Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Over-Expressed Pathogenic miRNAs in Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) and Prion Disease (PrD) Drive Deficits in TREM2-Mediated Aβ42 Peptide Clearance

One prominent and distinguishing feature of progressive, age-related neurological diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and prion disease (PrD) is the gradual accumulation of amyloids into dense, insoluble end-stage protein aggregates. These polymorphic proteolipid lesions are known to contribute to immunogenic and inflammatory pathology in these insidious and fatal disorders of the human central nervous system (CNS). For example, the evolution of self-aggregating amyloid-beta (Aβ) peptides, such as the 42 amino acid Aβ42 peptide monomer into higher order aggregates are largely due to: (1) the inability of natural processes to clear them from the cellular environment; and/or (2) the overproduction of these amyloid monomers which rapidly mature into higher order oligomers, fibrils and insoluble, end-stage senile plaques. Cells of the CNS such as microglial (MG) cells have evolved essential homeostatic mechanisms to clear Aβ peptides to avoid their accumulation, however, when defective, these clearance mechanisms become overwhelmed and excessive deposition and aggregation of these amyloids result. This ‘Perspectives’ paper will highlight some emerging concepts on the up-regulation of an inducible microRNA-34a in AD and PrD that drives the down-regulation of the amyloid sensing- and clearance receptor protein TREM2 (the triggering receptor expressed in myeloid/microglial cells). The impairment of this inducible, miRNA-34a-regulated TREM2- and MG-cell based amyloid clearance mechanism may thereby contribute to the age-related amyloidogenesis associated with both AD and PrD.
Juvenile Xanthogranuloma Presenting as Infiltrative Conjunctival Mass in an Adult

Purpose To report on the clinical and histopathologic findings of a conjunctival juvenile xanthogranuloma in an adult. Methods Case report and literature review. Results A 43-year-old man developed 2 yellowish conjunctival lumps not associated with other ocular or systemic findings. A half-corneal diameter–sized main mass was located at the 2-o'clock position, and the other 1/8-corneal diameter–sized mass was located at the 4-o'clock position. The masses were vitelliform in appearance with poor supplying vessels. The masses were removed en bloc by conjunctivectomy. Cryotherapy was done along the excision margin. Histopathologic examination revealed dense infiltration by histiocytes with background of multiple lymphocytes and Touton giant cells. Immunohistochemical staining was positive for CD3 (T-cell marker) and CD68 (histiocytic marker) but negative for CD1a and S-100 (Langerhans cell marker). Conclusion Juvenile xanthogranuloma may present as conjunctival infiltrative masses in adults. Immunophenotyping is helpful in differentiating it from a more malignant lesion.
UCP2 and PRMT1 are key prognostic markers for lung carcinoma patients

Cancer cells have developed unique strategies to meet their high energy demand. Therefore, they have established a setting of Ca2+-triggered high mitochondrial activity. But mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake has to be strictly controlled to avoid mitochondrial Ca2+ overload that would cause apoptotic cell death. Methylation by protein arginine methyl transferase 1 (PRMT1) desensitizes the mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake machinery and reduces mitochondrial Ca2+ accumulation in cancer cells. In case of PRMT1-driven methylation, proper mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake is reestablished by increased activity of uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2), pointing to an importance of these proteins for cancer cell survival and activity. Accordingly, in this study we investigated the impact of UCP2 and PRMT1 on the fate of human lung cancer cells (A549, Calu-3 and H1299) as well as on patients suffering from lung carcinoma. We show that combined overexpression of UCP2 and PRMT1 significantly enhances viability, proliferation as well as mitochondrial respiration. In line with these findings, the overall survival probability of lung carcinoma patients with high mRNA expression levels of UCP2 and PRMT1 is strongly reduced. Furthermore, analysis via The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) reveals upregulation of both proteins, UCP2 and PRMT1, as common feature of various cancer types. These findings suggest that proper mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake is essential for devastating tumor growth, and highlight the importance of a tightly controlled mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake to ensure proper ATP biosynthesis while avoiding dangerous mitochondrial Ca2+ overload. By that, the study unveils proteins of the mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake as potential targets for cancer treatment.
Measurement and analysis of electroencephalogram (EEG) on audiovisual interaction for early clinical detection of neuropsychological disorder

The clinical diagnosis can detect the presence of brain disease once significant neuronal disruption has occurred. Early clinical detection of neuropsychological disorder lacks the unification standards. The aim of this study was to describe the neural mechanism of audiovisual interaction in healthy subjects by combining behavior-based methods (neuropsychological testing) and event-related potentials (ERP), and to provide a neural mechanism for early clinical detection. We designed the stimulus onset asynchrony (SOA) between sound and visual (−400 ms, −150 ms, 0 ms, 150 ms, 400 ms, visual only and sound only, each with equal probability, randomly in each trial), so that the subject could not find the cognitive rules connecting the two stimuli. The behavioral results showed that the responses to temporal congruency audiovisual (AV) stimuli were faster than those to unimodal visual(V) stimuli. The ERPs results showed audiovisual interaction elicited by irrelevant auditory(A) stimuli in a visual attention task. This interaction occurred at late stage around 220∼240ms and 340∼380ms.
Aspartate Kinase-Independent Lysine Synthesis in an Extremely Thermophilic Bacterium, Thermus thermophilus: Lysine Is Synthesized via α-Aminoadipic Acid Not via Diaminopimelic Acid

ABSTRACT An aspartate kinase-deficient mutant of Thermus thermophilus, AK001, was constructed. The mutant strain did not grow in a minimal medium, suggesting that T. thermophiluscontains a single aspartate kinase. Growth of the mutant strain was restored by addition of both threonine and methionine, while addition of lysine had no detectable effect on growth. To further elucidate the lysine biosynthetic pathway in T. thermophilus, lysine auxotrophic mutants of T. thermophilus were obtained by chemical mutagenesis. For all lysine auxotrophic mutants, growth in a minimal medium was not restored by addition of diaminopimelic acid, whereas growth of two mutants was restored by addition of α-aminoadipic acid, a precursor of lysine in biosynthetic pathways of yeast and fungi. A BamHI fragment of 4.34 kb which complemented the lysine auxotrophy of a mutant was cloned. Determination of the nucleotide sequence suggested the presence of homoaconitate hydratase genes, termed hacA andhacB, which could encode large and small subunits of homoaconitate hydratase, in the cloned fragment. Disruption of the chromosomal copy of hacA yielded mutants showing lysine auxotrophy which was restored by addition of α-aminoadipic acid or α-ketoadipic acid. All of these results indicated that in T. thermophilus, lysine was not synthesized via the diaminopimelic acid pathway, believed to be common to all bacteria, but via a pathway using α-aminoadipic acid as a biosynthetic intermediate.
Human Neuroscience

terized as continuous structures from the central and medial nuclei of the amygdala to corresponding regions of the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, projecting through a region known as substantia innominata (SI) (Heimer et al., 1997; Heimer, 2003). The SI also appears sensitive to facial expressions of threat, and has been proposed to play a specialized role in processing the arousal or salience of facial expressions (Kim et al., 2003; Davis et al., 2009). A number of studies have investigated the way in which the response to facial signals of threat in the amygdala and extended amygdala is influenced by gaze direction, to date however, findings have been mixed. An initial fMRI study by Adams et al. (2003) found a greater amygdala response to angry faces with averted gaze and fearful faces with a direct gaze, relative to direct gaze anger and averted gaze fearful faces, respectively (Adams et al., 2003). This was attributed to the idea that direct gaze fearful faces and averted gaze angry faces constitute more ambiguous signals of threat than their averted and direct gaze counterparts; supporting the role of the amygdala in coding signals of ambiguous threat (Davis and Whalen, 2001; Whalen, 2007). However, subsequent studies have found mixed results. A study by Sato et al. (2004) found an increased response to angry faces directed at, rather than away from the observer (Sato et al., 2004). By contrast, Straube et al. (2010) found that angry faces produced an enhanced amygdala response for averted relative to direct gaze expressions, consistent with the findings of Adams et al. (2003). In addition, Hadjikhani et al. (2008) found an increased response to averted gaze fear faces, contrasting with the findings of Adams et al. (2003). As discussed
Age-dependent effects of systemic administration of oxytetracycline on the viscoelastic properties of rat tail tendons as a mechanistic basis for pharmacological treatment of flexural limb deformities in foals.

OBJECTIVE To describe the effect of systemically administered oxytetracycline on the viscoelastic properties of rat tail tendon fascicles (TTfs) to provide a mechanistic rationale for pharmacological treatment of flexural limb deformities in foals. SAMPLE TTfs from ten 1-month-old and ten 6-month-old male Sprague-Dawley rats. PROCEDURES 5 rats in each age group were administered oxytetracycline (50 mg/kg, IP, q 24 h) for 4 days. The remaining 5 rats in each age group served as untreated controls. Five days after initiation of oxytetracycline treatment, TTfs were collected and their viscoelastic properties were evaluated via a stress-relaxation protocol. Maximum modulus and equilibrium modulus were compared via a 2-way ANOVA. Collagen fibril size, density, and orientation in TTfs were compared between treated and control rats. RESULTS Viscoelastic properties were significantly decreased in TTfs from 1-month-old oxytetracycline-treated rats, compared with those in TTfs from 1-month-old control rats. Oxytetracycline had no effect on the viscoelastic properties of TTfs from 6-month-old rats. Collagen fibril size, density, and orientation in TTfs from 1-month-old rats did not differ between oxytetracycline-treated and control rats. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Results confirmed that systemically administered oxytetracycline decreased the viscoelastic properties of TTfs from 1-month-old rats but not those of TTfs from 6-month-old rats. The decrease in viscoelastic properties associated with oxytetracycline treatment does not appear to be caused by altered collagen fibril diameter or organization. The age-dependent effect of oxytetracycline on the viscoelastic properties of tendons may be related to its effect on the maturation of the extracellular matrix of developing tendons.
On Games with Coupled Constraints

We study the problem of cost minimization in competitive resource allocation problems, motivated by our previous work on power minimization in MIMO interference systems. Our setup leads to a general cost minimization game in which each player wishes to minimize the cost of its resource consumption while achieving a target utility level. In general, the player strategies are coupled through both their cost functions and their utility functions. Equilibrium exists only for a certain set of target utility levels which in general is a proper set of all achievable utility levels. To characterize the set of equilibrium utility levels, we introduce the dual of a cost minimization game called a utility maximization game in which each player wishes to maximize its utility while keeping the cost of its resource consumption below a cost threshold. We associate the set of equilibrium utility levels with the set of equilibrium of the dual game corresponding to all cost thresholds, and show that the dual game always possesses an equilibrium. We also obtain an inner estimate of the set of equilibrium utility levels in the case of decoupled cost functions by a minimax approach. We then relax the hard constraint on achieving a target utility level, and introduce a weighted cost minimization game which always possesses an equilibrium. We recover the original equilibria through the equilibria of the weighted cost minimization game as the penalty on not achieving the target utility levels increases.
Large Buoyant LDL‐like Particles in Hepatic Lipase Deficiency

Hepatic lipase (HL) Is thought to play a role In processing very low density llpoproteln to low density llpoproteln (LDL). To analyze the relationship between HL and LDL, the density, size, and chemical composition of LDL Isolated from 18 normal subjects and from three subjects with reduced or absent levels of HL activity were compared. In an HL-deficlent subject the major peak of apoproteln (apo) B- contalning llpoprotelns ('LDL') had a density of 1.023 g/ml and a diameter of 26.4 nm compared to male control subjects (1.044±0.006 g/ml and 25.3±0.3 nm). Two half-sisters of the HL-deflclent subject with half the normal levels of HL activity had LDL that also were more buoyant and slightly larger than the LDL Isolated from female control subjects. The peak density and average diameter of LDL were correlated with HL activity, consistent with the hypothesis that HL Influenced formation and physical characteristics of typical LDL. Apo B-100 was the major apoproteln In the 'LDL' isolated from the HL-deflclent subject and contained a greater proportion of trlglycerlde compared to the control subjects' LDL. The absence of HL appears to prevent the production of classical LDL Our data support the hypothesis that HL helps determine normal LDL characteristics.
Association of COL11A2 polymorphism with susceptibility to Kawasaki disease and development of coronary artery lesions

Kawasaki disease (KD) is a pediatric systemic vasculitis of unknown etiology wherein genetic influence is suspected. Gene clusters within the HLA region at chromosome 6p21.3 have been linked to KD and other autoimmune disorders. As collagen is a strong autoantigen inducing chronic inflammation in patients with vasculitis, this study tests a hypothesis that single‐nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of a collagen gene, COL11A2, located in this HLA region may affect susceptibility to Kawasaki disease and its arterial sequels. SNP sites rs2294478 (at promoter) and rs2076311 (at intron 19) were genome‐typed on 93 KD patients and 680 healthy subjects. Genotypic and allelic frequencies analyses found A allele at rs2076311 as a risk allele for KD. Clinical association study showed protective potential of C/C genotype at rs2294478 and A/A at rs2076311 for developing coronary artery lesions (CALs) in patients. In addition, C‐A haplotype of COL11A2 gene associates with KD development and can serve as a genetic marker to differentiate KD patients lacking CALs from those with such lesions. Our findings suggest the involvement of genetic variations of COL11A2 in Kawasaki disease and CAL formation.
Indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for immunoglobulin G and four immunoassays for immunoglobulin M to Toxoplasma gondii in a series of heart transplant recipients

Toxoplasma gondii infections in heart transplant recipients were monitored by indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for immunoglobulin G (ELISA-IgG), indirect ELISA-IgM in serum IgM fractions, antibody capture ELISA-IgM, IgM-immunosorbent agglutination assay (ISAGA), and IgM immunoblotting. Basic immunosuppression consisted of cyclosporine and low-dose steroids. Before transplantation, 26 of 43 recipients showed serological evidence of infection. In serum samples from 15 (35%) recipients, specific antibodies were not detected. Approximately 50% of the heart donors, were toxoplasma seropositive. Eight of the fifteen seronegative recipients received hearts from toxoplasma-seropositive donors. In four of the eight recipients, seroconversion could be demonstrated with all tests used. In three of these four patients, clinical disease developed. One patient with strong serological evidence of toxoplasmosis died, but toxoplasma parasites and antigens were not detected at autopsy. In two patients, toxoplasma cysts were found in cardiac biopsies. Seroconversion was not prevented by the use of spiramycin prophylaxis in two recipients. Reactivations of latent infections or reinfections were detected by indirect ELISA in six (23%) seropositive recipients, but symptoms and signs of active T. gondii infection were not seen. Seroconversion and reactivation of infection were readily found by a combined use of indirect ELISA-IgG and ELISA-IgM and antibody capture ELISA-IgM. Discrepancies in results could be examined by immunoblotting. IgM-ISAGA retained stable positive values longer than IgM-ELISAs did. Cyclosporine treatment did not hamper detection of seroconversion but could cause antibody levels to remain relatively low in primary infections. Seronegative recipients should receive antitoxoplasma treatment on seroconversion.
The statistical measurement of agreement.

theorems of O'M*. 41 This means that von Wright's system is a subsystem of O'M*; and that some account is also taken of Bohnert's suggestions. It would be pointless to try to characterize O'M* further in such a brief compass; formal systems always require intensive study if their explanatory power is to be fully appreciated. If the "explanatory power" of such constructs seems highly abstract or remote, the situation should be compared with contemporary physical theories, where mathematical theories much more recondite than those presented here have a direct and immediate bearing on empirical research. And just as many mathematical developments were initiated by empirical problems, so the development of O'M* was motivated by the hope of throwing light on some empirical problems in small-group research. More specifically, in experiments currently being conducted in the Yale Interaction Laboratory, opportunities are available for studying, under well-controlled conditions, small groups in the process of developing normative structures. A clear and accurate account of these interactional processess calls for a precise and rigorous conceptual framework within which to characterize the behavior of the group. Small-groups research is of course only one, and not necessarily the most important, area of application of such formal systems. It is hoped that the foregoing discussion will have suggestive value for workers in other sociological fields, and will stimulate interest in current research in mathematical logic, especially modal logic. This research is not remote from the daily affairs of sociologists. For instance, whenever instructions are given for filling out a questionnaire, commands expressing obligations are involved. More generally, any adequate sociological theory must encompass, in our opinion, the concepts norm, obligation, etc. It is therefore a matter of importance to develop sound techniques for analyzing norms and systems of norms.
The Challenges of HIV/AIDS Counselling in Nigerian Secondary Schools: A Case Study of Kwara State

The study investigated the challenges of HIV/AIDS counselling in Nigerian secondary schools as expressed by school counsellors in Kwara state, Nigeria. The respondents comprised 132 purposively selected counsellors in Kwara state public secondary schools (Male=85; Female=47). Data were collected with the use of a survey instrument and the data were quantitatively analyzed. The study identified the challenges hindering effective implementation of HIV/AIDS counselling in Nigerian secondary schools as ignorance, non-existence of governmental policy on HIV/AIDS counselling in schools and negative attitudes of school administrators, students and teachers to HIV/AIDS. Geographical location and job status had significant influence on the respondents' views of the challenges facing HIV/AIDS counselling in Nigerian secondary schools. The Counselling Association of Nigeria (CASSON) should enlighten Nigerians on the importance of HIV/AIDS counselling in schools.
An Attempt of Non-human Primate Modeling of Schizophrenia with Neonatal Challenges of Epidermal Growth Factor

Inflammatory cytokines are implicated in the neurodevelopmental hypothesis for schizophrenia. Based on this hypothesis, we studied the establsihment of rodent models for schizophrenia by subcutaneously challenging rat or mouse neonates with various cytokines. Because of the physical and behavioral difference between animal species; however, it is difficult to fully evaluate the appropriateness of rodent models. To overcome this problem, we attempted to establish a non-human primate model of schizophrenia. We subcutaneously injected epidermal growth factor (EGF: 0.3 mg/kg/day) to 3 male neonatal cynomolgus monkeys for a total of 7 or 9 days from 14 days of age. During the following 4 or 5 years, no abnormal behaviors were observed in these monkeys treated with EGF; however, at the age of 6 years, 1 monkey exhibited abnormal behavioral traits: stereotypic movement, vocalization, alert motion, and self injury. It was noteworthy that the monkey often showed agitation and clapped its hands over its eyes and bit his hands in periods of illumination, although not under darkened conditions. The behavioral abnormalities except vocalization were ameliorated by 10-day oral treatment with risperidone at 0.10 mg/kg/day. Although this study needs to be replicated, this case report suggests the possibility that hyper EGF signals at the perinatal stage of non-human primates result in post-pubertal behavioral/cognitive deficits, which possibly imitate some pathological features of human schizophrenia.
An Adaptive Charging Algorithm for Electric Vehicles in Smart Grids

Integration of renewable energy sources and Electric Vehicles (EVs) into smart grids comes with significant challenges. The uncertainty of the short-term forecasted energy from renewable sources increases the variability of the net-load in the grid. Also, EVs' charging could exacerbate the load peak in the grid if charging is not coordinated. In this work, firstly, we study the impact of the variability of renewable sources on the short-term forecast of the net-load in the electric grid, and a model of the net-load forecast error is developed. Secondly, a novel online charging algorithm for EVs is proposed not only to shift EVs' load from the system peak period to more desirable period, but also to decrease the variability of the net-load in the grid. Simulation results show that our algorithm outperforms the traditional scheduling algorithms which optimize the overall load in the system based on short-term load forecast.
Absence of association of type 2 diabetes with CAPN10 and PC-1 polymorphisms in Oji-Cree.

In the Oji-Cree of Northern Ontario, we previously demonstrated that the private HNF1A S319 allele was strongly associated with type 2 diabetes (1), and that the PPARG Q12 allele was associated with both the earlier onset and presence of type 2 diabetes (2). However, HNF1A S319 and PPARG Q12 were present in only ∼60% of Oji-Cree subjects with type 2 diabetes, suggesting that other genetic determinants exist in this population. Recent reports have implicated CAPN10 (3), specifically the UCSNP-43 G allele (also called g.4852G) (4), and PC-1 , specifically the Q121 allele (5,6), as possible genetic determinants for type 2 diabetes. We thus evaluated the association of these alleles with type 2 diabetes in the Oji-Cree. …