Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Insights into circular RNA biology

ABSTRACT Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a novel class of non-coding RNA characterized by a covalently closed-loop structure generated through a special type of alternative splicing termed backsplicing. CircRNAs are emerging as a heterogeneous class of molecules involved in modulating gene expression by regulation of transcription, protein and miRNA functions. CircRNA expression is cell type and tissue specific and can be largely independent of the expression level of the linear host gene, indicating that regulation of expression might be an important aspect with regard to control of circRNA function. In this review, a brief introduction to the characteristics that define a circRNA will be given followed by a discussion of putative biogenesis pathways and modulators of circRNA expression as well as of the stage at which circRNA formation takes place. A brief summary of circRNA functions will also be provided and lastly, an outlook with a focus on unanswered questions regarding circRNA biology will be included.
A Comparative Evaluation on Antimicrobial Effect of Honey, Neem Leaf Extract and Sodium Hypochlorite as Intracanal Irrigant: An Ex-Vivo Study.

INTRODUCTION The major determinant of the success of root canal treatment depends on meticulous disinfection of the root canal using intracanal irrigants. The most commonly used root canal irrigant is sodium hypochlorite which has disadvantages of cytotoxicity and unpleasant taste. So there is a need to identify a more biocompatible root canal irrigant. AIM The aim of this ex-vivo study was to evaluate the efficacy of 40% honey, 100% neem leaf extract and 5.25% sodium hypochlorite as an intracanal irrigant against the isolated microorganisms from infected root canal. MATERIALS AND METHODS The samples were collected from infected root canals of 60 primary molar teeth indicated for pulpectomy. Alpha hemolytic Streptococci, gram negative bacilli, Candida, Staphylococci, Lactobacilli, Enterococci, Spore bearing gram positive bacilli and Micrococci were the microorganisms isolated from the samples. The zone of inhibition against the microbial growth was measured by agar well diffusion method. Statistical analysis was done by Repeated Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and Bonferroni method. RESULTS Statistical analysis showed that the means of the zones of inhibition measured in this study were 18.56mm, 2.09mm and 1.62mm for sodium hypochlorite, 100% neem leaf extract and 40% honey respectively. The significance was greater between sodium hypochlorite and the other two agents as p-value was <0.001. CONCLUSION The results indicated that 5.25% sodium hypochlorite is more effective as root canal irrigant when compared with 100% neem leaf extract and 40% honey. It was also observed that 100% neem leaf extract has greater antimicrobial effect than 40% honey.
COMMENT: DOES THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION MATTER FOR ADDRESSING CHINA'S POLLUTION PROBLEMS? EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE FROM LISTED COMPANIES

In “Administrative Reform and Environmental Protection: The Case of China,” Xu, Xu, and Gui raise an important question: what is the effect of improved status and resources for a central environmental regulator (what they label CER in the article) on the companies it regulates? The question is indeed interesting and underexplored. But the lack of exploration is due in part to technical difficulties in isolating the effect of this elevation and measuring its effect not only on company behavior, which we can measure by adherence (or lack thereof) to the regulations, but also on their stock price or financial performance. The authors have chosen to test the effect by using a stock market event study. The use of event studies to measure the effects of truly exogenous shocks, like earthquakes or other unpredictable disasters, is well established (MacKinlay 1997). Event studies are used to measure policy change, as well, but this latter use presents a greater challenge (Lamdin 2001), as we need to determine the full event window and whether there was a true exogenous shock. China’s environmental bureaucracy evolved rapidly from its founding. The first three iterations from the 1970s through 1998 became increasingly visible within the bureaucratic structure but still lacked enforcement power. Concurrently, the body of environmental law that required an effective implementor was growing. Thus, in 1998 the Chinese government created a true environmental regulator, the State Environmental Protection Administration (SEPA, Mol and Carter 2006). SEPA gained regulatory authority but was hindered by its low ranking within the bureaucracy. The SEPA Administrator was not a full minister, but instead was a half rung lower, as Xu and his colleagues discuss. This weakened SEPA by hampering its ability to negotiate with other ministers by minister-to-minister contact, by not being included in policy-making task forces, and by the translation of this lower rank to the provincial and city bureaucracy, where at every level SEPA officials were of lower rank than their industrial counterparts. As Xu et al. point out, this constraint had real effects in terms of SEPA officials’ ability to carry
Association between mild parkinsonian signs and mild cognitive impairment in a community

Background: Mild parkinsonian signs (MPS) are associated with prevalent and incident dementia but it is not known whether they are associated with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Objective: To determine whether MPS and specific MPS (changes in axial function, rigidity, tremor) are associated with MCI in nondemented community-dwelling older people in northern Manhattan, NY. Methods: Participants underwent neurologic assessment, including a modified motor portion of the Unified Parkinson Disease Rating Scale. MCI was diagnosed in nondemented participants who had cognitive impairment based on neuropsychological testing and no functional impairment. Participants with MCI were classified as having MCI with memory impairment (MCI+M) vs MCI without memory impairment (MCI-M). Results: MCI was present in 608 (27.3%) of 2,230 participants, including 255 participants with MCI+M and 353 with MCI-M; 1,622 participants did not have MCI. MPS were present in 369 (16.5%) of 2,230 participants. In a univariate logistic regression model, odds of MCI+M (vs no MCI) were 51% higher in participants with MPS compared to those with no MPS (OR = 1.51, 95% CI = 1.09 to 2.09, p = 0.01). Multivariate models yielded similar results (OR = 1.45, 95% CI = 1.03 to 2.05, p = 0.03). Rigidity was present in a higher proportion of participants with MCI+M compared to participants without MCI. Conclusions: Mild parkinsonian signs, especially rigidity, are associated with amnestic mild cognitive impairment. Mild parkinsonian signs and mild cognitive impairment may share similar pathogeneses. Whether this involves Alzheimer-type pathology, Lewy bodies, or vascular changes in the basal ganglia or basal ganglia circuitry deserves further investigation in postmortem studies.
Effects of static stretching on the hamstrings-to-quadriceps ratio and electromyographic amplitude in men.

AIM The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of posterior thigh and leg stretching on leg flexion peak torque (PT), leg extension PT, the hamstrings-to-quadriceps (H:Q) ratio, and electromyographic (EMG) amplitude of the hamstrings and quadriceps in recreationally-active men. METHODS Fifteen men (mean age + or - SD = 22.0 + or - 4.4 years; body mass = 82.7 + or - 16.1 kg; height = 173.1 + or - 6.8 cm) performed three maximal voluntary concentric isokinetic leg extension and flexion muscle actions at three randomly ordered angular velocities (60, 180, and 300 degrees x s(-1)) before and after hamstring and calf static stretching. The stretching protocol consisted of 1 unassisted and 3 assisted static stretching exercises designed to stretch the posterior muscles of the thigh and leg. Four repetitions of each stretch were held for 30 s with 20-s rest between repetitions. RESULTS These findings indicated no significant (P>0.05) stretching-induced changes in leg flexion PT, leg extension PT, or EMG amplitude at 60, 180, or 300 degrees . s-1. However, the non-significant (P>0.05) 2-4% increases in leg extension PT combined with the non-significant (P>0.05) 1-2% decreases in leg flexion PT resulted in the significant (P < or = 0.05) 2-9% decreases in the H:Q ratio from pre- to post-stretching for all three velocities. CONCLUSIONS These findings suggested that static stretching of the hamstrings and calf muscles may decrease the H:Q ratio. These results may be useful for athletic trainers, physical therapists, and other allied health professionals who may use the H:Q ratio as a clinical assessment.
Thermotropic phase behavior of hydrogenated soybean phosphatidylcholine-cholesterol binary liposome membrane.

By combination of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and fluorescence spectroscopy of 6-propionyl-2-(dimethylamino)naphthalene (Prodan), we elucidated the thermotropic phase behavior of hydrogenated soybean phosphatidylcholine (HSPC)-cholesterol binary liposome membrane which has similar lipid composition to Doxil®, the widely used liposome product in treatment of various tumors. We found that the characteristic points at cholesterol mole fraction (Xch)=0.023 and 0.077 correspond to the hexagonal lattice, in which cholesterol molecules are considered to be regularly distributed in all regions of HSPC lipid bilayer with 1 : 42 and 1 : 12 units, respectively, as static averaged structures. Apparent endothermic peak disappeared at Xch=0.40 in the DSC thermograms, indicating the existence of single liquid ordered phase at Xch>0.40. In addition, fluorescence measurements of Prodan and its lauroyl derivative in poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)-modified liposomes indicated that PEG modification has a negligible effect on the phase behavior of HSPC-cholesterol binary liposome membrane. These results may provide useful information in developing novel liposome products whose stability and encapsulated drug release are controlled.
[Interhospital transport of acute coronary syndrome patients from Bács-Kiskun county].

INTRODUCTION As an alternative to thrombolysis, primary percutaneous coronary intervention is increasingly utilized in Hungary for treating acute ST elevation myocardial infarction. Heart catheterization laboratories however are not readily available in vast areas of the country. The benefits of primary intervention may fade away with long distance transportation. METHODS In order to assess real life practice, the authors have retrospectively studied the interhospital delays of patients transferred with acute coronary syndromes from Bács-Kiskun county between April 2000 and March 2003. This is the largest county of Hungary, with population of 570,000, with no local hemodynamic laboratory. Patients with acute coronary syndromes are transferred to the Cardiac Centers of the Universities of Szeged and Pécs, as well as to 3 designated hospitals with heart catheterization facilities at Budapest. Interhospital delay was defined as the time elapsed from the call of the Emergency Medical Service to the admission of the patient to the catheterization laboratory. RESULTS During the studied period 94 patients were transported with acute coronary syndrome. In 79 cases the complete medical documentation from the primary hospitals and the hemodynamic laboratories could be collected. 17 patients with ST-elevation were transported for primary intervention. Twenty-six patient received both thrombolytic and interventional therapy. Further 36 patients suffered from non ST elevation myocardial infarction or unstable angina. Interhospital delay for the whole group was 166 +/- 55 minutes, and for the subgroup of ST-elevation patients awaiting for primary intervention 148 +/- 43 minutes. The transfer time, i.e. the time that the patient spent on the road or in the air lasted longer than 90 minutes in 80% of cases. Air transportation resulted in no reduction of transport time. This finding may be explained by the fact, that both the sending and receiving hospitals lack appropriate helicopter landing sites. CONCLUSION The authors conclude, that for those residents of Bács-Kiskun county who suffer from acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction, and have no contraindications for thrombolysis, primary intervention is not a viable therapeutic option.
Triploidy in a Growth Discordant Twin Pregnancy after Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection Treatment

Objective: We report on a case of a triploidy in one fetus of a twin pregnancy who presented with the findings of growth discordance. Methods: Three weeks’ difference between fetuses in ultrasonographic measurements in the first trimester was observed in a twin pregnancy following intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) treatment for male infertility. Hydrocephaly developed in the growth-discordant fetus subsequently. Amniocentesis for both fetuses and selective feticide for the abnormal one was performed at 19weeks’ gestation through a single insertion. Fetal karyotype of the abnormal one was 69,XXX and the healthy one was 46,XX. Conclusion: Early developed growth discordance in a twin pregnancy may be a sign of chromosomal abnormality such as triploidy. Those cases should be karyotyped without delay to decrease preterm delivery risk of possible selective feticide.
Cancer cell behaviors mediated by dysregulated pH dynamics at a glance

ABSTRACT Dysregulated pH is a common characteristic of cancer cells, as they have an increased intracellular pH (pHi) and a decreased extracellular pH (pHe) compared with normal cells. Recent work has expanded our knowledge of how dysregulated pH dynamics influences cancer cell behaviors, including proliferation, metastasis, metabolic adaptation and tumorigenesis. Emerging data suggest that the dysregulated pH of cancers enables these specific cell behaviors by altering the structure and function of selective pH-sensitive proteins, termed pH sensors. Recent findings also show that, by blocking pHi increases, cancer cell behaviors can be attenuated. This suggests ion transporter inhibition as an effective therapeutic approach, either singly or in combination with targeted therapies. In this Cell Science at a Glance article and accompanying poster, we highlight the interconnected roles of dysregulated pH dynamics in cancer initiation, progression and adaptation. Summary: Cancer cells have dysregulated pH dynamics and the increased intracellular pH enables a variety of cancer cell behaviors.
Neutral Endopeptidase Inhibitors and Atrial Natriuretic Peptide

A limited number of ectoenzymes appear to be involved in the inactivation of circulating‐regulatory peptides. Neutral endopeptidase 24.11, a metallopeptidase, is known to inactivate atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), a substance with diuretic, natriuretic, and vasodilatory effects. Synthetic inhibitors of endopeptidase 24.11, which can prolong the activity of ANP, are currently available. These agents are being evaluated as possible innovative therapies for patients with hypertension and congestive heart failure.
Conditional Distance Correlation

Statistical inference on conditional dependence is essential in many fields including genetic association studies and graphical models. The classic measures focus on linear conditional correlations and are incapable of characterizing nonlinear conditional relationship including nonmonotonic relationship. To overcome this limitation, we introduce a nonparametric measure of conditional dependence for multivariate random variables with arbitrary dimensions. Our measure possesses the necessary and intuitive properties as a correlation index. Briefly, it is zero almost surely if and only if two multivariate random variables are conditionally independent given a third random variable. More importantly, the sample version of this measure can be expressed elegantly as the root of a V or U-process with random kernels and has desirable theoretical properties. Based on the sample version, we propose a test for conditional independence, which is proven to be more powerful than some recently developed tests through our numerical simulations. The advantage of our test is even greater when the relationship between the multivariate random variables given the third random variable cannot be expressed in a linear or monotonic function of one random variable versus the other. We also show that the sample measure is consistent and weakly convergent, and the test statistic is asymptotically normal. By applying our test in a real data analysis, we are able to identify two conditionally associated gene expressions, which otherwise cannot be revealed. Thus, our measure of conditional dependence is not only an ideal concept, but also has important practical utility. Supplementary materials for this article are available online.
Assessment of a novel device‐based diagnostic algorithm to monitor patient status in moderate‐to‐severe heart failure: rationale and design of the CLEPSYDRA study

Monitoring systems integrated into electronic implantable devices for heart failure (HF) have significantly expanded the possibility of obtaining diagnostic information and can be used to enhance patient follow‐up. The ability to obtain advance warning of worsening HF is currently being explored using a variety of diagnostic parameters. A novel device‐based algorithm, physiological diagnostic (PhD), combines data from minute ventilation and accelerometer sensors to provide an indicator of the overall status of HF patients and detect clinically relevant acute HF events. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the PhD algorithm for detecting HF events in patients with HF.
Value of severe liver iron overload for assessing heart iron levels in thalassemia major patients

The relationship between severe liver iron overload (LIO) and heart iron overload (HIO) in transfusion‐dependent patients with thalassemia major (TM) is uncertain. Whether severe LIO can serve as an index for assessing heart iron deposition has vital clinical significance. Therefore, our aim is to determine if a close relationship exists between severe LIO and HIO.
The Research about Chinese Corporations' Performance Transition from Overseas Technology-Acquiring M&As

This article comparatively analyzes performance transition in two years that attributes to overseas technology-acquiring M&As carried out by listed companies in Shanghai and Shenzhen Stock Exchanges during 2000 to 2005. The result indicates, in the two years before and after M&As, those companies achieve a obvious rise in their net capital yield, main operating income growth rate and capital liability yield. Chronologically, companies that launched M&As after 2002 have better performance than that carried out M&As before 2002. Low-tech companies have better performance than that of hi-tech companies. Generally Chinese companies are able to achieve synergy from overseas technology-acquiring M&As.
Stationary Frame Equivalent Model of Proportional-Integral Controller in dq Synchronous Frame

This letter establishes the stationary frame equivalent model of proportional-integral (PI) controller in dq synchronous frame. Although both PI controller in dq synchronous frame and proportional-resonant (PR) controller in stationary frame achieve zero steady-state error when tracing fundamental frequency reference, their amplitude and phase characteristics differ greatly from each other except for fundamental frequency. Using stationary frame PR controller to replace PI controller in dq synchronous frame directly leads to analytical errors, especially in low frequency stage. Another straightforward analysis method is to use stationary frame PI controller to replace PI controller in dq synchronous frame, however the coupling terms in dq synchronous frame are ignored and the approximation is not accurate. The accurate stationary frame equivalent model of PI controller is established. For system controlled in dq synchronous frame, the established model can be used to precisely predict system performance and thus guides control parameters design process. Theoretical analysis is presented and validity of the model is evaluated by simulation.
Cloning and nucleotide sequence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis gyrA and gyrB genes and detection of quinolone resistance mutations

The emergence of multidrug-resistant strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis has resulted in increased interest in the fluoroquinolones (FQs) as antituberculosis agents. To investigate the frequency and mechanisms of FQ resistance in M. tuberculosis, we cloned and sequenced the wild-type gyrA and gyrB genes, which encode the A and B subunits of the DNA gyrase, respectively; DNA gyrase is the main target of the FQs. On the basis of the sequence information, we performed DNA amplification for sequencing and single-strand conformation polymorphism analysis to examine the presumed quinolone resistance regions of gyrA and gyrB from reference strains (n = 4) and clinical isolates (n = 55). Mutations in codons of gyrA analogous to those described in other FQ-resistant bacteria were identified in all isolates (n = 14) for which the ciprofloxacin MIC was > 2 micrograms/ml. In addition, we selected ciprofloxacin-resistant mutants of Mycobacterium bovis BCG and M. tuberculosis Erdman and H37ra. Spontaneously resistant mutants developed at a frequency of 1 in 10(7) to 10(8) at ciprofloxacin concentrations of 2 micrograms/ml, but no primary resistant colonies were selected at higher ciprofloxacin concentrations. Replating of those first-step mutants selected for mutants with high levels of resistance which harbored gyrA mutations similar to those found among clinical FQ-resistant isolates. The gyrA and gyrB sequence information will facilitate analysis of the mechanisms of resistance to drugs which target the gyrase and the implementation of rapid strategies for the estimation of FQ susceptibility in clinical M. tuberculosis isolates.
Viral Particles of Endogenous Betaretroviruses Are Released in the Sheep Uterus and Infect the Conceptus Trophectoderm in a Transspecies Embryo Transfer Model

ABSTRACT The sheep genome contains multiple copies of endogenous betaretroviruses highly related to the exogenous and oncogenic jaagsiekte sheep retrovirus (JSRV). The endogenous JSRVs (enJSRVs) are abundantly expressed in the uterine luminal and glandular epithelia as well as in the conceptus trophectoderm and are essential for conceptus elongation and trophectoderm growth and development. Of note, enJSRVs are present in sheep and goats but not cattle. At least 5 of the 27 enJSRV loci cloned to date possess an intact genomic organization and are able to produce viral particles in vitro. In this study, we found that enJSRVs form viral particles that are released into the uterine lumen of sheep. In order to test the infectious potential of enJSRV particles in the uterus, we transferred bovine blastocysts into synchronized ovine recipients and allowed them to develop for 13 days. Analysis of microdissected trophectoderm of the bovine conceptuses revealed the presence of enJSRV RNA and, in some cases, DNA. Interestingly, we found that RNAs belonging to only the most recently integrated enJSRV loci were packaged into viral particles and transmitted to the trophectoderm. Collectively, these results support the hypothesis that intact enJSRV loci expressed in the uterine endometrial epithelia are shed into the uterine lumen and could potentially transduce the conceptus trophectoderm. The essential role played by enJSRVs in sheep reproductive biology could also be played by endometrium-derived viral particles that influence development and differentiation of the trophectoderm.