Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Adaptational Changes of Fatty Acid Composition and the Physical State of Membrane Lipids Following the Change of Growth Temperature in Yersinia enterocolitica

Yersinia enterocolitica is capable of growing in a broad range of temperatures from 4 to 45 C. How this organism alters its membrane lipids in response to the change of growth temperature is very interesting. The fatty acids of membrane lipids of cells cultured at 5, 15, 25 and 37 C were analyzed and the physical states of these membrane lipids were characterized. The major phospholipids of this bacterium were phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, cardiolipin, lysophosphatidylglycerol and lysophosphatidylethanolamine. No significant difference in phospholipid composition in response to culture temperatures was observed. It was reported in our previous paper that the major fatty acids of membrane phospholipids of Y. enterocolitica were C15:0, C16:0, C16:1, cyclopropane C17:0 and C18:0, Some differences in the fatty acid composition were, however, observed with the change of culture temperature. When the culture temperature was raised, the saturated and cyclopropane fatty acids substantially increased and the unsaturated ones decreased. A reverse phenomenon was observed when culture temperature was lowered. From the viewpoints of membrane physical state, adaptational changes were analyzed using a nylon microcapsule method. Phase transition in membrane lipids of cells grown at each culture temperature took place in the range of about 5 C below and about 10 C above the culture temperature. It is, therefore, considered that Y. enterocolitica maintains its membrane rigidity and fluidity in response to growth temperature by changing the membrane fatty acid composition.
Fallopian tube and primary peritoneal carcinomas associated with BRCA mutations.

PURPOSE The aims of this study were to determine the incidence of BRCA mutations among Ashkenazi Jewish patients with fallopian tube carcinoma (FTC) or primary peritoneal carcinoma (PPC), to study the clinicopathologic features of these cancers, and to estimate the risks of these cancers in association with a BRCA mutation. PATIENTS AND METHODS A retrospective review at two institutions identified 29 Jewish patients with FTC and 22 Jewish patients with PPC. These patients were genotyped for the three Ashkenazi Jewish BRCA founder mutations (185delAG and 5382insC in BRCA1 and 6174delT in BRCA2). Surgical and pathologic information, family history, and survival data were obtained from hospital records. All statistical tests were two sided. RESULTS Germline BRCA mutations were identified in five of 29 patients with FTC (17%) and nine of 22 patients with PPC (41%). Mutation carriers had a younger mean age at diagnosis than patients without a mutation (60 v 70 years; P =.002). The overall median survival was 148 months for mutation carriers and 41 months for patients without a mutation (P =.04). For BRCA mutation carriers, the lifetime risks of FTC and PPC were 0.6% and 1.3%, respectively. CONCLUSION Substantial proportions of Ashkenazi Jewish patients with FTC or PPC are BRCA mutation carriers. Patients with BRCA-associated FTC or PPC are younger at diagnosis and have improved survival compared with patients without a BRCA mutation. Although the lifetime risks of FTC or PPC for patients with BRCA heterozygotes are greater than those for the general population, the absolute risks seem relatively low.
Project HEAL: Peer Education Leads to Weight Loss in Harlem

Background. Obesity and diabetes are epidemic in the predominantly minority Harlem community. To address them, a coalition of community and academic leaders tested the effectiveness of a peer-led weight loss course. Methods. The coalition developed Project HEAL: Healthy Eating, Active Lifestyles through extensive collaboration with community members and experts in nutrition, exercise, and peer education. We piloted the course in a local church and assessed its impact through pre and post course weights, self-reported behaviors and quality of life. Results. Twenty-six overweight and obese African American adults lost a mean of 4.4 pounds at 10 weeks, 8.4 pounds at 22 weeks, and 9.8 pounds at 1 year. Participants reported decreased fat consumption and sedentary hours, and improved health related quality of life. Conclusions. A peer-led, community-based course can lead to weight loss and behavior change. The minority communities most affected by obesity and diabetes may benefit from this low-cost, culturally appropriate intervention.
Mechanistic and biological aspects of helicase action on damaged DNA

Helicases catalytically unwind structured nucleic acids in a nucleoside-triphosphate-dependent and directionally specific manner, and are essential for virtually all aspects of nucleic acid metabolism. ATPase-driven helicases which translocate along nucleic acids play a role in damage recognition or unwinding of a DNA tract containing the lesion. Although classical biochemical experiments provided evidence that bulky covalent adducts inhibit DNA unwinding catalyzed by certain DNA helicases in a strand-specific manner (i.e., block to DNA unwinding restricted to adduct residence in the strand the helicase translocates), recent studies suggest more complex arrangements that may depend on the helicase under study, its assembly in a protein complex, and the type of structural DNA perturbation. Moreover, base and sugar phosphate backbone modifications exert effects on DNA helicases that suggest specialized tracking mechanisms. As a component of the replication stress response, the single-stranded DNA binding protein Replication Protein A (RPA) may serve to enable eukaryotic DNA helicases to overcome certain base lesions. Helicases play important roles in DNA damage signaling which also involve their partnership with RPA. In this review, we will discuss our current understanding of mechanistic and biological aspects of helicase action on damaged DNA.
Histone Deacetylase Inhibitor Sensitizes Apoptosis-Resistant Melanomas to Cytotoxic Human T Lymphocytes through Regulation of TRAIL/DR5 Pathway

Modern immune therapies (PD-1/PD-L1 and CTLA-4 checkpoints blockade and adoptive cell transfer) have remarkably improved the response rates of metastatic melanoma. These modalities rely on the killing potential of CTL as proximal mediator of antimelanoma responses. Mechanisms of tumor resistance to and the predominant cytotoxic pathway(s) used by melanoma-reactive CTL are important outcome determinants. We hypothesized that downmodulation of death receptors (DRs) in addition to aberrant apoptotic signaling might confer resistance to death signals delivered by CTL. To test these two hypotheses, we used an in vitro model of MART CTL–resistant melanoma sublines. TCR-transgenic and patient-derived CTLs used the TRAIL cytotoxic pathway through DR5. Furthermore, recombinant human TRAIL and drozitumab (anti-DR5 agonistic mAb) were used to explicitly verify the contribution of the DR5/TRAIL pathway in killing melanomas. CTL resistance was due to DR5 downregulation and an inverted ratio of pro- to antiapoptotic molecules, both of which were reversed by the histone deacetylase inhibitor suberoylanilide hydroxanic acid. Apoptosis negative (c-IAP-2 and Bcl-xL) and positive (DR5) regulators were potential incriminators partly regulating CTL sensitivity. These preclinical findings suggest that exposure to this chromatin remodeling drug of immune-resistant melanomas can skew toward an intracellular proapoptotic milieu, increase DR expression, and overcome acquired immune resistance.
Treated Prevalence and Incidence of Dementia Among National Health Insurance Enrollees in Taiwan, 1996-2003

The National Health Insurance database to determine the treated prevalence and incidence of dementia in Taiwan was used in this study. A population-based random sample of 22 118 subjects aged 65 or older was obtained as a dynamic cohort. Those study subjects who had filed at least one service claim from 1996 to 2003 for either outpatient care or inpatient care with a principal diagnosis of dementia were identified. The annual treated prevalence increased from 0.71% to 1.92% from 1996 to 2003. The annual treated incidence rates were around 0.76% to 1.04% per year from 1997 to 2003. The annual treated incidence rates for the 5-year age groups, from 65 to 90 years and older, were 0.44%, 0.65%, 0.98%, 1.46%, 1.81%, and 1.80%, respectively. Both the treated prevalence and incidence rates of dementia in National Health Insurance were lower than those of community studies.
Rangatahi Tū Rangatira: innovative health promotion in Aotearoa New Zealand

Rangatahi Tū Rangatira (R2R) is a national health promotion programme in Aotearoa New Zealand which aims to promote cultural and physical wellbeing for rangatahi (young people) and their whānau (family). Grounded in tikanga Māori, the programme focuses on total wellbeing, leadership and cultural awareness providing rangatahi opportunities to increase their participation in physical activity and cultural knowledge through ngā taonga tākaro (Māori ancestral games). This paper focuses on an evaluation of this innovative health promotion programme focussing on the delivery of R2R by a local iwi provider in a rural area. Kanohi ki te kanohi (face-to-face) interviews and focus groups were used to collect data from a range of stakeholders including rangatahi, whānau, programme developers, and collaborating community organizations. A whānau ora (holistic) framework incorporating five core outcomes and key indicators specific to the programme was developed to assess the impact of delivery. Results demonstrated that rangatahi and their whānau were living healthier lifestyles through being more physically active; had gained an increased desire to succeed in their education and extra curriculum activities; and felt more connected to their community and te ao Māori. This demonstrates the importance of incorporating cultural elements to support improved lifestyle changes for rangatahi and their whānau and the connection between enhanced cultural identity and good health.
Control method for cascaded H-bridge multilevel inverter with faulty power cells

To increase the fault tolerance for cascaded H-bridge multilevel inverters, a novel control algorithm is proposed for the inverter operating under faulty conditions. The influence of various faults on space vectors is investigated and the maximum achievable output voltage of the inverter with faulty power cells is derived. Making use of the redundant switching states, the proposed algorithm is able to produce a three-phase balanced line-to-line voltage with minimum harmonic distortion for the inverter with disabled power cells. In addition, the control algorithm is suitable for use in the cascaded H-bridge inverters of any voltage levels. Simulation and experimental results are provided for verification.
Development of aquatic toxicity benchmarks for oil products using species sensitivity distributions

Determining the sensitivity of a diversity of species to spilled oil and chemically dispersed oil continues to be a significant challenge in spill response and impact assessment. We used standardized tests from the literature to develop species sensitivity distributions (SSDs) of acute aquatic toxicity values for several petroleum products and 2 Corexit oil dispersants. Fifth percentile hazard concentrations (HC5s) were computed from the SSDs and used to assess relative oil product toxicity and in evaluating the feasibility of establishing toxicity benchmarks for a community of species. The sensitivity of mysids (Americamysis bahia) and silversides (Menidia beryllina) were evaluated within the SSDs to determine if these common test species were appropriate surrogates for a broader range of species. In general, SSD development was limited by the availability of acute toxicity values that met standardization criteria for a diversity of species. Pooled SSDs were also developed for crude oil and Corexit dispersants because there was only small variability in the HC5s among the individual oil or dispersant products. The sensitivity of mysids and silversides varied across the oil and dispersant products, with the majority of toxicity values greater than the HC5. Application of SSDs appears to be a reasonable approach to developing oil product toxicity benchmarks, but additional toxicity data are needed for a larger range of species conducted under standardized test conditions. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2013;9:610–615. © 2013 SETAC
Social constraints and spousal communication in lung cancer

The Social Cognitive Processing Model suggests that talking with others facilitates cognitive and emotional processing of experiences such as cancer if the social context in which these discussions take place is supportive and positive. Despite this, patients and spouses may inadvertently constrain each other's attempts to process and cope with the disease. To our knowledge, no previous studies have directly examined the effect of lung cancer on the spousal relationship. We began to examine this effect by identifying the social constraints experienced by couples coping with lung cancer through semi‐structured interviews with 13 patients and 12 spouses. Using Grounded Theory methodology, our analyses showed that these couples experienced a wide variety of social constraints, including denial, avoidance, and conflict that can hinder open spousal communication. Specifically, patients and spouses reported trouble discussing continued tobacco use, cancer‐related symptoms, prognosis, and the emotional effects of lung cancer on the spouse. Despite these constraints, participants who reported talking with their partners about their relationships reported fewer constraints and better communication about cancer. These findings highlight the importance of a relationship perspective in the study of lung cancer and provide information about how talking together about the spousal relationship may enable couples to minimize social constraints and enhance cognitive and emotional processing of the disease. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A de novo transcriptome assembly of Lucilia sericata (Diptera: Calliphoridae) with predicted alternative splices, single nucleotide polymorphisms and transcript expression estimates

The blow fly Lucilia sericata (Diptera: Calliphoridae) (Meigen) is a nonmodel organism with no reference genome that is associated with numerous areas of research spanning the ecological, evolutionary, medical, veterinary and forensic sciences. To facilitate scientific discovery in this species, the transcriptome was assembled from more than six billion bases of Illumina and twenty‐one million bases of 454 sequence derived from embryonic, larval, pupal, adult and larval salivary gland libraries. The assembly was carried out in a manner that enabled identification of putative single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and alternative splices, and that provided expression estimates for various life history stages and for salivary tissue. The assembled transcriptome was also used to identify transcribed transposable elements in L. sericata. The results of this study will enable blow fly biologists, dipterists and comparative genomicists to more rapidly develop and test molecular and genetic hypotheses, especially those regarding blow fly development and salivary gland biology.
Forgiveness Therapy for the Promotion of Mental Well-Being: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Interpersonal hurts and violence against the individual have a high prevalence and are associated with a range of long-term problems in terms of psychological functioning. There is a growing body of research highlighting the role of forgiveness therapy in improving different aspects of psychological health in populations who have experienced diverse types of hurt, violence, or trauma. This article reports the findings of a systematic review and meta-analysis of the efficacy of process-based forgiveness interventions among samples of adolescents and adults who had experienced a range of sources of hurt or violence against them. Randomized controlled trials were retrieved using electronic databases and an examination of reference sections of previous reviews; each study was assessed for risk of bias. Standardized mean differences (SMDs) and confidence intervals (CIs) were used to assess treatment effects. The results suggest that forgiveness interventions are effective in reducing depression (SMD = −0.37, 95% CI [−0.68, −0.07]), anger and hostility (SMD = −0.49, 95% CI [−0.77, −0.22]), and stress and distress (SMD = −0.66, 95% CI [−0.91, −0.41]) and in promoting positive affect (SMD = −0.29, 95% CI [−0.52, −0.06]). There was also evidence of improvements in state (SMD = −0.55, 95% CI [−0.88, −0.21) and trait (SMD = −0.43, 95% CI [−0.67, −0.20]) forgiveness. The findings provide moderately strong evidence to suggest that forgiving a variety of real-life interpersonal offenses can be effective in promoting different dimensions of mental well-being. Further research is, however, needed.
Impact of birth parameters and early life growth patterns on retinal microvascular structure in children: The Generation R Study

Objective: The aim of the study was to examine the associations of birth outcomes and longitudinally measured fetal and infant growth patterns with retinal vessel calibers in childhood. Methods: In a population-based prospective cohort study among 4122 children, we measured growth characteristics in second and third trimester of pregnancy, at birth, and at 6, 12, 24, 36, 48, and 72 months. At the age of 6 years, we measured retinal arteriolar and venular calibers from digitized retinal photographs. Results: We observed that compared with term-born children, those born preterm had narrower retinal arteriolar caliber [differences −0.46 standard deviation score (95% confidence interval −0.77 to −0.15) and −0.24 standard deviation score (95% confidence interval −0.42 to −0.05) for children born <34 and 34–37 weeks of gestation, respectively]. Children born with a low birth weight (<2500 g) had narrower retinal arteriolar caliber than children with a normal birth weight, but this association was fully explained by gestational age at birth. Accelerated infant growth until 24 months was associated with narrow retinal arteriolar caliber, especially among preterm-born children (P < 0.05). Early growth measures were not associated with retinal venular caliber. Conclusion: Preterm birth and accelerated infant growth are associated with narrower retinal arteriolar caliber in childhood. Whether these microvascular adaptations explain the well known associations of fetal and infant characteristics with cardiovascular disease in later life should be further studied.
Cholinergic markers are expressed in developing and mature neurons of chick dorsal root ganglia

The presence of acetylcholinesterase has been reported in chick dorsal root ganglia at early developmental stages although acetylcholine is not known to play a role in these ganglia. Recently, we reported that during development the level of acetylcholinesterase increases continuously and the enzyme becomes gradually expressed in all sensory neurons. These observations prompted the study of the developmental pattern of expression of other cholinergic markers, such as choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) and the high affinity transport mechanism for choline. ChAT activity is barely detectable at early developmental stages (E7) and increases markedly thereafter, with an activity profile similar to that described for acetylcholinesterase. A similar increase in enzyme activity is also observed when ChAT is measured in dorsal root ganglia explants and in dissociated cells in culture. The study of ChAT activity in cultured cells shows an increase over a period of 3 days, thus ruling out the hypothesis that motor fibers, still associated to the ganglia, may represent a possible source of the enzyme. Immunostaining of whole ganglia or cultured cells shows that ChAT immunoreactivity is not restricted to a specific neuronal subpopulation but appears as a common marker of sensory neurons. High affinity choline uptake, blocked by hemicholinium, is present in sensory neurons cultured from E7 dorsal root ganglia. Observations on cultured neurons from later stages (E18) indicate that choline transport is not a transient property of sensory neurons. These observations show a similar pattern of expression of several cholinergic markers during development. Such a pattern is maintained at significant levels also in mature ganglia. © 1994 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Effect of E4031, a class III antiarrhythmic drug, on ischemia- and reperfusion-induced arrhythmias in isolated rat hearts.

UNLABELLED The delayed outward rectifier K+ channel has a role in the increase in automaticity of myocytes under pathophysiological conditions. The purpose of the present study was to clarify the effect of blockade of outward rectifier K+ channels by a class III antiarrhythmic drug, E4031, on ischemia- and reperfusion-induced arrhythmias. Ion fluxes, energy metabolites and cardiac function were measured and the epicardial electrocardiograms of Langendorff-perfused rat hearts were recorded during initial perfusion, global or regional ischemia and reperfusion. 10(-7) M of E4031 administered during the initial perfusion did not prolong the QT interval, but slowed the heart rate ( CONTROL 222, E4031: 183 bpm, p < 0.05), increased myocardial 45Ca2+ uptake ( CONTROL 2.1, E4031: 2.9 mumol/g dwt, p < 0.05) and attenuated the loss of intracellular K+ during ischemia ( CONTROL 238, E4031: 248 mumol/g dwt, p < 0.05). E4031 tended to reduce ischemia-induced ventricular tachyarrhythmias ( CONTROL 60, E4031: 30%, n.s.), but reperfusion-induced ventricular tachyarrhythmias were sustained longer by the administration of E4031 (CONTROL: 255, E4031: 623 sec, p < 0.05). Prior exposure to E4031 decreased the depletion of high energy phosphates during ischemia, but suppressed their recovery during reperfusion. These results suggest that the attenuated loss of K+ from the ischemic myocardium and the decrease in heart rate by E4031 contributed to the reduction of ischemia-induced arrhythmias. However, the increase in myocardial Ca2+ uptake and altered energy metabolism may be responsible for the increase in reperfusion-induced arrhythmias.
Mechanism of spontaneous and self‐sustained oscillations in networks connected through axo‐axonal gap junctions

Electrical coupling of clusters of neurons via axo‐axonal gap junctions is a candidate mechanism underlying the ultra‐fast (> 100 Hz) oscillations recorded in various in vitro and in vivo normal and pathological conditions [ Traub et al. (1999)Neuroscience, 92, 407–426]. The poor characterization of axo‐axonal gap junctions, however, limits experimental verification of this mechanism. We simulated networks of prototype multi‐compartmental neurons in order to identify the parameters constraining the production and frequency of ultra‐fast oscillations. Weak axo‐axonal coupling was found to synchronize networks preferentially at the gamma‐range frequency (30–100 Hz). Networks with strong axo‐axonal coupling were able to produce 200 Hz oscillations, a finding we extended with several new observations. Ultra‐fast oscillations arose spontaneously during dendritic excitation, i.e. in the absence of extrinsic axonal background spikes, as the spike trigger zone concomitantly shifted from soma to axon. The all‐or‐none oscillations could be transitory or self‐sustained, and lasted longer in larger networks. They occurred more likely during low to modest soma firing rates, as strong afterhyperpolarizing currents tended to impair them. The rate of the rhythm was independent of network size and of the level of excitation, but inversely proportional to the distance of the junctions from the soma. As a matter of fact, the resulting axonal firing rate was the highest one at which antidromic spikes would not collide with spikes reflected from the soma. Taken together, the observed model dynamics lends further credibility to axo‐axonal coupling as a mechanism of ultra‐fast oscillations.