Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Integrated Analysis of Dysregulated ncRNA and mRNA Expression Profiles in Humans Exposed to Carbon Nanotubes

Background As the application of carbon nanotubes (CNT) in consumer products continues to rise, studies have expanded to determine the associated risks of exposure on human and environmental health. In particular, several lines of evidence indicate that exposure to multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) could pose a carcinogenic risk similar to asbestos fibers. However, to date the potential markers of MWCNT exposure are not yet explored in humans. Methods In the present study, global mRNA and ncRNA expression profiles in the blood of exposed workers, having direct contact with MWCNT aerosol for at least 6 months (n = 8), were compared with expression profiles of non-exposed (n = 7) workers (e.g., professional and/or technical staff) from the same manufacturing facility. Results Significant changes in the ncRNA and mRNA expression profiles were observed between exposed and non-exposed worker groups. An integrative analysis of ncRNA-mRNA correlations was performed to identify target genes, functional relationships, and regulatory networks in MWCNT-exposed workers. The coordinated changes in ncRNA and mRNA expression profiles revealed a set of miRNAs and their target genes with roles in cell cycle regulation/progression/control, apoptosis and proliferation. Further, the identified pathways and signaling networks also revealed MWCNT potential to trigger pulmonary and cardiovascular effects as well as carcinogenic outcomes in humans, similar to those previously described in rodents exposed to MWCNTs. Conclusion This study is the first to investigate aberrant changes in mRNA and ncRNA expression profiles in the blood of humans exposed to MWCNT. The significant changes in several miRNAs and mRNAs expression as well as their regulatory networks are important for getting molecular insights into the MWCNT-induced toxicity and pathogenesis in humans. Further large-scale prospective studies are necessary to validate the potential applicability of such changes in mRNAs and miRNAs as prognostic markers of MWCNT exposures in humans.
Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb: Terrorism, insurgency, or organized crime?

Abstract After incurring significant losses during France’s 2013 Operation Serval in Mali, Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) is back. Mokhtar Belmokhtar has rejoined the group, violent attacks are on the increase, and southern Libya offers elements of the group a new safe-haven. This article takes a long view on AQIM, looking at its objectives and ideology, organizational structure, relationship with the local population and revenue model to determine whether they should be labelled as terrorists, insurgents, or ordinary criminals. The article concludes that AQIM generally follows a strategy of terrorism, while some elements and modus operandi could also be indicative of a strategy of insurgency. AQIM’s primary commanders have a long-standing relationship with the global Al Qaeda movement, are unlikely to be seduced by the Islamic State, and enjoy significant autonomy in conducting their operations. There is, however, little evidence that supports the view that AQIM is a criminal organization behind a religious façade, and its Salafi–jihadist ideology remains a leading determinant.
Olfactory functioning in early multiple sclerosis: Sniffin’ Sticks Test study

Introduction Previous studies have shown that olfactory functioning is affected by multiple sclerosis (MS). This study assessed the level of the olfactory impairment in early MS by using the Sniffin’ Sticks Test. Methods This study included 30 patients with MS and 30 healthy controls. We collected demographic and clinical data from participants and administered the Sniffin’ Sticks Test. Results We found no differences between the MS and control groups in odor discrimination, odor identification, and threshold discrimination identification scores, but odor threshold (OT) scores were higher in the control group than in the MS group (P=0.49). In addition, we did not find any correlation between MS patients’ olfactory test scores and their scores on the Mini–Mental State Examination (MMSE), Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS), disease duration, history of optic neuritis, or being on immunomodulatory therapy. Conclusion In recent studies, odor threshold impairment seemed to be the most striking finding in patients with MS. Although the present study found a mild alteration in odor threshold, olfactory dysfunction appears to be a consequence of neurodegeneration in the higher order olfactory brain regions, which is thought to be a time-dependent process.
Microinjection of recombinant p21rho induces rapid changes in cell morphology

The rho proteins, p21rho, are ubiquitously expressed guanine nucleotide binding proteins with approximately 30% amino acid homology to p21ras, but their biochemical function is unknown. We show here that microinjection of constitutively activated recombinant rho protein (Val14rho) into subconfluent cells induces dramatic changes in cell morphology: 15-30 min after injection cells adopt a distinct and novel phenotype with a contracted cell body and finger-like processes still adherent to the substratum. Ribosylation of Val14rho with the ADP- ribosyltransferase C3 from clostridium botulinum, before microinjection, renders the protein biologically inactive, but it has no effect on either its intrinsic biochemical properties or on its interaction with the GTPase activating protein, rho GAP. Micro- injection of ribosylated normal rho, on the other hand, has a similar effect of injection of C3 transferase and induces complete rounding up of cells. We also report striking biochemical changes in actin filament organization when contact-inhibited quiescent 3T3 cells are injected with Val14rho protein. The effects induced by activation or inactivation of p21rho described here, suggest that the biological function of this protein is to control some aspect of cytoskeletal organization.
Activation and Deactivation of 1-Methyl-4-Phenyl-1,2,3,6-Tetrahydropyridine by Cytochrome P450 Enzymes and Flavin-Containing Monooxygenases in Common Marmosets (Callithrix jacchus)

The potential proneurotoxin 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) induces Parkinson-like syndromes in common marmosets, other primates, and humans. MPTP is metabolically activated to 1-methyl-4-phenyl-2,3-dihydropyridinium and 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium ions (MPDP+ and MPP+, respectively) by desaturation reactions. MPTP is deactivated to 4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (PTP) by N-demethylation and is also deactivated to MPTP N-oxide. The roles of cytochrome P450 (P450) enzymes and flavin-containing monooxygenases (FMOs) in the oxidative metabolism of MPTP-treated marmosets are not yet fully clarified. This study aimed to elucidate P450- and FMO-dependent MPTP metabolism in marmoset liver and brain. Rates of MPTP N-oxygenation in liver microsomes were similar to those in brain microsomes from 11 individual marmosets (substrate concentration, 50 μM) and were correlated with rates of benzydamine N-oxygenation (r = 0.75, P < 0.05); the reactions were inhibited by methimazole (10 μM). MPTP N-oxygenation was efficiently mediated by recombinantly expressed marmoset FMO3. Rates of PTP formation by MPTP N-demethylation in marmoset liver microsomes were correlated with bufuralol 1′-hydroxylation rates (r = 0.77, P < 0.01) and were suppressed by quinidine (1 μM), thereby indicating the importance of marmoset CYP2D6 in PTP formation. MPTP transformations to MPDP+ and MPP+ were efficiently catalyzed by recombinant marmoset CYP2D6 and human CYP1A2. These results indicated the contributions of multiple drug-metabolizing enzymes to MPTP oxidation, especially marmoset FMO3 in deactivation (N-oxygenation) and marmoset CYP2D6 for both MPTP deactivation and MPTP activation to MPDP+ and MPP+. These findings provide a foundation for understanding MPTP metabolism and for the successful production of preclinical marmoset models.
NEW APPROXIMATION ALGORITHMS FOR MAX 2SAT AND MAX DICUT

We propose a 0.935-approximation algorithm for MAX 2SAT and a 0.863-approximation algo- rithm for MAX DICUT. The approximation ratios improve upon the recent results of Zwick, which are equal to 0.93109 and 0.8596434254 respectively. Also proposed are derandomized versions of the same ap- proximation ratios. We note that these approximation ratios are obtained by numerical computation rather than theoretical proof. The algorithms are based on the SDP relaxation proposed by Goemans and Williamson but do not use the 'rotation' technique proposed by Feige and Goemans. The improvements in the approximation ratios are obtained by the technique of 'hyperplane separation with skewed distribution function on the sphere. '
TRAM-34, a Putatively Selective Blocker of Intermediate-Conductance, Calcium-Activated Potassium Channels, Inhibits Cytochrome P450 Activity

TRAM-34, a clotrimazole analog characterized as a potent and selective inhibitor of intermediate-conductance, calcium-activated K+ (IKCa) channels, has been used extensively in vitro and in vivo to study the biological roles of these channels. The major advantage of TRAM-34 over clotrimazole is the reported lack of inhibition of the former drug on cytochrome P450 (CYP) activity. CYPs, a large family of heme-containing oxidases, play essential roles in endogenous signaling and metabolic pathways, as well as in xenobiotic metabolism. However, previously published work has only characterized the effects of TRAM-34 on a single CYP isoform. To test the hypothesis that TRAM-34 may inhibit some CYP isoforms, the effects of this compound were presently studied on the activities of four rat and five human CYP isoforms. TRAM-34 inhibited recombinant rat CYP2B1, CYP2C6 and CYP2C11 and human CYP2B6, CYP2C19 and CYP3A4 with IC50 values ranging from 0.9 µM to 12.6 µM, but had no inhibitory effects (up to 80 µM) on recombinant rat CYP1A2, human CYP1A2, or human CYP19A1. TRAM-34 also had both stimulatory and inhibitory effects on human CYP3A4 activity, depending on the substrate used. These results show that low micromolar concentrations of TRAM-34 can inhibit several rat and human CYP isoforms, and suggest caution in the use of high concentrations of this drug as a selective IKCa channel blocker. In addition, in vivo use of TRAM-34 could lead to CYP-related drug-drug interactions.
Carbon and Oxygen Isotope Fractionation in ScleracUnian Corals : a Review

Swart, P.K. , 1983. Carbon and oxygen isotope fractionation in scleractinian corals: a review. Earth-Sci. Rev., 19: 51-80. The present theories on the fractionation of stable isotopes in scleractinian corals are critically discussed in the light of data available on primary productivity, respiration and stable isotope chemistry. These data support a model of fractionation in which the carbon and oxygen isotopes are decoupled. Calcification occurs from a reservoir of carbon dioxide derived from both organic and inorganic sources. Photosynthesis preferentially fixes 12C and thereby leaves behind ~3C. Increases in the rate of photosynthesis therefore also enrich the carbon isotope ratio of the skeleton. From theoretical considerations, photosynthesis has little effect on the oxygen isotope ratio of the skeleton, a fact confirmed by available data. The process of respiration adds depleted carbon and oxygen to the calcification reservoirs. The varying correlations between carbon and oxygen isotopes seen in hermatypic corals are caused by changes in the relationship between photosynthesis and respiration at different geographical localities. The isotopic compositions in the skeletons of non-zooxanthellate corals, which show a consistent positive correlation, can also be explained by the above scenario.
Becoming a Professional Engineering Educator: A New Role for a New Era

Engineering education faces significant challenges as it seeks to meet the demands on the engineering profession in the twenty‐first century. Engineering faculty will need to continue to learn new approaches to teaching and learning, which in turn will require effective professional development for both new and experienced instructors alike. This article explores approaches to effective professional development and provides a conceptual framework for responding to the challenge of becoming a professional engineering educator. The “cycle of professional practice” is introduced as a prelude for identifying what individual professors and their institutions can do to generate more powerful forms of engineering education. The article concludes with two case studies that illustrate the possibilities when faculty and academic leaders join together in addressing calls for change.
Rest-Frame Ultraviolet-to-Optical Properties of Galaxies at z ≈ 6 and z ≈ 5 in the Hubble Ultra Deep Field: From Hubble to Spitzer

We use data from the first epoch of observations with the Infrared Array Camera (IRAC) on the Spitzer Space Telescope for the Great Observatories Origins Deep Survey (GOODS) to detect and study a collection of Lyman break galaxies at z ≈ 6-5 in the Hubble Ultra Deep Field (HUDF), six of which have spectroscopic confirmation. At these redshifts, IRAC samples rest-frame optical light in the range 0.5-0.8 μm, where the effects of dust extinction are smaller and the sensitivity to light from evolved stars is greater than at shorter, rest-frame ultraviolet wavelengths observable from the ground or with the Hubble Space Telescope. As such, it provides useful constraints on the ages and masses of these galaxies' stellar populations. We find that the spectral energy distributions for many of these galaxies are best fitted by models of stellar populations with masses of a few times 1010 M☉ and with ages of a few hundred million years, values quite similar to those derived for typical Lyman break galaxies at z ≈ 3. When the universe was only 1 Gyr old, some galaxies had already formed a mass of stars approaching that of the present-day Milky Way, and they started forming those stars at z > 7 and in some cases much earlier. We find that the lower limits to the space density for galaxies in this mass range are consistent with predictions from recent hydrodynamic simulations of structure formation in a ΛCDM universe. All objects in our samples are consistent with having solar metallicity, suggesting that they might have already been significantly polluted by metals and thus are not comprised of "first stars. " The values for dust reddening derived from the model fitting are low or zero, and we find that some of the galaxies have rest-frame UV colors that are even bluer than those predicted by the stellar population models to which we compare them. These colors might be attributed to the presence of very massive stars (>100 M☉) or weaker intergalactic H I absorption than what is commonly assumed.
NKG2D-Mediated Cytotoxicity toward Oligodendrocytes Suggests a Mechanism for Tissue Injury in Multiple Sclerosis

NKG2D is an activating or coactivating receptor expressed on human natural killer (NK) cells, CD8+ T cells, and γ/δ T cells. NKG2D ligands have been detected on many tumor cell types and can be induced on nontransformed cells by environmental signals including DNA damage and inflammation. We investigated the contribution of NKG2D–NKG2D ligand interaction on CNS-directed immune responses. We observed that primary cultures of human adult oligodendrocytes and fetal astrocytes expressed ligands for NKG2D in vitro whereas neurons, microglia, and adult astrocytes did not. Disruption of the NKG2D–NKG2D ligand interaction using blocking antibodies significantly inhibited killing of primary human oligodendrocytes mediated by activated human NK cells, γ/δ T cells, and allo-reactive CD8+ T cells. NKG2D ligands [major histocompatibility complex class I chain-related molecules A and B (MICA/B)] were detected in groups of cells and colocalized with an oligodendrocyte marker (adenomatous polyposis coli) in white matter sections obtained from multiple sclerosis lesions but not in normal control samples. CD8+ T cells could be detected in close proximity to MICA/B+ cells within multiple sclerosis lesions, supporting an in vivo interaction between these immune effectors and stressed MICA/B-expressing oligodendrocytes. These results imply that NKG2D–NKG2D ligand interaction can potentially contribute to cytotoxic responses mediated by activated immune effector cells in the inflamed CNS, as observed in multiple sclerosis.
Serious Fun - Effects of Gamification on Knowledge Exchange in Enterprises

In recent years, gamification has become one of the major trends in information systems. However, until now the kinds of gamification approaches which exist and how they could be applied in the context of knowledge exchange in enterprises has been under-researched. By briefly summarising the current status of research in the fields of social capital, knowledge management and motivational theory we present a potential Omissing linkO: Gamification. Based on this, we suggest a classification of gamification approaches and instruments.
Grey matter volume in a large cohort of MS patients: relation to MRI parameters and disability

Background: Although grey matter damage in multiple sclerosis is currently recognized, determinants of grey matter volume and its relationship with disability are not yet clear. Objectives: The objectives of the study were to measure grey and white matter volumes across different disease phenotypes; identify MRI parameters associated with grey matter volume; and study grey and white matter volume as explanatory variables for clinical impairment. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study in which MRI data of 95 clinically isolated syndrome, 657 relapsing–remitting, 125 secondary-progressive and 50 primary-progressive multiple sclerosis patients from three centres were acquired. Grey and white matter volumes were determined, together with T2 and T1 lesion volumes. Physical disability was assessed with the Expanded Disability Status Scale, cognitive impairment with the Paced Auditory Serial Addition Task. Data were analysed using multiple regression. Results: Grey matter volume was lower in relapsing–remitting patients (mean [SD]: 0.80 [0.05] L) than in clinically isolated syndrome patients (0.82 [0.05] L), and even greater relative atrophy was found in secondary-progressive patients (0.77 [0.05] L). In contrast, white matter volume in secondary-progressive patients was comparable to that in relapsing–remitting patients. Grey matter volume was the strongest independent predictor of physical disability and cognitive impairment, and was associated with both T2 and T1 lesion volume. Conclusions: Our findings show that grey matter volume is lower in secondary-progressive than in relapsing–remitting disease. Grey matter volume explained physical and cognitive impairment better than white matter volume, and is itself associated with T2 and T1 lesion volume.
Treatment of venous leg ulcers with sulodexide

Summary Aim: The study of the influence of sulodexide in the treatment of venous leg ulcers. Patients and method: 44 patients with chronic venous ulceration were randomly divided into two groups. Group I: 21 patients (ulceration area: 12.7-18.9 cm2), Group II: 23 patients (ulceration size: 12.1-20.3 cm2). Both groups were treated by using Unna’s boot. This dressing was changed every seven days until the ulcer had healed. Additionally, the patients in group II received the systemic pharmacological treatment with sulodexide. Results: After 7 weeks of treatment ulcers of seven patients (35%) from group I had healed, and 3 weeks later the ulceration of two more patients had healed completely. After further 7 weeks the ulcers of 12 patients had healed completely. Whereas in group II after 7 weeks of treatment ulceration of 16 (70%, p <0.05) patient had healed completely and after further 3 weeks the ulcers of the remaining 7 patients had healed, too. Conclusion: The use of sulodexide in patients with chronic venous leg ulcers accelerates the healing process.
Combining wearable accelerometer and physiological data for activity and energy expenditure estimation

Physical Activity (PA) is one of the most important determinants of health. Wearable sensors have great potential for accurate assessment of PA (activity type and Energy Expenditure (EE)) in daily life. In this paper we investigate the benefit of multiple physiological signals (Heart Rate (HR), respiration rate, Galvanic Skin Response (GSR), skin humidity) as well as accelerometer (ACC) data from two locations (wrist - combining ACC, GSR and skin humidity - and chest - combining ACC and HR) on PA type and EE estimation. We implemented single regression, activity recognition and activity-specific EE models on data collected from 16 subjects, while performing a set of PAs, grouped into six clusters (lying, sedentary, dynamic, walking, biking and running). Our results show that combining ACC and physiological signals improves performance for activity recognition (by 2 and 8% for the chest and wrist) and EE (by 36 - chest - and 35% - wrist - for single regression models, and by 18 - chest - and 46% - wrist - for activity-specific models). Physiological signals other than HR showed a coarser relation with level of physical exertion, resulting in being better predictors of activity cluster type and separation between inactivity and activity than EE, due to the weak correlation to EE within an activity cluster.
Selective excitotoxic lesions of the hippocampus and basolateral amygdala have dissociable effects on appetitive cue and place conditioning based on path integration in a novel Y‐maze procedure

The hippocampus and amygdala are thought to be functionally distinct components of different learning and memory systems. This functional dissociation has been particularly apparent in pavlovian fear conditioning, where the integrity of the hippocampus is necessary for contextual conditioning, and of the amygdala for discrete cue conditioning. Their respective roles in appetitive conditioning, however, remain equivocal mainly due to the lack of agreement concerning the operational definition of a ‘context’. The present study used a novel procedure to measure appetitive conditioning to spatial context or to a discrete cue. Following selective excitotoxic lesions of the hippocampus (HPC) or basolateral amygdala (BLA), rats were initially trained to acquire discrete CS‐sucrose conditioning in a Y‐maze apparatus with three topographically identical chambers, the chambers discriminated only on the basis of path integration. The same group of animals then underwent ‘place/contextual conditioning’ where the CS presented in a chamber assigned as the positive chamber was paired with sucrose, but the same CS presented in either of the other two chambers was not. Thus, spatial context was the only cue that the animal could use to retrieve the value of the CS. HPC lesions impaired the acquisition of conditioned place preference but facilitated the acquisition of cue conditioning, while BLA lesions had the opposite effect, retarding the acquisition of cue conditioning but leaving the acquisition of conditioned place preference intact. Here we provide strong support for the notion that the HPC and BLA subserve complementary and competing roles in appetitive cue and contextual conditioning.