Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Alpha-B-Crystallin Effect on Mature Amyloid Fibrils: Different Degradation Mechanisms and Changes in Cytotoxicity

Given the ability of molecular chaperones and chaperone-like proteins to inhibit the formation of pathological amyloid fibrils, the chaperone-based therapy of amyloidosis has recently been proposed. However, since these diseases are often diagnosed at the stages when a large amount of amyloids is already accumulated in the patient’s body, in this work we pay attention to the undeservedly poorly studied problem of chaperone and chaperone-like proteins’ effect on mature amyloid fibrils. We showed that a heat shock protein alpha-B-crystallin, which is capable of inhibiting fibrillogenesis and is found in large quantities as a part of amyloid plaques, can induce degradation of mature amyloids by two different mechanisms. Under physiological conditions, alpha-B-crystallin induces fluffing and unweaving of amyloid fibrils, which leads to a partial decrease in their structural ordering without lowering their stability and can increase their cytotoxicity. We found a higher correlation between the rate and effectiveness of amyloids degradation with the size of fibrils clusters rather than with amino acid sequence of amyloidogenic protein. Some external effects (such as an increase in medium acidity) can lead to a change in the mechanism of fibrils degradation induced by alpha-B-crystallin: amyloid fibers are fragmented without changing their secondary structure and properties. According to recent data, fibrils cutting can lead to the generation of seeds for new bona fide amyloid fibrils and accelerate the accumulation of amyloids, as well as enhance the ability of fibrils to disrupt membranes and to reduce cell viability. Our results emphasize the need to test the chaperone effect not only on fibrillogenesis, but also on the mature amyloid fibrils, including stress conditions, in order to avoid undesirable disease progression during chaperone-based therapy.
Investigation of light nuclei in the cluster model by means of relativistic and non-relativistic systems

Calculation of the energy of even-even isotopes using collective models in nuclear physics has its own complication. Therefor different physical models are used to study nuclear isotopes. The cluster model is a new and successful model for investigating the properties of isotopes. Using this model, the interaction between core and cluster can be chosen and static properties, including the eigenvalues energy and wave function, can be calculated. Considering the modified Eckart plus Hulthen potentials and Coulomb repulsive potential for interactions between clusters and with substituting this potential in the Schrodinger equations, by Nikiforov-Uvarov analytical method some of the static properties including the energy levels and wave functions are obtained for 14C, 16O, 20Ne, 24Mg, 28Si, and 32S isotopes.
T4‐like myovirus community shaped by dispersal and deterministic processes in the South China Sea

Summary As the most abundant and genetically diverse biological entities, viruses significantly influence ecological, biogeographical and evolutionary processes in the ocean. However, the biogeography of marine viruses and the drivers shaping viral community are unclear. Here, the biogeographic patterns of T4‐like viruses and the relative impacts of deterministic (environmental selection) and dispersal (spatial distance) processes were investigated in the northern South China Sea. The dominant viral operational taxonomic units were affiliated with previously defined Marine, Estuary, Lake and Paddy Groups. A clear viral biogeographic pattern was observed along the environmental gradient from the estuary to open sea. Marine Groups I and IV had a wide geographical distribution, whereas Marine Groups II, III and V were abundant in lower‐salinity continental or eutrophic environments. A significant distance‐decay pattern was noted for the T4‐like viral community, especially for those infecting cyanobacteria. Both deterministic and dispersal processes influenced viral community assembly, although environmental selection (e.g. temperature, salinity, bacterial abundance and community, etc.) had a greater impact than spatial distance. Network analysis confirmed the strong association between viral and bacterial community composition, and suggested a diverse ecological relationship (e.g. lysis, co‐infection or mutualistic) between and within viruses and their potential bacterial hosts.
COVID-19 in lung transplant recipients: A multicenter study

This study describes the clinical presentation, treatment, and outcomes of SARS‐CoV‐2 infection in lung transplant recipients (LTRs). This is a multicenter, retrospective study of all adult LTRs with confirmed SARS‐CoV‐2 infection from March 4 until April 28, 2020 in six Spanish reference hospitals for lung transplantation. Clinical and radiological data, treatment characteristics, and outcomes were reviewed. Forty‐four cases were identified in that period. The median time from transplantation was 4.2 (interquartile range: 1.11–7.3) years. Chest radiography showed acute parenchymal abnormalities in 32 (73%) cases. Hydroxychloroquine was prescribed in 41 (93%), lopinavir/ritonavir (LPV/r) in 14 (32%), and tocilizumab in 19 (43%) patients. There was a strong interaction between tacrolimus and LPV/r in all cases. Thirty‐seven (84%) patients required some degree of respiratory support and/or oxygen therapy, and 13 (30%) were admitted to intermediate or intensive critical care units. Seventeen (39%) patients had died and 20 (45%) had been discharged at the time of the last follow‐up. Deceased patients had a worse respiratory status and chest X‐ray on admission and presented with higher D‐dimer, interleukin‐6, and lactate dehydrogenase levels. In this multicenter LTR cohort, SARS‐CoV‐2 presented with high mortality. Additionally, the severity of disease on presentation predicted subsequent mortality.
Assessing the Direct Binding of Ark-Like E3 RING Ligases to Ubiquitin and Its Implication on Their Protein Interaction Network

The ubiquitin pathway required for most proteins’ targeted degradation involves three classes of enzymes: E1-activating enzyme, E2-conjugating enzyme, and E3-ligases. The human Ark2C is the single known E3 ligase that adopts an alternative, Ub-dependent mechanism for the activation of Ub transfer in the pathway. Its RING domain binds both E2-Ub and free Ub with high affinity, resulting in a catalytic active UbR-RING-E2-UbD complex formation. We examined potential changes in the conformational plasticity of the Ark2C RING domain and its ligands in their complexed form within the ubiquitin pathway through molecular dynamics (MD). Three molecular mechanics force fields compared to previous NMR relaxation studies of RING domain of Arkadia were used for effective and accurate assessment of MDs. Our results suggest the Ark2C Ub-RING docking site has a substantial impact on maintaining the conformational rigidity of E2-E3 assembly, necessary for the E3’s catalytic activity. In the UbR-RING-E2-UbD catalytic complex, the UbR molecule was found to have greater mobility than the other Ub, bound to E2. Furthermore, network-based bioinformatics helped us identify E3 RING ligase candidates which potentially exhibit similar structural modules as Ark2C, along with predicted substrates targeted by the Ub-binding RING Ark2C. Our findings could trigger a further exploration of related unrevealed functions of various other E3 RING ligases.
Preoperative Antibiotic Prophylaxis in Elective Minor Surgical Procedures among Adults in Southern Italy

Little is known regarding the factors associated with surgical antibiotic prophylaxis (SAP) compliance in elective minor surgery. The purposes of this cross-sectional study were to identify the frequency of inappropriate SAP administration and to understand the characteristics associated with such inappropriateness in a sample of elective minor surgical procedures. The study was performed between May and July 2019 among a random sample of patients aged 18 years and older in seven public hospitals randomly selected in the Campania and Calabria Regions of Italy. Globally, only 45% of SAP approaches were deemed completely in accordance with the evidence-based guidelines. Patients with an ordinary admission, those who underwent local anesthesia, those receiving plastic and reconstructive and ophthalmology surgery, and those who had not received a prosthetic implant were more likely to receive an appropriate SAP approach; those receiving obstetrics, gynecological, and urological surgical procedures were less likely than those who underwent abdominal, vascular, and breast surgery. The course of antibiotic prophylaxis was not consistent with the guidelines in 48.5% procedures with one or more reasons for inappropriateness. Appropriate time of the SAP administration was more frequently observed in patients who were older, those with a Charlson comorbidity index of 0, those who did not receive a prosthetic implant, and those receiving plastic and reconstructive surgery; it was less likely in patients receiving obstetrics, gynecological, and urological surgeries compared with those who underwent abdominal, vascular, and breast surgery. Aspects of SAP that need to be improved are molecule choice, time of administration, and specific surgical procedures. Hospital managers should involve surgeons and anesthesiologists in initiatives tailored to optimize SAP prescribing.
Comparing Selected Life-History Traits of Black Soldier Fly (Diptera: Stratiomyidae) Larvae Produced in Industrial and Bench-Top-Sized Containers

Abstract As global food demand is increasing along with human population growth, there is a greater need for alternative protein sources. Insect protein, especially the larvae of the black soldier fly, Hermetia illucens (L.) (Diptera: Stratiomyidae), has become a key approach for solving this issue in part due to its ability to convert organic waste into insect biomass with minimal resource (e.g., land, water) requirements. However, most information utilized to develop industrial production of this species is reliant on data generated from laboratory-scaled studies. Unfortunately, scaling these data to an industrial level potentially is not linear resulting in over, or under, estimating production. In this study, we compared selected life-history traits of larval black soldier fly produced at benchtop (e.g., 1 liter container with 614 larvae) and industrial scales (e.g., 29.5 liter container inoculated with 10,000 larvae). Larvae were provided a single feeding (2 g/larva) in each treatment. Significant differences in the mean larval weight (24.7%), survivorship (−28.2%), and biomass conversion (−2.7%) were determined between benchtop and industrial treatments. These results indicate larval number and the associated container size are important factors to consider when designing a black soldier fly factory. Furthermore, caution should be taken when applying data from laboratory studies to industrial scale production systems as the values potentially are not linear.
First Alarm and Time of Diagnosis in Autism Spectrum Disorders

ABSTRACT Early diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is of paramount importance as it opens the road to early intervention, which is associated with better prognosis. However, early diagnosis is often delayed until preschool or school age. The purpose of the current retrospective study was to explore the age of recognition of first alarming symptoms in boys and girls as well as the age at diagnosis of different subtypes of ASD in a small sample. A total of 128 parents’ of children with ASDs were participated in the survey by completing a self-report questionnaire about early signs and symptoms that raised their concern. Parents of children with autism voiced concerns earlier and obtained diagnosis significantly earlier compared to parents of children with Asperger syndrome (p value <0.000). No significant difference (p value<0.05) has been detected between males and females in early manifestation of first signs and symptoms of ASD. The mean age at diagnosis was 3.8 years for autistic disorder, 6.2 years for children with Asperger syndrome and 6.4 years for other, e.g., PDD-NOS. The most commonly reported symptoms were speech and language problems (p value = 0.001) for children who were later diagnosed with autism, while behavior problems (p value = 0.046) as well as difficulties in education at school (p value = 0.013) for children with Asperger syndrome. The gap between early identification and diagnosis pinpoints the urgent need for national systematic early screening, the development of reliable and sensitive diagnostic instruments for infants and toddlers and heightened awareness of early signs of ASD among parents, teachers, and healthcare professionals and providers as well.
Relationships between Follicle-Stimulating Hormone and Adiponectin in Postmenopausal Women

Beyond fertility, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) may exert action on adipocytes, which are the major source of adiponectin and leptin, linking to insulin resistance. Therefore, we evaluated the relationships between FSH and adipocyte-derived hormones. This cross-sectional study enrolled postmenopausal women aged 40–65 years. The variables measured in this study included clinical parameters, fasting levels of sex hormones, glucose, insulin, and adipokines. A total of 261 women without breast cancer, 88 women with breast cancer receiving tamoxifen, and 59 women with breast cancer receiving additional gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogs were enrolled in this study. Significant differences in the levels of adiponectin, leptin, and FSH were observed between the non-breast cancer group and the breast cancer groups. Spearman’s rank test revealed significant associations of FSH with either body mass index (BMI) or homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) values in the non-breast cancer group. After adjusting for BMI, age, and menopause duration, FSH levels were significantly associated with adiponectin (p < 0.001) and the leptin-to-adiponectin ratio (p = 0.008) in the non-breast cancer group, but they were only significantly associated with adiponectin (p = 0.001) in the breast cancer group receiving tamoxifen. Our data show that FSH levels are independently associated with adiponectin levels in postmenopausal women, suggesting that adiponectin may link FSH to metabolic relationships in postmenopausal female.
Arabidopsis RING-type E3 ubiquitin ligase XBAT35.2 promotes proteasome-dependent degradation of ACD11 to attenuate abiotic stress tolerance.

Plants employ multiple mechanisms to cope with a constantly changing and challenging environment including utilizing the ubiquitin proteasome system (UPS) to alter their proteome to assist in initiating, modulating and terminating responses to stress. We previously reported that the ubiquitin ligase XBAT35.2 mediates the proteasome-dependent degradation of Accelerated Cell Death 11 (ACD11) to promote pathogen defense. Here, we demonstrate roles for XBAT35.2 and ACD11 in abiotic stress tolerance. Similar to pathogen infection, abiotic stress stabilizes XBAT35.2 and protein abundance rose consistently with increasing concentrations of abscisic acid (ABA) and salt. Surprisingly, exposure to ABA and salt increased ACD11 stability and overexpression of ACD11 improves survival of salt and drought stress, suggesting a role for ACD11 in promoting tolerance. However, prolonged exposure to high concentrations of ABA/salt resulted in ubiquitination and proteasome-dependent degradation of ACD11. The stress-induced turnover of ACD11 requires XBAT35.2 as degradation is slowed in the absence of the E3 ubiquitin ligase. Consistent with XBAT35.2 mediating the proteasome-dependent degradation of ACD11, loss of E3 ubiquitin ligase function enhances tolerance of salt and drought stress, while overexpression increases sensitivity. A model is presented where upon abiotic stress, ACD11 abundance increases to promote tolerance. Meanwhile, XBAT35.2 accumulates and in turn promotes the degradation of ACD11 to attenuate the stress response. The results characterize XBAT35.2 as an E3 ubiquitin ligase with opposing roles in abiotic and biotic stress. Supporting Information.
The Missing Pieces of the Puzzle: A Review on the Interactive Nature of A-Priori Expectancies and Attention Bias toward Threat

The role of attention bias in the etiology and maintenance of anxiety disorders has been studied extensively over decades. Attention bias reflects maladaptation in cognitive processing, as perceived threatening stimuli receive prioritized processing even when they are task-irrelevant or factually unthreatening. Recently, there has been some interest in the role of a-priori expectancies in attention bias toward threat. The current review article will present recent studies as examples that emphasize the need for more comprehensive research about the interactive effects of various factors that affect the relationship between expectancies and attention bias toward threatening stimuli in anxiety. The current review article suggests a holistic view, which advocates for more integrative research, as a dynamic network could underlie changes in attention bias. The study of the interaction between such factors, with a focus on expectancy, can lead to more ecological and clinically important results, and thus to more informed and fine-tuned treatments that are based on manipulation of expectancies. Such methods, in turn, can also help in shedding light on the research of attention bias, in a mutual relationship between research and therapy.
The Activation of Ti-Zr-V-Hf Non-Evaporable Getter Films with Open-Cell Copper Metal Foam Substrates

Secondary electron emission (SEE) inhibition and vacuum instability are two important issues in accelerators that may induce multiple effects in accelerators, such as power loss and beam lifetime reduction. In order to mitigate SEE and maintain high vacuum simultaneously, open-cell copper metal foam (OCMF) substrates with Ti-Zr-V-Hf non-evaporable getter (NEG) coatings are first proposed, and the properties of surface morphology, surface chemistry and secondary electron yield (SEY) were analyzed for the first time. According to the experimental results tested at 25 °C, the maximum SEY (δmax) of OCMF before and after Ti-Zr-V-Hf NEG film deposition were 1.25 and 1.22, respectively. The XPS spectra indicated chemical state changes of the metal elements (Ti, Zr, V and Hf) of the Ti-Zr-V-Hf NEG films after heating, suggesting that the NEG films can be activated after heating and used as getter pumps.
EMG Measurement with Textile-Based Electrodes in Different Electrode Sizes and Clothing Pressures for Smart Clothing Design Optimization

The surface electromyography (SEMG) is one of the most popular bio-signals that can be applied in health monitoring systems, fitness training, and rehabilitation devices. Commercial clothing embedded with textile electrodes has already been released onto the market, but there is insufficient information on the performance of textile SEMG electrodes because the required configuration may differ according to the electrode material. The current study analyzed the influence of electrode size and pattern reduction rate (PRR), and hence the clothing pressure (Pc) based on in vivo SEMG signal acquisition. Bipolar SEMG electrodes were made in different electrode diameters Ø 5–30 mm, and the clothing pressure ranged from 6.1 to 12.6 mmHg. The results supported the larger electrodes, and Pc showed better SEMG signal quality by showing lower baseline noise and a gradual increase in the signal to noise ratio (SNR). In particular, electrodes, Ø ≥ 20 mm, and Pc ≥ 10 mmHg showed comparable performance to Ag-Ag/Cl electrodes in current textile-based electrodes. The current study emphasizes and discusses design factors that are particularly required in the designing and manufacturing process of smart clothing with SEMG electrodes, especially as an aspect of clothing design.
INSTITUTO FEDERAL GOIANO – CAMPUS RIO VERDE DIRETORIA DE PESQUISA E PÓS-GRADUAÇÃO PROGRAMA DE PÓS-GRADUAÇÃO EM BIODIVERSIDADE E CONSERVAÇÃO

OLIVEIRA, RONIEL FREITAS. Instituto Federal Goiano – Campus Rio Verde – GO, fevereiro de 2018. Diversity, distribution and conservation of medium and large – sized mammals in a transition zone Cerrado – Atlantic forest. Orientadora: Dr.a Levi Carina Terribile. Coorientador: Dr.a Alessandro Ribeiro de Morais. Change in land use has been the main factor negatively influencing the biodiversity. Medium and large sized mammals perform various functions in the ecosystem, such as seed dispersers and predation. Therefore, they are extremely important for keeping the functioning of ecosystem, and the functional diversity is an index that reflects the role of the species in the ecosystem. Despite being extremely important, some studies have shown that functional diversity of medium and large sized mammals is influenced by forest patch size in Atlantic Forest. However, for the Cerrado, it is unknown how characteristics of forest patch influence the functional diversity, and still, as far as we know, there are no studies relating functional diversity through a multi-scale approach (e.g. patch and landscape metrics). Here, we inventoried the fauna of medium and large sized mammals in the Central South of Brazil. Still, we present the functional diversity of this group and the effect of change in the land use on functional diversity in a multiscale approach. In general, our results showed that, despite of highly fragmented, the study region still keep an expressive richness of medium and large sized mammals, with a functional diversity relatively high in relationship to the Cerrado Biome. Still, our results demonstrated that the functional diversity of medium and large sized mammals in the study area was influenced by patch and landscape metrics in different way. We
The functional morphology of lingual prey capture in a scincid lizard, Tiliqua scincoides (Reptilia: Squamata)

We investigated the functional morphology of lingual prey capture in the blue‐tongued skink, Tiliqua scincoides, a lingual‐feeding lizard nested deep within the family Scincidae, which is presumed to be dominated by jaw‐feeding. We used kinematic analysis of high‐speed video to characterize jaw and tongue movements during prey capture. Phylogenetically informed principal components analysis of tongue morphology showed that, compared to jaw‐feeding scincids and lacertids, T. scincoides and another tongue‐feeding scincid, Corucia zebrata, are distinct in ways suggesting an enhanced ability for hydrostatic shape change. Lingual feeding kinematics show substantial quantitative and qualitative variation among T. scincoides individuals. High‐speed video analysis showed that T. scincoides uses significant hydrostatic elongation and deformation during protrusion, tongue‐prey contact, and retraction. A key feature of lingual prey capture in T. scincoides is extensive hydrostatic deformation to increase the area of tongue‐prey contact, presumably to maximize wet adhesion of the prey item. Adhesion is mechanically reinforced during tongue retraction through formation of a distinctive “saddle” in the foretongue that supports the prey item, reducing the risk of prey loss during retraction.