Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Gene expression profiles in the bovine corpus luteum (CL) during the estrous cycle and pregnancy: Possible roles of chemokines in regulating CL function during pregnancy

To determine functional differences between the corpus luteum (CL) of the estrous cycle and pregnancy in cows, gene expression profiles were compared using a 15 K bovine oligo DNA microarray. In the pregnant CL at days 20–25, 40–45 and 150–160, the expressions of 138, 265 and 455 genes differed by a factor of > 2-fold (P < 0.05) from their expressions in the cyclic CL (days 10–12 of the estrous cycle). Messenger RNA expressions of chemokines (eotaxin, lymphotactin and ENA-78) and their receptors (CCR3, XCR1 and CXCR2) were validated by quantitative real-time PCR. Transcripts of eotaxin were more abundant in the CL at days 40–45 and 150–160 of pregnancy than in the cyclic CL (P < 0.01). In contrast, the mRNA expressions of lymphotactin, ENA-78 and XCR1 were lower in the CL of pregnancy (P < 0.05). Messenger RNAs of CCR3 and CXCR2 were similarly detected both in the cyclic and pregnant CL. Tissue protein levels of eotaxin were significantly higher in the CL at days 150–160 of pregnancy than in the CL at other stages, whereas the lymphotactin protein levels in the CL at days 20–25 of pregnancy were lower (P < 0.05). Immunohistochemical staining showed that CCR3 was expressed in the luteal cells and that XCR1 was expressed in both the luteal cells and endothelial cells. Collectively, the different gene expression profiles may contribute to functional differences between the cyclic and pregnant CL, and chemokines including eotaxin and lymphotactin may regulate CL function during pregnancy in cows.
Physiological Determinants of the Cycling Time Trial

Abstract Støren, Ø, Ulevåg, K, Larsen, MH, Støa, EM, and Helgerud, J. Physiological determinants of the cycling time trial. J Strength Cond Res 27(9): 2366–2373, 2013—The purpose of this study was to examine the physiological determinants of endurance cycling time trial (TT) performance in a heterogeneous group of competitive male road cyclists. About 15 male cyclists who had all competed in cycling the preceding season were tested for the anthropometric variables height, body weight, leg length, ankle circumference, and body fat percentage. They were also tested for maximal oxygen consumption (V[Combining Dot Above]O2max), lactate threshold (LT), metabolic cost of cycling (CC), peak power output and average power output during a 30-second Wingate test, 1 repetition maximum and peak power in half squats, and a TT test on an ergometer. Heart rate and cadence (rounds per minute, RPM) were continuously measured during all cycle tests. Pearson Bivariate correlation tests and single linear regression tests were performed to obtain correlation coefficients (r), effect size (F), standard error of estimate (SEE), and 95% confidence interval. The single variable that correlated best with TT performance was power output at LT (r = 0.86, p < 0.01). Standard error of estimate was 7.5%. Lactate threshold expressed in %V[Combining Dot Above]O2max did not correlate significantly with TT performance. An equation representing both aerobic and anaerobic endurance capacity TT(w) = 0.95 ([V[Combining Dot Above]O2max/CC] TT%V[Combining Dot Above]O2max) + 0.05 (Wingate average) correlated strongly with TT laboratory performance (r = 0.93, p < 0.01, SEE = 5.7%). None of the strength, power, or anthropometric variables correlated significantly with TT laboratory performance.
Trends and Patterns of Disparities in Oral Cavity and Pharyngeal Cancer in Serbia: Prevalence and Economic Consequences in a Transitional Country

Citation: Djordjevic G, Dagovic A, Ristic V, Kanjevac T, Brajkovic D and Popovic M (2017) Trends and Patterns of Disparities in Oral Cavity and Pharyngeal Cancer in Serbia: Prevalence and Economic Consequences in a Transitional Country. Front. Pharmacol. 8:385. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2017. 00385 Trends and Patterns of Disparities in Oral Cavity and Pharyngeal Cancer in Serbia: Prevalence and Economic Consequences in a Transitional Country
Effect of microstructure of nano- and micro-particle filled polymer composites on their tribo-mechanical performance

In this work we have investigated the influence of nanoscale and microscale structure on the tribo-mechanical performance and failure mechanisms of two biocompatible dental polymer composites, with different reinforcing particulates, using advanced microscopy techniques. Nano- and micro structural analysis reveals the shape, size and distribution of the particles in the composites. In the microparticle filled polymer composite (microcomposite), the particles are of irregular shape with sharp edges with non-uniform distribution in the matrix. However, in the nanoparticle filled composites (nanocomposite), filler particles are spherical in shape with uniform distribution in the matrix. From nanoindentation measurements, hardness and reduced modulus of the microcomposite were found to be heterogeneous. However, the hardness and reduced modulus of the nanocomposite were found to be homogeneous. The nanocomposite shows better tribo-mechanical performance compared to that of the microcomposite.
Trends in Automotive Communication Systems

The use of networks for communications between the electronic control units (ECU) of a vehicle in production cars dates from the beginning of the 1990s. The speciﬁc requirements of the different car domains have led to the development of a large number of automotive networks such as Local Interconnect Network, J1850, CAN, TTP/C, FlexRay, media-oriented system transport, IDB1394, etc. This paper ﬁrst introduces the context of in-vehicle embedded sys- tems and, in particular, the requirements imposed on the communication systems. Then, a comprehensive review of the most widely used automotive networks, as well as the emerging ones, is given. Next, the current efforts of the automotive industry on middleware technologies, which may be of great help in mastering the heterogeneity, are reviewed. Finally, we highlight future trends in the de- velopment of automotive communication systems.
Genetic linkage between hereditary hemochromatosis and HLA.

A large Mormon pedigree of a proband with hemochromatosis was studied, using transferrin saturation as the quantitative phenotypic trait. The analysis indicated that the inheritance of hemochromatosis was recessive, with partial expression in some heterozygotes. The lod score of 6.88 (theta = .0) was strongly indicative of linkage between the hemochromatosis locus and the human major histocompatibility (HLA) loci.
Rotenone decreases intracellular aldehyde dehydrogenase activity: implications for the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease

Repeated systemic administration of the mitochondrial complex I inhibitor rotenone produces a rodent model of Parkinson's disease (PD). Mechanisms of relatively selective rotenone‐induced damage to nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurons remain incompletely understood. According to the ‘catecholaldehyde hypothesis,’ buildup of the autotoxic dopamine metabolite 3,4‐dihydroxyphenylacetaldehyde (DOPAL) contributes to PD pathogenesis. Vesicular uptake blockade increases DOPAL levels, and DOPAL is detoxified mainly by aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH). We tested whether rotenone interferes with vesicular uptake and intracellular ALDH activity. Endogenous and F‐labeled catechols were measured in PC12 cells incubated with rotenone (0–1000 nM, 180 min), without or with F‐dopamine (2 μM) to track vesicular uptake and catecholamine metabolism. Rotenone dose dependently increased DOPAL, F‐DOPAL, and 3,4‐dihydroxyphenylethanol (DOPET) levels while decreasing dopamine and 3,4‐dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) levels and the ratio of dopamine to the sum of its deaminated metabolites. In test tubes, rotenone did not affect conversion of DOPAL to DOPAC by ALDH when NAD+ was supplied, whereas the direct‐acting ALDH inhibitor benomyl markedly increased DOPAL and decreased DOPAC concentrations in the reaction mixtures. We propose that rotenone builds up intracellular DOPAL by decreasing ALDH activity and attenuating vesicular sequestration of cytoplasmic catecholamines. The results provide a novel mechanism for selective rotenone‐induced toxicity in dopaminergic neurons.
Forming Composites of Cognitive Ability and Alternative Measures to Predict Job Performance and Reduce Adverse Impact: Corrected Estimates and Realistic Expectations

Although there has been empirical attention paid to the criterion-related validity of predictor composites, there has been much less attention paid to the standardized ethnic group differences associated with these composites. One important area of inquiry in predictor composite research is the influence of adding predictors to a test of general mental ability. The limited empirical literature on this practice is mixed, but the prevailing expectation is that there is likely to be higher validity and less adverse impact. Unfortunately, much of the previous work is limited by the presence of inaccurate validity and standardized ethnic group difference values. In this analysis we formed meta-analytic matrices to more accurately estimate the validity and standardized ethnic group differences of several composites that combine a measure of cognitive ability with measures of conscientiousness, a structured interview, or biodata. While results were somewhat complex, we found that adding alternative predictors does not result in a situation in which validity automatically goes up and adverse impact potential automatically goes down. In fact, the reductions in adverse impact (if any) from adding non-cognitive predictors were more modest than much of the literature suggests.
Group fusion: the impact of winner, loser, and bystander effects on hierarchy formation in large groups

We present the results of a series of computer simulations that examined the impact of winner, loser, and bystander effects on hierarchy formation in fused groups. These effects and their implications for hierarchy structure and aggressive interactions were first examined in small four-member groups. Subsequent to this, the two small groups were fused into a single larger group. Further interactions took place in this fused group, generating a new hierarchy. Our models demonstrate clearly that winner, loser, and bystander effects strongly influence both the structure and types of interactions that emerge from the fusion of smaller groups. Four conditions produced results in which the same general patterns were uncovered in pre- and postfusion groups: (1) winner effects alone, (2) bystander loser effects alone, (3) winner and bystander winner effects operating simultaneously, and (4) all four effects in play simultaneously. Outside this parameter space, hierarchy structure and the nature of aggressive interactions differed in pre- and postfusion groups. When only loser effects were in play, one of the two clear alphas from the prefused groups dropped in rank in the eight-member fused group. When bystander winner effects were in play, it was difficult to rank any of the eight individuals in the fused group, and players interacted almost exclusively with those that were not in their original four-member group. When loser and bystander loser effects operated simultaneously, two top-ranking individuals emerged in the fused groups, but the relative rank of the other players was difficult to assign. Copyright 2003.
Effect of water vapour content in H2–H2O–CO–CO2 mixtures on MgO solubility in slag under conditions of novel flash ironmaking technology

The effects of different gas atmospheres on the solubility of MgO in CaO–FeO–Al2O3–SiO2–P2O5–MnO slags were studied in the temperature range of 1550–1650°C with wt-%CaO/wt-%SiO2 of 0·8–1·4 and under pO2 = 10−10 to 10−9 atm. The investigated gas atmospheres were H2/H2O (H2 reductant), CO/CO2H2/H2O (natural/coal gas) and CO/CO2. MgO solubility was found to decrease with basicity and FeO content, and increased with temperature. The following correlation was developed for MgO solubility as a function of slag composition and temperature This correlation adequately predicts MgO solubility in slags with FeO contents of 1–50 wt-%, CaO/SiO2 ratios of 0·4–1·6 and temperatures of 1550–1650°C. In addition, MgO solubility was correlated with temperature and basicity defined as: B = (wt-%CaO+0·7 wt-%FetO+0·59 wt-%MnO)–(0·5 wt-%SiO2+0·6 wt-%Al2O3), as follows The MgO solubility at 1550°C and pO2 of 1·6×10−5 atm, which represent typical ironmaking conditions, was 17, 20 and 26 wt-% respectively for slags under CO/CO2H2/H2O, H2/H2O and CO/CO2. Therefore, water vapour would decrease lining wear, as MgO solubility in slag under H2O containing atmospheres is substantially smaller than that under CO/CO2 in typical ironmaking conditions. It was found also that MgO solubility in slag shows a small increase with increasing pH2O beyond ironmaking conditions. For the first time, the effects of water vapour on MgO solubility in slag have been determined.
A Naturally Occurring Domestic Cat APOBEC3 Variant Confers Resistance to Feline Immunodeficiency Virus Infection

ABSTRACT Apolipoprotein B mRNA-editing enzyme catalytic polypeptide-like 3 (APOBEC3; A3) DNA cytosine deaminases can be incorporated into progeny virions and inhibit lentiviral replication. On the other hand, viral infectivity factor (Vif) of lentiviruses antagonizes A3-mediated antiviral activities by degrading A3 proteins. It is known that domestic cat (Felis catus) APOBEC3Z3 (A3Z3), the ortholog of human APOBEC3H, potently suppresses the infectivity of vif-defective feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV). Although a recent report has shown that domestic cat encodes 7 haplotypes (hap I to hap VII) of A3Z3, the relevance of A3Z3 polymorphism in domestic cats with FIV Vif has not yet been addressed. In this study, we demonstrated that these feline A3Z3 variants suppress vif-defective FIV infectivity. We also revealed that codon 65 of feline A3Z3 is a positively selected site and that A3Z3 hap V is subject to positive selection during evolution. It is particularly noteworthy that feline A3Z3 hap V is resistant to FIV Vif-mediated degradation and still inhibits vif-proficient viral infection. Moreover, the side chain size, but not the hydrophobicity, of the amino acid at position 65 determines the resistance to FIV Vif-mediated degradation. Furthermore, phylogenetic analyses have led to the inference that feline A3Z3 hap V emerged approximately 60,000 years ago. Taken together, these findings suggest that feline A3Z3 hap V may have been selected for escape from an ancestral FIV. This is the first evidence for an evolutionary “arms race” between the domestic cat and its cognate lentivirus. IMPORTANCE Gene diversity and selective pressure are intriguing topics in the field of evolutionary biology. A direct interaction between a cellular protein and a viral protein can precipitate an evolutionary arms race between host and virus. One example is primate APOBEC3G, which potently restricts the replication of primate lentiviruses (e.g., human immunodeficiency virus type 1 [HIV-1] and simian immunodeficiency virus [SIV]) if its activity is not counteracted by the viral Vif protein. Here we investigate the ability of 7 naturally occurring variants of feline APOBEC3, APOBEC3Z3 (A3Z3), to inhibit FIV replication. Interestingly, one feline A3Z3 variant is dominant, restrictive, and naturally resistant to FIV Vif-mediated degradation. Phylogenetic analyses revealed that the ancestral change that generated this variant could have been caused by positive Darwinian selection, presumably due to an ancestral FIV infection. The experimental-phylogenetic investigation sheds light on the evolutionary history of the domestic cat, which was likely influenced by lentiviral infection.
Cigarette smoke induced autophagy-impairment accelerates lung aging , COPD-1 emphysema exacerbations and pathogenesis 2 3

1 emphysema exacerbations and pathogenesis 2 3 Neeraj Vij1,2,#, Prashanth Chandramani-Shivalingappa*1, Colin Van Westphal*1, 4 Rachel Hole1 and Manish Bodas1 5 College of Medicine, Central Michigan University, Mt Pleasant, MI, Department of 6 Pediatric Respiratory Science, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 7 Baltimore, MD 8 9 Running Title: Cigarette smoke accelerates lung aging and COPD 10 11 Special Issue: Cellular Mechanisms of Proteostasis 12 13 Word Count: 4925 14 15 * Equal Contribution; List of contributions: Conception and design: NV; Analysis and 16 interpretation: NV, MB, PCS, CVW, RW; Drafting the manuscript for important 17 intellectual content: NV, PCS, CVW, MB 18 # Address of correspondence: 19 Neeraj Vij Ph.D., Associate Professor of Molecular & Cell Biology 20 College of Medicine | Central Michigan University 21 2630 Denison Drive, Room# 120 (Office) & 126-127 (Lab), 22 College of Medicine Research Building | Mt. Pleasant MI 48859 23 Phone: 989-774-6453 | E-mail: neeraj.vij@cmich.edu; vijlaboratory@gmail.com 24 25 Funding: Study was supported by the Flight Attendant Medical Research Institute’s 26 (FAMRI), Young Clinical Scientist Award (YCSA_082131) to NV. NV was also 27 supported by other National Institute of Health (NIH, U54CA141868) grant during this 28 period. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision 29 to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. 30 31 At a Glance Summary: 32 33 Scientific Knowledge on the Subject: The CS exposure and aging are first and second 34 leading causes of COPD-emphysema pathogenesis. Although various mechanisms 35 related to the role of CS and aging in emphysema progression are independently 36 described but there remains a gap in knowledge, if CS and aging involve a common 37 process for disease pathogenesis and progression. 38 39 What This Study Adds to the Field: This study for the first time describes that both CS 40 exposure and aging impair proteostasis/autophagy resulting in a unique alveolar 41 pathology, aggresome-bodies, that mediates alveolar senescence and emphysema 42 progression. In addition, the study describes a prognosis based intervention strategy 43 where levels of aggresome-bodies can predict severity of disease that can be treated 44 with an autophagy inducing antioxidant drug, cysteamine. 45 46 Articles in PresS. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol (July 13, 2016). doi:10.1152/ajpcell.00110. 2016
Effect of botulinum toxin type A, motor imagery and motor observation on motor function of hemiparetic upper limb after stroke

Background: In rehabilitation settings, motor imagery, motor observation and mirror therapy serve as techniques for the recovery of paretic upper limb in patients with movement disorders after stroke, whereas botulinum toxin type A (BTX-A) offers the best treatment for focal spasticity. Case reports: After haemorrhagic stroke, three patients (two men and one woman, mean age: 61.2 ± 7.03) presented with hemiparesis of the left or right hand and arm with flexion of fingers, wrist and elbow, with no disturbance to sensitivity but with loss of use handoff the limb to write, eat or dress. After BTX-A injections, the patients underwent a daily rehabilitation programme based on motor imagery and motor observation for 1 month. Before and after the combined treatment, the motor function, spasticity and functional deficits of the patient were extensively measured. After a 3-month follow-up, upper limb spasticity measured with the Modified Ashworth Scale had worsened, yet the associated score remained lower than that at baseline. However, in these three patients a large improvement of motor function of the hemiparetic upper limb was observed. Conclusion: Combined treatment may be a viable rehabilitation option in post-stroke patients with disability to upper-extremity motor function, however further investigations are needed to determine its reproducibility in larger case series or clinical trials.
Depressed patients' acceptability of the use of self-administered scales to measure outcome in clinical practice.

BACKGROUND Self-report questionnaires are a cost-effective option to monitor the outcome of clinical care. Even when using self-report scales, consideration should be given to how much time they take to complete and how burdensome they are perceived to be. In the present report from the Rhode Island Methods to Improve Diagnostic Assessment and Services (MIDAS) project, we compared the acceptability of completing two depression scales-the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and the Clinically Useful Depression Outcome Scale (CUDOS). METHODS In the first study, 50 depressed psychiatric outpatients completed the CUDOS and a questionnaire assessing how burdensome it was to complete during the visit. In the second study, a separate sample of 50 depressed outpatients completed the CUDOS and BDI and a measure of scale acceptability. RESULTS Almost all patients completed the CUDOS in less than 3 minutes (mean = 102.7 seconds, SD = 42.7) and considered the questionnaire very little or a little burdensome (98.0%, n = 49). In the second study comparing the CUDOS and the BDI, significantly more patients indicated that the CUDOS took less time to complete and was less of a burden to complete. Nearly three times as many patients indicated that they would prefer to complete the CUDOS in order to monitor the outcome of treatment (40.0% vs. 14.0%, z = 2.31, p .05). CONCLUSIONS A consumer-friendly, reliable, and valid self-administered questionnaire can improve the efficiency of the clinical encounter. The brevity of the CUDOS lends itself to regular administration in clinical practice.
Panton-Valentine leukocidin and biofilm production of Staphylococcus aureus isolated from respiratory tract.

INTRODUCTION Staphylococcus aureus is one of the first bacteria colonizing in cystic fibrosis (CF) respiratory tract and different virulence factors are responsible for disease progression. It is not clear if CF S. aureus strains are more virulent than strains isolated from non-CF patients. METHODOLOGY Biofilm production was detected by a modified tissue culture plate method, presence of genes encoding for Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL) was investigated by a signal amplified sandwich hybridization assay and antimicrobial susceptibility patterns were detected by disk diffusion method. RESULTS Staphylococcus aureus clinical isolates (n = 88) recovered from respiratory tract specimens in which 31 of them were from cystic fibrosis (CF) patients were analysed. Biofilm production was detected in 96.8% of CF isolates in which 32.3% exhibited strong positive phenotype and in 47.4% of non-CF isolates in which strong positive phenotype was not observed (p <0.05). All CF isolates were methicillin susceptible, whereas 53.4% of non-CF isolates (n = 31) were methicillin resistant. No resistance was observed for vancomycin, chloramphenicol and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole in any of the isolates. PVL genes were detected only in two isolates (2.3%), one from each group, CF and non-CF, which both were methicillin susceptible. CONCLUSION Biofilm rather than PVL production appears to be an important virulence factor in CF patients.