Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Oligonol, a Low-Molecular Weight Polyphenol Derived from Lychee, Alleviates Muscle Loss in Diabetes by Suppressing Atrogin-1 and MuRF1

Stimulation of the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway—especially E3 ubiquitin ligases Atrogin-1 and MuRF1—is associated with muscle loss in diabetes. Elevated lipid metabolites impair myogenesis. Oligonol, a low molecular weight polyphenol derived from lychee, exhibited anti-diabetic and anti-obesity properties, suggesting it could be a proper supplement for attenuating muscle loss. Dietary (10 weeks) oligonol supplementation (20 or 200 mg/kg diet) on the skeletal muscle loss was investigated in diabetic db/db mice. Transcription factors NF-κB and FoxO3a involved in regulation of Atrogin-1 and MuRF1 were also investigated. Attenuation of muscle loss by oligonol (both doses) was associated with down-regulation of Atrogin-1 and MuRF1 gene expression. Oligonol supplementation decreased NF-κB expression in the nuclear fraction compared with db/db mice without oligonol supplement. Upregulation of sirtuin1 (SIRT1) expression prevented FoxO3a nuclear localization in db/db mice supplemented with oligonol. Marked increases in AMPKα activity and Ppara mRNA expression leading to lower lipid accumulation by oligonol provided additional benefits for attenuating muscle loss. Oligonol limited palmitate-induced senescent phenotype and cell cycle arrest and suppressed Atrogin-1 and MuRF1 mRNA expression in palmitate-treated C2C12 muscle cells, thus contributing to improving the impaired myotube formation. In conclusion, oligonol-mediated downregulation of Atrogin-1 and MuRF1 gene expression alleviates muscle loss and improves the impaired myotube formation, indicating that oligonol supplementation may be useful for the attenuation of myotube loss.
Induction of Apoptosis by Hypertension Via Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress

Background/Aims: Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress is one of the intrinsic apoptosis pathways, and cardiac apoptosis can occur in cardiovascular diseases, such as hypertension. However, the mechanisms by which ER stress leads to apoptosis remain enigmatic, particularly in the progression from cardiac hypertrophy to diastolic heart failure due to hypertension. Methods: We used spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) to investigate possible signalling pathways for ER stress. Results: We found that cardiac protein and mRNA levels of glucose-regulated protein 78 were up-regulated. In addition, the CHOP- and caspase-12-dependent pathways, but not that of JNK, were activated in the SHR rats. Conclusions: These results suggest that ER stress can contribute to myocardial apoptosis during hypertensive disease.
Mechanisms of Active Hair Bundle Motion in Auditory Hair Cells

Sound stimuli vibrate the hair bundles on auditory hair cells, but the resulting motion attributable to the mechanical stimulus may be modified by forces intrinsic to the bundle, which drive it actively. One category of active hair bundle motion has properties similar to fast adaptation of the mechanotransducer channels and is explicable if gating of the channels contributes significantly to the mechanics of the hair bundle. To explore this mechanism, we measured hair bundle compliance in turtle auditory hair cells under different conditions that alter the activation range of the channel. Force–displacement relationships were nonlinear, possessing a maximum slope compliance when approximately one-half of the transducer channels were open. When the external calcium concentration was reduced from 2.8 to 0.25 mm, the position of maximum compliance was shifted negative, reflecting a comparable shift in the transducer channel activation curve. Assuming that the nonlinearity represents the compliance attributable to channel gating, a single-channel gating force of 0.25 pN was calculated. By comparing bundle displacements with depolarization with and without an attached flexible fiber, the force contributed by each channel was independently estimated as 0.47 pN. These results are consistent with fast active bundle movements resulting from changes in mechanotransducer channel gating. However, several observations revealed additional components of hair bundle motion, with slower kinetics and opposite polarity to the fast movement but also linked to transducer adaptation. This finding argues for multiple mechanisms for controlling hair bundle position in auditory hair cells.
Lead Users as Facilitators of Knowledge Sharing in Community Setting

This paper introduces a model of knowledge sharing of lead users located in a public and unrestricted community of users. While existing literature on knowledge sharing focuses on allocation and collaboration processes inside or among companies we extend this to the community level. We then focus on how key agents — lead users — facilitate knowledge sharing in this setting and the features that moderate such sharing. Our results show that lead users are central to search and integration of knowledge from different external sources of relevance to their communities. Inside the community lead users are active in both “giving and taking” knowledge. Further, as users build up experience they tend to give more knowledge, thus suggesting a dynamic pattern of knowledge sharing in which increases in experience make way for important knowledge diffusion processes in the community.
Functional Analysis of Organic Cation Transporter 3 Expressed in Human Placenta

The aim of this study is to investigate the placental transport mechanism of cationic compounds by comparison of the uptake of an organic cation into human placental basal membrane vesicles (BLMVs) with that into organic cation transporter 3 (OCT3)-expressing cells. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction analysis demonstrated that OCT3 is the only OCT isoform expressed in the human placenta. The function of OCT3 was investigated by measuring the uptake of 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP+) into human embryonic kidney (HEK)293 cells stably expressing OCT3 (HEK/OCT3 cells). The OCT3-mediated uptake of MPP+ was sodium- and chloride-independent and saturable, with a Michaelis constant (Km) of 82.5 μM. The OCT3-mediated uptake was inhibited by various cationic drugs in a concentration-dependent manner but not by anionic compounds, such as p-aminohippuric acid and captopril, or a zwitterion, carnitine. Western blotting analysis of membrane vesicles prepared from human term placenta revealed that OCT3 is expressed only in BLMVs but not in microvillous membrane vesicles. The uptake of MPP+ into BLMVs was membrane potential-dependent and saturable, with a Km value of 51.8 μM, which is similar to that in HEK293/OCT3 cells. The inhibitory spectrum of various compounds on MPP+ uptake by BLMVs was also similar to that in HEK293/OCT3 cells. These results suggest that OCT3 is expressed on the basal membrane of human trophoblast cells and plays an important role in the placental transport of cationic compounds.
Formosan Subterranean Termite Resistance of Borate-Modified Strandboard Manufactured From Southern Wood Species: A Laboratory Trial

The behavior of Formosan subterranean termites (FST) toward zinc borate (ZB) and calcium borate (CB)-treated oriented strandboard (OSB) from southern mixed hardwoods and southern yellow pine was examined in laboratory tests. Loading of ZB and CB in OSB provided protection from severe structural damage, but did not completely eliminate termite activity. The level of borate used showed significant effects on weight loss, percent termite mortality, and termite damage rating. Borate types had a significant effect on the sample weight loss and damage rating, but not on termite mortality. Wood species showed no significant effect on the termite resistance. Correlations between weight loss and damage rating and between weight loss and termite mortality for both wood species were fitted well by a decaying exponential function. A three-way regression analysis showed a significant curvilinear relationship among damage rating, weight loss, and termite mortality. Zinc and calcium borate treatment to retention levels greater than 1.0% BAE provided sufficient protection from FST attack. Additional field tests may be needed to determine whether ZB and CB treatments will protect OSB from large-scale attack by FST and if modified OSB panels will be acceptable commercially.
DNA Damage, Somatic Aneuploidy, and Malignant Sarcoma Susceptibility in Muscular Dystrophies

Albeit genetically highly heterogeneous, muscular dystrophies (MDs) share a convergent pathology leading to muscle wasting accompanied by proliferation of fibrous and fatty tissue, suggesting a common MD–pathomechanism. Here we show that mutations in muscular dystrophy genes (Dmd, Dysf, Capn3, Large) lead to the spontaneous formation of skeletal muscle-derived malignant tumors in mice, presenting as mixed rhabdomyo-, fibro-, and liposarcomas. Primary MD–gene defects and strain background strongly influence sarcoma incidence, latency, localization, and gender prevalence. Combined loss of dystrophin and dysferlin, as well as dystrophin and calpain-3, leads to accelerated tumor formation. Irrespective of the primary gene defects, all MD sarcomas share non-random genomic alterations including frequent losses of tumor suppressors (Cdkn2a, Nf1), amplification of oncogenes (Met, Jun), recurrent duplications of whole chromosomes 8 and 15, and DNA damage. Remarkably, these sarcoma-specific genetic lesions are already regularly present in skeletal muscles in aged MD mice even prior to sarcoma development. Accordingly, we show also that skeletal muscle from human muscular dystrophy patients is affected by gross genomic instability, represented by DNA double-strand breaks and age-related accumulation of aneusomies. These novel aspects of molecular pathologies common to muscular dystrophies and tumor biology will potentially influence the strategies to combat these diseases.
Lumbosacral epidural magnesium prolongs ketamine analgesia in conscious sheep.

PURPOSE To determine the analgesic, motor, sedation and systemic effects of lumbosacral epidural magnesium sulphate added to ketamine in the sheep. METHODS Six healthy adult male mixed-breed sheep; weighing 43 ± 5 kg and aged 20-36 months. Each sheep underwent three treatments, at least 2 weeks apart, via epidural injection: (1) ketamine (KE; 2.5 mg/kg), (2) magnesium sulphate (MG; 100 mg), and (3) KE + MG (KEMG; 2.5 mg/kg + 100 mg, respectively). Epidural injections were administered through the lumbosacral space. Analgesia, motor block, sedation, cardiovascular effects, respiratory rate, skin temperature, and rectal temperature were evaluated before (baseline) and after drug administration as needed. RESULTS The duration of analgesia with the lumbosacral epidural KEMG combination was 115 ± 17 min (mean ± SD), that is, more than twice that obtained with KE (41 ± 7 min) or MG (29 ± 5 min) alone. KE and KEMG used in this experiment induced severe ataxia. The heart rate and arterial blood pressures changes were no statistical difference in these clinically health sheep. CONCLUSION The dose of magnesium sulphate to lumbosacral epidural ketamine in sheep is feasible, and can be used in procedures analgesics in sheep.
The Human Cytomegalovirus Virion Possesses an Activated Casein Kinase II That Allows for the Rapid Phosphorylation of the Inhibitor of NF-κB, IκBα

ABSTRACT We documented that the NF-κB signaling pathway was rapidly induced following human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection of human fibroblasts and that this induced NF-κB activity promoted efficient transactivation of the major immediate-early promoter (MIEP). Previously, we showed that the major HCMV envelope glycoproteins, gB and gH, initiated this NF-κB signaling event. However, we also hypothesized that there were additional mechanisms utilized by the virus to rapidly upregulate NF-κB. In this light, we specifically hypothesized that the HCMV virion contained IκBα kinase activity, allowing for direct phosphorylation of IκBα following virion entry into infected cells. In vitro kinase assays performed on purified HCMV virion extract identified bona fide IκBα kinase activity in the virion. The enzyme responsible for this kinase activity was identified as casein kinase II (CKII), a cellular serine-threonine protein kinase. CKII activity was necessary for efficient transactivation of the MIEP and IE gene expression. CKII is generally considered to be a constitutively active kinase. We suggest that this molecular characteristic of CKII represents the biologic rationale for the viral capture and utilization of this kinase early after infection. The packaging of CKII into the HCMV virion identifies that diverse molecular mechanisms are utilized by HCMV for rapid NF-κB activation. We propose that HCMV possesses multiple pathways to increase NF-κB activity to ensure that the correct temporal regulation of NF-κB occurs following infection and that sufficient threshold levels of NF-κB are reached in the diverse array of cells, including monocytes and endothelial cells, infected in vivo.
The ‘stubborn particulars’ of social psychology

A process for the isolation of a water-soluble solid from a mixture containing said solid and an aqueous solution of water-soluble impurity, said process comprising displacing the aqueous solution from the mixture by washing with a water-miscible organic solvent, slurrying the resulting mixture of water-soluble solid and solvent with water, removing the solvent by steam distillation and finally subjecting the resulting aqueous solution or suspension to spray drying.
Problems in learning the Thai language as a foreign language

The need for learning the Thai language as a foreign language has shown why this learning is important. Some of the important considerations are the challenges of globalisation, the need to facilitate communication with a society that is using the Thai language, to gain knowledge, for personal use, for social, economic, and political use and to deepen knowledge about the structure of the Thai language. Yet from the research that has been conducted, it has been discovered that there were a few problems faced by the students who are learning the Thai language. This paper will identify the learning problems faced by Thai language students at Universiti Putra Malaysia by using the questionnaires and interview methods. Learning problems are surveyed from the phonology, morphology and syntax aspects. Futher, the research will discuss the appropriate approach to be used to increase the learning of Thai language as a foreign language, the teaching tools, language proficiency aspects that need to be controlled and activities that can be done in order to increase the effectiveness of the education in the Thai language.
Perturbations in small molecule synthesis uncovers an iron-responsive secondary metabolite network in Aspergillus fumigatus

Iron plays a critical role in survival and virulence of the opportunistic pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus. Two transcription factors, the GATA-factor SreA and the bZip-factor HapX oppositely monitor iron homeostasis with HapX activating iron acquisition pathways (e.g., siderophores) and shutting down iron consumptive pathways (and SreA) during iron starvation conditions whereas SreA negatively regulates HapX and corresponding pathways during iron sufficiency. Recently the non-ribosomal peptide, hexadehydroastechrome (HAS; a tryptophan-derived iron (III)-complex), has been found important in A. fumigatus virulence. We found that HAS overproduction caused an iron starvation phenotype, from alteration of siderophore pools to regulation of iron homeostasis gene expression including sreA. Moreover, we uncovered an iron dependent secondary metabolism network where both SreA and HapX oppositely regulate multiple other secondary metabolites including HAS. This circuitry links iron-acquisition and consumption pathways with secondary metabolism—thus placing HAS as part of a metabolic feedback circuitry designed to balance iron pools in the fungus and presenting iron availability as one environmental trigger of secondary metabolism.
Children's self-report of postoperative pain intensity and treatment threshold: determining the adequacy of medication.

OBJECTIVE Many studies have shown indirectly that children are undermedicated for postoperative pain. In this study, we used a pain self-report scale to examine this more directly. METHODS We performed a survey with 63 children who were postoperative from minor, uncomplicated surgery. Using the self-report scale, we determined the pain intensity at time of interview, the worst pain experienced postoperatively, and the intensity of pain that the subject felt to warrant pharmacologic intervention (the "treatment threshold"). A subgroup of 48 children was asked to indicate on the scale the intensities that represented mild, moderate, and severe pain. RESULTS Mean (SD) pain at time of interview was 1.9 (1.7) on the 0-6 scale. Mean worst postoperative pain was 3.8 (1.8). The mean for treatment threshold was 3.2 (1.8). We found gender differences in regard to the judgments about the intensities representing mild, moderate, and severe pain, with girls rating these lower than did boys. Twenty-five percent of subjects reported pain that was mild, 29% reported moderate pain, and 46% reported severe pain. CONCLUSIONS We found that 51% of subjects were undermedicated for postoperative pain, being required to suffer pain that was above their treatment threshold. By determining each subject's treatment threshold and estimate of moderate pain, we have better defined the intensity at which pain becomes clinically significant.
Maternal and Early Childhood Risk Factors for Overweight and Obesity among Low-Income Predominantly Black Children at Age Five Years: A Prospective Cohort Study

Objective. To identify maternal and early childhood risk factors for obesity and overweight among children at age 5 in the state of Alabama. Methods. We recruited 740 mothers during early pregnancy from University of Alabama Prenatal Clinics in a prospective cohort study and followed them throughout pregnancy. We followed their children from birth until 5 years of age. The main outcome measure was obesity (BMI for age and sex ≥ 95th percentile) at 5 years of age. We used poisson regression with robust variance estimation to compute risk ratio (RR). Results. At the 5th year of followup, 71 (9.6%) of the children were obese and 85 (11.5%) were overweight (BMI ≥ 85th–<95th percentile). In multivariable analysis, maternal prepregnancy overweight (RR: 2.30, 95% CI: 1.29–4.11) and obesity (RR: 2.53, 95% CI: 1.49–4.31), and child's birth weight >85th percentile (RR: 2.04, 95% CI: 1.13–3.68) were associated with childhood obesity. Maternal prepregnancy BMI, birth weight, and maternal smoking were associated with the child being overweight 1–12 cigarettes/day versus 0 cigarettes/day (RR: 1.40, 95% CI: 1.02–1.91). Conclusion. Children of overweight and obese mothers, and children with higher birth weight, are more likely to be obese and overweight at age 5. Maternal smoking 1–12 cigarettes per day is associated with the child being overweight.
Separating temperature effects from ring-oscillator readings to measure true IR-drop on a chip

There have been numerous attempts at adding ring-oscillator counters to measure IR-Drop on chips. The difficulty with this approach has been that any reading of the ring count always combined the effects of Temperature and Voltage versus Voltage only reading. The technique relied primarily on the fact that temperature effects take a long time to affect the ring-oscillator counter value. This paper will validate this premise by using two identical ring-oscillator counters next to each other but powered by two separate power supplies. One ring-oscillator counter will be connected to the core under test, the second ring-oscillator counter will be connected to a clean supply. By comparing the different readings, we can accurately remove temperature from the ring-oscillator counter reading and arrive at an accurate IR-Drop measurement.
Symptoms in 400 patients referred to palliative care services: prevalence and patterns

The demographics and prevalence of symptoms in patients at first referral to the different components of palliative care services were identified by a retrospective case note study of 400 patients referred to three palliative care centres in London, UK: Michael Sobell House, Mount Vernon Hospital; The North London Hospice; St Bartholomew's and the Royal London Hospitals. One hundred consecutive referrals to each of the following service components were analysed: a hospice inpatient service; a community team; an NHS hospital support team and an outpatient service. A standardized proforma was used to collect the data. Ninety five per cent (380/400) of patients referred had a cancer diagnosis. The five most prevalent symptoms overall were pain (64%), anorexia (34%), constipation (32%), weakness (32%) and dyspnoea (31%), which is similar to other published reports. However, the commonest symptoms and their prevalence varied depending on the service component to which the patient was referred. Patients referred to hospice and community services had the highest symptom burden (mean number of symptoms per patient 7.21 and 7.13, respectively). This study suggests that different patient subgroups may have different needs in terms of symptoms, which will be relevant for the planning and rationalization of palliative care services.
Joint estimation of forward and backward motion vectors for interpolative prediction of video

A low-complexity iterative algorithm is introduced for joint estimation of forward and backward motion vectors in interpolative prediction of video. Starting from the initial values obtained by a commonly-used block matching independent search method, the motion vectors are iteratively refined until a locally optimal solution to the motion estimation problem for interpolative prediction is achieved. Each iteration consists of a series of two similar procedures. First, the backward motion vector is fixed and a new forward motion vector is searched to minimize the interpolation error. Then the forward motion vector is fixed and the backward motion vector is similarly refined by minimizing the interpolation error. This process is repeated until the interpolation error stops decreasing. Computer simulation results demonstrate that with this technique the prediction error in some scenes is significantly reduced.
From Schooling to Shoaling: Patterns of Collective Motion in Zebrafish (Danio rerio)

Animal groups on the move can take different configurations. For example, groups of fish can either be ‘shoals’ or ‘schools’: shoals are simply aggregations of individuals; schools are shoals exhibiting polarized, synchronized motion. Here we demonstrate that polarization distributions of groups of zebrafish (Danio rerio) are bimodal, showing two distinct modes of collective motion corresponding to the definitions of shoaling and schooling. Other features of the group's motion also vary consistently between the two modes: zebrafish schools are faster and less dense than zebrafish shoals. Habituation to an environment can also alter the proportion of time zebrafish groups spend schooling or shoaling. Models of collective motion suggest that the degree and stability of group polarization increases with the group's density. Examining zebrafish groups of different sizes from 5 to 50, we show that larger groups are less polarized than smaller groups. Decreased fearfulness in larger groups may function similarly to habituation, causing them to spend more time shoaling than schooling, contrary to most models' predictions.