Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Dietary Betaine Mitigates Hepatic Steatosis and Inflammation Induced by a High-Fat-Diet by Modulating the Sirt1/Srebp-1/Pparɑ Pathway in Juvenile Black Seabream (Acanthopagrus schlegelii)

The present study aimed to elucidate the mechanism of dietary betaine, as a lipid-lowering substance, on the regulation of lipid metabolism and inflammation in juvenile black seabream (Acanthopagrus schlegelii) fed a high fat diet. An 8-week feeding trial was conducted in black seabream with an initial weight of 8.39 ± 0.01g fed four isonitrogenous diets including Control, medium-fat diet (11%); HFD, high-fat diet (17%); and HFD supplemented with two levels (10 and 20 g/kg) of betaine, HFD+B1 and HFD+B2, respectively. SGR and FE in fish fed HFD+B2 were significantly higher than in fish fed HFD. Liver histology revealed that vacuolar fat droplets were smaller and fewer in bream fed HFD supplemented with betaine compared to fish fed HFD. Betaine promoted the mRNA and protein expression levels of silent information regulator 1 (Sirt1), up-regulated mRNA expression and protein content of lipid peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (pparα), and down-regulated mRNA expression and protein content of sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1(srebp-1). Furthermore, the mRNA expression levels of anti-inflammatory cytokines in liver and intestine were up-regulated, while nuclear factor kB (nf-kb) and pro-inflammatory cytokines were down-regulated by dietary betaine supplementation. Likewise, in fish that received lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to stimulate inflammatory responses, the expression levels of mRNAs of anti-inflammatory cytokines in liver, intestine and kidney were up-regulated in fish fed HFD supplemented with betaine compared with fish fed HFD, while nf-kb and pro-inflammatory cytokines were down-regulated. This is the first report to suggest that dietary betaine could be an effective feed additive to alleviate hepatic steatosis and attenuate inflammatory responses in black seabream fed a high fat diet by modulating the Sirt1/Srebp-1/Pparɑ pathway.
Sharing Spaces and Entanglements With Big Cats: The Warli and Their Waghoba in Maharashtra, India

Long histories of sharing space and resources have built complex, robust, and enduring relationships between humans and wildlife in many communities across the world. In order to understand what makes it possible for humans and wildlife to share space, we have to look beyond the ecological and socio-economic study of damages caused by human-wildlife conflict and explore the cultural and societal context within which co-existence is embedded. We conducted an exploratory study on the institution of Waghoba, a big cat deity worshiped by the Indigenous Warli community in Maharashtra, India. Through our research, we found that the worship of Waghoba is highly prevalent, with 150 shrines dedicated to this deity across our study site. We also learnt that the Warlis believe in a reciprocal relationship, where Waghoba will protect them from the negative impacts of sharing spaces with big cats if the people worship the deity and conduct the required rituals, especially the annual festival of Waghbaras. We propose that such relationships facilitate the sharing spaces between humans and leopards that live in the landscape. The study also revealed the ways in which the range of institutions and stakeholders in the landscape shape the institution of Waghoba and thereby contribute to the human-leopard relationship in the landscape. This is relevant for present-day wildlife conservation because such traditional institutions are likely to act as tolerance-building mechanisms embedded within the local cosmology. Further, it is vital that the dominant stakeholders outside of the Warli community (such as the Forest Department, conservation biologists, and other non-Warli residents who interact with leopards) are informed about and sensitive to these cultural representations because it is not just the biological animal that the Warlis predominantly deal with.
Exosomes Derived From Heat Stroke Cases Carry miRNAs Associated With Inflammation and Coagulation Cascade

The pathological mechanism underlying heat stroke (HS) is associated with the dysbalanced inflammation and coagulation cascade. Cell-derived circulating extracellular vesicles (EVs), as a novel pathway mediating intercellular communication, are associated with the immune response and inflammation in critical inflammatory syndromes, such as sepsis. Although these vesicles contain genetic material correlated with their biological function, their molecular cargo during HS remains unknown. In this study, we evaluate the presence of microRNAs (miRNAs) and messenger RNAs (mRNAs) associated with inflammatory responses and coagulation cascade in exosomes of patients with HS. Blood samples were collected from three patients with HS at the time of admission to the intensive care unit; three healthy volunteers were selected as control. Exosomes were isolated using ultracentrifugation, and their miRNA content was profiled using next-generation sequencing; mRNA content was evaluated using qPCR array. Compared with those from healthy volunteers, exosomes from patients with HS showed substantial changes in the expression of 202 exosomal miRNAs (154 upregulated and 48 downregulated miRNAs). The most upregulated miRNAs included miR-511-3p, miR-122-5p, miR-155-3p, miR-1290, and let7-5p, whereas the most downregulated ones included miR-150-3p, 146a-5p, and 151a-3p. Gene ontology enrichment of the miRNAs of patients with HS compared with control subjects were associated mostly with inflammatory response, including T cell activation, B cell receptor signaling, dendritic cell chemotaxis and leukocyte migration, and platelet activation and blood coagulation. The identified miRNAs were primarily enriched to the signal transduction pathways namely, T cell receptor signaling, Ras signaling, chemokine signaling, platelet activation, and leukocyte transendothelial migration, all of which are associated with inflammation and hemostasis. Multiple targeted mRNAs associated with the inflammatory response, blood coagulation, and platelet activation were further verified in serum exosomes. Exosomes from patients with HS convey miRNAs and mRNAs associated with pathogenic pathways, including inflammatory response and coagulation cascade. Exosomes may represent a novel mechanism for intercellular communication during HS.
Reduced Energy Metabolism Impairs T Cell-Dependent B Cell Responses in Patients With Advanced HBV-Related Cirrhosis

Background and Aims Patients with decompensated HBV-related liver cirrhosis (HBV D-LC) showed compromised immune responses, which manifested as a proneness to develop infections and hyporesponsiveness to vaccines, resulting in accelerated disease progression. The alterations in T cell-dependent B cell responses in this pathophysiological process were not well understood. This study aimed to investigate T cell-dependent B cell responses in this process and discuss the mechanism from the perspective of metabolism. Methods Changes in phenotypes and subsets of peripheral B cells between HBV D-LC patients and healthy controls (HCs) were compared by flow cytometry. Isolated B cells were activated by coculture with circulating T follicular (cTfh) cells. After coculture, the frequencies of plasmablasts and plasma cells and immunoglobin levels were analyzed. Oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) and glycolysis were analyzed by a Seahorse analyzer. Mitochondrial function and the AKT/mTOR pathway were analyzed by flow cytometry. Results The proliferation and differentiation capacities of B cells after T cell stimulation were impaired in D-LC. Furthermore, we found that B cells from D-LC patients showed reductions in OXPHOS and glycolysis after activation, which may result from reduced glucose uptake, mitochondrial dysfunction and attenuated activation of the AKT/mTOR pathway. Conclusions B cells from HBV D-LC patients showed dysfunctional energy metabolism after T cell-dependent activation. Understanding the regulations of B cell metabolic pathway and their changes may provide a new direction to rescue B cell hyporesponsiveness in patients with HBV D-LC, preventing these patients be infected and improving sensitivity to vaccines.
Vitamin D and Exercise Are Major Determinants of Natural Killer Cell Activity, Which Is Age- and Gender-Specific

Background The coronavirus-19 disease (COVID-19) pandemic reminds us of the importance of immune function, even in immunologically normal individuals. Multiple lifestyle factors are known to influence the immune function. Objective The aim was to investigate the association between NK cell activity (NKA) and multiple factors including vitamin D, physical exercise, age, and gender. Methods This was a cross-sectional association study using health check-up and NKA data of 2,095 subjects collected from 2016 to 2018 in a health check-up center in the Republic of Korea. NKA was measured using the interferon-γ (IFN-γ) stimulation method. The association of NKA with 25-(OH)-vitamin D (25(OH)D) and other factors was investigated by multiple logistic regression analysis. Results The average age of subjects was 48.8 ± 11.6 years (52.9% of subjects were female). Among 2,095 subjects, 1,427 had normal NKA (NKA ≥ 500 pg IFN-γ/mL), while 506 had low NKA (100 ≤ NKA < 500 pg/mL), and 162 subjects had very low NKA (NKA < 100 pg/mL). Compared to men with low 25(OH)D serum level (< 20 ng/mL), vitamin D replete men (30–39.9 ng/mL) had significantly lower risk of very low NKA (OR: 0.358; 95% CI: 0.138, 0.929; P = 0.035). In women, both low exercise (OR: 0.529; 95% CI: 0.299, 0.939; P = 0.030) and medium to high exercise (OR: 0.522; 95% CI: 0.277, 0.981; P = 0.043) decreased the risk compared to lack of physical exercise. Interestingly, in men and women older than 60 years, physical exercise significantly decreased the risk. Older-age was associated with increased risk of very low NKA in men, but not in women. Conclusion Physical exercise and vitamin D were associated with NKA in a gender- and age-dependent manner. Age was a major risk factor of very low NKA in men but not in women.
Resilience Competence Face Framework for the Unforeseen: Relations, Emotions and Cognition. A Qualitative Study

The high impact of unforeseen events in a globalized world accentuates the importance of a greater in-depth and broader understanding of resilient competencies that can promote performance. Traditional research has, however, paid relatively little attention to uncertainty and unpredictable conditions, including the particulate competence of the unforeseen, and how organizations can achieve degrees of resilience. Hence, the purpose of this study is to explore whether there are types of competence at the individual, social and organizational level that can enhance preparedness to face the unforeseen. The first aim was to explore how highly experienced professionals from different sectors and organizational levels describe and understand the nature and function of the unforeseen phenomenon. The second aim was to explore what resilient competencies can be beneficially applied in organizations to enhance performance irrespective of the scenario or event that occurs. The generic qualitative approach of this study employed semi-structured interviews. The purposive expert sample of 13 highly knowledgably Norwegian professionals with unique and extensive cross-sectorial experience of unforeseen events were selected. Ages ranged from 41 to 62 years (M = 48.92, SD = 6.94), length of professional experience and education ranging from 22 to 43 years. Thematic analysis of interview transcripts and the interpretation displayed six types of resilience competence: (1) General Preparedness, (2) Characteristics and Competence of the Individual, (3) Sound Relations, (4) Creative Behavior and Improvisational Skills, (5) The Ability to Reflect and Learn, (6) Emotion Efficacy. In addition, The Unforeseen was discerned as a complex phenomenon. These findings emphasize a cross-disciplinary perspective and provides integrative multilevel insight into the particulate competence of the unforeseen by introducing a framework that serves as a foundation for future research and as a tool for practitioners working in the field.
Associations of Serum Magnesium With Insulin Resistance and Testosterone in Women With Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Objective This article aimed to investigate whether serum magnesium is associated with insulin resistance index and testosterone level in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Materials and Methods Overall 1000 women with PCOS were enrolled in a randomized controlled trial and a cross-sectional analysis of the association of serum magnesium with glucose metabolism markers and testosterone was performed. Serum magnesium, glucose metabolism markers and testosterone were measured. Insulin resistance was evaluated by homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and quantitative insulin-sensitivity check index (QUICKI). Multivariable linear regression and logistic regression models were used to estimate the association between serum magnesium, insulin resistance and testosterone. Results In comparative analyses, women with higher quartile of serum magnesium had significantly lower fasting glucose, HOMA-IR and testosterone. Multiple linear regression showed serum magnesium was independently negatively associated with insulin, glucose, HOMA-IR, testosterone and positively associated with QUICKI (P for trend <0.05) after adjusting confounding covariates. Logistic regression showed serum magnesium in quartile 1 and 2 were independently associated with insulin resistance status (Quartile 1: OR: 2.15, 95%CI: 1.35-3.40, P = 0.001; Quartile 2: OR: 1.90, 95%CI: 1.20-3.02, P = 0.006), while quartile 1 was marginally associated with hyperandrogenemia status (Quartile 1: OR: 1.45, 95%CI: 0.99-2.11, P = 0.055) after adjusting confounding covariates. Conclusion The current findings suggest that lower serum magnesium was associated with aggravated insulin resistance and higher testosterone levels among women with PCOS.
Mercury Export From Freshwater to Estuary: Carbocentric Science Elucidates the Fate of a Toxic Compound in Aquatic Boreal Environments

The chemistry of mercury in freshwater systems, particularly man-made reservoirs, has received a great deal of attention owing to the high toxicity of the most common organic form, methylmercury. Although methylmercury bioaccumulation in reservoirs and natural lakes has been extensively studied at all latitudes, the fate of the different forms of mercury (total vs. dissolved; organic vs. inorganic) along the entire river-estuary continuum is less well documented. In fact, the difficulty of integrating the numerous parameters involved in mercury speciation in such large study areas, combined with the technical difficulties in sampling and analyzing mercury, have undoubtedly hindered advances in the field. At the same time, carbocentric science has grown exponentially in the last 25 years, and the common fate of carbon and mercury in freshwater has become increasingly clear with time. This literature review, by presenting the knowledge acquired in these two fields, aims to better understand the extent of mercury export from boreal inland waters to estuaries and to investigate the possible downstream ecotoxicological impact of reservoir creation on mercury bioavailability to estuarine food webs and local communities.
Incidence Trends and Risk Prediction Nomogram for Suicidal Attempts in Patients With Major Depressive Disorder

Background: Major depressive disorder (MDD) is often associated with suicidal attempt (SA). Therefore, predicting the risk factors of SA would improve clinical interventions, research, and treatment for MDD patients. This study aimed to create a nomogram model which predicted correlates of SA in patients with MDD within the Chinese population. Method: A cross-sectional survey among 474 patients was analyzed. All subjects met the diagnostic criteria of MDD according to the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems 10th Revision (ICD-10). Multi-factor logistic regression analysis was used to explore demographic information and clinical characteristics associated with SA. A nomogram was further used to predict the risk of SA. Bootstrap re-sampling was used to internally validate the final model. Integrated Discrimination Improvement (IDI) and Akaike Information Criteria (AIC) were used to evaluate the capability of discrimination and calibration, respectively. Decision Curve Analysis (DCA) and the Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve was also used to evaluate the accuracy of the prediction model. Result: Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that being married (OR = 0.473, 95% CI: 0.240 and 0.930) and a higher level of education (OR = 0.603, 95% CI: 0.464 and 0.784) decreased the risk of the SA. The higher number of episodes of depression (OR = 1.854, 95% CI: 1.040 and 3.303) increased the risk of SA in the model. The C-index of the nomogram was 0.715, with the internal (bootstrap) validation sets was 0.703. The Hosmer–Lemeshow test yielded a P-value of 0.33, suggesting a good fit of the prediction nomogram in the validation set. Conclusion: Our findings indicate that the demographic information and clinical characteristics of SA can be used in a nomogram to predict the risk of SA in Chinese MDD patients.
Communication—Technique for Visualization and Quantification of Lithium-Ion Battery Separator Microstructure

Separators play an important role in lithium-ion battery operation; however, no comprehensive studies of their microstructure and its impact exist. To enable such studies, we present a simple method for separator microstructure visualization and quantification based on focused-ion-beam scanning electron microscopic tomography. Here, we use this approach to visualize a sample of commercial polyethylene separator, calculate its directional effective transport parameters, and explain the impact of these values on battery performance. We further extend this technique to visualize metallic deposition within the separator, which could facilitate the study of lithium plating and dendritic growth.
Systemic Administration of Tempol Attenuates the Cardiorespiratory Depressant Effects of Fentanyl

Fentanyl is a high-potency opioid receptor agonist that elicits profound analgesia and suppression of breathing in humans and animals. To date, there is limited evidence as to whether changes in oxidant stress are important factors in any of the actions of acutely administered fentanyl. This study determined whether the clinically approved superoxide dismutase mimetic, Tempol (4-hydroxy-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-N-oxyl), or a potent antioxidant, N-acetyl-L-cysteine methyl ester (L-NACme), modify the cardiorespiratory and analgesic actions of fentanyl. We examined whether the prior systemic injection of Tempol or L-NACme affects the cardiorespiratory and/or analgesic responses elicited by the subsequent injection of fentanyl in isoflurane-anesthetized and/or freely moving male Sprague-Dawley rats. Bolus injections of Tempol (25, 50 or 100 mg/kg, IV) elicited minor increases in frequency of breathing, tidal volume and minute ventilation. The ventilatory-depressant effects of fentanyl (5 μg/kg, IV) given 15 min later were dose-dependently inhibited by prior injections of Tempol. Tempol elicited dose-dependent and transient hypotension that had (except for the highest dose) resolved when fentanyl was injected. The hypotensive responses elicited by fentanyl were markedly blunted after Tempol pretreatment. The analgesic actions of fentanyl (25 μg/kg, IV) were not affected by Tempol (100 mg/kg, IV). L-NACme did not modify any of the effects of fentanyl. We conclude that prior administration of Tempol attenuates the cardiorespiratory actions of fentanyl without affecting the analgesic effects of this potent opioid. As such, Tempol may not directly affect opioid-receptors that elicit the effects of fentanyl. Whether, the effects of Tempol are solely due to alterations in oxidative stress is in doubt since the powerful antioxidant, L-NACme, did not affect fentanyl-induced suppression of breathing.
The Impact of General Self-Efficacy on Psychological Resilience During the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Mediating Role of Posttraumatic Growth and the Moderating Role of Deliberate Rumination

Purpose: This study used a moderated mediation model to explore the relationship between general self-efficacy (GSE) and psychological resilience (PR) and the associated mechanisms, the mediating role of posttraumatic growth (PTG), and the moderating role of deliberate rumination (DR) during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Knowledge of the relationship between these four variables examined further understanding of the PR improvement mechanism of college students and even the general public. Methods: The college students who participated in this study came from an independent college in Guangdong Province, China. A total of 918 college students completed the survey, and the final data sample size was 881. SPSS 23.0 and PROCESS (version 3.3) were used to conduct Pearson's correlation analysis and hierarchical regression linear analysis on the data. Results: (1) The correlation analysis showed that GSE and PR were positively correlated and that PTG was positively correlated with GSE and PR. DR was positively correlated with GSE, PTG, and PR. (2) The results of mediation analysis showed that GSE had a direct predictive effect on DR, and PTG partially mediated the relationship between the two. (3) The results of moderating effect analysis showed that DR hindered the effect of GSE on PTG but enhanced the positive impact of PTG on PR. Conclusions: General self-efficacy can improve PR under the mediating influence of PTG. DR played a positive moderating role in the relationship between GSE and PTG, and played a negative moderating role in the relationship between PTG and PR. These results advance the understanding of the mechanism between GSE and PR.
Epidemiological and Clinicopathological Features of Anaplasma phagocytophilum Infection in Dogs: A Systematic Review

Anaplasma phagocytophilum is a worldwide emerging zoonotic tick-borne pathogen transmitted by Ixodid ticks and naturally maintained in complex and incompletely assessed enzootic cycles. Several studies have demonstrated an extensive genetic variability with variable host tropisms and pathogenicity. However, the relationship between genetic diversity and modified pathogenicity is not yet understood. Because of their proximity to humans, dogs are potential sentinels for the transmission of vector-borne pathogens. Furthermore, the strong molecular similarity between human and canine isolates of A. phagocytophilum in Europe and the USA and the positive association in the distribution of human and canine cases in the USA emphasizes the epidemiological role of dogs. Anaplasma phagocytophilum infects and survives within neutrophils by disregulating neutrophil functions and evading specific immune responses. Moreover, the complex interaction between the bacterium and the infected host immune system contribute to induce inflammatory injuries. Canine granulocytic anaplasmosis is an acute febrile illness characterized by lethargy, inappetence, weight loss and musculoskeletal pain. Hematological and biochemistry profile modifications associated with this disease are unspecific and include thrombocytopenia, anemia, morulae within neutrophils and increased liver enzymes activity. Coinfections with other tick-borne pathogens (TBPs) may occur, especially with Borrelia burgdorferi, complicating the clinical presentation, diagnosis and response to treatment. Although clinical studies have been published in dogs, it remains unclear if several clinical signs and clinicopathological abnormalities can be related to this infection.