Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Application of high-resolution membrane capacitance measurements in the study of exocytosis and endocytosis in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

High resolution cell-attached patch-clamp recordings are used to analyze the kinetics of exo- and endocytosis in yeast. This technique is based on the fact that physical properties of cell membranes are comparable to the properties of a RC-circuit, consisting of a resistor and a capacitor in parallel. This means that changes in the plasma membrane surface, resulting from fusion and fission of vesicles, can be measured as changes in the membrane capacitance. Application of cell-attached patch-clamp recordings to Saccharomyces cerevisiae facilitates detection of exo- and endocytotic events, as discrete changes in the membrane capacitance at high temporal and spatial resolution. The results show four different kinetic modes of exo- and endocytosis in yeast, which were already reported from other eukaryotes. These modes include transient and permanent fusion and fission of vesicles. The measured capacitance changes were predominantly in the range of 0.2 - 1 fF, which corresponds to vesicle diameters of 90 - 200 nm. The vesicle size distribution showed a median of about 132 nm for endocytotic and 155 nm for exocytotic vesicles. Under well-defined nutrient conditions endocytotic and exocytotic events occurred at frequencies of 8.1 and 12.3 events per hour, respectively. In comparison, protoplasts deprived of glucose showed lower frequencies with nearly four events/h for exocytotic, and two events/h for endocytotic events. This result indicates energy requirement for exo- and endocytosis in yeast. Via capacitance measurements it was feasible to examine exo- and endocytosis frequencies, to determine vesicle sizes and to detect fusion pores in yeast cells. Because of the latter it was also possible to establish a rough classification of fusion pores conductance and diameters. A temperature sensitive SEC mutant sec6-4 inhibited in the secretory pathway revealed a direct relationship between recorded capacitance changes in the plasma membrane and exocytotic events. In this context cells of the aforementioned mutant were incubated at the restrictive temperature of 37 °C resulting in an accumulation of vesicles in the cytosol. After incubation 71.6 exocytotic and 16 endocytotic events/h were measured. As a control sample, cells were incubated at the permissive temperature of 25 °C. The measured frequencies were comparable to the reference strain BY4741, which results in 15.1 events/h for exocytotic and 9.2 events/h for endocytotic events. This demonstrates that event frequencies can be modulated. Through this study it was possible to demonstrate that capacity measurements can be applied to yeast cells for the detection of single fission and fusion events. Analyses on yeast protoplasts suggest that this system can be used for the investigation of exo- and endocytosis via capacity measurements. This provides a new tool for analyzing both processes in yeast.
Individual and combined effects of CAPN1 , CAST , LEP and GHR gene polymorphisms on carcass characteristics and meat quality in Holstein bulls

Abstract. The objective of this study was to determine the association of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) with carcass characteristics and meat quality traits in selected candidate genes in Holstein bulls. Five SNPs in four genes, i.e. calpain 1 (CAPN1), calpastatin (CAST), leptin (LEP) and growth hormone receptor (GHR), were genotyped in 400 purebred bulls using PCR-RFLP. Statistically significant associations were as follows: CAPN1 G316A with live weight, carcass weight, back fat thickness, m. longissimus thoracis et lumborum area and carcass measurements; CAPN1 V530I with pH and L∗; CAST S20T with live weight, inner chest depth and b∗ value; and GHR with ph, a∗ and h∗. In addition, significant genotypic interactions were observed for dressing percentage (LEP A80V × CAST S20T), pH (CAPN1 V530I × GHR S555G and LEP A80V × GHR S555G) and rump width (CAPN1 V530I × CAST S20T). There was no association between the LEP A80V marker and any of the traits evaluated, nor was there any association of the tested SNPs with chest width, C∗ and marbling score. The present results could therefore be indicative for future studies on meat yield and quality.
Endometrial echotexture variables in postpartum cows with subclinical endometritis

The aim of this study was to evaluate endometrial echotexture changes on ultrasonographic digital images during subclinical endometritis using a computer-assisted image analysis program. Endometrial samples were collected from 140 Brown Swiss cows (days in milk = 35 ± 3) using a cytobrush method and classified as having a non-inflamed uterus (n = 66) and uterus with acute (n = 42), subacute (n = 21), and chronic (n = 11) inflammations. The mean cellular infiltration density was 0%, 31 ± 5%, 37 ± 6%, and 16 ± 8% for cows with non-inflamed uterus and cows with acute, subacute, and chronic uterine inflammations (P < 0.0001). As the cell infiltration density increased, both cervical diameter and mean gray level did not change. There were a liner decrease in homogeneity and a linear increase in contrast in response to increased cellular infiltration density. The sensitivity and specificity were 79.73% and 46.97% for the homogeneity value and 59.46% and 69.70% for the contrast value, respectively. In conclusion, monitoring endometrial echotexture alterations, especially homogeneity and contrast, changed depending on the cellular density and inflammation status and may be potential diagnostic markers for subclinical endometritis in cows. © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Teaching Consecutive Interpretation Note-Taking Strategies to Improve Taiwanese Senior High School Students ’ English Listening Comprehension

This study examined the effects of a consecutive interpretation note-taking strategy (hereafter abbreviated as the CINT) on Taiwanese senior high school students’ EFL listening comprehension. Seventy students from two classes of a senior high school in central Taiwan participated in the experiment. One class served as the experimental group (n = 35), and the other as the control group (n = 35). The experiment lasted for ten weeks and utilized TOEIC listening tests, CINT hand-outs, and pre-experiment and post-experiment questionnaires. The ANOVA results revealed that, on average, the experimental group showed significantly greater improvement in listening comprehension than the control group, which meant that CINT instruction was beneficial in boosting students’ listening proficiency. In general, subjects’ qualitative responses corresponded to their quantitative results. Two pedagogical implications were noted. First, CINT instruction should be incorporated into the curriculum to upgrade students’ listening proficiency. Second, CINT could help learners stay focused and serve as an external memory aid, but it may not be able to overcome the limitations of the listener’s insufficient vocabulary and the speaker’s rapid rate of speech. Hence, the design of the listening comprehension practices should be as diverse as possible to meet each individual student’s needs.
AUTOMATED MACHINE LEARNING-BASED PREDICTION OF CMES BASED ON FLARES ASSOCIATIONS

In this work, machine learning algorithms are applied to explore the relation between significant flares and their associated CMEs. The NGDC flares catalogue and the SOHO/LASCO CMEs catalogue are processed to associate X and M-class flares with CMEs based on timing information. Automated systems are created to process and associate years of flares and CMEs data, which are later arranged in numerical training vectors and fed to machine learning algorithms to extract the embedded knowledge and provide learning rules that can be used for the automated prediction of CMEs. Different properties are extracted from all the associated (A) and not-associated (NA) flares representing the intensity, flare duration, duration of decline and duration of growth. Cascade Correlation Neural Networks (CCNN) are used in our work. The flare properties are converted to numerical formats that are suitable for CCNN. The CCNN will predict if a certain flare is likely to initiate a CME after input of its properties. Intensive experiments using the Jack-knife techniques are carried out and it is concluded that our system provides an accurate prediction rate of 65.3%. The prediction performance is analysed and recommendation for enhancing the performance are provided.
Edge effect: Liquid sheet and droplets formed by drop impact close to an edge

Asymmetric liquid sheet fragmentation is ubiquitous in nature and potentially shapes critical phenomena such as rain-induced propagation of foliar diseases. In this experimental study, we investigate the formation and fragmentation of a liquid sheet upon impact of a drop close to the edge of a solid substrate. Both the impact Weber number and the offset, the distance from the impact point to the edge, are systematically varied. Their influence on the kinematics of the liquid sheet and the subsequent statistics of droplet ejection are rationalized. Three major asymmetry scenarios are identified and linked to distinct droplet ejection patterns. Scaling laws are proposed to rationalize these scenarios based on impact parameters.
Reconsidering the Effectiveness and Suitability of PPP and TBLT in the Japanese EFL Classroom

With the recent high-profile utilization of tasks in language classrooms, the longestablished traditional teaching methodology based on the presentation-practiceproduction (PPP) model is now being replaced by task-based language teaching (TBLT) in SLA (e.g., Skehan, 1996, 1998; White, 1988; Willis, 1996, 2004). However, in the Japanese EFL learning environment, there is still considerable skepticism regarding the effectiveness of TBLT. This paper explores the suitability of TBLT and PPP in the Japanese secondary school context and discusses the relative effectiveness of PPP from the point of view of skill acquisition theory. Some suggestions for effective teaching procedures are also discussed.
Mayo de 2005 Ownership and Control in Colombian Corporations

We study the separation of ownership and control for an average of 140 listed non-financial Corporations in Colombia during the 1996-2002 period. Breaking the sample according to their listing status and economic activity, voting rights are greater than cash flow rights because of the presence of indirect ownership across firms that belong mainly to pyramidal and cross share holdings. The study sample also includes an important set of non-affiliated firms. Ownership statistics show high concentration for the top-four largest voting blocks similar to the levels observed in continental Europe, although the largest stake has on average 20% lower voting rights than the average observed in that region. Finally, holding investment and trust funds play a central role as the holdings’ ultimate controllers.
Criteria for the optimal selection of remote sensing images to map event landslides

We executed an experiment to determine the effects of image characteristics on event landslide mapping. In the experiment, we compared eight maps of the same landslide, the Assignano landslide, in Umbria, central Italy. Six maps were obtained through the expert visual interpretation of monoscopic and pseudo-stereoscopic (2.5D), ultra-resolution (3 × 3 cm) images taken on 14 April 2014 by a Canon EOS M photographic camera flown by an CarbonCore 950 hexacopter over the 15 landslide, and of monoscopic and stereoscopic, true-colour and false-colour-composite, 1.84 × 1.84 m resolution images taken by the WorldView-2 satellite also on 14 April 2014. The seventh map was prepared through a reconnaissance field survey aided by a pre-event satellite image taken on 8 July 2013, available on Goggle EarthTM, and by colour photographs taken in the field with a hand-held camera. The images were interpreted visually by an expert geomorphologist using the StereoMirrorTM hardware technology combined with the ERDAS IMAGINE® and Leica Photogrammetry Suite (LPS) 20 software. The eighth map, which we considered our reference showing the “ground truth”, was obtained through a Real Time Kinematic differential GPS survey conducted by walking a GPS receiver along the landslide perimeter to capture geographic coordinates every about 5 m, with centimetre accuracy. The eight maps of the Assignano landslide were stored in a GIS, and compared adopting a pairwise approach. Results of the comparisons, quantified by the error index E, revealed that where the landslide signature was primarily photographical (in the landslide source and transport area) the best mapping 25 results were obtained using the higher resolution images, and where the landslide signature was mainly morphometric (in the landslide deposit) the best results were obtained using the stereoscopic images. The ultra-resolution image proved very effective to map the landslide, with results comparable to those obtained using the stereoscopic satellite image. Conversely, the field-based reconnaissance mapping provided the poorest results, measured by large mapping errors, and confirmed the difficulty in preparing accurate landslide maps in the field. Albeit conducted on a single landslide, we maintain that our 30 results are general, and provide useful information to decide on the optimal imagery for the production of event, seasonal and multi-temporal landslide inventory maps. Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci. Discuss. , doi:10.5194/nhess-2017-111, 2017 Manuscript under review for journal Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci. Discussion started: 3 April 2017 c © Author(s) 2017. CC-BY 3.0 License.
Neural signatures of the risk for bipolar disorder: A meta‐analysis of structural and functional neuroimaging studies

Widespread functional and structural alterations in the brain have been extensively reported in unaffected relatives (RELs) of patients with bipolar disorder (BD) who are at genetic risk for BD. A sufficiently powered meta‐analysis of structural (sMRI) and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) alterations in RELs is still lacking.
Knockdown of Long Non-Coding RNA XIST Inhibited Doxorubicin Resistance in Colorectal Cancer by Upregulation of miR-124 and Downregulation of SGK1

Background/Aims: Doxorubicin (DOX) is a widely used chemotherapeutic agent for colorectal cancer (CRC). However, the acquirement of DOX resistance limits its clinical application for cancer therapy. Mounting evidence has suggested that aberrantly expressed lncRNAs contribute to drug resistance of various tumors. Our study aimed to explore the role and molecular mechanisms of lncRNA X-inactive specific transcript (XIST) in chemoresistance of CRC to DOX. Methods: The expressions of XIST, miR-124, serum and glucocorticoid-inducible kinase 1 (SGK1) mRNA in DOX-resistant CRC tissues and cells were detected by qRT-PCR or western blot analysis. DOX sensitivity was assessed by detecting IC50 value of DOX, the protein levels of P-glycoprotein (P-gp) and glutathione S-transferase-π (GST-π) and apoptosis. The interactions between XIST, miR-124 and SGK1 were confirmed by luciferase reporter assay, qRT-PCR and western blot. Xenograft tumor assay was used to verify the role of XIST in DOX resistance in CRC in vivo. Results: XIST expression was upregulated and miR-124 expression was downregulated in DOX-resistant CRC tissues and cells. Knockdown of XIST inhibited DOX resistance of CRC cells, as evidenced by the reduced IC50 value of DOX, decreased P-gp and GST-π levels and enhanced apoptosis in XIST-silenced DOX-resistant CRC cells. Additionally, XIST positively regulated SGK1 expression by interacting with miR-124 in DOX-resistant CRC cells. miR-124 suppression strikingly reversed XIST-knockdown-mediated repression on DOX resistance in DOX-resistant CRC cells. Moreover, SGK1-depletion-elicited decrease of DOX resistance was greatly restored by XIST overexpression or miR-124 inhibition in DOX-resistant CRC cells. Furthermore, XIST knockdown enhanced the anti-tumor effect of DOX in CRC in vivo. Conclusion: XIST exerted regulatory function in resistance of DOX possibly through miR-124/SGK1 axis, shedding new light on developing promising therapeutic strategy to overcome chemoresistance in CRC patients.
Comment on “Predicting reaction performance in C–N cross-coupling using machine learning”

Ahneman et al. (Reports, 13 April 2018) applied machine learning models to predict C–N cross-coupling reaction yields. The models use atomic, electronic, and vibrational descriptors as input features. However, the experimental design is insufficient to distinguish models trained on chemical features from those trained solely on random-valued features in retrospective and prospective test scenarios, thus failing classical controls in machine learning.
Fertility and Ovarian Reserve among Women with Rheumatoid Arthritis

Objective. We sought to identify causes for infertility in women with and without rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods. Women with RA were matched to healthy controls. Differences in anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) and anovulation were analyzed. Results. Women with RA had lower AMH (β −1.05, 95% CI −2.09 to −0.005), but no difference was observed when AMH was log-transformed. No difference in anovulation was observed. Infertility prevalence was similar between groups, primarily attributable to polycystic ovary syndrome in healthy controls but largely unexplained in women with RA. Conclusion. AMH was lower in women with RA, but reasons for infertility among women with RA remain unknown.
Developmental roles of microglia: A window into mechanisms of disease

Microglia are engineers of the central nervous system (CNS) both in health and disease. In addition to the canonical immunological roles of clearing damaging entities and limiting the spread of toxicity and death, microglia remodel the CNS throughout life. While they have been extensively studied in disease and injury, due to their highly variable functions, their precise role in these contexts still remains uncertain. Over the past decade, we have greatly expanded our understanding of microglial function, including their essential homeostatic roles during development. Here, we review these developmental roles, identify parallels in disease, and speculate whether developmental mechanisms re‐emerge in disease and injury. Developmental Dynamics 248:98–117, 2019. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
A doxycycline‐treated hydroxyapatite implant surface attenuates the progression of peri‐implantitis: A radiographic and histological study in mice

BACKGROUND Oral rehabilitation with dental implants has become increasingly common; however, the increase of peri-implantitis is a great concern. Doxycycline (DOX) is a widely used antibiotic that inhibits bacteria growth, inflammation, and bone resorption. OBJECTIVES To evaluate the progression of peri-implantitis of hydroxyapatite (HA)-coated implants with (5 mg/mL, DOX group) or without (HA group) DOX treatment on the surface. MATERIALS AND METHODS The maxillary first molars of 20 male mice were extracted. Eight weeks later, small titanium screw implants coated with thin HA and treated with or without DOX were placed at the extracted sites. Four weeks after implant placement, half of the animals in both groups were sacrificed, and ligatures were placed around the implant necks in the other half. These mice were sacrificed 4 weeks later. The bone around the implants was examined radiologically and histologically. RESULTS Four weeks after the ligature placement, the radiographic measurements revealed that peri-implant bone levels of palatal and mesial sites, and histological measurements showed that bone levels of mesial and distal sites in the DOX group were significantly higher than those in the HA group. CONCLUSIONS The present results indicating that the DOX-treated HA implant surface attenuates the progression of peri-implantitis.
Changes in hepatitis C virus genotype distribution in chronic hepatitis C infection patients

Purpose: Identification of hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotypes is very important in the selection of antiviral treatment, dose adjustment of antiviral agents, determining the treatment duration and following-up of treatment response. We aimed to determine the distribution pattern of HCV genotypes in chronic hepatitis C infection (CHC) patients. Materials and Methods: We have included 106 CHC patients who were positive in the anti-HCV and HCV-RNA tests performed in our hospital during the 16-month period. Anti-HCV assays were performed on device using a chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay, while HCV-RNA tests and HCV genotyping assays were performed by real-time polymerase chain reaction. Results: Of the 106 cases; genotype 1b was detected in 67.0%, genotype 3 was detected in 16.0%, genotype 1a was detected in 14.2% and genotype 2 was detected in 2.8% patients. Genotypes 4, 5 and 6 were not detected in our study group. There were no statistically significant differences between the gender and age groups according to the HCV genotype distribution. The genotype 3 detection rate (16%) was the highest rate among the studies compared with the other studies in our country. Conclusions: Events that cause social changes such as war and immigration and intense commercial and touristic activities affect and alter the HCV genotype distribution in HCV-infected patients. For this reason, further multicentre studies are required reflecting all the regions in order to determine the genotype distribution in HCV-infected patients at regular intervals.
Gut Microbiota and Their Neuroinflammatory Implications in Alzheimer’s Disease

The bidirectional communication between the central nervous system (CNS) and the gut microbiota plays a pivotal role in human health. Increasing numbers of studies suggest that the gut microbiota can influence the brain and behavior of patients. Various metabolites secreted by the gut microbiota can affect the cognitive ability of patients diagnosed with neurodegenerative diseases. Nearly one in every ten Korean senior citizens suffers from Alzheimer’s disease (AD), the most common form of dementia. This review highlights the impact of metabolites from the gut microbiota on communication pathways between the brain and gut, as well as the neuroinflammatory roles they may have in AD patients. The objectives of this review are as follows: (1) to examine the role of the intestinal microbiota in homeostatic communication between the gut microbiota and the brain, termed the microbiota–gut–brain (MGB) axis; (2) to determine the underlying mechanisms of signal dysfunction; and (3) to assess the impact of signal dysfunction induced by the microbiota on AD. This review will aid in understanding the microbiota of elderly people and the neuroinflammatory roles they may have in AD.
Magnetic Characterization in the Rayleigh Region of Nanocrystalline Magnetic Cores

We report on the structural and magnetic characterization of two nanocrystalline Finemet-type magnetic cores. The nanocrystalline structure developed after annealing the amorphous precursor alloy at 550 °C for 30 and 60 min of annealing time. Structural analysis carried out by means of X-ray diffraction providing useful information on the grain size mean and partial volume of the nanocrystalline phase. The magnetic characterization was focused mainly in the Rayleigh region which, influenced by the intergranular coupling, was found to be more efficient in the sample treated for a longer time with a finer nanocrystalline structure.