Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Strategies for the management and prevention of conformation-related respiratory disorders in brachycephalic dogs

Brachycephalic (short-muzzled) dogs are increasingly popular pets worldwide, with marked increases in registrations of breeds such as the Pug and French Bulldog over the past decade in the UK. Despite their popularity, many brachycephalic breeds are affected by an early-onset, lifelong respiratory disorder, brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome (BOAS). This disorder arises due to a mismatch in the proportions of the skull and the soft tissues held within the nose and pharynx, resulting in obstruction of the airway during respiration. Increased airway resistance encourages secondary changes such as eversion of the laryngeal saccules and collapse of the larynx. Clinical signs of BOAS are often early onset and chronic, including dyspnea, exercise intolerance, heat intolerance, and abnormal and increased respiratory noise. Episodes of severe dyspnea can also occur, leading to cyanosis, syncope, and death. BOAS may have a severe impact upon the welfare of affected dogs, compromising their ability to exercise, play, eat, and sleep. Although a well-described condition, with surgical treatments for the palliation of this disorder published since the 1920s, many dogs still experience airway restrictions postsurgically and a compromised quality of life. In addition, the prevalence of this disorder does not appear to have substantially reduced in this time, and may have increased. Ultimately, strategies to improve the breeding of these dogs to prevent BOAS are required to improve brachycephalic health and welfare. Recent studies have revealed conformational risk factors associated with BOAS, such as short muzzles and thick necks, which should be discouraged to avoid perpetuating this serious disorder. Positive changes to brachycephalic health may be impeded by a perception of BOAS being “normal for the breed”. This perception must be avoided by owners, breeders, and vets alike to prevent undertreatment of individuals and the perpetuation of this serious disorder to future generations of dogs.
Arachidonic acid status during pregnancy is associated with polychlorinated biphenyl exposure.

BACKGROUND Seafood is an important source of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPs), which are essential for normal growth and development. However, the nutritional benefits could be limited by polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) contamination. In particular, inhibition of desaturase activities by PCBs may affect the maintenance of arachidonic acid (AA) status during development. OBJECTIVE The aim was to evaluate AA status in a birth cohort from a fishing community with a high seafood intake and a wide range of PCB exposures. DESIGN We measured LCP concentrations in paired mother and umbilical cord serum samples obtained from 182 consecutive births in the Faroe Islands, where PCB-contaminated whale blubber forms part of the diet. PCB exposure was determined from maternal concentrations. RESULTS Serum phospholipid AA concentrations averaged 9.14% and 16.5% (by wt) in maternal and cord serum, respectively. After adjustment for gestational age and concentrations of linoleic, alpha-linolenic, and eicosapentaenoic acids, a decrease in AA concentrations of 0.17% (by wt) (95% CI: 0.03%, 0.31%) and 0.31% (by wt) (95% CI: 0.10%, 0.52%) was seen in maternal and cord serum, respectively, for each doubling of PCB exposure. CONCLUSIONS Increased PCB exposure was associated with a modest decrease in serum AA concentrations, which is in accordance with the experimental evidence of desaturase inhibition by PCBs. Such interference with LCP utilization could attenuate the beneficial effects of the essential lipids contained in seafood. Because AA is of key importance for growth and development, these results suggest that this possible mechanism for PCB toxicity deserves to be explored.
Degradation of Mod.9Cr-1Mo Steel during Long-term Creep Deformation

Synopsis : Long term creep strength property of a Mod.9Cr-1 Mo steel has been investigated in conjunction with changes in microstructure, in order to understand a degradation mechanism at the long term conditions. The predicted creep rupture lives from short term creep deformation data whose rupture lives are less than 1000 h, are consistent with the experimental data up to about 10000 h. In the long term region longer than about 10000 h, however, creep rupture lives become shorter than the predicted one with increase in time to rupture. In the specimens creep ruptured at short term region less than about 10000 h, homogeneous progress in recovery of tempered martensitic microstructure, such as increase in lath width and coarsening of subgrain, has been observed. On the other hand, remarkable progress in such recovery of the microstructure has been observed at the vicinity of prior austenite grain boundary for the specimen creep ruptured at long term region under the low stresses. Such preferential recovery along a prior austenite grain boundary can promote the beginning of tertiary creep under the low stress condition. It has been concluded that preferential recovery along a prior austenite grain boundary is a main factor of a degradation of the Mod.9Cr-1 Mo steel during long term creep deformation.
Short‐term disuse promotes fatty acid infiltration into skeletal muscle

Many physiological and/or pathological conditions lead to muscle deconditioning, a well‐described phenomenon characterized by a loss of strength and muscle power mainly due to the loss of muscle mass. Fatty infiltrations, or intermuscular adipose tissue (IMAT), are currently well‐recognized components of muscle deconditioning. Despite the fact that IMAT is present in healthy human skeletal muscle, its increase and accumulation are linked to muscle dysfunction. Although IMAT development has been largely attributable to inactivity, the precise mechanisms of its establishment are still poorly understood. Because the sedentary lifestyle that accompanies age‐related sarcopenia may favour IMAT development, deciphering the early processes of muscle disuse is of great importance before implementing strategies to limit IMAT deposition.
A randomized controlled trial to examine the effects of the Tackling Teenage psychosexual training program for adolescents with autism spectrum disorder

BACKGROUND Previous research underscores the importance of psychosexual guidance for adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Such guidance is provided in the Tackling Teenage Training (TTT) program, in which adolescents with ASD receive psycho-education and practice communicative skills regarding topics related to puberty, sexuality, and intimate relationships. This randomized controlled trial investigated the effects of the TTT program on (a) cognitive outcomes (i.e. psychosexual knowledge, and insight in interpersonal boundaries) and (b) behavioral outcomes (i.e. skills needed for romantic relationships and problematic sexual behavior). METHODS A total of 189 cognitively able adolescents with ASD, aged 12-18 years old, were randomized to an intervention condition (n = 95) or a waiting-list control condition (n = 94). We assessed outcomes using self-reported as well as parent-reported questionnaires at baseline (T1), posttreatment (T2; after 6 months), and follow-up (T3; after 12 months). RESULTS Linear mixed model analyses showed significant treatment effects for psychosexual knowledge and adequate insight in boundaries, both posttreatment and at follow-up. All adolescents increased significantly over time in their social responsiveness and decreased their problematic sexual behavior, irrespectively of condition. The TTT program was most effective for younger adolescents with ASD; following the TTT program resulted in higher psychosexual knowledge, and higher social functioning for these adolescents. CONCLUSIONS The results of this study indicate that the TTT program is effective as a psycho-educational program to provide adolescents with ASD with the knowledge and insight they need to prepare themselves for a healthy psychosexual development. Further research is needed to investigate how this increased knowledge and insight can subsequently ameliorate improvements in romantic skills and prevent the development of problematic sexual behavior and victimization.
Supplementation with flaxseed alters estrogen metabolism in postmenopausal women to a greater extent than does supplementation with an equal amount of soy.

BACKGROUND Phytoestrogens, which are abundant in flaxseed and soy, have chemical structures resembling those of endogenous estrogens and have been shown to exert hormonal effects, thereby affecting chronic diseases. OBJECTIVE We compared the effects of consuming equal amounts of flaxseed or soy on estrogen metabolism and biochemical markers of bone metabolism in postmenopausal women. DESIGN In a parallel design, the diet of postmenopausal women (n = 46) was supplemented with either a placebo, soy (25 g soy flour), or flaxseed (25 g ground flaxseed) muffin for 16 wk. Blood and 24-h urine samples were collected at baseline and at the endpoint. Urine samples were analyzed for phytoestrogens, estrogen metabolites (2-hydroxyestrone, 16alpha-hydroxyestrone), and serum hormones (estradiol, estrone, estrone sulfate). Serum and urine samples were also analyzed for biochemical markers of bone metabolism. RESULTS Urinary concentrations of 2-hydroxyestrone, but not of 16alpha-hydroxyestrone, increased significantly in the flaxseed group (P = 0.05). In the flaxseed group, the ratio of 2-hydroxyestrone to 16alpha-hydroxyestrone was positively correlated with urinary lignan excretion (r = 0.579, P = 0.02). In the soy and placebo groups, no significant correlation was observed. No significant change in serum hormones or biochemical markers of bone metabolism was observed within or between the treatment groups. CONCLUSIONS Supplementation with flaxseed modifies urinary estrogen metabolite excretion to a greater extent than does supplementation with an equal amount of soy. This modification by flaxseed is associated with an increase in urinary lignan excretion. Despite the shift in estrogen metabolism to favor the less biologically active estrogens, a negative effect on bone cell metabolism was not observed.
Native Predators Do Not Influence Invasion Success of Pacific Lionfish on Caribbean Reefs

Biotic resistance, the process by which new colonists are excluded from a community by predation from and/or competition with resident species, can prevent or limit species invasions. We examined whether biotic resistance by native predators on Caribbean coral reefs has influenced the invasion success of red lionfishes (Pterois volitans and Pterois miles), piscivores from the Indo-Pacific. Specifically, we surveyed the abundance (density and biomass) of lionfish and native predatory fishes that could interact with lionfish (either through predation or competition) on 71 reefs in three biogeographic regions of the Caribbean. We recorded protection status of the reefs, and abiotic variables including depth, habitat type, and wind/wave exposure at each site. We found no relationship between the density or biomass of lionfish and that of native predators. However, lionfish densities were significantly lower on windward sites, potentially because of habitat preferences, and in marine protected areas, most likely because of ongoing removal efforts by reserve managers. Our results suggest that interactions with native predators do not influence the colonization or post-establishment population density of invasive lionfish on Caribbean reefs.
Extramammary Paget Disease of External Genitalia: Surgical Excision and Follow-up Experiences With 19 Patients

Purpose There are only a few reports of extramammary Paget disease (EMPD) of the external genitalia because it is a rare malignancy. We investigated patients with EMPD of the penis and scrotum and report the outcome of surgical management. Materials and Methods From 2000 to 2012, a total of 19 patients diagnosed as having penile and scrotal EMPD underwent wide local excision with or without intraoperative frozen biopsy or preoperative mapping biopsy. The medical charts of these patients were reviewed and analyzed retrospectively. Mean follow-up was 22.5 months (range, 1 to 60 months). Results The mean age of the patients was 68 years (range, 57 to 82 years). In some patients, the lesions were misdiagnosed as either eczema or some other benign skin lesion at outside institutions, with a mean delay in diagnosis of 43.5 months (range, 1 to 198 months). Intraoperative frozen biopsy or preoperative mapping biopsy was performed in 18 patients. The resection margin was negative in 9 patients (47.4%) and positive in 10 patients (57.6%). Intraepithelial EMPD without dermis invasion was observed in 5 patients (26.3%), whereas diseases with dermis invasion were noted in 14 patients (73.7%). During the follow-up period, recurrences occurred in four patients, and two patients with dermis invasion and recurrence died from the disease. Conclusions Diagnosis of EMPD should not be delayed to allow for prompt management. Our findings suggest that intraoperative frozen biopsy or preoperative mapping biopsy cannot guarantee negative margins on final pathology. However, preoperative mapping biopsy and wide local excision with intraoperative frozen biopsy demonstrates good prognosis of EMPD, especially in those cases without dermal invasion.
The BRAF Inhibitor Vemurafenib Activates Mitochondrial Metabolism and Inhibits Hyperpolarized Pyruvate–Lactate Exchange in BRAF-Mutant Human Melanoma Cells

Understanding the impact of BRAF signaling inhibition in human melanoma on key disease mechanisms is important for developing biomarkers of therapeutic response and combination strategies to improve long-term disease control. This work investigates the downstream metabolic consequences of BRAF inhibition with vemurafenib, the molecular and biochemical processes that underpin them, their significance for antineoplastic activity, and potential as noninvasive imaging response biomarkers. 1H NMR spectroscopy showed that vemurafenib decreases the glycolytic activity of BRAF-mutant (WM266.4 and SKMEL28) but not BRAFWT (CHL-1 and D04) human melanoma cells. In WM266.4 cells, this was associated with increased acetate, glycine, and myo-inositol levels and decreased fatty acyl signals, while the bioenergetic status was maintained. 13C NMR metabolic flux analysis of treated WM266.4 cells revealed inhibition of de novo lactate synthesis and glucose utilization, associated with increased oxidative and anaplerotic pyruvate carboxylase mitochondrial metabolism and decreased lipid synthesis. This metabolic shift was associated with depletion of hexokinase 2, acyl-CoA dehydrogenase 9, 3-phosphoglycerate dehydrogenase, and monocarboxylate transporters (MCT) 1 and 4 in BRAF-mutant but not BRAFWT cells and, interestingly, decreased BRAF-mutant cell dependency on glucose and glutamine for growth. Further, the reduction in MCT1 expression observed led to inhibition of hyperpolarized 13C-pyruvate–lactate exchange, a parameter that is translatable to in vivo imaging studies, in live WM266.4 cells. In conclusion, our data provide new insights into the molecular and metabolic consequences of BRAF inhibition in BRAF-driven human melanoma cells that may have potential for combinatorial therapeutic targeting as well as noninvasive imaging of response. Mol Cancer Ther; 15(12); 2987–99. ©2016 AACR.
High Efficiency of Lutetium Silicate Scintillators, Ce-Doped LPS and LYSO Crystals for Medical Applications

The paper presents two cerium doped lutetium silicate crystals: pyrosilicate Ce:Lu2Si2O7 (LPS) and Ce: Lu2(1-x)Y2xSiO5 (LYSO). These two crystals exhibit the expected requirements for gamma detection: high density and high atomic number, high scintillation light yield, good energy resolution and fast response. LPS and LYSO crystals doped with cerium were grown by the Czochralski process. The crystal growth parameters were studied and optimized. Development of scintillators requires good understanding of the scintillation process. The location within the forbidden band gap of the localized lanthanide energy levels is analyzed by time resolved spectroscopy and thermoluminescence studies.
A case-control study of the association of diet and obesity with gout in Taiwan.

BACKGROUND Gout has been a significant metabolic disorder for Chinese men in Taiwan; however, there is insufficient information on diet and lifestyle risk factors in this population. OBJECTIVE The purpose of this case-control study was to explore potential dietary and lifestyle risk factors associated with gout in Chinese men. DESIGN Between 1998 and 1999, we recruited and conducted face-to-face interviews with patients from outpatient clinics in Taipei who had incident gout (n = 92) and with their healthy coworkers (controls; n = 92). RESULTS Systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, waist-to-hip ratio, waist-to-height ratio, and body mass index were significantly higher in cases than in controls. Family histories of gout and diabetes mellitus were strong risk factors for gout. Frequencies of vegetable and fruit consumption were significantly lower in cases than in controls. Logistic regression analyses showed that high alcohol intake and low intakes of fiber, folate, and vitamin C increased the risk of gout, but no association was found with purine intake. After covariates were controlled for, the adjusted odds ratios for the middle and highest tertiles of waist-to-height ratio (0.50-0.54 and >/==" BORDER="0"> 0.55, respectively) were 3.89 (95% CI: 1.32, 11.46) and 4.37 (1.18, 16.22), respectively, but no linear association was found for waist-to-hip ratio and waist circumference. CONCLUSIONS Consumption of alcohol, but not of purine, may be a significant dietary risk factor for gout. Food sources rich in dietary fiber, folate, and vitamin C, such as fruit and vegetables, protect against gout. Waist-to-height ratio, which indicates central obesity, has a significant linear effect on gout occurrence, independent of body mass index.
Atomic force microscopy and lamins: A review study towards future, combined investigations

In the last decades, atomic force microscopy (AFM) underwent a rapid and stunning development, especially for studying mechanical properties of biological samples. The numerous discoveries relying to this approach, have increased the credit of AFM as a versatile tool, and potentially eligible as a diagnostic equipment. Meanwhile, it has become strikingly evident that lamins are involved on the onset and development of certain diseases, including cancer, Hutchinson‐Gilford progeria syndrome, cardiovascular pathologies, and muscular dystrophy. A new category of pathologies has been defined, the laminopathies, which are caused by mutations in the gene encoding for A‐type lamins. As the majority of medical issues, lamins, and all their related aspects can be considered as a quite complex problem. Indeed, there are many facets to explore, and this definitely requires a multidisciplinary approach. One of the most intriguing aspects concerning lamins is their remarkable contribute to cells mechanics. Over the years, this has led to the speculation of the so‐called “structural hypothesis”, which attempts to elucidate the etiology and some features of the laminopathies. Among the various techniques tried to figure out the role of lamins in the cells mechanics, the AFM has been already successfully applied, proving its versatility. Therefore, the present work aims both to highlight the qualities of AFM and to review the most relevant knowledge about lamins, in order to promote the study of the latter, taking advantage from the former. Microsc. Res. Tech. 80:97–108, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Copy-number and gene dependency analysis reveals partial copy loss of wild-type SF3B1 as a novel cancer vulnerability

Genomic instability is a hallmark of human cancer, and results in widespread somatic copy number alterations. We used a genome-scale shRNA viability screen in human cancer cell lines to systematically identify genes that are essential in the context of particular copy-number alterations (copy-number associated gene dependencies). The most enriched class of copy-number associated gene dependencies was CYCLOPS (Copy-number alterations Yielding Cancer Liabilities Owing to Partial losS) genes, and spliceosome components were the most prevalent. One of these, the pre-mRNA splicing factor SF3B1, is also frequently mutated in cancer. We validated SF3B1 as a CYCLOPS gene and found that human cancer cells harboring partial SF3B1 copy-loss lack a reservoir of SF3b complex that protects cells with normal SF3B1 copy number from cell death upon partial SF3B1 suppression. These data provide a catalog of copy-number associated gene dependencies and identify partial copy-loss of wild-type SF3B1 as a novel, non-driver cancer gene dependency. DOI: http://dx.doi. org/10.7554/eLife.23268. 001
Longitudinal RNA sequencing of the deep transcriptome during neurogenesis of cortical glutamatergic neurons from murine ESCs

Using paired-end RNA sequencing, we have quantified the deep transcriptional changes that occur during differentiation of murine embryonic stem cells into a highly enriched population of glutamatergic cortical neurons. These data provide a detailed and nuanced account of longitudinal changes in the transcriptome during neurogenesis and neuronal maturation, starting from mouse embryonic stem cells and progressing through neuroepithelial stem cell induction, radial glial cell formation, neurogenesis, neuronal maturation and cortical patterning. Understanding the transcriptional mechanisms underlying the differentiation of stem cells into mature, glutamatergic neurons of cortical identity has myriad applications, including the elucidation of mechanisms of cortical patterning; identification of neurogenic processes; modeling of disease states; detailing of the host cell response to neurotoxic stimuli; and determination of potential therapeutic targets. In future work we anticipate correlating changes in longitudinal gene expression to other cell parameters, including neuronal function as well as characterizations of the proteome and metabolome. In this data article, we describe the methods used to produce the data and present the raw sequence read data in FASTQ files, sequencing run statistics and a summary flatfile of raw counts for 22,164 genes across 31 samples, representing 3-5 biological replicates at each timepoint. We propose that this data will be a valuable contribution to diverse research efforts in bioinformatics, stem cell research and developmental neuroscience studies.
Involuntary Teeth Clenching during Physical Exercise.

Involuntary clenching is common during physical exercise; therefore, the purposeof this study was to elucidate the relationship between stomatognathic function and physical exercise as well as role and mechanism of involuntary teeth clenching during physical exercise.In 15 healthy, fully dentate males (mean age 26.5±2.1), electromyographic activities from jaw closing (JM), sternocleidomastoid, biceps brachial (BB), and rectus femoral (RF) muscles; mandibular positions; and muscle strength during both isometric elbow flexion and knee extensionexercises were recorded and analyzed.From the analysis of electromyographic activities and mandibular position, the subjects were divided into two groups, Clenching group (n=9) and Non-clenching group (n=6). The subjects in the Clenching group showed involuntary clenching during the exercise and their mandibular positions were located at the inter-cuspal position. The onset of electromyographic activity of JM was earlier than that of the agonist (BB, RF) in the 7 subjectsof the Clenching group. In the Clenching group, both elbow flexion and knee extension strength with involuntary clenching were lowered when voluntary mouth opening was directed during the exercise.These results suggested that stomatognathic function and physical exercise had an interdependent relationship and involuntary clenching during physical exercise could be explained by a so-called feedforward mechanism.