Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The aortic tunica media of the developing rat. I. Quantitative stereologic and biochemical analysis.

: The tunica media of thoracic aortas from female rats in age from newborn to 12 weeks were analyzed quantitatively by using stereologic techniques in the electron microscope. Collagen, elastin, smooth muscle, myofilaments, Golgi apparatus, ergastoplasm, and surface to volume ratios were among those components quantified. These parameters were correlated with measurements of medial thickness, blood pressure, and tangenital tension in the wall and with biochemical estimates of collagen and elastin. A progressive increase in morphologically recognizable collagen in the media was in parallel with the increasing tangenital wall tension. Biochemical analysis indicated the presence of much soluble collagen in the early stages of development. Elastin was the major component contributing to increasing wall thickness. The elastin laminae were completely formed by 4 weeks of age, but further elastin was laid down as branches extending between medial cells in the aortas of animals between 2 and 12 weeks of age. Smooth muscle cells were ovoid in young animals and contained large amounts of ergastoplasma and Golgi apparatus, but very few myofilaments. With advancing age, these cells became irregular in outline, and their surface to volume ratios doubled. The myofilament volume increased greatly during development, associated with a decrease in "undifferentiated" cytoplasm, ergastoplasm, and Golgi apparatus. The maximal development of the latter two organelles was coincident with large increases in the connective tissue components.
A biochemical evaluation of the erythrocyte glutathione reductase (EC 1.6.4.2) test for riboflavin status

1. Chronic marginal riboflavin deficiency was induced in groups of weanling rats by feeding a deficient diet supplemented with 0, 0·5, 1·0 and 1·5 mg riboflavin/kg diet. Ad lib. - and pair-fed controls received 3·0 and 15 mg riboflavin/kg diet respectively. 2. Serial measurement of erythrocyte NAD(P)H2 glutathione oxidoreductase (glutathione reductase; EC 1.6.4.2) and its activation coefficient revealed that after 12 weeks a steady-state of deficiency had been reached following initial fluctuations in status; the animals were then killed, and their tissues analysed. 3. Food intake, growth rate and the appearance of pathological signs were directly proportional to riboflavin content; however relative liver weight was increased above control levels only in the most-severelydeficient group, and anaemia was not detected in any group. 4. The activation coefficient of glutathione reductase in erythrocytes and liver was closely related to dietary riboflavin content; that of skin responded maximally even in the least-severelydepleted animals. 5. Hepatic and renal flavin contents were directly proportional to dietary riboflavin, FAD being conserved at the expense of ribotlavin and FMN. ATP: riboflavin 5-phosphotransferase (flavokinase; EC 2.7.1.26) activity was reduced, even in the least-severely deficient animals; ATP: FMN adenylyltransferase (FAD pyrophosphory1ase; EC 2.7.7.2) was increased in liver, but only in the most-severely-deficient animals. 6. Hepatic succinate: (acceptor) oxidoreductase (succinate dehydrogenase; EC 1. 3.99.1) activity fell sharply between 1·5 and 0·5 mg riboflavin/kg diet, producing an S-shaped dose-response curve; it showed smaller or less specific changes in other tissues such as brain, skin and intestine. NADH: (acceptor) oxidoreductase (NADH dehydrogenase; EC 1.6.99.3) activity declined in liver and intestine, but not in skin or brain. 7. Theactivation coefficient of glutathione reductase was correlated strongly with nearly all the riboflavin-sensitive variables measured, once equilibrium had been reached in this chronic deficiency model, and it was particularly strongly correlated with hepatic and renal FAD levels. Under equilibrium conditions, therefore, it appears to represent a good index of the extent of riboflavin deficiency, and significant changes in flavin levels and enzymes in the internal organs were detected even under conditions of marginal deficiency, associated with relatively small increases in the activation coefficient.
Structural assembly of Polycomb group protein and Insight of EZH2 in cancer progression: A review

Polycomb group proteins (PcG) are multi-subunit structure, consisting of polycomb repressive complex 1 (PRC1), PRC2/3, and pleiohomeotic repressive complex. PRC1 is made up of PHC, BMI-1, CBX, and Ring 1A/B. PRC2 protein complex included embryonic ectoderm development, PCL, SUZ12, SET domain, enhancer of zeste homolog-2 protein (EZH2), and Nurf55. The third subunit PhoRC consists of Pho and DSFMBT subunits. One of the important subunits of PcG group of protein is EZH2 (a histone methyltransferase), which catalyzes tri-methylation of histone H3 at Lys 27 (H3K27me3) to regulate gene expression through epigenetic machinery and induces silencing of specific gene transcription. In case of breast cancer and prostate cancer, EZH2 is very well studied. Evidence shows that EZH2 is overexpressed and mutated in a variety of human cancers, rendering EZH2 an attractive target for the design of new chemotherapeutic drugs in cancer. EZH2 also functions both as a transcriptional suppressor and a transcriptional co-activator, depending on H3K27me3 or its absence. In this review, we summarized various studies reported till date, elucidating the structure of PRC2 complex, various mechanisms involved with this, and highlighting the role of EZH2 in breast cancer and prostate cancer progression. An increased understanding of the mechanisms that underlie the pathogenesis of wide spectrum of cancers is therefore needed to develop novel therapeutic approaches for this disease and to improve the quality of life in patients.
Nonspecific DNA binding by P1 ParA determines the distribution of plasmid partition and repressor activities

The faithful segregation, or “partition,” of many low-copy number bacterial plasmids is driven by plasmid-encoded ATPases that are represented by the P1 plasmid ParA protein. ParA binds to the bacterial nucleoid via an ATP-dependent nonspecific DNA (nsDNA)-binding activity, which is essential for partition. ParA also has a site-specific DNA-binding activity to the par operator (parOP), which requires either ATP or ADP, and which is essential for it to act as a transcriptional repressor but is dispensable for partition. Here we examine how DNA binding by ParA contributes to the relative distribution of its plasmid partition and repressor activities, using a ParA with an alanine substitution at Arg351, a residue previously predicted to participate in site-specific DNA binding. In vivo, the parAR351A allele is compromised for partition, but its repressor activity is dramatically improved so that it behaves as a “super-repressor. ” In vitro, ParAR351A binds and hydrolyzes ATP, and undergoes a specific conformational change required for nsDNA binding, but its nsDNA-binding activity is significantly damaged. This defect in turn significantly reduces the assembly and stability of partition complexes formed by the interaction of ParA with ParB, the centromere-binding protein, and DNA. In contrast, the R351A change shows only a mild defect in site-specific DNA binding. We conclude that the partition defect is due to altered nsDNA binding kinetics and affinity for the bacterial chromosome. Furthermore, the super-repressor phenotype is explained by an increased pool of non-nucleoid bound ParA that is competent to bind parOP and repress transcription.
Modulation of $Ca^{2+}-Activated$ Potassium Channels by cGMP-Dependent Signal Transduction Mechanism in Cerebral Arterial Smooth Muscle Cell of the Rabbit

The present investigation tested the hypothesis that the activation of protein kinase G (PKG) leads to a phosphorylation of potassium channel and is involved in the activation of channel activity in cerebral arterial smooth muscle cells of the rabbit. Single-channel currents were recorded in cell-attached and inside-out patch configurations of patch-clamp techniques. Both molsidomine derivative 3-morpholinosydnonimine-N-ethylcarbamide and 8-(4-Chlorophenylthio)-guanosine-3',5'-cyclic monophosphate a membrane-permeable analogue of cGMP, increased the channel activity in the cell-attached patch configuration, and the effect was removed upon washout of the drugs. In inside-out patches, single-channel current amplitude was not changed by SIN-1 and 8-pCPT-cGMP. Application of ATP cGMP ATP+cGMP PKG ATP or cGMP did not increase the channel activity. ATP added directly to the intracellular phase of inside-out patches increased the channel activity with no changes in the conductance. The heat-inactivated PKG had no effect on the channel activity, and the effect of PKG was inhibited by 8-(4-Chlorophenylthio)-guanosine-3',5'-cyclic monophosphate, Rp-isomer a potent inhibitor of PKG or protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A, 1 U/ml). In the presence of okadaic acid (OA, 5 nM), PP2A had no effect on the channel activity. The channel activity spontaneously decayed to the control level upon washout of ATP, cGMP and PKG, and this was prevented by OA (5 nM) in the medium. These results suggest that the PKG-mediated phosphorylations of channels, or some associated proteins in the membrane patch increase the activity of the channel, and the activation may be associated with the vasodilating action.
Accumulation of Spores in Hot Waters Recirculated in Beef Carcass Pasteurizers

Concerns have been raised about the possible accumulation of bacterial spores in hot water recirculated in beef carcass pasteurizers. Therefore, waters from pasteurizers at two large beef packing plants were examined for the presence of spores. At both plants the numbers of spores in pasteurizer waters tended to increase non-uniformly as they were reused on carcasses, but the maximum numbers recovered from any samples were 101 cfu/100 ml. All the organisms recovered from pasteurizer waters grew aerobically, and most were identified as species of Bacillus or Paenibacillus, which are commonly found in milk at numbers ≥ 10 cfu/ml. The small numbers of bacterial spores in recirculated waters in carcass pasteurizers seemingly pose no health risks to consumers.
Identifying dietary patterns in Irish schoolchildren and their association with nutritional knowledge and markers of health before and after intervention

Abstract The aim of the study was to identify dietary patterns (DP) and examine differences in anthropometric measures, blood pressure (BP), cardiorespiratory fitness and nutritional knowledge of 6- and 10-year-old children at baseline and following a nutrition and physical activity intervention, with respect to DP and treatment group. This is a longitudinal study. Food diary, nutritional knowledge questionnaire and 550-m walk/run test measured dietary intake, nutritional knowledge and cardiorespiratory fitness, respectively. BP, weight, height and waist circumference were also measured and BMI and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) were derived. All measurements were performed at baseline and following intervention. Two primary schools (one intervention, one control) in Cork, Ireland, were selected. Participants were 6- (n 39, age 5·9 (sd 0·6) years) and 10- (n 49, age 9·8 (sd 0·5) years)-year-olds. Two DP were identified, using k-means cluster analysis, for both 6- (unhealthy and nutrient-dense) and 10-year-olds (processed and Western diet) at baseline. DP derived post-intervention were (1) plant-based and (2) processed foods for 6-year-olds and (1) nutrient-dense and (2) unhealthy for 10-year-olds. There was no statistically significant difference in DP for 6- and 10-year-olds at baseline and post-intervention (P > 0·05). Following the intervention, a multivariate ANOVA showed there were no statistically significant differences in nutritional knowledge, BMI, WHtR, cardiorespiratory fitness and BP based on DP and intervention/control group for both age groups (P > 0·05). Three out of four dietary patterns identified for 6- and 10-year-olds were unfavourable. While no statistically significant evidence of intervention impact was found on DP, a positive trend was emerging among 10-year-olds.
HapLinkage: Prototyping Haptic Proxies for Virtual Hand Tools Using Linkage Mechanism

Haptic simulation of hand tools like wrenches, pliers, scissors and syringes are beneficial for finely detailed skill training in VR, but designing for numerous hand tools usually requires an expert-level knowledge of specific mechanism and protocol. This paper presents HapLinkage, a prototyping framework based on linkage mechanism, that provides typical motion templates and haptic renderers to facilitate proxy design of virtual hand tools. The mechanical structures can be easily modified, for example, to scale the size, or to change the range of motion by selectively changing linkage lengths. Resistant, stop, release, and restoration force feedback are generated by an actuating module as part of the structure. Additional vibration feedback can be generated with a linear actuator. HapLinkage enables easy and quick prototypting of hand tools for diverse VR scenarios, that embody both of their kinetic and haptic properties. Based on interviews with expert designers, it was confirmed that HapLinkage is expressive in designing haptic proxy of hand tools to enhance VR experiences. It also identified potentials and future development of the framework.
Selection in Reference to Biological Groups

Index theory is applied to selection methods which use individuals or ran-domly associated groups of individuals as basic units of selection. An index is developed which combines "direct" and "associate" phenotypic values in such a way as to invariably ensure a maximum, non-negative change in the population mean. The theory is applicable to populations of groups in each of which individuals may interact in any arbitrary manner, whether such interaction be cooperative or competitive in nature.
The potential of diagnostic point‐of‐care tests (POCTs) for infectious and zoonotic animal diseases in developing countries: Technical, regulatory and sociocultural considerations

Abstract Remote and rural communities in low‐ and middle‐income countries (LMICs) are disproportionately affected by infectious animal diseases due to their close contact with livestock and limited access to animal health personnel). However, animal disease surveillance and diagnosis in LMICs is often challenging, and turnaround times between sample submission and diagnosis can take days to weeks. This diagnostic gap and subsequent disease under‐reporting can allow emerging and transboundary animal pathogens to spread, with potentially serious and far‐reaching consequences. Point‐of‐care tests (POCTs), which allow for rapid diagnosis of infectious diseases in non‐laboratory settings, have the potential to significantly disrupt traditional animal health surveillance paradigms in LMICs. This literature review sought to identify POCTs currently available for diagnosing infectious animal diseases and to determine facilitators and barriers to their use and uptake in LMICs. Results indicated that some veterinary POCTs have been used for field‐based animal disease diagnosis in LMICs with good results. However, many POCTs target a small number of key agricultural and zoonotic animal diseases, while few exist for other important animal diseases. POCT evaluation is rarely taken beyond the laboratory and into the field where they are predicted to have the greatest impact, and where conditions can greatly affect test performance. A lack of mandated test validation regulations for veterinary POCTs has allowed tests of varying quality to enter the market, presenting challenges for potential customers. The use of substandard, improperly validated or unsuitable POCTs in LMICs can greatly undermine their true potential and can have far‐reaching negative impacts on disease control. To successfully implement novel rapid diagnostic pathways for animal disease in LMICs, technical, regulatory, socio‐political and economic challenges must be overcome, and further research is urgently needed before the potential of animal disease POCTs can be fully realized.
Studies on glass transition temperature of chitosan with four techniques

Studies on the glass transition temperature (Tg) of chitosan are difficult to pursue because of the difficulty in sample preparation and the hydroscopicity of samples. There are a few works concerning this principal relaxation of chitosan. Among them, several quite different values (150°C, 161°C, and 203°C) have been reported. In this paper, the Tg of chitosan (140 ∼ 150°C) was determined by means of four techniques, namely, dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermally simulated current spectroscopy (TSC), and dilatometry (DIL). DSC measurement has been assumed not to be sensitive enough to detect the relaxation temperature of polysaccharides. We propose a new method to improve the sensitivity of the DSC measurement. After a physical aging treatment of samples, the transition in DSC traces became much more distinct because of the enthalpy relaxation. This technique was also used to distinguish the Tg from other relaxations. The Tg of chitosan with different degree of deacetylation (D.D.) was examined by DSC. No influence of D.D. on Tg was found. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 93: 1553–1558, 2004
The Effects of β-Adrenergic Stimulation on Post-Tetanic Potentiation of Concentric Force in Fast Skeletal Muscle From Wildtype and skMLCK Devoid Mice.

Stimulation induced myosin RLC phosphorylation, catalyzed by the skeletal myosin light chain kinase (skMLCK) is known as the primary mechanism for twitch force potentiation (PTP). We assessed concentric PTP in the absence and presence of epinephrine (1 μM). To this end, extensor digitorum longus (EDL) muscles from wildtype (WT) and skMLCK -/(KO) mice were incubated for 30minutes in normal (CON) or epinephrine containing (EPI) Tyrode’s solution (in vitro, 25°C); undergoing a series of twitches before and after a standard conditioning stimulus (CS; 4x100 Hz) to determine PTP (post-CS/pre-CS). Epinephrine initially enhanced PTP compared to the WT and KO control values, respectively; peaking at 19.3 ± 1.6% and 15.7 ± 10.2% by the 8-minute mark (P < 0.0001) without altering myosin phosphorylation (P = 0.503). WT muscles were significantly elevated above KO values at all time points (P < 0.05); with the exception of the final 8-minute value (P = 0.172). However, both genotypes showed similar responses to epinephrine (r 2 = 0.895), demonstrating that epinephrine may primarily act on a pathway independent of myosin phosphorylation.
Model-free decision making is prioritized when learning to avoid harming others

Significance “Do no harm” is a universal principle of human social life. But how do we learn which of our actions help or harm others? Learning theory suggests there are two different systems that govern how we link actions and outcomes: a model-free system that is efficient and a model-based system that is deliberative. Here we show that people rely more on model-free decision making when learning to avoid harming others compared to themselves. Model-free neural signals that distinguish self and other are observed in the thalamus/caudate, and reliance on model-free moral learning for others varies with individual differences in moral judgment. These findings suggest that moral decision making for others is more model-free and has a specific neural signature. Moral behavior requires learning how our actions help or harm others. Theoretical accounts of learning propose a key division between “model-free” algorithms that cache outcome values in actions and “model-based” algorithms that map actions to outcomes. Here, we tested the engagement of these mechanisms and their neural basis as participants learned to avoid painful electric shocks for themselves and a stranger. We found that model-free decision making was prioritized when learning to avoid harming others compared to oneself. Model-free prediction errors for others relative to self were tracked in the thalamus/caudate. At the time of choice, neural activity consistent with model-free moral learning was observed in subgenual anterior cingulate cortex (sgACC), and switching after harming others was associated with stronger connectivity between sgACC and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. Finally, model-free moral learning varied with individual differences in moral judgment. Our findings suggest moral learning favors efficiency over flexibility and is underpinned by specific neural mechanisms.
Using Direct-to-Consumer Genetic Testing Results to Accelerate Alzheimer Disease Clinical Trial Recruitment.

INTRODUCTION The apolipoprotein E (APOE) gene is the strongest known genetic risk factor for sporadic Alzheimer disease (AD). APOE can be used as an enrichment strategy or inclusion criterion for AD prevention trials. Personal genomics companies market direct-to-consumer (DTC) genetic tests, including APOE. We assessed DTC APOE testing usage among enrollees of the University of California Irvine Consent-to-Contact Registry, an online recruitment registry, and attitudes toward using this information in clinical trial recruitment. METHODS We emailed links to an electronic survey to registry enrollees age 50 years or older. We assessed participants' use of DTC services, willingness to learn APOE status, and willingness to share genetic information. Logistic regression models assessed relationships between DTC testing usage and demographic characteristics, and with willingness to share results to assist trial recruitment. RESULTS Among 1312 responders (57% response rate), few (7%) had used DTC testing for APOE. Non-Hispanic Asian enrollees were 93% less likely to have used DTC testing, compared with non-Hispanic Whites [95% confidence interval: (0.01, 0.67)]. Willingness to share APOE information for study recruitment was >90% for both users and nonusers. CONCLUSIONS Matching participants to trials on the basis of DTC APOE information may be an effective way to streamline AD prevention trial recruitment.
Emotional eating: Really hungry or just angry?

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of parenting styles and academic self-efficacy on emotional eating behaviours within a sample of adolescents. The sample of this cross-sectionally designed study consisted of 584 adolescents between the ages of 12–17 years. In order to collect necessary data, the Emotional Eating Scale for Child and Adolescent, the Parenting Style Scale and Academic Self-efficacy Scale were utilized. In this sample, Emotional Eating Scale’s total score of girls was higher than boys, and emotional eating was not related to body mass index. Parenting styles and academic self-efficacy predicted 34% of the variants seen in emotional eating behaviours of adolescents. While a positive relation existed between emotional eating and negligent parenting style, a negative significant relation occurred between permissive and democratic type of parenting styles and emotional eating. In addition, emotional eating behaviours decreased, whereas academic self-efficacy perception increased accordingly. The results showed that emotional eating behaviours of adolescents were in relation with parenting styles and academic self-efficacy. A good understanding of the multifactorial structure of emotional eating in adolescents will help to develop essential programmes in order to design effective coping mechanisms.