Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Influence of sediment ingestion and exposure concentration on the bioavailable fraction of sediment‐associated tetrachlorobiphenyl in oligochaetes

The desorption and bioavailability of 3,3′,4,4′‐tetrachlorobiphenyl (PCB 77) were studied in spiked natural sediments at six concentrations. The desorption kinetics were measured in a sediment–water suspension using Tenax® resin extraction, and the bioavailability was measured by exposing Lumbriculus variegatus (Oligochaeta) to PCB 77–spiked sediment in a 14‐d kinetic study. In addition, freely dissolved pore‐water concentrations were measured using the polyoxymethylene solid‐phase extraction method. The present study examined whether bioavailability can be defined more accurately by measuring the size of desorbing fractions and the pore‐water concentrations than by using the standard equilibrium partitioning approach. The importance of ingested sediment in bioaccumulation also was investigated. Our data showed a clear, decreasing trend in the rapid‐desorbing fractions and in the standard biota–sediment accumulation factors (BSAF) with increasing concentration in sediment. Desorbing fractions–refined BSAFs were more uniform across the concentration treatments, and the pore‐water PCB 77 concentration predicted tissue concentrations close to observed values. In the risk assessment process, pore‐water concentration or desorbing fractions would lead to more precise bioavailability estimates compared with those from the traditional equilibrium partitioning approach. The result also showed, however, that sediment‐ingesting worms had access to an additional bioavailable chemical fraction that was especially evident when PCB 77 pore‐water concentrations most likely approached the solubility limit. Thus, feeding may modify the bioavailable fraction that cannot be explained by simple equilibrium partitioning models.
Overexpression of the OsERF71 Transcription Factor Alters Rice Root Structure and Drought Resistance1

OsERF71 alters root structure to enhance drought resistance. Plant responses to drought stress require the regulation of transcriptional networks via drought-responsive transcription factors, which mediate a range of morphological and physiological changes. AP2/ERF transcription factors are known to act as key regulators of drought resistance transcriptional networks; however, little is known about the associated molecular mechanisms that give rise to specific morphological and physiological adaptations. In this study, we functionally characterized the rice (Oryza sativa) drought-responsive AP2/ERF transcription factor OsERF71, which is expressed predominantly in the root meristem, pericycle, and endodermis. Overexpression of OsERF71, either throughout the entire plant or specifically in roots, resulted in a drought resistance phenotype at the vegetative growth stage, indicating that overexpression in roots was sufficient to confer drought resistance. The root-specific overexpression was more effective in conferring drought resistance at the reproductive stage, such that grain yield was increased by 23% to 42% over wild-type plants or whole-body overexpressing transgenic lines under drought conditions. OsERF71 overexpression in roots elevated the expression levels of genes related to cell wall loosening and lignin biosynthetic genes, which correlated with changes in root structure, the formation of enlarged aerenchyma, and high lignification levels. Furthermore, OsERF71 was found to directly bind to the promoter of OsCINNAMOYL-COENZYME A REDUCTASE1, a key gene in lignin biosynthesis. These results indicate that the OsERF71-mediated drought resistance pathway recruits factors involved in cell wall modification to enable root morphological adaptations, thereby providing a mechanism for enhancing drought resistance.
Flexible Conservation Measures on Working Land: What Challenges Lie Ahead?

From 1985 to 2002, most Federal conservation dollars going to farm operators have been to retire land from crop production. Yet most U.S. farmland (850 million acres) remains in active production. The Farm Security and Rural Investment (FSRI) Act of 2002 sharply increased conservation funding and earmarked most of the increase for working-land payment programs (WLPPs). The design and implementation of WLPPs will largely determine the extent to which environmental goals are achieved and whether they are cost effective. We simulate potential environmental gains as well as adjustments in agricultural production, price, and income associated with various WLPP features to illustrate tradeoffs arising from WLPP design and implementation. Competitive bidding with the use of environmental indices to rank producers for enrollment is most cost effective. Payments based on past conservation will help support farm incomes, but limit the amount of additional environmental benefit that can be generated under a fixed budget.
Metabolism of glycyrrhizin by human intestinal flora.

During the course of experiments on the metabolism of Chinese crude drugs by human intestinal flora, glycyrrhizin, an active component of liquorice, was shown to be hydrolyzed to the aglycone, 18-β-glycyrrhetic acid, which was then transformed to a new compound, 3-epi-18β-glycyrrhetic acid. The epimerization of 18β-glycyrrhetic acid to 3-epi-18β-glycyrrhetic acid was also shown to be reversible VIA a metabolic intermediate, 3-dehydro-18β-glycyrrhetic acid.
Nash Q-Learning for General-Sum Stochastic Games

We extend Q-learning to a noncooperative multiagent context, using the framework of general-sum stochastic games. A learning agent maintains Q-functions over joint actions, and performs updates based on assuming Nash equilibrium behavior over the current Q-values. This learning protocol provably converges given certain restrictions on the stage games (defined by Q-values) that arise during learning. Experiments with a pair of two-player grid games suggest that such restrictions on the game structure are not necessarily required. Stage games encountered during learning in both grid environments violate the conditions. However, learning consistently converges in the first grid game, which has a unique equilibrium Q-function, but sometimes fails to converge in the second, which has three different equilibrium Q-functions. In a comparison of offline learning performance in both games, we find agents are more likely to reach a joint optimal path with Nash Q-learning than with a single-agent Q-learning method. When at least one agent adopts Nash Q-learning, the performance of both agents is better than using single-agent Q-learning. We have also implemented an online version of Nash Q-learning that balances exploration with exploitation, yielding improved performance.
Drug utilization study in orthopaedic units: Antibiotics prescribed in hospital out-patients in Dhaka, Bangladesh

Antibiotics are generally prescribed for both as prophylactically (before orthopaedics surgery etc.) or to treat ongoing infection (like septic arthritis, osteomyelitis etc.) in the orthopaedics department. But if antibiotics are not use rationally then there will be increase chances of resistance of bacteria as also as deteriorate the patients’ disease condition which ultimately increase the total cost of treatment. The goal of this study was to see the antibiotics utilization pattern. A prospective cross-sectional, multicentre drug utilization study was conducted for a period of 3 months to evaluate the pattern of antibiotics use in orthopaedic unit of various hospitals of Dhaka City, Bangladesh. A total of 498 prescriptions were studied; in which 160 prescriptions contained mono-antibiotic therapy (51.79%) and 147 prescriptions contained poly-antibiotics therapy (48.21%) and the beta-lactam antibiotics were most commonly prescribed (81.68%). Mono-antibiotics prescriptions were the common pattern than combination and brand name has been prescribed frequently than generic. To minimize cost, it is advisable to promote prescription of generic drugs. Also justifying efforts are needed to improve appropriateness of antimicrobial therapy and minimize the development of antimicrobial resistance. Hence the results of the study showed that there is a considerable scope for improvement in the prescription pattern. DOI: http://dx.doi. org/10.3329/icpj.v3i9. 19896 International Current Pharmaceutical Journal, August 2014, 3(9): 318-321
Atorvastatin Increases Erythropoietin-Stimulating Agent Hyporesponsiveness in Maintenance Hemodialysis Patients: Role of Anti-Inflammation Effects

Erythropoietin-stimulating agent (ESA) hyporesponsiveness is aggravated by chronic inflammation in maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) patients. Dyslipidemia is prevalent in MHD patients. Statin therapy has been demonstrated to not only be effective in lowering lipid levels, but also numerous pleiotropic effects including anti-inflammatory, anti-fibrotic and endothelial function improvement. Recently, a retrospective study has shown that statin therapy decreases ESA requirements in MHD patients. We conducted a prospective study to analyze the effect of statin therapy on ESA hyporesponsiveness, and especially emphasized its anti-inflammatory benefits in MHD patients. This prospective study enrolled 30 patients with baseline cholesterol >220 mg/dl. Low-dose atorvastatin (10 mg/day) was prescribed for 12 weeks. We prospectively recorded patients’ biochemistry and hematological profiles, ESA prescription and some inflammatory markers at baseline, 4 weeks and 12 weeks. Statistically significant changes were noted after 4 and 12 weeks of statin therapy for cholesterol (272.5 ± 41.1 to 184.4 ± 37.6 and 196.4 ± 40.2 mg/dl, p < 0.05) and ESA hyporesponsiveness, which demonstrated as erythropoietin to hematocrit ratio (EHR) (129.3 ± 58.2 to 122.3 ± 53.5 and 121.0 ± 53.3 EPO U/Hct/week, p < 0.05). Mean values for proinflammatory cytokines included interleukin-6 and tumor necrotic factor-α levels decreased by 30.8 and 10.6%, respectively. Thus, these data suggest that statin therapy may improve ESA hyporesponsiveness in dialysis patients. This improvement in ESA hyporesponsiveness is associated with the effects of statins on inflammation.
Flexible room-temperature resistive humidity sensor based on silver nanoparticles

In this work, a low-cost and flexible room-temperature humidity sensor was developed from pure resistive silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) synthesized through a simple green route using Pistia stratiotes extract as a reducing agent for AgNO3 under light illuminations. UV–Vis spectroscopic results showed that various synthesis parameters including AgNO3 concentration, reaction time, pH value and light irradiation strongly affected on the formation of AgNPs. AgNPs were also confirmed to exhibit spherical shapes with different sizes depending on pH by transmission electron microscopy. To fabricate the sensor, AgNPs were deposited on a transparent polyethylene substrate with pre-patterned Ag interdigitated electrodes via a drop coating method. From humidity-sensing results, the flexible pure AgNPs sensor exhibited high sensitivity to relative humidity (RH) with high repeatability and stability at room temperature. Moreover, the sensor electrical resistance and sensor response showed linear relationships to RH in the range of 20–85% with short response and recovery times of 10 s and 11 s, respectively.
Experience-dependent emergence of functional asymmetries

Right head-turning preference is assumed to be a developmental default. This motor asymmetry seems to influence the development of other lateralised behaviours—such as handedness—as a consequence of orienting vision towards the right side of the body. To document the role of visual experience in promoting lateralised functions we assessed head-turning preference and handedness in a group of congenitally blind human adults. We found a left-side preference for head turning but a clear right-handedness in the same individuals. This asymmetric relationship suggests that absence of visual experience can alter head-turning preference and that handedness can emerge without visual orientation towards the right side. Our findings shed new light on the role of visual sensory experience in shaping functional asymmetries and suggest that single-gene models and environment alone cannot fully explain the emergence of functional asymmetries in humans.
MYCOCHEMICAL SCREENING, ANTIOXIDANT AND DNA PROTECTING ACTIVITY OF PENICILLIUM CYCLOPIUM AND PENICILLIUM BREVICOMPACTUM

The mycochemical screening, antioxidant potential and DNA protecting potential of Penicillium cyclopium and Penicillium brevicompactum were in the focus of this study. The ethanolic extracts of mycelia were used for the evaluation of their antioxidant potential by the following assays: 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free-radical scavenging activity, total antioxidant capacity, Fe-chelating activity, Fe-reducing capacity and DNA protection against hydroxyl radical damage. The mycochemical analysis of the extracts revealed the presence of phenols, terpenoids, alkaloids, tannins, carbohydrates and amino acids. The ethanolic extract of P. cyclopium contained higher amounts of phenolic compounds and ferrous ion chelating ability. P. brevicompactum showed higher total antioxidant capacity, DPPH free-radical scavenging and reducing power ability. Both ethanolic extracts of mycelia showed excellent ability to reduce the hydroxyl radical-induced DNA damage. Thus, both Penicillium species can be considered as promising source of natural antioxidants.
Performance of block‐coded land mobile satellite systems

Although various measurements have indicated that mobile satellite channels are not memoryless, most related coded system performance analysis assumes perfect interleaving is in place so that the effect of channel memory can be completely ignored. This paper presents a systematic method to accurately and efficiently predict the performance of errors‐and‐erasures or errors‐only decoders for block‐coded systems in general mobile satellite channels. Numerical results are provided to validate our analytic results. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Ca2+‐related signaling events influence TLR9‐induced IL‐10 secretion in human B cells

Suppressory B‐cell function controls immune responses and is mainly dependent on IL‐10 secretion. Pharmacological manipulation of B‐cell‐specific IL‐10 synthesis could, thus, be therapeutically useful in B‐cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia, transplantation, autoimmunity and sepsis. TLR are thought to play a protagonistic role in the formation of IL‐10‐secreting B cells. The aim of the study was to identify the molecular events selectively driving IL‐10 production in TLR9‐stimulated human B cells. Our data highlight the selectivity of calcineurin inhibitors in blocking TLR9‐induced B‐cell‐derived IL‐10 transcription and secretion, while IL‐6 transcription and release, B‐cell proliferation, and differentiation remain unaffected. Nevertheless, TLR9‐induced IL‐10 production was found to be independent of calcineurin phosphatase activity and was even negatively regulated by NFAT. In contrast to TLR9‐induced IL‐6, IL‐10 secretion was highly sensitive to targeting of spleen tyrosine kinase (syk) and Bruton's tyrosine kinase. Further analyses demonstrated increased phosphorylation of Ca2+/calmodulin kinase II (CaMKII) in TLR9‐stimulated B cells and selective reduction of TLR9‐induced secretion of IL‐10 upon treatment with CaMKII inhibitors, with negligible impact on IL‐6 levels. Altogether, our results identify calcineurin antagonists as selective inhibitors of IL‐10 transcription and syk/Bruton´s tyrosine kinase‐induced Ca2+/calmodulin‐ and CaMKII‐dependent signaling as a pathway regulating the release of TLR9‐induced B‐cell‐derived IL‐10.
Diabetes, adult neurogenesis and brain remodeling: New insights from rodent and zebrafish models

ABSTRACT The prevalence of diabetes rapidly increased during the last decades in association with important changes in lifestyle. Diabetes and hyperglycemia are well-known for inducing deleterious effects on physiologic processes, increasing for instance cardiovascular diseases, nephropathy, retinopathy and foot ulceration. Interestingly, diabetes also impairs brain morphology and functions such as (1) decreased neurogenesis (proliferation, differentiation and cell survival), (2) decreased brain volumes, (3) increased blood-brain barrier leakage, (4) increased cognitive impairments, as well as (5) increased stroke incidence and worse neurologic outcomes following stroke. Importantly, diabetes is positively associated with a higher risk to develop Alzheimer disease. In this context, we aim at reviewing the impact of diabetes on neural stem cell proliferation, newborn cell differentiation and survival in a homeostatic context or following stroke. We also report the effects of hyper- and hypoglycemia on the blood-brain barrier physiology through modifications of tight junctions and transporters. Finally, we discuss the implication of diabetes on cognition and behavior.
Obesity short‐circuits stemness gene network in human adipose multipotent stem cells

The discovery of adipose multipotent stem cells has provided new insights to explore cellular mechanisms involved in adipose tissue function. In the present work, we aimed to evaluate how the adipogenic environment influences the stemness of the resident multipotent stem cells. To achieve this goal, human omental multipotent stem cells (hO‐MSCs) were isolated, expanded, and characterized in both healthy lean and morbidly obese individuals. We observed decreased cell proliferation, premature senescence, and increased cytokine secretion associated with increasing body mass index of the patients. Consistent with the latter finding, the hO‐MSCs derived from patients with morbid obesity lose their multilineage differentiation capacity associated with a dysregulation in the Wnt, Notch, and Sonic Hedgehog signaling pathways. Moreover, microRNAs involved in the regulation of stemness, cell differentiation, and senescence were also up‐regulated in obese individuals. Altogether, our data show that obesity causes a general short circuit in the stemness gene network of hO‐MSCs. —Roldan, M. , Macias‐Gonzalez, M. , Garcia, R. , Tinahones, F. J., Martin, M. Obesity short‐circuits stemness gene network in human adipose multipotent stem cells. FASEB J. 25, 4111–4126 (2011). www.fasebj. org
Retraction for Smart et al., Annexin 2–caveolin 1 complex is a target of ezetimibe and regulates intestinal cholesterol transport

CELL BIOLOGY Retraction for “Annexin 2–caveolin 1 complex is a target of ezetimibe and regulates intestinal cholesterol transport,” by Eric J. Smart, Robert A. De Rose, and Steven A. Farber, which appeared in issue 10, March 9, 2004, of Proc Natl Acad Sci USA (101:3450–3455; first published February 25, 2004; 10.1073/pnas. 0400441101). The undersigned authors wish to note the following: “We chose to retract the paper when the Office of Research Integrity determined the lead author, Eric J. Smart, engaged in research misconduct and falsified and/or fabricated the data presented in Fig. 2B and 2D and Fig. 4 (www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2012-1120/html/2012-28209.htm). These findings undermine our confidence in the other Western blot data performed by the lead author (Fig. 1B and 1C, Fig. 2A and 2C, and Fig. 3B and 3E) which provided the basis for many of the key conclusions reported. We regret any negative consequences that resulted from the publication of this manuscript. ”
Multiple antibody detection in ‘seronegative’ myasthenia gravis patients

Myasthenia gravis (MG) is an autoimmune disease caused by antibody mediated impairment in the neuromuscular junction. Seronegative MG (SNMG) without antibodies against acetylcholine receptor (AChR) and muscle‐specific kinase (MuSK) by routine assays accounts for about 20% of all MG patients.
Blind Deconvolution Meets Blind Demixing: Algorithms and Performance Bounds

Suppose that we have <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$r$ </tex-math></inline-formula> sensors and each one intends to send a function <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">${g}_{i}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> (e.g., a signal or an image) to a receiver common to all <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$r$ </tex-math></inline-formula> sensors. During transmission, each <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">${g}_{i}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> gets convolved with a function <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">${f}_{i}$ </tex-math></inline-formula>. The receiver records the function <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">${y}$ </tex-math></inline-formula>, given by the sum of all these convolved signals. When and under which conditions is it possible to recover the individual signals <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">${g}_{i}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> and the blurring functions <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">${f}_{i}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> from just one received signal <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">${y}$ </tex-math></inline-formula>? This challenging problem, which intertwines blind deconvolution with blind demixing, appears in a variety of applications, such as audio processing, image processing, neuroscience, spectroscopy, and astronomy. It is also expected to play a central role in connection with the future Internet-of-Things. We will prove that under reasonable and practical assumptions, it is possible to solve this, otherwise, highly ill-posed problem and recover the <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$r$ </tex-math></inline-formula> transmitted functions <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">${g}_{i}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> and the impulse responses <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">${f}_{i}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> in a robust, reliable, and efficient manner, from just one single received function <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">${y}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> by solving a semidefinite program. We derive explicit bounds on the number of measurements needed for successful recovery and prove that our method is robust in the presence of noise. Our theory is actually suboptimal, since numerical experiments demonstrate that, quite remarkably, recovery is still possible if the number of measurements is close to the number of degrees of freedom.