Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Animal models of neurodevelopmental disorders with behavioral phenotypes.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW Genetic mutations in animals advance our understanding of disease mechanisms and treatments of neurodevelopmental disorders. Research with mutant mouse models is being extended to nonhuman primates whose brain development is closer to that of humans. This review summaries advances in mouse and nonhuman primate models. RECENT FINDINGS Mutant mouse models recapitulate key symptoms in neurodevelopmental disorders. However, successful phenotypic reversal of symptoms in mouse models has not been replicated in human studies; this failure may be because of differences in the structure and physiology of the brain between rodents and humans. Rett syndrome Mecp2 models and Phelan-McDermid syndrome SH3 and multiple ankyrin repeat domains 3 (SHANK3) models have been introduced in nonhuman primates and are underway in other neurodevelopmental disorders. SUMMARY Mutant mouse models in neurogenetic disorders continued to be pursued along with gene-edited and cell-based models in nonhuman primates. Established ethical guidelines are being followed and infrastructure being established to facilitate dissemination of primate transgenic models as they become available.
How Much is the Amazon Worth? The State of Knowledge Concerning the Value of Preserving Amazon Rainforests

This paper surveys the current state of knowledge concerning the value of the Amazon rainforest, including a survey of work to date to quantify changes in economic values when the rainforest cover changes. The focus is on local and regional impacts of forest loss or protection, including both gross values of forest protection and opportunity costs of converting the forest to other uses including agriculture. Important gross value items surveyed are timber and non-timber product extraction from a sustainably maintained rainforest; local values of eco-tourism; biological resources including bio-prospecting; a range of hydrological impacts including watershed protection, hydropower production, and changes in rainfall patterns; and impacts of forest fires and their control. Mapping such values in geographical space is of high value for implementing efficient and effective (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation ) programs for protecting the remaining forest. The current data basis for such mapping is found to be quite weak and in need of improvement for all value elements.
Appearance of Heterogeneous Macrophages During Development of Isoproterenol-Induced Rat Myocardial Fibrosis

Macrophages appearing in lesions are polarized toward M1 (for inflammation) and M2 (for anti-inflammation/fibrosis) types. We analyzed immunophenotypes of macrophages appearing in myocardial lesion in rats injected once with isoproterenol (10 mg/kg body weight). Inflammation following myocardial necrosis on day 1 was seen with a peak on days 3 and 5, and thereafter, reparative fibrosis developed on days 7 to 28. CD68+ M1 macrophages were seen in the early stages of injury and inflammatory on days 1 to 7, and thereafter, CD163+ M2 macrophages increased in the late stages of fibrosis on days 7 to 28. There was the polarization of M1 and M2 macrophages. The kinetics of macrophages reacting to Iba-1 and Galectin-3 was similar to that of M1 macrophages, indicating that Iba1- and Gal-3-positive macrophages might have functions of M1 type. Double immunofluorescence revealed that CD204- and MHC class II-positive macrophages are polarized toward M1 and M2 types, respectively. CCR2 messenger RNA expression is transiently elevated on day 1. Since CCR2 is a marker of blood monocytes, M1 macrophages might be recruited from blood monocytes. Collectively, macrophages expressing heterogeneous immunophenotypes participate in myocardial fibrosis. These findings would be useful for understanding the pathogenesis of myocardial fibrosis and analyzing myocardial toxicity.
Experiencing Folk Music in Children

Through everyday exposure to language and music, individuals within a nation become sensitive to the melodic and rhythmical structure of their folk musical culture. It represents improvisational abilities of individuals and groups as well. Despite all changes, it indisputably maintains all characteristic of music parameters as inheritance of past ages. Due to its social role, it appears throughout everyone’s life – and it also represents an important part of children’s life. In the study that was carried out with two groups of children between six and nine years of age, we were interested in determining how do children experience music making with elements of folk music and how it is possible to create the circumstances which can provide the spontaneity of folk music within the structured environment (like primary school). The research was designed as a phenomenological case study. This method allowed us to gather data which provided a deeper insight into the ways in which participants are able to play using elements of folk music and the way they feel while using such material. The results show that, contrary to the basic fact of spontaneity in folk music, 6 and 7 year old participants were not able to use music parameters to play with and had yet to learn how does the symbolic play on the basis of communication in musical language work out. The most natural way to bridge the gap between “learning” songs and experiencing individual musical expression in a manner of folk music in children seems to be a creative work with lyrics in Slovene language. We also found that children develop social competences of a great value, when they are involved in a symbolic play with folk music elements in the improvisational mode. Key words: folk music; improvisation; music language; music making Normal 0 false false false SL X-NONE X-NONE
The effect of nutritional status and myogenic satellite cell age on turkey satellite cell proliferation , differentiation , and expression of myogenic transcriptional regulatory factors and heparan sulfate proteoglycans syndecan-4 and glypican-1 1

Posthatch satellite cell mitotic activity is a critical component of muscle development and growth. Satellite cells are myogenic stem cells that can be induced by nutrition to follow other cellular developmental pathways, and whose mitotic activity declines with age. The objective of the current study was to determine the effect of restricting protein synthesis on the proliferation and differentiation, expression of myogenic transcriptional regulatory factors myogenic determination factor 1, myogenin, and myogenic regulatory factor 4, and expression of the heparan sulfate proteoglycans syndecan-4 and glypican-1 in satellite cells isolated from 1-d-, 7-wk-, and 16-wk-old turkey pectoralis major muscle (1 d, 7 wk, and 16 wk cells, respectively) by using variable concentrations of Met and Cys. Four Met concentrations—30 (control), 7.5, 3, or 0 mg/L with 3.2 mg/L of Cys per 1 mg/L of Met—were used for culture of satellite cells to determine the effect of nutrition and age on satellite cell behavior during proliferation and differentiation. Proliferation was reduced by lower Met and Cys concentrations in all ages at 96 h of proliferation. Differentiation was increased in the 1 d Met-restricted cells, whereas the 7 wk cells treated with 3 mg/L of Met had decreased differentiation. Reduced Met and Cys levels from the control did not significantly affect the 16 wk cells at 72 h of differentiation. However, medium with no Met or Cys suppressed differentiation at all ages. The expression of myogenic determination factor 1, myogenin, myogenic regulatory factor 4, syndecan-4, and glypican-1 was differentially affected by age and Met or Cys treatment. These data demonstrate the age-specific manner in which turkey pectoralis major muscle satellite cells respond to nutritional availability and the importance of defining optimal nutrition to maximize satellite cell proliferation and differentiation for subsequent muscle mass accretion.
T-splines and T-NURCCs

This paper presents a generalization of non-uniform B-spline surfaces called T-splines. T-spline control grids permit T-junctions, so lines of control points need not traverse the entire control grid. T-splines support many valuable operations within a consistent framework, such as local refinement, and the merging of several B-spline surfaces that have different knot vectors into a single gap-free model. The paper focuses on T-splines of degree three, which are C2 (in the absence of multiple knots). T-NURCCs (Non-Uniform Rational Catmull-Clark Surfaces with T-junctions) are a superset of both T-splines and Catmull-Clark surfaces. Thus, a modeling program for T-NURCCs can handle any NURBS or Catmull-Clark model as special cases. T-NURCCs enable true local refinement of a Catmull-Clark-type control grid: individual control points can be inserted only where they are needed to provide additional control, or to create a smoother tessellation, and such insertions do not alter the limit surface. T-NURCCs use stationary refinement rules and are C2 except at extraordinary points and features.
BCSG 1 siRNA delivered by lentiviral vector suppressed proliferation and migration of MDA-MB-231 cells

Breast cancer-specific gene 1 (BCSG1), also referred to as γ-synuclein (SNCG), is highly expressed in human infiltrating breast carcinomas, but not in normal or benign breast tissue. The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of BCSG1 siRNA delivered by lentiviral vector on breast cancer cells and investigate the underlying mechanisms. BCSG1 RNAi lentiviral vector was constructed and transfected into MDA-MB-231 cells. BCSG1 mRNA levels were determined by quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis. Cell proliferation, migration and apoptosis were evaluated by using the Cell Counting kit-8, Transwell assay and flow cytometry, respectively, followed by western blotting to determine the relative levels of AKT, extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERk), p-AKT and p-ERK expression. BCSG1 mRNA levels were significantly reduced in MDA-MB-231 cells following transfection of BCSG1 siRNA delivered by lentiviral vector. Cell migration and proliferation were significantly decreased and the cell cycle was arrested. Western blot analysis indicated that the protein levels of p-AKT and p-ERK were significantly lower in the BCSG1 siRNAtreated groups compared with the control and negative control groups. Therefore, BCSG1 siRNA delivered by lentiviral vector was able to significantly reduce BCSG1 expression, suppress cell migration and proliferation, possibly through the reduction of the protein levels of p-AKT and p-ERK.
' s report Title : TCF 7 L 2 Gene Polymorphisms do not Predict Susceptibility to Diabetes in Tropical Calcific Pancreatitis Version : 1 Date : 16 March 2008

Dr. Mahirkar and collegues were interested in the genetic background of tropical calcific pancreatitis (TCP) a type of chronic pancreatitis that is diagnosed in the tropics. They note that progression to diabetes occurs in the large majority. This phenotype led them to investigate the role of 2 diabetes mellitus associated polymorphisms in the TCF7L2 gene using a case-control approach in 478 well-characterized TCP patients and 661 healthy controls. They found that the genotype and allele distribution of the 2 TCF7L2 SNP’s was similar among groups. This leads to the conclusion that “ TCF7L2 is a major susceptibility gene for type 2 diabetes, hence lack of association of TCF7L2 variants with TCP or FCPD as observed in this study suggests that the diabetes in TCP patients may not be similar to type 2 diabetes or T2D associated TCF7L2 variants are not associated with diabetes in TCP. “
The occurrence of 3-monochloropropane-1,2-diol esters and glycidyl esters in vegetable oils during frying

Abstract 3-monochloropropane-1,2-diol esters (3-MCPDE) and glycidyl esters (GE) are processed-developed contaminants presence in vegetable oils after undergo refining process under excessive heat. Refined oils are extensively used in various frying applications, nevertheless, the reservation against their quality and safety aspects are of major concern to consumers and food industry. Realizing the importance to address these issues, this article deliberates an overview of published studies on the manifestation of 3-MCPDE and GE when vegetable oils undergo for frying process. With the modest number of published frying research associated to 3-MCPDE and GE, we confined our review from the perspectives of frying conditions, product properties, antioxidants and additives, pre-frying treatments and frying oil management. Simplicity of the frying process is often denied by the complexity of reactions occurred between oil and food which led to the development of unwanted contaminants. The behavior of 3-MCPDE and GE is closely related to physico-chemical characteristics of oils during frying. As such, relationships between 3-MCPDE and/or GE with frying quality indices – i.e. acidity in term of free fatty acid or acid value); secondary oxidation in term of p-anisidine value, total polar compounds and its fractions, and refractive index – were also discussed when oils were subjected under intermittent and continuous frying conditions.
Synthesis and In Vitro Assessment of pH-Sensitive Human Serum Albumin Conjugates of Pirarubicin

In a previous study, we reported on the development of a synthetic polymer conjugate of pirarubicin (THP) that was formed via an acid-labile hydrazone bond between the polymer and the THP. However, the synthetic polymer itself was non-biodegradable, which could lead to unexpected adverse effects. Human serum albumin (HSA), which has a high biocompatibility and good biodegradability, is also a potent carrier for delivering antitumor drugs. The objective of this study was to develop pH-sensitive HSA conjugates of THP (HSA-THP), and investigate the release of THP and the cytotoxicity under acidic conditions in vitro for further clinical development. HSA-THP was synthesized by conjugating maleimide hydrazone derivatives of THP with poly-thiolated HSA using 2-iminothiolane, via a thiol-maleimide coupling reaction. We synthesized two types of HSA-THP that contained different amounts of THP (HSA-THP2 and HSA-THP4). Free THP was released from both of the HSA conjugates more rapidly at an acidic pH, and the rates of release for HSA-THP2 and HSA-THP4 were similar. Moreover, both HSA-THPs exhibited a higher cytotoxicity at acidic pH than at neutral pH, which is consistent with the effective liberation of free THP under acidic conditions. These findings suggest that these types of HSA-THPs are promising candidates for further development.
Morphological variation of the unionidae mussel

Morphology of a given species can vary among individuals, morphology differences can be found between populations males can be different from females (sexual dimorphism) or e.g. with young and old individuals. The aim of the present study was to investigate morphological variability in the unionidae mussel Anodonta anatina originating from two populations. Measured variables included length, height, width, volume and dry mass of shell, dry mass of soft tissues and gill blades, and age, sex, estimation of glochidium larvae produced. The main results included faster growth of mussels in Lake Koijärvi than in Lake Päijänne (at the age of 4-5 years), which may reflect the higher productivity in Lake Koijärvi—and also faster growth of females in Lake Koijärvi (at the age of 4 years). In addition, shell was relatively higher in small individuals and in males than in bigger mussels or females. On the other hand, shell of big mussels (in Lake Koijärvi) and females was relatively wider in shape, and the shell volume was higher in females than in males. This sexual dimorphism could be due to space requirements of the glochidium larvae developed in female gills. The total dry mass of soft tissues (in both populations), as well as the mass of gill blades (in Lake Päijänne), was higher in females than among males, but the mass of body without gills was higher in males (in Lake Päijänne). The mass of shell compared to mass of soft parts did not differ between sexes in Koijärvi but in big-sized Päijänne mussels the males had heavier shells than females. These results indicate clear sexual dimorphism and population-dependent differences in morphology of A. anatina.
Divers Transformations Leading to New Potent GPx Mimetics

: Designing a highly active and selective Se-therapeutic that mimics the activity of the antioxidant enzyme glutathione peroxidase (GPx) still remains a challenge. Since the discovery of ebselen ( N -phenyl-1,2-benzisoselenazol-3(2H)-one) and its ability to act as a GPx mimetic, the search for more effective peroxide scavengers has become a “hot topic” in this field of research. Herein, we present several modifications of the benzisoselenazolone core that enable improving the antioxidant and anticancer potential of the basic ebselen structure. These transformations include (a) the installation of chiral terpene skeletons, from p -menthane, pinane, and carane systems, on the nitrogen atom; (b) exchange of the carbonyl oxygen atom for sulfur to obtain thiocarbonyl derivatives; (c) oxidation of the selenium moiety resulting in a series of benzenoselenenic acids and their further transformation to corresponding water-soluble potassium salts; and (d) attachment of an additional phenyl group leading to variously N -substituted unsymmetrical phenylselenides with an o -amido function. All of the synthetized compounds were tested as antioxidants and antiproliferative agents. Conclusions concerning the structure–activity correlation, including the difference in the reactivity of specific Se-moieties (-Se-N-, -SeOOH, -SeOOK, -SePh), N -substituents (the influence of bulky aliphatic moiety and the three-dimensional orientation of atoms), and incorporated heteroatoms (-C=O, -C=S) are presented.
Aspergillus oryzae Fermented Rice Bran: A Byproduct with Enhanced Bioactive Compounds and Antioxidant Potential

Rice bran (RB) is a byproduct of the rice industry (milling). For the fermentation process and to add value to it, RB was sprayed with fungal spores (Aspergillus oryzae MTCC 3107). The impact of fermentation duration on antioxidant properties was studied. Total phenolic content (TPC) determined using the Folin–Ciocalteu method, increased during fermentation until the 4th day. The antioxidant activity analyzed using the 2,2 Diphenyl–1′ picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay, total antioxidant activity (TAC), 2,2′-azinobis 3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS+) assay, reducing power assay (RPA) and hydroxyl free radical scavenging activity (HFRSA) for fermented rice bran (FRB) were determined and compared to unfermented rice bran (URB). TAC, DPPH, ABTS+ and RPA of FRB increased till 4th day of fermentation, and then decreased. The specific bioactive constituents in extracts (Ethanol 50%) from FRB and URB were identified using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). HPLC confirmed a significant (p < 0.05) increase in gallic acid and ascorbic acid. On the 4th day of fermentation, the concentrations of gallic acid and ascorbic acid were 23.3 and 12.7 µg/g, respectively. The outcome of present investigation confirms that antioxidant potential and TPC of rice bran may be augmented using SSF.
The Receptor Slamf 1 on the Surface of Myeloid Lineage Cells Controls Susceptibility to Infection by Trypanosoma cruzi

Trypanosoma cruzi, the protozoan parasite responsible for Chagas’ disease, causes severe myocarditis often resulting in death. Here, we report that Slamf12/2 mice, which lack the hematopoietic cell surface receptor Slamf1, are completely protected from an acute lethal parasite challenge. Cardiac damage was reduced in Slamf12/2 mice compared to wild type mice, infected with the same doses of parasites, as a result of a decrease of the number of parasites in the heart even the parasitemia was only marginally less. Both in vivo and in vitro experiments reveal that Slamf1-defIcient myeloid cells are impaired in their ability to replicate the parasite and show altered production of cytokines. Importantly, IFN-c production in the heart of Slamf1 deficient mice was much lower than in the heart of wt mice even though the number of infiltrating dendritic cells, macrophages, CD4 and CD8 T lymphocytes were comparable. Administration of an anti-Slamf1 monoclonal antibody also reduced the number of parasites and IFN-c in the heart. These observations not only explain the reduced susceptibility to in vivo infection by the parasite, but they also suggest human Slamf1 as a potential target for therapeutic target against T. cruzi infection. Citation: Calderón J, Maganto-Garcia E, Punzón C, Carrión J, Terhorst C, et al. (2012) The Receptor Slamf1 on the Surface of Myeloid Lineage Cells Controls Susceptibility to Infection by Trypanosoma cruzi. PLoS Pathog 8(7): e1002799. doi:10.1371/journal.ppat. 1002799 Editor: David L. Sacks, National Institute of Health, United States of America Received February 4, 2012; Accepted May 30, 2012; Published July 12, 2012 Copyright: 2012 Calderón et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. Funding: This work was supported in part by grants FIS (PI040993), Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (SAF2005-02220, SAF2007-61716 and SAF2010-18733), European Union (Eicosanox and ChagasEpiNet), CSIC-CONICET, BSCH/UAM, Comunidad de Madrid S2010/BMD-2332, RED RECAVA RD06/0014/1013 and RED RICET RD06/0021/0016 to MF, a grant from the NIH to CT (AI-15066), and an institutional grant of Fundacion Ramon Areces. J.C. is a holder of a fellowship from the Government of Panama. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist. * E-mail: mfresno@cbm.uam. es ¤a Current address: Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America ¤b Current address: Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Spain
INSULTĄ PATYRUSIŲ PACIENTŲ KOGNITYVINIŲ FUNKCIJŲ, DEPRESIŠKUMO IR SAVIVEIKSMINGUMO YPATUMAI

Santrauka Insultą patyrusių pacientų grupė yra specifinė imtis, kuriai būdingi įvairūs insulto sukelti padariniai, sunkinantys kasdienį funkcionavimą: kognityvinių funkcijų sutrikimas, depresiškumas, sumažėjęs saviveiksmingumas. Darbo tikslas – įvertinti insultą patyrusių pacientų kognityvinių funkcijų, depresiškumo ir saviveiksmingumo ypatumus. Tyrimo objektas ir metodika. Tyrime dalyvavo 22 insultą patyrę pacientai. Amžius nuo 61 iki 89 metų (M=78,09; SD=8,6). Tiriamiesiems buvo pateikti socialiniai ir demografiniai klausimai. Insultą patyrusių pacientų kognityvinės funkcijos matuotos naudojantis Adenbruko kognityvinio tyrimo metodika (III versija). Depresiškumui matuoti naudotas Paciento sveikatos klausimynas, saviveiksmingumui – Saviveiksmingumo klausimynas insultą patyrusiems pacientams. Tyrimo rezultatai atskleidė, kad 81,8 proc. insultą patyrusių pacientų patiria kognityvinių funkcijų sutrikimus, 63,6 proc. būdingas depresiškumas. Insultą patyrę pacientai pasižymi gana aukštu saviveiksmingumu.