Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Proteome Dynamics during C2C12 Myoblast Differentiation*S

Mouse-derived C2C12 myoblasts serve as an experimentally tractable model system for investigating the molecular basis of skeletal muscle cell specification and development. To examine the biochemical adaptations associated with myocyte formation comprehensively, we used large scale gel-free tandem mass spectrometry to monitor global proteome alterations throughout a time course analysis of the myogenic C2C12 differentiation program. The relative abundance of ∼1,800 high confidence proteins was tracked across multiple time points using capillary scale multidimensional liquid chromatography coupled to high throughput shotgun sequencing. Hierarchical clustering of the resulting profiles revealed differential waves of expression of proteins linked to intracellular signaling, transcription, cytoarchitecture, adhesion, metabolism, and muscle contraction across the early, mid, and late stages of differentiation. Several hundred previously uncharacterized proteins were likewise detected in a stage-specific manner, suggesting novel roles in myogenesis and/or muscle function. These proteomic data are complementary to recent microarray-based studies of gene expression patterns in developing myotubes and provide a holistic framework for understanding how diverse biochemical processes are coordinated at the cellular level during skeletal muscle development.
The pre-illness marital relationship as the context for wives caregiving for a husband with Alzheimer disease

Wives caregiving for husbands with Alzheimer disease (AD) pursue the caregiving role within the context of their pre-illness marital relationships. A relationship-oriented approach to understanding informal family caregiving from the wives' perspective of their experience caregiving for their husbands with AD offers a new perspective to enable nurses to identify the caregiver's individual support needs. The purpose of this qualitative inquiry was to contribute to our knowledge of family caregiving by offering an understanding of the influence of the marriage relationship from the perspective of wives caregiving for husbands with AD. This research also endeavored to increase nursing knowledge regarding the wives' experience caregiving for husbands with AD within the context of marriage. This qualitative study is a secondary analysis of Dr. JoAnn Perry's (1995) PhD dissertation data. The secondary research method was guided by the principles of grounded theory and operated within the interpretive research tradition of symbolic interactionism. Symbolic interactionism framed the analysis to promote understanding of the influence of the wives' pre-illness marital context. The findings of this study revealed that the nature of the preillness marital relationship for wives caregiving for husbands with AD was formed by the wives' interpretation of their husbands' behaviour and the meaning they assign to it and their understanding of their interactions as a married couple. The nature of the pre-illness marital relationship influenced the wives' ability to (1) access internal support from the marriage experience, and (2) preserve a sense of couplehood within the caregiving experience. The concept of connection
Immune Responses in Ileostomy Fluid and Serum after Oral Cholera Vaccination of Patients Colectomized because of Ulcerative Colitis

ABSTRACT The capacity of an oral inactivated B-subunit–whole-cell cholera vaccine to induce immune responses in patients colectomized due to ulcerative colitis was studied. Two doses of vaccine induced significant mucosal immunoglobulin A (IgA) antibody responses in ileostomy fluid against cholera toxin in 14 of 15 (93%) patients and against whole vibrios in 9 of 15 (60%) cases. The serological responses were lower (but not significantly) than those observed in healthy Swedish volunteers. Increased IgA antitoxin levels were found in ileostomy fluid as late as 2 years after vaccination.
A Smoker Identity Measure for Experimental, Intermittent, and Daily College Student Smokers

Purpose. To provide initial tests of internal consistency reliability and both structural and concurrent validity of a smoker identity (SI) scale for college student populations. Design. Cross-sectional design. Setting. Midsouth university. Participants. Undergraduates in a random sample of university classes completed surveys (92.3% response rate). Method. SI items derived from a literature review and clinical expertise, lifetime and current tobacco use, cigarette purchasing patterns, and quitting variables. Analysis. Current (some days or every day) cigarette users (n = 362) were divided into daily, intermittent, and experimental smoker groups. After principal components analysis was conducted on the SI items, analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to assess SI differentiation of smoker groups, and correlational analysis or ANOVA was used to assess SI relationships with smoking and quitting variables. Results. Eight SI items produced a high–internal-consistency, single-factor structure (α = .93) and clearly differentiated the three smoker groups. Higher SI scores indicated greater smoking rate, smoking within 30 minutes of awakening, larger purchased quantities, and both greater interest and lower confidence in quitting. Conclusions. The scale demonstrated good reliability and validity. Other SI measures exist, but this is the first scale to establish utility with experimental and intermittent smokers—substantial groups among college students. The extent to which cigarette users identify as smokers may provide useful information beyond behavioral measures, especially among college students.
Cell Surface-Associated Lipoteichoic Acid Acts as an Adhesion Factor for Attachment of Lactobacillus johnsoniiLa1 to Human Enterocyte-Like Caco-2 Cells

ABSTRACT The influence of pH on the adhesion of twoLactobacillus strains to Caco-2 human intestinal cells was investigated. One strain, Lactobacillus johnsonii La1, was adherent at any pH between 4 and 7. The other one, L. acidophilus La10, did not attach to this cell line under the same experimental conditions. On the basis of these results, we used the monoclonal antibody technique as a tool to determine differences on the surface of these bacteria and to identify a factor for adhesion. Mice were immunized with live La1, and the hybridomas produced by fusion of spleen cells with ONS1 cells were screened for the production of antibodies specific for L. johnsonii La1. A set of these monoclonal antibodies was directed against a nonproteinaceous component of the L. johnsonii La1 surface. It was identified as lipoteichoic acid (LTA). This molecule was isolated, chemically characterized, and tested in adhesion experiments in the same system. The adhesion of L. johnsonii La1 to Caco-2 cells was inhibited in a concentration-dependent way by purified LTA as well as by L. johnsonii La1 culture supernatant that contained LTA. These results showed that the mechanism of adhesion of L. johnsonii La1 to human Caco-2 cells involves LTA.
Effects of Hyperoxia on Oxygen-Related Inflammation with a Focus on Obesity

Several studies have shown a pathological oxygenation (hypoxia/hyperoxia) on the adipose tissue in obese subjects. Additionally, the excess of body weight is often accompanied by a state of chronic low-degree inflammation. The inflammation phenomenon is a complex biological response mounted by tissues to combat injurious stimuli in order to maintain cell homeostasis. Furthermore, it is believed that the abnormal oxygen partial pressure occurring in adipose tissue is involved in triggering inflammatory processes. In this context, oxygen is used in modern medicine as a treatment for several diseases with inflammatory components. Thus, hyperbaric oxygenation has demonstrated beneficial effects, apart from improving local tissue oxygenation, on promoting angiogenesis, wound healing, providing neuroprotection, facilitating glucose uptake, appetite, and others. Nevertheless, an excessive hyperoxia exposure can lead to deleterious effects such as oxidative stress, pulmonary edema, and maybe inflammation. Interestingly, some of these favorable outcomes occur under high and low oxygen concentrations. Hereby, we review a potential therapeutic approach to the management of obesity as well as the oxygen-related inflammation accompanying expanded adipose tissue, based on elevated oxygen concentrations. To conclude, we highlight at the end of this review some areas that need further clarification.
BAX and BAK1 are dispensable for ABT-737-induced dissociation of the BCL2-BECN1 complex and autophagy

Disruption of the complex of BECN1 with BCL2 or BCL2L1/BCL-XL is an essential switch that turns on cellular autophagy in response to environmental stress or treatment with BH3 peptidomimetics. Recently, it has been proposed that BCL2 and BCL2L1/BCL-XL may inhibit autophagy indirectly through a mechanism dependent on the proapoptotic BCL2 family members, BAX and BAK1. Here we report that the BH3 mimetic, ABT-737, induces autophagy in parallel with disruption of BCL2-BECN1 binding in 2 different apoptosis-deficient cell types lacking BAX and BAK1, namely in mouse embryonic fibroblasts cells and in human colon cancer HCT116 cells. We conclude that the BH3 mimetic ABT-737 induces autophagy through a BAX and BAK1-independent mechanism that likely involves disruption of BECN1 binding to antiapoptotic BCL2 family members.
A two-step nucleotide-flipping mechanism enables kinetic discrimination of DNA lesions by AGT

O6-alkylguanine-DNA alkyltransferase (AGT) repairs damage to the human genome by flipping guanine and thymine bases into its active site for irreversible transfer of alkyl lesions to Cys-145, but how the protein identifies its targets has remained unknown. Understanding molecular recognition in this system, which can serve as a paradigm for the many nucleotide-flipping proteins that regulate genes and repair DNA in all kingdoms of life, is particularly important given that inhibitors are in clinical trials as anticancer therapeutics. Computational approaches introduced recently for harvesting and statistically characterizing trajectories of molecularly rare events now enable us to elucidate a pathway for nucleotide flipping by AGT and the forces that promote it. In contrast to previously proposed flipping mechanisms, we observe a two-step process that promotes a kinetic, rather than a thermodynamic, gate-keeping strategy for lesion discrimination. Connection is made to recent single-molecule studies of DNA-repair proteins sliding on DNA to understand how they sense subtle chemical differences between bases efficiently.
A new method to assess fetal head descent in labor with transperineal ultrasound

To assess the feasibility and reproducibility of measuring fetal head station and descent during labor using transperineal ultrasound (TPU) imaging, to compare the evaluation of fetal station through digital examinations with concurrent TPU assessments, and to assess its utility in distinguishing patients whose pregnancy will result in spontaneous vaginal delivery from those who will require operative vaginal delivery or Cesarean section for failure to progress.
A case report on the use of oral thiamine in a palliative care patient in the management of peripheral edema in a community setting in New South Wales, Australia

Introduction: Thiamine deficiency may present insidiously and has a spectrum of symptoms. Whilst outbreaks occur in developing countries, select communities in developed countries are also susceptible. Body stores of thiamine are low and depleted easily. Initially, deficiency may present with anorexia, malaise, generalized weakness and paresthesias with edema and palpitations. Over time it may progress to frank peripheral neuropathy and cardiac involvement [1]. Palliative care patients are frail, often malnourished with weight loss with catabolic states contributing to deficiency of micronutrients. Symptoms as described are often attributed to underlying disease or treatment received. A previous study found high rates of thiamine deficiency in terminally ill patients admitted to a palliative care unit [2]. Case Report: A 42-yearold Aboriginal Australian male community based palliative care patient with peripheral edema affecting quality of life and access of subcutaneous sites for medications received thiamine supplementation. This resulted in improvement of edema, access of subcutaneous Tai Vicki1 Affiliations: 1MB. ChB, BAO (NUI), LRCPIS Conjoint Fellow, School of Medicine and Public Health, The University of Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia. Corresponding Author: Vicki May Ling Tai, Central Coast Palliative Care Service, Killarney Vale, NSW, Australia, NSW 2261; Ph: +61 2 43367777; Fax: +61 2 43367773; Email: Vicki.Tai@health.nsw. gov.au Received: 01 September 2015 Accepted: 21 October 2015 Published: 01 January 2016 sites for medications and most importantly patient satisfaction and comfort. Conclusion: Thiamine deficiency should be considered in the frail, malnourished. Presentation may be insidious and symptoms may be overlooked in those who are palliative. Supplementation is inexpensive. Biochemical verification is not always feasible and for practical reasons often supplementation precedes detection. More research needs to be done in this area.
Disproportionate Prevalence Rate of Prisoners With Disabilities

Previous research suggests that prisoners have a higher rate of disability than non-institutionalized adults. This study used nationally representative data to update the prevalence rate, identify correlates of disability, and evaluate disability-related disparities in use of prison-based educational services, vocational programs, and work assignments. Data were obtained from 18,185 prisoners interviewed in the 2004 Survey of Inmates in State and Federal Correctional Facilities. Survey logistic regression procedures were conducted using Stata 13. Disability prevalence remained substantially higher among prisoners than among the non-institutionalized population. Prisoners were more likely to report specific learning, sensory, and speech-related disabilities than non-institutionalized adults. Prisoners with at least one type of disability had more criminogenic risk factors and come from a more disadvantaged background than prisoners without disability. Prisoners with disabilities were also less likely to utilize vocational programs and work assignments but were more likely to use educational programs than prisoners without disabilities. In summary, 41% of prisoners reported a disability, most commonly, learning disabilities. Prisoners with disabilities were identified as an at-risk group for recidivism, given their pre-incarceration experiences, and limited vocational and work-related training received in prison.
Efficacy of caregiver-mediated joint engagement intervention for young children with autism spectrum disorders

Joint attention intervention for children with autism spectrum disorders was focused on improving joint engagement and joint attention skills. The purpose of this study was to develop a caregiver-mediated joint engagement intervention program combined with body movement play to investigate the effects of joint engagement/joint attention skills in young children with autism spectrum disorders. A quasi-experimental research design was conducted. A total of 34 young children with autism spectrum disorders aged 2–4 years were separated into an intervention and a control group. The program consisted of 20 sessions, 60 min per session, twice a week, for the target child and his or her parent. The results indicated that child-initiated supportive and coordinated joint engagement was greater for the intervention group compared with the control group at 3-month follow-up. This demonstrated that our joint engagement intervention could enhance joint engagement, especially coordinated joint engagement for young children with autism spectrum disorders. The limitations of the study and future directions were discussed.
On the Sum and the Maximum of Nonidentically Distributed Composite $\eta{-}\mu/\text{gamma}$ Variates Using a Mixture Gamma Distribution With Applications to Diversity Receivers

In this paper, the statistical characterizations of the sum and the maximum of independent and nonidentically distributed (i.n.d.) composite η-μ/gamma variates are derived using a mixture gamma (MG) distribution. The statistical properties, namely, probability density function (pdf), cumulative distribution function (cdf), and moment generating function (MGF) are obtained in general unified exact analytic expressions. These statistical results are then used to analyze outage probability (OP), average bit error rate probability (ABEP), and average channel capacity (C) of maximal ratio combining (MRC) and selection combining (SC) schemes over i.n. d. composite η-μ/gamma fading channels. The validation of our derived expressions is verified by comparing the numerical and simulation results.
Interleukin-12 suppresses immunoglobulin E production but enhances immunoglobulin G4 production by human peripheral blood mononuclear cells

The effect of interleukin-12 (IL-12) on human immunoglobulin G4 (IgG4) and IgE production was examined with cells derived from filarial patients and European controls. IL-12 inhibited IgE release but enhanced IgG4 production in cultures of peripheral blood mononuclear cells stimulated with anti-CD2 plus IL-2. When purified T- and B-cell cocultures were examined, IL-12 again markedly enhanced IgG4, whereas IgE production was no longer inhibited.
Mitochondrial energetics is impaired in vivo in aged skeletal muscle

With aging, most skeletal muscles undergo a progressive loss of mass and strength, a process termed sarcopenia. Aging‐related defects in mitochondrial energetics have been proposed to be causally involved in sarcopenia. However, changes in muscle mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation with aging remain a highly controversial issue, creating a pressing need for integrative approaches to determine whether mitochondrial bioenergetics are impaired in aged skeletal muscle. To address this issue, mitochondrial bioenergetics was first investigated in vivo in the gastrocnemius muscle of adult (6 months) and aged (21 months) male Wistar rats by combining a modular control analysis approach with 31P magnetic resonance spectroscopy measurements of energetic metabolites. Using this innovative approach, we revealed that the in vivo responsiveness (‘elasticity’) of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation to contraction‐induced increase in ATP demand is significantly reduced in aged skeletal muscle, a reduction especially pronounced under low contractile activities. In line with this in vivo aging‐related defect in mitochondrial energetics, we found that the mitochondrial affinity for ADP is significantly decreased in mitochondria isolated from aged skeletal muscle. Collectively, the results of this study demonstrate that mitochondrial bioenergetics are effectively altered in vivo in aged skeletal muscle and provide a novel cellular basis for this phenomenon.
Chivalry Revisited

There is limited research on the role of gender in charge reduction, particularly for domestic violence cases.The purpose of this study is to test the direct and interactive effects of defendant gender, race/ethnicity, type of offense, and victim gender on charge reduction. A population census of 2,281 domestic violence cases in a large Midwestern county was obtained from the prosecutor’s office. The effect of gender varies depending on the operationalization of charge reduction. Female-on-female cases were least likely to be dismissed. Non-White females were least likely to receive a violent charge reduction. Future research on the underlying mechanisms of why female-on-female cases and non-White females are less likely to receive a reduction is needed.
An overview of obesity‐specific quality of life questionnaires

The measurement of quality of life in patients with obesity is useful to evaluate the effects of treatment (including bariatric surgery) and may influence the development of clinical pathways, service provision, healthcare expenditures and public health policy. Consequently, clinicians, researchers and policy makers must rely on valid measurement instruments. We reviewed 11 obesity‐specific quality of life questionnaires and classified them according to their domain of interest and described their measurement properties (specifications, validity, reliability, responsiveness and interpretability). We found that (i) nine questionnaires were developed specifically to be used as evaluative instruments in clinical trials; (ii) only three targeted populations with morbid obesity (body mass index > 40 kg m−2); (iii) construct validity was properly studied in three questionnaires; (iv) demonstration of responsiveness from independent randomized controlled trials was available for two of the 11 questionnaires; (v) keys to interpretation of scores were provided for three questionnaires. Future research should include further validation and a better definition of the interpretability of existing instruments.
Multilevel Subcarrier Index-Power Modulated Optical OFDM With Adaptive Bit Loading for IMDD PON Systems

In a previously published transmission technique known as subcarrier index-power modulated optical OFDM (SIPM-OOFDM), a new subcarrier index-power (SIP) information-bearing dimension is introduced to enable SIPM-OOFDM to carry one extra information bit per subcarrier. As a significantly improved variant of SIPM-OOFDM, in this paper, a novel signal transmission technique termed multilevel subcarrier index-power modulated OOFDM (ML-SIPM-OOFDM) is proposed and extensively explored for the first time. It utilizes four predefined subcarrier power levels to convey two extra information bits per subcarrier in the SIP information-bearing dimension. Extensive explorations of ML-SIPM-OOFDM transmission performance characteristics are undertaken, based on which, optimum key transceiver parameters are identified. For cost-sensitive intensity-modulation and direct-detection (IMDD) passive optical network (PON) systems, it is shown that, compared to SIPM-OOFDM, ML-SIPM-OOFDM improves the signal transmission bit rate by 30%. In addition, in comparison with conventional OOFDM, a 13% increase in ML-SIPM-OOFDM signal transmission bit rate is also feasible without degrading the minimum received optical power required for achieving a BER of 1.0 x 10-3. Moreover, further 9% and 10% ML-SIPM-OOFDM signal transmission bit rate enhancements are also achievable when use is made of adaptive bit loading and subcarrier count doubling, respectively.