Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Changes of Altruistic Behavior and Kynurenine Pathway in Late-Life Depression

Background Depressive patients show less altruistic behavior. While, older adults present higher tendencies for altruism than younger adults. Depression and age are two of the influencing factors of altruism, kynurenine (KYN), and its metabolites. However, the characteristics of altruism in late-life depression (LLD) and its possible underlying mechanism have not been studied. Objective We aimed to explore the characteristics of altruism in LLD patients and its neurobiological mechanism and structural brain network. We investigated whether the levels of metabolites in kynurenine pathway (KP) and white matter (WM) network topological features would influence the altruistic behavior in LLD patients. Methods Thirty-four LLD patients and 36 heathy controls (HCs) were included. Altruism was evaluated by the Dictator Game (DG) paradigm. Serum concentrations of KP metabolites were detected by the liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method. The topological features of the WM network were calculated from diffusion tensor imaging data in conjunction with graph-theoretical analysis. Results The LLD participants exhibited a higher level of altruism and WM global network properties than the HCs. Kynurenic acid to kynurenine (KYNA/KYN) ratio was associated with the DG performance in LLD group. KYNA/KYN ratio was associated with the WM network properties in HC group. Conclusions KYN metabolism played an important role in altruistic behavior in LLD.
S100-Alarmins Are Essential Pilots of Postnatal Innate Immune Adaptation

The restricted capacity of newborn infants to mount inflammatory responses toward microbial challenges has traditionally been linked to the high risk of septic diseases during the neonatal period. In recent years, substantial evidence has been provided that this characteristic of the neonatal immune system is actually a meaningful physiologic state that is based on specific transiently active cellular and molecular mechanisms and required for a favorable course of postnatal immune adaptation. The identification of physiologically high amounts of S100-alarmins in neonates has been one of the crucial pieces in the puzzle that contributed to the change of concept. In this context, innate immune immaturity could be redefined and assigned to the epigenetic silence of adult-like cell-autonomous regulation at the beginning of life. S100-alarmins represent an alternative age-specific mechanism of immune regulation that protects neonates from hyperinflammatory immune responses. Here, we summarize how infants are provided with S100-alarmins and why these allow an uneventful clash between the innate immune system and the extrauterine world. The mode of action of S100-alarmins is highlighted including their tuning functions at multiple levels for establishing a state of homeostasis with the environment in the newborn individual.
Crystal Structure, Phase Transitions and Photoferroelectric Properties of KNbO3-Based Lead-Free Ferroelectric Ceramics: A Brief Review

Ferroelectric KNbO3 (KN) ceramics were first fabricated in the 1950s, however, their use in commercial technical applications has been hampered by inherently challenging processing difficulties. In the early 1990s, the interest in KN ceramics was revived by the pursuit of Pb-free piezoceramics. More recently the search for inexpensive photovoltaic materials alternative to Si prompted bandgap engineering studies in KN-based solid solutions. If the ferroelectric and piezoelectric properties of KN-based ceramics are now well established, the understanding of chemical doping on the bandgap of KN-based ceramics is still in its infancy. Here we provide a brief review on the current understanding of the structure-property relationships in this class of materials, which successively covers crystal structures, structural phase transitions, lattice dynamics, polarization, solid solutions and bandgap engineering of KN.
Rigorous Simulation and Analysis of Semiconductor Laser Dynamics Taking Multiple Reflections in the External Cavity into Account

This paper presents a numerical method to obtain, through statistically correct simulation from a set of improved nonlinear stochastic rate equations, a rigorous description of laser dynamics taking multiple reflections in the external cavity into account. From the stochastic rate equations, expressions for the relative intensity noise and frequency noise spectra, taking into account all Langevin noise sources, are presented and utilized to validate the simulation method. It is shown that the main features of the five regimes of feedback effects introduced by Tkach and Chraplyvy, and of other effects, are properly obtained using the numerical simulator presented in this paper.
Modeling Gain Dynamics in EDFAs: Space-Resolved Versus Lumped Models

We present a detailed comparison of dynamic space- and frequency-resolved and lumped erbium-doped fiber amplifier (EDFA) models. The space- and frequency-resolved models are based on an iterative solution of propagation equations for pump, multiple signals, and spectral components of forward and backward propagating amplified spontaneous powers and rate equations for pump, metastable, and ground energy level population densities of erbium ion. In contrast to space-resolved models, the lumped model solves a single ordinary differential equation for time evolution of the length-averaged metastable level population and is therefore substantially less computer time consuming. Both the space, and frequency-resolved and the lumped models give almost identical results when used for an analysis of surviving channel power excursions in concatenated EDFAs fed by multiwavelength signal and add/drop scenarios. For a statistical analysis of output power and signal-tonoise ratio fluctuations in EDFA cascades fed by burst-mode packet traffic, only lumped models can be used.
Ferroelectric Phase in Betaine Phosphite Studied by Raman Scattering

In this work we present a detailed study of the temperature dependence (35 K – 290 K) of the Raman spectra in a single crystal of betaine phosphite. A softening of a relaxational mode is observed above and below the para-ferroelectric phase transition at Tc2∼ 213 K, which appears to have its primary origin in the different internal dynamic deformations and reorientations of molecular units. Our results suggest the existence of a certain degree of local disorder between 110 K and 170 K.
A population model to assess the effect of sex pheromones on population suppression.

KNipLiNG and McGuiRE (1966) presented a simple population model which can be applied to assess the eflectiveness of mass trapping as a method of controlling insect pests. RoELeFs et al. (1970) and MERTiNs et al. <1975) used this model to demonstrate the eflect of removing males with sex pheromone-baited traps on populations of the redbanded leafiroller moth A7kg? rotaenia welutinana and the pine sawfiy Diprion similis, respectively, However, the KNipLiNG and McGuiRE model had an important limitation, namely the number of females mated was determined only by multiplying the prebability ofa male being attracted to a virgin female by the number ofmales. Under this assumption, the number of females mated increases unlimitedly with an increase in the number ofmales, NAKAMuRA and OyAMA (1978) presented an improved model of mating in which its eMciency decreased with an increase in the number ofmales. However, this model is still unrealistic because the mating capacity Df males is assumed to be unrestricted. KuNo (1978) recently proposed a set of models to analyze the mating process of animals. In the present paper, we use one of this equation for mating and develop a population model which can be used to assess the eflbcts of both mass trapping and disruption methods by means of sex pheromones, Simulation tests were conducted to assess the scope and limitations of mass trapping and disruption methods,
Occurrence of ochratoxin A in commodities and processed food – A review of EU occurrence data

A brief review on the occurrence of ochratoxin A in commodities and processed food on the European market (meat and meat products, cereal and cereal products, spices, beer, cocoa and derived products, coffee, wine, dried vine fruits, grape juice) is given in an historical perspective based on two EU project reports from the activity initiated by the European Commission: Scientific cooperation on questions relating to food (SCOOP). The most important commodities contaminated with ochratoxin A are known and the amount of occurrence data is in most cases comprehensive. However, gaps of knowledge exist, e.g. possible year-to-year variations for wine, dried vine fruits and grape juice are not well investigated. In addition, a follow-up on possible improvements in agricultural and processing practices is needed for some of the commodities recently discovered as being contaminated with ochratoxin A, such as coffee, wine, dried vine fruits and grape juice.
Novel roles for B-Raf in mitosis and cancer

xi CHAPTER 1: BACKGROUND AND INTRODUCTION . 1 Mitosis.1 Stages of Mitosis . 1 Organization of the Mitotic Spindle . 7 Spindle Assembly Checkpoint . 9 MAPK Pathway . 13 MAPK Cascade . 13 Regulation and Functions of the ERK 1/2 Pathway . 14 Mitotic Roles of ERK 1/2 . 15 B-Raf Kinase . 20 B-Raf Protein Structure . 20 B-Raf Activation . 21 B-Raf Functions . 24 B-Raf as a Mitotic MEK Kinase . 25 MAPK Pathway in Tumorigenesis . 26 EGFR, Ras and MKPs in Human Cancers.26 B-Raf in Human Cancers . 27 B-Raf as an Oncogene . 29 Mitosis and Cancer . 30 Types of Genomic Instability.31 Mitosis and Aneuploidy . 32 Causal Role for Aneuploidy in Tumorigenesis . 33 Hypotheses and Dissertation Statement . 37 CHAPTER 2: SUBCELLULAR B-RAF LOCALIZATION . 39 Introduction . 39 Results . 40 B-Raf Localizes to Mitotic Structures . 40 B-Raf is Detected at the Mitotic Spindle . 40 B-Raf Interacts with Spindle Microtubules . 43 B-Raf Localizes to the Centrosomes . 45 ii B-Raf is Phosphorylated on Serine 599 and Threonine 602 at Mitotic Structures.49 Phosphorylated B-Raf localizes to the Centrosomes . 49 Phosphorylated B-Raf localizes to Condensed Chromatin . 53 Phosphorylated B-Raf localizes to the Kinetochores . 57 Conclusions . 59 CHAPTER 3: B-RAF PERFORMS CRITICAL MITOTIC FUNCTIONS . 60 Introduction . 60 Results . 61 B-Raf Contributes to Mitotic Spindle Assembly in Xenopus Egg Extracts . 61 Spindle Assembly is Compromised in the Absence of B-Raf in Xenopus Egg Extracts . 61 B-Raf is Necessary for Spindle Formation and Chromosome Congression in Human Somatic Cells . 63 Knockdown of B-Raf by siRNA Inhibits Proper Spindle Formation and Chromosome Congression . 63 C-Raf is Dispensable for Normal Spindle Assembly . 64 B-Raf Regulates Microtubule-Kinetochore Engagement . 68 CENP-E Levels are Elevated at the Kinetochores in the Absence of B-Raf . 68 Microtubules are not Cold Stable in the Absence of B-Raf . 69 B-Raf Regulates the Spindle Assembly Checkpoint . 73 Cells Cycle through Mitosis in the Absence of B-Raf . 73 Induced Spindle Assembly Checkpoint is Compromised in the Absence of B-Raf . 74 B-Raf Depleted Cells Exit Metaphase Prematurely . 79 Kinetochore Localization of Mad2 and Bub1 is Inhibited in the Absence of B-Raf . 79 Conclusions . 81 CHAPTER 4: ONCOGENIC B-RAF DISRUPTS MITOSIS AND CAUSES CHROMOSMAL INSTABILITY . 82 Introduction . 82 Results . 83 B-Raf Expression Promotes Mitotic Abnormalities in Melanoma Cells . 83 B-Raf Status in Melanoma Cells is Associated Mitotic Abnormalities . 84 B-Raf Promotes Spindle Abnormalities and Centrosome Amplification in Human Melanoma Cells . 84 B-Raf Drives Aneuploidy and Chromosomal Instability in SbCl2 Melanoma Cells . 88 B-Raf Induces Aneuploidy in SbCl2 Melanoma Cells . 88
‘Learning’ Development

Abstract How can we prepare for and motivate ongoing improvements in development practice in the world of universal sustainable development goals? International Development Studies courses are a relatively new phenomenon. Earlier, people entered the field with technical backgrounds and learnt on the job. Similarly, many took the road from long-term international volunteering or Junior Expert/Junior Professional Officer posts, and moved into a career in international development [Baillie Smith, M. and N. Laurie, 2011, ‘International volunteering and development: Global citizenship and neoliberal professionalisation today’, Transactions of the Institute of British Geographers; Devereux, P., 2008, ‘International volunteering for development and sustainability: Outdated paternalism or a radical response to globalisation? ’, Development in Practice, Vol. 18, No. 3, pp. 357–370; White, P., 2015, ‘The spectrum of motivations, experiences and attitudes in technical development cooperation’, Forum for Development Studies, Vol. 42, No. 1, pp. 89–112]. More recently, development studies courses have emerged. Are they finding the right balance between critical approaches, history and vocational skills? A difference in motivations and expectations between early and mid-late career Finnish development workers was found from earlier research (White, 2015). With this case study we add a focus on the pre-career stage (via questionnaires and interviews), considering the motivations of Finnish development studies students in first year, postgraduate studies and after graduation. The article acknowledges the range of motivations and experience of those engaged with international development. It also considers the tension between critical theory and vocational skills. Competencies for development practice encompass a combination of theoretical knowledge, technical skills, administrative know-how and attitudinal factors. We conclude that co-production, combining academic courses and research, including reflective and experiential practice, is a positive step forward.
No Issue, No Problem? Co-education in Dutch Secondary Physical Education during the Twentieth Century

This article places the current state of Dutch co-education in physical education into a longitudinal perspective. Occasionally, comparisons are made with Germany and England. The dominant, twentieth-century, co-educational tradition in the Netherlands--including its pragmatic argumentation-- has influenced educational ideals, as well as school practice, with respect to physical education. Due to a historical lack of fundamental discussions about co-education, today's problems relating to nationwide co-education in Dutch physical education programmes are trivialised. This is highlighted within this article by an analysis of the only manual on co-education ever published in the Netherlands. In conclusion, the article suggests that because co-education is not regarded as a controversial issue in the Netherlands, gender problems in physical education are neglected.
Papaya Fruit Quality Management during the Postharvest Supply Chain

Papayas are popular in tropical and subtropical regions and are being exported in large volumes to Europe, the United States, and Japan. The fruit has a sweet, exotic flavor and is rich in vitamins A and C and antioxidants. However, due to its highly perishable nature, it has not emerged as a major traded fruit. Papayas are highly susceptible to qualitative and quantitative postharvest losses. Maintenance of papaya fruit quality during the supply chain depends on orchard management, harvesting practices, packing operations, postharvest treatments, temperature management, and transportation and storage conditions. Postharvest losses are attributed to mechanical damage, rapid flesh softening, decay, physiological disorders, pest infestation, and improper temperature management. The aim of postharvest technology and management in the supply chain is to provide favorable conditions to extend storage life and retain quality and nutritional attributes. This review focuses on the available research findings to retain overall papaya fruit quality and to reduce postharvest losses during the supply chain via adopting appropriate or novel postharvest technologies.
Susceptibility of several insecticides on three aphids

Differences in susceptibility of several organophosphate, carbamate and pyrethroid insecticides to three aphids species were determined by leaf-dipping and spray methods. The insects tested were the apterous adults of the green peach aphid (Myzus persicae), cotton aphid (Aphis gossypii) and soybean aphid (Aphis glycines). The comparison of LC50 levels was indicated as follows: (1) The susceptibility to insecticides tested were greatly varied with the test methods. (2) The leaf-dipping method is more recommendable than the spray method for c insecticide screening with aphids. It was easier, more accurate and less variable than the latter. (3) The susceptibility to insecticides was greatly varied between the aphid species. Soybean aphid was more susceptible to the insecticides than green peach aphid and cotton aphid. Exceptionally, pirimicarb was not effective on the cotton aphid.
The Influence of Cu and Mg Dopant on the Microwave Properties of PVC

The effect of Cu and Mg doping at Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) site on the the dielectric properties of (PVC) 1 − x M x in powder form with various M and x in powder form is investigated [M = Cu and Mg & (0.00 < x < 0.20]. The permittivity ϵ ′ and the loss factor ϵ” at 11.01 GHz and room temprature of PVC in pure form as well as with some conducting impurities are measured. It is found that the permittivity ϵ ′ and the loss factor ϵ” are increaseing with doping content. These values are found to be higher in Mg doped samples as compared to Cu doped samples. Similar behaviour is also reported for the conductivity and relaxation time which are calculated for the considered samples. Our results are discussed in terms of parameters atomic structure, density and random distribution.
Effect of mycorrhizal inoculation on nodule initiation, activity and contribution to legume productivity.

L'effet du champignon mycorhizien Glomus macrocarpum sur les premiers stades de l'interaction Rhizobium-legumineuse est etudie dans un sol pauvre en P, en conditions controlees. L'etablissement de mycorhizes vesiculo-arbusculaires est compare chez Medicago sativa et Trifolium alexandrinum inocules ou non avec Rhizobium
PHYTIC ACID

Since its discovery, phytic acid has been categorized as an antinutritional component in cereals and legumes. Research has traditionally focused on its unique structure that gives it the ability to bind minerals, proteins, and starch, and the resulting detrimental effects. Phytic acid (PA) has also been attributed to high phosphorus excretion by monogastric animals and the resulting environmental problems of phosphorus pollution of water and soil. Although all of these concerns are valid, the development of phytases has offered solutions to overcome some of these adverse effects. With more understanding of the effects of phytic acid, many of the adverse effects can be overcome. In addition, more recent research has proposed that the same properties that labeled phytic acid as an antinutrient may in fact be responsible for a wide range of benefits. Many new areas for phytic acid utilization including medical and industrial applications have been proposed. This review will give a general overview of the structure and function of phytic acid and phytases, phytic acid as a component of food and animal feed, industrial applications, and medicinal qualities in order to better understand the complete phytic acid system.
Metazoários parasitos de Pterygoplichthys pardalis (Castelnau, 1855) (Siluriformes: Loricariidae) da Amazônia central, Brasil.

Foi estudada a fauna de metazoarios parasitos de Pterygoplichthys pardalis capturados no rio Amazonas e adquiridos em feiras da cidade de Manaus durante o periodo de agosto de 2006 a maio de 2007. Cinco especies de helmintos foram encontradas: duas de Monogenoidea, Unilatus sp. e Heteropriapulus sp. ; duas de Digenea, uma de metacercaria de Austrodiplostomum compactum nos olhos, estomago e gonadas, uma de Megacoelium spinicavum no estomago; uma de Acanthocephala Gorytocephalus sp. no intestino.
Quorum Sensing Regulation and Inhibition of Exoenzyme Production and Biofilm Formation in the Food Spoilage Bacteria Pseudomonas psychrophila PSPF19

Gram-negative bacteria use the mechanism of acylated homoserine lactone (AHL) mediated quorum-sensing to regulate gene expression in response to population density. The present work aimed to detect signal molecule production and its influence on the production of food spoilage phenotypes such as exoenzyme (lipases and proteases) synthesis and biofilm formation in Pseudomonas psychrophila PSPF19, isolated from freshwater fish stored in refrigerated conditions. The C4-HSL signaling molecule produced by the isolate induced exoenzyme production by twofold and increased attachment and biofilm formation. Further, studies on the effect of a synthetic quorum sensing inhibitor, furanone C-30 on protease and lipase production and biofilm formation, revealed that it inhibited exoenzyme production and bacterial attachment. This study adds to our understanding that quorum sensing plays a role in the low temperature spoilage of foods by psychrotrophic Pseudomonads and quorum sensing inhibitors such as furanones can be developed as new intervention techniques and food preservatives.
Significant Differences in RNA Structure Destabilization by HIV-1 Gag∆p6 and NCp7 Proteins

Retroviral nucleocapsid (NC) proteins are nucleic acid chaperones that play distinct roles in the viral life cycle. During reverse transcription, HIV-1 NC facilitates the rearrangement of nucleic acid secondary structures, allowing the transactivation response (TAR) RNA hairpin to be transiently destabilized and annealed to a complementary RNA hairpin. In contrast, during viral assembly, NC, as a domain of the group-specific antigen (Gag) polyprotein, binds the genomic RNA and facilitates packaging into new virions. It is not clear how the same protein, alone or as part of Gag, performs such different RNA binding functions in the viral life cycle. By combining single-molecule optical tweezers measurements with a quantitative mfold-based model, we characterize the equilibrium stability and unfolding barrier for TAR RNA. Comparing measured results with a model of discrete protein binding allows us to localize affected binding sites, in addition to quantifying hairpin stability. We find that, while both NCp7 and Gag∆p6 destabilize the TAR hairpin, Gag∆p6 binding is localized to two sites in the stem, while NCp7 targets sites near the top loop. Unlike Gag∆p6, NCp7 destabilizes this loop, shifting the location of the reaction barrier toward the folded state and increasing the natural rate of hairpin opening by ~104. Thus, our results explain why Gag cleavage and NC release is an essential prerequisite for reverse transcription within the virion.