Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A-to-I RNA editing in bacteria increases pathogenicity and tolerance to oxidative stress

Adenosine-to-inosine (A-to-I) RNA editing is an important posttranscriptional event in eukaryotes; however, many features remain largely unexplored in prokaryotes. This study focuses on a serine-to-proline recoding event (S128P) that originated in the mRNA of fliC, which encodes a flagellar filament protein; the editing event was observed in RNA-seq samples exposed to oxidative stress. Using Sanger sequencing, we show that the S128P editing event is induced by H2O2. To investigate the in vivo interaction between RNAs and TadA, which is the principal enzyme for A-to-I editing, genome-wide RNA immunoprecipitation–coupled high-throughput sequencing (iRIP-Seq) analysis was performed using HA-tagged TadA from Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzicola. We found that TadA can bind to the mRNA of fliC and the binding motif is identical to that previously reported by Bar-Yaacov and colleagues. This editing event increased motility and enhanced tolerance to oxidative stress due to changes in flagellar filament structure, which was modelled in 3D and measured by TEM. The change in filament structure due to the S128P mutant increased biofilm formation, which was measured by the 3D laser scanning confocal microscopy. RNA-seq revealed that a gene cluster that contributes to siderophore biosynthesis and Fe3+ uptake was upregulated in S128P compared with WT. Based on intracellular levels of reactive oxygen species and an oxidative stress survival assay, we found that this gene cluster can contribute to the reduction of the Fenton reaction and increases biofilm formation and bacterial virulence. This oxidative stress response was also confirmed in Pseudomonas putida. Overall, our work demonstrates that A-to-I RNA editing plays a role in bacterial pathogenicity and adaptation to oxidative stress.
Risks and Benefits of Surgical Excision of Orbital Cavernous Venous Malformations (So-Called Cavernous Hemangioma): Factors Influencing the Outcome.

PURPOSE To assess risks and benefits associated with surgical excision of orbital cavernous venous malformation and analyze factors influencing the outcome. METHODS Design: cohort study. PARTICIPANTS 164 consecutive patients undergoing surgical removal of orbital cavernous venous malformation. INTERVENTION lateral or anterior orbitotomy. OUTCOME MEASURES visual acuity, visual field, pupillary function, ocular motility, and fundus examination. Influence of the mass volume and tumor location on the outcome was evaluated. The threshold value and risk group for the volume were evaluated using the receiver operating characteristic analysis; 8 orbital different quadrants, extraconal/intraconal position, and orbital apex extension were considered as variables to evaluate the location. RESULTS Postoperatively overall visual acuity (p = 0.0084), visual field (p < 0.0001), diplopia (p < 0.0001), proptosis (p < 0.0001), ocular motility (p = 0.02), ptosis (p = 0.033), choroidal fold (p < 0.0001), disk edema (p = 0.0004) were significantly improved. The commonest location was the lateral quadrant (28%). Choroidal folds were associated with tumor greater than 1100 mm (p = 0.001). Visual loss occurred in 2 patients (1.2%) and tonic pupil in 5 (3%,) Visual deterioration was associated with the apical extension (p = 0.001). Pupil efferent defect was associated with lateral quadrant location (p = 0.011) and apical extension (p = 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Surgical removal of orbital cavernous venous malformation is a useful treatment modality, particularly for large size tumors. Removal of cavernous venous malformations located at the lateral aspect of the orbit carries an increased risk of permanent tonic pupil. Postoperative blindness is rarely seen and is often associated with the apical extension. Tailoring the surgical approach, depending on the relative position to the optic nerve, may have an important bearing on outcome.
A High-Speed Low-Cost VLSI System Capable of On-Chip Online Learning for Dynamic Vision Sensor Data Classification

This paper proposes a high-speed low-cost VLSI system capable of on-chip online learning for classifying address-event representation (AER) streams from dynamic vision sensor (DVS) retina chips. The proposed system executes a lightweight statistic algorithm based on simple binary features extracted from AER streams and a Random Ferns classifier to classify these features. The proposed system’s characteristics of multi-level pipelines and parallel processing circuits achieves a high throughput up to 1 spike event per clock cycle for AER data processing. Thanks to the nature of the lightweight algorithm, our hardware system is realized in a low-cost memory-centric paradigm. In addition, the system is capable of on-chip online learning to flexibly adapt to different in-situ application scenarios. The extra overheads for on-chip learning in terms of time and resource consumption are quite low, as the training procedure of the Random Ferns is quite simple, requiring few auxiliary learning circuits. An FPGA prototype of the proposed VLSI system was implemented with 9.5~96.7% memory consumption and <11% computational and logic resources on a Xilinx Zynq-7045 chip platform. It was running at a clock frequency of 100 MHz and achieved a peak processing throughput up to 100 Meps (Mega events per second), with an estimated power consumption of 690 mW leading to a high energy efficiency of 145 Meps/W or 145 event/μJ. We tested the prototype system on MNIST-DVS, Poker-DVS, and Posture-DVS datasets, and obtained classification accuracies of 77.9%, 99.4% and 99.3%, respectively. Compared to prior works, our VLSI system achieves higher processing speeds, higher computing efficiency, comparable accuracy, and lower resource costs.
Assessment of Parents’ Oral Health Literacy and Its Association with Caries Experience of Their Preschool Children

(1) Purpose: To assess the oral health literacy (OHL) of parents and its association with the caries experience of their preschool children attending the Hospital University Sains Malaysia (HUSM), Kota Bharu, Kelantan, Malaysia. (2) Materials and Methods: This is a descriptive cross-sectional study involving a systematic random sampling method, using a sample of 230 parent/preschool child dyads. Among 230 parents, 24 were males and 206 were females (mean age 31.43 ± 5.82); among 230 children, 92 were boys and 138 were girls (mean age 4.82 ± 1.04) attending the pedodontics clinic, HUSM, who participated and met the inclusion criteria. A structured, self-administered oral health literacy questionnaire including sociodemographic factors was used in this study. A child’s oral examination was performed to check the dmft (decayed, missing, filled teeth) status. Statistical analysis was done using descriptive and Spearman’s correlation analysis and multivariate regression analysis. (3) Results: The mean dmft score of children in relation to the OHL level of parents showed a significant difference (p < 0.00). The mean dmft score of children in relation to the OHL level of parents showed the following relationships: Inadequate (7.49 ± 4.10) followed by marginal (3.28 ± 2.67) and then adequate (0.55 ± 1.55). The incidence of caries amongst children in relation to parental employment was more associated with unemployed parents (6.11 ± 4.43) than with employed parents (2.79 ± 3.65). The caries experience amongst children in relation to education of their parents revealed a significant difference (p < 0.001), and the mean dmft score was high amongst preschool children with primary school qualified parents (10.7 ± 4.10) followed by high school (7.04 ± 3.68), vocational (5.81 ± 3.57), diploma (2.61 ± 2.81), and university (1.29 ± 2.27), respectively. The results revealed a valid significant difference (negative correlation, rs = −0.753 **) between the OHL of parents with the dmft score of their preschool children. The age and gender of parents was not significantly associated with OHL, whereas ethnicity (positive correlation, rs = 0.283 **), education (positive correlation, rs = 0.865 **), and employment (negative correlation, rs = −0.490 **) were found to be significant. Conclusion: We conclude that there is a significant association between the OHL of parents with the dmft score of their preschool children. The logistic regression showed that after adjustment for sociodemographic factors, parents’ gender (OR = 0.067, 95% CI: 0.012–0.360), parents’ employment status (OR = 3.247, 95% CI: 0.897–11.754), parents’ OHL score (OR = 0.042, 95% CI: 0.016–0.114), and child age (OR = 2.195, 95% CI: 1.249–3.857) were significantly associated with dental caries in children. Our study concluded that parents’ employment status, age, gender, OHL, and child’s age were significantly associated with the caries experience of their preschool children.
A Proof-of-Concept System Dynamics Simulation Model of the Development of Burnout and Recovery Using Retrospective Case Data

The phenomenon of burnout is a complex issue, which despite major efforts from researchers and organizations remains hard to prevent. The current literature highlights an increasing global prevalence of employees that are dealing with burnout. What has been largely missing is a more systemic, dynamic, and personal perspective on the interactions of the key determinants of burnout. Burnout can be seen as the outcome of a complex system involving feedback loops between individual mental models, individual behavior, and external social influences. Understanding the feedback loops involved may enable employees and organizations to intervene in burnout trajectories early and effectively. System dynamics (SD) modeling is a methodology that can describe the structure and behavior of a complex system. The current paper describes the development of an SD model of burnout. First, an expert- and literature-informed causal loop diagram (CLD) of burnout is developed. Then, a novel approach is developed to collect personal retrospective scenario data. Finally, the CLD and data are translated into a quantitative SD model. The potential of the SD model is illustrated by simulating the behavior of three realistic personas during the onset of and recovery from burnout. The process of development of an SD model of burnout is presented and the strengths and limitations of the approach are discussed.
Effect of Neem Seed Extract upon the Gypsy Moth (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae) and Its Nuclear Polyhedrosis Virus

Neem seed extract inhibited growth and development of gypsy moth, Lymantria disbar (L.), larvae. Untreated control larvae increased their weight by ≍40-fold by day 14, whereas insects treated with 0.10% neem and 1.00% neem weighed ≍30% and ≍4%, respectively, of the average weight of the untreated larvae. By day 14, 99% of the controls were in the fifth stage and 1% were prepupae. After treatment with 0.10% neem almost one-third of those larvae were still in the fourth stage, whereas larvae treated with 1.00% neem were still in the second and third stages. Neem extracts had little, if any, effect upon viral activity, as measured by LC50s. The addition of neem extract to the gypsy moth nuclear polyhedrosis virus, however, resulted in faster virus-caused mortality.
Evaluation of the adverse effects of biological agents used in the treatment of psoriasis: A multicenter retrospective cohort study

The objective was to reveal and compare the adverse effects of infliximab, etanercept, adalimumab, ustekinumab and secukinumab, and determine possible risk factors. The follow‐up files and computer‐based records of patients with psoriasis were retrospectively screened between January 2007 and September 2019. The five biological agents were compared in terms of their adverse effects, and factors that might be related to these effects were explored. While there was no statistically significant difference between the agents in terms of the rate of serious adverse effects, when all the adverse effects were evaluated together, the highest rate was seen in the use of infliximab and the lowest in secukinumab (P = .001). The rates of adverse effects and related drug discontinuation were higher in the use of anti‐TNF agents compared to interleukin inhibitors (P = .004 and P = .012, respectively). The agent with the highest drug discontinuation rate due to adverse effects was infliximab while the least discontinued agent was ustekinumab (P = .036). There were more side effects with anti‐TNF than interleukin inhibitors, but the serious adverse effect rate was similar in both groups. The incidence of certain adverse effects increases depending on age, number of comorbidities, biological agent and its group, concomitant systemic therapy, and use of multiple agents.
A 3-Week, Low-Carbohydrate, High-Fat Diet Improves Multiple Serum Inflammatory Markers in Endurance-Trained Males

Abstract Waldman, HS, Heatherly, AJ, Killen, LG, Hollingsworth, A, Koh, Y, and O'Neal, EK. A three-week, low-carbohydrate, high-fat diet improves multiple serum inflammatory markers in endurance-trained males. J Strength Cond Res 36(9): 2502–2508, 2022—This study examined the effects of a low-carbohydrate, high-fat diet (LCHF) on inflammatory marker responses in middle-aged endurance athletes. Eight male runners maintained their habitual mixed diet (HMD) in the first phase of the study before switching to a noncalorically restricted LCHF diet (∼70% of kcals from fat; carbohydrate <50 g) for 3 weeks. Subjects completed a 50-minute fixed pace treadmill running protocol in a hot environment, followed by a 5-km outdoor time trial. Fasting serum samples were collected immediately after exercise and heat stress restriction, and again 24 hours after the exercise/heat stressor. Thirty inflammation markers were assessed using the multiplex flow immunoassay technique. Seven markers (BAFF/TNFSF-13, sCD30/TNFRSF8, sCD163, Chitinase3-like1, gp130SIL-6Rβ, sTNFR-1, and sTNFR-2) reached statistical significance (p < 0.05) favoring LCHF before exercise, and sCD30/TNFRSF8 favored (p < 0.05) LCHF before (HMD = 459 ± 111; LCHF = 296 ± 100) and after (HMD = 385 ± 104; LCHF = 285 ± 104 pg·ml−1) exercise. Although the current dietary intervention was short in duration, LCHF seems to offer some protection against multiple chronic inflammation markers for physically active men between ages 30 and 50 years.
Antifungal Properties of Nerolidol-Containing Liposomes in Association with Fluconazole

(1) Background: Infections by Candida species represent a serious threat to the health of immunocompromised individuals. Evidence has indicated that nerolidol has significant antifungal properties. Nonetheless, its use is restricted due to a low water solubility and high photosensitivity. The incorporation into liposomes may represent an efficient alternative to improve the physicochemical and biopharmaceutical properties of this compound. The present study aimed to characterize the antifungal properties of liposomal nerolidol, alone or in combination with fluconazole. Of note, this is the first study reporting the antifungal activity of liposomal nerolidol and its potentiating effect in association with fluconazole. (2) Methods: The Inhibitory Concentration 50%-IC50 and minimum fungicide concentrations (MFC) of the substances against Candida albicans (CA), Candida tropicalis (CT), and Candida krusei (CK) were established by subculture in a solid medium. To evaluate the antifungal-enhancing effect, the MFC of fluconazole was determined in the presence or absence of subinhibitory concentrations of nerolidol (free or liposomal). The analysis of fungal dimorphism was performed through optical microscopy and the characterization of liposomes was carried out considering the vesicular size, polydispersion index, and zeta medium potential, in addition to a scanning electron microscopy analysis. (3) Results: The physicochemical characterization revealed that liposomes were obtained as homogenous populations of spherical vesicles. The data obtained in the present study indicate that nerolidol acts as an antifungal agent against Candida albicans and Candida tropicalis, in addition to potentiating (only in the liposomal form) the effect of fluconazole. However, the compound had little inhibitory effect on fungal dimorphism. (4) Conclusions: The incorporation of nerolidol into liposomes improved its antifungal-modulating properties.
Gender Differences in the Association between Positive Drinking Attitudes and Alcohol-Related Problems. The WIRUS Study

Background: Alcohol consumption is deeply integrated in people’s social- and work lives and, thus, constitutes a serious public health challenge. Attitudes toward drinking stand out as important predictors of drinking, but have to date been sparsely studied in employee populations. This study explores the association of employees’ attitudes toward drinking with their alcohol-related problems, and whether this association is moderated by gender and employment sector. Methods: Cross-sectional data were collected from a heterogeneous sample of employees (N = 4094) at 19 Norwegian companies. Drinking attitudes were assessed using the Drinking Norms Scale. The AUDIT (Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test) scale was then used to assess any alcohol-related problems. Data were analyzed using chi-square tests, analysis of covariance (ANCOVA), and multiple logistic regression. Results: Employees with predominantly positive drinking attitudes were almost three times as likely to report alcohol-related problems compared to employees with more negative drinking attitudes (OR = 2.75; 95% CI: 2.00–3.76). Gender moderated the association between positive drinking attitudes and alcohol-related problems (OR = 3.30; 95% CI: 2.10–5.21). The association was stronger in women (OR = 5.21; 95% CI: 3.34–8.15) than in men (OR = 3.10; 95% CI: 2.11–4.55). Employment sector did not moderate the association between drinking attitudes and alcohol-related problems. Conclusions: Employee attitudes toward alcohol should be monitored to better enable early workplace health promotion interventions targeting alcohol problems. These interventions might need to be gender-specific.
Omega-6:Omega-3 Fatty Acid Ratio and Total Fat Content of the Maternal Diet Alter Offspring Growth and Fat Deposition in the Rat

Omega-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFA) have been shown to inhibit lipogenesis and adipogenesis in adult rats. Their possible early life effects on offspring fat deposition, however, remain to be established. To investigate this, female Wistar rats (n = 6–9 per group) were fed either a 9:1 ratio of linoleic acid (LA) to alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) or a lower 1:1.5 ratio during pregnancy and lactation. Each ratio was fed at two total fat levels (18% vs. 36% fat w/w) and offspring were weaned onto standard laboratory chow. Offspring exposed to a 36% fat diet, irrespective of maternal dietary LA:ALA ratio, were lighter (male, 27 g lighter; female 19 g lighter; p < 0.0001) than those exposed to an 18% fat diet between 3 and 8 weeks of age. Offspring exposed to a low LA (18% fat) diet had higher proportions of circulating omega-3 LCPUFA and increased gonadal fat mass at 4 weeks of age (p < 0.05). Reduced Srebf1 mRNA expression of hepatic (p < 0.01), gonadal fat (p < 0.05) and retroperitoneal fat (p < 0.05) tissue was observed at 4 weeks of age in male and female offspring exposed to a 36% fat diet, and hepatic Srebf1 mRNA was also reduced in male offspring at 8 weeks of age (p < 0.05). Thus, while offspring fat deposition appeared to be sensitive to both maternal dietary LA:ALA ratio and total fat content, offspring growth and lipogenic capacity of tissues appeared to be more sensitive to maternal dietary fat content.
Bulk-Surface Modification of Nanoparticles for Developing Highly-Crosslinked Polymer Nanocomposites

Surface modification of nanoparticles with functional molecules has become a routine method to compensate for diffusion-controlled crosslinking of thermoset polymer composites at late stages of crosslinking, while bulk modification has not carefully been discussed. In this work, a highly-crosslinked model polymer nanocomposite based on epoxy and surface-bulk functionalized magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) was developed. MNPs were synthesized electrochemically, and then polyethylene glycol (PEG) surface-functionalized (PEG-MNPs) and PEG-functionalized cobalt-doped (Co-PEG-MNPs) particles were developed and used in nanocomposite preparation. Various analyses including field-emission scanning electron microscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectrophotometry (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM) were employed in characterization of surface and bulk of PEG-MNPs and Co-PEG-MNPs. Epoxy nanocomposites including the aforementioned MNPs were prepared and analyzed by nonisothermal differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) to study their curing potential in epoxy/amine system. Analyses based on Cure Index revealed that incorporation of 0.1 wt. % of Co-PEG-MNPs into epoxy led to Excellent cure at all heating rates, which uncovered the assistance of bulk modification of nanoparticles to the crosslinking of model epoxy nanocomposites. Isoconversional methods revealed higher activation energy for the completely crosslinked epoxy/Co-PEG-MNPs nanocomposite compared to the neat epoxy. The kinetic model based on isoconversional methods was verified by the experimental rate of cure reaction.
Sensorial Perception of Astringency: Oral Mechanisms and Current Analysis Methods

Understanding consumers’ food choices and the psychological processes involved in their preferences is crucial to promote more mindful eating regulation and guide food design. Fortifying foods minimizing the oral dryness, rough, and puckering associated with many functional ingredients has been attracting interest in understanding oral astringency over the years. A variety of studies have explored the sensorial mechanisms and the food properties determining astringency perception. The present review provides a deeper understanding of astringency, a general view of the oral mechanisms involved, and the exciting variety of the latest methods used to direct and indirectly quantify and simulate the astringency perception and the specific mechanisms involved.
Adjuvant Chemotherapy in Elderly Colorectal Cancer Patients

The value of adjuvant chemotherapy in elderly patients has been the subject of many overviews, with opinions varying from “not effective”, since randomized trials have not been performed, to “as effective as in young individuals”, based upon many retrospective analyses of randomized trials that have included patients of all ages. In the absence of randomized trials performed specifically with elderly patients, retrospective analyses demonstrate that the influence on the time to tumour recurrence (TTR) may be the same as in young individuals, but that endpoints that include death for any reason, such as recurrence-free survival (RFS), disease-free survival (DFS), and overall survival (OS), are poorer in the elderly. This is particularly true if oxaliplatin has been part of the treatment. The need for adjuvant chemotherapy after colorectal cancer surgery in elderly patients is basically the same as that in younger patients. The reduction in recurrence risks may be similar, provided the chosen treatment is tolerated but survival gains are less. Adding oxaliplatin to a fluoropyrimidine is probably not beneficial in individuals above a biological age of approximately 70 years. If an oxaliplatin combination is administered to elderly patients, three months of therapy is in all probability the most realistic goal.