Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Regulation of cell cycle-specific gene expression in fission yeast by the Cdc14p-like phosphatase Clp1p

Regulated gene expression makes an important contribution to cell cycle control mechanisms. In fission yeast, a group of genes is coordinately expressed during a late stage of the cell cycle (M phase and cytokinesis) that is controlled by common cis-acting promoter motifs named pombe cell cycle boxes (PCBs), which are bound by a trans-acting transcription factor complex, PCB binding factor (PBF). PBF contains at least three transcription factors, a MADS box protein Mbx1p and two forkhead transcription factors, Sep1p and Fkh2p. Here we show that the fission yeast Cdc14p-like phosphatase Clp1p (Flp1p) controls M–G1 specific gene expression through PBF. Clp1p binds in vivo both to Mbx1p, a MADS box-like transcription factor, and to the promoters of genes transcribed at this cell cycle time. Because Clp1p dephosphorylates Mbx1p in vitro, and is required for Mbx1p cell cycle-specific dephosphorylation in vivo, our observations suggest that Clp1p controls cell cycle-specific gene expression through binding to and dephosphorylating Mbx1p.
HPLC-PDA-MS/MS Characterization of Bioactive Secondary Metabolites from Turraea fischeri Bark Extract and Its Antioxidant and Hepatoprotective Activities In Vivo

Turraea fischeri is an East African traditional herb, which is widely used in traditional medicine. In this study, we profiled the secondary metabolites in the methanol extract of T. fischeri bark using HPLC-PDA-ESI-MS/MS, and 20 compounds were tentatively identified. Several isomers of the flavonolignan cinchonain-I and bis-dihydroxyphenylpropanoid-substituted catechin hexosides dominated the extract. Robust in vitro and in vivo antioxidant properties were observed in 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging assay (DPPH) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay, and in the model organism Caenorhabditis elegans. Additionally, the extract exhibited promising hepatoprotective activities in D-galactosamine (D-GaIN) treated rats. A significant reduction in the elevated levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), total bilirubin, gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT), and malondialdehyde (MDA) and increase of glutathione (GSH) was observed in rats treated with the bark extract in addition to D-galactosamine when compared with rats treated with D-galactosamine alone. In conclusion, T. fischeri is apromising candidate for health-promoting and for pharmaceutical applications.
Glomerular filtration rate: utility for assessing long-term renal allograft outcomes in kidney allograft recipients.

Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) is the parameter currently used in renal transplantation to monitor renal function and to predict long-term survival of the graft. Due to practical difficulties in measuring GFR through inulin or creatinine clearance, formulas have been designed to estimate GFR from serum creatinine and indirect indices of creatinine production from muscles, i.e., gender, age and body weight. These formulas have been used to monitor renal graft function and to predict graft outcome. Present evidence indicates that estimated GFR (eGFR) can be a relatively imprecise instrument to measure renal function, but remains useful for monitoring graft function and predicting graft outcome. Despite certain limitations, eGFR has provided invaluable information on the determinants of renal graft outcome, especially on the effects of different immunosuppressive regimens. A number of trials examining new immunosuppressive regimens (including calcineurin inhibitor minimization and novel therapeutics) have employed eGFR as an endpoint for assessing clinical benefit. In this capacity, eGFR assessment has provided important data for comparing regimens. This paper reviews the usefulness of eGFR for predicting renal transplant outcomes.
Monoamine‐activated α2‐macroglobulin inhibits choline acetyltransferase of embryonic basal forebrain neurons and reversal of the inhibition by NGF and BDNF but not NT‐3

Monoamine‐activated α2‐macroglobulin (α2M) has recently been shown to inhibit the growth and survival of cholinergic neurons of the basal forebrain (Liebl and Koo: J Neurosci Res 35:170–182, 1993). The mechanism of this inhibitory effect is believed to involve the regulation of growth factor activities by α2M. The objectives of this study are to determine whether monoamine‐activated α2M can inhibit choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) activity of cholinergic basal forebrain neurons, and whether some common neurotrophins in the CNS can reverse the inhibition. This study demonstrates that both methylamine‐activated α2M (MA‐α2M) and serotonin‐activated α2M (5HT‐α2M) can dose‐dependently suppress the expression of normal basal levels of ChAT activity in embryonic rat basal forebrain cells in vitro, while normal α2M has little or no effect. As little as 0.35 μM monoamine‐activated α2M can suppress the ChAT activity, whereas either nerve growth factor (NGF) or brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), but not neurotrophin‐3 (NT‐3), stimulates ChAT expression of these cells. The addition of either NGF or BDNF to the α2M‐suppressed cells can increase ChAT activity back to its normal levels, while NT‐3 can not. These results demonstrate that (1) monoamine‐activated α2M is a potent non‐cytotoxic inhibitor of the ChAT activity in cholinergic basal forebrain neurons, and (2) NGF and BDNF are capable of not only stimulating the ChAT activity but can also specifically reverse the α2M inhibition. The potential physiological role of monoamine‐activated α2M and neurotrophins in the degeneration and regeneration of cholinergic neurons is discussed. In addition, we propose that α2M may serve as an important tool for evaluating the roles of growth factors in the nervous system. © 1994 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Modelling TIMSS data in an European comparative perspective: exploring influencing factors on achievement in mathematics grade 8

In international comparative studies like TIMSS data analysis is aimed at differences and similarities among education systems (countries). In this article the outcomes are presented of explorative path analysis on data collected with grade 8 students and classrooms in eight Western and two Central European education systems. For the 10 education systems the resulting general path model explains 19% or less of the variance in achievement in mathematics. In many systems home educational background and students’ attitude towards mathematics have a positive relation with achievement in mathematics, out-of-school activities a negative. Due to the psychometric quality of scales and non-availability of measures of important factors at classroom level (e.g., time on task and teacher’s expectation), no significant results were found of factors that can be manipulated by policy makers.
The neuroprotection of Rattin against amyloid β peptide in spatial memory and synaptic plasticity of rats

Rattin, a specific derivative of humanin in rats, shares the ability with HN to protect neurons against amyloid β (Aβ) peptide‐induced cellular toxicity. However, it is still unclear whether Rattin can protect against Aβ‐induced deficits in cognition and synaptic plasticity in rats. In the present study, we observed the effects of Rattin and Aβ31–35 on the spatial reference memory and in vivo hippocampal Long‐term potentiation of rats by using Morris water maze test and hippocampal field potential recording. Furthermore, the probable molecular mechanism underlying the neuroprotective roles of Rattin was investigated. We showed that intra‐hippocampal injection of Rattin effectively prevented the Aβ31–35‐induced spatial memory deficits and hippocampal LTP suppression in rats; the Aβ31–35‐induced activation of Caspase‐3 and inhibition of STAT3 in the hippocampus were also prevented by Rattin treatment. These findings indicate that Rattin treatment can protect spatial memory and synaptic plasticity of rats against Aβ31–35‐induced impairments, and the underlying protective mechanism of Rattin may be involved in STAT3 and Caspases‐3 pathways. Therefore, application of Rattin or activation of its signaling pathways in the brain might be beneficial to the prevention of Aβ‐related cognitive deficits. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Embryonic development of the estuarine crab Neosarmatium indicum (Crustacea: Brachyura: Sesarmidae) from the mangroves of the Okinawa Island, Japan

The complete embryonic development of the mangrove sesarmid crab Neosarmatium indicum (A. Milne Edwards, 1868) was described based on internal and external morphological changes in live fertilized eggs reared in the laboratory. Several pairs of N. indicum were collected from the Nuha River mangrove swamp of the southern Okinawa Island, Japan, which is consisted mainly with the mangrove Kandelia candel , and densely populated by the genus Perisesarma and Neosarmatium indicum . The fertilized eggs were macrolecithal, centrolecithal and spherical in shape, filled with uniform dark olive colour, without evidence of any development. The diameter of fertilized egg was 0.36 mm, which increased to 0.47 mm before hatching. Embryo development from fertilized eggs to hatching (first zoea stage) lasted average of 16 days at 25°C and salinity at 80‰. Sixteen stages of embryonic development were categorized by following continuous observation using an optical DIC microscope equipped with digital camera, video camera and printer. After 24 hours of incubation, fertilized eggs became 32-celled stage of development. Before hatching, many chromatophores (mostly black) were evident in the abdominal segments and the telson of embryos. At the end of 16 days incubation, the zoea larvae were successfully hatched out, which were reared in the laboratory conditions for further development. DOI: http://dx.doi. org/10.3329/ujzru.v31i0. 15400 Univ. j. zool. Rajshahi Univ. Vol. 31, 2012 pp. 49-54
Altered prefrontal lobe oxygenation in bipolar disorder: a study by near-infrared spectroscopy

Background Previous studies have reported prefrontal cortex (PFC) pathophysiology in bipolar disorder. Method We examined the hemodynamics of the PFC during resting and cognitive tasks in 29 patients with bipolar disorder and 27 healthy controls, matched for age, verbal abilities and education. The cognitive test battery consisted of letter and category fluency (LF and CF), Sets A and B of the Raven's Colored Progressive Matrices (RCPM-A and RCPM-B) and the letter cancellation test (LCT). The tissue oxygenation index (TOI), the ratio of oxygenated hemoglobin (HbO2) concentration to total hemoglobin concentration, was measured in the bilateral PFC by spatially resolved near-infrared spectroscopy. Changes in HbO2 concentration were also measured. Results The bipolar group showed slight but significant impairment in performance for the non-verbal tasks (RCPM-A, RCPM-B and LCT), with no significant between-group differences for the two verbal tasks (LF and CF). A group×task×hemisphere analysis of variance (ANOVA) on the TOI revealed an abnormal pattern of prefrontal oxygenation across different types of cognitive processing in the bipolar group. Post hoc analyses following a group×task×hemisphere ANOVA on HbO2 concentration revealed that the bipolar group showed a greater increase in HbO2 concentration in the LCT and in RCPM-B, relative to controls. Conclusions Both indices of cortical activation (TOI and HbO2 concentration) indicated a discrepancy in the PFC function between verbal versus non-verbal processing, indicating task-specific abnormalities in the hemodynamic control of the PFC in bipolar disorder.
The differential influence of decades and units on multidigit number comparison

What role do the magnitudes of the constituent digits play in three-digit number comparison (e.g., choosing the larger one of two numbers)? The present study addressed this question by examining compatibility effects between hundred and decade digits and between hundred and unit digits. For example, the number pair 372–845 is hundred–decade incompatible because the larger number contains the smaller decade digit, but hundred–unit compatible because the larger number contains the larger unit digit. We obtained significant effects of hundred–decade and hundred–unit compatibility on number comparison times. However, the effect of hundred–unit compatibility was largely restricted to the hundred–decade-compatible condition. These results suggest that place-value information, through decomposition, is automatically taken into account when multidigit numbers have to be compared. Implications of our findings for models of number processing are discussed.
Receptor‐Mediated Activation of G Proteins Is Increased in Postmortem Brains of Bipolar Affective Disorder Subjects

Abstract: Guanine nucleotide binding proteins (G proteins) have been implicated in the pathophysiology of bipolar affective disorder. In the present investigation receptor‐mediated G protein activation and changes in G protein trimeric state were examined in frontal cortical membranes obtained from postmortem brains of bipolar affective disorder subjects and from age‐, sex‐, and postmortem interval‐matched controls. Stimulation of cortical membranes with serotonin, isoproterenol, or carbachol increased guanosine 5′‐O‐(3‐[35S]thiophosphate) ([35S]GTPγS) binding to specific Gα proteins in a receptor‐selective manner. The abilities of these receptor agonists to stimulate the binding of [35S]GTPγS to the Gα proteins was enhanced in membranes from bipolar brains. Immunoblot analyses showed increases in the levels of membrane 45‐ and 52‐kDa Gαs proteins but no changes in the amounts of Gαi, Gαo, Gαz, Gαq/11, or Gβ proteins in membrane or cytosol fractions of bipolar brain homogenates. Pertussis toxin (PTX)‐activated ADP‐ribosylations of Gαi and Gαo were enhanced by ∼80% in membranes from bipolar compared with control brains, suggesting an increase in the levels of the trimeric state of these G proteins in bipolar disorder. Serotonin‐induced, magnesium‐dependent reduction in PTX‐mediated ADP‐ribosylation of Gαi/Gαo in cortical membranes from bipolar brains was greater than that observed in controls, providing further evidence for enhanced receptor‐G protein coupling in bipolar brain membranes. In addition, the amounts of Gβ proteins that coimmunoprecipitated with the Gα proteins were also elevated in bipolar brains. The data show that in bipolar brain membrane there is enhanced receptor‐G protein coupling and an increase in the trimeric state of the G proteins. These changes may contribute to produce exaggerated transmembrane signaling and to the alterations in affect that characterize bipolar affective disorder.
Cocaine, ethanol, and genotype effects on human midbrain serotonin transporter binding sites and mRNA levels.

OBJECTIVE Earlier platelet and postmortem brain studies have found alterations in serotonin transporter function in ethanol-abusing human subjects. The present investigation tested the hypothesis that brain serotonin transporter function is altered in chronic users of ethanol and cocaine, which might be related to a common serotonin transporter promoter polymorphism. METHOD Serotonin transporter binding sites, serotonin transporter mRNA levels, and serotonin transporter promoter variants were quantified in postmortem samples from a group of human subjects who had been ethanol users or cocaine users and then compared to those of a matched group of comparison subjects. Quantitative autoradiographic and in situ hybridization assays were performed in midbrain samples that contained the dorsal and median raphe nuclei (the location of serotonin cell bodies that innervate the forebrain). RESULTS There was a significant overall cocaine-by-ethanol-by-genotype interaction. Dorsal raphe [125I]CIT binding to the serotonin transporter was lower in cocaine users than in comparison subjects. In addition, serotonin transporter binding and serotonin transporter mRNA levels varied significantly by genotype. It was also found that serotonin transporter binding in subjects with either the short or heterozygote genotype was significantly higher in the ethanol-user subjects. CONCLUSIONS Serotonin transporter binding sites were regulated in a region-specific and substance-specific pattern, which was not simply a local response to functional blockade. Also, a reciprocal relationship appeared to exist between cocaine and ethanol effects in the dorsal raphe, which may have interesting clinical implications for dual-diagnosis patients. It is possible that serotonin transporter promoter genotype may play a complex role in chronic ethanol dependence.
Generating Point Configurations via Hypersingular Riesz Energy with an External Field

For a compact $ d $-dimensional rectifiable subset of $ \mathbb{R}^{p} $ we study asymptotic properties as $ N\to\infty $ of $N$-point configurations minimizing the energy arising from a Riesz $ s $-potential $ 1/r^s $ and an external field in the hypersingular case $ s\geq d$. Formulas for the weak$ ^* $ limit of normalized counting measures of such optimal point sets and the first-order asymptotic values of minimal energy are obtained. As an application, we derive a method for generating configurations whose normalized counting measures converge to a given absolutely continuous measure supported on a rectifiable subset of $ \mathbb{R}^{p} $. Results on separation and covering properties of discrete minimizers are given. Our theorems are illustrated with several numerical examples.
Increasing consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages among US adults: 1988-1994 to 1999-2004.

BACKGROUND Consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) has been linked to obesity and type 2 diabetes. OBJECTIVE We examined national trends in SSB consumption among US adults by sociodemographic characteristics, body weight status, and weight-loss intention. DESIGN We analyzed 24-h dietary recall data to estimate beverage consumption among adults (aged > or = 20 y) obtained from the third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III, 1988-1994; n = 15,979) and NHANES 1999-2004 (n = 13,431). RESULTS From 1988-1994 to 1999-2004 on the survey day, the percentage of adult SSB drinkers increased from 58% to 63% (P < 0.001), per capita consumption of SSB increased by 46 kcal/d (P = 0.001), and daily SSB consumption among drinkers increased by 6 oz (P < 0.001). In both survey periods, per capita SSB consumption was highest among young adults (231-289 kcal/d) and lowest among the elderly (68-83 kcal/d). Young blacks had the highest percentage of SSB drinkers and the highest per capita consumption compared with white and Mexican American adults (P < 0.05). Overweight-obese adults with weight-loss intention (compared with those without) were significantly less likely to drink SSB, but they still consumed a considerable amount in 1999-2004 (278 kcal/d). Among young adults, 20% of SSB calories were consumed at work. CONCLUSIONS Over the past decade, US adult SSB consumption has increased. SSB comprises a considerable source of total daily intake and is the largest source of beverage calories. SSB consumption is highest among subgroups also at greatest risk of obesity and type 2 diabetes.
Trends in tumors in the central nervous system in elderly in Denmark, 2008–2012

Abstract Background Tumors in the central nervous system (CNS) comprise a heterogeneous group of tumors with different treatment strategies and prognoses. Current treatment regimens are based on studies on patients mainly younger than 70 years. The aim of the present study was to analyze and describe trends in incidence, mortality, prevalence, and relative survival in Denmark from 1980 to 2012 focusing on patients older than 70 years. Material and methods Tumors in the CNS were defined as ICD-10 codes C70-72, D32-33 and D42-43. Data with comparable data on cancer incidence, mortality, prevalence and relative survival derived from the NORDCAN database were delivered from the Danish Cancer Registry and the Danish Cause of Death Registry with follow-up for death or emigration until the end of 2013. Results During the period 1980–2012 the number of patients with CNS tumors increased from 603 to 1378 patients. The increase is seen mainly in the elderly patients, and especially in women aged 84–89 and 90 + at the time of diagnosis. During the same time period, the mortality rates increased within all age groups, most significantly in patients aged 70 years or older. This may reflect an increased focus on and identification of these patients. Noteworthy; the number of patients living with a CNS tumor increased from 2952 in 1980 to 12 147 patients in 2010. Conclusion This study suggests that the current treatment strategies in general may have improved survival in patients with CNS tumors, but in order to improve survival further in the increasing group of elderly patients more knowledge about treatment of these patients is needed.
Learning internal representations in an attractor neural network with analogue neurons

A leaming amtor neural network (U") with a double dynamics of neual activities and synaptic efficacies, operating on two different timescales is studied by simulations in preparation for an electronic implementation. The present network includes several qnasi- realistic features: neurons me represented by their afferent currents and output spike rates; excitatory and inhibitory neurons are separated; amactor spike rates as well as coding levels in arriving stimuli are low; learning lakes place only between excitatory units. Synaptic dynamics is an unsupervised, analogue Hebbian process, but long term memory in the absence of neural activity is maintained by a refresh mechanism which on long timescales discretizes the synaptic values. converting leaning into asynchronous stochastic process induced by the stimuli on the synaptic efficacies. This network is intended to lean a set of amactors from the statistics of freely arriving stimuli, which are represented by extemal synaptic inputs injected into the excitatory neurons. In the simulations different types of sequences of many thousands of stimuli are presented to Ihe network, without distinguishing in the dynamics a leaming phase from retrieval. Stimulus sequences differ in pre-assigned global statistics (including time-dependent statistics); in orders of presentation of individual stimuli within a given statistics: in lengths of time intervals for each presentation and in the intervals separating one stimulus from another. We find that the network effectively learns a set of attractors representing the statistics of the stimuli. and is able to modify its amactors when the input staristics change. Moreover, as the global input statistics changes the network can also forget attracton related to stimulus classes no longer presented. Forgetting takes place only due to the @val of new stimuli. The performance of the network and the statistics of he amactors are studied as a function of the inmt statistics. Mast of the --scale characteristics of the leamina dynamics can be captured . -. theoretically. This model modifies a previous implementation of a LA" composed of discrete neurons. in a nerwork of more redistic neurons. The different elements have been designed to facilitate their implementation in silicon.