Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Extended longevity and robust early-stage development of Caenorhabditis elegans by a soil microbe, Lysinibacillus sphaericus.

Caenorhabditis elegans, originally isolated from soil, is a nematode used in various fields of biological research including host–microbe interaction. While bacterial pathogens responsible for human infections have been actively studied in C. elegans, very few bacterial species that provide beneficial effects on C. elegans have been reported. Here, we tested several bacterial soil isolates and then characterized the effects of Lysinibacillus sphaericus on C. elegans growth-related phenotypes. Worms fed with L. sphaericus lived significantly longer than those growing with typical Escherichia coli OP50. Early- and juvenile-stage growth was also highly stimulated by L. sphaericus; body size at 28 h post-hatching was > 2 times larger than OP50-fed worms and L. sphaericus-fed worms moved through the larval stage development more rapidly than control worms. In addition, significantly elevated fertilization was observed in worms fed with L. sphaericus (∼ 8 h faster than the control group). Furthermore, growth with L. sphaericus resulted in the production of larger numbers of progeny than the control growth with OP50. Worms grown with L. sphaericus were highly resistant to oxidative, osmotic and infection stresses. Together, our results reveal a novel mode of growth that involves healthy ageing of nematodes.
The genetic variability and commonality of neurodevelopmental disease

Despite detailed clinical definition and refinement of neurodevelopmental disorders and neuropsychiatric conditions, the underlying genetic etiology has proved elusive. Recent genetic studies have revealed some common themes: considerable locus heterogeneity, variable expressivity for the same mutation, and a role for multiple disruptive events in the same individual affecting genes in common pathways. Recurrent copy number variation (CNV), in particular, has emphasized the importance of either de novo or essentially private mutations creating imbalances for multiple genes. CNVs have foreshadowed a model where the distinction between milder neuropsychiatric conditions from those of severe developmental impairment may be a consequence of increased mutational burden affecting more genes. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Mitochondrial Permeability Transition Dynamics: An Indicator of Mitochondrial Potassium Channel Opener

Mitochondrial permeability transition (MPT) is an intracellular event that is closely related to apoptosis and necrosis. However, whether this process underlies the recently reported neuroprotective potency of mitochondrial potassium channel openers applied in vivo remains uncertain. This study aims to clarify this issue by determining the effects of potassium channel openers on MPT dynamics in vitro along with their in vivo effects. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) for 90 min, followed by reperfusion. 30mul of diazoxide, an opener of the mitochondrial adenosine triphosphate-sensitive K+ channel (mitoKATP ), or NS1619, an opener of the mitochondrial Ca2+-activated potassium channel (mitoKCa) (2 mM and 0.1 mM respectively), was infused into the right lateral cerebral ventricle 15 min before the induction of ischemia. Neurological scores were assessed 24 h after MCAO and then infarct area was determined by standard 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride staining techniques. To further clarify the capacity of diazoxide and NS1619 to protect mitochondria from Ca2+-induced MPT, we isolated brain-derived non-synaptosomal mitochondria and evaluated the effects of diazoxide and NS1619 on Ca2+-induced MPT dynamics through measurement of spectrophotometric alterations in light scattering at 520 nm. Neurological scores and infarct size were improved in animals pretreated with diazoxide and NS1619. In isolated mitochondria, MPT was readily induced by 200 muM Ca2+ and was effectively inhibited by diazoxide and NS1619. The specific MPT pore opener atractyloside abolished the inhibitory effects. According to time-constant analysis, MPT dynamics was in accordance with the neuroprotective effects of channel openers in vivo. Therefore, measuring MPT dynamics provides a new means of predicting the neuroprotective effects of mitochondrial potassium channel openers
Splitting the Cognitive Style Field-Dependence / Field-Independence and Speed of Memorizing the Nonverbal Nonsense Material

The article presents experimental research of study of relationship between cognitive style of field dependence / field independence and of memorizing speed of nonverbal memory nonsense material. Research aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness and qualitative uniqueness of mnemonic abilities of field dependence and field independence subjects in condition of cleavage the cognitive style. Mobile field independence subjects demonstrated high optimal results in memorizing speed of nonverbal memory nonsense material, while representatives of fixed field dependence style were represented minimal results.
Do nitrogen fertilizers stimulate or inhibit methane emissions from rice fields?

In rice cultivation, there are controversial reports on net impacts of nitrogen (N) fertilizers on methane (CH 4) emissions. Nitrogen fertilizers increase crop growth as well as alter CH 4 producing (Methanogens) and consuming (Methanotrophs) microbes, and thereby produce complex effects on CH 4 emissions. Objectives of this study were to determine net impact of N fertilizers on CH 4 emissions and to identify their underlying mechanisms in the rice soils. Database was obtained from 33 published papers that contained CH 4 emissions observations from N fertilizer (28–406 kg N ha−1) treatment and its control. Results have indicated that N fertilizers increased CH 4 emissions in 98 of 155 data pairs in rice soils. Response of CH 4 emissions per kg N fertilizer was significantly (P < 0.05) greater at < 140 kg N ha−1 than > 140 kg N ha−1 indicating that substrate switch from CH 4 to ammonia by Methanotrophs may not be a dominant mechanism for increased CH 4 emissions. On the contrary, decreased CH 4 emission in intermittent drainage by N fertilizers has suggested the stimulation of Methanotrophs in rice soils. Effects of N fertilizer stimulated Methanotrophs in reducing CH 4 emissions were modified by the continuous flood irrigation due to limitation of oxygen to Methanotrophs. Greater response of CH 4 emissions per kg N fertilizer in urea than ammonia sulfate probably indicated the interference of sulfate in the CH 4 production process. Overall, response of CH 4 emissions to N fertilizers was correlated with N‐induced crop yield (r = +0.39; P < 0.01), probably due to increased carbon substrates for Methanogens. Using CH 4 emission observations, this meta‐analysis has identified dominant microbial processes that control net effects of N fertilizers on CH 4 emissions in rice soils. Finally, we have provided a conceptual model that included microbial processes and controlling factors to predict effects of N fertilizers on CH 4 emissions in rice soils.
Long-Term Deficits in Cortical Circuit Function after Asphyxial Cardiac Arrest and Resuscitation in Developing Rats

Abstract Cardiac arrest is a common cause of global hypoxic-ischemic brain injury. Poor neurologic outcome among cardiac arrest survivors results not only from direct cellular injury but also from subsequent long-term dysfunction of neuronal circuits. Here, we investigated the long-term impact of cardiac arrest during development on the function of cortical layer IV (L4) barrel circuits in the rat primary somatosensory cortex. We used multielectrode single-neuron recordings to examine responses of presumed excitatory L4 barrel neurons to controlled whisker stimuli in adult (8 ± 2-mo-old) rats that had undergone 9 min of asphyxial cardiac arrest and resuscitation during the third postnatal week. Results indicate that responses to deflections of the topographically appropriate principal whisker (PW) are smaller in magnitude in cardiac arrest survivors than in control rats. Responses to adjacent whisker (AW) deflections are similar in magnitude between the two groups. Because of a disproportionate decrease in PW-evoked responses, receptive fields of L4 barrel neurons are less spatially focused in cardiac arrest survivors than in control rats. In addition, spiking activity among L4 barrel neurons is more correlated in cardiac arrest survivors than in controls. Computational modeling demonstrates that experimentally observed disruptions in barrel circuit function after cardiac arrest can emerge from a balanced increase in background excitatory and inhibitory conductances in L4 neurons. Experimental and modeling data together suggest that after a hypoxic-ischemic insult, cortical sensory circuits are less responsive and less spatially tuned. Modulation of these deficits may represent a therapeutic approach to improving neurologic outcome after cardiac arrest.
An observational study of health-related quality of life and pain outcomes in chronic low back pain patients treated with fentanyl transdermal system

ABSTRACT Background: The analgesic effect of long-acting opioids, such as transdermal fentanyl, has been demonstrated in patients with cancer, neuropathic pain and chronic low back pain (CLBP). However, the broader effect of long-acting opioids on the patient's health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is less well known. Objective: To evaluate HRQoL outcomes in CLBP patients treated with transdermal fentanyl. Research design and methods: An observational study was conducted at 17 clinical centers in the US. Eligible patients had CLBP diagnosis for at least 3 months and were taking short-acting opioids chronically, and then initiated transdermal fentanyl treatment. Patients completed the Treatment Outcomes in Pain Survey (TOPS), which includes the SF‐36 Health Survey, at baseline and ≥ 9 weeks of treatment. The HRQoL burden of CLBP was determined by comparing CLBP patients’ SF‐36 scores to the general US population and low back pain patient norms. HRQoL outcomes were determined by comparing baseline and follow-up TOPS and SF‐36 scores. Additionally, HRQoL outcomes were evaluated across patient groups stratified by changes in pain intensity ratings as measured by an 11-point numerical rating scale. Results: At baseline CLBP patients (N = 131) scored one-to-two standard deviations (SD) below age and gender adjusted SF‐36 general population norms (MANOVA F = 127.1, p < 0.0001) and significantly lower than low back pain norms (MANOVA F = 125.3, p < 0.0001). At follow-up, significant improvement ( p < 0.05) was observed on six of the SF‐36 scales and both SF‐36 summary measures and five of the six TOPS pain-related scales. The magnitude of change in scores in effect size units among these scales ranged from 0.17 to 0.80, which are considered small to large effect size changes. HRQoL score improvement was greatest among patients experiencing the greatest pain relief. Conclusion: CLBP patients who chronically used short-acting opioids showed tremendous HRQoL burden. Favorable HRQoL outcomes were observed among patients who reported pain relief.
Rhizoctonia solani AG groups in northeast India

Rhizoctonia solani isolates collected from different crops in northeast India belonged to anastomosis group AG 2-2 IIIB (Canavalia ensiformis, Sechium edule, Glycine max and Dolichos lablab). AG 1-1A was detected on Zea mays, Rhizoctonia solani on Sechium edule and AG 4HG-II on a weed, Galinsoga parviflora, which are new records from India.
Pharmacologic management of diabetic peripheral neuropathic pain

Introduction: Diabetic peripheral neuropathic pain (DPNP) is a debilitating and distressing complication that occurs in patients with diabetes mellitus. This article provides an overview of diabetic peripheral neuropathy focusing on DPNP. Areas covered: This article reviews the diagnosis, pathogenesis, prevention and treatment of diabetic neuropathy and neuropathic pain. A comprehensive and systematic Medline search of the published literature for treatment of diabetic peripheral neuropathy was done from 1965 to December 2012. Studies not in English language were excluded. Expert opinion: Neuropathic pain is difficult to treat, and patients rarely experience complete pain relief. Despite several pharmacological agents being used in the treatment of DPNP, only duloxetine and pregabalin have evidence-based support for controlling DPNP.
Precorneal drainage of polyvinyl alcohol solutions in the rabbit assessed by gamma scintigraphy

A method for monitoring the ocular distribution of solutions for ophthalmic use was developed using the technique of gamma scintigraphy. This method was used to monitor the effects of polyvinyl alcohol on the precorneal drainage of [99mTc]pertechnetate in the rabbit. The rate of drainage of solutions decreased on addition of PVA and precorneal residence of the marker was significantly prolonged, compared with saline controls, at a PVA concentration of 5% w/v. Increases in the activity in the inner canthal region mirrored the decrease in corneal counts. The method has a more general application for the study of ophthalmic formulations and devices in larger mammals and in man.
Examining the Efficacy of the Modified Story Memory Technique (mSMT) in Persons With TBI Using Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI): The TBI-MEM Trial

Background:New learning and memory deficits are common following traumatic brain injury (TBI). Yet few studies have examined the efficacy of memory retraining in TBI through the most methodologically vigorous randomized clinical trial. Our previous research has demonstrated that the modified Story Memory Technique (mSMT) significantly improves new learning and memory in multiple sclerosis. Methodology:The present double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial examined changes in cerebral activation on functional magnetic resonance imaging following mSMT treatment in persons with TBI. Eighteen individuals with TBI were randomly assigned to treatment (n = 9) or placebo (n = 9) groups. Results:Baseline and follow-up functional magnetic resonance imaging was collected during a list-learning task. Significant differences in cerebral activation from before to after treatment were noted in regions belonging to the default mode network and executive control network in the treatment group only. Results are interpreted in light of these networks. Conclusions:Activation differences between the groups likely reflect increased use of strategies taught during treatment. This study demonstrates a significant change in cerebral activation resulting from the mSMT in a TBI sample. Findings are consistent with previous work in multiple sclerosis. Behavioral interventions can show significant changes in the brain, validating clinical utility.
HIF-1α-independent hypoxia-induced rapid PTK6 stabilization is associated with increased motility and invasion

PTK6/Brk is a non-receptor tyrosine kinase overexpressed in cancer. Here we demonstrate that cytosolic PTK6 is rapidly and robustly induced in response to hypoxic conditions in a HIF-1-independent manner. Furthermore, a proportion of hypoxic PTK6 subsequently re-localized to the cell membrane. We observed that the rapid stabilization of PTK6 is associated with a decrease in PTK6 ubiquitylation and we have identified c-Cbl as a putative PTK6 E3 ligase in normoxia. The consequences of hypoxia-induced PTK6 stabilization and subcellular re-localization to the plasma membrane include increased cell motility and invasion, suggesting PTK6 targeting as a therapeutic approach to reduce hypoxia-regulated metastatic potential. This could have particular significance for breast cancer patients with triple negative disease.
Utilizing optical tomography with ultrasound localization to image heterogeneous hemoglobin distribution in large breast cancers.

PURPOSE Angiogenesis in advanced breast cancers is highly distorted and heterogeneous. Noninvasive imaging that can monitor angiogenesis may be invaluable initially for diagnosis and then for assessing tumor response to treatment. By combining ultrasound (US) and near-infrared (NIR) optical imaging, a reliable new technique has emerged for localizing and characterizing tumor angiogenesis within the breast. METHODS This new technique employs a commercial US transducer coupled with an array of NIR optical fibers mounted on a hand-held probe. The US image is used for lesion localization and for guiding optical imaging reconstruction. Optical sensors are used for imaging tumor total hemoglobin distribution, which is directly related to tumor angiogenesis. RESULTS Six large breast carcinomas were studied and microvessel density count was then performed on tissue samples obtained from these cancers. Two patients had locally advanced breast cancers and received neoadjuvant chemotherapy for 3 months. In one patient, before chemotherapy, the total hemoglobin distribution showed a high concentration at the cancer periphery; the distribution was later confined to the core area after 3 months of treatment. In another patient, as treatment progressed, the maximum hemoglobin concentration decreased from 255.3, to 147.5, to 76.9 micromol/l with an associated reduction in spatial extension. The other four patients had cancers of 2.0 to 3.0 cm in size and were imaged either at the time of core biopsy or definitive surgery. The histologic microvessel density counts from these tumor samples correlate to hemoglobin distributions with a correlation coefficient of 0.64 (P < .05). CONCLUSION These initial results suggest that this new imaging technique may have great potential in imaging the heterogeneous vascular distribution of larger breast cancers in vivo and in monitoring treatment-related changes in angiogenesis during chemotherapy.
Percutaneous Sacroplasty and Sacroiliac Joint Cementation under Fluoroscopic Guidance for Lower Back Pain Related to Sacral Metastatic Tumors with Sacroiliac Joint Invasion

Abstract: Cancer patients with bone metastases are at risk of a variety of skeletal events, including vertebral compression and pathologic fractures. Approximately 30% to 40% of patients with advanced lung cancer will develop bone metastases in the course of their disease, resulting in a significant negative impact on both morbidity and survival. Skeletal complications of bone metastases include pain, pathologic fractures, spinal cord compression, and hypercalcemia. The spine is the most frequent site of skeletal metastases.
Effect of hypoxaemia on water and sodium homeostatic hormones and renal function

Changes in body fluid homeostasis during acute hypoxaemia suggest a crucial role of renal function in acclimatization processes. Hypoxaemia stimulates sympathetic nervous activity, and also the cardiovascular system is affected with increases in heart rate and cardiac output. In most subjects, a hypoxic ventilatory response produces hypocapnia and respiratory alkalosis. Acute hypoxaemia depresses aldosterone secretion secondary to a direct effect on adrenal cells. Also plasma renin is decreased in resting hypoxaemic conditions, but the mechanism remains unknown. These hormonal changes may have the advantage of opposing excessive sodium and water retention, which characterizes acute mountain sickness. Short‐term isocapnic or hypocapnic hypoxaemia in spontaneously breathing humans causes moderate if any increases in renal blood flow and only minor changes in GFR. In contrast, renal blood flow and GFR decreases during hypercapnic hypoxaemia. Renal clearance studies in humans after 24–48 hours in altitude hypoxia (4 350 m) demonstrate that glomerular and tubular function is only slightly changed in spite of marked depression of the renin‐aldosterone system and increased plasma levels of norepinephrine. However, renal vascular tone may increase most probably secondary to the increased adrenosympathetic activity. In the first hours, acute hypoxaemia may induce an increased excretion of sodium and water. Previous studies suggest that the natriuretic response is caused by decreased reabsorption of sodium and bicarbonate in the proximal tubules secondary to the associated hyperventilation and hypocapnia. After 6 hours, sodium and water excretion is normalized or even depressed, dependent on the severity of acute mountain sickness. In view of the prompt increase in sodium and water excretion found during short‐term hypoxaemia, the absence of such a response to more prolonged hypoxaemia suggests an adaptive time‐dependent course of renal functional changes in hypoxaemia. Taken together, previous studies suggest that effects of acute hypoxaemia on renal haemodynamics are minor compared with effects on cerebral and coronary circulation. This might be the result of an appropriate resetting of autoregulatory mechanisms that would maintain the role of the kidney as a major sense organ to hypoxaemia and, subsequently, as a mediator of plasma volume regulation and erythropoietin synthesis.
Hollow Carbon Nanofibers Filled with MnO2 Nanosheets as Efficient Sulfur Hosts for Lithium-Sulfur Batteries.

Lithium-sulfur batteries have been investigated as promising electrochemical-energy storage systems owing to their high theoretical energy density. Sulfur-based cathodes must not only be highly conductive to enhance the utilization of sulfur, but also effectively confine polysulfides to mitigate their dissolution. A new physical and chemical entrapment strategy is based on a highly efficient sulfur host, namely hollow carbon nanofibers (HCFs) filled with MnO2 nanosheets. Benefiting from both the HCFs and birnessite-type MnO2 nanosheets, the MnO2 @HCF hybrid host not only facilitates electron and ion transfer during the redox reactions, but also efficiently prevents polysulfide dissolution. With a high sulfur content of 71 wt % in the composite and an areal sulfur mass loading of 3.5 mg cm(-2) in the electrode, the MnO2 @HCF/S electrode delivered a specific capacity of 1161 mAh g(-1) (4.1 mAh cm(-2) ) at 0.05 C and maintained a stable cycling performance at 0.5 C over 300 cycles.
Does Timing of Brain Lesion Have an Impact on Children's Attention?

This study examined developmental timing of brain lesion effects on children's attention skills. The sample of 138 children, 10–16 years at assessment, were grouped based on developmental timing of brain lesion: (1) Congenital; (2) Perinatal; (3) Infancy; (4) Preschool; (5) Middle Childhood; (6) Late Childhood. Children with lesions in infancy or earlier demonstrated global attention problems, while children with lesions in middle childhood performed closer to normal expectations. This pattern of results was particularly evident for encoding and shifting attention. Findings highlight vulnerability of the immature brain to lesions and identify critical periods in development for attention skills.
Electric Vehicle Storage Management in Operating Reserve Auctions

Carsharing operators, which rent out electric vehicles for minutes or hours, lose money on idle vehicles. We develop a model that allows carsharing operators to offer the storage of these vehicles on operating reserve markets (market for quickly rampable back-up power sources that replace for instance failing power plants). We consider it a dispatch and pricing problem with the tradeoff between the payoffs of offering vehicles for rental and selling their storage. This is a problem of stochastic nature taking into account that people can rent electric vehicles at any time. To evaluate our model we tracked the location and status of 350 electric vehicles from the carsharing company Car2Go and simulated the dispatch in the Dutch market. This market needs to be redesigned for optimal use of storage. We make recommendations for the market redesign and show that carsharing operators can make substantial additional profits in operating reserve markets.