Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Volatile Constituents of the Aerial parts of Torilis leptophylla (L.) Reichenb., Thecocarpus meifolious Boiss., Leaves of Xanthogalum purpurascens Ave. Lall. and Flowers of Astrodaucus orieintalis (L.) Drude. Four Umbelliferae Herbs from Iran

Abstract The composition of the essential oils from four Umbelliferae species of Iran: Astrodaucus orientalis (L.) Drude. (Syn. Caucalis orientalis L.), Thecocarpus meifolious Boiss. , Torilis leptophylla (L.) Reichenb (syn. Caucalis leptophylla L., Caucalis Xanthotricha Stev., Pau.) and Xanthogalum purpurascens Ave. Lall. (Syn. Tommasinia kotschyi Boiss., Tommasinia purpurascens (Ave. Lall) Boiss. ) obtained by hydrodistillation were analyzed by GC and GC-MS. Spathulenol (15.7 %) and trans-α bergamotene (10.4 %) were the main components among the sixty constituents characterized in the oil of aerial parts of Torilis leptophylla representing 91.3 % of the total components detected. Forty compounds were identified in the aerial part oil of Thecocarpus meifolious representing 90.2 % of the total oil with spathulenol (30.8 %) and caryophyllene oxide (11.1 %) as the major constituents. The leaf oil of Xanthogalum purpurascens was characterized by higher amount of 1,8-cineole (17.6 %) among the fifty-nine components comprising 89.8 % of the total oil detected. Sixty-three compounds were identified in the flower oil of Astrodaucus orientalis representing 92.9 % of the total oil with sabinene (16.5 %) and α -pinene (11.0 %) as the major constituents.
CTLA-4 in Regulatory T Cells for Cancer Immunotherapy

Simple Summary In the fight against cancer, immunotherapies have given great hope after encouraging results in clinical investigations showing complete remission in some patients with melanoma. In fact, directing the immune system against cancer has been a very innovative strategy fostered during the past three decades. Despite this fact, the disease is serious, the mortality is still very high, and only a minority of patients are responsive to immunotherapies. Therefore, there is a need for a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms of resistance to immune checkpoint inhibitors such as antibodies against cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4 (CTLA-4). In this article, we discuss the molecular mechanism of CTLA-4 in T regulatory cell inhibition, while highlighting the knowledge gap. Abstract Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have obtained durable responses in many cancers, making it possible to foresee their potential in improving the health of cancer patients. However, immunotherapies are currently limited to a minority of patients and there is a need to develop a better understanding of the basic molecular mechanisms and functions of pivotal immune regulatory molecules. Immune checkpoint cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4 (CTLA-4) and regulatory T (Treg) cells play pivotal roles in hindering the anticancer immunity. Treg cells suppress antigen-presenting cells (APCs) by depleting immune stimulating cytokines, producing immunosuppressive cytokines and constitutively expressing CTLA-4. CTLA-4 molecules bind to CD80 and CD86 with a higher affinity than CD28 and act as competitive inhibitors of CD28 in APCs. The purpose of this review is to summarize state-of-the-art understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlining CTLA-4 immune regulation and the correlation of the ICI response with CTLA-4 expression in Treg cells from preclinical and clinical studies for possibly improving CTLA-4-based immunotherapies, while highlighting the knowledge gap.
Formation of Autoimmune Lesions Is Independent of Antibiotic Treatment in NOD Mice

The relationship between autoimmunity and changes in intestinal microbiota is not yet fully understood. In this study, the role of intestinal microbiota in the onset and progression of autoimmune lesions in non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice was evaluated by administering antibiotics to alter their intestinal microenvironment. Flow cytometric analysis of spleen cells showed that antibiotic administration did not change the proportion or number of T and B cells in NOD mice, and pathological analysis demonstrated that autoimmune lesions in the salivary glands and in the pancreas were also not affected by antibiotic administration. These results suggest that the onset and progression of autoimmunity may be independent of enteral microbiota changes. Our findings may be useful for determining the appropriate use of antibiotics in patients with autoimmune diseases who are prescribed drugs to maintain systemic immune function.
Cystic Fibrosis-Related Diabetes (CFRD): Overview of Associated Genetic Factors

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is the most common autosomal recessive disease in the Caucasian population and is caused by mutations in the CF transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene that encodes for a chloride/bicarbonate channel expressed on the membrane of epithelial cells of the airways and of the intestine, as well as in cells with exocrine and endocrine functions. A common nonpulmonary complication of CF is cystic fibrosis-related diabetes (CFRD), a distinct form of diabetes due to insulin insufficiency or malfunction secondary to destruction/derangement of pancreatic betacells, as well as to other factors that affect their function. The prevalence of CFRD increases with age, and 40–50% of CF adults develop the disease. Several proposed hypotheses on how CFRD develops have emerged, including exocrine-driven fibrosis and destruction of the entire pancreas, as well as contrasting theories on the direct or indirect impact of CFTR mutation on islet function. Among contributors to the development of CFRD, in addition to CFTR genotype, there are other genetic factors related and not related to type 2 diabetes. This review presents an overview of the current understanding on genetic factors associated with glucose metabolism abnormalities in CF.
The Role of Chloroplast Membrane Lipid Metabolism in Plant Environmental Responses

Plants are nonmotile life forms that are constantly exposed to changing environmental conditions during the course of their life cycle. Fluctuations in environmental conditions can be drastic during both day–night and seasonal cycles, as well as in the long term as the climate changes. Plants are naturally adapted to face these environmental challenges, and it has become increasingly apparent that membranes and their lipid composition are an important component of this adaptive response. Plants can remodel their membranes to change the abundance of different lipid classes, and they can release fatty acids that give rise to signaling compounds in response to environmental cues. Chloroplasts harbor the photosynthetic apparatus of plants embedded into one of the most extensive membrane systems found in nature. In part one of this review, we focus on changes in chloroplast membrane lipid class composition in response to environmental changes, and in part two, we will detail chloroplast lipid-derived signals.
Benefits of Binaural Integration in Cochlear Implant Patients with Single-Sided Deafness and Residual Hearing in the Implanted Ear

The purpose of the study is to gauge the benefits of binaural integration effects (redundancy and squelch) due to preserved low-frequency residual hearing in the implanted ear of cochlear implant users with single-sided deafness. There were 11 cochlear implant users (age 18–61 years old) who had preserved low-frequency hearing in the implanted ear; they had a normal hearing or mild hearing loss in the contralateral ear. Patients were tested with monosyllabic words, under different spatial locations of speech and noise and with the cochlear implant activated and deactivated, in two listening configurations—one in which low frequencies in the implanted ear were masked and another in which they were unmasked. We also investigated how cochlear implant benefit due to binaural integration depended on unaided sound localization ability. Patients benefited from the binaural integration effects of redundancy and squelch only in the unmasked condition. Pearson correlations between binaural integration effects and unaided sound localization error showed significance only for squelch (r = −0.67; p = 0.02). Hearing preservation after cochlear implantation has considerable benefits because the preserved low-frequency hearing in the implanted ear contributes to binaural integration, presumably through the preserved temporal fine structure.
Behavioral Alterations and Decreased Number of Parvalbumin-Positive Interneurons in Wistar Rats after Maternal Immune Activation by Lipopolysaccharide: Sex Matters

Maternal immune activation (MIA) during pregnancy represents an important environmental factor in the etiology of schizophrenia and autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Our goal was to investigate the impacts of MIA on the brain and behavior of adolescent and adult offspring, as a rat model of these neurodevelopmental disorders. We injected bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 1 mg/kg) to pregnant Wistar dams from gestational day 7, every other day, up to delivery. Behavior of the offspring was examined in a comprehensive battery of tasks at postnatal days P45 and P90. Several brain parameters were analyzed at P28. The results showed that prenatal immune activation caused social and communication impairments in the adult offspring of both sexes; males were affected already in adolescence. MIA also caused prepulse inhibition deficit in females and increased the startle reaction in males. Anxiety and hypolocomotion were apparent in LPS-affected males and females. In the 28-day-old LPS offspring, we found enlargement of the brain and decreased numbers of parvalbumin-positive interneurons in the frontal cortex in both sexes. To conclude, our data indicate that sex of the offspring plays a crucial role in the development of the MIA-induced behavioral alterations, whereas changes in the brain apparent in young animals are sex-independent.
Restrained Stress Development in Hardening Mortar Internally Cured with Superabsorbent Polymers under Autogenous and Drying Conditions

This study reports the results of a series of experiments, particularly paying attention to the early-age behavior and response of hardening mortars incorporating different types and contents of superabsorbent polymer (SAP) under autogenous (sealed) and drying shrinkage (unsealed) conditions. To achieve this primary aim, the effects of SAP type (i.e., cross-linking density and grain size) and content on the internal relative humidity (IRH) changes and corresponding free shrinkage behavior, restrained stress development, and cracking potential of the mortar were extensively measured and analyzed, along with their strength and set time properties. The results of this study have shown that the internal curing (IC) via SAP effectively counteracted the early-age residual stress build-up due to autogenous shrinkage, as many other former studies described. No or little tensile residual stresses due to autogenous shrinkage took place when more than 0.4% SAP was added, regardless of the SAP type. However, it should be mentioned that the addition of SAP, irrespective of its content and type, hardly improved the shrinkage cracking resistance of the mortar when directly exposed to drying environment at early ages.
The Impact of Multiple Sclerosis Disease Status and Subtype on Hematological Profile

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an immune-mediated, demyelinating disease of the central nervous system. In this study, an MS cohort and healthy controls were stratified into Caucasian and African American groups. Patient hematological profiles—composed of complete blood count (CBC) and complete metabolic panel (CMP) test values—were analyzed to identify differences between MS cases and controls and between patients with different MS subtypes. Additionally, random forest models were used to determine the aggregate utility of common hematological tests in determining MS disease status and subtype. The most significant and relevant results were increased bilirubin and creatinine in MS cases. The random forest models achieved some success in differentiating between MS cases and controls (AUC values: 0.725 and 0.710, respectively) but were not successful in differentiating between subtypes. However, larger samples that adjust for possible confounding variables, such as treatment status, may reveal the value of these tests in differentiating between MS subtypes.
Three-Dimensional Tumor Spheroids as a Tool for Reliable Investigation of Combined Gold Nanoparticle and Docetaxel Treatment

Simple Summary Due to the normal tissue toxicity induced by standard therapeutic options such as radiotherapy and chemotherapy, alternative solutions are being explored. Nanomaterials, such as gold nanoparticles, can help reduce side effects by increasing targeted dose to the tumor as well as act as a drug delivery system. Many nano-based systems are tested in a two-dimensional monolayer in the lab, which is not representative of the complex tumor microenvironment. Towards an accelerated translation to the clinic, use of nanomaterials, like the radio-sensitizing gold nanoparticles, were tested in three-dimensional spheroids, which exhibit many properties present in a real tumor such as the extracellular matrix, necrotic cores, and nutrient gradients. This work paves the way for more accurate experimentation in the lab that is more indicative of a real tumor response, leading to a higher chance of success in future clinical studies and clinical treatment. Abstract Radiotherapy and chemotherapy are the gold standard for treating patients with cancer in the clinic but, despite modern advances, are limited by normal tissue toxicity. The use of nanomaterials, such as gold nanoparticles (GNPs), to improve radiosensitivity and act as drug delivery systems can mitigate toxicity while increasing deposited tumor dose. To expedite a quicker clinical translation, three-dimensional (3D) tumor spheroid models that can better approximate the tumor environment compared to a two-dimensional (2D) monolayer model have been used. We tested the uptake of 15 nm GNPs and 50 nm GNPs on a monolayer and on spheroids of two cancer cell lines, CAL-27 and HeLa, to evaluate the differences between a 2D and 3D model in similar conditions. The anticancer drug docetaxel (DTX) which can act as a radiosensitizer, was also utilized, informing future potential of GNP-mediated combined therapeutics. In the 2D monolayer model, the addition of DTX induced a small, non-significant increase of uptake of GNPs of between 13% and 24%, while in the 3D spheroid model, DTX increased uptake by between 47% and 186%, with CAL-27 having a much larger increase relative to HeLa. Further, the depth of penetration of 15 nm GNPs over 50 nm GNPs increased by 33% for CAL-27 spheroids and 17% for HeLa spheroids. These results highlight the necessity to optimize GNP treatment conditions in a more realistic tumor-life environment. A 3D spheroid model can capture important details, such as different packing densities from different cancer cell lines, which are absent from a simple 2D monolayer model.
Use of a conditioning unit at the haymaking of Tifton 85 overseeded with Avena sativa or Lolium multiflorum

White oat and ryegrass were overseeded on Tifton 85 pastures for evaluation of dry matter yield (DMY), leaf:stem ratio (L:S), dehydration curves and nutritional value of forages. Dry matter intake and L:S ratio were analyzed using a completely randomized blocks design with five forage growth conditions (single Tifton 85 and intercropped with white oat or ryegrass, and white oat or ryegrass intercropped with Tifton 85), whereas for drying curves, ten dehydration times were tested (0, 4, 8, 24, 28, 32, 48, 52, 56 and 71 hours after harvest) by a 5 × 10 split-plot arrangement (growth conditions of forages as main plot and dehydration times as sub-plots). The nutritive value data were analyzed in a 3 × 3 split-plot trial with single Tifton 85, Tifton 85 - Oat and Tifton 85-Ryegrass as main plots and the three sampling times (before harvesting, at baling and 100 days after storage) as sub-plots. Oat and ryegrass showed higher L:S ratio, while the intercrops of Tifton 85 - Oat and Tifton 85 - Ryegrass presented lower DMY, but higher crude protein concentration and in vitro DM digestibility than single Tifton. Neutral and acid detergent fiber concentrations were higher for single Tifton 85. Ryegrass and white oat, overseeded on Tifton 85 pasture, improved the nutritional value of the hay produced; however, in a 100-day storage period, there was a reduction in in vitro dry matter digestibility and crude protein concentrations.
MRAP2 Interaction with Melanocortin-4 Receptor in SnakeHead (Channa argus)

The melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R) plays an important role in the regulation of food intake and energy expenditure. Melanocortin-2 receptor accessory protein 2 (MRAP2) modulates trafficking, ligand binding, and signaling of MC4R. The Northern snakehead (Channa argus) is an economically important freshwater fish native to East Asia. To explore potential interaction between snakehead MC4R and MRAP2, herein we cloned snakehead mc4r and mrap2. The snakehead mc4r consisted of a 984 bp open reading frame encoding a protein of 327 amino acids, while snakehead mrap2 contained a 693 bp open reading frame encoding a protein of 230 amino acids. Synteny analysis indicated that mc4r was highly conserved with similar gene arrangement, while mrap2 contained two isoforms in teleost with different gene orders. Snakehead mc4r was primarily expressed in the brain, whereas mrap2 was expressed in the brain and intestine. Snakehead mc4r and mrap2 expression was modulated by fasting and refeeding. Further pharmacological experiments showed that the cloned snakehead MC4R was functional, capable of binding to peptide agonists and increasing intracellular cAMP production in a dose-dependent manner. Snakehead MC4R exhibited high constitutive activity. MRAP2 significantly decreased basal and agonist-stimulated cAMP signaling. These findings suggest that snakehead MC4R might be involved in energy balance regulation by interacting with MRAP2. Further studies are needed to elucidate MC4R in regulating diverse physiological processes in snakehead.
Bipolar switching behavior in TiN/ZnO/Pt resistive nonvolatile memory with fast switching and long retention

Highly stable bipolar resistive switching behaviors of TiN/ZnO/Pt devices were demonstrated for the first time. The excellent memory characteristics including fast switching speed (<20 ns for set and <60 ns for reset), long retention (in the order of 105 s) and non-electroforming process were demonstrated. The bipolar switching behaviors can be explained by formation and rupture of the filamentary conductive path consisting of oxygen vacancies. The excellent bipolar switching behavior can be attributed to the significant amount of oxygen vacancies in ZnO film and the effect of TiN layer serving as an oxygen reservoir.
Non-Native Eragrostis curvula Impacts Diversity of Pastures in South-Eastern Australia Even When Native Themeda triandra Remains Co-Dominant

Lowland grassy woodlands in Australia’s south-east face reductions in native plant diversity because of invasion by non-native plants. We compared the relative abundance and diversity of plant species among sites dominated by the native Kangaroo grass (KG) Themeda triandra with sites co-dominated by the non-native African lovegrass (ALG) Eragrostis curvula and KG. We found significant differences in plant species composition depending on the dominant species. Furthermore, our results revealed differences in several diversity parameters such as a lower species richness and forb diversity on sites co-dominated by ALG and KG. This was the case despite the functional similarity of both ALG and KG—both C4 perennial tussock grasses of a similar height. Therefore, our results highlight the critical function of the native KG in maintaining and enhancing the target plant species composition and diversity within these grassy woodlands. Herbivore grazing potentially impacts on the abundance of the dominant grass and forb species in various ways, but its impact likely differs depending on their evolutionary origin. Therefore, disentangling the role of individual herbivore groups (native-, non-native mammals, and invertebrates) on the plant community composition of the lowland grassy woodlands is essential to find appropriate grazing regimes for ALG management in these ecosystems.
The Composition and Primary Metabolic Potential of Microbial Communities Inhabiting the Surface Water in the Equatorial Eastern Indian Ocean

Simple Summary Marine microbes are regarded as the most diverse organisms in the biosphere and drive biogeochemical cycles through their metabolism. It is essential to understand the structure and metabolic function of microbial communities. The Indian Ocean is the third largest ocean in the world, and it possesses unique hydrographical properties. So far, assessments of microbial diversity and metabolism need to be improved in the Indian Ocean. Therefore, we carried out a series of investigations in the equatorial eastern Indian Ocean in order to clarify the local microbial communities and detect the genetic potential for microbial functions. The obtained results suggested Cyanobacteria was the dominant microbial group, and predicted the Calvin cycle and the assimilatory nitrate and nitrite reduction played important role in the pathway of carbon fixation and nitrogen metabolism respectively. This study provides insights into microbial community structures as well as the metabolic potential that may be active in the local environment, and lays the groundwork for understanding the roles of microbes in energy and resource cycling in this habitat. Abstract Currently, there is scant information about the biodiversity and functional diversity of microbes in the eastern Indian Ocean (EIO). Here, we used a combination of high-throughput sequencing of 16S rRNA genes and a metagenomic approach to investigate the microbial population structure and its metabolic function in the equatorial EIO. Our results show that Cyanobacterial Prochlorococcus made up the majority of the population. Interestingly, there were fewer contributions from clades SAR11 (Alphaproteobacteria) and SAR86 (Gammaproteobacteria) to microbial communities than contributions from Prochlorococcus. Based on functional gene analysis, functional genes rbcL, narB, and nasA were relatively abundant among the relevant genes. The abundance of Prochlorococcus implies its typically ecological adaptation in the local ecosystem. The microbial metabolic potential shows that in addition to the main carbon fixation pathway Calvin cycle, the rTCA cycle and the 3-HP/4-HB cycle have potential alternative carbon fixation contributions to local ecosystems. For the nitrogen cycle, the assimilatory nitrate and nitrite reduction pathway is potentially the crucial form of nitrogen utilization; unexpectedly, nitrogen fixation activity was relatively weak. This study extends our knowledge of the roles of microbes in energy and resource cycling in the EIO and provides a foundation for revealing profound biogeochemical processes driven by the microbial community in the ocean.
How sensory and hedonic quality attributes affect fresh red meat consumption decision of Turkish consumers

The aim of the study is to explore how the sensory and hedonic quality attributes of the fresh red meat affect its consumption preference and amounts of Turkish consumers. The data obtained from 385 households in Erzurum were used for Principal Component (PCA), K-means Cluster and Multiple Regression/Correlation (MRC) Analyses. The results of the study highlighted considerably that the sensory quality attributes on their consumption preference had a much bigger effect than the hedonic ones for each cluster. However, its price and their income accepted as the important indicators of the hedonic ones, but a much lower impact on all clusters.