Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Lack of association between iron metabolism and depressive mood in an elderly general population

Background: Alterations in iron metabolism have been suggested as potential pathological markers in patients with manifest depression. No data on the association between iron and depression exist from population-based studies, in which milder forms of depressive symptoms are much more common. The aim of this study was to analyze the relationship between six parameters of iron metabolism and depressive mood in a population-based cross-sectional study in Germany. Methods: A total of 374 participants, aged 65–83 years, of the Memory and Morbidity in Augsburg Elderly (MEMO) Study were assessed using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies – Depression Scale (CES-D) for depression. Iron, ferritin, transferrin, soluble transferrin receptor, iron binding capacity, transferrin saturation and C-reactive protein were analyzed with standard laboratory methods. Linear and logistic regression analyses were applied to evaluate the relationship between iron parameters and depressive mood. Results: The 7-day prevalence of depressive mood was 10.2%, with a higher risk in women compared to men [odds ratio (OR) = 2.04; 95% confidence interval (95% CI) = 1.04–4.0]. Correlation and linear regression analyses adjusted for age, gender, hypertension and smoking yielded no significant relationship between any of the iron parameters and the CES-D scores. In gender-stratified analyses a statistically significant association between serum iron and depressive mood was observed in men only. This finding disappeared after applying a Bonferroni correction for multiple testing. Conclusions: The lack of association of iron metabolism and depressive mood reported in this population-based study does not support previous findings in patients with major depression. This negative finding in milder forms of depression in elderly people indicates either the absence or a more complex nature of the interactions between iron metabolism, low-grade inflammation and depression.
Effect of granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor on bacterial translocation after experimental obstructive jaundice.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the effects of granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) on bacterial translocation promoted by obstructive jaundice. DESIGN Controlled animal study. SETTING University hospital, Turkey. ANIMALS 30 male Wistar albino rats. INTERVENTIONS The first group (n = 10) was the sham operation (control) group, and the second and the third (n = 10 each) had common bile duct (CBD) ligation and division under sterile conditions. The third group were also treated with GM-CSF 200 ng subcutaneously daily between the fifth and ninth postoperative days. All animals were killed on the tenth day, and evaluated biochemically and histopathologically. Mesenteric lymph nodes were cultured under aerobic conditions. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Biochemical analysis, histopathological evaluation, and aerobic cultures. RESULTS There was no bacterial translocation in either the control or GM-CSF groups, whereas Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhimurium were found in 4 and 2 animals, respectively in the ligation group. Although no aerobic bacteria was found in controls and the GM-CSF groups, bacterial translocation was 6/10 in the ligation alone group (p <0.01). CONCLUSION Activation of inflammatory response with GM-CSF is highly effective in prevention of bacterial translocation in obstructive jaundice.
In vivo generation of decidual natural killer cells from resident hematopoietic progenitors

Decidual natural killer cells accumulate at the fetal-maternal interface and play a key role in a successful pregnancy. However, their origin is still unknown. Do they derive from peripheral natural killer cells recruited in decidua or do they represent a distinct population that originates in situ? Here, we identified natural killer precursors in decidua and uterus of pregnant mice. These precursors underwent rapid in situ differentiation and large proportions of proliferating immature natural killer cells were present in decidua and uterus as early as gestation day 4.5. Here, we investigated the origin of decidua- and uterus-natural killer cells by performing transfer experiments of peripheral mature natural killer cells or precursors from EGFP+ mice. Results showed that mature natural killer cells did not migrate into decidua and uterus, while precursors were recruited in these organs and differentiated towards natural killer cells. Moreover, decidua- and uterus-natural killer cells displayed unique phenotypic and functional features. They expressed high levels of the activating Ly49D receptor in spite of their immature phenotype. In addition, decidua- and uterus-natural killer cells were poorly cytolytic and produced low amounts of IFN-γ, while they released factors (GM-CSF, VEGF, IP-10) involved in neo-angiogenesis and tissue remodeling. Our data reveal in situ generation of decidual natural killer cells and provide an important correlation between mouse and human decidual natural killer cells, allowing further studies to be carried out on their role in pregnancy-related diseases.
The contribution of both forebrain and midbrain crest cells to the mesenchyme in the frontonasal mass of mouse embryos.

Migration of cranial neural crest cells is a crucial event in the formation of facial organs such as the frontonasal mass and branchial arches. However, the source of the populating crest cells that occupy the frontonasal mass remains unclear in mammalian embryos. To elucidate this, we performed focal DiI injections at various sites in the prosencephalon (forebrain, including the future telencephalon and diencephalon), mesencephalon (midbrain), and the anterior part of the rhombencephalon (hindbrain) separated posteriorly by the preotic sulus (i.e., rhombomere A; future rhombomere 1 and 2) of cultured mouse embryos from the 3- to 10-somite stage. Results directly revealed that during these stages the lateral edge of the prosencephalon produced crest cells which migrated to the frontonasal mass. On the other hand, labeled cells at the anterior neural ridge in the prosencephalon contributed mainly to the head epithelium, including the nasal placode, Rathke's pouch, and oral epithelium. As for the crest cells of the mesencephalon and rhombomere A, their destinations were significantly dependent on the injection site and somite stage. At the 3- to 4-somite stage, the crest cells emigrating from both the mesencephalon and rhombomere A migrated to the first branchial arch. Moreover, the mesencephalic region, but never rhombomere A, produced another group of crest cells that migrated to the frontonasal mass. In the 5- to 10-somite stage, the destinations of late-emigrating crest cells were restricted depending on their premigratory positions, i.e., the region producing crest cells migrating toward the frontonasal mass was restricted to the anterior portion of the mesencephalon, and the crest cells from the posterior portion of the mesencephalon primarily migrated to the first branchial arch, while those from the rhombomere A predominantly migrated to the trigeminal ganglion. Migration toward the frontonasal mass from the mesencephalon ceased at the earliest in the 7-somite stage, followed by termination of mesencephalic and rhombencephalic crest cell migration toward the first branchial arch at the 8-somite stage, whereas the contribution from rhombomere A to the trigeminal ganglion continued even at the 10-somite stage. This behavior suggests that both the prosencephalic and mesencephalic crest contribute to the mesenchymal cells in the frontonasal mass and also that the migration patterns of crest cells released from the prosencephalon, mesencephalon, and rhombencephalon depend on their axial level and developmental stage at initial emigration.
Mineral composition of commonly consumed ethnic foods in Europe

Background Ethnic foods are an integral part of food consumption in Europe contributing towards the overall nutrient intake of the population. Food composition data on these foods are crucial for assessing nutrient intake, providing dietary advice and preventing diseases. Objective To analyse selected minerals in authentic and modified ethnic foods commonly consumed in seven EU member states and Israel. Design A list of ethnic foods commonly consumed in selected European countries was generated, primary samples collected and composite sample prepared for each food, which were analysed for dietary minerals at accredited laboratories. Methods for sampling, analysis, data scrutiny and documentation were based on harmonised procedures. Results New data on 128 ethnic foods were generated for inclusion in the national databases of seven EU countries and Israel within the European Food Information Resource (EuroFIR), an EU Network of Excellence. The Na, K, Ca, P, Mg, Mn, Cl, Fe, Cu, Zn, Se and I contents of 39 foods is presented for the first time in this study. Conclusion The data will serve as an important tool in future national and international food consumption surveys, to target provision of dietary advice, facilitate implementation of policies and inform policymakers, health workers, food industry and researchers.
Cervical disc arthroplasty compared with arthrodesis for the treatment of myelopathy.

BACKGROUND Although there have been case reports describing the use of cervical disc arthroplasty for the treatment of myelopathy, there is a concern that motion preservation may maintain microtrauma to the spinal cord, negatively affecting the clinical results. As we are not aware of any studies on the use of arthroplasty in this scenario, we performed a cross-sectional analysis of two large, prospective, randomized multicenter trials to evaluate the efficacy of cervical disc arthroplasty for the treatment of myelopathy. METHODS The patients in the current study were a cohort of patients who were enrolled in the United States Food and Drug Administration Investigational Device Exemption studies of the Prestige ST and Bryan disc replacements (Medtronic, Memphis, Tennessee). The inclusion criteria were myelopathy and spondylosis or disc herniation at a single level from C3 to C7. Clinical outcome measures were collected preoperatively and at six weeks, three months, six months, twelve months, and twenty-four months postoperatively. RESULTS A total of 199 patients were included in the present study; 106 patients (53%) underwent arthroplasty, whereas ninety-three (47%) underwent arthrodesis. The Neck Disability Index, Short Form-36 scores, and specific arm and neck pain scores improved significantly from baseline at all time points. Patients in all four groups had improvement in the postoperative neurological status and gait function; at twenty-four months after surgery, 90% (95% confidence interval, 77.8% to 96.6%) of the patients in the arthroplasty group and 81% (95% confidence interval, 64.9% to 92.0%) of those in the arthrodesis group had improvement in or maintenance of the neurological status in the Prestige ST trial and 90% (95% confidence interval, 75.8% to 97.1%) of the patients in the arthroplasty group and 77% (95% confidence interval, 57.7% to 90.1%) of those in the arthrodesis group had improvement in or maintenance of the neurological status in the Bryan trial. CONCLUSIONS We found that patients in both the arthroplasty and arthrodesis groups had improvement following surgery; furthermore, improvement was similar between the groups, with no worsening of myelopathy in the arthroplasty group. While the findings at two years postoperatively suggest that arthroplasty is equivalent to arthrodesis for the treatment of cervical myelopathy for a single-level abnormality localized to the disc space, the present study did not evaluate the treatment of retrovertebral compression as occurs in association with ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament, and we cannot comment upon the treatment of this condition.
Determinants of Household’s Choice of Fuel for Cooking in Developing Countries: Evidence from Nepal

Abstract Using the Nepal Living Standard Survey (NLSS) data, this article identifies the determinants of household’s choice of energy for the purpose of cooking and verifies the energy ladder hypothesis (ELH). A multinomial logit model (MNL) is applied to fulfil this objective. It has been found that cleaner energy is more likely to be used in households where the head of the family has a higher level of education and a higher level of income, whereas larger households and households with higher proportion of dependent members, older person or female as head of the family and rural households are less likely to use cleaner energy. Households located in a place far from markets also do not choose cleaner energy. Further, the likelihood of using cleaner energy in the mountain and Terai regions is less than that in the hilly region. This article applies an ordered logit to the same set of data and confirms the robustness of the results. Suitable policy measures have been suggested to enable a transition towards cleaner sources of energy instead of inferior sources in Nepal.
Under different conditions of learning memory in the electroencephalograph (EEG) analysis and discussion

This research is based on loop control theory, the basic relations follow by the output follow the input. First discussing is about the brain and the environment relating close loop, and then discuss the different responses of different brain waves, how the environment of specific brain waves to identify the output under the operation of measurement, And the signal is reflected back on the close loop to its associated analysis of brain waves from the signal of exploring further. The article mention about the interactive between brain output and input signal, differences input to affect the brain, also affect inner the whole body motion (such as memory, organ and so on.), so how to improve the quality of the brain waves and strength, to achieve internal body to do the ultimate goal of remote control, will follow the discussion direction of this article.
Three Distinct Epitopes on the Extracellular Face of the Glucagon Receptor Determine Specificity for the Glucagon Amino Terminus*

The glucagon and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptors are homologous family B seven-transmembrane (7TM) G protein-coupled receptors, and they selectively recognize the homologous peptide hormones glucagon (29 amino acids) and GLP-1 (30–31 amino acids), respectively. The amino-terminal extracellular domain of the glucagon and GLP-1 receptors (140–150 amino acids) determines specificity for the carboxyl terminus of glucagon and GLP-1, respectively. In addition, the glucagon receptor core domain (7TM helices and connecting loops) strongly determines specificity for the glucagon amino terminus. Only 4 of 15 residues are divergent in the glucagon and GLP-1 amino termini; Ser2, Gln3, Tyr10, and Lys12 in glucagon and the corresponding Ala8, Glu9, Val16, and Ser18 in GLP-1. In this study, individual substitution of these four residues of glucagon with the corresponding residues of GLP-1 decreased the affinity and potency at the glucagon receptor relative to glucagon. Substitution of distinct segments of the glucagon receptor core domain with the corresponding segments of the GLP-1 receptor rescued the affinity and potency of specific glucagon analogs. Site-directed mutagenesis identified the Asp385 → Glu glucagon receptor mutant that specifically rescued Ala2-glucagon. The results show that three distinct epitopes of the glucagon receptor core domain determine specificity for the N terminus of glucagon. We suggest a glucagon receptor binding model in which the extracellular ends of TM2 and TM7 are close to and determine specificity for Gln3 and Ser2 of glucagon, respectively. Furthermore, the second extracellular loop and/or proximal segments of TM4 and/or TM5 are close to and determine specificity for Lys12 of glucagon.
Growth of Mycobacteria on Carbon Monoxide and Methanol

ABSTRACT Several mycobacterial strains, such as Mycobacterium flavescens, Mycobacterium gastri, Mycobacterium neoaurum, Mycobacterium parafortuitum, Mycobacterium peregrinum, Mycobacterium phlei, Mycobacterium smegmatis, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and Mycobacterium vaccae, were found to grow on carbon monoxide (CO) as the sole source of carbon and energy. These bacteria, except for M. tuberculosis, also utilized methanol as the sole carbon and energy source. A CO dehydrogenase (CO-DH) assay, staining by activity of CO-DH, and Western blot analysis using an antibody raised against CO-DH of Mycobacterium sp. strain JC1 (formerly Acinetobacter sp. strain JC1 [J. W. Cho, H. S. Yim, and Y. M. Kim, Kor. J. Microbiol. 23:1-8, 1985]) revealed that CO-DH is present in extracts of the bacteria prepared from cells grown on CO. Ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (RubisCO) activity was also detected in extracts prepared from all cells, except M. tuberculosis, grown on CO. The mycobacteria grown on methanol, except for M. gastri, which showed hexulose phosphate synthase activity, did not exhibit activities of classic methanol dehydrogenase, hydroxypyruvate reductase, or hexulose phosphate synthase but exhibited N,N-dimethyl-4-nitrosoaniline-dependent methanol dehydrogenase and RuBisCO activities. Cells grown on methanol were also found to have dihydroxyacetone synthase. Double immunodiffusion revealed that the antigenic sites of CO-DHs, RuBisCOs, and dihydroxyacetone synthases in all mycobacteria tested are identical with those of the Mycobacterium sp. strain JC1 enzymes.
IL-1β mediating high mobility group box protein-1 expression in condylar chondrocyte during temporomandibular joint inflammation.

BACKGROUND Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) osteoarthritis(OA)characterized with cartilage degen-eration is associated with inflammation. High mobility group box chromosomal protein-1(HMGB-1)is a potent mediator of inflammation and the trigger of OA. The expression of HMGB-1 in TMJ OA was uncovered, but the role of HMGB-1 in TMJ cartilage degeneration is not fully understood. In this study, the regulation of HMGB-1 in TMJ condylar cartilage was revealed. METHODS A complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA)-induced TMJ inflammation animal model was employed and the expression of HMGB-1 was detected at 1st, 2nd, and 6th weeks by immunohistochemistry. TMJ condylar chondrocytes were incubated with IL-1β (10 and 40 ng/ml) at 24, 48, and 72 h, and the translocation and protein level of HMGB-1 were evaluated by immunofluorescence and Western blot. RESULT Nuclear HMGB-1 staining was predominantly located in chondrocytes of both the fibrosis and proliferative zones in healthy TMJ. 1st week and 2nd week after CFA injection, immunoreaction could be detected in the cytoplasms of HMGB-1-positive cells and cartilage matrix especially in hypertrophic zone. At 6th week after CFA injection, cartilage matrix expression was disappeared and the cytoplasm expression of HMGB-1 was very weak in hypertrophic zone. HMGB-1 was translocated from the nucleus to the cytoplasm at 48 h after incubated with IL-1β (10 ng/ml and 40 ng/ml). The protein level of HMGB-1 was increased after stimulation and had a peak at 48 h. CONCLUSION HMGB-1 might be associated with TMJ inflammation and OA. Insight into the role of HMGB-1 in TMJ inflammation is helpful to add the new knowledge into the pathogenesis of TMJ OA.
Influence of Workforce Planning on Organizational Performance in the Manufacturing Industry of Lagos, Nigeria

This study examines workforce planning on organizational performance in two private manufacturing companies at Apapa area of Lagos State. This study adopted a survey research design in which sample size determination table was used to choose 300 copies of the questionnaire administered, out of which 166 were recovered and used for data analysis, representing 55 per cent of the copies of the questionnaire recovered. The data collected were analysed through the descriptive and inferential method, and both Pearson’s moment correlation and regression analysis were used in testing the stated hypotheses. The findings show workforce planning has an influence on organizational performance. The study recommends that a there is a need for the government to have an economic blueprint that will help manufacturing sector to perform better than the contribution it is making now and also ensure that irrespective of the economic contraction or recession the manufacturing sector is facing, it should get a business direction right and avoid undesirable costs that are associated with high staff turnover, poor performance and dissatisfied workers.
ADAPTIVE POPULATION DIFFERENTIATION IN PHENOLOGY ACROSS A LATITUDINAL GRADIENT IN EUROPEAN ASPEN (POPULUS TREMULA, L.): A COMPARISON OF NEUTRAL MARKERS, CANDIDATE GENES AND PHENOTYPIC TRAITS

Abstract A correct timing of growth cessation and dormancy induction represents a critical ecological and evolutionary trade-off between survival and growth in most forest trees (Rehfeldt et al. 1999; Horvath et al. 2003; Howe et al. 2003). We have studied the deciduous tree European Aspen (Populus tremula) across a latitudinal gradient and compared genetic differentiation in phenology traits with molecular markers. Trees from 12 different areas covering 10 latitudinal degrees were cloned and planted in two common gardens. Several phenology traits showed strong genetic differentiation and clinal variation across the latitudinal gradient, with QST values generally exceeding 0.5. This is in stark contrast to genetic differentiation at several classes of genetic markers (18 neutral SSRs, 7 SSRs located close to phenology candidate genes and 50 SNPs from five phenology candidate genes) that all showed FST values around 0.015. We thus find strong evidence for adaptive divergence in phenology traits across the latitudinal gradient. However, the strong population structure seen at the quantitative traits is not reflected in underlying candidate genes. This result fit theoretical expectations that suggest that genetic differentiation at candidate loci is better described by FST at neutral loci rather than by QST at the quantitative traits themselves.
Lateralisation of emotions: evidence from pupil size measurement

ABSTRACT The way our brain processes emotional stimuli has been studied intensively. One of the main issues still under debate is the laterality of valence processing. Herein, we employed the fact that pupil size increases under conditions of higher mental effort and during emotional processing, in order to contrast three proposed hypotheses in the field. We used different manual response mapping for emotional stimuli: Participants responded with their right hand for positive and with their left hand for negative facial expressions, or vice versa. The hands position was either regular (Experiment 1) or crossed (Experiment 2) in order to rule out a “spatial-valence association” alternate explanation. A third experiment was conducted by employing a passive viewing procedure of peripheral emotional stimuli. In the first two experiments, pupil size was larger when participants responded to positive stimuli with their left hand and to negative with their right hand, compared with the opposite mapping. Results of Experiment 3 strengthen the findings of Experiments 1 and 2. These findings provide significant psychophysiological evidence for the valence hypothesis: Processing positive stimuli involves the left hemisphere, while processing negative stimuli involves the right hemisphere. These results are discussed in relation to contemporary theories of emotion processing.