Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Galectin-9 gene (LGALS9) polymorphisms are associated with rheumatoid arthritis in Brazilian patients

Introduction Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by synovial inflammation and hyperplasia, as well as cartilage and bone destruction. Several proteins are associated with the pathogenesis of the disease. Galectin-9 belongs to the family of lectins that are involved in various biological processes and have anti-inflammatory activity. Objective To investigate associations between the SNPs of the GAL-9 gene (LGALS9) and serum levels in rheumatoid arthritis patients. We extracted DNA from 356 subjects, 156 RA patients and 200 healthy controls from northeastern Brazil. Three polymorphisms (rs4795835, rs3763959, and rs4239242) in the LGALS9 gene were selected and genotyped using TaqMan SNP genotyping assay. Serum concentrations of galectin-9 were analyzed by ELISA. Results The rs4239242 TT genotype showed a positive association with RA (p = 0.0032, odds ratio = 0.28), and heterozygous TC were prevalent in the control group compared to RA patients (p = 0.0001, odds ratio = 7.99). Galectin-9 serum levels were significantly increased in RA patients compared to the control group (p<0.0001). Patients in remission had high levels of galectin compared to the moderate activity group (p<0.0001). Regarding the Clinical Disease Activity Index (CDAI), patients in remission or low activity presented high levels of galectin when compared to patients in severity (p<0.0001). Patients performing moderate activity had a significant value compared to patients who were in high disease severity (p = 0.0064). Interestingly, the AG genotype (rs3763959) has been associated with a higher presence of bone erosion in RA patients (p = 0.0436). The SNP rs4239242 TT genotype showed a positive association with RA in comparison to the control group. The AG genotype (rs3763959) has been associated with a higher presence of bone erosion in RA patients.
US Adult Smokers’ Perceived Risk of Fire or Explosion-Related Injury Caused by Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems

Objectives: Publicity on incidents of electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) exploding or catching fire may influence smokers’ risk perceptions and decisions about using ENDS for quitting smoking. We examined combustible cigarette smokers’ perceptions of the possibility of injury from exploding ENDS and the relationship of those perceptions to ENDS use, perceived risk relative to smoking, and perceived costs and benefits of ENDS use. Methods: We used data from the 2017 Tobacco Products and Risk Perceptions Survey of a national probability sample of US adults, conducted online in August and September 2017. The analytic sample consisted of 1181 current combustible cigarette smokers aware of ENDS. Results: Among combustible cigarette smokers aware of ENDS, a medium/high perceived risk of injury from exploding ENDS was associated with lower odds of current ENDS use (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 0.50; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.30-0.86; P = .01), perceiving ENDS to be at least as harmful as cigarettes (aOR = 3.22; 95% CI, 2.11-4.93; P < .001), and feeling that the negatives of ENDS use outweighed the positives (aOR = 3.50; 95% CI, 2.00-6.14; P < .001). Conclusions: Product standards, improved product labeling, and education about how to properly use, charge, and store ENDS can help protect consumers from injury. Communication efforts should seek to fully inform combustible cigarette smokers about both the absolute health risks of ENDS, including risk of explosions, and their relative risks compared with those of cigarette smoking.
ToolBox: Live Imaging of intracellular organelle transport in induced pluripotent stem cell‐derived neurons

Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) hold promise to revolutionize studies of intracellular transport in live human neurons and to shed new light on the role of dysfunctional transport in neurodegenerative disorders. Here, we describe an approach for live imaging of axonal and dendritic transport in iPSC‐derived cortical neurons. We use transfection and transient expression of genetically‐encoded fluorescent markers to characterize the motility of Rab‐positive vesicles, including early, late and recycling endosomes, as well as autophagosomes and mitochondria in iPSC‐derived neurons. Comparing transport parameters of these organelles with data from primary rat hippocampal neurons, we uncover remarkable similarities. In addition, we generated lysosomal‐associated membrane protein 1 (LAMP1)‐enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) knock‐in iPSCs and show that knock‐in neurons can be used to study the transport of endogenously labeled vesicles, as a parallel approach to the transient overexpression of fluorescently labeled organelle markers.
Dairy farmers’ decision‐making to implement biosecurity measures: A study of psychosocial factors

Abstract Biosecurity measures are a set of management procedures that prevent the risk of introducing and spreading infectious diseases to a farm, although these measures are rarely implemented in dairy farms. There are some studies that have identified that the decision to implement biosecurity measures can be influenced by several psychosocial factors (attitudes and behaviours). Thus, the objective of this study was to examine the psychosocial factors (and their interactions) influencing the implementation of biosecurity measures in dairy farms in Spain, through the views of dairy farmers and veterinarians from Catalonia (northeast Spain) and Galicia (northwest Spain). Face‐to‐face in‐depth interviews were performed with 16 dairy farmers (nine from Catalonia and seven from Galicia) and 16 veterinarians (eight from Catalonia and eight from Galicia). Grounded theory analysis was performed on the transcripts, following the subtopics of: information sources, individual factors of the farmer, social dynamics, official veterinary services and other factors. The study identified the importance of veterinarians as a source of information, including their communication skills, the individual experiences of farmers, traditions of the farms and availability of time and space in the dairy farmer's decisions making. Further, it suggests the need to deepen the knowledge of the farm workers and the obligatory biosecurity measures. This research represents a starting point to develop future strategies to improve the implementation of biosecurity measures in dairy farms.
Gene-Specific Targeting of DNA Methylation in the Mammalian Genome

DNA methylation is the most widely-studied epigenetic modification, playing a critical role in the regulation of gene expression. Dysregulation of DNA methylation is implicated in the pathogenesis of numerous diseases. For example, aberrant DNA methylation in promoter regions of tumor-suppressor genes has been strongly associated with the development and progression of many different tumors. Accordingly, technologies designed to manipulate DNA methylation at specific genomic loci are very important, especially in the context of cancer therapy. Traditionally, epigenomic editing technologies have centered around zinc finger proteins (ZFP)- and transcription activator-like effector protein (TALE)-based targeting. More recently, however, the emergence of clustered regulatory interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-deactivated Cas9 (dCas9)-based editing systems have shown to be a more specific and efficient method for the targeted manipulation of DNA methylation. Here, we describe the regulation of the DNA methylome, its significance in cancer and the current state of locus-specific editing technologies for altering DNA methylation.
Genome Sequence of Enorma sp. Strain Marseille-P9525T, a Member of a Human Gut Microbiome

Strain Marseille-P9525T was isolated from the gut microbiota of a 28-year-old woman and exhibits a 2.23-Mb (G+C content, 66.8%) draft genome sequence containing 1,902 protein-coding genes, 49 tRNAs, and 3 rRNAs. The 16S rRNA sequencing and in silico DNA-DNA hybridization indicated that strain Marseille-P9525T represents a new species to be described. ABSTRACT Strain Marseille-P9525T was isolated from the gut microbiota of a 28-year-old woman and exhibits a 2.23-Mb (G+C content, 66.8%) draft genome sequence containing 1,902 protein-coding genes, 49 tRNAs, and 3 rRNAs. The 16S rRNA sequencing and in silico DNA-DNA hybridization indicated that strain Marseille-P9525T represents a new species to be described.
Multi-criteria decision-making in A defensive operation of the guided anti-tank missile battery: An example of the hybrid model fuzzy AHP - MABAC

The military decision-making process is a proven analytical process for designing operations, troops’ movements, logistics or air defense planning. The hybrid FAHP-MABAC model is tested for obtaining/selecting the results for an optimal firing position of the guided anti-tank missile battery (GAMB). This study provides a multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) model so that the confidence interval of fuzzy numbers describes the comparison in pairs whose degree is not determined before the comparison. By using mathematical expressions the confidence interval is brought into direct connection with the degree of certainty of decision-makers/expert of the comparison performed. In the group decision-making, the confidence intervals differ depending on the decision-maker/expert’s opinion. Finally the sensitivity analysis is used to determine how sensitive a decision model is. The suggested model is expected to contribute to the development of the science of military-operations as well as to prove itself useful to the actors related to defense.
Identification of a complete dibenzothiophene biodesulfurization operon and its regulator by functional metagenomics.

Functional screening for aromatic oxygenases ring of an oil contaminated soil metagenome identified 25 different clones bearing monooxygenases coding genes. One fosmid bore an operon containing 4 tightly linked genes coding for a complete dibenzothiophene biodesulfurization pathway, which included the predicted monooxygenases DszC and DszA, the desulfinase DszB, and an FMN-oxidoreductase designated DszE. The dszEABC operon provided E. coli with the ability to use dibenzothiophene as the only sulfur source. Transcription of the operon is driven from a σN -dependent promoter and regulated by an activator that was designated dszR. DszR has been purified and characterized in vitro, and shown to be a constitutively activeσN -dependent activator of the group IV, which binds to two contiguous sequences located upstream of the promoter. The dsz promoter, and dszE and dszR genes have apparently been recruited from an aliphatic sulfonate biodegradation pathway. If transcribed from a heterologous upstream promoter, the σN -dependent promoter region functions as an 'insulator' that prevents translation of dszE,, by binding with its ribosome binding site. Translational coupling, in turn, prevents translation of the downstream dszABC genes. The silencer combined with translational coupling thus represent an effective way of preventing expression of operons when spuriously transcribed from upstream promoters. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Listening to Bedouin Women Who Were Affected by Intimate Partner Violence and Sought Help From a Doctor

The purpose of this study was to examine how Bedouin women perceived and interpreted seeing a doctor for help in the aftermath of intimate partner violence. In the phenomenological study, 38 semi-structured interviews were conducted at two different points in time. The first interview took place before the first appointment with the doctor, and the second took place about 3 months after seeing the doctor. The findings revealed two main themes: an act of resistance against the prevailing social norms and empowerment out of crisis. The study found that doctors and other professionals working in the field of domestic violence in community clinics provide a reliable first source of support for women within a limiting social space. This brings into focus the centrality of the role of the doctor/health care professionals within the framework of the community clinic and is intended to direct, train, and deepen the insights of the medical staff that work with women affected by intimate partner violence and to create uniformity in the interventions for these women.
Sperm DNA fragmentation: causes and identification

Summary Sperm DNA fragmentation is referred to as one of the main causes of male infertility. Failures in the protamination process, apoptosis and action of reactive oxygen species (ROS) are considered the most important causes of DNA fragmentation. Action of ROS or changes in sperm protamination would increase the susceptibility of sperm DNA to fragmentation. Routine semen analysis is unable to estimate sperm chromatin damage. Sperm DNA integrity influences sperm functional capability, therefore tests that measure sperm DNA fragmentation are important to assess fertility disorders. Actually, there is a considerable number of methods for assessing sperm DNA fragmentation and chromatin integrity, sperm chromatin stability assay (SCSA modified), sperm chromatin dispersion (SCD), comet assay, transferase dUTP nick end labelling (TUNEL); and protamine evaluation in sperm chromatin assay, such as toluidine blue, CMA3, protamine expression and evaluation of cysteine radicals. This review aims to describe the main causes of sperm DNA fragmentation and the tests commonly used to evaluate sperm DNA fragmentation.
Single-Nanowire Fuse for Ionization Gas Detection

Local electric field enhancement is crucial to detect gases for an ionization gas sensor. Nanowires grown collectively along the identical lattice orientation have been claimed to show a strong tip effect in many previous studies. Herein, we propose a novel ionization gas detector structure by using a single crystalline silicon nanowire as one electrode that is placed above the prepatterned nanotips. A significant improvement of the local electric field in its radical direction was obtained leading to an ultralow operation voltage for gas breakdown. Different from the tip of the nanowire in the reported ionization gas sensors, the gaseous discharge current in this device flows towards the sidewall in the case of a trace amount of gas environment change. Technically, this discharge current brings about a sudden temperature rise followed by a fusion of the silicon nanowire. Such unique fusibility of a single nanowire in this gas detection device suggests a novel architecture that is portable and in-site executable and can be used as an integrated gas environmental monitor.
Rodent Models of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Background: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a continuous diseases spectrum associated with obesity, type 2 diabetes, insulin resistance, and hyperlipidemia. Simple hepatic steatosis may progress to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), even fibrosis and cirrhosis, and finally hepatocellular carcinoma. In recent years, NAFLD has become a public health concern with increasing prevalence. However, the mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis remain incompletely understood, and few effective therapeutic approaches are available. Summary and Key Messages: A myriad of different rodent models has been developed to elucidate pathophysiology of NAFLD/NASH and guide therapeutic strategy. To date, no single rodent model can display the whole disease spectrum and metabolic features associated with human NASH, but can imitate particular characteristics. In this paper, we review the most commonly used dietary, genetic, and chemical rodent models for NAFLD referring to their advantages and disadvantages. Also, we illustrate the status of latest treatment strategy using various NAFLD rodent models. We hope to provide critical guidance for researchers to select appropriate animal models.
3D analysis of human islet amyloid polypeptide crystalline structures in Drosophila melanogaster

Expression of the Alzheimer’s disease associated polypeptide Aβ42 and the human polypeptide hormon islet amyloid polypeptide (hIAPP) and the prohormone precursor (hproIAPP) in neurons of Drosophila melanogaster leads to the formation of protein aggregates in the fat body tissue surrounding the brain. We determined the structure of these membrane-encircled protein aggregates using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and observed the dissolution of protein aggregates after starvation. Electron tomography (ET) as an extension of transmission electron microscopy revealed that these aggregates were comprised of granular subunits having a diameter of 20 nm aligned into highly ordered structures in all three dimensions. The three dimensional (3D) lattice of hIAPP granules were constructed of two unit cells, a body centered tetragonal (BCT) and a triclinic unit cell. A 5-fold twinned structure was observed consisting of the cyclic twinning of the BCT and triclinic unit cells. The interaction between the two nearest hIAPP granules in both unit cells is not only governed by the van der Waals forces and the dipole-dipole interaction but potentially also by filament-like structures that can connect the nearest neighbors. Hence, our 3D structural analysis provides novel insight into the aggregation process of hIAPP in the fat body tissue of Drosophila melanogaster.
Fertility History and Cognitive Function in Late-Life: The Case of Mexico.

OBJECTIVES Mexico is aging rapidly, which makes identification of life-course factors influencing cognition a public health priority. We evaluate how the number of children one has relates to cognition in Mexico, a rapidly aging country that experienced fertility declines across recent cohorts of older people. METHOD We analyze older adults (age 50+, n=11,380) from the 2015 Mexican Health and Aging Study. Respondents were categorized by number of children ever born (0-1, 2-3, 4-5, 6+). Using ordinary least squares regression, we estimate independent associations between fertility history and cognition accounting for demographic, socioeconomic, health, and psychosocial factors. RESULTS We observed an inverse U-shaped relationship between number of children (peaking at 2-3 children) and cognitive function, regardless of gender. In regression analyses adjusted for confounding variables, having 0-1 (versus 2-3 children) was associated with poorer cognitive function only for females. Regardless of gender, having 6+ (versus 2-3 children) was associated with poorer cognitive function. These associations remained significant even after accounting for socioeconomic, health, employment, and psychosocial factors. DISCUSSION Our results suggest fertility history may play a role in late-life cognitive health and provide evidence that both low and high fertility may relate to poorer cognitive function. We discuss differences by gender.
Nr2f1 heterozygous knockout mice recapitulate neurological phenotypes of Bosch-Boonstra-Schaaf optic atrophy syndrome and show impaired hippocampal synaptic plasticity.

Bosch-Boonstra-Schaaf Optic Atrophy Syndrome (BBSOAS) has been identified as an autosomal-dominant disorder characterized by a complex neurological phenotype, with high prevalence of intellectual disability and optic nerve atrophy/hypoplasia. The syndrome is caused by loss-of-function mutations in NR2F1, which encodes a highly conserved nuclear receptor that serves as a transcriptional regulator. Previous investigations to understand the protein's role in neurodevelopment have mostly used mouse models with constitutive and tissue-specific homozygous knockout of Nr2f1. In order to represent the human disease more accurately, which is caused by heterozygous NR2F1 mutations, we investigated a heterozygous knockout mouse model, and found that this model recapitulates some of the neurological phenotypes of BBSOAS, including altered learning/memory, hearing defects, neonatal hypotonia, and decreased hippocampal volume. The mice showed altered fear memory, and further electrophysiological investigation in hippocampal slices revealed significantly reduced long-term potentiation (LTP) and long-term depression (LTD). These results suggest that a deficit or alteration in hippocampal synaptic plasticity may contribute to the intellectual disability frequently seen in BBSOAS. RNA-Seq analysis revealed significant differential gene expression in the adult Nr2f1+/- hippocampus, including the up-regulation of multiple matrix metalloproteases (MMPs), which are known to be critical for the development and the plasticity of the nervous system. Taken together, our studies highlight the important role of Nr2f1 in neurodevelopment. The discovery of impaired hippocampal synaptic plasticity in the heterozygous mouse model sheds light on the pathophysiology of altered memory and cognitive function in BBSOAS.
Converting GTP hydrolysis into motion: versatile translational elongation factor G

Abstract Elongation factor G (EF-G) is a translational GTPase that acts at several stages of protein synthesis. Its canonical function is to catalyze tRNA movement during translation elongation, but it also acts at the last step of translation to promote ribosome recycling. Moreover, EF-G has additional functions, such as helping the ribosome to maintain the mRNA reading frame or to slide over non-coding stretches of the mRNA. EF-G has an unconventional GTPase cycle that couples the energy of GTP hydrolysis to movement. EF-G facilitates movement in the GDP-Pi form. To convert the energy of hydrolysis to movement, it requires various ligands in the A site, such as a tRNA in translocation, an mRNA secondary structure element in ribosome sliding, or ribosome recycling factor in post-termination complex disassembly. The ligand defines the direction and timing of EF-G-facilitated motion. In this review, we summarize recent advances in understanding the mechanism of EF-G action as a remarkable force-generating GTPase.
Recent Progress in Wireless Sensors for Wearable Electronics

The development of wearable electronics has emphasized user-comfort, convenience, security, and improved medical functionality. Several previous research studies transformed various types of sensors into a wearable form to more closely monitor body signals and enable real-time, continuous sensing. In order to realize these wearable sensing platforms, it is essential to integrate wireless power supplies and data communication systems with the wearable sensors. This review article discusses recent progress in wireless technologies and various types of wearable sensors. Also, state-of-the-art research related to the application of wearable sensor systems with wireless functionality is discussed, including electronic skin, smart contact lenses, neural interfaces, and retinal prostheses. Current challenges and prospects of wireless sensor systems are discussed.
Thalamotomy for tremor normalizes aberrant pre-therapeutic visual cortex functional connectivity.

1 Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpitaux Universitaires Paris-Sud, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Bicêtre, Service de Neurochirurgie, Paris, France 2 Faculté de Médecine, Sorbonne Université, Paris, France 3 Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois (CHUV), Neurosurgery Service and Gamma Knife Center, Lausanne, Switzerland 4 Medical Image Analysis Laboratory (MIAL) and Department of Radiology-Center of Biomedical Imaging (CIBM), Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois, Lausanne, Switzerland 5 Signal Processing Laboratory (LTS 5), École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland 6 Faculty of Biology and Medicine, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland 7 Medical Image Processing Laboratory, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland 8 Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland 9 Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery Service and Gamma Knife Unit, CHU Timone, Marseille, France 10 Neurology Department, CHU Timone, Marseille, France 11 AMU, CRMBM UMR CNRS 7339, Faculté de Médecine et APHM, Hôpital Timone, Department of Diagnostic and Interventionnal Neuroradiology, Marseille, France 12 Department of Radiology, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois, Lausanne, Switzerland