Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
AQUISIÇÃO DE HABILIDADE MOTORA DISCRETA: EFEITO DO NÚMERO DE DEMONSTRAÇÕES

This experiment investigated the effect of number of visual demonstrations on the acquisition of discrete motor skill. Seventyfour college students of both sex participated in this study. The participants observed a visual model twice or ten times. In the acquisition phase, the participants were asked to throw a dart with postero-anterior movement into a circle target until reach a learning criterion. In transfer tests no difference between groups was found in the analysis of score. However, ten demonstrations were more effective than twice as regards performance of the correct pattern of movement and the number of subjects who reached the performance criterion. The results indicate a similar effect of the both number of demonstrations in the performance and dart throwing learning and both conditions influence subject’s capacity to detect relevant information to perform the task.
Long non-coding RNA gadd 7 interacts with TDP-43 and regulates Cdk 6 mRNA decay

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) transcribed extensively from the genome have been proposed to be key regulators of diverse biological processes. However, little is known about the role of lncRNAs in regulation of the cell-cycle G1/S checkpoint following DNA damage, a key step in the maintenance of genomic fidelity. Here we show that growth-arrested DNA damage-inducible gene 7 (gadd7), a DNA damage-inducible lncRNA, regulates the G1/S checkpoint in response to UV irradiation. Interestingly, UVinduced gadd7 directly binds to TAR DNA-binding protein (TDP-43) and interferes with the interaction between TDP43 and cyclin-dependent kinase 6 (Cdk6) mRNA, resulting in Cdk6 mRNA degradation. These findings demonstrate a role for gadd7 in controlling cell-cycle progression and define a novel mechanism by which lncRNAs modulate mRNA expression at the post-transcriptional level by altering mRNA stability. The EMBO Journal (2012) 31, 4415–4427. doi:10.1038/ emboj.2012. 292; Published online 26 October 2012 Subject Categories: RNA; cell cycle
TITLE PAGE TITLE : Hypoglycemia and risk factors for death in 13 years of pediatric admissions in Mozambique

Hypoglycemia is a life-threatening complication of several diseases in childhood. We describe the prevalence and incidence of hypoglycem ia a ong admitted Mozambican children, establishing its associated risk factors. We retrospectively reviewed 13 years of clinical data collected through a morbidity surv eillance system ongoing in Manhiça District Hospital, in rural Mozambique. Logistic re gr ssion was used to identify risk factors for hypoglycemia and death. Minimum communi ty-based incidence rates for hypoglycemia were calculated using data from the De mographic Surveillance System. Of the 49,089 children <15 years hospitalized in Ma nhiça District Hospital, 45,573 (92.8%) had a glycemia assessment on admission. 147 8 children (3.2%) presented hypoglycemia (<3mmol/L), of which about 2/3 (972) w ith levels <2.5mmol/L. Independent risk factors for hypoglycemia on admiss ion and death among hypoglycemic children included prostration, unconsc iousness, edema, malnutrition, bacteremia. Hypoglycemic children were significantl y more likely to die (OR 7.11; p<0.001), with an associated CFR of 19.3% (245/1267 ). Overall Minimum communitybased incidence rate of hypoglycemia was 1.57 episo des/1000 CYAR, significantly decreasing throughout the study period. Newborns sh owed the highest incidences (9.47 episodes/1000 CYAR, p<0.001). Hypoglycemia remains a hazardous condition for African children. Symptoms and signs associated to hypoglycemia should trigger the verification of glycemia and the implementation of life-saving corrective measures.
Role of Tim17 Transmembrane Regions in Regulating the Architecture of Presequence Translocase and Mitochondrial DNA Stability

ABSTRACT Mitochondrial life cycle and protein import are intricate cellular processes, which require precise coordination between the transport machineries of outer and inner mitochondrial membranes. Presequence translocase performs the indispensable function of translocating preproteins having N-terminal targeting sequences across the inner membrane. Tim23 forms the core of the voltage-gated import channel, while Tim17 is presumed to maintain the stoichiometry of the translocase. However, mechanistic insights into how Tim17 coordinates these regulatory events within the complex remained elusive. We demonstrate that Tim17 harbors conserved G/AXXXG/A motifs within its transmembrane regions and plays an imperative role in the translocase assembly through interaction with Tim23. Tandem motifs are highly essential, as most of the amino acid substitutions lead to nonviability due to the complete destabilization of the TIM23 channel. Importantly, Tim17 transmembrane regions regulate the dynamic assembly of translocase to form either the TIM23 (PAM)-complex or TIM23 (SORT)-complex by recruiting the presequence translocase-associated motor (PAM) machinery or Tim21, respectively. To a greater significance, tim17 mutants displayed mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) instability, membrane potential loss, and defective import, resulting in organellar dysfunction. We conclude that the integrity of Tim17 transmembrane regions is critical for mitochondrial function and protein turnover.
Hypoxia enhances tenocyte differentiation of adipose‐derived mesenchymal stem cells by inducing hypoxia‐inducible factor‐1α in a co‐culture system

Tissue engineering is a promising approach for repair of tendon injuries. Adipose‐derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADMSCs) have gained increasing research interest for their potential in improving healing and regeneration of injured tendons. The present study aimed to investigate effects of O2 tension and potential signalling pathways on AMDSC differentiation into tenocytes, in an indirect co‐culture system.
Polycomb and trithorax opposition in development and disease

Early discoveries in chromatin biology and epigenetics heralded new insights into organismal development. From these studies, two mediators of cellular differentiation were discovered: the Polycomb group (PcG) of transcriptional repressors, and the trithorax group (trxG) of transcriptional activators. These protein families, while opposed in function, work together to coordinate the appropriate cellular developmental programs that allow for both embryonic stem cell self‐renewal and differentiation. Recently, both the PcG and trxG chromatin modulators have been observed to be deregulated in a wide spectrum diseases including developmental disorders and cancer. To understand the impact of these findings we outline the past, present, and future. WIREs Dev Biol 2016, 5:659–688. doi: 10.1002/wdev.244
Outcomes from stimulation of the caudal zona incerta and pedunculopontine nucleus in patients with Parkinson's disease

Introduction. Axial symptoms including postural instability, falls and failure of gait initiation are some of the most disabling motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease (PD). We performed bilateral deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the pedunculopontine nucleus (PPN) in combination with the caudal zona incerta (cZi) in order to determine their efficacy in alleviating these symptoms. Methods. Seven patients with predominant axial symptoms in both the ‘on’ and ‘off’ medication states underwent bilateral cZi and PPN DBS. Motor outcomes were assessed using the motor component of the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS 3) and a composite axial subscore was derived from items 27, 28, 29 and 30 (arising from chair, posture, gait and postural stability). Quality of life was measured using the PDQ39. Comparisons were made between scores obtained at baseline and those at a mean follow-up of 12 months. Results. In both the off and on medication states, a statistically significant improvement in the UPDRS part 3 score was achieved by stimulation of the PPN, cZi and both in combination. In the off medication state, our composite axial subscore of the UPDRS part 3 improved with stimulation of the PPN, cZi and both in combination. The composite axial subscore, in the ‘on’ medication state, however, only showed a statistically significant improvement when a combination of cZi and PPN stimulation was used. Conclusions. This study provides evidence that a combination of PPN and cZi stimulation can achieve a significant improvement in the hitherto untreatable ‘on’ medication axial symptoms of PD.
The SBAR Communication Technique: Teaching Nursing Students Professional Communication Skills

The Joint Commission and Institute for Healthcare Improvement have mandated healthcare organizations to improve professional communication. Nursing students lack experience in communicating with physicians. As a result, recent graduates may not be prepared to meet the demands of professional communication to ensure patient safety. The authors discuss the SBAR (situation, background, assessment, recommendations) communication technique implemented during a 2-day simulation exercise that provided an organized logical sequence and improved communication and prepared graduates for transition to clinical practice.
P2X7 Receptor Activation in Rat Brain Cultured Astrocytes Increases the Biosynthetic Release of Cysteinyl Leukotrienes

Astrocytes have been recognized as important elements in controlling inflammatory as well as immune processes in the central nervous system (CNS). Recently, glial cells have been shown to produce cysteinyl leukotrienes (CysLTs) which are known lipid mediators of inflammation and whose extracellular concentrations rise under different pathological conditions in the brain. In the same conditions also extracellular concentrations of ATP dramatically increase reaching levels able to activate P2X7 ionotropic receptors for which an emerging role in neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration has been claimed. RT-PCR analysis showed that primary cultures of rat brain astrocytes express P2X7 receptors. Application of the selective P2X7 agonist benzoyl-benzolyATP (BzATP) markedly increased [Ca2+]i which was mediated by a calcium influx from the extracellular milieu. The P2X7 antagonist, oATP, suppressed the BzATP-induced calcium increase. Consistent with the evidence that increased calcium levels activate the leukotriene biosynthetic pathway, challenge of astrocytes with either the calcium ionophore A23187 or BzATP significantly increased CysLT production and the cell pre-treatment with EGTA abolished these effects. Again the P2X7 antagonist prevented the BzATP-mediated CysLT efflux, whereas the astrocyte pre-treatment with MK-571, a CysLT, receptor antagonist, was ineffective. The astrocyte pre-treatment with a cocktail of inhibitors of ATP binding cassette (ABC) proteins reduced the BzATP-mediated CysLT production confirming that ABC transporters are involved in the release of CysLTs. The astrocyte P2X7-evoked rise of CysLT efflux was abolished in the presence of MK-886, an inhibitor of 5-lipoxygenase activating protein (FLAP) whose expression, along with that of 5′-lipoxygenase (5-LO) was reported by Northern Blot analysis. The stimulation of P2X7 induced an up-regulation of FLAP mRNA that was reduced by the antagonist oATP. These data suggest that in rat brain cultured astrocytes P2X7 ATP receptors may participate in the control of CysLT release thus further supporting a role for extracellular ATP as an integral component of the inflammatory brain response.
The influence of suspended nanoparticles on the Frederiks threshold of the nematic host

In recent years, several papers reported an enhanced dielectric anisotropy when ferroelectric particles were suspended in a liquid crystal. These results seem to be sensitive to the liquid crystal used and the preparation method of the ferroelectric particles. In this paper, we compare different preparation methods of suspended barium titanate in two different liquid crystal hosts. As a control experiment, we followed similar preparation steps with non-ferroelectric silica particles. In all cases, we found a broadening of the optical Frederiks transition but no change in the dielectric anisotropy. Raman spectroscopy has been used to investigate the loss of tetragonal structure in the barium titanate as a function of milling time and particle size. As reported in the earlier literature, barium titanate does not exhibit a well-defined tetragonal crystal structure below a certain particle size and loses its ferroelectric features. This provides a simple rationalization for the absence of any dielectric enhancement.
Monitoring Notch Signaling-Associated Activation of Stem Cell Niches within Injured Dental Pulp

Dental pulp stem/progenitor cells guarantee tooth homeostasis, repair and regeneration throughout life. The decision between renewal and differentiation of these cells is influenced by physical and molecular interactions with stromal cells and extracellular matrix molecules forming the specialized microenvironment of dental pulp stem cell niches. Here we study the activation of putative pulp niches after tooth injury through the upregulation of Notch signaling pathway. Notch1, Notch2, and Notch3 molecules were used as markers of dental pulp stem/progenitor cells. Upon dental injury, Notch1 and Notch3 are detected in cells related to vascular structures suggesting a role of these proteins in the activation of specific pulpal perivascular niches. In contrast, a population of Notch2-positive cells that are actively proliferative is observed in the apical part of the pulp. Kinetics of these cells is followed up with a lipophilic DiI labeling, showing that apical pulp cells migrate toward the injury site where dynamic regenerative/repair events occur. The knowledge of the activation and regulation of dental pulp stem/progenitor cells within their niches in pathologic conditions may be helpful for the realization of innovative dental treatments in the near future.
Variation of grain nitrogen content in relation with grain yield in old and modern Spanish wheats grown under a wide range of agronomic conditions in a Mediterranean region

SUMMARY Wheat yield and grain nitrogen concentration (GNC; mg N/g grain) are frequently negatively correlated. In most growing conditions, this is mainly due to a feedback process between GNC and the number of grains/m2. In Mediterranean conditions, breeders may have produced cultivars with conservative grain set. The present study aimed at clarifying the main physiological determinants of grain nitrogen accumulation (GNA) in Mediterranean wheat and to analyse how breeding has affected them. Five field experiments were carried out in north-eastern Spain in the 2005/06 and 2006/07 growing seasons with three cultivars released at different times and an advanced line. Depending on the experiment, source-sink ratios during grain filling were altered by reducing grain number/m2 either through pre-anthesis shading (unshaded control or 0·75 shading only between jointing and anthesis) or by directly trimming the spikes after anthesis and before the onset of the effective grain filling period (un-trimmed control or spikes halved 7–10 days after anthesis). Grain nitrogen content (GN content; mg N/grain) decreased with the year of release of the genotypes. As the number of grains/m2 was also increased by breeding there was a clear dilution effect on the amount of nitrogen allocated to each grain. However, the increase in GN content in old genotypes did not compensate for the loss in grain nitrogen yield (GNY) due to the lower number of grains/m2. GN content of all genotypes increased (increases ranged from 0·13 to 0·40 mg N/grain, depending on experiment and genotype) in response to the post-anthesis spike trimming or pre-anthesis shading. The degree of source-limitation for GNA increased with the year of release of the genotypes (and thus with increases in grain number/m2) from 0·22 (mean of the four manipulative experiments) in the oldest cultivar to 0·51 (mean of the four manipulative experiments) in the most modern line. It was found that final GN content depended strongly on the source-sink ratio established at anthesis between the number of grains set and the amount of nitrogen absorbed at this stage. Thus, Mediterranean wheat breeding that improved yield through increases in grain number/m2 reduced the GN content by diluting a rather limited source of nitrogen into more grains. This dilution effect produced by breeding was further confirmed by the reversal effect produced by grain number/m2 reductions due to either pre-anthesis shading or post-anthesis spike trimming.
Genetic polymorphism of human plasminogen.

Using isoelectric focusing (IEF) in polyacrylamide gel of neuraminidase-treated serum or plasma samples and immunofixation or caseinolytic overlay after urokinase activation of gels, a common genetic polymorphism in human plasminogen has been delineated. Two alleles PLGN*A and PLGN*B, were observed with gene frequencies in whites of . 69 and . 30; in Orientals of . 96 and . 03; and in blacks of . 80 and . 18. Several rare alleles were also found. The distribution of phenotypes fits the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. Inheritance is autosomal codominant and fits the expectations of Mendelian inheritance. There is fetal synthesis, but no transplacental passage of plasminogen in either direction.
EX VIVO MODEL OF RABBIT INTESTINAL EPITHELIUM APPLIED TO THE STUDY OF COLONIZATION BY ENTEROAGGREGATIVE ESCHERICHIA COLI.

BACKGROUND The diarrheal syndrome is considered a serious public health problem all over the world and is considered a major cause of morbidity and mortality in developing countries. The high incidence of enteroaggregative Escherichia coli in diarrheal syndromes classified as an emerging pathogen of gastrointestinal infections. After decades of study, your pathogenesis remains uncertain and has been investigated mainly using in vitro models of adhesion in cellular lines. OBJECTIVE The present study investigated the interaction of enteroaggregative Escherichia coli strains isolated from childhood diarrhea with rabbit ileal and colonic mucosa ex vivo, using the in vitro organ culture model. METHODS The in vitro adhesion assays using cultured tissue were performed with the strains co-incubated with intestinal fragments of ileum and colon over a period of 6 hours. Each strain was tested with three intestinal fragments for each region. The fragments were analysed by scanning electron microscopy. RESULTS Through scanning electron microscopy we observed that all strains adhered to rabbit ileal and colonic mucosa, with the typical aggregative adherence pattern of "stacked bricks" on the epithelium. However, the highest degree of adherence was observed on colonic mucosa. Threadlike structures were found in greater numbers in the ileum compared to the colon. CONCLUSION These data showed that enteroaggregative Escherichia coli may have a high tropism for the human colon, which was ratified by the higher degree of adherence on the rabbit colonic mucosa. Finally, data indicated that in vitro organ culture of intestinal mucosa from rabbit may be used to elucidate the enteroaggregative Escherichia coli pathogenesis.
Carotenoid pigmentation of salmonid fishes-recent progress 1

The purpose of this presentation is to review recent literature on carotenoid pigmentation in salmonid fishes. Consumers have preferences for red-colored products of salmonid fishes, and this is reflected by an increased rate of publications on carotenoids in relation to aspects of quality such as coloration, variation among groups of fish and within fish, and effects of fish production and processing. Recent studies have shown that dietary carotenoid utilization for muscle pigmentation has a considerable genetic component, enabling selective breeding for color traits. Recently, studies have shown that astaxanthin (3,3 ́-dihydroxy-â, â-carotene-4,4 ́-dione) E/Z isomers accumulate selectively in fish tissues and plasma. All-E-astaxanthin accumulate selectively in muscle and plasma, and 13Z-astaxanthin in liver of salmonid fishes. The positive effect of lipid content on muscle carotenoid deposition appear to be the only interaction with macronutrients. Also it has been shown that oil composition and á-tocopherol may have slight positive effects on carotenoid utilization. Storage losses of carotenoids may be considerable, and protection from oxygene is of great importance. Carotenoid absorption is slow, and apparently governed by passive diffusion. About 60% of the absorbed carotenoids are metabolized, partly into idoxanthin (3,3 ́,4 ́-trihydroxyâ, â -carotene-4-one) which is rapidly formed from astaxanthin. Carotenoid metabolism and partitioning among body compartments is affected by sex hormones. Positive effects of astaxanthin on on growth and disease resistance may be related to carotenoid antioxidant activity.
The public health benefits of reducing air pollution in the Barcelona metropolitan area

In the last decade, numerous studies conducted in animals and human populations have confirmed that exposure to current levels of ambient man-made air pollution lead to a wide range of adverse health effects, including diseases and death. More recent research suggests that pollutants emitted by cars and trucks to be of particular health concern. A few studies even show that morbidity and mortality promptly decreased in areas where air quality improved.
Role for the Rostromedial Tegmental Nucleus in Signaling the Aversive Properties of Alcohol.

BACKGROUND While the rewarding effects of alcohol contribute significantly to its addictive potential, it is becoming increasingly appreciated that alcohol's aversive properties also play an important role in the propensity to drink. Despite this, the neurobiological mechanism for alcohol's aversive actions is not well understood. The rostromedial tegmental nucleus (RMTg) was recently characterized for its involvement in aversive signaling and has been shown to encode the aversive properties of cocaine, yet its involvement in alcohol's aversive actions have not been elucidated. METHODS Adult male and female Long-Evans rats underwent conditioned taste aversion (CTA) procedures where exposure to a novel saccharin solution was paired with intraperitoneal administration of saline, lithium chloride (LiCl), or ethanol (EtOH). Control rats underwent the same paradigm except that drug and saccharin exposure were explicitly unpaired. Saccharin consumption was measured on test day in the absence of drug administration, and rats were sacrificed 90 to 105 minutes following access to saccharin. Brains were subsequently harvested and processed for cFos immunohistochemistry. The number of cFos-labeled neurons was counted in the RMTg and the lateral habenula (LHb)-a region that sends prominent glutamatergic input to the RMTg. RESULTS In rats that received paired drug and saccharin exposure, EtOH and LiCl induced significant CTA compared to saline to a similar degree in males and females. Both EtOH- and LiCl-induced CTA significantly enhanced cFos expression in the RMTg and LHb but not the hippocampus. Similar to behavioral measures, no significant effect of sex on CTA-induced cFos expression was observed. cFos expression in both the RMTg and LHb was significantly correlated with CTA magnitude with greater cFos being associated with more pronounced CTA. In addition, cFos expression in the RMTg was positively correlated with LHb cFos. CONCLUSIONS These data suggest that the RMTg and LHb are involved in the expression of CTA and are consistent with previous work implicating the RMTg in aversive signaling. Furthermore, increased cFos expression in the RMTg following EtOH-induced CTA suggests that this region plays a role in signaling alcohol's aversive properties.