Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Microvesicles from Human Immortalized Cell Lines of Endothelial Progenitor Cells and Mesenchymal Stem/Stromal Cells of Adipose Tissue Origin as Carriers of Bioactive Factors Facilitating Angiogenesis

Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) and mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs) are associated with maintaining tissue homeostasis and tissue repair. Both types of cells contribute to tissue regeneration through the secretion of trophic factors (alone or in the form of microvesicles). This study investigated the isolation and biological properties of microvesicles (MVs) derived from human immortalized MSC line HATMSC1 of adipose tissue origin and EPC line. The human immortalized cell line derived from the adipose tissue of a patient with venous stasis was established in our laboratory using the hTERT and pSV402 plasmids. The human EPC line originating from cord blood (HEPC-CB.1) was established in our previous studies. Microvesicles were isolated through a sequence of centrifugations. Analysis of the protein content of both populations of microvesicles, using the Membrane-Based Antibody Array and Milliplex ELISA showed that isolated microvesicles transported growth factors and pro- and antiangiogenic factors. Analysis of the miRNA content of isolated microvesicles revealed the presence of proangiogenic miRNA (miR-126, miR-296, miR-378, and miR-210) and low expression of antiangiogenic miRNA (miR-221, miR-222, and miR-92a) using real-time RT-PCR with the TaqMan technique. The isolated microvesicles were assessed for their effect on the proliferation and proangiogenic properties of cells involved in tissue repair. It was shown that both HEPC-CB.1- and HATMSC1-derived microvesicles increased the proliferation of human endothelial cells of dermal origin and that this effect was dose-dependent. In contrast, microvesicles had a limited impact on the proliferation of fibroblasts and keratinocytes. Both types of microvesicles improved the proangiogenic properties of human dermal endothelial cells, and this effect was also dose-dependent, as shown in the Matrigel assay. These results confirm the hypothesis that microvesicles of HEPC-CB.1 and HATMSC1 origin carry proteins and miRNAs that support and facilitate angiogenic processes that are important for cutaneous tissue regeneration.
The Persian Version of Menopause Rating Scale (MRS): A Psychometric Study

Objective Menopause-related symptoms can strongly affect health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in most peri-menopausal women. The aim of the present study was to explore the psychometric properties of a culturally adapted and translated Persian version of the Menopause Rating Scale (MRS). Study Design The study was conducted on a random sample of 270 middle-aged women (age range 40–60 yrs) selected from 25 urban health service centers across Tabriz, Iran. Content validity was evaluated by a panel of 11 experts. Construct validity was assessed by exploratory factor analyses with Varimax rotation and principal axis factoring extraction method and by confirmatory factor analyses. Internal consistency and test–retest reliability were assessed with Cronbach’s alpha and intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC), respectively. In addition, the feasibility of the measure was judged based on ceiling and floor effects. Results Content validity of the measure was good with a mean content validity index (CVI) and mean content validity ratio (CVR) of 0.88 and 0.94, respectively. Exploratory factor analyses identified three factors accounting for 47.69% of the variance. Confirmatory factor analyses found the original three-factor model to have the best fit to the data. Cronbach’s alpha coefficient (0.85) and the test–retest reliability score (0.91) indicated good internal consistency. Conclusion The Persian version of the MRS demonstrated excellent reliability and validity. It can therefore be used in both clinical and research settings to assess menopause-related symptoms and associated quality of life.
Heparin-Binding Protein: A Novel Biomarker Linking Four Different Cardiovascular Diseases

Cardiovascular diseases are an important group of diseases that seriously affect quality of life. Thus, their treatment warrants further study. Heparin-binding protein (HBP) is a granulocyte protein derived from neutrophils. When an infection occurs, neutrophils release HBP, which can lead to elevated HBP levels in the blood. Therefore, HBP family members are said to be important indicators of infection. However, basic evidence is still lacking to confirm the possible relationship between HBP and cardiovascular diseases. Using bioinformatics methods, we investigated the role of the HBP network in normal hearts and hearts from patients with cardiovascular disease. First, we used the Open Targets database to obtain a list of HBP-encoding mRNAs related to atherosclerosis, myocarditis, myocardial infarction, and myocardial ischemia. Then, we constructed an HBP gene interaction network map using STRING. Clustering coefficients were calculated using Cytoscape, and MCODE was used for subnet analysis. Finally, the proposed interstitial network of HBPs was established and analyzed by Metascape enrichment analysis of the relevant signaling pathways. The aggregation coefficient of the HBP interaction network was higher among hearts with the four cardiovascular diseases, atherosclerosis (0.496), myocarditis (0.631), myocardial infarction (0.532), and myocardial ischemia (0.551), than in normal hearts. Metascape analysis showed that “NABA_MATRISOME_ASSOCIATED” was a typical pathway with the highest p value associated with epithelialization in all four diseases. Moreover, a large number of important HBPs were identified that may be significant for the treatment of these diseases. Therefore, HBPs do have a highly atopic connectivity network in cardiovascular diseases, and specific HBPs or signaling pathways may be used as targets for the development of new treatments for cardiovascular diseases.
Variability of the key features and revision of a group of closely related species of grassflies (Diptera, Chloropidae, Meromyza)

Abstract The following external morphological features of members of the genus Meromyza Mg. have been analyzed: the ratio of the height of frontal triangle to the length of the head; the presence of black setae on the lower surface of genae; the degree of manifestation of ocellus spot; the ratio of the length of mesonotum to scutellum; the length and color of the mid strip of the mesonotum and its degree of manifestation on the scutellum; and the thickness of hind femurs. Additionally, the size and shape of anterior and posterior processes of the postgonite, and the type of attachment of the posterior process have been investigated. The authors have determined the range of variability of key features applicable to the reliable identification of closely related species of grass flies in the “meigeni” species group of the genus Meromyza, as well as the usefulness of CO1 mtDNA sequences for this purpose. The authors propose to re-instate the name M. laeta Meigen, 1838 (instead of using the name M. meigeni Nartshuk, 2006), to include seven species into the cluster “meigeni”, and to substitute the name of the cluster “meigeni” with the name “variegata”.
Longitudinal relationships between changes in body composition and changes in selected metabolic risk factors (abdominal obesity and blood pressure) among South African adolescents

Background Incidence of childhood high blood pressure (BP) is increasing worldwide. This study examined the longitudinal relationship between changes in body composition (i.e. body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC) and percentage body fat) and selected metabolic risk factors (abdominal obesity and BP) among adolescents from the Tlokwe municipality in the North West Province of South Africa. Method One hundred and eight-six adolescents (81 boys and 105 girls) aged 14 to 16 years participated in the study. Body composition was measured following the International Society of the Advancement of Kinanthropometry standard procedures. BMI, abdominal obesity using WC measurement, and resting BP were determined. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) for repeated measures was calculated to determine changes in anthropometric measures and body composition as well as changes in BP. Additionally, Univariate analysis of variance with repeated measures and participants as a random sample was applied. Diastolic BP (DBP) and systolic BP (SBP) were used as dependent variables and sex, age, BMI, WC, and waist-to-height ratio as independent variables. Results Significant changes were found for stature, BMI, body mass, WC, SBP, and DBP. BMI for the total group was significant and positively related to abdominal obesity in 2012 (r = 0.55; p < 0.01) and in 2013 (r = 0.77; p < 0.01) and to SBP (r = 0.26; p < 0.05) in 2012 and (r = 0.17; p = 0.43) in 2013. BMI among the boys was significantly and positively related to abdominal obesity in 2012 (r = 0.83; p < 0.01) and 2013 (r = 0.91; p < 0.01). For the girls, BMI was significantly and positively related to abdominal obesity (r = 0.49; p < 0.01) and to SBP (r = 0.32; p = 0.05) in 2012. Boys with a higher WC in 2012 had significantly increased DBP (p < 0.05). Boys measured in 2012 with greater WC and BMI show a significant increase in SBP. Conclusions BMI was positively related to BP and abdominal obesity over time. Relatively high BMI and abdominal obesity significantly increased the likelihood of elevated BP over time, especially in boys. BMI was a predictor of abdominal obesity in boys, while in girls, BMI was a predictor of both abdominal obesity and SBP. In view of the future health implications of both abdominal obesity and elevated BP, urgent strategic interventions programs aimed at increasing physical activity and advocating for well-balanced dietary practices as well as importance of keeping normal blood pressure among South African adolescents are needed.
Reef and coral communities of Oman, with a description of a new coral species (Order Scleractinia, genus Acanthastrea)

The coastline of Oman extends 2000 km from 16.5°N to 26.5°N in the north-west Indian Ocean. Most of it is long, exposed sandy beach or mixed sand and shallow rocky areas subject to severe scour, and there is a seasonal, cold-water upwelling whose influence increases towards the equator. Three areas of the mainland support corals, separated by long stretches of shallow sandy or muddy sublittoral. Three categories of coral or reef development are recognized: (A) coral reefs develop with characteristic profiles of reef flat and reef slope; (B) corals provide framework but there is no reef growth and no characteristic reef profile; and (C) no true reef development occurs, but mixed coral/phaeophyte communities are attached directly on to old, often non-limestone substrate. A and B are common in the north and central regions but are rare in the south. Type C is found in the centre and especially the south where the poor reef development is more typical of marginal, high-latitude coral areas. Ninety-one coral s.
CYSTATHIONINE GAMMA-LYASE AS A REGULATOR OF RESISTANCE ARTERY CONTRACTION UNDER NORMAL AND HYPERGLYCEMIC CONDITIONS

EMILOVA, R. , D. DIMITROVA, V. GEORGIEV, T. DANEVA and H. S. GAGOV, 2013. Cystathionine gamma–lyase as a regulator of resistance artery contraction under normal and hyperglycemic conditions. Bulg. J. Agric. Sci., Supplement 2, 19: 175–177 The aim of our study is to clarify the contribution of cystathionine gamma–lyase (CSE) that produces H 2 S in smooth muscle and perivascular adipose tissues in the regulation of resistance size rat artery contraction. In this research the isometric contraction of de-endothelised rat gracilis artery preparations was measured with Small Vessel Myograph (DMT 410M, Denmark). Half of the isolated rings were incubated in 20 mmol/l D-glucose-containing bath and the others in normal glucose solution (5.5 mmol/l). Increasing concentrations of serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine) from 10 –10 to 10 –5 mmol/l were applied to induce gradual constriction of circular artery segments. The absence of endothelium was confi rmed by the lack of the relaxation to acetylcholine. The extra cellular glucose concentration of 20 mmol/l did not infl uence the contractile effect of serotonin. The inhibition of CSE by DL-propargyl glycine signifi cantly enhanced the maximal force of serotonin-induced contraction under normal and hyperglycemic conditions. It is concluded that CSE is an important regulator of endothelium denuded rat resistance arteries. It is suggested that CSE in smooth muscle cells of artery wall released mediator that antagonized the constricting action of serotonin. This regulation is insensitive to extra cellular glucose concentration.
Convection in ice-covered lakes: effects on algal suspension

Convection occurs in ice-covered lakes if solar radiation warms near-surface water from the freezing point towards the temperature of maximal density. One effect of convective mixing may be to suspend non-motile phytoplankton in the upper water column, providing cells with enough light for growth during ice-covered periods. Observations of the diatom Aulacoseira baicalensis under the ice cover of Lake Baikal, Siberia, support the hypothesis that convective mixing causes net suspen- sion of cells. This paper presents a theoretical examination of the conditions under which convective flow fields can suspend algae in the photic zone of the upper water column. It is shown that the efficiency of algal suspension depends on the ratio of the still-water algal sinking rate, Wp, to con- vective updraft speed, Wu. The suspension efficiency is also shown to be affected by asymmetries in the flow field and night-time cessation of convection, but only if Wp and Wu are comparable in value. It is concluded that convection in Lake Baikal should be vigorous enough to increase the mixed-layer residence time of A.baicalensis from a few days to over a month, at least during years with thin snow
Nucleotide Sequence Analyses of a Sugarbeet Genomic NPR1-Class Disease Resistance Gene

Disease resistance in Arabidopsis thaliana is centrally controlled by the NPR1 gene, which modulates multiple disease response pathways. A homolog of NPR1 was isolated from Beta vulgaris as a first step in deducing the potentially similarly important role of this gene for sugarbeet disease resistance. Most structural and nucleotide sequence features of Arabidopsis NPR1 were similar with the isolated beet NPR1 homolog, including utilization of an unusual transcription start site motif, similarly positioned BTB/POZ and ankyrin repeat domains, and the coding sequence interrupted by three similarly positioned introns. In contrast, the length of the sugarbeet NPR1 homolog was three-fold greater than that of Arabidopsis and most of the size difference between beet and Arabidopsis occurred in non-coding DNA sequences such as introns. The coding sequence of the sugarbeet NPR1 homolog has 100% nucleotide sequence identity with the full-length Beta vulgaris NPR1 cDNA sequence AY640381.
A global analysis of cultural tightness in non-industrial societies

Human groups have long faced ecological threats such as resource stress and warfare, and must also overcome strains on coordination and cooperation that are imposed by growing social complexity. Tightness–looseness (TL) theory suggests that societies react to these challenges by becoming culturally tighter, with stronger norms and harsher punishment of deviant behaviour. TL theory further predicts that tightening is associated with downstream effects on social, political and religious institutions. Here, we comprehensively test TL theory in a sample of non-industrial societies. Since previous studies of TL theory have sampled contemporary countries and American states, our analysis allows us to examine whether the theory generalizes to societies in the ethnographic record and also to explore new correlates of tightness that vary more in non-industrial societies. We find that tightness covaries across domains of social norms, such as socialization, law and gender. We also show that tightness correlates with several theorized antecedents (ecological threat, complexity, residential homogeneity) and several theorized consequences (intergroup contact, political authoritarianism, moralizing religious beliefs). We integrate these findings into a holistic model of tightness in non-industrial societies and provide metrics that can be used by future studies on cultural tightness in the ethnographic record.
Community-level reorganizations following migratory pollinator dynamics along a latitudinal gradient

Predicting how communities re-arrange in response to changes in species composition remains a key challenge in ecology. Migratory species, which enter and leave communities across latitudinal gradients, offer us a unique opportunity to evaluate community- and species-level responses to a shift in community composition. We focused on a migratory hummingbird and the communities that host it along a latitudinal and species diversity gradient. Our results show higher niche overlap in more diverse communities, allowing resident species to compensate for the loss of the migrant in providing pollination services. Contrastingly, in less diverse communities, the migrant behaves as a specialist, monopolizing abundant resources. In its absence, its role is not fully covered by resident species, resulting in a decrease in the fruit set of the migrant's preferred plant species. These results help us understand the potential impacts of biodiversity loss and have important implications for community persistence given expected changes in the migratory behaviours of some species.
Characterization of Microsatellite Loci for the Razorback Musk Turtle (Sternotherus carinatus) and Their Cross-Amplification in Five Other Species in the Family Kinosternidae

Abstract. Studies of mud and musk turtles (family Kinosternidae) are underrepresented in the primary turtle literature, particularly with regard to their population genetics. We have isolated microsatellite loci for Sternotherus carinatus, a first for any species in the family, and tested their ability to cross-amplify in 5 other kinosternids. These loci should provide a useful set of tools for future population genetic studies of kinosternid species.
Experimental Assessment of the Impact of Agricultural Machinery on Wood Turtles (Glyptemys insculpta)

Abstract. The wood turtle (Glyptemys insculpta) is a threatened species that uses agricultural fields, in part, to nest, bask, and feed. This use of anthropogenic habitats has resulted in the injury and death of individuals during crop harvest. Turtles have been exposed to hay harvests for over a century but the increased use of rotary disc mowers may have increased mortality rates to unsustainable levels. Mitigation measures have focused on raising blade height to minimize contact with turtles but these measures are based on the dimensions of the largest turtles and the effects of agricultural machinery on subadults, juveniles, and hatchlings have not been quantified. We sought to quantify how different agricultural machinery affects wood turtles at multiple life stages through experimental trials using 2 mower types. Cantaloupe (Cucumis melo) halves were used as turtle proxies to avoid actual harm to turtles. We found that rotary disc mowers resulted in a significantly greater injury to adult (i.e., female, male, and subadult) and young (i.e., juvenile and hatchling age class) proxies at low grass heights (10–20 cm) compared with sickle cutter bar mowers. Young proxies were found to be essentially unaffected by the sickle mower at all grass heights, but they were highly affected by the rotary disc mower at grass heights from 10 to 18 cm. If blade heights were to be raised to reduce the risk to wood turtles, a minimum blade height of 17 cm would be needed to obtain > 50% of adults remaining undamaged during harvest and a minimum height of 15 cm would be needed for young turtles.
Modulated Expression of the Protein Kinase GSK3 in Motor and Dopaminergic Neurons Increases Female Lifespan in Drosophila melanogaster

Most eukaryotic genes express multiple transcripts and proteins, and a sophisticated gene expression strategy plays a crucial role in ensuring the cell-specificity of genetic information and the correctness of phenotypes. The Drosophila melanogaster gene shaggy encodes several isoforms of the conserved glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK3), which is vitally important for multiple biological processes. To characterize the phenotypic effects of differential shaggy expression, we explored how the multidirectional modulation of the expression of the main GSK3 isoform, Shaggy-PB, in different tissues and cells affects lifespan. To this end, we used lines with transgenic constructs that encode mutant variants of the protein. The effect of shaggy misexpression on lifespan depended on the direction of the presumed change in GSK3 activity and the type of tissue/cell. The modulation of GSK3 activity in motor and dopaminergic neurons improved female lifespan but caused seemingly negative changes in the structural (mitochondrial depletion; neuronal loss) and functional (perturbed locomotion) properties of the nervous system, indicating the importance of analyzing the relationship between lifespan and healthspan in invertebrate models. Our findings provide new insights into the molecular and cellular bases of lifespan extension, demonstrating that the fine-tuning of transcript-specific shaggy expression in individual groups of neurons is sufficient to provide a sex-specific increase in survival and slow aging.