Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effects of Carvacrol and Volatile Fraction of Winter Savory (Satureja montana L.) on Body Temperature in Humans Who Experience Cold Sensitivity

Ingestion of winter savory extract has been reported to inhibit the decrease in peripheral body temperature in people who experience cold sensitivity. However, the active ingredients underlying this effect are not known. We sought to elucidate the effects of the volatile components of winter savory on body temperature. Carvacrol (the main volatile component and a transient receptor potential channel ankyrin 1 (TRPA1) agonist in winter savory) increased core body temperature, but did not inhibit the decrease in peripheral body temperature after ingestion. In addition, the volatile fraction of winter savory (which contained various components in addition to carvacrol) induced not only an increase in core body temperature, but also inhibited the decrease in peripheral body temperature. These results suggest that the volatile components in winter savory may be effective for alleviating cold sensitivity, and that carvacrol is one of the active ingredients in winter savory.
Volatile constituents of Dietes bicolor (Iridaceae) and their antimicrobial activity

Abstract Volatile oils from the leaves, flowers and rhizomes of Dietes bicolor (Steud.) Sweet ex Klatt (Iridaceae) were analyzed using GLC/FID and GLC/MS. A total of 84 compounds were identified accounting for 94.65, 95.63 and 87.09% in the hydrodistilled oils from flowers, leaves and rhizomes, respectively. Spathulenol (48.44%) represented the major component in the leaf oil, followed by dihydro-edulan I (6.25%), cubenol (6.00%) and τ-cadinol (5.90%). For the flower and rhizome oils, fatty acids, their esters, aliphatic hydrocarbons and their derivatives predominate. The antimicrobial activity of both leaf and flower oils was investigated against four bacteria in addition to four fungi using the micro-broth dilution method. The leaf oil showed a more potent antimicrobial activity as compared to the flower oil against most of the assessed bacteria and fungi, with higher activities against Gram- positive organisms showing MIC values of 115 and 460 μg/ml for Bacillus subtilis and Streptococcus pneumonia, respectively. Gram-negative bacteria were generally less susceptible (MIC > 2 mg/ml for both oils against Escherichia coli) and being completely ineffective against Pseudomonas aeruginosa. A relevant antifungal potency of the leaf oil against Geotrichum candidum and Syncephalastrum racemosum was also observed with MIC values of 115 and 920 μg/ml, respectively.
Neutrophil-Lymphocyte Ratio Is a Prognostic Marker in Patients with Locally Advanced (Stage IIIA and IIIB) Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Treated with Combined Modality Therapy.

BACKGROUND Neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is a measure of systemic inflammation that appears prognostic in localized and advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Increased systemic inflammation portends a poorer prognosis in cancer patients. We hypothesized that low NLR at diagnosis is associated with improved overall survival (OS) in locally advanced NSCLC (LANSCLC) patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS Records from 276 patients with stage IIIA and IIIB NSCLC treated with definitive chemoradiation with or without surgery between 2000 and 2010 with adequate data were retrospectively reviewed. Baseline demographic data and pretreatment peripheral blood absolute neutrophil and lymphocyte counts were collected. Patients were grouped into quartiles based on NLR. OS was estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method. The log-rank test was used to compare mortality between groups. A linear test-for-trend was used for the NLR quartile groups. The Cox proportional hazards model was used for multivariable analysis. RESULTS The NLR was prognostic for OS (p < .0001). Median survival in months (95% confidence interval) for the first, second, third, and fourth quartile groups of the population distribution of NLR were 27 (19-36), 28 (22-34), 22 (12-31), and 10 (8-12), respectively. NLR remained prognostic for OS after adjusting for race, sex, stage, performance status, and chemoradiotherapy approach (p = .004). CONCLUSION To our knowledge, our series is the largest to demonstrate that baseline NLR is a significant prognostic indicator in LANSCLC patients who received definitive chemoradiation with or without surgery. As an indicator of inflammatory response, it should be explored as a potential predictive marker in the context of immunotherapy and radiation therapy. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE Neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio measured at the time of diagnosis was associated with improved overall survival in 276 patients with stage IIIA and IIIB non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treated with definitive chemoradiation with or without surgery. To our knowledge, our series is the largest to demonstrate that baseline neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio is a significant prognostic indicator in locally advanced NSCLC patients who received definitive chemoradiation with or without surgery. Neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio is an inexpensive biomarker that may be easily utilized by clinicians at the time of locally advanced NSCLC diagnosis to help predict life expectancy.
Robotic Telesurgery: Benefits Beyond Barriers

Since the inception of robotic surgery in the 1980’s, there has been tremendous progress in this field, with the development of advanced machines. Developments in information technology has enabled surgeons to perform surgical procedures remotely on patients located in different geographic areas. This paper aims to study the current applications and latest advances in information technology related to robotic telesurgery. Literature search was conducted using PubMed. Articles describing the origin, implementation and latest developments in the field of robotic telesurgery were identified. Special focus was placed on studying the information technology required for setting up of a telesurgery system. Studies have shown that computer enhanced robotic telesurgery is a safe and effective treatment method for a variety of diseases. Researchers were successful in completing multiple telerobotic surgeries of the gastrointestinal tract with no significant complications or increase in postoperative stay. In addition to fiber optic networks, commercially available networks like Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) have also been used successfully for telesurgery.
Direct interactions with both p27 and Cdk2 regulate Spy1-mediated proliferation in vivo and in vitro

ABSTRACT Families of cyclin-like proteins have emerged that bind and activate cyclin dependent kinases (Cdk)s, directing the phosphorylation of noncanonical Cdk substrates. One of these proteins, Spy1, has demonstrated the unique ability to directly bind and activate both Cdk1 and Cdk2, as well as binding and promoting the degradation of at least one Cdk inhibitor, p27Kip1. Spy1 accelerates somatic cell growth and proliferation and is implicated in a number of human cancers including the breast, brain and liver. Herein we isolate key residues mediating the direct interaction with p27. We use mutants of Spy1 to determine the physiological role of direct interactions with distinct binding partners Cdk2 and p27. We demonstrate that disrupting the direct interaction with either Spy1 binding partner decreased endogenous activity of Cdk2, as well as Spy1-mediated proliferation. However, only the direct interaction with p27 was essential for Spy1-mediated effects on p27 stability. In vivo neither mutation completely prevented tumorigenesis, although each mutation slowed the rate of Spy1-mediated tumorigenesis and decreased overall tumor volumes. This work supports the conclusion that direct interaction with both p27 and Cdk2 contribute to Spy1-mediated effects on cell growth. It is important to elucidate the dynamics of these interactions and to consider these data when assessing functional outcomes.
THE EFFECTS OF LACTIC ACID BACTERIAL INOCULANTS ON THE FERMENTATION, AEROBIC STABILITY AND NUTRITIVE VALUE OF SUNFLOWER SILAGES

This study was implemented to determine the effect of lactic acid bacterial inoculants as silage additives on fermentation, aerobic stability, and silages. Lalsil Pediococcus acidilactici inoculants. The inoculants were applied to silages at the rates of 5, 10 and 20 mg kg levels. After the treatment, cho The bags were stored at 25±2 °C under laboratory conditions. Three sampled for chemical and microbiological analysis on the 90th day after ensiling. At the end of ensiling period, all silages were subjected to an aerobic stability test for five days. In addition, organic matter digestibility of all silages was determined. The results showed that lactic acid bacterial inoculants enhanced the characteris detergent lignin contents of sunflower silages. When compared to the control group, the aerobic stability was found to get improved in dioxide production and yeast populations. Treated silage groups appeared with higher matter digestibility than the control group.
Hip resurfacing arthroplasty for patients with inflammatory arthritis: a systematic review

Introduction: Modern metal-on-metal hip resurfacing arthroplasty has led to decreased revision rates and high implant survival rates as compared to prior generations of resurfacing. Many of the series that report on resurfacing outcomes focus upon patients treated with a diagnosis of osteoarthritis. Patients with inflammatory arthritis such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and ankylosing spondylitis (AS) are also treated in these series, however, their outcomes following resurfacing are underreported. The aim of this study was to determine complications that may occur following hip resurfacing in patients with inflammatory arthritis. A secondary aim was to determine functional outcomes following resurfacing. Methods: A search was performed in MEDLINE (PubMed/OVID), Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar. 5 studies met eligibility criteria. This review includes 196 hips; 120 had a diagnosis of AS or seronegative spondyloarthropathy and 76 had a diagnosis of RA or juvenile RA. 8 revisions were reported at a mean time of 64.2 (8.67-275.58) weeks. Results: Femoral neck fracture was the most common indication for revision, occurring in 3.06% of all hips at 34.5 weeks (16.0-52.0). 2 infections, 2 reports of acetabular radiolucency, and no dislocations were reported. The University of California at Los Angeles score, Harris Hip Score, and Range of Motion were the most common functional outcomes measured, which increased in the majority of studies following resurfacing. Conclusions: Femoral neck fracture was the most common reason for revision in patients with inflammatory arthritis following resurfacing and there were no dislocations reported. Following resurfacing, these patients have improved functional outcomes.
The mucin-degradation strategy of Ruminococcus gnavus: The importance of intramolecular trans-sialidases

ABSTRACT We previously identified and characterized an intramolecular trans-sialidase (IT-sialidase) in the gut symbiont Ruminococcus gnavus ATCC 29149, which is associated to the ability of the strain to grow on mucins. In this work we have obtained and analyzed the draft genome sequence of another R. gnavus mucin-degrader, ATCC 35913, isolated from a healthy individual. Transcriptomics analyses of both ATCC 29149 and ATCC 35913 strains confirmed that the strategy utilized by R. gnavus for mucin-degradation is focused on the utilization of terminal mucin glycans. R. gnavus ATCC 35913 also encodes a predicted IT-sialidase and harbors a Nan cluster dedicated to sialic acid utilization. We showed that the Nan cluster was upregulated when the strains were grown in presence of mucin. In addition we demonstrated that both R. gnavus strains were able to grow on 2,7-anyhydro-Neu5Ac, the IT-sialidase transglycosylation product, as a sole carbon source. Taken together these data further support the hypothesis that IT-sialidase expressing gut microbes, provide commensal bacteria such as R. gnavus with a nutritional competitive advantage, by accessing and transforming a source of nutrient to their own benefit.
Distinct cortical and striatal actions of a β-arrestin–biased dopamine D2 receptor ligand reveal unique antipsychotic-like properties

Significance Schizophrenia is a debilitating psychiatric disorder characterized by positive, negative, and cognitive symptoms. Current antipsychotic drugs, including D2 receptor (D2R) partial agonist aripiprazole, antagonize excess striatal dopamine (DA) neurotransmission and reverse positive symptoms but are not efficacious at reversing cortical-related cognitive symptoms. Here, we show using pharmacological, behavioral, and electrophysiological approaches that a β-arrestin2 (βarr2)-biased D2R ligand has opposite antagonist and agonist actions in the striatum and cortex, respectively. This phenomenon is regulated by differential expression levels of signal transducer proteins G protein-coupled receptor kinase 2 and βarr2. Thus, D2R-βarr2–biased ligands have the potential to simultaneously target excess striatal and deficient cortical DA neurotransmission and provide more broadly effective therapies for schizophrenia. The current dopamine (DA) hypothesis of schizophrenia postulates striatal hyperdopaminergia and cortical hypodopaminergia. Although partial agonists at DA D2 receptors (D2Rs), like aripiprazole, were developed to simultaneously target both phenomena, they do not effectively improve cortical dysfunction. In this study, we investigate the potential for newly developed β-arrestin2 (βarr2)-biased D2R partial agonists to simultaneously target hyper- and hypodopaminergia. Using neuron-specific βarr2-KO mice, we show that the antipsychotic-like effects of a βarr2-biased D2R ligand are driven through both striatal antagonism and cortical agonism of D2R-βarr2 signaling. Furthermore, βarr2-biased D2R agonism enhances firing of cortical fast-spiking interneurons. This enhanced cortical agonism of the biased ligand can be attributed to a lack of G-protein signaling and elevated expression of βarr2 and G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) kinase 2 in the cortex versus the striatum. Therefore, we propose that βarr2-biased D2R ligands that exert region-selective actions could provide a path to develop more effective antipsychotic therapies.
Beyond Patient Monitoring: Conversational Agents Role in Telemedicine & Healthcare Support For Home-Living Elderly Individuals

There is a need for systems to dynamically interact with ageing populations to gather information, monitor health condition and provide support, especially after hospital discharge or at-home settings. Several smart devices have been delivered by digital health, bundled with telemedicine systems, smartphone and other digital services. While such solutions offer personalised data and suggestions, the real disruptive step comes from the interaction of new digital ecosystem, represented by chatbots. Chatbots will play a leading role by embodying the function of a virtual assistant and bridging the gap between patients and clinicians. Powered by AI and machine learning algorithms, chatbots are forecasted to save healthcare costs when used in place of a human or assist them as a preliminary step of helping to assess a condition and providing self-care recommendations. This paper describes integrating chatbots into telemedicine systems intended for elderly patient after their hospital discharge. The paper discusses possible ways to utilise chatbots to assist healthcare providers and support patients with their condition.
Pearls for Correct Assessment of Optic Disc at Glaucoma Diagnosis

T he correct evaluation of the optic disc, and related structures in ophthalmoscopy, is critical for the diagnosis of open angle glaucoma because usually glaucomatous optic nerve damage firstly occurs in the optic disc before detectable visual field defects become apparent; however, some studies have demonstrated that visual field defects can also be found without any glaucomatous changes in the optic disc. The purpose of this review is to provide a guide to clinicians for the evaluation of the optic disc in glaucoma suspects and patients. This guide can facilitate the diagnosis and exclusion of glaucoma in these subjects.
Massive Trentepohlia-Bloom in a Glacier Valley of Mt. Gongga, China, and a New Variety of Trentepohlia (Chlorophyta)

Trentepohlia is a genus of subaerial green algae which is widespread in tropical, subtropical, and also temperate regions with humid climates. For many years, small-scale Trentepohlia coverage had been found on the rocks of some glacier valleys on the northern slopes of Mt. Gongga, China. However, since 2005, in the Yajiageng river valley, most of the rocks are covered with deep red coloured algal carpets, which now form a spectacular sight and a tourist attraction known as ‘Red-Stone-Valley’. Based on morphology and molecular data, we have named this alga as a new variety: Trentepohlia jolithus var. yajiagengensis var. nov., it differs from the type variety in that its end cells of the main filament are often rhizoid, unilateral branches. This new variety only grows on the native rock, both global warming and human activity have provided massive areas of suitable substrata: the rocks surfaces of the Yajiageng river valley floodplain were re-exposed because of heavy debris flows in the summer of 2005; plus human activities such as tourism and road-building have also created a lot of exposed rock! In summer, the glaciers of the northern slopes of Mt. Gongga have brought to the valleys wet and foggy air, ideal for Trentepohlia growth. The cells of the new variety are rich in secondary carotenoids (astaxanthin? ), which helps the algal cells resistance to strong ultraviolet radiation at high altitudes (they are only found on rock surfaces at alt. 1900–3900 m); the cells are also rich in oils, which gives them high resistance to cold dry winters.
Effect of Socioeconomic Status on the Linkage Between Suicidal Ideation and Suicide Attempts.

Previous suicide attempts are a leading risk factor for completed suicide. To identify specific characteristics of those at high risk for attempts, we investigated associations with socioeconomic status (SES). Data from the 2013 Korean Community Health Survey (KCHS) included adults who reported suicidal ideation (N = 220,245). Attempts in the past 12 months were assessed. Associations of demographic, socioeconomic, and suicide-related behavioral factors were analyzed using multiple logistic regression. Among those with suicidal ideation, 862 (3.9%) had attempted suicide. After stratification by age and gender, results showed that low education and unemployed young adult men and women had significantly higher rates of attempts. The lowest income level was associated with significantly higher rates of attempts in only young adult women. Among those with the lowest and highest income, the association between ideation and attempts was attenuated, whereas it was enhanced among other income groups.
Biofouling likely serves as a major mode of dispersal for the polychaete tubeworm Hydroides elegans as inferred from microsatellite loci

Abstract The polychaete tubeworm Hydroides elegans (Haswell) is a biofouling species with relatively limited larval dispersal. Four highly polymorphic microsatellite loci were used to make inferences about the migration and global population structure of 137 individuals from seven sub-populations located in the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans and in the Mediterranean Sea. The results of the genetic analyses suggest minimal population sub-structure (F st = 0.09). Estimates of pairwise F st and migration rates using the coalescent-based method of MIGRATE suggest that there is little genetic differentiation between certain populations. Variation in relatedness among pairs of populations is consistent with a suite of local and global factors. The most likely explanation for close genetic relatedness among certain populations over such vast distances is the regular and consistent transport of adults and larvae on the hulls and in the ballast water of ships, respectively.
Learning Long Term Dependencies via Fourier Recurrent Units

It is a known fact that training recurrent neural networks for tasks that have long term dependencies is challenging. One of the main reasons is the vanishing or exploding gradient problem, which prevents gradient information from propagating to early layers. In this paper we propose a simple recurrent architecture, the Fourier Recurrent Unit (FRU), that stabilizes the gradients that arise in its training while giving us stronger expressive power. Specifically, FRU summarizes the hidden states $h^{(t)}$ along the temporal dimension with Fourier basis functions. This allows gradients to easily reach any layer due to FRU's residual learning structure and the global support of trigonometric functions. We show that FRU has gradient lower and upper bounds independent of temporal dimension. We also show the strong expressivity of sparse Fourier basis, from which FRU obtains its strong expressive power. Our experimental study also demonstrates that with fewer parameters the proposed architecture outperforms other recurrent architectures on many tasks.
EFFECTS OF NANO-CARBON ON WATER INFILTRATION PROCESS IN DISTURBED LOESSAL SOIL

Application of nano-materials to soil physics is significant in reducing soil water loss and improving soil water and fertilizer utilization efficiency and soil physical structure. A one-dimensional water infiltration experiment wascarried out in disturbed loessal soil columns in laboratory for analysis of effects of content of nano-carbon( 0 g g-1,0. 001 g g-1,0. 005 g g-1,0. 007 g g-1and 0. 010 g g-1) on soil water infiltration process and saturated hydraulic conductivity. Results showed that( 1) the influence of nano-carbon on water infiltration in the disturbed loessal soil was significant, and within a certain infiltration time period,cumulative infiltration and wetting front moving rate tended to decrease with the increasing content of nano-carbon;( 2) Kostiakov formula and Philip equation could both be used to describe how cumulative water infiltration varied with time in the disturbed loessal soil treated with nano-carbon and the former fitted better;( 3) variation of the wetting front with time demonstrated a power function relationship;( 4) nano-carbon also affected significantly saturated mass water contents and saturated hydraulic conductivity in the disturbed loessal soil,and with the increasing content of nano-carbon,the former tended to increase,while the later decrease,which fitted well the binomial expression and exponential function,respectively.