Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Expression of the Arginine Vasopressin Gene in Response to Salt Loading in Oxytocin Gene Knockout Mice

Accumulating evidence suggests that both oxytocin and arginine vasopressin (AVP) are vital components in the regulation of body fluid balance. However, the physiological role of oxytocin and possible cooperative interactions between oxytocin and AVP in sodium balance remain obscure, even though recent studies using oxytocin knockout (OTKO) mice suggested that oxytocin may contribute to the regulation of salt appetite. In the present study, we examined the effects of salt loading (drinking 2% NaCl for 5 days) on the expression of the AVP gene in the paraventricular (PVN) and supraoptic nuclei (SON) of wild‐type, OTKO and heterozygous littermates using in situ hybridization histochemistry. In addition, the effects of salt loading on the expression of the oxytocin gene were also examined in wild‐type and heterozygous mice. Under the non salt‐loaded condition, the levels of AVP mRNA in the PVN and SON of OTKO mice were significantly decreased compared to those in wild‐type mice. Nevertheless, the up‐regulation of the expression of the AVP gene in response to salt loading was preserved in OTKO mice. The degree of the up‐regulation in OTKO mice tended to be greater compared to those in wild‐type mice, suggesting compensatory up‐regulation of the expression of the AVP gene in OTKO mice after salt loading. The basal levels of oxytocin mRNA in the PVN and SON of heterozygous mice were significantly lower than those in wild‐type mice. Salt loading caused an increase of oxytocin mRNA levels in the PVN and SON of both wild‐type and heterozygous mice. The ratios of increase of oxytocin mRNA levels were very similar between wild‐type and heterozygous mice, suggesting that the single remaining oxytocin gene in heterozygous mice responds normally to an osmotic cue. Finally, salt loading tended to increase the serum concentration of sodium regardless of genotype, and there were no genotype differences in both the control and salt‐loaded groups. These results suggest ways in which oxytocin may play a cooperative role together with AVP in the regulation of sodium balance.
Amyloid-β Peptide Nitrotyrosination Stabilizes Oligomers and Enhances NMDAR-Mediated Toxicity

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the pathological aggregation of the amyloid-β peptide (Aβ). Monomeric soluble Aβ can switch from helicoidal to β-sheet conformation, promoting its assembly into oligomers and subsequently to amyloid fibrils. Oligomers are highly toxic to neurons and have been reported to induce synaptic transmission impairments. The progression from oligomers to fibrils forming senile plaques is currently considered a protective mechanism to avoid the presence of the highly toxic oligomers. Protein nitration is a frequent post-translational modification under AD nitrative stress conditions. Aβ can be nitrated at tyrosine 10 (Y10) by peroxynitrite. Based on our analysis of ThT binding, Western blot and electron and atomic force microscopy, we report that Aβ nitration stabilizes soluble, highly toxic oligomers and impairs the formation of fibrils. We propose a mechanism by which fibril elongation is interrupted upon Y10 nitration: Nitration disrupts fibril-forming folds by preventing H14-mediated bridging, as shown with an Aβ analog containing a single residue (H to E) replacement that mimics the behavior of nitrated Aβ related to fibril formation and neuronal toxicity. The pathophysiological role of our findings in AD was highlighted by the study of these nitrated oligomers on mouse hippocampal neurons, where an increased NMDAR-dependent toxicity of nitrated Aβ oligomers was observed. Our results show that Aβ nitrotyrosination is a post-translational modification that increases Aβ synaptotoxicity. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT We report that nitration (i.e., the irreversible addition of a nitro group) of the Alzheimer-related peptide amyloid-β (Aβ) favors the stabilization of highly toxic oligomers and inhibits the formation of Aβ fibrils. The nitrated Aβ oligomers are more toxic to neurons due to increased cytosolic calcium levels throughout their action on NMDA receptors. Sustained elevated calcium levels trigger excitotoxicity, a characteristic event in Alzheimer's disease.
MECHANISMS IN ENDOCRINOLOGY Autoimmune thyroid disease: old and new players

The last 10 years have seen some progress in understanding the etiology of autoimmune thyroid disease (AITD). The female preponderance can now be explained – at least in part – by fetal microchimerism and X-chromosome inactivation. The number of identified susceptibility genes for AITD is increasing (among others now including TSHR, TG, HLA, CTLA4, PTPN22, CD40, FCRL3, IL2RA, and FOXP3), but these genes together probably do not explain more than about 10% of the heritability of AITD. As twin studies indicate that genes contribute for 70% of AITD, it follows that there must be many more loci, each of them contributing a little. While the genetic studies have clarified why various autoimmune diseases so often cluster in the same patient, the molecular mechanism of action of these genetic polymorphisms (frequently located in introns) has hardly been explained. Polymorphisms in AITD susceptibility genes may become helpful in clinical practice, e.g. in assessing risk of recurrent Graves’ hyperthyroidism (GH) after a course of antithyroid drugs. Moderate alcohol intake decreases the risk on overt GH and overt Hashimoto’s hypothyroidism. Current smokers – as well known – are at increased risk for Graves’ disease, but – surprisingly – at diminished risk for Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. Low selenium and low vitamin D levels might increase the risk of developing AITD, but data are still inconclusive. Current options for preventive interventions in subjects at risk to develop AITD are very limited.
Implementation of Side Effects in Thermal Characterization of RGB Full-Color LEDs

This letter presents a useful thermal-characterization method for RGB full-color light-emitting diodes (LEDs). The superposition method was employed to calculate thermal resistances of a high-power RGB full-color LED package to implement the side effect. Independent driving of a single chip in the RGB package clearly exhibited a side effect on the other two chips. It was shown that driving a red chip at 350 mA, current induced 4.8degC temperature rise for the green and blue chips, which is about 30% of the temperature rise in the red chip itself. A thermal-resistance-coupling matrix was structured and used for the calculation of the junction temperatures of the chips. It was demonstrated that the superposition method can be employed for an accurate prediction of the junction temperature rises for the RGB full-color LED package.
Physiological and structural changes in the cat's soleus muscle due to immobilization at different lengths by plaster casts *

1. Passive length—tension curves were established for cat soleus muscles that had been immobilized in different positions. Muscles that had been immobilized in the lengthened position showed no difference in their length—tension properties to those of normal muscles. However, those immobilized in the shortened position showed a considerable decrease in extensibility.
Modulation of the Heparanase-inhibiting Activity of Heparin through Selective Desulfation, Graded N-Acetylation, and Glycol Splitting*

Heparanase is an endo-β-glucuronidase that cleaves heparan sulfate (HS) chains of heparan sulfate proteoglycans on cell surfaces and in the extracellular matrix (ECM). Heparanase, overexpressed by most cancer cells, facilitates extravasation of blood-borne tumor cells and causes release of growth factors sequestered by HS chains, thus accelerating tumor growth and metastasis. Inhibition of heparanase with HS mimics is a promising target for a novel strategy in cancer therapy. In this study, in vitro inhibition of recombinant heparanase was determined for heparin derivatives differing in degrees of 2-O- and 6-O-sulfation, N-acetylation, and glycol splitting of nonsulfated uronic acid residues. The contemporaneous presence of sulfate groups at O-2 of IdoA and at O-6 of GlcN was found to be non-essential for effective inhibition of heparanase activity provided that one of the two positions retains a high degree of sulfation. N-Desulfation/ N-acetylation involved a marked decrease in the inhibitory activity for degrees of N-acetylation higher than 50%, suggesting that at least one NSO3 group per disaccharide unit is involved in interaction with the enzyme. On the other hand, glycol splitting of preexisting or of both preexisting and chemically generated nonsulfated uronic acids dramatically increased the heparanase-inhibiting activity irrespective of the degree of N-acetylation. Indeed N-acetylated heparins in their glycol-split forms inhibited heparanase as effectively as the corresponding N-sulfated derivatives. Whereas heparin and N-acetylheparins containing unmodified d-glucuronic acid residues inhibited heparanase by acting, at least in part, as substrates, their glycol-split derivatives were no more susceptible to cleavage by heparanase. Glycol-split N-acetylheparins did not release basic fibroblast growth factor from ECM and failed to stimulate its mitogenic activity. The combination of high inhibition of heparanase and low release/potentiation of ECM-bound growth factor indicates that N-acetylated, glycol-split heparins are potential antiangiogenic and antimetastatic agents that are more effective than their counterparts with unmodified backbones.
Evaluation of a Dressing to Reduce Nipple Pain and Improve Nipple Skin Condition In Breast‐feeding Women

This study was designed to evaluate whether maintenance of a moist environment on the nipple skin during the first week of breast-feeding would improve damaged nipple skin condition, as indicated by the presence of eschar, erythema, and fissures, and reduce pain. Fifty White women applied a polyethylene film dressing with a perimeter adhesive system to a randomly determined nipple. The dressing was present at all times except during feeding. Subjects were assessed every 48 hours (four times) over 7 days. Serial photographic slides were obtained and assessed for skin characteristics. Nipple pain was self-rated with a verbal descriptor scale. Use of an occlusive film dressing on nipple skin during the first week of breast-feeding appeared to have limited influence on improvement in damaged skin condition. Summary scores indicated significant reduction in the amount of eschar on the surface of the nipple. There were no differences in erythema intensity or fissure severity. Use of a dressing significantly reduced nipple pain during the study period.
‘I wish they would remember that I forget:’ The effects of memory loss on the lives of individuals with mild-to-moderate dementia

Purpose of study Due to changing cognitive and functional capabilities, individuals with dementia face challenging care-related issues such as feelings of embarrassment, relationship strain, and symptoms of depression and anxiety. Limited research exists examining individuals with dementia's perceptions and concerns about these issues and how their perspectives can impact the quality and process of their illness experience. Design and methods As part of a larger study, individuals with dementia (n = 114) answered five open-ended questions about their illness experience including: (1) daily routine, (2) concerns about memory loss, (3) relationships with others, (4) fears, and (5) what they wish others understood/knew. For each question, individuals with dementia’s responses were analyzed for common themes within and across questions. Results Individuals with dementia commented on a wide range of issues involving their memory loss, including negative emotional impacts, future concerns and illness progression, forgetting, loss of independence, and the negative and positive influences on interpersonal relationships. Across questions, many individuals also stated that their memory loss did not significantly impact their lives. Implications Discussion highlights how these findings can be used to expand our understanding of individuals with dementia's illness experience and to develop efficacious interventions for addressing negative aspects of living with memory loss while supporting positive aspects.
Liver-specific Deletion of the Growth Hormone Receptor Reveals Essential Role of Growth Hormone Signaling in Hepatic Lipid Metabolism*♦

Growth hormone (GH) plays a pivotal role in growth and metabolism, with growth promotion mostly attributed to generation of insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) in liver or at local sites of GH action, whereas the metabolic effects of GH are considered to be intrinsic to GH itself. To distinguish the effects of GH from those of IGF-I, we developed a Cre-lox-mediated model of tissue-specific deletion of the growth hormone receptor (GHR). Near total deletion of the GHR in liver (GHRLD) had no effect on total body or bone linear growth despite a >90% suppression of circulating IGF-I; however, total bone density was significantly reduced. Circulating GH was increased 4-fold, and GHRLD displayed insulin resistance, glucose intolerance, and increased circulating free fatty acids. Livers displayed marked steatosis, the result of increased triglyceride synthesis and decreased efflux; reconstitution of hepatic GHR signaling via adenoviral expression of GHR restored triglyceride output to normal, whereas IGF-I infusion did not correct steatosis despite restoration of circulating GH to normal. Thus, with near total absence of circulating IGF-I, GH action at the growth plate, directly and via locally generated IGF-I, can regulate bone growth, but at the expense of diabetogenic, lipolytic, and hepatosteatotic consequences. Our results indicate that IGF-I is essential for bone mineral density, whereas hepatic GH signaling is essential to regulate intrahepatic lipid metabolism. We propose that circulating IGF-I serves to amplify the growth-promoting effects of GH, while simultaneously dampening the catabolic effects of GH.
Pressure Applied on the Extra 1 Acupuncture Point Reduces Bispectral Index Values and Stress in Volunteers

We investigated the effect of pressure application on the acupuncture point “extra 1” and on a control point on the bispectral index (BIS) values and on stress in 25 volunteers. In each volunteer, pressure was applied on the extra 1 point for 10 min and on a control point for 5 min on different days and in a randomized manner. The BIS value was recorded before applying pressure on the extra 1 point, during pressure application every 30 s for 10 min, and after pressure release. Regarding the control point, BIS values were recorded for 5 instead of 10 min during pressure application because acupressure on that point was associated with an unpleasant feeling. Each volunteer was asked to score stress before and after pressure application from 0 to 10. The BIS values were significantly reduced 2.5, 5, 7.5, and 10 min during pressure application on the extra 1 point (P < 0.001 for each comparison, respectively) and returned to the baseline values after pressure release. Pressure application on the control point decreased BIS values (P < 0.01 and P < 0.05 at 2.5 and 5 min, respectively). However, these values were maintained close to 90% and were significantly higher than those obtained during pressure on the extra 1 point (P < 0.001 and P < 0.001 for the 2.5- and 5-min comparisons). The verbal sedation score values obtained after pressure application on the extra 1 point were also lower when compared with the values obtained after pressure application on the control point (P < 0.001).
Expression of the pRb-Binding Regions of E1A Enables Efficient Transformation of Primary Epithelial Cells by v-src

ABSTRACT Primary cultures of rat embryo fibroblasts have been shown to be resistant to transformation by dominant oncogenes such as v-src. We sought to determine if similar resistance is displayed by primary epithelial cells, and, if so, whether an immortalizing oncogene such as E1A could enhance transformation of primary epithelial cells by v-src. Transformation of primary rat epithelial cells by v-src was synergistically enhanced when E1A expression plasmids were cotransfected with a v-src expression plasmid. Foci were more numerous and observed earlier (9 to 14 days) with E1A plus v-src than with v-src alone (18 to 28 days). This cotransformation ability was abrogated by deletions in CR1 or CR2 of E1A, which encode the binding regions for the pRb family and are responsible for E1A-mediated cell cycle activation. Mutations in the p300 binding site or the second exon, which abolish immortalization, did not affect v-src cooperation, in contrast to ras and adenovirus E1B. While kinase activation was required for growth in soft agar, differential activation of Src kinase did not correlate with transformation efficiency. Cell morphology and actin structures were not dramatically impacted by E1A expression; thus, hypertransformation, as previously described for ras cotransformation, was not observed with v-src and second-exon mutants of E1A. However, growth rates for cells expressing both E1A and v-Src were higher than those for cells expressing only v-Src. These results suggest that functions involved in cell cycle activation encoded by E1A first exon can enhance v-src transformation of primary epithelial cells.
Possibilities of Ash Utilisation from Biomass Combustion Plants

In recent years the thermal utilisation of solid biomass for heat and electricity production has increased substantially in Austria and the European Union. The promotion of energy production from biomass has also led to a strong increase in the amount of combustion residues, i.e. ashes. At present, a large fraction of the biomass ashes produced is disposed of in landfills. Ash from natural solid biomass fuels contains valuable plant nutrients such as K, P, Mg and Ca, but also contains significant amounts of heavy metals, which have to be considered for the utilisation strategy applied. Therefore, only the nutrient rich and rather heavy metal poor fractions (bottom ash and coarse fly ash) shall be used for fertilising and soil improvement purposes. The heavy metal rich fine fly ash fraction, which represents the smallest fraction, must be industrially utilised or disposed of. Apart from the sustainable recycling of biomass ash to the soil other promising ash utilisation methods like the use in road and civil construction, the use in landscaping or the use as an additive in industrial processes like cement production exist today. Some of these ash utilisation strategies are already implemented to some extent in European countries (e.g. Sweden, Finland, Austria and Germany). However, their widespread application is currently impeded by missing or insufficient legal regulations, logistic, technical and economic problems as well as a lack of knowledge and training of the plant operators and farmers. As a conclusion, legal regulations need to be revised based on the research results available in order to establish framework conditions for the environmentally compatible, economically efficient and practicable utilisation of wood ash. In addition, more research is needed into alternative ash utilisation strategies (e.g. use of ash in short rotation coppice plantations, in forest road construction, utilisation of the fly ash fraction) in order to extend the paths of possible ash utilisation and thus decrease the amount of biomass ash disposed of in the future.
Study on the Photocatalytic Degradation of Methyl Orange in Water Using Ag Doped ZnO Nanowires Under UV Light Irradiation

In this work, a high-performance photocatalyst Ag: ZnO nanowires (Ag: ZnO NWs) was synthesized via a chemical bath deposition method for the photodegradation of organic dye under UV light irradiation.The structure, morphology, and photocatalytic activity of as synthesized sample were determined using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and UV-visible absorption spectroscopy (UV-vis spectrum). The XRD result showed that this catalyst was composed of metallic Ag and ZnO. The photocatalytic activity of the as synthesized samples were evaluated by the degradation of methyl orange (MO) in aqueous solution under UV light irradiation. Ag: ZnO NWs show better crystallinity, high specific area, and an increased area of contact. Hence they are better photocatalysts than undoped ZnO NWs. The Ag: ZnO NWs has influenced the photocatalytic activity of nanocrystalline photocatalysts because of its enhanced optical and electronic properties. A suitable mechanism was proposed to explain better photocatalytic activity in Ag: ZnO NWs as compared to ZnO NWs under UV irradiation, which shows that presence of Ag facilitates conduction band electrons for this reaction. The photocatalytic degradation efficiency (PDF) is 97% of Ag: ZnO NWs in the 60 min whereas PDF of ZnO NWs is 77% at the same time.
Transient start-up of a sonic jet in hypersonic crossflow

This paper presents a numerical study of the transient start-up of a sonic jet into a hypersonic crossflow. Implicit large-eddy simulations were performed using OpenFOAM for a round, sonic, perfect air jet issuing normal to a Mach 5 crossflow, over a flat plate with a laminar boundary layer, at a jet-to-crossflow momentum ratio of 5.3. The evolution of shock and vortex structures, the jet penetration, and the control force have been quantified during the jet start-up. Initially, a lead shock forms, which is quickly deformed and convected downstream by the crossflow. The obstruction caused by the jet leads to formation of barrel shocks, a bow shock, and a Mach disk. The obstruction also results in upstream flow separation, which facilitates the formation of the horseshoe vortices within an upstream recirculation region. Shear-layer vortices begin to form and shed periodically once the barrel shock structure is established, while longitudinal counter-rotating vortices and wake vortices are not formed until the jet flow has penetrated far downstream. The control force develops on the same time-scale as the longitudinal counter-rotating vortices. An overshoot is observed in the control force after the lead shock and initial jet flow has convected downstream beyond the edge of the plate, and is related to the re-compression of the free-stream flow downstream of the jet outlet, and the development of re-circulation regions.
Receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa B (RANK) as a determinant of peri-implantitis.

BACKGROUND/AIM Peri-implantitis presents inflammatory process that affects soft and hard supporting tissues of osseointegrated implant based on inflammatory osteoclastogenesis. The aim of this study was to investigate whether receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa B (RANK) concentrations in peri-implant crevicular fluid could be associated with clinical parameters that reflect inflammatory nature of peri-implantitis. METHODS The study included 67 patients, 22 with diagnosed peri-implantitis, 22 persons with healthy peri-implant tissues and 23 patients with periodontitis. Clinical parameters from each patient were recorded and samples of peri-implant/gingival crevicular fluid were collected for the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) analysis. RESULTS RANK concentration was significantly increased in samples from the patients with peri-implantitis when compared to healthy implants (p < 0.0001), where the average levels were 9 times higher. At the same time RANK concentration was significantly higher in peri-implantitis than in periodontitis sites (p < 0.0001). In implant patients pocket depths and bleeding on probing values were positively associated with high RANK concentrations (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSION These results revealed association of increased RANK concentration in samples of peri-implant/gingival crevicular fluid with peri-implant inflammation and suggests that RANK could be a pathologic determinant of peri-implantitis, thereby a potential parameter in assessment of peri-implant tissue inflammation and a potential target in designing treatment strategies.