Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The physicochemical properties and antioxidant capacities of commercial and homemade Greek vinegars.

BACKGROUND Due to its high content of antioxidant compounds, vinegar can be considered an excellent source of health promoting compounds. The aim of this study was to compare the physicochemical composition and antioxidant capacity of eighteen vinegars made from red and white wine, apple, rose petals, and balsamic acid. METHODS Eight randomly selected commercial vinegars from the Greek market and ten homemade vinegars were used. Their quality characteristics, color profile, polyphenol content and antioxidant capacity were determined. RESULTS The results showed that there is a high diversity of values among the examined vinegar samples indicating that the raw material and the applied production methods can affect their composition. Red wine vinegars and red balsamic vinegars exhibited the highest levels of total phenols, followed by fruit vinegars, white wine vinegars and white balsamic vinegars. The antioxidant capacity was strongly affected by the total phenolic content, followed by the total flavonoid content and less so by the color density. CONCLUSIONS Our findings could provide important information to consumers about the randomly selected vinegars from the Greek market and could be used for the development and optimization of homemade and commercial vinegars.
DeepPoseKit, a software toolkit for fast and robust animal pose estimation using deep learning

Quantitative behavioral measurements are important for answering questions across scientific disciplines—from neuroscience to ecology. State-of-the-art deep-learning methods offer major advances in data quality and detail by allowing researchers to automatically estimate locations of an animal’s body parts directly from images or videos. However, currently-available animal pose estimation methods have limitations in speed and robustness. Here we introduce a new easy-to-use software toolkit, DeepPoseKit, that addresses these problems using an eZcient multi-scale deep-learning model, called Stacked DenseNet, and a fast GPU-based peak-detection algorithm for estimating keypoint locations with subpixel precision. These advances improve processing speed >2× with no loss in accuracy compared to currently-available methods. We demonstrate the versatility of our methods with multiple challenging animal pose estimation tasks in laboratory and field settings—including groups of interacting individuals. Our work reduces barriers to using advanced tools for measuring behavior and has broad applicability across the behavioral sciences.
A CTG repeat-selective chemical screen identifies microtubule inhibitors as selective modulators of toxic CUG RNA levels

Significance Toxic RNA molecules containing hundreds to thousands of CUG repeats cause myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1). Selectively blocking expression of this toxic CUG RNA has the potential to alleviate all downstream pathogenic consequences to the cell. To identify new hits and cellular targets that selectively regulate toxic CUG RNA levels, we developed a cell-based screening assay that permits the ratio-metric measurement of toxic CUG RNA abundance relative to an analogous control RNA. A pilot screen identified multiple microtubule inhibitors as hits that selectively regulate toxic CUG RNA levels in multiple DM1 models. These findings open avenues of research and therapy in DM1 and provide proof of concept for repeat-selective screening to identify unanticipated hits in other microsatellite expansion diseases. A CTG repeat expansion in the DMPK gene is the causative mutation of myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1). Transcription of the expanded CTG repeat produces toxic gain-of-function CUG RNA, leading to disease symptoms. A screening platform that targets production or stability of the toxic CUG RNA in a selective manner has the potential to provide new biological and therapeutic insights. A DM1 HeLa cell model was generated that stably expresses a toxic r(CUG)480 and an analogous r(CUG)0 control from DMPK and was used to measure the ratio-metric level of r(CUG)480 versus r(CUG)0. This DM1 HeLa model recapitulates pathogenic hallmarks of DM1, including CUG ribonuclear foci and missplicing of pre-mRNA targets of the muscleblind (MBNL) alternative splicing factors. Repeat-selective screening using this cell line led to the unexpected identification of multiple microtubule inhibitors as hits that selectively reduce r(CUG)480 levels and partially rescue MBNL-dependent missplicing. These results were validated by using the Food and Drug Administration-approved clinical microtubule inhibitor colchicine in DM1 mouse and primary patient cell models. The mechanism of action was found to involve selective reduced transcription of the CTG expansion that we hypothesize to involve the LINC (linker of nucleoskeleton and cytoskeleton) complex. The unanticipated identification of microtubule inhibitors as selective modulators of toxic CUG RNA opens research directions for this form of muscular dystrophy and may shed light on the biology of CTG repeat expansion and inform therapeutic avenues. This approach has the potential to identify modulators of expanded repeat-containing gene expression for over 30 microsatellite expansion disorders.
Drug prescription patterns, polypharmacy and potentially inappropriate medication in Swiss nursing homes: a descriptive analysis based on claims data.

BACKGROUND To date, comprehensive data on drug utilisation in Swiss nursing homes are lacking. OBJECTIVE To describe drug prescription patterns, polypharmacy and potentially inappropriate medication (PIM) in Swiss nursing home residents (NHR). METHODS Using administrative claims data provided by the Swiss health insurance company Helsana, we assessed drug claims and drug costs in 2016 in individuals aged ≥65 years and insured with Helsana, who were either NHR or living in the community (reference group, RG). In particular, we analysed the prevalence of polypharmacy (≥5 claims for different drugs during a 3-month period) and PIM use according to the 2015 Beers criteria and the PRISCUS list. We standardised the results to the Swiss population. RECULTS In 2016, NHR had on average nearly twice as many drug claims per capita as individuals in the RG (NHR 58.8; RG 30.8). The average per capita drug costs per day for NHR were low, but higher than in the RG (NHR CHF 8.55; RG CHF 5.45). The same pattern applied to the prevalence of polypharmacy (NHR 85.5%; RG 50.4%). Standardisation by age and sex did not materially alter these observations. Overall, 79.1% of NHR received ≥1 PIM, and 56.2% were long-term users (≥3 claims) of at least one PIM (based on the combined PRISCUS list and Beers criteria). Among all PIMs in nursing homes, quetiapine (antipsychotic agent), lorazepam (anxiolytic agent) and zolpidem (hypnotic agent) were the most prevalent (22.4, 20.2 and 13.0%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS The high prevalence of polypharmacy and PIM in Swiss nursing homes may indicate a need for interventions aiming at de-prescribing drugs with an unfavourable benefit-risk profile.
An experimental test of the ovulatory homolog model of female orgasm

Significance The existence of female orgasm is intriguing for 2 reasons: On the one hand, female orgasm is not necessary for female reproductive success, and on the other hand, this neuro-endocrine reflex is too complex to be an evolutionary accident. This led to many proposed evolutionary explanations, most of which have little empirical support. We previously proposed that female orgasm uses a mechanism that originated for inducing ovulation during copulation: A mechanism that still exists in many animals but lost its role in others. Here we provide experimental evidence, strengthening the likelihood that female orgasm evolved from copulation-induced ovulation. This finding helps interpreting otherwise difficult to explain aspects of female sexuality, such as the low rate of female orgasm during intercourse. The ovulatory homolog model of female orgasm posits that the neuro-endocrine mechanisms underlying female orgasm evolved from and are homologous to the mechanisms mediating copulation-induced ovulation in some mammals. This model predicts that pharmacological agents that affect human orgasm, such as fluoxetine, should also affect ovulation in animals with copulation-induced ovulation, such as rabbits. We tested this prediction by treating rabbits with daily doses of fluoxetine for 2 wk and found that fluoxetine treatment reduces the number of ovulations postcopulation by 30%. In a second experiment we tested whether this result was mediated by an effect on the brain or via peripheral serotonin functions. We treated animals with fluoxetine and induced ovulation with a single injection of human chorionic gonadotropin. In this experiment ovulation rate was nominally reduced by only 8%, which is statistically not significant. We conclude that the effect of fluoxetine on copulation-induced ovulation rate supports the ovulatory homolog model of female orgasm, suggesting that female orgasm has very deep evolutionary roots among the early eutherian mammals.
Impact of Elemental Sulfur on the Rhizospheric Bacteria of Durum Wheat Crop Cultivated on a Calcareous Soil

Previous experiments have shown that the application of fertilizer granules containing elemental sulfur (S0) as an ingredient (FBS0) in durum wheat crops produced a higher yield than that produced by conventional ones (F), provided that the soils of the experimental fields (F vs. FBS0) were of comparable quality and with the Olsen P content of the field’s soil above 8 mg kg−1. In this experiment the FBS0 treatment took place in soil with Olsen P at 7.8 mg kg−1, compared with the F treatment’s soil with Olsen P of 16.8 mg kg−1, aiming at reducing the imbalance in soil quality. To assess and evaluate the effect of FBS0 on the dynamics of the rhizospheric bacteria in relation to F, rhizospheric soil at various developmental stages of the crops was collected. The agronomic profile of the rhizospheric cultivable bacteria was characterized and monitored, in connection with the dynamics of phosphorus, iron, organic sulfur, and organic nitrogen, in both the rhizosoil and the aerial part of the plant during development. Both crops were characterized by a comparable dry mass accumulation per plant throughout development, while the yield of the FBS0 crop was 3.4% less compared to the F crop’s one. The FBS0 crop’s aerial part showed a transient higher P and Fe concentration, while its organic N and S concentrations followed the pattern of the F crop. The incorporation of S0 into the conventional fertilizer increased the percentage of arylsulfatase (ARS)-producing bacteria in the total bacterial population, suggesting an enhanced release of sulfate from the soil’s organic S pool, which the plant could readily utilize. The proportion of identified ARS-producing bacteria possessing these traits exhibited a maximum value before and after topdressing. Phylogenetic analysis of the 68 isolated ARS-producing bacterial strains revealed that the majority of the isolates belonged to the Pseudomonas genus. A large fraction also possessed phosphate solubilization, and/or siderophore production, and/or ureolytic traits, thus improving the crop’s P, Fe, S, and N balance. The aforementioned findings imply that the used FBS0 substantially improved the quality of the rhizosoil at the available phosphorus limiting level by modulating the abundance of the bacterial communities in the rhizosphere and effectively enhancing the microbially mediated nutrient mobilization towards improved plant nutritional dynamics.
Functional equivalence of stem cell and stem cell‐derived extracellular vesicle transplantation to repair the irradiated brain

Cranial radiotherapy, although beneficial for the treatment of brain tumors, inevitably leads to normal tissue damage that can induce unintended neurocognitive complications that are progressive and debilitating. Ionizing radiation exposure has also been shown to compromise the structural integrity of mature neurons throughout the brain, an effect believed to be at least in part responsible for the deterioration of cognitive health. Past work has shown that cranially transplanted human neural stem cells (hNSCs) or their extracellular vesicles (EVs) afforded long‐term beneficial effects on many of these cognitive decrements. To provide additional insight into the potential neuroprotective mechanisms of cell‐based regenerative strategies, we have analyzed hippocampal neurons for changes in structural integrity and synaptic remodeling after unilateral and bilateral transplantation of hNSCs or EVs derived from those same cells. Interestingly, hNSCs and EVs similarly afforded protection to host neurons, ameliorating the impact of irradiation on dendritic complexity and spine density for neurons present in both the ipsilateral and contralateral hippocampi 1 month following irradiation and transplantation. These morphometric improvements were accompanied by increased levels of glial cell‐derived growth factor and significant attenuation of radiation‐induced increases in postsynaptic density protein 95 and activated microglia were found ipsi‐ and contra‐lateral to the transplantation sites of the irradiated hippocampus treated with hNSCs or hNSC‐derived EVs. These findings document potent far‐reaching neuroprotective effects mediated by grafted stem cells or EVs adjacent and distal to the site of transplantation and support their potential as therapeutic agents to counteract the adverse effects of cranial irradiation.
Retrospective Assessment of Desmopressin Effectiveness and Safety in Patients With Antiplatelet-Associated Intracranial Hemorrhage.

OBJECTIVE Current international guidelines offer a conditional recommendation to consider a single dose of IV desmopressin (DDAVP) for antiplatelet-associated intracranial hemorrhage based on low-quality evidence. We provide the first comparative assessment analyzing DDAVP effectiveness and safety in antiplatelet-associated intracranial hemorrhage. DESIGN Retrospective chart review. SETTING Single tertiary care academic medical center. PATIENTS Adult patients taking at least one antiplatelet agent based on presenting history and documented evidence of intracranial hemorrhage on cerebral CT scan were included. Patients were excluded for the following reasons: repeat cerebral CT scan not performed within the first 24 hours, noncomparative repeat cerebral CT scan, chronic anticoagulation, administration of fibrinolytic medications, concurrent ischemic stroke, and neurosurgical intervention. In total, 124 patients were included, 55 received DDAVP and 69 did not. INTERVENTIONS DDAVP treatment at recognition of antiplatelet-associated intracranial hemorrhage versus nontreatment. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS Primary effectiveness outcome was intracranial hemorrhage expansion greater than or equal to 3 mL during the first 24 hospital hours. Primary safety outcomes were the largest absolute decrease from baseline serum sodium during the first 3 treatment days and new-onset thrombotic events during the first 7 days. DDAVP was associated with 88% decreased likelihood of intracranial hemorrhage expansion during the first 24 hours ([+] DDAVP, 10.9% vs [-] DDAVP, 36.2%; p = 0.002; odds ratio [95% CI], 0.22 [0.08-0.57]). Largest median absolute decrease from baseline serum sodium ([+] DDAVP, 0 mEq/L [0-5 mEq/L] vs [-] DDAVP, 0 mEq/L [0-2 mEq/L]; p = 0.089) and thrombotic events ([+] DDAVP, 7.3% vs [-] DDAVP, 1.4%; p = 0.170; odds ratio [95% CI], 5.33 [0.58-49.16]) were similar between groups. CONCLUSIONS DDAVP was associated with a decreased likelihood of intracranial hemorrhage expansion during the first 24 hours. DDAVP administration did not significantly affect serum sodium and thrombotic events during the study period.
Transformational Leadership, Task-Involving Climate, and Their Implications in Male Junior Soccer Players: A Multilevel Approach

Despite the well-known positive consequences of transformational coaches in sport, there is still little research exploring the mechanisms through which coaches’ transformational leadership exerts its impact on athletes. Multilevel SEM was used to examine the relationship between coaches’ transformational leadership style, a task-involving climate, and leadership effectiveness outcome criteria (i.e., players’ extra effort, coach effectiveness, and satisfaction with their coach), separately estimating between and within effects. A representative sample of 625 Spanish male soccer players ranging from 16 to 18 years old and nested in 50 teams completed a questionnaire package tapping the variables of interest. Results confirmed that at the team level, team perceptions of transformational leadership positively predicted teams’ perceptions of task climate, which in turn positively predicted the three outcome criteria. At the individual level, players’ perceptions of transformational leadership positively predicted teams’ perceptions of task climate, which in turn positively predicted teams’ extra effort and coach effectiveness. Mediation effects appeared at the team level for all the outcome criteria, and at the individual only for extra effort. Transformational leadership is recommended to enhance task climate, in order to increase players’ extra effort, their perceptions of the effectiveness of their coach, and their satisfaction with his/her leadership style.
Healthcare facility-based strategies to improve tuberculosis testing and linkage to care in non-U.S.-born population in the United States: A systematic review

Context An estimated 21% of non-U.S.-born persons in the United States have a reactive tuberculin skin test (TST) and are at risk of progressing to TB disease. The effectiveness of strategies by healthcare facilities to improve targeted TB infection testing and linkage to care among this population is unclear. Evidence acquisition Following Cochrane guidelines, we searched several sources to identify studies that assessed strategies directed at healthcare providers and/or non-U.S.–born patients in U.S. healthcare facilities. Evidence synthesis Seven studies were eligible. In a randomized controlled trial (RCT), patients with reactive TST who received reminders for follow-up appointments were more likely to attend appointments (risk ratio, RR = 1.05, 95% confidence interval 1.00–1.10), but rates of return in a quasi-RCT study using patient reminders did not significantly differ between study arms (P = 0.520). Patient-provider language concordance in a retrospective cohort study did not increase provider referrals for testing (P = 0.121) or patient testing uptake (P = 0.159). Of three studies evaluating pre and post multifaceted interventions, two increased TB infection testing (from 0% to 77%, p < .001 and RR 2.28, 1.08–4.80) and one increased provider referrals for TST (RR 24.6, 3.5–174). In another pre-post study, electronic reminders to providers increased reading of TSTs (RR 2.84, 1.53–5.25), but only to 25%. All seven studies were at high risk of bias. Conclusions Multifaceted strategies targeting providers may improve targeted TB infection testing in non-U.S.-born populations visiting U.S. healthcare facilities; uncertainties exist due to low-quality evidence. Additional high-quality studies on this topic are needed.
[Effects of genistein on Nrf2/HO-1 pathway in myocardial tissues of diabetic rats].

OBJECTIVE To investigate the effects of genistein (Gen) on nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)/heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) pathway in myocardial tissues of diabetic rats. Methods: Thirty-two male SD rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: a normal control (NC) group, a diabetic control (DM) group, a low-dose Gen treatment (L-Gen) group, and a high-dose Gen treatment (H-Gen) group (n=8). Intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin was utilized to induce diabetic rat model. After the establishment of diabetic model, the rats in L-Gen and H-Gen groups were intragastric administration with 10 and 50 mg/kg Gen solution. Following 8 weeks, the left ventricular hemodynamic parameters and fasting blood glucose (FBG) levels were measured. The levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) in myocardial tissue were determined. The ultrastructure of myocardium was observed under transmission electron microscopy. The expression of HO-1 at mRNA level in myocardial tissue was detected by RT-PCR. The protein levels of Nrf2 and HO-1 in myocardial tissue were detected by Western blotting. Results: Compared with the NC group, left ventricular systolic pressure (LVSP), maximal rise/fall rate of left ventricular pressure (±dp/dtmax), and the levels of GSH-Px, SOD and CAT were decreased (all P<0.01), while the left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP), FBG and MDA were increased (all P<0.01) in the DM group. The myocardial ultrastructure was obviously damaged, and the expressions of myocardial Nrf2 and HO-1 were significantly decreased (both P<0.01) in the DM group. Compared with the DM group, there was no difference in FBG in the L-Gen group, while ±dp/dtmax and LVSP were significantly increased (all P<0.05), and LVEDP and MDA were decreased (P<0.05 or P<0.01), and the levels of GSH-Px, SOD and CAT were increased (P<0.05 or P<0.01) in the L-Gen group. The myocardial ultrastructure damage was alleviated and the expressions of Nrf2 and HO-1 were increased (both P<0.01) in the L-Gen group. Compared with L-Gen group, the aforementioned indexes were improved in the H-Gen group (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Conclusion: Genistein exerted antioxidant effects on myocardial injury in diabetic rats, and the mechanisms might be related to regulating the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway and enhancing the activities of antioxidant enzymes in myocardial tissues.
Bilobalide Suppresses Adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 Adipocytes via the AMPK Signaling Pathway

Bilobalide, the only sesquiterpene compound from Ginkgo biloba leaf, exhibits various beneficial pharmaceutical activities, such as antioxidant, anti-inflammation, and protective effects for the central nervous system. Several bioactive components extracted from Ginkgo biloba extract reportedly have the potential to attenuate lipid metabolism. However, the effect of bilobalide on lipid metabolism remains unclear. In this study, we used 3T3-L1 cells as the cell model to investigate the effect of bilobalide on adipogenesis. The results showed that bilobalide inhibited 3T3-L1 preadipocyte differentiation and intracellular lipid accumulation. Quantitative real-time PCR and western blotting results indicated that several specific adipogenic transcription factors and a few important adipogenesis-related genes were significantly down regulated on both mRNA and protein levels in bilobalide treatment groups. By contrast, the expression of some lipolytic genes, such as adipose triglyceride lipase, hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL), and carnitine palmitoyltransferase-1α, were all up-regulated by bilobalide treatment, and the phosphorylation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), acetyl-CoA carboxylase 1, and HSL were stimulated. Furthermore, bilobalide treatment partially restored AMPK activity following its blockade by compound C (dorsomorphin). These results suggested that bilobalide inhibited adipogenesis and promoted lipolysis in 3T3-L1 cells by activating the AMPK signaling pathway.