Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The glial cell’s role in antinociceptive differential effects of oxytocin upon female and male rats

Sex plays a crucial role in pain processing and response to analgesic drugs. Indeed, spinal glia seems to be significant in the sexual dimorphism observed in the above effects. Recently, studies have associated oxytocin with antinociceptive effects, but these have been mainly performed in male animals; consequently, the influence of sex has been poorly explored. Methods: Using a model of spinal nociception that produces pain through activation of the spinal glia, that is, intrathecal (i.t.) lipopolysaccharide (LPS) injection, we analysed the changes in the analgesic response to i.t. oxytocin in female and male rats by behavioural (punctate mechanical hypersensitivity), electrophysiological (unitary extracellular recordings of wide dynamic range [WDR] cells) and molecular biology (real‐time PCR of proinflammatory genes) experiments.
Retrospective Study of 573 Patients with Heart Failure Evaluated for Coronary Artery Disease at Toulouse University Center, France

Background Heart failure (HF) most commonly occurs due to ischemic heart disease from stenotic coronary artery disease (CAD). HF is classified into 3 groups based on the percentage of the ejection fraction (EF): reduced (HFrEF), mid-range (HFmrEF), and preserved (HFpEF). This retrospective study included 573 patients who presented with HF based on the evaluation of EF and were evaluated for CAD by coronary angiography before undergoing coronary angioplasty at a single center in Toulouse, France. Material/Methods This retrospective observational study included patients recently diagnosed with HF or acute decompensation of chronic HF and referred for coronary angiography at Toulouse University Hospital between January 2019 and May 2020. Results Significant CAD was found in 55.8%, 55%, and 55% of the whole population, HFpEF, and HFrEF groups, respectively. Older age, male sex, and diabetes mellitus were the main risk factors for ischemic HF. Except for age and sex, patients with ischemic HFpEF were comparable to those with non-ischemic HFpEF, unlike the ischemic HFrEF group, which had more common cardiovascular risk factors than the non-ischemic HFrEF group. The ischemic HFpEF group had an older age and higher rate of dyslipidemia than the ischemic HFrEF group. Conclusions At our center, CAD was diagnosed in more than half of patients who presented with heart failure with preserved or reduced EF. Older age and male sex were the common risk factors in patients with HFpEF and HFrEF.
What makes an optimal delivery for PrEP against HIV: A qualitative study in MSM

Background Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is an effective means of HIV prevention for men who have sex with men (MSM), a key population whose engagement is crucial for achieving effective public health outcomes. An optimal service model would be important in planning the implementation of PrEP in places where such service has not been established. Methods A qualitative study was conducted to delineate the attributes of an optimal PrEP service model for MSM in Hong Kong, a city where no formal PrEP programs existed. Twenty purposively sampled MSM who were enrollees of two pilot PrEP projects participated in the semi-structured interviews promoting story-telling. The coded data were thematically analyzed following Grounded Theory approach, focusing on uncovering a typology of the essential attributes of an optimal PrEP service model, and the reasons for such preferences. Results Participating MSM were all ethnic Chinese and aged 26 to 52 years. All had received PrEP from pilot projects in conjunction with periodic screening of sexually transmitted infections (STI), HIV antibody, and plasma creatinine. Four major themes emerged as regards the attributes of a preferred PrEP service: (i) comprehensiveness of HIV/STI and safety monitoring; (ii) convenient unitary service; (iii) stigma-free PrEP access and protecting confidentiality; and (iv) affordable price. Whereas regular provision of PrEP was acceptable to MSM, unaffordability and related stigma were the anticipated challenges for potential service providers. Conclusions The qualitative assessment of MSM’s preference for PrEP service delivery has yielded important information on the many facets of a desirable service model.
Differences in Image Quality after Three Laser Keratorefractive Procedures for Myopia

SIGNIFICANCE Psychophysical estimates of spatial and depth vision have been shown to be better after bilateral ReLEx small-incision lenticule extraction (SMILE) refractive surgery for myopia, relative to photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) and femtosecond laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (FS-LASIK). The present study provides the optical basis for these findings using computational image quality analysis. PURPOSE This study aimed to compare longitudinal changes in higher-order wavefront aberrations and image quality before and after bilateral PRK, FS-LASIK, and SMILE refractive procedures for correcting myopia. METHODS Wavefront aberrations and image quality of both the eyes of 106 subjects (n = 40 for FS-LASIK and SMILE and n = 26 for PRK) were determined pre-operatively and at 1-week, 1-month, 3-month, and 6-month post-operative intervals using computational through-focus analysis for a 6-mm pupil diameter. Image quality was quantified in terms of its peak value and its interocular difference, residual defocus that was needed to achieve peak image quality (best focus), and the depth of focus. RESULTS The increase in root mean squared deviations of higher-order aberrations post-operatively was lesser after SMILE (1-month visit median [25th to 75th interquartile range], 0.34 μm (0.28 to 0.39 μm]) than after PRK (0.80 μm [0.74 to 0.87 μm]) and FS-LASIK (0.74 μm [0.59 to 0.83 μm]; P ≤ .001), all relative to pre-operative values (0.20 μm [0.15 to 0.30 μm]). The peak image quality dropped and its interocular difference increased, best focus shifted myopically by 0.5 to 0.75 D, and depth of focus widened significantly after PRK and FS-LASIK surgeries, all relative to pre-operative values (P < .001). All these changes were negligible but statistically significant in a minority of instances after SMILE surgery (P ≥ .01). CONCLUSIONS Although all three refractive surgeries correct myopia, the image quality and its similarity between eyes are better and closer to pre-operative values after SMILE, compared with FS-LASIK and PRK. These results can be explained from the underlying increase in higher-order wavefront aberrations experienced by the eye post-operatively.
Deletion of Orc4 during oogenesis severely reduces polar body extrusion and blocks zygotic DNA replication

Abstract Origin recognition complex subunit 4 (ORC4) is a DNA-binding protein required for DNA replication. During oocyte maturation, after the last oocyte DNA replication step and before zygotic DNA replication, the oocyte undergoes two meiotic cell divisions in which half the DNA is ejected in much smaller polar bodies. We previously demonstrated that ORC4 forms a cytoplasmic cage around the DNA that is ejected in both polar body extrusion (PBE) events. Here, we used ZP3 activated Cre to delete exon 7 of Orc4 during oogenesis to test how it affected both predicted functions of ORC4: its recently discovered role in PBE and its well-known role in DNA synthesis. Orc4 deletion severely reduced PBE. Almost half of Orc4-depleted germinal vesicle (GV) oocytes cultured in vitro were arrested before anaphase I (48%), and only 25% produced normal first polar bodies. This supports the role of ORC4 in PBE and suggests that transcription of the full-length Orc4 during oogenesis is required for efficient PBE. Orc4 deletion also abolished zygotic DNA synthesis. Fewer Orc4-depleted oocytes developed to the metaphase II (MII) stage, and after activation these oocytes were arrested at the two-cell stage without undergoing DNA synthesis. This confirms that transcription of full-length Orc4 after the primary follicle stage is required for zygotic DNA replication. The data also suggest that MII oocytes do not have a replication licensing checkpoint as cytokinesis progressed without DNA synthesis. Together, the data confirm that oocyte ORC4 is important for both PBE and zygotic DNA synthesis. Summary Sentence ORC4 functions in polar body extrusion during oocyte maturation and fertilization, then in DNA replication in the zygote. Conditional knock-out of Orc4 in primary follicles causes a reduction in PBE and complete inhibition of DNA synthesis in the zygote. Graphical Abstract
An Improved Ant Colony Algorithm for Placing-In and Taking-Out of Wagons in Branch-Shaped Sidings

The key of placing-in and taking-out operations of wagons is how to select a rational sequence, which is hard to solve. According to the analysis of characteristics of placing-in and taking-out operations of wagons in branch-shaped private sidings, we construct Hamilton graph of this problem, and convert this problem into searching Hamilton loop of minimum weight. In this paper, we present an improved ant colony optimization (ACO) algorithm for such a problem. The proposed ACO algorithm has several features, including introducing upper and lower bounds to the values of pheromone trail, and applying local search and modified global search strategy. The improved algorithm is experimented on branch-shaped sidings problem with 6 nodes and shows its advantage over conventional ant colony algorithm. For the large scale branch-shaped sidings problems, this proposed algorithm can save much time.
Histopathological effects of topical coenzyme q 10 + Vit E TPGS in experimental ischemic optic neuropathy

ABSTRACT We aimed to create a mechanical optic nerve damage model in rats and to investigate the neuroprotective effects of topical Coenzyme Q10 + Vitamin E TPGS (CoQ10+Vit E) molecule on retinal ganglion cells. In our study, 30 eyes of 20 male Wistar rats were used. Three groups, each consisting of 10 eyes, were formed as control, experimental, and treatment groups. The control group was used to test the formation of optic nerve damage. Topical CoQ10 + Vit E TPGS solution was applied to the rats in the treatment group, one drop twice a day for 3 weeks. On the other hand, physiological drops were applied to the experimental group 2 times a day for 3 weeks. After 3 weeks, the optic nerves of the rats were dissected and examined histopathologically. In electron microscopic examination of the treatment group, it was noted that the myelin sheath in the majority of myelinated nerve fibers and the normal structures of mitochondria, neurotubules, and neurofilaments in the axoplasm were preserved. It was observed that the oligodendrocytes surrounded the myelinated axons. In the experimental group, significant degenerative changes were observed in myelinated nerve fibers in many areas. The number of myelinated axons was significantly increased in the treatment group compared to the experimental group (p = .0028). In the light of the data obtained, the neuroprotective effect of the topically used CoQ10 + Vit E TPGS molecule was found to be histopathologically effective in our experimental study. Abbreviations: NAAION: Nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy; CoQ10: Coenzyme q10; CG: Control group; EG: Experimental group; TG: Treatment group.
A comprehensive review on nanobiotechnology for bioremediation of heavy metals from wastewater

Removal of contaminants from wastewater is a big concern for the scientific community. Heavy metals are one of the major contaminants present in wastewater. Heavy metals such as Cd2+, Pb2+, Mn2+, and so forth, are highly toxic and pose a serious threat to the environment due to their nonbiodegradable nature. With the advent of nanobiotechnology, heavy metal contaminants can be mitigated with the help of nanomaterials produced by eco‐friendly methods. Specially designed bionanomaterials often exhibit properties such as increased shelf life, self‐healing nature, adaptability in different environments, and cost‐effectiveness, thus showing advantages over nanomaterials produced by physicochemical methods. Due to their high specificity and adsorption capacity, bionanomaterials can remove heavy metals present even in a very low concentration in wastewater. The use of bionanotechnology in their remediation paves a way for environmental sustainability and helps in cost reduction. This paper intends to discuss the nanobiotechnological approach for the remediation of heavy metals from wastewater. Furthermore, the paper also reviews some important nanomaterials and their potential applications in the depollution of heavy‐metal contaminated wastewater.
Relationship between mental toughness, stress appraisal, and innovation performance of R&D personnel

Four hundred and two R&D personnel were surveyed through questionnaires to study the relationship between mental toughness, stress appraisal (including experience of stress and stress control), and innovation performance. The findings reveal a significant negative correlation between mental toughness and stress experience and a significant positive correlation between mental toughness and both stress control and innovation performance. Furthermore, although the experience of stress was negatively correlated with innovation performance, stress control had the opposite effect. Experience of stress and stress control were the mediating variables for mental toughness and innovation performance, respectively. There was also a significant interaction effect between stress appraisal and mental toughness.
Migration of Influenza Virus Nucleoprotein into the Nucleolus Is Essential for Ribonucleoprotein Complex Formation

Influenza A virus ribonucleoprotein complex (RNP) is responsible for viral genome replication, thus playing essential roles in the virus life cycle. RNP formation occurs in the nuclei of infected cells; however, little is known about the nuclear domains involved in this process. ABSTRACT Influenza A virus double-helical ribonucleoprotein complex (RNP) performs transcription and replication of viral genomic RNA (vRNA). Although RNP formation occurs in the nuclei of virus-infected cells, the nuclear domains involved in this process remain unclear. Here, we show that the nucleolus is an essential site for functional RNP formation. Viral nucleoprotein (NP), a major RNP component, temporarily localized to the nucleoli of virus-infected cells. Mutations in a nucleolar localization signal (NoLS) on NP abolished double-helical RNP formation, resulting in a loss of viral RNA synthesis ability, whereas ectopic fusion of the NoLS enabled the NP mutant to form functional double-helical RNPs. Furthermore, nucleolar disruption of virus-infected cells inhibited NP assembly into double-helical RNPs, resulting in decreased viral RNA synthesis. Collectively, our findings demonstrate that NP migration into the nucleolus is a critical step for functional RNP formation, showing the importance of the nucleolus in the influenza virus life cycle. IMPORTANCE Influenza A virus ribonucleoprotein complex (RNP) is responsible for viral genome replication, thus playing essential roles in the virus life cycle. RNP formation occurs in the nuclei of infected cells; however, little is known about the nuclear domains involved in this process. Here, we reveal by using several microscopic techniques that its major component, viral nucleoprotein (NP), temporally stays in the nucleolus, the assembly site of ribosomal RNAs/proteins, and that the formation is dependent on a nucleolar localization signal in NP. We also show that nucleolar disruption causes abortive RNP formation, resulting in a significant reduction in virus replication. Our findings demonstrate the importance of the nucleolus as the site of RNP formation and for virus replication.
Documentation of a Massive Fish Die Off on Grand Lake St. Marys, with Notes on Long-term Changes in Fish Assemblage and Watershed Habitat Over the Past Century

Abstract. We assessed a large-scale fish die off event resultant of prolonged anoxic conditions on Grand Lake St. Marys in west central Ohio, U.S., during the summer of 2020, and used this as the basis for comparing long-term species diversity in the lake over the past century. Fish collections were made along a series of shoreline and open water transects, totaling approximately 1.5% of the entire 5220 ha lake area (majority of surveys were shoreline), wherein we identified a total of 12,351 fish comprised of 25 taxa. We used this die off event, combined with recent near shore seine survey data, as an opportunity to assess the modern assemblage structure and to serve as a reference point to prior collected data over the past century. Combining these recent data with historical records, we found that although 57 species have been recorded from the lake dating back to the mid-1800s, only 30 taxa are known to inhabit the lake today. Some of the lost taxa predictably include more intolerant species from the Darter (Percidae), Minnow (Cyprinidae), and Sucker (Catostomidae) families; however, there were also instances of increases in taxa resulting from both state stocking efforts (e.g. Flathead Catfish, Pylodictis olivaris) and natural distribution expansions (e.g. Freshwater Drum, Aplodinotus grunniens). Overall, we attribute the changes to the fish assemblage as negative, given no intolerant taxa currently inhabit the lake. We attribute these long-term changes to watershed wide destruction of natural forest, wetland, and prairie habitats that once typified the region.
Low power electronic interface for electrostatic energy harvesters

This paper presents design and simulation of a power electronic interface circuit for MEMS electrostatic energy harvesters. The designed circuit is applicable to highly miniaturized electrostatic harvesters with small transducer capacitances below 10 pF. It is based on comb- drive harvesters with two anti-phase capacitors that are connected as charge pumps and uses a flyback-path scheme. Controlled activation and deactivation of sub-circuits, some by help of clocking, were exploited to reduce power consumption down to 1.03 μW. Net power generation can be achieved with as low initial voltage as 3.0 V.
Abundant stable novel solutions of fractional-order epidemic model along with saturated treatment and disease transmission

Abstract This article proposes and analyzes a fractional-order susceptible, infectious, susceptible (SIS) epidemic model with saturated treatment and disease transmission by employing four recent analytical techniques along with a novel fractional operator. This model is computationally handled by extended simplest equation method, sech–tanh expansion method, modified Khater method, and modified Kudryashov method. The results’ stable characterization is investigated through the Hamiltonian system’s properties. The analytical solutions are demonstrated through several numerical simulations.
On the possibilities to enhance the fatigue properties of ultrafine-grained metals

Abstract Cyclic deformation behaviour of ultrafine-grained (UFG) materials processed by severe plastic deformation is reviewed in the light of possibilities to enhance the fatigue properties of UFG materials. Based on the well-known laws from Coffin-Manson and Basquin the fatigue behaviour of UFG materials for both, the low-cycle fatigue as well as the high-cycle fatigue regimes, are analyzed. The beneficial effects of an annealing heat treatment or a back-pressure modified equal channel angular pressing (ECAP) technique on the fatigue behaviour of UFG materials are demonstrated and critically discussed. In particular, the positive influence of an annealing heat treatment on the fatigue behaviour is explained in terms of an improved cyclic stability of the microstructure after ECAP and of an enhanced ductility. A back-pressure modified ECAP technique was used in order to achieve a ultrafine-grained, high-strength material with increased ductility, which itself is related to a combination of crystallographic slip and grain boundary sliding. The potential of enhancing the fatigue properties of UFG materials by the back-pressure ECAP technique is discussed in the context of the Coffin-Manson and Basquin relations.
Turbulent boundary layer flow over regularly and irregularly arranged truncated cone surfaces

Abstract Aiming to study the rough-wall turbulent boundary layer structure over differently arranged roughness elements, an experimental study was conducted on flows with regular and random roughness. Varying planform densities of truncated cone roughness elements in a square staggered pattern were investigated. The same planform densities were also investigated in random arrangements. Velocity statistics were measured via two-component laser Doppler velocimetry and stereoscopic particle image velocimetry. Friction velocity, thickness, roughness length and zero-plane displacement, determined from spatially averaged flow statistics, showed only minor differences between the regular and random arrangements at the same density. Recent a priori morphometric and statistical drag prediction methods were evaluated against experimentally determined roughness length. Observed differences between regular and random surface flow parameters were due to the presence of secondary flows which manifest as high-momentum pathways and low-momentum pathways in the streamwise velocity. Contrary to expectation, these secondary flows were present over the random surfaces and not discernible over the regular surfaces. Previously identified streamwise-coherent spanwise roughness heterogeneity does not seem to be present, suggesting that such roughness heterogeneity is not necessary to sustain secondary flows. Evidence suggests that the observed secondary flows were initiated at the front edge of the roughness and sustained over irregular roughness. Due to the secondary flows, local turbulent boundary layer profiles do not scale with local wall shear stress but appear to scale with local turbulent shear stress above the roughness canopy. Additionally, quadrant analysis shows distinct changes in the populations of ejection and sweep events.
Interface topology and evolution of particle patterns on deformable drops in turbulence

Abstract The capture of neutrally buoyant, sub-Kolmogorov particles at the interface of deformable drops in turbulent flow and the subsequent evolution of particle surface distribution are investigated. Direct numerical simulation of turbulence, phase-field modelling of the drop interface dynamics and Lagrangian particle tracking are used. Particle distribution is obtained considering excluded-volume interactions, i.e. by enforcing particle collisions. Particles are initially dispersed in the carrier flow and are driven in time towards the surface of the drops by jet-like turbulent fluid motions. Once captured by the interfacial forces, particles disperse on the surface. Excluded-volume interactions bring particles into long-term trapping regions where the average surface velocity divergence sampled by the particles is zero. These regions correlate well with portions of the interface characterized by higher-than-mean curvature, indicating that modifications of the surface tension induced by the presence of very small particles will be stronger in the highly convex regions of the interface.