Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Persistent activity in primate auditory cortex evoked by sensory stimulation

Persistent activity, the elevated firing of a neuron after the termination of a stimulus, is hypothesized to play a critical role in working memory. This form of activity is therefore typically studied within the context of a behavioural task that includes a working memory component. Here we investigated whether persistent activity is observed in sensory cortex and thalamus in the absence of any explicit behavioural task. We recorded spiking activity from single units in the auditory cortex (fields A1, R and RT) and thalamus of awake, passively-listening marmosets. We observed persistent activity that lasted for hundreds of milliseconds following the termination of the acoustic stimulus, in the absence of a task. Persistent activity was observed following both adapting and sustained responses during the stimulus and showed similar stimulus tuning to these evoked responses. Persistent activity was also observed following suppression in firing during the stimulus. These response types were observed across all cortical fields tested, but were largely absent from thalamus. As well as being of shorter duration, thalamic persistent activity emerged following a longer latency than in cortex, indicating that persistent activity may be generated within auditory cortex during passive listening. Given that these responses were observed in the absence of a explicit behavioural task, persistent activity in sensory cortex may have functional importance beyond storing task-relevant information in working memory.
A Neurophysiological Measure of Reward Sensitivity and its Limited Association with Anhedonia in Adolescents and Young Adults

Anhedonia (i.e., the attenuated ability to enjoy pleasurable stimuli) characterizes multiple mood disorders, but its neurophysiological underpinnings are not yet clear. Here, we measured event-related potentials in 116 adolescents and young adults engaged in a signal detection task designed to objectively characterize the anhedonic phenotype. In line with previous studies, the behavioral results showed that approximately 35% of the sample did not develop a response bias towards the more frequently rewarded stimuli (a sign of low hedonic capacity). The event-related potentials (ERPs) evoked by the reward feedback stimuli delivered during the task showed that individuals that did not develop a response bias had significantly less cortical positivity at Fz from 224 ms to 316 ms post feedback onset compared to those that developed a response bias during the task. However, further analyses showed that this between groups difference was relatively weak, as it disappeared when we controlled for response-locked ERPs. Furthermore, the response bias observed in the signal detection task was not strongly associated with self-reported ratings of hedonic capacity. We conclude that even though the signal detection task may be used as a reward sensitivity measure in neurotypical adolescents and young adults, this task may only be able to detect clinically significant levels of anhedonia in this particular population.
Dimensionalidad, validez nomológica y consistencia interna de la escala breve de Davidson para estrés postraumático en estudiantes de Santa Marta, Colombia

Objetivo: Conocer la dimensionalidad, la validez nomológica y la consistencia interna de la escala breve de Davidson para estrés postraumático en estudiantes de media vocacional de Santa Marta, Colombia. Metodología: En el segundo semestre de 2018, un total de 1462 estudiantes de décimo y undécimo grado, entre 13 y 17 años (M = 16,0; de = 0,8), 60,3 % de sexo femenino, diligenció la escala breve de Davidson para estrés postraumático. Se realizaron análisis factorial exploratorio y confirmatorio. Se calculó la consistencia interna de la dimensión, con los coeficientes alfa de Cronbach y omega de McDonald. Resultados: En el análisis factorial exploratorio, la escala breve de Davidson para estrés postraumático mostró Kaiser-Meier-Olkin = 0,714, chi cuadrado de Barttlet = 783,3 (gl = 6; p = 0,001), y valor propio de 1,99, que explicó el 49,7 % de la varianza. En el análisis factorial confirmatorio, chi cuadrado = 5,921; gl = 2; p = 0,052; raíz del cuadrado medio del error de aproximación = 0,037 (ic 90 % 0,000-0,072); índice comparativo de ajuste = 0,995; índice de Tucker-Lewis = 0,985 residual cuadrada media estandarizada = 0,011. El alfa de Cronbach fue 0,66, y la omega de McDonald, 0,69. Conclusiones: La escala breve de Davidson para estrés postraumático es unidimensional, con aceptable consistencia interna.
Zinc Schiff Base Complexes Derived from 2,2'‐Diaminobiphenyls: Solution Behavior and Reactivity towards Nitrogen Bases

Zn complexes of Schiff base ligands derived from 2,2′-diaminobiphenyls and salicylaldehyde derivatives were synthesized and characterized by NMR and single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The detailed NMR studies suggest that the Zn complexes have a complicated behavior in solution, which is strongly dependent on the donating ability of the solvent, the steric properties of the ligand, as well as the concentration of the complex in the solvent. All these factors are decisive for the determination of the coordination number of the complex
Determinants of accelerated metabolomic and epigenetic ageing in a UK cohort

Markers of biological ageing have potential utility in primary care and public health. We developed an elastic net regression model of age based on untargeted metabolic profiling across multiple platforms, including nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry in urine and serum (almost 100,000 features assayed), within a large sample (N= 2,239) from the UK occupational Airwave cohort. We investigated the determinants of accelerated ageing, including genetic, lifestyle and psychological risk factors for premature mortality. The metabolomic age model was well correlated with chronological age (r = 0.85 in independent test set) and DNA methylation age. Increased metabolomic age acceleration (p < 0.05) was associated with high alcohol use, overweight or obesity, low income, and depression. We also observed increases in DNA methylation age acceleration associated with anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder and low income that were of a greater size than for metabolomic age acceleration.
Comparative analysis of the cytotoxic activity of extracts from different parts of A. absinthium L. on breast cancer cell lines and correlation with active compounds concentration

Abstract The aim of the present study was to compare the cytotoxicity of different extracts of the plant Artemisia absinthium on breast cancer cell lines and to establish the correlation between the cytotoxicity and the active constituent’s level in these extracts. The cytotoxicity of the extracts was evaluated on the breast cancer cell lines, MCF-7 and MDA MB-231 by MTT assay and LDH release assay. An HPTLC method was developed for the simultaneous estimation of active constituents, that is, artemisinin, artemisinic acid, and alpha-thujone in different parts of A. absinthium. The whole extract was best among all the extracts tested with least IC50 value and high LDH release that is, 491.19 µg/µL with 27.92% for MCF-7 and 459.97 µg/µL with 29.43% for MDA MB-231 cell lines respectively. Although, the concentration of all three quantified active compounds was higher in the extract from aerial part; however, the whole extract showed the best cytotoxicity among all extracts evaluated on the breast cancer cell lines. Surprisingly, our results demonstrate that the quantified active compounds were not solely responsible for the cytotoxic activity of the plant parts and further studies may be conducted to identify the compounds with synergistic, allosteric or antagonistic effects.
The EU’s Enfants Terribles: Democratic Backsliding in Central Europe since 2010

In the academic literature, Hungary and Poland are often cited as paradigmatic cases of democratic backsliding. However, as the backsliding narrative gained traction, the term has been applied to the rest of the post-communist region, including the Czech Republic and Slovakia. We suggest that this diagnosis is in part based on conceptual stretching, and set out to rescue the concept as an analytical tool. We then assess the extent of backsliding in the four Visegrád countries, explaining backsliding (and the relative lack of it) in terms of motive, opportunity, and the strength or weakness of opposing or constraining forces. We conclude that the situation is not as desperate as some commentators would have it: democratic backsliding in Hungary and Poland was contingent on a few exceptional factors, and EU leaders therefore need not be paralysed by the fear of contagion when they contemplate forceful action against backsliding member states.
Calicivirus VP2 forms a portal to mediate endosome escape

To initiate the infectious process, many viruses enter their host cells by triggering endocytosis following receptor engagement. The mechanism by which non-enveloped viruses, such as the caliciviruses, escape the endosome is however poorly understood. The Caliciviridae include many important human and animal pathogens, most notably norovirus, the cause of winter vomiting disease. Here we show that VP2, a minor capsid protein encoded by all caliciviruses, forms a large portal assembly at a unique three-fold symmetry axis following receptor engagement. This feature surrounds an open pore in the capsid shell. We hypothesise that the VP2 portal complex is the means by which the virus escapes the endosome, pene-trating the endosomal membrane to release the viral genome into the cytoplasm. Cryogenic electron microscopy (cryoEM) and asymmetric reconstruction were used to investigate structural changes in the capsid of feline calicivirus (FCV) that occur when the virus binds to its cellular receptor junctional adhesion molecule-A (fJAM-A). Near atomic-resolution structures were calculated for the native virion alone and decorated with soluble receptor fragments. We present atomic models of the major capsid protein VP1 in the presence and absence of fJAM-A, revealing the contact interface and conformational changes brought about by the interaction. Furthermore, we have calculated an atomic model of the portal protein VP2 and revealed the structural changes in VP1 that lead to pore formation. While VP2 was known to be critical for the production of infectious virus, its function has been hitherto undetermined. Our finding that VP2 assembles a portal that is likely responsible for endosome escape represents a major step forward in our understanding of both the Caliciviridae and icosahedral RNA containing viruses in general.
Epigenomic Remodeling in Huntington’s Disease—Master or Servant?

In light of our aging population, neurodegenerative disorders are becoming a tremendous challenge, that modern societies have to face. They represent incurable, progressive conditions with diverse and complex pathological features, followed by catastrophic occurrences of massive neuronal loss at the later stages of the diseases. Some of these disorders, like Huntington’s disease (HD), rely on defined genetic factors. HD, as an incurable, fatal hereditary neurodegenerative disorder characterized by its mid-life onset, is caused by the expansion of CAG trinucleotide repeats coding for glutamine (Q) in exon 1 of the huntingtin gene. Apart from the genetic defect, environmental factors are thought to influence the risk, onset and progression of HD. As epigenetic mechanisms are known to readily respond to environmental stimuli, they are proposed to play a key role in HD pathogenesis. Indeed, dynamic epigenomic remodeling is observed in HD patients and in brains of HD animal models. Epigenetic signatures, such as DNA methylation, histone variants and modifications, are known to influence gene expression and to orchestrate various aspects of neuronal physiology. Hence, deciphering their implication in HD pathogenesis might open up new paths for novel therapeutic concepts, which are discussed in this review.
Identification of The Role of O-antigen of Nonmucoid Klebsiella pneumoniae During Bacteriophage NJS1 Infection

: The use of bacteriophage is reemerging as a tool for combatting multi-drug resistant bacterial infections. In our previous study, we showed that colistin resistant carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (Col R -CRKP) is more susceptible to killing by lytic tailed phages, including ФNJS1 specific for nonmucoid K. pneumoniae . Although we demonstrated that alteration on surface charges of Col R - CRKP promotes phage adherence and infection, the receptor for ФNJS1 was still unknown. In current study, we identified O-antigen was involved in the reversible adsorption, and outer membrane protein (OMP) FepA may be served as one of the irreversible receptors for ФNJS1. We firstly found accelerated reversible phage adsorption to Col R -CRKP cells, and that periodate treatment of bacteria inhibited the phage binding, indicating LPS may be involved in phage reversible adsorption. ФNJS1 -resistant bacterial mutants screening revealed that mutants in ∆ wecG (mTn5) and ∆ wecA (mTn5), two genes responsible for LPS biosynthesis, affected phage adsorption capacity and phage infectivity. The loss of wzyE encoding O-antigen polymerase showed no significant difference in phage adsorption but increased phage infectivity, suggesting the long chain length of O-antigen may also be a barrier for bacteriophage infection. Among four OMP mutants including ∆ fepA , ∆ fhuA , ∆ ompA and ∆ ompC , only ∆ fepA slowed phage lysis rate, suggesting FepA may be as one of irreversible receptors for ФNJS1. The results are helpful to better understand why Col R -CRKP sensitizes phage infection and to combat multi-drug resistant K. pneumoniae infections in the future.
RAPD Analysis of the Genetic Diversity Among Accessions of Micropropagation Bananas from Indonesia

Molecular Characterization of banana (Musa spp) is very important for the purpose of conservation and improvement of plants. This research was conducted to investigate phylogenetic of Musa spp cultivar namely Cavendish, Barangan, Raja Buluh and Kepok. RAPD analysis was performed on four accessions of Musa spp, originating from West Java, Indonesia. The samples used were taken from the plant result of micropropagation at Tissue Culture laboratory Lebak Bulus, Jakarta, Indonesia. The result of PCR-RAPD visualization produces bands whose size ranges from 200-1500 bp. The primers used were able to amplify four samples clearly. The DNA amplification results show that the four primers can produce 62 polymorphic and monomorphic bands. A total of 30 polymorphic bands is capable of producing on PCR-RAPD process with 48.29%. Primer OPB 3 produces the most polymorphic bands of 10 bands whereas OPB 4 produces only four polymorphic bands. Primer OPB 3 is capable of producing the highest percentage of polymorphic loci that is 55.56%. Dendogram results show that at the coefficient of 0.68 separation occurs in the Raja Buluh with other samples. While in the coefficient of 0.70, the varieties of Kepok shows the separation of Raja Buluh and Cavendish. At the coefficient of 0.90, the Barangan and Cavendish varieties are in the same branching which tools that the two have close phylogenetic. RAPD sequence analysis has provided more information on the inter-species phylogenetic status of these four cultivars of Musa spp.
Exploration of Chemical Space with Partial Labeled Noisy Student Self-Training for Improving Deep Learning Performance: Application to Drug Metabolism

Motivation Drug discovery is time-consuming and costly. Machine learning, especially deep learning, shows a great potential in accelerating the drug discovery process and reducing its cost. A big challenge in developing robust and generalizable deep learning models for drug design is the lack of a large amount of data with high quality and balanced labels. To address this challenge, we developed a self-training method PLANS that exploits millions of unlabeled chemical compounds as well as partially labeled pharmacological data to improve the performance of neural network models. Result We evaluated the self-training with PLANS for Cytochrome P450 binding activity prediction task, and proved that our method could significantly improve the performance of the neural network model with a large margin. Compared with the baseline deep neural network model, the PLANS-trained neural network model improved accuracy, precision, recall, and F1 score by 13.4%, 12.5%, 8.3%, and 10.3%, respectively. The self-training with PLANS is model agnostic, and can be applied to any deep learning architectures. Thus, PLANS provides a general solution to utilize unlabeled and partially labeled data to improve the predictive modeling for drug discovery. Availability The code that implements PLANS is available at https://github.com/XieResearchGroup/PLANS
Application of Network Science to Extend the AHP and QFD Methods

– Understanding customers’ needs and developing a product which meets expectations is a multi-criteria decision problem, and requires methods for solving complex tasks. The purpose of the present study is to apply network science for prioritization of customers’ needs and extend the applicability of the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and Quality Function Deployment (QFD) methods. These two methods can be used jointly in the customers’ needs prioritization. The customer’s needs are prioritized by using the AHP technique, and the technical requirements are ranked by using the QFD method. Although network analysis is a widely used method in several disciplines, it is not yet widespread in customer needs assessment. This study aims to fill this gap, replace and combine the AHP and QFD methods by one to facilitate the application. Preference and correlation networks are presented and evaluated in detail. By using a preference network, the importance of the customer needs is definable by calculating an in-degree or a PageRank value. In a correlation network, the effects of the technical requirements on each other can be evaluated by specifying their weights and directions.
Climatic factors as quality determinant of essential oils and phenolics in Rosmarinus officinalis L. (Lamiales Lamiaceae) collected from three geographic areas in Algeria

Received 01.05. 2018; accepted 11.07. 2018; printed 30.09. 2018; published online 05.10. 2018 The present work was aimed to evaluate the effect of the climatic factors on quality and quantity of essential oils and phenolic compounds of the aerial parts of Rosmarinus officinalis L. (Lamiales Lamiaceae) collected from three different geographic origins in Algeria (humid, semi arid, and arid). Gas-Chromatography/Mass-Spectroscopy analysis of essential oils revealed important disparities, both quantitatively and qualitatively. α-pinene and camphor as major components were found to range from 16.78 to 40.95% and from 11.24 to 36.72%, respectively. The assessment of total phenolics in water and ethyl acetate extracts of the three samples displayed a content ranging from 58.26 to 114.10 mg GAE (gallic acid equivalent)/g of water extracts and from 73.75 to 167.91 mg GAE/g of ethyl acetate extracts. The flavonoids content was found to vary from 14.63 to 28.86 mg QE (quercetin equivalent)/g of water extracts and from 66.2 to 93.1 mg QE/g of ethyl acetate extracts. Moreover, the HPLC analysis of phenolics revealed the presence of many compounds amongst which Hesperidin and Rosmarinic acid have relatively high contents in both extracts and in the three sites.
Estimation of impact of arsenic contamination: The severity and contextual

The eastern part of river Hooghly in west Bengal due to some geogenic factor has been a classical example for arsenic (As) contamination. The multi-directional effect of Arsenic Has been harshly reflected through the contaminating effect of rice, vegetables, meat, eggs and even breast milk used to feed new born babies. The depletion of ground water in irrigation based agro system has worst the situation further. A study on this topic was carried out at Nonaghata-uttarpara village of the Haringhata block of Nadia district in West Bengal taking seventy respondents randomly. Variables like age, cropping intensity, source of irrigation, communication variables are taken for collection of reliable data. The present study well identified some of the important factors (age, education, cropping intensity, communication exposures, homestead land) are mainly responsible for this type of deceptive level arsenicosis.
Spectrophotometric determination of single-stranded DNA with self-assembly hairpin DNA and silver nanoparticles

Abstract Nucleic acids containing genetic information are used as biomarkers for the diagnosis of genetic diseases. Herein, silver nanoparticles were utilized as probes to detect single stranded nucleic acids by self-assembly of DNA nanomaterials by spectrophotometry. The target DNA specifically triggered two hairpin DNA molecules to hybridize, generating linear double stranded DNA. This approach effectively prevents silver nanoparticles from aggregating in aqueous solutions of NaCl. Otherwise, silver nanoparticles aggregate without target DNA and hairpin DNA due to the low stability of double stranded DNA. The sensor response was shown to be proportional to the target DNA concentration from 5 to 200 nM with a detection limit equal to 5 nM. This simple platform for the specific determination of nucleic acids without enzymes, labels, and modification and demonstrates great prospects for bioanalysis.