Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Adipose-derived stem cell sheets accelerate bone healing in rat femoral defects

In the present study, we investigated whether both adipose-derived stem cell (ADSC) and osteogenic-induced ADSC sheets could promote bone healing in a rat distal femoral metaphysis bone defect model. A through-hole defect of 1 mm diameter was drilled into each distal femur of 12 week old rats. Forty-five rats were randomly assigned to three groups: (1) control group; (2) ADSC sheet group; or (3) osteogenic-induced ADSC sheet group. We evaluated each group by analysis of computerized tomography scans every week after the surgery, histological analysis, and DiI labeling (a method of membrane staining for post implant cell tracing). Radiological and histological evaluations showed that a part of the hole persisted in the control group at four weeks after surgery, whereas the hole was restored almost completely by new bone formation in both sheet groups. The mean value of bone density (in Houndsfield units) for the bone defect area was significantly higher in both sheet groups than that in the control group (p = 0.05) at four weeks postoperative. A large number of osteocalcin positive osteoblasts were observed at the area of bone defect, especially in the osteogenic-induced ADCS sheet group. DiI labeling in the newly formed bone showed that each sheet had differentiated into bone tissue at four weeks after surgery. The ADSC and the osteogenic-induced ADSC sheets promoted significantly quicker bone healing in the bone defect. Moreover, the osteogenic-induced ADSC sheet may be more advantageous for bone healing than the ADSC sheet because of the higher number of osteocalcin positive osteoblasts via the transplantation.
The effects of pH and salts on nucleic acid partitioning during phenol extraction

Abstract The partitioning of nucleic acids is sensitive to pH during phenol extraction. However, the exact effects of pH on phenol extraction had not been systematically investigated, and the mechanism of which were not fully elucidated. In this paper, we showed that the partitioning of nucleic acids was determined neither solely by the pH of the aqueous buffer being used, nor by the “pH of the phenol”; the latter is a completely wrong conception. We demonstrated that a key determinant for nucleic acid partitioning during phenol extraction was the equilibrated pH of the aqueous phase, which should be defined as the pH of phenol extraction. For example, when 50 mM NaAc-HAc buffer at pH of 3.47 was mixed with an equal volume of water-saturated phenol, the equilibrated pH of aqueous phase would be raised to ∼3.84. At this pH, almost all of genomic DNA partitioned into the phenol phase, and genomic DNA-free total RNA was retained in the aqueous phase. Several salts were found affecting the partitioning of nucleic acids during phenol extraction in different manners. Based on these results, a low-cost and efficient method for genomic DNA-free total RNA extraction was developed.
Historical solar Ca II K observations at the Kyoto and Sacramento Peak observatories

Archives of full-disc solar Ca II K observations covering even short periods of time can offer important data to fill observation gaps and to allow a better transition from historical to modern data. Two examples of such archives are those from the Kyoto and Sacramento Peak observatories. As most other historical Ca II K data, they suffer from artefacts that need to be accounted for to derive accurate plage areas. Here we present the results of our analysis of these archives of solar Ca II K images.
Nontoxic nanopore electroporation for effective intracellular delivery of biological macromolecules

Significance Efficient nonviral delivery of macromolecules including mRNA, DNA plasmids, Cas9 ribonucleoproteins, and functional protein into both adherent cells and suspension cells with high cell viability is crucial for cellular manipulation, cellular imaging, and medical applications. However, the conventional delivery methods are limited to a certain range of molecules and cell types and often reduce cell viability. Here, we demonstrate effective delivery of macromolecules by nanopore electroporation (NanoEP) using a water-filter nanoporous membrane. As compared with conventional electroporation that porates the entire cell, NanoEP induces localized electroporation on a nanosized area of the cell membrane, which preserves cell viability. Additionally, our delivery method does not require specialized equipment, which allows for easy access across laboratories and medical facilities. We present a simple nanopore-electroporation (NanoEP) platform for delivery of nucleic acids, functional protein, and Cas9 single-guide RNA ribonucleoproteins into both adherent and suspension cells with up to 80% delivery efficiency and >95% cell viability. Low-voltage electric pulses permeabilize a small area of cell membrane as a cell comes into close contact with the nanopores. The biomolecule cargo is then electrophoretically drawn into the cells through the nanopores. In addition to high-performance delivery with low cell toxicity, the NanoEP system does not require specialized buffers, expensive materials, complicated fabrication processes, or cell manipulation; it simply consists of a generic nanopore-embedded water-filter membrane and a low-voltage square-wave generator. Ultimately, the NanoEP platform offers an effective and flexible method for universal intracellular delivery.
The role of plasma exchange in the management of autoimmune disorders

Therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) has been mainly used in the treatment of autoimmune diseases. The main mechanisms of action of TPE include the removal of circulating autoantibodies, immune complexes, complement components, cytokines and adhesion molecules, along with sensitization of antibody‐producing cells to immunosuppressant agents. TPE is useful in autoimmune haematological, renal, rheumatic and neurological diseases, and is recommended for acute disorders, together with relapsed or worsened chronic diseases that are often unresponsive to conventional treatments. The American Society for Apheresis and the British Society of Haematology have published guidelines on the clinical use of apheresis procedures, indicating the different levels of efficacy of TPE. Based on the evidence from current literature and our personal experience, this review discusses the indications and the suggested regimens for TPE in autoimmune haematological and non‐haematological disorders.
Soil attributes in coal mining areas under recovery with bracatinga (Mimosa scabrella)

The coal reserves in the south of Brazil were intensely exploited at the time of great demand for such fuel. This resulted in changes in the environment, mainly in the chemical, physical and biological characteristics of the soil. Due to the potential to control erosive processes, increase soil quality and restore biological diversity, revegetation is a promising alternative to recover those impacted areas. In that respect, bracatinga is a pioneering tree species that easily grow in different environments and has being planted as vegetation cover in areas under recovery. Therefore, the objective of this work was to characterize the chemical features and to evaluate the soil microbiological attributes in areas degraded by coal mining and under recovery using bracatinga as cover plant. In the bracatinga canopy projection area, soil samples were collected in the environmental restoration areas that have been, at the time of collecting, under a regime of 2, 4, 6 and 12 years of restoration. In addition an area with natural occurrence of bracatinga was used as control. Microbial biomass nitrogen, microbial biomass carbon and microbial biomass respiration increase in average 281, 230 and 157% respectively, when the 12‐year‐old areas were compared to the 2‐year‐old‐areas. Likewise, a decrease in qCO2 in the order of 60% was observed for that same comparison. The 12‐year‐old areas reached the same values of qCO2 found in the reference area. The data suggest an improvement in the microbiological attributes of the soil with the increase in recovery time for the studied areas.
Temporary heat stress suppresses PAMP‐triggered immunity and resistance to bacteria in Arabidopsis thaliana

Summary Recognition of pathogen‐associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) is crucial for plant defence against pathogen attack. The best characterized PAMP is flg22, a 22 amino acid conserved peptide from flagellin protein. In Arabidopsis thaliana, flg22 is recognized by the flagellin sensing 2 (FLS2) receptor. In this study, we focused on biotic stress responses triggered by flg22 after exposure to temporary heat stress (HS). It is important to study the reactions of plants to multiple stress conditions because plants are often exposed simultaneously to a combination of both abiotic and biotic stresses. Transient early production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) is a well‐characterized response to PAMP recognition. We demonstrate the strong reduction of flg22‐induced ROS production in A. thaliana after HS treatment. In addition, a decrease in FLS2 transcription and a decrease of the FLS2 presence at the plasma membrane are shown after HS. In summary, our data show the strong inhibitory effect of HS on flg22‐triggered events in A. thaliana. Subsequently, temporary HS strongly decreases the resistance of A. thaliana to Pseudomonas syringae. We propose that short exposure to high temperature is a crucial abiotic stress factor that suppresses PAMP‐triggered immunity, which subsequently leads to the higher susceptibility of plants to pathogens.
Multigene phylogenetic and morphological evidence for seven new species of Aquanectria and Gliocladiopsis (Ascomycota, Hypocreales) from tropical areas

ABSTRACT Aquanectria and Gliocladiopsis are two closely related genera of Hypocreales. They are also morphologically similar, forming hyaline, penicillate conidiophores and hyaline, straight to sinuous, 0–1-septate phialoconidia. During a revision of gliocladiopsis-like isolates originating from rain forest areas of South America (Ecuador, French Guiana) and Southeast Asia (Singapore), multilocus phylogenetic inferences, based on DNA sequences encoding partial β-tubulin (TUB2), translation elongation factor 1-α (TEF1- α), histone H3 (HIS3) genes and the nuc rDNA internal transcribed spacer region (ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 = ITS), revealed the occurrence of seven new phylogenetic species. These phylogenetic species also revealed unique combinations of phenotypes, allowing morphological distinction from their closest phylogenetic relatives. Four new species of Aquanectria and three new species of Gliocladiopsis are described and illustrated. Three of the four Aquanectria species deviate from the other species in the genus by having shorter conidia, which are in the size range observed in Gliocladiopsis species. They are placed in Aquanectria based on the phylogenetic analysis, but this also makes the morphological distinction between these two genera obsolete.
AN EFFICIENT ARBITRATION TECHNIQUE FOR NOC USING XY AND VCT ROUTING

- NOC has many advantages of traditional bus-based SOC. The bus structure in NOC technology is replaced with the network design for a better and enhanced communication. A large number of heterogeneous devices are integrated in a single chip. In the web representation of the NOC technology, the router algorithms and arbitration techniques are the essential things, between these communication devices. The common problem with arbitration technique is live lock and dead lock. It can be removed by proper routing algorithms. The combination of XY and VCT routing method used on proposed design routers for an improved and upgraded data transfer which increase the performance of the NOC. In this paper on proposed design routers an efficient arbitration technique is used that gives the developed routing output because the input data packets are allocated in priority wise.
Yeast Systems Biology: Model Organism and Cell Factory

For thousands of years, the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae (S. cerevisiae) has served as a cell factory for the production of bread, beer, and wine. In more recent years, this yeast has also served as a cell factory for producing many different fuels, chemicals, food ingredients, and pharmaceuticals. S. cerevisiae, however, has also served as a very important model organism for studying eukaryal biology, and even today many new discoveries, important for the treatment of human diseases, are made using this yeast as a model organism. Here a brief review of the use of S. cerevisiae as a model organism for studying eukaryal biology, its use as a cell factory, and how advances in systems biology underpin developments in both these areas, is provided.
Ageing of the somatosensory system at the periphery: age‐related changes in cutaneous mechanoreceptors

Decline of tactile sensation associated with ageing depends on modifications in skin and both central and peripheral nervous systems. At present, age‐related changes in the periphery of the somatosensory system, particularly concerning the effects on mechanoreceptors, remain unknown. Here we used immunohistochemistry to analyse the age‐dependent changes in Meissner's and Pacinian corpuscles as well as in Merkel cell‐neurite complexes. Moreover, variations in the neurotrophic TrkB‐BDNF system and the mechanoprotein Piezo2 (involved in maintenance of cutaneous mechanoreceptors and light touch, respectively) were evaluated. The number of Meissner's corpuscles and Merkel cells decreased progressively with ageing. Meissner's corpuscles were smaller, rounded in morphology and located deeper in the dermis, and signs of corpuscular denervation were found in the oldest subjects. Pacinian corpuscles generally showed no relevant age‐related alterations. Reduced expression of Piezo2 in the axon of Meissner's corpuscles and in Merkel cells was observed in old subjects, as well was a decline in the BDNF‐TrkB neurotrophic system. This study demonstrates that cutaneous Meissner's corpuscles and Merkel cell‐neurite complexes (and less evidently Pacinian corpuscles) undergo morphological and size changes during the ageing process, as well as a reduction in terms of density. Furthermore, the mechanoprotein Piezo2 and the neurotrophic TrkB‐BDNF system are reduced in aged corpuscles. Taken together, these alterations might explain part of the impairment of the somatosensory system associated with ageing.
Morphology, phylogeny, and sexual stage of Fusarium caatingaense and Fusarium pernambucanum, new species of the Fusarium incarnatum-equiseti species complex associated with insects in Brazil

ABSTRACT Based on morphological and molecular phylogenetic markers and the fertility of sexual crosses, two novel species of Fusarium associated with Dactylopius opuntiae (Hemiptera: Dactylopiidae) and Aleurocanthus woglumi (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) from northeastern Brazil are described as Fusarium caatingaense and F. pernambucanum. Partial sequences of five loci were generated for 29 entomopathogenic Fusarium isolates. Multilocus phylogenetic analyses demonstrated that F. caatingaense and F. pernambucanum belong to the Incarnatum clade of the Fusarium incarnatum-equiseti species complex (FIESC). These species displayed common morphological characters such as the production of various types of aerial conidia formed on monophialides and polyphialides and differ from each other mainly in the dimensions and morphology of their sporodochial conidia. Mating type polymerase chain reaction (PCR) revealed 17 MAT1-1 isolates and 12 MAT1-2 isolates, all of them heterothallic. Fertile perithecia were produced in 4.2% of infraspecific crosses of F. caatingaense and in 13.3% of infraspecific crosses of F. pernambucanum after 2–3 wk. Crosses between F. caatingaense and F. pernambucanum did not result in fertile perithecia. We demonstrate the existence of a sexual stage in species of the Incarnatum clade and describe the morphological characters of these sexual morphs for the first time. These results suggest that previously unknown sexual cycles contribute to the high genetic diversity within FIESC.
The randomized study of endovascular therapy with versus without intravenous tissue plasminogen activator in acute stroke with ICA and M1 occlusion (SKIP study)

Rationale Bridging therapy with endovascular therapy (EVT) and intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) has been reported to improve outcomes for acute stroke patients with large-vessel occlusion in the anterior circulation. While the IVT may increase the reperfusion rate, the risk of hemorrhagic complications increases. Whether EVT without IVT (direct EVT) is equally effective as bridging therapy in acute stroke remains unclear. Aim This randomized study of endovascular therapy with versus without intravenous tissue plasminogen activator for acute stroke with ICA and M1 occlusion aims to clarify the efficacy and safety of direct EVT compared with bridging therapy. Methods and design This is an investigator-initiated, multicenter, prospective, randomized, open-treatment, blinded-endpoint clinical trial. The target patient number is 200, comprising 100 patients receiving direct EVT and 100 receiving bridging therapy. Study outcome The primary efficacy endpoint is a modified Rankin Scale score of 0–2 at 90 days. Safety outcome measures are any intracranial hemorrhage at 24 h. Discussion This trial may help determine whether direct EVT should be recommended as a routine clinical strategy for ischemic stroke patients within 4.5 h from onset. Direct EVT would then become the choice of therapy in stroke centers with endovascular facilities. Trial registration UMIN000021488.
When flowering plants ruled Antarctica: evidence from Cretaceous pollen grains.

The replacement of seed-free plants and gymnosperms by flowering plants during the Cretaceous is one of the most important biotic events in the evolution of life. However, the magnitude of this global turnover remains largely unknown. Here we present sampling-standardized diversity estimates from a high resolution palynological record of the Late Cretaceous (85-66 Ma) from Antarctica, in the context of the past climatic events. Our fossil evidence reveals the occurrence of a rich Campanian flora peaking at c. 80 Ma, with angiosperms as the most diverse group of plants for the first time in Antarctica. This peak of diversity was followed by a period of a stepwise deterioration; 60% of ferns and 40% of gymnosperms became locally extinct from the early/mid-Campanian to the late Maastrichtian. Although angiosperms also faced several extinctions - 25% became extinct - they were far less affected than nonangiosperms. The onset of deterioration of the greenhouse conditions at the end of the Cretaceous - low CO2 and global cooling trends - would have led to our observed pattern of change. Overall, our study reveals the beginning of a profound floristic turnover in the highest southern latitudes that pre-dates the major extinction event of the end of the Cretaceous by 15 Myr.
Membraneless organelles: P granules in Caenorhabditis elegans

Membraneless organelles are distinct compartments within a cell that are not enclosed by a traditional lipid membrane and instead form through a process called liquid‐liquid phase separation. Examples of these non‐membrane‐bound organelles include nucleoli, stress granules, P bodies, pericentriolar material and germ granules. Many recent studies have used Caenorhabditis elegans germ granules, known as P granules, to expand our understanding of the formation of these unique cellular compartments. From this work, we know that proteins with intrinsically disordered regions (IDRs) play a critical role in the process of phase separation. IDR phase separation is further tuned through their interactions with RNA and through protein modifications such as phosphorylation and methylation. These findings from C elegans, combined with work done in other model organisms, continue to provide insight into the formation of membraneless organelles and the important role they play in compartmentalizing cellular processes.
Artificial Super Neutrophils for Inflammation Targeting and HClO Generation against Tumors and Infections

Neutrophils are powerful effector leukocytes that play an important role in innate immune systems for opposing tumor progression and ameliorating pathogen infections. Inspired by their distinct functions against tumors and infections, the artificial “super neutrophils” are proposed with excellent inflammation targeting and hypochlorous acid (HClO) generation characteristics for targeting and eliminating malignant tumor cells and pathogens. The “super neutrophils” are fabricated by embedding glucose oxidase (GOx) and chloroperoxidase (CPO) into zeolitic imidazolate framework‐8 (ZIF‐8) for HClO generation via enzymatic cascades, and then encapsulating them with the neutrophil membrane (NM) for inflammation targeting. In vitro and in vivo results indicate that these artificial “super neutrophils” can generate seven times higher reactive HClO than the natural neutrophils for eradicating tumors and infections. The “super neutrophils” demonstrated here with easy fabrication and good neutrophil‐mimicking property exhibit great potential for biomedical applications.
Creative Placemaking for Inclusive Urban Landscapes

Abstract Cities can be incubators for innovation and key drivers of sustainable development. The conditionality for urban landscapes to be inclusive, will depend on the creativity for new orders and new strategies for social and cultural integration. The crucial role of urban landscapes in promoting sustainable development is notably recognized in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development which identifies culture and creativity as one of the essential levers for action in this context. Some examples on that direction point at the 2004- UNESCO created Creative Cities Network (UCCN) that aims to promote cooperation with and among cities that have identified creativity as a strategic factor for sustainable urban development. The UCCN focuses on seven creative fields, namely crafts and folk- arts, design, film, gastronomy, literature, media arts, and music. From the perspective of social anthropology and the arts, different stakeholder groups meet and exchange at urban places and co-create urban scenarios and scenographies by negotiating the urban landscapes through urban placemaking projects. This paper contributes to Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 11 whose aim is to make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable by exploring and assessing urban placemaking strategies to strengthen inclusive and sustainable human settlement planning and management. For this purpose, the main research question of this project is: How to stimulate successful placemaking in urban landscapes for social integration in open urban spaces.