Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Torpor: The Rise and Fall of 3-Monoiodothyronamine from Brain to Gut—From Gut to Brain?

3-Monoiodothyronamine (T1AM), first isolated from rat brain, is reported to be an endogenous, rapidly acting metabolite of thyroxine. One of its numerous effects is the induction of a “torpor-like” state in experimental animals. A critical analysis of T1AM, to serve as an endogenous cryogen, is given. The proposed biosynthetic pathway for formation of T1AM, which includes deiodinases and ornithine decarboxylase in the upper intestinum, is an unusual one. To reach the brain via systemic circulation, enterohepatic recycling and passage through the liver may occur. The possible role of gut microbiota is discussed. T1AM concentrations in human serum, measured by a specific monoclonal assay are up to three orders of magnitude higher compared to values obtained by MS/MS technology. The difference is explained by the presence of a high-affinity binder for T1AM (Apolipoprotein B-100) in serum, which permits the immunoassay to measure the total concentration of the analyte but limits MS/MS technology to detect only the unbound (free) analyte, a view, which is contested here.
Observations on Lumbar Spinal Cord Recovery after Lesion in Lizards Indicates Regeneration of a Cellular and Fibrous Bridge Reconnecting the Injured Cord

The lumbar spinal cords of lizards were transected, but after the initial paralysis most lizards recovered un-coordinated movements of hind limbs. At 25-45 days post-lesion about 50% of lizards were capable of walking with a limited coordination. Histological analysis showed that the spinal cord was transected and the ependyma of the central canal formed two enlargements to seal the proximal and distal ends of the severed spinal cord. Glial and few small neurons were formed while bridge axons crossed the gap between the proximal and the distal stumps of the transected spinal cord as was confirmed by retrograde tract-tracing technique. The bridging fibers likely derived from interneurons located in the central and dorsal grey matter of the proximal spinal cord stump suggesting they belong to the local central locomotory pattern generator circuit. The limited recovery of hind limb movements may derive from the regeneration or sprouting of short proprio-spinal axons joining the two stumps of the transected spinal cord. The present observations indicate that the study on spinal cord regeneration in lizards can give insights on the permissive conditions that favor nerve regeneration in amniotes.
Analysis of cyclosporin A and a set of analogs as inhibitors of a T. cruzi cyclophilin by docking and molecular dynamics

Cyclophilins (CyPs) are enzymes involved in protein folding. In Trypanosoma cruzi (T. cruzi), the most abundantly expressed CyP is the isoform TcCyP19. It has been shown that TcCyP19 is inhibited by the immunosuppressive drug cyclosporin A (CsA) and analogs, which also proved to have potent trypanosomicidal activity in vitro. In this work, we continue and expand a previous study on the molecular interactions of CsA, and a set of analogs modeled in complexes with TcCyP19. The modeled complexes were used to evaluate binding free energies by molecular dynamics (MD), applying the Linear Interaction Energy (LIE) method. In addition, putative binding sites were identified by molecular docking. In our analysis, the binding free energy calculations did not correlate with experimental data. The heterogeneity of the non-bonded energies and the variation in the pattern of hydrogen bonds suggest that the systems may not be suitable for the application of the LIE method. Further, the docking calculations identified two other putative binding sites with comparable scoring energies to the active site, a fact that may also explain the lack of correlation found. Kinetic experiments are needed to confirm or reject the multiple binding sites hypothesis. In the meantime, MD simulations at the alternative sites, employing other methods to compute binding free energies, might be successful at finding good correlations with the experimental data.
CXCL10 (alpha) and CCL2 (beta) chemokines in systemic sclerosis--a longitudinal study.

OBJECTIVES To measure serum levels of CXCL10 and CCL2 chemokines in patients with SSc, and relate the findings to clinical phenotype and disease progression. METHODS Serum CXCL10 and CCL2 were assayed in 72 consecutive newly diagnosed SSc patients and in 72 sex- and age-matched controls. In 37 SSc and 37 controls, serum CXCL10 and CCL2 were re-evaluated 5 yrs later. RESULTS SSc at onset showed significantly higher CXCL10 serum levels than controls (216 +/- 126 vs 92 +/- 53 pg/ml; P < 0.0001), as well as CCL2 (388 +/- 172 vs 318 +/- 120 pg/ml; P = 0.01). CXCL10 was significantly increased in SSc with interstitial lung involvement or with kidney involvement (P = 0.01 and P = 0.02, respectively). A significant decrease of CXCL10 was observed from the baseline after 5 yrs in SSc (137 +/- 112 vs 270 +/- 122 pg/ml, respectively; P < 0.0001), while no significant change was observed for CCL2 (418 +/- 176 vs 405 +/- 164 pg/ml; P = NS); the CCL2/CXCL10 ratio significantly increased at the fifth year (1.7 +/- 0.8 vs 3.5 +/- 2.5; P < 0.0001). No significant variations were observed in controls from the basal to the 5-yr evaluation with regards to CXCL10, CCL2 or CCL2/CXCL10 ratio. CONCLUSIONS Our study demonstrates high serum levels of CXCL10 (Th1) and CCL2 (Th2) chemokines in newly diagnosed SSc. High values of CXCL10 are associated with a more severe clinical phenotype (lung and kidney involvement). CXCL10 declined during the follow-up, while CCL2 remained unmodified, suggesting that the disease progresses from the early Th1 inflammatory condition to the advanced Th2-like stage.
Amplification of waves during reflection from a rotating

The effect whereby waves are amplified during reflection from a rotating "black hole" is investigated. This process is connected with the extraction of energy and momentum from a "black hole. " The conditions for the existence of the effect are found. The amplification factor is computed for the model case of scalar waves. For waves with frequencies which do not satisfy the conditions for the existence of the effect, partial cross sections for their capture by the "black hole" are computed.
Chromosomal Inversions and Species Differences: When are Genes Affecting Adaptive Divergence and Reproductive Isolation Expected to Reside within Inversions?

Many factors can promote speciation, and one which has received much attention is chromosomal inversions. A number of models propose that the recombination suppressing effects of inversions facilitate the maintenance of differences between interbreeding populations in genes affecting adaptive divergence and reproductive isolation. These models predict that such genes will disproportionately reside within inversions, rather than in collinear regions. This hypothesis has received some support, but exceptions exist. Additionally, the effects of known low levels of recombination within inversions on these models are uninvestigated. Here, simulations are used to compare the maintenance of genetic differences between populations following secondary contact and hybridization in different inversion models. We compare regions with no recombination within them to regions with low recombination and to collinear regions with free recombination. Our most general finding is that the low levels of recombination within an inversion often result in the loss of accentuated divergence in inverted regions compared to collinear ones. We conclude that inversions can facilitate the maintenance of species differences under some conditions, but that large or qualitative differences between inverted and collinear regions need not occur. We also find that strong selection facilitates maintenance of divergence in a manner analogous to inversions.
α4β1 Integrin (VLA-4) Blockade Attenuates both Early and Late Leukocyte Recruitment and Neointimal Growth following Carotid Injury in Apolipoprotein E (–/–) Mice

Background: The α4β1 integrin (VLA-4) supports rolling and firm adhesion of leukocytes to inflamed tissues via ligation of VCAM-1 or fibronectin expressed on the activated endothelium. We tested the hypothesis that VLA-4 mediates leukocyte recruitment and neointimal growth after arterial injury in the atherosclerosis-prone apolipoprotein E (ApoE)-deficient mouse. Methods: ApoE (–/–) mice fed a Western diet underwent air desiccation injury, and the expression patterns of VLA-4 and VCAM-1 were determined by immunohistochemistry (IHC). To determine the effect of targeted VLA-4 blockade on leukocyte recruitment and neointimal growth, ApoE (–/–) mice received an intraperitoneal injection of a VLA-4 neutralizing monoclonal antibody (PS/2) at the time of injury alone or over a prolonged administration course. Additional mice received an isotype control antibody. Results: IHC demonstrated a marked increase in VLA-4 expression 7 days following injury. Prolonged administration of PS/2 resulted in a 72% reduction (p < 0.02) in neointimal growth 28 days following injury. IHC revealed a marked 95% reduction in neutrophil recruitment at 7 days and a 48% reduction in macrophage recruitment 28 days following injury with prolonged PS/2 administration. Conclusions: Prolonged VLA-4 blockade reduces leukocyte recruitment and neointimal growth following air desiccation injury in ApoE (–/–) mice. These findings demonstrate an important role for VLA-4 in the response to arterial injury.
Towards Efficient Privacy Preserving Data Aggregation for Advanced Metering Infrastructure

Recent (cid:1) changes (cid:1) to (cid:1) the (cid:1) existing (cid:1) power (cid:1) grid (cid:1) are (cid:1) expected (cid:1) to (cid:1) influence (cid:1) the (cid:1)
tPA variant tPA‐A296–299 Prevents impairment of cerebral autoregulation and necrosis of hippocampal neurons after stroke by inhibiting upregulation of ET‐1

Tissue‐type plasminogen activator (tPA) is neurotoxic and exacerbates uncoupling of cerebral blood flow (CBF) and metabolism after stroke, yet it remains the sole FDA‐approved drug for treatment of ischemic stroke. Upregulation of c‐Jun‐terminal kinase (JNK) after stroke contributes to tPA‐mediated impairment of autoregulation, but the role of endothelin‐1 (ET‐1) is unknown. Based on the Glasgow Coma Scale, impaired autoregulation is linked to adverse outcomes after TBI, but correlation with hippocampal histopathology after stroke has not been established. We propose that given after stroke, tPA activates N‐Methyl‐D‐Aspartate receptors (NMDA‐Rs) and upregulates ET‐1 in a JNK dependent manner, imparing autoregulation and leading to histopathology. After stroke, CBF was reduced in the hippocampus and reduced further during hypotension, which did not occur in hypotensive sham pigs, indicating impairment of autoregulation. Autoregulation and necrosis of hippocampal CA1 and CA3 neurons were further impaired by tPA, but were preserved by the ET‐1 antagonist BQ 123 and tPA‐A,296–299 a variant that is fibrinolytic but does not bind to NMDA‐Rs. Expression of ET‐1 was increased by stroke and potentiated by tPA but returned to sham levels by tPA‐A296–299 and the JNK antagonist SP600125. Results show that JNK releases ET‐1 after stroke. Tissue‐type plasminogen activator ‐A296–299 prevents impairment of cerebral autoregulation and histopathology after stroke by inhibiting upregulation of ET‐1.
Age-related neurochemical changes in the rhesus macaque inferior colliculus

Age-related hearing loss (ARHL) is marked by audiometric hearing deficits that propagate along the auditory pathway. Neurochemical changes as a function of aging have also been identified in neurons along the auditory pathway in both rodents and carnivores, however, very little is known about how these neurochemicals change in the non-human primate. To examine how these compensatory neurochemical changes relate to normal aging and audiometric sensitivity along the auditory pathway, we collected auditory brainstem responses (ABRs) and brain specimens from seven rhesus monkeys spanning in age from 15 to 35 years old, and examined the relationship between click evoked ABR thresholds and the ABR evoked pure tone average (PTA) and changes in the number of parvalbumin and NADPH-diaphorase positive cells in the auditory midbrain. We found that the number of parvalbumin positive cells in the central nucleus and the surrounding cortex regions of the inferior colliculus were strongly correlated with advancing age and ABR PTA. We also found that the numbers of NADPHd positive cells in these same regions were not associated with normal aging or changes in the ABR thresholds. These findings suggest that the auditory midbrain undergoes an up-regulation of parvalbumin expressing neurons with aging that is related to changes in the processing of frequencies across the audiometric range.
“Social Networkout”: Connecting Social Features of Wearable Fitness Trackers with Physical Exercise

Despite widespread understanding of the benefits of physical activity, many adults in the United States do not meet recommended exercise guidelines. Burgeoning technologies, including wearable fitness trackers (e.g., Fitbit, Apple watch), bring new opportunities to influence physical activity by encouraging users to track and share physical activity data and compete against their peers. However, research has not explored the social processes that mediate the relationship between the use of wearable fitness trackers and intention to exercise. In this study, we applied the Theory of Planned Behavior (Ajzen, 1991) to explore the effects of two communicative features of wearable fitness devices—social sharing and social competing—on individuals’ intention to exercise. Drawing upon surveys from 238 wearable fitness tracker users, we found that the relationship between the two communication features (social sharing and competing) and exercise intention was mediated by attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control. The results suggest that the ways in which exercise data are shared significantly influence the exercise intentions, and these intentions are mediated by individuals’ evaluation of exercise, belief about important others’ approval of exercise, and perceived control upon exercise.
Books Average Previous Decade of Economic Misery

For the 20th century since the Depression, we find a strong correlation between a ‘literary misery index’ derived from English language books and a moving average of the previous decade of the annual U.S. economic misery index, which is the sum of inflation and unemployment rates. We find a peak in the goodness of fit at 11 years for the moving average. The fit between the two misery indices holds when using different techniques to measure the literary misery index, and this fit is significantly better than other possible correlations with different emotion indices. To check the robustness of the results, we also analysed books written in German language and obtained very similar correlations with the German economic misery index. The results suggest that millions of books published every year average the authors' shared economic experiences over the past decade.
Transient Voltage Distribution in Stator Winding of Electrical Machine Fed from a Frequency Converter

Standard induction motors are exposed to steep-fronted, non-sinusoidal voltages when fed from frequency converters. These wave patterns can be destructive to the insulation. The aim of the present work is to develop methods of predicting the magnitude and distribution of fast voltage within the stator winding of an electric machine fed from a frequency converter. Three methods of predicting the magnitude and distribution of fast voltages within form windings commonly used in medium and high voltage machines are described. These methods utilise some aspects of previously published works on the surge propagation studies to achieve simplification of the solution without loss of accuracy. Two of these methods are applied to the voltage calculation in random winding commonly used in low voltage machines. Multi-conductor transmission line theory forms the basis of the methods described in this work. Computation of the voltage distribution using either of these methods requires the calculation of the parameters for the slot and the end (over-hang) part of the winding. The parallel plate capacitor method, the indirect boundary integral equation method and the finite element method are the three possible methods of calculating the capacitance also described in this work. Duality existing between the magnetic and the electric field has been used for the inductance calculation. Application of these methods to the voltage calculation in the first coil from the line-end of a 6 kV induction motor is shown to be successful. From the computed and measured voltage results it is evident that the improved accuracy for the capacitance values is sufficient to give good agreement between the measured and calculated inter-turn voltages without the need to infer the presence of a surface impedance effect due to the laminated core. Application of two of these methods for the transient voltage calculation on the first coil from the terminal-end of low voltage induction motors with random windings is also shown to be successful. Comparison between the computed and the measured results shows that the turn-to-ground capacitance matrix obtained in overhang part of the coil can be assumed the for the slot part of the coil. With this assumption modelling the first five turns in the line-end coil produce turn and coil voltage that match well with the corresponding measuring result. The methods of voltage computation described in this work should be of great help to engineers and researchers concerned with the turn strength and over-voltage protection in high and low voltage motors.  All rights reserved. No part of the publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the author.
Isolation , characterization and modification of citrus pectins

Article info: Received: 18 October 2012 Accepted: 10 December 2012 ABSTRACT Orange and lemon peels were used for obtaining pectic polysaccharides. Citrus peels were previously treated with 96% ethanol, and the obtained alcoholinsoluble solids (AIS) were subjected to a sequential extraction with hot distilled water and hot 0.5% HCl. Waterand acid-extracted orange (WEOP and AEOP) and lemon (WELP and AELP) pectins were obtained. Acid extraction gave higher yields of pectin than water extraction and lemon peels were richer in pectin. Comparative investigations were carried out with chromatographically purified commercial citrus pectin (CPCP). Chemical and physicochemical characterization of all pectins was accomplished. It was found that pectins were similar in anhydrouronic acid content (AUАC, 69-81%), but differed in their degree of methylesterification (DM, 55-81%). Generally water-extracted pectins were with higher DM. Both orange pectins were with higher DM and degree of acetylation (DA, 2%), in comparison with the corresponding lemon pectins. Water-extracted pectins were with higher degree of feruloylation (DF, 0.120.34%). To our knowledge this is the first report on the estimation of ester-linked ferulic acid in orange and lemon peel pectins. Pectic polysaccharides differed in molecular weight and homogeneity. WELP was with the highest molecular weight and homogeneity. The pectins contained D-galacturonic and D-glucuronic acids, L-arabinose, D-galactose, L-fucose, L-rhamnose and D-xylose. All investigated pectins showed immunostimulating activity by complement activation in the classical pathway at 1.25 and 2.5 mg/mL. Pectic polysaccharides were modified with endopolygalacturonase. Enzyme-modified CPCP and WEOP had higher anti-complementary activity than the corresponding initial pectins.
Mdivi-1 Inhibits Astrocyte Activation and Astroglial Scar Formation and Enhances Axonal Regeneration after Spinal Cord Injury in Rats

After spinal cord injury (SCI), astrocytes become hypertrophic, and proliferative, forming a dense network of astroglial processes at the site of the lesion. This constitutes a physical and biochemical barrier to axonal regeneration. Mitochondrial fission regulates cell cycle progression; inhibiting the cell cycle of astrocytes can reduce expression levels of axon growth-inhibitory molecules as well as astroglial scar formation after SCI. We therefore investigated how an inhibitor of mitochondrial fission, Mdivi-1, would affect astrocyte proliferation, astroglial scar formation, and axonal regeneration following SCI in rats. Western blot and immunofluorescent double-labeling showed that Mdivi-1 markedly reduced the expression of the astrocyte marker glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), and a cell proliferation marker, proliferating cell nuclear antigen, in astrocytes 3 days after SCI. Moreover, Mdivi-1 decreased the expression of GFAP and neurocan, a chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan. Notably, immunofluorescent labeling and Nissl staining showed that Mdivi-1 elevated the production of growth-associated protein-43 and increased neuronal survival at 4 weeks after SCI. Finally, hematoxylin-eosin staining, and behavioral evaluation of motor function indicated that Mdivi-1 also reduced cavity formation and improved motor function 4 weeks after SCI. Our results confirm that Mdivi-1 promotes motor function after SCI, and indicate that inhibiting mitochondrial fission using Mdivi-1 can inhibit astrocyte activation and astroglial scar formation and contribute to axonal regeneration after SCI in rats.
Power management systems for voltage control in probabilistic simulations

Sustained integration of distributed renewable energy sources, especially photovoltaic generation in low voltage grids, has driven the need to expand grid capacities in recent years. Solutions to find an economic justifiable approach for main operation in an aging grid environment have become indispensable. This paper highlights the design of a probabilistic simulation environment and two methods of voltage regulation using photovoltaic inverters. Furthermore it provides the possibility to rate both methods taking all conceivable grid states into account. Thereby the simulation is based on actual, measured field data instead of standardised profiles. The aim is to create a simulation environment in which different grid situations can be simulated while the voltage levels are affected by different voltage regulation methods. This allows distribution system operators optimizing their grid planning by adding unconventional methods of influencing the voltage at lowest levels. Especially low voltage grid simulations with few grid participants and critical network states are lacking accuracy, when modelled by standardized profiles, will benefit from this approach.
Copies of a rooted weighted graph attached to an arbitrary weighted graph and applications

The spectrum of the Laplacian, signless Laplacian and adjacency matrices of the family of the weighted graphs R{H}, obtained from a connected weighted graph R on r vertices and r copies of a modified Bethe tree H by identifying the root of the i-th copy of H with the i-th vertex of R, is determined.