Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Activation of Steroidogenesis, Anti-Apoptotic Activity, and Proliferation in Porcine Granulosa Cells by RUNX1 Is Negatively Regulated by H3K27me3 Transcriptional Repression

H3K27me3 is an epigenetic modification that results in the repression of gene transcription. The transcription factor RUNX1 (the runt-related transcription factor 1) influences granulosa cells’ growth and ovulation. This research uses ELISA, flow cytometry, EDU, ChIP-PCR, WB and qPCR to investigate steroidogenesis, cell apoptosis, and the proliferation effect of RUNX1 in porcine granulosa cells (pGCs) as regulated by H3K27me3. Decreased H3K27me3 stimulates the expression of steroidogenesis-related genes, including CYP11A1, PTGS2, and STAR, as well as prostaglandin. H3K27me3 transcriptionally represses RUNX1 here, whereas RUNX1 acts as an activator of FSHR, CYP11A1, and CYP19A1, promoting the production of androgen, estrogen, and prostaglandin, as well as increasing anti-apoptotic and cell proliferation activity, but decreasing progesterone. Both the complementary recovery of the H3K27me3 antagonist with the siRUNX1 signal, and the H3K27me3 agonist with the RUNX1 signal to maintain RUNX1 lead to the activation of CYP19A1, ER1, HSD17β4, and STAR here. Androgen and prostaglandin are significantly repressed but progesterone is markedly increased with the antagonist and siRUNX1. Prostaglandin is significantly promoted with the agonist and RUNX1. Furthermore, H3K27me3-RUNX1 affects the anti-apoptotic activity and stimulation of proliferation in pGCs. The present work verifies the transcriptional suppression of RUNX1 by H3K27me3 during antral follicular development and maturation, which determines the levels of hormone synthesis and cell apoptosis and proliferation in the pGC microenvironment.
Microbial biofilm community structure and composition on the lithic substrates of Herculaneum Suburban Baths

In this work, we want to investigate the impact of different substrates and different environmental condition on the biofilm communities growing on plaster, marble, and mortar substrates inside the Herculaneum Suburban Baths. To do so, we measured environmental conditions and sampled biofilm communities along the walls of the baths and used culture-dependent and -independent molecular techniques (DGGE) to identify the species at each sampling sites. We used the species pool to infer structure and richness of communities within each site in each substrate, and confocal light scanning microscopy to assess the three-dimensional structure of the sampled biofilms. To gather further insights, we built a meta-community network and used its local realizations to analyze co-occurrence patterns of species. We found that light is a limiting factor in the baths environment, that moving along sites equals moving along an irradiation gradient, and that such gradient shapes the community structure, de facto separating a dark community, rich in Bacteria, Fungi and cyanobacteria, from two dim communities, rich in Chlorophyta. Almost all sites are dominated by photoautotrophs, with Fungi and Bacteria relegated to the role of rare species. , and structural properties of biofilms are not consistent within the same substrate. We conclude that the Herculaneum suburban baths are an environment-shaped community, where one dark community (plaster) and one dim community (mortar) provides species to a “midway” community (marble).
Exploring the Potential of Traditional Herbs in the Management of Diabetic Retinopathy: An Overview

Abstract Diabetic retinopathy is a microvascular complication in diabetes that affects eyes and is responsible for most visual impairment in diabetic patients. Diabetic retinopathy affects up to 80% of those who have had diabetes for 20 years or more. At least 90% of new cases could be reduced with proper treatment and monitoring of the eyes. The longer a person has diabetes, the higher his or her chances of developing diabetic retinopathy. Hence, it compels need for its prevention and cure. There is an increasing interest in natural products in pharmacotherapy as the chemical diversity of natural products has better matches than the diversity of synthetic compounds. The current review summarises the potential of leading traditional herbs like Azadirachta indica, Ginkgo biloba, Anisodus tanguticus, Pinus pinaster, Salvia miltiorrhiza, Stephania tetrandra and Gymnema sylvestre in the management and potential reversal of DR-related pathogenesis. It also discusses the probable mechanism of actions, which are based on epidemiological, in-vitro and in-vivo studies carried out within past few years. Graphical Abstract. Graphical Abstract
Comparison of Avifauna at the Edges of Contrasting Forest Patches in Western Ghat Hills of India

Comparison of Avifauna at the Edges of Contrasting Forest Patches in Western Ghat Hills of India Avifauna of shola and semi-evergreen forest patches belonging to three different sanctuaries and National Parks in the southern part of Western Ghat range of Tamil Nadu and Kerala was studied. Altogether 36 species from 17 families were recorded. One globally threatened species (A1), two restricted range species (A2) and one Palearctic-Asian migrant species have been recorded from forest edges during the relatively short study period. The highest population density of 47.59 ind. /ha at Varagaliar Shola was followed by 43.69 ind. /ha at Anapaddy, 27.53 ind. /ha at Karian Shola, and 23.25 ind. /ha at Punnumalai Shola. As Punnumalai Shola is least disturbed by human activity it got the highest number of avian families (15) and was followed by Karian Shola (9) and Vargaliar Shola and Anapaddy - 8 in both cases. Punnumalai Shola having varied bird families showed lower dominance (0.075) and higher evenness value (0.957). In contrast, the edge of semi-evergreen forest at Anapaddy, although very much disturbed by various human activities, showed almost comparable diversity value (2.890) to that of Punnumalai Shola (2.913). More open canopy and much vegetational intergradations at the ecotone of semi-evergreen biotope inherently shelter avian community of high diversity. Conversely, the edges of Karian Shola and Varagaliar Shola having much anthropogenic interferences and with edges showing much lower intergradations of vegetations, exhibited a low avian diversity.
Molecular Markers Associated with Agro-Physiological Traits under Terminal Drought Conditions in Bread Wheat

Terminal drought stress poses a big challenge to sustain wheat grain production in rain-fed environments. This study aimed to utilize the genetically diverse pre-breeding lines for identification of genomic regions associated with agro-physiological traits at terminal stage drought stress in wheat. A total of 339 pre-breeding lines panel derived from three-way crosses of ‘exotics × elite × elite’ lines were evaluated in field conditions at Obregon, Mexico for two years under well irrigated as well as drought stress environments. Drought stress was imposed at flowering by skipping the irrigations at pre and post anthesis stage. Results revealed that drought significantly reduced grain yield (Y), spike length (SL), number of grains spikes−1 (NGS) and thousand kernel weight (TKW), while kernel abortion (KA) was increased. Population structure analysis in this panel uncovered three sub-populations. Genome wide linkage disequilibrium (LD) decay was observed at 2.5 centimorgan (cM). The haplotypes-based genome wide association study (GWAS) identified significant associations of Y, SL, and TKW on three chromosomes; 4A (HB10.7), 2D (HB6.10) and 3B (HB8.12), respectively. Likewise, associations on chromosomes 6B (HB17.1) and 3A (HB7.11) were found for NGS while on chromosome 3A (HB7.12) for KA. The genomic analysis information generated in the study can be efficiently utilized to improve Y and/or related parameters under terminal stage drought stress through marker-assisted breeding.
The maleness of larger angiosperm flowers

Significance Understanding the selective pressures shaping flower strategies can unveil how angiosperms thrived for the last 150 Mya on Earth. Here, we show that heavier hermaphrodite flowers tend to be male-biased and invest strongly in petals to export their pollen, while lighter flowers tend to be female-biased and invest more in sepals to ensure the success of their own ovules. Strong male–male competition, represented by the ecological contest among pollen donors, helps to explain why flower biomass varies several orders of magnitude across the angiosperms and many aspects of their pollination biology. Flower biomass varies widely across the angiosperms. Each plant species invests a given amount of biomass to construct its sex organs. A comparative understanding of how this limited resource is partitioned among primary (male and female structures) and secondary (petals and sepals) sexual organs on hermaphrodite species can shed light on general evolutionary processes behind flower evolution. Here, we use allometries relating different flower biomass components across species to test the existence of broad allocation patterns across the angiosperms. Based on a global dataset with flower biomass spanning five orders of magnitude, we show that heavier angiosperm flowers tend to be male-biased and invest strongly in petals to promote pollen export, while lighter flowers tend to be female-biased and invest more in sepals to insure their own seed set. This result demonstrates that larger flowers are not simple carbon copies of small ones, indicating that sexual selection via male–male competition is an important driver of flower biomass evolution and sex allocation strategies across angiosperms.
Validation of a Questionnaire for Family Physicians: Knowledge, Attitude, Practice on Dementia Care

ABSTRACT Our study objective was to develop and validate a questionnaire assessing the knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) of family physicians regarding dementia care and dementia strategies in Canada. Using a multistage process with a panel of experts, we developed and distributed an 83-item questionnaire to 542 eligible family physicians in 42 interdisciplinary primary care teams participating in the Quebec Alzheimer Plan implementation. Altogether, 369 physicians (68%) returned questionnaires. Median item-specific non-response rate was 0.8 per cent (0.3%–8.1%). Exploratory factor analyses and scale correlation supported the questionnaire validity. The final questionnaire contained five factors and 31 items. The KAP questionnaire has proved to be a reliable instrument for assessing the KAP of family physicians regarding dementia care and dementia strategies. This questionnaire provides researchers, clinicians, managers, and decision-makers with a tool to assess an intervention, a program, or a policy change implemented in primary health care for patients with dementia.
Thrombogenicity of the p48 and anti-thrombogenic p48 hydrophilic polymer coating low-profile flow diverters in an in vitro human thrombin generation model

Objectives The implantation of flow diverters, or stents in general, necessitates the use of dual anti-platelet treatment with typical regimes including aspirin and a P2Y12 inhibitor. This carries an inherent risk of haemorrhage. We sought to compare the thrombogenicity of the anti-thrombogenic p48 hydrophilic polymer coating compared to the standard uncoated p48 flow diverter using an in vitro thrombogenicity assay. Methods To evaluate the thrombin generation influenced by the different stent types the stents were placed in wells of a 24-well plate with the addition of plasma from healthy volunteers the thrombin calibrator respectively the PPP-reagent was added. Subsequently, the thrombin substrate was added and the thrombin generation was analysed every 60 s using a thrombinoscope. The assay is calibrated using samples containing a known amount of active thrombin in PPP. Thrombin activity is proportional to the change in fluorescence. Results The p48 hydrophilic polymer coating shows a significantly lower peak thrombin concentration (1.13 ± 0.21 vs. 1.41 ± 0.22) and longer time to peak thrombin concentration (0.96 ± 0.04 vs. 0.74 ± 0.07) compared to the uncoated p48 device (p < 0.01). The responses of the p48 hydrophilic polymer coating were similar to that of the negative control. Conclusion The hydrophilic polymer coating surface modification significantly reduces the thrombogenicity of the p48 flow diverter. These results corroborate the findings from previous in vitro studies.
Efficacy of oscillometric method for screening periferic arterial disease in primary care

Background: In primary care, measurement of the ankle-brachial index (ABI) by using hand Doppler is recommended for screening of peripheral arterial disease. Despite being relatively a simple procedure, the ABI is rarely measured in primary care due to unpracticality of the hand Doppler method. Oscillometry is an accessible, reliable, and an easy to use method for the measurement of ABI. With a little training, it can be used by anybody. Aim: The aim of the study is to compare the oscillometric method with a reference test (i.e. hand Doppler) for the screening of peripheral arterial disease (PAD) and arterial stiffness (AS) in primary care. Methods: A prospective observational diagnostic study was designed. Participants were 45 years of age or older. A survey including demographic data, risk factors, and symptoms of the peripheral arterial disease was applied to the participants besides measuring ABI both by Doppler and oscillometric methods. Results: Three hundred and forty participants included in our study with 59.78 ± 9.8 mean age. 60.9% of the participants were men. Even though the results of the oscillometric calculations were higher, a strong correlation was observed between the measurements of two methods. Using the Doppler-derived ABI, as the gold standard, and 0, 9 as a cutoff point, the sensitivity and specificity of the oscillometric method was 74.4% and 100%, respectively, with an area under the curve of 0.98 (95% CI: 0.96–0.99). Conclusion: Oscillometry seemed to be a reliable screening method in primary care both for peripheral arterial disease and AS.
Small Noncoding RNA CjNC110 Influences Motility, Autoagglutination, AI-2 Localization, Hydrogen Peroxide Sensitivity, and Chicken Colonization in Campylobacter jejuni

Small noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) are involved in many important physiological functions in pathogenic microorganisms. Previous studies have identified the presence of noncoding RNAs in the major zoonotic pathogen Campylobacter jejuni; however, few have been functionally characterized to date. CjNC110 is a conserved ncRNA in C. jejuni, located downstream of the luxS gene, which is responsible for the production of the quorum sensing molecule autoinducer-2 (AI-2). ABSTRACT Small noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) are involved in many important physiological functions in pathogenic microorganisms. Previous studies have identified the presence of noncoding RNAs in the major zoonotic pathogen Campylobacter jejuni; however, few have been functionally characterized to date. CjNC110 is a conserved ncRNA in C. jejuni, located downstream of the luxS gene, which is responsible for the production of the quorum sensing molecule autoinducer-2 (AI-2). In this study, we utilized strand specific high-throughput RNAseq to identify potential targets or interactive partners of CjNC110 in a sheep abortion clone of C. jejuni. These data were then utilized to focus further phenotypic evaluation of the role of CjNC110 in motility, autoagglutination, quorum sensing, hydrogen peroxide sensitivity, and chicken colonization in C. jejuni. Inactivation of the CjNC110 ncRNA led to a statistically significant decrease in autoagglutination ability as well as increased motility and hydrogen peroxide sensitivity compared to the wild-type. Extracellular AI-2 detection was decreased in ΔCjNC110; however, intracellular AI-2 accumulation was significantly increased, suggesting a key role of CjNC110 in modulating the transport of AI-2. Notably, ΔCjNC110 also showed a decreased ability to colonize chickens. Complementation of CjNC110 restored all phenotypic changes back to wild-type levels. The collective results of the phenotypic and transcriptomic changes observed in our data provide valuable insights into the pathobiology of C. jejuni sheep abortion clone and strongly suggest that CjNC110 plays an important role in the regulation of energy taxis, flagellar glycosylation, cellular communication via quorum sensing, oxidative stress tolerance, and chicken colonization in this important zoonotic pathogen.
High Mobility Group AT-Hook 2 (HMGA2) Oncogenicity in Mesenchymal and Epithelial Neoplasia

High mobility group AT-hook 2 (HMGA2) has been associated with increased cell proliferation and cell cycle dysregulation, leading to the ontogeny of varied tumor types and their metastatic potentials, a frequently used index of disease prognosis. In this review, we deepen our understanding of HMGA2 pathogenicity by exploring the mechanisms by which HMGA2 misexpression and ectopic expression induces mesenchymal and epithelial tumorigenesis respectively and distinguish the pathogenesis of benign from malignant mesenchymal tumors. Importantly, we highlight the regulatory role of let-7 microRNA family of tumor suppressors in determining HMGA2 misexpression events leading to tumor pathogenesis and focused on possible mechanisms by which HMGA2 could propagate lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM), benign mesenchymal tumors of the lungs. Lastly, we discuss potential therapeutic strategies for epithelial and mesenchymal tumorigenesis based on targeting the HMGA2 signaling pathway.
A role for CIM6P/IGF2 receptor in memory consolidation and enhancement

Cation-independent mannose-6-phosphate receptor, also called insulin-like growth factor two receptor (CIM6P/IGF2R), plays important roles in growth and development, but is also extensively expressed in the mature nervous system, particularly in the hippocampus, where its functions are largely unknown. One of its major ligands, IGF2, is critical for long-term memory formation and strengthening. Using CIM6P/IGF2R inhibition in rats and neuron-specific knockdown in mice, here we show that hippocampal CIM6P/IGF2R is necessary for hippocampus-dependent memory consolidation, but dispensable for learning, memory retrieval, and reconsolidation. CIM6P/IGF2R controls the training-induced upregulation of de novo protein synthesis, including increase of Arc, Egr1, and c-Fos proteins, without affecting their mRNA induction. Hippocampal or systemic administration of mannose-6-phosphate, like IGF2, significantly enhances memory retention and persistence in a CIM6P/IGF2R-dependent manner. Thus, hippocampal CIM6P/IGF2R plays a critical role in memory consolidation by controlling the rate of training-regulated protein metabolism and is also a target mechanism for memory enhancement.
Expression of Cystatin C in Human Histiocytic Lymphoma, U-937, Cells

The established human histiocytic lymphoma U-937 cell line is of monocytic origin . U937 cells can be induced by tumor promoters, Vitamin D3 and retinoic acid to differentiate into macrophage-like cells. U937 cells express the gene for the cysteine proteinase inhibitor cystatin C. This was established by Northern blot hybridizations, reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction and Western blots of partially purified cystatins from extracts of U-937 cells. Induction of macrophage-like differentiation by the tumor promoters phorbol-12-myristate13-acetate or 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol13-acetate, or with Vitamin D3, or retinoic acid reduced the steady-state level of cystatin C mRNA in U-937 cells, suggesting that the expression of the cystatin C gene varies with the differentiation state. U-937 cells secrete cystatin C. This secretion was not affected significantly by the calcium ionophore A23187, PMA, or dibutyryladenosine 3':5'-cyclic monophosphate. Since macrophages play pivotal roles in immune and inflammatory reactions involving intraand extra-cellular proteolysis, cystatin C produced and secreted by these cells probably has a modulatory function on the action of cysteine proteinases produced or released locally.
Plankton communities along a subtropical urban river (Houxi River, southeast China) as revealed by morphological and molecular methods

Few studies of plankton communities address anthropogenic influences on lotic ecosystems using multiple methods. Here we used both morphological and molecular techniques (denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis) to explore the spatial diversity of the plankton communities in a subtropical urban river during the month of March 2011. We identified 64 morphological taxa and 36 molecular taxa. Our results indicated that plankton communities in the Houxi River might be strongly impacted by anthropogenic disturbance. Nutrient concentrations (nitrogen and phosphorus), water temperature, conductivity, and suspended solids increased whereas dissolved oxygen decreased dramatically from upstream to downstream, and these environmental variables were found to be significantly related (p < 0.05) to the plankton community composition. The genera tolerant to organic pollution, such as Cyclotella, Fragilaria and Navicula (Bacillariophyta), and Ankistrodesmus and Scenedesmus (Chlorophyta), were dominant in the river. The comparative (Mantel-type) tests on similarity matrices (RELATE) analysis revealed that the denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) profile was closely related to species composition. In addition, the matching coefficient was higher between the DGGE profile and environmental variables than between species composition and environmental variables. Our results suggested that DGGE fingerprinting was more effective for examining the relationship between the plankton communities and environmental conditions than the morphological method, and they further provided new molecular insight into the community-level assessment of water quality and lotic ecosystem health.
The Use of Random Forests to Identify Brain Regions on Amyloid and FDG PET Associated With MoCA Score.

PURPOSE The aim of this study was to evaluate random forests (RFs) to identify ROIs on F-florbetapir and F-FDG PET associated with Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) score. MATERIALS AND METHODS Fifty-seven subjects with significant white matter disease presenting with either transient ischemic attack/lacunar stroke or mild cognitive impairment from early Alzheimer disease, enrolled in a multicenter prospective observational trial, had MoCA and F-florbetapir PET; 55 had F-FDG PET. Scans were processed using the MINC toolkit to generate SUV ratios, normalized to cerebellar gray matter (F-florbetapir PET), or pons (F-FDG PET). SUV ratio data and MoCA score were used for supervised training of RFs programmed in MATLAB. RESULTS F-Florbetapir PETs were randomly divided into 40 training and 17 testing scans; 100 RFs of 1000 trees, constructed from a random subset of 16 training scans and 20 ROIs, identified ROIs associated with MoCA score: right posterior cingulate gyrus, right anterior cingulate gyrus, left precuneus, left posterior cingulate gyrus, and right precuneus. Amyloid increased with decreasing MoCA score. F-FDG PETs were randomly divided into 40 training and 15 testing scans; 100 RFs of 1000 trees, each tree constructed from a random subset of 16 training scans and 20 ROIs, identified ROIs associated with MoCA score: left fusiform gyrus, left precuneus, left posterior cingulate gyrus, right precuneus, and left middle orbitofrontal gyrus. F-FDG decreased with decreasing MoCA score. CONCLUSIONS Random forests help pinpoint clinically relevant ROIs associated with MoCA score; amyloid increased and F-FDG decreased with decreasing MoCA score, most significantly in the posterior cingulate gyrus.