Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Insulin-Reactive T Cells Convert Diabetogenic Insulin-Reactive VH125 B Cells Into Tolerogenic Cells by Reducing Germinal Center T:B Cell Interactions in NOD Mice

Insulin is a key autoantigen in Type 1 Diabetes (T1D), targeted by both T and B cells. Therefore, understanding insulin-specific T:B cell interactions is important. We have previously reported an insulin-reactive CD4+ T cell, (designated 2H6). Unlike other insulin-reactive T cells, 2H6 cells protect non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice from T1D development, mediated by TGFβ. To investigate insulin-specific T:B cell interactions, we bred 2H6αβ T cell receptor transgenic NOD mice (2H6) with the insulin-reactive B cell receptor transgenic NOD mice (VH125), generating 2H6VH125 NOD mice. Similar to 2H6 mice, 2H6VH125 mice are protected from T1D development. Interestingly, VH125 B cells did not alter the phenotype of 2H6 T cells; however, 2H6 T cells significantly altered the VH125 B cells by reducing the insulin-reactive non-germinal center (GC) and GC B cells, as well as MHC and costimulatory molecule expression on the B cells. Furthermore, the B cells in 2H6VH125 NOD mice exhibited increased non-insulin-specific and a class switched IgG isotype, which can be recapitulated in vivo in Rag-deficient NOD mice by adoptive transfer. In vitro, VH125 B cells from 2H6VH125 mice suppressed the proliferation of 2H6 T cells to insulin antigen but enhanced TGFβ secretion by 2H6 T cells from 2H6VH125 mice compared to 2H6 mice. In summary, our data showed that 2H6 CD4+ T cells alter the phenotype and function of insulin-reactive B cells from pathogenic to tolerogenic cells. In turn, VH125 B cells also modulate the function of the 2H6 T cells. Thus, promoting the interactions between antigen-specific regulatory T cells and B cells may lead to protection from T1D.
Comparing the Psychological Effects of Meditation- and Breathing-Focused Yoga Practice in Undergraduate Students

Objectives The present study aimed to compare the psychological effects of meditation- and breathing-focused yoga practice in undergraduate students. Methods A 12-weeks yoga intervention was conducted among a group of undergraduate students enrolled in four yoga classes at an academically prestigious university in Beijing, China. Four classes were randomized to meditation-focused yoga or breathing-focused yoga. A total of 86 participants finished surveys before and after the 12-weeks intervention, measuring work intention, mindfulness, and perceived stress. The repeated-measure multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) followed by univariate analyses were conducted to examine the differences in work intention, mindfulness, and stress between the two yoga intervention groups over the semester, after controlling for age and gender. Results The repeated-measure MANCOVA revealed significant group differences with a median effect size [Wilks’ lambda, Λ = 0.90, F(3, 80) = 3.10, p = 0.031, η2 = 0.104]. Subsequent univariate analyses showed that students in the breathing-focused yoga group had significant higher work intentions [F(1, 82) = 5.22; p = 0.025; η2p = 0.060] and mindfulness [F(1, 82) = 6.33; p = 0.014; η2p = 0.072] but marginally lower stress [F(1, 82) = 4.20; p = 0.044; η2p = 0.049] than students in the meditation-focused yoga group. Conclusion Yoga practice with a focus on breathing is more effective than that with a focus on meditation for undergraduates to retain energy for work, keep attention and awareness, and reduce stress.
Timing and Duration of Observation Periods of Foraging Behavior in Natural Grasslands

The goals of this study were to evaluate the length of time grazing which should be monitored over a 24-h period to predict the grazing behavior of beef heifers within a season and determine the patterns of foraging activity over 24 h. A database was constructed between 2010 and 2012 for beef heifers managed under rotational grazing in a natural grassland. Grazing, rumination, and other activity times were assessed visually during 24 h on 15 occasions. Data were classified according to climatic seasons, generating 12 replicates in summer, 18 in spring, 24 in autumn, and 36 in winter. Treatments were the evaluation of four distinct periods: from sunrise to sunset (DAY-SUN), daylight duration from dawn to nightfall (DAYLIGHT), DAYLIGHT plus 2 h (DAYLIGHT+2), DAYLIGHT to midnight (DAYLIGHT to 0), and the entire 24 h period (CONTROL). Differences for grazing, rumination, and other activities were found in all seasons for the evaluation periods. Sampling sufficiency was reached only with the DAYLIGHT to 0 and CONTROL for all four climatic seasons. The DAYLIGHT to 0 treatment covered 75% of a 24-h period and 95% of the mean foraging time took place during this time interval. Considering grazing distribution during a day, in the warm seasons, the major grazing period during mornings occurred earlier than in the cool seasons, and in cool seasons, the grazing peak was observed during the afternoon. Visual observations from dawn until midnight represented the total grazing time and natural behavior of heifers and could be used to represent grazing activities for the entire day.
Acetate Revisited: A Key Biomolecule at the Nexus of Metabolism, Epigenetics and Oncogenesis—Part 1: Acetyl-CoA, Acetogenesis and Acyl-CoA Short-Chain Synthetases

Acetate is a major end product of bacterial fermentation of fiber in the gut. Acetate, whether derived from the diet or from fermentation in the colon, has been implicated in a range of health benefits. Acetate is also generated in and released from various tissues including the intestine and liver, and is generated within all cells by deacetylation reactions. To be utilized, all acetate, regardless of the source, must be converted to acetyl coenzyme A (acetyl-CoA), which is carried out by enzymes known as acyl-CoA short-chain synthetases. Acyl-CoA short-chain synthetase-2 (ACSS2) is present in the cytosol and nuclei of many cell types, whereas ACSS1 is mitochondrial, with greatest expression in heart, skeletal muscle, and brown adipose tissue. In addition to acting to redistribute carbon systemically like a ketone body, acetate is becoming recognized as a cellular regulatory molecule with diverse functions beyond the formation of acetyl-CoA for energy derivation and lipogenesis. Acetate acts, in part, as a metabolic sensor linking nutrient balance and cellular stress responses with gene transcription and the regulation of protein function. ACSS2 is an important task-switching component of this sensory system wherein nutrient deprivation, hypoxia and other stressors shift ACSS2 from a lipogenic role in the cytoplasm to a regulatory role in the cell nucleus. Protein acetylation is a critical post-translational modification involved in regulating cell behavior, and alterations in protein acetylation status have been linked to multiple disease states, including cancer. Improving our fundamental understanding of the “acetylome” and how acetate is generated and utilized at the subcellular level in different cell types will provide much needed insight into normal and neoplastic cellular metabolism and the epigenetic regulation of phenotypic expression under different physiological stressors. This article is Part 1 of 2 – for Part 2 see doi: 10.3389/fphys.2020. 580171.
Functional Connectivity Correlates of Perceived Financial Exploitation in Older Adults

Financial exploitation (FE) in old age is devastating and common; however, the neural correlates of FE are poorly understood. Previous studies of FE in older adults have implicated declines in decision making and social cognition as two risk factors for FE in later life. Here we examined whether functional connectivity among brain regions implicated in decision making and social cognition differed for those with an experience of FE vs. those without. Participants included 16 older adults without cognitive impairment who reported FE (Mean age = 70.5, 62.5% female, Mean education = 16.0 years) and 16 demographically and cognitively matched adults who denied a history of FE (Mean age = 65.1, 37.5% female, Mean education = 15.1 years). Measures of whole-brain resting-state functional connectivity in the hippocampus, insula, and medial frontal cortex were derived for each group. Compared to the non-FE group, FE was associated with greater functional connectivity between the right hippocampus and bilateral temporal regions, and less functional connectivity between the right hippocampus and the right cerebellum and bilateral lingual gyri. The FE group showed less connectivity between the right and left insula and cingulate cortex, and between the right insula and regions of the left lateral temporal gyrus and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. Finally, the FE group showed greater functional connectivity between the medial frontal cortex and the right lateral temporal gyrus and orbitofrontal cortex, and less functional connectivity with the right pre- and postcentral gyri. Results suggest that perceived FE in old age is associated with whole-brain functional connectivity differences involving the hippocampus, insula, and medial frontal cortex, consistent with models implicating age-associated changes in decision making and social cognition in FE.
Functional Movement Disorders in Children

Functional movement disorders (FMDs) are not uncommon in children. The age at onset may have a bearing on the phenomenological pattern of abnormal movement, risk factors, and response to different treatment modalities in this age group. FMDs in children resemble their adult counterparts in terms of gender preponderance, but risk factors are quite different, and often influenced by cultural and demographic background. FMDs contribute to a significant proportion of acute pediatric movement disorder patients seen in emergency settings, ranging from 4.3 to 23% in different case series. The most common movement phenomenologies observed in pediatric FMDs patients are tremor, dystonia, gait disturbances, and functional tics. Various social, physical, and familial precipitating factors have been described. Common social risk factors include divorce of parents, sexual abuse, bullying at school, examination pressure, or other education-related issues, death of a close friend, relative, or family members. Physical trauma like minor head injury, immunization, tooth extraction, and tonsillectomy are also known to precipitate FMDs. The response to treatment appears to be better among pediatric patients. We aim to review FMDs in children to better understand the different aspects of their frequency, clinical features, precipitating factors, diagnosis, treatment, and outcome.
Agreement Between Mothers and Fieldworkers While Assessing Child Development Using Ages and Stages Questionnaires, Third Edition in Nepal

Background: The Ages and Stages Questionnaires, Third Edition (ASQ-3) is becoming a widely used developmental assessment tool. The ASQ-3 can be completed by the caregivers (referred to as “mail out”), or by trained personnel under direct observation of the children (referred to as “home procedure”). Aim: The study was carried out to compare results obtained by the ASQ mail out with those of the ASQ home procedure in a community setting of Bhaktapur, Nepal. Methods: Trained fieldworkers (FWs) performed developmental assessment of 134 children aged 9 months in their homes using the ASQ home procedure. A few days before these assessments, mothers were asked to fill in the same ASQ-3 questionnaire. The concordance correlation coefficient (CCC) was calculated to measure their agreement. Result: The agreement between the ASQ mail out and home procedure was fair for the total score (CCC = 0.54). For the sub-scales, the agreement was good for the gross motor (CCC = 0.65), for the remaining subscales agreement was poor (CCC < 0.4). Conclusion: In resource limited setting like Nepal, the ASQ mail out represents an easy method to assess child development by caretakers at home; however, with the poor agreement between different methods of assessments, we cannot conclude that a single method is superior or most optimal and this question should be investigated further. When either of the method home procedure or mail out is opted, the results should be interpreted with cautions.
Incorporation of Hydroxamate Siderophore and Associated Fe Into Marine Particles in Natural Seawater

Microorganisms produce soluble low-molecular-weight (LMW, <1 kDa) siderophores, one of the strongest Fe-binding agents, to respond to the scarcity of Fe in the ocean. The presence of siderophores in marine particles/colloids is mostly not considered. Here, experimental evidence is provided to suggest the possibility of siderophore incorporation into marine particles. An incubation experiment with a 59Fe-complexed desferrioxamine (DFO, siderophore-model compound) was conducted using natural seawater (<3 μm) at dark condition to examine the size re-distribution of DFO and its associated Fe during microbial growth. 59Fe and DFO in suspended particles/aggregates, colloids and dissolved phase were quantified after the incubation. Our results showed that ∼55% of the 59Fe, originally in the form of LMW DFO-Fe, was incorporated in the suspended particles/aggregates. Noticeably, a minor amount (0.395 ± 0.020%) of the DFO was incorporated into the particulate phase. This finding is novel in that while the DFO facilitating Fe incorporation into microbial biomass was released back into the dissolved phase, still a minor fraction of the siderophores could be “retained” in particles. This could have become cumulatively more important in more complex natural systems that involves the interplay between minerals, bacteria, phytoplankton and zooplankton. Furthermore, our results indirectly suggest a balance of two different mechanisms during the Fe-siderophore transport. Our results are in favor of the processes occurring outside of the cells (Fe dissociation from the Fe-siderophore complex followed by the microbial Fe uptake) but the second mechanism can also exist (uptake of intact Fe-siderophore complex into the microbial intracellular fractions), albeit to a lesser extent.
Effects of Creep Feed Provision on Behavior and Performance of Piglets Around Weaning

Creep feed provision may ease weaning, hence we determined the impact of providing fibrous creep feed before weaning and adding this feed to the post-weaning diet on piglet behavior and performance. Pre-weaning, litters with on average 12 piglets were given creep feed (CF, n = 12 litters) or not (NF, n = 10 litters). Post-weaning, piglets (n = 8 pens with 4 piglets/treatment) were given a weaner diet (CON) or weaner diet supplemented with creep feed (CS). Behaviors were scored in the home pen at d11, 16, 22 and 27 after birth and at wk 1 and 2 post-weaning. Feed intake, growth and fecal consistency were measured up to d14 post-weaning. A blood sample was taken at d2, 15 and 29 after birth and d2, 5 and 14 post-weaning. CF-piglets consumed on average 397 ± 71 g creep feed before weaning. CF-piglets grew faster in the last week before weaning than NF-piglets (249 ± 7 vs. 236 ± 11 g/d, F(1, 18) = 5.81, P = 0.03). However, CF- and NF-piglets did not differ in weaning weight, within-litter coefficient of variation in weaning weight, behaviors in the farrowing and weaner pen, and haptoglobin concentrations. Creep feed supplementation enhanced feed exploration at wk 2 post-weaning (0.29 ± 0.08 vs. 0.11 ± 0.03%, F(1, 27) = 5.27, P = 0.03), but did not affect other post-weaning behaviors. Pre-weaning creep feed provision and post-weaning creep feed supplementation did not affect overall feed intake, growth, feed efficiency and fecal consistency for the first 14 days post-weaning, neither body weight at d14 post-weaning. Nevertheless, CF-piglets had a lower within-pen coefficient of variation in body weight at d14 post-weaning than NF-piglets (13.6 ± 1.9 vs. 15.1 ± 1.5%, F(1, 26) = 6.89, P = 0.01). In conclusion, pre-weaning creep feed provision and post-weaning creep feed supplementation had no clear effects on piglet behavior and performance.
Expander random walks: a Fourier-analytic approach

In this work we ask the following basic question: assume the vertices of an expander graph are labelled by 0,1. What “test” functions f : { 0,1}t → {0,1} cannot distinguish t independent samples from those obtained by a random walk? The expander hitting property due to Ajtai, Komlos and Szemeredi (STOC 1987) is captured by the AND test function, whereas the fundamental expander Chernoff bound due to Gillman (SICOMP 1998), Heally (Computational Complexity 2008) is about test functions indicating whether the weight is close to the mean. In fact, it is known that all threshold functions are fooled by a random walk (Kipnis and Varadhan, Communications in Mathematical Physics 1986). Recently, it was shown that even the highly sensitive PARITY function is fooled by a random walk Ta-Shma (STOC 2017). We focus on balanced labels. Our first main result is proving that all symmetric functions are fooled by a random walk. Put differently, we prove a central limit theorem (CLT) for expander random walks with respect to the total variation distance, significantly strengthening the classic CLT for Markov Chains that is established with respect to the Kolmogorov distance (Kipnis and Varadhan, Communications in Mathematical Physics 1986). Our approach significantly deviates from prior works. We first study how well a Fourier character χS is fooled by a random walk as a function of S. Then, given a test function f, we expand f in the Fourier basis and combine the above with known results on the Fourier spectrum of f. We also proceed further and consider general test functions - not necessarily symmetric. As our approach is Fourier analytic, it is general enough to analyze such versatile test functions. For our second result, we prove that random walks on sufficiently good expander graphs fool tests functions computed by AC0 circuits, read-once branching programs, and functions with bounded query complexity.
The Experience of a Facial Nerve Unit in the Treatment of Patients With Facial Paralysis Following Skull Base Surgery

The management of facial paralysis following skull base surgery is complex and requires multidisciplinary intervention. This review shows the experience of a facial nerve (FN) unit in a tertiary university referral center. A multidisciplinary approach has led to the breaking of some old treatment paradigms. An overview of five FN scenarios is presented. For each setting a contemporary approach is proposed in contrast to the established approach. 1) For patients with an anatomically preserved FN with no electrical response at the end of surgery for vestibular schwannoma, watchful waiting is usually advocated. In these cases, reinforcement with an interposed nerve graft is recommended. 2) In cases of epineural FN repair, with or without grafting, and a poor expected prognosis, an additional masseter-to-facial transfer is recommended. 3) FN transfer, mainly hypoglossal-to-facial and masseter-to facial, are usually chosen based on the surgeons’ preference. The choice should be based on clinical factors. A combination of techniques improves the outcome in selected patients. 4) FN reconstruction following malignant tumors requires a combination of parotid and temporal bone surgery, involving different specialists. This collaboration is not always consistent. Exposure of the mastoid FN is recommended for lesions involving the stylomastoid foramen, as well as intraoperative FN reconstruction. 5) In patients with incomplete facial paralysis and a skull base tumor requiring additional surgery, consider an alternative reinnervation procedure, “take the FN out of the equation” before tumor resection. In summary, to achieve the best results in complex cases of facial paralysis, a multidisciplinary approach is recommended.
A Note on Hardness under Projections for Graph Isomorphism and Time-Bounded Kolmogorov Complexity

This paper focuses on a variant of the circuit minimization problem ( MCSP ), denoted MKTP , which studies resource-bounded Kolmogorov complexity in place of circuit size. MCSP is not known to be hard for any complexity class under any kind of m-reducibility, but recently MKTP was shown to be hard for DET under m-reductions computable in NC 0 , by presenting an AC 0 reduction from the rigid graph isomorphism problem to MKTP , and combining that with a theorem of Tor´an, showing that DET AC 0 -reduces to the rigid graph isomorphism problem, and then appealing to the “Gap Theorem” of [1]. Here, we show that these reductions can be accomplished by means of projections . Thus MKTP is hard for DET under projections, and the rigid graph isomorphism problem is hard for DET under uniform projections.
IDENTIFICATION OF TRITERPENOIDE COMPOUND FROM Polyscias fruticosa Harm. (Araliaceae) ROOT BARK

Kedondong laut (Polyscias fruticosa) is one of medical plants which is useful to increase poultry immune system, antiviral, antibacterial, antidisentry and for curing diuretic and gardiasis. The research purpose is to find out the kind of triterpenoides compound in kedondong laut root bark. In the pre-experiment has indicated positif for Liebermann burchard test for crude extract. It means that reagent showed that there were active compounds of saponin triterpenoides in root extract. Isolation of saponins were carried out based on extraction using methanol followed by dietil eter and n-buthanol. the isolat was then separated by preparative thin layer chromatograpy (TLC) in Silica gel F254 plates using solvent combination of cloroform/methanol/water (20/60/10) and resulting 3 isolates of oleanane and oleanene triterpenoid. Each isolates was analyzed using Spectrophotometric Infrared (IR) and HNMR. The isolate with Rf value of 0,55 supposed to be 3-O-β-D-Glucopyranosil (1→2) β-D-Glukopiranosil compound, Isolate 2 with Rf value of 0,64 as 3-O-β-D-rhamnopyranosil (1→2) -β-D-rhamnopyranosil (1→3) -β-Dglucopyranosil compound and isolate 3 with Rf value of 0,77 as 3-O-β-D-glucopyranosil compound.
Genome-Wide Associations with Resistance to Bipolaris Leaf Spot (Bipolaris oryzae (Breda de Haan) Shoemaker) in a Northern Switchgrass Population (Panicum virgatum)

Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.), a northern native perennial grass, suffers from yield reduction from Bipolaris leaf spot caused by Bipolaris oryzae (Breda de Haan) Shoemaker. To determine the candidate resistant populations via multiple phenotyping approaches and identify potential resistance genes, single- and multi-trait genome-wide association studies were conducted in the northern switchgrass population. The disease resistance was evaluated from both natural and artificial inoculations. The natural inoculation from the field was evaluated in two locations – NY and PA, and artificial inoculations by leaf detachment and leaf disk assay were conducted and evaluated via both vision and image analysis. The most resistant population based on a combination of leaf detachment via image analysis (DTIA)-leaf disk via image analysis (DSIA)-mean from two locations was ‘SW805’ population. There were only four reliable GWAS results from various trait combinations in various subsets of genotypes including 1) full set of 479 genotypes with DTIA-DSIA-highest score from NY (MNY), 2) tetraploid with MNY, 3) lowland with DTIA-DSIA-MNY and highest score from PA (MPA), and 4) upland with leaf detachment via vision (DTVI)-MNY showing non-overlapping regions. Overall, the resistance genes were associated with 18 markers on chromosomes 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 7a, 7b, 8a, 9a, and 9b and accumulatively explained phenotypic variance of DSIA by 26.72% at the most and DTIA by 6.32% at the least. Within linkage disequilibrium of 20 kb, the potential resistance genes included genes encoding Myb, cytochrome P450, isocitrate lyase, E3 ubiquitin-protein ligase, mitogen-activated kinases, glutathione S-transferase, Birefringence-like 32, and ABC transporter.