Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Bio-medically active zinc oxide nanoparticles synthesized by using extremophilic actinobacterium, Streptomyces sp. (MA30) and its characterization

Abstract The present study describes the synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) using an extremophilic actinobacterial cell-free extract, supplied with aqueous zinc acetate solution. Crystalline nature, morphological features, and polydispersed nanoparticles size (15–30 nm) were identified by X-ray diffraction (XRD), atomic force and electron microscopic analysis with dynamic light scattering (DLS) study. The interaction between biomolecules and ZnO-NPs was analyzed using Fourier transform infra-red spectroscopy (FT-IR). Furthermore antibacterial, antioxidant activities, and cell viability test of ZnO-NPs were systematically evaluated. The present study opens a new avenue for the actinobacterial synthesis of oxide nanoparticles.
Integration of role-playing into technical skills training: a randomized controlled trial

Introduction: Recently, efforts have been undertaken to enhance the face validity of technical skills training by introducing role-plays and standardised patients. Since little is known about the effects of role-playing with respect to the realism of a training situation and students’ objective performance, we performed a randomized controlled trial. Methods: 36 medical students participated in videotaped small group skills-lab sessions on the topics of Doppler sonography and gastric tube insertion. One half of the students participated in role-plays and the other half practised without role-playing. Realism of the training situation was analysed by means of post-intervention self-selected student survey evaluations. Technical performance and patient-physician communication were assessed by independent ratings of the videotaped sessions. Results: The physician's role was regarded to be significantly more realistic when performing role-plays. Assessment of videotaped sessions showed that practising technical skills by performing role-plays resulted in significantly better patient-physician communication whereas students’ technical performance did not differ between groups. Conclusion: Introducing role-plays enhances the realism of technical skills training and leads to better patient-physician communication. Students do not seem to be overstrained by practising clinical technical skills using role-plays. We conclude that role-playing is a valuable method in practising technical skills.
The expression of P2X7 receptors in EPCs and their potential role in the targeting of EPCs to brain gliomas

In order to use endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) as a therapeutic and imaging probe to overcome antiangiogenic resistance for gliomas, how to enhance proliferation and targeting ability of transplanted EPCs is a high priority. Here, we confirmed, for the first time, the expression of P2X7 receptors in rat spleen-derived EPCs. Activation of P2X7 receptors in EPCs by BzATP promoted cells proliferation and migration, rather than apoptosis. In vivo, the homing of transplanted EPCs after long-term suppression of P2X7 receptors by persistent BBG stimulation was evaluated by MRI, immunohistochemistry and flow cytometry. Compared to the group without BBG treatment, less transplanted EPCs homed to gliomas in the group with BBG treatment, especially integrated into the vessels containing tumor-derived endothelial cells in gliomas. Moreover, western blot showed that CXCL1 expression was downregulated in gliomas with BBG treatment, which meant P2X7 receptors suppression inhibited the homing of EPCs to gliomas through down-regulation of CXCLl expression. Further, effects of P2X7 receptors on C6 glioma cells or gliomas were evaluated at the same dose of BzATP or BBG used in EPCs experiments in vitro and in vivo. MTT assay and MRI revealed that P2X7 receptors exerted no significant promoting effect on C6 glioma cells proliferation, gliomas growth and angiogenesis. Taken together, our findings imply the possibility of promoting proliferation and targeting ability of transplanted EPCs to brain gliomas in vivo through P2X7 receptors, which may provide new perspectives on application of EPCs as a therapeutic and imaging probe to overcome antiangiogenic resistance for gliomas.
Expression of Cytokeratins in Normal and Neoplastic Colonic Epithelial Cells: Implications for Cellular Differentiation and Carcinogenesis

Cells of the normal colonic mucosa express several types of cytokeratins, the characteristic intermediate filament proteins of epithelial cells. An immunohistochemical study was designed to examine the expression of two distinct groups of cytokeratins, recognized by monoclonal antibodies AE1 and AE3, in the colonic mucosa and to compare the findings with those obtained with a large number of polypoid lesions (adenomatous and hyperplastic) and carcinomas of the colon. AE1 and AE3 immunostaining was found in the surface epithelium and upper portions of the crypts of Lieberkiihn (functional zone) of normal colonic mucosa, whereas the lower portions of the crypts (proliferative compartment) were unreactive with both AE1 and AE3. Polypoid lesions of the colonic mucosa can be placed into two categories based on their patterns of cytokeratin expression. Solitary tubular adenomas and hyperplastic polyps are composed of AE1 and AE3 nonexpressing cells with only few, patchy areas of AE1 and AE3 expressing cells present within glands and in the surface epithelium. In contrast, villous adenomas show strong AE1 and AE3 reactivity throughout the glands. Furthermore, tubular and villous adenomas, and even histologically normal mucosa in patients with familial polyposis, show AE1/AE3 expression throughout the glands and surface epithelium. Colonic carcinomas show a predominance of AE1/AE3 expressing cells. Thus, cytokeratins recognized by monoclonal antibodies AE1 and AE3 represent molecular markers of cellular maturation in the normal colonic mucosa, that are expressed in colonic carcinomas and, in addition, serve as markers that distinguish colonic mucosa and adenomas with a high risk for development of cancers from those with a lower risk.
T cells bearing Vbeta8 are preferentially infected with exogenous mouse mammary tumor virus.

We previously reported that a mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV(II-TES14)), encoding a superantigen specific for TCR Vbeta14, can infect lymph node (LN) cells of mice in an I-E-independent manner. Here we examined the kinetics of cell types infected with exogenous MMTV in the draining LN after s.c. injection of II-TES milk containing MMTV(II-TES14). The infectivity was assessed in LN cells sorted into each cell subset by a semiquantitative analysis of MMTV provirus using PCR with a primer specific for MMTV(II-TES14). Only B cells in the LN were infected by the MMTV on day 6 after injection, but CD8+ T cells and, to a lesser extent, CD4+ T cells were also found to be detectably infected on day 14 after the injection of II-TES milk. Among the T cells we examined, Vbeta8 T cells were most preferentially infected with MMTV, but no Vbeta14 T cells specific for MMTV(II-TES14) superantigen were infected on day 14 after infection. The transfer of Vbeta8 T cells sorted from mice injected with II-TES milk 14 days previously resulted in the deletion of CD4+ Vbeta14 T cells and in the MMTV infection of normal B6 mice. No MMTV infection of T cells occurred in IgM knockout mice, which lack a mature B cell compartment. These results suggest that MMTV surviving in B cells is transferred to Vbeta8 T cells, which may play an important role in MMTV longevity.
Muscle oxygenation profiles between active and inactive muscles with nitrate supplementation under hypoxic exercise

Whether dietary nitrate supplementation improves exercise performance or not is still controversial. While redistribution of sufficient oxygen from inactive to active muscles is essential for optimal exercise performance, no study investigated the effects of nitrate supplementation on muscle oxygenation profiles between active and inactive muscles. Nine healthy males performed 25 min of submaximal (heart rate ~140 bpm; EXsub) and incremental cycling (EXmax) until exhaustion under three conditions: (A) normoxia without drink; (B) hypoxia (FiO2 = 13.95%) with placebo (PL); and (c) hypoxia with beetroot juice (BR). PL and BR were provided for 4 days. Oxygenated and deoxygenated hemoglobin (HbO2 and HHb) were measured in vastus lateralis (active) and biceps brachii (inactive) muscles, and the oxygen saturation of skeletal muscle (StO2; HbO2/total Hb) were calculated. During EXsub, BR suppressed the HHb increases in active muscles during the last 5 min of exercise. During EXmax, time to exhaustion with BR (513 ± 24 sec) was significantly longer than with PL (490 ± 39 sec, P < 0.05). In active muscles, BR suppressed the HHb increases at moderate work rates during EXmax compared to PL (P < 0.05). In addition, BR supplementation was associated with greater reductions in HbO2 and StO2 at higher work rates in inactive muscles during EXmax. Collectively, these findings indicate that short‐term dietary nitrate supplementation improved hypoxic exercise tolerance, perhaps, due to suppressed increases in HHb in active muscles at moderate work rates. Moreover, nitrate supplementation caused greater reductions in oxygenation in inactive muscle at higher work rates during hypoxic exercise.
Building volumetric appearance models of fabric using micro CT imaging

Cloth is essential to our everyday lives; consequently, visualizing and rendering cloth has been an important area of research in graphics for decades. One important aspect contributing to the rich appearance of cloth is its complex 3D structure. Volumetric algorithms that model this 3D structure can correctly simulate the interaction of light with cloth to produce highly realistic images of cloth. But creating volumetric models of cloth is difficult: writing specialized procedures for each type of material is onerous, and requires significant programmer effort and intuition. Further, the resulting models look unrealistically "perfect" because they lack visually important features like naturally occurring irregularities. This paper proposes a new approach to acquiring volume models, based on density data from X-ray computed tomography (CT) scans and appearance data from photographs under uncontrolled illumination. To model a material, a CT scan is made, yielding a scalar density volume. This 3D data has micron resolution details about the structure of cloth but lacks all optical information. So we combine this density data with a reference photograph of the cloth sample to infer its optical properties. We show that this approach can easily produce volume appearance models with extreme detail, and at larger scales the distinctive textures and highlights of a range of very different fabrics such as satin and velvet emerge automatically---all based simply on having accurate mesoscale geometry.
SPECIATIONAL HISTORY IN A DIVERSE CLADE OF HABITAT‐SPECIALIZED SPIDERS (ARANEAE: NESTICIDAE: NESTICUS): INFERENCES FROM GEOGRAPHIC‐BASED SAMPLING

This paper summarizes the results of an initial effort to reconstruct the speciational history of cave spiders (Nesticus) from the southern Appalachian Mountains of eastern North America. The Appalachian Nesticus fauna includes a large series of about 30 species distributed across islandlike cave and montane habitats. Many of the species are geographically restricted; all of the species are found in allopatry. Observed patterns of morphological variation and biogeographic evidence suggest that species diversification in this lineage may have occurred recently, perhaps in response to Pleistocene climatic fluctuations. To address questions about the spatial and temporal dynamics of Nesticus speciation, while accounting for potential phylogenetic difficulties, I have gathered nuclear and mitochondrial DNA sequences for a sample of individuals from 81 populations representing 28 Nesticus species. Analyses of these data indicate that considerable genetic divergence exists within and among currently recognized morphological species. Consistent with relatively deep species divergences, most of which likely predate the Pleistocene, is a prevailing pattern of phylogenetic concordance between taxonomic species and monophyletic gene tree lineages. The few deviations from monophyly detected can be tentatively attributed to a peripatric mode of speciation. Although species limits as inferred by the molecular data are generally concordant with patterns of morphological continuity and discontinuity in genitalia, there is evidence to suggest that cryptic phylogenetic lineages exist within some morphologically continuous units. This observation, in combination with the general depth of species lineages, makes any argument about rapid evolution in Nesticus genitalic characteristics unnecessary.
Charcoal-yeast extract agar: primary isolation medium for Legionella pneumophila

Charcoal-yeast extract agar is a new bacteriological medium that supports excellent growth of the Legionella pneumophila. It results from modifications made in an existing L. pneumophila medium, F-G agar. Yeast extract, instead of an acid hydrolysate of casein, serves as the protein source. Beef extractives and starch are not added. Activated charcoal (Norit A or Norit SG) is included at 0.20% (wt/vol). Comparison of charcoal-yeast extract and F-G agars showed that a greater number of colony-forming units of L. pneumophila was recovered from a standardized tissue inoculum on charcoal-yeast extract agar (4.35 x 10(6) colony-forming units) than on F-G agar (4.85 x 10(4) colony-forming units). Macroscopic colonies of L. pneumophila were visible on the new medium within 3 days, whereas 4 days of growth was required on F-G agar.
Enhanced sensitivity to DSS colitis caused by a hypomorphic Mbtps1 mutation disrupting the ATF6-driven unfolded protein response

Here, we describe an N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea (ENU)-induced missense error in the membrane-bound transcription factor peptidase site 1 (S1P)-encoding gene (Mbtps1) that causes enhanced susceptibility to dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced colitis. S1P cleaves and activates cAMP response element binding protein/ATF transcription factors, the sterol regulatory element-binding proteins (SREBPs), and other proteins of both endogenous and viral origin. Because S1P has a nonredundant function in the ATF6-dependent unfolded protein response (UPR), woodrat mice show diminished levels of major endoplasmic reticulum chaperones GRP78 (BiP) and GRP94 in the colon upon DSS administration. Experiments with bone marrow chimeric mice reveal a requirement for S1P in nonhematopoietic cells, without which a diminished UPR and colitis develop.
A High-Yield Process for 3-D Large-Scale Integrated Microfluidic Networks in PDMS

This paper presents an uncomplicated high-yield fabrication process for creating large-scale integrated (LSI) 3-D microfluidic networks in poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS). The key innovation lays in the robust definition of miniaturized out-of-plane fluidic interconnecting channels (=vias) between stacked layers of microfluidic channels in standard PDMS. Unblocked vias are essential for creating 3-D microfluidic networks. Previous methods either suffered from limited yield in achieving unblocked vias due to residual membranes obstructing the vias after polymerization, or required complicated and/or manual procedures to remove the blocking membranes. In contrast, our method prevents the formation of residual membranes by inhibiting the PDMS polymerization on top of the mold features that define the vias. In addition to providing unblocked vias, the inhibition process also leaves a partially cured, sticky flat-top surface that adheres well to other surfaces and that allows self-sealing stacking of several PDMS layers. We demonstrate the new method by manufacturing a densely perforated PDMS membrane and an LSI 3-D PDMS microfluidic channel network. We also characterize the inhibition mechanism and study the critical process parameters. We demonstrate that the method is suitable for structuring PDMS layers with a thickness down to 10 m.
Brain Activity in Response to Visual Symmetry.

Research on the neural basis of symmetry perception is making rapid progress. ERP studies reliably show a sustained posterior negativity (SPN), with lower amplitude for symmetrical than random patterns at occipital electrodes, beginning around 250 ms after stimulus onset. Functional MRI shows activity in extrastriate visual areas and in the lateral occipital complex (LOC). We summarise and integrate the evidence by answering six questions. (1) Is there an automatic and sustained response to symmetry in visual areas? Yes, and because this is broadly unaffected by the task it suggests automatic processing of symmetry. (2) Which brain areas are involved in symmetry perception? There is an extended symmetry-sensitive network in extrastriate visual areas and the LOC. (3) Is bilateral reflection special? Reflection is the optimal stimulus for a general regularity-sensitive network that responds also to rotation and translation. (4) Is the response to symmetry independent of view angle? When people classify patterns as symmetrical or random, the response to symmetry is view-invariant. When people attend to other dimensions, the network responds to residual regularity in the image. (5) Does the neural response to symmetry scale with degree of regularity? Yes, the proportion of symmetrically positioned elements predicts the size of SPN and fMRI responses (see attached Figure). Finally, (6) Are connections between the hemispheres especially important for symmetry perception? No. SPN amplitude increases with the number of axes, and is comparable for horizontal and vertical symmetry. Overall, these studies of the brain mechanisms involved in symmetry perception show a consistent link between brain activity and measures of sensitivity from psychophysical studies. Meeting abstract presented at VSS 2015.
Unpredictable working time, well-being and health in the police service

Abstract The unpredictability of working time is a seldom studied feature of employment. This paper proposes that unpredictability in scheduling is associated with greater employee work-life conflict and perceived stress. This, in turn, has implications for health behaviour (alcohol consumption, sleep disturbance) and symptoms (digestive and cardiovascular problems). Increasing employee control through flexible working arrangements (FWA) is examined as a potential moderator. We also examine the possibility that alcohol consumption exacerbates the negative effects of unpredictability on well-being and health. A survey of 1207 police officers, for whom working unsocial hours is commonly accepted, showed direct effects of unpredictability over and above nonstandard hours on digestive health, and indirect effects through well-being on sleep, digestive and cardiovascular health. In some cases, these indirect effects were reduced or absent with greater employee control through FWA, although this was not uniform. Alcohol consumption intensified the effects of unpredictability on well-being and some health outcomes. As well as highlighting unpredictability as a key dimension of working time quality, the findings reflect a tension between employer-centred scheduling strategies for enhancing workforce flexibility and HRM practices, such as FWA, which purport to provide employees with greater control and work-life balance.
Dissipative dynamics of matter-wave solitons in a nonlinear optical lattice

Dynamics and stability of solitons in two-dimensional (2D) Bose-Einstein condensates (BEC), with one-dimensional (1D) conservative plus dissipative nonlinear optical lattices, are investigated. In the case of focusing media (with attractive atomic systems), the collapse of the wave packet is arrested by the dissipative periodic nonlinearity. The adiabatic variation of the background scattering length leads to metastable matter-wave solitons. When the atom feeding mechanism is used, a dissipative soliton can exist in focusing 2D media with 1D periodic nonlinearity. In the defocusing media (repulsive BEC case) with harmonic trap in one direction and nonlinear optical lattice in the other direction, the stable soliton can exist. Variational approach simulations are confirmed by full numerical results for the 2D Gross-Pitaevskii equation.
Makespan improvement of PSO-based dynamic scheduling in cloud environment

The latest generation of distributed systems is cloud computing that has been acclaimed scientifically and commercially. CloudSim is one of the simulation tools that enables the evaluation and testing cloud services and infrastructures before development on a real cloud. For optimal use of the cloud's potential power, efficient and effective scheduling algorithms are required which can select the best resources for execution tasks. The matter of mapping and scheduling the tasks is assigning tasks to run on the existing resources in the manner that helps to maximize utilization and minimize makespan. The total time that is needed for all tasks/jobs to be finished is known as makespan. And utilization is the measure of how well the overall capacity of the cloud (network resources) is used. Due to the heterogeneity and dynamic resources, task scheduling is known as NP-complete problem and metaheuristics are needed to find the best scheduling combination. The main objective of this paper is to optimize task scheduling that uses the particle swarm optimization algorithm to minimize the makespan. Different inertia weights have been used. The Linear Descending Inertia Weight (LDIW) with an average 22.7% reduction in makespan shows the best performance.
Excitation‐contraction coupling in the heart: the state of the question 1

Recent developments have led to great progress toward determining the mechanism by which calcium is released from the sarcoplasmic reticulum in the heart. The data support the notion of calcium‐induced calcium release via a calcium‐sensitive release channel. Calcium release channels have been isolated and cloned. This situation creates a paradox, as it has also been found that calcium release is smoothly graded and closely responsive to sarcolemmal membrane potential, properties that would not be expected of calcium‐induced calcium release, which has intrinsic positive feedback. There is, therefore, no quantitative understanding of how the properties of the calcium release channel can lead to the macroscopic physiology of the whole cell. This problem could, in principle, be solved by various schemes involving heterogeneity at the ultrastructural level. The simplest of these require only that the sarcolemmal calcium channel be located in close proximity to one or more sarcoplasmic reticulum release channels. Theoretical modeling shows that such arrangements can, in fact, resolve the positive feedback paradox. An agenda is proposed for future studies required in order to reach a specific, quantitative understanding of the functioning of calcium‐induced calcium release. — Stern, M. D. ; Lakatta, E. G. Excitation‐contraction coupling in the heart: the state of the question. FASEB J. 6: 3092‐3100; 1992.
Human osteocalcin: a strong promoter for nitric oxide synthase gene therapy, with specificity for hormone refractory prostate cancer

Gene therapy has been identified as a promising treatment strategy for hormone refractory prostate cancer (HRPC). We report, for the first time, the use of the human osteocalcin (hOC) promoter to control inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) transgene expression in HRPC.