Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Reply

Dear Sir, We are grateful to Jellinger for his interest in our study, and for drawing our attention once again to his own work. Jellinger questions how representative the sample is on the basis of the size of the sample. Clearly the larger the sample, the more likely it is that the sample will be representative of the target population, provided the sampling technique was correct in the first place. In the discussion section we referred to the only two community-based prospective studies we could find, each of which had weaknesses and one of which had a smaller sample size than our own. Size matters, but there are other considerations. In survival studies, the power of a test to compare survival in two groups is related not to the total sample size but to the number of events of interest which occur (in this study, deaths) (1). Power is therefore indirectly related both to sample size (n 1⁄4 90) and duration of follow-up (132 months), and reflected in the width of the confidence intervals around the estimates of the differences between the groups, which in our study are relatively narrow. In our study, data including that related to age at onset of Parkinson’s disease and to the diagnosis of dementia were collected prospectively. The weaknesses inherent in retrospective studies such as that of Jellinger et al. (2) are well known, including inaccuracy of retrospective data. That study was of a larger sample, but how representative that sample was is unknown, because no details were given of the sampling procedure. Jellinger states that in his study older age at onset was associated with increased mortality. However, this was found using univariate tests, and the association was not confirmed using a multivariate test. This suggests the finding may simply be due to the confounding effect of other variables. We would be interested in the results of further analysis of those data.
Specific localization of the basigin protein in human testes from normal adults, normal juveniles, and patients with azoospermia

Basigin is a transmembrane protein belonging to the immunoglobulin superfamily. Specific localization of the protein in normal human testes, from those of a 2‐year‐old boy to those of a 50‐year‐old man, and in testes with Sertoli cell only syndrome and germ cell arrest, is reported. Basigin localization was determined using an immunohistochemical technique with an antibody against human basigin. In the normal adult testes, basigin was detected at the periphery of both spermatocytes older than zygotene and round spermatids. In the juvenile testes, it was expressed in accordance with the appearance of pachytene spermatocytes. In this study, pachytene spermatocytes were detected in an 11‐year‐old boy. Basigin was not expressed in immature testes with germ cells younger than pachytene spermatocytes, namely in testes from boys aged 2–9 years. In testes from adult patients with Sertoli cell only syndrome, basigin was expressed at the periphery of Sertoli cells, but localization was confined to the adluminal compartment of the seminiferous tubule. In testes with germ cell arrest, the protein was expressed on germ cells from pachytene spermatocytes to step 2 spermatids, where present. The results show that in the normal human testes basigin is expressed with the onset of spermatocyte differentiation. Because human basigin is expressed in adult testes with Sertoli cell only syndrome, the protein seems to be synthesized in Sertoli cells and expression continues after these cells dedifferentiate in the seminiferous epithelium.
Letter to the Editor

To the Editor: Cardiac efficiency is the relationship between work and energy consumption. The efficiency concept introduced by Suga assumes that myocardial energy (oxygen) consumption is used for either mechanical activity (work-dependent MVO2) or non-mechanical processes (unloaded MVO2). In this report, we emphasize the advantage of using this concept, as it allows the evaluation of cardiac efficiency in a workindependent manner, which will be of major importance, especially when comparing efficiency of hearts with different work performance.
Scientific Integrity: Text and Cases in Responsible Conduct of Research

Principal author Francis L. Macrina, Ph.D., is the Edward Myers Professor and Director of the John F. Philips Institute of Oral and Craniofacial Molecular Biology at Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond. He directs a research program in bacterial pathogenesis. The list of contributors comprises six experts from US Universities and Research Institutes. As stated in the foreword by G. Koski, this book provides tools, approaches, and insights that all scientists can use to recognize and fulfill their responsibilities and protect truth. As declared in the preface, the third edition of this text draws its life from continued teaching and scholarly activity in the field of responsible conduct of research. This edition aims to provide a core of topic areas that can be used to teach trainees about the principles of scientific integrity. The volume is composed of 11 chapters entitled: methods, manners and responsible conduct of research, ethics and the scientist, mentoring, authorship and peer review, use of humans in biomedical experimentation, use of animals in biomedical experimentation, managing competing interest, collaborative research, ownership of data and intellectual property, genetic technology and scientific integrity, scientific record keeping. Each chapter contains four discussion questions at the end of the textual material. These are designed for in-class discussion, or may be used for writing assignments. At the end of each chapter 10 short cases designed for classroom discussion may be found. These cases are designed to allow students to solve realistic problems encountered in scientific research. In conclusion, there are six appendices entitled: surveys as a tool for training in scientific BOOK REVIEWS
Genomic approach to understanding variation in bovine fat colour.

Subcutaneous fat is important not only in the live animal but also in the carcass, as it prevents the rapid chilling of the underlying muscle tissues, thereby reducing weight loss during chilling. However, beef with yellow fat is considered undesirable by consumers in most European and Asian markets. Beta-carotene is the major carotenoid deposited in adipose tissue, which results in the yellowness. Genes involved in the metabolism of β-carotene in the cattle are likely to regulate beef fat colour. Therefore, DNA variants in candidate genes related to β-carotene metabolism were examined for association with beef fat colour. Based on their location in fat colour quantitative trait loci (QTL) and function in the metabolism of β-carotene, ALDH8A1, APOM, BCMO1, BCO2, RARA, RDHE2, PPARGC1A and SCARB1 were chosen as candidate genes. One hundred eleven (111) DNA variants were identified from the direct sequencing of 3 F1 sires for these eight genes, of which, 27 DNA single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were selected for association studies (3-5 SNPs per gene). Most of these genotyped SNPs and their interactions were associated with fat colour related traits (biopsy fat colour (Fc-bio), carcass fat colour (Fc-car), beta-carotene concentration (Bc-bio)), although the size of the effects was relatively low for many of the variants. However, among the DNA variants, a nonsense mutation in the BCO2 gene (BCO2 W80X) accounted for a large proportion (12-16%) of the total SNP variation in fat colour related traits in Jersey-Limousin backcross progeny. Validation of this SNP in other independent herds (Group 2-7) confirmed the BCO2 W80X genotype has a large effect on beef fat colour and milk colour. The individual genotypic effects of RDHE2 SNP2 and SNP3 were also large. However, these effects were greater in the New Zealand abattoir samples than from pedigreed Jersey-Limousin backcross progeny, amounting to 8-17% of the variance in one population. There was a significant interaction between the BCO2 W80X and the RDHE2 SNP2, which accounted for 1.8% of the total SNP variance in milk fat colour in a New Zealand Holstein cow population, and 4.0% of the total SNP variance in carcass fat colour in New Zealand Jersey-Limousin backcross progeny. In addition to the individual SNP effects, the effects of the haplotypes formed for each gene were also investigated. Only haplotypes of BCMO1, PPARGC1A, RDHE2 and SCARB1 genes had effects on beef fat colour. The most likely pathways involved in the beef fat colour were clarified. The association studies showed that the BCMO1, BCO2, RARA, RDHE2, PPARGC1A and ALDH8A1 genes and their interactions account for a large proportion of the variation in beef fat colour. These genes have roles involving retinol or retinoic acid synthesis. Therefore, the retinol/retinoic acid synthesis pathway appears to be the most important in terms of the contribution to the β-carotene concentration in adipose tissue. The effects of APOM and SCARB1 indicate that transportation of β-carotene is also important in the…
No evidence of modulation of indirect plant resistance of Brassica rapa plants by volatiles from soil‐borne fungi

Upon herbivory, plants emit specific herbivore‐induced plant volatiles (HIPVs) that can attract natural enemies of the herbivore thus serving as indirect plant resistance. Not only insect herbivores, but microorganisms may also affect HIPV emission before or after plant colonisation, which in turn can affect behaviour of natural enemies of the herbivore. Yet, it remains elusive whether volatiles from microorganisms influence HIPV emission and indirect plant resistance. In this study, we investigated whether exposure of Brassica rapa roots to volatiles from soil‐borne fungi influence HIPV emission and the recruitment of natural enemies of Pieris brassicae larvae. Using a two‐compartment pot system, we performed greenhouse and common‐garden experiments, and we profiled plant HIPV emission. We found that exposure of plant roots to fungal volatiles did not affect the number of P. brassicae larvae recollected from the plants, suggesting a neutral effect of the fungal volatiles on natural predation. Likewise, in a greenhouse, similar numbers of larvae were parasitised by Cotesia glomerata wasps on control plants as on fungal volatile‐exposed plants. Additionally, chemical analysis of HIPV profiles revealed no qualitative and quantitative differences between control plants and fungal volatile‐exposed plants that were both infested with P. brassicae larvae. Together, our data indicate that root exposure to fungal volatiles did not affect indirect plant resistance to an insect herbivore. These findings provide new insight into the influence of indirect plant resistance by fungal volatiles that are discussed together with the effects of fungal volatiles on direct plant resistance.
Cultural and Biological Evolution

Although there is no necessary relation between “big data” and “monism”—the program of reducing cultural and mental processes to computational and biological principles—both these programs reject a dualism between res extensa and res cogitans. Opposing this philosophy of science, I have argued in the above chapter that a second contingency of possible relations and expectations feeds back on the manifest relations. This second contingency cannot be studied from a natural-science or life-sciences perspective, but is the proper domain of the social sciences, where the focus is onwhat thingsmean as different fromwhat they are. Nextorder selection mechanisms can take evolutionary control. The complexity of the communication evolves against the arrow of time in terms of interacting codes, which generate redundancies and therefore new options. As human beings, we can follow the potentially unintended consequences of the communication dynamics reflexively. Both consciousness and communication are self-organizing and thus resilient against steering.
Suppressors of position-effect variegation and the cdc2Dm gene in Drosophila Melanogaster

Suppressor of Position-Effect-Variegation (Su(var)) mutations i n Drosophila melanogaster are believed to i d e n t i f y genes that p a r t i c i p a t e i n the establishment or maintenance of heterochromatic domains. A cytogenetic analysis of region 31 of the Drosophila melanogaster polytene chromosome map was undertaken to c l a r i f y the number and p o s i t i o n of several previously i d e n t i f i e d Su(var) mutations. Ten d e f i c i e n c i e s were used to divide the 31 region i n t o 15 separate subintervals. Results of t h i s analysis suggest that there i s a s i n g l e Su(var) locus (Suvar(2)1) i n the 31A-B region. Two recessive suppressors of p o s i t i o n e f f e c t variegation reside i n the 31E32A region. A fourth locus, Su(var)216, was positioned i n region 3IE. Additional mutations were sought throughout the 31 region. In t o t a l , one hundred and twenty-one new EMS, gammai r r a d i a t i o n , and P element induced mutations were tested f o r complementation and mapped using d e f i c i e n c i e s . None of the mutations had a Su(var) phenotype, but 8 a l l e l e s f a i l e d to complement the l e t h a l phenotype associated with the Su(var)216 chromosome. A P element induced a l l e l e of Su(var)216 was cloned and sequenced. The P i s adjacent to cdc2Dm, the Drosophila homologue of the f i s s i o n yeast cdc2 gene. The kinase encoded by cdc2 i s required f o r proper progression through the c e l l c y c l e . The l e t h a l phenotype of Su(var)216 can be rescued by an
Tick surveillance in four southwestern provinces of the Republic of Korea during 2013

Abstract Tick-borne disease surveillance was conducted monthly at different sites in four southwestern provinces of the Republic of Korea (ROK) from April—October 2013. Three general habitats were surveyed: grasses (grasses and herbaceous and crawling vegetation), forests (pine, larch, deciduous, and mixed), and forests+grasses. A total of 27,029 ticks (1,534 adults; 11,755 nymphs; 13,740 larvae) belonging to three genera and five species were collected. Haemaphysalis longicornis (64.76%; 17,504) was the most commonly collected tick, followed by Haemaphysalis flava (29.22%; 7,899), Ixodes nipponensis (5.83%; 1,575), Amblyomma testudinarium (0.17%; 46), and Haemaphysalis phasiana (0.02%; 5). Overall, adult ticks accounted for only 5.68% of all ticks collected, while nymphs and larvae accounted for 43.49% and 50.83%, respectively. Haemaphysalis longicornis nymphs were commonly collected from April—June, followed by increased numbers of adults from June—August, and large numbers of larvae from August—September, while low numbers of all stages were collected during October. Haemaphysalis flava adults and nymphs were commonly collected from April—June and September—October, while large numbers of larvae were collected from July—August. Although fewer I. nipponensis were collected, seasonal developmental stage patterns followed those of H. flava. Similar proportions of males (47.96%) and females (52.04%) of H. flava were collected. However, the proportion of H. longicornis females (85.83%) collected was significantly higher than for males (14.17%), while the proportion of I. nipponensis males (57.62%) was significantly higher than for females (42.38%). Overall, the mean number of ticks collected/hour of collection was highest for forests+grasses (108.54), followed by grasses (97.28) and forests (66.64).
Neurological findings in complex regional pain syndromes ‐ analysis of 145 cases

Early diagnosis is a prerequisite for a successful treatment of complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS). In order to describe neurological symptoms which characterize CRPS, we evaluated 145 patients prospectively. Two-thirds of these were women, the mean age at time of investigation was 50.4 years. CRPS followed limb trauma, surgery and nerve lesion. Employing the current IASP criteria 122 patients were classi®ed as CRPS I and 23 as CRPS II. All patients were assessed clinically pain was quanti®ed using the McGill pain questionnaire, skin temperature was measured by an infrared thermometer and a subgroup of 57 patients was retested in order to determine thermal thresholds (QST). Of our patients 42% reported stressful life events in a close relationship to the onset of CRPS and 41% had a history of chronic pain before CRPS. The latter group of patients gave a higher rating of CRPS pain (P<0.05). The major symptoms were pain at rest in 77% and hyperalgesia in 94%. Typical pain was deep in the limb having a tearing character. Patients getting physical therapy had signi®cantly less pain than those without (P<0.04). Autonomic signs were frequent (98%) and often changed with the duration of CRPS. Skin temperature was warmer in acute and colder in chronic stages (P<0.001). Likewise edema had a higher incidence in acute stages (P<0.001). We found no correlation between pain and autonomic dysfunction. Motor dysfunction (present in 97%) included weakness, tremor, exaggerated tendon re ̄exes, dystonia or myoclonic jerks. QST revealed increased warm perception thresholds (P<0.02) and decreased cold pain thresholds (P<0.03) of the affected limb. The detailed knowledge of clinical features of CRPS could help physicians early to recognize the disease and thus to improve therapy outcome. F. Birklein, B. Riedl, N. Sieweke, M. Weber, B. NeundoÈrfer
Aspects of Vietnamese Sutchi Catfish (Pangasius Hypophthalmus) Frozen Fillet Quality: Microbiological Profile and Chemical Residues.

Pangasius hypophthalmus fillets, classified according to different frozen technologies, were subjected to microbiological (Psychrophilic Total Aerobic Count = PTAC, Enterobacteriacea, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella spp. and Listeria monocytogenes) and chemical analyses (Hg, Pb, Cd and six “indicator” congeners of polychlorinated biphenyls=PCB6). Mean count of psychrophilic aerobic total bacteria, Enterobacteriaceae and S. aureus in all samples examined was 4.44 log CFU/g, 2.16 log CFU/g and 1.07 log CFU/g, respectively. Any sample showed the presence of Salmonella, while L. monocytogenes was encountered in 2.1% of samples tested. The microbiological counts were different among fillet categories, but with values always lower than the limit of ICMSF. Also the chemical quality of processed products is satisfactory being the concentrations of all metals and six “indicator” PCBs below safety levels for human consumption. This study has contributed to addressing the current paucity in literature on the microbial and chemical status of frozen P. hypophthalmus fillets. Practical Applications The present research reveals a good chemical and microbiological quality of the frozen Pangasius fillets, although the samples examined show a low incidence of Listeria monocytogenes and Staphylococcus aureus. Thus, it would be desirable a greater attention to the operator's personal hygiene practices during the processing procedures, appropriate preservation techniques and sanitation programs in the processing plants to avoid cross-contamination. The data contained in this study may also be useful for national and international food safety regulatory authorities.
Proceedings of the 3rd Congress of the DFG Graduate Seminar Cell–Cell Interaction in Reproduction and 7th Dies Andrologicus, Marburg, Germany, 29 November 2003

Platelet-activating factor (PAF) is a phospholipidwith multiple biological activities belonging to the family of angiogenic factors like vascular endothelial growth factor. PAF mediates its specific functions by binding to a specific transmembrane receptor (PAF-R) and is inactivated by the enzyme PAF-acetylhydrolase (PAF-AH), which is responsible for hydrolysis of the acetate group of PAF and results in a complete loss of PAF biological activity. The relevance of PAF during implantation as well as in the haemochorial placenta of the human has been demonstrated earlier. In contrast to the highly invasive trophoblast of humans and rodents, the epitheliochorial bovine placenta is characterized by a restricted trophoblast invasion and therefore can be regarded as a model for invasive processes. The aim of this study was to test the working hypothesis that PAF may be involved in the regulation of trophoblast giant cell migration and angiogenesis in bovine placentomes. Placentomes of 36 cows from early gestation until term (around days 80, 150, 220, 240, 270 and parturition; six per group) were shock frozen in liquid nitrogen or perfusionfixed in Bouin’s solution and embedded in paraffin. PAF activity was analysed by the expression and localization of PAF-R in bovine placenta and by the expression of PAF-AH. PAF-R protein and mRNA were shown by Western blot and RT-PCR, and localized in tissue sections by immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization, respectively. Additionally, mRNA of PAF-AH isoforms Ib (band c-subunit), II and plasma-PAF-AH were detected by RT-PCR. PAF-R mRNA and protein were colocalized in immature trophoblast giant cells (TGCs), uterine epithelial cells and endothelial cells of the foetal and maternal vessels from early gestation until near term. In placentomes taken immediately prepartum and during parturition, the localization of PAF-R mRNA and protein switched from TGCs and uterine epithelial cells to maternal stroma cells. Specific transcripts of PAF-AH mRNA isoforms Ib, II, plasma-PAF-AH were demonstrated in placentomal tissue throughout gestation.The specific localization and parturition-related regulation of PAF-R in bovine placenta together with the expression of PAF-AH suggest relevance of PAF for placentomal angiogenesis and growth during the course of gestation and for the involution of uterus and caruncles postpartum. Acknowledgement. This study was supported by the German Research Foundation.
Interindividual differences in muscle sympathetic nerve activity: a key to new insight into cardiovascular regulation?

The paper reviews findings in humans regarding interindividual differences in sympathetic nerve activity. Data come predominantly from microneurographic multi‐ or single fibre recordings of sympathetic nerve activity in healthy subjects. Findings relate to interindividual differences in muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) during resting conditions and in response to surprising sensory stimuli. At rest there are marked interindividual differences in the number of multiunit MSNA bursts. At the single fibre level the differences are because of more vasoconstrictor fibres being active in subjects with high than in subjects with low number of bursts. There are inverse relationships between (i) sympathetic burst incidence and cardiac output (CO) and (ii) between sympathetic burst incidence and vascular responsiveness to noradrenaline. Both findings contribute to explaining the absence of correlation between resting levels of MSNA and blood pressure. Surprising visual, somatosensory or auditory stimuli of sufficient strength cause a short lasting inhibition of MSNA in approx. 50–60% of healthy subjects. In subjects who display significant inhibition, the stimulus‐induced blood pressure increase is smaller than in subjects without inhibition. The underlying mechanism may be related to fear of blood/injury. It is concluded that analysis of interindividual differences in sympathetic activity improves the understanding of central nervous control of the circulation.
Screening for trisomy at 11–13 weeks' gestation: use of pregnancy‐associated plasma protein‐A, placental growth factor or both

Serum pregnancy‐associated plasma protein‐A (PAPP‐A) and placental growth factor (PlGF) at 11–13 weeks' gestation are reduced in pregnancies with fetal trisomy and in those that subsequently develop pre‐eclampsia (PE). In screening for trisomy, the established biochemical marker is PAPP‐A, whereas in screening for PE, the preferred marker is PlGF. The objective of this study was to examine the impact of replacing PAPP‐A by PlGF in first‐trimester screening for trisomies 21, 18 and 13 by maternal age, fetal nuchal translucency thickness (NT) and free β‐human chorionic gonadotropin (β‐hCG).