Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Natural Product β-Escin Targets Cancer and Stromal Cells of the Tumor Microenvironment to Inhibit Ovarian Cancer Metastasis

Simple Summary β-escin, a component of horse chestnut seed extract, was first identified as an inhibitor of ovarian cancer (OvCa) adhesion/invasion in our high-throughput screening program using a three-dimensional organotypic model assembled from primary human cells and extracellular matrix. The goal of the study presented here is to determine if β-escin and structurally-similar compounds have a therapeutic potential against OvCa metastasis. β-escin and cardiac glycosides inhibit ovarian cancer adhesion/invasion to the omental microenvironment in vivo, and β-escin inhibits ovarian cancer metastasis in the prevention and intervention setting. Additionally, β-escin was found to decrease the stemness of ovarian cancer cells, inhibit extracellular matrix production in the tumor microenvironment, and inhibit HIF1α stability in ovarian cancer cells and the tumor microenvironment. This study reveals that the natural compound β-escin has therapeutic potential because of its ability to prevent OvCa dissemination by targeting both cancer and stromal cells in the OvCa tumor microenvironment. Abstract The high mortality of OvCa is caused by the wide dissemination of cancer within the abdominal cavity. OvCa cells metastasize to the peritoneum, which is covered by mesothelial cells, and invade into the underlying stroma, composed of extracellular matrices (ECM) and stromal cells. In a study using a three-dimensional quantitative high-throughput screening platform (3D-qHTS), we found that β-escin, a component of horse chestnut seed extract, inhibited OvCa adhesion/invasion. Here, we determine whether β-escin and structurally similar compounds have a therapeutic potential against OvCa metastasis. Different sources of β-escin and horse chestnut seed extract inhibited OvCa cell adhesion/invasion, both in vitro and in vivo. From a collection of 160 structurally similar compounds to β-escin, we found that cardiac glycosides inhibited OvCa cell adhesion/invasion and proliferation in vitro, and inhibited adhesion/invasion and metastasis in vivo. Mechanistically, β-escin and the cardiac glycosides inhibited ECM production in mesothelial cells and fibroblasts. The oral administration of β-escin inhibited metastasis in both OvCa prevention and intervention mouse models. Specifically, β-escin inhibited ECM production in the omental tumors. Additionally, the production of HIF1α-targeted proteins, lactate dehydrogenase A, and hexokinase 2 in omental tumors was blocked by β-escin. This study reveals that the natural compound β-escin has a therapeutic potential because of its ability to prevent OvCa dissemination by targeting both cancer and stromal cells in the OvCa tumor microenvironment.
Attention Bias and Recognition of Sexual Images in Depression

Depression greatly affects sexuality. Theoretical and empirical evidence account for the existence of attention bias to sex-related stimuli. This attention bias might be impaired in depression, resulting in sexual problems. A sample of 13 patients with depression and 13 matched healthy controls were tested using the dot-probe and picture recognition task to measure attention to erotic images. No difference in attention to sex-related stimuli (ω2 = 0, p = 0.22) and in memory bias (ω2 = 0, p = 0.72) was found between the two groups. Explorative analyses were conducted to identify the sexual content-induced delay effect in the data, assess variability differences, and compare trial-level bias score-based indexes between groups. Across all analyses, there was little evidence for depression affecting sexual-related cognitive processing, and even this might be explained by other means. Our results suggest that restrained attention is probably not the main factor behind sexual problems in depression.
Neurotherapeutics for Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD): A Review

This review focuses on the evidence for neurotherapeutics for attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). EEG-neurofeedback has been tested for about 45 years, with the latest meta-analyses of randomised controlled trials (RCT) showing small/medium effects compared to non-active controls only. Three small studies piloted neurofeedback of frontal activations in ADHD using functional magnetic resonance imaging or near-infrared spectroscopy, finding no superior effects over control conditions. Brain stimulation has been applied to ADHD using mostly repetitive transcranial magnetic and direct current stimulation (rTMS/tDCS). rTMS has shown mostly negative findings on improving cognition or symptoms. Meta-analyses of tDCS studies targeting mostly the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex show small effects on cognitive improvements with only two out of three studies showing clinical improvements. Trigeminal nerve stimulation has been shown to improve ADHD symptoms with medium effect in one RCT. Modern neurotherapeutics are attractive due to their relative safety and potential neuroplastic effects. However, they need to be thoroughly tested for clinical and cognitive efficacy across settings and beyond core symptoms and for their potential for individualised treatment.
Comprehensive Profiling of Microbiologically Induced CaCO3 Precipitation by Ureolytic Bacillus Isolates from Alkaline Soils

Microbiologically induced CaCO3 precipitation (MICP) is a well-known bio-based solution with application in environmental, geotechnical, and civil engineering. The significance of the MICP has increased explorations of process efficiency and specificity via natural bacterial isolates. In this study, comprehensive profiling of five soil ureolytic Bacillus strains was performed through a newly formed procedure that involved six steps from selection and identification, through kinetic study, to the characterization of the obtained precipitates, for the first time. To shorten the whole selection procedure of 43 bioagents with the MICP potential, Standard Score Analysis was performed and five selected bacteria were identified as Bacillus muralis, B. lentus, B. simplex, B. firmus, and B. licheniformis by the MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. Despite following the targeted activity, kinetic studies were included important aspects of ureolysis and the MICP such as cell concentration, pH profiling, and reduction in calcium ion concentration. At the final step, characterization of the obtained precipitates was performed using FTIR, XRD, Raman, DTA/TGA, and SEM analysis. Although all tested strains showed significant potential in terms of precipitation of calcite or calcite and vaterite phase, the main differences in the MICP behavior can be observed at the bacterial strain level. B. licheniformis showed favorable behavior compared to the reference Sporosarcina pasteurii DSM 33.
Taxonomic Description of Stenodiplosis tectori n. sp. (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae), a Seed Parasite of Cheatgrass, Anisantha tectorum, Based on Morphological and Mitochondrial DNA Data

Simple Summary Cheatgrass is an annual grass species from Eurasia that has become invasive in much of western North America. It has been implicated in the recent increases in the frequency, size, and intensity of wildfires, contributing to severe economic, environmental, and social destruction. In order to reduce this damage, the USDA-ARS established a classical biological control program against cheatgrass. In 2018 and 2019, adult gall midges were collected emerging from cheatgrass seed heads collected at several sites in Bulgaria and Greece; this is the first gall midge ever recorded from cheatgrass. Morphological and DNA barcode comparisons with related midge species recorded from other plant hosts revealed that this midge from cheatgrass is a new species, described here as Stenodiplosis tectori n. sp. The present study is the first to report DNA barcode data in the genus Stenodiplosis. The DNA barcode results indicated relatively high year-to-year within-population diversity. Implications for this gall midge’s utility as a biological control agent of cheatgrass are discussed. Abstract Cheatgrass is an annual grass species from Eurasia that has become invasive in much of western North America. It has been implicated in recent increases in the frequency, size, and intensity of wildfires, contributing to severe economic, environmental, and social destruction. In order to reduce this damage, the USDA-ARS established a classical biological control program against cheatgrass. In 2018 and 2019, adult gall midges were collected emerging from cheatgrass seed heads collected at several sites in Bulgaria and Greece; this is the first gall midge ever recorded from cheatgrass. Morphological comparisons with related midge species recorded from other plant hosts revealed that this midge from cheatgrass is a new species, described here as Stenodiplosis tectori n. sp. This status was supported by sequence comparisons of a barcode region of the gene encoding the mitochondrial cytochrome c subunit I (CO1) protein in Stenodiplosis tectori n. sp. and three congeners. The present study is the first to report MT-CO1 data in the genus Stenodiplosis. The ingroup Stenodiplosis tectori n. sp. collected in the Balkans grouped in one phylogenetic supported clade, with an average K2P-distance from its closest related congener, S. sorghicola, of 7.73% (SD = 1.10). The findings indicated relatively high year-to-year within-population diversity. Implications for this gall midge’s utility as a biological control agent of cheatgrass are discussed.
Xylella fastidiosa in Olive: A Review of Control Attempts and Current Management

Since 2013, Xylella fastidiosa Wells et al. has been reported to infect several hosts and to be present in different areas of Europe. The main damage has been inflicted on the olive orchards of southern Apulia (Italy), where a severe disease associated with X. fastidiosa subspecies pauca strain De Donno has led to the death of millions of trees. This dramatic and continuously evolving situation has led to European and national (Italian and Spanish) measures being implemented to reduce the spread of the pathogen and the associated olive quick decline syndrome (OQDS). Research has been also carried out to find solutions to better and directly fight the bacterium and its main insect vector, Philaenus spumarius L. In the course of this frantic effort, several treatments based on chemical or biological substances have been tested, in addition to plant breeding techniques and integrated pest management approaches. This review aims to summarize the attempts made so far and describe the prospects for better management of this serious threat, which poses alarming questions for the future of olive cultivation in the Mediterranean basin and beyond.
Parental Stress and Disability in Offspring: A Snapshot during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Parenting a child with a disability, such as neurodevelopmental disorders and genetic syndromes, implies a high level of stress. During the COVID-19 outbreak—as a period implying additional challenges—few studies have specifically investigated caregivers’ distress among neurodevelopmental disabilities. The objective of the study is to investigate whether during the COVID-19 pandemic, the level of parental stress differs between four disability groups including neurodevelopmental disorders (autism spectrum disorder (ASD), attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)) and genetic syndromes (Rett syndrome (RTT), Sotos syndrome (SS)) in comparison to families with typical development offspring (TD). In total, 220 Italian parents of children affected by neurodevelopmental disabilities (74 ASD, 51 ADHD, 34 SS, 21 RTT, 40 TD; age M 9.4 ± SD 4.2) underwent a standardized evaluation for stress related to parenting through the self-report questionnaire, Parental Stress Index-Short Form (PSI-SF). The main findings show greater levels of parental stress—mainly linked to child behavioral characteristics rather than parental sense of competence—in parents of children affected by a disability in comparison to children with typical development. This study highlights the need to support not only individuals with special needs but also their own caregivers: core figures in the management and outcome of children disorders.
Is There an Association between Health Risk Behaviours and Academic Achievement among University Students?

University students have high rates of health risk behaviours, and these may be predictive of academic success. This cross-sectional study aimed to determine the association between individual and multiple health risk behaviours and academic achievement in a sample of Australian university students. Data from the University of Newcastle Student Healthy Lifestyle Survey 2019 were used. Health risk behaviours (diet, physical activity, sitting time, sleep, alcohol consumption, smoking) were assessed, and total number of risk factors calculated. Academic achievement was assessed using self-reported grade point average (GPA). The association between health risk behaviours and GPA was explored using linear regression, adjusted for socio-demographic and student characteristics. The sample included 1543 students (mean age 25.0 ± 7.9 years, 70.6% female). Lower GPA was associated with not meeting fruit consumption recommendations (β = −0.203), consuming >1 cup of soft drink/week (β = −0.307), having takeaway foods ≥1 time/week (β = −0.130), not consuming breakfast daily (β = −0.261), not meeting sleep recommendations (β = −0.163), exceeding single occasion alcohol consumption risk (β = −0.277), smoking (β = −0.393), and having a higher number of risk factors (β = −0.105). This study identified modest associations between GPA and health risk behaviours, suggesting that further research is warranted into whether strategies to improve university students’ health could modestly improve their academic achievement.
Performance, Health, and Psychological Challenges Faced by Students of Physical Education in Online Learning during COVID-19 Epidemic: A Qualitative Study in China

The spread of COVID-19 has led students to take classes online (rather than face-to-face) worldwide, including in China. For this study, we conducted qualitative focus group discussions to identify the experience of and difficulties faced by online physical education students in higher education taking online classes, including the impact on their physical activity performance, as well as some health problems they face while taking online classes during the quarantine period, such as weight gain, depression, and anxiety. Finally, utilizing Mayer’s learning model as a conceptual framework, we propose a method that addresses how to effectively manage an optimal future learning system for physical education students, both during and after the COVID-19 outbreak situation. During the isolation period of COVID-19, the required equipment for the participants was rarely available at home while attending the online classes, which inevitably reduced the number of physical education units that could be conveyed. This resulted in a transfer of attention from competition to underperformance, weight gain, and adverse psychological conditions. We conclude that it is important to review and systematize the methods of online physical education learning, particularly highlighting the cultural and educational characteristics of different countries, and to investigate the effectiveness of online physical education as a whole.
Prevalence and Clinical Implications of Incidentally Detected Parotid Lesions as Blind Spot on Brain MRI: A Single-Center Experience

Background and objective: This study was conducted to assess the prevalence and clinical implications of parotid lesions detected incidentally during brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examination. Materials and Methods: Between February 2016 and February 2021, we identified 86 lesions in the brain MRI reports of 84 patients that contained the words “parotid gland” or “PG”. Of these, we finally included 49 lesions involving 45 patients following histopathological confirmation. Results: Based on the laboratory, radiological or histopathological findings, the prevalence of incidental parotid lesions was low (1.2%). Among the 45 study patients, 41 (91.1%) had unilateral lesions, and the majority of the lesions were located in the superficial lobe (40/49, 81.6%). The mean size of the parotid lesions was 1.3 cm ± 0.4 cm (range, 0.5 cm–2.8 cm). Of these, 46 parotid lesions (93.9%) were benign, whereas the remaining three lesions were malignant (6.1%). Conclusions: Despite the low prevalence and incidence of malignancy associated with incidental parotid lesions detected on brain MRI, the clinical implications are potentially significant. Therefore, clinical awareness and appropriate imaging work-up of these lesions are important for accurate diagnosis and timely management.
A Study on the Mechanical Characteristics of Glass and Nylon Fiber Reinforced Peach Shell Lightweight Concrete

In the current study, the utilization of glass and nylon fibers in various percentages are added to enhance the mechanical performance of peach shell lightweight concrete. Glass and nylon fibers were added at 2%, 4%, 6%, and 8% by cement weight. The results showed that, as we added the glass and nylon fibers, the density of peach shell concrete was reduced by 6.6%, and the compressive, split tensile and flexural strength were enhanced by 10.20%, 60.1%, and 63.49%. The highest strength that was obtained in compressive, split tensile, and flexural strength at 56 days was 29.4 MPa, 5.2 MPa, and 6.3 MPa, respectively, with 6% of glass fiber in peach shell concrete. Mechanical test results showed that post-failure toughness and modulus of elasticity of peach shell concrete is enhanced with the utilization of fibers. To verify our lab results, a statistical analysis, such as response surface methodology, was performed to make a statistical model, it was confirmed by both lab results and statistical analysis that the mechanical performance of peach shell concrete could be significantly improved by adding glass fibers as compared to nylon fibers. With the use of fibers, the water absorption and porosity were slightly increased. Hence, the glass and nylon fibers can be used to improve the peach shell concrete mechanical properties to make concrete eco-friendly, sustainable, and lightweight.
Familiarity Breeds Strategy: In Silico Untangling of the Molecular Complexity on Course of Autoimmune Liver Disease-to-Hepatocellular Carcinoma Transition Predicts Novel Transcriptional Signatures

Autoimmune liver diseases (AILD) often lead to transformation of the liver tissues into hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Considering the drawbacks of surgical procedures in such cases, need of successful non-invasive therapeutic strategies and treatment modalities for AILD-associated-HCC still exists. Due to the lack of clear, sufficient knowledge about factors mediating AILD-to-HCC transition, an in silico approach was adopted to delineate the underlying molecular deterministic factors. Parallel enrichment analyses on two different public microarray datasets (GSE159676 and GSE62232) pinpointed the core transcriptional regulators as key players. Correlation between the expression kinetics of these transcriptional modules in AILD and HCC was found to be positive primarily with the advancement of hepatic fibrosis. Most of the regulatory interactions were operative during early (F0–F1) and intermediate fibrotic stages (F2–F3), while the extent of activity in the regulatory network considerably diminished at late stage of fibrosis/cirrhosis (F4). Additionally, most of the transcriptional targets with higher degrees of connectivity in the regulatory network (namely DCAF11, PKM2, DGAT2 and BCAT1) may be considered as potential candidates for biomarkers or clinical targets compared to their low-connectivity counterparts. In summary, this study uncovers new possibilities in the designing of novel prognostic and therapeutic regimen for autoimmunity-associated malignancy of liver in a disease progression-dependent fashion.
Follow-Up of Patients Who Achieved Sustained Virologic Response after Interferon-Free Treatment against Hepatitis C Virus: Focus on Older Patients

Background and Objectives: Direct-acting antiviral agents (DAAs) have improved sustained virologic response (SVR) rates in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Our aim was to elucidate the occurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and to compare the outcomes of patients aged 75 years or older (older group) with those of patients younger than 75 years (younger group) after SVR. Materials and Methods: Among 441 patients treated with interferon-free DAA combinations, a total of 409 SVR patients were analyzed. We compared the two age groups in terms of HCC incidence and mortality rates. Results: Older and younger groups consisted of 68 and 341 patients, respectively. Occurrence of HCC after SVR did not differ between the two groups of patients with a history of HCC. Occurrence of HCC after SVR was observed more in younger patients without a history of HCC (p < 0.01). Although older patients without a history of HCC had a higher mortality rate (p < 0.01), their causes of death were not associated with liver diseases. Among younger patients without a history of HCC, none died. Conclusions: After SVR, liver disease may not be a prognostic factor in older HCV patients without a history of HCC.
Comparative Genomics Analyses Reveal the Differences between B. longum subsp. infantis and B. longum subsp. longum in Carbohydrate Utilisation, CRISPR-Cas Systems and Bacteriocin Operons

Bifidobacterium longum is one of the most widely distributed and abundant Bifidobacterium in the human intestine, and has been proven to have a variety of physiological functions. In this study, 80 strains of B. longum isolated from human subjects were classified into subspecies by ANI and phylogenetic analyses, and the functional genes were compared. The results showed that there were significant differences in carbohydrate metabolism between the two subspecies, which determined their preference for human milk oligosaccharides or plant-derived carbohydrates. The predicted exopolysaccharide (EPS) gene clusters had large variability within species but without difference at the subspecies level. Four subtype CRISPR-Cas systems presented in B. longum, while the subtypes I-U and II-C only existed in B. longum subsp. longum. The bacteriocin operons in B. longum subsp. infantis were more widely distributed compared with B. longum subsp. longum. In conclusion, this study revealed the similarities and differences between B. longum subsp. infantis and B. longum subsp. longum, which could provide a theoretical basis for further exploring the probiotic characteristics of B. longum.