Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Neuromodulatory Action of Picomolar Extracellular Aβ42 Oligomers on Presynaptic and Postsynaptic Mechanisms Underlying Synaptic Function and Memory

Failure of anti-amyloid-β peptide (Aβ) therapies against Alzheimer's disease (AD), a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by high amounts of the peptide in the brain, raised the question of the physiological role of Aβ released at low concentrations in the healthy brain. To address this question, we studied the presynaptic and postsynaptic mechanisms underlying the neuromodulatory action of picomolar amounts of oligomeric Aβ42 (oAβ42) on synaptic glutamatergic function in male and female mice. We found that 200 pm oAβ42 induces an increase of frequency of miniature EPSCs and a decrease of paired pulse facilitation, associated with an increase in docked vesicle number, indicating that it augments neurotransmitter release at presynaptic level. oAβ42 also produced postsynaptic changes as shown by an increased length of postsynaptic density, accompanied by an increased expression of plasticity-related proteins such as cAMP-responsive element binding protein phosphorylated at Ser133, calcium-calmodulin-dependent kinase II phosphorylated at Thr286, and brain-derived neurotrophic factor, suggesting a role for Aβ in synaptic tagging. These changes resulted in the conversion of early into late long-term potentiation through the nitric oxide/cGMP/protein kinase G intracellular cascade consistent with a cGMP-dependent switch from short- to long-term memory observed in vivo after intrahippocampal administration of picomolar amounts of oAβ42. These effects were present upon extracellular but not intracellular application of the peptide and involved α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. These observations clarified the physiological role of oAβ42 in synaptic function and memory formation providing solid fundamentals for investigating the pathological effects of high Aβ levels in the AD brains. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT High levels of oligomeric amyloid-β42 (oAβ42) induce synaptic dysfunction leading to memory impairment in Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, at picomolar concentrations, the peptide is needed to ensure long-term potentiation (LTP) and memory. Here, we show that extracellular 200 pm oAβ42 concentrations increase neurotransmitter release, number of docked vesicles, postsynaptic density length, and expression of plasticity-related proteins leading to the conversion of early LTP into late LTP and of short-term memory into long-term memory. These effects require α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors and are mediated through the nitric oxide/cGMP/protein kinase G pathway. The knowledge of Aβ function in the healthy brain might be useful to understand the causes leading to its increase and detrimental effect in AD.
Review of the Effect of Natural Compounds and Extracts on Neurodegeneration in Animal Models of Diabetes Mellitus

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disease with a high prevalence in the Western population. It is characterized by pancreas failure to produce insulin, which involves high blood glucose levels. The two main forms of diabetes are type 1 and type 2 diabetes, which correspond with >85% of the cases. Diabetes shows several associated alterations including vascular dysfunction, neuropathies as well as central complications. Brain alterations in diabetes are widely studied; however, the mechanisms implicated have not been completely elucidated. Diabetic brain shows a wide profile of micro and macrostructural changes, such as neurovascular deterioration or neuroinflammation leading to neurodegeneration and progressive cognition dysfunction. Natural compounds (single isolated compounds and/or natural extracts) have been widely assessed in metabolic disorders and many of them have also shown antioxidant, antiinflamatory and neuroprotective properties at central level. This work reviews natural compounds with brain neuroprotective activities, taking into account several therapeutic targets: Inflammation and oxidative stress, vascular damage, neuronal loss or cognitive impairment. Altogether, a wide range of natural extracts and compounds contribute to limit neurodegeneration and cognitive dysfunction under diabetic state. Therefore, they could broaden therapeutic alternatives to reduce or slow down complications associated with diabetes at central level.
Self-management Intervention Program Based on the Health Belief Model (HBM) among Women with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus: A Quazi-Experimental Study.

BACKGROUND The Health Belief Model (HBM) as a conceptual framework in health behavior research was applied to improve self-management. This study aimed to determine the effect of theory-based intervention program among women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). METHODS This quazi-experimental study was conducted on 110 women 17-41 years old which were divided randomly into intervention (n = 55) and control (n = 55) groups. The intervention group received a self-management education for four sessions lasting 35-40 minutes accompanied with a phone call as a booster. Both intervention and control groups attended a routine GDM education program at outpatient health centers. A multi-section instrument included demographics, 28 items in HBM (CVI and CVR were 0.83, 0.87, respectively) and self-management sections. All participants were invited to complete the questionnaire at baseline and at three and six months after intervention. SPSS version 21 was performed for data analysis using repeated measure ANOVA and paired t-test. P less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS At baseline, demographics and HBM constructs revealed no significant differences between two groups (P>0.05). After intervention, perceived susceptibility, severity, barriers, benefits and self-efficacy revealed significant differences in the intervention group compared with controls (P<0.001). Self-management and HbA1c indicated significant differences in the intervention group before and after three and six months (P<0.001) whereas in the control group no significant differences were revealed (P>0.05). CONCLUSION Implementing the HBM educational intervention program with focus on benefits of self-management has positive impact on pregnant women.
Extraction and solubilization of crude oil and volatile petroleum hydrocarbons by purified humic and fulvic acids and sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate

Solubilization of crude oil (Fula, Sudan) in water demonstrates humic acid (HA), completely dissolves oil with a solubilization efficiency of 1600 g oil /g HA. The order of solubilization increases: HA > HA+ FA (fulvic acid) >> FA >>> SDBS (sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate). Synthetic surfactant like, SDBS, exhibits the lowest efficiency even with 23 times the concentration of FA or HA. Extraction of diesel contaminated sand and GC-MS analysis show that HA and FA exhibit 50–90% extraction efficiency for C10–C22 at pH 11.9 with just one extraction. SDBS exhibits the least removal efficiency (<1%) for normal hydrocarbons. The effect of pH on extraction with HA by its micelles such as the surface active property was found to be greater than that for FA. On the basis of critical concentration, the extraction efficiencies with FA and HA are 1287 and 11453 times compared to SDBS, respectively, for the least extracted hydrocarbon at pH 10.8. The HSGC experiments showed that the solubilization efficiency of alkylbenzenes in gasoline (Shell 87) increases almost linearly with FA concentration with a slight deviation at 5–6 μM FA. About 35–60% of alkylbenzenes in gasoline were solubilized and partitioned at the highest FA concentration (15 μM) studied. Both studies with gasoline and diesel show similar extraction efficiencies even at 227-fold increased FA with diesel.
Which Species Should We Focus On? Umbrella Species Assessment in Southwest China

In conservation biology, umbrella species are often used as agents for a broader set of species, or as representatives of an ecosystem, and their conservation is expected to benefit a large number of naturally co-occurring species. Southwest China is home to not only global biodiversity hotspots, but also rapid economic and population growth and extensive changes in land use. However, because of the large regional span, the diverse species distributions, and the difficulty of field investigations, traditional methods used to assess umbrella species are not suitable for implementation in Southwest China. In the current study, we assessed 810 key protected species from seven taxa by indicator value analysis, correlation analysis, and factor analysis. We selected 32 species as umbrella species, whose habitats overlapped the habitats of 97% of the total species. Furthermore, the selected species were significantly correlated with 70% of all species in the study area. A total of 16 out of 19 selected animal species have been previously mentioned as umbrella species, compared with only 3 out of 13 plants species; this is despite plants accounting for a large proportion of the total species in Southwest China. We discuss the roles of indicator species and co-occurring species, and provide suggestions for species protection in Southwest China based on the current results. Our research provides valuable scientific information for research on umbrella conservation species over large geographical scales, and related fields of biodiversity conservation.
Nano Hard Carbon Anodes for Sodium-Ion Batteries

A hindrance to the practical use of sodium-ion batteries is the lack of adequate anode materials. By utilizing the co-intercalation reaction, graphite, which is the most common anode material of lithium-ion batteries, was used for storing sodium ion. However, its performance, such as reversible capacity and coulombic efficiency, remains unsatisfactory for practical needs. Therefore, to overcome these drawbacks, a new carbon material was synthesized so that co-intercalation could occur efficiently. This carbon material has the same morphology as carbon black; that is, it has a wide pathway due to a turbostratic structure, and a short pathway due to small primary particles that allows the co-intercalation reaction to occur efficiently. Additionally, due to the numerous voids present in the inner amorphous structure, the sodium storage capacity was greatly increased. Furthermore, owing to the coarse co-intercalation reaction due to the surface pore structure, the formation of solid-electrolyte interphase was greatly suppressed and the first cycle coulombic efficiency reached 80%. This study shows that the carbon material alone can be used to design good electrode materials for sodium-ion batteries without the use of next-generation materials.
Sensitivity of genetically engineered organisms to selective media

Eighteen strains of Escherichia coli used in genetic studies were tested for their ability to grow on several selective media. Highest recoveries were obtained with m-T7 agar. The SOS system, particularly the recA gene, may play some role in the sensitivity of E. coli to selective agents. These results may be important in the selection of media used to detect genetically engineered organisms released into the environment.
The Shareholder Wealth Maximization Norm and Industrial Organization

Industrial organization affects the relative effectiveness of the shareholder wealth maximization norm in maximizing total social wealth. In nations where product markets are not strongly competitive, a strong shareholder primacy norm fits less comfortably with social wealth maximization than elsewhere because, where competition is weak, shareholder primacy induces managers to cut production and raise price more than they otherwise would. Where competition is fierce, managers do not have that option. There is a rough congruence between this inequality of fit and the varying strengths of shareholder primacy norms around the world. In Continental Europe, for example, shareholder primacy norms have been weaker than in the United States. Historically, Europe's fragmented national product markets were less competitive than those in the United States, thereby yielding a fit between their greater skepticism of the norm's value and the structure of their product markets. As Europe's markets integrate, making its product markets more competitive, pressure has arisen to strengthen shareholder norms and institutions.
A Genetic Locus on Chromosome 2q24 Predicting Peripheral Neuropathy Risk in Type 2 Diabetes: Results From the ACCORD and BARI 2D Studies

Genetic factors have been postulated to be involved in the etiology of diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN), but their identity remains mostly unknown. The aim of this study was to conduct a systematic search for genetic variants influencing DPN risk using two well-characterized cohorts. A genome-wide association study (GWAS) testing 6.8 million single nucleotide polymorphisms was conducted among participants of the Action to Control Cardiovascular Risk in Diabetes (ACCORD) clinical trial. Included were 4,384 white case patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and prevalent or incident DPN (defined as a Michigan Neuropathy Screening Instrument clinical examination score >2.0) and 784 white control subjects with T2D and no evidence of DPN at baseline or during follow-up. Replication of significant loci was sought among white subjects with T2D (791 DPN-positive case subjects and 158 DPN-negative control subjects) from the Bypass Angioplasty Revascularization Investigation in Type 2 Diabetes (BARI 2D) trial. Association between significant variants and gene expression in peripheral nerves was evaluated in the Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx) database. A cluster of 28 SNPs on chromosome 2q24 reached GWAS significance (P < 5 × 10−8) in ACCORD. The minor allele of the lead SNP (rs13417783, minor allele frequency = 0.14) decreased DPN odds by 36% (odds ratio [OR] 0.64, 95% CI 0.55–0.74, P = 1.9 × 10−9). This effect was not influenced by ACCORD treatment assignments (P for interaction = 0.6) or mediated by an association with known DPN risk factors. This locus was successfully validated in BARI 2D (OR 0.57, 95% CI 0.42–0.80, P = 9 × 10−4; summary P = 7.9 × 10−12). In GTEx, the minor, protective allele at this locus was associated with higher tibial nerve expression of an adjacent gene (SCN2A) coding for human voltage-gated sodium channel NaV1.2 (P = 9 × 10−4). To conclude, we have identified and successfully validated a previously unknown locus with a powerful protective effect on the development of DPN in T2D. These results may provide novel insights into DPN pathogenesis and point to a potential target for novel interventions.
15nm-diameter 3D stacked nanowires with independent gates operation: ΦFET

For the first time, we report a 3D stacked sub-15 nm diameter NanoWire FinFET-like CMOS technology (3D-NWFET) with a new optional independent gate nanowire structure named PhiFET. Extremely high driving currents for 3D-NWFET (6.5 mA/mum for NMOS and 3.3 mA/mum for PMOS) are demonstrated thanks to the 3D configuration using a high-k/metal gate stack. Co-processed reference FinFETs with fin widths down to 6 nm are achieved with record aspect ratios of 23. We show experimentally that the 3D-NWFET, compared to a co-processed FinFET, relaxes by a factor of 2.5 the channel width requirement for a targeted DIBL and improves transport properties. PhiFET exhibits significant performance boosts compared to Independent-Gate FinFET (IG-FinFET): a 2-decade smaller IOFF current and a lower subthreshold slope (82 mV/dec. instead of 95 mV/dec.). This highlights the better scalability of 3D-NWFET and PhiFET compared to FinFET and IG-FinFET, respectively.
Effects of oscillatory mobilization as compared to sustained stretch mobilization in the management of cervical radiculopathy: A randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND Cervical radiculopathy is a relatively common musculoskeletal disorder resulting in a significant social and occupational impact. Manual therapy is thought to provide relief in cervical radiculopathy; however, evidence is lacking regarding the comparison of different manual therapy concepts. OBJECTIVE To determine the effects of Maitland's oscillatory mobilization as compared to Kaltenborn's sustained stretch mobilization in the management of cervical radiculopathy. METHODS A randomized controlled trial was conducted at Fauji Foundation Hospital comprising of 46 patients randomized into oscillatory and sustained stretch mobilization groups. Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS), Neck Disability Index (NDI) and cervical range of motion (ROM) were used as outcome variables. RESULTS No significant differences were observed at base line between the two groups (P> 0.05) except for ROM in extension and left side bending (P< 0.05). In terms of pre and post treatment comparison, P value of less than 0.05 was observed for both groups, indicating both treatments to be effective in isolation. However, post treatment comparison between both groups showed oscillatory mobilization to be superior to sustained stretch mobilization (P< 0.05) in the management of cervical radiculopathy except for the outcomes of pain and side bending. CONCLUSION Both oscillatory and sustained stretch mobilization techniques are found to be effective in the management of cervical radiculopathy in terms of pain, range and disability. However, oscillatory mobilization is found to be superior in terms of functional ability and range of motion.
Preparation and in Vitro Evaluation of New Composite Mesh Functionalized with Cationic Antimicrobial Peptide

Infection caused by bacteria in hernia repair site is a severe complication, and patients have to undergo a second surgery to remove the infected prosthesis. In this study, we developed a composite biological safe mesh with antibacterial activity. The composite mesh is composed of large pore polypropylene (PP) mesh, poly-caprolactone (PCL) and antimicrobial peptide (PEP-1), which we synthesized in our lab. Fourier transformed infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy was utilized to analyze the functional groups. The surface morphology, in vitro release characters, mechanical properties, antibacterial activities, and in vitro cytotoxicity of modified mesh were evaluated. Results showed that PEP-1 was loaded in fibers successfully and could diffuse from nanofibers to inhibit bacteria (E. coli) growth. However, the modified mesh did not show inhibition to S. aureus. The mechanical properties of fabricated mesh showed no difference with two commercial surgical meshes. What is more, modified mesh was proved to be nontoxic to human dermal fibroblasts, indicating that this method to fabricate meshes with antibacterial activity is feasible and provides a new strategy for the development of surgical meshes.
Age-specific reference ranges are needed to interpret serum methylmalonic acid concentrations in the US population.

BACKGROUND Serum vitamin B-12 is measured to evaluate vitamin B-12 status. Serum methylmalonic acid (MMA) is a specific functional indicator of vitamin B-12 status; however, concentrations increase with impaired renal function. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to describe the distribution of serum vitamin B-12 and MMA in US adults, and estimate age-specific reference intervals for serum MMA in a healthy subpopulation with replete vitamin B-12 status and normal renal function. METHODS We examined cross-sectional data for serum vitamin B-12 and MMA in adults participating in the NHANES from 2011 to 2014. Vitamin B-12 was measured by electrochemiluminescence assay and MMA by isotope-dilution liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. RESULTS In both bivariate and multivariate analyses, age, race/Hispanic origin, and vitamin B-12 supplement use were generally significantly associated with serum vitamin B-12 and MMA concentrations. Serum MMA concentrations increased with age, particularly in persons aged ≥70 y. Non-Hispanic white persons had lower vitamin B-12 and higher MMA concentrations than non-Hispanic black persons. Shorter fasting times and impaired renal function were significantly associated with higher serum MMA concentrations, but not with serum vitamin B-12 concentrations after controlling for covariates. The central 95% reference intervals for serum vitamin B-12 and MMA concentrations were widest for persons aged ≥70 y compared with younger age groups. Compared with the overall population, the central 95% reference intervals for serum MMA concentrations were considerably narrower for a vitamin B-12-replete subpopulation with normal renal function, but still age-dependent. Serum vitamin B-12 showed little, whereas serum MMA showed notable, increases with impaired renal function. CONCLUSIONS The higher serum MMA concentrations throughout the entire distribution in older persons (especially persons aged ≥70 y) who are vitamin B-12-replete and have normal renal function indicate the need for age-specific MMA reference intervals to better interpret vitamin B-12 status in epidemiologic research.
Community Informatics in Cities: New Catalysts for Urban Change

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Acute Effects of Peristaltic Pneumatic Compression on Repeated Anaerobic Exercise Performance and Blood Lactate Clearance

Abstract Martin, JS, Friedenreich, ZD, Borges, AR, and Roberts, MD. Acute effects of peristaltic pneumatic compression on repeated anaerobic exercise performance and blood lactate clearance. J Strength Cond Res 29(10): 2900–2906, 2015—External pneumatic compression (EPC) use in athletics is increasing. However, there is a paucity of evidence supporting the effectiveness of EPC in aiding recovery and performance. We sought to determine the efficacy of EPC for acute recovery of anaerobic power and lactate clearance following a fatigue protocol. Fourteen (n = 14; women = 7 and men = 7), apparently healthy, active subjects (aged 22.73 ± 4.05 years) were enrolled in this randomized crossover design study. After familiarization sessions, subjects completed 2 study trials separated by 3–7 days. Trials consisted of a fatigue protocol (two 30-second Wingate anaerobic tests (WAnTs) on a cycle ergometer separated by 3 minutes of rest), 30 minutes of treatment with EPC or sham, and, finally, a single 30-second WAnT. A peristaltic pulse EPC device was used with target inflation pressures of ∼70 mm Hg applied to the lower limbs. Peak power (PkP), average power (AP), and the fatigue index (FI) were recorded for each WAnT. Moreover, blood lactate concentration (BLa) was evaluated at baseline and at regular intervals during recovery (5, 15, 25, and 35 minutes postfatigue protocol). No significant differences in PkP, AP, and FI were observed. However, BLa was significantly lower at 25 and 35 minutes of recovery (8.91 ± 3.12 vs. 10.66 ± 3.44 mmol·L−1 [p = 0.021] and 6.44 ± 2.14 vs. 7.89 ± 2.37 mmol·L−1 [p = 0.006] for EPC vs. sham, respectively). Application of EPC during recovery may be a viable alternative when “inactive” recovery is desirable.