Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Morphometric Analysis of Limonium Salt Glands in Relation to Ion Efflux

Faraday, C. D. and Thomson, W. W. 1986. Morphometry analysis of Limonium salt glands in relation to ion efflux. —J. exp. Bot. 37: 471-481. Surface areas and volumes of compartments within rapidly secreting and slowly secreting Limonium perezii salt glands were determined to be similar. Molecular and volume effluxes of secreted salt solutions were calculated by the application of secretion rates to plasmalemma surface areas. If ion efflux from the glands was a transmembrane phenomenon, fluxes of 104 x 10~5 equivalents m-2 s_1 would have been necessary to match secretion rates. These fluxes were a thousand times higher than fluxes estimated for most plant cells. Correlated with these high membrane fluxes was the fact that mitochondria occupied 10% of the protoplast volume. Thirty-two percent of the plasmalemma available for efflux was associated with wall protuberances. Wall protuberances amplified the plasmalemma surface area by a factor of 1-6.
The psychology of breakup sex: Exploring the motivational factors and affective consequences of post-breakup sexual activity

Popular culture has recently publicized a seemingly new postbreakup behavior called breakup sex. While the media expresses the benefits of participating in breakup sex, there is no research to support these claimed benefits. The current research was designed to begin to better understand this postbreakup behavior. In the first study, we examined how past breakup sex experiences made the individuals feel and how people predict they would feel in the future (n = 212). Results suggested that men are more likely than women to have felt better about themselves, while women tend to state they felt better about the relationship after breakup sex. The second study (n = 585) investigated why men and women engage in breakup sex. Results revealed that most breakup sex appears to be motivated by three factors: relationship maintenance, hedonism, and ambivalence. Men tended to support hedonistic and ambivalent reasons for having breakup sex more often than women. The two studies revealed that breakup sex may be differentially motivated (and may have different psychological consequences) for men and women and may not be as beneficial as the media suggests.
The Distribution of Tenascin in Rat Embryos with Normal Heart and Cardiovascular Anomalies Induced by Bis‐Diamine

The mesenchyme in the truncal ridge and aortico‐pulmonary (A‐P) septum in the developing heart expresses tenascin (TN), a component of extracellular matrices. We observed immunohistochemically the localization of TN with reference to fibronectin (FN) distribution in rat embryonic hearts at gestation days 12. 13 and 14 and compared the results with those in bis‐diamine‐induced cardiovascular anomalies. In control rat embryonic hearts, TN was distributed in the dorsal mesocardium and the distal part of the truncal ridge at gestation day 12, and in part of the conal and truncal ridges, A‐P septum and proximal wall of aortic arch arteries at gestation days 13 and 14. The conotruncal regions with TN expression may correspond to the areas where cardiac neural crest cells migrate in the heart. In bis‐diamine‐treated rat hearts showing conotruncal anomalies, TN was localized in incompletely fused and hypoplastic conotruncal ridges, but the intensity and area of staining were decreased suggesting a decreased neural crest cell migration. FN was diffusely distributed in both the normal and anomalous embryonic hearts, including atrioventricular cushion tissue in addition to the region expressing TN. TN was densely distributed in the fusing area of the conal and truncal ridges in comparison to FN, suggesting that TN may be mainly expressed during the time of fusion of conal and truncal ridges to form the A‐P septum in the embryonic heart. In conclusion, bis‐diamine may cause the poor development of neural crest derived tissue, subsequently bringing about hypoplasia of the A‐P septum and truncal and conal ridges.
GC-MS analysis, antimicrobial, antioxidant, antilipoxygenase and cytotoxic activities of Jacaranda mimosifolia methanol leaf extracts and fractions

Jacaranda mimosifolia trees are grown in frost-free regions globally. The aim of this study was to evaluate the methanol crude extract and various fractions of increasing polarity of J. mimosifolia leaves for bioactive metabolites, as well as antimicrobial, antioxidant and anticancer activities. The anti-inflammatory potential of the various fractions of J. mimosifolia leaf extract was studied via the lipoxygenase (LOX) inhibitory assay. Methanol crude extract (ME), derived fractions extracted with chloroform (CF) and ethyl acetate (EAF), and residual aqueous extract (AE) of dried J. mimosifolia leaves were assayed for polyphenolic compounds, their antioxidant, antimicrobial and lipoxygenase (LOX) inhibitory activities, and anticancer properties. Polyphenolic compounds were determined via HPLC while phytochemicals (total phenolics, flavonoids, tannins and ortho-diphenol contents), antioxidant activities (DPPH, hydrogen peroxideperoxide, hydroxyl and superoxide radical anions) and LOX were measured via spectrophotometry. Methanol extracts and various fractions were evaluated for antibacterial activities against Bacillus subtilis, Klebsiella pneumonia, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus. Antifungal potential of the fractions was tested against three species: Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus fumigatus and Fusarium oxysporum. The highest values for total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), flavonols, tannins and ortho-diphenols were in the ME, followed by CF > EAF > AE. ME also had the highest antioxidant activity with EC50 values 48±1.3, 45±2.4, 42±1.3 and 46±1.3 μg/mL based on the DPPH, hydrogen peroxide, hydroxyl radical and superoxide radical assays, respectively. TPC and TFC showed a significant, strong and positive correlation with the values for each of these antioxidant activities. ME exhibited anti-inflammatory potential based on its LOX inhibitory activity (IC50 = 1.3 μg/mL). ME also had the maximum antibacterial and antifungal potential, followed by EAF > CF > AE. Furthermore, ME showed the strongest cytotoxic effect (EC50 = 10.7 and 17.3 μg/mL) against human hormone-dependent prostate carcinoma (LnCaP) and human lung carcinoma (LU-1) cell lines, respectively. Bioactive compounds present in leaf methanol extracts of J. mimosifolia were identified using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS). Fifteen compounds were identified including phenolic and alcoholic compounds, as well as fatty acids. Our results suggest that J. mimosifolia leaves are a good source of natural products with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties for potential therapeutic, nutraceutical and functional food applications.
Effects of excitatory amino acids on in vivo and in vitro gonadotropin and growth hormone secretion in testosterone‐primed immature rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss

The present studies were conducted to evaluate the effects of excitatory amino acids (EAAs) on gonadotropin II (GtH II) and growth hormone (GH) secretion in testosteroneprimed immature rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss. Intraperitoneal injections of N-methyl-DL-aspartate (NMA) elevated both plasma GtH II and GH levels. By comparison, Des Gly10 [D-Ala6] LHRH-ethylamide (LHRH-A) elevated plasma GtH II levels but had no effect on plasma GH levels. The GtH II response to NMA was not evident in sexually regressing adult rainbow trout. GtH II secretion by perifused pituitary glands of testosterone-primed immature rainbow trout was elevated following NMA or salmon GnRH analogue (sGnRH-A) challenge. The GtH II response to NMA was eliminated in pituitaries previously exposed to either the NMA receptor antagonist, AP5, or a GnRH receptor antagonist (D-pGlu1,D-Phe2,D-Trp3,6-LHRH), suggesting that NMA operates by stimulating the secretion of GnRH rather than by direct actions on the pituitary gonadotropic cells. The results of these studies provide evidence of the presence of NMA-specific receptors in the hypothalamo-hypophyseal system that when activated led to the release of GtH II. L-glutamic acid (GLU) also stimulated GtH II secretion from perifused pituitary glands. However, the response to GLU was only partly blocked by AP5, suggesting that GLU exerted some of its effect via non-NMA type receptors, in addition to its actions on NMA receptors. The results of these studies support the contention that EAA receptor activation may play a role in regulating the onset of sexual maturation in teleosts, as it seems to do in mammals. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Metabolomic response of Perilla frutescens leaves, an edible-medicinal herb, to acclimatize magnesium oversupply

High salt accumulation, resulting from the rampant use of chemical fertilizers in greenhouse cultivation, has deleterious effects on plant growth and crop yield. Herein, we delineated the effects of magnesium (Mg) oversupply on Perilla frutescens leaves, a traditional edible and medicinal herb used in East-Asian countries. Mg oversupply resulted in significantly higher chlorophyll content coupled with lower antioxidant activities and growth, suggesting a direct effect on subtle metabolomes. The relative abundance of bioactive phytochemicals, such as triterpenoids, flavonoids, and cinnamic acids, was lower in the Mg-oversupplied plants than in the control. Correlation analysis between plant phenotypes (plant height, total fresh weight of the shoot, leaf chlorophyll content, and leaf antioxidant content) and the altered metabolomes in P. frutescens leaves suggested an acclimatization mechanism to Mg oversupply. In conclusion, P. frutescens preferentially accumulated compatible solutes, i.e., carbohydrates and amino acids, to cope with higher environmental Mg levels, instead of employing secondary and antioxidative metabolism.
Primary motor cortical activity during unimanual movements with increasing demand on precision.

In functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies, performance of unilateral hand movements is associated with primary motor cortex activity ipsilateral to the moving hand (M1ipsi), in addition to contralateral activity (M1contra). The magnitude of M1ipsi activity increases with the demand on precision of the task. However, it is unclear how demand-dependent increases in M1ipsi recruitment relate to the control of hand movements. To address this question, we used fMRI to measure blood oxygenation level-dependent (BOLD) activity during performance of a task that varied in demand on precision. Participants (N = 23) manipulated an MRI-compatible joystick with their right or left hand to move a cursor into targets of different sizes (small, medium, large, extra-large). Performance accuracy, movement time, and number of velocity peaks scaled with target size, whereas reaction time, maximum velocity, and initial direction error did not. In the univariate analysis, BOLD activation in M1contra and M1ipsi was higher for movements to smaller targets. Representational similarity analysis, corrected for mean activity differences, revealed multivoxel BOLD activity patterns during movements to small targets were most similar to those for medium targets and least similar to those for extra-large targets. Only models that varied with demand (target size, performance accuracy, and number of velocity peaks) correlated with the BOLD dissimilarity patterns, though differently for right and left hands. Across individuals, M1contra and M1ipsi similarity patterns correlated with each other. Together, these results suggest that increasing demand on precision in a unimanual motor task increases M1 activity and modulates M1 activity patterns.
Poplar Propolis Ethanolic Extract Reduces Body Weight Gain and Glucose Metabolism Disruption in High-fat Diet-fed Mice.

SCOPE Current evidence supports the beneficial effect of polyphenols on the management of obesity and associated comorbidities. This is the case for propolis, a polyphenol-rich substance produced by bees. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of a poplar propolis ethanolic extract (PPEE) on obesity and glucose homeostasis, and to unveil its putative molecular mechanisms of action. METHODS AND RESULTS Male high-fat (HF) diet-fed mice were administered PPEE for 12 weeks. CONCLUSION PPEE supplementation may represent an interesting preventive strategy to tackle the onset of obesity and associated metabolic disorders. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Drug Repositioning of the α1-Adrenergic Receptor Antagonist Naftopidil: A Potential New Anti-Cancer Drug?

Failure of conventional treatments is often observed in cancer management and this requires the development of alternative therapeutic strategies. However, new drug development is known to be a high-failure process because of the possibility of a lower efficacy than expected for the drug or appearance of non-manageable side effects. Another way to find alternative therapeutic drugs consists in identifying new applications for drugs already approved for a particular disease: a concept named “drug repurposing”. In this context, several studies demonstrated the potential anti-tumour activity exerted by α1-adrenergic receptor antagonists and notably renewed interest for naftopidil as an anti-cancer drug. Naftopidil is used for benign prostatic hyperplasia management in Japan and a retrospective study brought out a reduced incidence of prostate cancer in patients that had been prescribed this drug. Further studies showed that naftopidil exerted anti-proliferative and cytotoxic effects on prostate cancer as well as several other cancer types in vitro, as well as ex vivo and in vivo. Moreover, naftopidil was demonstrated to modulate the expression of Bcl-2 family pro-apoptotic members which could be used to sensitise cancer cells to targeting therapies and to overcome resistance of cancer cells to apoptosis. For most of these anti-cancer effects, the molecular pathway is either not fully deciphered or shown to involve α1-adrenergic receptor-independent pathway, suggesting off target transduction signals. In order to improve its efficacy, naftopidil analogues were designed and shown to be effective in several studies. Thereby, naftopidil appears to display anti-cancer properties on different cancer types and could be considered as a candidate for drug repurposing although its anti-cancerous activities need to be studied more deeply in prospective randomized clinical trials.
Motor behavior-induced prefrontal cortex activation and episodic memory function

Abstract Background The objective of this paper was to evaluate the potential individual and combined effects of acute exercise coupled with bilateral interhemispheric activation on episodic memory function. Six experiments were conducted. Methods Experiment 1 was a within-subject, counterbalanced experiment. Participants completed four visits, including 1) exercise and saccadic eye movements, 2) exercise only, 3) saccadic eye movements only, and 4) no exercise and no saccadic eye movements (control). A word-list memory assessment was employed, including a long-term (20-min delay) memory evaluation. In Experiment 2, we evaluated the effects of saccadic eye movements on prefrontal cortex oxygenation, a proxy for neuronal activity. Similarly, in our third experiment, we evaluated the effects of acute exercise on prefrontal cortex oxygenation. Thus, experiments 2 and 3 were employed to provide mechanistic insights from the results shown in experiment 1. Experiment 4 replicated Experiment 1, but instead of increasing prefrontal cortex activation via saccadic eye movements, we used a fist clenching protocol. Experiment 5 evaluated the effects of fist clenching on prefrontal cortex oxygenation. Results Collectively, these 5 experimental studies showed that acute exercise (Experiment 1), saccadic eye movements (Experiment 1), and fist clenching (Experiment 4) enhanced memory function, and that acute exercise (Experiment 3), saccadic eye movements (Experiment 2) and fist clenching (Experiment 5) all increased prefrontal cortex oxygenation. Experiment 6 demonstrated that prefrontal cortex oxygenation was positively associated with episodic memory function. Conclusion These six experiments suggest that several behaviors, such as acute exercise, saccadic eye movements and fist clenching may improve memory function and may, potentially, do so via increases in prefrontal cortex oxygenation.
Evaluation of Combination Nivolumab and Ipilimumab Immunotherapy in Patients With Advanced Biliary Tract Cancers: Subgroup Analysis of a Phase 2 Nonrandomized Clinical Trial.

Importance Biliary tract cancers represent a rare group of malignant conditions with very limited treatment options. Patients with advanced disease have a poor outcome with current therapies. Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of combination immunotherapy with nivolumab and ipilimumab in patients with advanced biliary tract cancers. Design, Setting, and Participants The CA209-538 prospective multicenter phase 2 nonrandomized clinical trial included patients with advanced rare cancers including patients with biliary tract cancers. This subgroup analysis evaluated 39 patients from CA209-538 with biliary tract cancers who were enrolled from December 2017 to December 2019. Most of the patients (n = 33) had experienced disease progression after 1 or more lines of therapy and had tumor tissue available for biomarker research. Interventions Patients received treatment with nivolumab at a dose of 3 mg/kg and ipilimumab at 1 mg/kg every 3 weeks for 4 doses, followed by nivolumab 3 mg/kg every 2 weeks and continued for up to 96 weeks until disease progression or the development of unacceptable toxic events. Main Outcomes and Measures The primary end point was disease control rate (complete remission, partial remission, or stable disease) as assessed by RECIST 1.1. Results Among the 39 patients included in this subgroup analysis of a phase 2 clinical trial (20 men, 19 women; mean [range] age, 65 [37-81] years), the objective response rate was 23% (n = 9) with a disease control rate of 44% (n = 17); all responders had received prior chemotherapy, and none had a microsatellite unstable tumor. Responses were exclusively observed in patients with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma and gallbladder carcinoma. The median duration of response was not reached (range, 2.5 to ≥23 months). The median progression-free survival was 2.9 months (95% CI, 2.2-4.6 months), and overall survival was 5.7 months (95% CI, 2.7-11.9 months). Immune-related toxic events were reported in 49% of patients (n = 19), with 15% (n = 6) experiencing grade 3 or 4 events. Conclusions and Relevance This subgroup analysis of a phase 2 clinical trial found that combination immunotherapy with nivolumab and ipilimumab was associated with substantial positive outcomes patients with advanced biliary tract cancers. This treatment compares favorably to single-agent anti-programmed cell death protein 1 (anti-PD-1) therapy and warrants further investigation. Ongoing translational research is focused on identifying biomarkers that can predict treatment response. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02923934.
Nonlinear Optical Pigments. Two-Photon Absorption in Crosslinked Conjugated Polymers and Prospects for Remote Nonlinear Optical Thermometry

Nonlinear optical (NLO) pigments are compounds insoluble in solvents that exhibit phenomena related to nonlinear optical susceptibilities (χ(n) where n = 2,3,. ), e.g., two-photon absorption (2PA) which is related to the imaginary part of χ(3). Determination of spectrally-resolved 2PA properties for NLO pigments of macromolecular nature, such as coordination polymers or crosslinked polymers, has long been a challenging issue due to their particulate form, precluding characterizations with standard techniques such as Z-scan. In this contribution, we investigate thus far unknown spectrally-resolved 2PA properties of a new subclass of NLO pigments—crosslinked conjugated polymers. The studied compounds are built up from electron-donating (triphenylamine) and electron-withdrawing (2,2’-bipyridine) structural fragments joined by vinylene (Pol1) or vinyl(4-ethynylphenyl) (Pol2) aromatic bridges. 2PA properties of these polymers have been characterized in broad spectral range by specially modified two-photon excited fluorescence (TPEF) techniques: solid state TPEF (SSTPEF) and internal standard TPEF (ISTPEF). The impact of self-aggregation of aromatic backbones on the 2PA properties of the polymers has been evaluated through extended comparisons of NLO parameters, i.e., 2PA cross sections (σ2) and molar-mass normalized 2PA merit factors (σ2/M) with those of small-molecular model compounds: Mod1 and Mod2. By doing this, we found that the 2PA response of Pol1 and Pol2 is improved 2–3 times versus respective model compounds in the solid state form. Further comparisons with 2PA results collected for diluted solutions of Mod1 and Mod2 supports the notion that self-aggregated structure contributes to the observed enhancement of 2PA response. On the other hand, it is clear that Pol1 and Pol2 suffer from aggregation-caused quenching phenomenon, well reflected in time-resolved fluorescence properties as well as in relatively low values of quantum yield of fluorescence. Accordingly, despite improved intrinsic 2PA response, the effective intensity of two-photon excited emission for Pol1 and Pol2 is slightly lower relative to Mod1 and Mod2. Finally, we explore temperature-resolved luminescence properties under one- (377 nm), two- (820 nm), and three-photon excitation (1020 nm) conditions of postsynthetically Eu3+-functionalized material, Pol1-Eu, and discuss its suitability for temperature sensing applications.
Combination therapy with pioglitazone/exenatide improves beta‐cell function and produces superior glycaemic control compared with basal/bolus insulin in poorly controlled type 2 diabetes: A 3‐year follow‐up of the Qatar study

To examine the long‐term efficacy of thiazolidinedione plus a glucagon‐like peptide‐1 receptor agonist versus basal‐bolus insulin on glycaemic control and beta‐cell function in patients with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes (T2D) on metformin plus sulphonylurea.