Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
N-Terminal Modification of the Tetrapeptide Arg-Leu-Tyr-Glu, a Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 (VEGFR-2) Antagonist, Improves Antitumor Activity by Increasing its Stability against Serum Peptidases

The tetrapeptide Arg-Leu-Tyr-Glu (RLYE), a vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) receptor-2 antagonist, has been used previously either alone or in combination with chemotherapeutic drugs for treating colorectal cancer in a mouse model. We analyzed the half-life of the peptide and found that because of degradation by aminopeptidases B and N, it had a short half-life of 1.2 hours in the serum. Therefore, to increase the stability and potency of the peptide, we designed the modified peptide, N-terminally acetylated RLYE (Ac-RLYE), which had a strongly stabilized half-life of 8.8 hours in serum compared with the original parent peptide. The IC50 value of Ac-RLYE for VEGF-A-induced endothelial cell migration decreased to approximately 37.1 pM from 89.1 pM for the parent peptide. Using a mouse xenograft tumor model, we demonstrated that Ac-RLYE was more potent than RLYE in inhibiting tumor angiogenesis and growth, improving vascular integrity and normalization through enhanced endothelial cell junctions and pericyte coverage of the tumor vasculature, and impeding the infiltration of macrophages into tumor and their polarization to the M2 phenotype. Furthermore, combined treatment of Ac-RLYE and irinotecan exhibited synergistic effects on M1-like macrophage activation and apoptosis and growth inhibition of tumor cells. These findings provide evidence that the N-terminal acetylation augments the therapeutic effect of RLYE in solid tumors via inhibition of tumor angiogenesis, improvement of tumor vessel integrity and normalization, and enhancement of the livery and efficacy of the coadministered chemotherapeutic drugs. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT The results of this study demonstrate that the N-terminal acetylation of the tetrapeptide RLYE (Ac-RLYE), a novel vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 (VEGFR-2) inhibitor, significantly improves its serum stability, antiangiogenic activity, and vascular normalizing potency, resulting in enhanced therapeutic effect on solid tumors. Furthermore, the combined treatment of Ac-RLYE with the chemotherapeutic drug, irinotecan, synergistically enhanced its antitumor efficacy by improving the perfusion and delivery of the drug into the tumors and stimulating the conversion of the tumor-associated macrophages to an immunostimulatory M1-like antitumor phenotype.
De novo transcriptome sequencing of genome analysis provides insights into Solidago canadensis invasive capability via photosynthesis

ABSTRACT Solidago canadensis is one of the most destructive invasive plants in the East of China, yet nothing is known about its photosynthetic ability at the molecular level. In order to examine the mechanism aiding invasion from the photosynthetic and molecular perspective, transcriptome sequencing and de novo assembly of S. canadensis and its congener S. decurrens (native, non-invasive species) were compared in a bioassay experiment. Results showed that S. canadensis has higher biomass and net photosynthetic rates than those of the native plant, S. decurrens (P < 0.05). Based on RNA-seq data, the genes which are closely related to light absorption and electron transfer in S. canadensis were observed to be up-regulated compared with those from S. decurrens, including the process of photosystems I and II, such as PsbP, PsbQ, Psb27, PsbW, PsaG, PetE, and light-harvesting complexes (LHCs). The RT-qPCR verification results of key genes were similar to those from transcriptome. Therefore, our results might partly explain the successful invasion of S. canadensis in China at the level of transcriptome, leading to its enhanced photosynthetic capability.
Life‐history trade‐offs and senescence in plants

An increasing number of studies have shown that senescence, the functional decline in traits and increased risk of mortality with increasing age, occurs in organisms in wild populations, but there is a wide range of diversity in the patterns of senescence across species. The antagonistic pleiotropy and the disposable soma theories of senescence predict that there will be life‐history trade‐offs between performance at early‐ and late‐life stages. Plants show variation in senescence patterns and thus provide an opportunity to evaluate life‐history trade‐offs and senescence. Many plant species can be easily followed demographically and their environments, resources and allocation to reproduction can be manipulated, which makes them particularly good models to address these questions. We compared the results from 22 studies of plant senescence in the wild and compiled 20 examples of life‐history trade‐offs in plants. Some of the unique features of plants that may influence senescence patterns and trade‐offs in the wild are highlighted through the results. We found all three age‐specific patterns: age decline, age improvement and no change with age for plants in the wild. Most species showed an age‐dependent decline in at least one trait but, even within a species, the age‐specific patterns of traits varied. Results also showed that trade‐offs vary across environments and that plants can manipulate their resource pool through increases in photosynthesis, which will influence the manifestation of trade‐offs. We conclude that aspects of plant biology including dynamic resource pools, the impact of size, dormancy and below‐ground storage may influence both the patterns of senescence and life‐history trade‐offs. The diversity of plant life forms and life cycles provide a wealth of opportunities to experimentally study senescence in the context of life‐history trade‐offs. A free Plain Language Summary can be found within the Supporting Information of this article.
Influence of Nostoc entophytum and Tetracystis sp. on Winter Survival of Rapeseed

: Bioassay results proved that several microalgae strains of the Mosonmagyaróvár Algal Culture Collection (MACC) enhanced plant growth, due to their hormone content and other secondary metabolites. The aim of the current research was to improve autumn growth and winter survival of rapeseed ( Brassica napus L . ) by treatment with two microalgae strains selected by bioassay results. Experimental plots were set up in Mosonmagyaróvár in 2010 and 2013. Winter rapeseed hybrid ( B. napus L. cv. Orlando ) plants were treated in 4-6 leaves stage with 0.3 g/L and 1 g/L suspensions of MACC-612 Nostoc entophytum Bornet & Flahault and MACC-430 Tetracystis sp. in middle of October. After the treatments, the following parameters were recorded: chlorophyll-a and b, carotenoid, dry matter content of leaves, average amount of autumn foliage, diameter of root collar, length of shoot tips, fresh and dry weight of root, and number of plants in autumn and spring. Both microalgae treatments significantly increased pigment concentration and dry matter content of leaves, number of fully grown leaves (13%-46%) and dry root weight (16%-36%). Treatments with 0.3 g/L and 1 g/L MACC-612 suspensions increased the length of shoot apices by 14%-18% and 25%-35%, respectively. Number of overwintered control plants decreased significantly in both years (31%), but there was no decrease in parcels treated with 1 g/L of MACC-612 and MACC-430. Microalgae treatments could increase plant growth and survival, which contributed to the significant increase of thousand seed weight (18%-25%) and total yield (by 10%-24%).
Evaluation of Quality Parameters of White and Brown Eggs in Lebanon

The quality traits of fresh marketable chicken eggs collected during winter, autumn and summer periods from different local markets in Lebanon were evaluated in order to understand the reproductive fitness of the chicken and the correlation between collection dates. A total of 2000 brown and white eggs were analyzed and compared for their external quality parameters such as egg weight, length, width, size, shell thickness, specific gravity and for their internal quality traits such as Haugh unit, yolk diameter, yolk color, and yolk height. Results show that egg weight and size varied markedly and tended to be smaller during summer period. A significant difference was found between white and brown eggs in some quality traits such as egg weight, shell thickness, egg length, and yolk diameter parameters. Egg quality parameters were significantly reduced during summer season where eggs are exposed to high temperature conditions. For grading analysis, 80% of the total eggs were classified as A with a significant difference (p < 0.05) between white and brown egg and during collection dates. Overall, brown eggs graded better than white eggs in external quality cleanliness and shape. Based on our analysis, the results of this study show that Lebanese eggs are of good quality and suggest that proper egg handling and storage conditions should be applied especially at warm environmental conditions to improve egg quality during summer season.
The Effects of the Operational Sex Ratio on Female and Male Mate Choice in the Jamaican Field Cricket (Gryllus assimillis)

The operational sex ratio (OSR; ratio of sexually available females to sexually available males) is a social environment that greatly influences mate choice, but how it concurrently affects mate choice in both sexes in species with mutual mate choice remains poorly understood. In this thesis, I experimentally investigated the potential influence of variation in the local OSR (male-biased, even sex ratio, and female-biased) on which sex is the choosiest in the Jamaican field cricket, Gryllus assimilis. I also tested the consistency of individual mate choice as quantified using a dichotomous mate choice test and a full-interaction choice test under different OSR levels. OSR did not influence female or male choice of the field crickets, but did influence how potential mates interact. There was no significant consistency between the two types of mate choice tests used, and the OSR did not affect the likelihood of crickets consistently choosing the same mate.
Lasting Impacts of Childhood Health and Socioeconomic Circumstances on Adult Health Problems: Analysis of a Longitudinal Count Regression Model

Objectives. This study examines the lasting impacts of childhood health and circumstances, in addition to adult socioeconomic status on trajectories of chronic health problems in later life and how these associations vary across race/ethnicity as well as gender. Methods. Employing a longitudinal dataset from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS), this study utilizes a random intercept count regression model to examine how circumstances associated with early life may influence chronic health trajectories in later life. Results. The results demonstrate that poor childhood health and disadvantaged socioeconomic status (SES) are associated with the higher incidence rates of chronic health problems over time. The associations are net of adult socioeconomic status and baseline health status. The adverse effects of poor childhood health and disadvantaged socioeconomic conditions are higher for women than men. While both childhood health and SES have significant impacts on chronic health trajectories for both African American and White, no such effects have been observed among Hispanic. Discussion. Trajectories of chronic health problems in late life continue to be shaped by childhood health and socioeconomic circumstances. The patterns of associations vary across race/ethnicity as well as gender.
Broadband Dynamics Rather than Frequency-Specific Rhythms Underlie Prediction Error in the Primate Auditory Cortex

Detection of statistical irregularities, measured as a prediction error response, is fundamental to the perceptual monitoring of the environment. We studied whether prediction error response is associated with neural oscillations or asynchronous broadband activity. Electrocorticography was conducted in three male monkeys, who passively listened to the auditory roving oddball stimuli. Local field potentials (LFPs) recorded over the auditory cortex underwent spectral principal component analysis, which decoupled broadband and rhythmic components of the LFP signal. We found that the broadband component captured the prediction error response, whereas none of the rhythmic components were associated with statistical irregularities of sounds. The broadband component displayed more stochastic, asymmetrical multifractal properties than the rhythmic components, which revealed more self-similar dynamics. We thus conclude that the prediction error response is captured by neuronal populations generating asynchronous broadband activity, defined by irregular dynamic states, which, unlike oscillatory rhythms, appear to enable the neural representation of auditory prediction error response. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT This study aimed to examine the contribution of oscillatory and asynchronous components of auditory local field potentials in the generation of prediction error responses to sensory irregularities, as this has not been directly addressed in the previous studies. Here, we show that mismatch negativity—an auditory prediction error response—is driven by the asynchronous broadband component of potentials recorded in the auditory cortex. This finding highlights the importance of nonoscillatory neural processes in the predictive monitoring of the environment. At a more general level, the study demonstrates that stochastic neural processes, which are often disregarded as neural noise, do have a functional role in the processing of sensory information.
Suppressed coral settlement following mass bleaching in the southern Persian/Arabian Gulf

Coral reefs in the southern Persian/Arabian Gulf have become increasingly degraded in the past two decades, mainly due to recurrent mass coral bleaching events. The recovery of these reefs will be largely contingent upon the arrival and settlement of coral larvae and their post settlement growth and survival. Spatial and temporal patterns of coral settlement were quantified on 10 sites spanning >350km of the southern Gulf using settlement tiles for two years when consecutive bleaching events occurred. Coral settlement was highly seasonal, with peak settlement occurring in summer each year (>95% of spat), with the remainder of settlement in autumn. Coral settlement was >2-fold greater in the first year (928spat) compared to the second year (397spat) representing overall settlement densities of 95 m-2 yr-1 versus 40 m-2 yr-1. The dramatic declines in larval settlement between years suggests bleaching-related impacts on fecundity occurred during the gametogenic cycle late in the first year, as well as impaired survivorship of larvae and/or spat during the second year when severe bleaching coincided with the peak settlement period. Poritids and merulinids (‘others') comprised 4% and 94% of the spat, respectively, while acroporids were virtually absent (1 recorded spat), suggesting the continued extirpation of this formerly dominant group and a continuing shift towards more stress-tolerant assemblages. Settlement rates in the southern Gulf are low in comparison to other marginal reef environments, and the bleaching-related suppression of settlement observed here suggests that larval supply is unlikely to be sufficient to support recovery of these increasingly degraded habitats. Given the increasing frequency of bleaching events in the southern Gulf the prognosis for the future of regional reefs is grim.
Effect of Foot Reflexology on the Vital Signs, Blood Cortisol, Lymphocytes and Natural Killer Cell of Female Cancer Patients

목적 : 이 연구는 항암제를 투여받는 여성암환자에서 발반사마사지가 스트레스방응(활력징후, 코티졸)과 면역반응에 미치는 효과를 평가하기 위함이다. 방법 : 11명의 여성암 환자를 임의로 표출한 후 단일군 전후실험설계로 진행하였다. 종속변수는 스트레스 반응으로 활력징후(수축기 혈압, 이완기 혈압, 맥박수, 호흡수)와 혈중 코티졸, 면역반응으로 림프구 아군(CD3, CD4, CD8, CD19)과 자연살세포(NK cells)이며, 독립변수는 발반사마사지이었다. 중재 전후 증속변수의 변화를 보기 위해 Wilcoxon signed rank test를 실시하였다. 결과: 중재 전에 비해 중재 후 수축기 혈압, 이완기 혈압, 맥박수, 혈중 코티졸치, CD4와 CD19는 유의한 변화를 보였으나, 호흡수, CD3, CD8, 그리고 자연살세포는 유의한 변화를 보이지 않았다. 결과 : 이러한 연구결과는 발반사마사지가 항암화학요법을 받는 여성암 환자의 스트레스 호르몬과 면역관련세포에 영향을 보였지만 표본수가 작고 중재가 1회에 그쳤기 때문에 이러한 단점을 보완한 추후연구를 통해 발반사마사지의 효과를 좀더 잘 규명할 수 있을 것이다.
Converging indigenous and western knowledge systems: implications for tertiary education

1) Can locating the discourse between Indigenous and Western knowledge systems in Saskatchewan in an abstract, voluntary ‘ethical space’ between them contribute to identification of their complementary diversities (Ermine 2004: 1-5)? INTRODUCTION The researcher spent more than three decades working in various sectors of Indigenous development in several Canadian provinces and territories, as well as in Africa and New Zealand. These experiences left him seeking innovative options to the ‘either – or’ Eurocentrism masquerading as universalism approaches that he had witnessed nationally and internationally (Battiste and Youngblood Henderson 2000: 86). Having witnessed the very real and documented psychological conflicts that have been created for Indigenous tertiary students by occupation and internal colonialism (Wright 1992: 3-14; 61), the researcher sought evidence-based options that could be forged (Ermine 2004: 1-5). He believed that education could be a logical launching-pad for change (Freire 1993: 4360). Further, he believed that options could and would be found by researching the potential convergence of Indigenous Knowledge (IK) Systems with Western Knowledge Systems (Dei 2000: 70-85). The researcher presented a proposal for this study to the University of South Africa in late 2002. The proposal was accepted, a promoter and co-promoter assigned and the study began in early 2003. Following intensive and extensive research of the literature and intensive field work, the study was completed in late 2007. This article describes the dynamics, the components, findings, conclusions and recommendations of that five – year study. Initially, a few primary questions provided focus to the study:
Genomic surveillance of Escherichia coli ST131 identifies local expansion and serial replacement of subclones

Escherichia coli sequence type 131 (ST131) is a pandemic clone that is evolving rapidly with increasing levels of antimicrobial resistance. Here, we investigated an outbreak of E. coli ST131 producing extended spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs) in a long-term care facility (LTCF) in Ireland by combining data from this LTCF (n=69) with other Irish (n=35) and global (n=690) ST131 genomes to reconstruct the evolutionary history and understand changes in population structure and genome architecture over time. This required a combination of short and long-read genome sequencing, de novo assembly, read mapping, ESBL gene screening, plasmid alignment and temporal phylogenetics. We found that clade C was the most prevalent (686 out of 794 isolates, 86%) of the three major ST131 clades circulating worldwide (A, B, C), and was associated with the presence of different ESBL alleles, diverse plasmids and transposable elements. Clade C was estimated to have emerged in ∼1985 and subsequently acquired different ESBL gene variants (blaCTX-M-14 vs blaCTX-M-15). An ISEcp1- mediated transposition of the blaCTX-M-15 gene further increased the diversity within Clade C. We discovered a local clonal expansion of a rare C2 lineage (C2_8) with a chromosomal insertion of blaCTX-M-15 at the mppA gene. This was acquired from an IncFIA plasmid. The C2_8 lineage clonally expanded in the Irish LTCF from 2006, displacing the existing C1 strain (C1_10) and highlighting the potential for novel ESBL-producing ST131 with a distinct genetic profile to cause outbreaks strongly associated with specific healthcare environments. Importance Extraintestinal pathogenic E. coli (ExPEC) ST131 is adapting in the context of antibiotic exposure, resulting in a pandemic with distinct genetic subtypes. Here, we track the evolution of antibiotic-resistance gene variants originally discovered in an ExPEC ST131 outbreak that was identified in a LTCF in Ireland. Analysis of 794 global ST131 genomes show that subclade C1 was associated with the initial infection outbreak, but that a new lineage from subclade C2 successfully displaced C1. This genetically distinct C2 subclade with a chromosomal insertion of a key antibiotic-resistance gene had clonally expanded within the LTCF. We provide new insights into the timing of genetic events driving the diversification of C2 subclades to show that that outbreak C2 strain likely evolved elsewhere before spreading to the LTCF. This study highlights the scope of antibiotic-resistance gene rearrangement within ST131, reinforcing the need to integrate genomic, epidemiological and microbiological approaches to understand ST131 transmission.
Short-Term Circulating Tumor Cell Dynamics in Mouse Xenograft Models and Implications for Liquid Biopsy

Motivation Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are important in hematogenous cancer metastasis, and are usually studied by isolation from small peripheral blood samples. However, little is known about the short-term dynamics of CTC in vivo. Methods We recently developed an instrument called ‘diffuse in vivo flow cytometry’ (DiFC), that allows counting of fluorescently-labeled circulating cells without drawing blood samples. DiFC samples 50μL of circulating peripheral blood per minute, allowing continuous, non-invasive detection of CTCs. We used DiFC to study short-term changes in CTC numbers over time in mouse xenograft models of Lewis Lung carcinoma (LLC) and multiple myeloma (MM), in intervals corresponding to approximately 1, 5, 10 and 20% of the peripheral blood volume. Results For rare CTCs (LLC), short intervals (small blood volumes) frequently yielded no CTC detections, even when metastatic disease was present. For more abundant CTCs (MM), quantitative estimation of CTC numbers with single small blood volumes was generally highly inaccurate. Moreover, the observed variability in CTC detections in blood volumes often exceeded that predicted by Poisson statistics, suggesting that the mean number of CTCs changes over the timescale of minutes. Conclusions Overall, CTC numbers were observed to be highly dynamic in vivo over the course of 35-65 minute DiFC scans. These data provide direct experimental evidence of the notion that detection and quantitation accuracy can be improved by analysis of larger blood volumes, or by in vivo detection methods. In addition, quantitative accuracy can be improved by averaging multiple small blood samples taken over time, as opposed to single larger blood samples.