast Cancer in China.

The trends of surgical therapy for breast cancer in China between 1999 and 2008 show persistent use of modified radical mastectomy and slow uptake of sentinel node mapping for women with early-stage breast cancer. Additional health care programs must be developed and implemented in China to promote awareness and a multidisciplinary approach to treating breast cancer, including adoption of screening mammography, breast-conserving surgery, and sentinel node mapping and biopsy.
Nonfunctional tooth contact in healthy controls and patients with myogenous facial pain.

AIMS To investigate how often healthy controls and patients with myogenous masticatory pain have wake-time nonfunctional tooth contact, whether the frequency of nonfunctional tooth contact differs between genders or between weekdays and weekends, and whether it is influenced by stress levels. METHODS The study was performed on 24 subjects: 15 controls and 9 patients with myogenous facial pain. Before data collection the subjects were trained to ascertain their ability to feel correctly whether their teeth were in contact or apart. Subsequently, for 10 days the subjects were alerted by means of a radio wave-activated wrist vibrator approximately every 20 minutes (8:00 AM to 10:00 PM) in order to report whether the teeth were in contact. Subjects also completed 2 stress assessment questionnaires, the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) and the short version of the Trier Inventory for Assessment of Chronic Stress (TICS-S). RESULTS There was a significantly higher frequency of wake-time nonfunctional tooth contact in myogenous pain patients than in controls (median of 34.9% and range of 26.5% to 41.3% for patients; median of 8.9% and range of 2.3% to 14.3% for controls; P < .001). In both groups the frequency of nonfunctional tooth contact did not significantly differ among the various days or between the genders. The patients had significantly higher PSS scores and reported having experienced more stressful situations in the dimensions "social overload" and "overextended at work" than the controls. However, PSS and TICS-S scores were not correlated with the frequency of nonfunctional tooth contact for either group. CONCLUSIONS Myogenous pain patients had nearly 4 times more nonfunctional tooth contact during wake time than controls.
An Anonymous Authentication Protocol for Smart Grid

Smart Grid allows users to deal with information related to the electricity usage via IP networks, and then guarantee of both validity and privacy of information is necessary for users. In our future scope, the electricity bill used by consumers may be charged to the consumers themselves via the Smart Grid, even outside their homes. Such information is strictly related to privacy of consumers and hence we propose an anonymous authentication protocol for the electricity usage on the Smart Grid. Our main idea is to utilize group signatures with controllable linkability. In these group signatures, only designated signers can generate digital signatures with anonymity under a single group public key, and only entities with a link key can distinguish whether the signatures are generated by a same signer or not. Whereas our proposed protocol is able to include any group signature scheme with controllable linkability, we also propose new controllably linkable group signatures with tokens, which are handled by smart meters on the Smart Grid.
Isolation of a Xanthomonas campestris strain with elevated β‐galactosidase activity for direct use of lactose in xanthan gum production

Aims: To isolate a Xanthomonas campestris strain that can use lactose directly for xanthan gum production. Methods and Results: The presence of indigenous β‐galactosidase gene in the wild‐type Xc17 was detected by PCR and Southern hybridization. Treatment of Xc17 with nitrous acid resulted in the isolation of Xc17L with a 3·5‐fold elevation of β‐galactosidase activity capable of growing in lactose‐based medium. Xc17L is stable for at least 100 generations in terms of β‐galactosidase expression. The amounts of xanthan produced by Xc17L in lactose‐based medium are comparable to those in glucose‐based medium. Conclusions: Xc17L is potentially useful for xanthan production from whey, a waste containing lactose. Significance and Impact of the Study: A lactose‐utilizing strain of X . campestris strain can be constructed without incorporation of any exotic DNA or antibiotic resistance gene and therefore concern of a gene‐modified organism and fear of a spread of an antibiotic‐resistant gene are avoided.
The development of the mammalian nervous system I. Malformations of the brain, especially the cerebral cortex, induced in rats by radiation II. Some mechanisms of the malformations of the cortex

Radiation can be used to induced series of developmentall malformations in the brains of rats The degree of reproducibility of the patterns has suggested their use in studies relating certain attributes of behavior with cerebral cortical structure. The patterns of brain malformiation induced by giving 150 to 200 r on each of the days of gestation. 12 to 20. are described and illustrated. Some of the histogenetic mechanisms that lead up to the cortical malformations are described. based on a study of different members of the same abnormal litter taken at successive stages of development.
Implications of an animal model of sugar addiction, withdrawal and relapse for human health

Abstract The effect of intermittent glucose administration on the circadian rhythm of body temperature was studied in rats to provide evidence of sugar addiction, withdrawal and relapse. Metabolic and behavioral phenomena were also observed. Biotelemetry transmitters recorded body temperature for the duration of the 4-week experiment. Rats were divided into an experimental and a control group, which were maintained on the same habituation conditions for the duration of the experiment, with the exception of weeks 2 and 4, when the experimental group was presented with a 25% glucose solution. Experimental animals displayed a precipitous drop in body temperature and behavioral changes associated with withdrawal during week 3, when sugar was removed. There was an increase in kilocalories (kcal) consumed during weeks 2 and 4 by experimental animals and, by the end of the experiment, these animals showed a greater percent increase in body weight. Elevated blood glucose levels were found in experimental animals. The study demonstrates that the effects of sugar addiction, withdrawal and relapse are similar to those of drugs of abuse. Implications of the rewarding and addicting effects of sugar are related to weight gain, obesity and Type II diabetes. Furthermore, pitfalls related to dieting are elucidated.
Arithmetic on the European Logarithmic Microprocessor

A new European research project aims to develop a microprocessor based on the logarithmic number system, in which a real number is represented as a fixed-point logarithm. Multiplication and division therefore proceed in minimal time with no rounding error. However, the system can only offer an overall advantage over floating-point if addition and subtraction can be performed with speed and accuracy at least equal to that of floating-point, but these operations require the interpolation of a nonlinear function which has hitherto been either time-consuming or inaccurate. We present a procedure by which additions and subtractions can be performed rapidly and accurately and show that these operations are thereby competitive with their floating-point equivalents. We then present some large-scale case studies which show that the average performance of the LNS exceeds floating-point, in terms of both speed and accuracy.
Dietary Supplementation of Alpha Lipoic Acid on Serum Lipid Profile of Broiler Chicken Fed With Animal Fat Diet

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of alpha lipoic acid on the performance and serum lipid profile in broiler chicken. In this study, eighty, day-old Venn Cobb commercial broiler chicks broiler chicks were randomly distributed into two treatment groups with four replicates of ten birds each and the birds were fed with experimental diets T1 (Control ration as per BIS [1992] specifications with five per cent animal fat) and T2 (control ration supplemented with 100 mg of alpha lipoic acid/kg diet). The broiler starter ration (23 per cent crude protein and 2800 kcal ME/kg of feed) fed up to 4 weeks of age and finisher ration (20 per cent crude protein and 2900 kcal ME/kg of feed) fed up to 6 weeks of age. At the end of 42 days of experimental period, five birds from each treatment were slaughtered and blood was collected for serum biochemical analysis. The growth performance was similar in both the treatment groups. Similarly, serum cholesterol, triglycerides and VLDL-cholesterol level was not affected by the alpha lipoic acid supplemented group. However, serum HDLcholesterol level was significantly (P<0.01) increased in alpha lipoic acid supplemented group, whereas, LDL-cholesterol was reduced (P<0.01) in alpha lipoic acid supplemented group compared to control group. On conclusion, alpha lipoic acid supplementation had no effect on serum cholesterol, triglycerides and VLDL-cholesterol levels, but reduced the LDL-cholesterol level and increased the HDL-cholesterol level of broilers compared to control group.
Entwurf strukturvariabler Regelungen mittels linearer Matrixungleichungen

Viele regelungstechnische Entwurfsverfahren vernachlassigen die Stellgrosenbeschrankungen, was die Regelgute und Stabilitat des Systems stark beeinﬂussen kann. Deswegen ist es sinnvoll, die Stellgrosenbeschrankungen beim Entwurf zu berucksichtigen. Die Arbeit beginnt mit einem Uberblick der verschiedenen Methoden zum Umgang mit Stellgrosenbeschrankungen. Danach liegt der Fokus auf den strukturvariablen Regelungen. Das sind nichtlineare Zustandsruckfuhrungen, deren Koeﬃzienten in Abhangigkeit vom aktuellen Zustand so variieren, dass die zur Verfugung stehende Stellgrose moglichst gut ausgenutzt wird. Des Weiteren zeichnen sie sich durch hohe Regelgute und verhaltnismassig geringen Entwurfsaufwand aus. In dieser Arbeit wird naher auf zwei spezielle strukturvariable Regelungen eingegangen. Zuerst werden die weichen strukturvariablen Regelungen mittels impliziter Ljapunov-Funktionen betrachtet, deren Koeﬃzienten sich kontinuierlich in Abhangigkeit von einem implizit deﬁnierten, zustandsabhangigen Parameter andern. Bei der zweiten Variante handelt es sich um Regelungen mit stuckweise linearer Struktur. Hierbei wird der Zustandsraum in Gebiete aufgeteilt, an deren Grenze zwischen zwei linearen Teilreglern umgeschaltet wird. Der Schwerpunkt der Arbeit liegt auf der Darstellung der vorhandenen Entwurfsbedingungen als lineare Matrixungleichungen (LMIs). Die LMI-Darstellung in Kombination mit einer konvexen Gutefunktion reduziert den Entwurf auf ein semideﬁnites Optimierungsproblem, das sich schnell und zuverlassig mittels Innere-Punkte-Verfahren losen lasst. Dadurch wird der Entwurf deutlich vereinfacht und beschleunigt. Einige Anwendungsbeispiele demonstrieren die Vorteile der mittels der neuen LMI-Verfahren entworfenen Regelungen. Die strukturvariablen Zustandsruckfuhrungen sind bei vergleichbarem Entwurfsaufwand deutlich schneller als die linearen. Bei einigen Systemen kann ein fast zeitoptimales Verhalten beobachtet werden.
Sex differences in the basal firing rate and the responsiveness to opioid peptides of rat hippocampal neurons.

The basal firing rate and the responsiveness to dynorphin and leu-enkephalin of the neurons in the pyramidal cell layer of the hippocampus were studied in intact male, castrated male, castrated female, and castrated female rats injected s.c. with 20 micrograms estradiol benzoate (EB) for 3 days. Most of the neurons studied had low spontaneous firing rate (less than 5 Hz) and burst-like activity in all the groups. The basal firing rates in castrated males and females were not different from those in intact males and castrated females treated with EB, respectively. However, neurons in intact and castrated males had significantly higher firing rates than those in castrated females with and without EB treatment, respectively. When effective, both iontophoretically applied dynorphin and leu-enkephalin evoked predominantly excitatory responses. Either castration of males or EB treatment to castrated females did not affect the neuronal responsiveness to these peptides. On the other hand, the responsiveness of neurons to leu-enkephalin, but not to dynorphin, was significantly different between castrated male and female rats. These results suggest that sex steroids do not affect the basal firing rate as well as the responsiveness to opioid peptides of the pyramidal cells in the hippocampus in adult animals. However, sex differences in the basal firing rate and in the responsiveness to leu-enkephalin might account for the differences in hippocampal functions between male and female rats.
Interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) in equine colic: an immunohistochemical study of horses with obstructive disorders of the small and large intestines.

REASONS FOR PERFORMING STUDY The gastrointestinal pacemaker cells, the interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC), have been implicated in several human gastrointestinal dysmotility syndromes. Recently, the involvement of these cells in equine gastrointestinal diseases has been investigated in cases of equine grass sickness where a significant reduction in ICC density was observed. OBJECTIVE To investigate ICC density in equine obstructive gastrointestinal disorders using immunohistochemical labelling methods. METHODS Intestinal samples were analysed from 44 horses undergoing exploratory surgery for colic and from 11 control animals subjected to euthanasia for conditions not related to the gastrointestinal tract. Immunohistochemical labelling of ICC was carried out using an anti-c-Kit antibody. Two independent observers assessed ICC density using a semiquantitative grading system. RESULTS There was a significant reduction in ICC density in horses with large colon disorders compared to the controls (P<0.01). Horses with strangulating lesions of the small intestine showed no difference when compared to the controls. CONCLUSIONS There was a reduction in ICC density in horses with large intestinal disorders. POTENTIAL RELEVANCE The reduction in ICC density may be associated with the clinical findings as well as recurrent colic episodes observed in a number of these cases. This immunohistochemical study provides a basis for future functional electrophysiological investigations to determine the precise effect of ICC reduction on equine intestinal motility.
Interferons Accelerate Decay of Replication-Competent Nucleocapsids of Hepatitis B Virus

ABSTRACT Alpha interferon (IFN-α) is an approved medication for chronic hepatitis B. Gamma interferon (IFN-γ) is a key mediator of host antiviral immunity against hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in vivo. However, the molecular mechanism by which these antiviral cytokines suppress HBV replication remains elusive. Using an immortalized murine hepatocyte (AML12)-derived cell line supporting tetracycline-inducible HBV replication, we show in this report that both IFN-α and IFN-γ efficiently reduce the amount of intracellular HBV nucleocapsids. Furthermore, we provide evidence suggesting that the IFN-induced cellular antiviral response is able to distinguish and selectively accelerate the decay of HBV replication-competent nucleocapsids but not empty capsids in a proteasome-dependent manner. Our findings thus reveal a novel antiviral mechanism of IFNs and provide a basis for a better understanding of HBV pathobiology.
Obtenção da forma 3D de objectos usando uma metodologia de Reconstrução de Estruturas a partir de Movimento

Em Visao Computacional, varias sao as tecnicas sem contacto e sem projeccao de energia que se podem utilizar para recuperar a estrutura 3D de uma cena ou de um objecto. O objectivo principal do projecto a reportar neste artigo, e a obtencao de modelos 3D definidores da geometria de objectos reais, utilizando metodologias de Reconstrucao de Estruturas a partir do Movimento da(s) câmara(s) ou dos proprios objectos. Este procedimento e habitualmente designado por ? obtencao da estrutura a partir do movimento? , e no caso presente, nao se pretende impor qualquer tipo de restricao ao movimento. Assim, partindo de uma sequencia de imagens nao calibradas, pretende-se extrair o movimento em causa, a calibracao da(s) câmara(s) considerada(s), e obter ageometria 3D do objecto em causa. Resumidamente, neste artigo sao apresentadas as metodologias mais usuais neste dominio, descrito o trabalho por nos ja desenvolvido,apresentados alguns resultados experimentais obtidos e respectivas analises e, por ultimo, serao enumeradas algumas conclusoes e perspectivas de trabalho futuro.
Symptomatic and asymptomatic carotid artery plaque

Carotid atherosclerotic plaques represent both stable and unstable atheromatous lesions. Atherosclerotic plaques that are prone to rupture owing to their intrinsic composition such as a large lipid core, thin fibrous cap and intraplaque hemorrhage are associated with subsequent thromboembolic ischemic events. At least 15–20% of all ischemic strokes are attributable to carotid artery atherosclerosis. Characterization of plaques may enhance the understanding of natural history and ultimately the treatment of atherosclerotic disease. MRI of carotid plaque and embolic signals during transcranial Doppler have identified features beyond luminal stenosis that are predictive of future transient ischemic attacks and stroke. The value of specific therapies to prevent stroke in symptomatic and asymptomatic patients with severe carotid artery stenosis are the subject of current research and analysis of recently published clinical trials that are discussed in this article.
Lumipen 2: Dynamic Projection Mapping with Mirror-Based Robust High-Speed Tracking against Illumination Changes

Dynamic projection mapping (DPM) is a type of projection-based augmented reality that aligns projected content with a moving physical object. In order to be able to adjust the projection to fast motions of moving objects, DPM requires high-speed visual feedback. An option to reduce the temporal delay of adjusting the projection to imperceptible levels is to use mirror-based high-speed optical axis controllers. However, using such controllers for capturing visual feedback requires a sufficient amount of illumination of the moving object. This leads to a trade-off between tracking stability and quality of projection content. In this article, we propose a system that combines mirror-based high-speed tracking with using a retroreflective background. The proposed tracking technique observes the silhouette of the target object by episcopic illumination and is robust against illumination changes. It also maintains high-speed, accident-avoidant tracking by performing background subtraction in an active vision system and employing an adaptive windows technique. This allows us to create a DPM with an imperceptible temporal delay, high tracking stability and high visual quality. We analyze the proposed system regarding the visual quality of the retroreflective background, the tracking stability under illumination and disturbance conditions, and the visual consistency relative to delay in the presence of pose estimation. In addition, we demonstrate application scenarios for the proposed DPM system.