Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
New Insights into Chimpanzees, Tools, and Termites from the Congo Basin

The tool‐using behaviors of wild chimpanzees comprise the most impressive assemblages and flexible repertoires of nonhuman material culture. We expand knowledge of the breadth and complexity of tool use in this species by providing the first descriptions of the form and function of two distinct tool sets used by chimpanzees in preying upon termites within the forests of the Goualougo Triangle, Republic of Congo. Further, we report the first application of remote video monitoring technology to record wild chimpanzee tool‐using behavior. Based on tool assemblages recovered at termite nests, we hypothesized that chimpanzees were regularly visiting two forms of termite nests and using specific tools to extract termite prey depending on the structure of the nest. Six months of continuous remote video monitoring at six termite nests confirmed that chimpanzees use a tool set to puncture and fish at subterranean termite nests and another tool set to perforate and fish at epigeal (aboveground) nests. Our findings of strict adherence to tool forms at different nest types, tool material selectivity, repeated visits to nests with reusable wood tool assemblages, and differences in material culture between communities have broad implications for our understanding of the ecological and cultural factors that shape hominoid tool use.
Seasonality in Momentum Profits: Evidence from the Indian Stock Market

The paper investigates Indian momentum profitability along with its performance stability round the year using the stock price data from National Stock Exchange (NSE). Results show evidence in favor of momentum profitability over the sample period from 1997 to 2013. Moreover, the momentum performance is not specific to any particular month suggesting no influence of calendar effects on momentum anomaly in the Indian stock market. Though, momentum strategies performed differently in different calendar months, with particularly strong negative returns in the month of May. However, no statistically significant difference was observed among the mean monthly momentum returns across calendar months. Contrary to the US market findings, no January or similar April seasonality is observed in the Indian momentum profits suggesting some unique characteristics of Indian momentum profitability. In nutshell, the results from the study suggest support in favor of practical implementation of momentum strategies throughout the year in the Indian stock market.
Unilatus unilatus Mizelle & Kritsky, 1967 (Monogenea, Ancyrocephalinae) in Hypostomus spp. (Siluriformes, Loricariidae) from the Chavantes reservoir, São Paulo State, Brazil

SummaryIn this paper, the occurrence and new morphological data of Unilatus unilatus Mizelle et Kritsky, 1967 from the gills of Hypostomus strigaticeps (Regan, 1907), Hypostomusregani (Ihering, 1905), and Hypostomus iheringii (Regan, 1908) from the Chavantes reservoir, São Paulo State, Brazil are reported. Unilatus unilatus from this reservoir presents differences in relation to the holotype previously described such as, eggs with no bifid or trifid filament and a rounded termination, anterior bar slightly curved with a posterior projection, and posterior bar which may present three shapes. This is the first record of U. unilatus in southeastern Brazil outside the Amazon River Basin, with H. strigaticeps, H. regani and H. iheringii as new hosts.
A robust stochastic genetic algorithm (StGA) for global numerical optimization

Many real-life problems can be formulated as numerical optimization of certain objective functions. However, often an objective function possesses numerous local optima, which could trap an algorithm from moving toward the desired global solution. Evolutionary algorithms (EAs) have emerged to enable global optimization; however, at the present stage, EAs are basically limited to solving small-scale problems due to the constraint of computational efficiency. To improve the search efficiency, this paper presents a stochastic genetic algorithm (StGA). A novel stochastic coding strategy is employed so that the search space is dynamically divided into regions using a stochastic method and explored region-by-region. In each region, a number of children are produced through random sampling, and the best child is chosen to represent the region. The variance values are decreased if at least one of five generated children results in improved fitness, otherwise, the variance values are increased. Experiments on 20 test functions of diverse complexities show that the StGA is able to find the near-optimal solution in all cases. Compared with several other algorithms, StGA achieves not only an improved accuracy, but also a considerable reduction of the computational effort. On average, the computational cost required by StGA is about one order less than the other algorithms. The StGA is also shown to be able to solve large-scale problems.
Race and Ethnic Variation in Excessive Daytime Sleepiness: The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis

This cross-sectional study utilized data from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA). The sample included 5,173 older adults (mean age = 66.4 years) recruited from 6 field centers in the United States. Excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) was evaluated using two measures: self-report of feeling excessively sleepy ≤ 5 days per month and the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) > 12. White participants were more likely than other groups to report EDS ≤ 5 days per month. After controlling for covariates, African American and Hispanic participants remained less likely to report EDS ≤ 5 days per month. African Americans were more likely to score > 12 on the ESS than White participants. Odds ESS > 12 in African American participants were attenuated but remained significant after controlling for covariates. Results indicate measurement of race/ethnic differences in EDS may result in conflicting estimates of race/ethnic variation. Furthermore, attenuation of differences in ESS < 12 suggests this measure has a stronger association with current health.
Involvement of renal ACE activity in proteinuria-associated renal damage in untreated and treated adriamycin nephrotic rats

Proteinuria is assumed to play a pathogenetic role in progressive renal damage. Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibition reduces proteinuria and provides renoprotection. This suggests that ACE activity might play a pathogenetic role in the development of proteinuria-induced renal structural damage. We investigated this hypothesis in untreated and treated established adriamycin nephrosis, a model of proteinuria-induced renal damage. In a time-course experiment, the development of renal structural damage in untreated adriamycin nephrotic rats was paralleled by a significant rise in renal ACE activity. Moreover, on cross-sectional analysis, a consistent positive correlation between renal, but not plasma, ACE activity and proteinuria, focal glomerulosclerosis and interstitial injury was present. Notably, these associations were present, not only in the untreated condition, but also during intervention with either ACE inhibition or AT1-receptor antagonism. Interestingly, we found that higher renal ACE activity is associated with more severe renal damage for a given amount of proteinuria, suggesting that renal ACE activity may be either a permissive or a promoting factor in the processes by which proteinuria eventually leads to renal structural damage. This relationship was abolished by renin-angiotensin system (RAS)-blockade, suggesting that RAS-mediated effects are involved in the relationship between renal ACE activity and proteinuria-induced renal damage. In conclusion, in untreated as well as treated adriamycin nephrotic rats, renal ACE activity is closely associated with renal outcome. This association appears to be independent of the specific mode of blockade of the RAS. Renal ACE activity is a consistent marker of individual differences in proteinuria-associated renal damage: further studies are needed to investigate a possible pathogenetic role in renal damage.
La vida normal: living with HIV in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

Abstract In this study, we explore how individuals living with HIV in the Dominican Republic strive to live a ‘normal’ life and the consequences of this pursuit of normalcy. We conducted qualitative in-depth interviews with men (n = 20) and women (n = 20) living with HIV and receiving care at two urban clinics in Santo Domingo. We analysed the data using a combination of narrative analysis and thematic coding. We aimed to identify how fears and/or lived experiences with social rejection and HIV-related stigma and discrimination shaped participants’ abilities to maintain social relationships, be economically productive and manage HIV within the context of sexual relationships. Participants used the discourse of una vida normal (a normal life) to frame their response to HIV. This pursuit of normality was driven by the social and economic pressures of living with a chronic condition in a context of HIV-related stigma; trying to keep things ‘normal’ further added to these pressures. We argue that the normal life discourse fails to recognise the dynamic and complex nature of negotiating this condition and may also create additional burdens for individuals living with HIV that could impact their wellbeing and preventive behaviours.
An Intronic Sequence Element Mediates Both Activation and Repression of Rat Fibroblast Growth Factor Receptor 2 Pre-mRNA Splicing

ABSTRACT Alternative splicing of fibroblast growth factor receptor 2 (FGF-R2) is an example of highly regulated alternative splicing in which exons IIIb and IIIc are utilized in a mutually exclusive manner in different cell types. The importance of this splicing choice is highlighted by studies which indicate that deregulation of the FGF-R2 splicing is associated with progression of prostate cancer. Loss of expression of a IIIb exon-containing isoform of FGF-R2 [FGF-R2 (IIIb)] accompanies the transition of a well-differentiated, androgen-dependent rat prostate cancer cell line, DT3, to the more aggressive, androgen-independent AT3 cell line. We have used transfection of rat FGF-R2 minigenes into DT3 and AT3 cancer cell lines to study the mechanisms that control alternative splicing of rat FGF-R2. Our results support a model in which an importantcis-acting element located in the intron between these alternative exons mediates activation of splicing using the upstream IIIb exon and repression of the downstream IIIc exon in DT3 cells. This element consists of 57 nucleotides (nt) beginning 917 nt downstream of the IIIb exon. Analysis of mutants further demonstrates that an 18-nt “core sequence” within this element is most crucial for its function. Based on our observations, we have termed this sequence element ISAR (for intronic splicing activator and repressor), and we suggest that factors which bind this sequence are required for maintenance of expression of the FGF-R2 (IIIb) isoform.
Conditional survival estimate in patients with Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer stage B/C hepatocellular carcinoma treated with hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy with/without concurrent radiotherapy

Conditional survival (CS) provides a prognosis of patients who have already survived several years after treatment. We investigated CS in Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) stage B/C hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients treated with hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy (HAIC) with or without concurrent radiotherapy (CRT). A total of 181 patients diagnosed with HCC who were treated with HAIC with or without CRT between 2011 and 2015 were retrospectively reviewed. Overall survival (OS) and CS were calculated and a subgroup analysis was performed. The 1- and 5-year survival rates of all patients were 57.0% and 24.3%. OS was significantly higher in patients with BCLC stage B than BCLC stage C patients. Patients who achieved disease control after treatment also showed longer OS than who did not respond to treatment. Provided that the patient had already survived for 0, 1, 2, and 3 years, the CS estimates of surviving an additional 2 years were 35.6%, 55.1%, 82.0%, and 77.4%, respectively. A subgroup analysis was performed to compare BCLC stage B and C patients and revealed that CS has a tendency to increase and the difference in CS between two groups decreased over time. CS reflects the change of prognosis over time and may provide a more accurate prognosis and hopeful message to patients who have already survived with treatment.
Structural and Molecular Basis of the Peroxynitrite-mediated Nitration and Inactivation of Trypanosoma cruzi Iron-Superoxide Dismutases (Fe-SODs) A and B

Background: Superoxide dismutases are inactivated by peroxynitrite. Results: T. cruzi cytosolic Fe-SODB is highly resistant toward peroxynitrite-mediated tyrosine nitration and inactivation as compared with mitochondrial Fe-SODA. Conclusion: Intramolecular electron transfer in Fe-SODB from Cys83 to critical Tyr35 prevents enzyme nitration and inactivation. Significance: Disparate susceptibilities of Fe-SODs to peroxynitrite can influence parasite virulence during T. cruzi infection of mammalian cells. Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent of Chagas disease, contains exclusively iron-dependent superoxide dismutases (Fe-SODs) located in different subcellular compartments. Peroxynitrite, a key cytotoxic and oxidizing effector biomolecule, reacted with T. cruzi mitochondrial (Fe-SODA) and cytosolic (Fe-SODB) SODs with second order rate constants of 4.6 ± 0.2 × 104 m−1 s−1 and 4.3 ± 0.4 × 104 m−1 s−1 at pH 7.4 and 37 °C, respectively. Both isoforms are dose-dependently nitrated and inactivated by peroxynitrite. Susceptibility of T. cruzi Fe-SODA toward peroxynitrite was similar to that reported previously for Escherichia coli Mn- and Fe-SODs and mammalian Mn-SOD, whereas Fe-SODB was exceptionally resistant to oxidant-mediated inactivation. We report mass spectrometry analysis indicating that peroxynitrite-mediated inactivation of T. cruzi Fe-SODs is due to the site-specific nitration of the critical and universally conserved Tyr35. Searching for structural differences, the crystal structure of Fe-SODA was solved at 2.2 Å resolution. Structural analysis comparing both Fe-SOD isoforms reveals differences in key cysteines and tryptophan residues. Thiol alkylation of Fe-SODB cysteines made the enzyme more susceptible to peroxynitrite. In particular, Cys83 mutation (C83S, absent in Fe-SODA) increased the Fe-SODB sensitivity toward peroxynitrite. Molecular dynamics, electron paramagnetic resonance, and immunospin trapping analysis revealed that Cys83 present in Fe-SODB acts as an electron donor that repairs Tyr35 radical via intramolecular electron transfer, preventing peroxynitrite-dependent nitration and consequent inactivation of Fe-SODB. Parasites exposed to exogenous or endogenous sources of peroxynitrite resulted in nitration and inactivation of Fe-SODA but not Fe-SODB, suggesting that these enzymes play distinctive biological roles during parasite infection of mammalian cells.
Male Seminal Relaxin Contributes to Induction of the Post-mating Cytokine Response in the Female Mouse Uterus

The hormone relaxin is important in female reproduction for embryo implantation, cardiovascular function, and during labor and lactation. Relaxin is also synthesized in males by organs of the male tract. We hypothesized that relaxin might be one component of seminal plasma responsible for eliciting the female cytokine response induced in the uterus at mating. When recombinant relaxin was injected into the uterus of wild-type (Rln+/+) mice at estrus, it evoked the production of Cxcl1 mRNA and its secreted protein product CXCL1 in four of eight animals. Mating experiments were then conducted using mice with a null mutation in the relaxin gene (Rln−/− mice). qRT-PCR analysis of mRNA expression in wild-type females showed diminished uterine expression of several cytokine and chemokine genes in the absence of male relaxin. Similar differences were also noted comparing Rln−/− and Rln+/+ females mated to wild-type males. Quantification of uterine luminal fluid cytokine content confirmed that male relaxin provokes the production of CXCL10 and CSF3 in Rln+/+ females. Differences were also seen comparing Rln−/− and Rln+/+ females mated with Rln−/− males for CXCL1, CSF3, and CCL5, implying that endogenous relaxin in females might prime the uterus to respond appropriately to seminal fluid at coitus. Finally, pan-leukocyte CD45 mRNA was increased in wild-type matings compared to other combinations, implying that male and female relaxin may trigger leukocyte expansion in the uterus. We conclude that male and/or female relaxin may be important in activating the uterine cytokine/chemokine network required to initiate maternal immune adaptation to pregnancy.
Lateral Skull Base Attenuation in Patients with Anterior Cranial Fossa Spontaneous Cerebrospinal Fluid Leaks

Objective (1) Determine if patients with anterior fossa spontaneous cerebrospinal fluid (SCSF) leaks demonstrate lateral skull base bone attenuation. (2) Examine the relation between body mass index (BMI; kg/m2) and skull base thickness. Study Design Retrospective cohort study. Setting Tertiary care hospital. Subjects and Methods Retrospective review from 2004 to 2013 identified 96 patients with anterior cranial fossa SCSF leaks. A control group was identified from a consecutive series of clinic patients. Controls had no history of chronic sinonasal or temporal bone pathology and were divided according to BMI into nonobese (<30 kg/m2) and obese (≥30 kg/m2) groups. Composite skull base thickness was calculated for lateral and anterior subsites through predefined points according to previously published protocols. Results Thirty-two patients were included in each group. Composite lateral skull base thickness was less in patients with SCSF leaks(0.7 ± 0.1 mm) when compared with nonobese controls (0.8 ± 0.1 mm, P = .004); no differences were apparent when SCSF leaks were compared with obese controls (0.7 ± 0.1 mm, P = .99). A direct relation was observed between anterior skull base and lateral skull base thickness (r = 0.48, P < .0001). An inverse correlation was noted between BMI and lateral skull base (r =−0.40, P < .0001). Conclusions Patients with anterior fossa SCSF leaks demonstrate attenuation of the lateral skull base. A significant correlation between anterior skull base thickness and lateral skull base thickness was observed. BMI was inversely related to lateral skull base thickness. Taken together, SCSF leaks are associated with obesity, which appears to be partly responsible for diffuse skull base erosion observed in patients with this condition.
Interaction of periplakin and envoplakin with intermediate filaments

Periplakin is a component of desmosomes and the epidermal cornified envelope. Its N-terminal domain interacts with the plasma membrane; it heterodimerises with envoplakin via its rod domain; and its C-terminus interacts with intermediate filaments. Periplakin has the shortest C-terminus of the plakin family, comprising only the linker domain found in all conventional plakins. By transient transfection of COS7 cells and primary human epidermal keratinocytes with deletion mutants of the periplakin C-terminus we mapped sequences required for intermediate filament interaction to two regions of the linker motif that are most highly conserved amongst the plakins. The results were confirmed by overlay assays of the binding of in vitro translated periplakin constructs to keratins and vimentin. We found that envoplakin and periplakin could still associate with each other when parts of their rod domains were deleted and, surprisingly, that removal of the entire rod domain did not completely inhibit their interaction. Co-transfection of constructs containing the C-termini of envoplakin and periplakin suggested that the periplakin C-terminus may stabilise the interaction of the envoplakin C-terminus with intermediate filaments. We conclude that the periplakin C-terminus plays an important role in linking periplakin and envoplakin to intermediate filaments.
Human Cytomegalovirus-Specific CD4+-T-Cell Cytokine Response Induces Fractalkine in Endothelial Cells

ABSTRACT Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection has been linked to inflammation-related disease processes in the human host, including vascular diseases and chronic transplant rejection. The mechanisms through which CMV affects the pathogenesis of these diseases are for the most part unknown. To study the contributing role of the host immune response to CMV in these chronic inflammatory processes, we examined endothelial cell interactions with peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). Endothelial cultures were monitored for levels of fractalkine induction as a marker for initiating the host inflammatory response. Our results demonstrate that in the presence of CMV antigen PBMC from normal healthy CMV-seropositive donors produce soluble factors that induce fractalkine in endothelial cells. This was not observed in parallel assays with PBMC from seronegative donors. Examination of subset populations within the PBMC further revealed that CMV antigen-stimulated CD4+ T cells were the source of the factors, gamma interferon and tumor necrosis factor alpha, driving fractalkine induction. Direct contact between CD4+ cells and the endothelial monolayers is required for this fractalkine induction, where the endothelial cells appear to provide antigen presentation functions. These findings indicate that CMV may represent one member of a class of persistent pathogens where the antigen-specific T-cell response can result in the induction of fractalkine, leading to chronic inflammation and endothelial cell injury.
Brainstem neuronal populations activated in the model of ovalbumine induced allergic rhinitis in guinea pigs — the c-Fos study

Central neuronal interactions may contribute to up regulation of cough in subjects with rhinitis. Previously we have shown that noxious stimulation of the nose induces considerable Fos-like immunoreactivity (FLI) in the solitary nuclei and the region of ventral respiratory group and these neurons are involved in the cough pattern generator. Recent study addressed the question, which additional groups are activated in model of trigeminal hyperresponsiveness and whether some of them might also cooperate with cough pattern gating areas. 24 guinea pigs were sensitized with intraperitoneal ovalbumin (OVA) and later were once weekly challenged with intranasal OVA to develop the neural hyperresponsiveness, 12 animals were left unsensitized. The nasal symptom score was evaluated after each challenge. Finally, animals were anaesthetized and the latest challenges with nasal OVA, capsaicin and saline were applied to induce c-Fos expression in designed groups. Following the survival time animals were deeply anaesthetized, exsanguinated, and transcardially perfused with heparinised saline (200 ml) and paraformaldehyde fixation (200 ml). The brainstems were removed, postfixed, and brainstem slices were processed immunohistochemically (c-Fos, Calbiochem, SR). FLI at the level of obex and areas relative to the obex was analyzed. In all groups (excluding the saline group) the FLI was detected bilaterally in the trigeminal complex, nuclei of solitary tract, lateral reticular and nucleus ambiguus. There were no differences between the OVA and capsaicin groups. Count of Fos-positive neurons within the trigeminal complex does not correlate with the magnitude of clinical symptoms, which gradually increased each week in OVA induced model of hyperresponsiveness. Whereas trigeminal hyperresponsiveness contributes to the up-regulation of cough in animal models, it does not induce any additional neuronal FLI at the middle medulla than observed in naive animals.