Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Differences in the Proteolytic System of Lactic Acid Bacteria Affect the Release of DPP-IV Inhibitory Peptides from Whey Proteins

This work analyzed the antidiabetic activity of peptides from whey proteins after hydrolysis by Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG and Streptococcus thermophilus SY-102, emphasizing the differences between the proteolytic systems of both bacteria. Peptide fractions from whey proteins may have biological functions, such as antidiabetic functions, which inhibit the DPP-IV enzyme, and lactic acid bacteria could release them. A whey solution of 10% was fermented with selected lactic acid bacteria in monoculture and coculture, analyzing kinetic parameters and the proteolytic profile, using the 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid technique for free amino groups’ determination and Tris-tricine polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. An in vitro inhibition assay of the DPP-IV enzyme was used. The kinetic parameters showed a faster duplication rate in the monoculture with L. rhamnosus GG than in the co-culture, which was related to lactic acid production. Co-culture does not have the highest production of free amino groups and peptides. Still, peptide fractions with lower molecular weight (<2 kDa) were found and showed a high DPP-IV inhibitory capacity that was maintained from the middle of the fermentation to the end (55.4%). In comparison, the monoculture of L. rhamnosus GG increased from 0 to 63.3%. This demonstrates that the proteolytic capacity and the proteolytic system of each lactic acid bacteria determine the structure of the released peptides.
Talaromyces sp. Ethyl Acetate Crude Extract as Potential Mosquitocide to Control Culex pipiens quinquefasciatus

Vector control is considered an effective approach to controlling diseases spread by mosquito bites. Entomopathogenic fungi are widely used in agriculture to control insect pests, and fungal metabolites can potentially be developed as effective mosquitocides. In this study, a high-throughput screening method was used to search for potential mosquitocides in the Global Fungal Extract Library (GFEL). We tested the larvicidal activity of 264 fungal ethyl acetate crude extracts against Culex pipiens quinquefasciatus. Nine fungal extracts caused moderate to high mortality rates (>50%), with two fungal extracts (58A7 and 101H12) causing a 100% mortality rate. The lethal concentrations for 50% of the population (LC50) were 44.27 mg/L and 31.90 mg/L, respectively. Fraction 14 had a high mortality rate, with an LC50 value of 12.13 mg/L, and was isolated from 58A7 (Fractions 1–11) and 101H12 (Fractions 12–15). Further analyses showed that Fraction 14 was made up of vermistatin and dihydrovermistatin. In a Cx. p. quinquefasciatus larvicidal bioassay, vermistatin (LC50 = 28.13 mg/L) was more toxic than dihydrovermistatin (LC50 = 83.87 mg/L). Our findings suggested that the active fungal extract 101H12 from Talaromyces sp. and its compound vermistatin could be developed as mosquitocides.
Preferences in the Design and Delivery of Neurodevelopmental Follow-Up Care for Children: A Systematic Review of Discrete Choice Experiments

Abstract Neurodevelopmental disorders are a significant cause of morbidity. Early detection of neurodevelopmental delay is essential for timely diagnosis and intervention, and it is therefore important to understand the preferences of parents and clinicians for engaging with neurodevelopmental surveillance and follow-up care. Discrete choice experiment (DCE) may be an appropriate method for quantifying these preferences. This review systematically examined how DCEs have been designed and delivered in studies examining neurodevelopmental care of children and identified the preferred attributes that have been reported. PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, and Scopus databases were systematically searched. Studies were included if they used DCE to elicit preferences for a neurodevelopmental follow-up program for children. Two independent reviewers conducted the title and abstract and full-text screening. Risk of bias was assessed using a DCE-specific checklist. Findings were presented using a narrative synthesis. A total of 6618 records were identified and 16 papers were included. Orthogonal (n=5) and efficient (n=5) experimental designs were common. There was inconsistent reporting of design-related features. Analysis was primarily completed using mixed logit (n=6) or multinomial logit (n=3) models. Several key attributes for neurodevelopmental follow-up care were identified including social, behavioral and emotional support, therapy, waiting time, and out-of-pocket costs. DCE has been successfully used as a preference elicitation method for neurodevelopmental-related care. There is scope for improvement in the design and analysis of DCE in this field. Nonetheless, attributes identified in these studies are likely to be important considerations in the design and implementation of programs for neurodevelopmental care.
Reliable Transmission of Short Packets in Cognitive Radio Inspired NOMA Network

Aiming at the high-performance requirements of Internet of Things (IoT) scenarios, a cognitive radio-inspired nonorthogonal multiple access (CR-NOMA) scheme in short packet communication is investigated. Primary and secondary users share the same nonorthogonal communication resource block to achieve high spectral efficiency. A priority selection combination method is designed and employed by the primary user considering the nonnegligible decoding error rate in short packet communication. We focus on the transmission performance of the secondary users while ensuring the reliable communication of the primary user as a priority. To characterize the performance of the CR-NOMA network, approximate closed-form expressions of the average block error rate (BLER) for primary and secondary users are derived and analyzed. The results show that the communication reliability and throughput of the primary user with the CR-NOMA scheme are enhanced compared with the no-CR scheme. Meanwhile, the secondary users can also achieve reliable communication on the premise of improving the performance of the primary user through spectrum sharing. A performance tradeoff between primary and secondary users can be achieved through power allocation. Furthermore, there is a tradeoff between BLER and throughput, and the maximum throughput can be achieved by choosing an optimal blocklength.
Role of ferroptosis in Parkinson’s disease and intervention mechanism of acupuncture and moxibustion

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is the second neurodegenerative disease in the world. The pathological characteristics of PD are degeneration, loss and death of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra of the midbrain. At present, most scholars believe that the main pathogenesis of PD is α-synuclein aggregation, oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction and neuroinflammatory reaction. More and more studies have demonstrated that ferroptosis plays an important role in the occurrence and development of PD. Ferroptosis is a new type of cell death that is significantly different from traditional apoptosis, scorching and necrosis. Its main feature is iron-dependent lipid peroxidation. Some studies have found that the efficacy of acupuncture and moxibustion in the treatment of PD may be related to the regulation of ferroptosis. Therefore, this study mainly discusses the occurrence and development mechanism of ferroptosis and its role in PD, and the possible mechanism of acupuncture and moxibustion in the treatment of PD dopaminergic neurons, so as to provide theoretical basis for acupuncture and moxibustion in the treatment of PD.
Investigating Impostorism Among Undergraduate Medical Students at Sultan Qaboos University: A Questionnaire-Based Study

Background Imposter syndrome or phenomenon (IP) is a behavioral phenomenon observed in successful individuals where they fail to recognize and internalize their achievements. It is often accompanied by feelings of self-doubt, anxiety, depression, and worries of being exposed as frauds, with the impostors often attributing their achievements to external factors like good luck and timing. The presence of IP among medical students is gaining more attention, with studies reporting a strong association with burnout phenomenon, anxiety, and depression. Objectives This study sought to determine the prevalence of IP among Omani medical students and classify the levels of severity among the sample. Methodology This was a cross-sectional, observational study conducted at a public university in Muscat, Oman. The Clance Impostor Phenomenon Scale (CIPS), a validated publicly available questionnaire, was used to determine whether students exhibited impostorism. Students who scored 63 or higher in the CIPS were classified as impostors. In addition, students were also classified based on the severity of their impostorism. As per the CIPS, scores between 41 and 60 indicate mild impostorism, scores between 61 and 80 indicate moderate impostorism, and finally scores between 81 and 100 indicate severe impostorism. Results A total of 276 students participated (M 34%, F 66%), of which 144 (52.2%) were found to have IP with 12.7% exhibiting severe impostorism. Conclusion The results show that IP is present in significant frequencies among medical students; further studies are needed to address this problem.
Quantitative vs. Qualitative SPECT-CT Diagnostic Accuracy in Bone Lesion Evaluation—A Review of the Literature

(1) Background: Considering the importance that quantitative molecular imaging has gained and the need for objective and reproducible image interpretation, the aim of the present review is to emphasize the benefits of performing a quantitative interpretation of single photon emission computed tomography-computed tomography (SPECT-CT) studies compared to qualitative interpretation methods in bone lesion evaluations while suggesting new directions for research on this topic. (2) Methods: By conducting comprehensive literature research, we performed an analysis of published data regarding the use of quantitative and qualitative SPECT-CT in the evaluation of bone metastases. (3) Results: Several studies have evaluated the diagnostic accuracy of quantitative and qualitative SPECT-CT in differentiating between benign and metastatic bone lesions. We collected the sensitivity and specificity for both quantitative and qualitative SPECT-CT; their values ranged between 74–92% and 81–93% for quantitative bone SPECT-CT and between 60–100% and 41–100% for qualitative bone SPECT-CT. (4) Conclusions: Both qualitative and quantitative SPECT-CT present an increased potential for better differentiating between benign and metastatic bone lesions, with the latter offering additional objective information, thus increasing diagnostic accuracy and enabling the possibility of performing treatment response evaluation through accurate measurements.
The Moderating Role of Psychological Safety in the Relationship between Job Embeddedness, Organizational Commitment, and Retention Intention among Home Care Attendants in Taiwan

As Taiwan’s population ages, the need for long-term care, such as home care, is increasing due to improved medical services and longer life expectancy; however, the current coverage rate for home care services is only 50%, highlighting the importance of retaining home care workers. This study applies job embeddedness, organizational commitment, and psychological safety as variables to explore the retention intention of Taiwan’s home care workers. A questionnaire survey was distributed among home care workers using convenience sampling, resulting in 547 collected questionnaires, of which 458 were valid. Data analysis was conducted with SPSS 22.0 and AMOS 22.0, and a structural equation model (SEM) was used to test the hypotheses. Our findings suggest that job embeddedness has a positive impact on organizational commitment (γ = 0.649, γ = 0.607, and γ = 0.628; p < 0.001) and retention intention (γ = 0.253, γ = 0.242, γ = 0.271; p < 0.001), similar to organizational commitment (γ = 0.721, p < 0.001). Additionally, organizational commitment mediates job embeddedness and retention intention, while psychological safety moderated organizational commitment and retention intention (β = 0.639; p < 0.001). This study aims to provide information for the development of more effective human resource policies and contribute to practical advancements in the home care service environment and management structure of home care organizations. By analyzing and exploring the main factors contributing to home care workers’ retention intention, we hope to enhance the overall benefits of home service organizations and the industry.
Seasonal patterns of oxidative stress markers in captive Asian elephants in Thailand and relationships to elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus shedding

Introduction Oxidative stress refers to an imbalance between oxidant and antioxidant activity and accumulation of reactive oxygen species, which can have detrimental effects on animal health. Annual fluctuations in oxidative stress status can occur, increasing disease susceptibility during certain time periods. However, a full understanding of factors related to oxidative stress in Asian elephants and how to mitigate the negative consequences is lacking. Methods This study measured six serum oxidative stress markers [reactive oxygen species (ROS), malondialdehyde (MDA), 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), albumin, glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and catalase] and two stress markers [serum cortisol and fecal glucocorticoid metabolites (fGCM)] in 23 captive Asian elephants in Thailand over a 12 months period to examine relationships with age and season. Results Seasonal variations were observed, with several markers exhibiting significantly higher concentrations in the summer (ROS, MDA, 8-OHdG, albumin) and lower values during the rainy/winter seasons (MDA, 8-OHdG, albumin, catalase). By contrast, GPx was the only marker to be highest during the rainy season. For the stress markers, higher fGCM concentrations were noted during the rainy season, which contrasts with earlier studies showing more activity in the winter (tourist season). Positive correlations were found between the temperature-humidity index and ROS, GPx, and fGCM, while a negative correlation was observed with serum albumin. Elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus (EEHV) shedding events were associated with higher concentrations of ROS and MDA. A moderate negative correlation was observed between 8-OHdG and the PCR threshold cycle of EEHV shedding (Ct), indicating DNA damage may be involved in EEHV shedding in elephants. Discussion Results revealed significant age and seasonal effects on several oxidative stress markers, indicating those factors should be considered in study design and data interpretation. There also may be physiological adaptations in oxidative stress conditions in relation to environmental changes that could impact health outcomes.
Understanding tumor localization in multiparametric MRI of the prostate—effectiveness of 3D printed models

Introduction Understanding tumor localization in multiparametric MRI (mpMRI) of the prostate is challenging for urologists but of great importance in mpMRI-fused prostate biopsy or radical prostatectomy. The aim was to evaluate the effectiveness of 3D printed models of the prostate to help urologists to locate tumors. Methods and Participants 20 urologists from University Medical Center Mainz (Germany) were asked to plot the location of a cancer suspicious lesion (PI-RADS ≥ 4) on a total of 30 mpMRI on a prostate sector diagram. The following 3 groups (as matched triplets) were divided into: mpMRI only, mpMRI with radiological report and mpMRI with 3D printed model (scaled 1:1). Statistical analysis was performed using one-way and two-way ANOVA (with bonferroni post-test). Results Overall, localization of the suspicious lesion was superior with the radiological report (median of max. 10 [IQR]: MRI 2 [IQR 1;5], MRI + report: 8 [6.3;9], MRI + 3D model 3 [1.3;5.8]; p < 0.001). Residents with <1 year of experience had a significantly higher detection rate using a 3D printed model [5 (5;5.8)] compared to mpMRI alone [1.5 (1;3.5)] (p < 0.05). Regarding the estimation of index lesion extension, the 3D model showed a significant benefit (mean percentage difference [95% CI]: MRI alone 234% [17.1;451.5], MRI + report 114% [78.5;149.6], MRI + 3D model 17% [−7.4;41.3] (p < 0.01). Conclusion Urologists still need the written radiological report for a sufficient understanding of tumor localization. The effectiveness of the 3D printed model regarding tumor localization is particularly evident in young residents (<1 year) and leads to a better overall assessment of the tumor extension.
Utilization of Probiotic Bacteria Enterococcus lactis for Biogenic Synthesis of Hemocompatible AgNPs

Abstract Fermented food and beverages have potential novel Probiotic microorganism which possess many beneficial role in human health and hygiene. The tribal people consume variety of locally produced fermented food and beverages regularly and hence their gut microflora are strongly benefited. Mayurbhanj district in Odisha, India is diversified with many tribal population. Handia, is the most preferred fermented rice beverage in the tribal community having cultural, religious and social values associated with it. Recent advances in the fields of science like nanoscience and nanotechnology have radically changed the way we diagnose, treat, and prevent various diseases in all aspects of human life. This current investigation was undertaken to explore the various possibilities to screen the potentiality of utilizing Enterococcus lactis, a probiotic bacteria isolated from the fermented rice beverage “Handia” in terms of their efficacy for synthesis of Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). The synthesized AgNPs were screened through Fe-SEM, EDS, XRD, FTIR, DLS and UV-visible spectroscopy characterization studies. The synthesized AgNPs exhibited enhanced antioxidant, antimicrobial and anti-biofilm forming capability. Understanding the implications of green-synthesized AgNPs from probiotic bacteria would help in designing and delivery of bioactive components present in probiotic microorganism for future drug delivery application and other nanoparticle based therapeutics in different sectors of biomedical engineering and technology.
Effects of Increasing Salinity on Growth Performance, Hemato-biochemical Parameters, and Erythrocyte Structure of Freshwater Gourami (Trichogaster fasciata)

Climate change and sea-level rise cause seawater intrusion into freshwater ecosystems, risking increased salinity exposure for freshwater fish, endangering their long-term sustenance. To understand the effects of environmentally realistic increase in salinity exposure on freshwater fish, a total of 120 banded gourami, Trichogaster fasciata ( 8.54 g average initial weight) were exposed to four different salinities (0, 3, 6, and 9‰) for 90 days. The weight gain and specific growth rate values were significantly higher in the fish exposed to 3‰ compared to 0‰, and the lowest feed conversion ratio and survival rate were recorded in 3‰ and 9‰, respectively. The blood glucose and hemoglobin contents were found to be significantly higher and lower at 9‰ after 30 and 60 days, respectively, relative to 0‰. Moreover, significant low red blood cell counts were found at 6 and 9‰ after 30 and 90 days, respectively. Whereas, the white blood cell counts showed an opposite trend. Abnormalities of erythrocyte shape were significantly higher at 9‰, compared to 0‰. Results suggest that long-term exposure to high salinity (6, and 9‰) would cause osmotic stress and impair the physiological performance of freshwater gourami.
Taurine accelerates the synthesis of ceramides and hyaluronic acid in cultured epidermis and dermal fibroblasts

Taurine is a sulfur-containing amino acid derivative that can be found in the majority of mammalian tissues. Taurine is also present in the skin and is involved in maintaining skin homeostasis by exerting osmoregulatory and antioxidant effects. Previous studies have indicated that taurine treatment is effective against age-, ultraviolet- or detergent-induced skin dysfunction. To determine the mechanism responsible for the beneficial actions of taurine in the skin, the present study aimed to evaluate the effects of taurine on epidermal components (ceramides and filaggrin) and on the dermal extracellular matrix, in three-dimensionally (3D) cultured epidermis and dermal fibroblasts, respectively. These cells were cultured in the presence of 3-50 mM taurine, and cells or culture medium were collected for analysis. The effects of taurine on transepidermal water loss (TEWL) in the skin and the expression of inflammatory cytokines, including IL-1α, IL-1β and IL-1 receptor antagonist, were investigated in acetone-treated 3D-cultured epidermis using a Tewameter and reverse transcription-quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR), respectively. The mRNA expression levels of MMP-1 and hyaluronic acid (HA) production were measured in skin dermal fibroblasts using RT-qPCR and ELISA, respectively. Taurine was found to suppress acetone-induced elevation in TEWL in 3D-cultured epidermis. Taurine also stimulated the mRNA expression of ceramide synthase 4 and filaggrin, a major structural protein in the stratum corneum, in 3D-cultured epidermis. In skin dermal fibroblasts, taurine inhibited the IL-1α-stimulated mRNA and protein expression of MMP-1. In addition, taurine treatment increased HA synthase-2 mRNA expression and in turn HA production. Results from the present study suggest that the protective effect of taurine on the skin is associated with the enhancement of epidermal barrier component expression and modulation of dermal extracellular matrix metabolism.
Analysis of shared ceRNA networks and related-hub genes in rats with primary and secondary photoreceptor degeneration

Introduction Photoreceptor degenerative diseases are characterized by the progressive death of photoreceptor cells, resulting in irreversible visual impairment. However, the role of competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) in photoreceptor degeneration is unclear. We aimed to explore the shared ceRNA regulation network and potential molecular mechanisms between primary and secondary photoreceptor degenerations. Methods We established animal models for both types of photoreceptor degenerations and conducted retina RNA sequencing to identify shared differentially expressed long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), microRNAs (miRNAs), and messenger RNAs (mRNAs). Using ceRNA regulatory principles, we constructed a shared ceRNA network and performed function enrichment and protein–protein interaction (PPI) analyses to identify hub genes and key pathways. Immune cell infiltration and drug–gene interaction analyses were conducted, and hub gene expression was validated by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Results We identified 37 shared differentially expressed lncRNAs, 34 miRNAs, and 247 mRNAs and constructed a ceRNA network consisting of 3 lncRNAs, 5 miRNAs, and 109 mRNAs. Furthermore, we examined 109 common differentially expressed genes (DEGs) through functional annotation, PPI analysis, and regulatory network analysis. We discovered that these diseases shared the complement and coagulation cascades pathway. Eight hub genes were identified and enriched in the immune system process. Immune infiltration analysis revealed increased T cells and decreased B cells in both photoreceptor degenerations. The expression of hub genes was closely associated with the quantities of immune cell types. Additionally, we identified 7 immune therapeutical drugs that target the hub genes. Discussion Our findings provide new insights and directions for understanding the common mechanisms underlying the development of photoreceptor degeneration. The hub genes and related ceRNA networks we identified may offer new perspectives for elucidating the mechanisms and hold promise for the development of innovative treatment strategies.