Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
IFN-α Induces the Human IL-10 Gene by Recruiting Both IFN Regulatory Factor 1 and Stat31

The anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 can be induced by type I IFNs, but the molecular mechanisms involved have remained elusive. With in silico analysis of the human IL-10 promoter we identified a module consisting of an IFN regulatory factor 1 (IRF-1) site and a Stat3 site. We demonstrate that IFN-α will induce the binding of IRF-1 and Stat3 to the respective motifs. Mutational analysis revealed that inactivation of the IRF-1 motif substantially reduces trans-activation from 5- to 2-fold and that inactivation of the Stat3 motif completely ablates trans-activation by IFN-α. The dominant role of Stat3 in this module was confirmed with the blockade of trans-activation by a dominant negative Stat3. By contrast, Stat1 contributes a minor proportion to the DNA binding to the Stat site, and overexpression will counteract Stat3-mediated trans-activation. The data show that IFN-α induces the IL-10 gene via a module consisting of interdependent IRF-1 and Stat3 motifs. Of note, LPS-induced trans-activation does not target this module, since it is independent of the IRF-1 motif but completely depends on Stat3.
Sustained Isometric Wrist Flexion and Extension Maximal Voluntary Contractions on Corticospinal Excitability to Forearm Muscles during Low-Intensity Hand-Gripping

The wrist extensors demonstrate an earlier fatigue onset than the wrist flexors. However, it is currently unclear whether fatigue induces unique changes in muscle activity or corticospinal excitability between these muscle groups. The purpose of this study was to examine how sustained isometric wrist extension/flexion maximal voluntary contractions (MVCs) influence muscle activity and corticospinal excitability of the forearm. Corticospinal excitability to three wrist flexors and three wrist extensors were measured using motor evoked potentials (MEPs) elicited via transcranial magnetic stimulation. Responses were elicited while participants exerted 10% of their maximal handgrip force, before and after a sustained wrist flexion or extension MVC (performed on separate sessions). Post-fatigue measures were collected up to 10-min post-fatigue. Immediately post-fatigue, extensor muscle activity was significantly greater following the wrist flexion fatigue session, although corticospinal excitability (normalized to muscle activity) was greater on the wrist extension day. Responses were largely unchanged in the wrist flexors. However, for the flexor carpi ulnaris, normalized MEP amplitudes were significantly larger following wrist extension fatigue. These findings demonstrate that sustained isometric flexion/extension MVCs result in a complex reorganization of forearm muscle recruitment strategies during hand-gripping. Based on these findings, previously observed corticospinal behaviour following fatigue may not apply when the fatiguing task and measurement task are different.
Validation of a Wireless Bluetooth Photoplethysmography Sensor Used on the Earlobe for Monitoring Heart Rate Variability Features during a Stress-Inducing Mental Task in Healthy Individuals

Heart rate variability (HRV), using electrocardiography (ECG), has gained popularity as a biomarker of the stress response. Alternatives to HRV monitoring, like photoplethysmography (PPG), are being explored as cheaper and unobtrusive non-invasive technologies. We report a new wireless PPG sensor that was tested in detecting changes in HRV, elicited by a mentally stressful task, and to determine if its signal can be used as a surrogate of ECG for HRV analysis. Data were collected simultaneously from volunteers using a PPG and ECG sensor, during a resting and a mentally stressful task. HRV metrics were extracted from these signals and compared to determine the agreement between them and to determine if any changes occurred in the metrics due to the stressful task. For both tasks, a moderate/good agreement was found in the mean interbeat intervals, SDNN, LF, and SD2, and a poor agreement for the pNN50, RMSSD|SD1, and HF metrics. The majority of the tested HRV metrics obtained from the PPG signal showed a significant decrease caused by the mental task. The disagreement found between specific HRV features imposes caution when comparing metrics from different technologies. Nevertheless, the tested sensor was successful at detecting changes in the HRV caused by a mental stressor.
Sources of CEO Power and Firm Financial Performance: A Longitudinal Assessment

The chief executive officer (CEO) is generally regarded as the most powerful organizational member. Attributions regarding the potential effect of a strong CEO on firm financial performance are common in both the academic literature and popular press. The oft-made assumption is that a powerful CEO will impact firm performance. The anticipated direction of this influence, however, has not been uniformly established. Moreover, we are not aware of any direct empirical assessment of the relationship between CEO power and firm financial performance. We are also intrigued by the potential for reciprocal effects—firm performance impacts the level of CEO’s power. Our review of the literature demonstrates no empirical attention to this possibility. This study relies on a four-wave panel design to assess the nature of the relationship between CEO power and firm performance. Results of LISREL analysis demonstrate that aspects of CEO power and financial performance are, in fact, interrelated. Performance was found to be both an antecedent condition and outcome of CEO power.
Energetics: The Costs of Living and Reproducing for an Individual Cephalopod

Cephalopods, like all other animals, have to decide how to allocate resources; maintenance processes, growth of somatic and reproductive tissues, and locomotor activity all have costs. We should like to be able to identify these costs and discover how efficiently cephalopods make use of the prey that they capture and digest. Cephalopods generally grow fast and mature rapidly; a first task is to determine how accurately laboratory studies reflect growth in the wild, because much of the information we need (such as food conversion efficiencies, excretion rates or the costs of locomotion) can be collected only from animals kept in the laboratory. Comparison of laboratory feeding and growth rates for octopods, sepioids and teuthoids with fisheries data suggests that data collected from cephalopods fed ad libitum in the laboratory may be used validly to construct energy budgets representative of individuals in the wild. The immediate cost of feeding (the specific dynamic action) has been thoroughly documented in Octopus, as has the longer-term elevation or depression of metabolic rate by feeding or starvation; it is assumed that similar costs will be found in squid. The cost of locomotion has been studied in both octopods and squid, but we have only limited data on how much time the animals spend moving, and how rapidly, in the wild. Excretory and faecal losses are assessed from laboratory studies, and maintenance costs estimated from feeding rates that just maintain body mass in the laboratory. Comparison of gross and net food conversion efficiencies suggest that squid convert food into tissues less efficiently than octopods, owing primarily to their greater time spent in locomotion. We present a representative series of energy budgets for octopods (based on Octopus) and squids (based on Illex and Loligo), for starving, feeding, migrating and maturing individuals. A major contrast is provided by Nautilus, which lives for ten or twenty years and grows only slowly. Finally we speculate on the possible biochemical and historical factors that may have limited the adaptive radiation of cephalopods, resulting in a group lacking herbivores, detritivores or filter-feeders but extremely successful as carnivores.
ANALYSIS OF GROWING AXONS FROM RAT SYMPATHETIC NEURONS

We describe culture systems for neurons of an adrenergic autonomic ganglion which: (a) permit cultivation of neurons without supporting cells, (b) permit separate harvest of somal and axonal material, and (c) permit direct access to the neuronal surface. The antimetabolites used to suppress supporting cell growth did not have demonstrable effects on neuronal polypeptide synthesis. Rapid neurite outgrowth, which characterized these cultures, was prevented by colchicine or cycloheximide and resumed promptly after their withdrawal. Axons separated from cell bodies showed no incorporation of label from leucine or fucose, but did exhibit incorporation of glucosamine. The major polypeptides present in this neuron, as demonstrated by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) analysis, are described. No major differences in polypeptide content were observed when soma and axons were compared. Likewise, there were no differences detected in polypeptides synthesized by neurons in suspension or neurons actively extending processes. Analysis of the polypeptides within the neurites after labeling with amino acids indicated transport at a number of different rates; certain of these polypeptides corresponded in size and transport characteristics to polypeptides observed in the rabbit optic nerve after labeling of retinal ganglion cells. Tubulin and actin have been definitively identified in this cell type (18); we found proteins similar in size and proportionate amounts to be among the rapidly transported soluble polypeptides. The prominent polypeptides observed after several methods of surface labeling are described.
The effect of body position on maternal cardiovascular function during sleep and wakefulness in late pregnancy

Abstract Introduction An association between the increased risk of late stillbirth and the maternal supine sleeping position has been recently established. The risk of stillbirth following supine sleep has been suspected to occur as a result of aortocaval compression by the gravid uterus. A number of studies conducted during wakefulness have reported compromised cardiovascular function during supine rest, as demonstrated by reductions in cardiac output, blood pressure and utero-placental blood flow. It remains unclear whether similar effects are also present during sleep, due to the presence of key sleep-specific changes in cardiovascular function. Objective To investigate the changes in maternal cardiovascular function between the supine and left-lateral positions during wakefulness and non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep in late pregnancy. Methods Twenty-nine women with a singleton pregnancy between 24.7 and 36.7 weeks’ gestation participated in a single overnight sleep study. Physiological measures (blood pressure, heart rate, heart rate variability – HRV, and pulse arrival time – PAT) were measured and recorded throughout the night using standard polysomnography equipment and the Portapres Model-2 device. As the present study evaluated cardiovascular changes during natural rest and sleep in pregnancy, participants were not given explicit instructions on which position to adopt. Body position was continuously recorded using a position monitor and verified with video recording. Results No changes in systolic, diastolic or mean arterial blood pressure were observed between the left-lateral and supine positions during wakefulness or sleep. However, heart rate was significantly higher in the supine position compared to the left during wakefulness (p= .03), with a similar trend present during sleep (p= .11). A significantly shorter PAT was measured in the supine position (compared to the left) during wakefulness (p= .01) and sleep (p= .01). No change in HRV measures was observed between the left and supine positions in either state. Conclusion Blood pressure did not appear to differ significantly between the left-lateral and supine positions during wakefulness and sleep. The lack of blood pressure differences may reflect elevated sympathetic activity during rest and sleep in the supine position (compared to the left), suggesting that some degree of compensation for aortocaval compression may still be possible during sleep.
Detection of Newcastle diseases antibodies in birds in Jos, Bukuru and environs using Agar-gel precipitation test.

Newcastle Disease Virus (NDV lasota) antibodies were surveyed. A serological study of 500 sera from local chicken, turkey, ducks and guinea fowl was carried out to determine the prevalence of Newcastle disease using Agar-gel precipitation technique. Samples were obtained from chickens slaughtered in Jos, Bukuru and environs. The samples were made up of 40 ducks, 50 turkeys, 20 guinea fowl and 390 local chickens. The precipitin antibodies were detected in ducks 7 (17.5%), turkey 12 (24.0%), guinea fowl 3 (15.0%), and local chickens 54 (13.9%). Of the 500 samples screened, a total of 76 (15.2%) were positive for NDV antibodies. Quantitative analysis of sero-positive samples in the four avian species tested yielded a range of antibody titres of 2-16. The importance of using cost effective technique for the detection of NDV carrier state in local birds has been highlighted. DOI: http://dx.doi. org/10.3329/bjvm.v11i2. 19121 Bangl. J. Vet. Med . (2013). 11 (2): 87-91
Fast, In Vivo Model for Drug-Response Prediction in Patients with B-Cell Precursor Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

Only half of patients with relapsed B-cell precursor (BCP) acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) currently survive with standard treatment protocols. Predicting individual patient responses to defined drugs prior to application would help therapy stratification and could improve survival. With the purpose to aid personalized targeted treatment approaches, we developed a human–zebrafish xenograft (ALL-ZeFiX) assay to predict drug response in a patient in 5 days. Leukemia blast cells were pericardially engrafted into transiently immunosuppressed Danio rerio embryos, and engrafted embryos treated for the test case, venetoclax, before single-cell dissolution for quantitative whole blast cell analysis. Bone marrow blasts from patients with newly diagnosed or relapsed BCP-ALL were successfully expanded in 60% of transplants in immunosuppressed zebrafish embryos. The response of BCP-ALL cell lines to venetoclax in ALL-ZeFiX assays mirrored responses in 2D cultures. Venetoclax produced varied responses in patient-derived BCP-ALL grafts, including two results mirroring treatment responses in two refractory BCP-ALL patients treated with venetoclax. Here we demonstrate proof-of-concept for our 5-day ALL-ZeFiX assay with primary patient blasts and the test case, venetoclax, which after expanded testing for further targeted drugs could support personalized treatment decisions within the clinical time window for decision-making.
Comparison of Flywheel and Pneumatic Training on Hypertrophy, Strength, and Power in Professional Handball Players

ABSTRACT Purpose: The mechanical properties of resistance-training machines are a variable that may help to optimize sports performance and injury prevention protocols. The purpose of this study was to examine two non-gravity-dependent training modalities on muscle structure and function. Methods: Eighteen professional handball players were randomly divided into two experimental groups: 1) iso-inertial flywheel training (FW) and 2) pneumatic resistance training (PN). Participants in both groups completed twelve training sessions in six weeks consisting of three movements (lateral raise, internal and external rotation). Four sets of seven repetitions for each movement were performed during each session. Before and after training subscapularis and deltoid (anterior, middle, posterior) muscle thickness was measured. Isokinetic torque and power during internal and external rotation at 60, 180, and 240 deg·s−1 was measured as well. Throwing speed was assessed before and after training while both sitting and standing situations. Results: Both groups showed similar significant increases in throwing speed and internal and external rotation peak torque, average and peak power at all angular velocities. Anterior and middle deltoid muscle thickness changes were greater after training in FW (20 and 22%) in comparison to PN (14 and 7%, respectively). Conclusions: In summary, both flywheel and pneumatic training resulted in similar increases in shoulder strength and power and throwing speed. However, flywheel training appeared to possibly result in a slightly greater level of muscle hypertrophy of the anterior and middle deltoid. Non-gravity dependent training appears to induce changes that would be beneficial to sports performance and perhaps injury prevention.
18F-MK-6240 PET for early and late detection of neurofibrillary tangles.

Braak stages of tau neurofibrillary tangle accumulation have been incorporated in the criteria for the neuropathological diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease. It is expected that Braak staging using brain imaging can stratify living individuals according to their individual patterns of tau deposition, which may prove crucial for clinical trials and practice. However, previous studies using the first-generation tau PET agents have shown a low sensitivity to detect tau pathology in areas corresponding to early Braak histopathological stages (∼20% of cognitively unimpaired elderly with tau deposition in regions corresponding to Braak I-II), in contrast to ∼80-90% reported in post-mortem cohorts. Here, we tested whether the novel high affinity tau tangles tracer 18F-MK-6240 can better identify individuals in the early stages of tau accumulation. To this end, we studied 301 individuals (30 cognitively unimpaired young, 138 cognitively unimpaired elderly, 67 with mild cognitive impairment, 54 with Alzheimer's disease dementia, and 12 with frontotemporal dementia) with amyloid-β 18F-NAV4694, tau 18F-MK-6240, MRI, and clinical assessments. 18F-MK-6240 standardized uptake value ratio images were acquired at 90-110 min after the tracer injection. 18F-MK-6240 discriminated Alzheimer's disease dementia from mild cognitive impairment and frontotemporal dementia with high accuracy (∼85-100%). 18F-MK-6240 recapitulated topographical patterns consistent with the six hierarchical stages proposed by Braak in 98% of our population. Cognition and amyloid-β status explained most of the Braak stages variance (P < 0.0001, R2 = 0.75). No single region of interest standardized uptake value ratio accurately segregated individuals into the six topographic Braak stages. Sixty-eight per cent of the cognitively unimpaired elderly amyloid-β-positive and 37% of the cognitively unimpaired elderly amyloid-β-negative subjects displayed tau deposition, at least in the transentorhinal cortex (Braak I). Tau deposition solely in the transentorhinal cortex was associated with an elevated prevalence of amyloid-β, neurodegeneration, and cognitive impairment (P < 0.0001). 18F-MK-6240 deposition in regions corresponding to Braak IV-VI was associated with the highest prevalence of neurodegeneration, whereas in Braak V-VI regions with the highest prevalence of cognitive impairment. Our results suggest that the hierarchical six-stage Braak model using 18F-MK-6240 imaging provides an index of early and late tau accumulation as well as disease stage in preclinical and symptomatic individuals. Tau PET Braak staging using high affinity tracers has the potential to be incorporated in the diagnosis of living patients with Alzheimer's disease in the near future.
Relationship between feed input and sediment quality of the fish cage farms

: A study was conducted to examine the variation in fish farm sediment quality with varying organic carbon input in the form of feed. In order to elucidate the seasonal variation in farm sediment quality, relation between seasonal organic carbon input, temperature and sediment quality was studied. The sediment ignition loss, redox potential and acid volatile sulfide sulfur (AVS-S) content showed a correlation with annual organic carbon input. The seasonal AVS-S content showed a significant correlation with the seasonal organic carbon input as well as temperature. Multiple regression analysis revealed that both of these factors explicated 80% of the seasonal variation in AVS-S content. Although redox conditions of the sediment could also be correlated with both the organic carbon input and temperature, the latter seemed to have a greater control. Thus, the farm sediment quality could be directly related to the annual organic carbon input to the fish farm under similar hydrographic conditions. Acid volatile sulfide sulfur content exhibited a significant correlation with both the annual as well as the seasonal organic carbon input. Therefore, AVS-S content proved to be a fairly simple and better indicator for monitoring the fish farm environment for effective farm management and sustainable aquaculture. Importance of size of pellets as a factor affecting the feed input-sediment quality relation is also demonstrated in the present study.
Current Evidence on the Ocular Surface Microbiota and Related Diseases

The ocular surface microbiota refers to the resident non-pathogenic microorganisms that colonize conjunctiva and cornea. Several studies have shown that ocular surface epithelial cells can respond selectively to specific components of ocular pathogenic bacteria by producing pro-inflammatory cytokines and, in contrast, they do not respond to non-pathogenic bacteria, thus supporting the colonization by a real microbiota. However, the analysis of the ocular microbiome composition is essential for understanding the pathophysiology of various ophthalmic diseases. In this scenario, the first studies, which used microbiological culture techniques, reported a less diverse profile of the ocular microbiota compared with that recently discovered using new molecular-based methods. Indeed, until a few years ago, the microbiota of the ocular surface appeared to be dominated by Gram-positive and a few Gram-negative bacteria, as well as some fungal strains. In contrast, genomics has nowadays detected a remarkable diversity in the ocular surface microorganisms. Furthermore, recent studies suggest that the microbiota of other areas of the body, such as the gut and oral microbiota, are involved in the pathophysiology of several ophthalmic diseases. The aim of the present study is to highlight the current evidence on the ocular surface microbiota to better understand it and to investigate its potential role in the development of ophthalmic diseases.
Adaptive divergence across Southern Ocean gradients in the pelagic diatom Fragilariopsis kerguelensis

The Southern Ocean is characterized by longitudinal water circulations crossed by strong latitudinal gradients. How this oceanographic background shapes planktonic populations is largely unknown, despite the significance of this region for global biogeochemical cycles. Here, we show, based on genomic, morphometric, ecophysiological and mating compatibility data, an example of ecotypic differentiation and speciation within an endemic pelagic inhabitant, the diatom Fragilariopsis kerguelensis. We discovered three genotypic variants, one present throughout the latitudinal transect sampled, the others restricted to the north and south, respectively. The latter two showed reciprocal monophyly across all three genomes and significant ecophysiological differences consistent with local adaptation, but produced viable offspring in laboratory crosses. The third group was also reproductively isolated from the latter two. We hypothesize that this pattern originated by an adaptive expansion accompanied by ecotypic divergence, followed by sympatric speciation.