Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Kupffer Cells Regulate Natural Killer Cells Via the NK group 2, Member D (NKG2D)/Retinoic Acid Early Inducible-1 (RAE-1) Interaction and Cytokines in a Primary Biliary Cholangitis Mouse Model

Background Kupffer cells and natural killer (NK) cells has been identified as contributing factors in the pathogenesis of hepatitis, but the detailed mechanism of these cell types in the pathogenesis of primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) is poorly understood. Material/Methods In this study, polyinosinic: polycytidylic acid (poly I: C), 2-octynoic acid-bovine serum albumin (2OA-BSA) and Freund’s adjuvant (FA) were injected to establish a murine PBC model, from which NK cells and Kupffer cells were extracted and isolated. The cells were then co-cultivated in a designed culture system, and then NK group 2, member D (NKG2D), retinoic acid early inducible-1 (RAE-1), F4/80, and cytokine expression levels were detected. Results The results showed close crosstalk between Kupffer cells and NK cells. PBC mice showed increased surface RAE-1 protein expression and Kupffer cell cytokine secretion, which subsequently activated NK cell-mediated target cell killing via NKG2D/RAE-1 recognition, and increased inflammation. NK cell-derived interferon-γ (IFN-γ) and Kupffer cell-derived tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) were found to synergistically regulate inflammation. Moreover, interleukin (IL)-12 and IL-10 improved the crosstalk between NK cells and Kupffer cells. Conclusions Our findings in mice are the first to suggest the involvement of the NKG2D/RAE-1 interaction and cytokines in the synergistic effects of NK and Kupffer cells in PBC.
How do climate and topography influence the greening of the forest‐tundra ecotone in northern Québec? A dendrochronological analysis of Betula glandulosa

NDVI analysis and repeated aerial photographs have revealed significant shrub expansion in many subarctic regions. While the recent increase in temperature is usually considered to be the main driver of this phenomenon at regional scales, very little is known about the local heterogeneity of shrub responses across the landscape. In this study, we aim to identify the climatic factors controlling the growth of the largely distributed shrub species Betula glandulosa in three types of environments (terrace, hilltop and snowbed). We also aim to evaluate the relationship between B. glandulosa growth and the NDVI data for the Boniface River region, in north‐western Québec, where the study took place. In the field, we harvested 180 B. glandulosa individuals (20 per site, 3 sites per type of environment). We constructed specific growth‐ring width chronologies and mean axial growth rate chronologies for each site and used them for dendroclimatic analysis (response functions). We also used linear regressions to evaluate the relative influence of dwarf birch growth on the NDVI trend. We found a sharp increase in B. glandulosa radial growth in the 1990s followed by a sharp decreasing trend from 2002 on terraces and hilltops, while growth remained high in snowbeds. Betula glandulosa growth was positively correlated with summer temperatures on terraces and hilltops, whereas winter precipitation promoted growth on snowbeds. The NDVI trend was largely correlated to B. glandulosa growth on terraces and hilltops for the period between 1986 and 2002 (71–80% explained variance). Synthesis. Our results suggest that topography plays a major role in B. glandulosa growth and therefore in shrub community dynamics. Because terraces and hilltops represent 70% of the land surface, the sharp B. glandulosa growth increase at these sites promoted an important overall expansion of the shrub community in the region. However, the decline in B. glandulosa growth observed after 2002 suggests that the expansion could be slowed down in the near future, therefore limiting shrub growth contribution to the regional NDVI signal.
Use of theoretical efficiencies of protein and fat synthesis to calculate energy requirements for growth in ruminants

The main objection against conventional net energy systems is that owing to variation in gain composition and the different energy contents of protein and fat, the efficiency of energy gain cannot be regarded as a growth constant. The present approach shows that the separate accommodation of protein and fat in predicting ruminant nutritional requirements can easily be achieved, since growth energy retention efficiency can be replaced by protein and fat synthesis efficiencies, together with an augmentation of maintenance with the cost of protein turnover. The synthesis efficiency of protein (kPS) is taken to be kPS = (qL/qM)(6/7), with 6/7 the synthesis efficiency of protein, qL the metabolizability of the diet at an arbitrary level (L) of intake and qM the metabolizability of the diet at maintenance. The correction (qL/qM) allows for the usual evaluation of ruminant diets at the maintenance level of intake. The synthesis efficiency of fat from fermentation of digestible fibre is kFF = 1.018qM or kFF = 1.287kg, without the necessity of adjustment by qL/qM, since evaluation of metabolizability at maintenance is incorporated in the relationship between kFF and qM and where kg denotes growth energy efficiency. Maintenance estimated from fasting heat production or intake at zero energy retention should be augmented by the cost of protein turnover from (PB/6) ÷ (qL/qM), with PB/6 = 102.7 kJ/kg (FW) 0.75 per day for cattle and PB/6 = 78.1 kJ/kg (FW) 0.75 per day for sheep, where PB denotes protein breakdown and FW fasted body mass. Alternatively, with knowledge of the degree of protein maturity, body protein turnover can be incorporated in a theoretically derived estimate of protein retention efficiency. The effective energy system can also be improved by employing theoretical protein retention and fat synthesis efficiencies or by equivalently replacing protein retention efficiency by protein synthesis efficiency in conjunction with the augmentation of maintenance heat production by the cost of protein turnover. A comparison between average growth energy efficiencies shows excellent agreement between estimates of the present theory and those of the UK Agricultural Research Council (ARC) and the US California Net Energy System (CNES), with degrees of maturity together with protein and fat gain ratios that seem typical of original experimental conditions. This implies that the present approach should do at least as well as the ARC or CNES, but can be expected to do better with reasonable accuracy in estimating the degree of protein maturity or maintenance augmentation and the composition of energy gain. The relationship between conventional growth energy efficiency and the synthesis efficiency of fat from digestible fibre allows the accumulated information of net energy systems to be transferable to the new methodology.
Yellow Cotyledon: A Seedling Disorder of Broccoli

A seedling disorder of broccoli (Brassica oleraceae L. var. italica) charac- terized by chlorotic cotyledons and delayed seedling growth is described. This disorder, termed "yellow cotyledon", has been observed in field plantings under high tempera- tures with some broccoli seed lots. Yellow-cotyledon disorder can be observed in lab- oratory germination tests if they are conducted under illumination, where unaffected seedlings will develop green cotyledons. Little relationship was found between overall seed vigor and the expression of yellow cotyledon by use of early germination counts and accelerated aging tests, although the most severely affected seed lots had been stored for several years. Field trials in 2 years showed that although seedlings with yellow-cotyledon disorder developed into normal plants, maturity was delayed and total yields were reduced. Serious stand establishment problems oc- casionally occur in broccoli fields planted during the early fall in the Imperial Valley of California. Broccoli seed is typically pre- cision planted at a desired spacing and irri- gated by sprinklers until emergence. Seedlings generally emerge within 5 to 7 days, and the green cotyledons are readily visible. Stand establishment of broccoli was particularly poor in 1986, when several hundred hectares of plantings exhibited yellow (chlorotic) coty- ledons after emergence. In most cases, the plants eventually outgrew the condition and showed apparently normal development to harvest. We conducted field and laboratory studies to investigate the nature of this seed- ling -disorder and to determine its conse- quences for crop establishment, growth, and yield.
A Strigogyps-Like Bird from the Middle Paleocene of China with an Unusual Grasping Foot

ABSTRACT We describe a new avian species, Qianshanornis rapax, gen. et sp. nov., from the middle Paleocene Wanghudun Formation of the Qianshan Basin in Anhui Province, China. The holotype consists of an incomplete articulated foot and a few associated bones, mainly of the leg, wing, and pectoral girdle. Qianshanornis rapax is characterized by a derived foot morphology and may have had a hyperextendible second toe, which has so far only been reported for some Mesozoic taxa. The new species is markedly different from all other known Cenozoic birds and is here classified in the new taxon Qianshanornithidae. The leg bones, especially the distal end of the tibiotarsus, most closely resemble those of Strigogyps (Ameghinornithidae) from the Eocene, and possibly Oligocene, of Europe, but unlike the latter, the much smaller Q. rapax appears to have had well-developed flight capabilities.
Endometriosis-Associated Ovarian Cancer: The Origin and Targeted Therapy

Endometrial cysts (ECs) are thought to be the origin of endometriosis-associated ovarian cancer (EAOC). A hypothesis that the oxidative stress of iron in cysts causes “malignant transformation of ECs” has been proposed, but this has not been verified. Several population-based studies showed that endometriosis was a risk factor but did not reflect the “malignant transformation of ECs”. A review showed that most patients were diagnosed with EAOC early in monitoring following detection of ECs, and that these cases might have been cancer from the start. Epidemiologically, EAOC was reduced by hysterectomy rather than by cystectomy of ECs. Gene mutation analyses identified oncogenic mutations in endometriosis and normal endometrium and revealed that the same mutations were present at different endometriotic lesions. It was also shown that most of the gene mutations found in endometriosis occurred in normal endometrium. Taking together, EAOC might be caused by eutopic endometrial glandular epithelial cells with oncogenic mutations that have undergone menstrual blood reflux and engrafted in the ovary, rather than by low-risk ECs acquiring oncogenic mutations and becoming malignant. This review discusses the mechanisms of EAOC development and targeted therapy based on genetic variation in EAOC with a focus on eutopic endometrium.
Current knowledge on the human eye microbiome: a systematic review of available amplicon and metagenomic sequencing data

Insights in the ocular surface microbiome are still at an early stage and many more questions remain unanswered compared with other human‐associated microbial communities. The current knowledge on the human microbiome changed our viewpoint on bacteria and human health and significantly enhanced our understanding of human pathophysiology. Also in ocular medicine, microbiome research might impact treatment. Here, we summarize the current knowledge on ocular microbiome research with a particular focus on potential confounding factors and their effects on microbiome composition. Moreover, we present the ocular surface core microbiome based on current available data and defined it as genera present in almost half of the published control cohorts with a relative abundance of at least 1%.
Carbohydrate deposition and partitioning in elongating leaves of wheat under saline soil conditions

The objective of this study was to quantitatively evaluate the effect of salinity on the spatial distributionof glucose, fructose, sucrose, fructan and total C contents, as well as on their net deposition rates in the elongation and maturation zones of leaf 4 of the main stem of spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) during its linear growth phase. Plants were grown in growth chambers in 1.5-L pots containing an illitic–chloritic silty loam treated with or without 120 mM NaCl. 3 d after emergence of leaf 4, sampling started at 3 and 13 h into the 16 h photoperiod. The distribution of carbohydrates along the leaf axis showed distinct patterns that were altered by salinity and time in the photoperiod. Glucose and fructose concentrations were low at the base of the elongation zone and increased sharply up to the end of the leaf elongation zone in the two treatments. In contrast, sucrose concentration in the elongation zone was high at the leaf base and decreased sharply with distance from the base up to the end of the leaf elongation zone in both treatments. The main effect of salinity on the water-soluble carbohydrates (WSC) was that it significantly increased sucrose concentration in the elongation zone throughout the day and accumulation in the photo-synthetically active zone during the photoperiod. Net deposition rates of sucrose and fructan in the elongation zone were enhanced by 120 mM NaCl. Salinity did not affect the sucrose import rate (g C kg -1 H2O h -1 ) in the sink (the elongation and secondary cell wall deposition zone). However, the partitioning of imported sucrose to WSC and structural C varied with salinity. In the basal part of the leaf (0-15 mm above the leaf base), net deposition of sucrose in the control treatment accounted for 7% of imported sucrose, compared with 17% at 120 mM NaCl. Eighty-seven percent of imported sucrose in the control treatment and 75% in the salinized treatment was used for synthesis of structural biomass (estimated as total C minus WSC-C). Conversely, in the 15–30 mm zone (i.e. in the distal part of the elongation zone and the secondary cell wall deposition zone), a greater fraction of imported sucrose was partitioned to synthesis of structural C under saline conditions. There was no significant effect of salinity on sucrose use in the region 30–60 mm.
Effective interactions: Communication and high levels of marital satisfaction

Of all the significant relationships in the lives of human-beings, the marital relationship remains one of the most central and important to their well-being. For this rapid review the authors accessed four online databases (PsycINFO, PsychARTICLES, JSTOR Journals, and ScienceDirect) to examine the evidence on aspects of communication which contribute to high levels of marital satisfaction and to synthesise these findings. The search yielded 103 unique articles, of which 15 were ultimately included. Principal results found the following activities to relate to high marital satisfaction: 1) communication activities such as engaging in small talk and providing verbal and non-verbal messages of affection; 2) “positive” exchanges which include any interactions perceived by both parties as constructive; 3) effective conflict management including the use of responses of recalibration and reaffirmation (R-R response), the use of we-pronouns, and the Listener-Speaker technique; 4) possessing and implementing effective communication skills such as using “I” instead of “you” messages; and 5) using “positive” communication skills such as clarification to elicit “positive” affect such as feeling understood. The evidence suggests that mental health professionals working with married couples should seek to promote quality dyadic communication as part of treatment interventions.
Using a HIV prevention cascade for identifying missed opportunities in PrEP delivery in Kenya: results from a programmatic surveillance study

HIV prevention cascades have been systematically evaluated in high‐income countries, but steps in the pre‐exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) service delivery cascade have not been systematically quantified in sub‐Saharan Africa. We analysed missed opportunities in the PrEP cascade in a large‐scale project serving female sex workers (FSW), men who have sex with men (MSM) and adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) in Kenya.
Enhancing venetoclax activity in hematological malignancies

ABSTRACT Introduction Targeting anti-apoptotic pathways involving the BCL2 family proteins represents a novel treatment strategy in hematologic malignancies. Venetoclax, a selective BCL2 inhibitor, represents the first approved agent of this class, and is currently used in CLL and AML. However, monotherapy is rarely sufficient for sustained responses due to the development of drug resistance and loss of dependence upon the targeted protein. Numerous pre-clinical studies have shown that combining venetoclax with other agents may represent a more effective therapeutic strategy by circumventing resistance mechanisms. In this review, we summarize pre-clinical data providing a foundation for rational combination strategies involving venetoclax. Areas covered Novel combination strategies in hematologic malignancies involving venetoclax, primarily at the pre-clinical level, will be reviewed. We emphasize novel agents that interrupt complementary or compensatory pro-survival pathways, and particularly mechanistic insights underlying synergism. PubMed, Cochrane, EMBASE, and Google scholar were searched from 2000. Expert opinion Although venetoclax has proven to be an effective therapeutic in hematologic malignancies, monotherapy may be insufficient for maximal effectiveness due to the development of resistance and/or loss of BCL2 addiction. Further pre-clinical and clinical development of combination therapies may be necessary for optimal outcomes in patients with diverse blood cancers.
Methylobacterium Radiotolerans Bacteremia in Hemodialysis Patients: The New Technique of Identification MALDI-TOF Mass Spectrometry

Central venous catheter (CVC) infections represent one of the most common complications in hemodialysis patients. Understanding the risk factors that induce CVC infection and identifying the microorganisms that cause them, is essential for developing preventive strategies. Therefore, it is important to develop prophylaxis and surveillance protocols, but also to determine adequate diagnostic criteria that include the use of new laboratory tools, useful in identifying a wider range of pathogenic microorganisms. We reported a clinical case of CVC related infection caused by the gram negative Methylobacterium radiotolerans in a hemodialysis patient. Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight is a type of mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) which utilizes microbial protein mass distribution analysis, generating a signal that is decoded and represented as a peak on a Cartesian reference system. MALDI-TOF MS was fundamental in the identification of the pathogen, which remained previously unidentified using routine laboratory techniques. The use of MALDI-TOF MS has therefore allowed the pathogen’s tempestive identification, accurate diagnosis and targeted antibiotic treatment, positively impacting on infection resolution, prognosis and patient survival.
Principles and mechanisms of asymmetric cell division

ABSTRACT Asymmetric cell division (ACD) is an evolutionarily conserved mechanism used by prokaryotes and eukaryotes alike to control cell fate and generate cell diversity. A detailed mechanistic understanding of ACD is therefore necessary to understand cell fate decisions in health and disease. ACD can be manifested in the biased segregation of macromolecules, the differential partitioning of cell organelles, or differences in sibling cell size or shape. These events are usually preceded by and influenced by symmetry breaking events and cell polarization. In this Review, we focus predominantly on cell intrinsic mechanisms and their contribution to cell polarization, ACD and binary cell fate decisions. We discuss examples of polarized systems and detail how polarization is established and, whenever possible, how it contributes to ACD. Established and emerging model organisms will be considered alike, illuminating both well-documented and underexplored forms of polarization and ACD. Summary: This Review discusses recent insights into the mechanisms driving asymmetric cell division, and its contribution to binary cell fate decisions, using established and emergent model organisms.
Multiparametric Analysis of Longitudinal Quantitative MRI Data to Identify Distinct Tumor Habitats in Preclinical Models of Breast Cancer

This study identifies physiological tumor habitats from quantitative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data and evaluates their alterations in response to therapy. Two models of breast cancer (BT-474 and MDA-MB-231) were imaged longitudinally with diffusion-weighted MRI and dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI to quantify tumor cellularity and vascularity, respectively, during treatment with trastuzumab or albumin-bound paclitaxel. Tumors were stained for anti-CD31, anti-Ki-67, and H&E. Imaging and histology data were clustered to identify tumor habitats and percent tumor volume (MRI) or area (histology) of each habitat was quantified. Histological habitats were correlated with MRI habitats. Clustering of both the MRI and histology data yielded three clusters: high-vascularity high-cellularity (HV-HC), low-vascularity high-cellularity (LV-HC), and low-vascularity low-cellularity (LV-LC). At day 4, BT-474 tumors treated with trastuzumab showed a decrease in LV-HC (p = 0.03) and increase in HV-HC (p = 0.03) percent tumor volume compared to control. MDA-MB-231 tumors treated with low-dose albumin-bound paclitaxel showed a longitudinal decrease in LV-HC percent tumor volume at day 3 (p = 0.01). Positive correlations were found between histological and imaging-derived habitats: HV-HC (BT-474: p = 0.03), LV-HC (MDA-MB-231: p = 0.04), LV-LC (BT-474: p = 0.04; MDA-MB-231: p < 0.01). Physiologically distinct tumor habitats associated with therapeutic response were identified with MRI and histology data in preclinical models of breast cancer.
Mechanical Rupture-Based Antibacterial and Cell-Compatible ZnO/SiO2 Nanowire Structures Formed by Bottom-Up Approaches

There are growing interests in mechanical rupture-based antibacterial surfaces with nanostructures that have little toxicity to cells around the surfaces; however, current surfaces are fabricated via top-down nanotechnologies, which presents difficulties to apply for bio-surfaces with hierarchal three-dimensional structures. Herein, we developed ZnO/SiO2 nanowire structures by using bottom-up approaches and demonstrated to show mechanical rupture-based antibacterial activity and compatibility with human cells. When Escherichia coli were cultured on the surface for 24 h, over 99% of the bacteria were inactivated, while more than 80% of HeLa cells that were cultured on the surface for 24 h were still alive. This is the first demonstration of mechanical rupture-based bacterial rupture via the hydrothermally synthesized nanowire structures with antibacterial activity and cell compatibility.