Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
S100 proteins: structure, functions and pathology.

S100 proteins regulate intracellular processes such as cell growth and motility, cell cycle regulation, transcription and differentiation. Twenty members have been identified so far, and altogether, S100 proteins represent the largest subgroup in the EF-hand Ca2+ -binding protein family. A unique feature of these proteins is that individual members are localized in specific cellular compartments from which some are able to relocate upon Ca2+ activation, transducing the Ca2+ signal in a temporal and spacial manner by interacting with different targets specific for each S100 protein. Some members are even secreted from cells exerting extracellular, cytokine-like activities partially via the surface receptor RAGE (receptor for advanced glycation endproducts) with paracrine effects e.g. on neurons, promoting their survival during development or after injury. Another important aspect is that 14 bona fide S100 genes are found in a gene cluster on human chromosome 1q21 where a number of chromosomal abnormalities occur. This results in a deregulated expression of some S100 genes associated with neoplasias. Recently, S100 proteins have received increasing attention due to their close association with several human diseases including cardiomyopathy, neurodegenerative disorders and cancer. They have also been proven to be valuable in the diagnostic of these diseases, as predictive markers of improving clinical management, outcome and survival of patients and are considered having a potential as drug targets to improve therapies.
Functional analysis of promoters involved in quorum sensing‐based regulation of bacteriocin production in Lactobacillus

Bacteriocin production in Lactobacillus sake LTH673 involves at least four operons: a regulatory operon (sppIPKR); two operons encoding bacteriocins and their immunity proteins (sppAiA and orfX); and an operon needed for secretion (sppTE). We show here that the response regulator encoded by sppR in L. sake LTH673, as well as the homologous response regulators encoded by plnC and plnD in Lactobacillus plantarum C11, bind to characteristic repeats found in the −80 to −40 regions of spp operons. The promoters controlling bacteriocin operons are strictly regulated, and their activity is increased more than 1000‐fold upon activation. Constitutive expression for the regulatory and transport operons is driven, at least in part, by promoters upstream of the −80 to −40 regions. Peak promoter activity of the regulatory and transporter operons precedes that of the two bacteriocin operons. The results reveal how promoters involved in quorum sensing‐based regulation of bacteriocin production in Lactobacillus differ in strength, leakiness and timing of their activity.
Animals and Androids

People commonly ascribe lesser humanness to others than to themselves. Two senses of humanness appear to be involved: attributes that are unique to humans and those that constitute essential “human nature. ” Denying uniquely human and human-nature attributes to other people may implicitly liken them to animals and automata, respectively. In the present study, the go/no-go association task was used to assess implicit associations among social categories exemplifying the two senses of humanness, traits representing these senses, and the two types of nonhumans. Congruent associations (among artists, human-nature traits, and animals; among businesspeople, uniquely human traits, and automata) were consistently stronger than incongruent associations. Explicit ratings supported these differential associations. Social perception may involve two subtle ways of dehumanizing others.
Effect of combined exercise training on physical and metabolic fitness in adults with intellectual disability: a controlled trial

Objective: Investigating the effect of combined aerobic and strength training on metabolic and physical fitness in adults with intellectual disabilities compared to endurance training and no training. Design: A controlled trial with patients receiving either combined (COM), endurance (END) or no training (C). Setting: Two centres for intellectual disabilities (Sterrenhuis, Brasschaat and Emiliani, Lokeren, Belgium). Subjects: Forty-five adults with intellectual disabilities (mean age: 42 (9,2), mean body mass index (BMI): 24 (3,9), mean IQ: 56 (5,6)). Intervention: Combined exercise training (n = 15) and endurance training (n = 15) twice a week for 70 minutes per session for 20 weeks and no training (n = 15). Groups were matched for age, sex and intellectual disability. Main measures: Lipid profile, physical fitness (primary); blood pressure and body composition. Results: Compared to no training, combined exercise training has significant positive effects on total cholesterol levels, aerobic capacity, muscle strength and resting systolic blood pressure, while endurance exercise training has significant effects on aerobic capacity and resting systolic blood pressure. Compared to endurance training, combined exercise training resulted in a significant better evolution of total cholesterol (mean differences: −18 versus −3 mg/dl), 1RM upper (+6 versus +1 kg) and lower limb (+25 versus +8 kg) and abdominal muscles (+15 versus +1 kg), hand grip strength (+9 versus +2 kg), muscle fatigue resistance (+11 versus +5 sec), sit-to-stand (+5 versus +2/30 sec) and systolic blood pressure (−15 versus −10 mmHg). Conclusion: This study revealed a tendency towards more beneficial effects of combined exercise training in adults with intellectual disability.
Increased expression of nestin in human pterygial epithelium.

AIM To investigate the distribution of nestin-positive cells in pterygium, as well as the relationship between nestin-positive cells and proliferative cells in the pathogenesis of pterygium. METHODS Nine pterygium specimens and 5 normal conjunctiva specimens were investigated. All explanted specimens were immediately immersed in 5-Ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine, and were subjected to hematoxylin and eosin staining, as well as immunostaining to detect nestin. RESULTS Small sub-populations of nestin-expressing cells in both normal and pterygial conjunctiva epithelium were found. These were located at the superficial layer of the epithelium, and were significantly increased (P=0.007) and spread out in the pterygial conjunctiva epithelium, even though these cells were mitotically quiescent. CONCLUSION In pterygium, more nestin-positive cells were present at the superficial layer of the epithelium. With growing scientific evidence that nestin plays an important role in defining various specialized cell types, such as stem cells, cancer cells and angiogenic cells, further investigations on the roles of nestin-expressing cells in pterygium may help to uncover the mechanisms of initiation, development and the prognosis of this disease.
Treatment of NIDDM With Insulin Agonists or Substitutes

Non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) is a common disorder occurring in 3–6% of adults in most western populations. In the United States, 29% of patients with diabetes take insulin; of these, 76% have NIDDM. Insulin therapy is usually required at some time in NIDDM. Insulin therapy improves the abnormalities of NIDDM (reduced β-cell function, increased hepatic glucose production, reduced peripheral glucose disposal, lipid abnormalities). Insulin and sulfonylurea agents have comparable effects on mild forms of NIDDM, but for more severe forms, insulin is usually superior. Combination insulin-sulfonylurea treatment may improve the response to sulfonylureas, although long-term well-controlled trials have not been conducted. Short-term insulin treatment may restore response to sulfonylureas. Other promising treatments (human proinsulin, nasal insulin, somatostatin) have not shown any advantage over conventional insulin therapy. Insulin causes hypoglycemia and peripheral hyperinsulinemia. The hazards of hyperinsulinemia, e.g., weight gain and hypoglycemia, have been overstated, and questions about its atherogenic effects remain to be resolved. The effect of glycemic control on macro- and microvascular complications has not been established; however, maintaining fasting blood glucose levels of <6.7 mM may protect against progression of retinopathy, neuropathy, and nephropathy and reduce the severity of ischemic stroke. Dosage algorithms generally use intermediate- or long-acting insulin to control basal glycemia, with regular insulin added before meals if needed to control postprandial glycemia. Effective therapy depends on the patient being informed, cooperative, and willing to self-monitor blood glucose. Insulin treatment intermittency increases the risk for immune complications (resistance and allergy). Overall, patients with NIDDM can benefit from insulin therapy.
Lo que los datos esconden: evolución de las redes sociales académicas

Se analiza la evolucion de las principales redes sociales academicas: Mendeley , Academia.edu y ResearchGate . A traves de un seguimiento anual del numero de miembros y de documentos, se determina la salud actual de estas plataformas y en que fase de crecimiento se encuentran. Se discute el grado de transparencia de estos espacios a la hora de facilitar informacion sobre sus servicios. Los resultados muestran que estos sitios estan llegando a un punto de inflexion, donde se reducen sus indices de crecimiento y los ritmos de incorporacion de documentos y usuarios.
A Subpopulation of Macrophages Infiltrates Hypertrophic Adipose Tissue and Is Activated by Free Fatty Acids via Toll-like Receptors 2 and 4 and JNK-dependent Pathways*

Obesity and type 2 diabetes are characterized by decreased insulin sensitivity, elevated concentrations of free fatty acids (FFAs), and increased macrophage infiltration in adipose tissue (AT). Here, we show that FFAs can cause activation of RAW264.7 cells primarily via the JNK signaling cascade and that TLR2 and TLR4 are upstream of JNK and help transduce FFA proinflammatory signals. We also demonstrate that F4/80+CD11b+CD11c+ bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (BMDCs) have heightened proinflammatory activity compared with F4/80+CD11b+CD11c- bone marrow-derived macrophages and that the proinflammatory activity and JNK phosphorylation of BMDCs, but not bone marrow-derived macrophages, was further increased by FFA treatment. F4/80+CD11b+CD11c+ cells were found in AT, and the proportion and number of these cells in AT is increased in ob/ob mice and by feeding wild type mice a high fat diet for 1 and 12 weeks. AT F4/80+CD11b+CD11c+ cells express increased inflammatory markers compared with F4/80+CD11b+CD11c- cells, and FFA treatment increased inflammatory responses in these cells. In addition, we found that CD11c expression is increased in skeletal muscle of high fat diet-fed mice and that conditioned medium from FFA-treated wild type BMDCs, but not TLR2/4 DKO BMDCs, can induce insulin resistance in L6 myotubes. Together our results show that FFAs can activate CD11c+ myeloid proinflammatory cells via TLR2/4 and JNK signaling pathways, thereby promoting inflammation and subsequent cellular insulin resistance.
Light Microscopic, Immunohistochemical, and Ultrastructural Alterations in Patients with Melasma

Despite new technologies, few studies have assessed the histologic alterations in patients with melasma. Using current technologies, the present study was designed to re-evaluate the light microscopic, immunohistochemical, and ultrastructural changes of the hyperpigmented and adjacent normal skin of patients with melasma. Twenty-one patients were included in this study. Two millimeter punch biopsies were taken from the hyperpigmented and adjacent normal skin of the face. The integrity of the epidermis and dermis was assessed by light microscopy, computer-assisted image analysis, immunohistochemistry, and electron microscopy. Stains included hematoxylin-eosin and Fontana-Masson for melanin detection. Immunostaining was performed using Mel-5 antibody and CD1a antibody as markers for melanin and Langerhans cells, respectively.However, mild lymphohistiocytic infiltrates were present in 75% of the hyperpigmented areas. The areas of hyperpigmentation showed increased deposition of melanin in the epidermis and dermis of all cases. There was a statistically significant increase in the content of epidermal melanin. There were no quantitative increases in melanocytes in the hyperpigmented areas of skin. However, the melanocytes in the hyperpigmented areas were larger, intensely stained cells with very prominent dendrites. Electron microscopy revealed more melanosomes in keratinocytes, melanocytes, and dendrites in the involved skin in comparison to the uninvolved skin. The results of this study suggest that melasma is a consequence of specific hyperfunctional melanocytes that cause excessive melanin deposition in the epidermis and dermis.
Inactivation of Salmonella Typhimurium in orange juice containing antimicrobial agents by pulsed electric field.

Combinations of different hurdles, including moderately high temperatures (<60 degrees C), antimicrobial compounds, and pulsed electric field (PEF) treatment, to reduce Salmonella in pasteurized and freshly squeezed orange juices (with and without pulp) were explored. Populations of Salmonella Typhimurium were found to decrease with an increase in pulse number and treatment temperature. At a field strength of 90 kV/cm, a pulse number of 20, and a temperature of 45 degrees C, PEF treatment did not have a notable effect on cell viability or injury. At and above 46 degrees C, however, cell death and injury were greatly increased. Salmonella numbers were reduced by 5.9 log cycles in freshly squeezed orange juice (without pulp) treated at 90 kV/cm, 50 pulses, and 55 degrees C. When PEF treatment was carried out in the presence of nisin (100 U/ml of orange juice), lysozyme (2,400 U/ml), or a mixture of nisin (27.5 U/ml) and lysozyme (690 U/ml), cell viability loss was increased by an additional 0.04 to 2.75 log cycles. The combination of nisin and lysozyme had a more pronounced bactericidal effect than did either nisin or lysozyme alone. An additional Salmonella count reduction of at least 1.37 log cycles was achieved when the two antimicrobial agents were used in combination. No significant difference (P > 0.05) in cell death was attained by lowering the pH value; only cell injury increased. Inactivation by PEF was significantly more extensive (P < 0.05) in pasteurized orange juice than in freshly squeezed orange juice under the same treatment conditions. This increase might be due to the effect of the chemical composition of the juices.
Role of Serotonin2A and Serotonin2B/2C Receptor Subtypes in the Control of Accumbal and Striatal Dopamine Release Elicited In Vivo by Dorsal Raphe Nucleus Electrical Stimulation

Abstract : This study investigates, using in vivo microdialysis, the role of serotonin2A (5‐HT2A) and 5‐HT2B/2C receptors in the effect of dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN) electrical stimulation on dopamine (DA), 3,4‐dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC), and 5‐hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5‐HIAA) extracellular levels monitored in the nucleus accumbens (NAC) and the striatum of halothane‐anesthetized rats. Following DRN stimulation (300 μA, 1 ms, 20 Hz, 15 min) DA release was enhanced in the NAC and reduced in the striatum. The 5‐HT2A antagonist SR 46349B (0.5 mg/kg) and the mixed 5‐HT2A/2B/2C antagonist ritanserin (0.63 mg/kg) significantly reduced the effect of DRN stimulation on DA release in the NAC but not in the striatum. DA responses to DRN stimulation were not affected by the 5‐HT2B/2C antagonist SB 206553 (5 mg/kg) in either region. None of these compounds was able to modify the enhancement of DOPAC and 5‐HIAA outflow induced by DRN stimulation in either the NAC or the striatum. Finally, in both brain regions basal DA release was significantly increased only by SB 206553. These results indicate that 5‐HT2A but not 5‐HT2B/2C receptors participate in the facilitatory control exerted by endogenous 5‐HT on accumbal DA release. Conversely, 5‐HT2B/2C receptors tonically inhibit basal DA release in both brain regions.
Drp1‐mediated mitochondrial dynamics and survival of developing chick motoneurons during the period of normal programmed cell death

Mitochondrial morphology is dynamically remodeled by fusion and fission in neurons, and this process is implicated in nervous system development and pathology. However, the mechanism by which mitochondrial dynamics influence neuronal development is less clear. In this study, we found that the length of mitochondria is progressively reduced during normal development of chick embryo motoneurons (MNs), a process partly controlled by a fission‐promoting protein, dynamin‐related protein 1 (Drp1). Suppression of Drp1 activity by gene electroporation of dominant‐negative mutant Drp1 in a subset of developing MNs increased mitochondrial length in vivo, and a greater proportion of Drp1‐suppressed MNs underwent programmed cell death (PCD). By contrast, the survival of nontransfected MNs in proximity to the transfected MNs was significantly increased, suggesting that the suppression of Drp1 confers disadvantage during the competition for limited survival signals. Because we also monitored perturbation of neurite outgrowth and mitochondrial membrane depolarization following Drp1 suppression, we suggest that impairments of ATP production and axonal growth may be downstream factors that influence the competition of MNs for survival. Collectively, these results indicate that mitochondrial dynamics are required for normal axonal development and competition‐dependent MN PCD. —Choi, S. Y. , Kim, J. Y. , Kim, H. ‐W. , Cho, B. , Cho, H. M. , Oppenheim, R. W. , Kim, H. , Rhyu, I. J., Sun, W. Drp1‐mediated mitochondrial dynamics and survival of developing chick motoneurons during the period of normal programmed cell death. FASEB J. 27, 51–62 (2013). www.fasebj. org
Trends of Elevated PTSD Risk in Firefighters Exposed to the World Trade Center Disaster: 2001–2005

Objectives. We identified trends in the prevalence of elevated posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) risk as determined by the Fire Department of the City of New York (FDNY)-modified PTSD Checklist in World Trade Center (WTC)-exposed firefighters. We also examined trends in relation to WTC exposure, social support, change in recreational activities, and functional health. Methods. We analyzed 16,826 questionnaires from 10,074 firefighters in yearly intervals, from September 12, 2001, to September 11, 2005. Results. The prevalence of elevated PTSD risk increased over time, from 9.8% in year 1 to 10.6% in year 4 (p<0.0001). Earliest arrival at the WTC site (odds ratio [OR] = 6.0; 95% confidence interval [CI] 4.4, 8.3), prolonged work at the site (OR=2.0; 95% CI 1.8, 2.3), providing supervision without previous supervisory experience (OR=4.1; 95% CI 2.8, 6.1), and retirement due to a WTC-related disability (OR=1.3; 95% CI 1.1, 1.5) were associated with ever having elevated PTSD risk. Difficulty functioning at home was strongly associated with elevated PTSD risk (ORs ranged from 17.0 [95% CI 14.5, 20.0] in year 1 to 26.7 [95% CI 20.3, 35.2] in year 3), as was difficulty functioning at work (ORs ranged from 12.1 [95% CI 10.2, 14.2] in year 1 to 23.0 [95% CI 14.6, 36.3] in year 2). Conclusions. Elevated PTSD risk was associated with exposure to the WTC site as well as functional impairment, and remained largely unabated during the first four years of the study. Screening for elevated PTSD risk may be useful in identifying those who could benefit from interventions during long-term follow-up, as well as in the immediate aftermath of disasters.
The Effects of Currency Crises on Economic Growth: A Dynamic Panel Data Analysis

The purpose of this research is to study the effect of currency crises on economic growth. To do this, we opted for a dynamic panel data model and impulse response functions for a sample of seventeen emerging countries over a period from 1980 to 2014. The main results of the various empirical investigations show that there is a Negative effect of currency crises on short-term economic growth.
New onset geriatric epilepsy

Objective: To determine the relative tolerability and efficacy of two newer antiepileptic drugs, lamotrigine (LTG) and gabapentin (GBP), as compared to carbamazepine (CBZ) in older patients with epilepsy. Methods: This was an 18-center, randomized, double-blind, double dummy, parallel study of 593 elderly subjects with newly diagnosed seizures. Patients were randomly assigned to one of three treatment groups: GBP 1,500 mg/day, LTG 150 mg/day, CBZ 600 mg/day. The primary outcome measure was retention in trial for 12 months. Results: Mean age was 72 years. The most common etiology was cerebral infarction. Patients had multiple medical conditions and took an average of seven comedications. Mean plasma levels at 6 weeks were as follows: GBP 8.67 ± 4.83 μg/mL, LTG 2.87 ± 1.60 μg/mL, CBZ 6.79 ± 2.92 μg/mL. They remained stable throughout the trial. Early terminations: LTG 44.2%, GBP 51%, CBZ 64.5% (p = 0.0002). Significant paired comparisons: LTG vs CBZ: p < 0.0001; GBP vs CBZ: p = 0.008. Terminations for adverse events: LTG 12.1%, GBP 21.6%, CBZ 31% (p = 0.001). Significant paired comparisons: LTG vs CBZ: p < 0.0001; LTG vs GBP: p = 0.015. There were no significant differences in seizure free rate at 12 months. Conclusions: The main limiting factor in patient retention was adverse drug reactions. Patients taking lamotrigine (LTG) or gabapentin (GBP) did better than those taking carbamazepine. Seizure control was similar among groups. LTG and GBP should be considered as initial therapy for older patients with newly diagnosed seizures.
A two-way available bandwidth estimation scheme for multimedia streaming networks adopting Scalable Video Coding

Multimedia streaming applications have been increasing significantly due to the rapid growth of broadband access networks. Among the latest real-time streaming technologies, the Scalable Video Coding (SVC) which is a layered coding scheme attracts more attention. The SVC encodes an original video into several streaming layers of different bit rates simultaneously. Thus, clients can subscribe a part of the coded layers of SVC video according to their available bandwidth, which should be measured by a bandwidth estimation methodology. Additionally, in SVC clients can augment or abate the number of subscribed streaming layers to fit the time-varying bandwidth during viewing programs. In this paper1, we exploit the concepts of Traceroute and ICMP timestamps to design a two-way available bandwidth estimation mechanism which is never presented in literature. The proposed scheme can infer the available bandwidth of both uplink and downlink paths, and is feasible to the paths with multiple tight links. Hence, it is specially applicable to the multimedia streaming applications adopting SVC. Numerical results show that the presented bandwidth estimation approach can achieve good accuracy.
Primary afferent axons in the tract of Lissauer in the cat

The present study is concerned with the numbers of primary afferent axons in the tract of Lissauer in the cat. The data show that approximately 27% of the axons in mid‐thoracic and lumbosacral tracts are primary afferent fibers from the segment in question and another 20% of the axons are primary afferent fibers that come from nearby segments. In addition the data show that approximately 80% of the axons in the tract are unmyelinated and that there is a slightly higher proportion of unmyelinated as opposed to myelinated primary afferents. There is also a higher proportion of primary afferents in the medial as opposed to lateral parts of the tract, but there are significant numbers of primary afferents in lateral parts of the tract. Thus it seems clear that the tract contains more primary afferent fibers than was previously believed and if these data are confirmed, the conclusions will have a bearing on considerations of the primary afferent input into the dorsal horn.