Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Lipid Profile Alterations in the Metabolic Syndrome The Latest Biochemical and Physiological Aspect

Cardiovascular and cerebrovacular complications form a major challenge in the management of the The Metabolic Syndrome. The risks of development are compounded by simultaneous occurrence of Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), dyslipid emias, hypertension and other medical conditions. The significant increase in morbidity, mortality along with premature death and disabilities resulting from these conditions in both developed and developing is a matter of great concern. The article makes a microanalysis of Biochemical alterations associated with dyslipidemias in cases of metabolic syndrome.
Quantitative Proteomics of Synaptosomal Fractions in a Rat Overexpressing Human DISC1 Gene Indicates Profound Synaptic Dysregulation in the Dorsal Striatum

Disrupted-in-schizophrenia 1 (DISC1) is a key protein involved in behavioral processes and various mental disorders, including schizophrenia and major depression. A transgenic rat overexpressing non-mutant human DISC1, modeling aberrant proteostasis of the DISC1 protein, displays behavioral, biochemical and anatomical deficits consistent with aspects of mental disorders, including changes in the dorsal striatum, an anatomical region critical in the development of behavioral disorders. Herein, dorsal striatum of 10 transgenic DISC1 (tgDISC1) and 10 wild type (WT) littermate control rats was used for synaptosomal preparations and for performing liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS)-based quantitative proteomics, using isobaric labeling (TMT10plex). Functional enrichment analysis was generated from proteins with level changes. The increase in DISC1 expression leads to changes in proteins and synaptic-associated processes including membrane trafficking, ion transport, synaptic organization and neurodevelopment. Canonical pathway analysis assigned proteins with level changes to actin cytoskeleton, Gαq, Rho family GTPase and Rho GDI, axonal guidance, ephrin receptor and dopamine-DARPP32 feedback in cAMP signaling. DISC1-regulated proteins proposed in the current study are also highly associated with neurodevelopmental and mental disorders. Bioinformatics analyses from the current study predicted that the following biological processes may be activated by overexpression of DISC1, i.e., regulation of cell quantities, neuronal and axonal extension and long term potentiation. Our findings demonstrate that the effects of overexpression of non-mutant DISC1 or its misassembly has profound consequences on protein networks essential for behavioral control. These results are also relevant for the interpretation of previous as well as for the design of future studies on DISC1.
Evaluation of donor workups and exclusions in a single‐center experience of living donor liver transplantation

The process of evaluating potential donors in liver transplantation is important to ensure donor safety and provide optimal recipient outcomes. However, there has been no report about donor exclusion rates and reasons for such exclusion in Korea. In this study, we aimed to elucidate the outcomes of potential living liver donor evaluation in a major living donor liver transplantation center. From July 2011 to June 2015, prospectively collected data of 726 potential donors for 588 matched recipients were subsequently evaluated. Among 726 potential donors, 374 potential donors (51.5%) finally reached donation; 352 potential donors (48.5%) were excluded for various reasons. Donor reasons were 29.8%, including medical problems, withdrawal of consent, graft volume issues, and identification of a better suitable donor. Recipient reasons were 20.7%, including recipient death or recovery, allocation to deceased donor, and progressions of hepatocellular carcinoma. A total of 38 (5.2%) potential donors had a fatty liver. Among them, 15 (39.5%) potential donors tried short‐term weight reduction and eventually were able to donate. In conclusion, the main reasons for donor exclusion were medical problems and withdrawal of consent. Therefore, thorough medical screening and careful examination for donor voluntarism are important in the donor evaluation process. Liver Transplantation 23 614–624 2017 AASLD.
NRF2 regulates core and stabilizing circadian clock loops, coupling redox and timekeeping in Mus musculus

Diurnal oscillation of intracellular redox potential is known to couple metabolism with the circadian clock, yet the responsible mechanisms are not well understood. We show here that chemical activation of NRF2 modifies circadian gene expression and rhythmicity, with phenotypes similar to genetic NRF2 activation. Loss of Nrf2 function in mouse fibroblasts, hepatocytes and liver also altered circadian rhythms, suggesting that NRF2 stoichiometry and/or timing of expression are important to timekeeping in some cells. Consistent with this concept, activation of NRF2 at a circadian time corresponding to the peak generation of endogenous oxidative signals resulted in NRF2-dependent reinforcement of circadian amplitude. In hepatocytes, activated NRF2 bound specific enhancer regions of the core clock repressor gene Cry2, increased Cry2 expression and repressed CLOCK/BMAL1-regulated E-box transcription. Together these data indicate that NRF2 and clock comprise an interlocking loop that integrates cellular redox signals into tissue-specific circadian timekeeping.
ACE2: more of Ang-(1–7) or less Ang II?

Purpose of reviewPrevious concepts regarding the pathways involved in the generation of angiotensin II (Ang II) have been challenged by studies showing the existence of a peptide acting as an endogenous antagonist of Ang II. The discovery that angiotensin-(1–7) [Ang-(1–7)] opposes the pressor, proliferative, profibrotic, and prothrombotic actions mediated by Ang II has contributed to the realization that the renin–angiotensin system is composed of two opposing arms: the pressor arm constituted by the enzyme angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE), Ang II as the product, and the Ang II type 1 (AT1) receptor as the main protein mediating the biological actions of Ang II; the second arm is composed of the monocarboxypeptidase angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), Ang-(1–7) produced through hydrolysis of Ang II, and the Mas receptor as the protein conveying the vasodilator, antiproliferative, antifibrotic, and antithrombotic effects of Ang-(1–7). Recent findingsExperimental and clinical studies demonstrate a role for the Ang-(1–7)/ACE2/Mas axis in the evolution of hypertension, the regulation of renal function, and the progression of renal disease including diabetic nephropathy. Additional evidence suggests that a reduction in the expression and activity of this vasodepressor component may be a critical factor in mediating the progression of cardiovascular disease. SummaryFurther research on the contribution of the Ang-(1–7)/ACE2/Mas axis to cardiovascular pathology will lead to the development of new pharmacological approaches resulting in the design of molecular or genetic means to increase the expression of ACE2, allow for increased tissue levels of Ang-(1–7), or both.
Prevalence and correlates of body dysmorphic disorder in a community sample of adolescents

Objective: Body dysmorphic disorder typically begins in adolescence, yet little is known about the prevalence and correlates of the disorder in this age group. The current study aimed to explore the presenting features of adolescents meeting probable criteria for body dysmorphic disorder in a large community sample, and compare levels of comorbid psychopathology, quality of life and mental health service use between adolescents with probable body dysmorphic disorder and those without. Method: Questionnaires were completed at school by 3149 adolescents: 63% male, aged 12–18 years (M = 14.58). These assessed Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th ed.) body dysmorphic disorder criteria, past mental health service use and symptoms of body dysmorphic disorder, anxiety, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder and eating disorders. In male participants, additional measures assessed quality of life, muscularity concerns, emotional symptoms, peer problems, conduct problems and hyperactivity. Results: The prevalence of probable body dysmorphic disorder was 1.7%; there was no sex difference in prevalence, but older adolescents reported higher prevalence than younger adolescents. Probable body dysmorphic disorder participants reported substantially elevated levels of psychopathology, quality of life impairment and mental health service use compared to non-body dysmorphic disorder participants. Conclusions: The prevalence of body dysmorphic disorder in adolescents is similar to adult samples, and probable body dysmorphic disorder is associated with comorbidity, distress and functional impairment in a community sample. Further research is required to better understand the presentation of body dysmorphic disorder in adolescents, and to improve diagnosis and treatment.
Gender-Based Differences in Outcome After Anatomic Double-Bundle Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction With Hamstring Tendon Autografts

Background: Although previous studies suggested that female patients are predisposed to increase graft laxity compared with male patients after single-bundle anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction using autogenous hamstring tendons, there have been no studies specifically examining gender-based differences in outcome after anatomic double-bundle anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with hamstring tendon autografts. Hypotheses: (1) Female patients have significantly smaller hamstring graft diameters than do men for anatomic double-bundle anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction surgery; (2) female patients will have increased graft laxity compared with male patients after anatomic double-bundle anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction using autogenous hamstring tendons. Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 2. Methods: The consecutive 174 patients who underwent anatomic double-bundle anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction using autogenous hamstring tendons were enrolled. Of these patients, 49 women and 73 men were prospectively evaluated 2 years after surgery. Results: The diameters for anteromedial and posterolateral grafts in the female group were significantly smaller than those in the male group. On Lachman testing, 98% of the female group and 97% of the male group were rated as negative. Regarding the pivot-shift test, 80% of the female group and 85% of the male group were rated as negative. No significant differences were found between the female and male groups in these tests. The average side-to-side differences in the KT-2000 knee ligament arthrometer values were 1.3 mm in the female group and 1.4 mm in the male group; this difference between females and males was not statistically significant. The average Lysholm scores were 96.7 points in the female group and 97.2 points in the male group. Thirty-five cases (73%) in the female group and 54 cases (74%) in the male group were graded as normal on the International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) evaluation. There were no significant differences in Lysholm score or IKDC evaluation between the female and male groups. Conclusion: The results of assessment for ligament laxity at the 2-year postoperative evaluation in the female group were approximately identical to those of the male group after anatomic double-bundle anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction using autogenous hamstring tendons. Therefore, the present study suggests that anatomic double-bundle anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction using autogenous hamstring tendons provides satisfactory knee stability to female patients as well as male patients.
Reproduction and survival in the city: which fitness components drive urban colonization in a reed-nesting waterbird?

Abstract Processes of adaptation to urban environments are well described for relatively few avian taxa, mainly passerines, but selective forces responsible for urban colonization in ecologically different groups of birds remain mostly unrecognized. The aim of this article is to identify drivers of recent urban colonization (Łódź, central Poland) by a reed-nesting waterbird, the Eurasian coot Fulica atra. Urban colonizers were found to adopt a distinct reproductive strategy by maximizing the number of offspring (carryover effects of higher clutch size), whereas suburban individuals invested more in the quality of the progeny (higher egg volume), which could reflect differences in predatory pressure between 2 habitats. In fact, reduced predation rate was strongly suggested by elevated hatching success in highly urbanized areas, where probability of hatching at least 1 chick was higher by 30% than in suburban natural-like habitats. Coots nesting in highly urbanized landscape had considerably higher annual reproductive success in comparison to suburban pairs, and the difference was 4-fold between the most and least urbanized areas. There was also a constant increase in size-adjusted body mass and hemoglobin concentration of breeding coots from the suburbs to the city centre. Urban colonization yielded no survival benefits for adult birds and urban individuals showed higher site fidelity than suburban conspecifics. The results suggest that the recent urban colonization by Eurasian coots was primary driven by considerable reproductive benefits which may be primarily attributed to: (1) reduced predation resulting from an exclusion of most native predators from highly urbanized zones; (2) increased condition of urban-dwelling birds resulting from enhanced food availability.
Optimizing welding temperature of semicrystalline thermoplastics-memory effects of nylon

For a better in-depth understanding of the role and influence of the temperature of the melt (in injection molding) and weld-melt (in welding) on mechanical performance of semicrystalline molded (welded) thermoplastics, we performed a comparative study for nylon 6 and nylon 66 plastics. Mechanical performance of injection molded and welded nylon was evaluated using static and dynamic tests. The static tensile and dynamic mechanical (DMA) properties were evaluated at a wide range of end-use temperatures, typical for welded nylon parts in automotive under-the-hood, small engines for lawn and power, and similar applications. Melt temperatures (for an injection molding) were varied from 225°C to 310°C. These values are significantly above (up to 87°C) the melt point of nylon 6 (T mp = 223°C). Presented results will help product developers, designers, technologists, and manufacturers by giving them suggestions on the optimized temperature conditions for the melt and weld-melt inter-phase area.
FIXED BED PYROLYSIS OF SUGARCANE BAGASSE FOR LIQUID FUEL PRODUCTION

The conversion of sugarcane bagasse into pyrolytic oil by fixed bed reactor has been taken into consideration in this study. The bagasse in particle form was pyrolyzed in an externally heated 7cm diameter and 34cm high fixed bed reactor with nitrogen as a carrier gas. The reactor and gas-preheater were heated by means of a renewable energy biomass source cylindrical heater. At a reactor bed temperature of 450 o C for a feed particle size of 300-600µm and at a gas flow rate of 4 l/min, an oil yield of 49wt% of dry feed was obtained. The pyrolysis process temperature was found to have influenced on the product yields. The product oil was analyzed for their properties as an alternative fuel and compared with other biomass derived pyrolysis oil and petroleum product. The fuel properties compared were physical properties, calorific value, elemental (CHNOS) analysis and chemical composition using Fourier Transform InfraRed (FTIR) spectroscopy.
SMT-based bounded model checking of fixed-point digital controllers

Digital controllers have several advantages with respect to their flexibility and design's simplicity. However, they are subject to problems that are not faced by analog controllers. In particular, these problems are related to the finite word-length implementation that might lead to overflows, limit cycles, and time constraints in fixed-point or floating-point processors. This paper proposes a new method to detect design's errors in fixed-point digital controllers using a state-of-the art bounded model checker based on satisfiability modulo theories. The experiments with a commercial plant demonstrate that the proposed method can be effective in finding errors in digital controllers than other existing approaches, which are based on traditional simulations tools. The verification results are conclusive in 93.5% of the benchmarks, determining the absence or occurrence of errors.
Frequent value locality and its applications

By analyzing the behavior of a set of benchmarks, we demonstrate that a small number of distinct values tend to occur very frequently in memory. On an average, only eight of these frequent values were found to occupy 48% of memory locations for the benchmarks studied. In addition, we demonstrate that the identity of frequent values remains stable over the entire execution of the program and these values are scattered fairly uniformly across the allocated memory. We present three different algorithms for finding frequent values and experimentally demonstrate their effectiveness. Each of these algorithms is designed to suit a different application scenario. Since the contents of memory exhibit frequent value locality, it is expected that frequent values will be observed in data streams that flow across different points in the memory hierarchy. We exploit this observation for developing two low-power designs: a low-power level-one data cache and a low-power external data bus. In each of these applications a different form of encoding of frequent values is employed to obtain a low-power design. We also experimentally demonstrate the effectiveness of these designs.
Resistance to neoplastic transformation of ex-vivo expanded human mesenchymal stromal cells after exposure to supramaximal physical and chemical stress

The risk of malignant transformation of ex-vivo expanded human mesenchymal stromal cells (huMSCs) has been debated in the last years; however, the biosafety of these cells after exposure to supramaximal physical and chemical stress has never been systematically investigated. We established an experimental in vitro model to induce supramaximal physical (ionizing radiation, IR) and chemical (starvation) stress on ex-vivo expanded bone marrow (BM)-derived huMSCs and investigated their propensity to undergo malignant transformation. To this aim, we examined MSC morphology, proliferative capacity, immune-phenotype, differentiation potential, immunomodulatory properties and genetic profile before and after stressor exposure. Furthermore, we investigated the cellular mechanisms underlying MSC response to stress. MSCs were isolated from 20 healthy BM donors and expanded in culture medium supplemented with 5% platelet lysate (PL) up to passage 2 (P2). At this stage, MSCs were exposed first to escalating doses of IR (30, 100, 200 Gy) and then to starvation culture conditions (1% PL). With escalating doses of radiation, MSCs lost their typical spindle-shaped morphology, their growth rate markedly decreased and eventually stopped (at P4-P6) by reaching early senescence. Irradiated and starved MSCs maintained their typical immune-phenotype, ability to differentiate into adipocytes/osteoblasts and to inhibit mitogen-induced T-cell proliferation. The study of the genetic profile of irradiated/starved MSCs did not show any alteration. While the induction of supramaximal stress triggered production of ROS and activation of DNA damage response pathway via multiple mechanisms, our data indicate that irradiated/starved MSCs, although presenting altered morphology/growth rate, do not display increased propensity for malignant transformation.
Type III Secretion in the Melioidosis Pathogen Burkholderia pseudomallei

Burkholderia pseudomallei is a Gram-negative intracellular pathogen and the causative agent of melioidosis, a severe disease of both humans and animals. Melioidosis is an emerging disease which is predicted to be vastly under-reported. Type III Secretion Systems (T3SSs) are critical virulence factors in Gram negative pathogens of plants and animals. The genome of B. pseudomallei encodes three T3SSs. T3SS-1 and -2, of which little is known, are homologous to Hrp2 secretion systems of the plant pathogens Ralstonia and Xanthomonas. T3SS-3 is better characterized and is homologous to the Inv/Mxi-Spa secretion systems of Salmonella spp. and Shigella flexneri, respectively. Upon entry into the host cell, B. pseudomallei requires T3SS-3 for efficient escape from the endosome. T3SS-3 is also required for full virulence in both hamster and murine models of infection. The regulatory cascade which controls T3SS-3 expression and the secretome of T3SS-3 have been described, as well as the effect of mutations of some of the structural proteins. Yet only a few effector proteins have been functionally characterized to date and very little work has been carried out to understand the hierarchy of assembly, secretion and temporal regulation of T3SS-3. This review aims to frame current knowledge of B. pseudomallei T3SSs in the context of other well characterized model T3SSs, particularly those of Salmonella and Shigella.
Effects of Inundation, Nutrient Availability and Plant Species Diversity on Fine Root Mass and Morphology Across a Saltmarsh Flooding Gradient

Saltmarsh plants are exposed to multiple stresses including tidal inundation, salinity, wave action and sediment anoxia, which require specific root system adaptations to secure sufficient resource capture and firm anchorage in a temporary toxic environment. It is well known that many saltmarsh species develop large below-ground biomass (roots and rhizomes) but relations between fine roots, in particular, and the abiotic conditions in salt marshes are widely unknown. We studied fine root mass (<2 mm in diameter), fine root depth distribution and fine root morphology in three typical communities (Spartina anglica-dominated pioneer zone, Atriplex portulacoides-dominated lower marsh, Elytrigia atherica-dominated upper marsh) across elevational gradients in two tidal salt marshes of the German North Sea coast [a mostly sandy marsh on a barrier island (Spiekeroog), and a silty-clayey marsh on the mainland coast (Westerhever)]. Fine root mass in the 0–40 cm profile ranged between 750 and 2,500 g m−2 in all plots with maxima at both sites in the lower marsh with intermediate inundation frequency and highest plant species richness indicating an effect of biodiversity on fine root mass. Fine root mass and, even more, total fine root surface area (maximum 340 m2 m−2) were high compared to terrestrial grasslands, and were greater in the nutrient-poorer Spiekeroog marsh. Fine root density showed only a slight or no decrease toward 40 cm depth. We conclude that the standing fine root mass and morphology of these salt marshes is mainly under control of species identity and nutrient availability, but species richness is especially influential. The plants of the pioneer zone and lower marsh possess well adapted fine roots and large standing root masses despite the often water-saturated sediment.
UvA-DARE (Digital Academic Repository) The induced action of W_3 gravity

We obtain the induced action F[h, b] for chiral W3 gravity in the c ~ ___ limit from the induced action of a gauged Sl(3, R) Wess-Zumino-Witten model by imposing constraints on the currents of the latter. In the process we find a closed gauge algebra for the gauge sector of W3 gravity in which the currents T and W become auxiliary fields. An explicit realization of T and W in terms of the gauge fields is given. In terms of new fields r and s, which are a generalization of Polyakov's f variable for ordinary gravity, the complete induced action l-'[h, b; c ~ _ 0o] becomes local.