Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Simultaneous Determination of Pigments, Tocopherols, and Squalene in Greek Olive Oils: A Study of the Influence of Cultivation and Oil-Production Parameters

A new facile and fast method was developed in this study for the determination of pigments (chlorophylls and carotenoids), tocopherols (α-, sum of (β + γ), and δ), and squalene in olive oil. This method consisted of a dilution of olive oil in 2-propanol, followed by reversed phase-high-pressure liquid chromatography equipped with a diode array detector (RP-HPLC-DAD). Chromatographic separation was performed using a C18 column, while the mobile phase consisted of acetonitrile and methanol using a gradient elution program. The methodology was optimized, validated, and applied to the analysis of 452 samples of Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOOs) and Virgin Olive Oil (VOOs) originated from five islands of the Northeastern Aegean Region, in Greece. From the obtained results, it was indicated that the carotenoid, tocopherol, and squalene content was relatively high, while the chlorophyll content was low. Furthermore, the acquired results were studied and compared in order to obtain useful information about the correlation of the concentration levels of these compounds in olive oil to different cultivation and olive oil production parameters. Several parameters were found to play a significant role on the pigment and antioxidant content of olive oil, such as the olive tree variety, geographical origin, fruit maturation stage during harvesting, and addition of water during malaxation, while other parameters such as the altitude of cultivation, the type of farming (organic or conventional), and the type of olive mill did not seem to affect the levels of these compounds.
A Novel SNPs in Alpha-Lactalbumin Gene Effects on Lactation Traits in Chinese Holstein Dairy Cows

Simple Summary Alpha-lactalbumin (α-LA) is a major whey protein component in mammalian milk, such as human (approximately 36%), bovine (approximately 17%), and other species, etc., It is involved in the regulation of lactose synthesis and has high nutritional value, especially in infant formula. Previous studies have confirmed that bovine α-LA gene 5′-flanking region has single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), but little is known about polymorphisms in other regions, especially sequence coding for amino acids in protein (CDS) and their adjacent non-coding regions, including Chinese Holstein dairy cows. This study focused on investigated SNPs in the CDS and their adjacent non-coding regions of the α-LA gene in Chinese Holstein dairy cows, and assessed the association between SNPs and lactation traits. Sequence alignment showed that a potential SNPs (562th, G/A) in CDS2 region affect protein spatial structure, suggesting that this SNPs might affect the lactation traits of cows (milk type (Holstein and Jersey), and non-milk type (Bos Taurus)) need more in-depth study. More importantly, a novel SNPs at 1847th (T/C) bp in non-coding region near CDS4 was significantly associated with milk lactose composition, and lactose contents were significantly correlated with milk protein content, indicating that the SNPs could be used as a novel potential molecular marker for lactation traits in Chinese Holstein dairy cows. Abstract Alpha-lactalbumin (α-LA) is a major whey protein in bovine and other mammalian milk, which regulates synthesis of lactose. Little is known about its genetic polymorphism and whether can be used as a potential marker for dairy ingredients, milk yield traits, and milk properties. To investigate its polymorphisms and their relationship with milk lactation traits in Chinese Holstein dairy cows, single-strand conformation polymorphism method (PCR-SSCP) and direct sequencing method were used to mark the α-LA gene SNPs. AA (0.7402) and AB (0.2598) genotypes were screened out by PCR-SSCP bands analysis in two independent populations. Direct sequencing revealed that there is one SNP at 1847th (T/C) bp in noncoding region of α-LA gene with highly polymorphic (0.5 < PIC = 0.5623 or 0.5822), of which T is in AA genotype while C in AB. Association analysis also showed that lactose content (p < 0.05) was negatively correlated with fat and protein contents within subgroup, indicating that the SNPs (1847th, T/C) in α-LA gene could be used as a novel potential molecular marker for lactation traits in Chinese Holstein dairy cows.
Ginger Water Reduces Body Weight Gain and Improves Energy Expenditure in Rats

Obesity is a serious global problem that causes predisposition to numerous serious diseases. The current study aims to investigate the effect of ginger water on body weight and energy expenditure through modulation of mRNA expression of carbohydrate and lipid metabolism. A white colored liquid obtained during freeze-drying of fresh rhizomes of Zingiber officinal was collected and named ginger water. It was used to treat rats, then blood and tissue samples were collected from the liver and white adipose at the end of the experiment. The serum was prepared and used for biochemical assays, while tissue samples were used for RNA isolation and gene expression analysis via Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Results of High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) analysis of ginger water revealed the presence of chrysin and galangin at concentrations of 0.24 µg/mL and 0.53 µg/mL, respectively. Average body weight gain decreased significantly in groups that received ginger water. In addition, both total cholesterol and serum triacylglycerol were reduced in the groups that received ginger water. Furthermore, mRNA expression of Sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1 (SREBP-1c) in the liver and leptin in adipose tissues were downregulated, while those of adiponectin, hepatic carnitine palmitoyltransferase1 (CPT-1), acyl-coA oxidase (ACO), Glucose transporter 2 (GLUT-2), and pyruvate kinase (PK) were upregulated in ginger water-treated groups. These results clearly revealed the lowering body weight gain effect of ginger water, which most likely occurs at the transcriptional level of energy metabolizing proteins.
Melanin-concentrating hormone in rat nucleus accumbens or lateral hypothalamus differentially impacts morphine and food seeking behaviors

Background: Identifying neural substrates that are differentially affected by drugs of abuse and natural rewards is key to finding a target for an efficacious treatment for substance abuse. Melanin-concentrating hormone is a polypeptide with an inhibitory effect on the mesolimbic dopamine system. Here we test the hypothesis that melanin-concentrating hormone in the lateral hypothalamus and nucleus accumbens shell is differentially involved in the regulation of morphine and food-rewarded behaviors. Methods: Male Sprague–Dawley rats were trained with morphine (5.0 mg/kg, subcutaneously) or food pellets (standard chow, 10–14 g) to induce a conditioned place preference, immediately followed by extinction training. Melanin-concentrating hormone (1.0 µg/side) or saline was infused into the nucleus accumbens shell or lateral hypothalamus before the reinstatement primed by morphine or food, and locomotor activity was simultaneously monitored. As the comparison, melanin-concentrating hormone was also microinjected into the nucleus accumbens shell or lateral hypothalamus before the expression of food or morphine-induced conditioned place preference. Results: Microinfusion of melanin-concentrating hormone into the nucleus accumbens shell (but not into the lateral hypothalamus) prevented the reinstatement of morphine conditioned place preference but had no effect on the reinstatement of food conditioned place preference. In contrast, microinfusion of melanin-concentrating hormone into the lateral hypothalamus (but not in the nucleus accumbens shell) inhibited the reinstatement of food conditioned place preference but had no effect on the reinstatement of morphine conditioned place preference. Conclusions: These results suggest a clear double dissociation of melanin-concentrating hormone in morphine/food rewarding behaviors and melanin-concentrating hormone in the nucleus accumbens shell. Melanin-concentrating hormone could be a potential target for therapeutic intervention for morphine abuse without affecting natural rewards.
Disparity in depressive symptoms between heterosexual and sexual minority men in China: The role of social support

Accumulating evidence suggests that sexual minorities experience elevated levels of depressive symptoms compared to heterosexuals in Western countries. Still, little is known about whether there is any difference in depressive symptoms between sexual minority men and heterosexual men in China. This study investigated the differences in depressive symptoms and social support between 302 Chinese sexual minority men and 249 heterosexual men. The association between depressive symptoms, social support and sexual orientation was also explored. Our results indicated that Chinese sexual minority men have more depressive symptoms and perceived lower social support than heterosexual men. Overall, sexual orientation and social support both predicted depressive symptoms. Different from previous Western studies, in our results, social support fully mediates but does not moderate the relationship between sexual orientation and depressive symptoms in Chinese men. The current findings suggest that social support has a significant impact on depressive symptoms among Chinese sexual minority men, highlighting the unique role of social support in understanding depressive symptoms among Chinese sexual minority men. Providing more social support, as well as promoting accepting and positive environments, may lead to better adjustment in this population in China.
Overcoming Bandwidth Limitations in Wireless Sensor Networks by Exploitation of Cyclic Signal Patterns: An Event-triggered Learning Approach

Wireless sensor networks are used in a wide range of applications, many of which require real-time transmission of the measurements. Bandwidth limitations result in limitations on the sampling frequency and number of sensors. This problem can be addressed by reducing the communication load via data compression and event-based communication approaches. The present paper focuses on the class of applications in which the signals exhibit unknown and potentially time-varying cyclic patterns. We review recently proposed event-triggered learning (ETL) methods that identify and exploit these cyclic patterns, we show how these methods can be applied to the nonlinear multivariable dynamics of three-dimensional orientation data, and we propose a novel approach that uses Gaussian process models. In contrast to other approaches, all three ETL methods work in real time and assure a small upper bound on the reconstruction error. The proposed methods are compared to several conventional approaches in experimental data from human subjects walking with a wearable inertial sensor network. They are found to reduce the communication load by 60–70%, which implies that two to three times more sensor nodes could be used at the same bandwidth.
Radiotherapy as a Backbone for Novel Concepts in Cancer Immunotherapy

Radiation-induced immunogenic cell death has been described to contribute to the efficacy of external beam radiotherapy in local treatment of solid tumors. It is well established that radiation therapy can induce immunogenic cell death in cancer cells under certain conditions. Initial clinical studies combining radiotherapy with immunotherapies suggest a synergistic potential of this approach. Improving our understanding of how radiation reconditions the tumor immune microenvironment should pave the way for designing rational and robust combinations with immunotherapeutic drugs that enhance both local and systemic anti-cancer immune effects. In this review, we summarize irradiation-induced types of immunogenic cell death and their effects on the tumor microenvironment. We discuss preclinical insights on mechanisms and benefits of combining radiotherapy with immunotherapy, focusing on immune checkpoint inhibitors. In addition, we elaborate how these observations were translated into clinical studies and which parameters may be optimized to achieve best results in future clinical trials.
Dietary Patterns in Italy and the Risk of Renal Cell Carcinoma

Background: Conclusive evidence on foods, nutrients, or dietary patterns and the risk of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is lacking in the literature. Methods: We considered data from an Italian hospital-based case–control study (1992–2004) on 767 incident RCC cases and 1534 controls. A posteriori dietary patterns were identified by applying principal component factor analysis on 28 nutrients derived from a 78-item food-frequency questionnaire. We estimated the odds ratios (ORs) of RCC and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for each quartile category (compared to the lowest one) using conditional multiple logistic regression models providing adjustment for major confounding factors. Results: We identified four dietary patterns, named “Animal products”, “Starch-rich”, “Vitamins and fiber”, and “Cooking oils and dressings”. Higher intakes of the “Starch-rich” pattern were positively associated with RCC risk (OR = 1.38, 95% CI: 1.04–1.82 for the highest quartile, p = 0.018). The association was inverse with the “Cooking oils and dressings” pattern (OR = 0.61, 95% CI: 0.47–0.80, p < 0.001), whereas no association was found with “Animal products” and “Vitamins and fiber” patterns. Conclusions: Higher intakes of starch-related foods may increase RCC risk, whereas consumption of olive and seed oils may favorably influence RCC risk.
Comprehensive Analysis of Neurotoxin-Induced Ablation of Dopaminergic Neurons in Zebrafish Larvae

Neurotoxin exposure of zebrafish larvae has been used to mimic a Parkinson’s disease (PD) phenotype and to facilitate high-throughput drug screening. However, the vulnerability of zebrafish to various neurotoxins was shown to be variable. Here, we provide a direct comparison of ablative effectiveness in order to identify the optimal neurotoxin-mediated dopaminergic (DAnergic) neuronal death in larval zebrafish. Transgenic zebrafish, Tg(dat:eGFP), were exposed to different concentrations of the neurotoxins MPTP, MPP+, paraquat, 6-OHDA, and rotenone for four days, starting at three days post-fertilization. The LC50 of each respective neurotoxin concentration was determined. Confocal live imaging on Tg(dat:eGFP) showed that MPTP, MPP+, and rotenone caused comparable DAnergic cell loss in the ventral diencephalon (vDC) region while, paraquat and 6-OHDA caused fewer losses of DAnergic cells. These results were further supported by respective gene expression analyses of dat, th, and p53. Importantly, the loss of DAnergic cells from exposure to MPTP, MPP+, and rotenone impacted larval locomotor function. MPTP induced the largest motor deficit, but this was accompanied by the most severe morphological impairment. We conclude that, of the tested neurotoxins, MPP+ recapitulates a substantial degree of DAnergic ablation and slight locomotor perturbations without systemic defects indicative of a Parkinsonian phenotype.
Financial Catastrophism Inherent with Out-of-Pocket Payments in Long Term Care for Households: A Latent Impoverishment

Background: Out-of-pocket (OOP) payments are configured as an important source of financing long-term care (LTC). However, very few studies have analyzed the risk of impoverishment and catastrophic effects of OOP in LTC. To estimate the contribution of users to the financing of LTC and to analyze the economic consequences for households in terms of impoverishment and catastrophism after financial crisis in Spain. Methods: The database that was used is the 2008 Spanish Disability and Dependency Survey, projected to 2012. We analyze the OOP payments effect associated to the impoverishment of households comparing volume and financial situation before and after OOP payment. At the same time, the extent to which OOP payment had led to catastrophism was analyzed using different thresholds. Results: The results show that contribution of dependent people to the financing of the services they receive exceeds by 50% the costs of these services. This expenditure entails an increase in the number of households that live below the poverty. In terms of catastrophism, more than 80% of households dedicate more than 10% of their income to dependency OOP payments. In annual terms, the catastrophe gap generated by devoting more than 10% of the household income to dependent care OOP payment reached €3955, 1 million (0.38% of GDP). Conclusion: This article informs about consequences of OOP in LCT and supplements previous research that focus on health. Our results should serve to develop strategic for protection against the financial risk resulting from facing the costs of a situation of dependence.
Sustainability Perspectives of Vigna unguiculata L. Walp. Cultivation under No Tillage and Water Stress Conditions

Nowadays, agriculture is facing the great challenge of climate change which puts the productivity of the crops in peril due to unpredictable rain patterns and water shortages, especially in the developing world. Besides productivity, nutritional values of the yields of these crops may also be affected, especially under low mechanization and the low water availability conditions of the developing world. Conservation agriculture (CA) is a topic of emerging interest due to the provision of adequate yields and reduced environmental impact, such as greenhouse gas emissions, by being based on three main principles: minimum soil disturbance (reduced or no tillage), cover crop maintenance, and crop rotation. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of CA management on the growth performance and the nutritional profile of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp), a pulse of African origin, commonly known as black eye bean under field conditions. A field experiment was designed to assess the effect of conventional tillage (CT) and no-tillage (NT) combined with the usage of a set of cover crops, coupled to normal and deficient water regimes. Cowpea was revealed to be able to grow and yield comparably at each level of the treatment tested, with a better ability to face water exhaustion under CA management. After a faster initial growth phase in CT plots, the level of adaptability of this legume to NT was such that growth performances improved significantly with respect to CT plots. The flowering rate was higher and earlier in CT conditions, while in NT it was slower but longer-lasting. The leafy photosynthetic rate and the nutritional profile of beans were slightly influenced by tillage management: only total starch content was negatively affected in NT and watered plots while proteins and aminoacids did not show any significant variation. Furthermore, significantly higher carbon and nitrogen concentration occurred in NT soils especially at the topmost (0–5 cm) soil horizon. These findings confirm the capability of CA to enrich soil superficial horizons and highlight that cowpea is a suitable crop to be grown under sustainable CA management. This practice could be pivotal to preserve soils and to save agronomical costs without losing a panel of nutrients that are important to the human diet. Due to its great protein and aminoacidic composition, V. unguiculata is a good candidate for further cultivation in regions of the word facing deficiencies in the intake of such nutrients, such as the Mediterranean basins and Sub-Saharan countries.
Increased Risk of Site-Specific Cancer in People with Type 2 Diabetes: A National Cohort Study

A retrospective cohort design was used with the objective to evaluate cancer risk among people with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in Lithuania. The cohort was established by identifying all patients with the first diagnosis of T2DM in the National Health Insurance Fund database during 2000–2012. Cancer cases were identified by record linkage with the Lithuanian Cancer Registry. Standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) were calculated. Of the 127,290 people that were included, 5959 cases of cancer in men and 6661 cancer cases in women with T2DM were observed. A statistically significant increase in risk for all cancer sites was observed in women, SIR 1.16 (95% CI 1.14–1.19), but not in men, SIR 1.00 (95% CI 0.98–1.03). Among males, a significant increase of liver (SIR 2.11, 95% CI 1.79–2.49]), pancreas (SIR 1.77, 95% CI 1.57–1.99), kidney (SIR 1.46 95% CI 1.31–1.62), thyroid (SIR 1.83, 95% CI 1.32–2.54), colorectal (SIR 1.23, 95% CI 1.14–1.31]), skin melanoma (SIR 1.40, 95% CI 1.11–1.76), and non–melanoma skin (SIR 1.14, 95% CI 1.05–1.23) cancer was observed. For females with T2DM, a significant increase in risk of cancer of the liver (SIR 1.45, 95% CI 1.17–1.79), pancreas (SIR 1.74, 95% CI 1.56–1.93), kidney (SIR = 1.43, 95% CI 1.28–1.60), thyroid (SIR = 1.40, 95% CI 1.22–1.62), breast (SIR = 1.24, 95% CI 1.17–1.31), and corpus uteri (SIR 2.07, 95% CI 1.93–2.21) was observed. In conclusion, people with T2DM in Lithuania had an increased risk of site-specific cancer.
Neutrophil‐endothelial interactions of murine cells is not a good predictor of their interactions in human cells

All drugs recently developed in rodent models to treat inflammatory disease have failed in clinical trials. We therefore used our novel biomimetic microfluidic assay (bMFA) to determine whether the response of murine cells to inflammatory activation or anti‐inflammatory treatment is predictive of the response in human cells. Under physiologically relevant flow conditions, permeability and transendothelial electrical resistance (TEER) of human or mouse lung microvascular endothelial cells (HLMVEC or MLMVEC), and neutrophil‐endothelial cell interaction was measured. The differential impact of a protein kinase C‐delta TAT peptide inhibitor (PKCδ‐i) was also quantified. Permeability of HLMVEC and MLMVEC was similar under control conditions but tumor necrosis factor α (TNF‐α) and PKCδ‐i had a significantly higher impact on permeability of HLMVEC. TEER across HLMVEC was significantly higher than MLMVEC, but PKCδ‐i returned TEER to background levels only in human cells. The kinetics of N‐formylmethionyl‐leucyl‐phenylalanine (fMLP)‐mediated neutrophil migration was significantly different between the two species and PKCδ‐i was significantly more effective in attenuating human neutrophil migration. However, human and mouse neutrophil adhesion patterns to microvascular endothelium were not significantly different. Surprisingly, while intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM‐1) was significantly upregulated on activated HLMVEC, it was not significantly upregulated on activated MLMVEC. Responses to activation and anti‐inflammatory treatment in mice may not always be predictive of their response in humans.