Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of different levels of intracellular cAMP on the in vitro maturation of cattle oocytes and their subsequent development following in vitro fertilization

Serum, gonadotrophins, growth factors, and steroid hormones stimulate the in vitro maturation (IVM) of competent oocytes, acting, directly or indirectly, upon the adenylate cyclase pathway to produce the intracellular messenger, cAMP. The intracellular levels of cAMP in cattle cumulus‐oocyte complexes (COC) were manipulated by adding to the collection and maturation media invasive adenylate cyclase (iAC), a toxin produced by the bacterium, Bordetella pertussis. High concentrations of iAC (1 or 5 μg/ml) in the maturation medium inhibited the resumption of meiosis, while low concentrations (0.1 or 0.01 μg/ml) resulted in high rates of maturation to the MII stage (92.6 ± 2.5 and 98.5 ± 1.4% respectively). The same low concentrations of iAC in the maturation medium resulted in rates of development to the blastocyst stage 8 days post insemination (30.1 ± 4.2 and 45.1 ± 3.9%, respectively), which were either not different, or significantly better, than those obtained after IVM in medium supplemented only with serum and gonadotrophins (36.1 ± 2.9%). Finally, the addition of 0.1 μg/ml iAC and 0.5 mM 3‐isobutyl 1‐methylxanthine (IBMX) in the collection medium significantly improved the blastocyst rate when IVM was performed in control medium or medium supplemented with 0.01 μg/ml iAC (31.9 ± 5.5 vs. 12.1 ± 1.6 and 45.5 ± 2.9 vs. 19.1 ± 2.3% respectively). It is concluded that the maintenance of an optimal intracellular concentration of cAMP before and during IVM ensures a high developmental competence of bovine oocytes matured in medium without serum and hormones. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 54:86–91,1999. © 1999 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Respiratory Sinus Arrhythmia Activity Predicts Internalizing and Externalizing Behaviors in Non-referred Boys

Atypical respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA), a biomarker of emotion dysregulation, is associated with both externalizing and internalizing behaviors. In addition, social adversity and gender may moderate this association. In this study, we investigated if RSA (both resting RSA and RSA reactivity in an emotion regulation task) predicts externalizing and/or internalizing behaviors and the extent to which social adversity moderates this relationship. Two hundred and fifty-three children (at Time 1, mean age = 9.05, SD = 0.60, 48% boys) and their caregivers from the community participated in this study. Resting RSA and RSA reactivity were assessed, and caregivers reported children’s externalizing and internalizing behaviors at both Time 1 and Time 2 (1 year later). We found that lower resting RSA (but not RSA reactivity) at Time 1 was associated with increased externalizing and internalizing behaviors at Time 2 in boys, even after controlling for the effects of Time 1 behavioral problems and Time 2 age. Moreover, there was a significant interaction effect between Time 1 resting RSA and social adversity such that lower resting RSA predicted higher externalizing and internalizing behaviors in boys only under conditions of high social adversity. Follow-up analyses revealed that these predictive effects were stronger for externalizing behavior than for internalizing behavior. No significant effects were found for girls. Our findings provide further evidence that low resting RSA may be a transdiagnostic biomarker of emotion dysregulation and a predisposing risk factor for both types of behavior problems, in particular for boys who grow up in adverse environments. We conclude that biosocial interaction effects and gender differences should be considered when examining the etiological mechanisms of child psychopathology.
Characterization of the Abydos region through OSIRIS high-resolution images in support of CIVA measurements

On 12 November 2014, the European mission Rosetta delivered the Philae lander on the nucleus of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko (67P). After the first touchdown, the lander bounced three times before finally landing at a site named Abydos. Aims. We provide a morphologically detailed analysis of the Abydos landing site to support Philae’s measurements and to give context for the interpretation of the images coming from the Comet Infrared and Visible Analyser (CIVA) camera system onboard the lander. Methods. We used images acquired by the OSIRIS Narrow Angle Camera (NAC) on 6 December 2014 to perform the analysis of the Abydos landing site, which provided the geomorphological map, the gravitational slope map, the size-frequency distribution of the boulders. We also computed the albedo and spectral reddening maps. Results. The morphological analysis of the region could suggest that Philae is located on a primordial terrain. The Abydos site is surrounded by two layered and fractured outcrops and presents a 0.02 km2 talus deposit rich in boulders. The boulder size frequency distribution gives a cumulative power-law index of −4.0 + 0.3/ − 0.4, which is correlated with gravitational events triggered by sublimation and/or thermal fracturing causing regressive erosion. The average value of the albedo is 5.8% at λ1= 480.7 nm and 7.4% at λ2= 649.2 nm, which is similar to the global albedos derived by OSIRIS and CIVA, respectively.
Ground Reaction Force in Sit-to-Stand Movement reflects Lower Limb Function in Middle-Aged and Older Women with Knee Pain

*1 Center for Preventive Medical Sciences, Chiba University 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuo-ku, Chiba 260-8670, Japan tsuji.t@chiba-u.jp *2 Physical Education, Health and Sport Sciences, University of Tsukuba *3 Physical Fitness Research Institute, Meiji Yasuda Life Foundation of Health and Welfare *4 Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Tsukuba *5 Faculty of Health and Sport Sciences, University of Tsukuba
Generalizing Across Domains via Cross-Gradient Training

We present CROSSGRAD, a method to use multi-domain training data to learn a classifier that generalizes to new domains. CROSSGRAD does not need an adaptation phase via labeled or unlabeled data, or domain features in the new domain. Most existing domain adaptation methods attempt to erase domain signals using techniques like domain adversarial training. In contrast, CROSSGRAD is free to use domain signals for predicting labels, if it can prevent overfitting on training domains. We conceptualize the task in a Bayesian setting, in which a sampling step is implemented as data augmentation, based on domain-guided perturbations of input instances. CROSSGRAD parallelly trains a label and a domain classifier on examples perturbed by loss gradients of each other's objectives. This enables us to directly perturb inputs, without separating and re-mixing domain signals while making various distributional assumptions. Empirical evaluation on three different applications where this setting is natural establishes that (1) domain-guided perturbation provides consistently better generalization to unseen domains, compared to generic instance perturbation methods, and that (2) data augmentation is a more stable and accurate method than domain adversarial training.
BCseq: accurate single cell RNA-seq quantification with bias correction

Abstract With rapid technical advances, single cell RNA-seq (scRNA-seq) has been used to detect cell subtypes exhibiting distinct gene expression profiles and to trace cell transitions in development and disease. However, the potential of scRNA-seq for new discoveries is constrained by the robustness of subsequent data analysis. Here we propose a robust model, BCseq (bias-corrected sequencing analysis), to accurately quantify gene expression from scRNA-seq. BCseq corrects inherent bias of scRNA-seq in a data-adaptive manner and effectively removes technical noise. BCseq rescues dropouts through weighted consideration of similar cells. Cells with higher sequencing depths contribute more to the quantification nonlinearly. Furthermore, BCseq assigns a quality score for the expression of each gene in each cell, providing users an objective measure to select genes for downstream analysis. In comparison to existing scRNA-seq methods, BCseq demonstrates increased robustness in detection of differentially expressed (DE) genes and cell subtype classification.
Contribution of efflux to colistin heteroresistance in a multidrug resistant Acinetobacter baumannii clinical isolate

Purpose. The mechanisms underlying colistin heteroresistance in Acinetobacter baumannii are not fully understood. Here, we investigated the role of efflux in colistin‐heteroresistant populations of a multidrug‐resistant (MDR) A. baumannii clinical isolate. Methodology. Three colistin‐resistant A. baumannii strain variants isolated from the same clinical sample were studied for the presence of heteroresistance to colistin by drug susceptibility testing, genotyping and drug resistance target mutation analysis. The existence of active efflux was studied by synergism assays with efflux inhibitors, real‐time efflux activity measurements and analysis of the mRNA transcriptional levels of selected efflux pump genes in response to colistin. Results. All of the strain variants belong to the ST218, clonal complex 92, international clonal lineage II. Different colistin susceptibility levels were observed among the three strain variants, indicating that colistin‐heteroresistant subpopulations were being selected upon exposure to colistin. No mutations were found in the genes lpxACD and pmrAB, which are associated with colistin resistance. The results showed the existence of synergistic interactions between efflux inhibitors and colistin and ethidium bromide. Real‐time efflux assays demonstrated that the three strain variants had increased efflux activity that could be inhibited in the presence of the inhibitors. The efflux pump genes adeB, adeJ, adeG, craA, amvA, abeS and abeM were found to be overexpressed in the strain variants in response to colistin exposure. Conclusion. This study shows that efflux activity contributes to colistin heteroresistance in an MDR A. baumannii clinical isolate. The use of efflux inhibitors as adjuvants of the therapy can resensitize A. baumannii to colistin and prevent the emergence of drug resistance.
Persistence of the transformed Paenibacillus polymyxa expressing CRY 1 C in the plant leaves and its effect on chlorophyll and carotenoid

The transformed Paenibacillus polymyxa bacterial strain expressing Cry1C (tNMO10) that has dual function: bio-fertilizer and biocontrol agent of the Lepidopteron insects was used in spraying the cotton plants. plant leaves were checked for the presence of the transformed bacteria inside it by PCR detection of cry1C gene and total protein profiling. Two pairs of specific primers that give 2.2 kb and 3.7 kb amplified products from cry1C gene were used. Moreover, chlorophyll A, B & total chlorophyll A+B and carotenoid were determined. The data revealed, the presence of Cry1C toxin protein in the total cellular protein pattern of sprayed plant leaves with tNMO10 while was not found in those sprayed with parent strain (NMO10) and the reference strain Bt aizawai. The PCR could detect the 2.2 kb and 3.7 kb of the cry1C gene with plant leaves that sprayed with the tNMO10. Chlorophyll A, B and A+B showed increase in concentration in the second and fourth week after planting in the plant leaves treated with tNMO10 over the concentration of that leaves treated with the NMO10. The plant leaves that not treated with bacteria (control) showed the lowest concentration. The values of CA, CB and CA+B in the second week in plant leaves that treated with control, untransformed strain NMO10 and transformed strain tNMO10 respectively were as follow: CA: 18.63< 24.24< 28.59 mg/L, CB: 14.49< 21.73< 23.88 mg/L, CAB: 33.45< 41.65< 47.36 mg/L. In addition, the carotenoid content showed the same behavior of chlorophyll giving the following values in the second week with control, untransformed strain and transformed strain respectively, 4.18< 5.19< 5.69. Thus, the transformed bacteria tNMO10 caused improvement in the cotton plants through the increase of chlorophyll and carotenoid contents due to its presence survival and expressing its toxin Cry1C protein inside the cotton leaves. [Nahed Abdel Ghaffar A. Ibrahim; Amal Ibrahim Hussien; Adel El-Sayed Hatem; Hani K. Aldebis and Enrique Vargas-Osuna. Persistence of the transformed paenibacillus polymyxa expressing CRY1C in the plant leaves and its effect on chlorophyll and carotenoid. Life Sci J 2014;11(8):433-442]. (ISSN:1097-8135). http://www.lifesciencesite. com. 57 Keywards: Paenibacillus polymyxa, NMO10 bacterial strain, tNMO10 transformed bacterial strain, Cry1C toxin protein, Chlorophyll, Carotenoid
Developmental programming of energy balance regulation: is physical activity more ‘programmable’ than food intake?

Extensive human and animal model data show that environmental influences during critical periods of prenatal and early postnatal development can cause persistent alterations in energy balance regulation. Although a potentially important factor in the worldwide obesity epidemic, the fundamental mechanisms underlying such developmental programming of energy balance are poorly understood, limiting our ability to intervene. Most studies of developmental programming of energy balance have focused on persistent alterations in the regulation of energy intake; energy expenditure has been relatively underemphasised. In particular, very few studies have evaluated developmental programming of physical activity. The aim of this review is to summarise recent evidence that early environment may have a profound impact on establishment of individual propensity for physical activity. Recently, we characterised two different mouse models of developmental programming of obesity; one models fetal growth restriction followed by catch-up growth, and the other models early postnatal overnutrition. In both studies, we observed alterations in body-weight regulation that persisted to adulthood, but no group differences in food intake. Rather, in both cases, programming of energy balance appeared to be due to persistent alterations in energy expenditure and spontaneous physical activity (SPA). These effects were stronger in female offspring. We are currently exploring the hypothesis that developmental programming of SPA occurs via induced sex-specific alterations in epigenetic regulation in the hypothalamus and other regions of the central nervous system. We will summarise the current progress towards testing this hypothesis. Early environmental influences on establishment of physical activity are likely an important factor in developmental programming of energy balance. Understanding the fundamental underlying mechanisms in appropriate animal models will help determine whether early life interventions may be a practical approach to promote physical activity in man.
A Hidden Resource in Wireless Channel Capacity: Dependence Control in Action

This paper aims to initiate the research on dependence control, which transforms the dependence structure of a stochastic process in the system through dependence manipulation, to improve the system performance. Specifically, we develop a dependence control theory for wireless channels, focusing on three principles in dependence control: (i) the asymptotic decay rates of delay and backlog in the system are the measures for dependence comparison and ordering, (ii) the dependence in the arrival process and the service process have a dual potency to influence the system performance, and (iii) the manipulation of the dependence in the free dimensions of the arrival or service process transforms the dependence structure of the arrival or service process. In addition, we apply the theory to the Markov additive process, which is a general model for a class of arrival processes and a versatile model for wireless channel capacity, and derive a set of results for various performance measures, including delay, backlog, and delay-constrained capacity. To demonstrate the use of the theory, we focus on dependence manipulation in wireless channel capacity, where we use copula to represent the dependence structure of the underlying Markov process of wireless channel capacity. We show that, based on a priori information of the temporal dependence of the uncontrollable parameters and the spatial dependence between the uncontrollable and controllable parameters, we can construct a sequence of temporal copulas of the Markov process and obtain a sequence of transition matrices of the controllable parameters to achieve the demanded dependence properties of the wireless channel capacity. This dependence manipulation technique is validated by simulation.
Patient derived xenografts (PDX) predict an effective heparanase-based therapy for lung cancer

Heparanase, the sole heparan sulfate (HS) degrading endoglycosidase, regulates multiple biological activities that enhance tumor growth, metastasis, angiogenesis, and inflammation. Heparanase accomplishes this by degrading HS and thereby facilitating cell invasion and regulating the bioavailability of heparin-binding proteins. HS mimicking compounds that inhibit heparanase enzymatic activity were examined in numerous preclinical cancer models. While these studies utilized established tumor cell lines, the current study utilized, for the first time, patient-derived xenografts (PDX) which better resemble the behavior and drug responsiveness of a given cancer patient. We have previously shown that heparanase levels are substantially elevated in lung cancer, correlating with reduced patients survival. Applying patient-derived lung cancer xenografts and a potent inhibitor of heparanase enzymatic activity (PG545) we investigated the significance of heparanase in the pathogenesis of lung cancer. PG545 was highly effective in lung cancer PDX, inhibiting tumor growth in >85% of the cases. Importantly, we show that PG545 was highly effective in PDX that did not respond to conventional chemotherapy (cisplatin) and vice versa. Moreover, we show that spontaneous metastasis to lymph nodes is markedly inhibited by PG545 but not by cisplatin. These results reflect the variability among patients and strongly imply that PG545 can be applied for lung cancer therapy in a personalized manner where conventional chemotherapy fails, thus highlighting the potential benefits of developing anti-heparanase treatment modalities for oncology.
Serum concentrations of soluble (s)L- and (s)P-selectins in women with ovarian cancer

Introduction The aim of the study was to compare serum concentration of soluble L- and P-selectins in women with ovarian cancer (OC) and healthy controls, and to investigate sL- and sP-selectin levels with regard to clinical and pathological parameters. Correlation analysis was used to measure the following: sL- and sP-selectin concentration and Ca125; sP-selectin and platelet concentrations; and sL-selectin and serum leukocyte levels in women with OC. Material and methods The study included 29 patients with OC and 23 healthy controls. Serum concentrations of sL- and sP-selectins were measured in all subjects. Routine diagnostic tests: CBC and USG (both groups) and Ca125 (study group) were performed. Results Significantly higher serum concentrations of sL- and sP-selectins were found in the study group as compared to controls. Lower levels of serum sL-selectin were observed in women with poorly-differentiated OC (G3) and advanced stages of the disease (FIGO III, IV), but the results were statistically insignificant. No statistically significant relationship was detected between sP-selectin serum concentration in women with OC and tumour differentiation, histological type, and stage of the disease. No significant correlation was found between sL- and sP-selectins and Ca125 levels. A weak correlation was found between serum concentration of sP-selectin in women with OC and platelet count. No statistically significant correlation was observed between sL-selectin concentration and serum leukocyte levels in women with OC. Conclusions The analysis of sL- and sP-selectin concentrations may be a useful tool in the diagnosis of OC. The levels of sL-selectin decrease with disease progression.
Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy: One More Angiographic Evidence of Microvascular Dysfunction

Background Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TC) aetiology has not been completely understood yet. One proposed pathogenic mechanism was coronary microvascular dysfunction (MVD). This study compared coronary flow and myocardial perfusion in patients with TC, microvascular angina (MVA), and a control group (CG). Methods Out of 42 consecutive patients presented to our centre with TC from 2013 to 2017; we retrospectively selected 27 patients. We compared them with a sex- and age-matched group of 27 MVA cases and 27 patients with normal coronary arteries (CG). The flow was evaluated in the three coronary arteries as TIMI flow and TIMI frame count (TFC). Myocardial perfusion was studied with Blush-Score and Quantitative Blush Evaluator (QuBE). Results TFC, in TC, revealed flow impairment in the three arteries compared to the CG (left anterior descending artery (LAD): 22 ± 8, 15 ± 4; p = 0.001) (right coronary artery: 12 ± 4, 10 ± 3; p = 0,025) (left circumflex: 14 ± 4, CG 11 ± 3; p = 0,006). QuBE showed myocardial perfusion impairment in the LAD territory in TC comparing with both the CG (8,9 (7,2–11,5) versus 11,4 (10–15,7); p = 0,008) and the MVA group (8,9 (7,2–11,5) versus 13,5 (10–16); p = 0,006). Conclusions Our study confirmed that coronary flow is impaired in TC, reflecting a MVD. Myocardial perfusion defect was detected only in the LAD area.
Evaluating the Toxicity Effect of Euphorbia Contifolia on Honey Bees ( Apis mellifera ) at Field Condition

The recent decline of honey bee population raises speculations from different angles. Exposure to poisoning substances is proposed as prime factor for honeybee deaths and colony reduction. Euphorbia contifolia, commonly known as “key abeba” is suspected as poisonousplant to honeybees and other animals in different regions of Ethiopia. An attempt was made to test the phytotoxic effect of this plant on honeybees in Illubabora and Jimma zones of Oromia region. Questioner survey and controlled experiment were used to assess the effect of E.contifolia on honeybees during its flowering season. Data on numberof dead adult bees and bee broods were counted at every 3hr, 4hr, 5hr, 6hr and 12hr of the day for five consecutive days. The survey result indicates that anaverage of 52% of the respondents of the two zones suspected that E. contifolia causes death and narcosis of foraging bees. In contrast, the mean mortality rate of adult and brood bees between the treatment and control group did not significantly differ (P >0.05), and no any narcosis symptom observed during the experimental test. This demonstratesthe absence of distinct toxic effect of the plant on honeybees. However, further study on the plant’s nectar and pollen active compound is recommended to reach into full understanding.