Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Receptor-Like Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase γ (RPTPγ), But Not PTPζ/RPTPβ, Inhibits Nerve-Growth-Factor-Induced Neurite Outgrowth in PC12D Cells

Receptor-like protein tyrosine phosphatase γ (RPTPγ) and PTPζ/RPTPβ are RPTPs which structurally resemble each other and form a distinct RPTP family. Both molecules are highly expressed in the central nervous system (CNS), though RPTPγ is distributed also in several peripheral tissues. To date, the functional differences between RPTPγ and PTPζ in neuronal cells have not been made clear because their substrate and ligand molecules have not been fully elucidated. To address this issue, we established PC12D cell transfectants stably expressing rat RPTPγ or PTPζ and analyzed the effects on cellular response to nerve growth factor (NGF). Compared with the parent PC12D cells which extend neurites vigorously in response to NGF, the transfectants expressing RPTPγ showed almost no neurite outgrowth. In contrast, neurite extension in PTPζ-expressing clones on NGF treatment was the same as in parent cells. We investigated differences in tyrosine phosphorylation levels in the cellular proteins in these cells after the NGF treatment before morphological charges appeared. Despite the lack of a response, major proteins and MAP kinase in RPTPγ-expressing PC12D cells displayed normal tyrosine phosphorylation changes on NGF treatment. However, tyrosine phosphorylation levels in the protein components purified with p13suc1 agarose (p13suc1 complex) from RPTPγ-expressing cells were different from those of the control cells. (1) Tyrosine-phosphorylation levels of 140- and 117-kD proteins were significantly reduced. (2) Rapid tyrosine phosphorylation of 58-kD protein induced by NGF was absent. (3) Activities of tyrosine kinases and protein kinase C in the p13suc1 complex were markedly reduced. We found that the p13suc1 complex also contained cytoskeletal proteins such as MAP2 and neurofilaments, but their phosphorylation levels were not different. These results indicate that RPTPγ and PTPζ have different substrate specificities, and RPTPγ inhibits NGF-induced neurite outgrowth of PC12D cells through modulation of the p13suc1 complex.
Blockade of Cell Volume Regulatory Protein NKCC1 Increases TMZ-Induced Glioma Apoptosis and Reduces Astrogliosis

Glioma is one of the most common primary malignant tumors of the central nervous system accounting for approximately 40% of all intracranial tumors. Temozolomide is a conventional chemotherapy drug for adjuvant treatment of patients with high-risk gliomas, including grade II to grade IV. Our bioinformatic analysis of The Cancer Genome Atlas and Chinese Glioma Genome Atlas datasets and immunoblotting assay show that SLC12A2 gene and its encoded Na+-K+-2Cl− cotransporter isoform 1 (NKCC1) protein are abundantly expressed in grade II–IV gliomas. NKCC1 regulates cell volume and intracellular Cl− concentration, which promotes glioma cell migration, resistance to temozolomide, and tumor-related epilepsy in experimental glioma models. Using mouse syngeneic glioma models with intracranial transplantation of two different glioma cell lines (GL26 and SB28), we show that NKCC1 protein in glioma tumor cells as well as in tumor-associated reactive astrocytes was significantly upregulated in response to temozolomide monotherapy. Combination therapy of temozolomide with the potent NKCC1 inhibitor bumetanide reduced tumor proliferation, potentiated the cytotoxic effects of temozolomide, decreased tumor-associated reactive astrogliosis, and restored astrocytic GLT-1 and GLAST glutamate transporter expression. The combinatorial therapy also led to suppressed tumor growth and prolonged survival of mice bearing GL26 glioma cells. Taken together, these results demonstrate that NKCC1 protein plays multifaceted roles in the pathogenesis of glioma tumors and presents as a therapeutic target for reducing temozolomide-mediated resistance and tumor-associated astrogliosis.
Zinc bioavailability response curvature in wheat grains under incremental zinc applications

Zinc application is generally recommended to enrich wheat grains with Zn; however, its influence on Zn bioavailability to humans has not received appreciable attention from scientists. In this pot experiment, seven Zn rates (from 0 to 18 mg kg−1 soil) were applied to two wheat cultivars (Shafaq-2006 and Auqab-2000). Application of Zn significantly increased grain yield, grain Zn concentration and estimated Zn bioavailability, and significantly decreased grain phytate concentration and [phytate]:[Zn] ratio in wheat grains. The response of grain yield to Zn application was quadratic, whereas maximum grain yield was estimated to be achieved at 10.8 mg Zn kg−1 soil for Shafaq-2006 and 7.4 mg Zn kg−1 soil for Auqab-2000. These estimated Zn rates were suitable for increasing grain Zn concentration and Zn bioavailability (>2.9 mg Zn in 300 g grains) to optimum levels required for better human nutrition. Conclusively, Zn fertilization for Zn biofortification may be practiced on the bases of response curve studies aimed at maximizing grain yield and optimum Zn bioavailability. Moreover, additive Zn application progressively reduced the grain Fe concentration and increased the grain [phytate]:[Fe] ratio. However, a medium Zn application rate increased grain Ca concentration and decreased the grain [phytate]:[Ca] ratio. Hence, rate of Zn application for mineral biofortification needs to be carefully selected.
Survival of Pronghorns in Western South Dakota

Abstract Survival and cause-specific mortality of pronghorns (Antilocapra americana) have been well-documented in several western states and Canadian provinces. However, no information has been collected in western South Dakota, USA, where mixed-grass prairie habitats characterize rangelands. The objectives of our study were to determine survival and cause-specific mortality of adult (>18 months) and yearling (6–18 months) pronghorns and to determine monthly and summer (Jun–Aug) survival for neonatal (<1 month of age) pronghorns in South Dakota. We radiocollared 93 adult female and 142 neonatal pronghorns on 3 areas in western South Dakota. We used bed sites from initial neonate captures to collect microhabitat information throughout Harding and Fall River counties. We measured vegetation understory and overstory height, shrub canopy, and distance to nearest concealment cover to the nearest centimeter inside 1-m2 quadrats by collecting measurements at 15 random points within a 30-m radius of the bed site. We documented that coyote (Canis latrans) predation was the primary cause of mortality for neonates in western South Dakota and that microhabitat characteristics at neonate bed sites differed between northwestern and southwestern South Dakota. More intensive aerial predator control may increase neonate survival in Fall River County. Management of rangelands by state and federal employees throughout western South Dakota and Wind Cave National Park that maximizes height of overstory and understory vegetation would provide neonates with adequate concealment cover for protection from predators, thereby increasing 4-week and 12-week postcapture survival. Our study provides South Dakota game managers with region-specific, annual and seasonal survival rates that were previously only estimated, thus improving the accuracy of simulated pronghorn population model output. Hunting was the primary cause of mortality (26%) for adult females in Harding and Fall River counties, thereby confirming the continued use of annual harvest by South Dakota game managers as the primary management tool for maintaining pronghorn populations within statewide population management goals.
A Patient-Centric Health Information Exchange Framework Using Blockchain Technology

Health Information Exchange (HIE) exhibits remarkable benefits for patient care such as improving healthcare quality and expediting coordinated care. The Office of the National Coordinator (ONC) for Health Information Technology is seeking patient-centric HIE designs that shift data ownership from providers to patients. There are multiple barriers to patient-centric HIE in the current system, such as security and privacy concerns, data inconsistency, timely access to the right records across multiple healthcare facilities. After investigating the current workflow of HIE, this paper provides a feasible solution to these challenges by utilizing the unique features of blockchain, a distributed ledger technology which is considered “unhackable”. Utilizing the smart contract feature, which is a programmable self-executing protocol running on a blockchain, we developed a blockchain model to protect data security and patients’ privacy, ensure data provenance, and provide patients full control of their health records. By personalizing data segmentation and an “allowed list” for clinicians to access their data, this design achieves patient-centric HIE. We conducted a large-scale simulation of this patient-centric HIE process and quantitatively evaluated the model's feasibility, stability, security, and robustness.
Association of Dietary Patterns with Visceral Adiposity, Lipid Accumulation Product, and Triglyceride-Glucose Index in Iranian Adults

In the present study, we sought to examine the association between dietary patterns (DPs) and visceral adiposity, lipid accumulation product (LAP), and triglyceride-glucose index. This cross-sectional study was conducted on adults aged between 18–45 years old who lived in Tehran, Iran, between February 2017 and December 2018 (n = 270). DPs were derived using principal component analysis. We used analysis of variance to examine differences in continues variables across tertiles of major DPs. Subsequently, for the modeling of these relationships, and also considering the possible effect of the confounding factors, multivariate regression was used. Three DPs were identified: healthy pattern, mixed pattern, and western pattern, respectively. Compared with individuals in the lowest category of mixed pattern, those in the highest category had lower fasting blood sugar (96.26 ± 11.57 vs. 101 ± 28.66, p = 0.01). A significant association was found between healthy pattern, after adjustment for potential confounders, and odds of LAP; such that individuals in the top category of healthy pattern score were 71% less likely to have a high LAP compared with those in the lowest category (odds ratio, 0.29; 95% confidence interval, 0.10–0.81). We found that adherence to a healthy DP was associated with decreased LAP. To confirm the veracity of these findings, more studies should be conducted.
The Lived Experience of Chronic Hepatitis B: A Broader View of Its Impacts and Why We Need a Cure

Chronic hepatitis B (CHB) is one of the most widespread liver diseases in the world. It is currently incurable and can lead to liver cirrhosis and cancer. The considerable impacts on society caused by CHB through patient mortality, morbidity, and economic loss are well-recognised in the field. This is, however, a narrow view of the harms, given that people living with CHB can be asymptomatic for the majority of their life-long infection. Of less-appreciated importance are the psychosocial harms, which can continue throughout an affected person’s lifetime. Here we review the broad range of these impacts, which include fear and anxiety; financial loss and instability; stigma and discrimination; and rejection by society. Importantly, these directly affect patient diagnosis, management, and treatment. Further, we highlight the roles that the research community can play in taking these factors into account and mitigating them. In particular, the development of a cure for hepatitis B virus infection would alleviate many of the psychosocial impacts of CHB. We conclude that there should be a greater recognition of the full impacts associated with CHB to bring meaningful, effective, and deliverable results to the global community living with hepatitis B.
Molecular Transport Across Ionic Liquid--Aqueous Electrolyte Interface in a MoS2 nanopore.

Nanopore sequencing of DNA has been enabled by the use of a biological enzyme to thread DNA through an engineered biological nanopore while recording the ionic current flowing through the nanopore. Efforts to realize a similar concept using a solid-state nanopore have been met with several technical challenges, one of which is the high speed of DNA translocation and the other the low ionic current contrast among individual nucleotides. A promising avenue to addressing both problems is using ionic liquid to slow DNA translocation and a tiny nanopore in MoS2 membrane to distinguish individual nucleotides. The physical mechanisms enabling these technical advances have remained elusive. Here, we characterize the ion and DNA transport through the ionic liquid/aqueous electrolyte interface, with and without a MoS2 nanopore, using the all-atom molecular dynamics method. We find that the partial miscibility of the ionic liquid and the aqueous electrolyte considerably alters the physics of the nanopore translocation process. Thus, the interface of the two phases generates a contact potential of 600 mV, the ionic current is dominated by the motion of ionic liquid molecules through the aqueous solution phase, the DNA nucleotides exhibit preferential partitioning into the aqueous electrolyte, which leads to spontaneous transport of DNA polymers form the ionic liquid to aqueous solution compartment in the absence of external voltage bias. The complex physics of the two-phase nanopore system offers a multitude of opportunities for extending the functionality of nanopore sensing platforms.
Ceramide and Sphingosine 1-Phosphate in Liver Diseases

The liver is an important organ in the regulation of glucose and lipid metabolism. It is responsible for systemic energy homeostasis. When energy need exceeds the storage capacity in the liver, fatty acids are shunted into nonoxidative sphingolipid biosynthesis, which increases the level of cellular ceramides. Accumulation of ceramides alters substrate utilization from glucose to lipids, activates triglyceride storage, and results in the development of both insulin resistance and hepatosteatosis, increasing the likelihood of major metabolic diseases. Another sphingolipid metabolite, sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) is a bioactive signaling molecule that acts via S1P-specific G protein coupled receptors. It regulates many cellular and physiological events. Since an increase in plasma S1P is associated with obesity, it seems reasonable that recent studies have provided evidence that S1P is linked to lipid pathophysiology, including hepatosteatosis and fibrosis. Herein, we review recent findings on ceramides and S1P in obesity-mediated liver diseases and the therapeutic potential of these sphingolipid metabolites.
‘Scientific Strabismus’ or two related pandemics: coronavirus disease and vitamin D deficiency

Abstract The WHO has announced the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak to be a global pandemic. The distribution of community outbreaks shows seasonal patterns along certain latitude, temperature and humidity, that is, similar to the behaviour of seasonal viral respiratory tract infections. COVID-19 displays significant spread in northern mid-latitude countries with an average temperature of 5–11°C and low humidity. Vitamin D deficiency has also been described as pandemic, especially in Europe. Regardless of age, ethnicity and latitude, recent data showed that 40 % of Europeans are vitamin D deficient (25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) levels <50 nmol/l), and 13 % are severely deficient (25(OH)D < 30 nmol/l). A quadratic relationship was found between the prevalences of vitamin D deficiency in most commonly affected countries by COVID-19 and the latitudes. Vitamin D deficiency is more common in the subtropical and mid-latitude countries than the tropical and high-latitude countries. The most commonly affected countries with severe vitamin D deficiency are from the subtropical (Saudi Arabia 46 %; Qatar 46 %; Iran 33·4 %; Chile 26·4 %) and mid-latitude (France 27·3 %; Portugal 21·2 %; Austria 19·3 %) regions. Severe vitamin D deficiency was found to be nearly 0 % in some high-latitude countries (e.g. Norway, Finland, Sweden, Denmark and Netherlands). Accordingly, we would like to call attention to the possible association between severe vitamin D deficiency and mortality pertaining to COVID-19. Given its rare side effects and relatively wide safety, prophylactic vitamin D supplementation and/or food fortification might reasonably serve as a very convenient adjuvant therapy for these two worldwide public health problems alike.
Features of begging calls reveal general condition and need of food of barn swallow (Hirundo rustica) nestlings

Altricial offspring of birds solicit food provisioning by complex begging displays, implying acoustic and visual signals. Different components of begging behavior may function as reliable signals of offspring state and thus reproductive value, on which parents base optimal parental decisions about allocation of critical resources (e.g., food). We experimentally manipulated components of general condition of nestling barn swallows (Hirundo rustica) by (1) altering brood size by cross-fostering an unbalanced number of nestlings between pairs of synchronous broods and thus manipulating the level of within-brood competition for food, (2) injecting some nestlings with a harmless immunogen, simulating an infection, and (3) preventing part of the nestlings from receiving food for a short period while establishing control groups. We recorded rate of begging response by individual nestlings as parents visited the nest and recorded begging calls using a DAT recorder to analyze six sonagraphic features of vocalizations. Our factorial experiment revealed that nestlings deprived of food begged more frequently when parents visited the nest compared to their non--food-deprived nest mates. Food deprivation increased duration of syllables forming begging calls, whereas brood size enlargement resulted in increased latency of response to parental calls. Heavy nestlings in good body condition vocalized at a relatively low peak frequency. To our knowledge, this is the first study in which begging rate and sonagraphic structure of begging calls are shown to reliably reveal a diverse set of components of offspring general state, on which parental decisions may be based. Copyright 2002.
Introduction: Water Movement Through Plants

Loss of water by leaves (transpiration) is inevitable if carbon dioxide is to be taken up for photosynthesis. The resulting flow of water through the plant gives rise to a water stress in the tissues which is explicable with reference to a simple model. The importance of this stress to the growth and physiology of the plant is indicated. Consideration of the soil-plant-atmosphere continuum as a series of resistances reveals that the major resistance lies in the gaseous phase where the stomata are strategically placed to control the rate of flow through the system. The stomata therefore play a key role in controlling stress in the plant as do the resistances within the plant. These 'plant resistances', e.g. that of the root and leaf, are not simple in that the resistance to flow through them can be a function of the flow itself. The physiological reason for this is still obscure. The water stress in the soil round the roots is clearly of major importance as the source from which water is drawn; thus flow of water to the root surface and perhaps the soil-root interface may play an important role.
Comparison of Two Static Stretching Techniques for the Triceps Surae in Healthy Individuals: Wall and Inclined Board Stretchings

Objective To compare the effectiveness of static stretching techniques for correcting the tightness of the triceps surae. Methods In this observational, cross-sectional study, participants (30 healthy volunteers) completed 10 repetitions of each stretching exercise, holding each stretch for 10 seconds, with a 1-minute rest period between repetitionsand a 1-hour rest period between the two stretching techniques, namely, wall and inclined board stretchings. The length of the triceps surae and range of ankle dorsiflexion were measured on lateral view radiographs. The muscle activity during the stretch was measured using quantified surface electromyography of the lateral gastrocnemius. The subjective stretching sensation was evaluated using the visual analog scale. Results Both stretching techniques showed statistical differences in all the parameters. Stretching on an inclined board yielded a greater increase in the triceps surae length than did wall stretching (mean difference, 0.72; p=0.02). The range of ankle dorsiflexion was higher with inclined board stretching than with wall stretching (mean difference, 2.57; p=0.03). The mean muscle activity was significantly lower withinclined board stretching than with wall stretching (mean difference, 53.72; p<0.01). The visual analog scale score was higher with inclined board stretching than with wall stretching (mean difference, 2.07; p<0.01). Conclusion In this study, inclined board stretching was more effective than wall stretching for correcting tightness of the triceps surae. Therefore, inclined board stretching should be encouraged for the triceps surae.
Uncovering insect stickiness: structure and properties of hairy attachment devices

Interest in the mechanism used by insects for walking on smooth surfaces has a very long history. The very first reports, which described structures responsible for the adherence and provided ideas about possible mechanisms of attachment, are known from the 19th century. Different hypotheses, ranging from microsuckers to the action of electrostatic forces, have since been proposed. In 1862, Tuffen West mentioned that “the structure and action of the fly’s foot have been so frequently treated of, and are so generally considered to be fully understood, that it may appear, at the first glance, as if nothing further could be done with so hackneyed a subject” (West 1862). Some comparative accounts on hexapod pretarsal structures and a terminology were published later (De Meijere 1901, Holway 1935, Dashman 1953). To date, the morphological and ultrastructural bases of the ability of hexapods to walk on vertical surfaces have been studied in detail only in representatives of selected taxa, including Orthoptera, Thysanoptera, Heteroptera, Auchenorrhyncha, Dermaptera, Strepsiptera, Hymenoptera, Diptera, and Coleoptera.