Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Fisheries management impacts on target species status

Significance There is broad public interest in the health of our oceans and marine life at local, national, and international levels. In recent years there has been increasing concern about whether our fisheries can sustainably provide seafood without overfishing fish stocks. Several papers have described the global status of fish populations (i.e., their abundance and exploitation rates) and have hypothesized influences of fisheries management, but this report is unique in being a comprehensive analysis of how specific management attributes (which are numerous and operate simultaneously) affect population status across oceans, countries, and taxonomic groups. Our report integrates management policies and population ecology to assess sustainable harvesting outcomes of target species in marine fisheries; results have important global food security implications. Fisheries management systems around the world are highly diverse in their design, operation, and effectiveness at meeting objectives. A variety of management institutions, strategies, and tactics are used across disparate regions, fishing fleets, and taxonomic groups. At a global level, it is unclear which particular management attributes have greatest influence on the status of fished populations, and also unclear which external factors affect the overall success of fisheries management systems. We used expert surveys to characterize the management systems by species of 28 major fishing nations and examined influences of economic, geographic, and fishery-related factors. A Fisheries Management Index, which integrated research, management, enforcement, and socioeconomic attributes, showed wide variation among countries and was strongly affected by per capita gross domestic product (positively) and capacity-enhancing subsidies (negatively). Among 13 management attributes considered, three were particularly influential in whether stock size and fishing mortality are currently in or trending toward desirable states: extensiveness of stock assessments, strength of fishing pressure limits, and comprehensiveness of enforcement programs. These results support arguments that the key to successful fisheries management is the implementation and enforcement of science-based catch or effort limits, and that monetary investment into fisheries can help achieve management objectives if used to limit fishing pressure rather than enhance fishing capacity. Countries with currently less-effective management systems have the greatest potential for improving long-term stock status outcomes and should be the focus of efforts to improve fisheries management globally.
Complement system contributes to modulate the infectivity of susceptible TcI strains of Trypanosoma cruzi

BACKGROUND Trypanosoma cruzi is a protozoan parasite and an etiological agent of Chagas disease. There is a wide variability in the clinical outcome of its infection, ranging from asymptomatic individuals to those with chronic fatal mega syndromes. Both parasite and host factors, as well as their interplay, are thought to be involved in the process. OBJECTIVES To evaluate the resistance to complement-mediated killing in two T. cruzi TcI strains with differential virulence and the subsequent effect on their infectivity in mammalian cells. METHODS Tissue-culture derived trypomastigotes of both strains were incubated in guinea pig serum and subjected to flow cytometry in order to determine their viability and complement activations. Trypomastigotes were also incubated on host cells monolayers in the presence of serum, and infectivity was evaluated under different conditions of complement pathway inhibition. Relative expression of the main parasite-specific complement receptors between the two strains was assessed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. FINDINGS In this work, we showed that two TcI strains, one with lower virulence (Ninoa) compared to the other (Qro), differ in their resistance to the lytic activity of complement system, hence causing a compromised ability of Ninoa strain to invade mammalian cells. These results correlate with the three-fold lower messenger RNA (mRNA) levels of complement regulatory protein (CRP), trypomastigote-decay acceleration factor (T-DAF), and complement C2 receptor inhibitor trispanning (CRIT) in Ninoa compared to those in Qro. On the other hand, calreticulin (CRT) mRNA and surface protein levels were higher in Ninoa strain and promoted its infectivity when the lectin pathway of the complement system was inhibited. MAIN CONCLUSIONS This work suggests the complex interplay of CRP, T-DAF, CRIT, and CRT, and the diagnostic value of mRNA levels in the assessment of virulence potential of T. cruzi strains, particularly when dealing with isolates with similar genetic background.
Factors Accelerating Dioxin Emission from Iron Ore Sintering Machines

Causal factors for dioxin (D) emission from iron ore sintering machines has been investigated by means of pot tests designed with the two-level seven-factor orthogonal array (L8(27)) and multiple regression analysis on commercial plant data.EP dust, BF dust and purchased scale were major D-accelerators; quick lime was a D-suppressor. D emission was not a sum but a product event of those factors, and their coefficients were 28, 4, 4 and 0.7 times for 5% EP dust, 5% BF dust, 5% purchased scale and 2% quick lime additions, respectively. As for operational conditions, bed height, coke content, gas velocity and after burning had insignificant effects whereas the increase of hearth layer and the decrease of BTP position increased D emission, which implied the hearth layer and wind boxes could be other synthesis sites.
Heterogeneous nucleation of a semicrystalline polymer on fiber surfaces

ABatroct Nucleation phenomenon as aEkcted by the surface conditions of six identical d n o n w o o d fibers with three l d of fiber tnatm~nts were investigated by a d i n a t i o n of complementary tedad~ues. This study was based on results of a preliminary study on the influence of surface c-tics of thermondmnical pulp (TMP) fibers on the tl.anocrjrstalline layer (TCL) gmwth and its codation with intmkhl stt.engtb ~ E S . Surface morphology of fiber mat d armd hnucleation phemmenonon the fiber materid was carried out using scanning electmnk a d p c k b r light micopy. The nudeation e f 8 c k q was aramiaed in a polymermetrixtodetefmineunityfadars(~),which directlyc~plabs~ibbsfreeenrrgyfnacarrelatlonof h v e o u s and ~lllcleation. The factor was gemmed from the crystafline deposit angle memmment on the fiber d c e during isothermal cqstdhtion temperature at 140°& 0.1%. Both meammmmts indicate that of extractedglradsurEaoewashedfibersi&slce~ induced hnucleation of polypmpylene. Morphologid changes an the fiber surface were rp ported due to an elimination of relatively small partid e s ~ e g c h k v d o f s u r f a o e ~ t a n d f e w e r particles on the fiber surface indicated d d nucleation ability on the surfaa.
Very Robust Low Complexity Lattice Filters

In this paper, a novel lattice filter structure is derived by combining the “tapped numerator” and “injected numerator” lattices [Y. C. Lim, “On the Synthesis of IIR Digital Filters Derived From Single Channel AR Lattice Network,” IEEE Trans. Acoust. , Speech, Signal Process. , vol. ASSP-32, no. 4, pp. 741-749, August 1984]. The injector coefficients are optimized for finite wordlength performance while the tapped coefficients synthesize the transfer function of the filters. For an N th-order digital filter, the proposed “tapped numerator” and “injected numerator” hybrid lattice structure, after optimization, has only 2N+1 multipliers. It is not only canonic in the number of multipliers but also possesses much improved finite wordlength properties such as very low parameter sensitivity and very uniform signal powers across signal nodes. The excellent finite wordlength performance of the proposed structure is demonstrated with a design example and compared with those of traditional structures, including several well-known lattice structures.
System analysis of the regulation of the immune response by CD147 and FOXC1 in cancer cell lines

CD147, encoded by BSG, is a highly glycosylated transmembrane protein that belongs to the immunological superfamily and expressed on the surface of many types of cancer cells. While CD147 is best known as a potent inducer of extracellular matrix metalloproteinases, it can also function as a key mediator of inflammatory and immune responses. To systematically elucidate the function of CD147 in cancer cells, we performed an analysis of genome-wide profiling across the Cancer Cell Line Encyclopedia (CCLE). We showed that CD147 mRNA expression was much higher than that of most other genes in cancer cell lines. CD147 varied widely across these cell lines, with the highest levels in the ovary (COLO704) and stomach (SNU668), intermediate levels in the lung (RERFLCKJ, NCIH596 and NCIH1651) and lowest levels in hematopoietic and lymphoid tissue (UT7, HEL9217, HEL and MHHCALL3) and the kidney (A704 and SLR20). Genome-wide analyses showed that CD147 expression was significantly negatively correlated with immune-related genes. Our findings implicated CD147 as a novel regulator of immune-related genes and suggest its important role as a master regulator of immune-related responses in cancer cell lines. We also found a high correlation between the expression of CD147 and FOXC1, and proved that CD147 was a direct transcriptional target of FOXC1. Our findings demonstrate that FOXC1 is a novel regulator of CD147 and confirms its role as a master regulator of the immune response.
The laminar organization of the Drosophila ellipsoid body is semaphorin-dependent and prevents the formation of ectopic synaptic connections

The ellipsoid body (EB) in the Drosophila brain is a central complex (CX) substructure that harbors circumferentially laminated ring (R) neuron axons and mediates multifaceted sensory integration and motor coordination functions. However, what regulates R axon lamination and how lamination affects R neuron function remain unknown. We show here that the EB is sequentially innervated by small-field and large-field neurons and that early developing EB neurons play an important regulatory role in EB laminae formation. The transmembrane proteins semaphorin-1a (Sema-1a) and plexin A function together to regulate R axon lamination. R neurons recruit both GABA and GABA-A receptors to their axon terminals in the EB, and optogenetic stimulation coupled with electrophysiological recordings show that Sema-1a-dependent R axon lamination is required for preventing the spread of synaptic inhibition between adjacent EB lamina. These results provide direct evidence that EB lamination is critical for local pre-synaptic inhibitory circuit organization. DOI: http://dx.doi. org/10.7554/eLife.25328. 001
An Ecological Dynamics Approach to Skill Acquisition: Implications for Development of Talent in Sport

This paper proposes how ecological dynamics, a theory focusing on the performer-environment relationship, provides a basis for understanding skill acquisition in sport. From this perspective, learners are conceptualized as complex, neurobiological systems in which inherent self-organisation tendencies support the emergence of adaptive behaviours under a range of interacting task and environmental constraints. Intentions, perceptions and actions are viewed as intertwined processes which underpin functional movement solutions assembled by each learner during skill acquisition. These ideas suggest that skill acquisition programmes need to sample information from the performance environment to guide behaviour in practice tasks. Skill acquisition task protocols should allow performers to use movement variability to explore and create opportunities for action, rather than constraining them to passively receiving information. This conceptualisation also needs to characterize the design of talent evaluation tests, which need to faithfully represent the perception-action relationships in the performance environment. Since the dynamic nature of changing task constraints in sports cannot be predicted over longer timescales, an implication is that talent programmes should focus on developing performance expertise in each individual, rather than over-relying on identification of expert performers at specific points in time.
Structural, electronic and optical properties of Cu-doped ZnO: experimental and theoretical investigation

Experiments are supplemented with ab initio density functional theory (DFT) calculations in order to investigate how the structural, electronic and optical properties of zinc oxide (ZnO) thin films are modified upon Cu doping. Changes in characteristic properties of doped thin films, that are deposited on a glass substrate by sol–gel dip coating technique, are monitored using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and UV measurements. Our ab initio calculations show that the electronic structure of ZnO can be well described by DFT+U/ method and we find that Cu atom substitutional doping in ZnO is the most favourable case. Our XRD measurements reveal that the crystallite size of the films decrease with increasing Cu doping. Moreover, we determine the optical constants such as refractive index, extinction coefficient, optical dielectric function and optical energy band gap values of the films by means of UV–Vis transmittance spectra. The optical band gap of ZnO the thin film linearly decreases from 3.25 to 3.20 eV at 5% doping. In addition, our calculations reveal that the electronic defect states that stem from Cu atoms are not optically active and the optical band gap is determined by the ZnO band edges. Experimentally observed structural and optical results are in good agreement with our theoretical results.
Proteasome dysfunction in cardiomyopathies

The ubiquitin–proteasome system (UPS) plays a critical role in removing unwanted intracellular proteins and is involved in protein quality control, signalling and cell death. Because the heart is subject to continuous metabolic and mechanical stress, the proteasome plays a particularly important role in the heart, and proteasome dysfunction has been suggested as a causative factor in cardiac dysfunction. Proteasome impairment has been detected in cardiomyopathies, heart failure, myocardial ischaemia, and hypertrophy. Proteasome inhibition is also sufficient to cause cardiac dysfunction in healthy pigs, and patients using a proteasome inhibitor for cancer therapy have a higher incidence of heart failure. In this Topical Review we discuss the experimental data which suggest UPS dysfunction is a common feature of cardiomyopathies, with an emphasis on hypertrophic cardiomyopathy caused by sarcomeric mutations. We also propose potential mechanisms by which cardiomyopathy‐causing mutations may lead to proteasome impairment, such as altered calcium handling and increased oxidative stress due to mitochondrial dysfunction.
Transforming Growth Factor-β2 Downregulates Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) I and MHC II Surface Expression on Equine Bone Marrow-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells Without Altering Other Phenotypic Cell Surface Markers

Allogeneic mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are a promising cell source for treating musculoskeletal injuries in horses. Effective and safe allogeneic therapy may be hindered, however, by recipient immune recognition and rejection of major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-mismatched MSCs. Development of strategies to prevent immune rejection of MHC-mismatched MSCs in vivo is necessary to enhance cell survival and potentially increase the efficacy and safety of allogeneic MSC therapy. The purposes of this study were to evaluate if transforming growth factor-β2 (TGF-β2) downregulated MHC expression on equine MSCs and to determine if TGF-β2 treatment altered the phenotype of MSCs. Equine bone marrow-derived MSCs from 12 horses were treated with 1, 5, or 10 ng/ml TGF-β2 from initial isolation until MHC expression analysis. TGF-β2-treated MSCs had reduced MHC I and MHC II surface expression compared to untreated controls. TGF-β2 treatment also partially blocked IFN-γ-induced upregulation of MHC I and MHC II. Constitutive and IFN-γ-induced MHC I and MHC II expression on equine MSCs was dynamic and highly variable, and the effect of TGF-β2 was significantly dependent on the donor animal and baseline MHC expression. TGF-β2 treatment did not appear to change morphology, surface marker expression, MSC viability, or secretion of TGF-β1, but did significantly increase the number of cells obtained from culture. These results indicate that TGF-β2 treatment has promise for regulating MHC expression on MSCs to facilitate allogeneic therapy, but further work is needed to maintain MHC stability when exposed to an inflammatory stimulus.
Healing potential of fibroblast cells cultured on a PLA/CS nanofibrous scaffold in skin regeneration in Wistar rat

Introduction Although chronic wounds are common in all population, treatment for these disabling conditions remains limited and largely ineffective. In this study, we examined the benefits of transplantation of fibroblast cells, cultured on PLA/CS (Poly lactic acid/ Chitosan) scaffold, in wound healing. Materials and Methods : In this study, fibroblast cells were cultured on nanofibrous PLA/CS scaffold then transplanted in rat. The PLA/CS scaffold was prepared by electrospinning method. Also histological staining methods were used to evaluate cell density and amount of collagen. Results : The macroscopic observations and histological staining showed that the wound healed much quicker in PLA/CS scaffold in compare to control group. In vivo assessment showed that treatment with fibroblast cell loaded scaffolds significantly promoted cell density and amount of collagen in rat compared to control group. Conclusion : These results indicated that the capacity of nanofibrous PLA/CS scaffold cultured with fibroblast cells in vivo wound healing.
Letter to the Editor: Bicuspid Aortic Valve-Family Screening and Indications for Intervention.

Background: Diabetes disproportionately impacts the Hispanic community. Within the Advocate Lutheran General Hospital (ALGH) primary service area (PSA), ZIP code 60018 has twice the Hispanic population of other PSA ZIP codes. The 60018 initiative was developed to explore data on diabetes, partner with the 60018 Hispanic community, and improve the resident curriculum, thereby aligning our CHNA, population health, and GME goals. Methods: We reviewed the CHNA, ALGH hospital data, and community survey data and conducted a literature review. We conducted a family medicine residency tour of the community and recommended curriculum revisions after performing a curriculum and literature review. We established a partnership with St. Stephen Protomartyr Catholic Church, offering free diabetes screenings and diabetes education. Results: Through the partnership with St. Stephen Protomartyr Catholic Church, we obtained 23 completed surveys, conducted 3 focus groups with 20 participants, screened 23 patients, and held 4 education sessions with 12-15 attendees at each session. The screenings identified 8 individuals with an A1c of 5.7%-6.4% and 8 individuals with an A1c >6.5% (2 with an A1c >11%). The NI V work was incorporated into the new revision of ALGH’s CHNA. Grant money was secured to sustain the work, and family medicine residency curriculum changes were implemented. Conclusion: Our partnership with St. Stephen Protomartyr Catholic Church is a step toward preventing and reducing the impact of diabetes in the Hispanic community via culturally appropriate screening and diabetes prevention. However, cultural skepticism has a history, and trust takes time to build. ALGH has committed to long-term support of the work.
Fall prevention with supplemental and active forms of vitamin D: a meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials

Objective To test the efficacy of supplemental vitamin D and active forms of vitamin D with or without calcium in preventing falls among older individuals. Data sources We searched Medline, the Cochrane central register of controlled trials, BIOSIS, and Embase up to August 2008 for relevant articles. Further studies were identified by consulting clinical experts, bibliographies, and abstracts. We contacted authors for additional data when necessary. Review methods Only double blind randomised controlled trials of older individuals (mean age 65 years or older) receiving a defined oral dose of supplemental vitamin D (vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) or vitamin D2 (ergocalciferol)) or an active form of vitamin D (1α-hydroxyvitamin D3 (1α-hydroxycalciferol) or 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol)) and with sufficiently specified fall assessment were considered for inclusion. Results Eight randomised controlled trials (n=2426) of supplemental vitamin D met our inclusion criteria. Heterogeneity among trials was observed for dose of vitamin D (700-1000 IU/day v 200-600 IU/day; P=0.02) and achieved 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 concentration (25(OH)D concentration: <60 nmol/l v ≥60 nmol/l; P=0.005). High dose supplemental vitamin D reduced fall risk by 19% (pooled relative risk (RR) 0.81, 95% CI 0.71 to 0.92; n=1921 from seven trials), whereas achieved serum 25(OH)D concentrations of 60 nmol/l or more resulted in a 23% fall reduction (pooled RR 0.77, 95% CI 0.65 to 0.90). Falls were not notably reduced by low dose supplemental vitamin D (pooled RR 1.10, 95% CI 0.89 to 1.35; n=505 from two trials) or by achieved serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations of less than 60 nmol/l (pooled RR 1.35, 95% CI 0.98 to 1.84). Two randomised controlled trials (n=624) of active forms of vitamin D met our inclusion criteria. Active forms of vitamin D reduced fall risk by 22% (pooled RR 0.78, 95% CI 0.64 to 0.94). Conclusions Supplemental vitamin D in a dose of 700-1000 IU a day reduced the risk of falling among older individuals by 19% and to a similar degree as active forms of vitamin D. Doses of supplemental vitamin D of less than 700 IU or serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations of less than 60 nmol/l may not reduce the risk of falling among older individuals.
Synthesis of Fluorescent Metallic Nanoclusters toward Biomedical Application: Recent Progress and Present Challenges

Recent advances in nanomaterials have produced a new class of fluorescent labels by biocognition molecules to fluorescent noble-metal nanoclusters such as Au and Ag. In particular, the emission wavelength of metallic nanoclusters can be tuned by changing the capping molecules, and a single light source is needed for simultaneous excitation of all different-emissive nanoclusters, which is similar to semiconductor quantum dots. In this review, we highlight the recent advances in synthesis approaches, biomolecular conjugation and its biomedical application. Fabricating the color-emitting metal nanoclusters using the template-based synthesis (i.e., dendrimer, oligonucleotide, proteins, polyelectrolyte, and polymer) and monolayer-protected nanocluster (MPC) synthesis (i.e., dihydrogen lipoic acid and mercaptoundecanoic acid) are described. High-quality nanoclusters are also more biocompatible and stable against photobleaching compared with organic dyes. These novel optical properties render the fluorescent noble-metal nanoclusters ideal fluorophores for multicolor and multiplexing applications in biomedical engineering and molecular biotechnology.