Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Brown fat triglyceride content is associated with cardiovascular risk markers in adults from a tropical region

Brown adipose tissue (BAT) is regarded as an interesting potential target for the treatment of obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases, and the detailed characterization of its structural and functional phenotype could enable an advance in these fields. Most studies evaluating BAT structure and function were performed in temperate climate regions, and we are yet to know how these findings apply to the 40% of the world’s population living in tropical areas. Here, we used 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography – magnetic resonance imaging to evaluate BAT in 45 lean, overweight, and obese volunteers living in a tropical area in Southeast Brazil. We aimed at investigating the associations between BAT activity, volume, metabolic activity, and BAT content of triglycerides with adiposity and cardiovascular risk markers in a sample of adults living in a tropical area and we showed that BAT glucose uptake is not correlated with leanness; instead, BAT triglyceride content is correlated with visceral adiposity and markers of cardiovascular risk. This study expands knowledge regarding the structure and function of BAT in people living in tropical areas. In addition, we provide evidence that BAT triglyceride content could be an interesting marker of cardiovascular risk.
A longitudinal investigation of the effects of parental discipline strategies on social competence in early childhood

In the current study, we investigated the associations between parenting discipline strategies (i.e., physical punishment and non-violent punishment) and social development using n = 3265 reports from primary caregivers across three waves of data. Analyses were conducted using cross-lagged structural equation modeling, where we evaluated the developmental effects of physical punishment and non-violent punishment on social competence. The findings showed partial support for developmental changes between non-violent punishment and social competence unfold reciprocally and longitudinally; the relationship between physical punishment and social competence appeared unrelated, as physical punishment in Wave 2 only negatively predicted social competence in Wave 3. These findings underscore the importance of understanding the developmental pathways for parenting discipline strategies and social skill development among children living in urban neighborhoods.
Childhood adversity, prenatal depression, and maternal inflammation across pregnancy

Background To examine whether change in neutrophil–lymphocyte ratio, a marker of systemic inflammation, differs by childhood adversity and prenatal depression. Methods Prenatal complete blood count data were used to calculate neutrophil–lymphocyte ratio in first and third trimesters. The Adverse Childhood Experiences scale measured childhood adversity, and the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 measured depression. This is a secondary analysis of a study of predictors of risk for sleep-disordered breathing. Results Participants were 98 pregnant women, mean age 30 years (SD = 5), mean body mass index of 35 kg/m2 (SD = 7), 61% identified as white, and 28% identified as Hispanic. Women who reported childhood sexual abuse history displayed greater increase in neutrophil–lymphocyte ratio over pregnancy relative to women without childhood sexual abuse. Change in neutrophil–lymphocyte ratio across pregnancy did not differ by prenatal depression. Conclusion Experiences of sexual abuse in childhood may impact markers of systemic inflammation in pregnancy.
Activation of a Bacterial Mechanosensitive Channel, MscL, Underlies the Membrane Permeabilization of Dual-Targeting Antibacterial Compounds

Resistance to antibiotics is a serious and worsening threat to human health worldwide, and there is an urgent need to develop new antibiotics that can avert it. One possible solution is the development of compounds that possess multiple modes of action, requiring at least two mutations to acquire resistance. Compound SCH-79797 both avoids resistance and has two mechanisms of action: one inhibiting the folate pathway, and a second described as “membrane permeabilization”; however, the mechanism by which membranes from bacterial cells, but not the host, are disrupted has remained mysterious. The opening of the bacterial mechanosensitive channel of large conductance, MscL, which ordinarily serves the physiological role of osmotic emergency release valves gated by hypoosmotic shock, has been previously demonstrated to affect bacterial membrane permeabilization. MscL allows the rapid permeabilization of both ions and solutes through the opening of the largest known gated pore, which has a diameter of 30 Å. We found that SCH-79797 and IRS-16, a more potent derivative, directly bind to the MscL channel and produce membrane permeabilization as a result of its activation. These findings suggest that possessing or adding an MscL-activating component to an antibiotic compound could help to lower toxicity and evade antibiotic resistance.
Linagliptin in Combination With Metformin Ameliorates Diabetic Osteoporosis Through Modulating BMP-2 and Sclerostin in the High-Fat Diet Fed C57BL/6 Mice

Background Diabetic osteoporosis is a poorly managed serious skeletal complication, characterized by high fracture risk, increased bone resorption, reduced bone formation, and disrupted bone architecture. There is a need to investigate drugs that can improve bone health along with managing glycemic control. DPP-4 inhibitors and metformin have proven benefits in improving bone health. Here, we investigated the effects of linagliptin, a DPP inhibitor, and metformin alone and in combination to treat diabetic osteoporosis in high-fat-fed mice. Methods C57BL/6 mice were kept on the high-fat diet (HFD) for 22 weeks to induce diabetic osteoporosis. Linagliptin (10mg/Kg), metformin (150mg/Kg), and their combination were orally administered to the diabetic mice from the 18th-22nd week. Femur and tibial bone microarchitecture together with bone mineral density (BMD) were evaluated using µCT and histopathological changes were assessed. Further, bone turnover biomarkers namely bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2), sclerostin, tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP), osteocalcin, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), calcium, and pro-inflammatory cytokines were assessed. Additionally, metabolic parameters including body weight, fasting blood glucose (FBG), glucose & insulin tolerance, lipids profile, and leptin were measured. Results HFD feeding resulted in impaired bone microarchitecture, reduced BMD, distorted bone histology, and altered bone turnover biomarkers as indicated by the significant reduction in bone ALP, BMP-2, osteocalcin, and an increase in sclerostin, TRAP, and serum calcium. Interestingly, treatment with linagliptin and its combination with metformin significantly reverted the impaired bone architecture, BMD, and positively modulated bone turnover biomarkers, while metformin alone did not exhibit any significant improvement. Further, HFD induced diabetes and metabolic abnormalities (including an increase in body weight, FBG, impaired glucose and insulin tolerance, leptin, triglycerides, cholesterol), and pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-alpha and IL-1β) were successfully reversed by treatment with linagliptin, metformin, and their combination. Conclusion Linagliptin and its combination with metformin successfully ameliorated diabetic osteoporosis in HFD-fed mice possibly through modulation of BMP-2 and sclerostin. The study provides the first evidence for the possible use of linagliptin and metformin combination for managing diabetic osteoporosis.
The Belle II software—From detector signals to physics results

The construction of the Belle II detector is being completed and the focus shifts towards the reconstruction of higher level objects from the detector signals with the aim to search for new physics effects in huge data samples. The software is providing the connection between detector hardware and physics analyses. This article describes the development infrastructure and main components of the Belle II software which are essential for the success of the Belle II physics program.
The correlation between the concentration of ovarian steroid and the severity of COVID-19 in females

Background: Coronaviruses are positive single-stranded RNA viruses that have a spherical shape and some spike-shaped proteins (spike proteins) that project from their surface, from which they derive their name because they resemble a solar corona. The RNA sequence of SARS-CoV-2 is approximately thirty thousand nucleotides in length and encodes both structural and non-structural proteins. Objective: To assess the relation between the concentration of ovarian steroid and the severity of covid-19 in females. Patients and method: A cross sectional study carried at Consulting clinic for chest and respiratory diseases in Babylon Governorate at the period from 1st of January 2021 to the 1st of June 2021. Patients were female infected with COVID-19 with in age between 25-65 years old. Results: mean age in the studied group was (44.75±13.87) years and the main age group between 40-49 years (29.6%), the majority of the patients (96.3%) were married women, and (71.6%) were obese.
Transcriptome Analysis Reveals Molecular Mechanisms under Salt Stress in Leaves of Foxtail Millet (Setaria italica L.)

Foxtail millet (Setaria italica L.) is an important cereal for managing future water scarcity and ensuring food security, due to its strong drought and salt stress resistance owing to its developed root system. However, the molecular responses of foxtail millet leaves to salt stress are largely unknown. In this study, seeds of 104 foxtail millet accessions were subjected to 0.17 mol·L−1 NaCl stress during germination, and various germination-related parameters were analyzed to derive 5 salt-sensitive accessions and 13 salt-tolerant accessions. Hong Gu 2000 and Pu Huang Yu were the most salt-tolerant and salt-sensitive accessions, respectively. To determine the mechanism of the salt stress response, transcriptomic differences between the control and salt-treated groups were investigated. We obtained 2019 and 736 differentially expressed genes under salt stress in the salt-sensitive and salt-tolerant accessions, respectively. The transcription factor families bHLH, WRKY, AP2/ERF, and MYB-MYC were found to play critical roles in foxtail millet’s response to salt stress. Additionally, the down-regulation of ribosomal protein-related genes causes stunted growth in the salt-sensitive accessions. The salt-tolerant accession alleviates salt stress by increasing energy production. Our findings provide novel insights into the molecular mechanism of foxtail millet’s response to salt stress.
A Qualitative Study: Mothers’ Experiences of Their Child’s Late-Onset Pompe Disease Diagnosis Following Newborn Screening

Pompe disease was added to the United States recommended uniform screening panel in 2015 to avoid diagnostic delay and implement prompt treatment, specifically for those with infantile-onset Pompe disease (IOPD). However, most newborns with abnormal newborn screening (NBS) for Pompe disease have late-onset Pompe disease (LOPD). An early diagnosis of LOPD raises the question of when symptoms will arise which is challenging for parents, patients, and providers managing an LOPD diagnosis. This study aimed to characterize mothers’ experiences of their child’s LOPD diagnosis and medical monitoring. A qualitative descriptive approach was chosen to gain an in-depth understanding of parental experiences. Eight mothers were interviewed about their experiences with positive NBS and diagnosis, experiences with living with the diagnosis, and experiences with medical monitoring. Interview transcripts were analyzed through conventional content analysis. Negative emotions like fear were more frequent with communication of NBS results. Participants expressed uncertainty surrounding age of symptom onset and the future. The medical monitoring experience increased worry but participants expressed that being vigilant with management reassured them. Parental emotions shifted to thankfulness and reassurance with time and education. These findings can provide guidance to providers about the psychosocial implications of receiving positive NBS results and an LOPD diagnosis.
EVALUATION OF THE POTENCY OF COMMERCIAL AND LOCALLY PREPARED ANTIBIOTIC DISCS ON CLINICAL BACTERIAL ISOLATES IN CALABAR, NIGERIA

Antibiotic susceptibility discs are used for vitro susceptibility testing of antimicrobial agents to fast growing bacteria and fastidious species by agar diffusion method. It is a semi quantitative method. This study was designed to assess the efficacy of commercial antibiotic discs over in-house prepared discs. Identified clinical isolates were obtained in house in the Department of Medical Microbiology/Parasitology, University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Nigeria. Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 7553) and Escherichia Coli (ATCC 25922) were obtained and used as controls. The antibiotics tested includes; Ciprofloxacin, Erythromycin, Amoxicillin, Gentamicin, Zinacef. These were obtained commercially from Pharmacy shops. The local antibiotic dics were prepared with Whatman filter paper number 3. The antibiotic susceptibility testing was done using Kirby-Bauer method. Out of the 40 clinical isolates tested, 15(37.5%) were Staphylococcus aureus while 10(12.5%) each were Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa respectively. Only 5 isolates of Proteus vulgaris were used. The susceptibility profile of isolates to the commonly used local antibiotic discs ranged between 66.7% to 100%, while the range for commercial discs was 53.3% to 86.7%. Locally prepared discs were found to be more effective than commercial discs. The high resistance rates (0.0% to 33.3%) of clinical isolates to the commercial discs may be attributed to prolong exposure to environmental factors such as heat, moisture, sunlight as well as humidity when transported to retailers and the final users. There is need for constant monitoring and quality controls of susceptibility testing in our laboratories for the production of quality results and efficient patient care. Antibiotic susceptibility discs can be prepared locally for routine laboratory use; this may indirectly reduce importation of commercial discs and the burden on foreign exchange.
Protective Effect of L-Carnitine, Atorvastatin, and Vitamin A on Acetaminophen Induced Hepatotoxicity in Rats

This study aimed to assess the protective effect of L-carnitine, atorvastatin, and vitamin A on progression of acetaminophen induced hepatotoxicity in rats. Five groups of rats (8 rats in each group) were used. Group-1 received no treatment. Group-2 received a single dose of acetaminophen (1000mg/kg, intra-peritoneal (IP)) on fourth day. Groups (3, 4, and 5) were received oral doses of L-carnitine (500mg/kg), atorvastatin (10mg/kg), and vitamin A (5000 IU/kg) respectively for 7 days. On the 4 th day a single dose of acetaminophen (1000mg/kg/IP) were administered to all these groups. Animals were sacrificed at day 8 and blood samples were collected by using cardiac puncture and used for analysis of ALT, AST, and ALP. The oxidative stress parameters glutathione (GSH) and malondialdehyde (MDA) were measured in liver. The rats in group-2 showed a significant elevation of serum ALT, AST, and ALP levels and a significant reduction of the GSH with a significant elevation of MDA levels in liver compared to group-1. All of these results were ameliorated by administration of L-carnitine, atorvastatin, and vitamin A. L-carnitine, atorvastatin, and vitamin A have protective effects against acetaminophen induced hepatotoxicity.
Environmental and occupational exposure to chromium in Iran: A systematic review

Background: Chromium (Cr) is a heavy metal and trace mineral found in various forms. Cr III is an essential nutrient, that is normally found in human blood and urine; in contrast, Cr VI is listed in group I carcinogens and is hazardous for human health. Several studies have been done about measuring human Chromium levels in Iran and this review attempted to summarize these studies. Methods: Electronic resources including SID, Magiran, PubMed, Web of Knowledge, and Google Scholar were searched; with phrases including “Exposure to Chromium, Chromium exposure, Chromium measuring, Occupational exposure to Chromium, Environmental exposure to Chromium, Chromium” and their Persian translations until December 2, 2016. Results: From the 1,309 retrieved articles, 32 articles were selected. In welding, electroplating and cement companies, chromium concentrations in workers who dealt directly with Cr were higher than others employees. In the general population, people who lived near a factory or an industrial center, or people who had taken dental treatments especially with orthodontic appliances, had higher Cr levels. Cr deficiency was also investigated in several studies, for its possible relation to diabetes type 2. Conclusion: Cr VI exposure should be under surveillance in Iranian industrial workers; and residential areas should be kept in a safe distance from Cr producing industries. Cr III deficiency might be related to diabetes type 2.
Forecast of Carbon Dioxide Emissions from Energy Consumption in Industry Sectors in Thailand

Abstract The aim of this research is to forecast CO2emissions from consumption of energy in Industry sectors in Thailand. To study, input-output tables based on Thailand for the years 2000 to 2015 are deployed to estimate CO2emissions, population growth and GDP growth. Moreover, those are also used to anticipate the energy consumption for fifteen years and thirty years ahead. The ARIMAX Model is applied to two sub-models, and the result indicates that Thailand will have 14.3541 % on average higher in CO2emissions in a fifteen-year period (2016-2030), and 31.1536 % in a thirty-year period (2016-2045). This study hopes to be useful in shaping future national policies and more effective planning. The researcher uses a statistical model called the ARIMAX Model, which is a stationary data model, and is a model that eliminates the problems of autocorrelations, heteroskedasticity, and multicollinearity. Thus, the forecasts will be made with minor error.
Taurine Attenuates Oxidized Fish Oil-Induced Oxidative Stress and Lipid Metabolism Disorder in Mice

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of dietary taurine on lipid metabolism and liver injury in mice fed a diet high in oxidized fish oil. The ICR mice (six weeks old) were randomly assigned to six groups and fed different diets for 10 weeks: control (CON), normal plus 15% fresh fish oil diet (FFO), normal plus 15% oxidized fish oil diet (OFO), or OFO plus 0.6% (TAU1), 0.9% (TAU2) or 1.2% (TAU3) taurine. Compared to the CON group, OFO mice showed increased liver index, aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in serum (p < 0.05). In addition, OFO mice had increased cholesterol (CHOL)/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and decreased HDL-C/low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and n-6/n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) ratio in serum (p < 0.05) compared with CON mice. Notably, dietary taurine ameliorated the liver index and AST and MDA levels in serum and liver in a more dose-dependent manner than OFO mice. In addition, compared to OFO mice, decreased levels of CHOL and ratio of CHOL/HDL-C and n-6 PUFA/n-3 PUFA in serum were found in TAU3-fed mice. Supplementation with TAU2 and TAU3 increased the relative mRNA expression levels of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α, adipose triglyceride lipase, lipoprotein lipase, hormone-sensitive lipase and carnitine palmitoyl transferase 1 in liver compared with the OFO group (p < 0.05). Moreover, impaired autophagy flux was detected in mice fed with the OFO diet, and this was prevented by taurine. These findings suggested that dietary taurine might provide a potential therapeutic choice against oxidative stress and lipid metabolism disorder.
The Short-Term Storage as a Buffer Memory Between Long-Term Storage and the Motor System? Not Exactly

This study reports a replication and extension of Ulrich and Dietz (1985) on the possible role of the short-term storage (STS) as a buffer memory between long-term storage (LTS) and the motor system in free recall tasks. This STS buffer would allow for the parallel unfolding of the search of LTS and the motor output of responses by temporarily storing retrieved items until their final production. In the study, this view was examined against the alternative hypothesis whereby the fast initial production of items in free recall relies on a controlled or “strategic” search of LTS rather than on the accrual of retrieved items in STS. In two independent replications, 54 native German language speakers and 39 native Bosnian language speakers performed letter verbal fluency task under the manipulation of STS preload (no preload vs. preload) and delay interval (1 sec vs. 10 sec between the presentation of the target letter and the signal for the start of recall). Contrary to the assumption of STS as a buffer memory, the results revealed that STS preload did not cancel out the effect of the delay. Accordingly, the results were interpreted in the context of controlled LTS search models.
Irrational Use of Selected Herbal Medicines During Pregnancy: A Pharmacoepidemiological Evidence From Yemen

Background: Recent research indicates irrational use of herbal medicine (HM) during pregnancy that can be harmful to the mother and development of baby. However, no study has been conducted to explore the use of HM among pregnant women in a conflict region. Methods: This was a cross-sectional research conducted in July and August in the year 2017, at three hospitals in Sana’a, Yemen. Postpartum women were interviewed via the structured instrument to collect data on patterns of HM used during pregnancy. Results: A total of three hundred postpartum women participated in the study, with 59.3% (178) of them using at least one modality of HM in the previous pregnancy. Cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum L), ginger (Zingiber officinale Z), barley (Hordeum vulgare P), and garlic (Allium sativum A) were the most commonly used HM. Statistical analysis showed that consumers of HM had a higher rate of caesarian section and complications during and after the delivery. Conclusion: Consumption of HM during pregnancy was high including contraindicated modalities such as cinnamon (C. verum L) and barley (H. vulgare P). The use of potentially harmful modalities and association with complications pose a threat to the well-being of mothers and newborns. Further studies in this area will be helpful to generate evidence for the rational use of HM during pregnancy.
Magnetic Shield Design for the Double-D Coil-Based Wireless Charging System

In this study, magnetic field emission (MFE) of the high-power double-D (DD) coil-based wireless charging system is investigated and a shielding technique is proposed. The MFE pattern produced by the DD coils is significantly different from the MFE of the unipolar (e.g., circular, square, or rectangular) coils, and the traditional aluminum shield does not suppress the MFE from the DD coils. This study shows that a conventional aluminum shield increases the MFE, and a magnetic shield effectively suppresses the MFE of the DD coils. Therefore, a magnetic shield consisting of high-permeability magnetic material, such as ferrites, nanocrystalline, etc., is proposed for the DD pads. The shielding effectiveness of the proposed shield is evaluated through finite-element analysis and verified through experiments. An 11-kW DD coil-based wireless charging system was used to test the proposed shielding technique. The experimental results show that a traditional aluminum shield increased the MFE by 29.8%, and the proposed magnetic shield suppressed the MFE by 50.5%.