Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Post‐transcriptional regulation of the AT1 receptor mRNA: identification and functional characterization of the mRNA binding motif

The expression of the angiotensin AT1 receptor is regulated predominately via post‐transcriptional mechanisms. Angiotensin II reduces the AT1 receptor mRNA half‐life from approximately 6 to 2 h, as assessed by experiments under transcriptional blockade and by in vitro mRNA decay assays in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC). UV light‐treated mRNA‐protein cross‐link assays revealed that the AT1 receptor mRNA interacts with at least six polysomal proteins at its 3′‐end. Multiple mutational studies demonstrated that several binding proteins associated with the AT1 receptor mRNA at bases 2175‐2195. Stimulation of VSMC with angiotensin II significantly enhanced the binding of 50 and 60 kDa proteins to the 3′‐untranslated region of the AT1 receptor mRNA. Transfection decoy assays with AT1 receptor mRNA transcript bases 1864‐2213, 2175‐2213, and 2175‐2195 led to a significantly increased basal expression of AT1 receptor mRNA and inhibited angiotensin II‐induced AT1 receptor mRNA down‐regulation. In vitro decay assays revealed that competition of binding of polysomal proteins to bases 2175‐2195 stabilizes the AT1 receptor mRNA. Polysomal proteins thus bind to the 3′‐untranslated region of the AT1 receptor mRNA at the nucleotide sequence 2175‐2195. This protein‐mRNA interaction is decisively involved in the destabilization of the AT1 receptor mRNA by angiotensin II.
Respiratory Physiology of Diving in the Sea Turtle

REEVES, R. B. 1972. An imidazole alphastat hypothesis for vertebrate acid-base regulation: Tissue carbon dioxide content and body temperature in bullfrogs. Respir. Physiol. 14:219-236. -. 1977. The interaction of body temperature and acid-base balance in ectothermic vertebrates. Ann. Rev. Physiol. 39:559-586. RHODIN, A. G.J. 1985. Comparative chondro-osseus development and growth of marine turtles. Copeia 1985:752-771.
Germ‐free C57BL/6J mice are resistant to high‐fat‐diet‐induced insulin resistance and have altered cholesterol metabolism

Recent studies showed that germ‐free (GF) mice are resistant to obesity when consuming a high‐fat, high‐carbohydrate Western diet. However, it remains unclear what mechanisms are involved in the antiobesity phenotype and whether GF mice develop insulin resistance and dyslipidemia with high‐fat (HF) feeding. In the present study, we compared the metabolic consequences of HF feeding on GF and conventional (conv) C57BL/6J mice. GFmice consumed fewer calories, excreted more fecal lipids, and weighed significantly less than conv mice. GF/HF animals also showed enhanced insulin sensitivity with improved glucose tolerance, reduced fasting and nonfasting insuline‐mia, and increased phospho‐Akt(Ser‐473) in adipose tissue. In association with enhanced insulin sensitivity, GF/HF mice had reduced plasma TNF‐α and total serum amyloid A concentrations. Reduced hypercholes‐terolemia, a moderate accretion of hepatic cholesterol, and an increase in fecal cholesterol excretion suggest an altered cholesterol metabolism in GF/HF mice. Pronounced nucleus SREBP2 proteins and up‐regulation of cholesterol biosynthesis genes indicate that enhanced cholesterol biosynthesis contributed to the cholesterol homeostasis in GF/HF mice. Our results demonstrate that fewer calorie consumption and increased lipid excretion contributed to the obesity‐resistant phenotype of GF/HF mice and reveal that insulin sensitivity and cholesterol metabolism are metabolic targets influenced by the gut microbiota. — Rabot, S. , Membrez, M. , Bruneau, A. , Gerard, P., Harach, T. , Moser, M. , Raymond, F. , Mansourian, R. , Chou. C. J. Germ‐free C57BL/6J mice are resistant to high‐fat‐diet‐induced insulin resistance and have altered cholesterol metabolism. FASEB J. 24, 4948–4959 (2010). www.fasebj. org
The turf-forming alga Gelidium crinale (Florideophyceae, Rhodophyta) on Atlantic Patagonian coasts

Abstract We describe for the first time the morphology of Gelidium crinale from its natural habitat in Atlantic Patagonia with special consideration of diagnostic characters. Observations and morphometric measurements were done on fresh specimens using scanning electron and inverted light microscopy. This report is a new record for Atlantic Patagonian coasts. The thalli comprise prostrate and erect axes; they are subterete at the base and compressed to flattened at the apices. The basal parts are scarcely and irregularly branched, while the apical parts are highly ramified and subdichotomously branched. The lengths of thalli and the ramification patterns differ from previous descriptions, and were variable between seasons and life history phases. “Brush-like” haptera confirmed the identity of the algae as members of the Gelidiaceae. Internal rhizoidal filaments are abundant and distributed in groups throughout the medulla. The life history was of the “Polysiphonia-type”; occurrences of carposporophytes and tetrasporophytes were variable.
The chemokine CCL18 generates adaptive regulatory T cells from memory CD4+ T cells of healthy but not allergic subjects

The purpose of this study was to assess the direct effect of CCL18’ a chemokine elevated in allergic diseases and induced by Th2 cytokines’ on the polarization of human CD4+ T cells. Purified human T cells from healthy subjects were pretreated or not with CCL18’ and evaluated for cytokine production. CCL18‐pretreated memory but not naive CD4+ T cells exhibited an increased production of IL‐10 (12.3±2.6 vs. 5.6±0.9 ng/ml for medium) and TGF‐β 1 but not IL‐4’ IFN‐Y’ and IL‐17 compared with control cells. Pretreatment of highly purified CD4+CD25” memory T cells with CCL18 led to their conversion to CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ regulatory T cells able to inhibit the proliferation of CD4+CD25– effector T cells by both cytokine and cell contact‐dependent mechanisms. However’ this regulatory effect of CCL18 was lost when T cells originated from allergic subjects in relation with a decreased binding of CCL18 to these cells [0.7±0.3 mean fluorescence intensity (MFI)] as compared to those from healthy subjects (6.0±1.7 MFI). This study is the first to define a chemokine that generates adaptive regulatory T cells from CD4+CD25– memory T cells. This mechanism appears defective in allergic patients and may underlie the decreased tolerance observed in allergic diseases. —Chang’ Y. ’ de Nadai’ P.’ Azza‐oui’ I. ’ Morales’ O. ’ Delhem’ N. ’ Vorng’ H. ’ Tomavo’ S. ’ Ait Yahia’ S. ’ Zhang’ G. ’ Wallaert’ B. ’ Chenivesse’ C. ’ Tsicopou‐los’ A. The chemokine CCL18 generates adaptive regulatory T cells from memory CD4+ T cells of healthy but not allergic subjects. FASEBJ. 24’ 5063–5072 (2010). www.fasebj. org
Corrigendum

Bell, H. A. , Marris, G. C. , Prickett, A. J. and Edwards, J. P. (2005). Influence of host size on the clutch size and developmental success of the gregarious ectoparasitoid Eulophus pennicornis (Nees) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) attacking larvae of the tomato moth Lacanobia oleracea (L.) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). J. Exp. Biol. 208, 3199-3209. The family of the parasitoid Eulophus pennicornis was incorrectly stated in the title of this article as Braconidae. This should, in fact, have read Eulophidae. The correct title of the article should be: Influence of host size on the clutch size and developmental success of the gregarious ectoparasitoid Eulophus pennicornis (Nees) (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) attacking larvae of the tomato moth Lacanobia oleracea (L.) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). The authors apologise for this error.
Goitrogenic effect of deoiled mustard-cake (Brassica juncea) in Japanese quail

Japanese quails fed deoiled mustard-cake replacing groundnut-cake at 50 and 100% levels. showed significant decrease of body-weight gain and increase in weight of the thyroid glands. There were also significant decrease of serum protein. protein bound iodine and thyroxine (T4). and increase of cholesterol concentrations in the birds suggesting the goitrogenic properties of the cake at these levels. Pathological lesions featured both colloid and hyperplastic goitre. Birds fed deoiled mustard-cake meal at 30% level showed no goitrogenic syndrome.
Errata

In the article, “Generation of an efficiently secreted, cell penetrating NFB inhibitor,” by Apostolos Koutsokeras, Nirupam Purkayastha, Anne Rigby, Maria C. Subang, Michelle Sclanders, Sandrine Vessillier, Lisa Mullen, Yuti Chernajovsky, and David Gould, published in FASEB J. January 2014 28:373–381; doi:10.1096/fj.13-236570, the second author’s surname has been misspelled: the correct spelling should be “Purkayastha. ” This article has been corrected online.
Just facilitating access or dealing with diversity? Non-traditional students' demands at a Spanish university

More and more the university institutions welcome a heterogeneous student population. In this article we analyse the main characteristics and needs of the so-called 'NonTraditional Students' in order to contribute to the development of more equitable conditions and improve their participation and holistic development. To this end, a qualitative study has been carried out at a Spanish university, which explored the experience of a diverse group of this type of student body. The results pointed out to a high level of motivation, determination and greater effort on the part of the group, in comparison with their mates. However, the traditional pedagogy was not suited to their characteristics and created difficulties for them. Few teachers were truly flexible with these students, since an egalitarian (rather than equitable) conception of pedagogical action prevailed. Among other things, we conclude by claiming a comprehensive and personalised education, adapted to their needs.
Extracting Protein from Antarctic Krill (Euphausia superba)

ABSTRACT The isoelectric solubilization/precipitation (ISP) process was applied to Antarctic krill protein extraction. The solubility of Antarctic krill proteins and their fluoride content were studied between pH 1.00–13.75. The previous krill protein extraction conditions using ISP were improved. Excess fluoride in Antarctic krill was removed using a water-washing method according to its solubility. To save water, a multistage countercurrent system was used to optimize the ISP method. The results showed that the solubility of Antarctic krill proteins reached a minimum at pH 4.5 and a maximum at pH 13.5, while the concentration of dissolved fluoride was relatively unchanged (16.78–20.50 mg/L), with pH 2.00–13.50. Water-washing 4 times could reduce fluoride 98.14 ± 0.01% from krill with about a 5.14 ± 0.21% protein loss. The reduction allows krill protein to meet the Chinese National Standard (GB 2762-2005) for fluoride. Meanwhile, the four-stage countercurrent system achieved almost the same high fluoride removal rate (98.58 ± 0.01%) using only 25% of the water.
A Single Centre Randomised Control Study to Assess the Impact of Pre-Operative Carbohydrate Loading on Women Undergoing Major Surgery for Epithelial Ovarian Cancer

Objective Historically, patients have fasted before elective surgery to ensure an empty stomach to avoid aspiration. A fasting-induced catabolic state however may adversely influence recovery after surgery. Our study was designed to test the effect of oral carbohydrate loading on clinical parameters in patients undergoing major surgery for advanced-stage ovarian cancer. Methods A double-blinded single-centre randomised trial was designed to recruit 110 patients with advanced-stage epithelial ovarian cancer undergoing either primary surgery, or neoadjuvant chemotherapy prior to debulking surgery. Following written informed consent, the patients were randomised into two groups. Group 1 received the carbohydrate drink (intervention) and group 2 received flavoured water (placebo). The quantity of fluid in both groups was 800ml the night before the surgery and 400ml two hours before the induction of anaesthesia. The primary endpoint of the study was the Length of Hospital Stay (LoHS); the secondary parameters assessed were pain scores, nausea and vomiting scores, bowel function, and postoperative complication rate. Results Between March 2009 and December 2011, 80 patients were randomised and 75 completed the study. A decision was made to close the trial early as a change in routine clinical practice meant that patients were admitted on the day of surgery rather than a day before. Analysis of the data revealed that there were no significant differences between the study groups in terms of LoHS and other clinical parameters. Conclusion In this single-center study, which failed to recruit the planned number of patients, we were unable to demonstrate that oral carbohydrate intake pre-operatively has significant impact on the recovery process or the length of hospitalisation postoperatively. Future studies should examine all aspects of an Enhanced Recovery Program after Surgery as a package as compared to a single element to enhance patient outcome.
Involvement of sphingomyelinase in insulin‐induced phosphatidylinositol 3‐kinase activation

Insulin plays a key role in regulating a wide range of cellular functions. Most functions of insulin are believed to occur through activation of phosphatidylinositol‐3 kinase (PI‐3 kinase) signaling pathways. The present study demonstrates that insulin, C2‐ceramide, or phosphocholine (PCho) induced a strong activation of PI‐3 kinase activity. This activation was dramatically inhibited by either pretreatment of cells with wortmannin, a widely used PI‐3 kinase inhibitor, or constitutive overexpression of a dominant negative p85 subunit of PI‐3 kinase (ΔΡ85). Insulin‐induced activation of PI‐3 kinase was observed only in the normal human lymphoblast cell line, JY, but not in the sphingomyelinase (SMase)‐deficient cell line, MS1418. The PI‐3 kinase activation in MS1418 cells could be restored by exposure of the cells to either SMase, C2‐ceramide, or PCho. These data provide direct evidence that SMase and its products act as mediators in insulin‐induced activation of PI‐3 kinase.
An indispensable role of secretin in mediating the osmoregulatory functions of angiotensin II

Fluid balance is critical to life and hence is tightly controlled in the body. Angiotensin II (ANGII), one of the most important components of this regulatory system, is recognized as a dipsogenic hormone that stimulates vasopressin (VP) expression and release. However, detailed mechanisms regarding how ANGII brings about these changes are not fully understood. In the present study, we show initially that the osmoregu‐latory functions of secretin (SCT) in the brain are similar to those of ANGII in mice and, more important, we discovered the role of SCT as the link between ANGII and its downstream effects. This was substantiated by the use of two knockout mice, SCTR–/– and SCT–/–, in which we show the absence of an intact SCT/secretin receptor (SCTR) axis resulted in an abolishment or much reduced ANGII osmoregulatory functions. By immunohistochemical staining and in situ hybridization, the proteins and transcripts of SCT and its receptor are found in the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) and lamina terminalis. We propose that SCT produced in the circumventricular organs is transported and released in the PVN to stimulate vasopres‐sin expression and release. In summary, our findings identify SCT and SCTR as novel elements of the ANGII osmoregulatory pathway in maintaining fluid balance in the body. —Lee, V. H. Y. , Lee, L. T. O. , Chu, J. Y. S. , Lam, I. P. Y. , Siu, F. K Y, Vaudry, H. , Chow, B. K C. An indispensable role of secretin in mediating the osmoregulatory functions of angiotensin II. FASEB J. 24, 5024–5032 (2010). www.fasebj. org
MiR-708-5p as a Predictive Marker of Colorectal Cancer Prognosis

Background : MicroRNAs (miRNA) are short non-coding RNA that act as negative regulators of gene expression. Altered levels of miR-708-5p have recently been described in many tumors, although its contribution in colorectal cancer (CRC) pathophysiology remains unclear. Methods/Patients : Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction was employed to evaluate the expression of miR-708-5p in 50 CRC and 20 paired adjacent noncancerous tissues. The relationship between miRNA levels and clinicopathological features was estimated using the Mann-Whitney test, and survival curves calculated by the Kaplan-Meier method. Additionally, in vitro assays were performed to investigate the possible role of miR-708-5p on CRC cell survival. Results : The expression level of miR-708-5p was significantly decreased in CRC tissues (3.79 fold-change, p=0.0112) when compared with non-neoplastic colon samples. Paired analysis in 20 CRC samples with their corresponding adjacent non-neoplastic tissue showed miR-708 downregulation in 60% of them. The same pattern was seen in DLD1 and HT-29 cell lines (~50-fold decrease). Interestingly, higher expression is observed in patients with poor prognosis such as stage III/IV, relapse/metastasis and death, and shorter 5-year event free survival. Exogenous expression of miR-708 exerted a significant influence on clonogenicity in vitro . Conclusion : These results suggest that reduced miR-708-5p expression may contribute to the first stages of colorectal carcinogenesis. A shift in the regulation of miR-708-5p might operate in more severe stages of the disease. It seems that lower levels of miR-708 expression might connote less advanced disease and better prognosis. Further studies are needed to corroborate our results and better elucidate the role of miR-708 in CRC.
Voltage Variations and Composite Solid Insulation Effects on Electrical Tree Propagation Based on Finite Element Method

This paper investigates the effect of the voltage variations and the change of solid insulation material on the initiation and propagation of Electrical Tree (ET) through solid dielectrics based on the application of Finite Element Method (FEM) approach using the environmental domain of [COMSOL Multiphysics 𝟓. 𝟑𝒂] program as an innovative way to be used in the complicated study of Electrical Treeing Phenomenon (ETP). This research provides an innovative solution to suppress the initiation point of ET and suppress its growth rates using a composite solid insulation material of Poly – Vinyl Chloride (PVC) and Cross – Linked Polyethylene (XLPE) regardless to the mechanical features of this composition. In this research, the study cases are conducted for High Voltage (HV) and Extra High Voltage (EHV) power system networks as the effect of ETP is to be observed clearly. Simulation model is used in this research to imitate the proposed hyperbolic needle – plane system. Case studies are compared between each others to validate the results
Stroma‐generated cyclic ADP‐ribose stimulates the expansion of early human hemopoietic progenitors by a paracrine interaction

Both mammalian ectoenzymes CD38 and BST‐1, which convert NAD+ into the potent intracellular calcium regulator cyclic ADP‐ribose (cADPR), are expressed in the bone marrow microenvironment. Therefore, we investigated the effect of extracellular cADPR on human long‐term culture‐initiating cells (LTC‐IC), the most immature hemopoietic progenitors (HP). A threefold expansion of LTC‐IC was elicited by exposure of cord blood mononuclear cells for 24 h either to micromolar concentrations of exogenously added cADPR or to the nanomolar concentrations of cADPR that are produced by CD38‐transfected murine stromal cell lines cocultured with the HP. The latter effect was due to connexin 43‐mediated release of NAD+ from feeder cells and to subsequent CD38‐catalyzed generation of cADPR at their outer surface. The increased [Ca2+]i induced in the feeder cells by autocrinally generated cADPR, however, increased production of interferon γ, a potent hemopoiesis‐inhibiting cytokine. Thus, long‐term culture (5 wk) of HP over undiluted CD38+ feeders decreased LTC‐IC output by 90%, whereas a fivefold increase was observed when HP were cultured over a mixed CD38+/− feeder (1:10), whose ecto‐ADP‐ribosyl cyclase activity was as low as that expressed by native human stroma. These results demonstrate a new paracrine role for cADPR in the regulation of human hemopoiesis.
Some aspects of the biology of West African Ilisha (Ilisha africana, Bloch 1795) from the coast of Ghana, West Africa

Studies on fish biology are essential for sustainable management and conservation of fish biodiversity (Solomon et al., 2012). Reproductive potential of a population is one of the basic elements to designate the individuals of that population with respect to their gonadal conditions (Jhingran and Verma, 1972). Knowledge of reproductive biology of fish is essential for evaluating the commercial potentialities of its stock, life history, culture practice and management of its fishery (Doha and Hye, 1970; Cortes, 2000; Soofiani et al., 2006; Dopeikar et al., 2015). The information on different aspects of the ARTICLE INFO ABSTRACT Article History: Received: June 30, 2020 Accepted: Aug. 18, 2020 Online: Aug. 27, 2020 _______________
Balsam Fir Dominant Species Under Rethinned Northern White-Cedar

A 20-year thinning study in a Wisconsin swamp stand of middle-aged northern white-cedar indicates that advance tree reproduction and shrubs grow little under after a second thinning to less than 150 square feet of basal area per acre. Balsam fir will probably dominate this undergrowth, particularly if the area is used heavily by snowshoe hare or white-tailed deer.
Expression of human collagenase‐3 (MMP‐13) by fetal skin fibroblasts is induced by transforming growth factor‐β via p38 mitogen‐activated protein kinase

Human collagenase‐3 (MMP‐13) is characterized by wide substrate specificity and limited tissue specific expression. We have previously noted that human collagenase‐3 (MMP‐13) is expressed by gingival fibroblasts in culture and during gingival wound repair characterized by minimal scarring. Here we show that human MMP‐13 is expressed by dermal fibroblasts during early wound repair in fetal skin grafted on SCID mice. The expression of MMP‐13 by fetal skin fibroblasts in monolayer culture was enhanced by transforming growth factor β1 (TGF‐βΙ) and TGF‐β3, whereas MMP‐13 expression was not detected in neonatal skin fibroblasts. Treatment of fetal skin fibroblasts with TGF‐β1 potently activated p38 mitogen‐activated protein kinase (MAPK). Induction of MMP‐13 expression by TGF‐β1 was blocked by p38 MAPK inhibitor SB203580, and by adenovirally delivered dominant negative form of p38α. These observations demonstrate a remarkable difference in the regulation of collagenolytic capacity between fetal and neonatal skin fibroblasts, which suggests a role for MMP‐13 in rapid turnover of collagenous matrix during repair of fetal cutaneous wounds, which heal without scar.
Factors influencing survival of vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhiza propagules during topsoil storage

SUMMARY (1) The survival dynamics of vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi were determined, (using a bioassay procedure) for soils stored from 0 5 to 6.0 years in topsoil stockpiles associated with a coal surface-mine in the western United States. (2) Propagule mortality could best be related to in situ soil moisture potential using a piecewise regression model (R2 = 0.57; P < 0.001) with the breaking point occurring at -2 MPa. (3) The addition of length of storage time was found to contribute significantly to the accuracy of the model (R2 = 0-70; P < 0 001). In addition, the piece-wise nature of the data suggested two separate populations of VAM fungi-those propagules found in soils with moisture potentials less than -2 MPa and those occurring in soils with mositure potentials greater than -2 MPa. (4) Soil moisture and length of storage time had differing effects on each of these populations. When water potential was less than -2 MPa, moisture was an important predictor of inoculum (P < 0.001), while length of storage had little predictive capability (P = 0 17), However, when water potentials were greater than -2 MPa, the predictive importance of soil moisture (P = 0 86) and length of storage (P = 0-04) were reversed. (5) The significance of these findings to topsoil replacement and subsequent plant community development are discussed.