Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
BI-1 Regulates Endoplasmic Reticulum Ca2+ Homeostasis Downstream of Bcl-2 Family Proteins*

BI-1 (Bax inhibitor-1) is an evolutionarily conserved multitransmembrane protein that resides in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and that has documented cytoprotective functions in both animals and plants. Recent studies indicate that BI-1 shares in common with Bcl-2/Bax family proteins the ability to regulate the amounts of Ca2+ that can be released from the ER by agents, such as the ER-Ca2+-ATPase (SERCA) inhibitor thapsigargin (TG). Using an ER-targeted, Ca2+ indicator (cameleon), with characteristics optimized for measuring ER Ca2+ ([Ca2+]er), we studied the effects of BI-1 on [Ca2+]er in resting and TG-treated cells. Similar to cells overexpressing antiapoptotic Bcl-2 or Bcl-XL, overexpression of BI-1 resulted in lower resting [Ca2+]er, with concomitantly less Ca2+ released into the cytosol upon stimulation by TG and with a higher rate of Ca2+ leakage from the ER. Co-expression of SERCA restored levels of [Ca2+]er to normal, showing opposing actions of the ER-Ca2+ATPase and BI-1 on ER Ca2+ homeostasis. Conversely, cells with deficient BI-1 have increased [Ca2+]er, and release more Ca2+ into the cytosol when challenged with TG. In BI-1-deficient cells, Bcl-XL fails to reduce [Ca2+]er, indicating that BI-1 functions downstream of Bcl-XL. In bax-/-bak-/- double knock-out cells, both BI-1 and Bcl-XL retained their ability to reduce [Ca2+]er, suggesting that BI-1 and Bcl-XL operate downstream of or parallel to Bax/Bak. The findings reveal a hierarchy of functional interactions of BI-1 with Bcl-2/Bax family proteins in regulating ER Ca2+ homeostasis.
A Dynamic Anomaly Detection Approach Based on Permutation Entropy for Predicting Aging-Related Failures

Software aging is a phenomenon referring to the performance degradation of a long-running software system. This phenomenon is an accumulative process during execution, which will gradually lead the system from a normal state to a failure-prone state. It is a crucial challenge for system reliability to predict the Aging-Related Failures (ARFs) accurately. In this paper, permutation entropy (PE) is modified to Multidimensional Multi-scale Permutation Entropy (MMPE) as a novel aging indicator to detect performance anomalies, since MMPE is sensitive to dynamic state changes. An experiment is set on the distributed database system Voldemort, and MMPE is calculated based on the collected performance metrics during execution. Finally, based on MMPE, a failure prediction model using the machine learning method to reveal the anomalies is presented, which can predict failures with high accuracy.
High-Performance Luminescent Solar Concentrators Based on Poly(Cyclohexylmethacrylate) (PCHMA) Films

In this study, we report on the use of poly(cyclohexylmethacrylate) (PCHMA) as an alternative to the commonly used poly(methylmethacrylate) (PMMA) for the design of efficient luminescent solar concentrators (LSCs). PCHMA was selected due to its less polar nature with respect to PMMA, a characteristic that was reported to be beneficial in promoting the fluorophore dispersibility in the matrix, thus maximizing the efficiency of LSCs also at high doping. In this sense, LSC thin films based on PCHMA and containing different contents of Lumogen F Red 305 (LR, 0.2–1.8 wt%) demonstrated optical efficiencies (ηopt) comprising between 9.5% and 10.0%, i.e., about 0.5–1% higher than those collected from the LR/PMMA systems. The higher LR/polymer interactions occurred using the PCHMA matrix maximized the solar harvesting characteristics of the fluorophore and limited the influence of the adverse dissipative phenomena on the fluorophore quantum efficiency. These effects were also reflected by varying the LSC film thickness and reaching maximum ηopt of about 11.5% in the case of PCHMA films of about 30 µm.
Ketamine and Norketamine: Enantioresolution and Enantioselective Aquatic Ecotoxicity Studies

Ketamine is a chiral drug used for various clinical purposes but often misused. It is metabolized to norketamine, an active chiral metabolite. Both substances have been detected in environmental matrices, but studies about their enantioselective toxic effects are scarce. In the present study, the enantiomers of ketamine and norketamine were separated by a semipreparative enantioselective liquid chromatography method, and their toxicity was investigated in different aquatic organisms. The enantioseparation was achieved using a homemade semipreparative chiral column. Optimized conditions allowed the recovery of compounds with enantiomeric purity higher than 99%, except for (R)‐ketamine (97%). The absolute configuration of the enantiomers was achieved by experimental electronic circular dichroism (ECD). The ecotoxicity assays were performed with the microcrustacean Daphnia magna and the protozoan Tetrahymena thermophila using Toxkit MicroBioTests. Different concentrations were tested (0.1–10 000 µg/L) to include environmental levels (~0.5–~100 µg/L), for racemates (R,S) and the isolated enantiomers (R or S) of ketamine and norketamine. No toxicity was observed in either organism at environmental levels. However, at greater concentrations, (R,S)‐ketamine presented higher mortality for D. magna compared with its metabolite (R,S)‐norketamine (85 and 20%, respectively), and the (S)‐ketamine enantiomer showed higher toxicity than the (R)‐ketamine enantiomer. In addition, (S)‐ketamine also presented higher growth inhibition than (R)‐ketamine for T. thermophila at the highest concentrations (5000 and 10 000 µg/L). Contrary to D. magna, growth inhibition was observed for both enantiomers of norketamine and in the same magnitude order of the (S)‐ketamine enantiomer. The results showed that the 2 organisms had different susceptibilities to norketamine and that the toxicity of ketamine at high concentrations is enantioselective for both organisms. Environ Toxicol Chem 2022;41:569–579. © 2020 SETAC
Lobomycosis: a therapeutic challenge

Lobomycosis or lacaziosis is a chronic granulomatous fungal infection caused by Lacazia loboi. Most cases are restricted to tropical regions. Transmission is believed to occur through traumatic inoculation in the skin, mainly in exposed areas. It is characterized by keloid-like nodules. There are only a few hundred cases reported. The differential diagnoses include many skin conditions, and treatment is difficult. The reported case, initially diagnosed as keloid, proved to be refractory to surgical treatment alone. It was subsequently approached with extensive surgery, cryotherapy every three months and a combination of itraconazole and clofazimine for two years. No signs of clinical and histopathological activity were detected during follow-up.
Lower Extremity Pain and Pitching Kinematics and Kinetics in Collegiate Softball Pitchers

Abstract The primary aims of the study were (1) to examine kinematics and kinetics of those pitching with and without lower extremity pain in collegiate softball pitchers, and (2) to determine if there was an association between the lower extremity pain and lower extremity kinematics, trunk kinematics, and shoulder kinetics in collegiate softball pitchers. Thirty-seven NCAA Division I female collegiate softball pitchers (19.8±1.3 yrs,173.7±7.7 cm, 79.0±12.4 kg) participated. Participants were divided into two groups, those who were currently experiencing lower extremity pain and those who were not. Participants threw three rise ball pitches. Kinematic data were collected at 100 Hz using an electromagnetic tracking system. Mann-Whitney U tests revealed no significant kinematic or kinetic differences between pitchers with and without lower extremity pain. Additionally, there were no significant correlations between pain and recorded kinematic and kinetic variables. Considering there were no biomechanical differences observed between pitchers, coaches and athletic trainers should take caution with athlete assessment since athletes may not display altered biomechanics. Further examination into the duration and degree of pain is needed in an attempt to fully understand the implication of pain and pitching mechanics.
Peripheral Neuropathy and All-Cause and Cardiovascular Mortality in U.S. Adults

BACKGROUND Growing evidence indicates that peripheral neuropathy (PN) is common even in the absence of diabetes. However, the clinical sequelae of PN have not been quantified in the general population. OBJECTIVE To assess the associations of PN with all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in the general adult population of the United States. DESIGN Prospective cohort study. SETTING NHANES (National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey), 1999 to 2004. PARTICIPANTS 7116 adults aged 40 years or older who had standardized monofilament testing for PN. MEASUREMENTS Cox regression to evaluate the associations of PN with all-cause and cardiovascular mortality after adjustment for demographic and cardiovascular risk factors, overall and stratified by diabetes status. RESULTS The overall prevalence of PN (±SE) was 13.5% ± 0.5% (27.0% ± 1.4% in adults with diabetes and 11.6% ± 0.5% in adults without diabetes). During a median follow-up of 13 years, 2128 participants died, including 488 of cardiovascular causes. Incidence rates (per 1000 person-years) of all-cause mortality were 57.6 (95% CI, 48.4 to 68.7) in adults with diabetes and PN, 34.3 (CI, 30.3 to 38.8) in adults with PN but no diabetes, 27.1 (CI, 23.4 to 31.5) in adults with diabetes but no PN, and 13.0 (CI, 12.1 to 14.0) in adults with no diabetes and no PN. In adjusted models, PN was significantly associated with all-cause mortality (hazard ratio [HR], 1.49 [CI, 1.15 to 1.94]) and cardiovascular mortality (HR, 1.66 [CI, 1.07 to 2.57]) in participants with diabetes. In those without diabetes, PN was significantly associated with all-cause mortality (HR, 1.31 [CI, 1.15 to 1.50]), but the association between PN and cardiovascular mortality was not statistically significant after adjustment (HR, 1.27 [CI, 0.98 to 1.66]). LIMITATION Prevalent cardiovascular disease was self-reported, and PN was defined by monofilament testing only. CONCLUSION Peripheral neuropathy was common and was independently associated with mortality in the U.S. population, even in the absence of diabetes. These findings suggest that decreased sensation in the foot may be an underrecognized risk factor for death in the general population. PRIMARY FUNDING SOURCE National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases and National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute of the National Institutes of Health.
Antibiotics prescriptions for pneumonia analyzed by claim information in Japan.

OBJECTIVE Japan is an aging society, and pneumonia is the leading cause of death, but the suitability of antibiotics for treating community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in Japan is not clear. The purpose of this study was to investigate antibacterial drugs for treating CAP according to age. MATERIALS AND METHODS Using the Japanese national database from 2011 to 2014, we analyzed the usage of antibiotics for CAP according to age. RESULTS The numbers of claim information were 9,386, and 70% of the patients were aged ≥ 75 years. Sulbactam/ampicillin (SBT/ABPC) or ceftriaxone (CTRX) was used in 60%, but broad-spectrum antibiotics, combination therapy, and anti-mycoplasma antibiotics were used in 15 - 28% of all age groups. The 30-day survival rate did not differ between SBT/ABPC or CTRX vs. others. There was no difference in 30-day mortality and risk in any group between the ages of 15 and 64 years. On the other hand, the use of anti-mycoplasma antibiotics reduced the 30-day mortality by 0.50 times (p < 0.01), and the use of two or more antibiotics increased the 30-day mortality by 1.45 times (p = 0.02) at age ≥ 65 years. CONCLUSION Approximately half of the antibiotics used for CAP requiring hospitalization consisted of CTRX or SBT/ABPC as recommended by the Japanese Respiratory Society (JRS) guidelines. On the other hand, the usage of broad-spectrum antibiotics and combination therapy were relatively frequent at all ages, although their use does not always contribute to survival. Our data provide basic information for analyzing the outcome of pneumonia treatment in terms of an antimicrobial resistance action plan in Japan.
Vitamin D deficiency in children with bronchial asthma in southern Jordan: a cross-sectional study

Objectives To assess serum 25-hydroxycholecalciferol (25-OH vitamin D) levels in Jordanian children with bronchial asthma, and to examine correlations between 25-OH vitamin D levels and asthma severity and control. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted at the Paediatric Chest Clinic, Al-Karak Governmental Hospital, Southern Jordan, between May 2015 and February 2016. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D level was determined in children aged 1–14 years diagnosed with bronchial asthma (6–14 years) or recurrent wheezing episodes (<6 years). Asthma severity was determined based on the Global Initiative for Asthma assessment, the Asthma Control Test, and the Childhood Asthma Control Test. Demographic and clinical characteristics were compared between patients with low and normal 25-OH vitamin D levels, and correlations between asthma severity and 25-OH vitamin D level were assessed. Results Out of 98 included children, 25-OH vitamin D levels were deficient and insufficient in 41 (41.8%) and 34 (34.7%) children, respectively. Only 23 (23.5%) had sufficient 25-OH vitamin D levels. A significant correlation was found between severity of asthma symptoms and 25-OH vitamin D deficiency. Conclusion 25-OH vitamin D deficiency is highly prevalent in Jordanian children with bronchial asthma and correlates significantly with asthma severity.
Setup of a CO2 and CH4 measurement system in Central Siberia and modeling of its results

To improve the monitoring of the carbon cycle, an automated, low maintenance measurement system has been installed at the Zotino Tall Tower Observatory in Central Siberia (ZOTTO, 60°48’ N, 89°21’ E) in April 2009. A cavity ring-down spectroscopy (CRDS) analyzer continuously measures carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4) and water vapor (H2O) from six heights up to 301 m a.g. l. The measurement precision (accuracy) of 0.04 ppm (0.09 ppm) for CO2 and 0.3 ppb (1.5 ppb) for CH4 is compliant with the WMO recommendations. The data collected so far (until June 2011) reveals an increase of 2.62 ppm/yr and a seasonal cycle amplitude of 28.3 ppm for CO2 at the 301m level. Buffer volumes in each air line allow continuous, near-concurrent measurements from all tower levels with only one analyzer. The gradients between the tower levels have been analyzed in combination with meteorological measurements to estimate diurnal cycles of local CO2 and CH4 fluxes for individual summer months, which compare well with previous studies. Finally, the CO2 and CH4 observations have been incorporated into an atmospheric transport inversion model to estimate fluxes for the boreal zone of Central Siberia of 0.04 ± 0.11 PgC through CO2 and 8.4 ± 1.1 TgC through CH4 in the year 2009. Um die Uberwachung des Kohlenstoffkreislaufes zu verbessern, wurde im April 2009 ein automatisiertes, wartungsarmes Messsystem am „Tall Tower Observatory” (ZOTTO, 60°48’ n.B., 89°21’ o.L.) in Zentralsibirien installiert. Ein auf Cavity-Ring-Down-Spektroskopie (CRDS) basierendes Messgerat misst kontinuierlich Kohlenstoffdioxid (CO2), Methan (CH4) und Wasserdampf (H2O) von sechs Turmhohen bis zu 301 m. Die Messgenauigkeit (Exaktheit) von 0,04 ppm (0,09 ppm) fur CO2 und 0,3 ppb (1,5 ppb) fur CH4 fugt sich den WMO-Vorgaben. Die bislang gesammelten Daten (bis Juni 2011) zeigen einen jahrlichen Anstieg von 2,62 ppm und eine Amplitude im Jahresgang von 28,3 ppm fur CO2 auf 301 m Hohe. Puffervolumen in jeder Ansaugleitung ermoglichen kontinuierliche, nahezu gleichzeitige Messungen von allen Turmhohen mit nur einem Messgerat. Die Gradienten zwischen den Turmhohen wurden gemeinsam mit meteorologischen Messungen ausgewertet, um den Tagesgang von lokalen CO2- und CH4-Flussen fur einzelne Sommermonate abzuschatzen, welche im Einklang mit fruheren Studien sind. Schlieslich wurden die CO2- und CH4-Beobachtungen in ein inverses atmospharisches Transportmodel eingebunden um Flusse fur die boreale Zone Zentralsibiriens von 0,04 ± 0,11 PgC durch CO2 und 8,4 ± 1,1 TgC durch CH4 im Jahr 2009 zu errechnen.
Processing of CuInSe2-Based Solar Cells: Characterization of Deposition Processes in Terms of Chemical Reaction Analyses. Final Report, 6 May 1995 - 31 December 1998

This project describes a novel rotating-disc reactor has been designed and built to enable modulated flux deposition of CuInSe2 and its related binary compounds. The reactor incorporates both a thermally activated source and a novel plasma-activated source of selenium vapor, which have been used for the growth of epitaxial and polycrystalline thin-film layers of CuInSe2. A comparison of the different selenium reactant sources has shown evidence of increases in its incorporation when using the plasma source, but no measurable change when the thermally activated source was used. We concluded that the chemical reactivity of selenium vapor from the plasma source is significantly greater than that provided by the other sources studied. Epitaxially grown CuInSe2 layers on GaAs, ZnTe, and SrF2 demonstrate the importance of nucleation effects on the morphology and crystallographic structure of the resulting materials. These studies have resulted in the first reported growth of the CuAu type-I crystallographic polytype of CuInSe2, and the first reported epitaxial growth of CuInSe2 on ZnTe. Polycrystalline binary (Cu,Se) and (In,Se) thin films have been grown, and the molar flux ratio of selenium to metals was varied. It is shown that all of the reported binary compounds in each of the corresponding binarymore » phase fields can be synthesized by the modulated flux deposition technique implemented in the reactor by controlling this ratio and the substrate temperature. These results were employed to deposit bilayer thin films of specific (Cu,Se) and (In,Se) compounds with low melting-point temperature, which were used to verify the feasibility of synthesizing CuInSe2 by subsequent rapid-thermal processing. The studies of the influence of sodium during the initial stages of epitaxy have led to a new model to explain its influences based on the hypothesis that it behaves as a surfactant in the Cu-In-Se material system. This represents the first unified theory on the role of sodium that explains all of sodium's principal effects on the growth and properties of CuInSe2 that have been reported in the prior scientific literature. Comprehensive statistical mechanical calculations have been combined with published phase diagrams and results of ab-initio quantum mechanical calculations of defect formation enthalpies from the literature to develop the first free-energy defect model for CuInSe2 that includes the effects of defect associates (complexes). This model correctly predicts the ? /? ternary phase boundary. « less
Redox-dependent Changes in Molecular Properties of Mitochondrial Apoptosis-inducing Factor*

Mitochondrial apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF) is a central player in the caspase-independent cell death pathway whose normal physiological function remains unclear. Our study showed that naturally folded mouse AIF very slowly reacts with NAD(P)H (kcat of 0.2-0.01 s-1) forming tight, dimeric, and air-stable FADH2-NAD(P) charge-transfer complexes ineffective in electron transfer. FAD reduction is accompanied by a conformational change involving AIF-specific N-terminal and regulatory 509–559 peptides and the active site His453, and it affects susceptibility of AIF to calpain and AIF-DNA interaction, the two events critical for initiating caspase-independent apoptosis. Based on our results, we propose that formation of long lived complexes with NAD(P)H and redox reorganization may be functionally important and enable AIF to act as a redox-signaling molecule linking NAD(P)H-dependent metabolic pathways to apoptosis.
Efeitos de diferentes protocolos de treinamento sobre variáveis fisiológicas e psicométricas de ciclistas treinados.

PICANÇO, Luan Merseburger. Effects of different training protocols on physiological and psychometric variables of trained cyclists. 2014. 70f. Dissertation (Master Degree in Physical Education) – Programa de Pós-Graduação em Educação Física, Escola Superior de Educação Física. Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, 2014. The continuous method consumes about 80% of training in endurance sports such as cycling, however, also seen significant results with application of interval training in the modality. One of the most important points of the training prescription is appropriate distribution of stimuli over the planning period. For this, various ways are attempted to quantify responses generated by training, for example, from the autonomic nervous system (ANS) modulation on the heart activity. The aim of this study was to verify the effects of three training protocols, one continuous and two intermittent, on the internal load from heart rate (HR), HR variability (HRV), rate of perceived exertion (RPE) and training impulse (TRIMP). It was a counterbalanced study with repeated measures and the sample was composed by 12 male cyclists. All of them performed the until exhaustion progressive test to determine the maximal and anaerobic threshold (aT) associated loads, like the power output (aTP). Subsequently, underwent three sessions on consecutive days for each training protocol proposed. Continuous protocol (T1): 30 min at 70% of ATP; Threshold interval protocol (T2): 6 x 4 min at 90-95% of aTP : 1 min at 0,50 Kp; and Above threshold interval protocol (T3): 8 x 1 min at 120% of aTP : 3 min at 0,50 Kp. Statistical analysis was performed by two-way ANOVA. As a results, it was found that RPE, maximum and mean HR, MeanRR, RMSSD and LF/HF represented greater impact with T2 on at least one post-training moments compared to T1 and T3, with no differences between days, while in other variables (SDNN, LF, HF e TP) not succeeded differences at any time. Conclusions: Training conducted in nearby anaerobic threshold intensities are more impactful than others made with inferior or superior to him efforts, but there is no cumulative effect of internal overload on consecutive days of workout.
Identification of a Novel Chondroitin Hydrolase in Caenorhabditis elegans*

Hyaluronidases have been postulated to be the enzyme acting at the initial step of chondroitin sulfate (CS) catabolism in vivo. Since chondroitin (Chn) but not hyaluronic acid (HA) has been detected in Caenorhabditis elegans, the nematode is a good model for elucidating the mechanism of the degradation of CS/Chn in vivo. Here we cloned the homolog of human hyaluronidase in C. elegans, T22C8.2. The Chn-degrading activity in vitro was first demonstrated when it was expressed in COS-7 cells. The enzyme cleaved preferentially Chn. CS-A and CS-C were also depolymerized but to lesser extents, and HA was hardly degraded. In order of preference, the substrates ranked Chn >> CS-A > CS-C >> HA. The products of the degradation of Chn by the enzyme were characterized by anion-exchange high performance liquid chromatography and delayed extraction matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry. The structure of the major component in the digest was determined as GlcUAβ1-3GalNAcβ1-4GlcUAβ1-3GalNAc, where GlcUA and GalNAc represent d-glucuronic acid and N-acetyl-d-galactosamine, respectively, indicating that this enzyme is a Chn hydrolase, an endo-β-galactosaminidase specific for Chn. Investigation of the effects of pH on the activity revealed the optimum pH of Chn hydrolase to be 6.0. Since Chn in C. elegans has been demonstrated to play critical roles in cell division, Chn hydrolase possibly regulates the function of Chn in vivo. This is the first demonstration of a Chn hydrolase in an animal.