Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Evaluating the Potential of Using Spodoptera litura Eggs for Mass-Rearing Telenomus remus, a Promising Egg Parasitoid of Spodoptera frugiperda

Simple Summary Telenomus remus (Nixon) is an effective egg parasitoid for controlling Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith), which is a major destructive agricultural pest. Currently, this parasitoid is reared on Corcyra cephalonica (Stainton) eggs in several countries. However, previous studies carried out in China have reported that it cannot parasitize in C. cephalonica eggs. Meanwhile, those works have indicated that Spodoptera litura (Fabricius) can potentially be used as an alternative host. In order to evaluate this potential, our study compared the development and parasitism ability of T. remus on the eggs of S. frugiperda and S. litura at different temperatures in a laboratory. We found that S. litura eggs are more advantageous as an alternative host for the mass-rearing of parasitoid when compared with S. frugiperda eggs. Our results provide a more specific basis and reference for the large-scale production and low temperature storage of T. remus. Abstract Although Telenomus remus, a promising parasitoid of Spodoptera frugiperda, had been successfully reared on the eggs of Corcyra cephalonica in some countries, reports from China have argued that it is infeasible. Notably, studies from China have indicated that Spodoptera litura eggs could be a candidate host. Therefore, to further evaluate the potential of using S. litura eggs as hosts, we compared the development and parasitism of T. remus on the eggs of S. frugiperda and S. litura at temperatures between 20–32 °C. Our results showed that T. remus developed successfully on both host eggs at all of the tested temperatures, and the developmental duration and thermal requirements at each stage were similar between the two host species. The number of parasitized eggs was greater for S. litura than for S. frugiperda. Meanwhile, the emergence rate exceeded 86.6%, and it was significantly higher for S. litura than that for S. frugiperda, except at 29 °C. This study is the first time estimating the thermal requirements of T. remus at each stage. Moreover, we also recorded the morphological characteristics of T. remus at each stage. Our results demonstrate that S. litura eggs are more suitable than S. frugiperda eggs as an alternative host for the mass-rearing of T. remus in China. Understanding the thermal requirements and biological parameters contributes greatly to predicting the generation time and providing a reference for the mass-rearing and storage of the parasitoid.
Analysis and Optimization of Conditions for the Use of 2′,7′-Dichlorofluorescein Diacetate in Cultured Hepatocytes

Numerous liver pathologies encompass oxidative stress as molecular basis of disease. The use of 2′,7′-dichlorodihydrofluorescein-diacetate (DCFH2-DA) as fluorogenic redox probe is problematic in liver cell lines because of membrane transport proteins that interfere with probe kinetics, among other reasons. The properties of DCFH2-DA were analyzed in hepatocytes (HepG2, HepaRG) to characterize methodological issues that could hamper data interpretation and falsely skew conclusions. Experiments were focused on probe stability in relevant media, cellular probe uptake/retention/excretion, and basal oxidant formation and metabolism. DCFH2-DA was used under optimized experimental conditions to intravitally visualize and quantify oxidative stress in real-time in HepG2 cells subjected to anoxia/reoxygenation. The most important findings were that: (1) the non-fluorescent DCFH2-DA and the fluorescent DCF are rapidly taken up by hepatocytes, (2) DCF is poorly retained in hepatocytes, and (3) DCFH2 oxidation kinetics are cell type-specific. Furthermore, (4) DCF fluorescence intensity was pH-dependent at pH < 7 and (5) the stability of DCFH2-DA in cell culture medium relied on medium composition. The use of DCFH2-DA to measure oxidative stress in cultured hepatocytes comes with methodological and technical challenges, which were characterized and solved. Optimized in vitro and intravital imaging protocols were formulated to help researchers conduct proper experiments and draw robust conclusions.
Ganoderma boninense Disease Detection by Near-Infrared Spectroscopy Classification: A Review

Ganoderma boninense (G. boninense) infection reduces the productivity of oil palms and causes a serious threat to the palm oil industry. This catastrophic disease ultimately destroys the basal tissues of oil palm, causing the eventual death of the palm. Early detection of G. boninense is vital since there is no effective treatment to stop the continuing spread of the disease. This review describes past and future prospects of integrated research of near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS), machine learning classification for predictive analytics and signal processing towards an early G. boninense detection system. This effort could reduce the cost of plantation management and avoid production losses. Remarkably, (i) spectroscopy techniques are more reliable than other detection techniques such as serological, molecular, biomarker-based sensor and imaging techniques in reactions with organic tissues, (ii) the NIR spectrum is more precise and sensitive to particular diseases, including G. boninense, compared to visible light and (iii) hand-held NIRS for in situ measurement is used to explore the efficacy of an early detection system in real time using ML classifier algorithms and a predictive analytics model. The non-destructive, environmentally friendly (no chemicals involved), mobile and sensitive leads the NIRS with ML and predictive analytics as a significant platform towards early detection of G. boninense in the future.
Validity and Reliability of IPAQ-SF and GPAQ for Assessing Sedentary Behaviour in Adults in the European Union: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Current lifestyles are marked by sedentary behaviour; thus, it is of great importance for policymaking to have valid and reliable tools to measure sedentary behaviour in order to combat it. Therefore, the aim of this review and meta-analysis is to critically review, assess, and compile the reliability, criterion validity, and construct validity of the single-item sedentary behaviour questions within national language versions of most commonly used international physical activity questionnaires for adults in the European Union: The International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form and the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire. A total of 1749 records were screened, 287 full-text papers were read, and 14 studies were included in the meta-analysis. The results and quality of studies were evaluated by the Quality Assessment of Physical Activity Questionnaires checklist. Meta-analysis indicated moderate to high reliability (rw = 0.59) and concurrent validity (rw = 0.55) of national language versions of single-item sedentary behaviour questions. Criterion validity was rather low (rw = 0.23) but in concordance with previous studies. The risk of bias analysis highlighted the poor reporting of methods and results, with a total bias score of 0.42. Thus, we recommend using multi-item SB questionnaires and smart trackers for providing information on SB rather than single-item sedentary behaviour questions in physical activity questionnaires.
Ellagic Acid Resensitizes Gemcitabine-Resistant Bladder Cancer Cells by Inhibiting Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition and Gemcitabine Transporters

Simple Summary Chemoresistance of bladder cancer has become a major obstacle to clinical treatment, especially in first-line treatments involving gemcitabine (GCB). Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is highly correlated with GCB resistance but less correlated with GCB metabolism and less reported as a novel therapeutic strategy. Our findings indicated that EMT-related GCB resistance occurs through the TGF-β/Smad signaling pathways and involves repressed expression of the GCB transporters hCNT1 and hENT1. Ellagic acid (EA) combined with GCB intensified the chemosensitivity of GCB in resistant cells by repressing Smad2, Smad3, and Smad4 expression and rescuing hCNT1 and hENT transcription. These data suggest that EA is a good adjuvant agent for blocking TGF-β/Smad signaling-related GCB resistance in bladder cancer. Abstract Gemcitabine (GCB) resistance is a major issue in bladder cancer chemoresistance, but its underlying mechanism has not been determined. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) has been shown to be comprehensively involved in GCB resistance in several other cancer types, but the direct connection between EMT and GCB remains unclear. This study was designed to elucidate the mechanism of EMT-related GCB resistance in bladder cancer and identify a potential phytochemical to modulate drug sensitivity. The biological effects of ellagic acid (EA) or its combined effects with GCB were compared in GCB-resistant cells and the GCB-sensitive line in terms of cell viability, apoptosis, motility, and in vivo tumorigenicity. The molecular regulation of EMT-related GCB resistance was evaluated at both the mRNA and protein expression levels. Our results indicated that TGF-β/Smad induced the overactivation of EMT in GCB-resistant cells and reduced the expression of GCB influx transporters (hCNT1 and hENT1). Moreover, ellagic acid (EA) inhibited the TGF-β signaling pathway both in vitro and in vivo by reducing Smad2, Smad3, and Smad4 expression and thereby resensitized GCB sensitivity. In conclusion, our results demonstrate that TGF-β/Smad-induced EMT contributes to GCB resistance in bladder cancer by reducing GCB influx and also elucidate the novel mechanisms of EA-mediated inhibition of TGF-β/Smad-induced EMT to overcome GCB resistance. Our study warrants further investigation of EA as an effective therapeutic adjuvant agent for overcoming GCB resistance in bladder cancer.
Induction and Resuscitation of Viable but Nonculturable Corynebacterium diphtheriae

Many pathogenic bacteria, including Escherichia coli and Vibrio cholerae, can become viable but nonculturable (VBNC) following exposure to specific stress conditions. Corynebacterium diphtheriae, a known human pathogen causing diphtheria, has not previously been shown to enter the VBNC state. Here, we report that C. diphtheriae can become VBNC when exposed to low temperatures. Morphological differences in culturable and VBNC C. diphtheriae were examined using scanning electron microscopy. Culturable cells presented with a typical rod-shape, whereas VBNC cells showed a distorted shape with an expanded center. Cells could be transitioned from VBNC to culturable following treatment with catalase. This was further evaluated via RNA sequence-based transcriptomic analysis and reverse-transcription quantitative PCR of culturable, VBNC, and resuscitated VBNC cells following catalase treatment. As expected, many genes showed different behavior by resuscitation. The expression of both the diphtheria toxin and the repressor of diphtheria toxin genes remained largely unchanged under all four conditions (culturable, VBNC, VBNC after the addition of catalase, and resuscitated cells). This is the first study to demonstrate that C. diphtheriae can enter a VBNC state and that it can be rescued from this state via the addition of catalase. This study helps to expand our general understanding of VBNC, the pathogenicity of VBNC C. diphtheriae, and its environmental survival strategy.
Process Development for the Detoxification of Fermentation Inhibitors from Acid Pretreated Microalgae Hydrolysate

The aim of this study was to remove 5-hydroxymethyl furfural (5-HMF) and furfural, known as fermentation inhibitors, in acid pretreated hydrolysates (APH) obtained from Scenedesmus obliquus using activated carbon. Microwave-assisted pretreatment was used to produce APH containing glucose, xylose, and fermentation inhibitors (5-HMF, furfural). The response surface methodology was applied to optimize key detoxification variables such as temperature (16.5–58.5 °C), time (0.5–5.5 h), and solid–liquid (S-L) ratio of activated carbon (0.6–7.4 w/v%). Three variables showed significant effects on the removal of fermentation inhibitors. The optimum detoxification conditions with the maximum removal of fermentation inhibitors and the minimum loss of sugars (glucose and xylose) were as follows: temperature of 36.6 °C, extraction time of 3.86 h, and S-L ratio of 3.3 w/v%. Under these conditions, removal of 5-HMF, furfural, and sugars were 71.6, 83.1, and 2.44%, respectively, which agreed closely with the predicted values. When the APH and detoxified APH were used for ethanol fermentation by S. cerevisiae, the ethanol produced was 38.5% and 84.5% of the theoretical yields, respectively, which confirmed that detoxification using activated carbon was effective in removing fermentation inhibitors and increasing fermentation yield without significant removal of fermentable sugars.
Vagus Nerve Stimulation Protects Enterocyte Glycocalyx After Hemorrhagic Shock Via the Cholinergic Anti-Inflammatory Pathway

Supplemental Digital Content is available in the text ABSTRACT Introduction: Electrical vagal nerve stimulation is known to decrease gut permeability and alleviate gut injury caused by traumatic hemorrhagic shock. However, the specific mechanism of action remains unclear. Glycocalyx, located on the surface of the intestinal epithelium, is associated with the buildup of the intestinal barrier. Therefore, the goal of our study was to explore whether vagal nerve stimulation affects enterocyte glycocalyx, gut permeability, gut injury, and remote lung injury. Materials and methods: Male Sprague Dawley rats were anesthetized and their cervical nerves were exposed. The rats underwent traumatic hemorrhagic shock (with maintenance of mean arterial pressure of 30–35 mmHg for 60 min) with fluid resuscitation. Vagal nerve stimulation was added to two cohorts of animals before fluid resuscitation, and one of them was injected with methyllycaconitine to block the cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway. Intestinal epithelial glycocalyx was detected using immunofluorescence. Intestinal permeability, the degree of gut and lung injury, and inflammation factors were also assessed. Results: Vagal nerve stimulation alleviated the damage to the intestinal epithelial glycocalyx and decreased intestinal permeability by 43% compared with the shock/resuscitation phase (P < 0.05). Methyllycaconitine partly eliminated the effects of vagal nerve stimulation on the intestinal epithelial glycocalyx (P < 0.05). Vagal nerve stimulation protected against traumatic hemorrhagic shock/fluid resuscitation-induced gut and lung injury, and some inflammatory factor levels in the gut and lung tissue were downregulated after vagal nerve stimulation (P < 0.05). Conclusions: Vagal nerve stimulation could relieve traumatic hemorrhagic shock/fluid resuscitation-induced intestinal epithelial glycocalyx damage via the cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway.
Modeling Sialidosis with Neural Precursor Cells Derived from Patient-Derived Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells

Sialidosis, caused by a genetic deficiency of the lysosomal sialidase gene (NEU1), is a systemic disease involving various tissues and organs, including the nervous system. Understanding the neurological dysfunction and pathology associated with sialidosis remains a challenge, partially due to the lack of a human model system. In this study, we have generated two types of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) with sialidosis-specific NEU1G227R and NEU1V275A/R347Q mutations (sialidosis-iPSCs), and further differentiated them into neural precursor cells (iNPCs). Characterization of NEU1G227R- and NEU1V275A/R347Q- mutated iNPCs derived from sialidosis-iPSCs (sialidosis-iNPCs) validated that sialidosis-iNPCs faithfully recapitulate key disease-specific phenotypes, including reduced NEU1 activity and impaired lysosomal and autophagic function. In particular, these cells showed defective differentiation into oligodendrocytes and astrocytes, while their neuronal differentiation was not notably affected. Importantly, we found that the phenotypic defects of sialidosis-iNPCs, such as impaired differentiation capacity, could be effectively rescued by the induction of autophagy with rapamycin. Our results demonstrate the first use of a sialidosis-iNPC model with NEU1G227R- and NEU1V275A/R347Q- mutation(s) to study the neurological defects of sialidosis, particularly those related to a defective autophagy–lysosome pathway, and may help accelerate the development of new drugs and therapeutics to combat sialidosis and other LSDs.
Reversing CdS and ZnS preparation order on electrospun TiO2 and its effects on photoelectrochemical property

CdS and ZnS co-sensitised one-dimensional TiO2 nanofibres were successfully prepared by a combination of electrospinning and successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction (SILAR) process because both electrospinning and SILAR method are inexpensive and scalable techniques. The composites of CdS-ZnS/TiO2 heterojunctions were compared with electrode containing only CdS being superior in terms of photoelectrochemical tests. The results showed that the photocurrent of CdS-ZnS/TiO2 nanofibres was seven times than that of CdS/TiO2 nanofibres and seven times than that of pure TiO2 nanofibres. The increased photocurrent is depended on the preparation order of ZnS and CdS on TiO2 nanofibres.
Nitrogen Signaling Genes and SOC1 Determine the Flowering Time in a Reciprocal Negative Feedback Loop in Chinese Cabbage (Brassica rapa L.) Based on CRISPR/Cas9-Mediated Mutagenesis of Multiple BrSOC1 Homologs

Precise flowering timing is critical for the plant life cycle. Here, we examined the molecular mechanisms and regulatory network associated with flowering in Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa L.) by comparative transcriptome profiling of two Chinese cabbage inbred lines, “4004” (early bolting) and “50” (late bolting). RNA-Seq and quantitative reverse transcription PCR (qPCR) analyses showed that two positive nitric oxide (NO) signaling regulator genes, nitrite reductase (BrNIR) and nitrate reductase (BrNIA), were up-regulated in line “50” with or without vernalization. In agreement with the transcription analysis, the shoots in line “50” had substantially higher nitrogen levels than those in “4004”. Upon vernalization, the flowering repressor gene Circadian 1 (BrCIR1) was significantly up-regulated in line “50”, whereas the flowering enhancer genes named SUPPRESSOR OF OVEREXPRESSION OF CONSTANCE 1 homologs (BrSOC1s) were substantially up-regulated in line “4004”. CRISPR/Cas9-mediated mutagenesis in Chinese cabbage demonstrated that the BrSOC1-1/1-2/1-3 genes were involved in late flowering, and their expression was mutually exclusive with that of the nitrogen signaling genes. Thus, we identified two flowering mechanisms in Chinese cabbage: a reciprocal negative feedback loop between nitrogen signaling genes (BrNIA1 and BrNIR1) and BrSOC1s to control flowering time and positive feedback control of the expression of BrSOC1s.
Lymphoblastoid Cell Lines as Models to Study Mitochondrial Function in Neurological Disorders

Neurological disorders, including neurodegenerative diseases, are collectively a major cause of death and disability worldwide. Whilst the underlying disease mechanisms remain elusive, altered mitochondrial function has been clearly implicated and is a key area of study in these disorders. Studying mitochondrial function in these disorders is difficult due to the inaccessibility of brain tissue, which is the key tissue affected in these diseases. To overcome this issue, numerous cell models have been used, each providing unique benefits and limitations. Here, we focussed on the use of lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCLs) to study mitochondrial function in neurological disorders. LCLs have long been used as tools for genomic analyses, but here we described their use in functional studies specifically in regard to mitochondrial function. These models have enabled characterisation of the underlying mitochondrial defect, identification of altered signalling pathways and proteins, differences in mitochondrial function between subsets of particular disorders and identification of biomarkers of the disease. The examples provided here suggest that these cells will be useful for development of diagnostic tests (which in most cases do not exist), identification of drug targets and testing of pharmacological agents, and are a worthwhile model for studying mitochondrial function in neurological disorders.
Oxidative Stress and Alterations of Paraoxonases in Atopic Dermatitis

Background: previous studies reported the involvement of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and lipid peroxidation in the pathogenesis of inflammatory skin diseases. The aim of our study was to investigate the relationship between oxidative stress and inflammation in children affected by atopic dermatitis (AD), a chronic relapsing inflammatory skin disease. Methods: levels of lipid hydroperoxides, total antioxidant capacity, and activities of the enzymes myeloperoxidase (MPO), PON1, and PON2/3 were investigated in 56 atopic pediatric patients, and compared with 48 sex-/age-matched healthy controls. Results: significantly higher levels of lipid hydroperoxides and lower values of total antioxidant potential were observed in the serum of AD children compared to that of the controls. Significant lower PON1 activities, and a significant increase in levels of MPO were observed in serum of patients, with a higher serum MPO level/PON1 paraoxonase activity ratio in patients compared to that in the controls. Significantly lower lactonase activity of PON enzymes was observed in polymorphonuclear cells isolated from AD patients. Statistically negative correlation was established between the activity of intracellular PON2/3 activity and ROS levels. Conclusions: our data confirmed that AD is associated with higher oxidative damage and a decrease in antioxidant defense. Moreover, alterations of extracellular and intracellular PON activity can promote lipoprotein dysfunction in AD patients.
Advances in the Development Ubiquitin-Specific Peptidase (USP) Inhibitors

Ubiquitylation and deubiquitylation are reversible protein post-translational modification (PTM) processes involving the regulation of protein degradation under physiological conditions. Loss of balance in this regulatory system can lead to a wide range of diseases, such as cancer and inflammation. As the main members of the deubiquitinases (DUBs) family, ubiquitin-specific peptidases (USPs) are closely related to biological processes through a variety of molecular signaling pathways, including DNA damage repair, p53 and transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) pathways. Over the past decade, increasing attention has been drawn to USPs as potential targets for the development of therapeutics across diverse therapeutic areas. In this review, we summarize the crucial roles of USPs in different signaling pathways and focus on advances in the development of USP inhibitors, as well as the methods of screening and identifying USP inhibitors.
Conducting large, repeated, multi-game economic experiments using mobile platforms

We demonstrate the possibility of conducting synchronous, repeated, multi-game economic decision-making experiments with hundreds of subjects in-person or remotely with live streaming using entirely mobile platforms. Our experiment provides important proof-of-concept that such experiments are not only possible, but yield recognizable results as well as new insights, blurring the line between laboratory and field experiments. Specifically, our findings from 8 different experimental economics games and tasks replicate existing results from traditional laboratory experiments despite the fact that subjects play those games/task in a specific order and regardless of whether the experiment was conducted in person or remotely. We further leverage our large subject population to study the effect of large (N = 100) versus small (N = 10) group sizes on behavior in three of the scalable games that we study. While our results are largely consistent with existing findings for small groups, increases in group size are shown to matter for the robustness of those findings.