Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The NO Pathway Acts Late during the Fertilization Response in Sea Urchin Eggs*

Both the inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (InsP3) and ryanodine receptor pathways contribute to the Ca2+ transient at fertilization in sea urchin eggs. To date, the precise contribution of each pathway has been difficult to ascertain. Evidence has accumulated to suggest that the InsP3 receptor pathway has a primary role in causing Ca2+ release and egg activation. However, this was recently called into question by a report implicating NO as the primary egg activator. In the present study we pursue the hypothesis that NO is a primary egg activator in sea urchin eggs and build on previous findings that an NO/cGMP/cyclic ADP-ribose (cADPR) pathway is active at fertilization in sea urchin eggs to define its role. Using a fluorescence indicator of NO levels, we have measured both NO and Ca2+ at fertilization and establish that NO levels rise after, not before, the Ca2+ wave is initiated and that this rise is Ca2+-dependent. By inhibiting the increase in NO at fertilization, we find not that the Ca2+transient is abolished but that the duration of the transient is significantly reduced. The latency and rise time of the transient are unaffected. This effect is mirrored by the inhibition of cGMP and cADPR signaling in sea urchin eggs at fertilization. We establish that cADPR is generated at fertilization, at a time comparable to the time of the rise in NO levels. We conclude that NO is unlikely to be a primary egg activator but, rather, acts after the initiation of the Ca2+ wave to regulate the duration of the fertilization Ca2+ transient.
Effect of Shenxinning decoction on ventricular remodeling in AT1 receptor-knockout mice with chronic renal insufficiency

Objective: To observe the efficacy of Shenxinning Decoction (SXND) in ventricular remodeling in AT1 receptor-knockout (AT1-KO) mice with chronic renal insufficiency (CRI). Materials and Methods: AT1-KO mice modeled with subtotal (5/6) nephrectomy were intervened with SXND for 12 weeks. Subsequently, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), serum creatinine (SCr), brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), echocardiography (left ventricular end-diastolic diameter, LVDD; left ventricular end-systolic diameter, LVDS; fractional shortening, FS; and ejection fraction, EF), collagen types I and III in the heart and kidney, myocardial mitochondria, and cardiac transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) of the AT1-KO mice were compared with the same model with nephrectomy only and untreated with SXND. Results: AT1-KO mice did not affect the process of CRI but it could significantly affect cardiac remodeling process. SXND decreased to some extent the AT1-KO mice's BUN, SCr, BNP, and cardiac LVDD, LVDS, and BNP, improved FS and EF, lowered the expression of collagen type I and III in heart and kidney, increased the quantity of mitochondria and ameliorated their structure, and down-regulated the expression of TGF-β1. Conclusion: SXND may antagonize the renin–angiotensin system (RAS) and decrease uremia toxins, thereby ameliorating ventricular remodeling in CRI. Furthermore, SXND has a mechanism correlated with the improvement of myocardial energy metabolism and the down-regulation of TGF-β1.
Nurses' caring attitude: fall prevention program implementation as an example of its importance.

UNLABELLED BACKGROUND OF THE PROBLEM: Fall prevention programs are universally multidisciplinary, but nursing care plays the central role. Since October 2008, Medicare has no longer reimbursed acute care hospitals for the costs of additional care required due to hospital-acquired injuries (e.g., injurious falls). PROBLEM However, fall prevention programs for hospitalized patients have had limited success, and multifaceted strategies for implementing fall prevention programs cannot guarantee success. It is possible that cultivating and sustaining a caring attitude among clinicians is often overlooked as an intervention strategy. METHOD This article discusses the barriers to implementing fall prevention programs in acute care hospitals. The attributional theory of success and failure is used to analyze these barriers. In addition, the author discusses whether a lack of knowledge and/or a lack of caring attitude play a role as the underlying barriers to implementing a successful fall prevention program. A patient's story illustrates patients' expectations for the care environment to center on their needs. Possible educational strategies as interventions for fall prevention programs are discussed. FINDINGS It is suggested that education goals for nurses need to not only promote their professional knowledge and skills in implementing a fall prevention program but also cultivate their caring attitudes.
Heterogeneity of Response to Imatinib-Mesylate (Glivec) in Patients with Hypereosinophilic Syndrome: Implications for Dosing and Pathogenesis

Four cases of hypereosinophilic syndrome (HES) treated with the tyrosine-kinase inhibitor imatinib-mesylate are reported. The drug was effective in three patients, but a prolonged clinical and hematological remission was obtained only in one patient, due to appearance of resistance or poor tolerability in the other cases. The dose of imatinib necessary to achieve a response ranged from 100 to 600 mg/d. One patient with evidence of a clonal T-cell population did not respond at all. We confirm the efficacy of imatinib in HES, but we also underline that type and duration of response may be variable. This could be due to different pathogenetic mechanisms of the disease in single patients.
Telomere length is associated with ACE I/D polymorphism in hypertensive patients with left ventricular hypertrophy

Introduction: Short telomeres are often associated with cardiovascular risk factors and age-related diseases, while the angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) gene insertion/deletion polymorphism (DD, ID, II) has shown such associations less consistently. We hypothesized that telomere length and association of telomere length with cardiovascular risk is affected by ACE (I/D) genotype. Methods: We measured leucocyte telomere length (LTL) by Southern blot and analysed ACE I/D genotypes in 1249 subjects with hypertension and left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH). We examined interactions of ACE I/D genotype with LTL and cardiovascular risk. Results: Mean LTL in DD or ID genotype was shorter (8.15 and 8.14 kb, respectively), than in II genotype (8.27 kb, p=0.0005). This difference was significant in the younger subjects (55–64 years, p=0.02) but not in the older group (65–80 years, p=0.56 ). In DD but not I/D or II genotype, proportion of short telomeres (<5 kb) was related to Framingham risk score. Conclusions: Shorter LTL in genotypes DD or ID suggests a negative effect of the D allele on telomere length. Homozygocity for the D allele appears to strengthen the association of telomere length with increased cardiovascular risk in elderly hypertensive subjects with LVH.
Germ‐line transformation of the Australian sheep blowfly Lucilia cuprina

The Australian sheep blowfly, Lucilia cuprina, is the most important economic insect pest for the sheep industries in Australia and New Zealand. piggyBac‐mediated germ‐line transformation of L. cuprina was achieved with a helper plasmid that had the Drosophila melanogaster hsp70 promoter controlling expression of the transposase and a piggyBac vector with an EGFP marker gene. Two transformant lines were obtained, at a frequency of approximately 1–2% per fertile G0. One of these lines has a single copy of the transgene, the other most likely has four copies. This is the first report of germ‐line transformation of L. cuprina and is an important step towards the generation of engineered strains that would be suitable for male‐only release eradication/suppression programmes.
CYP1A2*1D and *1F Polymorphisms Have a Significant Impact on Olanzapine Serum Concentrations

Background: Although several polymorphisms in olanzapine-metabolizing enzymes have been identified, the clear role and benefit for pharmacotherapy remain uncertain. The aim of the study was to investigate the potential influence of polymorphisms in the CYP1A2 gene (*1D,*1F), in the UGT1A4 gene (*3), and in the POR gene (rs2302429) on olanzapine serum concentrations and the clinical outcome. Methods: Ninety-eight white inpatients who received olanzapine as part of their treatment for at least 4 weeks were included in the retrospective investigation. Moreover, a sample of 209 inpatients receiving olanzapine or clozapine was built to investigate the influence of the relevant polymorphisms CYP1A2*1F, *1D, and CYP1A2 inducers on the clinical outcome. Results: Carriers of the delT-allele (*1D) developed significantly higher dose-corrected olanzapine serum concentrations (analysis of covariance; P < 0.001, delT + delTdelT: 3.1, TT: 1.6 ng·mL−1·mg−1, adjusted model including the confounding factors age, sex, baseline weight, CYP1A2*1F genotype, and concomitant CYP1A2 inducers). Moreover, the CYP1A2*1F (AA) genotype also revealed a significant impact on olanzapine serum concentrations according to the analysis of covariance model (P = 0.028; CC + CA: 2.05, AA: 1.44 ng·mL−1·mg−1). The other polymorphisms studied revealed no significant influence. Regarding response and adverse effects, a higher increase of weight could be observed in schizophrenic Paranoid Depressive Scale (responder: +5.7 vs nonresponder: +1.8 kg; P = 0.007) and Clinical Global Impression responders (4.6 vs 1.8 kg; P = 0.017). No direct correlation between olanzapine serum concentrations and response or weight gain could be detected. Patients with at least 2 factors promoting higher serum concentrations (no CYP1A2 inducer, *1D deltT-allele, or *1F C-allele) showed a better response according to the Paranoid Depressive Scale (P = 0.002) and a significant correlation with the Clinical Global Impression Scale-2 after 4 weeks (n = 193, r = −0.177; P = 0.005). Conclusions: We, for the first time, identified a significant influence of polymorphisms in CYP1A2 in combination with CYP1A2 inducer status on the clinical outcome. Therefore, genotyping for CYP1A2*1D and *1F may be a useful tool for dose optimization and identification of high-risk patients. Further and larger studies are needed before genotype-based dosage recommendations can help patients treated with CYP1A2 metabolized drugs.
Mononucleotide repeats represent an important source of polymorphic microsatellite markers in Aspergillus nidulans

In fungi, microsatellites occur less frequently throughout the genome and tend to be less polymorphic compared with other organisms. Most studies that develop microsatellites for fungi focus on dinucleotide and trinucleotide repeats, and thus mononucleotide repeats, which are much more abundant in fungal genomes, may represent an overlooked resource. This study examined the relative probabilities of polymorphism in mononucleotide, dinucleotide and trinucleotide repeats in Aspergillus nidulans. As previously found, the probability of polymorphism increased with increasing number of repeating units. Dinucleotide and trinucleotide repeats had higher probabilities of polymorphism than mononucleotide repeats, but this was offset by the presence of numerous long mononucleotide repeats within the genome. Mononucleotide microsatellites with 20 or more repeating units have a probability of polymorphism similar to dinucleotide and trinucleotide microsatellites, and therefore, consideration of mononucleotide repeats will substantially increase the number of potential markers available.
Protein Cross‐Linking in Food

Abstract: The aims of this paper are (1) to probe the relationship between molecular structure and protein cross‐linking ability for a range of small molecules; (2) to establish whether this relationship holds within a food matrix; and (3) to test the impact of Maillard cross‐linking on food functionality, particularly texture, in wheat‐ and soy‐based food systems. A variety of molecules were obtained, either commercially or via organic synthesis. Cross‐linking ability was tested using our standard model system, employing ribonuclease A and analyzing the results by SDS‐PAGE. Molecules of varying reactivity were tested in wheat‐ and soy‐based products, and the changes in functionality were correlated with changes in protein cross‐linking. No simple relationship was found between molecular structure and ability to cross‐link ribonuclease. Only the most reactive reagents were able to cross‐link within the food matrix. Nevertheless, a low degree of cross‐linking was shown to have significant consequences on the properties of wheat‐ and soy‐based foods, suggesting that the Maillard reaction may represent a means to control food texture.
The olivary peduncle and other fiber projections of the superior olivary complex

General introduction Materials and methods Part I: The origin, course and termination of the so-called olivary peduncle Origin of the olivary peduncle Brief description of the superior olivary complex Marchi experiments on origin of peduncle Resume of observations Chromatolytic experiments on the origin of the o h ary peduncle The question of reticular forniation origin for the peduncle The homolateral (uncrossed) limb of the olivary peduncle The heterolateral (crossed) limb of the olivary peduncle Historical Personal observations Distal glial portion of the peduncle The different degenerative behavior of the crntial and peiipheial portions of the olivary peduncle The peripheral course and termination Observations on Marchi material Observations on dissections Discussion
Transforming growth factor beta2 in the vitreous in proliferative diabetic retinopathy.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the hypothesis that transforming growth factor beta2 (TGF-beta2) is involved in the cause of proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR). METHODS We assayed TGF-beta2 levels in the vitreous of patients with PDR and other vitreoretinal disorders. Forty-nine vitreous specimens were obtained from eyes of patients with PDR undergoing vitrectomy, and 19 vitreous specimens from nondiabetic subjects served as controls. We assessed TGF-beta2 levels using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Both mature and total TGF-beta2 levels were quantified. RESULTS The mean (+/- SD) total levels of TGF-beta2 were 2634 (+/- 1652) pg/mL in the patients with PDR and 1305 (+/- 972) pg/mL in controls. The mean (+/- SD) levels of mature TGF-beta2 were 244 (+/- 316) pg/mL in patients with PDR and 79 (+/- 81) pg/mL in controls. Total and mature TGF-beta2 levels were significantly greater in patients with PDR (total TGF-beta2, P <.001; mature TGF-beta2, P <.01). Mature TGF-beta2 levels were higher in the vitreous of patients who had severe fibrous proliferation. CONCLUSION The results indicate increased levels of both total and mature TGF-beta2 in the vitreous of patients with PDR, suggesting that TGF-beta2 plays an important role in the pathogenesis of PDR.
Accurate quantitation of Leishmania infection in cultured cells by flow cytometry.

BACKGROUND Leishmaniases are major parasitic diseases caused by protozoans that are obligate intracellular parasites during the mammalian phase of their life cycle. Quantitation of experimental mammalian cell infections is usually performed by time-consuming microscopic examination. In this report a flow cytometry (FCM)-based assay suitable for studying in vitro infections by L.amazonensis is presented. METHODS Intense fluorescence staining of the amastigote forms with a stage- and species-specific monoclonal antibody was obtained after permeabilization of both the host-cell cytoplasmic membrane and the parasitophorous vacuole membrane by saponin treatment. RESULTS Upon flow cytometry (FCM) analysis, parasitized cells separated sharply from the auto-fluorescence of the mammalian host cells, giving the assay a high degree of sensitivity and specificity. Ninety to 98% of cells in the more fluorescent population harbored parasites visible by phase-contrast and UV-light microscopy, while no parasites were observed in more than 95% of the cells in the population with background fluorescence. Comparisons of the FCM results with those from microscope counting and analysis of various dilutions of parasitized cells confirmed the reliability of the method. CONCLUSIONS The FCM assay provided rapid quantitation of Leishmania infection either in mouse macrophages, the natural host cell in murine leishmaniasis, or in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells, a non-macrophage cell line proposed as an in vitro model for studying host-parasite interactions. The protocol described here should be adaptable to studies involving other parasites residing in nucleated cells.
Schemes for Maximal Throughput and Fairness in Downlink OFDMA Systems

Orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) systems emerge as potential choices for the development of the next generation (4G) mobile communications system mainly due to their bandwidth efficiency and capability of inter symbol interference (ISI) combat. Recently, dynamic resource allocation (DRA) technique is intensively studied to enhance system performance such as throughput maximization, power minimization, fairness and so forth. However, the tradeoff between maximal throughput and fairness gets more attention since it adapts to varying wireless network conditions as well as provides reasonable fairness among users. In this paper, we focus on achieving the tradeoff in the downlink case. A comparison between several DRA schemes is given to illustrate how to get the tradeoff in a downlink OFDMA system.
Learners' Agency in a Facebook-Mediated Community.

Agency, defined by Gao (2013) as learners’ “dynamic strategic behavior” (p. 29) in response to contextual realities, has been central to educational undertakings. While the affordances of social networking sites like Facebook have been extensively examined in a number of educational studies, there has been a scarcity of research on critically appraising language learners’ agency in the Facebook community. By exploring learners’ agency, this study aims to unveil language learners’ self-regulation, autonomous action, and decision-making. Five Taiwanese third-year English majors were recruited as case subjects for the qualitative inquiry. They participated in an extracurricular project for vocabulary learning in Facebook. Data triangulation comprised a set of preand postvocabulary tests to investigate their progress in acquiring academic words, an open-ended questionnaire for their perceptions of the online learning experience, and the data of their postings and interactions in this Facebook community. Results from the in-depth interview reveal that learner agency in vocabulary learning via Facebook depends on their strategically selecting (1) academic words to post, (2) Google images to illustrate the referred words, and (3) online dictionary definitions. In addition, interactiveness and responsiveness among the Facebook community members support the creation of an “affinity space” (Gee, 2003) for the learners that stimulates a critical awareness of their self-regulation and learner autonomy. The pedagogical implication is that the Facebook-mediated community can enhance the interactive learning activity.
Surface-controlled dislocation multiplication in metal micropillars

Understanding the plasticity and strength of crystalline materials in terms of the dynamics of microscopic defects has been a goal of materials research in the last 70 years. The size-dependent yield stress observed in recent experiments of submicrometer metallic pillars provides a unique opportunity to test our theoretical models, allowing the predictions from defect dynamics simulations to be directly compared with mechanical strength measurements. Although depletion of dislocations from submicrometer face-centered-cubic (FCC) pillars provides a plausible explanation of the observed size-effect, we predict multiplication of dislocations in body-centered-cubic (BCC) pillars through a series of molecular dynamics and dislocation dynamics simulations. Under the combined effects from the image stress and dislocation core structure, a dislocation nucleated from the surface of a BCC pillar generates one or more dislocations moving in the opposite direction before it exits from the surface. The process is repeatable so that a single nucleation event is able to produce a much larger amount of plastic deformation than that in FCC pillars. This self-multiplication mechanism suggests a need for a different explanation of the size dependence of yield stress in FCC and BCC pillars.
HIV-related stigma in the dental setting: a qualitative study.

PURPOSE To explore the experiences and expectations of HIV-related stigma in dental settings. METHODS This was a cross-sectional study of 60 HIV+ adult volunteers. We conducted audio-recorded interviews; responses to four open-ended questions were analyzed qualitatively for theme and content. RESULTS Twenty-seven participants (45%) reported ever having anticipated being judged, stigmatized or treated with disrespect in a dental setting due to HIV status. Thematic response categories included concerns about: (i) receiving humane and respectful treatment, (ii) being judged or stereotyped and (iii) giving HIV to the dentist. Regarding hesitancy to visit the dentist, subjects equally endorsed fear of the dentist (35%) and concerns about confidentiality and receiving humane treatment (35%). CONCLUSION HIV+ individuals encounter many fears and concerns related to dental care; fear of the dentist and concerns about confidentiality and receiving humane treatment appear to be central issues. Dental providers should be aware of and better manage these issues.
Analgesic conotoxins: block and G protein‐coupled receptor modulation of N‐type (CaV2.2) calcium channels

Conotoxins (conopeptides) are small disulfide bonded peptides from the venom of marine cone snails. These peptides target a wide variety of membrane receptors, ion channels and transporters, and have enormous potential for a range of pharmaceutical applications. Structurally related ω‐conotoxins bind directly to and selectively inhibit neuronal (N)‐type voltage‐gated calcium channels (VGCCs) of nociceptive primary afferent neurones. Among these, ω‐conotoxin MVIIA (Prialt) is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as an alternative intrathecal analgesic for the management of chronic intractable pain, particularly in patients refractory to opioids. A series of newly discovered ω‐conotoxins from Conus catus, including CVID–F, are potent and selective antagonists of N‐type VGCCs. In spinal cord slices, these peptides reversibly inhibit excitatory synaptic transmission between primary afferents and dorsal horn superficial lamina neurones, and in the rat partial sciatic nerve ligation model of neuropathic pain, significantly reduce allodynic behaviour. Another family of conotoxins, the α‐conotoxins, are competitive antagonists of mammalian nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs). α‐Conotoxins Vc1.1 and RgIA possess two disulfide bonds and are currently in development as a treatment for neuropathic pain. It was initially proposed that the primary target of these peptides is the α9α10 neuronal nAChR. Surprisingly, however, α‐conotoxins Vc1.1, RgIA and PeIA more potently inhibit N‐type VGCC currents via a GABAB GPCR mechanism in rat sensory neurones. This inhibition is largely voltage‐independent and involves complex intracellular signalling. Understanding the molecular mechanisms of conotoxin action will lead to new ways to regulate VGCC block and modulation in normal and diseased states of the nervous system.