Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Aged skeletal muscle retains the ability to fully regenerate functional architecture

While the general understanding of muscle regenerative capacity is that it declines with increasing age due to impairments in the number of muscle progenitor cells and interaction with their niche, studies vary in their model of choice, indices of myogenic repair, muscle of interest and duration of studies. We focused on the net outcome of regeneration, functional architecture, compared across three models of acute muscle injury to test the hypothesis that satellite cells maintain their capacity for effective myogenic regeneration with age. Muscle regeneration in extensor digitorum longus muscle (EDL) of young (3 mo-old), old (22 mo-old) and senescent female mice (28 mo-old) was evaluated for architectural features, fiber number and central nucleation, weight, collagen and fat deposition. The 3 injury paradigms were: a myotoxin (notexin) which leaves the blood vessels and nerves intact, freezing (FI) that damages local muscle, nerve and blood vessels and denervation-devascularization (DD) which dissociates the nerves and blood vessels from the whole muscle. Histological analyses revealed successful architectural regeneration following notexin injury with negligible fibrosis and fully restored function, regardless of age. In comparison, the regenerative response to injuries that damaged the neurovascular supply (FI and DD) was less effective, but similar across the ages. The focus on net regenerative outcome demonstrated that old and senescent muscle has a robust capacity to regenerate functional architecture.
Assessment on the adverse effects of Aminoglycosides and Flouroquinolone on sperm parameters and male reproductive tissue: A systematic review

Background: Antibiotic therapies used in treatment of many diseases have adverse effects on fertility. This review analyzes previous comparative studies that surveyed the effects of two common groups of antibiotics on male fertility. Objective: To evaluate histo-pathological effects of fluoroquinolones and aminoglycosides on sperm parameters and male reproductive tissue. Materials and Methods: Articles about the effects of aminoglycosides and fluoroquinolones on male infertility, sperm parameters, male reproductive tissue, and spermatogenesis in English and Persian languages published on Google Scholar and PubMed databases from January 2000 to December 2013 were assessed. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) assessing the effects of aminoglycosides or fluoroquinolones on sperm parameters, artificial insemination, and male reproductive tract or RCTs comparing aminoglycosides vs. fluoroquinolones were eligible for inclusion. For ascertaining the reliability of study, data were extracted independently and in duplicate by two investigators. Results: Sperm viability was decreased significantly with streptomycin, gentamicin, and neomycin (p<0.001). Sperm motility was decreased significantly with gentamicin and neomycin (p<0.05). Total sperm count was significantly decreased with ofloxacin, gentamicin, streptomycin, and neomycin (p<0.022). There was significant decrease in post-thawing motility with low dose and high dose of ciprofloxacin. Testis weight was decreased with gentamicin and ofloxacin significantly (p<0.011). There was significant decrease in seminal vesicle weight with gentamicin, neomycin, and ofloxacin (p<0.022). Furthermore, changes in epididymis weight, percentage of total apoptotic cells, and diameter of seminiferous tubule were significant with all drugs including streptomycin, gentamicin, neomycin, and ofloxacin (p<0.05). Conclusion: Streptomycin has less negative effects on cell’s apoptosis and sperm parameters as compared to other drugs. Gentamicin has more detrimental effects so lesser dosage and duration is recommended. Fluoroquinolones showed negative effects on testis tissue and sperm parameters. Ciprofloxacin has less adverse effects than gentamicin in artificial insemination.
Helix-length compensation studies reveal the adaptability of the VS ribozyme architecture

Compensatory mutations in RNA are generally regarded as those that maintain base pairing, and their identification forms the basis of phylogenetic predictions of RNA secondary structure. However, other types of compensatory mutations can provide higher-order structural and evolutionary information. Here, we present a helix-length compensation study for investigating structure–function relationships in RNA. The approach is demonstrated for stem-loop I and stem-loop V of the Neurospora VS ribozyme, which form a kissing–loop interaction important for substrate recognition. To rapidly characterize the substrate specificity (kcat/KM) of several substrate/ribozyme pairs, a procedure was established for simultaneous kinetic characterization of multiple substrates. Several active substrate/ribozyme pairs were identified, indicating the presence of limited substrate promiscuity for stem Ib variants and helix-length compensation between stems Ib and V. 3D models of the I/V interaction were generated that are compatible with the kinetic data. These models further illustrate the adaptability of the VS ribozyme architecture for substrate cleavage and provide global structural information on the I/V kissing–loop interaction. By exploring higher-order compensatory mutations in RNA our approach brings a deeper understanding of the adaptability of RNA structure, while opening new avenues for RNA research.
Post-Apartheid Trends in Gender Discrimination in South Africa: Analysis through Decomposition Techniques

Using appropriate econometric methods and 11 representative household surveys, this paper empirically assesses the extent and evolution of gender discrimination in the South African labour market over the post-apartheid period. Attention is also paid to the role that anti-discriminatory legislation has had to play in effecting change in the South African labour market. Much of the paper’s focus is placed on African women who would have benefited most from the new legislative environment. African and, to a lesser extent, Coloured women received on average higher real wages than their male counterparts following changes in labour legislation. Oaxaca (1973) and Blinder (1973) decompositions reveal this to be due to both greater endowments of productive characteristics for African and Coloured women and declining gender discrimination that reached relative stability after 2000. Detailed Oaxaca-Blinder decompositions of the African gender wage gap reveal that the driving factor behind an increasing and negative explained component is improved distribution and returns to productive characteristics for women in certain occupations, as well as higher returns to education and employment in the public sector. However, African women are prevented from realising this in the form of higher earnings as a result of increasing levels of “pure discrimination” and returns to employment in certain industries for males. Decomposition results using the methodology of Juhn, Murphy and Pierce (1991, 1993) are suggestive of a sticky floor for African women in the South African labour market. The gender wage gap is therefore found to be wider at the bottom of the wage distribution than at the top.
Phylogenetic investigation of partial G gene sequences in Lithuanian rabies virus field isolates.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the molecular epidemiology of rabies virus G-gene partial sequences in rabies positive fi eld samples, isolated in different regions of Lithuania, and to compare the sequences phylogenetically with various rabies virus isolates of wild carnivores from the Baltic Sea region, Europe and Russia. Twenty brain samples of rabid animals, collected during the period 2006-2011, were investigated. Multiple alignments of 358 nt G gene (nt 3324-3682) sequences were performed using ClustalW with default settings. Phylogenetic and molecular evolutionary analyses were conducted using the NeighborJoining method (NJ) in MEGA version 4. The phylogenetic investigations of rabies virus glycoprotein indicate that the Lithuanian rabies virus isolates’ G-sequences were closely related and showed 89.8-98.9 % of nt identity. The G-sequences between Lithuanian raccoon dog and red fox rabies virus isolates were more conservative (97.2 % nt identity) than the rabies virus isolates inside the raccoon dog group (95.1 % nt identity). Two Lithuanian raccoon dog rabies virus isolate G-sequences were rather divergent (90.8 and 91.2 % nt identity) and were closely associated with rabies virus isolate G-sequences from Estonia (92.5 % nt identity), Russia (91.0 %) and Poland (89.3 %) respectively. The comparative investigation of G-sequences between the Lithuanian rabies virus isolates and different isolates from Germany, Slovenia and France indicated 84.2 % nt identity, whereas the G-sequences of Lithuanian rabies virus isolates and rabies virus isolate G-sequences from Russia were 88.1 % nt identical.
Thermal expansion and the equation of state of Ir and Rh

Abstract The simplest anharmonic characteristics of Ir and Rh are discussed in the framework of a previously developed simple pseudopotential model which describes the elastic moduli, the phonon spectra and the lattice heat capacity in the harmonic approximation of these metals successfully. The microscopic Gruneisen parameters, the dependences of the elastic moduli on pressure, the coefficient of thermal expansion and the equations of state at the finite temperatures have been calculated. The ab initio calculations of the energy-band structure and the equation of state for Ir at T = 0 have been done to test the model for adequacy at high pressures. The values of different contributions (zero-point oscillations, quasiharmonic, etc.) in the considered thermodynamic characteristics of Ir and Rh are discussed.
Sequence-speci ® c ̄ uorescent labeling of double-stranded DNA observed at the single molecule level

Fluorescent labeling of a short sequence of doublestranded DNA (dsDNA) was achieved by ligating a labeled dsDNA fragment to a stem±loop triplex forming oligonucleotide (TFO). After the TFO has wound around the target sequence by ligandinduced triple helix formation, its extremities hybridize to each other, leaving a dangling singlestranded sequence, which is then ligated to a ̄uorescent dsDNA fragment using T4 DNA ligase. A non-repeated 15 bp sequence present on lambda DNA was labeled and visualized by ̄uorescence microscopy after DNA combing. The label was found to be attached at a speci®c position located at 4.2 6 0.5 kb from one end of the molecule, in agreement with the location of the target sequence for triple helix formation (4.4 kb from one end). In addition, an alternative combing process was noticed in which a DNA molecule becomes attached to the combing slide from the label rather than from one of its ends. The method described herein provides a new tool for the detection of very short sequences of dsDNA and offers various perspectives in the micromanipulation of single DNA molecules.
Robust principal component analysis for sparse face recognition

In principal component analysis (PCA), ℓ2/ℓ2-norm is widely used to measure coding residual. In this case, it assume that the residual follows Gaussian/Laplacian distribution. However, it may fail to describe the coding errors in practice when there are outliers. Toward this end, this paper propose a robust PCA (RPCA) approach to solve the outlier problem, by modeling the cost function as a weighted regression problem. In face recognition progress, the observation samples and testing sample be projected on the principal space firstly. After that, in the new projection space, the face be classified based on the sparse representation. Simulation results illustrated the effectiveness of this approach.
Involvement of astroglial ceramide in palmitic acid‐induced Alzheimer‐like changes in primary neurons

A high‐fat diet has been shown to significantly increase the risk of the development of Alzheimer's disease (AD), a neurodegenerative disease histochemically characterized by the accumulation of amyloid beta (Aβ) protein in senile plaques and hyperphosphorylated tau in neurofibrillary tangles. Previously, we have shown that saturated free fatty acids (FFAs), palmitic and stearic acids, caused increased amyloidogenesis and tau hyperphosphorylaion in primary rat cortical neurons. These FFA‐induced effects observed in neurons were found to be mediated by astroglial FFA metabolism. Therefore, in the present study we investigated the basic mechanism relating astroglial FFA metabolism and AD‐like changes observed in neurons. We found that palmitic acid significantly increased de‐novo synthesis of ceramide in astroglia, which in turn was involved in inducing both increased production of the Aβ protein and hyperphosphorylation of the tau protein. Increased amyloidogenesis and hyperphoshorylation of tau lead to formation of the two most important pathophysiological characteristics associated with AD, Aβ or senile plaques and neurofibrillary tangles, respectively. In addition to these pathophysiological changes, AD is also characterized by certain metabolic changes; abnormal cerebral glucose metabolism is one of the distinct characteristics of AD. In this context, we found that palmitic acid significantly decreased the levels of astroglial glucose transporter (GLUT1) and down‐regulated glucose uptake and lactate release by astroglia. Our present data establish an underlying mechanism by which saturated fatty acids induce AD‐associated pathophysiological as well as metabolic changes, placing ‘astroglial fatty acid metabolism’ at the center of the pathogenic cascade in AD.
Analysis of anonymous pooled urine from portable urinals in central London confirms the significant use of novel psychoactive substances.

AIM Analysis of urine samples collected across a city centre, for the detection of novel psychoactive substances (NPS). DESIGN Cross-sectional study of anonymized urine samples used for the analysis of classical recreational drugs, NPS and metabolites. METHODS Pooled urine samples collected from portable stand-alone four-person urinals across a city centre were analysed using full-scan accurate-mass high-resolution liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry. Data were processed against compound databases containing >1700 drug compounds and metabolites. RESULTS Seven established recreational drugs (3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine, cocaine, cannabis, ketamine, 3,4-methylenedioxy-N-methylamphetamine, methamphetamine and amphetamine) and six potential NPS [hordenine (all 12 urinals), cathine (11), methylhexaneamine (9), 4-methylmethcathinone (6), methiopropamine and metabolites (2) and methoxetamine and metabolites (1)] were detected. Methylhexaneamine, methiopropamine and hordenine are currently uncontrolled in the UK, whereas methoxetamine is currently subject to a Temporary Class Drug Order. Metabolites of the anabolic steroid nandrolone were found in two urinals and trenbolone metabolites and clenbuterol in one urinal. CONCLUSION Analysis of pooled urine samples collected anonymously from stand-alone urinals in a large inner city can detect the use of recreational drugs, NPS and anabolic steroids. Metabolite detection indicates actual drug use, metabolism and elimination rather than simply discarded drugs in the urinals. This technique by confirming the actual drug(s) used has the potential to be additive to currently used datasets/key indicators providing more robust information for healthcare authorities, legislative and law enforcement on the drugs actually being used.
Inflammatory mediators in human acute pancreatitis: clinical and pathophysiological implications

BACKGROUND The time course and relationship between circulating and local cytokine concentrations, pancreatic inflammation, and organ dysfunction in acute pancreatitis are largely unknown. PATIENTS AND METHODS In a prospective clinical study, we measured the proinflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6 and IL-8, the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10, interleukin 1β receptor antagonist (IL-1RA), and the soluble IL-2 receptor (sIL-2R), and correlated our findings with organ and systemic complications in acute pancreatitis. In 51 patients with acute pancreatitis admitted within 72 hours after the onset of symptoms, these parameters were measured daily for seven days. In addition, 33 aspirates from ascites and the lesser sac were measured. RESULTS Sixteen patients had mild acute pancreatitis (AP) and 35 severe AP (Atlanta classification); 18 patients developed systemic complications requiring treatment. All mediators were increased in AP. sIL-2R, IL-10, and IL-6 were significantly elevated in patients with distant organ failure. An imbalance in IL-1β/IL-1RA was found in severe AP and pulmonary failure. Peak serum sIL-2R predicted lethal outcome and IL-1RA was an early marker of severity. IL-6 was the best prognostic parameter for pulmonary failure. CONCLUSION Our results suggest that local mediator release, with a probable IL-1β-IL-1RA imbalance in severe cases, is followed by the systemic appearance of pro- and anti-inflammatory mediators. The pattern of local and systemic mediators in complicated AP suggests a role for systemic lymphocyte activation (triggered by local release of mediators) in distant organ complications in severe AP.
Cyberbullying: A Review of the Literature.

The article is a literature review on cyberbullying from 2007-2013. Topics covered in the review have been categorized starting with definition of cyberbullying; roles of persons involved and statistics of who is being targeted; reasons for cyberbullying; differences between traditional bullying and cyberbullying; and gender comparisons related to cyberbullying. This introduction to cyberbullying will provide a foundation for developing a cyberbullying intervention/prevention program.
Multimodal human-robot interaction in an assistive technology context

In this paper, we present a prototype robotic system that captures, processes and fuses speech, vision and laser-depth data to more accurately interpret and perform simple tasks in a domestic environment. We can never assume that any one of these inputs are completely accurate, but by using a combination, a more accurate interpretation could be found. For each speech, gesture recognition and object recognition input, an associated probability of correctness is calculated. Using these probabilities, a predefined associative map between specific words and gestures, and contextual information, we update the associated probability until some threshold has been reached. This contextual information includes the history of recently uttered phrases, as well as the information about known objects in the environment. Once an interpretation, complete or otherwise, is found, a response is formulated. This system has been developed using a Mitsubishi Heavy Industries robot, Wakamaru, as a platform.
Review of theoretical community ecology: implications for marine communities

1: Fisheries Research Services, Marine Laboratory, Aberdeen, Scotland. 2: Forschunginstitut Senckenberg, Wilhelmshaven, Germany. 3: University, of Wales Swansea, Swansea, Wales. 4: Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Canada. 5: Huntsman Marine Sciences Centre, New Brunswick, Canada. 6: University of Wales Bangor, Bangor, Wales. 7: The Netherlands Institute for Fisheries Research, Ijmuiden, Netherlands. 8:University of Ghent, Ghent, Belgium
Pain Characteristics after Total Laparoscopic Hysterectomy

Background. Total laparoscopic hysterectomy (TLH) causes various types of postoperative pain, and the pain pattern has not been evaluated in detail to date. This prospective observational study investigated the types of postoperative pain, intensity in the course of time, and pain characteristics during the first postoperative 72 hr after TLH. Methods. Sixty four female patients undergoing TLH were enrolled, which finally 50 patients were included for the data analyses. The locations of pain included overall pain, abdominal visceral and incisional pains, shoulder pain, and perineal pain. Assessments were made at rest and in motion, and pain level was scored with the use of the 100 mm visual analog scale. The pain was assessed at baseline, and at postoperative 30 min, 1 hr, 3 hr, 6 hr, 24 hr, 48 hr, and 72 hr. Results. Overall, visceral, and incisional pains were most intense on the day of operation and then decreased following surgery. In contrast, shoulder pain gradually increased, peaking at postoperative 24 hr. Shoulder pain developed in 90% of all patients (44/50). It was not more aggravated in motion than at rest, in comparison with other pains, and right shoulder pain was more severe than left shoulder pain (p=0.006). In addition, the preoperative exercise habit of patients increased the threshold of shoulder pain. Most patients (46/50) had perineal pain, which was more severe than abdominal pain in approximately 30% of patients (17/50). Conclusion. Pain after TLH showed considerably different duration, severity, and characteristics, compared with other laparoscopic procedures. Shoulder pain was most intense at postoperative 24 hr, and the intensity was associated with the prior exercise habit of patients and the high level of analgesic request.
Prevalence of Calodium hepaticum and Cysticercus fasciolaris in Urban Rats and Their Histopathological Reaction in the Livers

Humans can get infected with several zoonotic diseases from being in close contact with rats. This study was aimed at determining the prevalence and histopathological changes caused by Calodium hepaticum and Cysticercus fasciolaris in infected livers of wild caught urban rats. Of the 98 urban rats (Rattus rattus diardii and Rattus norvegicus) autopsied, 64.3% were infected; 44.9% were infected with Caladium hepatica, 39.3% were infected with Cysticercus fasciolaris, and 20.4% were infected with both parasites. High infection rates suggest that urban rats are common reservoir for both parasites, which are potentially a threat to man. Calodium hepaticum infections were identified by the presence of ova or adults in the liver parenchyma. They appear as yellowish white nodules, measuring 1–7 mm in diameter or in streaks scattered widely over the serosal surface of the liver. Cysticercus fasciolaris infections are recognized morphologically by their shape (round or oval) and are creamy white in colour. Histological studies of Calodium hepaticum showed areas of granulomatous lesions with necrotic areas around the dead ova and adults. In almost all cases, the rats appeared robust, looked healthy, and showed no visible signs of hepatic failure despite the fact that more than 64.0% of their livers were infected by either one or both parasites.