Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Life in the balance – a mechanistic view of the crosstalk between autophagy and apoptosis

Summary Cellular stress triggers a fascinating decision-making process in cells; they can either attempt to survive until the stress is resolved through the activation of cytoprotective pathways, such as autophagy, or can commit suicide by apoptosis in order to prevent further damage to surrounding healthy cells. Although autophagy and apoptosis constitute distinct cellular processes with often opposing outcomes, their signalling pathways are extensively interconnected through various mechanisms of crosstalk. The physiological relevance of the autophagy–apoptosis crosstalk is not well understood, but it is presumed to facilitate a controlled and well-balanced cellular response to a given stress signal. In this Commentary, we explore the various mechanisms by which autophagy and apoptosis regulate each other, and define general paradigms of crosstalk on the basis of mechanistic features. One paradigm relates to physical and functional interactions between pairs of specific apoptotic and autophagic proteins. In a second mechanistic paradigm, the apoptosis or autophagy processes (as opposed to individual proteins) regulate each other through induced caspase and autolysosomal activity, respectively. In a third paradigm unique to autophagy, caspases are recruited and activated on autophagosomal membranes. These mechanistic paradigms are discernible experimentally, and can therefore be used as a practical guide for the interpretation of experimental data.
Drainage operations in chronic pancreatitis

If pancreatic ductal hypertension explained the pain of chronic pancreatitis, adequate decompression of ectatic ducts should provide lasting relief. We have analysed a personal series of 20 patients (14 men and 6 women) with chronic pancreatitis undergoing one or more drainage procedures. Alcohol was the main aetiological factor, and symptoms had been present for a median of 2.5 years. Pancreatic ductal decompression was achieved by pancreatic sphincteroplasty (n = 4) or longitudinal pancreaticojejunostomy (11). Thirteen patients underwent incidental or additional procedures to decompress the biliary tree: sphincteroplasty (5), choledochal bypass (7) and T‐tube drainage (1). Cysts were either drained (7) or resected (3). Two patients required re‐operation for subphrenic abscess. Some pancreatic insufficiency was detected pre‐operatively in 11 patients (exocrine 10, endocrine 4) and was essentially unchanged in all but one patient who came to total pancreatectomy. Two other patients required a coeliac plexus block, but the remaining 17 patients had good pain relief at a median follow‐up of 30 months. Ductal drainage procedures effectively relieve the pain of chronic pancreatitis without further compromising pancreatic function.
Renal mouse proximal tubular cells are more susceptible than MDCK cells to chemical anoxia.

To elucidate the mechanisms responsible for the resistance of continuous cell lines to anoxic injury, we have compared the effects of ATP depletion induced by chemical anoxia on primary cultures of mouse proximal tubular (MPT) cells and on Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells. Inhibition of ATP production by cyanide and 2-deoxyglucose (CN+DOG) in the absence of dextrose reduced cell ATP content to < 5% of control values in MPT cells and caused progressive deterioration in mitochondrial function as well as loss of cell viability in these cells. Cell free fatty acid (FFA) content rose from 4.3 +/- 0.9 to 23.7 +/- 2.0 micrograms/mg of total lipid weight after 4 h of CN + DOG (P < 0.05). The mitochondrial injury and cell death induced by CN + DOG in MPT cells was ameliorated by the addition of fatty acid-free bovine albumin to the cell medium, which reduced cell FFA content during chemical anoxia from 25.0 +/- 3.0 to 10.4 +/- 2.0 micrograms/mg (P < 0.05). The phospholipase A2 (PLA2) inhibitor, mepacrine, also resulted in functional protection and reduction of cell FFA content from 20.2 +/- 2.3 to 15.9 +/- 1.7 micrograms/mg (P < 0.05). These data suggest a role for phospholipase activation and accumulation of toxic lipid metabolites in the pathophysiology of MPT cell injury. We then compared cell injury induced by CN + DOG in MPT and MDCK cells. Despite comparable reduction in cell ATP content in the two cell types, injury was far more severe in MPT than MDCK cells. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Enzyme activities and morphometry in skeletal muscle of middle-aged men after training.

The effect of 10–13 weeks of endurance training on the skeletal muscle of 10 previously sedentary 46–62-year old men has been studied. The training increased the initial maximal oxygen uptake (VO2 max) of 2.6 l/min by 8%. Comparisons are also made with 9 still active runners aged 43–66 years. whose VO2 max was 3.7 l/min. Muscle samples were taken from the thigh. Triosephosphate dehydrogenase (TPD), lactic dehydrogenase (LDH), and cytochrome oxidase (cytox) activities were measured, and the volume fractions of mitochondria, sarcoplasmic and fibrillar space, and fat droplets were estimated by morphometric methods from electron micrographs. Training produced only minor changes in the mitochondrial volume, simultaneously with an 80% increase in the cytox activity. The middle-aged runners had a larger mitochondrial volume and a cytox activity twice as high as the sedentary men before training. TPD activity was unaffected by training, whereas LDH activity was slightly enhanced by training, but the runners had o.
Model and experimental characterization of dynamic behaviour of low power Carbon Monoxide MOX sensors with pulsed temperature profile

Wireless sensor networks for home automation require low-cost low-power sensors. Carbon Monoxide (CO) MOX sensors could be suitable concerning device cost; their limits concern the need to be heated, requiring a lot of power, and to be calibrated, increasing overall cost. This work investigates on behaviour of low-power CO MOX sensors with pulsed temperature profile by means of a double approach: sensor modeling and experimental evaluation. Analyzing how sensor thermal dynamic changes as a function of CO concentration yields to more information that can be used for diagnostic purposes or directly to estimate CO concentration. Particularly, two a-dimensional features have been tested to furnish an indication of CO concentration regardless any calibration. Results show effectiveness of the proposed approach.
A multi-resolution framework for multi-object tracking in Daubechies complex wavelet domain

Tracking multiple objects in a scenario that exhibits complex interaction is very challenging. In this work, we propose a multi-resolution framework for multi-object tracking in complex wavelet domain to resolve the challenges resulting from occlusions and splits. In the proposed approach the appearance model is computed at high resolution to achieve more discriminative power to object model, whereas all other tasks are performed at low resolution to get benefited from noise resilience nature of wavelet domain. In this paper, we have also discussed a simple and effective unimodal background subtraction approach to extract moving objects by exploiting the low sub-band characteristics of the object image in complex wavelet domain at low resolution. A scheme exploiting the spatial and appearance information is used to detect and correct the occlusion and split state. Experimental results illustrate the effectiveness and robustness of the proposed framework in ambiguous situations in several indoor and outdoor video sequences.
The interaction between intracranial pressure, intraocular pressure and lamina cribrosal compression in glaucoma

This review examines some of the biomechanical consequences associated with the opposing intraocular and intracranial forces. These forces compress the lamina cribrosa and are a potential source of glaucomatous pathology. A difference between them creates a displacement force on the lamina cribrosa. Increasing intraocular pressure and/or decreasing intracranial pressure will increase the trans‐lamina cribrosa pressure difference and the risk of its posterior displacement, canal expansion and the formation of pathological cupping. Both intraocular pressure and intracranial pressure can be elevated during a Valsalva manoeuvre with associated increases in both anterior and posterior lamina cribrosa loading as well as its compression. Any resulting thinning of or damage to the lamina cribrosa and/or retinal ganglion cell axons and/or astrocyte and glial cells attached to the matrix of the lamina cribrosa and/or reduction in blood flow to the lamina cribrosa may contribute to glaucomatous neuropathy. Thinning of the lamina cribrosa reduces its stiffness and increases the risk of its posterior displacement. Optic nerve head posterior displacement warrants medical or surgical lowering of intraocular pressure; however, compared to intraocular pressure, the trans‐lamina cribrosa pressure difference may be more important in pressure‐related pathology of the optic nerve head region. Similarly important could be increased compression loading of the lamina cribrosa. Reducing participation in activities which elevate intraocular and intracranial pressure will decrease lamina cribrosa compression exposure and may contribute to glaucoma management and may have prognostic significance for glaucoma suspects.
Intermediate and Senior Phase Mathematics Teachers’ Perceptions of Curriculum Advisors

Not much is known officially about the ways in which mathematics teachers experience their relationship with the curriculum advisor. This descriptive study investigated, by survey, the views and experiences of a convenient sample of intermediate and senior phase mathematics (grades 4-9) teachers with respect to the curriculum advisory services at schools in the Western Cape, South Africa. The results indicate that these teachers considered the role and job description of the curriculum advisor to be mainly centred on their immediate teaching needs. Consequently, they were unsure about mathematics curriculum-related expectations. Results also indicate a distant relationship with the curriculum advisor with minimal interaction and communication. The majority of teachers reported never having had experiences of their lessons being observed by the mathematics CA, though many respondents still expressed a desire for receiving specialised support from the CA. The findings of this study may be used proactively to inform the planning and design of any future curriculum advisory provision directorates or inspectorates. DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2014. v5n15p424
Fullerenes, fulleranes and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the Allende meteorite

Abstract— In this paper, we confirm our earlier observations of fullerenes (C60 and C70) in the Allende meteorite (Becker et al., 1994a, 1995). Fullerene C60 was also detected in two separate C‐rich (∼0.5–1.0%) dark inclusions (Heymann et al., 1987) that were hand picked from the Allende sample. The amounts of C60 detected were ∼5 and ∼10 ppb, respectively, which is considerably less than what was detected in the Allende 15/21 sample (∼100 ppb; Becker et al., 1994a, 1995). This suggests that fullerenes are heterogeneously distributed in the meteorite. In addition, we present evidence for fulleranes, (C60HX), detected in separate samples by laser desorption (reflectron) time‐of‐flight (TOF) mass spectrometry (LDMS). The LDMS spectra for the Allende extracts were remarkably similar to the spectra generated for the synthetic fullerane mixtures. Several fullerane products were synthesized using a Rh catalyst (Becker et al., 1993a) and separated using high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were also observed (ppm levels) that included benzofluoranthene and corannulene, a cup‐shaped molecule that has been proposed as a precursor molecule to the formation of fullerenes in the gas phase (Pope et al., 1993).
The Transforming Growth Factor‐Betas: Past, Present, and Future

The present volume on transforming growth factor-betas (TGF-0s) provides a summation of the current excitement in research on this family of peptides. This excitement is largely the result of the realization that the study of TGF-p in its multiple forms is germane to almost any topic in the entire field of biomedical research. E F p indeed is the prototypical multifunctional peptide growth factor. It is now recognized that essentially all cells may synthesize one or another isoform of TGF-P and that almost all normal cells possess functional membrane-bound receptors for members of this family of peptides. Thus, TGF-P can act by both autocrine and paracrine mechanisms to regulate the behavior of almost every cell in the mammalian organism. Depending on the particular cellular context of its action, TGF-p may act as a signal at certain times to enhance cellular proliferation, at other times to inhibit cellular proliferation, and in still other circumstances to modulate numerous other activities of cells that relate to their differentiated state, but are unrelated to DNA synthesis. In the present article, we will give a short historical introduction to the development of TGF-p research, then briefly summarize the present range of E F p studies, and finally conclude with some speculations about the directions of future research on EF-p .
Genetic interaction between yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae release factors and the decoding region of 18 S rRNA.

Functional and structural similarities between tRNA and eukaryotic class 1 release factors (eRF1) described previously, provide evidence for the molecular mimicry concept. This concept is supported here by the demonstration of a genetic interaction between eRF1 and the decoding region of the ribosomal RNA, the site of tRNA-mRNA interaction. We show that the conditional lethality caused by a mutation in domain 1 of yeast eRF1 (P86A), that mimics the tRNA anticodon stem-loop, is rescued by compensatory mutations A1491G (rdn15) and U1495C (hyg1) in helix 44 of the decoding region and by U912C (rdn4) and G886A (rdn8) mutations in helix 27 of the 18 S rRNA. The rdn15 mutation creates a C1409-G1491 base-pair in yeast rRNA that is analogous to that in prokaryotic rRNA known to be important for high-affinity paromomycin binding to the ribosome. Indeed, rdn15 makes yeast cells extremely sensitive to paromomycin, indicating that the natural high resistance of the yeast ribosome to paromomycin is, in large part, due to the absence of the 1409-1491 base-pair. The rdn15 and hyg1 mutations also partially compensate for inactivation of the eukaryotic release factor 3 (eRF3) resulting from the formation of the [PSI+] prion, a self-reproducible termination-deficient conformation of eRF3. However, rdn15, but not hyg1, rescues the conditional cell lethality caused by a GTPase domain mutation (R419G) in eRF3. Other antisuppressor rRNA mutations, rdn2(G517A), rdn1T(C1054T) and rdn12A(C526A), strongly inhibit [PSI+]-mediated stop codon read-through but do not cure cells of the [PSI+] prion. Interestingly, cells bearing hyg1 seem to enable [PSI+] strains to accumulate larger Sup35p aggregates upon Sup35p overproduction, suggesting a lower toxicity of overproduced Sup35p when the termination defect, caused by [PSI+], is partly relieved.
Uptae of radioactive lead following inhalation and injection.

Abstract Experiments have been made with human volunteers to determine the fate of 212Pb (ThB) after inhalation. Two subjects inhaled the activity as a submicron aerosol and one also inhaled it as a vapour. The two subjects also received injections of 212Pb in saline solution, so that the levels in blood following the two routes of entry could be compared. Measurements of the activity in excreta were also made. The activity was removed from the lung with a biological half-life of about ten hours. At 24 hours after inhalation about three-quarters of the particulate activity initially retained in the lung was found in the blood. The removal from blood to permanent sites of deposition and by excretion was comparatively slow. When a vapour of 212Pb was inhaled, however, there was substantial faecal excretion (37 per cent of the retained dose in 72 hours). This is attributed to activity deposited on the ciliated epithelium of the upper respiratory tract and subsequently brought up and swallowed.
[Calcium oxalate crystals in several kinds of Cinnamon bark].

OBJECTIVE To probe into the morphology and distribution characteristics of calcium oxalate crystals in several kinds of Cinnamon bark. METHOD Forty samples of ten different species of Cinamomi Cortex were examined, and the inter-cellular calcium oxalate crystals in the phloem rays were observed by optical microscope and scanning electron microscope. RESULT It was found that for samples of the same botanical origin, there is little variation in the crystal morphology following certain regularity. The amount, size and ultra-micromorphologic characteristics are influenced by various factors. CONCLUSION The pattern of morphology and distribution of calcium oxalate crystals may well be an index for identification of the crude drug of Cinnamon bark.
Environmental phthalate exposure and preterm birth.

IMPORTANCE Preterm birth is a leading cause of neonatal mortality, with a variety of contributing causes and risk factors. Environmental exposures represent a group of understudied, but potentially important, factors. Phthalate diesters are used extensively in a variety of consumer products worldwide. Consequently, exposure in pregnant women is highly prevalent. OBJECTIVE To assess the relationship between phthalate exposure during pregnancy and preterm birth. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS This nested case-control study was conducted at Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts. Women were recruited for a prospective observational cohort study from 2006-2008. Each provided demographic data, biological samples, and information about birth outcomes. From within this group, we selected 130 cases of preterm birth and 352 randomly assigned control participants, and we analyzed urine samples from up to 3 time points during pregnancy for levels of phthalate metabolites. EXPOSURE Phthalate exposure during pregnancy. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES We examined associations between average levels of phthalate exposure during pregnancy and preterm birth, defined as fewer than 37 weeks of completed gestation, as well as spontaneous preterm birth, defined as preterm preceded by spontaneous preterm labor or preterm premature rupture of the membranes (n = 57). RESULTS Geometric means of the di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) metabolites mono-(2-ethyl)-hexyl phthalate (MEHP) and mono-(2-ethyl-5-carboxypentyl) phthalate (MECPP), as well as mono-n-butyl phthalate (MBP), were significantly higher in cases compared with control participants. In adjusted models, MEHP, MECPP, and Σ DEHP metabolites were associated with significantly increased odds of preterm birth. When spontaneous preterm births were examined alone, MEHP, mono-(2-ethyl-5-oxohexyl) phthalate, MECPP, Σ DEHP, MBP, and mono-(3-carboxypropyl) phthalate metabolite levels were all associated with significantly elevated odds of prematurity. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE Women exposed to phthalates during pregnancy have significantly increased odds of delivering preterm. Steps should be taken to decrease maternal exposure to phthalates during pregnancy.
Forthcoming in European Economic Review To be consumed with moderation ∗

We study the optimal behavior of a hyperbolic discounting agent who has incomplete information about his own preferences and can only learn them through consumption. We show that, even if moderate current consumption and moderate future consumption always dominates abstinence, the agent may optimally decide not to consume as a commitment device against inefficient learning that would lead to future excesses. This provides a rationale for why smokers, gamblers or compulsive buyers stick to second-best personal rules of behavior –such as “abstinence”– without invoking standard habit formation arguments. We also study how urges modify the strategy of the individual.
Investigating the Applicability of Fluidized-Bed Technology for High-Throughput Coating of Stents

Nowadays coating of stents is associated with high manufacturing costs at least partially caused by the single unit coating process. To overcome this limitation we investigated the applicability of high-throughput stent coating via fluidized-bed technology. On the basis of an exemplary coating process we determined deviation of mass, drug release, coating homogeneity and the distribution of coating thickness of coated goods. The results indicate that the fluidizedbed technology can be utilized to obtain highly uniform stent coatings.
Distribution of small phytoflagellates along an Arctic fjord transect.

Phytoflagellates <10 μm substantially contribute to the abundance, biomass and primary production in polar waters, but information on the distribution of specific groups is scarce. We applied catalysed reporter deposition-fluorescence in situ hybridization to investigate the distribution of total phytoflagellates and of eight specific groups along a 100 km transect west off Kongsfjorden (Spitsbergen) from 29 to 31 July 2010. Phytoflagellates contributed to >75% of the depth-integrated abundance and biomass of total eukaryotes <10 μm at all stations. Their depth-integrated abundance and biomass decreased along the transect from 1.5 × 10(12) cells m(-2) (6.6 × 10(12) pgC m(-2) ) at the outermost station to 1.7 × 10(10) cells m(-2) (4.7 × 10(10) pgC m(-2) ) at the innermost station. Chlorophytes contributed to the total abundance of phytoflagellates with a range from 13% to 87% (0.7-30.5 × 10(3) cells ml(-1) ), and predominated in open waters. The contribution of haptophytes was < 1-38% (10-4500 cells ml(-1) ). The other groups represented <10%. The temperature and salinity positively correlated with the total abundance of phytoflagellates, chlorophytes, haptophytes, bolidophytes and pelagophytes. Cryptophytes, pedinellids and pavlovophytes were negatively associated with the nutrient concentrations. The community composition of phytoflagellates changed along the transect, which could have implications on food web dynamics and biogeochemical cycles between the open ocean environment and Kongsfjorden investigated here.
Effectiveness of joint health and safety committees: a realist review.

BACKGROUND Joint health and safety committees (JHSCs) are widely acknowledged as important to a healthy and safe work environment. However, it is also generally believed that having a JHSC is necessary but not sufficient; the JHSC must be effective. METHODS A systematic review was undertaken to find empirical studies regarding the effectiveness of JHSCs; realist review methodology was applied to determine context-mechanism-outcome patterns. Experts from across Canada and from various sectors and perspectives including government, employers, and unions, were brought together to inform the synthesis. RESULTS Thirty-one studies met inclusion criteria. Mechanisms identified as important determinants of JHSC effectiveness across various jurisdictions include adequate information, education and training; appropriate committee composition; senior management commitment to JHSCs; and especially a clear mandate with a broad scope and corresponding empowerment (through legislation and/or union presence). CONCLUSIONS Consistent empowerment mechanisms emerge as determinants of successful JHSCs across contexts despite few evidence-based details for best practice implementation. Intervention research is warranted.