Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Symbol.IDET Update: Flood of New Studies on Thermal Therapy for Discogenic Pain

Three new trials of the nutritional supplement glucosamine sulfate reinforce recent evidence that there is an inverse relationship between study quality and positive outcome: the more flawed the study, the more energetic the glucosamine’s effect. Two randomized controlled trials in the knee arrived at opposite conclusions. A third, flawed trial looked at back pain in patients diagnosed with osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine. All three trials were presented at the recent annual meeting of the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) in Philadelphia. Glucosamine is an amino-monosaccharide that plays a role in cartilage matrix production and proteoglycan synthesis. Numerous randomized trials suggest that glucosamine is an effective treatment for pain related to knee OA. Proponents have also suggested that its beneficial effects extend to the joints of the hip and spine. But as a recent JAMA meta-analysis showed, studies in the knee generally are of low to mediocre quality, are sponsored largely by manufacturers, and show strong evidence of publication bias. (See McAlindon et al., 2000.) Glucosamine trials in the hip have been virtually nonexistent during the past 30 years. Manufacturers of glucosamine and other nutraceuticals (foods with a medical benefit) have been splendidly successful in promoting their use for knee and hip pain. Proponents suggest it is a chondro-protective agent, a “lube job for the joints,” as one website puts it. Given the success of glucosamine in the knee pain marketplace, the back pain market would appear to be an alluring target: An estimated 80 million individuals suffer from low back pain in the United States each year.
Comparative osteohistology of some embryonic and perinatal archosaurs: developmental and behavioral implications for dinosaurs

Abstract Histologic studies of embryonic and perinatal longbones of living birds, non-avian dinosaurs, and other reptiles show a strong phylogenetic signal in the distribution of tissues and patterns of vascularization in both the shafts and the bone ends. The embryonic bones of basal archosaurs and other reptiles have thin-walled cortices and large marrow cavities that are sometimes subdivided by erosion rooms in early stages of growth. The cortices of basal reptiles are poorly vascularized, and osteocyte lacunae are common but randomly organized. Additionally, there is no evidence of fibrolamellar tissue organization around the vascular spaces. Compared with turtles, basal archosaurs show an increase in vascularization, better organized osteocytes, and some fibrolamellar tissue organization. In dinosaurs, including birds, vascularization is greater than in basal archosaurs, as is cortical thickness, and the osteocyte lacunae are more abundant and less randomly organized. Fibrolamellar tissues are evident around vascular canals and form organized primary osteons in older perinates and juveniles. Metaphyseal (“epiphyseal”) morphology varies with the acquisition of new features in derived groups. The cartilage cone, persistent through the Reptilia (crown-group reptiles, including birds), is completely calcified in ornithischian dinosaurs before it is eroded by marrow processes; cartilage canals, absent in basal archosaurs, are present in Dinosauria; a thickened calcified hypertrophy zone in Dinosauria indicates an acceleration of longitudinal bone growth. Variations in this set of histological synapomorphies overlap between birds and non-avian dinosaurs. In birds, these variations are strongly correlated with life-history strategies. This overlap, plus independent evidence from nesting sites, reinforces the hypothesis that variations in bone growth strategies in Mesozoic dinosaurs reflect different life-history strategies, including nesting behavior of neonates and parental care.
Screening for polymorphisms in the HIOMT gene and associations with circadian phenotypes

HIOMT is a gene that encodes hydroxyindole-O-methyltransferase, the final enzyme in the melatonin synthesis pathway. As the timing of melatonin synthesis is different for morning and evening people, it is possible that polymorphisms in genes coding for the enzymes which participate in melatonin synthesis can influence this hormone synthesis and release patterns that may result in different circadian outputs. The aim of this study was to search for polymorphisms in the HIOMT gene and to verify possible associations between genetic variations in this gene and circadian phenotypes in a Brazilian population sample. Among the 44 extreme morning and the 48 extreme evening people, ten polymorphisms were found, being two of them not described so far. Haploview analyses showed linkage disequilibrium between pairs of polymorphisms in the promoter B region. Also, the haplotype AG (rs4446909, rs5989681) is associated with evening preference. The analysis of these data indicates that polymorphisms in the HIOMT gene exhibit a possible trend to influence circadian phenotypes in this Brazilian population sample, possibly affecting the rate and/or level of melatonin synthesis.
Rheogenic transport in the renal proximal tubule

The electrophysiology of the renal Na-K ATPase was studied in isolated perfused amphibian proximal tubules during alterations in bath (serosal) potassium. Intracellular and extracellular ionic activity measurements permitted continuous evaluation of the Nernst potentials for Na+, K+, and Cl- across the basolateral membrane. The cell membrane and transepithelial potential differences and resistances were also determined. Return of K to the basal (serosal) solution after a 20-min incubation in K-free solution hyperpolarized the basolateral membrane to an electrical potential that was more negative than the Nernst potential for either Na, Cl, or K. This constitutes strong evidence that at least under stimulated conditions the Na-K ATPase located at the basolateral membrane of the renal proximal tubule mediates a rheogenic process which directly transfers net charge across the cell membrane. Interpretation of these data in terms of an electrical equivalent circuit permitted calculation of both the rheogenic current and the Na/K coupling ratio of the basolateral pump. During the period between 1 and 3 min after pump reactivation by return of bath K, the basolateral rheogenic current was directly proportional to the intracellular Na activity, and the pump stoichiometry transiently exceeded the coupling ratio of 3Na to 2K reported in other preparations.
Dietary carbohydrates influence the structure and function of the intestinal alpha-glucosidases

Chegeni, Mohammad. Ph.D., Purdue University, May 2015. Dietary Carbohydrates Influence the Structure and Function of the Intestinal α-Glucosidases. Major Professor: Bruce R. Hamaker. As the primary products of starch digestion by pancreatic α-amylase, maltooligosaccharides (including maltose) are the main substrates for the α-glucosidases at the intestinal brush border. Here, maltose was shown to induce the formation of a higher molecular weight (HMW) sucrase-isomaltase (SI) species in Caco-2 cells that sorts more quickly to the enterocyte surface to act as a digestive enzyme. As this finding suggested a maltose sensing ability of small intestinal enterocytes, molecular mechanisms associated with the maturation and trafficking of HMW SI were further investigated. A pulse-chase experiment using [S]-methionine revealed a higher rate of early trafficking and maturation of the HMW SI species in cells treated with maltose. Endoglycosidase treatment of immunoprecipitated SI showed that increased molecular weight is a consequence of additional Nand O-glycosylation of the enzyme. In comparison to the control, the HMW SI was found to be more associated with lipid rafts at the membrane surface which was related to the higher apical sorting of these species. Thus, maltose sensing of small intestinal enterocytes triggers the intracellular processing of HMW SI, speculatively to enhance its digestive property. Study on the sweet taste receptor subunits (T1R2 and T1R3) by qRT-PCR showed that the expression of T1R2 and T1R3 increased in presence of maltose compared to glucose. It appeared also that
Phylogenetic Tree and Antigenic Shift Analysis of Hemagglutinin Gene of Influenza A Virus inH5N1 Strains Found in 2005-2007

This study brings the analysis of phylogenetic tree and amino acid sequences of Hemagglutinin (HA) from the influenza A virus that can infect a wide variety of birds and mammals. We have analyzed strains of three different years (2005, 2006 and 2007) of H5N1 from different country to see the antigenic shift patterns with respect to reported mutant positions of amino acids. We did not find the exact location where reported mutations are occurred. But we found similar amino acids near the reported mutated positions but we found similar mutations around the mutated position that may cause antigenic shifts.
Integrin-linked Kinase (ILK) expression in moderately differentiated human oesophageal squamous carcinoma cell lines: A growth factor modulation, activity and link to adhesion

Integrin-linked Kinase (ILK) is an integrin-associated protein kinase, which regulates growth factor-signalling pathways and cell-ECM adhesion events. Abrogated ILK expression or activity has been implicated in contributing to oncogenic transformation. We examined the role played by ILK in growth factor-stimulated and integrin signalling events in five human oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma cell lines (HOSCCs), known to overexpress the EGF receptor. Western blot analysis revealed the presence of ILK (59kDa) in all the moderately differentiated HOSCC lines. ILK1 was confirmed as being the predominant isoform. Densitometrically analysed Western blots showed that, per unit of protein, ILK is expressed uniformly across the cell lines under standard culture conditions. Following EGF (10 ng/ml) and TGFβ1 (1 ng/ml) treatment, ILK expression increased in all five HOSCCs. Indirect immunofluorescence microscopy showed the majority of ILK to localise at a cytoplasmic/nuclear level, with a proportion of ILK localising at the membrane, which resembled the distribution pattern of the β3 integrin subunit. This membranal distribution most likely follows that of the adhesion plaques although lesser, and variable, amounts were also identified throughout the cytoplasm. The functionality of the ILK1 kinase domain was demonstrated using myelin basic protein (MBP)-based kinase assays. EGF and TGFβ1 treatment produced an increase in ILK activity in the WHCO3 cell line of 3.5 fold, but a decrease in activity in the other cell lines, which are suggested to involve the actions of PTEN. The identification of nuclear ILK was surprising, and the mechanism for nuclear ILK localisation was suggested to involve a caveolae-associated protein, caveolin-1. Cell adhesion assays revealed that KP-392-mediated inhibition of ILK resulted in a nonsignificant reduction in cell adhesion to collagen and fibronectin. These data provide distinctive evidence for the influence of growth factors on ILK expression, but a duality in the effect on ILK activity. This apparent dichotomy is noteworthy and may be of particular relevance in HOSCC. It is further suggested that KP-392-induced ILK inhibition destabilises the αβ integrin heterodimer and that PI3K acts upstream of ILKmediated cell adhesion events in HOSCCs. This suggests that ILK mediates integrin associated processes in human oesophageal SCC cell lines.
Gel structure protects cereal β-glucan from radical induced degradation in aqueous systems

The beneficial health effects of β-glucan are closely related to its rheological properties in the intestine, and therefore factors such as food composition and processing that may affect viscosity are of great interest in developing foods rich in βglucan. We report a protective effect of gel structure on radical mediated degradation of β-glucan.
Characterisation of organic phosphorus compounds in soil by phosphatase hydrolysis.

Many organic and condensed forms of phosphorus (P) can be found in soils. Phosphate groups have to be hydrolysed from these P compounds to become available to plants and microorganisms. This chemical reaction is catalysed by several hydrolytic enzymes, which can be used experimentally to investigate the nature and hydrolysability of soil organic P. As a prerequisite to this approach, phytases, alkaline phosphatases, acid phosphatases, and an inorganic pyrophosphatase were tested for their specificity against eight P substrates (monoesters, diesters, inorganic and organic phosphoanhydrides, and a phosphonate). The inorganic pyrophosphatase preparation was specific against pyrophosphate.The other enzymes hydrolysed simple monoesters and condensed phosphate completely and differed only in their ability to hydrolyse phytate, DNA and RNA. None of the enzymes hydrolyzed the model phosphonate. The implications for the interpretation of the experiments planned with soils are discussed.
The Impeccable Timing of the Apple Maggot Fly, Rhagoletis pomonella (Diptera: Tephritidae), and its Implications for Ecological Speciation

Host shifts of phytophagous insect specialists to novel plants can result in divergent ecological adaptation, generating reproductive isolation and potentially new species. Rhagoletis pomonella fruit flies in eastern North America underwent a host shift ~160 ya from native downy hawthorn (Crataegus mollis) to introduced, domesticated apple (Malus domestica). Divergent selection on diapause phenology related to the earlier fruiting time of apples versus downy hawthorns resulted in partial allochronic reproductive isolation between the fly races. Here, I test for how rapid and repeatable shifts in life history timing are driving ecological divergence of R. pomonella in the Pacific Northwestern US. The fly was introduced into the region via larval-infested apples 40-65 ya and now attacks native black hawthorn (Crataegus douglasii) and introduced ornamental hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna), in addition to early– and late– maturing apple varieties in the region. To investigate the life history timing hypothesis, I used a field-based experiment to characterize the host-associated eclosion and flight activity patterns of adults, and the feeding times of larvae at a field site in Vancouver, Washington. I also assessed the degree to which differences in host fruiting time generate allochronic isolation among apple-, black hawthorn-, and ornamental hawthorn-
Conservation status and threats to grouse worldwide: an overview

A major task of the Grouse Specialist Group is to compile an IUCN/SSC Action Plan to assess threats and propose conservation actions for all grouse species worldwide. This paper provides an overview to the conservation status of and major threats to grouse based on information collected during the preparation of the Grouse Action Plan. Three species, Caucasian black grouse Tetrao mlokosiewiczi, Chinese grouse Bonasa sewerzowi and Siberian grouse Falcipennis falcipennis, are listed as globally near-threatened or data deficient, one newly-recognised species, Gunnison sage grouse Centrocercus minimus, is listed as globally endangered and two subspecies, Attwater's prairie chicken Tympanuchus cupido attwateri and Cantabrian capercaillie Tetrao urogallus cantabricus, qualify to be listed as globally threatened according to IUCN criteria. At a national level, 14 of the 18 species are red-listed in at least one country. Populations at the southern edge of a species' range and in densely populated regions are most often red-listed. Based on questionnaire results from 38 countries, habitat degradation, loss and fragmentation due to human land use activities are the major threats to grouse viability. Exploitation, predation and human disturbance were regionally felt to be critical. Major threats and their causes are reviewed based on questionnaire results and the literature. Integrating habitat preservation and human land use practices is concluded to be the major challenge to grouse conservationists worldwide.
Modeling Disaster: The Failure of the Management of the New England Groundfish Industry

Abstract Most of the world's marine fisheries are overexploited or endangered, including the Gulf of Maine groundfish fishery, once one of the world's most prolific. After 35 years of management, groundfish stock sizes and catches are lower than when management began. We argue that in New England, the groundfishing industry is caught in a prisoner's dilemma caused by a large number of interactive social, political, and economic variables. These factors have (1) motivated fishermen to oppose the rules promulgated by the government (which we call the “harvest game”) and (2) lowered the benefits of investing in rules to conserve fish stocks (which we call the “rule game”). In both games, fishermen are motivated to play their dominant strategy to the detriment of the industry, conservation, and fish stocks. We suggest that the dilemma will only be solved by a change in the culture of the industry that would lead to support for a conservation ethic. Unfortunately, the current institutional framework of managem.
ProDisc-C

Anterior cervical decompression and fusion has become a very widely used procedure for the treatment of cervical degenerative disc disease with clinical symptoms of radiculopathy or myelopathy. Even with a high success rate, anterior cervical decompression and fusion is associated with numerous complications including adjacent-segment degeneration, pseudoarthrosis, and donor site morbidity. One serious long term risk associated with cervical arthrodesis is the increased biomechanical stress at adjacent segments that may hasten degeneration at these levels. Alternatively, artificial disc replacement provides a solution in the cervical spine which may maintain motion at the operated level. Motion at the adjacent levels are maintained reducing the rate of adjacent level degeneration when compared with fusion. The fate of the segments adjacent to a fusion has driven the need for better methods of treatment which may possess superior long term results compared to fusion operations.
Regulation of pituitary adenylyl cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP, ADCYAP1: adenylyl cyclase-activating polypeptide 1) in the treatment of schizophrenia

Background: Deficiency of pituitary adenylyl cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) and its specific receptor, PAC1, causes a schizophrenia-like phenotype in mice. In addition, the relation of the PACAP and PAC1 genes to schizophrenia has been shown by single-nucleotide polymorphism association studies. Furthermore, PACAP is reported to be involved in the function of disrupted-in-schizophrenia 1. Objective: To summarize briefly the recent evidence relating the PACAP system and schizophrenia and discuss the application of PACAP to the treatment of schizophrenia. Results/conclusion: The regulation of PACAPergic signals is an interesting potential treatment for schizophrenia. Further studies of PACAP signals and the association of PACAP signals with schizophrenia should shed the light on the utility of this approach in the treatment of schizophrenia.
The Basis of Defoliation Effects on Reproductive Parameters in Vitis vinifera L. cv. Chardonnay Lies in the Latent Bud

Grapevine defoliation is common, as are reports of its effect on post-budburst reproductive parameters (inflorescences), but little is known about the underlying mechanisms of these defoliation effects. We propose that low carbohydrate reserves from defoliation reduce the number of inflorescence primordia (IP) initiated and, during development, limit size in latent buds. From early in Season 1 (December in the southern hemisphere), Chardonnay grapevines were completely defoliated, progressively as new leaves appeared, throughout Season 1 until leaf fall, with the fruit remaining intact. Defoliation treatment resulted in low carbohydrate reserves in the dormant wood at season end and consequently, in smaller IP by the start of dormancy and at pre-budburst in Season 2. Treatment and control grapevines had similar numbers of IP at winter dormancy and by pre-budburst in Season 2. However, post-budburst treatment inflorescences likely underwent necrosis, resulting in inflorescence abortion and fewer clusters in Season 2. Low reserves during spring of Season 2 resulted in reduced IP initiation and delayed development with fewer, smaller inflorescences at post-budburst in Season 3. Thus, defoliation effects were due to low carbohydrate reserves that reduced IP initiation numbers and size in latent buds and also to abortion of mature inflorescences immediately after budburst.
Encephalitis

Abstract Encephalitis is a serious and potentially treatable infection of the central nervous system. A pathogen is identified in less than 50% of cases. The differential diagnosis includes acute infection, immune-mediated causes, and other central nervous system processes. Emergent investigations include blood work, cerebrospinal fluid analysis, and neuroimaging. Empiric acyclovir and antibiotics should be started immediately to maximize the child’s chance of neurologic recovery.
An experimental test of the relationship between seed size and competitive ability in annual plants

Competition–colonization tradeoff models explain the coexistence of competing species in terms of a tradeoff between competitive ability and colonization ability. One class of such models is based on the idea that seed size determines competitive ability, seed number determines colonization ability, and the two traits are negatively correlated such that higher competitive ability of large-seeded species compensates for their smaller seed number. According to such models, species inhabiting the same community should show a distinct ranking of competitive ability and this ranking should be correlated with seed size. We tested these predictions using a greenhouse competition experiment focusing on 25 annual species that coexist in sandy habitats of the Mediterranean region in Israel. Rankings of species based on their competitive effects on two independent phytometers were positively correlated. Corresponding rankings based on competitive responses were also correlated. Rankings based on competitive effects were correlated with those based on competitive responses. Yet, in spite of the clear hierarchy in all measures of competitive ability, none of the measures was correlated with seed size. While lack of correlation between seed size and competitive ability has been documented in some systems, our study is the first time that absence of such correlation is documented in a system where the existence of competition is well established and the component species show a clear hierarchy of competitive ability.