Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Quercetin prevents alterations of behavioral parameters, delta‐aminolevulinic dehydratase activity, and oxidative damage in brain of rats in a prenatal model of autism

Autism is a neuropathology characterized by behavioral disorders. Considering that oxidative stress is involved in the pathophysiology of this disease, we evaluated the effects of quercetin, a flavonoid with antioxidant and neuroprotective properties, in an experimental model of autism induced by valproic acid (VPA). Twelve pregnant female rats were divided into four groups (control, quercetin, VPA, and VPA+quercetin). Quercetin (50 mg/kg) was administered orally to the animals from gestational days 6.5 to 18.5, and VPA (800 mg/kg) was administered orally in a single dosage on gestational day 12.5. Behavioral tests such as open field, social interaction, and tail flick nociceptive assays were performed on pups between 30 and 40 days old, after which the animals were euthanized. Cerebral cortex, hippocampus, striatum, and cerebellum were collected for evaluation of oxidative stress parameters. The pups exposed to VPA during the gestational period showed reduced weight gain, increased latency in the open field and tail flick tests, reduced time of social interaction, accompanied by changes in oxidative stress parameters mainly in the hippocampus and striatum. Prenatal treatment with quercetin prevented the behavioral changes and damage caused by oxidative stress, possibly due to its antioxidant action. Our findings demonstrated that quercetin has neuroprotective effects in an animal model of autism, suggesting that this natural molecule could be an important therapeutic agent for treatment of autism spectrum disorders (ASDs).
LogoJS: a Javascript package for creating sequence logos and embedding them in web applications

SUMMARY Sequence logos were introduced nearly 30 years ago as a human-readable format for representing consensus sequences, and they remain widely used. As new experimental and computational techniques have developed, logos have been extended: extra symbols represent covalent modifications to nucleotides, logos with multiple letters at each position illustrate models with multi-nucleotide features, and symbols extending below the x-axis may represent a binding energy penalty for a residue or a negative weight output from a neural network. Web-based visualization tools for genomic data are increasingly taking advantage of modern web technology to offer dynamic, interactive figures to users, but support for sequence logos remains limited. Here we present LogoJS, a Javascript package for rendering customizable, interactive, vector-graphic sequence logos and embedding them in web applications. LogoJS supports all the aforementioned logo extensions and is bundled with a companion web application for creating and sharing logos. AVAILABILITY LogoJS is implemented both in plain Javascript and ReactJS, a popular user-interface framework. The web application is hosted at logojs.wenglab. org. All major browsers and operating systems are supported. The package and application are open-source; code is available at GitHub. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Systems-level investigation of aqueous batteries for understanding the benefit of water-in-salt electrolyte by synchrotron nanoimaging

Synchrotron microscopy visualizes and furthers the understanding of cycling stability of water-in-salt Li-ion batteries. Water-in-salt (WIS) electrolytes provide a promising path toward aqueous battery systems with enlarged operating voltage windows for better safety and environmental sustainability. In this work, a new electrode couple, LiV3O8-LiMn2O4, for aqueous Li-ion batteries is investigated to understand the mechanism by which the WIS electrolyte improves the cycling stability at an extended voltage window. Operando synchrotron transmission x-ray microscopy on the LiMn2O4 cathode reveals that the WIS electrolyte suppresses the mechanical damage to the electrode network and dissolution of the electrode particles, in addition to delaying the water decomposition process. Because the viscosity of WIS is notably higher, the reaction heterogeneity of the electrodes is quantified with x-ray absorption spectroscopic imaging, visualizing the kinetic limitations of the WIS electrolyte. This work furthers the mechanistic understanding of electrode–WIS electrolyte interactions and paves the way to explore the strategy to mitigate their possible kinetic limitations in three-dimensional architectures.
Airway Ciliary Beating Affected by the Pcp4 Dose-Dependent [Ca2+]i Increase in Down Syndrome Mice, Ts1Rhr

In Ts1Rhr, a Down syndrome model mouse, the airway ciliary beatings are impaired; that is, decreases in ciliary beat frequency (CBF) and ciliary bend angle (CBA, an index of ciliary beat amplitude)). A resumption to two copies of the Pcp4 gene on the Ts1Rhr trisomic segment (Ts1Rhr:Pcp4+/+/-) rescues the decreases in CBF and CBA that occur in Ts1Rhr. In airway cilia, upon stimulation with procaterol (a β2-agonist), the CBF increase is slower over the time course than the CBA increase because of cAMP degradation by Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent phosphodiesterase 1 (PDE1) existing in the metabolon regulating CBF. In Ts1Rhr, procaterol-stimulated CBF increase was much slower over the time course than in the wild-type mouse (Wt) or Ts1Rhr:Pcp4+/+/-. However, in the presence of 8MmIBMX (8-methoxymethyl isobutylmethyl xanthine, an inhibitor of PDE1) or calmidazolium (an inhibitor of calmodulin), in both Wt and Ts1Rhr, procaterol stimulates CBF and CBA increases over a similar time course. Measurements of cAMP revealed that the cAMP contents were lower in Ts1Rhr than in Wt or in Ts1Rhr:Pcp4+/+/-, suggesting the activation of PDE1A that is present in Ts1Rhr airway cilia. Measurements of the intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) in airway ciliary cells revealed that temperature (increasing from 25 to 37 °C) or 4αPDD (a selective transient receptor potential vanilloid 4 (TRPV4) agonist) stimulates a larger [Ca2+]i increase in Ts1Rhr than in Wt or Ts1Rhr:Pcp4+/+/-. In airway ciliary cells of Ts1Rhr, Pcp4-dose dependent activation of TRPV4 appears to induce an increase in the basal [Ca2+]i. In early embryonic day mice, a basal [Ca2+]i increased by PCP4 expressed may affect axonemal regulatory complexes regulated by the Ca2+-signal in Ts1Rhr, leading to a decrease in the basal CBF and CBA of airway cilia.
WORK ABILITY AND PSYCHOLOGICAL WELL-BEING IN HOSPITAL STAFF

Healthcare is an economic sector characterized by unfavorable working conditions, such as psychosocial stress, shift work, and manual handling of loads. It is important to opportunely assess the work ability and psychological well-being of hospital staff to evaluate workers’ functional capacity and plan appropriate preventive measures. Objectives: To assess the work ability and psychological well-being in hospital staff and to determine factors that might influence them. Methods: Work Ability Index Questionnaire, Psychological Well-being Questionnaire, and statistical analyses. Results: The mean Work Ability Index (WAI) score was 40.8 ±4.8, which corresponded to suitable work ability. The lowest mean WAI score was registered for the physical therapists (38 ±3.8), and was significantly lower than the WAI score for nurses (41.6 ±4.8). The mean Psychological Well-being score for all subjects was 187.6 ±18.4. The youngest workers (200.8 ±14.7), and those with shortest length of service (196.7 ±18.4) had significantly higher mean Psychological Well-being scores than older (180.8 ±19.9) and more experienced workers (180.3 ±18.3). A positive correlation was found between WAI and Psychological Well-being scores (r = 0.37, p = 0.003). Conclusion: Hospital managers should consider implementing strategies focused on the work ability of hospital staff, as well as on their psychological well-being, to keep workers fit and healthy for longer.
Expression Analysis of Cell Wall-Related Genes in the Plant Pathogenic Fungus Drechslera teres

Drechslera teres (D. teres) is an ascomycete, responsible for net blotch, the most serious barley disease causing an important economic impact. The cell wall is a crucial structure for the growth and development of fungi. Thus, understanding cell wall structure, composition and biosynthesis can help in designing new strategies for pest management. Despite the severity and economic impact of net blotch, this is the first study analyzing the cell wall-related genes in D. teres. We have identified key genes involved in the synthesis/remodeling of cell wall polysaccharides, namely chitin, β-(1,3)-glucan and mixed-linkage glucan synthases, as well as endo/exoglucanases and a mitogen-activated protein kinase. We have also analyzed the differential expression of these genes in D. teres spores and in the mycelium after cultivation on different media, as well as in the presence of Paraburkholderia phytofirmans strain PsJN, a plant growth-promoting bacterium (PGPB). The targeted gene expression analysis shows higher gene expression in the spores and in the mycelium with the application of PGPB. Besides analyzing key cell-wall-related genes, this study also identifies the most suitable reference genes to normalize qPCR results in D. teres, thus serving as a basis for future molecular studies on this ascomycete.
Core Genome Allelic Profiles of Clinical Klebsiella pneumoniae Strains Using a Random Forest Algorithm Based on Multilocus Sequence Typing Scheme for Hypervirulence Analysis.

BACKGROUND Hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae (hvKP) infections can have high morbidity and mortality rates owing to their invasiveness and virulence. However, there are no effective tools or biomarkers to discriminate between hvKP and nonhypervirulent K. pneumoniae (nhvKP) strains. We aimed to use a random forest algorithm to predict hvKP based on core-genome data. METHODS In total, 272 K. pneumoniae strains were collected from 20 tertiary hospitals in China and divided into hvKP and nhvKP groups according to clinical criteria. Clinical data comparisons, whole-genome sequencing, virulence profile analysis, and core genome multilocus sequence typing (cgMLST) were performed. We then established a random forest predictive model based on the cgMLST scheme to prospectively identify hvKP. The random forest is an ensemble learning method that generates multiple decision trees during the training process and each decision tree will output its own prediction results corresponding to the input. The predictive ability of the model was assessed by means of area under the receiver operating characteristic curve. RESULTS Patients in the hvKP group were younger than those in the nhvKP group (median age, 58.0 and 68.0 years, respectively; P < .001). More patients in the hvKP group had underlying diabetes mellitus (43.1% vs 20.1%; P < .001). Clinically, carbapenem-resistant K. pneumoniae was less common in the hvKP group (4.1% vs 63.8%; P < .001), whereas the K1/K2 serotype, sequence type (ST) 23, and positive string tests were significantly higher in the hvKP group. A cgMLST-based minimal spanning tree revealed that hvKP strains were scattered sporadically within nhvKP clusters. ST23 showed greater genome diversification than did ST11, according to cgMLST-based allelic differences. Primary virulence factors (rmpA, iucA, positive string test result, and the presence of virulence plasmid pLVPK) were poor predictors of the hypervirulence phenotype. The random forest model based on the core genome allelic profile presented excellent predictive power, both in the training and validating sets (area under receiver operating characteristic curve, 0.987 and 0.999 in the training and validating sets, respectively). CONCLUSIONS A random forest algorithm predictive model based on the core genome allelic profiles of K. pneumoniae was accurate to identify the hypervirulent isolates.
Current Knowledge on Selenium Biofortification to Improve the Nutraceutical Profile of Food: A Comprehensive Review

Selenium (Se) is an important micronutrient for living organisms, since it is involved in several physiological and metabolic processes. Se intake in humans is often low and very seldom excessive, and its bioavailability depends also on its chemical form, with organic Se as the most available after ingestion. The main dietary source of Se for humans is represented by plants, since many species are able to metabolize and accumulate organic Se in edible parts to be consumed directly (leaves, flowers, fruits, seeds, and sprouts) or after processing (oil, wine, etc.). Countless studies have recently investigated the Se biofortification of plants to produce Se-enriched foods and elicit the production of secondary metabolites, which may benefit human health when incorporated into the diet. Moreover, feeding animals Se-rich diets may provide Se-enriched meat. This work reviews the most recent literature on the nutraceutical profile of Se-enriched foods from plant and animal sources.
FASSI 2015 Committee

—Recently in the software industry, a methodology called DevOps has emerged, which aims at the integration of software development and deployment (i.e., operations/maintenance) to improve the performance of the overall software process. DevOps contributes to the multi-dimensional problem of software integration, approaching this problem from an organizational point of view. DevOps originates from lean and agile methodologies and stresses the improvement of the entire process flow, overall product quality improvement based on customer feedback. This paper presents a case study at Philips IT The Netherlands on the implementation of DevOps, in particular on the iterative identification and specification of a metrics model to monitor the effectiveness of DevOps.
Concurrent and Predictive Validity of Arm Kinematics With and Without Trunk Restraint During a Reaching Task in Stroke

3 Objective: This study examined the concurrent and predictive validity of measurements of 4 kinematic variables in reaching tasks with and without a trunk constraint in individuals with 5 stroke. Design: Secondary data analysis from randomized controlled trials. Settings: 6 Participants received training in the hospitals and assessments in the laboratory. Participants: 7 95 individuals with stroke enrolled in previous and ongoing clinical trials. Interventions: 8 Upper limb training protocols were 90 to 120 minutes of intervention every weekday for 3 to 9 4 weeks. Main Outcome Measures: Functional capacity was assessed by the Action 10 Research Arm Test (ARAT) and motor impairment by the Fugl-Meyer Assessment for the 11 Upper Extremities (FMA-UE). Movement kinematics were measured during a reaching task 12 with and without a trunk constraint. We derived 5 end point control variables and 3 joint 13 recruitment variables for estimating concurrent and predictive validity. Results: The adjusted 14 R values for the constraint tasks ranged from . 24 to . 38 and for the unconstraint ones 15 from . 29 to . 40. Movement time was the most prominent kinematic variable to the FMA-UE 16 before and after the intervention (P < .05). For ARAT, movement time and end point 17 displacement were the most significant variables pre and post intervention, respectively (P < 18 .05). Conclusions: Obtaining kinematic performance during an unconstrained task is 19 appropriate and possibly sufficient to represent motor impairment and functional capacity of 20 individuals with stroke. Movement time is the dominant variable associated with motor 21 impairment and functional capacity, and end point displacement is unique to reflect 22 functional capacity for individuals with stroke. 23
Simulation on Temperature Field of Gap Oil Film in Constant Flow Hydrostatic Center Frame

In order to solve the thermal deformation of the hydrostatic center frame in the heavy type horizontal lathe, a simulation research concerning temperature field of hydrostatic center frame is described. The Finite Volume Method of CFX has been used to compute three-dimensional temperature field of gap fluid between workpiece and bearing pillow. This research theoretically analyzes the influence of angular velocity on the bearing temperature performance according to lubricating theory and computational fluid dynamics, and it has revealed its temperature distribution law of gap oil film. Results indicate that an improved characteristic will be affected by angular velocity easily, and oil cavity temperature increases by gradually with angular velocity enhancing. Through this method, the safety of a hydrostatic center frame can be forecasted, and the optimal design of such products can be achieved, so it can provide reasonable data for design, lubrication, experience and thermal deformation computation for hydrostatic center frame in the heavy type horizontal lathe.
Image Denoising using Linear and Non-linear filters

A very large portion of digital image processing is devoted to image restoration. Image denoising is the manipulation of the image data to produce a visually high quality image. Different noise models include noise as additive and multiplicative type. They include Gaussian noise, salt and pepper noise, Brownian noise and speckle noise. Denoising algorithm is application dependent i.e. the application of a specific filter is beneficial against a specific kind of noise. In this paper, the filtering approach has been opted when the image is corrupted with salt and pepper noise. There are various filters which can remove the noise from images and preserve image details. Generally different filters are used for eliminating different noises like Mean filter removes the impulse noise, Median filter removes "salt and pepper" noise and Weiner filter removes noise that has corrupted a signal. It is based on a statistical approach. In this paper, we have suggested that Median filter provides best results against impulsive noise i.e. salt and pepper noise.
Treatment of distal radioulnar synostosis and growth deformity in a dog

A male mongrel dog (4-y-old) with a growth deformity in it’s right forelimb was used. It was observed that there was a valgus deformity in carpal joint and the paw was subjected to an external rotation of 45. Synostosis was observed in the distal of radius and ulna by radiographic examinations. The synostosis was separated with the operation under general anaesthesia. Cuneiform osteotomy was performed for the deformity in distal radius and transversal osteotomy was made for distal ulna. Autogenous fat tissue harvested in gluteal region was placed between radius and ulna in order to prevent reformation of synostosis. Radial fixation was performed by placing two cross pins through both distal and proximal fragments, and by means of a bone plate and screws. The dog walked normally in the end of first month. It was determined that fracture union was completed in the end of first month, and synostosis did not reformed. Fixation devices were removed at the end of the fourth month.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACY & LIFE SCIENCES (Int. J. of Pharm. Life Sci.) Antibacterial Screening of fixed and volatile oils extracted from Syzygium aromaticum (clove)

The fixed oil and volatile oil of Syzygium aromaticum (clove) were screened for antimicrobial activities against some pathogens viz., Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa Staphylococcus aureus ,Acinetobacter sp. and Klebsiella pneumonia.The fixed oil and volatile oils extracted were found to produce significant inhibition against all the pathogens. Fixed oil extract were observed to be more active than volatile oil extract as compared to the standard drug. Finally, the present study suggests that both fixed and volatile extracted from S.aromaticum have potential activity as source of natural antioxidant.
Modulation of cardiac pacemaker channels by tyrosine phosphorylation

Modulation of Cardiac Pacemaker Channels by Tyrosine Phosphorylation Jianying Huang Encoded by hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated (HCN) channels, the cardiac pacemaker current If is a major determinant of diastolic depolarization in sinus node myocytes and has a key role in the origin of heart beat. My dissertation consists of two chapters, focusing on the modulation of If and HCN channels by tyrosine phosphorylation, which is maintained by a fine balance between tyrosine kinases and phosphatases. Chapter 1 aims to investigate the role of Src tyrosine kinases in the regulation of sinus node If and HCN channels; Chapter 2 explores the modulation of ventricular If and HCN channels by a family of receptor protein tyrosine phosphatases (RPTPs). Chapter 1 contains two sections. In Section 1, Src-mediated tyrosine phosphorylation was utilized to restore the surface expression of HCN4-D553N, a trafficking-defective mutant identified in a patient with sick sinus syndrome manifested by sinus bradycardia. The corrected D553N channel exhibited biophysical properties comparable to the wild-type HCN4 channel, suggesting a therapeutic potential of tyrosine phosphorylation for the treatment of sinus bradycardia. This part of results has been published. In Section 2, Src tyrosine kinases were found essential in facilitating the gating of HCN4 channel and activation of sinus node If, as well as increasing heart rate following the activation of β-adrenergic receptors. In addition, these beneficial effects of Src-mediated tyrosine phosphorylation were independent of cAMP. The manuscript summarizing these results is under review. Chapter 2 is composed of three sections. In Section 1, the tyrosine phosphatase RPTPα was found to exert dramatic inhibition on the activity of HCN2 channel via reducing its surface expression, which was mediated by tyrosine dephosphorylation. This work has been published. Sections 2 and 3 summarized unpublished data. In Section 2, another two tyrosine phosphatases, RPTPμ and RPTPε were identified in cardiac ventricles and found to differentially regulate HCN2 channel. In Section 3, the results that RPTPε inhibited 573X, a cAMP insensitive HCN4 mutant identified in patients with sick sinus syndrome and sinus bradycardia, confirm that tyrosine phosphorylation could affect HCN channel independently of cAMP. In summary, my studies demonstrate that tyrosine phosphorylation plays a significant role in regulating the activity of If and HCN channels, in which novel modulators like RPTP and previously unrecognized mechanisms were identified, such as the cAMP-independent pathway mediating heart rate increase following the activation of β-adrenergic receptors.