Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Leptin Potentiates Endothelium-Dependent Relaxation by Inducing Endothelial Expression of Neuronal NO Synthase

Objective—Obesity is associated with hyperleptinemia but it is not clear whether leptin protects vascular function or promotes dysfunction. We therefore studied the consequences of hyperleptinemia in lean mice. Methods and Results—Wild-type and endothelial NO synthase (eNOS)−/− mice were infused with leptin (0.4 mg/kg per day, 7 days), and endothelium-dependent relaxation was studied in aortic segments. Leptin had no effect on acetylcholine-induced endothelium-dependent relaxation in normal wild-type mice but restored endothelium-dependent relaxation in wild-type mice treated with angiotensin II (0.7 mg/kg per day, 7 days) to induce endothelial dysfunction. Leptin also sensitized aortae from eNOS−/− mice to acetylcholine, an effect blocked by neuronal NOS (nNOS) inhibition and not observed in eNOS-nNOS double−/− mice. Consistent with these findings, leptin induced nNOS expression in murine and human vessels and human endothelial but not smooth muscle cells. Aortic nNOS expression was also induced in mice by a high-fat diet. Mechanistically, leptin increased endothelial Janus kinase 2 and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 phosphorylation, and inhibition of Janus kinase 2 prevented nNOS induction in cultured cells and leptin-induced relaxations in eNOS−/− mice. Conclusion—Leptin induces endothelial nNOS expression, which compensates, in part, for a lack of NO production by eNOS to maintain endothelium-dependent relaxation.
Heavy metals in water, sediment, and edible macroalgae (Nostochopsis spp.)

1 Faculty of Science, Chiangmai University, Chiangmai Province 50200 2 Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, California State University, Fullerton, California 92834, USA The concentrations of the heavy metals: cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), mercury (Hg), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb) and zinc (Zn) were examined among different sources of couple areas of Nan province, Thailand. The heavy metal concentrations were very low in water, and low and fluctuated concentration with Zn of 884.67 to 3,786 mg/kg in sediment. Whereas, in blue green algae (Nostochopsis spp.) Zn concentration was 884.67 to 1,634 mg/kg, but the others were not detectable.
Protective Role for Antioxidants in Acute Kidney Disease

Acute kidney injury causes significant morbidity and mortality in the community and clinic. Various pathologies, including renal and cardiovascular disease, traumatic injury/rhabdomyolysis, sepsis, and nephrotoxicity, that cause acute kidney injury (AKI), induce general or regional decreases in renal blood flow. The ensuing renal hypoxia and ischemia promotes the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) such as superoxide radical anions, peroxides, and hydroxyl radicals, that can oxidatively damage biomolecules and membranes, and affect organelle function and induce renal tubule cell injury, inflammation, and vascular dysfunction. Acute kidney injury is associated with increased oxidative damage, and various endogenous and synthetic antioxidants that mitigate source and derived oxidants are beneficial in cell-based and animal studies. However, the benefit of synthetic antioxidant supplementation in human acute kidney injury and renal disease remains to be realized. The endogenous low-molecular weight, non-proteinaceous antioxidant, ascorbate (vitamin C), is a promising therapeutic in human renal injury in critical illness and nephrotoxicity. Ascorbate may exert significant protection by reducing reactive oxygen species and renal oxidative damage via its antioxidant activity, and/or by its non-antioxidant functions in maintaining hydroxylase and monooxygenase enzymes, and endothelium and vascular function. Ascorbate supplementation may be particularly important in renal injury patients with low vitamin C status.
Specialized Pro-Resolving Lipid Mediators Regulate Ozone-Induced Pulmonary and Systemic Inflammation

Exposure to ozone (O3) induces lung injury, pulmonary inflammation, and alters lipid metabolism. During tissue inflammation, specialized pro-resolving lipid mediators (SPMs) facilitate the resolution of inflammation. SPMs regulate the pulmonary immune response during infection and allergic asthma; however, the role of SPMs in O3-induced pulmonary injury and inflammation is unknown. We hypothesize that O3 exposure induces pulmonary inflammation by reducing SPMs. To evaluate this, male C57Bl/6J mice were exposed to filtered air (FA) or 1 ppm O3 for 3 h and necropsied 24 h after exposure. Pulmonary injury/inflammation was determined by bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) differentials, protein, and lung tissue cytokine expression. SPMs were quantified by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry and SPM receptors leukotriene B4 receptor 1 (BLT-1), formyl peptide receptor 2 (ALX/FPR2), chemokine-like receptor 1 (ChemR23), and SPM-generating enzyme (5-LOX and 12/15-LOX) expression were measured by real time PCR. 24 h post-O3 exposure, BAL PMNs and protein content were significantly increased compared to FA controls. O3-induced lung inflammation was associated with significant decreases in pulmonary SPM precursors (14-HDHA, 17-HDHA), the SPM PDX, and in pulmonary ALX/FPR2, ChemR23, and 12/15-LOX expression. Exogenous administration of 14-HDHA, 17-HDHA, and PDX 1 h prior to O3 exposure rescued pulmonary SPM precursors/SPMs, decreased proinflammatory cytokine and chemokine expression, and decreased BAL macrophages and PMNs. Taken together, these data indicate that O3-mediated SPM reductions may drive O3-induced pulmonary inflammation.
AtFH1 formin mutation affects actin filament and microtubule dynamics in Arabidopsis thaliana

Plant cell growth and morphogenesis depend on remodelling of both actin and microtubule cytoskeletons. AtFH1 (At5g25500), the main housekeeping Arabidopsis formin, is targeted to membranes and known to nucleate and bundle actin. The effect of mutations in AtFH1 on root development and cytoskeletal dynamics was examined. Consistent with primarily actin-related formin function, fh1 mutants showed increased sensitivity to the actin polymerization inhibitor latrunculin B (LatB). LatB-treated mutants had thicker, shorter roots than wild-type plants. Reduced cell elongation and morphological abnormalities were observed in both trichoblasts and atrichoblasts. Fluorescently tagged cytoskeletal markers were used to follow cytoskeletal dynamics in wild-type and mutant plants using confocal microscopy and VAEM (variable-angle epifluorescence microscopy). Mutants exhibited more abundant but less dynamic F-actin bundles and more dynamic microtubules than wild-type seedlings. Treatment of wild-type seedlings with a formin inhibitor, SMIFH2, mimicked the root growth and cell expansion phenotypes and cytoskeletal structure alterations observed in fh1 mutants. The results suggest that besides direct effects on actin organization, the in vivo role of AtFH1 also includes modulation of microtubule dynamics, possibly mediated by actin–microtubule cross-talk.
The Primary Sequence of Rhesus Monkey Rhadinovirus Isolate 26-95: Sequence Similarities to Kaposi's Sarcoma-Associated Herpesvirus and Rhesus Monkey Rhadinovirus Isolate 17577

ABSTRACT The primary sequence of the long unique region L-DNA (L for low GC) of rhesus monkey rhadinovirus (RRV) isolate 26-95 was determined. The L-DNA consists of 130,733 bp that contain 84 open reading frames (ORFs). The overall organization of the RRV26-95 genome was found to be very similar to that of human Kaposi sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV). BLAST search analysis revealed that in almost all cases RRV26-95 coding sequences have a greater degree of similarity to corresponding KSHV sequences than to other herpesviruses. All of the ORFs present in KSHV have at least one homologue in RRV26-95 except K3 and K5 (bovine herpesvirus-4 immediate-early protein homologues), K7 (nut-1), and K12 (Kaposin). RRV26-95 contains one MIP-1 and eight interferon regulatory factor (vIRF) homologues compared to three MIP-1 and four vIRF homologues in KSHV. All homologues are correspondingly located in KSHV and RRV with the exception of dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR). DHFR is correspondingly located near the left end of the genome in RRV26-95 and herpesvirus saimiri (HVS), but in KSHV the DHFR gene is displaced 16,069 nucleotides in a rightward direction in the genome. DHFR is also unusual in that the RRV26-95 DHFR more closely resembles HVS DHFR (74% similarity) than KSHV DHFR (55% similarity). Of the 84 ORFs in RRV26-95, 83 contain sequences similar to the recently determined sequences of the independent RRV isolate 17577. RRV26-95 and RRV17577 sequences differ in that ORF 67.5 sequences contained in RRV26-95 were not found in RRV17577. In addition, ORF 4 is significantly shorter in RRV26-95 than was reported for RRV17577 (395 versus 645 amino acids). Only four of the corresponding ORFs between RRV26-95 and RRV17577 exhibited less than 95% sequence identity: glycoproteins H and L, uracil DNA glucosidase, and a tegument protein (ORF 67). Both RRV26-95 and RRV17577 have unique ORFs between positions 21444 to 21752 and 110910 to 114899 in a rightward direction and from positions 116524 to 111082 in a leftward direction that are not found in KSHV. Our analysis indicates that RRV26-95 and RRV17577 are clearly independent isolates of the same virus species and that both are closely related in structural organization and overall sequence to KSHV. The availability of detailed sequence information, the ability to grow RRV lytically in cell culture, and the ability to infect monkeys experimentally with RRV will facilitate the construction of mutant strains of virus for evaluating the contribution of individual genes to biological properties.
Development of Conventional and Nanocrystalline Bond Coats by Cold Gas Dynamic Spraying for Aerospace Thermal Barrier Coatings

Gas turbine engines are considered to be among the most hostile operating environments for conventional material systems. Increasing demands for higher engine performance and durability of components have led to the development of thermal barrier coating (TBC) systems. Typical TBC systems consist of two coating layers: an insulating ceramic top coat for thermal protection and an underlying metallic bond coat for improved adhesion of the top coat and better chemical protection against high temperature oxidation and hot corrosion. However, current use of these coating systems is limited due to their premature failure which is associated to cracking and delaminating of the ceramic top coat. It is generally accepted that the primary mechanism responsible for TBC failure is attributed to oxidation of the bond coat which results in the formation of an oxide scale at the interface between the bond coat and ceramic top coat and eventually causes cracking and delamination of the top coat. Better understanding and control of the bond coat oxidation dynamics is therefore of primary importance for the development of TBC systems with improved performance. The bond coat is commonly manufactured by thermal spray techniques: the bond coat material, initially in powder form, is heated beyond its melting point, projected onto the surface to be coated and finally re-solidified upon cooling to form a coating. It has been demonstrated that certain microstrucrural features of the bond coat that are detrimental to its oxidation behaviour originate from thermally induced effects encountered during thermal spraying. Therefore, it is expected that improved bond coat oxidation behaviour could be achieved if the deposition process did not involve significant heating of the material. Recent developments in the surface and coatings industry have given rise to a new coating technology known as Cold Gas Dynamic Spraying (CGDS). As its name implies, this process does not rely on thermal energy for the formation of coatings, but rather on kinetic energy: particles are accelerated above a critical velocity and plastically deform upon impact on the substrate to adhere and form a coating. Due to the absence of significant heating of the sprayed material, this work aims to manufacture bond coats using the CGDS deposition technique and investigate whether improved oxidation behaviour can be achieved.
Role of smooth muscle cells in vascular calcification: implications in atherosclerosis and arterial stiffness

Abstract Vascular calcification is associated with a significant increase in all-cause mortality and atherosclerotic plaque rupture. Calcification has been determined to be an active process driven in part by vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) transdifferentiation within the vascular wall. Historically, VSMC phenotype switching has been viewed as binary, with the cells able to adopt a physiological contractile phenotype or an alternate ‘synthetic’ phenotype in response to injury. More recent work, including lineage tracing has however revealed that VSMCs are able to adopt a number of phenotypes, including calcific (osteogenic, chondrocytic, and osteoclastic), adipogenic, and macrophagic phenotypes. Whilst the mechanisms that drive VSMC differentiation are still being elucidated it is becoming clear that medial calcification may differ in several ways from the intimal calcification seen in atherosclerotic lesions, including risk factors and specific drivers for VSMC phenotype changes and calcification. This article aims to compare and contrast the role of VSMCs in driving calcification in both atherosclerosis and in the vessel media focusing on the major drivers of calcification, including aging, uraemia, mechanical stress, oxidative stress, and inflammation. The review also discusses novel findings that have also brought attention to specific pro- and anti-calcifying proteins, extracellular vesicles, mitochondrial dysfunction, and a uraemic milieu as major determinants of vascular calcification.
Sensitivity of thermohaline circulation to decadal and multidecadal variability

Lorenzo, M. N. , Taboada, J. J., and Iglesias, I. 2009. Sensitivity of thermohaline circulation to decadal and multidecadal variability. - ICES Journal of Marine Science, 66: 1439-1447.In this paper, stochastic freshwater inputs with different variabilities are introduced into an Earth Model of Intermediate Complexity to study their effect on the behaviour of the thermohaline circulation (THC). The variability in the stochastic signal was set to be either decadal or multidecadal (70 years), based on intensity modulation of the El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) phenomenon. The results demonstrate a weakening of the THC in both the decadal and the multidecadal cases. This weakening results in a reduction in air surface temperature, mainly in the North Atlantic. Moreover, the 500-mb stream function also weakens. This causes lower rainfall in Western Europe, except in the areas most influenced by the Gulf Stream. Sea surface temperature is reduced significantly in the area around Greenland, whereas sea surface salinity is reduced around Greenland and in the Gulf Stream, but increased in the Labrador Sea and in Hudson Strait. The latter effects are more marked in the case where the variability of the inputs is multidecadal. The main implication of these results is that the natural decadal or multidecadal variability in freshwater inputs could have noticeable effects on the fate of the THC, which may be superimposed on the effects of climate change.
SCALE DEPENDENT EFFECTS OF BIOTIC RESISTANCE TO BIOLOGICAL INVASION

As nonindigenous species continue to displace native species and disrupt ecosystems, understanding the degree to which native species richness affects the vulner- ability of communities to nonindigenous species invasions has grown in importance. Native and exotic species diversity are often positively correlated in large-scale observational studies, but negatively correlated in small-scale experimental studies. This discrepancy suggests that the scale of invasion studies may be an important influence on their outcomes. Using a competition-based model that exhibits a negative relationship on a small scale, we show that changes in the number of available resources across communities can cause invasion success to become positively correlated with native species diversity at larger scales. The strength of the positive correlation, however, depends on the relationship be- tween niche breadth and species diversity in natural communities. Adding species to a community or removing resources has a similar effect—increasing the sum of interspecific interaction strengths, which decreases invasion success.
A New Index for Quantitative Monitoring of Wear Debris

A new metal wear debris monitoring instrument(MDMI)was developed based on traditional direct reading ferrograph.The precipitation behaviors of sub magnetic debris,magnetic debris,and the mixture of sub magnetic debris and magnetic debris were examined with the instrument. Thus a new index for quantitative analysis of wear debris is redefined. Two approaches to set the values of the index alarm are suggested.
Designing Visualisation and Interaction for Social E-Learning : A Study on Topolor 2

This paper presents the design of the visualisation and interaction in Topolor 2, an online learning system that supports social e-learning using adaptation and personalisation techniques. The main goal of this study is to investigate if and how the visualisation and interaction design based on selfdetermination theory (SDT) can improve the learning experience and learning efficiency. The goal of this paper and demo is to showcase the new design of the visualisation and interaction features hands-on at the conference.
Dietary Flavonoid Intake and Smoking-Related Cancer Risk: A Meta-Analysis

Purpose To systematically investigate the effects of dietary flavonoids and flavonoid subclasses on the risk of smoking-related cancer in observational studies. Methods Summary estimates and corresponding standard errors were calculated using the multivariate-adjusted odds ratio (OR) or relative risk (RR) and 95% CI of selected studies and weighted by the inverse variance. Results A total of 35 studies, including 19 case-controls (9,525 cases and 15,835 controls) and 15 cohort studies (988,082 subjects and 8,161 cases), were retrieved for the meta-analysis. Total dietary flavonoids and most of the flavonoid subclasses were inversely associated with smoking-related cancer risk (OR: 0.82, 95% CI: 0.72-0.93). In subgroup analyses by cancer site, significant associations were observed in aerodigestive tract and lung cancers. Total dietary flavonoid intake was significantly associated with aerodigestive tract cancer risk (OR: 0.67, 95% CI: 0.54-0.83) marginally associated with lung cancer risk (OR: 0.84, 95% CI: 0.71-1.00). Subgroup analyses by smoking status showed significantly different results. The intake of total flavonoids, flavonols, flavones, and flavanones, as well as the flavonols quercetin and kaempferol was significantly associated with decreased risk of smoking-related cancer in smokers, whereas no association was observed in non-smokers, except for flavanones. In meta-analysis for the effect of subclasses of dietary flavonoids by cancer type, aerodigestive tract cancer was inversely associated with most flavonoid subclasses. Conclusion The protective effects of flavonoids on smoking-related cancer risk varied across studies, but the overall results indicated that intake of dietary flavonoids, especially flavonols, was inversely associated with smoking-related cancer risk. The protective effects of flavonoids on smoking-related cancer risk were more prominent in smokers.
Psychometric properties of the Sexual Excitation/Sexual Inhibition Inventory for Women and Men (SESII-W/M) and the Sexual Excitation Scales/Sexual Inhibition Scales short form (SIS/SES-SF) in a population-based sample in Germany

The Sexual Excitation Sexual/Inhibition Inventory for Women and Men (SESII-W/M) and the Sexual Excitation Scales/Sexual Inhibition Scales short form (SIS/SES-SF) are two self-report questionnaires for assessing sexual excitation (SE) and sexual inhibition (SI). According to the dual control model of sexual response, SE and SI differ between individuals and influence the occurrence of sexual arousal in given situations. Extreme levels of SE and SI are postulated to be associated with sexual difficulties or risky sexual behaviors. The present study was designed to assess the psychometric properties of the German versions of both questionnaires utilizing a large population-based sample of 2,708 participants (Mage = 51.19, SD = 14.03). Overall, psychometric evaluation of the two instruments yielded good convergent and discriminant validity and mediocre to good internal consistency. The original 30-item version of the SESII-W/M did not show a sufficient model fit. For a 24-item version of the SESII-W/M partial strong measurement invariance across gender, and strong measurement invariance across relationship status, age, and educational levels were established. The original structure (14 items, 3 factors) of the SIS/SES-SF was not replicated. However, a 4-factor model including 13 items showed a good model fit and strong measurement invariance across the before-mentioned participant groups. For both questionnaires, partial strong measurement invariance with the original American versions of the scales was found. As some factors showed unsatisfactory internal consistency and the factor structure of the original scales could not be replicated, scores on several SE- and SI-factors should be interpreted with caution. However, most analyses indicated sufficient psychometric quality of the German SESII-W/M and SIS/SES-SF and their use can be recommended in German-speaking samples. More research with diverse samples (i.e., different sexual orientations, individuals with sexual difficulties) is needed to ensure the replicability of the factor solutions presented in this study.
The effect of long-term laboratory aging on asphalt concrete fracture energy

This paper describes how pavement age over time from the effects of the environment and traffic loads. This study was conducted to examine asphalt mixture laboratory aging protocols from the standpoint of both mixture and binder physical properties that are believed to relate to various forms of pavement cracking. The new protocol, aging uncompacted mix at 135°C for 24-hours appeared to give more realistic results compared to the AASHTO R30 long-term aging procedure in regards to compliance and tensile strength for the unmodified MnROAD Cell 33 mixture. The results of this paper suggest that the R30 procedure may not be severe enough on the basis of mixture fracture properties (using the Disk-Shaped Compact Tension Test), but appears to be conservative with respect to the aging of the binders on the basis of testing of the recovered binder through the Double-Edge Notched Tension Test, the Direct Tension Test, and the Bending Beam Rheometer. This paper also found that the proposed 24-hour, 135°C loose mix aging procedure may be slightly conservative with respect to mixture fracture behavior, but overly conservative (too much aging) on the basis of testing of the recovered binders. This study highlights the potential danger in selecting an aging procedure or conditioning parameters based upon binder or mixture testing alone. It also recommends that more polymer modified mixtures be investigated, as it may be necessary to develop a separate aging protocol for unmodified and modified asphalt concrete mixtures.