Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Competing molecular interactions of aPKC isoforms regulate neuronal polarity

Atypical protein kinase C (aPKC) isoforms ζ and λ interact with polarity complex protein Par3 and are evolutionarily conserved regulators of cell polarity. Prkcz encodes aPKC-ζ and PKM-ζ, a truncated, neuron-specific alternative transcript, and Prkcl encodes aPKC-λ. Here we show that, in embryonic hippocampal neurons, two aPKC isoforms, aPKC-λ and PKM-ζ, are expressed. The localization of these isoforms is spatially distinct in a polarized neuron. aPKC-λ, as well as Par3, localizes at the presumptive axon, whereas PKM-ζ and Par3 are distributed at non-axon-forming neurites. PKM-ζ competes with aPKC-λ for binding to Par3 and disrupts the aPKC-λ–Par3 complex. Silencing of PKM-ζ or overexpression of aPKC-λ in hippocampal neurons alters neuronal polarity, resulting in neurons with supernumerary axons. In contrast, the overexpression of PKM-ζ prevents axon specification. Our studies suggest a molecular model wherein mutually antagonistic intermolecular competition between aPKC isoforms directs the establishment of neuronal polarity.
Cell Size Distributions of Soil Bacterial and Archaeal Taxa

ABSTRACT Cell size is a key ecological trait of soil microorganisms that determines a wide range of life history attributes, including the efficiency of nutrient acquisition. However, because of the methodological issues associated with determining cell sizes in situ, we have a limited understanding of how cell abundances vary across cell size fractions and whether certain microbial taxa have consistently smaller cells than other taxa. In this study, we extracted cells from three distinct soils and fractionated them into seven size ranges (5 μm to 0.2 μm) by filtration. Cell abundances in each size fraction were determined by direct microscopy, with the taxonomic composition of each size fraction determined by high-throughput sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene. Most of the cells were smaller than cells typically grown in culture, with 59 to 67% of cells <1.2 μm in diameter. Furthermore, each size fraction harbored distinct bacterial and archaeal communities in each of the three soils, and many of the taxa exhibited distinct size distribution patterns, with the smaller size fractions having higher relative abundances of taxa that are rare or poorly characterized (including Acidobacteria, Gemmatimonadetes, Crenarchaeota, Verrucomicrobia, and Elusimicrobia). In general, there was a direct relationship between average cell size and culturability, with those soil taxa that are poorly represented in culture collections tending to be smaller. Size fractionation not only provides important insight into the life history strategies of soil microbial taxa but also is a useful tool to enable more focused investigations into those taxa that remain poorly characterized.
Regulation of expression and activity of four PKC isozymes in confluent and mechanically stimulated UMR‐108 osteoblastic cells

The transcript (mRNA), protein levels, enzyme activity, and cellular localization of four protein kinase C (PKC) isozymes identified in rat osteogenic sarcoma cells (UMR‐108) were studied at confluent density and during mechanical stress (cyclic stretch). Western blot analysis indicated that growth to confluent density significantly increased the protein levels of cPKC‐α (11.6‐fold), nPKC‐δ (5.3‐fold), and nPKC‐ϵ (22.0‐fold) but not aPKC‐ζ. Northern blot analysis indicated a significant (2.3‐fold) increase in the 10 kb transcript of cPKC‐α, a slight (1.3‐fold) increase in that of nPKC‐ϵ but no detectable change in that of the remaining isozymes. Enzyme activity assays of the individually immunoprecipitated isozymes yielded detectable kinase activity only for PKC‐α, PKC‐δ, and PKC‐ϵ and only in confluent cells, corroborating the selective increase of these isozymes at confluent density. The UMR‐108 cells showed a dramatic orientation response to mechanical stress with cell reshaping and alignment of the cell long axis perpendicular to the axis of force, remodeling of the actin cytoskeleton, and the appearance of multiple peripheral sites which stained for actin, vinculin, and PKC in separate experiments. Longer term mechanical stress beyond 24 h, however, resulted in no significant change in the mRNA level, protein level, or enzyme activity of any of the four PKC isozymes investigated. The results indicate that there are isozyme‐selective increases in the protein levels of PKC isozymes of osteoblastic UMR‐108 cells upon growth to confluence which may be regulated at the transcriptional or the post‐transcriptional level. The results from UMR‐108 cells support the earlier proposal (Carvalho RS, Scott JE, Suga DM, Yen EH. 1994 . J Bone Miner Res 9(7):999–1011) that PKC could be involved in the early phase of mechanotransduction in osteoblasts through the activation of focal adhesion assembly/disassembly and the remodeling of the actin cytoskeleton. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
On the Italian species of Drusilla Leach, 1819, with a note on D. taygetana Assing (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae, Aleocharinae).

Die in Italien vertretenen Arten der Gattung Drusilla Leach, 1819 werden revidiert. Drei Arten werden nachgewiesen; das Vorkommen einer vierten Art, D. erichsoni (Peyron, 1857), in Italien ist zweifelhaft. Die enorme Variabilitat auserer Merkmale sowie der Spermatheca von D. italica (Bernhauer, 1903) wird beschrieben, abgebildet und diskutiert. Offenbar handelt es sich um klinale - nicht interspezifische oder intersubspezifische - Variabilitat. Fur die drei in Italien sicher nachgewiesenen Arten werden Verbreitungskarten und eine Bestimmungstabelle, die auch D. erichsoni berucksichtigt, erstellt. Die bisher unbekannten mannlichen Sexualmerkmale von D. taygetana Assing, 2005 werden beschrieben und abgebildet.StichworterColeoptera, Staphylinidae, Aleocharinae, Drusilla, Italy, Greece, taxonomy, new records, key to species, distribution.Nomenklatorische Handlungenitalica (Bernhauer, 1903) (Drusilla), Lectotype described as Astilbus italicus
Spatiotemporal contrast sensitivity differs in normal aging and Parkinson's disease

We measured contrast sensitivity for static and laterally drifting vertical gratings in 12 young adults, 7 normal elderly adults, and 8 patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). We compared static and motion contrast sensitivity for spatial frequencies of 0.25,1, and 4 cycles per degree (cpd), and temporal frequencies of 1,3, and 9 Hz. Results show that normal aging leads to a reduction of motion sensitivity for the spatial frequency of 0.25 cpd. Compared with elderly controls, PD patients do not present specific abnormalities in this domain. However, for spatial frequencies of 1 and 4 cpd and temporal frequencies of 1 and 3 Hz, motion sensitivity is worse than static sensitivity in PD patients and not in elderly controls. These findings suggest a specific deficit of motion perception in PD, and possible dopaminergic involvement in the control of visuospatial behavior.
Potential Savings of a Program to Prevent Ankle Sprain Recurrence

Background The most common ankle injury is the lateral ankle sprain. Dutch annual sports-related ankle sprain costs can roughly be estimated at 187,200,000. Research has shown that proprioceptive training accounts for an approximated overall 50% reduction in ankle sprain recurrence rate. Hypothesis An unsupervised proprioceptive training program to reduce the recurrence of lateral ankle sprains will reduce overall health care costs. Design Cohort study (economic analysis); Level of evidence, 2. Methods The study included 522 male and female athletes: 256 athletes (120 female and 136 male) in the intervention group, and 266 athletes (128 female and 138 male) in the control group. Both groups received treatment according to usual care. Athletes allocated to the intervention group received an 8-week proprioceptive training program in addition to usual care. Costs per athlete and costs per injured athlete were calculated. Costs related to ankle sprain recurrences were measured from a societal perspective using cost diaries. Bootstrapping was used to analyze the cost-effectiveness data. Follow-up was 1 year. Results Mean total costs in the intervention group were 81 (standard deviation, 134) per athlete and 114 (325) per injured athlete. Mean overall costs in the control group were 149 (836) per athlete and 447 (1403) per injured athlete. Statistically significant differences in total costs were found per athlete (mean difference, —69; 95% confidence interval, -200 to -2) and per injured athlete (-332; -741 to -62) in favor of the intervention group. A cost-effectiveness plane showed the effect of the intervention was larger and the costs were lower in the intervention group than the control group. Conclusion The use of a proprioceptive training program after usual care of an ankle sprain is cost-effective for the prevention of ankle sprain recurrences in comparison with usual care alone. In the Netherlands, an estimated annual 35.9 million in medical and lost productivity costs can be saved solely by advocating a proprioceptive training program as in the present study.
On the Nature and Origin of Bipolar Electrostatic Structures in the Earth's Bow Shock

We present a statistical analysis of large-amplitude bipolar electrostatic structures measured by Magnetospheric Multiscale spacecraft in the Earth's bow shock. The analysis is based on 371 large-amplitude bipolar structures collected in nine supercritical quasi-perpendicular Earth's bow shock crossings. We find that 361 of the bipolar structures have negative electrostatic potentials, and only 10 structures (< 3%) have positive potentials. The bipolar structures with negative potentials are interpreted in terms of ion phase space holes produced by ion streaming instabilities, particularly the two-stream instability between incoming and reflected ions. We obtain an upper estimate for the amplitudes of the ion phase space holes that is in agreement with the measurements. The bipolar structures with positive potentials could be electron phase space holes produced by electron two-stream instabilities. We argue that the negligible number of electron phase space holes among large-amplitude bipolar structures is due to the electron hole transverse instability, the criterion for which is highly restrictive at ωpe/ωce ≫ 1, a parameter range typical of collisionless shocks in the heliosphere and various astrophysical environments. Our analysis indicates that the original mechanism of electron surfing acceleration involving electron phase space holes is not likely to be efficient in realistic collisionless shocks.
How Different Forms of Health Matter to Political Participation

Physical and mental health is known to have wide influence over most aspects of social life—be it schooling and employment or marriage and broader social engagement—but it has received limited attention in explaining different forms of political participation. We analyze a unique data set with a rich array of objective measures of cognitive and physical well-being and two objective measures of political participation: voting and contributing money to campaigns and parties. For voting, each aspect of health has a powerful effect on par with traditional predictors of participation such as education. In contrast, health has little to no effect on making campaign contributions. We recommend additional attention to the multifaceted effects of health on different forms of political participation.
The Comparison of Four-Port, Two-Port Without Suspension Suture and Single Port Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy Results.

BACKGROUND Single-port surgery has recently become popular, however, many surgeons have to use additional ports during the surgery due to difficulties. OBJECTIVES We performed two-port MCAP (with an additional port using a multi-channel device through the umbilicus) without a suspension suture in a group of patients. We compared the results of this technique to the LC and SILC techniques. MATERIAL AND METHODS A total of 90 patients with gallbladder disease were included in the study. LC (n = 30) and SILC (n = 30) were performed in two groups. The other group underwent cholecystectomy (MCAP) by using an additional 5 mm port through the subxiphoid region with a multi-channel port through the transumblical. A transabdominal suspension suture was not used for the patients in this group. The surgery duration, estimated blood loss, length of hospitalization, visual analogue scale (VAS) score in the postoperative 1st and 7th day, need for analgesia in the postoperative period and complications, and the conversion rate were compared between the three methods. RESULTS A total of 62 females (68.9%) and 28 males (31.1%) participated in the study. MCAP duration was significantly shorter than LC and SILC (38.1 ± 16.6, 49.4 ± 15.8, 77.8 ± 26.7 min respectively) (p < 0.05). The conversion rate was similar in all three groups. Hernia developed in the port area in two patients after SILC (6.7%). No significant difference was found between the groups for the other data we compared. CONCLUSIONS MCAP seems to be an easier technique with a shorter operation time compared to the other two techniques. However, there is a need for other studies to evaluate the cosmetic results.
Effect of alendronate on bone mineral density and biochemical markers of bone turnover in type 2 diabetic women: the fracture intervention trial.

OBJECTIVE Alendronate sodium (ALN) increases bone mineral density (BMD) in heterogeneous populations of postmenopausal women, but its effect is unknown in women with type 2 diabetes. The objective of this project was to compare changes in BMD during 3 years of ALN treatment versus placebo in diabetic women. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS We used data from the Fracture Intervention Trial, a randomized blinded placebo-controlled trial conducted at 11 centers in which 6458 women aged 54-81 years with a femoral neck BMD of <or=0.68 g/cm(2) were randomly assigned to either placebo or 5 mg/day ALN for 2 years, followed by 10 mg/day for the remainder of the trial. BMD was measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Type 2 diabetes (n = 297) was defined by self-report, use of insulin or other hypoglycemic agents, or a random nonfasting glucose value >or=200 mg/dl. RESULTS In diabetic women, 3 years of ALN treatment was associated with increased BMD at all sites studied, including 6.6% at the lumbar spine and 2.4% at the hip, whereas women in the placebo group experienced a decrease in BMD at all sites except the lumbar spine. The safety/tolerability of ALN was similar to placebo, except for abdominal pain, which was more likely in the ALN group. CONCLUSIONS ALN increased BMD relative to placebo in older women with type 2 diabetes and was generally well tolerated as a treatment for osteoporosis. Increases in BMD with ALN therapy compared with placebo were similar between women with and without diabetes.
Distinct functional networks associated with improvement of affective symptoms and cognitive function during citalopram treatment in geriatric depression

Variability in the affective and cognitive symptom response to antidepressant treatment has been observed in geriatric depression. The underlying neural circuitry is poorly understood. This study evaluated the cerebral glucose metabolic effects of citalopram treatment and applied multivariate, functional connectivity analyses to identify brain networks associated with improvements in affective symptoms and cognitive function. Sixteen geriatric depressed patients underwent resting positron emission tomography (PET) studies of cerebral glucose metabolism and assessment of affective symptoms and cognitive function before and after 8 weeks of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor treatment (citalopram). Voxel‐wise analyses of the normalized glucose metabolic data showed decreased cerebral metabolism during citalopram treatment in the anterior cingulate gyrus, middle temporal gyrus, precuneus, amygdala, and parahippocampal gyrus. Increased metabolism was observed in the putamen, occipital cortex, and cerebellum. Functional connectivity analyses revealed two networks which were uniquely associated with improvement of affective symptoms and cognitive function during treatment. A subcortical‐limbic‐frontal network was associated with improvement in affect (depression and anxiety), while a medial temporal‐parietal‐frontal network was associated with improvement in cognition (immediate verbal learning/memory and verbal fluency). The regions that comprise the cognitive network overlap with the regions that are affected in Alzheimer's dementia. Thus, alterations in specific brain networks associated with improvement of affective symptoms and cognitive function are observed during citalopram treatment in geriatric depression. Hum Brain Mapp, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Presumed immune-mediated hemolytic anemia in two foals with Rhodococcus equi infection.

OBJECTIVE To describe the clinical presentation, case management, and outcome in 2 foals with Rhodococcus equi infection associated with presumptive severe immune-mediated hemolytic anemia. SERIES SUMMARY Two foals diagnosed with R. equi pneumonia on the basis of tracheal wash cultures, thoracic radiographs, and thoracic ultrasonography were concurrently diagnosed with hemolytic anemia. Both foals required whole blood transfusions, and were treated with the antimicrobial combination of rifampin and a macrolide (eg, clarithromycin, erythromycin, or azithromycin). Dexamethasone was used to prevent further hemolysis in both foals, and to treat acute lung injury/acute respiratory distress syndrome in 1 of the foals. Both foals survived, and required prolonged antimicrobial therapy. NEW OR UNIQUE INFORMATION PROVIDED Although extra-pulmonary disorders are commonly diagnosed in foals infected with R. equi, hemolytic anemia is rarely described. Dexamethasone is considered the treatment of choice for immune-mediated hemolytic anemia, but may be contra-indicated in foals with severe bacterial infections. In these foals, a relatively low dose and short duration of dexamethasone was utilized in an attempt to minimize immune suppression, although early discontinuation in 1 foal precipitated a second hemolytic crisis.
The Devil Wears Prada? Effects of Exposure to Luxury Goods on Cognition and Decision Making

Although the concept of luxury has been widely discussed in social theories and marketing research, relatively little research has directly examined the psychological consequences of exposure to luxury goods. This paper demonstrates that mere exposure to luxury goods increases individuals’ propensity to prioritize self-interests over others’ interests, influencing the decisions they make. Experiment 1 found that participants primed with luxury goods were more likely than those primed with non-luxury goods to endorse business decisions that benefit themselves but could potentially harm others. Using a word recognition task, Experiment 2 further demonstrates that exposure to luxury is likely to activate self-interest but not necessarily the tendency to harm others. Implications of these findings were discussed.
IL-6 targeting compared to TNF targeting in rheumatoid arthritis: studies of olokizumab, sarilumab and sirukumab

The combination of synthetic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (sDMARDs) such as methotrexate (MTX) and biologic DMARDs (bDMARDs) targeting inflammatory cytokines such as tumour necrosis factor (TNF) has enabled markedly efficient control of disease activity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) with inadequate response to MTX (MTX-IR). 1–7 Although TNF inhibitors have offered pivotal strategies for rheumatologists in daily practice and 20–50% of RA patients treated with TNF inhibitors achieve clinical remission within 6 months, the remaining patients still have active disease and progressive disability. IL-6 is also a pleiotropic cytokine with diverse activities and plays a central role in the pathogenesis of RA by contributing to T cell activation, B cell activation, synoviocyte stimulation, endothelial activation, osteoclast maturation and production of acute-phase proteins. Serum levels of IL-6 and soluble IL-6 receptor (IL-6R) are elevated and correlate with disease activity in RA patients and so blocking IL-6/IL-6R has been considered beneficial for the treatment of RA. In accordance with this, accumulated evidence has shown the clinical efficacy as well as the adequate safety of tocilizumab, a humanised anti-IL-6R monoclonal antibody (mAb), as monotherapy or in combination with sDMARDs such as MTX in patients who are sDMARD naive and have an inadequate response to TNF inhibitors (TNF-IR). 8–13 Tocilizumab was, therefore, approved as a first-line bDMARD in patients responding insufficiently to MTX or other sDMARDs in Japan and Europe. Also, in the 2013 EULAR recommendations for the management of RA, tocilizumab was listed as a first-line TNF inhibitor in patients with sDMARD-IR.14 The successful treatment of RA by tocilizumab has encouraged the development of novel bDMARDs targeting IL-6 or IL-6R. In addition to tocilizumab, the phase II clinical trials of olokizumab, sarilumab and sirukumab, three new bDMARDs targeting IL-6, are reported. Olokizumab is a humanised anti-IL-6 mAb. Genovese et al 15 report the …
Maternal Vitamin D Deficiency Leads to Cardiac Hypertrophy in Rat Offspring

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of vitamin D deficiency from conception until 4 weeks of age on the development of the heart in rat offspring. Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were fed either a vitamin D deplete or vitamin D-replete diet for 6 weeks prior to pregnancy, during pregnancy and throughout lactation. Cardiomyocyte number was determined in fixed hearts of offspring at postnatal day 3 and 4 weeks of age using an optical disector/fractionator stereological technique. In other litters, cardiomyocytes were isolated from freshly excised hearts to determine the proportion of mononucleated and binucleated cardiomyocytes. Maternal vitamin D deficiency had no effect on cardiomyocyte number, cardiomyocyte area, or the proportion of mononucleated/binucleated cardiomyocytes in 3-day-old male and female offspring. Importantly, however, vitamin D deficiency led to an increase in left ventricle (LV) volume that was accompanied by an increase in cardiomyocyte number and size, and in the proportion of mononucleated cardiomyocytes at 4 weeks of age. Our findings suggest that exposure to vitamin D deficiency in utero and early life leads to delayed maturation and subsequent enhanced growth (proliferation and hypertrophy) of cardiomyocytes in the LV. This may lead to altered cardiac function later in life.
Relationship between cell growth and frequency of dividing cells of Microcystis aeruginosa

The validity of the assumption that the specific growth rate of coccoid microorganisms can be expressed as the absolute value of the derivative of frequency of dividing cells (FDC) with respect to time was tested experimentally using a Microcystis aeruginosa strain. FDC was calculated based on the assumption that elongated cells, constricted cells or both may correspond to dividing cells. The specific growth rates that were calculated from the diel changes in FDC were compared with those calculated from the change in the cell density. The results revealed that constricted cells can serve as the optimal dividing cells, and the calculated specific growth rates were statistically identical to those obtained by the change in the cell density.