Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effects of interval training on inflammatory biomarkers in patients with ischemic heart failure

Abstract Objectives. Exercise training has been proposed to have anti-inflammatory effects. We examined whether aerobic interval training (AIT) can attenuate the inflammatory response in ischemic heart failure (HF) as measured by serum biomarkers representing a broad spectrum of activated inflammatory pathways. Design. We conducted a controlled prospective trial recruiting 30 patients (19 in the AIT group and 11 in the control group) with ischemic HF and an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD). This study is a sub study of the previously reported “Aerobic interval training in patients with heart failure and an ICD” (Eur J Prev Cardiol. 22 March 2015; 22:296–303). Patients in the AIT group exercised for 12-weeks completing a total of 36 AIT sessions. We analyzed serum levels of C-reactive protein, pentraxin-3, osteoprotegerin, brain natriuretic peptide, neopterin, and soluble tumor necrois factor type 1 and 2, all known to predict an adverse outcome in HF, at baseline and following the 12-week AIT intervention. Results. The AIT group significantly increased peak oxygen uptake and improved endothelial function compared to the sedentary control group. No statistically significant changes in serum levels of the biomarkers were detected from baseline following the AIT intervention and, there were no significant differences in changes of these mediators between the AIT and the control group. Conclusions. A 12-week AIT intervention, although improving exercise capacity and endothelial function, did not attenuate serum inflammatory biomarkers in stable ischemic HF patients with an ICD on optimal medical therapy.
Molecular organization of tight and adherens junctions in the human placental vascular tree.

Tight and adherens junctions are major determinants of endothelial integrity. Molecules present therein have been implicated in vascular permeability, stability of junctions, angiogenesis and intracellular signalling. Using immunofluorescence and confocal scanning microscopy, the adherens junctions (AJs) in human placental vessels were found to contain the entire cadherin-catenin complex predicted from in vitro studies. Vascular endothelial cadherin (VE-cadherin) clusters were co-localized with beta-catenin, an important signal transduction ligand, and with alpha-catenin, which is thought to link the complex to the peri-junctional actin. Antibodies to plakoglobin, a molecule shown to be a component of stable adherens junctions, revealed immunoreactivity in clefts of stromal villous vessels, but weak or negative immunoreactivity in intermediate and terminal villi. Tight junctional molecules demonstrated a differential surface expression. Within the same villous tree, arteries, veins and arterioles contained occludin but the exchange vessels in terminal villi were immunonegative. ZO-1, however, was present throughout. Ultrastructurally, there were no differences in frequency, position or dimension of tight junctions in these vessels. They showed a consistent 4 nm separation between outer membrane leaflets regardless of their location in the vascular tree. Occludin is not necessary for formation of tight junctions in the placenta; it may have an accessory role providing stability or added adhesiveness to tight junctions of large vessels. Its absence in terminal villous microvessels, along with the weak plakoglobin immunoreactivity in AJs, suggest that the junctions here are less stable. This may allow the increased plasticity necessary in terminal villi for continual growth, proliferation and solute exchange.
Differential role of pre- and postsynaptic neurons in the activity-dependent control of synaptic strengths across dendrites

Neurons receive a large number of active synaptic inputs from their many presynaptic partners across their dendritic tree. However, little is known about how the strengths of individual synapses are controlled in balance with other synapses to effectively encode information while maintaining network homeostasis. This is in part due to the difficulty in assessing the activity of individual synapses with identified afferent and efferent connections for a synapse population in the brain. Here, to gain insights into the basic cellular rules that drive the activity-dependent spatial distribution of pre- and postsynaptic strengths across incoming axons and dendrites, we combine patch-clamp recordings with live-cell imaging of hippocampal pyramidal neurons in dissociated cultures and organotypic slices. Under basal conditions, both pre- and postsynaptic strengths cluster on single dendritic branches according to the identity of the presynaptic neurons, thus highlighting the ability of single dendritic branches to exhibit input specificity. Stimulating a single presynaptic neuron induces input-specific and dendritic branchwise spatial clustering of presynaptic strengths, which accompanies a widespread multiplicative scaling of postsynaptic strengths in dissociated cultures and heterosynaptic plasticity at distant synapses in organotypic slices. Our study provides evidence for a potential homeostatic mechanism by which the rapid changes in global or distant postsynaptic strengths compensate for input-specific presynaptic plasticity.
Adsorption, Antibacterial and Antioxidant Properties of Tannic Acid on Silk Fiber

Natural bioactive compounds have received increasing attention in the functional modification of textiles. In this work, tannic acid was used to impart antibacterial and antioxidant functions to silk using an adsorption technique, and the adsorption properties of tannic acid on silk were studied. The adsorption quantity of tannic acid on silk increased with decreasing pH in the range of 3–7. The rates of the uptake of tannic acid by silk were well correlated to the pseudo-second-order kinetic model, and the calculated activation energy of adsorption was 93.49 kJ/mol. The equilibrium adsorption isotherms followed the Langmuir model. The adsorption rate and isotherm studies demonstrated that the chemical adsorption of tannic acid on silk occurred through the ion-ion interaction between tannic acid and silk. Tannic acid displayed good building-up properties on silk. The silk fabric treated with 0.5% tannic acid (relative to fabric weight) exhibited excellent and durable antibacterial properties. Moreover, the silk fabrics treated with 2% and 5% tannic acid had good and durable antioxidant properties. The treatment by tannic acid had less impact on the whiteness of the silk fabric. In summary, tannic acid can be used as a functional agent for preparing healthy and hygienic silk materials.
Recent Advances in Pipeline Monitoring and Oil Leakage Detection Technologies: Principles and Approaches

Pipelines are widely used for the transportation of hydrocarbon fluids over millions of miles all over the world. The structures of the pipelines are designed to withstand several environmental loading conditions to ensure safe and reliable distribution from point of production to the shore or distribution depot. However, leaks in pipeline networks are one of the major causes of innumerable losses in pipeline operators and nature. Incidents of pipeline failure can result in serious ecological disasters, human casualties and financial loss. In order to avoid such menace and maintain safe and reliable pipeline infrastructure, substantial research efforts have been devoted to implementing pipeline leak detection and localisation using different approaches. This paper discusses pipeline leakage detection technologies and summarises the state-of-the-art achievements. Different leakage detection and localisation in pipeline systems are reviewed and their strengths and weaknesses are highlighted. Comparative performance analysis is performed to provide a guide in determining which leak detection method is appropriate for particular operating settings. In addition, research gaps and open issues for development of reliable pipeline leakage detection systems are discussed.
The climatic drivers of primary Picea forest growth along the Carpathian arc are changing under rising temperatures

Climatic constraints on tree growth mediate an important link between terrestrial and atmospheric carbon pools. Tree rings provide valuable information on climate‐driven growth patterns, but existing data tend to be biased toward older trees on climatically extreme sites. Understanding climate change responses of biogeographic regions requires data that integrate spatial variability in growing conditions and forest structure. We analyzed both temporal (c. 1901–2010) and spatial variation in radial growth patterns in 9,876 trees from fragments of primary Picea abies forests spanning the latitudinal and altitudinal extent of the Carpathian arc. Growth was positively correlated with summer temperatures and spring moisture availability throughout the entire region. However, important seasonal variation in climate responses occurred along geospatial gradients. At northern sites, winter precipitation and October temperatures of the year preceding ring formation were positively correlated with ring width. In contrast, trees at the southern extent of the Carpathians responded negatively to warm and dry conditions in autumn of the year preceding ring formation. An assessment of regional synchronization in radial growth variability showed temporal fluctuations throughout the 20th century linked to the onset of moisture limitation in southern landscapes. Since the beginning of the study period, differences between high and low elevations in the temperature sensitivity of tree growth generally declined, while moisture sensitivity increased at lower elevations. Growth trend analyses demonstrated changes in absolute tree growth rates linked to climatic change, with basal area increments in northern landscapes and lower altitudes responding positively to recent warming. Tree growth has predominantly increased with rising temperatures in the Carpathians, accompanied by early indicators that portions of the mountain range are transitioning from temperature to moisture limitation. Continued warming will alleviate large‐scale temperature constraints on tree growth, giving increasing weight to local drivers that are more challenging to predict.
Sirt3 modulate renal ischemia‐reperfusion injury through enhancing mitochondrial fusion and activating the ERK‐OPA1 signaling pathway

Mitochondrial fusion is linked to heart and liver ischemia‐reperfusion (IR) insult. Unfortunately, there is no report to elucidate the detailed influence of mitochondrial fusion in renal IR injury. This study principally investigated the mechanism by which mitochondrial fusion protected kidney against IR injury. Our results indicated that sirtuin 3 (Sirt3) was inhibited after renal IR injury in vivo and in vitro. Overexpression of Sirt3 improved kidney function, modulated oxidative injury, repressed inflammatory damage, and reduced tubular epithelial cell apoptosis. The molecular investigation found that Sirt3 overexpression attenuated IR‐induced mitochondrial damage in renal tubular epithelial cells, as evidenced by decreased reactive oxygen species production, increased antioxidants sustained mitochondrial membrane potential, and inactivated mitochondria‐initiated death signaling. In addition, our information also illuminated that Sirt3 maintained mitochondrial homeostasis against IR injury by enhancing optic atrophy 1 (OPA1)‐triggered fusion of mitochondrion. Inhibition of OPA1‐induced fusion repressed Sirt3 overexpression‐induced kidney protection, leading to mitochondrial dysfunction. Further, our study illustrated that OPA1‐induced fusion could be affected through ERK; inhibition of ERK abolished the regulatory impacts of Sirt3 on OPA1 expression and mitochondrial fusion, leading to mitochondrial damage and tubular epithelial cell apoptosis. Altogether, our results suggest that renal IR injury is closely associated with Sirt3 downregulation and mitochondrial fusion inhibition. Regaining Sirt3 and/or activating mitochondrial fission by modifying the ERK‐OPA1 cascade may represent new therapeutic modalities for renal IR injury.
The role of maternal psychosocial perceptions in parent-training programs: a preliminary randomized controlled trial

Abstract Parent–child interaction is critical for early language and literacy development. Parent training programs have proliferated to support early interactions. However, many environmental and psychosocial factors can impact the quality of parent–child language and literacy interactions as well as training program outcomes. This preliminary randomized controlled trial examined maternal perceived self-efficacy and locus of control during a language and literacy parent training program. Thirty mother–child dyads (mother age 21–40; children 2;6–4;0) were assigned in parallel to the training or control group. The training was efficacious for mothers and children – training-group dyads made significantly greater gains in maternal strategy use, responsivity, and child print awareness than the control group. Gains were maintained one month post-training. Children whose mothers had more external baseline control perceptions identified significantly fewer print targets at baseline and made greater gains than those with more internal control perceptions. Future directions and implications are discussed.
Chapter 2 Cellulose Graft Copolymers : Synthesis , Properties , and Applications

Grafting of vinyl monomers onto cellulose is an important tool for the modification of cellulose. Depending on the monomer grafted onto cellulose, it gains new properties. The grafting can be performed in heterogeneous or homogeneous medium. In the grafting performed in heterogeneous medium, the reaction is carried out in aqueous medium using a suitable initiator. As initiator, the radiation or chemical initiators such as ceric ammonium nitrate (CAN), various persulfates, azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN), and Fenton reagent (Fe(II)–H2O2) are mostly used. In case of CAN initiator, the grafting should be performed in acidic medium in order to prevent its hydrolysis. In the homogeneous grafting reactions, either a water-soluble cellulose derivative is used in the grafting or cellulose is dissolved in a suitable solvent, and then the grafting is performed. Higher number of grafts per cellulose chain is obtained in homogeneous grafting than those in heterogeneous medium.
When feedback fails: The scaling and saturation of star formation efficiency

We present a suite of 3D multiphysics MHD simulations following star formation in isolated turbulent molecular gas discs ranging from 5 to 500 parsecs in radius. These simulations are designed to survey the range of surface densities between those typical of Milky Way giant molecular clouds (GMCs) (∼10^2M⊙pc^(−2)) and extreme ultraluminous infrared galaxy environments (∼10^4M⊙pc^(−2)) so as to map out the scaling of the cloud-scale star formation efficiency (SFE) between these two regimes. The simulations include prescriptions for supernova, stellar wind, and radiative feedback, which we find to be essential in determining both the instantaneous per-freefall (e_(ff)) and integrated (e_(int)) star formation efficiencies. In all simulations, the gas discs form stars until a critical stellar surface density has been reached and the remaining gas is blown out by stellar feedback. We find that surface density is a good predictor of e_(int), as suggested by analytic force balance arguments from previous works. SFE eventually saturates to ∼1 at high surface density. We also find a proportional relationship between e_(ff) and e_(int), implying that star formation is feedback-moderated even over very short time-scales in isolated clouds. These results have implications for star formation in galactic discs, the nature and fate of nuclear starbursts, and the formation of bound star clusters. The scaling of e_(ff) with surface density is not consistent with the notion that e_(ff) is always ∼ 1 per cent on the scale of GMCs, but our predictions recover the ∼ 1 per cent value for GMC parameters similar to those found in spiral galaxies, including our own.
ABCA1- and ABCG1-mediated cholesterol efflux capacity of cerebrospinal fluid is impaired in Alzheimer’s disease[S]

HDL-like particles in human cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) promote the efflux of cholesterol from astrocytes toward the neurons that rely on this supply for their functions. We evaluated whether cell cholesterol efflux capacity of CSF (CSF-CEC) is impaired in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) by analyzing AD (n = 37) patients, non-AD dementia (non-AD DEM; n = 16) patients, and control subjects (n = 39). As expected, AD patients showed reduced CSF Aβ 1-42, increased total and phosphorylated tau, and a higher frequency of the apoε4 genotype. ABCA1- and ABCG1-mediated CSF-CEC was markedly reduced in AD (−73% and −33%, respectively) but not in non-AD DEM patients, in which a reduced passive diffusion CEC (−40%) was observed. Non-AD DEM patients displayed lower CSF apoE concentrations (−24%) compared with controls, while apoA-I levels were similar among groups. No differences in CSF-CEC were found by stratifying subjects for apoε4 status. ABCG1 CSF-CEC positively correlated with Aβ 1-42 (r = 0.305, P = 0.025), while ABCA1 CSF-CEC inversely correlated with total and phosphorylated tau (r = −0.348, P = 0.018 and r = −0.294, P = 0.048, respectively). The CSF-CEC impairment and the correlation with the neurobiochemical markers suggest a pathophysiological link between CSF HDL-like particle dysfunction and neurodegeneration in AD.
Limbic neurochemical changes in patients with functional motor symptoms

Objective To assess by magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) the N-acetylaspartate, myo-inositol, choline, sum of glutamate and glutamine (Glx), and creatine (Cr) content in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC)/medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and in the occipital cortex (OCC) (control region) in patients with functional motor symptoms (FMS) and healthy controls, and to determine whether neurochemical limbic changes as estimated by MRS correlate with FMS-related motor symptom severity, alexithymia, anxiety, depression, and quality of life. Methods This case-control study enrolled 10 patients with FMS and 10 healthy controls. Participants underwent MRS and were tested with the Mini-Mental State Examination, Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale, 20-Item Toronto Alexithymia Scale, and EuroQol 5D. Results In patients with FMS, MRS showed increased Glx/Cr in the ACC/mPFC but normal content in the control OCC. All the other metabolites tested were normal in both regions. The increased Glx/Cr content in the ACC/mPFC correlated with alexithymia, anxiety, and severity of symptoms. Conclusions The abnormal limbic Glx increase could have a crucial pathophysiologic role in FMS, possibly by altering limbic-motor interactions, ultimately leading to abnormal movements.
Facing the dilemma of patient‐centred psoriasis care: a qualitative study identifying patient needs in dermatological outpatient clinics

Caregivers must be aware of patients’ current needs by providing care responsive to patients’ values and preferences and by identifying what approach improves and encourages patients to participate in their treatment and disease management. Patients with psoriasis healthcare needs perhaps change as medical knowledge improves, new drugs emerge and the healthcare system improves its efficiency as a result of constant structural development.
A joint modeling framework of responses and response times to assess learning outcomes

Abstract A general modeling framework of response accuracy and response times is proposed to track skill acquisition and provide additional diagnostic information on the change of latent speed in a learning environment. This framework consists of two types of models: a dynamic response model that captures the response accuracy and the change of discrete latent attribute profile upon factors such as practice, intervention effects, and other latent and observable covariates, and a dynamic response time model that describes the change of the continuous response latency due to change of latent attribute profile. These two types of models are connected through a parameter, describing the change rate of the latent speed through the learning process, and a covariate defined as a function of the latent attribute profile. A Bayesian estimation procedure is developed to calibrate the model parameters and measure the latent variables. The estimation algorithm is evaluated through several simulation studies under various conditions. The proposed models are applied to a real data set collected through a spatial rotation diagnostic assessment paired with learning tools.
Reduced ribosomal RNA expression and unchanged ribosomal DNA promoter methylation in oral squamous cell carcinoma

Ribosomal RNA (rRNA) consists of four non‐coding RNAs, the 28S, 5.8S, 18S, and 5S rRNA. Abnormal expression of rRNA has been found in multiple tumors, and the methylation of rDNA promoter may affect rRNA expression as an epigenetic regulatory mechanism. Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is a kind of aggressive tumors which occurs in multiple sites in oral cavity. rRNA expression and the methylation of rDNA promoter in modulating rRNA expression in OSCC maintain unclear. This study aims to investigate the rRNA expression, the methylation status within rDNA promoter, and the underlying mechanism of methylation in regulating rRNA expression in OSCC.
The Sustained Induction of c-MYC Drives Nab-Paclitaxel Resistance in Primary Pancreatic Ductal Carcinoma Cells

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a highly aggressive disease with limited and, very often, ineffective medical and surgical therapeutic options. The treatment of patients with advanced unresectable PDAC is restricted to systemic chemotherapy, a therapeutic intervention to which most eventually develop resistance. Recently, nab-paclitaxel (n-PTX) has been added to the arsenal of first-line therapies, and the combination of gemcitabine and n-PTX has modestly prolonged median overall survival. However, patients almost invariably succumb to the disease, and little is known about the mechanisms underlying n-PTX resistance. Using the conditionally reprogrammed (CR) cell approach, we established and verified continuously growing cell cultures from treatment-naïve patients with PDAC. To study the mechanisms of primary drug resistance, nab-paclitaxel–resistant (n-PTX-R) cells were generated from primary cultures and drug resistance was verified in vivo, both in zebrafish and in athymic nude mouse xenograft models. Molecular analyses identified the sustained induction of c-MYC in the n-PTX-R cells. Depletion of c-MYC restored n-PTX sensitivity, as did treatment with either the MEK inhibitor, trametinib, or a small-molecule activator of protein phosphatase 2a. Implications: The strategies we have devised, including the patient-derived primary cells and the unique, drug-resistant isogenic cells, are rapid and easily applied in vitro and in vivo platforms to better understand the mechanisms of drug resistance and for defining effective therapeutic options on a patient by patient basis.