This article presents a collection of electroencephalographic (EEG) data recorded from 14 participants, that includes 7 participants with Intellectual and Developmental Disorder (IDD) and 7 Typically Developing Controls (TDC) under resting-state and under music stimuli. The EEG data were acquired using the EMOTIV EPOC+ device that is a 14-channel dry electrode device. The article provides two types of data: (1) Raw EEG data under resting-state and with music stimuli (i.e., task based data) and (2) pre-processed EEG data under resting state and with music stimuli. Alongside this data, we provide a robust and fully automated pre-processing pipeline for EEG data. The pipeline performs filtering, line noise removal, data selection, ICA, and automatic artefact removal.

Semen contains several proteins that are important to fertilization and to identify reproductive failures. There are proteins that are specie-specific expressed, although differs among several breeds. This article provides experimental data describing the protein profile of seminal plasma and spermatozoa of four healthy purebred dogs: Golden Retriever (n=3), Bernese Mountain Dog (n=4), Great Dane (n=3), and Maremmano-Abruzzese Sheepdog (n=3), housed at São Paulo state, Brazil. Semen samples were collected by manual stimulation of the penis in a presence of a teaser bitch, when possible. The seminal plasma and sperm cells were separated by centrifugation and prepared for mass spectrometry. The gene ontology annotation of the proteins found is described. This is the first time that proteomic profile of the semen of purebred dogs is described. These data are a valuable resource to improve the biotechnologies of reproduction applied to canid species.

This data file describes the synthetic protocol for preparation of the original 2,6-di(bromomethyl)-3,5-bis(alkoxycarbonyl)-4-aryl-1,4-dihydropyridines. In total, 6 unpublished compounds were obtained and characterised. The 2,6-di(bromomethyl)-1,4-dihydropyridines are mainly used as intermediates for synthesis of various lipid-like compounds based on 1,4-dihydropyridine cycle. All the structures of 2,6-di(bromomethyl)-1,4-dihydropyridines were confirmed by Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR, including 1H NMR and 13C NMR) data. The data provided herein are directly related to the previously published research article - "Novel cationic amphiphilic 1,4-dihydropyridine derivatives for DNA delivery" [1] where three derivatives (2,6-di(bromomethyl)-4-phenyl-1,4-dihydropyridines 2a-c) from six presented in this data file were used as starting materials in synthesis of amphiphilic 1,4-dihydropyridines without any purification and characterisation. Synthesis of other three 2,6-di(bromomethyl)-3,5-bis(alkoxycarbonyl)-4-aryl-1,4-dihydropyridines 2d-f and their characterisation are reported herein at the first time. Information provided in this data file can be used in organic synthesis by other chemists to develop synthetic strategies for the construction of various cationic 1,4-dihydropyridine derivatives and related heterocycles.

A common view within academia and Indian society is that older Indians are cared for by their families less than in the past. Children are a key source of support in later life and alternatives are limited, therefore declining fertility appears to corroborate this. However, the situation may be more complex. Having many children may be physiologically burdensome for women, sons and daughters have distinct care roles, social trends could affect support provision, and spouses also provide support. We assessed whether the changing structure of families has negatively affected health of the older population using three cross-sectional and nationally representative surveys of India's 60-plus population (1995-96, 2004 and 2014). We described changes in self-rated health and family structure (number of children, sons, and daughters, and marital status) and, using ordinal regression modelling, determined the association between family structure and self-rated health, stratified by survey year and gender. Our results indicate that family structure changes that occurred between 1995-96 and 2014 were largely associated with better health. Though family sizes declined, there were no health gains from having more than two children. In fact, having many children (particularly daughters) was associated with worse health for both men and women. There was some evidence that being sonless or childless was associated with worse health, but it remained rare to not have a son or child. Being currently married was associated with better health and became more common over the inter-survey period. Although our results suggest that demographic trends have not adversely affected health of the older population thus far, we propose that the largest changes in family structure are yet to come. The support available in coming years (and potential health impact) will rely on flexibility of the current system.

Because cutaneous melanoma (CM) is one of the most lethal human tumors, major treatment advances are vital. miR-140-3p has been suggested to act as a suppressor in a range of malignant tumors, implying its possible use as a biomarker for effective antineoplastic treatment. However, the potential role of miR-140-3p in CM and the underlying mechanism remain unclear. In the present study, we identified lower levels of miR-140-3p in both CM tissues and cell lines; this downregulation was strongly associated with worse CM survival. Additionally, overexpression of miR-140-3p significantly inhibited cell proliferation, migration, and invasion in CM cells with different cell line origins. Importantly, by means of both bioinformatics analysis and luciferase reporter assay, we revealed abhydrolase domain containing 2 (ABHD2) to be a target of miR-140-3p in CM cells. Upregulation of ABHD2 reversed the tumor-suppressive effects of miR-140-3p in CM cells. Furthermore, miR-140-3p-targeted ABHD2 played a role in both activation of JNK signaling and inhibition of the AKT/p70S6K pathway in CM cells. Finally, in vivo results strongly suggested the suppressive effects of miR-140-3p on CM growth and metastasis. Collectively, our findings highlight a novel antineoplastic function for miR-140-3p in CM through ABHD2.

Background: Preterm birth (PTB) represents the leading cause of neonatal death. Large-scale genetic studies are necessary to determine genetic influences on PTB risk, but prospective cohort studies are expensive and time-consuming. We investigated the feasibility of retrospective recruitment of post-partum women for efficient collection of genetic samples, with self-collected saliva for DNA extraction from themselves and their babies, alongside self-recollection of pregnancy and birth details to phenotype PTB. Methods: 708 women who had participated in the OPPTIMUM trial (a randomised trial of progesterone pessaries to prevent PTB [ISRCTN14568373]) and consented to further contact were invited to provide self-collected saliva from themselves and their babies. DNA was extracted from Oragene OG-500 (adults) and OG-575 (babies) saliva kits and the yield measured by Qubit. Samples were analysed using a panel of Taqman single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) assays. A questionnaire designed to meet the minimum data set required for phenotyping PTB was included. Questionnaire responses were transcribed and analysed for concordance with prospective trial data using Cohen's kappa ( k). Results: Recruitment rate was 162/708 (23%) for self-collected saliva samples and 157/708 (22%) for questionnaire responses. 161 samples from the mother provided DNA with median yield 59.0µg (0.4-148.9µg). 156 samples were successfully genotyped (96.9%). 136 baby samples had a median yield 11.5µg (0.1-102.7µg); two samples failed DNA extraction. 131 baby samples (96.3%) were successfully genotyped. Concordance between self-recalled birth details and prospective birth details was excellent ( k>0.75) in 4 out of 10 key fields for phenotyping PTB (mode of delivery, labour onset, ethnicity and maternal age at birth). Conclusion: This feasibility study demonstrates that self-collected DNA samples from mothers and babies were sufficient for genetic analysis but yields were variable. Self-recollection of pregnancy and birth details was inadequate for accurately phenotyping PTB, highlighting the need for alternative strategies for investigating genetic links with PTB.

Influence of drying temperature (30-50 °C) and relative humidity (RH: 30-80%) on moisture content, energy requirement and quality of Ginkgo biloba leaves with respect to chemical markers namely Ginkgolide A (GA) and Bilobalide (BB), and microbial load of dried materials has been analyzed. Leaves were dried in climate control chamber with varying temperature and relative humidity (RH). Total time required for attaining equilibrium was higher for low temperature at all the RH levels as well as for high RH at all the temperatures. Energy requirement was found to increase at high RH and low temperature. GA and BB concentration increased during drying in comparison to that in fresh material. Microbial load analyzed for dried samples was also found within the limit as prescribed in European Pharmacopeia under the category 3B. 40 °C temperature and 50 % RH with less drying duration was observed as suitable conditions for better recovery of BB and GA content, less microbial load and less energy consumption, during drying of G. biloba leaves.

The development of multi-resistant strains of plasmodium parasite has become a global problem, therefore, the discovery of new antimalarial agents is the only available solution. In order to improve and propose new compounds with antimalarial activity, the three-dimensional quantitative structure-activity relationship (3D-QSAR) and molecular docking studies were carried on aurone analogues acting as Qo site inhibitors in cytochrome b. The 3D-QSAR model was established in this study based on the Comparative Molecular Field Analysis (CoMFA) and the Comparative Molecular Similarity Indices Analysis (CoMSIA). The good predictability was obtained using the CoMFA model (Q2 = 0.5; R2 = 0.97; R pred 2 = 0.72) and the best CoMSIA model (Q2 = 0.526; R2 = 0.915; R pred 2 =  ​ 0.765). The predictive capacity of the developed model was evaluated through external validation using a test set compound and an applicability domain technique. In this study, the Steric, electrostatic and hydrogen bond acceptor fields played a key role in antimalarial activity. The results of the molecular docking revealed theoretically the importance of the residues his183 and his82 in the active site of the heme bL, this result was validated by a new assessment method. Based on the previous results, we designed several new potent Cytochrome b inhibitors and their inhibitory activities were predicted by the best model. Furthermore, these new inhibitors were analyzed for their ADMET properties and drug likeness. These results would be of great help in leading optimization for new drug discovery that can solve the problem of multiple drug resistance.

1. As human-wildlife conflicts increase worldwide, novel methods are required for mitigating these conflicts. Fertility control, based on immunocontraceptives, has emerged as an alternative option to lethal methods for managing wildlife. 2. Immunocontraceptives are vaccines that generate an immune response to key components of an animal's reproductive system. Some of these vaccines target the gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) and have been used successfully as contraceptives for many wildlife species. However, the need to capture animals for treatment limits the field applications of injectable vaccines. The availability of orally delivered immunocontraceptives would increase the breadth of applications of fertility control for wildlife management. 3. This study explored a new approach to developing an oral immunocontraceptive, exploiting the bioadhesive and immunologically active properties of killed Mycobacterium avium cell wall fragments (MAF). The MAF was conjugated to a GnRH recombinant protein called IMX294, used as a GnRH-specific immunogen. 4. An initial trial using the MAF-IMX294 conjugate provided the first evidence that an orally delivered immunocontraceptive vaccine could generate anti-GnRH antibody titres in laboratory rats. 5. Increasing the dose and frequency of vaccine administered to rats, in a second trial, enhanced the immune response, eliciting titres that reduced the proportion of females giving birth. This provided the first evidence of the contraceptive effect of an oral anti-GnRH vaccine. 6. Future work is required to further increase the immunogenic effect of the oral vaccine and to establish a dosing schedule that is effective for practical field applications.

In this study, we report the synthesis of the magnetite/silica nanocomposites and their structural and functional groups, magnetic properties, morphology, antimicrobial activity, and drug delivery performance. The X-ray diffraction characterization showed that magnetite formed a spinel phase and that silica formed an amorphous phase. The particle sizes of magnetite increased from 8.2 to 13.2 nm with increasing silica content, and the particles were observed to be superparamagnetic. The nanocomposites tended to agglomerate based on the scanning electron microscopy images. The antimicrobial activity of the magnetite/silica nanocomposites revealed that the increasing silica content increased the inhibition zones by 74%, 77%, and 143% in case of Gram-positive bacteria (B. subtilis), Gram-negative bacteria (E. coli), and fungus (C. albicans), respectively. Furthermore, doxorubicin was used as the model compound in the drug loading and release study, and drug loading was directly proportional to the silica content. Thus, the increasing silica content increased the drug loading owing to the increasing number of OH- bonds in silica, resulting in strong bonds with doxorubicin. Based on this study, the magnetite/silica nanocomposites could be applied as drug delivery vehicles.

Hazard evaluation of engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) using real-world exposure scenario could provide better interpretation of toxicity end points for their use in the assessment of human safety and for their implications in many fields such as toxicology, nanomedicine, and so forth. However, most of the current studies, both in vivo and in vitro, do not reflect realistic conditions of human exposure to ENMs, due to the high doses implemented. Moreover, the use of cellular models cultured under submerged conditions limits their physiological relevance for lung exposure, where cells are primarily cultured at the air-liquid interface. Addressing such issues is even more challenging for emergent nanomaterials, such as graphene oxide (GO), for which little or no information on exposure is available. In this work, we studied the impact of repeated exposure of GO on a three-dimensional (3D) reconstruct of human bronchial tissue, using a nebulizer system focusing on short-term effects. The selected doses (reaching a maximum of ca. 20 ​μg/cm2 for a period of 4 weeks of exposure) were extrapolated from alveolar mass deposition values of a broader class of carbon-based nanomaterials, reflecting a full working lifetime of human exposure. Experimental results did not show strong toxic effects of GO in terms of viability and integrity of the lung tissue. However, since 2 weeks of treatment, repeated GO exposure elicited a proinflammatory response, moderate barrier impairment, and autophagosome accumulation, a process resulting from blockade of autophagy flux. Interestingly, the 3D airway model could recover such an effect by restoring autophagy flux at longer exposure (30 days). These findings indicate that prolonged exposure to GO produces a time window (during the 30 days of treatment set for this study) for which GO-mediated autophagy inhibition along with inflammation may potentially increase the susceptibility of exposed humans to pulmonary infections and/or lung diseases. This study also highlights the importance of using physiologically relevant in vitro models and doses derived from real-world exposure to obtain focused data for the assessment of human safety.

An estimated number of 71 million people are living with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection worldwide and 400,000 annual deaths are related to the infection. HCV entry into the hepatocytes is complex and involves several host factors. The tetraspanin human CD81 (hCD81) is one of the four essential entry factors and is composed of one large extracellular loop, one small extracellular loop, four transmembrane domains, one intracellular loop and two intracellular tails. The large extracellular loop interacts with the E2 glycoprotein of HCV. Regions outside the large extracellular loop (backbone) of hCD81 have a critical role in post-binding entry steps and determine susceptibility of hepatocytes to HCV. Here, we investigated the effect of five non-synonymous single-nucleotide variants in the backbone of hCD81 on HCV susceptibility. We generated cell lines that stably express the hCD81 variants and infected the cells using HCV pseudoparticles and cell culture-derived HCV. Our results show that all the tested hCD81 variants support HCV pseudoparticle entry with similar efficiency as wild-type hCD81. In contrast, variants A54V, V211M and M220I are less supportive to cell culture-derived HCV infection. This altered susceptibility is HCV genotype dependent and specifically affected the cell entry step. Our findings identify three hCD81 genetic variants that are impaired in their function as HCV host factors for specific viral genotypes. This study provides additional evidence that genetic host variation contributes to inter-individual differences in HCV infection and outcome.

Complex abdominal wall hernia repair (CAWHR) is a challenging procedure. Mesh prosthesis is indicated, but the use of synthetic mesh in a contaminated area may add to overall morbidity. Biological meshes may provide a solution, but little is known about long-term results. The aim of our study was to evaluate clinical efficacy and patient satisfaction following Strattice™ (PADM) placement.

Endocannabinoids are important lipid-signaling mediators. Both protective and deleterious effects of endocannabinoids in the cardiovascular system have been reported but the mechanistic basis for these contradicting observations is unclear. We set out to identify anti-inflammatory mechanisms of endocannabinoids in the murine aorta and in human vascular smooth muscle cells (hVSMC). In response to combined stimulation with cytokines, IL-1β and TNFα, the murine aorta released several endocannabinoids, with anandamide (AEA) levels being the most significantly increased. AEA pretreatment had profound effects on cytokine-induced gene expression in hVSMC and murine aorta. As revealed by RNA-Seq analysis, the induction of a subset of 21 inflammatory target genes, including the important cytokine CCL2 was blocked by AEA. This effect was not mediated through AEA-dependent interference of the AP-1 or NF-κB pathways but rather through an epigenetic mechanism. In the presence of AEA, ATAC-Seq analysis and chromatin-immunoprecipitations revealed that CCL2 induction was blocked due to increased levels of H3K27me3 and a decrease of H3K27ac leading to compacted chromatin structure in the CCL2 promoter. These effects were mediated by recruitment of HDAC4 and the nuclear corepressor NCoR1 to the CCL2 promoter. This study therefore establishes a novel anti-inflammatory mechanism for the endogenous endocannabinoid AEA in vascular smooth muscle cells. Furthermore, this work provides a link between endogenous endocannabinoid signaling and epigenetic regulation.

Controlled drainage is considered as a soil management tool to improve water supply to crops and reduce nutrient losses from fields; however, its closure may affect phosphorus (P) mobilization in soil. To assess the P mobilization potential, three soil profiles with redoximorphic features were selected along a slight hill in Northern Germany. Soil samples from three depths of each profile were characterized for basic properties, total element content, oxalate- and dithionite-extractable pedogenic Al, Fe and Mn (hydr)oxides, P pools (sequential extraction), P species [P K-edge X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES) spectroscopy] and P sorption behavior. In topsoil (~ 10 cm depth), labile P (H2O-P + resin-P + NaHCO3-P) accounted for 26-32% of total P (Pt). Phosphorus K-edge XANES revealed that up to 49% of Pt was bound to Al and/or Fe (hydr)oxides, but sequential fractionation indicated that > 30% of this P was occluded within sesquioxide aggregates. A low binding capacity for P was demonstrated by P sorption capacity and low Kf coefficients (20-33 [Formula: see text]) of the Freundlich equation. In the subsoil layers (~ 30 and ~ 65 cm depth), higher proportions of Al- and Fe-bound P along with other characteristics suggested that all profiles might be prone to P mobilization/leaching risk under reducing conditions even if the degree of P saturation (DPS) of a profile under oxic conditions was < 25%. The results suggest that a closure of the controlled drainage may pose a risk of increased P mobilization, but this needs to be compared with the risk of uncontrolled drainage and P losses to avoid P leaching into the aquatic ecosystem.

To determine the association between coronal Cobb's angle and Nash-Moe index in patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. We also attempted to determine whether apical vertebral derotation depended upon the curve flexibility.

Cochlear development is a complex process with precise spatiotemporal patterns. A detailed understanding of this process is important for studies of congenital hearing loss and regenerative medicine. However, much of our understanding of cochlear development is based on rodent models. Animal models that bridge the gap between humans and rodents are needed. In this study, we investigated the development of hearing organs in a small New World monkey species, the common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus). We describe the general stages of cochlear development in comparison with those of humans and mice. Moreover, we examined more than 25 proteins involved in cochlear development and found that expression patterns were generally conserved between rodents and primates. However, several proteins involved in supporting cell processes and neuronal development exhibited interspecific expression differences. Human fetal samples for studies of primate-specific cochlear development are extremely rare, especially for late developmental stages. Our results support the use of the common marmoset as an effective alternative for analyses of primate cochlear development.

Autoimmune pancreatitis, a derivative of chronic pancreatitis, frequently causes acute episodes with clinical symptoms parallel to those of acute pancreatitis. Corticosteroids are effective in the treatment of 90% of autoimmune pancreatitis cases, but for the remaining 10%, options are limited. Due to their significant immunomodulatory capabilities, mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) have been proposed as a novel treatment strategy for various immune and inflammatory pathologies including those with autoimmune origins. Here, we not only highlight the most recent MSC live-cell experiments to address acute pancreatitis, but also discuss the opportunities afforded by the emergence of the newly identified field of MSC necrobiology. We conclude that the putative employment of MSC derivatives provides a newer and simpler therapeutic approach that could have significant advantages over the use of cells themselves.

The global burden of heart failure following myocardial ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury is a growing problem. One pathway that is key to understanding the progression of myocardial infarction and IR injury is the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress pathway, which contributes to apoptosis signaling and tissue death. The role of calreticulin in the progression of ER stress remains controversial. We hypothesized that calreticulin induction drives proapoptotic signaling in response to ER stress. We find here that calreticulin is upregulated in human ischemic heart failure cardiac tissue, as well as simulated hypoxia and reoxygenation (H/R) and thapsigargin-mediated ER stress. To test the impact of direct modulation of calreticulin expression on ER stress-induced apoptosis, human cardiac-derived AC16 cells with stable overexpression or silencing of calreticulin were subjected to thapsigargin treatment, and markers of apoptosis were evaluated. It was found that overexpression of calreticulin promotes apoptosis, while a partial knockdown protects against the expression of caspase 12, CHOP, and reduces thapsigargin-driven TUNEL staining. These data shed light on the role that calreticulin plays in apoptosis signaling during ER stress in cardiac cells.

Asian leaf-litter toads of the genus Leptobrachella represent a great anuran diversification in Asia. Previous studies have suggested that the diversity of this genus is still underestimated. During herpetological surveys from 2013 to 2018, a series of Leptobrachella specimens were collected from the international border areas in the southern and western parts of Yunnan Province, China. Subsequent analyses based on morphological and molecular data revealed three distinct and previously unknown lineages, which we formally describe as three new species herein. Among them, we describe a new species that occurs at the highest known elevation for Leptobrachella in China. Four species of Leptobrachella, including two new species, are found in the same reserve. Furthermore, our results suggest that the population from Longchuan County, Yunnan, may represent an additional new species of Leptobrachella, although we tentatively assigned it to Leptobrachella cf. yingjiangensis due to the small sample size examined. Lastly, we provide the first description of females of L. yingjiangensis. Our results further highlight that both micro-endemism and sympatric distributions of species are common patterns in Leptobrachella, that contribute to taxonomic and conservation challenges in these frogs. We provide an identification key for Leptobrachella known to occur in Yunnan. Given the lack of knowledge on species diversity of Leptobrachella along international border areas, we recommend that future studies include trans-boundary collaborative surveys.