Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Shaping of the Female Human Brain by Sex Hormones: A Review

Traditionally sex hormones have been associated with reproductive and developmental processes only. Since the 1950s we know that hormones can have organizational effects on the developing brain and initiate hormonal transition periods such as puberty. However, recent evidence shows that sex hormones additionally structure the brain during important hormonal transition periods across a woman’s life including short-term fluctuations during the menstrual cycle. However, a comprehensive review focusing on structural changes during all hormonal transition phases of women is still missing. Therefore, in this review structural changes across hormonal transition periods (i.e., puberty, menstrual cycle, oral contraceptive intake, pregnancy and menopause) were investigated in a structured way and correlations with sex hormones evaluated. Results show an overall reduction in grey matter and region-specific decreases in prefrontal, parietal and middle temporal areas during puberty. Across the menstrual cycle grey matter plasticity in the hippocampus, the amygdala as well as temporal and parietal regions were most consistently reported. Studies reporting on pre- and post-pregnancy measurements revealed volume reductions in midline structures as well as prefrontal and temporal cortices. During perimenopause, the decline in sex hormones was paralleled with a reduction in hippocampal and parietal cortex volume. Brain volume changes were significantly correlated with estradiol, testosterone and progesterone levels in some studies, but directionality remains inconclusive between studies. These results indicate that sex hormones play an important role in shaping women’s brain structure during different transition periods and are not restricted to specific developmental periods.
Math anxiety and math achievement: the effects of emotional and math strategy training.

Math Anxiety (MA) is a specific feeling of tension generated by the manipulation of numerical stimuli in daily life and academic situations (Richardson & Suinn, 1972). This condition has significant repercussions on the individual's life at personal, social, and economic level. Literature on the topic of MA alleviation, however, is still scarce. This study aims at contributing to this field by addressing MA prevention in school-age children. We have developed two different training methods administered to two groups of fourth graders: 1) MA training focusing on identifying and copying with MA-related feelings (N=76); and 2) Math strategy training focusing on supplementary exercises to enhance calculation strategies (N=76). We also carried out a Control training involving a range of activities, such as reading comic strips, describing characters in the story, and combining text and images to obtain an original narrative text (N=72). We evaluated the differential effects of these training methods on MA, general anxiety, and math achievement before and after the training. Results indicate that MA training contributes to a decrease in MA level, although it does not appear to affect math achievement; Math strategy training, on the other hand, results in far transfer on a reduction of MA level as well as near transfer on the improvement of math achievement. Data are discussed in terms of specific mechanisms underlying each type of training method, and with specific focus on the evaluation of educational and developmental opportunities linked to MA prevention and improvement of math abilities in school-age children.
Population Genomic Analysis of Two Endemic Schizothoracins Reveals Their Genetic Differences and Underlying Selection Associated with Altitude and Temperature

Simple Summary Diptychus maculates and Gymnodiptychus dybowskii are two rare aboriginal fishes in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. In recent years, due to overfishing and habitat fragmentation caused by construction of water conservancy and hydropower projects, the fishery resources have decreased sharply. Understanding the genetic background is of great significance for resource protection. In this study, we revealed the similar trends of population genetic diversities in these two species collected from the Tarim River and the Yili River. In addition, outlier SNPs associated with temperature and altitude were detected in both of them, indicating that Schizothoracinae fishes represented by D. maculates and G. dybowskii were still under the selection pressure of plateau environments. Abstract Schizothoracins are a group of cyprinid fishes distributed throughout the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau, which can be classified in three grades: primitive, specialised and highly specialised according to adaptation ability to plateau environments. As the only specialised schizothoracins in Xinjiang, China, Diptychus maculates and Gymnodiptychus dybowskii are ideal materials for adaptive evolution research. Based on single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) loci detected by specific-locus amplified fragment (SLAF) technology, the genome-wide genetic diversities of these two species from nine sites in Xinjiang were evaluated. D.maculates in the Muzat River (BM) and G. dybowskii in the Kaidu River (LKG) presented the lowest genetic diversity levels, whereas D. maculates in the Kumarik River (BK) and G.dybowskii in the Kashi River (LK) were just the opposite. Cluster and principal component analysis demonstrated a distant genetic affinity between D. maculates in the Tashkurgan River (BT) and other populations. Outlier SNP loci were discovered both in D. maculates and G. dybowskii. The coalescent Bayenv and latent factor mixed model (LFMM) methods showed that a total of thirteen and eighteen SNPs in D. maculates were associated with altitude and temperature gradient, respectively. No intersection was revealed in G. dybowskii. The results indicated that D. maculates was subject to much greater divergent selection pressure. A strong signal of isolation-by-distance (IBD) was detected across D. maculates (Mantel test, rs = 0.65; p = 0.05), indicating an evident geographical isolation in the Tarim River. Isolation-by-environment (IBE) analysis implied that temperature and altitude selections were more intensive in D. maculates, with greater environmental variation resulting in weak gene flow.
Exploring the Association between Vascular Dysfunction and Skeletal Muscle Mass, Strength and Function in Healthy Adults: A Systematic Review

Background: The prevalence of vascular dysfunction increases with advancing age, as does the loss of muscle mass, strength and function. This systematic review explores the association between vascular dysfunction and skeletal muscle health in healthy adults. Methods: EMBASE and MEDLINE were searched for cross-sectional and randomized controlled studies between January 2009 and April 2019, with 33 out of 1246 studies included based on predefined criteria. Assessments of muscular health included muscle mass, strength and function. Macrovascular function assessment included arterial stiffness (pulse wave velocity or augmentation index), carotid intima-media thickness, and flow-mediated dilation. Microvascular health assessment included capillary density or microvascular flow (contrast enhanced ultrasound). Results: All 33 studies demonstrated a significant association between vascular function and skeletal muscle health. Significant negative associations were reported between vascular dysfunction and -muscle strength (10 studies); -mass (9 studies); and -function (5 studies). Nine studies reported positive correlations between muscle mass and microvascular health. Conclusions: Multiple studies have revealed an association between vascular status and skeletal muscle health in healthy adults. This review points to the importance of screening for muscle health in adults with vascular dysfunction with a view to initiating early nutrition and exercise interventions to ameliorate functional decline over time.
Chronic Stress in a Rat Model of Depression Disturbs the Glutamine–Glutamate–GABA Cycle in the Striatum, Hippocampus, and Cerebellum

Background Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a complex psychiatric illness involving multiple brain regions. Increasing evidence indicates that the striatum is involved in depression, but the molecular mechanisms remain unclear. Methods In this study, we performed a gas chromatography–mass spectrometer (GC/MS)-based metabolomic analysis in the striatum of depressed rats induced by chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS). We then compared striatal data with our previous data from the hippocampus and cerebellum to systematically investigate the potential pathogenesis of depression. Results We identified 22 differential metabolites in the striatum between the CUMS and control groups; these altered metabolites were mainly involved in amino acid, carbohydrate, and nucleotide metabolism. Pathway analysis revealed that the shared metabolic pathways of the striatum, hippocampus, and cerebellum were mainly involved in the glutamine–glutamate metabolic system. Four genes in the striatum (GS, GLS2, GLT1, and SSADH), six genes in the hippocampus (GS, SNAT1, GAD1, SSADH, VGAT, and ABAT), and five genes in the cerebellum (GS, ABAT, SNAT1, VGAT, and GDH) were found to be significantly altered using RT-qPCR. Correlation analysis indicated that these differential genes were strongly correlated. Conclusion These results suggest that chronic stress might induce depressive behaviors by disturbing the glutamine–glutamate–GABA cycle in the striatum, hippocampus, and cerebellum, and that the glutamine–glutamate–GABA cycle among these three brain regions might generate cooperative action in response to chronic stress.
Synthesis and Use of Valsartan Metal Complexes as Media for Carbon Dioxide Storage

To address global warming through carbon dioxide storage, three valsartan metal complexes were synthesized in excellent yields (87–92%) through a reaction of the appropriate metal chloride (tin chloride, nickel chloride hexahydrate, or magnesium chloride hexahydrate) and excess valsartan (two mole equivalents) in boiling methanol for 3 h. The structures of the metal complexes were established based on the data obtained from ultraviolet-visible, Fourier transform infrared, and proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectra, as well as from elemental analysis, energy-dispersive X-ray spectra, and magnetic susceptibility. The agglomeration and shape of the particles were determined using field emission scanning electron microscopy analysis. The surface area (16.63–22.75 m2/g) of the metal complexes was measured using the Brunauer-Emmett-Teller method, whereas the Barrett-Joyner-Halenda method was used to determine the particle pore size (0.011–0.108 cm3/g), total average pore volume (6.50–12.46 nm), and pore diameter (6.50–12.47 nm), for the metal complexes. The carbon dioxide uptake of the synthesized complexes, at 323 K and 4 MPa (40 bar), ranged from 24.11 to 34.51 cm2/g, and the nickel complex was found to be the most effective sorbent for carbon dioxide storage.
Ratiometric Single‐Molecule FRET Measurements to Probe Conformational Subpopulations of Intrinsically Disordered Proteins

Over the past few decades, numerous examples have demonstrated that intrinsic disorder in proteins lies at the heart of many vital processes, including transcriptional regulation, stress response, cellular signaling, and most recently protein liquid‐liquid phase separation. The so‐called intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) involved in these processes have presented a challenge to the classic protein “structure‐function paradigm,” as their functions do not necessarily involve well‐defined structures. Understanding the mechanisms of IDP function is likewise challenging because traditional structure determination methods often fail with such proteins or provide little information about the diverse array of structures that can be related to different functions of a single IDP. Single‐molecule fluorescence methods can overcome this ensemble‐average masking, allowing the resolution of subpopulations and dynamics and thus providing invaluable insights into IDPs and their function. In this protocol, we describe a ratiometric single‐molecule Förster resonance energy transfer (smFRET) routine that permits the investigation of IDP conformational subpopulations and dynamics. We note that this is a basic protocol, and we provide brief information and references for more complex analysis schemes available for in‐depth characterization. This protocol covers optical setup preparation and protein handling and provides insights into experimental design and outcomes, together with background information about theory and a brief discussion of troubleshooting. © 2020 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
TiO2 Nanotubes with Pt and Pd Nanoparticles as Catalysts for Electro-Oxidation of Formic Acid

In the present work, the magnetron sputtering technique was used to prepare new catalysts of formic acid electrooxidation based on TiO2 nanotubes decorated with Pt (platinum), Pd (palladium) or Pd + Pt nanoparticles. TiO2 nanotubes (TiO2 NTs) with strictly defined geometry were produced by anodization of Ti foil and Ti mesh in a mixture of glycerol and water with ammonium fluoride electrolyte. The above mentioned catalytically active metal nanoparticles (NPs) were located mainly on the top of the TiO2 NTs, forming ‘rings’ and agglomerates. A part of metal nanoparticles decorated also TiO2 NTs walls, thus providing sufficient electronic conductivity for electron transportation between the metal nanoparticle rings and Ti current collector. The electrocatalytic activity of the TiO2 NTs/Ti foil, decorated by Pt, Pd and/or Pd + Pt NPs was investigated by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and new Pd/TiO2 NTs/Ti mesh catalyst was additionally tested in a direct formic acid fuel cell (DFAFC). The results so obtained were compared with commercial catalyst—Pd/Vulcan. CV tests have shown for carbon supported catalysts, that the activity of TiO2 NTs decorated with Pd was considerably higher than that one decorated with Pt. Moreover, for TiO2 NTs supported Pd catalyst specific activity (per mg of metal) was higher than that for well dispersed carbon supported commercial catalyst. The tests at DFAFC have revealed also that the maximum of specific power for 0.2 Pd/TiO2 catalyst was 70% higher than that of the commercial one, Pd/Vulcan. Morphological features, and/or peculiarities, as well as surface composition of the resulting catalysts have been studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM), and chemical surface analytical methods (X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy—XPS; Auger electron spectroscopy—AES).
Gut Microbial Metabolites Induce Changes in Circadian Oscillation of Clock Gene Expression in the Mouse Embryonic Fibroblasts

Circadian rhythm is an endogenous oscillation of about 24-h period in many physiological processes and behaviors. This daily oscillation is maintained by the molecular clock machinery with transcriptional-translational feedback loops mediated by clock genes including Period2 (Per2) and Bmal1. Recently, it was revealed that gut microbiome exerts a significant impact on the circadian physiology and behavior of its host; however, the mechanism through which it regulates the molecular clock has remained elusive. 3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)propionic acid (4-OH-PPA) and 3-phenylpropionic acid (PPA) are major metabolites exclusively produced by Clostridium sporogenes and may function as unique chemical messengers communicating with its host. In the present study, we examined if two C. sporogenes-derived metabolites can modulate the oscillation of mammalian molecular clock. Interestingly, 4-OH-PPA and PPA increased the amplitude of both PER2 and Bmal1 oscillation in a dose-dependent manner following their administration immediately after the nadir or the peak of their rhythm. The phase of PER2 oscillation responded differently depending on the mode of administration of the metabolites. In addition, using an organotypic slice culture ex vivo, treatment with 4-OH-PPA increased the amplitude and lengthened the period of PER2 oscillation in the suprachiasmatic nucleus and other tissues. In summary, two C. sporogenes-derived metabolites are involved in the regulation of circadian oscillation of Per2 and Bmal1 clock genes in the host’s peripheral and central clock machineries.
Diurnal variation in autonomic regulation among patients with genotyped Rett syndrome

Background Rett syndrome is a severe neurological disorder with a range of disabling autonomic and respiratory symptoms and resulting predominantly from variants in the methyl-CpG binding protein 2 gene on the long arm of the X-chromosome. As basic research begins to suggest potential treatments, sensitive measures of the dynamic phenotype are needed to evaluate the results of these research efforts. Here we test the hypothesis that the physiological fingerprint of Rett syndrome in a naturalistic environment differs from that of controls, and differs among genotypes within Rett syndrome. Methods A comprehensive array of heart rate variability, cardiorespiratory coupling and cardiac repolarisation measures were evaluated from an existing database of overnight and daytime inhome ambulatory recordings in 47 cases and matched controls. Results Differences between girls with Rett syndrome and matched controls were apparent in a range of autonomic measures, and suggest a shift towards sympathetic activation and/or parasympathetic inactivation. Daily temporal trends analysed in the context of circadian rhythms reveal alterations in amplitude and phase of diurnal patterns of autonomic balance. Further analysis by genotype class confirms a graded presentation of the Rett syndrome phenotype such that patients with early truncating mutations were most different from controls, while late truncating and missense mutations were least different from controls. Conclusions Comprehensive autonomic measures from extensive inhome physiological measurements can detect subtle variations in the phenotype of girls with Rett syndrome, suggesting these techniques are suitable for guiding novel therapies.
Genome-Wide Identification of the VQ Protein Gene Family of Tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) and Analysis of Its Expression in Response to Phytohormones and Abiotic and Biotic Stresses

VQ motif-containing proteins (VQ proteins) are transcriptional regulators that work independently or in combination with other transcription factors (TFs) to control plant growth and development and responses to biotic and abiotic stresses. VQ proteins contain a conserved FxxhVQxhTG amino acid motif that is the main element of its interaction with WRKY TFs. We identified 59 members of the tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) NtVQ gene family by in silico analysis and examined their differential expression in response to phytohormonal treatments and following exposure to biotic and abiotic stressors. NtVQ proteins clustered into eight groups based upon their amino acid sequence and presence of various conserved domains. Groups II, IV, V, VI, and VIII contained the largest proportion of NtVQ gene family members differentially expressed in response to one or more phytohormone, and NtVQ proteins with similar domain structures had similar patterns of response to different phytohormones. NtVQ genes differentially expressed in response to temperature alterations and mechanical wounding were also identified. Over half of the NtVQ genes were significantly induced in response to Ralstonia solanacearum infection. This first comprehensive characterization of the NtVQ genes in tobacco lays the foundation for further studies of the NtVQ-mediated regulatory network in plant growth, developmental, and stress-related processes.
High Prevalence of Alterations in DNA Mismatch Repair Genes of Lynch Syndrome in Pediatric Patients with Adrenocortical Tumors Carrying a Germline Mutation on TP53

Adrenocortical cancer is a rare malignant neoplasm associated with a dismal prognosis. Identification of the molecular pathways involved in adrenal tumorigenesis is essential for a better understanding of the disease mechanism and improvement of its treatment. The aim of this study is to define the prevalence of alterations in DNA mismatch repair (MMR) genes in Lynch syndrome among pediatric patients with adrenocortical neoplasia from southern Brazil, where the prevalence of a specific TP53 germline mutation (p.Arg337His) is quite high. Thirty-six pediatric patients were retrospectively evaluated. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) for the MMR enzymes MLH1, MSH2, MSH6, and PMS2, as well as next-generation sequencing (NGS) were performed. For IHC, 36 pediatric tumors were tested. In all of them, the expression of all evaluated MMR proteins was well-preserved. For NGS, 35 patients with pediatric tumor were tested. Three patients (8.57%) with the TP53 p.Arg337His germline mutation presented pathogenic and likely pathogenic variants in the MMR genes (two in MLH1 and one in MSH6). The prevalence of altered MMR genes among pediatric patients was elevated (8.57%) and higher than in colorectal and endometrial cancer cohorts. Pediatric patients with adrenocortical tumors should, thus, be strongly considered as at genetic risk for Lynch syndrome.
An Empirical Study on Transmission Beamforming for Ultrasonic Guided-Wave Based Structural Health Monitoring

The development of reliable structural health monitoring techniques is enabling a healthy transition from preventive to condition-based maintenance, hence leading to safer and more efficient operation of different industries. Ultrasonic guided-wave based beamforming is one of the most promising techniques, which supports the monitoring of large thin-walled structures. However, beamforming has been typically applied to the post-processing stage (also known as virtual or receiver beamforming) because transmission or physical beamforming requires complex hardware configurations. This paper introduces an electronic structural health monitoring system that carries out transmission beamforming experiments by simultaneously emitting and receiving ultrasonic guided-waves using several transducers. An empirical characterization of the transmission beamforming technique for monitoring an aluminum plate is provided in this work. The high signal-to-noise ratio and accurate angular precision of the physical signal obtained in the experiments suggest that transmission beamforming can increase the reliability and robustnessof this monitoring technique for large structures and in real-world noisy environments.