Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effects of telomerase inhibitor on epigenetic chromatin modification enzymes in malignancies

Telomerase has a critical role in cell proliferation, tumor maintaining, and therapy resistance, which act by modifying many signaling pathways. 2‐[(E)‐3‐Naphtalen‐2‐yl‐but‐2‐enoylamino]‐benzoic acid (BIBR1532) is one of the most studied telomerase inhibitors, and it targets telomerase components TERC and TERT. In this novel study, we aimed to investigate the epigenetic effects of BIBR1532 on both hematologic malignancies and solid tumors. K‐562 human chronic myeloid leukemia cell line and U87MG glioblastoma cell line were compared with control groups without BIBR1532 treatment. Cytotoxic effects of BIBR1532 were determined by using WST‐1 assay. Apoptotic effects of BIBR1532 were detected by using annexin V method. To assess expression changes in the human epigenetic chromatin modification enzyme genes, total RNA was isolated from K‐562 and U87MG cells treated with BIBR1532 and untreated control cells. BIBR1532 induced 2.41‐fold apoptotic cell death in U87MG cell lines compared with control groups. Apoptosis was slightly induced in K‐562 cells with BIBR1532 treatment compared with control cells. We observed that BIBR1532 also regulates similar genes in both cell lines, and it is useful on epigenetic mechanisms. As a result, telomerase inhibitor BIBR1532 has a significant effect on both hematological malignancies and solid tumors.
[Epidemiological Survey on Human Intestinal Protozoa in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region in 2015].

Objective An epidemiological survey was made on human intestinal protozoa in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (Xinjiang) to evaluate recent control achievements and provide basis for making specific control strategies. Methods Regions in Xinjiang were categorized by types of ecological system and geographical characteristics into five ecological areas（types I-V） according to the National Ecological Function Stratification issued by the Ministry of Environment Protection and Chinese Academy of Science and Technology. Stratification sampling was made in each ecological area. Feces from human of all ages were collected for morphological identification of protozoan species using the Iodine Liquid Direct Smear Method. Results In the five ecological areas, 26 886 people from 132 survey sites in 39 counties (cities) were examined, with an examination rate of 81.47% （26 886/33 000）. The infection rate was 0.32%（85/26 886）. Four species of intestinal protozoa were detected, i.e., Entamoeba histolytica, Giardia lamblia, Blastocystis hominis, and Entamoeba coli, with an infection rate of 0.22% （60/26 886）, 0.03% （9/26 886）, 0.01% （2/26 886） and 0.61% （17/26 886）, respectively. Of the five areas, the type IV area had the highest infection rate of 0.75%（28/3 758）（P<0.05）. Besides, the infection rate was higher in males （0.24%, 33/13 623） than that in females （0.39%, 52/13 263） （P<0.05）, higher in age ranges of 21-30（1.40%, 16/3 959） and 31-40 years（0.46%, 22/4 799） than other age groups （P>0.05）, higher in housewives （0.48%, 2/418） than those with other occupations, higher in the Hui group （0.61%, 15/2 445） than that in other ethnic groups, as well as highest in populations with a primary education level （0.37%, 35/9 375） and lowest in those with a college level or above（0.20%, 8/3 945）. Conclusion The human intestinal protozoa infection was at a low level in Xinjiang in 2015.
Antidepressants for Depression, Apathy, and Gait Instability in Parkinson's Disease: A Multicenter Randomized Study

Objective Depression, apathy, and gait instability are cardinal symptoms in patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD). Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) are used for treating the psychiatric symptoms of PD. This is the first prospective randomized study to compare the efficacy of an SNRI (duloxetine) with SSRIs (paroxetine, escitalopram) in improving depressive symptoms and apathy (primary) and freezing of gait (FOG; secondary) in patients with PD. Methods In this prospective, multicenter, open-label, randomized study, Japanese PD patients with a Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology-Japanese (QIDS-J) score ≥6 were randomly assigned to receive an SSRI (27 enrolled, 25 analyzed) or duloxetine (28 enrolled, 27 analyzed) and were assessed at 6 and 10 weeks. Results The mean change (SD) in the QIDS J [SSRI -2.4 (3.6), p=0.015; SNRI -2.3 (3.9), p=0.029] and FOG-Questionnaire [SSRI -2.9 (4.2), p=0.012; SNRI -3.4 (4.7), p=0.010] scores (from baseline) at 10 weeks was statistically significant, while the mean change in the Apathy Scale scores was not [SSRI -2.7 (5.4), p=0.054; SNRI -1.5 (3.7), p=0.109]. No significant differences were observed between the SSRI and SNRI groups. The treatments were well-tolerated; however, gastrointestinal events were more common with SSRIs. Two SNRI-treated patients reported an exacerbation of tremor. Conclusion SSRIs and SNRIs improve the depressive symptoms and FOG in PD patients with mild to severe depressive symptoms. However, their effectiveness in treating apathy remains to be elucidated.
There Is No "Obstetrical Dilemma": Towards a Braver Medicine with Fewer Childbirth Interventions

abstract:Humans give birth to big-brained babies through a bony birth canal that metamorphosed during the evolution of bipedalism; they have a tighter fit at birth between baby and bony birth canal than do our closest relatives the chimpanzees; and they are incapable of grasping onto caregivers as early as infant chimpanzees develop the skill. Since the mid-20th century, these observations and more have been linked together into the "obstetrical dilemma" (OD): human babies are helpless because they are born early to escape before they outgrow the mother's pelvis, the expansion of which is prevented by natural selection for bipedalism. The OD continues to be a popular idea, often expressed as incontrovertible fact, but it no longer deserves its popularity. There are better explanations for gestation length, childbirth difficulty, and the developmental biology of newborns than mainly or only because of natural selection's constraints on women's hips. And humans are not born early either, as is widely assumed. This all-too-powerful human evolutionary narrative deserves our skeptical consideration. Bias from OD thinking is likely amplifying the perceived risk of cephalopelvic and fetopelvic disproportion during labor—contributing, even if slightly, to medicine's underestimation of women's bodies and over-implementation of childbirth interventions.
Trends and Correlates of High-Risk Alcohol Consumption and Types of Alcoholic Beverages in Middle-Aged Korean Adults: Results From the HEXA-G Study

Background We aimed to report the prevalence and correlates of high-risk alcohol consumption and types of alcoholic beverages. Methods The baseline data of the Health Examinees-Gem (HEXA-G) study participants, including 43,927 men and 85,897 women enrolled from 2005 through 2013, were used for analysis. Joinpoint regression was performed to estimate trends in the age-standardized prevalence of alcohol consumption. Associations of demographic and behavioral factors, perceived health-related effects, social relationships, and the diagnostic history of diseases with alcohol consumption were assessed using multinomial logistic regression. Results The prevalence of alcohol consumption remained higher in men during the study period and increased in women. The amount of alcohol consumed has increased in women, especially that from beer and makgeolli, a traditional Korean fermented rice wine. Older participants were less likely to be high-risk drinkers (men and women who drink more than 40 or 20 g/day of alcohol, respectively) and drink Soju, a distilled liquor, and beer, and more likely to drink makgeolli. Educational level was negatively associated with high-risk drinking. However, it was positively associated with the consumption of strong spirits and wine. Smoking was associated with high-risk drinking and the consumption of soju and strong spirits. Engaging in regular exercise and having stress were associated with drinking all types of beverages except for soju. Conclusions Sex-specific trends in alcohol consumption were influenced by demographic, behavioral, and perceived health-related factors. The findings will help improve the understanding of alcohol-related problems and provide evidence for establishing country-specific policies and campaigns in Korea.
[Polymorphism Analysis of Plasmodium falciparum K13 Gene Kelch Domain Associated with Resistance to Artemisinin in Yunnan Province].

Objective To investigate the polymorphism of Plasmodium falciparum K13 gene kelch domain region and provide basis for understanding the artemisinin resistance of falciparum malaria in Yunnan Province. Methods The filter blood samples and relative information of falciparum malaria cases were collected in 16 prefectures of Yunnan Province from January 2013 to December 2015. The source of infection was determined by epidemiological investigation and the place of case discovery was confirmed according to the China Information System for Disease Control and Prevention Epidemic Registration. The K13 gene kelch domain region was amplified by nested PCR, sequenced, and blasted against the reference strain 3D7（PF3D7_1343700）. The K13 gene kelch domain region polymorphism was analyzed with Mega 5.04. The variable sites and genetic distance between sequences were analyzed. The constituent ratio of amino acid mutation sites was calculated and analyzed with χ2 test. Results A total of 202 blood samples were collected from 2013 to 2015, comprising 190 from imported cases, 12 from local cases in Yunnan Province. The constitutent ratio of infection cases were 30.7% （62/202）, 34.2% （69/202） and 35.1% （71/202） respectively, increased year by year. The K13 gene kelch domain was successfully amplified from 192 samples and 190 were successfully sequenced, detecting missense mutation of K13 gene in 66 samples, the mutation rate was 34.7% （66/190）. The detection rate of K13 gene mutation was 40.9% （27/66）, 37.9% （25/66） and 21.2% （14/66） respectively, decreased year by year. In this study, ten types of mutations were detected, which were F446I, A578S, N458Y, P574L, A676D, G449A, C469Y, V494I, E556D and S16L. The highest mutation rate occurred in F446I which was 72.7% （48/66）. The proportion of F446I mutation type was 58.3% （28/48） in an age-range of 18-56 years, 70.8% （34/48） in farmers, and 91.7% （44/48） in patients with infection source in Southeast Asia, all significantly higher than that of other groups with the same characteristics （41.7%, 20/48; 29.2%, 14/48; and 8.3%, 4/48, respectively）（χ2=4.633, 5.556 and 5.152, both P＜0.05）. There was a 248 bp homologous sequence in the 190 sequences, composed of 235 conservative sites （94.8%）, 13 variable sites （5.2%）, 5 parsim-info sites （2.0%）, and 8 singleton sites （3.2%）. The genetic distance among the 190 sequences ranged 0.000-0.036, with an average of 0.001±0.001. Conclusion There are 10 types of mutations in the K13 kelch domain in Yunnan Province, the predominant mutation type was F446I.
Psychological Stress, Family Environment, and Constipation in Japanese Children: The Toyama Birth Cohort Study

Background Childhood constipation is prevalent and negatively affects quality of life. Although psychological stress and family environment have been identified as risk factors, few epidemiological studies have examined this issue. We aimed to clarify associations of psychological stress and family environment with childhood constipation in a large-scale epidemiological study. Methods In total, 7,998 children aged 9–10 years from the Toyama Birth Cohort Study completed questionnaires. Constipation was defined as bowel movements “less frequently than once every 2 days”. Children’s lifestyles, including food frequency, psychological stress, family environment, frequency of irritability, unwillingness to attend school, and frequency of interaction with their parents, were analyzed via multivariate logistic regression analysis. Parental employment status and presence at dinner were also examined. Results In total, 312 children (3.9%) experienced constipation. Girls were more likely to experience constipation than boys (5.1% vs 2.8%). In addition, constipation was significantly associated with girl (odds ratio [OR] 1.97; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.55–2.51), physical inactivity (OR 1.41; 95% CI, 1.01–1.95), overweight (OR 0.58; 95% CI, 0.40–0.85), infrequent fruit (OR 1.94; 95% CI, 1.42–2.66) and vegetable (OR 1.46; 95% CI, 1.03–2.05) consumption, frequent irritability (OR 1.76; 95% CI, 1.24–2.50), unwillingness to attend school (OR 1.66; 95% CI, 1.13–2.43), and infrequent interaction with parents (OR 1.48; 95% CI, 1.06–2.07). Children whose parents were absent at dinner were more likely to experience constipation compared to those whose parents were present at dinner; however, this differences were not statistically significant. Conclusion Psychological stress and infrequent interaction with parents were as strongly associated with childhood constipation as conventional risk factors. Psychological stress and family environment should be more prioritized in caring childhood constipation.
Ouabain Does Not Induce Selective Spiral Ganglion Cell Degeneration in Guinea Pigs

Round window membrane (RWM) application of ouabain is known to selectively destroy type I spiral ganglion cells (SGCs) in cochleas of several rodent species, while leaving hair cells intact. This protocol has been used in rats and Mongolian gerbils, but observations in the guinea pig are conflicting. This is why we reinvestigated the effect of ouabain on the guinea pig cochlea. Ouabain solutions of different concentrations were placed, in a piece of gelfoam, upon the RWM of the right cochleas. Auditory function was assessed using acoustically evoked auditory brainstem responses (aABR). Finally, cochleas were fixed and processed for histological examination. Due to variability within treatment groups, histological data was pooled and three categories based upon general histological observations were defined: cochleas without outer hair cell (OHC) and SGC loss (Category 1), cochleas with OHC loss only (Category 2), and cochleas with OHC and SGC loss (Category 3). Animals treated with 1 mM or 10 mM ouabain showed shifts in hearing thresholds, corresponding with varying histological changes in their cochleas. Most cochleas exhibited complete outer hair cell loss in the basal and middle turns, while some had no changes, together with either moderate or near-complete loss of SGCs. Neither loss of inner hair cells nor histological changes of the stria vascularis were observed in any of the animals. Cochleas in Category 1 had normal aABRs and morphology. On average, in Category 2 OHC loss was 46.0±5.7%, SGC loss was below threshold, ABR threshold shift was 44.9±2.7 dB, and ABR wave II amplitude was decreased by 17.1±3.8 dB. In Category 3 OHC loss was 68.3±6.9%, SGC loss was 49.4±4.3%, ABR threshold shift was 39.0±2.4 dB, and ABR amplitude was decreased by 15.8±1.6 dB. Our results show that ouabain does not solely destroy type I SGCs in the guinea pig cochlea.
Cardioprotective Effects of High-Density Lipoprotein Beyond its Anti-Atherogenic Action

High-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) has been identified as a powerful independent negative predictor of cardiovascular disease. The beneficial effect of HDL is largely attributable to its key role in reverse cholesterol transport, whereby excess cholesterol in the peripheral tissues is transported to the liver, reducing the atherosclerotic burden. However, mounting evidence indicates that HDL also has pleiotropic properties, such as anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative, and vasodilatory properties, which may contribute in reducing the incidence of heart failure. Actually, previous data from clinical and experimental studies have suggested that HDL exerts cardioprotective effects irrespective of the presence/absence of coronary artery disease. This review summarizes the currently available evidence regarding beneficial effects of HDL on the heart beyond its anti-atherogenic property. Understanding the mechanisms of cardiac protection by HDL will provide new insight into the underlying mechanism and therapeutic strategy for heart failure.
Dynamic Analysis of Time-Varying Correlations and Cointegration Relationship between Australia and Frontier Equity Markets

This paper aims to demonstrate to what extent Australian stock market is correlated with those of 18 frontier markets of five different regions. We also investigate the long-run relationship between these markets. Empirical results of AGDCC GARCH model reveal that the correlations of Australian stock market with those of frontier markets are changing over time. Results show that Australia has weak correlations with all the frontier markets that are considered. Further, our analysis confirms that the effect of the GFC on stock markets' interdependence is limited to only few markets. The cointegration test results display that there is no evidence of long-run relationship between Australia and frontier markets. Empirical findings of our study suggest that Australian stock market is weakly correlated with those of frontier markets. Therefore, our study findings suggest that the Australian investors can diversify their portfolios into these frontier markets for gaining higher risk-adjusted returns.
Physicochemical Properties of C-Type Starch from Root Tuber of Apios fortunei in Comparison with Maize, Potato, and Pea Starches

The dry root tuber of Apios fortunei contained about 75% starch, indicating that it is an important starch resource. Starch displayed spherical, polygonal, and ellipsoidal granules with central hila. Granule sizes ranged from 3 to 30 μm with a 9.6 μm volume-weighted mean diameter. The starch had 35% apparent amylose content and exhibited CA-type crystalline structure with 25.9% relative crystallinity. The short-range ordered degree in the granule external region was approximately 0.65, and the lamellar thickness was approximately 9.6 nm. The swelling power and water solubility began to increase from 70 °C and reached 28.7 g/g and 10.8% at 95 °C. Starch had typical bimodal thermal curve in water with gelatinization temperatures from 61.8 to 83.9 °C. The 7% (w/w) starch-water slurry had peak, hot, breakdown, final, and setback viscosities of 1689, 1420, 269, 2103, and 683 mPa s, respectively. Rapidly digestible starch, slowly digestible starch, and resistant starch were 6.04%, 10.96%, and 83.00% in native starch; 83.16%, 15.23%, and 1.61% in gelatinized starch; and 78.13%, 17.88%, and 3.99% in retrograded starch, respectively. The above physicochemical properties of A. fortunei starch were compared with those of maize A-type starch, potato B-type starch, and pea C-type starch. The hierarchical cluster analysis based on starch structural and functional property parameters showed that A. fortunei and pea starches had similar physicochemical properties and were more related to maize starch than potato starch.
On some characterizations of strong power graphs of finite groups

Abstract Let G be a finite group of order n. The strong power graph Ps(G) of G is the undirected graph whose vertices are the elements of G such that two distinct vertices a and b are adjacent if am1=bm2 for some positive integers m1, m2 < n. In this article we classify all groups G for which Ps(G) is a line graph. Spectrum and permanent of the Laplacian matrix of the strong power graph Ps(G) are found for any finite group G.
Hot Gas and AGN Feedback in Galaxies and Nearby Groups

Abstract Massive galaxies harbor a supermassive black hole at their centers. At high redshifts, these galaxies experienced a very active quasar phase, when, as their black holes grew by accretion, they produced enormous amounts of energy. At the present epoch, these black holes still undergo occasional outbursts, although the mode of their energy release is primarily mechanical rather than radiative. The energy from these outbursts can reheat the cooling gas in the galaxy cores and maintain the red and dead nature of the early-type galaxies. These outbursts also can have dramatic effects on the galaxy-scale hot coronae found in the more massive galaxies. We describe research in three areas related to the hot gas around galaxies and their supermassive black holes. First we present examples of galaxies with AGN outbursts that have been studied in detail. Second, we show that X-ray emitting low-luminosity AGN are present in 80% of the galaxies studied. Third, we discuss the first examples of extensive hot gas and dark matter halos in optically faint galaxies.
An Appraisal-Driven Componential Approach to the Emotional Brain

This article suggests that methodological and conceptual advancements in affective sciences militate in favor of adopting an appraisal-driven componential approach to further investigate the emotional brain. Here we propose to operationalize this approach by distinguishing five functional networks of the emotional brain: (a) the elicitation network, (b) the expression network, (c) the autonomic reaction network, (d) the action tendency network, and (e) the feeling network, and discuss these networks in the context of the affective neuroscience literature. We also propose that further investigating the “appraising brain” is the royal road to better understand the elicitation network, and may be key to revealing the neural causal mechanisms underlying the emotion process as a whole.
RIM: Robust Intersection Management for Connected Autonomous Vehicles

Utilizing intelligent transportation infrastructures can significantly improve the throughput of intersections of Connected Autonomous Vehicles (CAV), where an Intersection Manager (IM) assigns a target velocity to incoming CAVs in order to achieve a high throughput. Since the IM calculates the assigned velocity for a CAV based on the model of the CAV, it's vulnerable to model mismatches and possible external disturbances. As a result, IM must consider a large safety buffer around all CAVs to ensure a safe scheduling, which greatly degrades the throughput. In addition, IM has to assign a relatively lower speed to CAVs that intend to make a turn at the intersection to avoid rollover. This issue reduces the throughput of the intersection even more. In this paper, we propose a space and time-aware technique to manage intersections of CAVs that is robust against external disturbances and model mismatches. In our method, RIM, IM is responsible for assigning a safe Time of Arrival (TOA) and Velocity of Arrival (VOA) to an approaching CAV such that trajectories of CAVs before and inside the intersection does not conflict. Accordingly, CAVs are responsible for determining and tracking an optimal trajectory to reach the intersection at the assigned TOA while driving at VOA. Since CAVs track a position trajectory, the effect of bounded model mismatch and external disturbances can be compensated. In addition, CAVs that intend to make a turn at the intersection do not need to drive at a slow velocity before entering the intersection. Results from conducting experiments on a 1/10 scale intersection of CAVs show that RIM can reduce the position error at the expected TOA by 18X on average in presence of up to 10% model mismatch and an external disturbance with an amplitude of 5% of max range. In total, our technique can achieve 2.7X better throughput on average compared to velocity assignment techniques.