Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Characterization of in Vitro Cultivated Amastigote like of Leishmania major: A Substitution for in Vivo Studies

Background: Promastigotes of Leishmania spp. have been readily cultured, but the axenic culture of amastigotes has been successful in L. donovani, L . infantum L. mexicana and L. pifanoi. However, some species such as L. major, is much less amenable to axenic cultivation. In present study, we describe an in vitro culture system for the generation and propagation of axenic amastigotes form of L. major. Methods: Promastigotes of L. major were cultivated in a biphasic NNN medium. The liquid phase was Schneider's medium, pH 3.5, supplemented by 25% FCS (fetal calf serum). The cultures were maintained at 33-34°C for 120 hours. Results: Fine structure analysis of these in vitro-grown amastigotes by electron microscopy, demonstrated that they have a pear-shaped body with abortive short terminal flagellum. The in vitro-grown cells are agglutinated by peanut lectin. SDSPAGE pattern of these axenic amastigotes showed a 66-kDa band, which was not present in promastigotes. The axenic grown amastigotes were able to infect peritoneum macrophages of BALB/c mice. In supernatant of culture, biochemical, analysis showed decreased protein and acid phosphate activity. Conclusion: These amastigotes like cells might serve as a suitable strain for the study of amastigote biochemistry, in vitro drug testing, and immunology of L. major.
Time‐restricted flight ability influences dispersal and colonization rates in a group of freshwater beetles

Abstract Variation in the ability to fly or not is a key mechanism for differences in local species occurrences. It is increasingly acknowledged that physiological or behavioral mechanisms rather than morphological differences may drive flight abilities. However, our knowledge on the seasonal variability and stressors creating nonmorphological differences in flight abilities and how it scales to local and regional occurrences is very limited particularly for small, short‐lived species such as insects. Here, we examine how flight ability might vary across seasons and between two closely related genera of freshwater beetles with similar geographical ranges, life histories, and dispersal‐related morphology. By combining flight experiments of >1,100 specimens with colonization rates in a metacommunity of 54 ponds in northern and eastern Europe, we have analyzed the relationship between flight ability and spatio‐environmental distribution of the study genera. We find profound differences in flight ability between the two study genera across seasons. High flight ability for Acilius (97% of the tested individuals flew during the experiments) and low for Graphoderus (14%) corresponded to the different colonization rates of newly created ponds. Within a 5‐year period, 81 and 31% of the study ponds were colonized by Acilius and Graphoderus, respectively. While Acilius dispersed throughout the season, flight activity in Graphoderus was restricted to stressed situations immediately after the emergence of adults. Regional colonization ability of Acilius was independent of spatial connectivity and mass effect from propagule sources. In contrast, Graphoderus species were closely related to high connectivity between ponds in the landscape. Our data suggest that different dispersal potential can account for different local occurrences of Acilius and Graphoderus. In general, our findings provide some of the first insights into the understanding of seasonal restrictions in flight patterns of aquatic beetles and their consequences for species distributions.
Modelling the influence of parental effects on gene‐network evolution

Understanding the importance of nongenetic heredity in the evolutionary process is a major topic in modern evolutionary biology. We modified a classical gene‐network model by allowing parental transmission of gene expression and studied its evolutionary properties through individual‐based simulations. We identified ontogenetic time (i.e. the time gene networks have to stabilize before being submitted to natural selection) as a crucial factor in determining the evolutionary impact of this phenotypic inheritance. Indeed, fast‐developing organisms display enhanced adaptation and greater robustness to mutations when evolving in presence of nongenetic inheritance (NGI). In contrast, in our model, long development reduces the influence of the inherited state of the gene network. NGI thus had a negligible effect on the evolution of gene networks when the speed at which transcription levels reach equilibrium is not constrained. Nevertheless, simulations show that intergenerational transmission of the gene‐network state negatively affects the evolution of robustness to environmental disturbances for either fast‐ or slow‐developing organisms. Therefore, these results suggest that the evolutionary consequences of NGI might not be sought only in the way species respond to selection, but also on the evolution of emergent properties (such as environmental and genetic canalization) in complex genetic architectures.
Dexmedetomidine versus midazolam for sedation in upper gastrointestinal endoscopy

Objectives To investigate the efficacy and safety of sedation with dexmedetomidine in upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. Methods Patients with ASA physical status I–II undergoing elective upper gastrointestinal endoscopy were randomly allocated to receive dexmedetomidine or midazolam for conscious sedation. Continuous peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO2), heart rate, mean arterial pressure (MAP), Ramsay Sedation Scale (RSS) and numeric rating scale pain scores were recorded before, during and after the procedure. Patients completed a post-procedure satisfaction questionnaire. Results Patients in the midazolam group (n = 30) experienced a significant decrease in MAP during sedation compared with pre-sedation values. Patients in the dexmedetomidine group (n = 30) had significantly higher SpO2 and RSS scores during sedation than those in the midazolam group. Overall satisfaction was higher in the dexmedetomidine group than the midazolam group. There were no clinically significant complications in either group. Conclusion Dexmedetomidine has a good safety profile and is an effective sedative for use in upper gastrointestinal endoscopy.
SNP-array lesions in core binding factor acute myeloid leukemia

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) with t(8;21) and inv(16), together referred as core binding factor (CBF)-AML, are recognized as unique entities. Both rearrangements share a common pathophysiology, the disruption of the CBF, and a relatively good prognosis. Experiments have demonstrated that CBF rearrangements were insufficient to induce leukemia, implying the existence of cooperating events. To explore these aberrations, we performed single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)-array in a well-annotated cohort of 198 patients with CBF-AML. Excluding breakpoint-associated lesions, the most frequent events included loss of a sex chromosome (53%), deletions at 9q21 (12%) and 7q36 (9%) in patients with t(8;21) compared with trisomy 22 (13%), trisomy 8 (10%) and 7q36 deletions (12%) in patients with inv(16). SNP-array revealed novel recurrent genetic alterations likely to be involved in CBF-AML leukemogenesis. ZBTB7A mutations (20% of t(8;21)-AML) were shown to be a target of copy-neutral losses of heterozygosity (CN-LOH) at chromosome 19p. FOXP1 focal deletions were identified in 5% of inv(16)-AML while sequence analysis revealed that 2% carried FOXP1 truncating mutations. Finally, CCDC26 disruption was found in both subtypes (4.5% of the whole cohort) and possibly highlighted a new lesion associated with aberrant tyrosine kinase signaling in this particular subtype of leukemia.
Using a hybrid honey bees mating optimisation algorithm for solving SONET/SDH design problems

In this paper we propose a hybrid Honey Bees Mating Optimisation (HBMO) algorithm to solve two problems that arise in the design of optical telecommunication networks known as SONET/SDH Ring Assignment Problem (SRAP) and Intraring Synchronous Optical Network Design Problem (IDP). In SRAP the objective is to minimise the number of rings. In IDP the objective is to minimise the number of Add-Drop Multiplexers (ADMs). Both problems are subject to a ring capacity constraint. HBMO algorithm simulates the mating process of real honey bees. We apply a hybridisation of HBMO to solve these two combinatorial optimisation problems. The feasibility of Hybrid HBMO is demonstrated and compared with the solutions obtained by other algorithms from literature.
Robust Design of an Axial-Flux Permanent Magnet Synchronous Generator Based on Many-Objective Optimization Approach

A new methodology is described for designing a robust optimum TORUS topology-based 10 kW axial-flux permanent magnet (NdFeB) synchronous generator for direct-coupled wind turbines. This methodology uses a modified version of the many-objective evolutionary algorithm non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm III (NSGA-III) in order to: 1) handle a mixed variables model; 2) maximize efficiency, minimize active material cost, weight, and outer diameter; and 3) make efficiency robust under uncertainties. Since the design procedure is correlated with dimensional and electromagnetic parameters, uncertainties that depreciate the generator efficiency may be introduced due to inaccuracies in construction and in field calculation. These likely uncertainties were taken into account in optimization by an additional objective function, where the search was guided by a robustness metric that minimizes the efficiency maximum estimated deviation. Thus, the novelty of this paper is the design of a robust optimum axial-flux generator using a tailored many-objective robust optimization method for mixed variables problems with parameters uncertainties.
Meditation and Music Improve Memory and Cognitive Function in Adults with Subjective Cognitive Decline: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND While effective therapies for preventing or slowing cognitive decline in at-risk populations remain elusive, evidence suggests mind-body interventions may hold promise. OBJECTIVES In this study, we assessed the effects of Kirtan Kriya meditation (KK) and music listening (ML) on cognitive outcomes in adults experiencing subjective cognitive decline (SCD), a strong predictor of Alzheimer's disease. METHODS Sixty participants with SCD were randomized to a KK or ML program and asked to practice 12 minutes/day for 3 months, then at their discretion for the ensuing 3 months. At baseline, 3 months, and 6 months we measured memory and cognitive functioning [Memory Functioning Questionnaire (MFQ), Trail-making Test (TMT-A/B), and Digit-Symbol Substitution Test (DSST)]. RESULTS The 6-month study was completed by 53 participants (88%). Participants performed an average of 93% (91% KK, 94% ML) of sessions in the first 3 months, and 71% (68% KK, 74% ML) during the 3-month, practice-optional, follow-up period. Both groups showed marked and significant improvements at 3 months in memory and cognitive performance (MFQ, DSST, TMT-A/B; p's≤0.04). At 6 months, overall gains were maintained or improved (p's≤0.006), with effect sizes ranging from medium (DSST, ML group) to large (DSST, KK group; TMT-A/B, MFQ). Changes were unrelated to treatment expectancies and did not differ by age, gender, baseline cognition scores, or other factors. CONCLUSIONS Findings of this preliminary randomized controlled trial suggest practice of meditation or ML can significantly enhance both subjective memory function and objective cognitive performance in adults with SCD, and may offer promise for improving outcomes in this population.
As(V) Sorption/Desorption on Different Waste Materials and Soil Samples

Aiming to investigate the efficacy of different materials as bio-sorbents for the purification of As-polluted waters, batch-type experiments were employed to study As(V) sorption and desorption on oak ash, pine bark, hemp waste, mussel shell, pyritic material, and soil samples, as a function of the As(V) concentration added. Pyritic material and oak ash showed high sorption (90% and >87%) and low desorption (<2% and <7%). Alternatively, hemp waste showed low retention (16% sorption and 100% desorption of the amount previously sorbed), fine shell and pine bark sorbed <3% and desorbed 100%, the vineyard soil sample sorbed 8% and released 85%, and the forest soil sample sorbed 32% and desorbed 38%. Sorption data fitted well to the Langmuir and Freundlich models in the case of both soil samples and the pyritic material, but only to the Freundlich equation in the case of the various by-products. These results indicate that the pyritic material and oak ash can be considered efficient As(V) sorbents (thus, useful in remediation of contaminated sites and removal of that pollutant), even when As(V) concentrations up to 6 mmol L−1 are added, while the other materials that were tested cannot retain or remove As(V) from polluted media.
Chapter 2 Rating Scales for Depression

Over the past few decades, a number of clinician-rated and patient-rated instruments have been developed as primary efficacy measures in depression clinical trials. All those scales have relative strengths and weaknesses and some of them have been more successful than others, and have become the gold standards for depression clinical research. With all these measures available and with the evidence of their variable performance in clinical trials, it is becoming increasingly important to select primary efficacy measures that are reliable, valid, and that fit well within the aims of depression clinical trials. This article will review the main considerations that investigators need to make when choosing a primary efficacy measure for major depressive disorder (MDD). There is a clear need for a thorough discussion of the methodological issues concerning the use of these scales, as suggested also by Demyttenaere and De Fruyt in a recent review [1], because clinical trials researchers in depression continue to struggle with the ability to detect signals of the efficacy of antidepressant agents.
Translation and cross-cultural adaptation of the Detailed Assessment of Speed of Handwriting 17+ to Brazilian Portuguese: conceptual, item and semantic equivalence.

PURPOSE Perform a cross-cultural adaptation of the Detailed Assessment of Speed of Handwriting 17+ (DASH 17+) for Brazilians. METHODS Evaluation of (1) conceptual, item and (2) semantic equivalence, with assistance of four translators and application of a pilot study to 36 students. RESULTS (1) The concepts and items are equivalent in the British and Brazilian cultures. (2) Adaptations were made concerning the English language pangram used in copying tasks and selection of the lower-case, cursive handwriting in the alphabet-writing task. Application of the pilot study verified acceptability and understanding of the proposed tasks by the students. CONCLUSION The Brazilian Portuguese version of the DASH 17+ was presented after finalization of the conceptual, item and semantic equivalence of the instrument. Further studies on psychometric properties should be conducted with the purpose of measuring the speed of handwriting in youngsters and adults with greater reliability and validity to the procedure.
Lipid droplet density alters the early innate immune response to viral infection

The cellular localisation of many innate signalling events following viral infection has yet to be elucidated, however there has been a few cases in which membranes of certain cellular organelles have acted as platforms to these events. Of these, lipid droplets (LDs) have recently been identified as signalling platforms for innate TLR7 and 9 signalling. Despite their wide range of similar roles in various metabolic pathways, LDs have been overlooked as potential platforms for antiviral innate signalling events. This study established an in vitro model to evaluate the efficiency of the early innate immune response in cells with reduced LD content to the viral mimics, dsDNA and dsRNA, and Sendai viral infection. Using RT-qPCR, the expression of IFN-β and IFN-λ was quantified following stimulation along with the expression of specific ISGs. Luciferase based assays evaluated the combined expression of ISRE-promoter driven ISGs under IFN-β stimulation. Cellular LD content did not alter the entry of fluorescently labelled viral mimics into cells, but significantly decreased the ability of both Huh-7 and HeLa cells to produce type I and III IFN, as well as downstream ISG expression, indicative of an impeded innate immune response. This observation was also seen during Sendai virus infection of HeLa cells, where both control and LD reduced cells replicated the virus to the same level, but a significantly impaired type I and III IFN response was observed in the LD reduced cells. In addition to altered IFN production, cells with reduced LD content exhibited decreased expression of specific antiviral ISGs: Viperin, IFIT-1 and OAS-1 under IFN-β stimulation; However the overall induction of the ISRE-promoter was not effected. This study implicates a role for LDs in an efficient early innate host response to viral infection and future work will endeavour to determine the precise role these important organelles play in induction of an antiviral response.
Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine for Inflammatory Bowel Disease Is Associated with Worse Adherence to Conventional Therapy: The COMPLIANT Study

Background:Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use is highly prevalent among inflammatory bowel disease (IBD patients). We assessed whether its use, both for IBD and for general health, influenced adherence to conventional medications. Methods:We enrolled 392 IBD subjects in a prospective cohort study and categorized them as CAM nonusers (38%) and those who used CAM for general health (CAM-GEN, 41%) and for IBD (CAM-IBD, 21%). Their self-reported adherence was measured using the 4-item Morisky Adherence Scale during a median follow-up period of 6.8 months. Results:CAM-IBD users were less likely to be adherent to medical therapy than CAM nonusers and CAM-GEN users (70% vs. 84% and 81%, respectively, P < 0.05). Nearly all subjects who were nonadherent reported that it was unintentional (97%), and this did not vary use of CAM. After adjusting for confounders, the adjusted odds ratio for adherence among CAM-IBD relative to CAM nonuser was 0.47 (95% CI, 0.22–0.96). CAM-GEN demonstrated similar adherence to CAM nonusers (adjusted odds ratio, 0.85; 95% CI, 0.44–1.66). CAM-IBD was also less likely than CAM nonusers and CAM-GEN to have improvement in their adherence scores during follow-up (14% vs. 33% and 34%, respectively, P < 0.01). The adjusted odds ratio for improved adherence in CAM-IBD compared with CAM nonusers and CAM-GEN were 0.32 (95% CI, 0.15–0.69) and 0.34 (95% CI, 0.16–0.72), respectively. Conclusions:CAM-IBD, but not CAM-GEN, was associated with lower adherence to IBD medical therapy. A third of CAM nonusers and CAM-GEN improved adherence during the observation period, suggesting a Hawthorne effect.
Direct Binding Between Orai1 and AC8 Mediates Dynamic Interplay Between Ca2+ and cAMP Signaling

A signaling complex enables the compartmentalized regulation of cyclic AMP signaling by calcium entering through a specific channel. Bound to Signal in Close Quarters Interplay between the calcium and the cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) signaling pathways is crucial to numerous physiological events. Although membrane-bound calcium-sensitive adenylyl cyclases (ACs) are sensitive to submicromolar concentrations of calcium in vitro, in cells they are highly selective in responding to store-operated calcium (SOC) entry rather than to calcium released from intracellular stores or entering the cell through ionophores. Here, Willoughby et al. used a combination of live-cell imaging techniques and biochemical approaches to resolve this conundrum and showed that AC8, which is stimulated by calcium-bound calmodulin, forms a direct protein-protein interaction with Orai1, the pore-forming component of the channel that mediates SOC entry. The existence of AC8 in a complex with SOC channels provides a mechanism for the compartmentalized regulation of cAMP signaling by specific subcellular calcium signals. The interplay between calcium ion (Ca2+) and cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) signaling underlies crucial aspects of cell homeostasis. The membrane-bound Ca2+-regulated adenylyl cyclases (ACs) are pivotal points of this integration. These enzymes display high selectivity for Ca2+ entry arising from the activation of store-operated Ca2+ (SOC) channels, and they have been proposed to functionally colocalize with SOC channels to reinforce crosstalk between the two signaling pathways. Using a multidisciplinary approach, we have identified a direct interaction between the amino termini of Ca2+-stimulated AC8 and Orai1, the pore component of SOC channels. High-resolution biosensors targeted to the AC8 and Orai1 microdomains revealed that this protein-protein interaction is responsible for coordinating subcellular changes in both Ca2+ and cAMP. The demonstration that Orai1 functions as an integral component of a highly organized signaling complex to coordinate Ca2+ and cAMP signals underscores how SOC channels can be recruited to maximize the efficiency of the interplay between these two ubiquitous signaling pathways.
Control of the Singular Points Location for Miniature Switches with Magnetically Driven Contacts †

This paper presents and discusses usefulness and possibility of control of the singular points location of a driving magnetic field under as structure considerations as well as selection of energizing magnet systems for miniature electromagnetic switches. The sample results of theoretical analysis and experimental testing concern selected reed switches with normally open contacts as well as a developed miniature switch with a metallic ball contact. It must be noted that the switch with the contact performed by means of the metallic tiny ball can be effectively used both as a change-over switch as well as a detector of the energizing magnetic field distribution under designing and assembling of any electromagnetic contact device preferably with an increased degree of integration and miniaturization.
I’m Not the Person I Used to Be: The Self and Autobiographical Memories of Immoral Actions

People maintain a positive identity in at least two ways: They evaluate themselves more favorably than other people, and they judge themselves to be better now than they were in the past. Both strategies rely on autobiographical memories. The authors investigate the role of autobiographical memories of lying and emotional harm in maintaining a positive identity. For memories of lying to or emotionally harming others, participants judge their own actions as less morally wrong and less negative than those in which other people lied to or emotionally harmed them. Furthermore, people judge those actions that happened further in the past to be more morally wrong than those that happened more recently. Finally, for periods of the past when they believed that they were very different people than they are now, participants judge their actions to be more morally wrong and more negative than those actions from periods of their pasts when they believed that they were very similar to who they are now. The authors discuss these findings in relation to theories about the function of autobiographical memory and moral cognition in constructing and perceiving the self over time.
Serum brain‐derived neurotrophic factor in children with coeliac disease

Brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a neurotrophin that has a protective role in the nervous system and is involved in neural plasticity. It is abundant in the central nervous system, but is also expressed in the gastrointestinal tract. Coeliac disease (CD), characterised by intestinal inflammation, has some comorbidity with neurologic and mental disorders. The aim of this study was to evaluate circulating BDNF concentrations in patients with CD at diagnosis or on a gluten‐free diet (GFD) for longer than 1 year and in healthy controls (HC).