Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Muscle specific microRNAs are regulated by endurance exercise in human skeletal muscle

Muscle specific miRNAs, myomiRs, have been shown to control muscle development in vitro and are differentially expressed at rest in diabetic skeletal muscle. Therefore, we investigated the expression of these myomiRs, including miR‐1, miR‐133a, miR‐133b and miR‐206 in muscle biopsies from vastus lateralis of healthy young males (n= 10) in relation to a hyperinsulinaemic–euglycaemic clamp as well as acute endurance exercise before and after 12 weeks of endurance training. The subjects increased their endurance capacity, (l min−1) by 17.4% (P < 0.001), and improved insulin sensitivity by 19% (P < 0.01). While myomiR expression remained stable during a hyperinsulinaemic–euglycaemic clamp, an acute bout of exercise increased mir‐1 (P < 0.05) and mir‐133a (P < 0.05) expression before, but not after, training. In resting biopsies, endurance training for 12 weeks decreased basal expression of all four myomiRs (P < 0.05). Interestingly, all myomiRs reverted to their pre‐training expression levels 14 days after ceasing the training programme. Components of major pathways involved in endurance adaptation such as MAPK and TGF‐β were predicted to be targeted by the myomiRs examined. Tested predicted target proteins included Cdc42 and ERK 1/2. Although these proteins were downregulated between post‐training period and 2 weeks of cessation, an inverse correlation between myomiR and target proteins was not found. In conclusion, our data suggest myomiRs respond to physiological stimuli, but their role in regulating human skeletal muscle adaptation remains unknown.
Every Post You Make, Every Pic You Take, I'll Be Watching You: Behind Social Spheres on Facebook

The problem of conflicting social spheres occurs when communications are simultaneously visible to multiple audiences within a social network, as commonly occurs on social network sites (SNS). In this environment users may suffer from social anxiety as they worry that communications seen as negative by certain audiences may be shared with those same groups. This issue rests on four assumptions: (1) that a social network encompasses a variety of social spheres, (2) that users believe they are being watched by these spheres, (3) that the social spheres differ in the norms, standards and expectations they hold about an individual and (4) that users largely do not employ measures to separate communications to different spheres. The present research aims to provide evidence for these assumptions. Self-discrepancy theory (SDT) [1] is used as a lens to view social norms, and as a novel way of understanding social spheres. Moreover, the research investigates any link between the magnitude of ought self-discrepancies and the social anxiety felt between relational dyads. An online survey with 313 participants offers strong support for these assumptions and provides evidence of a significant association between the magnitude of negative ought-other discrepancies and anxiety within dyads. This evidence strengthens the argument that SNS can cause anxiety and tension in social relations.
A Low-Profile Dual-Band Dual-Polarized Antenna With an AMC Surface for WLAN Applications

In this letter, a novel low-profile dual-band dual-polarized antenna with an artificial magnetic conductor (AMC) surface for wireless local area network (WLAN) applications is presented. Two sets of bowtie patches are introduced to form two dipoles in ±45° polarizations. Two integrated baluns are used to excite the dipoles. By inserting an AMC surface, the antenna can achieve unidirectional radiation pattern and low-profile characteristics. The height of the proposed antenna is 0. 088λ0 at 2.4 GHz. It can provide measured 15.6% (2.36–2.76 GHz) and 9.3% (5.12–5.62 GHz) relative bandwidth, respectively. Port-to-port isolation higher than 22 dB can be realized. Stable radiation patterns with peak gain of 7.2 dBi in lower band and 7.3 dBi in upper band are also obtained. The proposed antenna can be used for multiband base stations for WLAN applications.
Disabling hearing impairment in the Bangladeshi population.

OBJECTIVE This study aimed to determine the prevalence of hearing impairment in Bangladeshi people of all ages. METHODS A nationally representative cross-sectional survey was carried out in 2013. A total of 4260 subjects (1774 males and 2486 females), with a mean age of 32 years, participated. Hearing impairment was determined by pure tone audiometry and otoacoustic emissions testing. RESULTS Disabling hearing loss (greater than 40 dB loss in adults, and greater than 30 dB loss in children younger than 15 years, in their better hearing ears) was present in 9.6 per cent (95 per cent confidence interval, 8.5-10.8 per cent) of the respondents. Hearing loss was more prevalent in socio-economically deprived people and in those older than 60 years. Multiple logistic regression analysis identified age, socio-economic deprivation, family history, impacted ear wax, chronic suppurative otitis media, otitis media with effusion, and otitis externa as the significant predictors of disabling hearing loss. CONCLUSION Deafness prevention should focus mainly on chronic suppurative otitis media, otitis media with effusion, and impacted ear wax prevention, integrated within the primary healthcare system and addressing the equity issue.
Regulation of the temporal synthesis of proteins in bacteriophage BF23-infected cells

Regulation of temporal synthesis of pre-early, early, and late proteins in bacteriophage BF23-infected cells has been studied by using five amber mutants defective in genes 1, 2, 10, 14, and 19. The synthesis of pre-early proteins is negatively regulated by the actions of gene 1, a pre-early gene. The switch from pre-early to early protein synthesis is mainly regulated by the second-step DNA transfer reaction, which is controlled by at least genes 1 and 2. Early proteins can be kinetically and genetically divided into two regulatory classes, designated Ea and Eb. The shutoff of Eb-early protein synthesis is associated with the turn-on of late protein synthesis. This step is controlled by genes 10, 14, and 19. Gene 10 also regulates negatively the synthesis of Ea-early proteins, indicating that this gene has a dual function in the regulation of early protein synthesis. The temporal synthesis of phage-encoded proteins is regulated mainly at the transcriptional level. Evidence is presented indicating that the host RNA polymerase is modified by the interaction with the gene products of genes 2, 10, and 14 (gp2, gp10, and gp14, respectively). gp2 interacts with the enzyme in the earlier stage of infection but is replaced by gp10 in the later stage. This exchange reaction depends on the presence of gp14 and gp19 and is related to the switch from Eb to late protein synthesis. Thus, the regulation of BF23 gene expression occurs in a coordinated manner throughout the development of this phage.
Estrogen receptor antagonism exacerbates cardiac structural and functional remodeling in female rats.

We have previously demonstrated the cardioprotective effects of ovarian hormones against adverse ventricular remodeling imposed by chronic volume overload. Here, we assess the estrogen receptor dependence of this cardioprotection. Four groups of female rats were studied: sham-operated (Sham), volume overloaded [aortocaval fistula (ACF)], Sham treated with estrogen receptor antagonist ICI 182,780 (Sham + ICI), and ACF treated with ICI. Cardiac function was assessed temporally using echocardiogram, and tissue samples were collected at 5 days and 6 wk postsurgery. All rats with volume overload had significantly increased cardiac output (96 ± 32 ml/min for ACF and 108 ± 11 ml/min for ACF + ICI vs. 31 ± 2 for Sham, P < 0.05). At 6 wk, volume overload induced significant left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy in both untreated and treated ACF groups. Both ACF groups developed significantly increased LV end-diastolic diameter (LVEDD), indicating LV dilatation, with the ACF + ICI group having the greatest increase (340%, relative to Sham). Ejection fraction was significantly reduced in the ACF + ICI group (23% reduction) at 6 wk postsurgery compared with untreated ACF (P < 0.05). Interstitial collagen staining was significantly reduced by volume overload, with estrogen receptor antagonism causing greater collagen loss at both 5 days and 6 wk postsurgery. Furthermore, volume overload induced a significant increase in LV wall stress only in rats treated with estrogen antagonist. These data indicate that estrogen receptor signaling is essential for sex hormone-dependent cardioprotection against adverse remodeling. The maintenance of myocardial extracellular matrix collagen appears to play a key role in this cardioprotection. NEW & NOTEWORTHY We assessed the estrogen receptor (ER) dependence of female-specific cardioprotection using a rat model of chronic volume-overload stress. ER antagonism worsened ventricular wall stress, ventricular dilation, and cardiac dysfunction induced by volume overload. Further, blocking ERs resulted in cardiac remodeling and functional changes similar to that previously found in ovariectomized rats.
Inhibitor-complexed Structures of the Cytochrome bc1 from the Photosynthetic Bacterium Rhodobacter sphaeroides*

The cytochrome bc1 complex (bc1) is a major contributor to the proton motive force across the membrane by coupling electron transfer to proton translocation. The crystal structures of wild type and mutant bc1 complexes from the photosynthetic purple bacterium Rhodobacter sphaeroides (Rsbc1), stabilized with the quinol oxidation (QP) site inhibitor stigmatellin alone or in combination with the quinone reduction (QN) site inhibitor antimycin, were determined. The high quality electron density permitted assignments of a new metal-binding site to the cytochrome c1 subunit and a number of lipid and detergent molecules. Structural differences between Rsbc1 and its mitochondrial counterparts are mostly extra membranous and provide a basis for understanding the function of the predominantly longer sequences in the bacterial subunits. Functional implications for the bc1 complex are derived from analyses of 10 independent molecules in various crystal forms and from comparisons with mitochondrial complexes.
Structure of the olfactory bulb of the hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus): A Golgi study of the intrinsic organization of the superficial layers

The intrinsic organization of the mitral cell, external plexiform, and glomerular layers of the main olfactory bulb of the insectivore hedgehog were studied with the Golgi method. This study completes our previous description of the cell types in the granule cell layer in the same subject (López‐Mascaraque et al., J. Comp. Neurol. 253:135–152, '86). In the present contribution the morphology of mitral, internal, and middle tufted cells is described with particular interest in the formation and arrangement of glomerular tufts by the primary dendrites, and the disposition of the secondary dendrites. Three types of intrinsic cells were found in the external plexiform layer: Van Gehuchten cells, satellite cells, and horizontal cells. All these cells display unusual patterns of branching processes that were difficult to classify as dendritic or axonal. The close relationship between some processes of the satellite cells with the mitral or tufted cell dendrites is noted, suggesting that these cells may be inhibitory in nature. The external tufted cells are described, and several aspects pertaining to their morphology were considered in order to distinguish them from periglomerular cells and from the remaining tufted cells. External tufted and periglomerular cells appear to be intrinsic neurons, having axons distributed in the periglomerular region, most probably devoted to relating different olfactory glomeruli. The arrangement of glomeruli in the glomerular layer and distinctive characteristics with respect to other mammals were considered from a comparative point of view.
Trust and TAM for Online Recommendation Agents

Online product recommendation agents are becoming increasingly available on websites to assist consumers with reducing information overload, provide advice in finding suitable products, and facilitate online consumer decision-making. Central of these services is consumer trust in the agents. In several recent studies, the trust construct has been successfully integrated into the Technology Adoption Model (TAM) for general online shopping environments where the websites are treated as an information technology and the e-vendors are treated as trust objects. This study extends the integrated Trust-TAM model to online recommendation agents. Such agents, unlike websites, are inherently more complex personalized technologies adapted to work on behalf of a principal (user). The relative importance of consumers’ initial trust vis-a-vis other TAM use-antecedents was examined. Results indicate that consumers’ initial trust not only directly influences their intention to adopt the agents but has indirect effect via their enhanced perceived usefulness of the agents.
Endothelial progenitor cell senescence is there a role for estrogen?

Recent studies have demonstrated that aging or senescence constitutes a potential limitation to the ability of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) to sustain ischemic tissue repair. Excess amount of reactive oxygen species (ROS) is involved in senescence, causing defective neovascularization. Conversely, estrogens have been shown to accelerate recovery of the endothelium after vascular injury. Estrogen reduces EPC senescence through augmentation of telomerase activity. In addition, the inhibition of EPC senescence by estrogen in vitro may improve the functional activity of EPCs in a way that is important for potential cell therapy. This review describes current understanding of EPC senescence and the role of estrogen in preventing EPC senescence.
Effects of Increasing Airway Pressures on the Pressure of the Endotracheal Tube Cuff During Pelvic Laparoscopic Surgery

BACKGROUND: Tracheal tube cuff pressures exceeding the perfusion pressures of the tracheal mucosa have been associated with complications such as sore throat, tracheal mucosa ulcers, tracheal rupture, and subglottic stenosis. Despite appropriate inflation, many factors can increase the tracheal cuff pressure during mechanical ventilation. This prospective observational cohort study was designed to test the hypothesis that during a clinical model of decreasing respiratory compliance, the pressure within the endotracheal tube cuff will rise in direct relationship to increases in the airway pressures. METHODS: Twenty-eight adult obese patients (BMI ≥30 kg/m2) scheduled for elective laparoscopic gynecologic procedures were enrolled. All patients received general anesthesia utilizing endotracheal tubes with low-pressure high-volume cuffs. After baseline adjustment of the cuff pressure to 25 cm H2O, the airway pressures and endotracheal cuff pressures were continuously measured using pressure transducers connected to the anesthesia circuit and cuff pilot, respectively. Data on cuff and airway pressures, mechanical ventilation parameters, intraabdominal pressures, and degree of surgical table inclination were collected throughout the anesthetic procedure. General linear regression models with fixed and random effects were fit to assess the effect of increases in airway pressures on cuff pressure, after adjusting for covariates and the clustered structure of the data. RESULTS: The mean (standard deviation) age and body mass index were 42.2 (8.8) years and 37.7 (5.1) kg/m2, respectively. After tracheal intubation, the cuffs were overinflated (ie, intracuff pressures >30 cm H2O) in 89% of patients. The cuff pressures significantly changed after concomitant variations in the airway pressures from a mean (standard error) value of 29.6 (1.30) cm H2O before peritoneal insufflations, to 35.6 (0.68) cm H2O after peritoneal insufflation, and to 27.8 (0.79) cm H2O after peritoneal deflation (P < .0001). The multilevel mixed regression models revealed that after controlling for clustering of the data (at the patient and study phase levels) and covariates, increased peak airway pressures were significantly associated with increased pressures within the endotracheal cuff (coefficient [95% confidence interval], 0.25 [0.14–0.36]; P < .0001). Other variables associated with increasing endotracheal cuff pressure included degree of surgical table inclination (0.08 [0.04–0.12]; P = .0003) and I:E ratio of 1:1 (4.47 [2.10–6.83]; P = .0002). CONCLUSIONS: This clinical model of decreased respiratory compliance in mechanically ventilated patients reveals that the pressure within the endotracheal cuff significantly changes in direct relation to changes in the airway pressures. This finding may have clinical relevance in patients requiring prolonged use of high airway pressures.
Infectious disease complications of combat-related injuries

Background:Strategies currently used to prevent morbidity and mortality associated with combat-related injuries include better training of frontline medical personnel, improved personal protective equipment, and deployment of fast-forward surgical assets with state-of-the-art equipment. These strategies allow patients to survive near-catastrophic injuries, placing a greater emphasis on the medical infrastructure to mitigate short- and long-term complications associated with these injuries. Discussion:Wounds have certain characteristics that promote the development of infections: the presence of devitalized tissue, foreign bodies, clots, fluid collections, and contamination of wounds with bacteria from the casualty’s skin, the environment, and the hospital. All of these factors culminate in placing the casualty at risk of developing an infection. Summary:This article reviews the lessons learned from combat-related wound infections throughout history and in the current conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. Many of the management strategies used to prevent infections of combat-related injuries are applicable to the management of civilian trauma, whether associated with small arms fire or related to natural disasters such as earthquakes or tornadoes.
Towards personalized Internet health information: the STEPPS architecture

Primary objective : STEPPS (STructured Evaluated Personalized Patient Support) proposes a strategy for integration of electronic patient records with Internet health-related content and its consequent use in personalized information retrieval for patient education. The application domain is the post-discharge support of burn patients in the Netherlands. Materials and methods : We developed an electronic patient record interface for structured data collection in burn care. The system's thesaurus was projected to UMLS terms and the corresponding codes were incorporated in our software. A list of topics central to burn patient education was identified and a collection of related Web pages was compiled using meta-search software (Copernic2001Pro ® ). The HTML pages were filed into catalogues by the Collexis ® indexing-matching software, using the UMLS Metathesaurus as indexing vocabulary. Results : The bilingual (English and Dutch) structured data interface is currently used to create a database of retrospective patient data. Each patient's profile, i.e. set of characteristics employed to personalize information retrieval, can be automatically extracted. We have assembled a collection of more than 2500 Internet pages containing relevant information for burn patients. When patient data is available, the Collexis ® matching engine will accept the patient's profile as input and retrieve the most relevant HTML documents available in the catalogues. Discussion : We have addressed some basic issues around the technical feasibility of linking electronic patient record data to online content. Although the functionality of STEPPS is not yet optimal, it contributes to the efforts towards improved relevance of information retrieval. Electronic patient record applications in conjunction with Internet resources can give a significant boost to the availability of tailored health education material. In this context, quality assurance of online health information is an indispensable element.
Manipulation of colonic bacteria and volatile fatty acid production by dietary high amylose maize (amylomaize) starch granules

Aims: To study the effects of amylomaize starch and modified (carboxymethylated and acetylated) amylomaize starches on the composition of colonic bacteria and the production of volatile fatty acids, in mice. Methods and Results: Balb/c mice were fed with experimental diets containing various amount of amylomaize and modified amylomaize starches. Colonic bacterial populations and short‐chain fatty acids were monitored. Results showed that the increases in indigenous bifidobacteria were detected in mice fed all starches tested; however, the highest numbers were observed in the group fed with 40% unmodified amylomaize starch. The starch type influenced the populations of indigenous Lactobacillus, Bacteroides and coliforms. High Lactobacillus numbers were achieved in the colon of mice fed with high concentration of amylomaize starch. Acetylated amylomaize starch significantly reduced the population of coliforms. In addition, orally dosed amylomaize utilizing bifidobacteria reached their highest levels when fed together with amylomaize or carboxymethylated amylomaize starch and in both cases butyrate levels were markedly increased. Conclusions: These results indicate that different amylomaize starches could generate desirable variation in gut microflora and that particular starches may be used to selectively modify gut function. Significance and Impact of Study: Amylomaize starch appeared to enhance the desirable composition of colonic bacteria in mice, and suggested it possessed the potential prebiotic properties. Therefore, resistant starch and its chemical derivatives may exert beneficial impacts to the human colon.
Parthenolide Cooperates with NS398 to Inhibit Growth of Human Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells through Effects on Apoptosis and G0-G1 Cell Cycle Arrest

Chemotherapy to date has not been effective in the treatment of human hepatocellular carcinoma. More effective treatment strategies may involve combinations of agents with activity against hepatocellular carcinoma. Parthenolide, a nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) inhibitor, and NS398, a cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 inhibitor, have been shown to individually suppress the growth of hepatocellular carcinoma cells in vitro. To investigate their effects in combination, three human hepatocellular carcinoma lines (Hep3B, HepG2, and PLC) were treated with parthenolide and/or NS398. Parthenolide (0.1-10 μmol/L) and NS398 (1-100 μmol/L) each caused concentration-dependent growth inhibition in all cell lines. The addition of parthenolide to NS398 reduced the concentration of NS398 required to inhibit hepatocellular carcinoma growth. Because parthenolide and COX-2 inhibitors have been reported to influence NF-κB activity, the effects on this pathway were investigated. The combination of parthenolide/NS398 inhibited phosphorylation of the NF-κB-inhibitory protein IκBα and increased total IκBα levels. NF-κB DNA-binding and transcriptional activities were inhibited more by the combination than the single agents in Hep3B and HepG2 cells but not in PLC cells. The response of PLC cells to NS398 was augmented by p65 small interfering RNA to inhibit NF-κB p65 protein expression. The combination of parthenolide/NS398 increased apoptosis only in PLC cells, suggesting that the combination may decrease the apoptotic threshold in these cells. In Hep3B and HepG2 cells, combination treatment with NS398/parthenolide altered the cell cycle distribution resulting in more G0-G1 accumulation. Cyclin D1 levels were further decreased by combination treatment in all cell lines, correlating with the cell cycle alterations. Our results suggest that parthenolide may be effective in combination with COX-2 inhibitors for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma. (Mol Cancer Res 2006;4(6):387–400)