Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Chronic Stress and Unhealthy Dietary Behaviors among Low-Income African-American Female Caregivers

ABSTRACT Background Chronic stress increases the risk of excess intake of calorie-dense foods. Low-income minority caregivers in the United States are cumulatively exposed to stressors and unhealthy foods, but evidence of this association is limited in this population group. The objective of the current study was to assess the association between chronic stress and unhealthy dietary behaviors among low-income African-American caregivers in Detroit, Michigan. Methods Data came from Detroit Dental Health Project, a longitudinal study of pairs of African-American caregivers and children during 2002–2007. A sample of 912 female caregivers were included and their baseline (2002–2003) survey responses were analyzed to identify those with chronic stress and patterns of dietary behaviors. The likelihood of having unhealthy dietary behaviors was compared between chronically stressed caregivers and others, and the mediator role of depressive symptoms or current smoking was tested. Results Approximately 10% of caregivers experienced chronic stress as they all reported discrimination, residential movement, and lack of social support. Twenty-five percent of the caregivers were found to have an unhealthy dietary pattern characterized by excess intake of high fatty foods and soda. Chronically stressed caregivers were more likely to exhibit unhealthy dietary behaviors (prevalence ratio: 1.39; 95% CI: 1.05, 1.84), and this relation was significantly mediated by depressive symptoms, not current smoking. Conclusions These findings suggest that chronic stress played a role in negatively influencing dietary behaviors. As this association might be mediated by depressive symptoms, an intervention to reduce depressive symptoms can be considered as an effective strategy to promote healthy dietary behaviors among chronically stressed minority caregivers.
Molecular docking studies and in vitro degradation of four aflatoxins (AFB1 , AFB2 , AFG1 , and AFG2 ) by a recombinant laccase from Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Here, molecular docking simulation was used to predict and compare interactions between a recombinant Trametes sp. C30 laccase from Saccharomyces cerevisiae and four aflatoxins (AFB1 , AFB2 , AFG1 , and AFG2 ) as well as their degradation at a molecular level. The computational result of docking simulation indicates that each of the aflatoxins tested can interact with laccase with a binding ability of AFB1 >AFG2 >AFG1 >AFB2 . Simultaneously, it also demonstrated that aflatoxin B1 ， B2 ， G1 ， G2 may interact near the T1 copper center of the enzyme through H-bonds and hydrophobic interactions with amino acid residues His481 and Asn288; His481； Asn288, and Asp230; His481 and Asn288. Biological degradation test was performed in vitro in the presence of a recombinant laccase. Degradation increased as incubation time increased from 12 to 60 hr and the maximum degradation obtained for AFB1 , AFB2 , AFG1 , and AFG2 was 90.33%, 74.23%, 85.24%, and 87.58%, respectively. Maximum degradation of aflatoxins was determined with a total activity 3 U laccase at 30 °C in 0.1 M phosphate buffer, pH 5.7 after 48-hr incubation. The experimental results are consistent with that of docking calculation on the biological degradation test of four aflatoxins by laccase. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: In this study, the degradation efficiencies of laccase for B and G series of aflatoxins were determined by computer simulation and verified by performing in vitro experiments. It can provide reference for rapid screening of aflatoxin degradation-related enzymes.
Covid-19: doctors’ leaders warn that staff could quit and may die over lack of protective equipment

The BMA has called the shortage of personal protection equipment (PPE) across the NHS “totally unacceptable” and warned the government that without proper kits some doctors treating patients with covid-19 may die. Chaand Nagpaul, the BMA’s Chair of Council, has called for the government to be transparent about the level of supplies it has. The Royal College of GPs has also raised concerns about the protective kits being provided to primary care staff and has called for guidance on how and when they should be using PPE during patient consultations. Reports from BMA members suggest that, in general, supplies of PPE were not getting through to frontline NHS staff, or if they were it was in small amounts, was rationed, or was not offering enough protection In response to a call for doctors’ experiences of getting PPE, one told the BMA, “Coughed on by covid patients all day today. No visors available. Tomorrow I’m borrowing my nine year old’s safety specs she got in a science party bag. I wish this was actually a joke. ” Nagpaul said, “A construction worker wouldn’t be allowed to work without a hard hat and proper boots. Even a bee keeper wouldn’t inspect a hive without proper protective clothing. And yet …
Deep Learning of Activation Energies

Quantitative predictions of reaction properties, such as activation energy, have been limited due to a lack of available training data. Such predictions would be useful for computer-assisted reaction mechanism generation and organic synthesis planning. We develop a template-free deep learning model to predict the activation energy given reactant and product graphs and train the model on a new, diverse data set of gas-phase quantum chemistry reactions. We demonstrate that our model achieves accurate predictions and agrees with an intuitive understanding of chemical reactivity. With the continued generation of quantitative chemical reaction data and the development of methods that leverage such data, we expect many more methods for reactivity prediction to become available in the near future.
Understanding the genetic basis of congenital insensitivity to pain

Abstract Introduction or background Congenital insensitivity to pain (CIP) is caused by extremely rare Mendelian genetic disorders. CIP individuals demonstrate the unexpectedly severe consequences of painlessness. Although only a small number of causative conditions and genes are known, most have led to profound insights into human nociception. CIP gene discovery is catalyzing the manufacture of completely new classes of analgesics, and these are needed as alternatives to synthetic highly potent opioids. Sources of data Pubmed.gov peer-reviewed journal articles and reviews. Areas of agreement The importance of nerve growth factor-tropomyosin receptor kinase A (NGF-TRKA) signalling for nociceptor genesis and subsequent pain sensing. New analgesics can be generated from knowledge of the NGF-TRKA nociceptor pathway. Increased susceptibility to Staphylococcus aureus infection is a consequence of deficient NGF-TRKA signalling. Mutations in the voltage-gated sodium channels SCN9A and SCN11A can cause congenital painlessness, and in contradistinction, other mutations can cause episodic neuropathic pain. SCN9A/Nav1.7 is an analgesic target. SCN11A/Nav1.9 is unlikely to be an analgesic target. There are further Mendelian causes of painlessness to be discovered. Areas of controversy Which NGF-TRKA intracellular signalling pathways operate in nociceptor development and which in post-natal pain sensing? Why have no clinically effective Nav1.7 antagonist been generated? SCN9A-CIP causes analgesia, at least in part, through endogenous opioids. Why do all CIP phenotypes involve a complete loss of all types of nociception? Areas timely for developing research PRDM12 as an analgesic target. Discovery of the function and analgesic potential of new CIP genes. Can NGF-TRKA be used in the treatment of S. aureus?
Hyperspectral imaging for skin assessment in systemic sclerosis: a pilot study.

OBJECTIVE Hyperspectral imaging (HSI) is a novel technology for obtaining quantitative measurements from transcutaneous spatial and spectral information. In patients with SSc, the severity of skin tightness is associated with internal organ involvement. However, clinical assessment using the modified Rodnan skin score is highly variable and there are currently no universal standardized protocols. This study aimed to compare the ability to differentiate between SSc patients and healthy controls using skin scores, ultrasound and HSI. METHODS Short-wave infrared light was utilized to detect the spectral angle mapper (SAM) of HSI. In addition, skin severity was evaluated by skin scores, ultrasound to detect dermal thickness and strain elastography. Spearman's correlation was used for assessing skin scores, strain ratio, thickness and SAM. Comparisons of various assessment tools were performed by receiver operating characteristic curves. RESULTS In total, 31 SSc patients were enrolled. SAM was positively correlated with skin scores and dermal thickness. In SSc patients with normal skin scores, SAM values were still significantly higher than in healthy controls. SAM exhibited the highest area under the curve (AUC: 0.812, P < 0.001) in detecting SSc compared with skin scores (AUC: 0.712, P < 0.001), thickness (AUC: 0.585, P = 0.009) and strain ratio by elastography (AUC: 0.522, P = 0.510). Moreover, the severity of skin tightness was reflected by the incremental changes of waveforms in the spectral diagrams. CONCLUSION SAM was correlated with skin scores and sufficiently sensitive to detect subclinical disease. HSI can be used as a novel, non-invasive method for assessing skin changes in SSc.
Micronucleus Assay of Buccal Mucosa Cells in Waterpipe (Hookah) Smokers: A Cytologic Study.

Background & Objective Micronucleus assay of buccal mucosa cells is a simple bio- monitoring method for diagnosing the genetic damages of toxic agents. The aim was to study the genotoxic effect of waterpipe smoking on buccal mucosa cells using micronucleus assay. Methods This was a case control. A total of 30 male waterpipe smokers and 30 non-smokers were included in the study. The exfoliated buccal mucosa cells were scrapped using wooden spatula and were spread over glass slides. The mean number of micronuclei was determined using Feulgen-stained slides. The number of micronuclei per 1000 cells was calculated and compared between the two groups of smokers and non-smokers. Results The mean number of micronuclei in waterpipe smokers and non-smokers was 1.94±0.39 and 1.68±0.35, respectively. The micronuclei count in waterpipe smokers was significantly higher than non-smokers (P=0). The difference between the number of waterpipe smoking and micronuclei count was significantly different (P=0). Conclusion The mean number of micronuclei in buccal mucosa cells of waterpipe smokers was significantly higher than non-smokers. The genotoxicity effect of waterpipe was dose-dependent.
S‐Nitroso‐N‐acetylpenicillamine impregnated endotracheal tubes for prevention of ventilator‐associated pneumonia

The chances of ventilator‐associated pneumonia (VAP) increases 6–20 folds when an endotracheal tube (ETT) is placed in a patient. VAP is one of the most common hospital‐acquired infections and comprises 86% of the nosocomial pneumonia cases. This study introduces the idea of nitric oxide‐releasing ETTs (NORel‐ETTs) fabricated by the incorporation of the nitric oxide (NO) donor S‐nitroso‐N‐acetylpenicillamine (SNAP) into commercially available ETTs via solvent swelling. The impregnation of SNAP provides NO release over a 7‐day period without altering the mechanical properties of the ETT. The NORel‐ETTs successfully reduced the bacterial infection from a commonly found pathogen in VAP, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, by 92.72 ± 0.97% when compared with the control ETTs. Overall, this study presents the incorporation of the active release of a bactericidal agent in ETTs as an efficient strategy to prevent the risk of VAP.
Biosynthetic Plasticity Enables Production of Fluorinated Aurachins

Abstract Enzyme promiscuity has important implications in the field of biocatalysis. In some cases, structural analogues of simple metabolic building blocks can be processed through entire pathways to give natural product derivatives that are not readily accessible by chemical means. In this study, we explored the plasticity of the aurachin biosynthesis pathway with regard to using fluoro‐ and chloroanthranilic acids, which are not abundant in the bacterial producers of these quinolone antibiotics. The incorporation rates of the tested precursor molecules disclosed a regiopreference for halogen substitution as well as steric limitations of enzymatic substrate tolerance. Three previously undescribed fluorinated aurachin derivatives were produced in preparative amounts by fermentation and structurally characterized. Furthermore, their antibacterial activities were evaluated in comparison to their natural congener aurachin D.
Effect of custom-made and prefabricated foot orthoses on kinematic parameters during an intense prolonged run

Foot orthoses are one of the most used strategies by healthy runners in injury prevention and performance improvement. However, their effect on running kinematics throughout an intense prolonged run in this population is unknown. Moreover, there is some controversy regarding the use of custom-made versus prefabricated foot orthoses. This study analysed the effect of different foot orthoses (custom-made, prefabricated and a control condition) on spatio-temporal and angular (knee flexion and foot eversion) kinematic parameters and their behaviour during an intense prolonged run. Twenty-four recreational runners performed three similar tests that consisted of running 20 min on a treadmill at 80% of their maximal aerobic speed, each one with a different foot orthosis condition. Contact and flight time, and stride length and stride rate were measured every 5 min by an optical measurement photoelectric cell system. Knee flexion and foot eversion kinematic parameters were measured by two high-speed cameras. No significant differences were found between the different foot orthoses in any of the time points studied and between the interaction of foot orthosis and behaviour over time, in any of the variables studied (P > 0.05). The use of custom-made and prefabricated foot orthoses during an intense prolonged run does not produce changes in spatio-temporal and kinematic parameters in healthy runners. These results suggest that a healthy runner maintains its ideal movement pattern throughout a 20 minute prolonged run, regardless the type of foot orthosis used.
Early establishment of photosynthesis and auxin biosynthesis plays a key role in early biomass heterosis in Brassica napus (Canola) hybrids.

Heterosis or hybrid vigour has been used widely for more than a decade in Brassica napus (Canola) production. Canola hybrids show heterosis in a variety of traits compared to parents, including increased biomass at early stages of seedling establishment, which is a critical developmental step that impacts future plant growth and seed yield. In this study, we examined transcriptomes of two parental lines, Garnet (Gar) and NX0052 (0052), and their reciprocal hybrids, Gar/0052, at 4 and 8 days after sowing (DAS). In hybrids, early seedling biomass heterosis is correlated with earlier expression of genes in photosynthesis pathways relative to parents. The hybrids also showed early expression of genes in the auxin biosynthesis pathway, consistent with the higher auxin concentrations detected in hybrid seedlings at 4 DAS. Auxin is a key phyto-hormone that regulates plant development promoting cell expansion and cell proliferation. Consistent with the increased levels of auxin, hybrids have larger and more palisade cells than the parents at the same time point. We propose a possible mechanism of early biomass heterosis through early establishment of photosynthesis and auxin biosynthesis, providing insights of how transcriptional changes in hybrids are translated into phenotypical heterosis. This finding could be utilized in future Canola breeding to identify hybrid combinations with superior early seedling establishment and strong levels of hybrid vigour in later plant development.
Polymorphism –509C/T in TGFB1 Promoter Is Associated With Increased Risk and Severity of Persistent Allergic Rhinitis in a Chinese Population

Background Polymorphism –509C/T in the promoter of transforming growth factor beta1 (TGFB1) gene is implicated in the pathogenesis of asthma. This polymorphism might also act to regulate the development of allergic rhinitis (AR). Objectives To investigate whether –509C/T is associated with AR susceptibility and severity in a Han Chinese population. Methods The study enrolled 263 patients with persistent AR and 249 healthy controls. AR patients were classified as mild or moderate/severe AR groups according to the Allergic Rhinitis and its Impact on Asthma classification. TGFB1 gene polymorphism –509C/T was genotyped with polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). Serum total Immunoglobulin E (IgE) and specific IgE levels were determined using an ImmunoCAP. Results Significant difference was found in the allele frequency of TGFB1 –509C/T between AR patients and healthy controls (P = .027) but not in the genotype frequency (P =.051). However, the genotype frequency of TGFB1 –509C/T showed significant difference between the mild AR group, the moderate/severe AR group, and the control group (P = .012); between the moderate/severe AR group and the control group (P =.036); between the mild AR group and the moderate/severe AR group (P = .038); but not between the mild AR group and the control group (P =.075). Conclusion TGFB1 promoter polymorphism –509C/T may be associated with the susceptibility and the severity of persistent AR of Han Chinese, but the functional relationship still needs clarification.
Correlation of Serum Glutamate Level and IL-1β on Encephalopathy and Sepsis in Premature Infant

Premature birth worldwide still high, in United State was 1-5% and 15.5 in 100 live birth in Indonesia. Premature babies are vulnerable to critically illness especially infections and brain injury. Major problem in brain injury are placed at white matter, in term encephalopaty of prematurity. Ischemic condition will cause glutamate excitation. In many research before have proved that there is correlation between brain and serum glutamate. Intrauterine infection in premature babies have impact to brain with the excretion of pro inflammatory cytokine such as IL-1β. Sample was obtained from 72 premature babies (under 36 weeks GA) birth in June to August 2016 in Hasan Sadikin General Hospital Bandung. This was comparative analysis with cohort approach using logistic regression analysis to determine level of glutamate and IL-1β with minimal sample 63. All premature baby which met inclusion criteria were having blood examination according to algorithm. Median glutamate serum level in premature with encephalopathy higher (67.9g/mL) than premature without encephalopathy (33.9g/mL). Median level of IL-1B serum in premature encephalopathy and sepsis (8,67g/mL) were higher than premature without encephalopathy (12.3g/mL) as well as sepsis (1.7g/mL). It was found/revealed in this study that every increase in a unit of glutamate serum level of a premature neonate means 1.04 times risk to arise encephalopathy, while the increase of IL-1 level in the first 24 hours means 1.33 times risk to arise sepsis with 95% confidence interval.
Preliminary Effects of a Mobile Interactive Supervised Therapy Intervention on People Living With HIV: Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial

Background As people living with HIV infection require lifelong treatment, nonadherence to medication will reduce their chance of maintaining viral suppression and increase the risk of developing drug resistance and HIV transmission. Objective This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of a mobile app, Mobile Interactive Supervised Therapy (MIST), for improving adherence to oral HIV medications among HIV-infected adults in Singapore. Methods We conducted a two-group pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT) with a process evaluation, in which 40 HIV-infected participants with once-daily medication regimes were recruited from a public tertiary hospital in Singapore and randomly assigned equally to either the intervention (receiving MIST and routine care) or control (receiving routine care only) groups. The intervention lasted for 2 months. The outcome of antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence was measured by a 7-day recall self-report (SR), pill count (PC), an electronic medical device—Medication Event Monitoring System (MEMS)—and a mobile app—MIST (for the intervention group only). In total, 20 participants from the intervention group were interviewed at the end of the intervention to assess the acceptability of MIST. Data were collected at baseline and at 1-month and 2-month postintervention. Results All participants had excellent medication adherence at baseline (median 100, IQR 100-100). The use of MIST did not result in a significant improvement in ART adherence when measured by the SR, PC, and MEMS, as compared with the control group at 1-month (P values >.99, .86, and .74, respectively) and 2-month (P values=.80, .84, and .82, respectively) postintervention. ART adherence also did not improve in each group over the same period. MIST was perceived to be a beneficial tool based on the process evaluation results. Conclusions Although MIST did not enhance medication adherence to HIV treatments, mainly owing to the ceiling effect, it was perceived to be beneficial among the participants of this study. Our process evaluation provided useful data to further develop MIST for bigger and long-term mobile phone app–assisted intervention RCTs in the future. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03794648; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03794648
Perceptions matter: Narratives of contraceptive implant robbery in Cape Town, South Africa

Abstract Uptake of contraceptive implants has declined in South Africa since their introduction in 2014, with side effects and inadequate health provider training cited as primary contributors underlying a poor community perception of implants. In this paper we explore a theme that emerged unexpectedly during analysis of our research in Cape Town that may be an additional factor in this decline: narratives of women being assaulted by robbers who physically remove the implants for smoking as drugs. Narratives were described consistently across interviews and focus groups with youth (aged 18–24 years) and in interviews with health providers, with six participants (two young people, four health providers) sharing personal experiences of robbery. While there was a range of perspectives on whether narratives are based on real experiences or are myths, there was strong consensus that narratives of implant robbery may be influencing women’s decisions around implant use in Cape Town. This is a potent example of how perceptions of new products can affect uptake and offers important lessons for implementers to reflect on in planning for rollout of other health technologies.
Preparedness and Lessons Learned from the Novel Coronavirus Disease

In a short span, a novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) has captured global consciousness by significantly affecting the day-to-day life of humans and emerged as a public health emergency. Undoubtedly, it indicates that lessons learnt from the past epidemics of coronaviruses such as the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), had not enough and thus left us ill-prepared to deal with the challenges that COVID-19 pandemic is currently posing. Currently, as a global pandemic, COVID-19 poses major challenges and thus forcing the entire world to lockdown. However, the disease has prepared humankind in facing such outbreaks at present as well as in the future. Besides, it has also taught numerous lessons that are worth considering and implementing to make the world a better reality.