Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Lipids, inflammasomes, metabolism, and disease

Inflammasomes are multi‐protein complexes that regulate the cleavage of cysteine protease caspase‐1, secretion of inflammatory cytokines, and induction of inflammatory cell death, pyroptosis. Several members of the nod‐like receptor family assemble inflammasome in response to specific ligands. An exception to this is the NLRP3 inflammasome which is activated by structurally diverse entities. Recent studies have suggested that NLRP3 might be a sensor of cellular homeostasis, and any perturbation in distinct metabolic pathways results in the activation of this inflammasome. Lipid metabolism is exceedingly important in maintaining cellular homeostasis, and it is recognized that cells and tissues undergo extensive lipid remodeling during activation and disease. Some lipids are involved in instigating chronic inflammatory diseases, and new studies have highlighted critical upstream roles for lipids, particularly cholesterol, in regulating inflammasome activation implying key functions for inflammasomes in diseases with defective lipid metabolism. The focus of this review is to highlight how lipids regulate inflammasome activation and how this leads to the progression of inflammatory diseases. The key roles of cholesterol metabolism in the activation of inflammasomes have been comprehensively discussed. Besides, the roles of oxysterols, fatty acids, phospholipids, and lipid second messengers are also summarized in the context of inflammasomes. The overriding theme is that lipid metabolism has numerous but complex functions in inflammasome activation. A detailed understanding of this area will help us develop therapeutic interventions for diseases where dysregulated lipid metabolism is the underlying cause.
Low‐intensity exercise stimulates bioenergetics and increases fat oxidation in mitochondria of blood mononuclear cells from sedentary adults

Exercise training induces adaptations in muscle and other tissue mitochondrial metabolism, dynamics, and oxidative phosphorylation capacity. Mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation was shown to be pivotal for the anti‐inflammatory status of immune cells. We hypothesize that exercise training can exert effects influence mitochondrial fatty acid metabolism in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). The aim was to investigate the effect of exercise on the fatty acid oxidation‐dependent respiration in PBMCs.
Differential Frost Tolerance and Enzymatic Activities in the Leaves and Immature Fruits of Loquat (Eriobotrya japonica Lindl.)

In this experiment, five commercial cultivars and one wild species of loquat were used to investigate frost tolerance and enzymatic activities in leaves and young fruits under cold stress at -3℃. The frost injury, malondialdehyde (MDA) content, and oxygen-scavenging enzyme activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) were studied. This results showed that the wild species ‘Wild Oak-leaf’ loquat was the most frost tolerant among accessions tested, followed by the cultivar ‘Golden Block’. Other cultivars, ‘Wu Gong Bai’, ‘Taicheng 4’, ‘Xiangzhong 11’ and ‘Zaozhong 6’, were relatively weak in frost tolerance. The enzymatic activities of SOD, POD and CAT increased initially and then decreased as the exposure time increased. However, the enzymatic peak occurred later in the frost-tolerant accession than in the frost-sensitive accession. The correlation coefficients of MDA contents between leaves and immature fruits were from 0.93 to 0.99 in the five commercial loquat cultivars. For the ‘Wild Oak-leaf’ loquat, the correlation coefficients of MDA and POD were 0.98 and 0.95, respectively, but the coefficients for SOD, CAT and APX were relatively low. In general, there were good correlations between loquat leaves and immature fruits in MDA content and enzyme activities. These results indicate that analysis of these physiological and biochemical activities in loquat leaves could potentially be used to predict the cold tolerance in loquat at immature fruit stage and to accelerate breeding programs for cold tolerance in loquat.
INHERITANCE OF SEED YIELD AND RELATED TRAITS IN SOME LENTIL (Lens culinaris Medik) GENOTYPES

The study was conducted at Nuclear Institute for Agriculture and Biology (NIAB), Faisalabad during the year 2006-2007. Fifteen lentil lines/varieties were evaluated to exploit yield components to the maximum extent and to formulate selection criteria for the improvement of seed yield. Significant genetic variation was observed for all the traits. All the traits under study had high heritability values except number of primary branches. Higher values of heritability coupled with genetic advance were observed for seed yield (98.30%, 128.20%), harvest index (97.10%, 79.40%), biological yield (94.30%, 56.10%) and hundred seed weight (88.30%, 50.80%) which indicates the role of additive genes to control these traits. Hundred seed weight (0.67, 0.65), harvest index (0.94, 0.93) and biological yield (0.81, 0.80) had positive and highly significant correlation with seed yield at both genotypic and phenotypic levels. Number of primary branches, hundred seed weight, harvest index and biological yield showed positive direct effect along with positive genotypic correlation with seed yield. Finally, it was concluded that the traits like hundred seed weight, harvest index and biological yield can be exploited for the improvement of seed yield in lentil.
Anatomical endoscopic enucleation of the prostate: The next gold standard? No! (or not yet!)

Most cases of lower urinary tract symptoms due to benign prostatic hyperplasia are initially managed through medical therapy. In cases that surgery is indicated, the anatomical endoscopic enucleation of the prostate (aEEP), first described in 1983, allegedly presents the same safety profile as the best endoscopic non‐enucleating procedures and the same long‐term functional outcomes as simple prostatectomy. Thus, why aEEP has not yet been consolidated as the gold‐standard BPH surgical treatment? The main reasons are as follows: (a) Multiple energy sources and techniques; (b) High costs; (c) Steep learning curve; (d) Rare in‐residency training; (e) Reimbursement issues; (f) Outcomes and (g) Complications. We do believe aEEP is an important advance and a “practice‐changing” procedure that will play an important role in the BPH surgical options arsenal, especially for larger prostates. However, there is a need to start an in‐residency training program, with a mentor guidance, and, over time, the cost will likely be reduced due to greater competition between companies and greater support from health insurers. Considering these points, in the future, EEP may be considered the gold‐standard treatment for BPH… but not yet.
Widespread Introduction of a High-Sensitivity Troponin Assay: Assessing the Impact on Patients and Health Services

Adoption of High-sensitivity troponin (hs-cTn) assays by hospitals worldwide is increasing. We sought to determine the effects of a simultaneous state-wide hs-cTn assay introduction on the implementing health service. A quasi-experimental pre–post design was used. Participants included all adult patients presenting to 21 Australian hospitals who had troponin testing commenced within the Emergency Department (ED). Data were collected for 124,357 episodes of care between 30 April 2018 and 23 April 2019; six months pre- and six months post-implementation of the assay. The primary outcome was hospital length of stay (LOS). Secondary outcomes included ED LOS, 90-day cardiovascular mortality, elevated troponin, diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction (AMI), admission to a cardiology ward, invasive cardiac procedures, and total hospital costs. Following hs-cTn implementation, there was a 1.9-h (95% CI: −2.9 to −1.0 h) reduction in overall LOS. This equated to a cost saving of over 9 million Australian dollars per year. There was no increase in diagnosis of AMI, invasive cardiac procedures or ward admissions. The use of hs-cTn assays facilitates important benefits for health services by enabling more rapid evaluation protocols within the ED. This benefit may be considerable given the large cohort of emergency patients with possible ACS.
New Species of Bonneted Bat, Genus Eumops (Chiroptera: Molossidae) from the Lowlands of Western Ecuador and Peru

We describe and formally name a species of bonneted bat (genus Eumops), which is a member of the E. glaucinus complex. Closely related species are E. glaucinus, E. ferox, and E. floridanus. The conceptual basis for the description of this species is the Genetic Species Concept with speciation by the Bateson-Dobzhanzky-Muller model. The new species is distinguished from all other species of bats by its unique karyotype (2N = 38, FN = 54), sequence of the mitochondrial cytochrome-b gene, and genetic markers revealed through analysis of Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphisms. The series from the type locality (Ecuador, Guayas) is comprised of seven specimens. Morphologically, the new species is smaller than E. floridanus and E. glaucinus, but is indistinguishable from E. ferox. The new species is significantly smaller in size than E. glaucinus in six out of eight measurements and is distinguishable from E. glaucinus based on length of maxillary toothrow and zygomatic breadth. The geographic range of E. wilsoni, as currently documented, is the dry forests of southwestern Ecuador and adjacent northwestern Peru. We propose the common name for this species be Wilson's bonneted bat.
Some effects of far‐red irradiation and gibberellic acid on the growth of tomato plants

SUMMARY The effects of supplementary irradiation with a far-red (FR)-rich source on tomato plants raised in a growth room with warm-white fluorescent tubes as the FR-deficient, primary light source have been studied with and without the application of gibberellic acid (GA). Stem elongation in response to FR was independent of the amount of GA applied. Small but significant increases in fresh weight of leaflet laminae were sometimes obtained with GA. The optimal dose was about one-eighth of the saturation dose for stem height. By combining the optimal daily GA dose for fresh weight laminae with FR, significant increases were obtained for fresh and dry weights of laminae and for stems plus petioles. The increase in lamina dry weight and leaf area amounted to 55 and 54%, respectively, with 15 days of treatment. It was concluded that GA and FR affect growth in distinct ways. FR may release a growth factor in both leaves and stems and GA probably substitutes for native gibberellins in stems.
Core Muscle Activity during Physical Fitness Exercises: A Systematic Review

The aim of this study was to systematically review the current literature on the electromyographic (EMG) activity of six core muscles (the rectus abdominis, the internal and external oblique, the transversus abdominis, the lumbar multifidus, and the erector spinae) during core physical fitness exercises in healthy adults. A systematic review of the literature was conducted on the Cochrane, EBSCO, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science electronic databases for studies from January 2012 to March 2020. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were used. The inclusion criteria were as follows: (a) the full text available in English; (b) a cross-sectional or longitudinal (experimental or cohorts) study design; (c) the reporting of electromyographic activity as a percentage of maximum voluntary contraction (% MVIC), millivolts or microvolts; (d) an analysis of the rectus abdominis (RA), transversus abdominis (TA), lumbar multifidus (MUL), erector spinae (ES), and the internal (IO) or external oblique (EO); (e) an analysis of physical fitness exercises for core training; and (f) healthy adult participants. The main findings indicate that the greatest activity of the RA, EO, and ES muscles was found in free-weight exercises. The greatest IO activity was observed in core stability exercises, while traditional exercises showed the greatest MUL activation. However, a lack of research regarding TA activation during core physical fitness exercises was revealed, in addition to a lack of consistency between the studies when applying methods to measure EMG activity.
Specific Relapse Predictors: Could Cognitive-Behavioral Treatment for Smoking Cessation Be Improved?

Relapse remains a frequent and complex phenomenon that is not yet well understood. An under-researched area of study that may provide relevant information concerns the assessment of specific post-treatment variables, rather than the composite measures commonly used to predict smoking relapse. The current study sought to examine the effects of post-treatment smoking-related variables, including withdrawal symptomatology, abstinence self-efficacy, and smoking urgency in negative-affect situations and smoking relapse at the 3 month follow-up. The sample comprised 130 participants who achieved abstinence for at least 24 h through a cognitive-behavioral smoking cessation treatment. Regression analysis was conducted for both composite measures and specific subscales and items. Data showed that composite measures of tobacco withdrawal, self-efficacy, and smoking urgency in negative-affect situations were not significant predictors of smoking relapse. However, the analysis including subscales, and specific items showed that lower self-efficacy in negative-affect-related situations (OR = 1.36) and three withdrawal symptoms—irritability/frustration/anger (OR = 2.99), restlessness/impatience (OR = 1.87), and craving (OR = 2.31)—were significant predictors of relapse. These findings offer new insights into the role of different smoking-related post-treatment variables in short-term relapse. Considering and specifically targeting these variables after achieving abstinence may potentially contribute to reducing smoking relapse.
Novel Therapies Boosting T Cell Immunity in Epstein Barr Virus-Associated Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a malignant tumour of the head and neck affecting localised regions of the world, with the highest rates described in Southeast Asia, Northern Africa, and Greenland. Its high morbidity rate is linked to both late-stage diagnosis and unresponsiveness to conventional anti-cancer treatments. Multiple aetiological factors have been described including environmental factors, genetics, and viral factors (Epstein Barr Virus, EBV), making NPC treatment that much more complex. The most common forms of NPCs are those that originate from the epithelial tissue lining the nasopharynx and are often linked to EBV infection. Indeed, they represent 75–95% of NPCs in the low-risk populations and almost 100% of NPCs in high-risk populations. Although conventional surgery has been improved with nasopharyngectomy’s being carried out using more sophisticated surgical equipment for better tumour resection, recent findings in the tumour microenvironment have led to novel treatment options including immunotherapies and photodynamic therapy, able to target the tumour and improve the immune system. This review provides an update on the disease’s aetiology and the future of NPC treatments with a focus on therapies activating T cell immunity.
Uptake of Australia’s Health Star Rating System 2014–2019

In June 2014, Australia and New Zealand adopted a voluntary front-of-pack nutrition label, the Health Star Rating (HSR) system. Our aim was to assess its uptake in Australia in the five years following adoption and examine the feasibility of proposed targets for future uptake. Numbers and proportions of products eligible to carry a HSR were recorded each year between 2014 and 2019 as part of an annual survey of four large Australian retail outlets. Uptake was projected to 2024. Mean HSR values were determined for products that were, and were not labelled with a HSR logo, and summary data presented overall, by HSR score, by major food category, by manufacturer and manufacturer group. Differences in mean HSR were assessed by independent samples t-test. HSR uptake continues to increase, appearing on 7118/17,477 (40.7%) of eligible products in 2019. Voluntary display of the HSR logo was increasing linearly at 6.8% annually. This would need to be maintained to reach 70% by 2024. Of those products displaying a HSR logo, more than three quarters (76.4%) had a HSR ≥ 3.0. Products displaying a HSR logo had a significantly higher mean HSR (3.4), compared to products not displaying a HSR logo (2.6) (p < 0.001). One hundred and thirty-nine manufacturers were using HSR, but retailers Coles, Woolworths and ALDI were together responsible for the majority of uptake (55.9%). Manufacturer members of the Australian Food and Grocery Council were responsible for 28.6% of uptake. Our findings illustrate the limits of commercial goodwill in applying HSR voluntarily. Ongoing implementation must pair clear targets and timelines for uptake with a firm pathway to make HSR mandatory if sufficient progress is not achieved.
Air Contamination in Different Departments of a Tertiary Hospital. Assessment of Microbial Load and of Antimicrobial Susceptibility

Air contamination in the hospital setting can be a reason for the spread of nosocomial infection among susceptible patients. The aim of this study was to identify bacterial species, and their load and drug resistance, in the air of a tertiary hospital. Air samples were collected on a monthly basis for 12 consecutive months in four different departments of the hospital (Intensive Care Unit (ICU), Internal Medicine Ward (IMW), Surgical Ward (SW), and Neonatal Unit (NU)). In total, 101 samples were collected, out of which 158 Gram-positive (GP) and 44 Gram-negative (GN) strains were isolated. The majority of GP isolates were Staphylococcus spp. (n = 100). The highest total microbial load was reported in the IMW (p = 0.005), while the highest Staphylococcus load was observed in the ICU (p = 0.018). GP bacterial load was higher in autumn, while GN load was higher in spring. Regarding drug resistance, four multi-drug-resistant (MDR) strains and one extensively drug-resistant (XDR) strain were isolated in the ICU, two MDR strains and one XDR strain in the SW, one MDR strain in the IMW and one MDR strain in the NU samples. Air in hospital settings is contaminated with various microbes; some of them are MDR, consisting a potential cause of hospital-acquired infection.
DNA Methylation and Brain‐Derived Neurotrophic Factor Expression Account for Symptoms and Widespread Hyperalgesia in Patients With Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Comorbid Fibromyalgia

The epigenetics of neurotrophic factors holds the potential to unravel the mechanisms underlying the pathophysiology of complex conditions such as chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). This study was undertaken to explore the role of brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) genetics, epigenetics, and protein expression in patients with both CFS and comorbid fibromyalgia (CFS/FM).
Effect of Exercising with Others on Incident Functional Disability and All-Cause Mortality in Community-Dwelling Older Adults: A Five-Year Follow-Up Survey

We clarified the effect of exercising with others on the risks of incident functional disability and all-cause mortality among community-dwelling adults. We used an inventory mail survey with a five-year follow-up for 1520 independently living older adults (mean age: 73.4 ± 6.3 years) in Kasama City, Japan. Subjects responded to a self-reported questionnaire in June 2014. Exercise habits and the presence of exercise partners were assessed. Subjects were classified into three groups: Non-exercise, exercising alone, and exercising with others. Follow-up information and date of incident functional disability and death during the five-year follow-up were collected from the database. To compare the association between exercise habits and functional disability and mortality, Cox regression analysis was conducted. Compared with the non-exercise group, exercising with others had significantly lower hazard ratios (HRs) for functional disability (0.59, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.40–0.88) and mortality (0.40, 95% CI 0.24–0.66) in the covariate models. Compared with exercising alone, exercising with others decreased the HRs for incident functional disability (0.53, 95% CI: 0.36–0.80) and mortality (0.50, 95% CI 0.29–0.85) rates in the unadjusted model; these associations were not significant in the covariate models. Exercising with others can contribute to functional disability prevention and longevity.
A new species of the snake genus Fimbrios from Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, Truong Son, central Vietnam (Squamata: Xenodermatidae)

A second species of the previously monotypic snake genus Fimbrios is described from the Truong Son Mountain Range, Vietnam. Fimbrios smithi sp. n. is included in this genus on the basis of the combination of the following characters: rostral, mental and first three to four labials with raised, erected edges; a horizontal ridge of tissues above the rostral; a very large loreal. It is distinguished from F. klossi by having the suture between the internasals longer than that between the prefrontals; two suboculars; 193 ventrals, and 72 unpaired subcaudal scales; total length of at least 440 mm in males (with a tail length of 94 mm, and a tail / total length ratio of 0.214); dorsum greyish brown, with a paler flank area, and pale blotches and stripes in the neck region. Fimbrios smithi sp. n. is the seventh snake species that has been described as new from the Phong Nha—Ke Bang National Park, Quang Binh Province, central Vietnam, in the last decade; it is the forty-fourth colubrid snake species known from that region, which now comprises 60 snake species in general.
Leaving the Enclave: Historical Evidence on Immigrant Mobility from the Industrial Removal Office

We study a program that funded 39,000 Jewish households in New York City to leave enclave neighborhoods circa 1910. Compared to their neighbors with the same occupation and income score at baseline, program participants earned 4 percent more ten years after removal, and these gains persisted to the next generation. Men who left enclaves also married spouses with less Jewish names, but they did not choose less Jewish names for their children. Gains were largest for men who spent more years outside of an enclave. Our results suggest that leaving ethnic neighborhoods could facilitate economic advancement and assimilation into the broader society, but might make it more difficult to retain cultural identity.
CAR-T Cell Therapy—An Overview of Targets in Gastric Cancer

Gastric cancer (GC) is one of the most commonly diagnosed malignancies and, unfortunately, still has a high mortality rate. Recent research points to CAR-T immunotherapy as a promising treatment for this disease. Using genetically engineered T cells designed to target a previously selected antigen, researchers are able to harness the natural anti-tumor activity of T cells. For therapy to be successful, however, it is essential to choose antigens that are present on tumor cells but not on healthy cells. In this review, we present an overview of the most important targets for CAR-T therapy in the context of GC, including their biologic function and therapeutic application. A number of clinical studies point to the following as important markers in GC: human epidermal growth factor receptor 2, carcinoembryonic antigen, mucin 1, epithelial cell adhesion molecule, claudin 18.2, mesothelin, natural-killer receptor group 2 member D, and folate receptor 1. Although these markers have been met with some success, the search for new and improved targets continues. Key among these novel biomarkers are the B7H6 ligand, actin-related protein 2/3 (ARP 2/3), neuropilin-1 (NRP-1), desmocollin 2 (DSC2), anion exchanger 1 (AF1), and cancer-related antigens CA-72-4 and CA-19-9.