Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Pharmacological activation of estrogen receptor beta augments innate immunity to suppress cancer metastasis

Significance Cancer metastases have caused the major mortality rate for cancer patients, with limited options of treatment and unsatisfactory therapeutic efficacy. Unlike the tumor-promoting role of estrogen receptor (ER)α, ERβ has shown potent antitumor effects in many cancers. In this study, we showed that the selective ERβ agonist LY500307 could potently suppress lung metastasis of cancer by recruitment of antitumor neutrophils to the metastatic niche. These chemotactic effects of LY500307 for neutrophils were primarily mediated by ERβ activation-induced IL-1β release by the tumor cells. Our study provides the rationale that pharmacological activation of ERβ could augment innate immunity to suppress cancer metastatic colonization to lung, implicating the potential use of selective ERβ agonists for the treatment of cancer patients with metastasis. Metastases constitute the greatest causes of deaths from cancer. However, no effective therapeutic options currently exist for cancer patients with metastasis. Estrogen receptor β (ERβ), as a member of the nuclear receptor superfamily, shows potent tumor-suppressive activities in many cancers. To investigate whether modulation of ERβ could serve as a therapeutic strategy for cancer metastasis, we examined whether the selective ERβ agonist LY500307 could suppress lung metastasis of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) and melanoma. Mechanistically, while we observed that LY500307 potently induced cell death of cancer cells metastasized to lung in vivo, it does not mediate apoptosis of cancer cells in vitro, indicating that the cell death-inducing effects of LY500307 might be mediated by the tumor microenvironment. Pathological examination combined with flow cytometry assays indicated that LY500307 treatment induced significant infiltration of neutrophils in the metastatic niche. Functional experiments demonstrated that LY500307-treated cancer cells show chemotactic effects for neutrophils and that in vivo neutrophil depletion by Ly6G antibody administration could reverse the effects of LY500307-mediated metastasis suppression. RNA sequencing analysis showed that LY500307 could induce up-regulation of IL-1β in TNBC and melanoma cells, which further triggered antitumor neutrophil chemotaxis. However, the therapeutic effects of LY500307 treatment for suppression of lung metastasis was attenuated in IL1B−/− murine models, due to failure to induce antitumor neutrophil infiltration in the metastatic niche. Collectively, our study demonstrated that pharmacological activation of ERβ could augment innate immunity to suppress cancer metastatic colonization to lung, thus providing alternative therapeutic options for cancer patients with metastasis.
Measuring the effective area and charge density of platinum electrodes for bionic devices

Objective. Neural stimulation is usually performed with fairly large platinum electrodes. Smaller electrodes increase the applied charge density, potentially damaging the electrode. Greater understanding of the charge injection mechanism is required for safe neural stimulation. Approach. The charge injection mechanism and charge injection capacity were measured by cyclic voltammetry. Electrodes were cleaned mechanically or by potential cycling in acidic solutions. The effective electrode area was measured by hydrogen adsorption or reduction of . Main results. The water window and safe potential window were affected by changes to electrolyte, electrode size, polishing method and oxygen concentration. Capacitance and Faradaic current contribute to the charge injection capacity. Varying voltammetric scan rate (measurement time), electrode size, polishing method, potential window, electrolyte and oxygen concentration affected the charge injection capacity and ratio of oxidation to reduction charge. Hydrogen adsorption in acidic solutions provided an inaccurate effective electrode area. Reduction of a solution phase redox species with a linear or radial diffusion profile could provide an effective electrode area. The charge density (charge injection capacity divided by electrode area) of a platinum electrode is dependent on the charge injection capacity and electrode area measurement technique. By varying cyclic voltammetric conditions, the charge density of platinum ranged from 0.15 to 5.57 mC cm−2. Significance. The safe potential window, charge injection mechanism, charge injection capacity and charge density of platinum depends on electrolyte, size of the electrode, oxygen concentration and differences in electrode polishing method. The oxidation and reduction charge injection capacities are not equal. Careful control of a platinum electrodes surface may allow larger charge densities and safe use of smaller electrodes. New electrode materials and geometries should be tested in a consistent manner to allow comparison of potential suitability for neural stimulation.
Intestinal Barrier Dysfunction and Microbial Translocation in Human Immunodeficiency Virus–Infected Pregnant Women Are Associated With Preterm Birth

Background Preterm birth (PTB) rates are high in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected populations, even when on treatment. Still, only a subset of all births in HIV-infected pregnant women result in PTB, suggesting that risk factors other than HIV infection itself are also important. Inflammation is a known risk factor in uninfected populations, but its role in HIV-infected population have not been studied; in addition, the immune pathways involved are not clear and noninvasive immune markers with predictive value are lacking. Our objective was to determine the association of select markers of inflammation with PTB in HIV-1-infected pregnant women. Methods Within a randomized trial of pregnant women receiving nevirapine (Six-Week Extended-Dose Nevirapine [SWEN] trial), we nested a case-control study (n = 107; 26 cases, 81 controls) to determine the association of maternal inflammation with PTB. Cases were defined as PTB (<37 weeks' gestational age). We assessed inflammation by measuring plasma levels of markers of general inflammation (C-reactive protein [CRP]), intestinal barrier dysfunction (intestinal fatty acid binding protein [I-FABP]), and microbial translocation/monocyte activation (soluble CD14 [sCD14] and CD163 [sCD163]). Multivariable logistic regression was used to determine the odds of PTB per log2 increase of each marker. Results In multivariable models, there was increased odds of PTB per unit increase of log2 sCD14 (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 2.45; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.24-4.86), log2 sCD163 (aOR, 3.87; 95% CI, 1.43-10.49), and log2 I-FABP (aOR, 2.28; 95% CI, 1.18-4.41) but not log2 CRP (aOR, 0.72; 95% CI, .48-1.09). Conclusions Our results show that select immune markers can identify women at higher risk for PTB in HIV-1-infected populations and suggest that modulating gut barrier integrity and microbial translocation may affect PTB. Clinical Trials Registration NCT00061321.
Acoustic Divergence with Gene Flow in a Lekking Hummingbird with Complex Songs

Hummingbirds have developed a remarkable diversity of learned vocalizations, from single-note songs to phonologically and syntactically complex songs. In this study we evaluated if geographic song variation of wedge-tailed sabrewings (Campylopterus curvipennis) is correlated with genetic divergence, and examined processes that explain best the origin of intraspecific song variation. We contrasted estimates of genetic differentiation, genetic structure, and gene flow across leks from microsatellite loci of wedge-tailed sabrewings with measures for acoustic signals involved in mating derived from recordings of males singing at leks throughout eastern Mexico. We found a strong acoustic structure across leks and geography, where lek members had an exclusive assemblage of syllable types, differed in spectral and temporal measurements of song, and song sharing decreased with geographic distance. However, neutral genetic and song divergence were not correlated, and measures of genetic differentiation and migration estimates indicated gene flow across leks. The persistence of acoustic structuring in wedge-tailed sabrewings may thus best be explained by stochastic processes across leks, in which intraspecific vocal variation is maintained in the absence of genetic differentiation by postdispersal learning and social conditions, and by geographical isolation due to the accumulation of small differences, producing most dramatic changes between populations further apart.
Childhood Socioeconomic Position and Objectively Measured Physical Capability Levels in Adulthood: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background Grip strength, walking speed, chair rising and standing balance time are objective measures of physical capability that characterise current health and predict survival in older populations. Socioeconomic position (SEP) in childhood may influence the peak level of physical capability achieved in early adulthood, thereby affecting levels in later adulthood. We have undertaken a systematic review with meta-analyses to test the hypothesis that adverse childhood SEP is associated with lower levels of objectively measured physical capability in adulthood. Methods and Findings Relevant studies published by May 2010 were identified through literature searches using EMBASE and MEDLINE. Unpublished results were obtained from study investigators. Results were provided by all study investigators in a standard format and pooled using random-effects meta-analyses. 19 studies were included in the review. Total sample sizes in meta-analyses ranged from N = 17,215 for chair rise time to N = 1,061,855 for grip strength. Although heterogeneity was detected, there was consistent evidence in age adjusted models that lower childhood SEP was associated with modest reductions in physical capability levels in adulthood: comparing the lowest with the highest childhood SEP there was a reduction in grip strength of 0.13 standard deviations (95% CI: 0.06, 0.21), a reduction in mean walking speed of 0.07 m/s (0.05, 0.10), an increase in mean chair rise time of 6% (4%, 8%) and an odds ratio of an inability to balance for 5s of 1.26 (1.02, 1.55). Adjustment for the potential mediating factors, adult SEP and body size attenuated associations greatly. However, despite this attenuation, for walking speed and chair rise time, there was still evidence of moderate associations. Conclusions Policies targeting socioeconomic inequalities in childhood may have additional benefits in promoting the maintenance of independence in later life.
Colas, but not other carbonated beverages, are associated with low bone mineral density in older women: The Framingham Osteoporosis Study.

BACKGROUND Soft drink consumption may have adverse effects on bone mineral density (BMD), but studies have shown mixed results. In addition to displacing healthier beverages, colas contain caffeine and phosphoric acid (H3PO4), which may adversely affect bone. OBJECTIVE We hypothesized that consumption of cola is associated with lower BMD. DESIGN BMD was measured at the spine and 3 hip sites in 1413 women and 1125 men in the Framingham Osteoporosis Study by using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Dietary intake was assessed by food-frequency questionnaire. We regressed each BMD measure on the frequency of soft drink consumption for men and women after adjustment for body mass index, height, age, energy intake, physical activity score, smoking, alcohol use, total calcium intake, total vitamin D intake, caffeine from noncola sources, season of measurement, and, for women, menopausal status and estrogen use. RESULTS Cola intake was associated with significantly lower (P < 0.001-0.05) BMD at each hip site, but not the spine, in women but not in men. The mean BMD of those with daily cola intake was 3.7% lower at the femoral neck and 5.4% lower at Ward's area than of those who consumed <1 serving cola/mo. Similar results were seen for diet cola and, although weaker, for decaffeinated cola. No significant relations between noncola carbonated beverage consumption and BMD were observed. Total phosphorus intake was not significantly higher in daily cola consumers than in nonconsumers; however, the calcium-to-phosphorus ratios were lower. CONCLUSIONS Intake of cola, but not of other carbonated soft drinks, is associated with low BMD in women. Additional research is needed to confirm these findings.
Dietary energy density but not glycemic load is associated with gestational weight gain.

BACKGROUND Most pregnant women gain more weight than the ranges recommended. Excessive weight gain is linked to pregnancy complications and to long-term maternal and child health outcomes. OBJECTIVE The objective was to examine the impact of dietary glycemic load and energy density on total gestational weight gain and the weight gain ratio (observed weight gain/expected weight gain). DESIGN Data are from 1231 women with singleton pregnancies who participated in the Pregnancy, Infection, and Nutrition Cohort Study. Dietary information was collected at 26-29 wk of gestation with the use of a semiquantified food-frequency questionnaire. Linear regression models were used to estimate the associations between quartiles of glycemic load and energy density with total gestational weight gain and weight gain ratio. RESULTS Dietary patterns of pregnant women significantly differed across many sociodemographic and behavioral characteristics, with the greatest contrasts seen for glycemic load. After adjustment for covariates, compared with women in the first quartile consuming a mean dietary energy density of 0.71 kcal/g (reference), women in the third quartile consuming a mean energy density of 0.98 kcal/g gained an excess of 1.13 kg (95% CI: 0.24, 2.01), and women in the fourth quartile consuming a mean energy density of 1.21 kcal/g gained an excess of 1.08 kg (95% CI: 0.20, 1.97) and had an increase of 0.13 (95% CI: 0.006, 0.24) units in the weight gain ratio. All other comparisons of energy intakes were not statistically significant. Glycemic load was not associated with total gestational weight gain or weight gain ratio. CONCLUSION Dietary energy density is a modifiable factor that may assist pregnant women in managing gestational weight gains.
Fluidized Bed Combustion of Cow Dung

The combustion of cow dung in a hot, bubbling bed of quartz sand fluidized by air has been studied for the first time, by feeding the cow dung into the sand bed just above the distributor, via an electric screw feeder. A stable combustion process using FBC occurred at 30% excess air/fuel ratio. It was characterized by uniform temperature distribution and minimal pressure drops of less than 0.1m bars. It follows therefore that combustion process takes place between points T5 and T7 of the combustor i.e. near the freeboard region. In stable combustion conditions, the amount of CO 2 in flue gas attained a maximum value of 3.5%, while that of CO ranged between 0.000004% and 0.000001%. A close examination of drained bed materials after combustion process revealed few small molten particles. This was considered as agglomeration tendency which begins when part of fuel ash melts and causes adhesion of the bed material. Further experiments carried out using an oven showed that devolatization and char combustion of cow dung starts at 150°C and approximately 350°C respectively. The low devolatization temperature and the high rate of temperature build up shows that cow dung devolatizes rapidly, ignite easily and burn out within a short duration. Sintering of cow dung ash begins at 800°C. When silica sand is used as bed material, sintering temperature reduces to 750°C while addition of lime has the effect of increasing it to 850°C.
Associations between diet and the metabolic syndrome vary with the validity of dietary intake data.

BACKGROUND Underreporting is a common problem in dietary surveys. Few studies have shown the implication of this when investigating diet-disease relations. OBJECTIVE We investigated how underreporting affects the associations between dietary factors and the metabolic syndrome. DESIGN Dietary intake measured with a 7-d food record, fasting insulin concentrations, and other variables of the metabolic syndrome were assessed in a cross-sectional study of 301 healthy men aged 63 y. Biological markers for intakes of protein, sodium, and potassium were measured in 24-h urine samples. Underreporters (URs, n = 88) were identified by Goldberg's equation, which compares energy intake with energy expenditure, both expressed as multiples of the basal metabolic rate. Physical activity level was estimated, and individual cutoffs were calculated. RESULTS The URs had higher nutrient and food densities in their diet than did the non-URs, which suggested that they followed a healthier diet. The URs had a higher prevalence of the metabolic syndrome than did the non-URs (18% and 9%, respectively; P = 0.029). The biological markers confirmed a low validity of the dietary data in the URs. The correlations between fasting insulin concentrations, a central component of the metabolic syndrome, and the intakes of polyunsaturated fats, n-6 fats, and fat from milk products were stronger in the URs than in the non-URs, which indicates that inaccurate data can introduce spurious associations. CONCLUSION The association between diet and fasting insulin differed between URs and non-URs in this study of 301 healthy men aged 63 y. If URs are not identified and excluded or treated separately in studies in nutritional epidemiology, spurious diet-disease relations may be reported.
Psychosocial predictors of energy underreporting in a large doubly labeled water study.

BACKGROUND Underreporting of energy intake is associated with self-reported diet measures and appears to be selective according to personal characteristics. Doubly labeled water is an unbiased reference biomarker for energy intake that may be used to assess underreporting. OBJECTIVE Our objective was to determine which factors are associated with underreporting of energy intake on food-frequency questionnaires (FFQs) and 24-h dietary recalls (24HRs). DESIGN The study participants were 484 men and women aged 40-69 y who resided in Montgomery County, MD. Using the doubly labeled water method to measure total energy expenditure, we considered numerous psychosocial, lifestyle, and sociodemographic factors in multiple logistic regression models for prediction of the probability of underreporting on the FFQ and 24HR. RESULTS In the FFQ models, fear of negative evaluation, weight-loss history, and percentage of energy from fat were the best predictors of underreporting in women (R(2) = 0.09); body mass index, comparison of activity level with that of others of the same sex and age, and eating frequency were the best predictors in men (R(2) = 0.10). In the 24HR models, social desirability, fear of negative evaluation, body mass index, percentage of energy from fat, usual activity, and variability in number of meals per day were the best predictors of underreporting in women (R(2) = 0.22); social desirability, dietary restraint, body mass index, eating frequency, dieting history, and education were the best predictors in men (R(2) = 0.25). CONCLUSION Although the final models were significantly related to underreporting on both the FFQ and the 24HR, the amount of variation explained by these models was relatively low, especially for the FFQ.
Differential effects of dietary methyl esters of long-chain saturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids on rat liver and adipose tissue lipogenesis.

Four experiments were conducted to investigate what influence methyl esters of CiÂ«:o,Ci8:o, Ci8:i, C18:2, and Cis-. a fatty acids exert on rat liver and adipose tissue fatty acid synthesis and related enzymes when supplemented to a fat-free diet (FF). A randomized complete block design, in which rats were matched for body weight and food intake, was utilized. Rats previously adapted to a meal-eating regimen (access to food from 0900 to 1200 hours ) were fed a FF-diet for 7 days prior to the addition of the respective dietary fatty acids. In experiments 1 to 3, all esters were supplemented at a level of 3% of the daily FF-diet allotment. The apparent absorbabilities of C18:0 and Ci8:u were determined to be 40% and 35%, while values for Ci8:i, GIÂ«^,and Ci8:3 were 88%, 87%, and 89%, respec tively. In comparison to the FF dietary treatment, polyunsaturated fatty acids (Ci8:2 and C^s) were able in three of four experiments to reduce the rate of hepatic fatty acid synthesis and the activities of hepatic fatty acid synthetase (FAS) and malic enzyme (ME). In all four experiments, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) activity was significantly de pressed by Ci8:2 and CiR:3. Ci8:i produced an intermediate rate of in vitro liver fatty acid synthesis, but exerted no significant effect on hepatic lipo- genic enzyme activities. Adding Ci6:0 or Ci8:0 to the FF-diet had no de pressive effect on hepatic fatty acid synthesis, but Ci8;0 supplementation was associated with a significant increase in hepatic FAS, G6PD and ME activities. Neither unsaturated nor saturated fatty acids affected adipose tissue FAS, G6PD or ME activities or rates of fatty acid synthesis. The lack of influence of Ci6:u and Ci8:0 may have been partially due to their poor absorbability. Therefore, in experiment 4 a level of 7% Cieio supple mentation was compared to 3% C\g-. 2or Ci8:3. This resulted in comparable amounts of fatty acid absorbed. Both Ci8:a and Cis-. a addition to the FF- diet were equally effective in significantly depressing in vivo hepatic fatty acid synthesis, and FAS, G6PD and ME activities by more than 50%. Cie:o had no suppressive action on liver fatty acid synthesis or related enzyme activities. Again adipose tissue lipogenesis remained unchanged by dietary fat treatment. These data clearly demonstrate that Ci8:2 and Ci8:3 specifically inhibit rat liver fatty acid synthesis, independent of carbohydrate intake. Under these conditions adipose tissue lipogenesis was unaffected by low levels of dietary fat regardless of the degree of unsaturation. J. Nutr. 107: 1170-1181,1977.
Effects of daytime melatonin infusion in young adults.

Daytime oral melatonin typically exerts soporific and thermoregulatory effects; however, it is not clear whether these effects reflect the normal physiological response to endogenous nocturnal melatonin production. We infused melatonin at doses that produced physiological and supraphysiological steady-state levels in 24 young adults during two daytime bed rest protocols. From 1000 to 1630, subjects were infused intravenously with saline or melatonin in counterbalanced order. Each group of eight subjects received melatonin (and saline) infusions at one dose rate: 0.04 μg ⋅ h-1 ⋅ kg body wt-1 (low), 0.08 μg ⋅ h-1 ⋅ kg-1(medium), or 8.0 μg ⋅ h-1 ⋅ kg-1(high). Low and medium melatonin infusions produced plasma and saliva levels within the normal nocturnal range observed in young adults. These levels were not associated with any changes in rectal, hand, forehead, or tympanic temperatures or with subjective sleepiness. High melatonin produced supraphysiological plasma and saliva levels and was associated with a significant attenuation in the daytime increase in rectal temperature, significantly increased hand temperature, and greater sleepiness. It is not yet clear whether the thermoregulatory and soporific effects of daytime supraphysiological melatonin administration are equivalent to the physiological responses to endogenous melatonin.