Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Aging Reduces the Functional Brain Networks Strength—a Resting State fMRI Study of Healthy Mouse Brain

Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rsfMRI) is increasingly used to unravel the functional neuronal networks in health and disease. In particular, this technique of simultaneously probing the whole brain has found high interest in monitoring brain wide effects of cerebral disease and in evaluating therapeutic strategies. Such studies, applied in preclinical experimental mouse models, often require long-term observations. In particular during regeneration studies, easily several months of continuous monitoring are required to detect functional improvements. These long periods of following the functional deficits during disease evolution as well as the functional recoveries during therapeutic interventions represent a substantial fraction of the life span of the experimental animals. We have therefore aimed to decipher the role of healthy aging alone for changes in functional neuronal networks in mice, from developmental adolescence via adulthood to progressing aging. For this purpose, four different groups of C57Bl6 mice of varying age between 2 and 13 months were studied twice with 4 weeks separation using resting state fMRI at 9.4T. Dedicated data analysis including both Independent Component Analysis (ICA) followed by seed-based connectivity matrix compilation resulted in an inverse U-shape curve of functional connectivity (FC) strength in both the sensorimotor and default mode network (DMN). This inverse U-shape pattern presented a distinct maximum of FC strength at 8–9 months of age, followed by a continuous decrease during later aging phases. At progressed aging at 12–13 months, the reduction of connectivity strength varied between 25% and 70% with most connectivities showing a reduction in strength by approximately 50%. We recommend that these substantial age-dependent changes in FC strength must be considered in future longitudinal studies to discriminate focused disease-based functional deficits and therapy-related functional improvements from underlying independent age effects.
Assessing the Interocular Symmetry of Foveal Outer Nuclear Layer Thickness in Achromatopsia

Purpose We examine the interocular symmetry of foveal outer nuclear layer (ONL) thickness measurements in subjects with achromatopsia (ACHM). Methods Images from 76 subjects with CNGA3- or CNGB3-associated ACHM and 42 control subjects were included in the study. Line or volume scans through the fovea of each eye were acquired using optical coherence tomography (OCT). Image quality was assessed for each image included in the analysis using a previously-described maximum tissue contrast index (mTCI) metric. Three foveal ONL thickness measurements were made by a single observer and interocular symmetry was assessed using the average of the three measurements for each eye. Results Mean (± standard deviation) foveal ONL thickness for subjects with ACHM was 79.7 ± 18.3 μm (right eye) and 79.2 ± 18.7 μm (left eye) compared to 112.9 ± 15.2 (right eye) and 112.1 ± 13.9 μm (left eye) for controls. Foveal ONL thickness did not differ between eyes for ACHM (P = 0.636) or control subjects (P = 0.434). No significant relationship between mTCI and observer repeatability was observed for either control (P = 0.140) or ACHM (P = 0.351) images. Conclusions While foveal ONL thickness is reduced in ACHM compared to controls, the high interocular symmetry indicates that contralateral ONL measurements could be used as a negative control in early-phase monocular treatment trials. Translational Relevance Foveal ONL thickness can be measured using OCT images over a wide range of image quality. The interocular symmetry of foveal ONL thickness in ACHM and control populations supports the use of the non-study eye as a control for clinical trial purposes.
Relationship between stigma, self-esteem, and quality of life in euthymic patients of bipolar disorder: A cross-sectional study

Background: As per the existing literature (mostly Western), bipolar affective disorder or bipolar disorder (BD) is associated with low self-esteem, high stigma, and poor quality of life (QOL). Aims: The current study aimed to assess stigma, self-esteem, and QOL and to examine their interrelationships in euthymic patients of BD in the Indian settings. Settings and Design: This hospital-based, cross-sectional study was conducted in a tertiary care hospital in Delhi over a period of 12 months. Subjects and Methods: Sixty-two adults with BD (as per the International Classification of Diseases-10 criteria) in remission were selected. Stigma, self-esteem, and QOL were assessed using the Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness (ISMI) scale, Rosenberg Self-esteem Rating Scale, and World Health Organization (WHO) QOL-BREF, respectively. Statistical Analysis Used: Data were analyzed using Student's t-test, Pearson's correlation coefficients, and multiple regression model. Results: Thirty-two percent of patients did not experience stigma (ISMI total score < 2.00). Mean total ISMI score for patients was 2.33 (mild stigma). Compared to controls, patients were found to have lower self-esteem (mean: 12.63) and lower scores on WHOQOL-BREF. Self-esteem scores were associated with all domains of WHOQOL-BREF, whereas ISMI total scores were not. Further, self-esteem was not found to be associated with stigma scores. Conclusions: Patients of BD in remission have low self-esteem, experience mild stigma, and have a low QOL. Lower self-esteem was strongly related to lower QOL, whereas stigma was not. Measures to improve self-esteem may benefit patients of BD in the long run.
Comparative Study of Transcranial Magneto-Acoustic Stimulation and Transcranial Ultrasound Stimulation of Motor Cortex

Transcranial ultrasound stimulation (TUS; f < 1 MHz) is a promising approach to non-invasive brain stimulation. Transcranial magneto-acoustic stimulation (TMAS) is a technique of neuromodulation for regulating neuroelectric-activity utilizing a magnetic–acoustic coupling electric field generated by low-intensity ultrasound and magnetic fields. However, both techniques use the physical means of low-intensity ultrasound and can induce the response of the motor cortex. Therefore, it is necessary to distinguish the difference between the two techniques in the regulation of neural activity. This study is the first to quantify the amplitude and response latency of motor cortical electromyography (EMG) in mice induced by TMAS and TUS. The amplitude of EMG (2.73 ± 0.32 mV) induced by TMAS was significantly greater than that induced by TUS (2.22 ± 0.33 mV), and the EMG response latency induced by TMAS (101.25 ± 88.4 ms) was significantly lower than that induced by TUS (181.25 ± 158.4 ms). This shows that TMAS can shorten the response time of nerve activity and enhance the neuromodulation effect of TUS on the motor cortex. This provides a theoretical basis for revealing the physiological mechanisms of TMAS and the treatment of neuropsychiatric diseases using it.
Exploring the Potential of Cell-Free Protein Synthesis for Extending the Abilities of Biological Systems

Cell-free protein synthesis (CFPS) system is a simple, rapid, and sensitive tool that is devoid of membrane-bound barriers, yet contains all the mandatory substrates, biomolecules, and machineries required for the synthesis of the desired proteins. It has the potential to overcome loopholes in the current in vivo production systems and is a promising tool in both basic and applied scientific research. It facilitates a simplified organization of desired experiments with a variety of reaction conditions, making CFPS a powerful tool in biological research. It has been used for the expansion of genetic code, assembly of viruses, and in metabolic engineering for production of toxic and complex proteins. Subsequently, CFPS systems have emerged as potent technology for high-throughput production of membrane proteins, enzymes, and therapeutics. The present review highlights the recent advances and uses of CFPS systems in biomedical, therapeutic, and biotechnological applications. Additionally, we highlight possible solutions to the potential biosafety issues that may be encountered while using CFPS technology.
Breeding biology of the critically endangered Araripe Manakin (Antilophia bokermanni) in Brazil

ABSTRACT Lack of information about basic life history traits of endangered species hinders conservation efforts, since such data have important implications for species' long-term survival. Little is known about the reproductive biology, ecology, and behavior of the Araripe Manakin (Antilophia bokermanni), despite its highly threatened status in Brazil. In this study, we provide detailed information about the Araripe Manakin's breeding biology and discuss ecological factors that affected nest survival rates across 3 breeding seasons. Females lay 1- or 2-egg clutches and may attempt renesting if the nest fails. The open-cup nests are built in the forking branches of 14 different identified plant species. The Araripe Manakin's nesting period corresponds to the rainy season of approximately 6 months, and its annual reproductive capacity is 2 fledglings. Nesting success of the species was high (72%) compared to other Neotropical species with similar nests, but varied across seasons and sampled areas. Fewer nests were associated with periods of less rainfall, more fragmented forest areas, and areas with higher rates of human activity. The shape of the nest also seemed relevant for nest success, where external diameter of the nest appeared to play an important role. Only females provided parental care in all nesting stages and no differences were found in parental investment between nests with 1 or 2 nestlings. We believe our findings are crucial for future population viability analyses and effective conservation strategies. We argue that although these results point toward this species' critical situation, they also suggest its intrinsic resilience.
Overview on Karyotype Stasis in Atlantic Grunts (Eupercaria, Haemulidae) and the Evolutionary Extensions for Other Marine Fish Groups

Karyotype stasis, characterized by the absence of changes in chromosome number, genomic structure, and ploidy, is a recurrent condition in many biological groups, such as plants, amphibians, birds, and fishes. In fishes, the Percomorpha clade (>17,000 species), especially, its largest series, Eupercaria (>6,000 species and 161 families), shows an extensively shared karyotype with 2n=48 acrocentrics; the phylogenetic extension in this series is still unknown. Haemulidae (grunts) . a bounds the zoogeographic marine provinces of the Caribbean and Brazil, has a variable effect on the gene flow in diverse fish groups. Geographically, this barrier is located inside the distribution area of several fish species of Atlantic, allowing the examination of its role on the eventual karyotype differentiations in the populations of grunts. In this sense, cytogenomic analyses were carried out in eight haemulid species by conventional cytogenetic approaches (Giemsa staining, C-banding, and Ag-NORs technique), staining with base-specific fluorochromes, and two-color fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) with 5S and 18S rDNA probes. Additionally, we performed an exhaustive survey on the cytogenetic data of species from the Eupercaria series to assess the general context of karyotype divergences. Haemulid species and populations showed a pronounced sharing of karyotypes with 2n=48a, simple NORs, and reduced centromeric heterochromatin, apart from recurrent patterns of ribosomal 5S and 18S rDNA sites. Karyotype similarities persisted at intra- and congeneric levels in the Haemulidae family, indicating accentuated syntenic conservatism through large divergence periods. Stable karyotype patterns were extensively present in the majority of members from Eupercaria (88% of the clades in this series). These results indicate that karyotype stasis, which is found in a large spectrum of marine fishes, is a multifactorial process in terms of phylogenetic, biological, and biogeographic contexts.
Academic Interest Scale for Adolescents: Development, Validation, and Measurement Invariance With Chinese Students

Hidi and Renninger’s four-phase interest development model was identified as the most complete and widely used theoretical model illustrating the essence of academic interest. Using the model along with current research literature as a basis, this study aimed to develop and initially validate a generic multidimensional instrument to measure academic interest across different school subjects in the Chinese education context; this instrument was called the Academic Interest Scale for Adolescents (AISA). Three large samples of Chinese junior high school students were recruited by cluster sampling in the study. (1) Sample 1 (N = 552; 45.5% girls; 12.31 [SD = 0.98] years, range = 10–15 years) completed the draft of AISA, Intrinsic Motivation Scale and Scale for Adolescents’ Flow State in Learning in math and English. (2) Sample 2 (a subgroup of Sample 1, 411 students) completed the AISA in math and English again 2 months later after the first survey. (3) Sample 3 (N = 1,780; 50.1% girls; 13.69 [SD = 0.97] years, range = 12–16 years) completed the AISA in math, English, and Chinese. Identically worded items were used in AISA, except for the name of the subject. An exploratory factor analysis for math in sample 1 using principle axis factoring and promax rotation resulted in a 29-item AISA containing four dimensions: emotion, value, knowledge, and engagement, and the latent variables together explained 59.40% of the total variance. Confirmatory factor analysis for math, English, and Chinese in sample 3 suggested the four-factor model fits well in different samples and subjects. Scale scores showed adequate internal consistency (the Cronbach’s α for AISA and each subscale ranged from 0.86 to 0.93) and acceptable test-criterion relationships (correlations between the AISA score and intrinsic motivation and flow state in learning > 0.51, ps < 0.001). Furthermore, the structural measure invariance across subjects, time (2-month interval), genders and grades were upheld. The AISA promises to be a useful tool for the evaluation of academic interest among Chinese adolescents and can be administered in different educational settings, i.e., different subjects, time, genders, and grades.
Genome-Wide Identification and Analysis of the AP2 Transcription Factor Gene Family in Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

The AP2 transcription factors play important roles in regulating plant growth and development. However, limited data are available on the contributions of AP2 transcription factors in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). In the present study, a total of 62 AP2 genes were identified in wheat from a genome-wide search against the latest wheat genome data. Phylogenetic and sequence alignment analyses divided the wheat AP2 genes into 3 clusters, euAP2, euANT, and basalANT. Chromosomal distribution, gene structure and duplication, and motif composition were subsequently investigated. The 62 TaAP2 genes were unevenly distributed on 21 chromosomes. Twenty-four homologous gene sets among A, B, and D sub-genomes were detected, which contributed to the expansion of the wheat AP2 gene family. The expression levels of TaAP2 genes were examined using the WheatExp database; most detected genes exhibited tissue-specific expression patterns. The transcript levels of 9 randomly selected TaAP2 genes were validated through qPCR analyses. Overexpression of TaAP2-10-5D, the most likely homolog of Arabidopsis ANT gene, increased organ sizes in Arabidopsis. Our results extend our knowledge of the AP2 gene family in wheat, and contribute to further functional characterization of AP2s during wheat development with the ultimate goal of improving crop production.
Examination of the effects of conduction slowing on the upstroke of the optically recorded action potentials

Isolated, perfused mouse hearts were stained with the potentiometric dye Rh-237. Fluorescent signals were recorded from across the anterior surface of the left and right ventricles during constant pacing. Maximum rate of change in ﬂuorescence (dF/dt max ) and tissue CV were assessed in control conditions, during an acute period of low-ﬂow ischemia, and following perfusion of ﬂecainide (1–3 µ mol/L), a sodium channel blocker, or carbenoxolone (10–50 µ mol/L), a gap junction inhibitor. Results: During epicardial pacing, an anisotropic pattern was observed in both activation and dF/dt max maps, with more rapid optical AP upstroke velocities orientated along the fastest conduction paths (and vice versa). Low-ﬂow ischemia resulted in a time-dependent slowing of ventricular CV, which was accompanied by a concomitant reduction in optical AP upstroke velocity. All values returned to baseline on tissue reperfusion. Both ﬂecainide and carbenoxolone were associated with a concentration-dependent reduction in CV and decrease in optical AP upstroke velocity, despite distinct mechanisms of action. Similar responses to carbenoxolone were observed for low- (156 µ m pixel with) and high- (20 µ m pixel width) magniﬁcation recordings. Comparison of data from all interventions revealed a linear relationship between CV and upstroke dF/dt. Conclusion: In intact mouse hearts, slowing of optical AP upstroke velocity is directly proportional to the change in CV associated with low-ﬂow ischemia, sodium channel block, and gap junction inhibition.
Seed germination and emergence of two flax-leaf alyssum (Alyssum linifolium Steph. ex. Willd.) populations in response to environmental factors

Abstract. Flax-leaf alyssum (Alyssum linifolium Steph. ex. Willd.) is a winter growing annual weed species widely distributed in many semi-arid cropping regions of Iran, especially in the Khorasan Razavi and East Azerbaijan provinces. The germination of two populations (one each from Khorasan Razavi and East Azerbaijan) of this weed was evaluated under different experimental conditions. Seeds of A. linifolium germinated over a wide range of day/night temperature regimes, with the highest germination percentage observed with a regimen of 20°C/10°C. Light was not required for germination for either population, and >70% seeds germinated under all photoperiods tested. Germination was affected by pH levels; seeds germinated over the pH range 4–9 and germination was maximum at pH 7. For the Khorasan Razavi and East Azerbaijan populations, ≥50% of seeds germinated at a water potential of –0.69 and –0.78 MPa and salinity of 12.64 and 11.7 dS m–1 respectively. Maximum seedling emergence occurred when seeds were slightly covered with soil, but emergence decreased with increasing depth of soil cover, with no emergence at depths >3 cm. These results indicate that A. linifolium germinates in a wide range of climatic conditions and could invade into new regions. Burying the seeds through tillage may reduce their emergence.
Molecular Identification of a Moricin Family Antimicrobial Peptide (Px-Mor) From Plutella xylostella With Activities Against the Opportunistic Human Pathogen Aureobasidium pullulans

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) represent the largest group of endogenous compounds and serves as a novel alternative to traditional antibiotics for the treatment of pathogenic microorganisms. Moricin is an important α-helical AMP plays a crucial role in insect humoral defense reactions. The present study was designed to identify and characterize novel AMP moricin (Px-Mor) from diamondback moth (Plutella xylostella) and tested its activity against bacterial and fungal infection including the opportunistic human pathogen Aureobasidium pullulans. Molecular cloning of Px-Mor using rapid amplification of cDNA ends revealed a 482 bp full length cDNA with 198 bp coding region. The deduced protein sequence contained 65 amino acids, and the mature peptides contained 42 amino acid residues with a molecular mass of 4.393 kDa. Expression analysis revealed that Px-Mor was expressed throughout the life cycle of P. xylostella with the highest level detectable in the fourth instar and prepupa stage. Tissue specific distribution showed that Px-Mor was highly expressed in fat body and hemocyte. In vitro, antimicrobial assays indicated that Px-Mor exhibited a broad antimicrobial spectrum against Gram positive bacteria (GPB), Gram negative bacteria (GNB) and fungi. Moreover, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) revealed that Px-Mor can cause obvious morphological alterations in A. pullulans, which demonstrated its powerful effect on the mycelia growth inhibition. Taken together, these results indicate that Px-Mor plays an important role in the immune responses of P. xylostella and can be further exploited as an antimicrobial agent against various diseases including for the treatment of A. pullulans infection.
The Opening of Connexin 43 Hemichannels Alters Hippocampal Astrocyte Function and Neuronal Survival in Prenatally LPS-Exposed Adult Offspring

Clinical evidence has revealed that children born from mothers exposed to viral and bacterial pathogens during pregnancy are more likely to suffer various neurological disorders including schizophrenia, autism bipolar disorder, major depression, epilepsy, and cerebral palsy. Despite that most research has centered on the impact of prenatal inflammation in neurons and microglia, the potential modifications of astrocytes and neuron-astrocyte communication have received less scrutiny. Here, we evaluated whether prenatally LPS-exposed offspring display alterations in the opening of astrocyte hemichannels and pannexons in the hippocampus, together with changes in neuroinflammation, intracellular Ca2+ and nitric oxide (NO) signaling, gliotransmitter release, cell arborization, and neuronal survival. Ethidium uptake recordings revealed that prenatal LPS exposure enhances the opening of astrocyte Cx43 hemichannels and Panx1 channels in the hippocampus of adult offspring mice. This enhanced channel activity occurred by a mechanism involving a microglia-dependent production of IL-1β/TNF-α and the stimulation of p38 MAP kinase/iNOS/[Ca2+]i-mediated signaling and purinergic/glutamatergic pathways. Noteworthy, the activity of Cx43 hemichannels affected the release of glutamate, [Ca2+]i handling, and morphology of astrocytes, whereas also disturbed neuronal function, including the dendritic arbor and spine density, as well as survival. We speculate that excitotoxic levels of glutamate triggered by the activation of Cx43 hemichannels may contribute to hippocampal neurotoxicity and damage in prenatally LPS-exposed offspring. Therefore, the understanding of how astrocyte-neuron crosstalk is an auspicious avenue toward the development of broad treatments for several neurological disorders observed in children born to women who had a severe infection during gestation.
Reducing access and waiting time for orthopedics

The research takes place at the orthopedic department of Deventer Ziekenhuis (DZ). The goal of the research is to reduce the access and waiting time for orthopedics. We formulate a MIP that allocates blocks over the weekly available doctor capacity such that we minimize the weighted number of waiting patients. We use the model as a simulation-optimization approach to formulate practical planning rules and we quantify a mismatch in capacities. We evaluate our planning rules in a real-life case by using a Discrete Event Simulation (DES) model. The outcomes of the DES model show a more stable access time (σ -10%), a more stable waiting time (σ -13%) and a more stable workload for the OC (σ -3%).