Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Angiotensin AT2 receptor–induced interleukin-10 attenuates neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder–like pathology

Background: Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) is a relapsing inflammatory central nervous system (CNS) disease for which there is no cure. Immunoglobulin G autoantibodies specific for the water channel aquaporin-4 are a serum biomarker, believed to induce complement-dependent astrocyte damage with secondary demyelination. Objective: To investigate the effect of angiotensin AT2 receptor (AT2R) stimulation on NMOSD-like pathology and its underlying mechanism. Methods: NMOSD-like pathology was induced in mice by intracerebral injection of immunoglobulin-G isolated from NMOSD patient serum, with complement. This mouse model produces the characteristic histological features of NMOSD. A specific AT2R agonist, Compound 21 (C21), was given intracerebrally at day 0 and by intrathecal injection at day 2. Results: Loss of aquaporin-4 and glial fibrillary acidic protein was attenuated by treatment with C21. Administration of C21 induced mRNA for interleukin-10 in the brain. NMOSD-like pathology was exacerbated in interleukin-10-deficient mice, suggesting a protective role. C21 treatment did not attenuate NMOSD-like pathology in interleukin-10-deficient mice, indicating that the protective effect of AT2R stimulation was dependent on interleukin-10. Conclusion: Our findings identify AT2R as a novel potential therapeutic target for the treatment of NMOSD. Interleukin-10 signaling is an essential part of the protective mechanism counteracting NMOSD pathology.
High-Safety Symmetric Sodium-Ion Batteries Based on Nonflammable Phosphate Electrolyte and Double Na3V2(PO4)3 Electrodes.

Sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) have been viewed as a promising candidate for grid-scale energy storage system owing to the low cost and abundant Na resources. However, insufficient safety and poor cycling performance of current SIBs are hampering their implementation. Herein, we develop a symmetric sodium-ion battery by employing Na3V2(PO4)3 as both cathode and anode along with the nonflammable triethyl phosphate (TEP) as electrolyte. The symmetric SIBs demonstrate a superior rate capability (35.1 mA h g-1 at 32 C) and excellent cycling performance with a capacity retention of 88.9% after 500 cycles at 2 C. This work demonstrates a new avenue to construct safe and long-cycle-life SIBs with simple electrode manufacturing process.
Overexpression of RAD51 Enables PCR-Based Gene Targeting in Lager Yeast

Lager beer fermentations rely on specific polyploid hybrids between Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Saccharomyces eubayanus falling into the two groups of S. carlsbergensis/Saaz-type and S. pastorianus/Frohberg-type. These strains provide a terroir to lager beer as they have long traditional associations and local selection histories with specific breweries. Lager yeasts share, based on their common origin, several phenotypes. One of them is low transformability, hampering the gene function analyses required for proof-of-concept strain improvements. PCR-based gene targeting is a standard tool for manipulating S. cerevisiae and other ascomycetes. However, low transformability paired with the low efficiency of homologous recombination practically disable targeted gene function analyses in lager yeast strains. For genetic manipulations in lager yeasts, we employed a yeast transformation protocol based on lithium-acetate/PEG incubation combined with electroporation. We first introduced freely replicating CEN/ARS plasmids carrying ScRAD51 driven by a strong heterologous promoter into lager yeast. RAD51 overexpression in the Weihenstephan 34/70 lager yeast was necessary and sufficient in our hands for gene targeting using short-flanking homology regions of 50 bp added to a selection marker by PCR. We successfully targeted two independent loci, ScADE2/YOR128C and ScHSP104/YLL026W, and confirmed correct integration by diagnostic PCR. With these modifications, genetic alterations of lager yeasts can be achieved efficiently and the RAD51-containing episomal plasmid can be removed after successful strain construction.
Understanding Early Inhibitory Development: Distinguishing Two Ways That Children Use Inhibitory Control.

Inhibitory control is the capacity to suppress inappropriate responses. It is central to many aspects of development, most notably executive function and effortful control. Despite its importance, however, there are significant gaps in our understanding of inhibitory control's early development, and several findings that remain hard to explain. Here, a new account of inhibitory control is presented, explaining previous findings by distinguishing between two distinct ways that inhibitory control is used. According to this "Strength/Endurance" account, inappropriate responses which are highly prepotent tax inhibitory strength; whereas inappropriate responses which remain active for a long time tax inhibitory endurance. The developmental trajectories of these two aspects of inhibitory control, and their separate impacts on broader development, are discussed.
Patient perspectives on employment participation in the “hypermobile Ehlers–Danlos syndrome”

Abstract Background “Ehlers–Danlos syndrome” (EDS) is a heritable connective disorder influencing multiple aspects of daily life. Most studies have focused on describing the physical symptoms and level of disability, but little knowledge exists about the psychosocial effects of the pathology. Participation in employment is an aspect that strongly influences quality of life of patients with chronic pathologies. This study, therefore, aimed to explore the lived experiences in employment participation of patients diagnosed with “hypermobile EDS”. Methods An inductive thematic analysis, using semi-structured interviews was used. Nine patients, purposively selected by a continuum sampling strategy, were included. Interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. Results Data analysis resulted in three main themes: (1) elements assisting participation in employment, (2) limitations in employment participation, and (3) unemployment due to the “hypermobile EDS”. On the one hand, the results show that related health complaints can impede employment participation to an important extent. On the other hand, patients also report several aspects of work that can affect their well-being in a positive way. Conclusion There are specific reasons for a person with “hypermobile EDS” to participate in employment. These reasons are different for each person and may even vary in time. Implications for rehabilitation “Hypermobile EDS” greatly impacts activities and participation in daily life. “Living with limitations” is the central theme in the lives of “Hypermobile EDS” patients. Various aspects influence work participation in people with “Hypermobile EDS”, such as work pressure, tasks, and transport to work. Work has positive effects in the lives of people with “Hypermobile EDS.” Work can create difficulties when the job requirements and tasks do not match the functional abilities of a person with “Hypermobile EDS.”
Loss of a Fragile Chromosome Region leads to the Screwy Phenotype in Paramecium tetraurelia

A conspicuous cell-shape phenotype known as “screwy” was reported to result from mutations at two or three uncharacterized loci in the ciliate Paramecium tetraurelia. Here, we describe a new screwy mutation, Spinning Top, which appeared spontaneously in the cross of an unrelated mutant with reference strain 51. The macronuclear (MAC) genome of the Spinning Top mutant is shown to lack a ~28.5-kb segment containing 18 genes at the end of one chromosome, which appears to result from a collinear deletion in the micronuclear (MIC) genome. We tested several candidate genes from the deleted locus by dsRNA-induced silencing in wild-type cells, and identified a single gene responsible for the phenotype. This gene, named Spade, encodes a 566-aa glutamine-rich protein with a C2HC zinc finger. Its silencing leads to a fast phenotype switch during vegetative growth, but cells recover a wild-type phenotype only 5–6 divisions after silencing is stopped. We analyzed 5 independently-obtained mutant alleles of the Sc1 locus, and concluded that all of them also lack the Spade gene and a number of neighboring genes in the MAC and MIC genomes. Mapping of the MAC deletion breakpoints revealed two different positions among the 5 alleles, both of which differ from the Spinning Top breakpoint. These results suggest that this MIC chromosome region is intrinsically unstable in strain 51.
Metabolic reprogramming in nodules, roots and leaves of symbiotic soybean in response to iron deficiency.

To elucidate the mechanism of adaptation of leguminous plants to iron (Fe)-deficient environment, comprehensive analyses of soybean (Glycine max) plants (sampled at anthesis) were conducted under Fe-sufficient control and Fe-deficient treatment using metabolomic and physiological approach. Our results show that soybeans grown under Fe-deficient conditions showed lower nitrogen (N) fixation efficiency, however, ureides increased in different tissues, indicating potential N feedback inhibition. N assimilation was inhibited as observed in the repressed amino acids biosynthesis and reduced proteins in roots and nodules. In Fe-deficient leaves, many amino acids increased, accompanied by the reduction of malate, fumarate, succinate and α-ketoglutarate, which implies the N reprogramming was stimulated by the anaplerotic pathway. Accordingly, many organic acids increased in roots and nodules, however, enzymes involved in the related metabolic pathway (e.g., Krebs cycle) showed opposite activity between roots and nodules, indicative of different mechanisms. Sugars increased or maintained at constant level in different tissues under Fe deficiency, which probably relates to oxidative stress, cell wall damage and feedback regulation. Increased ascorbate, nicotinate, raffinose, galactinol and proline in different tissues possibly helped resist the oxidative stress induced by Fe deficiency. Overall, Fe deficiency induced the coordinated metabolic reprogramming in different tissues of symbiotic soybean plants.
Genome-wide association mapping of leaf mass traits in a Vietnamese rice landrace panel

Leaf traits are often strongly correlated with yield, which poses a major challenge in rice breeding. In the present study, using a panel of Vietnamese rice landraces genotyped with 21,623 single-nucleotide polymorphism markers, a genome-wide association study (GWAS) was conducted for several leaf traits during the vegetative stage. Vietnamese landraces are often poorly represented in panels used for GWAS, even though they are adapted to contrasting agrosystems and can contain original, valuable genetic determinants. A panel of 180 rice varieties was grown in pots for four weeks with three replicates under nethouse conditions. Different leaf traits were measured on the second fully expanded leaf of the main tiller, which often plays a major role in determining the photosynthetic capacity of the plant. The leaf fresh weight, turgid weight and dry weight were measured; then, from these measurements, the relative tissue weight and leaf dry matter percentage were computed. The leaf dry matter percentage can be considered a proxy for the photosynthetic efficiency per unit leaf area, which contributes to yield. By a GWAS, thirteen QTLs associated with these leaf traits were identified. Eleven QTLs were identified for fresh weight, eleven for turgid weight, one for dry weight, one for relative tissue weight and one for leaf dry matter percentage. Eleven QTLs presented associations with several traits, suggesting that these traits share common genetic determinants, while one QTL was specific to leaf dry matter percentage and one QTL was specific to relative tissue weight. Interestingly, some of these QTLs colocalize with leaf- or yield-related QTLs previously identified using other material. Several genes within these QTLs with a known function in leaf development or physiology are reviewed.
Organ Procurement Organization Run Department of Motor Vehicle Registration and Drivers Licensing Offices Leads to Increased Organ Donor First Person Authorization Registrations

Background. More people who have personally consented to organ donation via first person authorization (FPA) registration before death become organ donors than those not personally consenting. The majority of registrations occur at state-specific department of motor vehicle (DMV) and licensing offices, where people register their vehicles and obtain driver's licenses. Methods. One organ procurement organization (OPO) ran 3 DMV offices and implemented an intervention: a donor-centric approach, including employee education, office decoration with donation materials, and customer experience improvements. Data about registry enrollment was collected before and during the 4-year OPO licensing office contract. A linear mixed model and interrupted time series analyses were performed to evaluate whether the intervention improved rates of registration. Results. Preintervention registry enrollment rates per month were 10%–50%. Having the offices run by an OPO was associated with more enrollments independent of the increasing trend of enrollment (P < 0.001). Also, the DMV office with the lowest preimplementation registration rates had an immediate increase in enrollments after the intervention leading to higher registration rates (P < 0.001). Conclusions. A donor-centric OPO-managed DMV experience increases FPA registration, especially at offices with low initial registration rates. However, even at the office with the highest percentage of FPA registrations, rates were only 65% at intervention conclusion. The transplant community should consider other opportunities for FPA registration.
Deep Learning Approach for Enhanced Detection of Surface Plasmon Scattering.

A deep learning approach has been taken to improve detection characteristics of surface plasmon microscopy (SPM) of light scattering. Deep learning based on convolutional neural network algorithm was used to estimate the effect of scattering parameters mainly the number and the position of scatterers. The improvement was assessed on a quantitative basis by applying the approach to SPM images formed by coherent interference of scatterers. It was found that deep learning significantly improves the accuracy over conventional detection: the enhancement in the accuracy was shown to be significantly higher by almost six times. This suggests that deep learning can be used to find scattering objects effectively in the noisy environment. Furthermore, deep learning can be extended directly to label-free molecular detection assays and provide considerably improved detection in imaging and microscopy techniques.
On The Effect of Genre-Based Pedagogy on EFL Learners' Translation Ability

Translation is an activity whose main concern is to facilitate the communication process. In an increasingly globalised world and in an increasingly multilingual world, translation plays an important role. Significant signs of a new revival of translation in language teaching have become visible, as shown by recent literature on applied linguistics. In an attempt to show how the use of translation in foreign language classes can help enhance and further improve reading, writing, speaking and listening skills, this study calls for the effect of genre-based pedagogy on English language learners’ translation ability. There has been a considerable interest in the genre-based approach to the teaching of language since the mid 1980. Different researchers report the effect of genre instruction on student’s comprehension and point to the positive effect of it on the understanding of text structure. To examine the corresponding hypotheses, a sample of 68 BA students attending English classes in the field of English language teaching were selected. After assigning subjects to experimental and control groups on the basis of their GEP and listening comprehension ability, different instructional procedures were followed. The instructional procedures went on six sessions before the post-test was administered. The investigation reveals that genre- based pedagogy has a significant effect on English language learners’ translation ability.
Continuous‐time causal mediation analysis

While causal mediation analysis has seen considerable recent development for a single measured mediator (M) and final outcome (Y), less attention has been given to repeatedly measured M and Y. Previous methods have typically involved discrete‐time models that limit inference to the particular measurement times used and do not recognize the continuous nature of the mediation process over time. To overcome such limitations, we present a new continuous‐time approach to causal mediation analysis that uses a differential equations model in a potential outcomes framework to describe the causal relationships among model variables over time. A connection between the differential equation models and standard repeated measures models is made to provide convenient model formulation and fitting. A continuous‐time extension of the sequential ignorability assumption allows for identifiable natural direct and indirect effects as functions of time, with estimation based on a two‐step approach to model fitting in conjunction with a continuous‐time mediation formula. Novel features include a measure of an overall mediation effect based on the “area between the curves,” and an approach for predicting the effects of new interventions. Simulation studies show good properties of estimators and the new methodology is applied to data from a cohort study to investigate sugary drink consumption as a mediator of the effect of socioeconomic status on dental caries in children.
Evaluation of Lipid Accumulation Using Electrical Impedance Measurement under Three-Dimensional Culture Condition

The degeneration of adipocyte has been reported to cause obesity, metabolic syndrome, and other diseases. To treat these diseases, an effective in vitro evaluation and drug-screening system for adipocyte culture is required. The objective of this study is to establish an in vitro three-dimensional cell culture system to enable the monitoring of lipid accumulation by measuring electrical impedance, and to determine the relationship between the impedance and lipid accumulation of adipocytes cultured three dimensionally. Consequently, pre-adipocytes, 3T3-L1 cells, were cultured and differentiated to the adipocytes in our culture system, and the electrical impedance of the three-dimensional adipocyte culture at a high frequency was related to the lipid accumulation of the adipocytes. In conclusion, the lipid accumulation of adipocytes could be evaluated in real time by monitoring the electrical impedance during in vitro culture.
Relationship Between Auditory and Visual Noise Acceptance in Normal-Hearing Listeners

Abstract Background: Research has shown that hearing aid acceptance is closely related to how well an individual tolerates background noise, regardless of improved speech understanding in background noise. The acceptable noise level (ANL) test was developed to quantify background noise acceptance. The ANL test measures a listener’s willingness to listen to speech in noise rather than their ability to understand speech in noise, and is clinically valuable as a predictor of hearing aid success. Purpose: Noise acceptance is thought to be mediated by central regions of the nervous system, but the underlying mechanism of noise acceptance is not well understood. Higher order central efferent mechanisms may be weaker and/or central afferent mechanisms are more active in listeners with large versus small ANLs. Noise acceptance, therefore, may not be limited to the auditory modality but observable across modalities. We designed a visual-ANL test, as a parallel of the auditory-ANL test, to examine the relations between auditory and visual noise acceptance. Research Design: A correlational design. Study Sample: Thirty-seven adults between the ages of 21 and 30 years with normal hearing participated in this study. Data Collection and Analysis: All participants completed the standard auditory-ANL task, the visual-ANL task developed for this study, reception thresholds for sentences using the hearing in noise test, and visual sentence recognition in noise using the text reception threshold test. Correlational analyses were performed to evaluate the relations between and among the ANL and perception tasks. Results: Auditory- and Visual-ANLs were correlated; those who accepted more auditory noise were also those who accepted more visual noise. Auditory and visual perceptual measures were also correlated, demonstrating that both measures reflect common processes underlying the ability to recognize speech in noise. Finally, as expected, noise acceptance levels were unrelated to perception in noise across modalities. Conclusions: The results of this study support our hypothesis that noise acceptance may not be unique to the auditory modality, specifically, that the common variance shared between the two ANL tasks, may reflect a shared general perceptual or cognitive mechanism that is not specific to the auditory or visual domains. These findings also support that noise acceptance and speech recognition reflect different aspects of auditory and visual perception. Future work will relate these ANL measures with central tasks of inhibition and include hearing-impaired individuals to explore the mechanisms underlying noise acceptance.
Revisiting the Pharmacodynamic Uroselectivity of α1-Adrenergic Receptor Antagonists

α1-Adrenoceptor (AR) antagonists are widely used for the relief of urinary retention secondary to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). While the five Food and Drug Administration–approved α1-AR antagonists (terazosin, doxazosin, alfuzosin, tamsulosin, and silodosin) share similar efficacy, they differ in tolerability, with reports of ejaculatory dysfunction. The aim of the present work was to revisit their α1-AR subtype selectivity as well as of LDT5 (1-(2-methoxyphenyl)-4-[2-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl) ethyl]piperazine monohydrochloride), a compound previously described as a multitarget antagonist of α1A-/α1D-AR and 5-HT1A receptors, and to estimate their affinity for D2, D3, and 5-HT1A receptors, which are putatively involved in ejaculatory dysfunction. Competition binding assays were performed with native (D2, 5-HT1A) or transfected (human α1A-, α1B-, α1Dt-AR, and D3) receptors for determination of the drug’s affinities. Tamsulosin and silodosin have the highest affinities for α1A-AR, but only silodosin is clearly a selective α1A-AR antagonist, with Ki ratios of 25.3 and 50.2 for the α1D- and α1B-AR, respectively. Tamsulosin, silodosin, and LDT5 (but not terazosin, doxazosin, and alfuzosin) have high affinity for the 5-HT1A receptor (Ki around 5–10 nM), behaving as antagonists. We conclude that the uroselectivity of tamsulosin is not explained by its too-low selectivity for the α1A- versus α1B-AR, and that its affinity for D2 and D3 receptors is probably too low for explaining the ejaculatory dysfunction reported for this drug. Present data also support the design of “better-than-LDT5” new multitarget lead compounds with pharmacokinetic selectivity based on poor brain penetration and that could prevent hyperplastic cell proliferation and BPH progression. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT The present work revisits the uroselectivity of the five Food and Drug Administration–approved α1 adrenoceptor antagonists for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Contrary to what has been claimed by some, our results indicate that the uroselectivity of tamsulosin is probably not fully explained by its too-weak selectivity for the α1A versus α1B adrenoceptors. We also show that tamsulosin affinity for D3 and 5-HT1A receptors is probably too low for explaining the ejaculatory dysfunction reported for this drug. Based on our lead compound LDT5, present data support the search for a multitarget antagonist of α1A–α1D and 5-HT1A receptors with poor brain penetration as an alternative for BPH treatment.