Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Nlrp2, a Maternal Effect Gene Required for Early Embryonic Development in the Mouse

Maternal effect genes encode proteins that are produced during oogenesis and play an essential role during early embryogenesis. Genetic ablation of such genes in oocytes can result in female subfertility or infertility. Here we report a newly identified maternal effect gene, Nlrp2, which plays a role in early embryogenesis in the mouse. Nlrp2 mRNAs and their proteins (∼118 KDa) are expressed in oocytes and granulosa cells during folliculogenesis. The transcripts show a striking decline in early preimplantation embryos before zygotic genome activation, but the proteins remain present through to the blastocyst stage. Immunogold electron microscopy revealed that the NLRP2 protein is located in the cytoplasm, nucleus and close to nuclear pores in the oocytes, as well as in the surrounding granulosa cells. Using RNA interference, we knocked down Nlrp2 transcription specifically in mouse germinal vesicle oocytes. The knockdown oocytes could progress through the metaphase of meiosis I and emit the first polar body. However, the development of parthenogenetic embryos derived from Nlrp2 knockdown oocytes mainly blocked at the 2-cell stage. The maternal depletion of Nlrp2 in zygotes led to early embryonic arrest. In addition, overexpression of Nlrp2 in zygotes appears to lead to normal development, but increases blastomere apoptosis in blastocysts. These results provide the first evidence that Nlrp2 is a member of the mammalian maternal effect genes and required for early embryonic development in the mouse.
Optical coherence tomography angiography characteristics of polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy

Purpose To analyse the morphological characteristics of polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) on optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT-A). Methods Prospective study with consecutive patients affected with PCV were included. All patients underwent a complete ophthalmological examination including fundus photography, fluorescein angiography, indocyanine green angiography, spectral-domain OCT and OCT-A. Results Twelve eyes of 12 patients (mean age 72.6±10.5 years; 4 men and 8 women) were included for analysis. In all eyes (12/12) the segmentation of the choriocapillaris layer on OCT-A revealed the branching vascular network (BVN) as a hyperflow lesion. OCT-A segmentation of the choriocapillaris layer in correspondence of the polypoidal lesion showed in 3/12 eyes (25%) a hyperflow round structure, surrounded by a hypointense halo, and in 9/12 eyes (75%) a hypoflow round structure. Conclusions The OCT-A is a non-invasive imaging modality allowing the visualisation of different structures in PCV. The BVN is constantly clearly detected. The hypoflow round structure appearance of the polyp in OCT-A, is probably due to an unusual blood flow inside the polypoidal lesions, contrasting with the BVN. Further improvement in OCT-A knowledge will provide information on the specificity of the different intensity characteristics in PCV.
Pomological Characteristics of Hawthorns Species Found in Van Region

Hawthorns have not gained adequate importance in both Turkey and the World yet. This study aimed to determine the hawthorn species of the region of Van in Turkey to analyze fruit characteristics. Ninety eight hawthorn genotypes were determined by preselection in Gevaş and Edremit towns of Van. However, fruit samples were only 31 types from Gevaş and 18 types from Edremit, respectively. Fruit characteristics such as width, length, weight, color, dry weight of fruits; and seed characteristics such as weight and number of seeds were determined and measured; pH, acidity, soluble solid and vitamin C content of fruits were analized. The hawthorn species of Crataegus orientalis, Crataegus curvisephala and Crataegus pentagyna; the hawthorn subspecies of Crataegus monogyna subsp.azarella and Crataegus monogyna subsp. monogyna were found to be native in Van region. According to the results, it was established that the species Crataegus orientalis and Crataegus pentagyna can be used as a fresh. All hawthorn species and subspecies, in particular Crataegus monogyna subsp. monogyna can be recommended usage for ornamental usage in both rural and urban landscape arrangements.
A fast bar in the post-interaction galaxy NGC 1023

ABSTRACT We measured the bar pattern speed, Ω p , of the SB0 galaxy NGC 1023 usingthe Tremaine-Weinberg (1984) method with stellar-absorption slit spectroscopy. Themorphology and kinematics of the H I gas outside NGC 1023 suggest it suﬀered atidal interaction, sometime in the past, with one of its dwarf companions. At present,however, the optical disc is relaxed. If the disc had been stabilized by a massive darkmatter halo and formed its bar in the interaction, then the bar would have to be slow.We found Ω p = 5.0 ± 1.8 km s −1 arcsec −1 , so that the bar ends near its co-rotationradius. It is therefore rotating rapidly and must have a maximum disc.Key words: galaxies: elliptical and lenticular, cD — galaxies: haloes — galaxies:individual: NGC 1023 — galaxies: interactions — galaxies: kinematics and dynamics— galaxies: photometry 1 INTRODUCTIONStrong bars are seen in optical images of roughly 30% ofall high surface brightness (HSB) disk galaxies (Sellwood& Wilkinson 1993) and this fraction rises to 50%-75% inthe near IR (Knapen 1999; Knapen et al. 2000; Eskridgeet al. 2000). Understanding the structure and dynamics ofbarred (SB) galaxies is, therefore, an issue of some impor-tance. The principal dynamical quantity for SB galaxies isthe rotation frequency/pattern speed of the bar, Ω
Metabolism and macromolecular binding of the carcinogen benzo(a)pyrene and its relatively inert isomer benzo(e)pyrene by hamster embryo cells.

Abstract The metabolism and macromolecular binding of the carcinogen benzo( a )pyrene [B(a)P] and its relatively inert structural isomer benzo( e )pyrene [B(e)P] have been studied in order to determine if a metabolic basis exists for their very different biological activities. B(a)P and B(e)P are metabolized by hamster embryo cells to organic solvent-soluble and water-soluble metabolites. Significant quantitative and qualitative differences are observed in the nature of the metabolites from the different hydrocarbons and the distribution of these metabolites between the cytoplasm and the extracellular medium. B(a)P is metabolized more extensively than B(e)P to both ethyl acetate-soluble and water-soluble metabolites. The major ethyl acetate-soluble metabolite in the medium after 24-hr culture with B(a)P (4 µm) is the bay-region 9,10-dihydro-9,10-dihydroxybenzo( a )pyrene (66.7% of total metabolites in medium). Rapid excretion of this product from the cells is indicative of its observed subsequent biological inactivity. Smaller amounts of 7,8-dihydro-7,8-dihydroxybenzo( a )pyrene were found, but more of this dihydrodiol than the 9,10-dihydrodiol was retained intracellularly, where it could be metabolized to an active diol-epoxide. The major metabolites found in the cytoplasm are 9-hydroxybenzo( a )pyrene and 3-hydroxybenzo( a )pyrene (40.7 and 16.5% of metabolites in cytoplasm, respectively) and 7,8-dihydro-7,8-dihydroxybenzo( a )pyrene (18.4% of metabolites in cytoplasm) with smaller amounts of 9,10-dihydro-9,10-dihydroxybenzo( a )pyrene (9.2% of metabolites in cytoplasm). The low amounts of phenols in the medium are due to their relatively rapid removal as water-soluble, glucuronide conjugates. The major ethyl acetate-soluble metabolite formed in the extracellular medium, after 24 hr of culture with B( e )P (4 µm), is the K-region dihydrodiol, 4,5-dihydro-4,5-dihydroxybenzo( e )pyrene (69.6% of organic solvent-soluble metabolites in medium), with only small amounts of monohydroxybenzo( e )pyrenes (21.9% of organic solvent-soluble metabolites in medium) being formed. Most of the monohydroxybenzo( e )pyrenes formed and significant amounts of 4,5-dihydro-4,5-dihydroxybenzo( e )pyrene are metabolized to their respective water-soluble glucuronide conjugates. The much higher binding of B(a)P than B(e)P to both DNA and RNA of isolated nuclei from cells treated with the parent hydrocarbons reflects the higher biological activity of B(a)P. The metabolic formation of 7,8-dihydro-7,8-dihydroxybenzo( a )pyrene from B(a)P and the apparent lack of formation of 9,10-dihydro-9,10-dihydroxybenzo( e )pyrene from B(e)P suggest a metabolic basis for the relative biological activities of the parent hydrocarbons. While B(a)P forms a dihydrodiol which may be metabolized on an adjacent olefinic double bond to a potentially reactive diolepoxide adjacent to the bay-region, it is apparent that B(e)P does not enzymatically favor this mechanism and forms an inert K-region dihydrodiol.
Cannabis and First-Episode Psychosis: Different Long-term Outcomes Depending on Continued or Discontinued Use

Objective: To examine the influence of cannabis use on long-term outcome in patients with a first psychotic episode, comparing patients who have never used cannabis with (a) those who used cannabis before the first episode but stopped using it during follow-up and (b) those who used cannabis both before the first episode and during follow-up. Methods: Patients were studied following their first admission for psychosis. They were interviewed at years 1, 3, and 5. At follow-up after 8 years, functional outcome and alcohol and drug abuse were recorded. Patients were classified according to cannabis use: 25 had cannabis use before their first psychotic episode and continuous use during follow-up (CU), 27 had cannabis use before their first episode but stopped its use during follow-up (CUS), and 40 never used cannabis (NU). Results: The 3 groups did not differ significantly in symptoms or functional outcome at baseline or during short-term follow-up. The CUS group exhibited better long-term functional outcome compared with the other 2 groups and had fewer negative symptoms than the CU group, after adjusting for potential confounders. For the CUS group, the effect size was 1.26 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.65 to 1.86) for functional outcome and −0.72 (95% CI = −1.27 to −0.14) for negative symptoms. All patients experienced improvements in positive symptoms during long-term follow-up. Conclusion: Cannabis has a deleterious effect, but stopping use after the first psychotic episode contributes to a clear improvement in outcome. The positive effects of stopping cannabis use can be seen more clearly in the long term.
Consumption of Oxidized Soybean Oil Increased Intestinal Oxidative Stress and Affected Intestinal Immune Variables in Yellow-feathered Broilers

This study investigated the effect of oxidized soybean oil in the diet of young chickens on growth performance and intestinal oxidative stress, and indices of intestinal immune function. Corn-soybean-based diets containing 2% mixtures of fresh and oxidized soybean oil provided 6 levels (0.15, 1.01, 3.14, 4.95, 7.05, and 8.97 meqO2/kg) of peroxide value (POV) in the diets. Each dietary treatment, fed for 22 d, had 6 replicates, each containing 30 birds (n = 1,080). Increasing POV levels reduced average daily feed intake (ADFI) of the broilers during d 1 to 10, body weight and average daily gain at d 22 but did not affect overall ADFI. Concentrations of malondialdehyde (MDA) increased in plasma and jejunum as POV increased but total antioxidative capacity (T-AOC) declined in plasma and jejunum. Catalase (CAT) activity declined in plasma and jejunum as did plasma glutathione S-transferase (GST). Effects were apparent at POV exceeding 3.14 meqO2/kg for early ADFI and MDA in jejunum, and POV exceeding 1.01 meqO2/kg for CAT in plasma and jejunum, GST in plasma and T-AOC in jejunum. Relative jejunal abundance of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) P50 and NF-κB P65 increased as dietary POV increased. Increasing POV levels reduced the jejunal concentrations of secretory immunoglobulin A and cluster of differentiation (CD) 4 and CD8 molecules with differences from controls apparent at dietary POV of 3.14 to 4.95 meqO2/kg. These findings indicated that growth performance, feed intake, and the local immune system of the small intestine were compromised by oxidative stress when young broilers were fed moderately oxidized soybean oil.
Unilateral vocal fold paralysis: causes, options and outcomes.

BACKGROUND This study presents the current aetiology of and management options for vocal fold paralysis. METHODS One hundred and eight patients with unilateral vocal fold paralysis, managed by The Sydney Voice Clinic from 1989 to 1996, are reviewed. Aetiology of the palsy was classified as iatrogenic (45 of 108), idiopathic (36 of 108) and other defined causes (27 of 108). Nineteen patients were observed with the rest being managed with speech therapy alone (38 of 108), surgery (24 of 108) or surgery with adjuvant speech therapy (27 of 108). Surgical techniques included vocal fold augmentation (n = 43), thyroplasty (n = 20) and laryngeal re-innervation (n = 12). RESULTS Overall 78 of 108 patients had restoration of near normal to normal voice with an additional 14 attaining a very good voice or better (voice outcome <2). CONCLUSIONS Early intervention for symptomatic patients was found to be rewarding and safe. Vocal fold augmentation with autologous fat was particularly successful in achieving sustained improvement of voice.
Penetrating keratoplasty for keratoconus: the nexus between corneal wavefront aberrations and visual performance.

PURPOSE To compare the visual and optical performance after penetrating keratoplasty (PK) for keratoconus to normal patients and to examine the relationship between corneal wavefront aberrations and visual performance in patients with PK. METHODS Visual performance testing, with optimal refractive correction, included low contrast visual acuity (LCVA) and Pelli-Robson contrast sensitivity with and without glare, and high contrast visual acuity. Corneal first surface wavefront aberrations were calculated from EyeSys topography data using VOL-Pro software v7.00 for a 4.0-mm pupil as a 10th order Zernike expansion and converted into single value metrics. Normal patients were compared to patients with PK using analysis of variance, and linear regression was used to compare wavefront aberration metrics to visual performance. RESULTS Patients with PK (n=14, age 41.6 +/- 7.0 years) and normal patients (n=14, age 36.7-9.0 years) were of similar age (F(1, 26) = 2.54, P = . 12). Normal patients saw significantly better on all visual performance measures and had better optical performance for total higher order root-mean-square corneal wavefront aberration (mean-SD): PK, 0.67 +/- 0.41 microm; normal, 0.09 +/- 0.02 microm (F(1,26) = 28.41, P < . 001) and across all Zernike orders and modes. Wavefront aberrations in PK eyes were dominated by trefoil 0.35 +/- 0.27 microm, coma 0.47 +/- 0.37 microm, spherical aberration 0.17 +/- 0.10 microm, and tetrafoil 0.12 +/- 0.07 microm. The relationships between corneal wavefront aberration and visual performance metrics were strongest for LCVA = 0.30-0.98 Pupil fraction for wavefront (tessellation) -0.04 Half width at half height, R2=0.75. CONCLUSIONS In this series, patients with PK had poorer visual performance compared to normal patients, which is due to increased corneal wavefront aberrations. Outcomes research in corneal transplantation should include measurement of wavefront aberrations and visual performance in the contrast domain.
Large wood potential, piece characteristics, and flood effects in Swiss mountain streams

Abstract We present results of two studies on the (1) potential wood load in steep headwater streams and (2) properties of large wood (LW) transported in mountain rivers during the large August 2005 flood event in Switzerland. Ten headwater reaches of 1000 m length were surveyed in different regions of Switzerland. The potential wood load was estimated for in-channel deadwood, and possible driving factors were explored. Correlations were found with dead wood volume on hillslopes and mean channel width. We established size distributions of LW pieces and identified probable recruitment processes. Four reaches were resurveyed after an exceptionally severe flood in August 2005, showing limited LW transport in channels but considerable wood input by mass wasting processes. In addition, characteristics of deposits of LW along mountain rivers affected by the 2005 flood were investigated. Diameter and length distribution of transported and deposited pieces were comparable to those of LW from steep headwater streams, yet with considerably fewer long pieces in the deposits of mountain rivers. Most LW pieces were fresh wood, indicating that the portion of in-channel deadwood transported during the 2005 flood was limited. Findings of the study contribute to a better understanding of LW dynamics in Alpine mountain streams.
Altered inotropic response to IGF-I in diabetic rat heart: influence of intracellular Ca2+and NO.

Normally, insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) exerts positive effects on cardiac growth and myocardial contractility, but resistance to its action has been reported in diabetes. This study was designed to determine whether IGF-I-induced myocardial contractile action is altered in diabetes as a result of an intrinsic alteration of contractile properties at the cellular level. Contractile responses to IGF-I were examined in left ventricular papillary muscles and ventricular myocytes from normal and short-term (5-7 days) streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Mechanical properties of muscles and myocytes were evaluated using a force transducer and an edge detector, respectively. Preparations were electrically stimulated at 0.5 Hz, and contractile properties analyzed include peak tension development (PTD) or peak twitch amplitude (PTA), time to peak contraction/shortening, and time to 90% relaxation/relengthening. Intracellular Ca2+ transients were measured as fura 2 fluorescence intensity changes. IGF-I (1-500 ng/ml) caused a dose-dependent increase in PTD and PTA in preparations from normal but not diabetic animals. IGF-I did not alter time to peak contraction/shortening or time to 90% relaxation/relengthening. Pretreatment with the NO synthase inhibitor N ω-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (100 μM) attenuated IGF-I-induced increases in PTD in normal myocardium but unmasked a positive inotropic action in diabetic animals. Pretreatment with N ω-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester blocked IGF-I-induced increases in PTA in single myocytes. Consistent with its inotropic actions on muscles and myocytes, IGF-I induced a dose-dependent increase in Ca2+transients in normal but not diabetic myocytes. These results suggest that the IGF-I-induced inotropic response is depressed in diabetes because of an intrinsic alteration at the myocyte level. Mechanisms underlying this alteration in IGF-I-induced myocardial response may be related to changes in intracellular Ca2+ and/or NO production in diabetes.
Fundamental Storage-Latency Tradeoff in Cache-Aided MIMO Interference Networks

Caching is an effective technique to improve user perceived experience for content delivery in wireless networks. Wireless caching differs from traditional web caching in that it can exploit the broadcast nature of wireless medium and hence, opportunistically change the network topologies. This paper studies a cache-aided MIMO interference network with three transmitters each equipped with <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$M$ </tex-math></inline-formula> antennas and three receivers each with <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$N$ </tex-math></inline-formula> antennas. With caching at both the transmitter and receiver sides, the network is changed to hybrid forms of MIMO broadcast channel, MIMO X channel, and MIMO multicast channels. We analyze the degrees of freedom (DoF) of these new channel models using practical interference management schemes. Based on the collective use of these DoF results, we then obtain an achievable <italic>normalized delivery time</italic> (NDT) of the network, an information-theoretic metric that evaluates the worst-case delivery time at given cache sizes. The obtained NDT is for arbitrary <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$M$ </tex-math></inline-formula>, <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$N$ </tex-math></inline-formula>, and any feasible cache sizes. It is shown to be optimal in certain cases and within a multiplicative gap of 3 from the optimum in other cases. The extension to the network with arbitrary number of transmitters and receivers is also discussed.
Left Ventricular Global Longitudinal Strain (GLS) Is a Superior Predictor of All-Cause and Cardiovascular Mortality When Compared to Ejection Fraction in Advanced Chronic Kidney Disease

Background Echocardiographic global longitudinal strain (GLS) is increasingly recognised as a more effective technique than conventional ejection fraction (EF) in detecting subtle changes in left ventricular (LV) function. This study investigated the prognostic value of GLS over EF in patients with advanced Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD). Methods The study included 183 patients (57% male, 63% on dialysis) with CKD stage 4, 5 and 5Dialysis (D). 112 (61%) of patients died in a follow up of 7.8 ± 4.4 years and 41% of deaths were due to cardiovascular (CV) disease. GLS was calculated using 2-dimensional speckle tracking and EF was measured using Simpson’s biplane method. Cox proportional hazard models were used to assess the association of measures of LV function and all- cause and CV mortality. Results The mean GLS at baseline was -13.6 ± 4.3% and EF was 45 ± 11%. GLS was a significant predictor of all-cause [Hazard Ratio (HR) 1.09 95%; Confidence Interval (CI) 1.02–1.16; p = 0.01] and CV mortality (HR 1.16 95%; CI 1.04–1.30; p = 0.008) following adjustment for relevant clinical variables including LV mass index (LVMI) and EF. GLS also had greater predictive power for both all- cause and CV mortality compared to EF. Impaired GLS (>-16%) was associated with a 5.6-fold increased unadjusted risk of CV mortality in patients with preserved EF. Conclusions In this cohort of patients with advanced CKD, GLS is a more sensitive predictor of overall and CV mortality compared to EF. Studies of larger populations in CKD are required to confirm that GLS provides additive prognostic value in patients with preserved EF.