Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Serotonin Transporter Gene Polymorphism is Associated with Antidepressant Response to Escitalopram in Multiethnic Malaysians with Major Depressive Disorder : A Preliminary

Objective: This study investigates the relationship between antidepressant response to escitalopram and polymorphism of the serotonin transporter gene promoter region (5-HTTLPR) in multi ethnic Malaysian patients with Major Depressive Disorder. Methods: An eight weeks prospective study of treatment response to escitalopram was conducted on 29 Malaysian patients with Major Depressive Disorder. The severity and improvement of depression were assessed with the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale. Patients were also genotyped for long (L) and short (S) polymorphisms in 5-HTTLPR using polymerase chain reaction. Results: Response to escitalopram treatment was more frequent in patients with 5-HTTLPR SS genotype than in those with LL or LS genotypes (p = 0.04, OR = 10.0, 95% CI = 1.05-95.2). The favourable allelic variant for response was S allele (p <0.01, OR = 4.73, CI = 2.60-8.59). However, there was no difference in the adverse effects rates between the 5-HTTLPR genotype groups (p = 0.39, OR = 2.44, 95% CI = 0.41-14.75). Conclusion: Polymorphism of 5-HTTLPR was associated with antidepressant response to escitalopram treatment but not to its adverse effects in the Malaysian depressed patients.
Associations Between Three School-Based Measures of Health

School-based body mass index (BMI) notification programs are often used to raise parental awareness of childhood overweight and obesity, but how BMI results are associated with physical fitness and diet is less clear. This study examined the relationship between BMI, fitness, and diet quality in a diverse sample of urban schoolchildren (n = 122) utilizing a school-based cardiorespiratory fitness test and a food frequency questionnaire. Fifty-two percent of children were overweight/obese. Fit children were more likely to be normal weight than unfit children (p < .001). Weight status was not associated with adherence to any specific dietary guidelines; however, greater overall adherence to the recommendations was associated with normal weight (p < .05). These findings suggest a potential benefit may be gained by combining BMI reports with results of in-school fitness testing and basic information on how children’s diets compare to recommendations.
Effect of methyl jasmonate on energy metabolism in peach fruit during chilling stress.

BACKGROUND Energy status is associated with ripening, senescence and physiological disorder of various types of fruit after harvest, including peaches. Methyl jasmonate (MeJA) was effective in enhancing chilling tolerance in cold-stored peach fruit. The effect of MeJA on energy metabolism in peach fruit was investigated. RESULTS MeJA treatment increased the contents of adenosine triphosphate and adenosine diphosphate, but decreased the content of adenosine monophosphate, which resulted in a higher level of energy charge in peach fruit. Enzyme activities including H+-adenosine triphosphatase, Ca2+-adenosine triphosphatase, succinic dehydrogenase and cytochrome c oxidase were also higher in MeJA-treated fruit than those in control fruit. Meanwhile, MeJA treatment markedly inhibited the increase of ion leakage and the accumulation of malondialdehyde, super-oxidant radical and hydrogen peroxide. CONCLUSION These results indicated that MeJA could enhance chilling tolerance of peach fruit by inducing enzyme activities related to energy metabolism and maintaining high levels of ATP and energy charge.
Lack of adaptation from standing genetic variation despite the presence of putatively adaptive alleles in introduced sweet vernal grass (Anthoxanthum odoratum)

Population genetic theory predicts that the availability of appropriate standing genetic variation should facilitate rapid evolution when species are introduced to new environments. However, few tests of rapid evolution have been paired with empirical surveys for the presence of previously identified adaptive genetic variants in natural populations. In this study, we examined local adaptation to soil Al toxicity in the introduced range of sweet vernal grass (Anthoxanthum odoratum), and we genotyped populations for the presence of Al tolerance alleles previously identified at the long‐term ecological Park Grass Experiment (PGE, Harpenden, UK) in the species native range. We found that markers associated with Al tolerance at the PGE were present at appreciable frequency in introduced populations. Despite this, there was no strong evidence of local adaptation to soil Al toxicity among populations. Populations demonstrated significantly different intrinsic root growth rates in the absence of Al. This suggests that selection on correlated root growth traits may constrain the ability of populations to evolve significantly different root growth responses to Al. Our results demonstrate that genotype–phenotype associations may differ substantially between the native and introduced parts of a species range and that adaptive alleles from a native species range may not necessarily promote phenotypic differentiation in the introduced range.
Pluripotent stem cells: An in vitro model for nanotoxicity assessments

The advent of technology has led to an established range of engineered nanoparticles that are used in diverse applications, such as cell–cell interactions, cell–material interactions, medical therapies and the target modulation of cellular processes. The exponential increase in the utilization of nanomaterials and the growing number of associated criticisms has highlighted the potential risks of nanomaterials to human health and the ecosystem. The existing in vivo and in vitro platforms show limitations, with fluctuations being observed in the results of toxicity assessments. Pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) are viable source of cells that are capable of developing into specialized cells of the human body. PSCs can be efficiently used to screen new biomaterials/drugs and are potential candidates for studying impairments of biophysical morphology at both the cellular and tissue levels during interactions with nanomaterials and for diagnosing toxicity. Three‐dimensional in vitro models obtained using PSC‐derived cells would provide a realistic, patient‐specific platform for toxicity assessments and in drug screening applications. The current review focuses on PSCs as an alternative in vitro platform for assessing the hazardous effects of nanomaterials on health systems and highlights the importance of PSC‐derived in vitro platforms. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Sitagliptin improves vascular endothelial function in Japanese type 2 diabetes patients without cardiovascular disease

We evaluated the effect of sitagliptin on vascular endothelial function in Japanese type 2 diabetes patients without cardiovascular disease. Subjects included 24 Japanese type 2 diabetes patients without cardiovascular disease. This study was a prospective, open-label, randomized clinical trial. We divided the study subjects into 2 groups: subjects who received sitagliptin 50 mg daily (sitagliptin group, n = 12) and subjects who did not receive sitagliptin (control group, n = 12). Brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (FMD) was measured after overnight fasting. Sitagliptin administration was initiated at 1 month after enrollment in study (baseline). FMD and level of biochemical variables in the sitagliptin and control groups were measured at baseline and 3 months from baseline (3 months). We evaluated the effect of sitagliptin on vascular endothelial function by measuring FMD. FMD at 3 months was significantly higher in the sitagliptin group than in the control group (5.36% ± 2.18% vs 3.41% ± 2.29%, P = 0.040), while FMD at baseline was not significantly different between the 2 groups. In addition, FMD of the sitagliptin group at 3 months was significantly higher than that at baseline (5.36% ± 2.18% vs 3.67% ± 2.30%, P = 0.004), while no significant differences were observed in the FMD of the control group during the study period. The change in the adiponectin from baseline to 3 months was significantly higher in the sitagliptin group than that in the control group (0.82 ± 2.18 μg/mL vs 0.01 ± 0.55 μg/mL, P = 0.039). Sitagliptin improves vascular endothelial function of the brachial artery in Japanese type 2 diabetes patients without cardiovascular disease. Furthermore, elevation of adiponectin may induce reduction of endothelial dysfunction in type 2 diabetes patients treated with sitagliptin.
Layer 1 VPN Basic Mode

This draft describes the Basic Mode of Layer 1 VPNs (L1VPN BM). L1VPN Basic mode is a port-based VPN. In L1VPN Basic Mode (BM), the basic unit of service is a Label Switched Path (LSP) between a pair of customer ports within a given VPN port-topology. This document defines the operational model using either provisioning or a VPN auto- discovery mechanism and the signaling extensions for the L1VPN BM.
Evaluation of the Substrate Scope of Benzoic Acid (De)carboxylases According to Chemical and Biochemical Parameters

The enzymatic carboxylation of phenolic compounds has been attracting increasing interest in recent years, owing to its regioselectivity and technical potential as a biocatalytic equivalent for the Kolbe–Schmitt reaction. Mechanistically the reaction was demonstrated to occur through electrophilic aromatic substitution/water elimination with bicarbonate as a cosubstrate. The effects of the substituents on the phenolic ring have not yet been elucidated in detail, but this would give detailed insight into the substrate–activity relationship and would provide predictability for the acceptance of future substrates. In this report we show how the kinetic and (apparent) thermodynamic behavior can be explained through the evaluation of linear free energy relationships based on electronic, steric, and geometric parameters and through the consideration of enzyme–ligand interactions. Moreover, the similarity between the benzoic acid decarboxylases and the amidohydrolases superfamily is investigated, and promiscuous hydrolytic activity of the decarboxylase in the context of the hydrolysis of an activated ester bond has been established.
A Comparison of the Information seeking Patterns of researchers in the Physical and Social Sciences

The information seeking patterns of a group of research physicists and research chemists were analysed and the key features of those patterns identified. The aim was to use a similar methodology to that employed in a previous study of the information seeking activities of a group of social scientists and to effect a comparison between the information seeking patterns of the scientists and the social scientists. The information seeking patterns were derived from interviews with physicists at Manchester University and chemists at the University of Sheffield. The methodology adopted for the interviews and analysis was qualitative and based on the grounded theory approach. The results were then compared with the findings of the previous study of the social scientists to try and identify similarities and differences between the two groups. Certain minor variations concerned with awareness levels of facilities, the extent of usage of a source and the research stage at which a strategy may be employed were identified. Nonetheless, fundamental differences in information seeking behaviour could not be determined. Finally, the extent to which developments in electronic communication have had any impact on the information or communication patterns of the scientists and social scientists is considered.
Spontaneous abdominal hemorrhage: causes, CT findings, and clinical implications.

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this article is to present the most common causes of spontaneous abdominal hemorrhage and to review the CT findings that are important in establishing the correct diagnosis and in guiding appropriate therapy. CONCLUSION Knowledge of the common CT manifestations of various causes of spontaneous abdominal hemorrhage allows their accurate diagnosis and has a direct impact on clinical decision making.
Bioengineered tissues: the science, the technology, and the industry.

OBJECTIVE The bioengineering of tissues and organs, sometimes called tissue engineering and at other times regenerative medicine, is emerging as a science, as a technology, and as an industry. The goal is the repair, replacement, and/or the regeneration of tissues and organs. The objective of this paper is to identify and discuss the major issues that have become apparent. RESULTS One of the critical issues is that of cell source, i.e. what will be the source of the cells to be employed? Another critical issue is the development of approaches for the fabrication of substitute tissues/organs and/or vehicles for the delivery of biological active molecules for use in the repair/regeneration of tissues. A third critical issue, one very much related to cell source, is that of immune acceptance. In addition, there are technological hurdles; there are additional issues such as the scale-up of manufacturing processes and the preservation of living-cell products for off-the-shelf availability. Although the initial products have been superficially applied skin substitutes, as this fledgling industry continues to evolve, it is beginning to focus on a wider range of more invasive and complicated products. From a public health perspective, the real opportunity may be in addressing chronic diseases, as well as the transplantation crisis (i.e. the tremendous disparity between patient need for vital organs and donor availability) and, equally important is the challenge of neural repair. CONCLUSION These are the grand challenges, and the scientific community, business/private sector, and federal government must mobilize itself together in this emerging area to translate the benchtop science to the patient bedside.
Experimental warming causes large and rapid species loss, dampened by simulated grazing, on the Tibetan Plateau

We investigated the independent and combined effects of experimental warming and grazing on plant species diversity on the north-eastern Tibetan Plateau, a region highly vulnerable to ongoing climate and land use changes. Experimental warming caused a 26–36% decrease in species richness, a response that was generally dampened by experimental grazing. Higher species losses occurred at the drier sites where N was less available. Moreover, we observed an indirect effect of climate change on species richness as mediated by plant–plant interactions. Heat stress and warming-induced litter accumulation are potential explanations for the species responses to experimental warming. This is the first reported experimental evidence that climate warming could cause dramatic declines in plant species diversity in high elevation ecosystems over short time frames and supports model predictions of species losses with anthropogenic climate change.
Involvement of PI 3-kinase in stimulation of glucose transport and recruitment of transferrin receptors in 3T3-L1 adipocytes.

PI 3-kinase is acutely activated by insulin and it is apparent that PI 3-kinase activity is required for insulin stimulation of a range of diverse responses. These include stimulation of glucose transport [l-41, activation of ribosomal protein S6-kinase [3,5], induction of membrane ruffling [6], inhibition of lipolysis [71, activation of the MAP kinase cascade [8] and activation of glycogen synthase [ P E unpublished observation]. In our hands wortmannin inhibited insulin stimulation of glucose transport and recruitment of transferrin receptors to the plasma membrane in a dose dependent manner (IC50 = 15 nM) (data not shown). We find wortmannin inhibits PI 3kinase activity in these cells with a similar potency (IC50 = 10 nM) (data not shown). This suggests that PI 3-kinase activity is necessary for growth factor stimulation of glucose transport and transferrin receptor recruitment in 3T3-Ll adipocytes However, it is not clear whether activation PI 3-kinase activity is sufficient to induce any of these endpoint responses. To investigate this we correlated insulin, IGF-1 and PDGF-bb stimulation of PI 3-kinase with the ability of these growth factors to stimulate DNA synthesis, glucose transport and recruitment of transferrin receptors. At maximally effective concentrations (insulin 10 nM, IGF-1 37 ng/ml and PDGF-bb 20 ng/ml), these growth factors all significantly stimulated 3H methyl thymidine uptake into 3T3-Ll adipocytes (Table 1). This established that signalling mechanisms for these ligands existed in this cell type. However, at these concentrations only insulin and IGF-1 were able to stimulate 2 deoxy-glucose uptake (Table 1). Further, insulin and IGF-1 caused significant stimulation of transferrin receptor recruitment to the plasma membrane while stimulation by PDGF-bb was not significant (Table 1). Insulin potently stimulated PI 3kinase activity in anti-phosphotyrosine immunoprecipitates and PDGF-bb was even more effective (Table 1). In summary, PDGF-bb is more potent in stimulating PI 3-kinase than insulin. However, PDGF-bb did not stimulate transferrin receptor translocation or significantly stimulate glucose transport. Therefore, we conclude that activation of PI 3-kinase is necessary but not sufficient to allow insulin stimulation of glucose transport and recruitment of transferrin receptors in 3T3-Ll adipocytes.
New Insights into the Assembly of the Periaxonemal Structures in Mammalian Spermatozoa

Abstract Disruption of Ube2b in the mouse has revealed that the regular and symmetric organization of the fibrous sheath of the sperm flagella is dependent on expression of the ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme UBE2B. These data could cast light on how a component of the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway participates in the assembly of flagellar periaxonemal structures. Data in the literature support the notion of involvement of ubiquitin-proteasome pathways in the assembly of cytoskeletal components in somatic cells. This review attempts to integrate recent knowledge regarding flagellar components that could be related to proteasome components and, therefore, could be targets of UBE2B in the spermatid. An attempt is made to characterize the human flagellar anomalies of infertile patients, which are the closest to those of Ube2b-deficient mice. These new insights regarding the assembly of mammalian sperm flagella provide a basis for studying the ontogenesis of flagellar accessory structures and suggest leads for medical and genetic investigations.
Serotonin in panic disorder and social phobia

The role of serotonin in psychiatry has been the focus of speculation for several decades. The literature since 1966 is reviewed (and referenced) and five organizing questions are identified: (1) What are the major hypotheses regarding the involvement of the serotonin system in panic disorder? (2) Is there a serotonin system defect associated with panic disorder? (3) Is a serotonin system defect the cause of panic disorder? (4) Are the 5-HT1A, agonists and the 5-HT2 antagonists effective in this condition? (5) Are serotonin selective uptake inhibitors (SSUIs) effective in panic disorder via the serotonin system or some other mechanism? Though the role of the serotonin system in panic disorder and social phobia is uncertain there is increasing agreement that SSUIs effectively treat panic disorder but further double-blind placebo-controlled studies are needed.
Enhancement Effect of Fused Double Benzene-Ring Structure on the Light Output of Carborane-Loaded Toluene- and Pseudocumene-Based Scintillators

Four sample groups were prepared by adding different concentrations of naphthalene (NP) or of 2,6-diisopropylnaphthalene (DIN) as a secondary solvent (<inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">${{\rm S}_2}$</tex-math></inline-formula>) in carborane-loaded toluene (TL)- and pseudocumene (PC)-based scintillators. The pulse-height spectra of the samples in response to <inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$^{137}{\rm Cs}\ \gamma $</tex-math></inline-formula>-rays and to thermal neutrons were collected to study the light output (<inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$L$</tex-math></inline-formula>) enhancement effect of <inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">${{\rm S}_2}$</tex-math></inline-formula>. It is found that for all sample groups, <inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$L$</tex-math></inline-formula> increases to a plateau with the concentration of secondary solvent ([<inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">${{\rm S}_2}$</tex-math></inline-formula>]). As [<inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">${{\rm S}_2}$</tex-math></inline-formula>] is increased from 0 to saturation concentration, <inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$L$</tex-math></inline-formula> increases by 31–45% and 34–53% in response to <inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$^{137}{\rm Cs}\ \gamma $</tex-math></inline-formula>-rays and to thermal neurons, respectively. A first-order approximation model is proposed to fit to the experimental data. The enhancement factor (<inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">${k_h}$</tex-math></inline-formula>) and maximum <inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$L$</tex-math></inline-formula> of each sample group are obtained from curve fitting. The Birks factor (<italic>kB</italic>) and electron equivalent energy (<italic>keVee</italic>) of each sample are calculated by a numerical method based on Birks formula. The <inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$L$</tex-math></inline-formula> enhancement is discussed according to the percent changes of these parameters. In conclusion, the enhancement effect is attributed mainly to the fused double benzene-ring structure of NP and DIN, which has more delocalized electrons, and provides faster Förster resonance energy transfer paths than the single benzene-ring structure of TL and PC. Adding NP or DIN leads to a significant increase in absolute scintillation efficiency <inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$(S)$</tex-math></inline-formula> and a slight decrease in <italic>kB</italic> for both scintillators. It is believed that DIN has slightly larger enhancement effect than NP. A so-called “dynamic quenching” is confirmed to exist in the scintillation process based on the <inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">${k_h}$</tex-math></inline-formula> values in response to <inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$^{137}{\rm Cs}\ \gamma $</tex-math></inline-formula>-rays and to thermal neutrons.
Encapsulating Peritoneal Sclerosis Presenting as Acute Limb Ischemia

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