Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Activity‐dependent modulation of intracellular ATP in cultured cortical astrocytes

Brain function is absolutely dependent on an appropriate supply of energy. A shortfall in supply—as occurs, for instance, following stroke—can lead rapidly to irreversible damage to this vital organ. While the consequences of pathophysiological energy depletion have been well documented, much less is known about the physiological energy dynamics of brain cells, although changes in the intracellular concentration of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the major energy carrier of cells, have been postulated to contribute to cellular signaling. To address this issue more closely, we have investigated intracellular ATP in cultured primary cortical astrocytes by time‐lapse microscopy using a genetically encoded fluorescent sensor for ATP. The cytosolic ATP sensor signal decreased after application of the neurotransmitter glutamate in a manner dependent on both glutamate concentration and glutamate transporter activity, but independent of glutamate receptors. The application of dopamine did not affect ATP levels within astrocytes. These results confirm that intracellular ATP levels in astrocytes do indeed respond to changes in physiological activity and pave the way for further studies addressing factors that affect regulation of ATP. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Current knowledge and future direction of research on soy isoflavones as a therapeutic agents

Isoflavones, the most abundant phytoestrogens in Soy beans, are structurally similar to 17beta-estradiol. The antioxidant property of the soy isoflavones, namely, genistein and daidzein is well established in different experimental models and also in clinical studies. The compounds have been found effective in the management of diabetes by acting on peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors. It reduces the risk of coronary heart disease by reducing the level of low-density lipoprotein and triglycerides. Soy isoflavones have the potential in the treatment of osteoporosis to act on osteoclasts further to inhibit tyrosine kinase. Among the soy isoflavones, genistein is the potential compound found effective in the treatment of cancer by acting on androgen receptor further to inhibit tyrosine kinases. In this article, various aspects of the diverse biological activities of soy isoflavones and their potential clinical implications with mechanism of action, especially in the treatment and prevention of diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, cancer, osteoporosis, neuroprotection, and also future area of research on soy isoflavones are reviewed and discussed.
A SUBSTELLAR COMPANION IN A 1.3 yr NEARLY CIRCULAR ORBIT OF HD 16760,

We report the detection of a substellar companion orbiting the G5 dwarf HD 16760 from the N2K sample. Precise Doppler measurements of the star from Subaru and Keck revealed a Keplerian velocity variation with a period of 466.47 ± 0.35 d, a semiamplitude of 407.71 ± 0.84 m s−1, and an eccentricity of 0.084 ± 0.003. Adopting a stellar mass of 0.78 ± 0.05 M☉, we obtain a minimum mass for the companion of 13.13 ± 0.56 MJUP, which is close to the planet/brown-dwarf transition, and the semimajor axis of 1.084 ± 0.023 AU. The nearly circular orbit despite the large mass and intermediate orbital period makes this companion unique among known substellar companions.
WingSpan Stent System in the endovascular treatment of intracranial aneurysms: clinical experience with midterm follow-up results.

OBJECT The WingSpan stent is a new self-expandable neurovascular stent designed for endovascular treatment of intracranial atheromatous lesions. The authors report their experience with the use of this stent for the endovascular treatment of intracranial aneurysms. METHODS Thirty-seven patients with 40 wide-necked intracranial aneurysms were treated using the WingSpan stent. Twenty-two aneurysms (55%) were small and 18 (45%) were large or giant. In all but 4 aneurysms, embolization was completed by packing the aneurysm sac with platinum coils. In 4 dissecting aneurysms that were fusiform or too small and wide necked to be catheterized, the stent was used alone. In these cases, the stent bridged the aneurysm neck to allow for flow redirection and the potential stent-induced endothelization effect. RESULTS Follow-up angiograms obtained in 3 of 4 aneurysms, treated with only stent placement, demonstrated aneurysmal thrombosis and parent artery remodeling in 2 patients and moderate decrease in size in 1. Follow-up angiography obtained at 6 months to 1 year in 31 aneurysms after stent-supported coil embolization demonstrated complete occlusion in 23 aneurysms (74.2%) with a progressive thrombosis rate of 66.7% (10 of 15 aneurysms), and a recanalization rate of 16.1%. CONCLUSIONS In treating wide-necked intracranial aneurysms, the WingSpan Stent System is very flexible, secure, and effective. Its delivery system is very easy and exact in that it exerts higher outward radial force, thus providing an excellent conformability and a strong scaffold to hold the coils in place. It may offer an effective treatment when used alone in some fusiform or very wide-necked, small dissecting aneurysms in which other surgical or endovascular treatment strategies are not deemed feasible.
DEVELOPMENT OF THE HYBRID SWARM BETWEEN PECOS PUPFISH (CYPRINODONTIDAE: CYPRINODON PECOSENSIS) AND SHEEPSHEAD MINNOW (CYPRINODON VARIEGATUS): A PERSPECTIVE FROM ALLOZYMES AND mtDNA

A comparison of allozyme and mtDNA frequencies was used for insight into a situation in the Pecos River, Texas where contact between the endemic pupfish (Cyprinodon pecosensis) and an introduced congener (C. variegatus) has resulted in rapid, geographically extensive genetic introgression. Temporal changes in mean frequencies of diagnostic allozyme markers indicate that the clinal pattern of introduced genetic material (Echelle and Connor 1989) is slowly decreasing in amplitude. Significant rank concordance in diagnostic allele frequencies among sites and across sampling years indicates directional influences upon temporal allele frequency change. These observations are consistent with the theory of gene flow in neutral clines. Levels of introgression indicated by each of four allozyme loci and mtDNA were roughly equivalent. The early history of the hybrid swarm is explained by genetic swamping, possibly mediated by selection for C. variegatus or C. variegatus × C. pecosensis, at a time when the normally abundant endemic species had been catastrophically depleted. High frequencies of an introduced GPI‐A allele in all samples of intergrades suggests that the introduced genome originated with a single founding event.
Evidence of AS3MTd2d3-Associated Variants within 10q24.32-33 in the Genetic Risk of Major Affective Disorders

Genome-wide association studies suggest that 10q24.32-33 is a risk region for schizophrenia (SCZ). Considering the substantial genetic overlap between SCZ and major affective disorders, we would like to investigate whether the 10q24.32-33 region confers risk of affective disorders. We chose three SCZ genome-wide significant SNPs (rs7914558, rs7085104, and rs11191580) in 10q24.32-33 and collected the statistical data from European and Asian populations to perform systematic meta-analyses, which finally included up to 26,413 cases with affective disorders and 24,849 controls. Meta-analyses showed that all SNPs were nominally associated with major affective disorders. Considering the a priori evidence that these SNPs were associated with the expression of AS3MTd2d3 isoform in the human brain, our data confirms the potential involvement of AS3MTd2d3 in the genetic risk of major affective disorders.
Optimal Nitrogen Doping Level to Reach High Q0

New continuous wave (CW) accelerators such as LCLS-II at SLAC require many SRF cavities operating in the medium field region at unprecedented high Q0. In order to achieve this demanding goal, nitrogen-doping of the SRF cavities will be used. Nitrogen-doping has been shown to affect the BCS resistance both by a lowering of RBCS at low fields and by the introduction of an anti-Q slope which enables the Q0 to continue increasing as the RF field is increased. The exact strength of this anti-Q slope is heavily dependent on the doping recipe and specifically the mean free path of the RF penetration layer of the doped cavities. In addition to its effect on R BCS, the mean free path affects the amount of residual resistance obtained due to trapped magnetic flux. We have analyzed nine cavities prepared with different levels of nitrogen-doping to understand how BCS and residual resistance are affected by changes in the mean free path. Here we present a model based on these experimental results to predict the optimal doping level to reach the maximum Q at 16 MV/m based on the ambient magnetic field conditions. We find that if the cavities can be cooled with small amounts of trapped flux, moderate nitrogen-doping is better, while if they will have large amounts of trapped flux, lighter dopings should be used.
Effects of passive mobilization on acute hemodynamic responses in mechanically ventilated patients.

OBJECTIVE To assess the effects of passive mobilization on acute hemodynamic responses in mechanically ventilated patients. METHODS This cross-sectional, quantitative, observational study enrolled patients who were admitted to the intensive care unit, sedated and mechanically ventilated. The infusion of sedative and analgesic drugs aimed to maintain a Ramsay scale sedation level of 4 to 6. Passive mobilization consisted of hip and knee flexion-extension movements for five minutes. After 10 minutes of rest, an additional five minutes of flexion-extension passive movements was performed for the shoulders. Hemodynamic assessments (heart rate and systolic, diastolic and mean blood pressure) were performed one minute before the mobilization protocol and one minute after each phase. The double product and myocardial oxygen consumption were calculated using appropriate formulas. RESULTS A total of 13 patients (69.2% male, with a mean age of 69.1 ± 15.8 years) were admitted from June to December, 2011. Passive mobilization led to statistically significant increases in heart rate, double product and myocardial oxygen consumption. However, mean blood pressure was not significantly altered. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that passive mobilization of mechanically ventilated and sedated patients is safe and provides beneficial effects on acute hemodynamic parameters, particularly heart rate, although mean blood pressure is not significantly altered.
Short article: A randomized-controlled study of sitagliptin for treating diabetes mellitus complicated by nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

Background This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of sitagliptin for treating Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Methods In total, 72 Chinese T2DM patients with NAFLD were divided randomly into two groups of 36 patients each group. All 72 patients were assigned to receive either sitagliptin or diet and exercise for 52 weeks between January 2013 and December 2015. The outcomes’ measurements included serum levels of hemoglobin A1c, fasting plasma glucose, aspartate aminotransferase, and alanine aminotransferase. Results Seventy patients completed the study. Sitagliptin showed greater efficacy than the diet and exercise in decreasing the hemoglobin A1c and fasting plasma glucose levels at weeks 13, 26, 39, and 52. In addition, no significant changes in the average aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase levels were found during the 52-week follow-up in both the sitagliptin and the control groups. Conclusion The results of this study indicate that sitagliptin is an effective and safe treatment for patients with T2DM and NAFLD.
Dimensions of executive functioning in schizophrenia and their relationship with processing speed.

CONTEXT The nature of executive dysfunction in schizophrenia is nebulous, due to inconsistencies in conceptualizing and operationalizing the construct, and the broader question of whether schizophrenia is best characterized in terms of specific vs generalized cognitive deficits. The current study aimed to determine whether executive functions represent unitary vs diverse constructs in schizophrenia. METHODS Participants included 145 community-dwelling individuals with schizophrenia. Executive functions were measured with the Delis-Kaplan Executive Functioning System (D-KEFS). We conducted an exploratory factor analysis (EFA) with principal axis factoring, as well as parallel analyses to examine the latent constructs underlying the D-KEFS tasks, a second EFA on weighted residuals of the D-KEFS tasks (after accounting for processing speed measured with the Digit Symbol task), and bivariate correlations to examine relationships between the D-KEFS components and relevant demographic and clinical variables, crystallized verbal knowledge, and functional capacity. RESULTS EFA of the D-KEFS tasks yielded 2 factors (cognitive flexibility/timed tests and abstraction). EFA of the processing speed-weighted D-KEFS residuals also yielded 2 factors (cognitive flexibility and abstraction). Cognitive flexibility was negatively correlated with psychopathology. Better abstraction was associated with higher education, shorter illness duration, and better functional capacity. Both factors were positively correlated with crystallized verbal knowledge. CONCLUSIONS Executive functions in schizophrenia could be parsed into 2 partially related but separable subconstructs. Future efforts to elucidate functional outcomes as well as neurobiological underpinnings of schizophrenia may be facilitated by attending to the distinction between cognitive flexibility and abstraction.
Age Related Patterns of Disease and Mortality in Hospitalised Adults in Malawi

Background The epidemic of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in low and middle income countries (LMICs) is widely recognised as the next major challenge to global health. However, in many LMICs, infectious diseases are still prevalent resulting in a “double burden” of disease. With increased life expectancy and longevity with HIV, older adults may particularly be at risk of this double burden. Here we describe the relative contributions of infections and NCDs to hospital admissions and mortality, according to age, in Malawi’s largest hospital. Methods Primary diagnosis on discharge/death, mortality rates, and HIV status were recorded prospectively on consecutive adult medical in-patients over 2 years using an electronic medical records system. Diagnoses were classified as infections or NCDs and analysed according to age and gender. Findings 10,191 records were analysed. Overall, infectious diseases, particularly those associated with HIV, were the leading cause of admission. However, in adults ≥55 years, NCDs were the commonest diagnoses. In adults <55 years 71% of deaths were due to infections whereas in adults ≥55 years 56% of deaths were due to NCDs. Interpretation Infectious diseases are still the leading cause of adult admission to a central hospital in Malawi but in adults aged ≥55 years NCDs are the most frequent diagnoses. HIV was an underlying factor in the majority of adults with infections and was also present in 53% of those with NCDs. These findings highlight the need for further health sector shifts to address the double burden of infectious and NCDs, particularly in the ageing population.
Thin Layer Modeling and Determination of Thermodynamic Properties of Tomato Slices during Hot Air Drying

The drying kinetics and determination of thermodynamic properties of sliced tomato samples during hot air drying in a hybrid solar-electric crop dryer were presented. One kilogram batch of freshly harvested tomato samples were sliced to 10 mm thickness and dried at varying air velocities (1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 ms) and temperatures (50, 55, 60, 65, and 70C) using the hybrid mode. In order to choose the best drying model, eight thin-layer mathematical models were fitted to the experimental data. The high values of coefficient of determination, R and the low values of reduced sum of squares error (SSE) and root mean square error (RMSE) indicated that the Midilli et al. model adequately described the drying process of tomato slices, with its highest R (0.9999), lowest SSE (0.1136) and lowest value of RMSE (0.0212) at 70C temperature and 2.0 ms air velocity. Arrhenius model was used to represent the drying constant as a function of temperature. The effective moisture diffusivity increased with increase in temperature and air velocity; with the highest value obtained at air velocity of 2.0 ms and temperature of 70C, whereas it was lowest at air velocity of 1.0 ms and temperature of 50C. The mean activation energy required to dry 1kg batch of 10 mm sliced tomato samples was 39.34 kJmol. Enthalpy and Gibbs free energy values were found to decrease with increasing drying temperature as well as the entropy which also exothermically decreased with temperature. Recommendations for further studies were stated.
The tegument and associated structures of Haplometra cylindracea

The tegument of Haplometra cylindracea is protoplasmic. It is organized on two levels, a surface syncytium (‘cuticle’ of the light microscopists) and tegumental cells which lie among the parenchymal cells below the muscle layers. The surface syncytium and tegumental cells are joined together by protoplasmic, tube-like, processes. The surface syncytium is covered apically and basally by a unit plasma membrane. It contains mitochondria, vacuoles, lipid bodies, spines with a crystalline structure and dense secretory bodies. This syncytium lies on a basement membrane and a thick, fibrous, interstitial layer. The connecting protoplasmic processes, which originate from the base of the syncytium, are vacuolated and have few inclusions but, as they approach the tegumental cells, they become progressively filled with cytoplasm, cell inclusions and dense bodies. The tegumental cells consist of individual areas of nucleated protoplasm, usually lying in groups. These cells contain dense secretory bodies, mitochondria, a few lipid droplets, crystalline inclusions, and Golgi complexes. The Golgi complexes and granular endoplasmic reticulum are jointly involved in the production of a dense, probably proteinaceous, secretory body. Some qualitative regional differences in tegumental ultrastructure are described. The tegument of Haplometra is compared with that of other species so far described and like them must be considered both a protective and a secretory epithelium. I should like to express my sincere thanks to the following: The Wellcome Trust and Science Research Council for grants to purchase an Akashi TRS 50 and and A.E. I. EM6B electron microscope respectively; the Royal Society for a personal grant to purchase a Reichert Ultramicrotome and a vacuum coating unit; the Wellcome Trust for a grant to employ a Research Associate.
Biosorption of Heavy Metal (Chromium) Using Biomass

Bioremediation of heavy metal pollution remains a major challenge in environmental biotechnology. Many bacterial polysacchrides have been shown to bind heavy metals with varying degrees of specificity and affinity. This paper highlights the potential of yeast Biomass for biosorbing chromium metal ion in aqueous solutions. Experiments were carried out as a function of pH, temperature, biosorbent concentration, chromium concentration, contact time, agitation speed, interference and reusability. A removal of 95% was achieved under optimized conditions. The mechanism of metal sorption by yeast cells gave good fits for Freundlich and Langmuir models with max q value of 86.95 mg/g. The changes in entropy ( S°) and the heat of biosorption ( H°) of Biomass were estimated as 105.1 Jmol K and 48865 Jmol , respectively. The free energy change 11 1
3 Virtual Reality as communication tool : a socio-cognitive analysis

Virtual Reality (VR) is usually described by the media as a particular collection of technological hardware: a computer capable of 3D real-time animation, a head-mounted display, data gloves equipped with one or more position trackers. However, this focus on technology is disappointing for communication researchers and VR designers. To overcome this limitation this paper describes VR as a communication tool: a communication medium in the case of multi-user VR and a communication interface in sigle-user VR. The consequences of this approach for the design and the development of VR systems are presented , together with the methodological and technical implications for the study of interactive communication via computers.
Hepatitis B Virus RNA-Binding Proteins Associated with Cytokine-Induced Clearance of Viral RNA from the Liver of Transgenic Mice

ABSTRACT Hepatitis B virus (HBV) gene expression is downregulated in the liver of HBV transgenic mice by a posttranscriptional mechanism that is triggered by the local production of gamma interferon (IFN-γ) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) during intrahepatic inflammation (hepatitis). The molecular basis for this antiviral effect is unknown. In this study, we identified three HBV RNA-binding liver nuclear proteins (p45, p39, and p26) the relative abundance of which correlates with the abundance of HBV RNA in response to the induction of IFN-γ and TNF-α. All three proteins bind to a 91-bp element located at the 5′ end of a previously defined posttranscriptional regulatory element that is thought to mediate the nuclear export of HBV RNA. The presence of p45 correlates directly with the presence of HBV RNA, being detectable under baseline conditions when the viral RNA is abundant and undetectable when the viral RNA disappears in response to IFN-γ and TNF-α. In contrast, p26 is inversely related to HBV RNA, being detectable only when the viral RNA disappears following cytokine activation. Finally, p39 is constitutively expressed, and its abundance and mobility appear to be slightly increased by cytokine activation. These results suggest a model in which hepatocellular HBV RNA content might be controlled by the stabilizing and/or destabilizing influences of these RNA-binding proteins whose activity is regulated by cytokine-induced signaling pathways.
Relative Contributions of Active Mediated Transport and Passive Diffusion of Fluoroquinolones with Various Lipophilicities in a Calu-3 Lung Epithelial Cell Model

ABSTRACT The transport characteristics of six fluoroquinolones (FQs) with various lipophilicities were compared in a Calu-3 cell model. For each FQ, an active polarized transport was observed in the direction of the apical side. However, the apparent permeability of FQs resulted from active transport and passive diffusion that were highly variable between compounds and mainly governed by lipophilicity. Therefore, active transport was predominant for compounds with relatively low lipophilicity but minor for FQs with higher lipophilicity.
Comparative Chemistry of Aspergillus oryzae (RIB40) and A. flavus (NRRL 3357)

Aspergillus oryzae and A. flavus are important species in industrial biotechnology and food safety and have been some of the first aspergilli to be fully genome sequenced. Bioinformatic analysis has revealed 99.5% gene homology between the two species pointing towards a large coherence in the secondary metabolite production. In this study we report on the first comparison of secondary metabolite production between the full genome sequenced strains of A. oryzae (RIB40) and A. flavus (NRRL 3357). Surprisingly, the overall chemical profiles of the two strains were mostly very different across 15 growth conditions. Contrary to previous studies we found the aflatrem precursor 13-desoxypaxilline to be a major metabolite from A. oryzae under certain growth conditions. For the first time, we additionally report A. oryzae to produce parasiticolide A and two new analogues hereof, along with four new alkaloids related to the A. flavus metabolites ditryptophenalines and miyakamides. Generally the secondary metabolite capability of A. oryzae presents several novel end products likely to result from the domestication process from A. flavus.