Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
ATAD5 suppresses centrosome over-duplication by regulating UAF1 and ID1

ABSTRACT Centrosomes are the primary microtubule-organizing centers that are important for mitotic spindle assembly. Centrosome amplification is commonly observed in human cancer cells and contributes to genomic instability. However, it is not clear how centrosome duplication is dysregulated in cancer cells. Here, we report that ATAD5, a replisome protein that unloads PCNA from chromatin as a replication factor C-like complex (RLC), plays an important role in regulating centrosome duplication. ATAD5 is present at the centrosome, specifically at the base of the mother and daughter centrioles that undergo duplication. UAF1, which interacts with ATAD5 and regulates PCNA deubiquitination as a complex with ubiquitin-specific protease 1, is also localized at the centrosome. Depletion of ATAD5 or UAF1 increases cells with over-duplicated centrosome whereas ATAD5 overexpression reduces such cells. Consistently, the proportion of cells showing the multipolar mode of chromosome segregation is increased among ATAD5-depleted cells. The localization and function of ATAD5 at the centrosomes do not require other RLC subunits. UAF1 interacts and co-localizes with ID1, a protein that increases centrosome amplification upon overexpression. ATAD5 depletion reduces interactions between UAF1 and ID1 and increases ID1 signal at the centrosome, providing a mechanistic framework for understanding the role of ATAD5 in centrosome duplication.
Virtual reality assisted conscious sedation during transcatheter aortic valve implantation - a randomized pilot study.

AIMS Virtual Reality (VR) has been used successfully in different clinical settings to treat anxiety. This prospective, randomized pilot study investigates the feasibility and safety of VR in patients undergoing conscious sedation during transfemoral transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). METHODS AND RESULTS Thirty-two patients were included and randomized to VR intervention (n=16) or control (n=16). In the intervention group, patient-selected relaxing 3D-Videos were projected during the TAVI procedure; pain and anxiety before and after TAVI were measured using visual analog scales (VAS, 0-10). The median age was 83 years (IQR 78.25-87). Patients' baseline characteristics did not differ significantly between groups. During TAVI under conscious sedation, the median duration of VR intervention was 30.5 minutes (IQR 23.5-46). 81.3% of the patients watched the videos until device implantation, 37.5% during the whole procedure. The VR-intervention group reported significantly less anxiety after the procedure (VAS 2 (IQR 0-3.75) vs. 5 (IQR 2-8), p=0.04) than patients randomized to control. 93.8% of the intervention group would use VR during TAVI again. Nausea and vomiting did not occur more frequently compared to control. CONCLUSIONS VR-interventions during TAVI to assist conscious sedation are safe and feasible, even in very old and frail patients. In this small cohort, there was a significant reduction in anxiety.
Golgi compartments enable controlled biomolecular assembly using promiscuous enzymes

The synthesis of eukaryotic glycans – branched sugar oligomers attached to cell-surface proteins and lipids – is organized like a factory assembly line. Specific enzymes within successive compartments of the Golgi apparatus determine where new monomer building blocks are linked to the growing oligomer. These enzymes act promiscuously and stochastically, causing microheterogeneity (molecule-to-molecule variability) in the final oligomer products. However, this variability is tightly controlled: a given eukaryotic protein type is typically associated with a narrow, specific glycan oligomer profile. Here, we use ideas from the mathematical theory of self-assembly to enumerate the enzymatic causes of oligomer variability and show how to eliminate each cause. We rigorously demonstrate that cells can specifically synthesize a larger repertoire of glycan oligomers by partitioning promiscuous enzymes across multiple Golgi compartments. This places limits on biomolecular assembly: glycan microheterogeneity becomes unavoidable when the number of compartments is limited, or enzymes are excessively promiscuous.
Smoking, Nutrition, Alcohol, Physical Activity, and Obesity (SNAPO) Health Indicators Among College Students in Guam.

Background/Purpose: The Guam Non-Communicable Disease (NCD) Consortium developed action teams as part of their strategic plan to reduce the risk of NCDs. Smoking, Nutrition, Alcohol, Physical Activity, and Obesity (SNAPO) health indicators were targeted. The primary objective of this study was to describe SNAPO among students at the University of Guam. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from September to December 2015 on a non-random sample of students (n=378; 185 males, 193 females) ≥18 years old attending the University of Guam. Information on SNAPO indicators (smoking/tobacco-related uses, poor nutritional behaviors, alcohol use, physical inactivity, and obesity) were collected using questions from the Guam Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System and other local studies. Statistical tests were used to determine sex-specific differences. Results: The overall prevalence of SNAPO health indicators included cigarette smoking (9.1%), smokeless tobacco use (6.7%), areca nut chewing (7.5%), alcohol consumption (44.3%) and binge drinking (24.6%), physical inactivity (54.5%), infrequent fruit (77.5%) and vegetable (68.0%) consumption, frequent fast food consumption (31.5%), inadequate water intake (89.1%) and obesity (22.6%). Sex-specific statistical differences were marginal for cigarette smoking and smokeless tobacco use and significant for physical inactivity and obesity. Conclusion: The SNAPO health indicators provide an updated status of substance use and obesity-related risk factors of college students in Guam. Continued collection of the data is encouraged to inform campus-wide policies or programs that promote student health, monitor student health trends, and evaluate the Guam NCD Strategic Plan over time.
Toxicity of diflubenzuron and pyriproxyfen to the predatory bug Podisus maculiventris

The susceptibility of the predatory pentatomid Podisus maculiventris (Say) to the insect growth regulators (IGRs) diflubenzuron and pyriproxyfen was investigated in the laboratory. Fifth‐instar nymphs were exposed to formulated materials of each compound via direct contact, residual contact and ingestion. Diflubenzuron was harmless to P. maculiventris by direct and residual contact, but was highly toxic when ingested via drinking water. Pyriproxyfen caused severe deformities at ecdysis whatever the method of exposure. Exposure of fifth instars to sublethal concentrations (around LC10) of both compounds had no adverse effects on reproduction of emerging adults. The data suggest that the use of these IGRs in the integrated management of insect pests should be evaluated with caution.
Opicapone and Levodopa-Carbidopa Intestinal Gel Infusion: The Way Forward Towards Cost Savings for the Healthcare Systems?

Combined catechol-O-methyl-transferase-inhibition and Levodopa-Carbidopa intestinal gel (LCIG) infusion has the potential to reduce LCIG daily dose and the costs of this therapy. In this retrospective analysis, we report on Parkinson's disease (PD) patients on LCIG with concomitant Opicapone. In 11 patients, the introduction of Opicapone led to LCIG daily dose being reduced by 24.8% (p = 0.05)without any significant worsening of dyskinesia. Three patients withdrew from Opicapone due to side effects or inefficacy. LCIG daily dose reduction could lead to cost savings of £142,820.63/year in the United Kingdom while maintaining clinical care.
Effects of Weather and Habitat on Foraging Behavior of Non-breeding Eastern Phoebes

Abstract We investigated variation in foraging effort (horizontal distance traveled/number of foraging movements), percent of aerial hawking foraging movements (attempted capture of prey from air), mean perch height of sally initiation (height of perches from which sallies are initiated), and mean sally distance (distance from perch to prey) of non-breeding Eastern Phoebes (Sayornis phoebe) as a function of weather and habitat conditions. Only ambient temperature significantly correlated with foraging effort (r = −0.32, P = 0.02), indicating Eastern Phoebes expended more effort in search of prey under colder conditions. Both ambient temperature and distance to nearest water source significantly correlated with aerial hawking; however, the model containing only ambient temperature best explained variation in aerial hawking (r = 0.38, P = 0.008), indicating Eastern Phoebes attempted to hawk more prey from air at warmer temperatures. Mean perch height of sally initiation did not correlate (P > 0.05) with ambient temperature, wind speed, or vegetative density and dispersion. Mean sally distance did not correlate (P > 0.05) with ambient temperature, wind speed, or mean perch height of sally initiation but the natural log of sally distance correlated inversely (r = −0.48, P = 0.0004) with vegetative density and dispersion. The manner in which Eastern Phoebes alter foraging behaviors under varying environmental conditions, in conjunction with physiological adaptations, may be an important factor allowing this species to winter at higher latitudes than most other North American tyrant flycatchers and forage in multiple habitats.
Modelling the role of social behavior in the persistence of the alpine marmot Marmota marmota

A general rule of thumb for biological conservation obtained from simple models of hypothetical species is that for populations with strong environmental noise moderate increases in habitat size or quality do not substantially reduce extinction risk. However, whether this rule also holds for real species with complex behavior, such as social species with breeding units and reproductive suppression, is uncertain. Here we present a population viability analysis of the alpine marmot Marmota marmota, which displays marked social behavior, i.e. it lives in social groups of up to twenty individuals. Our analysis is based on a long-term field study carried out in the Bavarian Alps since 1982. During the first fifteen years of this study, 687 marmots were individually marked and the movements and fate of 98 dispersing marmots were recorded with radio-telemetry. Thus, in contrast to most other viability analyses of spatially structured populations, good data about dispersal exist. A model was constructed which is individual-based, spatially explicit at the scale of clusters of neighbouring territories, and spatially implicit at larger scales. The decisive aspect of marmot life history, winter mortality, is described by logistic regression where mortality is increased by age and the severity of winter, and decreased by the number of subdominant individuals present in a group. Model predictions of group size distribution are in good agreement with the results of the field study. The model shows that the effect of sociality on winter mortality is very effective in buffering environmental harshness and fluctuations. This underpins theoretical results stating that the appropriate measure of the strength of environmental noise is the ratio between the variance of population growth rate and the intrinsic rate of increase. The lessons from our study for biological conservation are that simple, unstructured models may not be sufficient to assess the viability of species with complex behavioral traits, and that even moderate increases in habitat capacity may substantially reduce extinction risk even if environmental fluctuations seem high.
Opiate receptor down-regulation and tolerance;

The aim of the study was to investigate in the mouse the rela tionship between opiate-receptor down-regulation and opiate tolerance. Animals were treated for variable periods of time either by daily i.p. administration of different doses of morphine_ . for as long as 30 days or by pellet implantation with a 75-mg morphine pellet for as long as 3 days. Changes in morphine phannacodynamics were assessed in two tests: tailflick analgesia and hypothennia. Receptor binding in specific brain structures was measured by the use of tritiated di hydranorphine and standard autoradiographic techniques. The results from the daily dose experiments indicate that in the anterior hypo thalamus the periaqueductal grey and the para ventricular nucleus of the thalamus tolerance was invariably accanpanied by down-regulation; however, there were treatment conditions for which down-regulation occurred in the absence of tolerance, most notably, down-regulation was present without detectable tolerance after 2 days of treatment. There were other instances in which the degree of down-regulation was not directly proportional to the degree of tolerance. In addition, the maxirm. :nn degree of down-regulation appeared limited to about 50 percent. In the pellet experiments, receptor binding was measured in the dorsal raphe and spinal cord, as well as those areas in the daily dose experiments. The results also illustrate that down-regulation occurs the association between
EGG DISPERSAL PATTERNS AND ADULT FEEDING BEHAVIOUR IN THE LEPIDOPTERA

Abstract The adults of many Lepidoptera augment carbohydrate and protein reserves accumulated during larval life by feeding on nectar or sap flows. However, the adults of other species have non-functional mouthparts. The feeding behaviour of the species in a particular family or subfamily tends to be stereotyped. Thus in some taxa nearly all of the species have functional mouthparts in the adult stage, while in other taxa the mouth-parts are aborted. In those taxa whose adults feed, eggs are nearly always laid singly or in pairs. By contrast a significant proportion of the species whose adults fail to feed lay their eggs in clusters. This shift in egg laying behaviour can be explained by recognizing that an increased proportion of the energy reserves stored during larval life can be directed towards egg production if females engage in limited flight. Résumé Les adultes de plusieurs Lepidoptera augmentent leurs réserves de carbohydrates et de protéines accumulées au cours de la vie larvaire en se nourissant de nectar ou d'exudations de sève. Cependant d'autres espèces n'ont pas d'appareil buccal fonctionnel. Le comportement alimentaire des espèces d'une famille ou sous-famille tend à être stéréotypé. Ainsi chez certains taxons la plupart des espèces ont un appareil buccal fonctionnel chez l'adulte, alors que chez d'autres les pièces buccales sont atrophiées. Chez les taxons où les adultes se nourrissent, les oeufs sont presque toujours pondus séparément ou par paires. Au contraire une proportion importante des espèces dont les adultes ne s'alimentent pas pondent leurs oeufs par paquets. Cette différence dans le comportement de ponte peut s'expliquer lorsqu'on constate qu'une plus grande proportion des réserves énergétiques déposées durant la vie larvaire peuvent être dirigées vers la production d'oeufs lorsque les femelles volent peu.
The report of the joint WPA/CINP workgroup on the use and usefulness of antipsychotic medication in the treatment of schizophrenia

Abstract This is a report of a joint World Psychiatric Association/International College of Neuropsychopharmacology (WPA/CINP) workgroup concerning the risk/benefit ratio of antipsychotics in the treatment of schizophrenia. It utilized a selective but, within topic, comprehensive review of the literature, taking into consideration all the recently discussed arguments on the matter and avoiding taking sides when the results in the literature were equivocal. The workgroup’s conclusions suggested that antipsychotics are efficacious both during the acute and the maintenance phase, and that the current data do not support the existence of a supersensitivity rebound psychosis. Long-term treated patients have better overall outcome and lower mortality than those not taking antipsychotics. Longer duration of untreated psychosis and relapses are modestly related to worse outcome. Loss of brain volume is evident already at first episode and concerns loss of neuropil volume rather than cell loss. Progression of volume loss probably happens in a subgroup of patients with worse prognosis. In humans, antipsychotic treatment neither causes nor worsens volume loss, while there are some data in favor for a protective effect. Schizophrenia manifests 2 to 3 times higher mortality vs the general population, and treatment with antipsychotics includes a number of dangers, including tardive dyskinesia and metabolic syndrome; however, antipsychotic treatment is related to lower mortality, including cardiovascular mortality. In conclusion, the literature strongly supports the use of antipsychotics both during the acute and the maintenance phase without suggesting that it is wise to discontinue antipsychotics after a certain period of time. Antipsychotic treatment improves long-term outcomes and lowers overall and specific-cause mortality.
Host compatibility as a critical factor in management unit recognition: population‐level differences in mussel–fish relationships

Summary 1. The recognition of management units (MUs) that respect interpopulation distinctions in management needs is central to many biological applications addressing species conservation, biological invasions and ecosystem processes. 2. We present a methodological approach for the evaluation of population-level differences in the host compatibility of natural populations of affiliate (dependent) species. Two experiments were performed to diagnose the sources of variability in the relationships between an endangered freshwater mussel Unio crassus and its host fish species in a fragmented river system in Central Europe. 3. Despite the common approach applied to the conservation of U. crassus throughout the study area, we identified differences in the ability of U. crassus to infest particular host fish species between nearby and recently isolated mussel populations. These differences could strongly influence their reproductive success under a constant conservation regime. 4. The observed differences were accompanied by genetic and morphometric distinctions, as revealed by microsatellite, mtDNA and elliptic Fourier descriptor analyses. The genetic data indicated substantial reproductive isolation, which could have resulted in adaptive or random changes responsible for the differences in host compatibility. 5. We showed that experimental testing of physiological host compatibility can be effectively used for the detection of different MUs of U. crassus, with direct implications for the management of host populations. In combination with traditional genetic and morphometric techniques, this approach may provide a general framework for the recognition and care of management units of affiliate species. 6. Synthesis and applications. Population-level evaluations of host compatibility should be utilized in management unit recognition and the formulation of management targets for affiliate species. We demonstrated that small-scale cross-compatibility testing can be effectively used to diagnose the sources of variability in host relationships with direct management implications. This approach can enhance the targeting of management actions in many biological applications addressing species conservation, biological invasions and ecosystem processes.
Prevalence of Escherichia coli O157 strains in cattle, pigs and humans in North West province, South Africa

We have determined the prevalence of Escherichia coli O157 strains in cattle, pigs and humans. Eight hundred faecal samples were analysed, but only those isolates that satisfied all primary (oxidase and the triple sugar iron) and secondary identification criteria (API 20E) for E. coli are reported. A total of 294 E. coli isolates were further analysed for E. coli O157 characteristics by the slide agglutination test with E. coli O157-specific monovalent antiserum. Seventy-six E. coli O157 isolates were positively identified. In this group of isolates, the prevalence was higher in pigs (44-50%) than in cattle (5.4-20%) and humans (7.5%). Within the pig isolates, the prevalence was higher in the commercial (51%) than in the communal (44%) pigs. Similarly, the prevalence was higher in faeces from commercial (14-20%) than communal cattle (5.4%). This study highlights the need for correct hygiene, especially with commercial farming of cattle and pigs, and the processing of their products. Through this precaution, prevalence of E. coli O157 in farm animals can be minimized, preventing spread from animals to humans.
Toll-Like Receptors Dysregulation after Influenza Virus Infection: Insights into Pathogenesis of Subsequent Bacterial Pneumonia

The innate immune system utilizes an intricate network to aid in fighting foreign invaders. Recent insight and understanding of toll-like receptors (TLRs) has been critical in providing key information about early responses to infection, and more recently, understanding dysregulation of TLRs has shed light on pathogenic states. This paper addresses the importance of innate immunity and TLR regulation of immune responses to the presence of influenza infection and its role in the subsequent bacterial infections.
Prognostic Value of Inflammation Parameters in Patients With Non-ST Elevation Acute Coronary Syndromes

Inflammation parameters can predict the severity of coronary artery disease and predict long-term mortality. However, there is no study in which these parameters were evaluated together. We compared the prognostic values of inflammation parameters in predicting long-term mortality in patients with non-ST elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS). Consecutive patients with NSTE-ACS (n = 170) were included in the study. Monocyte/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) ratio (MHR), lymphocyte/monocyte ratio (LMR), neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet/lymphocyte ratio (PLR), total cholesterol/HDL-C ratio (TC/HDL-C), triglyceride /HDL-C ratio (TG/HDL-C), total antioxidant status (TAS), total oxidant status (TOS), oxidative stress index, and ischemia-modified albumin (IMA) were measured. Total antioxidant status and TOS variables were significant independent predictors of mortality. When 1.17 value is taken as a cutoff point of TAS values, the sensitivity (70.0%) and specificity (77.39%) values calculated for this value indicate that TAS variable has a predictive value on mortality. Monocyte/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio, LMR, NLR, PLR, TC/HDL-C, TG/HDL-C, TOS, and IMA levels could not be used alone in the diagnosis, severity assessment, and predicting future mortality of NSTE-ACS. Only TAS levels had a predictive value on mortality.