Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Optimization and characterization of cyclodextrin glycosyl- transferase produced by Thermoactinomyces vulgaris TA1

: A cyclodextrin glycosyltransferase (CGTase)-producing thermophilic actinomycete was isolated from chicken wastes and identified by biochemical methods and partial 16S rDNA sequence as Thermoactinomyces vulgaris . The nutritional and physical conditions for CGTase production were optimized, and the expressed CGTase enzyme was purified by two steps. In the first step, CGTase was partially purified by 80% ammonium sulfate precipitation with purification fold 9.33 and total activity 938.16U. In the second step, purification by DEAE-cellulose anion exchange chromatography yielded a purification fold of 21.20 with 396.8 U total activity. The resulting CGTase enzyme was homogenous on SDS-PAGE gel with a molecular weight of about 66 KDa. The optimum temperature for purified CGTase was 65°C with 52.8% of its relative activity retained after incubation at 85°C for 1 h. The CGTase enzyme exhibited maximum activity at pH 7.5 and was stable at a pH range from 6 to 9.5. Anhydrous CaCl 2 and ZnSO 4 •7H 2 O at concentration 1 & 10 mM increased CGTase relative activity to 130.04 and 128.42%, respectively. Conversely, KCl decreased the relative activity to 11.78% and anhydrous FeCl 3 totally inhibited CGTase activity at concentrations of 1 and 10mM. In addition, α-cyclodextrin (CD) and γ-CD slightly increased the relative activity of CGTase to 102 and 100.72%, respectively while ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA), β-CD and dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane (DDT) decreased the relative activity to 68, 46, and 13%, respectively. Moreover, SDS and β – Mercaptoethanol totally inhibited the CGTase activity at concentrations of 1 and 10mM, respectively. The purified CGTase had Km value of 0.633 mg/ml and Vmax value of 135.14 mg/ml.min.
Validity of diagnoses, treatment dates, and rating scales in the Swedish national quality register for electroconvulsive therapy

Abstract Background The Swedish national quality register for electroconvulsive therapy (Q-ECT) contains data on patients receiving treatment with electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) in Sweden. Aim This study determined the validity of diagnoses, treatment dates, and rating scales in the Q-ECT by investigating the degree of accordance between data from the Q-ECT and patient records. Materials and methods From January 2016 to December 2017, 200 treatment series were randomly selected from the Q-ECT. The corresponding patient records were requested from the treating hospitals. Data on the indicative diagnosis, dates for the first and the last ECT session, and rating scales were compared between the Q-ECT and patient records using (i) a strict and (ii) a liberal method of assessment. Using the liberal method, each variable was assessed as accordant if it belonged to the same diagnosis group, or if the dates differed by less than 1 week, or ratings differed by only 1 point on the Clinical Global Impression Scale (CGI- S), or no more than 3 points on the Montgomery Åsberg Depression Rating Scale between the Q-ECT and the patient record. Results A total of 179 patient records were received. The strict method of assessment showed an accordance of 89% or higher for all studied variables. The liberal method showed an accordance of 95% or higher. Conclusions We conclude that data on the studied variables in the Q-ECT have high validity. However, limited use of some rating scales makes the results uncertain. Measures can be taken to further improve the data quality.
Ready2Change: Preliminary effectiveness of a telephone-delivered intervention program for alcohol, methamphetamine and cannabis use problems.

INTRODUCTION Telehealth has considerable potential to overcome many of the barriers to accessing care for substance use problems, thereby increasing the opportunity for earlier intervention. The Ready2Change program is a multiple-session outbound telephone-delivered cognitive and behavioural intervention for mild-to-moderate substance use disorders, embedded within a long-established 24/7 alcohol and drug helpline. We sought to analyse routinely collected program data in a preliminary study to examine the effectiveness of Ready2Change in reducing substance use problem severity and psychological distress. METHODS A retrospective analysis of program data from December 2013 to June 2018 was performed. Analysed cases were 249 clients living in Victoria, Australia with alcohol (n = 191), methamphetamine (n = 40) or cannabis (n = 18) as their primary drug of concern. A within-subjects design was used to examine pre- and post-intervention substance use problem severity and psychological distress. RESULTS For alcohol cases, there was a statistically significant decrease in alcohol problem severity [AUDIT, mean difference = -12.7, 95% confidence interval (CI) -14.0, -11.5]. Statistically significant reductions in drug problem severity (DUDIT) were observed for methamphetamine (mean difference = -17.3, 95% CI -20.9, -13.7) and cannabis (mean difference = -15.9, 95% CI -22.3, -9.6) cases. All groups showed reductions in problem severity for other substances used (P < 0.05) and psychological distress (P < 0.001). DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS Results suggest Ready2Change benefits clients with alcohol, methamphetamine and cannabis use problems, with the potential to improve treatment access for health inequity groups including those living in remote areas. These findings warrant further investigation into the effectiveness of this program.
Evaluation of Long-term Clearance Rates of Interventions for Actinic Keratosis: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-analysis.

Importance Multiple interventions are available for the treatment of actinic keratosis (AK). However, most randomized clinical trials and meta-analyses focus on short-term efficacy outcomes. Objective To investigate and synthesize the long-term efficacy (≥12 months) of interventions for AK from parallel-arm randomized clinical trials. Data Sources Searches in MEDLINE, Embase, and Central were conducted from inception until April 6, 2020. The reference lists of the included studies and pertinent trial registers were hand searched. The study was completed February 27, 2021. Study Selection Two reviewers screened the titles and abstracts of 2741 records. Finally, 17 published reports (original studies and follow-up reports) referring to 15 independent randomized clinical trials with an overall sample size of 4252 patients were included. Data Extraction and Synthesis Two reviewers independently extracted data on study, patient, and intervention characteristics. Network meta-analysis (NMA) of each outcome was conducted with a frequentist approach. The Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) guidance for NMA was used to assess the certainty of evidence. The revised Cochrane risk-of-bias tool for randomized clinical trials was used to evaluate the methodologic quality. Main Outcomes and Measures Participant complete clearance, participant partial clearance, and lesion-specific clearance were the outcomes, with each assessed at least 12 months after the end of treatment. Results Data from 15 independent randomized clinical trials including 4252 patients were extracted and synthesized. Ten studies were included in an NMA for the outcome of participant complete clearance, with photodynamic therapy with aminolevulinate (ALA-PDT) showing the most favorable risk ratio (RR) compared with placebo (RR, 8.06; 95% CI, 2.07-31.37; GRADE, moderate), followed by imiquimod, 5% (RR, 5.98; 95% CI, 2.26-15.84; GRADE, very low), photodynamic therapy with methyl aminolevulinate (MAL-PDT) (RR, 5.95; 95% CI, 1.21-29.41; GRADE, low), and cryosurgery (RR, 4.67; 95% CI, 1.36-16.66; GRADE, very low). Similarly, ALA-PDT had the highest RR in the NMA for lesion-specific clearance (RR, 5.08; 95% CI, 2.49-10.33; GRADE, moderate). No NMA was possible for participant partial clearance owing to poor reporting of this outcome. Conclusions and Relevance This systematic review and network meta-analysis found that therapy including ALA-PDT, imiquimod, 5%, MAL-PDT, and cryosurgery was associated with significant long-term efficacy in the NMA. This study provides data for a possible use in an evidence-based framework for selecting interventions with sustained lesion clearance.
Effect of different levels of sugar on qualitative characteristics of lassi prepared from sour dahi

An investigation was carried out to develop lassi from sour dahi using different levels of sugar (10, 15, 20 and 25%) and 15% water. Lassi quality was assayed through the study of physical, chemical and microbiological parameters. Results revealed that significant difference existed in overall physical score of lassi samples and the highest score was found in 15% sugar lassi whereas, the lowest score was found in 25% sugar lassi. Total solids, carbohydrate, fat, protein and ash contents differed significantly among various levels of sugar added lassi. From chemical test, it appears that, 15% sugar added lassi possess the highest fat and protein values whereas, the highest total solids and carbohydrate values posses in 25% sugar added lassi. No significant difference (p>0.05) revealed in terms of pH value and acidity percentage among lassi types. Lassi made from 10% sugar was most inferior than other levels of sugar added lassi in respect of microbiological qualitytotal viable count (×104 cfu/mL) content was 95.67±2.08 and coliform (×10 cfu/mL) content was 1.00±0.00. Considering above mentioned quality aspects, it might be resolved that lassi could be prepared successfully from sour dahi with 15% sugar keeping water level constant at 15%.
Association between interleukin-32 gene polymorphism and susceptibility to preeclampsia

ABSTRACT Objective: To determine association between IL-32 gene polymorphism, and serum levels of IL-32 and susceptibility to preeclampsia (PE). Methods: The frequency of IL-32 rs9927163 and rs4786370 polymorphisms was determined by PCR-RFLP. Also ELISA was used to determine the levels of serum IL-32. Results: Regarding rs4786370 C/T SNPs, the frequencies of CT, TT genotypes, and T allele were shown to be higher in the PE patients. IL-32 serum level significantly increased in the PE patients. Conclusion: Variety of allele and genotype IL32 rs4786370 as well as a rise in serum level of IL-32 can be regarded as a risk factor for PE.
Differential Antibody Response to mRNA COVID-19 Vaccines in Healthy Subjects

Now that authorized vaccines for COVID-19 have been widely used, it is important to understand how they induce antivirus antibodies, which antigens are targeted, how long antibodies circulate, and how personal health conditions and age may affect this humoral immunity. Here, we report induction and time course of multiple anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody responses in healthy individuals immunized with Pfizer and Moderna mRNA vaccines. ABSTRACT Knowledge about development and duration of virus-specific antibodies after COVID-19 vaccination is important for understanding how to limit the pandemic via vaccination in different populations and societies. However, the clinical utility of postvaccination testing of antibody response and selection of targeted SARS-CoV-2 antigen(s) has not been established. The results of such testing from clinical teams independent from vaccine manufacturers are also limited. Here, we report the initial results of an ongoing clinical study on evaluation of antibody response to four different SARS-CoV-2 antigens after first and second dose of Pfizer and Moderna mRNA vaccines and at later time points. We revealed a peak of antibody induction after the vaccine boosting dose with a gradual decline of antibody levels at later time. Anti-nucleocapsid antibody was not induced by spike protein-encoding vaccines and this may continue to serve as a marker of previous SARS-CoV-2 infection. No differences between the two vaccines in terms of antibody response were revealed. Age and gender dependencies were determined to be minimal within the healthy adult (but not aged) population. Our results suggest that postvaccination testing of antibody response is an important and feasible tool for following people after vaccination and selecting individuals who might require a third dose of vaccine at an earlier time point or persons who may not need a second dose due to previous SARS-CoV-2 infection. IMPORTANCE Now that authorized vaccines for COVID-19 have been widely used, it is important to understand how they induce antivirus antibodies, which antigens are targeted, how long antibodies circulate, and how personal health conditions and age may affect this humoral immunity. Here, we report induction and time course of multiple anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody responses in healthy individuals immunized with Pfizer and Moderna mRNA vaccines. We also determined the age and gender dependence of the antibody response and compared antibody levels to responses seen in those who have recovered from COVID-19. Our results suggest the importance of screening for antibody response to multiple antigens after vaccination in order to reveal individuals who require early and late additional boosting and those who may not need second dose due to prior SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Sexual Abuse and Sexually-Transmitted HIV/AIDS in Jamaican Children and Adolescents Aged 6-19 Years.

INTRODUCTION Risk factors and outcomes of sexually-acquired human immunodeficiency virus infection were characterized in Jamaican children and adolescents. METHODOLOGY Management was carried out by multidisciplinary teams in Infectious Diseases clinics during August 2003 through February 2019 using modified World Health Organization HIV criteria. RESULTS There were 78 clients, aged 6 to 19 years, with females:males = 4:1 (p < 0.05). Sexual-initiation occurred in 60%, 47 before < 16 years (median 13 years, with four < 10 years; females:males = 7:1). Sexual-initiation preceded HIV diagnosis in all cases (median 2 years). Secondary education 93% (69/77) and living with non-parental relatives 17% (13/78) were associated with early sexual-initiation (p < 0.042); as was later imprisonment in 6% (3/52). Other sexually transmitted infections 36% (19/53) were associated with sexual-initiation ≥ 16 years (p < 0.01). Risks for ongoing HIV-transmission included infrequent condom use 74% (39/53), body-piercings 50% (24/48), illicit drug use 37% (28/76), tattoos 36% (19/52), transactional sex 14% (7/53) and pregnancy 56% of girls. 77% (59/77) had Centres for Diseases Control's Category A HIV infection; 82% (61/75) initiated anti-retroviral therapy; 75% (56/75) had first-line drugs, with helper T lymphocyte counts ≥ 500 cells/μL in 61% (48/78) and HIV viral load of < 1,000 copies/μL in 63% (40/64). Complications included dermatological 39% (20/52), respiratory 25% (13/52) and neurological 15% (8/52). Early sexual initiation was associated with depression 43% (33/76; p < 0.004) and suicidal attempt or ideation 23% (18/77; p < 0.096). Four (5%) died. CONCLUSIONS Sexually transmitted HIV/AIDS in children and adolescents should preempt prompt medical, legal and psychosocial interventions.
Single-cell RNA sequencing reveals a high-resolution cell atlas of xylem in Populus.

High-throughput single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) has advantages over traditional RNA-seq to explore spatiotemporal information on gene dynamic expressions in heterogenous tissues. We performed Drop-seq, a method for the dropwise sequestration of single cells for sequencing, on protoplasts from the differentiating xylem of Populus alba × Populus glandulosa. The scRNA-seq profiled 9,798 cells, which were grouped into 12 clusters. Through characterization of differentially expressed genes in each cluster and RNA in situ hybridizations, we identified vessel cells, fiber cells, ray parenchyma cells and xylem precursor cells. Diffusion pseudotime analyses revealed the differentiating trajectory of vessels, fiber cells and ray parenchyma cells and indicated a different differentiation process between vessels and fiber cells, and a similar differentiation process between fiber cells and ray parenchyma cells. We identified marker genes for each cell type (cluster) and key candidate regulators during developmental stages of xylem cell differentiation. Our study generates a high resolution expression atlas of wood formation at the single cell level and provides valuable information on wood formation. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
A low Smc flux avoids collisions and facilitates chromosome organization in Bacillus subtilis

SMC complexes are widely conserved ATP-powered DNA-loop-extrusion motors indispensable for organizing and faithfully segregating chromosomes. How SMC complexes translocate along DNA for loop extrusion and what happens when two complexes meet on the same DNA molecule is largely unknown. Revealing the origins and the consequences of SMC encounters is crucial for understanding the folding process not only of bacterial, but also of eukaryotic chromosomes. Here, we uncover several factors that influence bacterial chromosome organization by modulating the probability of such clashes. These factors include the number, the strength, and the distribution of Smc loading sites, the residency time on the chromosome, the translocation rate, and the cellular abundance of Smc complexes. By studying various mutants, we show that these parameters are fine-tuned to reduce the frequency of encounters between Smc complexes, presumably as a risk mitigation strategy. Mild perturbations hamper chromosome organization by causing Smc collisions, implying that the cellular capacity to resolve them is limited. Altogether, we identify mechanisms that help to avoid Smc collisions and their resolution by Smc traversal or other potentially risky molecular transactions.
The Effects of Turmeric, Cinnamon, Ginger and Garlic Powder Nutrition on Antioxidant Enzymes’ Status and Hormones Involved in Energy Metabolism of Broilers during Heat Stress

This experiment was carried out to determine the effects of turmeric, cinnamon, ginger and garlic powder on mixed sex Cobb-500 broilers performance, serum antioxidant status, and serum thyroid hormones. Heat stresses were created by increasing ambient temperature to 32-34 ˚C from 12: a.m. to 16: p.m. during days 31-42 of the experiment. Blood serum samples were obtained from 6 broilers of each treatment at the end of experiment (day 42) to assess antioxidative activities of liver enzymes and thyroid hormones. Chicks fed diets supplemented with medical plants tended to have higher average daily gain and had greater spleen weight compared to the control. Supplementation of medical plants increased activities of total superoxide dismutase (SOD) in cinnamon, glutathione peroxidase (GPX) in ginger, catalase (CAT) in cinnamon and garlic powder, total antioxidant capacity (TAC) in cinnamon, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) in garlic powder and corticosteroid (CE) in cinnamon groups. But, the supplementation reduced concentrations of malondialdehyde (MDA) in cinnamon group (P<0.05). Concentration of thyroid hormones (THs) in medical plant-supplemented broiler chicks tended to be higher at 42 d of age compared to the control (P<0.05). Supplementation of turmeric and ginger caused significant reduction in feed conversion ratio (FCR), improvement in performance, and enhancement in antioxidant enzyme activity with the increase in cinnamon consumption. Also, turmeric and ginger increased THs of broilers.
A polycystin-2 protein with modified channel properties leads to an increased diameter of renal tubules and to renal cysts

ABSTRACT Mutations in the PKD2 gene cause autosomal-dominant polycystic kidney disease but the physiological role of polycystin-2, the protein product of PKD2, remains elusive. Polycystin-2 belongs to the transient receptor potential (TRP) family of non-selective cation channels. To test the hypothesis that altered ion channel properties of polycystin-2 compromise its putative role in a control circuit controlling lumen formation of renal tubular structures, we generated a mouse model in which we exchanged the pore loop of polycystin-2 with that of the closely related cation channel polycystin-2L1 (encoded by PKD2L1), thereby creating the protein polycystin-2poreL1. Functional characterization of this mutant channel in Xenopus laevis oocytes demonstrated that its electrophysiological properties differed from those of polycystin-2 and instead resembled the properties of polycystin-2L1, in particular regarding its permeability for Ca2+ ions. Homology modeling of the ion translocation pathway of polycystin-2poreL1 argues for a wider pore in polycystin-2poreL1 than in polycystin-2. In Pkd2poreL1 knock-in mice in which the endogenous polycystin-2 protein was replaced by polycystin-2poreL1 the diameter of collecting ducts was increased and collecting duct cysts developed in a strain-dependent fashion.
Microbial Rhodopsins: The Last Two Decades.

Microbial rhodopsins are diverse photoreceptive proteins containing a retinal chromophore and are found in all domains of cellular life and are even encoded in genomes of viruses. These rhodopsins make up two families: type 1 rhodopsins and the recently discovered heliorhodopsins. These families have seven transmembrane helices with similar structures but opposing membrane orientation. Microbial rhodopsins participate in a portfolio of light-driven energy and sensory transduction processes. In this review we present data collected over the last two decades about these rhodopsins and describe their diversity, functions, and biological and ecological roles. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Microbiology, Volume 75 is October 2021. Please see http://www.annualreviews. org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.
Single‐cell transcriptomic sequencing analyses of cell heterogeneity during osteogenesis of human adipose‐derived mesenchymal stem cells

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are known for their multilineage differentiation potential with immune‐modulatory properties. The molecular underpinnings of differentiation remain largely undefined. In this study, we investigated the cellular and molecular features of chemically induced osteogenesis from MSC isolated from human adipose tissue (human adipose MSCs, hAMSCs) using single‐cell RNA‐sequencing (scRNA‐seq). We found that a near complete differentiation of osteogenic clusters from hAMSCs under a directional induction. Both groups of cells are heterogeneous, and some of the hAMSCs cells are intrinsically prepared for osteogenesis, while variant OS clusters seems in cooperation with a due division of the general function. We identified a set of genes related to cell stress response highly expressed during the differentiation. We also characterized a series of transitional transcriptional waves throughout the process from hAMSCs to osteoblast and specified the unique gene networks and epigenetic status as key markers of osteogenesis.
Sleep quality and work among nursing vocational students.

OBJECTIVES to analyze quality of sleep among students of technical courses in nursing according to the exercise of work activity. METHODS a cross-sectional and analytical research, with 213 students from Paraná. Characterization data and the Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index were collected between March and June 2020 and analyzed descriptively and inferentially. RESULTS quality of poor sleep was 76.5% among those who work and 75.3% among those who do not work. Difficulty in reconciling personal and academic life (p=0.016;adjOR:3.450) and indicating anxiety due to school activities (p=0.017;adjOR:3.236) increased the chances of poor sleep quality among working students. Satisfaction with health reduced the chances of poor sleep quality, regardless of exercising work activity (p=0.002;adjOR:0.210) or not (p=0.008;adjOR:0.215). CONCLUSIONS students who performed work activities have worse sleep quality due to anxiety and the multiple activities to be reconciled with the study.