According to the World Health Organization (WHO) reports, Iran is located in the global fluoride belts, so that is why carrying out extended research on this contaminant anion in water supplies must be considered. Due to the various industries in the Ardakan city, this region is severely suffering from fluoride contamination. This study was designed to investigate the fluoride concentration and its distribution pattern as well as related health risk assessment in groundwater resources of 28 villages of the Ardakan city in Yazd province using SPADNS method according to standard instructions. Our results show that, the average concentration of fluoride was 2.92 mg/l (range: 0.9-6 mg/l), also in half of the villages, the concentration range of this element was over than standard level (1.5 mg/l) given by WHO rules. In addition, risk assessment results showed that HQ value is higher than 1 in 46.4% of samples of groundwater resources in age groups of infants, children, teenagers and adults. Therefore, it is necessary to take measures to reduce fluoride concentration in drinking water in order to control resultant fluorosis. Actions should be implemented to enhance monitoring of fluoride levels to avoid the potential risk of high Fluoride concentration.

Mackerels represent a valuable fishery worldwide. Their ample geographic distribution and capture levels make them an insightful model to address stock management strategies in the context of global changes. Yet, and despite recent impressive genome and transcriptome sequencing efforts from teleost species, available resources from the Scombridae family are comparatively scarce. Here, we generated the first high-quality de novo assembly of the liver transcriptome of the Atlantic chub mackerel (Scomber colias). Through the use of RNA-Seq Illumina technology, 111,124,228 clean reads were obtained for the liver transcriptome. De novo assembly resulted in 93,731 transcripts with an N50 of 1462 bp. This dataset provides an important insight into the context of fisheries management.

We present raw sequence reads and genome assemblies derived from 17 accessions of the Ethiopian orphan crop plant enset (Ensete ventricosum (Welw.) Cheesman) using the Illumina HiSeq and MiSeq platforms. Also presented is a catalogue of single-nucleotide polymorphisms inferred from the sequence data at an average density of approximately one per kilobase of genomic DNA.

Here, we provide the dataset associated with the research article "Mapping of recent brachiopod microstructure: A tool for environmental studies" [1]. We present original data relative to morphometric and statistical analyses performed on the basic shell structural units (the secondary layer fibres) of brachiopod shells belonging to six extant species adapted to different environmental conditions. Based on SEM micrographs of the secondary layer, fibres from ventral and dorsal valves, and from different shell positions, showing regular and symmetrical cross sectional outlines, were chosen for morphometric measurements using Adobe Photoshop CS6, Image-Pro Plus 6.0 and ImageJ. To work out the reliability of the measurements, the most significant parameters were tested for their probability density by distribution plots; for data visualization and dimension reduction, principal component analysis (PCA) was performed using R 3.3.0 [2] and independent-samples t-tests were performed using SPSS Statistics (IBM Version 22.0. Armonk, NY). Besides a quantitative analysis, a qualitative description of the shell microstructure is provided by detailed SEM imaging and EBSD measurements.

This article contains data that relate to the study carried out in the work of Marcus et al. (2018) [1]. Data represent an information about pharmacophore analysis of imidazo[1,2-a]benzimidazole and pyrimido[1,2-a]benzimidazole derivatives and results of construction of the relationship between intraocular pressure (IOP) lowering activity and hypotensive activity of imidazo[1,2-a]benzimidazole and pyrimido[1,2-a]benzimidazole derivatives using a multilayer perceptron artificial neural network. In particular, they include the ones listed in this article: 1) table of all pharmacophores of imidazo[1,2-a]benzimidazole and pyrimido[1,2-a]benzimidazole derivatives that showed IOP lowering activity; 2) table of all pharmacophores of the compounds that showed absence of IOP lowering activity; 3) table of initial data for artificial neural network analysis of relationship between IOP activity and hypotensive activity of this chemical series; 4) graphical representation of the best neural network model of this dependence; 5) original txt-file of results of pharmacophore analysis; 6) xls-file of initial data for neural network modeling; 7) original stw-file of results of neural network modeling; 8) original xml-file of the best neural network model of dependence between IOP lowering activity and hypotensive activity of these azole derivatives. The data may be useful for researchers interested in designing new drug substances and will contribute to understanding of the mechanisms of IOP lowering activity.

Guanine-rich DNA/RNA fragments can fold into G-quadruplexes (G4s) - non-canonical four-strand secondary structures. The article contains data on quadruplex interaction with human proteins. Binding of three topologically different G4 structures to more than 9000 human proteins was analyzed. Physicochemical methods were used to verify the results.The dataset was generated to identify the protein targets for DNA quadruplex structures for the purpose of better understanding the role of the structures in gene expression regulation. Presented data include functional interpretation of obtained gene lists, visualized with Cytoscape.

Aerobic respiratory growth generates endogenous reactive oxygen species (ROS). ROS oxidize protein-bound methionine residues into methionine sulfoxide. Methionine sulfoxide reductases catalyze the reduction of methionine sulfoxide to methionine in proteins. Here, we use high-throughput nanoLC-MS/MS methodology to establish detailed maps of oxidized proteins from Bacillus cereus ATCC 14579 ΔpBClin15 and its mutant for which the methionine sulfoxide reductase AB gene (msrAB) has been inactivated (Madeira et al., 2017) [1]. Lists of oxidized peptides and proteins identified at early exponential, late exponential and stationary growth phases are supplied in this article as data files. Raw data are deposited at the ProteomeXchange Consortium via the PRIDE partner repository with the dataset identifiers, PXD006169 and PDX006205 (http://www.ebi.ac/uk). Given the importance of methionine oxidation in several key cellular processes and its impact in the field of medical and food microbiology, this paper should be useful for further insightful redox studies in B. cereus and its numerous relatives.

This is a data set of 61 blood spatter patterns scanned at high resolution, generated by controlled impact events corresponding to forensic beating situations. The spatter patterns were realized with two test rigs, to vary the geometry and speed of the impact of a solid object on a blood source - a pool of blood. The resulting atomized blood droplets travelled a set distance towards a poster board sheet, creating a blood spatter. Fresh swine blood was used; its hematocrit and temperature were measured. Main parameters of the study were the impact velocity and the distance between blood source and target sheet, and several other parameters were explored in a less systematic way. This new and original data set is suitable for training or research purposes in the forensic discipline of bloodstain pattern analysis.

This data article provides the summary data from tests comparing various Gaussian process software packages. Each spreadsheet represents a single function or type of function using a particular input sample size. In each spreadsheet, a row gives the results for a particular replication using a single package. Within each spreadsheet there are the results from eight Gaussian process model-fitting packages on five replicates of the surface. There is also one spreadsheet comparing the results from two packages performing stochastic kriging. These data enable comparisons between the packages to determine which package will give users the best results.

The presence of synthetic dyes in wastewaters generated by the textile industry constitutes a serious environmental and health problem that urges the scientific community on an appropriate action. As a proof-of-concept, we have developed a novel approach to design enzymatic bioreactors with the ability to decolorize dye solutions through the immobilization of the bacterial CueO laccase-like multicopper oxidase from Escherichia coli on polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) beads by making use of the BioF affinity tag. The decolorization efficiency of the system was characterized by a series of parameters, namely maximum enzyme adsorption capacity, pH profile, kinetic constants, substrate range, temperature and bioreactor recycling. Depending on the tested dye, immobilization increased the catalytic activity of CueO by up to 40-fold with respect to the soluble enzyme, reaching decolorization efficiencies of 45-90%. Our results indicate that oxidase bioreactors based on polyhydroxyalkanoates are a promising alternative for the treatment of coloured industrial wastewaters.

This study was aimed at exploring the effect of lncRNA BDNF-AS on cell proliferation, migration, invasion and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of oesophageal cancer (EC) cells. The expression of BDNF-AS and miR-214 in tissue samples and cells was measured by qRT-PCR. The targeted relationship between BDNF-AS and miR-214 was analysed by dual-luciferase reporter assay. After cell transfection, the cell proliferation activity was assessed by MTS method, while the migrating and invading abilities were evaluated by transwell assay. LncRNA BDNF-AS was remarkably down-regulated, while miR-214 was up-regulated in EC tissues and cells in comparison with normal tissues and cells. Overexpression of BDNF-AS significantly inhibited the abilities of cell proliferation, migration and invasion as well as the EMT processes of EC cells. The bioinformatics analysis and luciferase assay indicated that BDNF-AS could be directly bound by miR-214. Furthermore, overexpression of miR-214 and BDNF-AS exerted suppressive influence on EC cell multiplication, migration, invasion and EMT processes. LncRNA BDNF-AS restrained cell proliferation, migration, invasion and EMT processes in EC cells by targeting miR-214.

Papillary renal cell carcinoma (PRCC) is the most common nonclear cell RCCs and is known to comprise two histological subtypes. PRCC2 is more aggressive and is molecularly distinct from the other subtypes. Despite this, PRCCs are treated together as one entity, and they show poor response to the current therapies that do not target pathways implicated in their pathogenesis. We have previously detected ABCC2 (an ABC transporter), VEGF, and mTOR pathways to be enriched in PRCC2. In this study, we assess the therapeutic potential of targeting these pathways in PRCC2. Twenty RCC cell lines from the Cancer Cell Encyclopedia were compared to the Cancer Genome Atlas PRCC cohort (290), to identify representative PRCC2 cell lines. Cell lines were further validated in xenograft models. Selected cell lines were treated in vitro and in vivo (mice models) under five different conditions, untreated, anti-VEGF (sunitinib), ABCC2 blocker (MK571), mTOR inhibitor (everolimus) and sunitinib + MK571. Sunitinib +ABCC2 blocker group showed a significant response to therapy compared to the other treatment groups both in vitro (P ≤ 0.0001) and in vivo (P = 0.0132). ABCC2 blockage resulted in higher sunitinib uptake, both in vitro (P = 0.0016) and in vivo (P = 0.0031). Everolimus group demonstrated the second best response in vivo. The double-treatment group showed the highest apoptotic rate and lowest proliferation rate. There is an urgent need for individualized therapies of RCC subtypes that take into account their specific biology. Our results demonstrate that combined targeted therapy with sunitinib and ABCC2 blocker in PRCC2 has therapeutic potential. The results are likewise potentially significant for other ABCC2 high tumors. However, the results are preliminary and clinical trials are needed to confirm these effects in PRCC2 patients.

Ammonia accumulation is a major inhibitory substance causing anaerobic digestion upset and failure in CH4 production. At high ammonia levels, CH4 production through syntrophic acetate oxidization (SAO) pathways is more tolerant to ammonia toxicity than the acetoclastic methanogenesis pathway, but the low CH4 production rate through SAO constitutes the main reason for the low efficiency of energy recovery in anaerobic digesters treating ammonia-rich substrates. In this study, we showed that acetate fermentation to CH4 and CO2 occurred through SAO pathway in the anaerobic reactors containing a high ammonia concentration (5.0 g l-1 NH4+ -N), and the magnetite nanoparticles supplementation increased the CH4 production rates from acetate by 36-58%, compared with the anaerobic reactors without magnetite under the same ammonia level. The mechanism of facilitated methanogenesis was proposed to be the establishment of direct interspecies electron transfer (DIET) for SAO, in which magnetite facilitated DIET between syntrophic acetate oxidizing bacteria and methanogens. High-throughput 16S rRNA gene sequencing analysis revealed that the bacterial Geobacteraceae and the archaeal Methanosarcinaceae and Methanobacteriaceae might be involved in magnetite-mediated DIET for SAO and CH4 production. This study demonstrated that magnetite supplementation might provide an effective approach to accelerate CH4 production rates in the anaerobic reactors treating wastewater containing high ammonia.

Magnesium (Mg2+) has received considerable attention with regards to its potential role in the pathophysiology of the mood disorders, but the available evidence seems inconclusive.AimsTo review and quantitatively summarise the human literature on Mg2+ intake and Mg2+ blood levels in the mood disorders and the effects of Mg2+ supplements on mood.

BACKGROUND Using regional homogeneity (ReHo) blood oxygen level-dependent functional MR (BOLD-fMRI), we investigated the structural and functional alterations of brain regions among patients with methamphetamine-associated psychosis (MAP). MATERIAL AND METHODS This retrospective study included 17 MAP patients, 16 schizophrenia (SCZ) patients, and 18 healthy controls. Informed consent was obtained from all patients before the clinical assessment, the severity of clinical symptoms was evaluated prior to the fMRI scanning, and then images were acquired and preprocessed after each participant received 6-min fRMI scanning. The participants all underwent BOLD-fMRI scanning. Voxel-based morphometry was used to measure gray matter density (GMD). Resting-state fMRI (rs-fMRI) was conducted to analyze functional MR, ReHo, and functional connectivity (FC). RESULTS GMD analysis results suggest that MAP patients, SCZ patients, and healthy volunteers show different GMDs within different brain regions. Similarly, the ReHo analysis results suggest that MAP patients, SCZ patients, and healthy volunteers have different GMDs within different brain regions. Negative correlations were found between ReHo- and the PANSS-positive scores within the left orbital interior frontal gyrus (L-orb-IFG) of MAP patients. ReHo- and PANSS-negative scores of R-SFG were negatively correlated among SCZ patients. The abnormal FC of R-MFG showed a negative correlation with the PANSS score among MAP patients. CONCLUSIONS The abnormalities in brain structure and FC were associated with the development of MAP.

Malan syndrome is an overgrowth disorder described in a limited number of individuals. We aim to delineate the entity by studying a large group of affected individuals. We gathered data on 45 affected individuals with a molecularly confirmed diagnosis through an international collaboration and compared data to the 35 previously reported individuals. Results indicate that height is > 2 SDS in infancy and childhood but in only half of affected adults. Cardinal facial characteristics include long, triangular face, macrocephaly, prominent forehead, everted lower lip, and prominent chin. Intellectual disability is universally present, behaviorally anxiety is characteristic. Malan syndrome is caused by deletions or point mutations of NFIX clustered mostly in exon 2. There is no genotype-phenotype correlation except for an increased risk for epilepsy with 19p13.2 microdeletions. Variants arose de novo, except in one family in which mother was mosaic. Variants causing Malan and Marshall-Smith syndrome can be discerned by differences in the site of stop codon formation. We conclude that Malan syndrome has a well recognizable phenotype that usually can be discerned easily from Marshall-Smith syndrome but rarely there is some overlap. Differentiation from Sotos and Weaver syndrome can be made by clinical evaluation only.

Deep Neural Networks (DNN), in particular, Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN), has recently achieved state-of-art results for the task of Drug-Drug Interaction (DDI) extraction. Most CNN architectures incorporate a pooling layer to reduce the dimensionality of the convolution layer output, preserving relevant features and removing irrelevant details. All the previous CNN based systems for DDI extraction used max-pooling layers.

Suicide is an alarming public health problem accounting for a considerable number of deaths each year worldwide. Many more individuals contemplate suicide. Understanding the attributes, characteristics, and exposures correlated with suicide remains an urgent and significant problem. As social networking sites have become more common, users have adopted these sites to talk about intensely personal topics, among them their thoughts about suicide. Such data has previously been evaluated by analyzing the language features of social media posts and using factors derived by domain experts to identify at-risk users.

As Twitter has become an active data source for health surveillance research, it is important that efficient and effective methods are developed to identify tweets related to personal health experience. Conventional classification algorithms rely on features engineered by human domain experts, and engineering such features is a challenging task and requires much human intelligence. The resultant features may not be optimal for the classification problem, and can make it challenging for conventional classifiers to correctly predict personal experience tweets (PETs) due to the various ways to express and/or describe personal experience in tweets. In this study, we developed a method that combines word embedding and long short-term memory (LSTM) model without the need to engineer any specific features. Through word embedding, tweet texts were represented as dense vectors which in turn were fed to the LSTM neural network as sequences.

Recent hypotheses have posited that orbital frontal cortex (OFC) is important for using inferred consequences to guide behavior. Less clear is OFC's contribution to goal-directed or model-based behavior, where the decision to act is controlled by previous experience with the consequence or outcome. Investigating OFC's role in learning about changed outcomes separate from decision-making is not trivial and often the two are confounded. Here we adapted an incentive learning task to mice, where we investigated processes controlling experience-based outcome updating independent from inferred action control. We found chemogenetic OFC attenuation did not alter the ability to perceive motivational state-induced changes in outcome value but did prevent the experience-based updating of this change. Optogenetic inhibition of OFC excitatory neuron activity selectively when experiencing an outcome change disrupted the ability to update, leaving mice unable to infer the appropriate behavior. Our findings support a role for OFC in learning that controls decision-making.