Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Protein crystals in Haplogloia kuckuckii (Chordariales, Phaeophyceae): another mechanism for nitrogen storage in brown algae?

Abstract Cellular inclusions up to 18 μm long, with a crystalline outline and periodic substructure, were found in axial filaments of Haplogloia kuckuckii Kylin. Lateral assimilatory filaments did not contain inclusions. Light-microscopic cytochemical tests indicated that the crystals were proteinaceous. Protein-staining procedures, aniline blue-black and chloramine-T Schiff's, produced positive reactions, whereas the periodic acid Schiff's test for carbohydrates gave a negative result. Transmission electron microscopy revealed crystals in the cytoplasm, each one bounded by a membrane that conformed closely to the crystal surface. The crystal matrix had a periodicity of 10 nm. Some crystals showed shells of varying matrix density, possibly representing deposition layers. Crevices and membranous tubules penetrated into the matrix from the crystal surface. The possible ecological significance of nitrogen storage in the form of protein inclusions in this and other brown algae is considered.
Cellular Nickel-Yttria/Zirconia (Ni–YSZ) Cermet Foams: Manufacturing, Microstructure and Properties

Open-celled ceramic composite foams were prepared from NiO and yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) powders by the polymer sponge replication (Schwartzwalder) technique using the respective aqueous dispersions. Mechanically stable NiO–YSZ foams with an average porosity of 93 vol.% were obtained. After chemical reduction of the NiO phase with hydrogen, cellular Ni–YSZ cermet structures were obtained. They are characterized by an electric conductivity up to 19∙103 S∙m−1 which can be adjusted by both, the Ni volume fraction, and the sintering/reduction procedure. The NiO–YSZ ceramic foams, as well as the cellular Ni–YSZ cermets prepared therefrom, were characterized with respect to their microstructure by scanning electron microscopy, confocal Raman microscopy and X-ray diffraction with Rietveld analysis. In addition, the compressive strength, the electric conductivity and the thermal conductivity were determined. The collected data were then correlated to the sample microstructure and porosity and were also applied for modelling of the mechanical and electric properties of the bulk Ni–YSZ strut material.
Resonance of Superconducting Microstrip Antenna with Aperture in the Ground Plane

This paper presents a rigorous full-wave analysis of a high Tc superconducting rectangular microstrip antenna with a rectangular aperture in the ground plane. To include the effect of the superconductivity of the microstrip patch in the full-wave analysis, a complex surface impedance is considered. The proposed approach is validated by comparing the computed results with previously published data. Results showing the effect of the aperture on the resonance of the superconducting microstrip antenna are given.
The Combined Impact of Chronic Kidney Disease and Diabetes on the Risk of Colorectal Cancer Depends on Sex: A Nationwide Population-Based Study

Purpose Although both chronic kidney disease (CKD) and diabetes mellitus (DM) are considered factors increasing the risk of colorectal cancer (CRC), their impact on CRC is not fully understood. This study was aimed to investigate the impact of CKD, DM, or both diseases on the risk of CRC and to evaluate sex differences therein. Materials and Methods Using data from the National Health Insurance Service–Health Examination Cohort in Korea, we conducted a 1:2 matched case-control study. The disease groups consisted of CKD−/DM+ (n=17700), CKD+/DM− (n=22643), and CKD+/DM+ groups (n=8506). After 1:2 matching by age, sex, and health examination year and month, the healthy control group consisted of 97698 individuals. Results Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that the CKD−/DM+, CKD+/DM−, and CKD+/DM+ groups were independently associated with an increased incidence of CRC, compared with controls [hazard ratio (HR), 1.34, 1.31, and 1.63, respectively; all p<0.001]. Compared to the controls, adjusted HRs for the cumulative incidence of CRC in the CKD−/DM+, CKD+/DM−, and CKD+/DM+ groups were, respectively, 1.32, 1.26, and 1.43 in male and 1.38, 1.39, and 2.00 in female. The HR for CRC incidence was significantly higher for the CKD+/DM+ group than for the CKD−/DM+ or CKD+/DM− group in female; however, this significant difference was not observed in male. Conclusion In female, having both CKD and DM significantly increases the risk of CRC, compared with having CKD or DM alone. This study suggests a significant difference in the effect of CKD or DM on the risk of CRC according to sex.
Predictors of functional improvement in the short term after MitraClip implantation in patients with secondary mitral regurgitation

Background and objectives MitraClip implantation is an established therapy for secondary mitral regurgitation (MR) in high-risk patients and has shown to improve several important outcome parameters such as functional capacity. Patient selection is both challenging and crucial for achieving therapeutic success. This study investigated baseline predictors of functional improvement as it was quantified by the six-minute walk distance (6MWD) after transcatheter mitral valve repair. Methods and results We retrospectively analyzed 79 patients with secondary MR treated with MitraClip implantation at an academic tertiary care center. Before and four weeks after the procedure, all patients underwent comprehensive clinical assessment, six-minute walk tests and echocardiography. 6MWD significantly improved after MitraClip therapy (295 m vs. 265 m, p < 0.001). A linear regression model including seven clinical baseline variables significantly predicted the change in 6MWD (p = 0.002, R2 = 0.387). Female gender, diabetes mellitus and arterial hypertension were found to be significant negative predictors of 6MWD improvement. At baseline, female patients had significant higher left ventricular ejection fraction (49% vs. 42%, p = 0.019) and lower 6MWD (240 m vs. 288 m, p = 0.034) than male patients. Conclusion MitraClip implantation in secondary MR significantly improves functional capacity in high-risk patients even in the short term of four weeks after the procedure. Female gender, diabetes mellitus and arterial hypertension are baseline predictors of a less favourable functional outcome. While further validation in a larger cohort is recommended, these parameters may improve patient selection for MitraClip therapy.
Neutrophic influence of denervated sciatic nerve of on adult dorsal root ganglion neurons

Isolated adult frog dorsal root ganglion neurons survive in vitro in a defined medium for more than 4 weeks and extend processes. When co-cultured with a 1-mm piece of peripheral nerve the average tottal process lenght per neuron was 10 times longer than that of control neurons by 8 days, and the processes had a significantly different morphology from that of control neurons. This influence on process length increased with increasing time of nerve denervation length increased with increasing time of nerve denervation prior to co-culturing. These results suggest the release of a neurotrophic factor/s from the cells of the peripheral nerve. The neurotropic influence was completely blocked by antibodies against mouse nerve growth factor (NGF). Although NGF increased the average process length by twofold over control neurons, its influence never reached that of the nerve-released factor, and the NGF-induced processes had a distinctly different morphology. The frog nerve-released factor promoted process outgrowth from E11 chick sympathetic ganglia, although the process number, length, and their fasciculation differed greatly from those induced by NGF. These results suggest that the nerve-released factor/s are immunologically and functionally related to NGF but have not estabished whether a single factor or an aggregate of several secreted molecules are responsible. This article presents a new preparation in which the varied influences of different neurotrophic factors can be studied in great detail on large populations of isolated adult vertebrte neurons and sets the stage for the characterization and isolation of the frog peripheral nerve neurotrophic factor, as well as examining the influence of this facor on neuronal morphology and its ability to direct process outgrowth. 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Anatomy of a dinosaur—Clarification of vertebrae in vertebrate anatomy

The flat‐end surfaces of dinosaur vertebral centra led to the presumption that intervertebral discs occupied the space between their vertebrae. A set of fused hadrosaur vertebrae allowed that hypothesis to be tested. The Tyrannosaurus rex responsible for this pathology did not escape unscathed. It left behind a tooth crown that had fractured. Fragments of that tooth were scattered through the intervertebral space, evidencing that there was no solid structure to impede its movement. That eliminates the possibility of an intervertebral disc and instead proves the presence of an articular space, similar to that in modern reptiles, but at variance to what is noted in birds. While avian cervical vertebral centra appear to be separated by diarthrodial joints, the preponderance of their thoracic vertebral centra is not separated by synovial joints.
Growth-promoting effects of N-acetylneuraminic acid-containing substances on bifidobacteria

The use of N-acetylneuraminic acid, sialyl-lactose, and glyco-macropeptide by bifidobacteria and lactobacilli, and their growth-promoting effects on B. longum, B. breve, B. bifidum, and B. infantis were investigated. The data presented here suggest that fortification with N-acetylneuraminic acid-containing substances of infant formula may provide formula-fed infants with a function that human milk possesses.
β‐Spectrin Campinas: a novel shortened β‐chain variant associated with skipping of exon 30 and hereditary elliptocytosis

β‐Spectrin Campinas is a novel spectrin variant associated with a shortened β‐chain in a kindred with hereditary elliptocytosis (HE). The propositus and her mother exhibited increased amounts of spectrin dimers and an increase in the αI 74 kD fragment from the α‐chain after partial tryptic digestion of spectrin. The shortened β‐chain appeared as an additional band of approximately 200 kD on SDS‐PAGE. In order to delineate the molecular defect of this abnormality at the gene level, reticulocyte mRNA was transcribed into cDNA and the last four exons of the β‐spectrin gene were amplified. Agarose gel of the amplification product of the propositus revealed the expected band of 487 bp as well as a shortened band of approximately 300 bp (size determined on gel). This shortened cDNA amplification product was cloned and nucleotide sequencing revealed the absence of the entire exon 30. In order to determine the underlying mutation responsible for this abnormal splicing, a genomic DNA fragment containing exons 30 and 31 was amplified and nucleotide sequencing revealed a G → A substitution at the 5′ donor splice site consensus sequence of intron 30 (nt + 1 IVS30). The skip splicing observed in this study results in a frameshift, creating a new stop codon and causing a deletion of 129 aminoacids at the very COOH‐terminus of the protein, thus impairing spectrin dimers self‐association. We classified this HE as spherocytic HE because the propositus presented a few spherocytes in addition to many elliptocytes in the blood smear, whereas her mother, who was splenectomized, showed many schizocytes, poikilocytes and spherocytes.
High-Pressure Extraction of Antioxidant-Rich Fractions from Shrubby Cinquefoil (Dasiphora fruticosa L. Rydb.) Leaves: Process Optimization and Extract Characterization

Dasiphora fruticosa (basionym Potentilla fruticosa) is a shrub, known in traditional medicine for centuries. Due to the wide range of pharmacological effects, interest and applications of D. fruticosa extracts are continually increasing; however, reports on optimization of extraction conditions are scarce. Herein, a multi-step high-pressure extraction process with increasing polarity solvents was developed to isolate valuable fractions from D. fruticosa leaves. Supercritical CO2 extraction recovered 2.46 g/100 g of lipophilic fraction, rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids. Further, pressurized liquid extractions (PLE) with acetone, ethanol, and water were applied to obtain antioxidant-rich higher polarity extracts. Under optimized PLE conditions, the cumulative polar fraction yield was 29.98 g/100 g. Ethanol fraction showed the highest yield (15.3 g/100 g), TPC values (148.4 mg GAE/g), ABTS•+, and DPPH• scavenging capacity (161.1 and 151.8 mg TE/g, respectively). PLE was more efficient than conventional solid–liquid extraction in terms of extraction time, extract yields, and in vitro antioxidant capacity. Phytochemical characterization of PLE extracts by UPLC-Q-TOF-MS revealed the presence of hyperoside, ellagic acid, among other health beneficial phenolic substances. Τhis study highlights the potential of high-pressure extraction techniques to isolate antioxidant-rich fractions from D. fruticosa leaves with multipurpose applications, including the prevention and treatment of chronic diseases.
Exploring the Scope of Tandem Palladium and Isothiourea Relay Catalysis for the Synthesis of α-Amino Acid Derivatives

The scope and limitations of a tandem N-allylation/[2,3]-rearrangement protocol are investigated through the incorporation of a variety of functional groups within an allylic phosphate precursor. This method uses readily accessible N,N-dimethylglycine aryl esters and functionalized allylic phosphates, forming quaternary ammonium salts in situ in the presence of a palladium catalyst. Subsequent enantioselective [2,3]-sigmatropic rearrangement, promoted by the chiral isothiourea tetramisole, generates α-amino acid derivatives with two contiguous stereocenters. The incorporation of electron-withdrawing ester and amide groups gave the best results, furnishing the desired products in moderate to good yields (29–70%), with low diastereocontrol (typically 60:40 dr) but high enantioselectivity (up to 90:10 er). These results indicate that substrate–catalyst interactions in the proposed transition state are sensitive to the substitution pattern of the substrates.
3D Printing of Highly Sensitive and Large-Measurement-Range Flexible Pressure Sensors with a Positive Piezoresistive Effect.

Piezoresistive composite-based flexible pressure sensors often suffer from a trade-off between the sensitivity and measurement range. Moreover, the sensitivity or measurement range is theoretically limited owing to the negative piezoresistive coefficient resulting in resistance variation below 100%. Here, flexible pressure sensors were fabricated by the three-dimensional (3D) printing technique to improve both the sensitivity and sensing range through the positive piezoresistive effect. With addition of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and fumed silica nanoparticles (SiNPs) as a conductive filler and rheology modifier, respectively, the viscoelastic silicone rubber solution converted to a printable gel ink. Soft and porous composites (SPCs) were then directly printed in air at room temperature. The sensitivity and sensing range of the SPC-based pressure sensor can be simultaneously tuned by adjusting the conducting CNT and insulating SiNP contents. By optimizing the density of the CNT conductive network in the matrix, positive piezoresistive sensitivity (+0.096 kPa-1) and a large linear sensing range (0-175 kPa) were obtained. To demonstrate potential applications, the completely soft SPC-based sensor was successfully used in grasp sensing and gait monitoring systems. The sensor was also assembled as a smart artificial sensory array to simultaneously map the pressure distribution and shape of touching sensing.
Effects of Dry Matter Production, Translocation of Nonstructural Carbohydrates and Nitrogen Application on Grain Filling in Rice Cultivar Takanari, a Cultivar Bearing a Large Number of Spikelets

Abstract The effects of dry matter production and the remobilization of nonstructural carbohydrates (NSC) on grain filling were investigated using the Indica-based Japonica crossed rice cultivar Takanari, which can bear a large sink. For three years,beginning in 1994, shade treatments were conducted with different nitrogen applications to develop large variations in plant growth. The percentage of ripened spikelets showed the greatest correlation with the total amount of carbohydrate supply per spikelet during 10 to 20 days after heading, calculated by adding the amount of dry matter increase to the amount ofNSC decrease in leaf sheaths and culms during the period. Between the two components, the dry matter increase was more important. The NSC reserve played a role in compensating for the shortage of carbohydrate supply from assimilates after heading and showed a tendency to increase the percentage of ripened spikelets when dry matter production after heading was limited. However, the maximum ratio of compensatory translocation from the NSC reserve was estimated to be only 48%, becauseofsmaller reservoir size compared with the demand. The NSC reserve at heading was not significantly increased by increasing the dry matter production before heading. It was concluded that to increase grain filling ability it is more effective to increase the dry matter production after heading than that before heading. Nitrogen application showed negative effectson the translocation of reserve NSC. It is important to optimize the nitrogen content to maximize the total source of carbohydrate supply.
Identifying risk factors for levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in the placenta in a high-risk pregnancy cohort in North Carolina.

Prenatal exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), a ubiquitous class of chemicals, is associated with adverse outcomes such as preeclampsia, low infant birth weight and later-life adiposity. The objectives of this study were to examine PFAS levels in the placenta and identify sociodemographic risk factors in a high-risk pregnancy cohort (n=122) in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Of concern, PFOS, PFHxS, PFHpS, and PFUnA were detected above the reporting limit in 99%, 75%, 55%, and 49% of placentas, respectively. Maternal race/ethnicity was associated with significant differences in PFUnA levels. While the data from this high-risk cohort did not provide evidence for an association with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, fetal growth, or gestational age, prevalence of detectable PFAS in the placenta suggest a need to bio-monitor for exposure to PFAS during pregnancy. Future research should investigate factors underlying the differences in PFAS levels in association with a mother's race/ethnicity, as well as potential effects on pregnancy and child health.
Multifunctional and Transformable ‘Clickable’ Hydrogel Coatings on Titanium Surfaces: From Protein Immobilization to Cellular Attachment

Multifunctionalizable hydrogel coatings on titanium interfaces are useful in a wide range of biomedical applications utilizing titanium-based materials. In this study, furan-protected maleimide groups containing multi-clickable biocompatible hydrogel layers are fabricated on a titanium surface. Upon thermal treatment, the masked maleimide groups within the hydrogel are converted to thiol-reactive maleimide groups. The thiol-reactive maleimide group allows facile functionalization of these hydrogels through the thiol-maleimide nucleophilic addition and Diels–Alder cycloaddition reactions, under mild conditions. Additionally, the strained alkene unit in the furan-protected maleimide moiety undergoes radical thiol-ene reaction, as well as the inverse-electron-demand Diels–Alder reaction with tetrazine containing molecules. Taking advantage of photo-initiated thiol-ene ‘click’ reactions, we demonstrate spatially controlled immobilization of the fluorescent dye thiol-containing boron dipyrromethene (BODIPY-SH). Lastly, we establish that the extent of functionalization on hydrogels can be controlled by attachment of biotin-benzyl-tetrazine, followed by immobilization of TRITC-labelled ExtrAvidin. Being versatile and practical, we believe that the described multifunctional and transformable ‘clickable’ hydrogels on titanium-based substrates described here can find applications in areas involving modification of the interface with bioactive entities.
Transcriptomic Response of Breast Cancer Cells MDA-MB-231 to Docosahexaenoic Acid: Downregulation of Lipid and Cholesterol Metabolism Genes and Upregulation of Genes of the Pro-Apoptotic ER-Stress Pathway

Despite considerable efforts in prevention and therapy, breast cancer remains a major public health concern worldwide. Numerous studies using breast cancer cell lines have shown the antiproliferative and pro-apoptotic effects of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Some studies have also demonstrated the inhibitory effect of DHA on the migration and invasion of breast cancer cells, making DHA a potential anti-metastatic agent. Thus, DHA has shown its potential as a chemotherapeutic adjuvant. However, the molecular mechanisms triggering DHA effects remain unclear, and the aim of this study was to provide a transcriptomic basis for further cellular and molecular investigations. Therefore, MDA-MB-231 cells were treated with 100 µM DHA for 12 h or 24 h before RNA-seq analysis. The results show the great impact of DHA-treatment on the transcriptome, especially after 24 h of treatment. The impact of DHA is particularly visible in genes involved in the cholesterol biosynthesis pathway that is strongly downregulated, and the endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-stress response that is, conversely, upregulated. This ER-stress and unfolded protein response could explain the pro-apoptotic effect of DHA. The expression of genes related to migration and invasion (especially SERPINE1, PLAT, and MMP11) is also impacted by DHA. In conclusion, this transcriptomic analysis supports the antiproliferative, pro-apoptotic and anti-invasive effects of DHA, and provides new avenues for understanding its molecular mechanisms.