Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Rcs-Regulated Colanic Acid Capsule Maintains Membrane Potential in Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium

ABSTRACT The Rcs phosphorelay and Psp (phage shock protein) systems are envelope stress responses that are highly conserved in gammaproteobacteria. The Rcs regulon was found to be strongly induced during metal deprivation of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium lacking the Psp response. Nineteen genes activated by the RcsA-RcsB response regulator make up an operon responsible for the production of colanic acid capsular polysaccharide, which promotes biofilm development. Despite more than half a century of research, the physiological function of colanic acid has remained elusive. Here we show that Rcs-dependent colanic acid production maintains the transmembrane electrical potential and proton motive force in cooperation with the Psp response. Production of negatively charged exopolysaccharide covalently bound to the outer membrane may enhance the surface potential by increasing the local proton concentration. This provides a unifying mechanism to account for diverse Rcs/colanic acid-related phenotypes, including susceptibility to membrane-damaging agents and biofilm formation. IMPORTANCE Colanic acid is a negatively charged polysaccharide capsule produced by Escherichia coli, Salmonella, and other gammaproteobacteria. Research conducted over the 50 years since the discovery of colanic acid suggests that this exopolysaccharide plays an important role for bacteria living in biofilms. However, a precise physiological role for colanic acid has not been defined. In this study, we provide evidence that colanic acid maintains the transmembrane potential and proton motive force during envelope stress. This work provides a new and fundamental insight into bacterial physiology. Colanic acid is a negatively charged polysaccharide capsule produced by Escherichia coli, Salmonella, and other gammaproteobacteria. Research conducted over the 50 years since the discovery of colanic acid suggests that this exopolysaccharide plays an important role for bacteria living in biofilms. However, a precise physiological role for colanic acid has not been defined. In this study, we provide evidence that colanic acid maintains the transmembrane potential and proton motive force during envelope stress. This work provides a new and fundamental insight into bacterial physiology.
Modeling the ENSO impact of orbitally induced mean state climate changes

The sensitivity of the El Nino–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) phenomenon to changes in the tropical Pacific mean climate is investigated with a coupled atmosphere-ocean-sea ice general circulation model (AOGCM), the Kiel Climate Model (KCM). Different mean climate states are generated by changing the orbital forcing that causes a redistribution of solar energy, which was a major driver of both the Holocene and the Eemian climates. We find that the ENSO amplitude is positively correlated with both the Equatorial Pacific sea surface temperature (SST) and the equatorial zonal SST contrast. The latter is controlled by the upwelling-induced damping of the SST changes in the Eastern Equatorial Pacific (EEP), and by the vertical ocean dynamical heating and zonal heat transport convergence in the Western Equatorial Pacific. The ENSO amplitude also correlates positively with the seasonal SST amplitude in the EEP and negatively with the strength of the easterly Trades over the Equatorial Pacific. However, the ENSO period is rather stable and stays within 3–4 years. Enhanced ENSO amplitude is simulated during the late-Holocene, in agreement with paleoproxy records. The tight positive correlation (r = 0.89) between the ENSO strength and the Western Pacific Warm Pool (WPWP) SST suggests that the latter may provide an indirect measure of the ENSO amplitude from proxy data that cannot explicitly resolve interannual variability. Key Points: - ENSO amplitude enhances as mean SST & west-east SST gradient rise in tropical Pacific - The broad range frequency peaks at periods of 3-4 years over Holocene and Eemian - The Pacific's warm pool SST is a suitable indicator to monitor ENSO variability
Dose-Dependent Effect of Statin Pretreatment on Preventing the Periprocedural Complications of Carotid Artery Stenting

Background and Purpose— We investigated whether statin pretreatment can dose dependently reduce periprocedural complications in patients undergoing carotid artery stenting because of symptomatic carotid artery stenosis. Methods— We enrolled a consecutive series of 397 symptomatic carotid artery stenosis (≥50% stenosis on conventional angiography) treated with carotid artery stenting at 2 tertiary university hospitals over a decade. Definition of periprocedural complications included any stroke, myocardial infarction, and death within 1 month after or during the procedure. Statin pretreatment was divided into 3 categories according to the atorvastatin equivalent dose: none (n=158; 39.8%), standard dose (<40 mg of atorvastatin, n=155; 39.0%), and high dose (≥40 mg; n=84; 21.2%). A multivariable logistic regression analysis with the generalized estimating equation method was used to investigate independent factors in periprocedural complications. Results— The patients’ mean age was 68.7 years (81.6% men). The periprocedural complication rates across the 3 categories of statin use were 12.0%, 4.5%, and 1.2%. After adjustment, a change in the atorvastatin dose category was associated with reduction in the odds of periprocedural complications for each change in dose category (standard-dose statin: odds ratio, 0.24; 95% confidence interval, 0.07−0.81; high-dose statin: odds ratio, 0.11; 95% confidence interval, 0.01−0.96; P for trend=0.01). Administration of antiplatelet drugs was also an independent factor in periprocedural complications (OR, 0.18; 95% CI, 0.05−0.69). Conclusions— This study shows that statin pretreatment may reduce the incidence of periprocedural complications dose dependently in patients with symptomatic carotid artery stenting.
Genome-wide association study identifies MAPT locus influencing human plasma tau levels

Objective: To identify genetic loci associated with plasma tau concentrations in healthy elders and individuals with Alzheimer disease. Methods: Four hundred sixty-three non-Hispanic white individuals exceeding quality control criteria were included from the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI-1) cohort. Association of plasma tau with genetic polymorphisms was performed with a linear regression model. Significant associations were validated in an independent replication cohort consisting of 431 healthy elders or individuals with mild cognitive impairment recruited from the University of California, San Francisco Memory and Aging Center. Results: The minor allele (A) of rs242557 in the microtubule-associated protein tau gene (MAPT) was associated with higher plasma tau levels at genome-wide significance (p = 4.85 × 10−9, empiric family-wise error corrected p = 0.0024) in a dose-dependent fashion. This association was also observed in the replication cohort (p = 1.0 × 10−5; joint analysis p = 1.2 × 10−12). Single nucleotide polymorphisms near PARK2 (rs2187213) (p = 6.15 × 10−6), IL2RA (rs7072793, rs7073236) (p = 7.89 × 10−6), and an intergenic locus on 9p21.3 (rs7047280) (p = 8.13 × 10−6) were identified as suggestive loci associated with plasma tau levels. Conclusions: MAPT H1c haplotype (rs242557) has previously been identified as a genetic risk factor for progressive supranuclear palsy and corticobasal degeneration. The current findings suggest that plasma tau concentration could be an endophenotype for identifying risk for 4-repeat tauopathies in older individuals.
Rapid Estrogen Signaling in the Brain

Estrogen has multiple actions in the brain to modulate homeostasis, synaptic plasticity/cognition and neuroprotection. While many of these actions undoubtedly involve mediation via the classical genomic mechanism of regulation of transcription of genes via estrogen nuclear receptors, there has been growing interest in the rapid nongenomic effects of estrogen and the role they may play in the neural actions of estrogen. In this review, we will focus on these rapid nongenomic actions of estrogen in the brain and discuss the potential physiological significance of these actions. The evidence for rapid estrogen regulation of cell signaling pathways, including calcium, ion channel and kinase signaling pathways in the brain will be reviewed, as will evidence derived from plasma-membrane impermeable estrogen-peptide conjugates in the regulation of these cell signaling pathways. Evidence supporting classical and nonclassical estrogen receptor localization to the plasma membrane of neurons will also be reviewed, including the putative new membrane estrogen G-protein-coupled receptor, GPR30. Precisely how membrane estrogen receptors couple to kinase signaling pathways is unclear, but we will discuss the latest findings on estrogen receptor-interacting scaffold proteins, such as MNAR/PELP1, striatin and p130Cas, which are capable of linking estrogen receptors and kinases such as Src and PI3K, to potentially mediate estrogen-induced kinase signaling. Finally, we will review the growing evidence that rapid membrane-mediated effects of estrogen play an important physiological role in the neural actions of estrogen in the brain, including estrogen feedback control and modulation of homeostasis, regulation of synaptic plasticity/cognition, and estrogen-mediated neuroprotection.
A more globally accurate dimensionality reduction method using triplets

We first show that the commonly used dimensionality reduction (DR) methods such as t-SNE and LargeVis poorly capture the global structure of the data in the low dimensional embedding. We show this via a number of tests for the DR methods that can be easily applied by any practitioner to the dataset at hand. Surprisingly enough, t-SNE performs the best w.r. t. the commonly used measures that reward the local neighborhood accuracy such as precision-recall while having the worst performance in our tests for global structure. We then contrast the performance of these two DR method against our new method called TriMap. The main idea behind TriMap is to capture higher orders of structure with triplet information (instead of pairwise information used by t-SNE and LargeVis), and to minimize a robust loss function for satisfying the chosen triplets. We provide compelling experimental evidence on large natural datasets for the clear advantage of the TriMap DR results. As LargeVis, TriMap scales linearly with the number of data points.
An analysis of shot peening

Abstract It is shown that the residual stresses obtained during shot-peening are directly proportional to the treated material's hardness, and that the depth of material influenced depends on the velocity of approaching shot. The relationship between the shot size and depth hardened is developed, and experimental evidence is provided to verify the major points of the analysis. Useful curves, enabling the variation of residual stress with depth to be estimated, are included, and this enables the shot-peening treatment to be matched to alleviate any subsequent contact-pressure loading that the material may experience during service.
Ultrathin wood laminae—polyvinyl alcohol biodegradable composites

Novel polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH) based biodegradable composites were prepared by a hand lay-up process using ultrathin beech laminae cut by a specialized planer machine, and the resulting materials were thermo-mechanically characterized. Density measured showed how the adopted procedure led to laminates having a high porosity degree (about 50% by volume) and an elevated wood concentration (about 80% by weight). In fact, because the wood fibers were perfectly cut (not pressed and abraded), wood porosity was partially filled by the PVOH resin, as documented by field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) micrographs. The occlusion of wood porosity by the PVOH matrix resulted to be beneficial for the tensile mechanical properties of the composites. In fact, quasi-static tensile tests and DMTA analysis revealed how the stiffness (E, E′) and strength (σb) values of the composites both along longitudinal and transversal directions were considerably higher than those of the constituents. On the other hand, the values of the specific energy adsorbed under impact conditions by the composites samples were rather low, if compared to the neat matrix. POLYM. COMPOS. , 2016. © 2016 Society of Plastics Engineers
The Impact of Stroke Nurse Navigation on Patient Compliance Postdischarge.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to describe the impact a stroke nurse navigation program has on concurrent chart reviews and patient compliance postdischarge. Design: Phase I: Concurrent chart review of The Joint Commission Primary Stroke Center core measures for ischemic stroke patients. Phase II: Longitudinal study of 100 ischemic stroke patients discharged to home. Methods: Telephone surveys were conducted at prescribed intervals posthospital discharge (Phase II). Surveys focused onmedication compliance, follow-up medical appointment compliance, and neurovascular emergency department (ED) visits/readmissions. Findings: Phase I trends included increased stroke performancemeasures compliance. Phase II favorable trends included increased medication compliance (>98%), increased follow-up appointments (100%), decreased rate of neurovascular ED visits/rehospitalizations (3%), and improvement in activities of daily living and quality of life measures through 12 months postdischarge. Conclusions: Stroke nurse navigation increased conformity of stroke performance measures and stroke patient discharge compliance through 12 months postdischarge.
Chromatographic fingerprint analysis, antioxidant properties, and inhibition of cholinergic enzymes (acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase) of phenolic extracts from Irvingia gabonensis (Aubry-Lecomte ex O’Rorke) Baill bark

Abstract Background: Irvingia gabonensis stem bark is a medicinal plant used in most parts of Africa to manage a number of ailments including neurodegenerative diseases that occur without scientific basis. This work characterized the phenolic composition, evaluated the cholinergic enzymes (acetylcholinesterase, AChE and butyrylcholinesterase, BChE) inhibition, and assessed the antioxidant activity of phenolic extracts from I. gabonensis (Aubry-Lecomte ex O‘Rorke) Baill bark. Methods: Total phenol and flavonoids content was evaluated in addition to antioxidant activity as shown by Fe2+ chelation, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging ability, and 2,2-azino-bis-(3-ethylbenthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) radical scavenging ability. Inhibitory activities on AChE and BChE were evaluated. Results: The extract was found to be rich in phenolic acid (ellagic acid) and flavonoids (quercetrin, kaempferol, and apigenin). The phenolic extracts displayed DPPH radical scavenging ability (IC50=19.98 μg/mL), ABTS radical scavenging ability (IC50=18.25 μg/mL), iron chelation (IC50=113.10 μg/mL), and reducing power (Fe3+ to Fe2+) (5.94 mg ascorbic acid equivalent/100 g). Extracts of I. gabonensis inhibited AChE (IC50=32.90 μg/mL) and BChE (IC50=41.50 μg/mL) activities in concentration-dependent manner. Conclusions: Hence, possible mechanism through which the stem bark executes their anti-Alzheimer’s disease activity might be by inhibiting cholinesterase activities in addition to suppressing oxidative-stress-induced neurodegeneration.
USP22 maintains gastric cancer stem cell stemness and promotes gastric cancer progression by stabilizing BMI1 protein

Increased ubiquitin-specific protease 22 (USP22) has been associated with poor prognosis in several cancers including gastric cancer. However, the role of USP22 in gastric tumorigenesis is still unclear. Gastric cancer stem cells have been identified and shown to correlate with gastric cancer initiation and metastasis. In this study, we found that silencing of USP22 inhibited proliferation of gastric cancer cells and suppressed the cancer stem cell spheroid formation in serum-free culture. Furthermore, cancer stem cell markers, such as CD133, SOX2, OCT4 and NANOG were down-regulated. Additionally, knockdown of USP22 inhibited gastric cancer xenografts growth. Our analysis of TCGA database indicated that BMI1 overexpression may predict gastric cancer patient survival, and TAT-BMI1 proteins reversed the USP22 knockdown-mediated decreased in cancer stem cell properties, and elevated the expression of stemness-associated genes. Furthermore, we found that overexpression of USP22 stabilized the BMI1 protein in gastric cancer cells. Taken together, our study demonstrates that USP22 is indispensable for gastric cancer stem cell self-renewal through stabilization of BMI1. These results may provide novel approaches to the theranostics of gastric cancer in the near future.
Multiple New-Particle Growth Pathways Observed at the US DOE Southern Great Plains Field Site

Abstract. New-particle formation (NPF) is a significant source of aerosol particles into the atmosphere. However, these particles are initially too small to have climatic importance and must grow, primarily through net uptake of low-volatility species, from diameters ∼ 1 to 30–100 nm in order to potentially impact climate. There are currently uncertainties in the physical and chemical processes associated with the growth of these freshly formed particles that lead to uncertainties in aerosol-climate modeling. Four main pathways for new-particle growth have been identified: condensation of sulfuric-acid vapor (and associated bases when available), condensation of organic vapors, uptake of organic acids through acid–base chemistry in the particle phase, and accretion of organic molecules in the particle phase to create a lower-volatility compound that then contributes to the aerosol mass. The relative importance of each pathway is uncertain and is the focus of this work. The 2013 New Particle Formation Study (NPFS) measurement campaign took place at the DOE Southern Great Plains (SGP) facility in Lamont, Oklahoma, during spring 2013. Measured gas- and particle-phase compositions during these new-particle growth events suggest three distinct growth pathways: (1) growth by primarily organics, (2) growth by primarily sulfuric acid and ammonia, and (3) growth by primarily sulfuric acid and associated bases and organics. To supplement the measurements, we used the particle growth model MABNAG (Model for Acid–Base chemistry in NAnoparticle Growth) to gain further insight into the growth processes on these 3 days at SGP. MABNAG simulates growth from (1) sulfuric-acid condensation (and subsequent salt formation with ammonia or amines), (2) near-irreversible condensation from nonreactive extremely low-volatility organic compounds (ELVOCs), and (3) organic-acid condensation and subsequent salt formation with ammonia or amines. MABNAG is able to corroborate the observed differing growth pathways, while also predicting that ELVOCs contribute more to growth than organic salt formation. However, most MABNAG model simulations tend to underpredict the observed growth rates between 10 and 20 nm in diameter; this underprediction may come from neglecting the contributions to growth from semi-to-low-volatility species or accretion reactions. Our results suggest that in addition to sulfuric acid, ELVOCs are also very important for growth in this rural setting. We discuss the limitations of our study that arise from not accounting for semi- and low-volatility organics, as well as nitrogen-containing species beyond ammonia and amines in the model. Quantitatively understanding the overall budget, evolution, and thermodynamic properties of lower-volatility organics in the atmosphere will be essential for improving global aerosol models.
Active vacuum brazing of CNT films to metal substrates for superior electron field emission performance

Abstract The joining of macroscopic films of vertically aligned multiwalled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) to titanium substrates is demonstrated by active vacuum brazing at 820 °C with a Ag–Cu–Ti alloy and at 880 °C with a Cu–Sn–Ti–Zr alloy. The brazing methodology was elaborated in order to enable the production of highly electrically and thermally conductive CNT/metal substrate contacts. The interfacial electrical resistances of the joints were measured to be as low as 0.35 Ω. The improved interfacial transport properties in the brazed films lead to superior electron field-emission properties when compared to the as-grown films. An emission current of 150 μA was drawn from the brazed nanotubes at an applied electric field of 0.6 V μm−1. The improvement in electron field-emission is mainly attributed to the reduction of the contact resistance between the nanotubes and the substrate. The joints have high re-melting temperatures up to the solidus temperatures of the alloys; far greater than what is achievable with standard solders, thus expanding the application potential of CNT films to high-current and high-power applications where substantial frictional or resistive heating is expected.
Behavior of Ultrahigh-Performance Concrete Confined by Steel

AbstractUltrahigh-performance concrete (UHPC) offers a superior alternative to normal-strength concrete (NSC) due to its significantly higher compressive and tensile strengths, improved ductility, and enhanced durability. This paper presents an experimental study of the stress-strain behavior of UHPC confined by conventional transverse steel reinforcement. Test results are compared with two confinement models, as well as a large amount of available data on steel-confined NSC and high-strength concrete (HSC), and limited data available for UHPC confined by fiber-reinforced polymers (FRP). The study shows a potential threshold of confinement ratio beyond which the confinement effectiveness of UHPC exceeds that of HSC and nears that of NSC. This may have implications on the minimum level of confinement reinforcement for UHPC. For the most part, steel reinforcement is more effective than FRP as the confining device for UHPC, except for the very high end of confinement ratios, where FRP may become more effecti.
Kinetic and thermodynamic parameters, and partial characterization of the crude extract of tannase produced by Saccharomyces cerevisiae CCMB 520

Abstract Tannase can be used in different industrial sectors such as in food (juices and wine) and pharmaceutical production (trimethoprim) because it catalyses the hydrolysis of hydrolysable tannins. The aim of the current study is to assess the tannase found in the crude extract of Saccharomyces cerevisiae CCMB 520, and to set its catalytic and thermodynamic properties. The enzyme was optimally active at pH 6.0 and temperature 30 °C. Tannase was activated by Na+, Ca2+, K+ at 5 × 10−3 mol/L. The half-life at 30 °C was 3465.7 min. The activation energy was 40.32 kJ/mol. The Gibbs free energy, enthalpy and entropy at 30 °C were 85.40, 48.10 and −0.12 kJ/mol K, respectively. Our results suggest that the tannase found in the crude extract of S. cerevisiae is an attractive enzyme for industrial applications, such as for beverage manufacturing and gallic acid production, due its catalytic and thermodynamic properties (heat-stable and resistant to metal ions).