Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
CD147 Promoted Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition in Airway Epithelial Cells Induced by Cigarette Smoke via Oxidative Stress Signaling Pathway

Abstract Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a common airway disease, and epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) is participated in the pathogenesis of COPD. However, the role of CD147 in COPD remains largely unknown. In order to clarify the role of CD147 in EMT induced by cigarette smoke, we established animal and cell model of EMT by mean of cigarette smoke exposure and detected the expressions of CD147 and EMT markers via PCR, WB and IF. RNA inference was applied to study the role of CD147 in CSE induced EMT in vitro. NAC and H2O2 were used to study oxidative stress signaling pathway in this model. As a result, cigarette smoke exposure upregulated the expressions of CD147, α-SMA, and Vimentin and downregulated the expression of Ecadherin and ZO1 both in vivo and in vitro, which was accompanied by augmented level of oxidative stress. CD147 knockdown would partly inhibit CSE induced EMT, while preincubation of H2O2 could inverse this effect. In conclusion, CD147 promoted EMT in mice and HBE cells induced by cigarette smoke via oxidative stress signaling pathway.
Childhood adversities and mental health outcomes: Does the perception or age of the event matter?

Abstract The current study extends knowledge regarding the individual contribution of different adverse experiences to mental health symptoms in late adolescence by including the perception of how upsetting each experience was to the adolescent and the age at the first occurrence. We also sought to move beyond sum scores of adverse experiences by using a person-centered approach to classifying individuals with similar co-occurrence of adversities. The data came from a longitudinal study of maltreatment on adolescent development (N = 454). Self-reported childhood adversities were assessed at Wave 4 (average of 7 years postbaseline) and examined with respect to current mental health symptoms (depression, PTSD, anxiety, and externalizing). Although the adversity sum score was a potent predictor of all mental health outcomes, the results indicated that the use of a sum score obscures information about the importance of individual adversities. Additionally, the influence of age of occurrence varied based on the adversity and outcome, while the perception of the event did not add much unique variance. Finally, the latent class analyses provided unique information about the patterns of co-occurring adversity in this sample, and that membership in either of the multiple-adversity classes was associated with more mental health symptoms.
Costly teeth? Gestation length in primates suggests that neonate dentition is not expensive to produce

Variation in the relationship between gestation length and body mass can arise because different types of tissue require varying amounts of energy to build, and not all species build such tissues in the same proportions. Given that a pregnant female has a finite amount of energy, trade‐offs between investment in different tissues may occur. Here we examine if dental precocity accounts for variation in primate gestation length. If true, this could explain why folivorous species with precocial dentition have longer gestation lengths than predicted by neonatal brain and body mass. We compiled data on gestation length, neonate and adult female body and brain mass from the literature. We used published postcanine eruption schedules at 4 months of age and measured the total occlusal area as dental endowment to approximate dental precocity at birth. Species with embryonic delay in growth or altricial neonates were not considered because they represent grade shifts regarding gestation length. Consequently, our data were biased toward Simiiformes and Old World monkeys, specifically. We performed a phylogenetic generalized least squares regression (pGLS) of neonate brain mass in relation to neonate body mass, and a second pGLS with dental endowment as an additional predictor variable. Including dental endowment in the pGLS did not improve the model. Dental endowment did not systematically impact primate gestation length. Concordant with results from previous studies, this indicates that the energetically expensive period of tooth mineralization may occur postnatally. More data are required to examine if the results are typical across primates.
New taxa of Japanese and New Zealand Eurystomellidae (Phylum Bryozoa) and their phylogenetic relationships

As presently recognized, the small cheilostome bryozoan family Eurystomellidae (superfamily Catenicelloidea) comprises just two genera: EurystomellaLevinsen, 1909, with three Recent species, and SelenariopsisMaplestone, 1913; with one Recent and two fossil species. Within Eurystomella sensu lato, colonies range from uni-/biserial to multiserial and the smooth gymnocystal frontal shields of zooids may be entire or have one to several large foramina. Here we describe seven new Recent species of encrusting eurystomellids from New Zealand and Japan. Including species of Selenariopsis, a cladistic analysis was carried out on 11 eurystomellid species and five outgroup species, the latter representing the families Cribrilinidae, Euthyroididae, Petalostegidae, and Catenicellidae. The results of the analysis support restricting Eurystomella to multiserial species with large frontal foramina, median suboral sutures, and basal pore-chambers. Two new genera, both with imperforate frontal shields and uniporous mural septula, are segregated from Eurystomella: uni-/biserial Zygopalme, with a median suboral suture and accssory perforations in the ovicellular kenozooid, and multiserial Integripelta, lacking the suture and accessory perforations. © 2002 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2002, 136, 199–216.
Dietary Supplementation of Phytase and Hy-Line W-36 Pullets Fed Varying Levels of Dietary Phosphorus from Day 1 Through 18 Wk

Abstract A feeding trial was conducted to determine the influence of phytase in pullet diets from Day 1 to 18 wk of age. Treatments were 0.43, 0.33, 0.23, and 0.13% non-phytate phosphorus (NPP) supplemented with and without 300 FTU/kg diet of phytase (Natuphos). All diets contained 0.86% Ca. A total of 981 day-old pullets were randomly allocated to seven replications (pens) in each treatment and each replication consisted of 14 chicks. All chicks were fed started diets for 8 wk (Phase 1) and grower diets between 8 and 18 wk of age (Phase II). Feed consumption, body weight, bone mineral content, bone mineral density, and mortality were evaluated to test the effect of phytase supplementation. Phytase supplementation seemed to improve performance of pullets fed 0.1% NPP and prevented reductions in performance of pullets consuming 0.2% NPP during Phase I and Phase II of the growing period.
AP-Loss for Accurate One-Stage Object Detection

One-stage object detectors are trained by optimizing classification-loss and localization-loss simultaneously, with the former suffering much from extreme foreground-background class imbalance issue due to the large number of anchors. This paper alleviates this issue by proposing a novel framework to replace the classification task in one-stage detectors with a ranking task, and adopting the average-precision loss (AP-loss) for the ranking problem. Due to its non-differentiability and non-convexity, the AP-loss cannot be optimized directly. For this purpose, we develop a novel optimization algorithm, which seamlessly combines the error-driven update scheme in perceptron learning and backpropagation algorithm in deep networks. We provide in-depth analyses on the good convergence property and computational complexity of the proposed algorithm, both theoretically and empirically. Experimental results demonstrate notable improvement in addressing the imbalance issue in object detection over existing AP-based optimization algorithms. An improved state-of-the-art performance is achieved in one-stage detectors based on AP-loss over detectors using classification-losses on various standard benchmarks. The proposed framework is also highly versatile in accommodating different network architectures. Code is available at https://github.com/cccorn/AP-loss.
Survival outcomes of metabolically supported chemotherapy combined with ketogenic diet, hyperthermia, and hyperbaric oxygen therapy in advanced gastric cancer

Background: Survival outcomes are still far from being satisfactory in patients with advanced gastric cancer, despite availability of novel chemotherapeutic regimens. Aim: This study evaluated the outcomes of patients with advanced gastric cancer who received chemotherapy along with additional treatment modalities targeting multiple tumor cell vulnerabilities. Materials and Methods: A total of 24 patients diagnosed with stage III–IV locally advanced or metastatic gastric adenocarcinoma that received metabolically supported chemotherapy (MSCT) combined with ketogenic diet, local hyperthermia, and hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) between April 2014 and October 2017 were included in this retrospective study. Survival outcomes were evaluated. Results: In 22 patients (88.0%), complete response was achieved. Mean duration of follow-up was 23.9 ± 12.7 months. Mean overall survival was 39.5 months (95% confidence interval [CI]: 28.1–51.0) and mean progression free survival was 36.5 months (95% CI: 25.7–47.2). No problems were encountered due to fasting, hypoglycemia, ketogenic diet, hyperthermia or HBOT. Conclusions: The combination treatment used in this study (MSCT together with a ketogenic diet, hyperthermia and HBOT) appears to be promising in the treatment of advanced gastric cancer. Further research and comparative clinical trials are warranted to support and standardize this novel treatment protocol.
COVID-19 in South Korea

A novel coronavirus (severe acute respiratory syndrome-CoV-2) that initially originated from Wuhan, China, in December 2019 has already caused a pandemic. While this novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) frequently induces mild diseases, it has also generated severe diseases among certain populations, including older-aged individuals with underlying diseases, such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes. As of 31 March 2020, a total of 9786 confirmed cases with COVID-19 have been reported in South Korea. South Korea has the highest diagnostic rate for COVID-19, which has been the major contributor in overcoming this outbreak. We are trying to reduce the reproduction number of COVID-19 to less than one and eventually succeed in controlling this outbreak using methods such as contact tracing, quarantine, testing, isolation, social distancing and school closure. This report aimed to describe the current situation of COVID-19 in South Korea and our response to this outbreak.
Development of porcine embryos reconstructed by nuclear transfer of cultured cumulus cells into in vitro matured and enucleated oocytes.

This was a study on the developmental ability of porcine embryos reconstructed by microinjection of a nucleus of cultured (non-starving culture) cumulus cells directly into the cytoplasm of oocytes matured and enucleated in vitro. Cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) derived from slaughterhouse ovaries were matured for 22 h in a modified NCSU23 (mNCSU23) medium supplemented with pFF, cysteine, PMSG, hCG and EGF, and then for another 22 h in the same medium without the hormones. In the meantime, cumulus cells were freed from some COCs and cultured in MEM supplemented with 10% FCS. After 44 h of culture, the smaller cumulus cells (10-12 μm) were injected directly into the cystoplasm of enucleated oocytes. The cell membrane of cumulus cells was broken mechanically prior to the injection. After incubation for 30 min in mNCSU23 supplemented with 4 mg/ml BSA and 0.1 mg/ml cysteine, reconstructed oocytes were activated by exposure to 200 μM thimerosal for 10 min followed by incubation in 8 mM dithiothreitol for 30 min. Oocytes with an intact plasma membrane were then cultured in mNCSU23 supplemented with BSA. The development of reconstructed embryos and the number of nuclei in them were monitored after 48 h and 6 days of culture. As a control group, oocytes were activated parthenogenetically and cultured as described above. The percentage of cleavage in the nuclear transfer (NT) group after 48 h of activation was significantly lower than that in the control group (36.4% vs 83.7%, P<0.05), but the rates of blastocyst were similar in the NT and control groups (5.5% vs 10.9%). The mean numbers of cells in a blastocyst were 19.3 and 30.3 for NT and control groups, respectively. These results indicate that the reconstructed embryos prepared in the system described can develop to the blastocyst stage.
Attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder in children and adolescents: An event‐related potential study of working memory

Working memory (WM) impairments have been frequently observed as an important feature of attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Event‐related potential (ERP) differences between ADHD and healthy controls (HC) would be expected during WM task performance. Especially, the so‐called slow wave (SW), which is related to the retention process, might present amplitude differences in ADHD. In this ERP study participated twenty‐nine ADHD children and adolescents and thirty‐four HC. WM performance was assessed using the Working Memory Test Battery for Children (WMTB‐C), and ERPs were analyzed with a Delayed Match‐To‐Sample (DMTS) task. ADHD sample showed worse behavioral performance in both WMTB‐C and DMTS task, and higher SW amplitude during the retention phase of the DMTS task. Additionally, the principal component analysis indicated that the scores on the component explaining the centro‐parietal SW were significantly different between ADHD subjects and HC. The observed impaired neurophysiological activity during the encoding and retention periods in ADHD, which would be the origin of the behavioral deficits in WM task performance, might be reflecting a delayed maturation of the neural processes underlying the centro‐parietal SW.
Population dynamics of sugar-beet cyst nematode [Heterodera schachtii] on spring and winter oilseed rape crops

: The influence of spring as well as winter oilseed rape on the change in population density of H. schachtii was investigated in microplot experiment in the years 2002–2005. The spring oilseed rape caused the increase of nematode population (P f /P i were 1.31–1.79), in contrast to winter oilseed rape where the population distinctly decreased (P f /P i were 0.49–0.59). No statistically important differences between winter oilseed rape crops and fallow were observed. Comparative observations of the life cycle were carried out in pot experiments outdoors. On spring oilseed rape only one generation was completed. The development of the second generation was interrupted because of crop harvest-ing. In winter oilseed rape J 3 and J 4 occurred in roots in the autumn where they probably did not over-winter, except of the years 2006–2007. In the spring there was a second emergence of larvae and adult females were observed in June and July. The development of the second generation was interrupted because of harvesting. In winter oilseed rape sown in the spring one generation was completed.
L-Thyroxine Therapy for Older Adults With Subclinical Hypothyroidism and Hypothyroid Symptoms

Background L-thyroxine does not improve hypothyroid symptoms among adults with subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH). However, those with greater symptom burden before treatment may still benefit. Objective To determine whether L-thyroxine improves hypothyroid symptoms and tiredness among older adults with SCH and greater symptom burden. Design Secondary analysis of the randomized, placebo-controlled trial TRUST (Thyroid Hormone Replacement for Untreated Older Adults with Subclinical Hypothyroidism Trial). (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT01660126). Setting Switzerland, Ireland, the Netherlands, and Scotland. Participants 638 persons aged 65 years or older with persistent SCH (thyroid-stimulating hormone level of 4.60 to 19.9 mIU/L for >3 months and normal free thyroxine level) and complete outcome data. Intervention L-thyroxine or matching placebo with mock dose titration. Measurements 1-year change in Hypothyroid Symptoms and Tiredness scores (range, 0 to 100; higher scores indicate more symptoms) on the Thyroid-Related Quality-of-Life Patient-Reported Outcome Questionnaire among participants with high symptom burden (baseline Hypothyroid Symptoms score >30 or Tiredness score >40) versus lower symptom burden. Results 132 participants had Hypothyroid Symptoms scores greater than 30, and 133 had Tiredness scores greater than 40. Among the group with high symptom burden, the Hypothyroid Symptoms score improved similarly between those receiving L-thyroxine (mean within-group change, -12.3 [95% CI, -16.6 to -8.0]) and those receiving placebo (mean within-group change, -10.4 [CI, -15.3 to -5.4]) at 1 year; the adjusted between-group difference was -2.0 (CI, -5.5 to 1.5; P = 0.27). Improvements in Tiredness scores were also similar between those receiving L-thyroxine (mean within-group change, -8.9 [CI, -14.5 to -3.3]) and those receiving placebo (mean within-group change, -10.9 [CI, -16.0 to -5.8]); the adjusted between-group difference was 0.0 (CI, -4.1 to 4.0; P = 0.99). There was no evidence that baseline Hypothyroid Symptoms score or Tiredness score modified the effects of L-thyroxine versus placebo (P for interaction = 0.20 and 0.82, respectively). Limitation Post hoc analysis, small sample size, and examination of only patients with 1-year outcome data. Conclusion In older adults with SCH and high symptom burden at baseline, L-thyroxine did not improve hypothyroid symptoms or tiredness compared with placebo. Primary Funding Source European Union FP7.
Analysis of major fatty acids in milk produced from high-quality grazed pasture

In a survey of milk and pasture samples collected from commercial dairy farms in Canterbury, New Zealand, the results of pasture analysis indicated that levels of water soluble carbohydrates and crude protein were highest in spring and autumn, while the content of neutral detergent fibre was lowest during the same periods. The most notable features of milk fatty acid composition were the high levels of α-linolenic acid (C18:3) and conjugated linoleic acid and the low levels of linoleic acid (C18:2) in milk produced from cows consuming high-quality pasture. It seems likely that this is related to the high proportion of high-quality grazed pasture (mean crude protein = 23.9% of DM; mean water soluble carbohydrates = 16.2% of DM; mean neutral detergent fibre = 39.1% of DM) in the diet. The highest monthly mean value for milk C18:3 was 1.82% of total milk fatty acids for herds fed low levels of supplement in spring (October). This survey shows that there is variation in pasture quality over the season and this was reflected in milk fatty acid profiles.
Hierarchical Transcriptional Control of the LuxR Quorum-Sensing Regulon of Vibrio harveyi

Quorum sensing is important for survival of bacteria in nature and influences the actions of bacterial groups. In the relatively few studied examples of quorum-sensing-controlled genes, these genes are associated with competition or cooperation in complex microbial communities and/or virulence in a host. However, quorum sensing in vibrios controls the expression of hundreds of genes, and their functions are mostly unknown or uncharacterized. In this study, we identify the regulators of the second tier of gene expression in the quorum-sensing system of the aquaculture pathogen Vibrio harveyi. Our identification of regulatory networks and metabolic pathways controlled by quorum sensing can be extended and compared to other Vibrio species to understand the physiology, ecology, and pathogenesis of these organisms. ABSTRACT In vibrios, quorum sensing controls hundreds of genes that are required for cell density-specific behaviors including bioluminescence, biofilm formation, competence, secretion, and swarming motility. The central transcription factor in the quorum-sensing pathway is LuxR/HapR, which directly regulates ∼100 genes in the >400-gene regulon of Vibrio harveyi. Among these directly controlled genes are 15 transcription factors, which we predicted would comprise the second tier in the hierarchy of the LuxR regulon. We confirmed that LuxR binds to the promoters of these genes in vitro and quantified the extent of LuxR activation or repression of transcript levels. Transcriptome sequencing (RNA-seq) indicates that most of these transcriptional regulators control only a few genes, with the exception of MetJ, which is a global regulator. The genes regulated by these transcription factors are predicted to be involved in methionine and thiamine biosynthesis, membrane stability, RNA processing, c-di-GMP degradation, sugar transport, and other cellular processes. These data support a hierarchical model in which LuxR directly regulates 15 transcription factors that drive the second level of the gene expression cascade to influence cell density-dependent metabolic states and behaviors in V. harveyi. IMPORTANCE Quorum sensing is important for survival of bacteria in nature and influences the actions of bacterial groups. In the relatively few studied examples of quorum-sensing-controlled genes, these genes are associated with competition or cooperation in complex microbial communities and/or virulence in a host. However, quorum sensing in vibrios controls the expression of hundreds of genes, and their functions are mostly unknown or uncharacterized. In this study, we identify the regulators of the second tier of gene expression in the quorum-sensing system of the aquaculture pathogen Vibrio harveyi. Our identification of regulatory networks and metabolic pathways controlled by quorum sensing can be extended and compared to other Vibrio species to understand the physiology, ecology, and pathogenesis of these organisms.