Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Acute and chronic effects of alcohol exposure on skeletal muscle c-myc, p53, and Bcl-2 mRNA expression.

Skeletal muscle atrophy is a common feature in alcoholism that affects up to two-thirds of alcohol misusers, and women appear to be particularly susceptible. There is also some evidence to suggest that malnutrition exacerbates the effects of alcohol on muscle. However, the mechanisms responsible for the myopathy remain elusive, and some studies suggest that acetaldehyde, rather than alcohol, is the principal pathogenic perturbant. Previous reports on rats dosed acutely with ethanol (<24 h) have suggested that increased proto-oncogene expression (i.e., c-myc) may be a causative process, possibly via activating preapoptotic or transcriptional pathways. We hypothesized that 1) increases in c-myc mRNA levels also occur in muscle exposed chronically to alcohol, 2) muscle of female rats is more sensitive than that from male rats, 3) raising acetaldehyde will also increase c-myc, 4) prior starvation will cause further increases in c-myc mRNA expression in response to ethanol, and 5) other genes involved in apoptosis (i.e., p53 and Bcl-2) would also be affected by alcohol. To test this, we measured c-myc mRNA levels in skeletal muscle of rats dosed either chronically (6-7 wk; ethanol as 35% of total dietary energy) or acutely (2.5 h; ethanol as 75 mmol/kg body wt ip) with ethanol. All experiments were carried out in male Wistar rats (approximately 0.1-0.15 kg body wt) except the study that examined gender susceptibility in male and female rats. At the end of the studies, rats were killed, and c-myc, p53, and Bcl-2 mRNA was analyzed in skeletal muscle by RT-PCR with an endogenous internal standard, GAPDH. The results showed that 1) in male rats fed ethanol chronically, there were no increases in c-myc mRNA; 2) increases, however, occurred in c-myc mRNA in muscle from female rats fed ethanol chronically; 3) raising endogenous acetaldehyde with cyanamide increased c-myc mRNA in acute studies; 4) starvation per se increased c-myc mRNA levels and at 1 day potentiated the acute effects of ethanol, indicative of a sensitization response; 5) the only effect seen with p53 mRNA levels was a decrease in muscle of rats starved for 1 day compared with fed rats, and there was no statistically significant effect on Bcl-2 mRNA in any of the experimental conditions. The increases in c-myc may well represent a preapoptotic effect, or even a nonspecific cellular stress response to alcohol and/or acetaldehyde. These data are important in our understanding of a common muscle pathology induced by alcohol.
Effect of device-guided breathing exercises on blood pressure in hypertensive patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a randomized controlled trial

Objective In patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2), it is hard to reach treatment objectives for blood pressure (BP) with classical treatment options. Recently, reducing breathing frequency has been advocated as a method to reduce BP. We examined if an electronic device such as Resperate, by reducing breathing frequency, would lead to BP reduction in a population of patients with DM2 and hypertension. Our secondary objective was to study the effect of this device on quality of life (QOL). Methods A randomized, single-blind, controlled trial was conducted over a period of 8 weeks to evaluate the effect of this therapy on BP and QOL. The control group listened to music and used no other therapeutic device. BP and QOL changes were studied in 30 patients with DM2 and hypertension. Results There was no significant difference in change in BP between groups; −7.5 [95% confidence interval (CI) −12.7, −2.3]/−1.0 (95% CI −5.5, 3.6) mmHg in the intervention group and −12.2 (95% CI −17.4, −7.0)/−5.5 (95% CI −9.7, −1.4) mmHg in the control group. Whether or not the target breathing frequency of 10 breaths/min was reached did not affect BP. There were no significant changes in QOL. Conclusions The effects of Resperate on BP and QOL were not significantly different from those found in the control group. Furthermore, 40% of patients did not reach the target breathing frequency, making this device less suitable for clinical practice in patients with DM2.
Pharmacological inhibition of cystine–glutamate exchange induces endoplasmic reticulum stress and ferroptosis

Exchange of extracellular cystine for intracellular glutamate by the antiporter system xc− is implicated in numerous pathologies. Pharmacological agents that inhibit system xc− activity with high potency have long been sought, but have remained elusive. In this study, we report that the small molecule erastin is a potent, selective inhibitor of system xc−. RNA sequencing revealed that inhibition of cystine–glutamate exchange leads to activation of an ER stress response and upregulation of CHAC1, providing a pharmacodynamic marker for system xc− inhibition. We also found that the clinically approved anti-cancer drug sorafenib, but not other kinase inhibitors, inhibits system xc− function and can trigger ER stress and ferroptosis. In an analysis of hospital records and adverse event reports, we found that patients treated with sorafenib exhibited unique metabolic and phenotypic alterations compared to patients treated with other kinase-inhibiting drugs. Finally, using a genetic approach, we identified new genes dramatically upregulated in cells resistant to ferroptosis. DOI: http://dx.doi. org/10.7554/eLife.02523. 001
Are switches in perception of the Necker cube related to eye position?

The issue of the relation of eye position to perceptual reversals of the ambiguous figure of the ‘Necker cube’ dates back to Necker's original article [L.A. Necker (1832) The London & Edinburgh Philosophical Magazine and Journal of Science, 1, 329–337]. Despite the investigations of many distinguished psychophysicists since then, the question of whether perceptual switching is a cause or a consequence of associated changes in eye position has remained a matter of debate. In the present study we overcame methodological problems that have bedevilled many previous studies. We avoided any instruction that could interfere with the human subjects' free viewing of the Necker cube, tracked the eye position precisely and used biased versions of the cube that produced unambiguous percepts to determine how each subject actually looked at the cube. We show that, under these free‐viewing conditions, there is a close link between the perception of the Necker cube and eye position. The average eye position of most subjects is at an extreme value at about the time when the subject's perception switches. From the biased cube trials we can infer that the polarity of the extreme corresponds to the percept which the subject had before the switch. These data indicate a bidirectional coupling between eye position and perceptual switching so that, after a subject's perceptual state changes, their eye position shifts to view the newly established percept. When the eye position approaches the corresponding extreme, the percept, in turn, becomes more and more likely to switch. This result suggests that the changed eye position itself might provide a negative feedback signal that suppresses the percept.
Fiber spinning from poly(propylene)–organoclay nanocomposite

SOMASIF ME C16, a filler that enables generation of anisotropic nanoparticles by in situ exfoliation of organic layered silicates, was melt compounded with poly(propylene) (PP) in the presence of maleic anhydride-grafted PP. Fibers were prepared from this composite by a spinning procedure. The prepared anisotropic fibers were partially oriented by using different drawing ratios. The morphological study showed that the drawing ratio of the fibers particularly influences the level of exfoliation of the SOMASIF ME C16 where the nanoparticles are formed. The layered sheets of the SOMASIF particles are oriented in the direction of the fiber axis. The tensile strength of the filled fibers increases with the increase of drawing ratio much more than that of unfilled PP fibers. This result is accounted for by the formation of exfoliated structures from the nanoparticles of SOMASIF ME C16 by fiber drawing. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 89: 604–611, 2003
Resource Accumulation Through Economic Ties: Evidence from Venture Capital

Ties between similar partners in economic and financial networks are often attributed to concerns about agency costs. In this paper, we distinguish the underlying motives for tie formation between sets of potential partners in the network, thus informing the relative importance of agency cost and resource accumulation in tie formation across firms. We develop a robust and generalizable methodology that allows for the inference of similarity and/or cumulative advantage motives in the potential presence of resource trading. We estimate the model using venture capital (VC) co-investment networks, employing factor analysis to characterize orthogonal, interpretable resources for VC firms. In the VC setting, value-added resources other than capital appear to be exchanged for capital, but not for one another. We find little evidence for similarity motives as the primary driver of matching, suggesting that concerns over agency conflicts in partnering are dominated by the desire to accumulate higher levels of certain resources.
The relationship of the number of Meissner's corpuscles to dermatoglyphic characters and finger size

This study investigated the relationships between the density of Meissner's corpuscles and the dermatoglyphic characteristics of human fingers. Dermatoglyphic prints and tissue samples were collected from the index (II) and ring (IV) fingers of 28 cadavers from the Medical School, University of Adelaide. Pattern types, pattern intensity, total ridge count and ridge breadth, were determined for each sample and the density of Meissner's corpuscles established by recording the mean number of Meissner's corpuscles underlying a 10 mm long line on the skin surface. No relationship was found between the density of Meissner's corpuscles and pattern type, pattern intensity or total ridge count. Negative correlations were found for the density of Meissner's corpuscles with both ridge width and size of fingers. Males were found to have significantly larger fingers, larger ridge breadth, and a lower density of Meissner's corpuscles per 10 mm compared with females. However, there was no difference between the total number of Meissner's corpuscles per finger in males and females. No significant differences were found in either the density of Meissner's corpuscles between antimeres or between the index and ring fingers. These results suggest that for both the left and right hand in males and females, there is a similar number of Meissner's corpuscles for both the index and ring fingers.
Force and membrane potential during and after fatiguing, continuous high-frequency stimulation of single Xenopus muscle fibres.

'High-frequency fatigue' has been studied in isolated, short toe muscle fibres of Xenopus with recordings of tension and membrane potential during the development of fatigue and during recovery. With 70 Hz, continuous stimulation (22.5 degrees C) tension fell to 20% of the original in 11.6 +/- 4.9 s. Tension recovery occurred in two phases: an initial, fast phase to 45-80% of the original with t1/2 of about 1 s, and a second, much slower phase. The membrane potential preceding action potentials (Em) fell gradually to about -50 mV during stimulation and returned to a level of -66 to -70 mV with a time-constant of about 10 ms when the stimulation was stopped. Action potentials towards the end of stimulation were reduced in amplitude, had a slow time-course, and showed no signs of an early negative after-potential (EAP). Increasing[K]o to 14 mM (m.p. -56 to -52 mV) caused similar changes in action potential configuration, except that an EAP seemed to be present. Those action potentials were associated with potentiated twitch response reaching 70% of original tetanic tension. It is concluded that mechanical fatigue is unlikely to be due to 'fatigue' of surface action potentials per se; a more likely mechanism would be impaired t-tubule function, associated with membrane depolarization (Em becoming more positive) and possibly compounded by ionic changes of the t-tubule fluid.
Ammonia-Oxidizing β-Proteobacteria from the Oxygen Minimum Zone off Northern Chile

ABSTRACT The composition of ammonia-oxidizing bacteria from the β-Proteobacteria subclass (βAOB) was studied in the surface and upper-oxycline oxic waters (2- to 50-m depth, ∼200 to 44 μM O2) and within the oxygen minimum zone (OMZ) suboxic waters (50- to 400-m depth, ≤10 μM O2) of the eastern South Pacific off northern Chile. This study was carried out through cloning and sequencing of genes coding for 16S rRNA and the ammonia monooxygenase enzyme active subunit (amoA). Sequences affiliated with Nitrosospira-like cluster 1 dominated the 16S rRNA gene clone libraries constructed from both oxic and suboxic waters. Cluster 1 consists exclusively of yet-uncultivated βAOB from marine environments. However, a single clone, out of 224 obtained from the OMZ, was found to belong to Nitrosospira lineage cluster 0. To our knowledge, cluster 0 sequences have been derived from βAOB isolated only from sand, soil, and freshwater environments. Sequences in clone libraries of the amoA gene from the surface and upper oxycline could be grouped in a marine subcluster, also containing no cultured representatives. In contrast, all 74 amoA sequences originating from the OMZ were either closely affiliated with cultured Nitrosospira spp. from clusters 0 and 2 or with other yet-uncultured βAOB from soil and an aerated-anoxic Orbal process waste treatment plant. Our results reveal the presence of Nitrosospira-like βAOB in both oxic and suboxic waters associated with the OMZ but with a clear community shift at the functional level (amoA) along the strong oxygen gradient.
Optimizing average-maximum TTR trade-off for cognitive radio rendezvous

In cognitive radio (CR) networks, “TTR”, a.k. a. time-to-rendezvous, is one of the most important metrics for evaluating the performance of a channel hopping (CH) rendezvous protocol, and it characterizes the rendezvous delay when two CRs perform channel hopping. There exists a trade-off of optimizing the average or maximum TTR in the CH rendezvous protocol design. On one hand, the random CH protocol leads to the best “average” TTR without ensuring a finite “maximum” TTR (two CRs may never rendezvous in the worst case), or a high rendezvous diversity (multiple rendezvous channels). On the other hand, many sequence-based CH protocols ensure a finite maximum TTR (upper bound of TTR) and a high rendezvous diversity, while they inevitably yield a larger average TTR. In this paper, we strike a balance in the average-maximum TTR trade-off for CR rendezvous by leveraging the advantages of both random and sequence-based CH protocols. Inspired by the neighbor discovery problem, we establish a design framework of creating a wake-up schedule whereby every CR follows the sequence-based (or random) CH protocol in the awake (or asleep) mode. Analytical and simulation results show that the hybrid CH protocols under this framework are able to achieve a greatly improved average TTR as well as a low upper-bound of TTR, without sacrificing the rendezvous diversity.
Endothelial cell-specific knockout of connexin 43 causes hypotension and bradycardia in mice

Connexin 43 (Cx43) is a protein expressed in a variety of mammalian tissues. However, the lack of specific blockers and the absence of known genetic mutants have hampered the investigation of the function of this protein. Cx43-null mice die shortly after birth, thus preventing functional studies in vivo. Here, we report the generation and characterization of a vascular endothelial cell-specific deletion of the Cx43 gene (VEC Cx43 KO) in mice by using the loxP/Cre system. Using homologous recombination, a mouse line was created carrying loxP sites flanking exon 2 of the Cx43 gene (“floxed” mice). To produce cell specific deletion of the Cx43 gene, these mice were crossed with animals from a line carrying the Tie 2-Cre transgene. The homozygous VEC Cx43 KO mice survived to maturity. However, they were hypotensive and bradycardic when compared with heterozygous VEC Cx43 KO mice, or to the floxed Cx43 gene mice. The hypotension was associated with marked elevation of plasma nitric oxide (NO) levels as well as elevated plasma angiotensin (Ang) I and II. We hypothesize that endothelial cell Cx43 plays a key role in the formation and/or action of NO, and that the elevation of Ang II is a secondary event. The specific cellular basis for the hypotension remains to be established, but our findings support the idea that endothelial Cx43 gap junctions are involved in maintaining normal vascular function; moreover, these animals provide the opportunity to determine more clearly the role of endothelial Cx43 in vascular development and homeostasis.
Scalable Synthesis of Ultrathin g-C3N4 Nanosheets with Enhanced Photocatalytic Activities via High Shear Exfoliation

High-shear mixing was demonstrated as an effective approach for the green synthesis of ultrathin g-C3N4 nanosheets with excellent photocatalytic performance. The resultant nanosheets were characterized in terms of morphology, crystal structure, electronic structure and photocatalytic behavior. It was found that the g-C3N4 nanosheets mainly consist of one C-N layer with a thickness about 0.7 nm. The products show a band gap of 2.6 eV and exhibit high photocatalytic activities with almost 4 times higher than their bulk counterparts toward RhB degradation. With the yield as high as 20 %, the present simple route may be qualified as a promising candidate for the mass production of high quality g-C3N4 nanosheets.
A Comparison of Commissure Excursion following Gracilis Muscle Transplantation for Facial Paralysis Using a Cross-Face Nerve Graft versus the Motor Nerve to the Masseter Nerve

Background: The microneurovascular transfer of a free muscle transplant is the procedure of choice for facial animation in a child with facial paralysis. One of the critical factors of this procedure is the selection of a motor nerve to innervate the transplanted muscle. Methods: From 1989 to 1999, 166 free segmental gracilis muscle transfers were performed in 121 children for facial animation. The cross-face nerve graft was used in 70 procedures (cross-face nerve graft group) to innervate the muscle by branches of the seventh nerve for the normal side. The ipsilateral masseteric nerve was used in 94 procedures (50 patients, masseter group) and the ipsilateral accessory nerve was used in two procedures (one patient). To compare the operative procedures between the first two groups, all charts were reviewed. The extent of oral commissure movement was determined by measurements taken from the tragion to the oral commissure, both at rest and with full smile. In the cross-face nerve graft group (n = 20), the extents were measured on both the normal side and the reconstructed side; in the masseter group (n = 16), they were measured on the left and right sides. Results: No significant difference was found between the two groups (p < 0.05) for the mean age at the time of muscle transplantation, for the total operation time for muscle transplantation, and for the length of the muscle used or for the fraction of circumference of the segment of gracilis muscle used. Although the operative variables were similar between two groups, the muscle excursion differed. Excursion in the cross-face nerve graft group was less than that on the right (p = 0.0006) or left (p = 0.0000) in the masseter group. It was also less than on the normal side (p = 0.0000) of the cross-face nerve graft group. Also, there was no significant difference between the left and right sides within the masseter group (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the extent of oral commissure movement in the masseter group was similar to that of the normal side in the cross-face nerve graft group (p = 0.35, p = 0.61). Conclusion: These results indicate that segmental gracilis muscle transplantation using the motor nerve to the masseter nerve for facial animation in children is a very reproducible operation and provides a commissure excursion in the range of normal.
Feeding outside the Forest: The Importance of Crop Raiding and an Invasive Weed in the Diet of Gallery Forest Ring-Tailed Lemurs (Lemur catta) following a Cyclone at the Beza Mahafaly Special Reserve, Madagascar

In January 2005, a cyclone hit southern Madagascar, including the Beza Mahafaly Special Reserve, disrupting the flowering/fruiting cycle of Tamarindus indica, leaving Lemur catta without its major food resource during reproductive periods. We studied two adjacent groups of L. catta during the late gestation period, and both groups ventured outside the reserve to feed. The Red group (RG) fed daily on cultivated sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) leaves in a nearby field, and both groups consumed leaves and stems of the invasive terrestrial flowering herb Mexican prickly poppy (Argemone mexicana), growing outside the reserve. The Green group (GG) spent significantly more time feeding than did RG, and more time feeding inside the forest compared to outside. The members of RG spent half of their time feeding in the crops, and nearly half of their diet consisted of easy-to-process sweet potato leaves. Additionally, RG defended and restricted GG’s access to the crop territory. Of the two non-forest foods, A. mexicana leaves were higher in protein and most minerals (P, Mg, K and Na, but not Ca) and lower in fiber than sweet potato leaves, but sweet potato leaves were preferred by RG. L. catta is a markedly flexible primate with respect to diet, and switches to fallback foods from outside the forest during periods of low food availability. In the highly seasonal and unpredictable climate of southern Madagascar, such behavioral adaptations are important to the survival of this species.
The maternal endocrine environment in the low-protein model of intra-uterine growth restriction

Many adult diseases, including type 2 diabetes, hypertension and cardiovascular disease, are related to low birth weight. The mechanistic basis of this relationship is not known. To investigate the role of fetal undernutrition, we used a rat model of maternal protein restriction in which dams were fed a diet containing 80 g protein/kg (v. 200 g/kg in the control group) throughout gestation and lactation. Offspring were born smaller than controls and in adulthood developed diabetes, hyperinsulinaemia and tissue insulin resistance. To determine possible mechanisms of fetal programming, circulating levels of several hormones were measured in maternal plasma at gestational days 14, 17 and 21 and fetal plasma at gestational day 21. Several differences were noted at day 14, when glucose concentrations in maternal and feto–placental blood were raised significantly (P=0·04 and P=0·0001 respectively); insulin levels in the low-protein (LP) dams were raised (P=0·04), prolactin levels were raised (P=0·047) and progesterone levels were reduced (P=0·02). Circulating 17β-oestradiol in the LP dams was raised by 35% over those of the controls from day 17 to day 21 (P=0·008). A significant decrease in maternal leptin levels (P=0·004) was observed at gestation on day 21. Neither oestradiol nor leptin levels were altered in the fetal circulation at day 21. Maternal and fetal corticosterone levels were comparable with control levels, suggesting that they do not initiate the programming effects in this model. Our present results suggest that maternal protein restriction imposes changes in maternal levels of glucose, insulin, prolactin, progesterone, oestradiol and leptin; these changes could influence the programming of eventual adult disease in the developing fetus.