Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
DNA Methyltransferases Contribute to Cold Tolerance in Ticks Dermacentor silvarum and Haemaphysalis longicornis (Acari: Ixodidae)

DNA methylation, mediated by DNA methyltransferases (Dnmts), is a typical epigenetic process that plays an important role in affecting organism acclimatization and adaptation to environmental changes. However, information about Dnmts and their associations with the cold tolerance of ticks remains meager. Hence, in the present study, the Dnmts in important vector ticks Dermacentor silvarum and Haemaphysalis longicornis were cloned and identified, and their functions in cold response were further explored. Results showed that the length of DsDnmt and DsDnmt1 in D. silvarum, and HlDnmt1 and HlDnmt in H. longicornis were 1,284, 549, 1,500, and 1,613 bp, respectively. Bioinformatics in protein analysis revealed that they were all unstable hydrophilic proteins and were mainly characterized with Dcm (DNA cytosine methyltransferase domain), Dnmt1-RFD (DNA methyltransferase replication foci domain), zf-CXXC (zinc finger-CXXC domain), and BAH (Bromo adjacent homology domain). The relative expression of these Dnmts was reduced after cold treatment for 3 days (P < 0.05), and increased with the extension of treatment. Western blot revealed that Dnmt1 decreased first and then increased significantly (P < 0.05) in both tick species, whereas other Dnmts fluctuated at varying degrees. RNA interference significantly silenced the genes Dnmts (P < 0.01), and mortality increased significantly (P < 0.05), when exposed to sub-lethal temperature, underscoring the important roles of Dnmts during the cold response of D. silvarum and H. longicornis. The above results lay the foundation for further understanding of the epigenetic regulation of DNA methylation in cold acclimatization and adaptation of ticks.
Rapid and Laboratory SARS-CoV-2 Antibody Testing in High-Risk Hospital Associated Cohorts of Unknown COVID-19 Exposure, a Validation and Epidemiological Study After the First Wave of the Pandemic

Objective: We aimed to use SARS-CoV-2 antibody tests to assess the asymptomatic seroprevalence of individuals in high-risk hospital cohorts who's previous COVID-19 exposure is unknown; staff, and patients requiring haemodialysis or chemotherapy after the first wave. Methods: In a single Center, study participants had five SARS-CoV-2 antibody tests done simultaneously; one rapid diagnostic test (RDT) (Superbio Colloidal Gold IgM/IgG), and four laboratory tests (Roche Elecsys® Anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG [RE], Abbott Architect i2000SR IgG [AAr], Abbott Alinity IgG [AAl], and Abbott Architect IgM CMIA). To determine seroprevalence, only positive test results on laboratory assay were considered true positives. Results: There were 157 participants, of whom 103 (65.6%) were female with a median age of 50 years (range 19–90). The IgG component of the RDT showed a high number of false positives (n = 18), was inferior to the laboratory assays (p < 0.001 RDT vs. AAl/AAr, p < 0.001 RDT vs. RE), and had reduced specificity (85.5% vs. AAl/AAr, 87.2% vs. RE). Sero-concordance was 97.5% between IgG laboratory assays (RE vs. AAl/AAr). Specificity of the IgM component of the RDT compared to Abbott IgM CMIA was 95.4%. Ten participants had positivity in at least one laboratory assay, seven (9.9%) of which were seen in HCWs. Two (4.1%) hematology/oncology (H/O) patients and a single (2.7%) haemodialysis (HD) were asymptomatically seropositive. Asymptomatic seroprevalence of HCWs compared to patients was not significant (p = 0.105). Conclusion: HCWs (9.9%) had higher, although non-significant asymptomatic seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies compared to high-risk patients (H/O 4.1%, HD 2.7%). An IgM/IgG rapid diagnostic test was inferior to laboratory assays. Sero-concordance of 97.5% was found between IgG laboratory assays, RE vs. AAl/AAr.
Intestinal Permeability and Circulating CD161+CCR6+CD8+T Cells in Patients With Relapsing–Remitting Multiple Sclerosis Treated With Dimethylfumarate

Background: The changes of the gut-brain axis have been recently recognized as important components in multiple sclerosis (MS) pathogenesis. Objectives: To evaluate the effects of DMF on intestinal barrier permeability and mucosal immune responses. Methods: We investigated intestinal permeability (IP) and circulating CD161+CCR6+CD8+T cells in 25 patients with MS, who met eligibility criteria for dimethyl-fumarate (DMF) treatment. These data, together with clinical/MRI parameters, were studied at three time-points: baseline (before therapy), after one (T1) and 9 months (T2) of treatment. Results: At baseline 16 patients (64%) showed altered IP, while 14 cases (56%) showed active MRI. During DMF therapy we found the expected decrease of disease activity at MRI compared to T0 (6/25 at T1, p = 0.035 and 3/25 at T2, p < 0.00), and a reduction in the percentage of CD161+CCR6+CD8+ T cells (16/23 at T2; p < 0.001). The effects of DMF on gut barrier alterations was variable, without a clear longitudinal pattern, while we found significant relationships between IP changes and drop of MRI activity (p = 0.04) and circulating CD161+CCr6+CD8+ T cells (p = 0.023). Conclusions: The gut barrier is frequently altered in MS, and the CD161+ CCR6+CD8+ T cell-subset shows dynamics which correlate with disease course and therapy.
Psychological Problems in a Sample of Jordanian Healthcare Workers Involved in Caring for Patients With COVID-19: A Cross-Sectional Study

Purpose: To explore the psychological problems (stress, depression, and anxiety) and the level of resilience among frontline healthcare workers (HCWs) who provide care for patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Additionally, the current study identified the correlation among these problems, resilience, and demographics of participants. The study explored the main predictors of stress, depression, anxiety, and resilience. Methods: Both the descriptive cross-sectional correlational design and convenience sample technique were used to collect data from active Jordanian HCWs who directly deal with patients suspected or confirmed to be infected with COVID-19 and work at healthcare facilities in Jordan. Data were collected by using online questionnaires about the demographics, stress, anxiety, depression, and resilience of the participants. Results: Data were collected from 225 HCWs. Their mean age was 31.17 years (SD = 6.8). All the participants perceived different levels of stress, with most perceiving exposure to a high level of stress (distress) (46.2% with low level and 53.8% with high level of stress); approximately half of them (52.9%; n = 119) reported a high level of anxiety, and more than half (66.2%; n = 149) had a high level of depression. Additionally, an increased anxiety and depression level was significantly associated with the decreased resilience and increased stress level. Increased age and experience of HCWs are significantly correlated with increased stress levels. The participants having personal protection equipment (PPE) reduced anxiety and depression and increased resilience (p > 0.05). The predictors of the main variables were varied in the study. Conclusion: Frontline HCWs involved in treating the patients with COVID-19 are liable to have a high level of stress that is associated with increased anxiety and depression levels. These high levels affect their mental well-being and resilience. Healthcare institutions in Jordan must tailor appropriate psychological interventions and support that are congruent with the needs of HCWs during and after caring for patients with COVID-19.
Plant Phenology Dynamics and Pollination Networks in Summits of the High Tropical Andes: A Baseline for Monitoring Climate Change Impacts

Analyzing plant phenology and plant–animal interaction networks can provide sensitive mechanistic indicators to understand the response of alpine plant communities to climate change. However, monitoring data to analyze these processes is scarce in alpine ecosystems, particularly in the highland tropics. The Andean páramos constitute the coldest biodiversity hotspot on Earth, and their species and ecosystems are among the most exposed and vulnerable to the effects of climate change. Here, we analyze for the first time baseline data for monitoring plant phenological dynamics and plant–pollinator networks along an elevation gradient between 4,200 and 4,600 m asl in three mountain summits of the Venezuelan Andes, which are part of the GLORIA monitoring network. We estimated the presence and density of plants with flowers in all the summits and in permanent plots, every month for 1 year. Additionally, we identified pollinators. We calculated a phenological overlap index between species. We summarized the plant–pollinator interactions as a bipartite matrix and represented a quantitative plant–pollinator network, calculating structural properties (grade, connectance, nestedness, and specialization). We also evaluated whether the overall network structure was influenced by differences in sampling effort, changes in species composition between summits, and phenology of the plant species. Finally, we characterized the pollination syndrome of all species. Flowering showed a marked seasonality, with a peak toward the end of the wet season. The overall phenological overlap index was low (0.32), suggesting little synchrony in flowering among species. Species richness of both plants and pollinators decreased along the elevation gradient. Flies, bumblebees, and hummingbirds were the most frequent pollinators in the network, while entomophily and anemophily were the prevailing pollination syndromes. The interaction network in all summits showed high connectance values, significant specialization (H2), and low nestedness. We did not find a significant effect of sampling effort, summit plant species composition, or plant phenology on network structure. Our results indicate that these high tropical alpine plant communities and their plant-pollination networks could be particularly vulnerable to the loss of species in climate change scenarios, given their low species richness and functional redundancy coupled with a high degree of specialization and endemism.
Confirmation of a Causal Taar1 Allelic Variant in Addiction-Relevant Methamphetamine Behaviors

Sensitivity to rewarding and reinforcing drug effects has a critical role in initial use, but the role of initial aversive drug effects has received less attention. Methamphetamine effects on dopamine re-uptake and efflux are associated with its addiction potential. However, methamphetamine also serves as a substrate for the trace amine-associated receptor 1 (TAAR1). Growing evidence in animal models indicates that increasing TAAR1 function reduces drug self-administration and intake. We previously determined that a non-synonymous single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in Taar1 predicts a conformational change in the receptor that has functional consequences. A Taar1m1J mutant allele existing in DBA/2J mice expresses a non-functional receptor. In comparison to mice that possess one or more copies of the reference Taar1 allele (Taar1+/+ or Taar1+/m1J), mice with the Taar1m1J/m1J genotype readily consume methamphetamine, express low sensitivity to aversive effects of methamphetamine, and lack sensitivity to acute methamphetamine-induced hypothermia. We used three sets of knock-in and control mice in which one Taar1 allele was exchanged with the alternative allele to determine if other methamphetamine-related traits and an opioid trait are impacted by the same Taar1 SNP proven to affect MA consumption and hypothermia. First, we measured sensitivity to conditioned rewarding and aversive effects of methamphetamine to determine if an impact of the Taar1 SNP on these traits could be proven. Next, we used multiple genetic backgrounds to study the consistency of Taar1 allelic effects on methamphetamine intake and hypothermia. Finally, we studied morphine-induced hypothermia to confirm prior data suggesting that a gene in linkage disequilibrium with Taar1, rather than Taar1, accounts for prior observed differences in sensitivity. We found that a single SNP exchange reduced sensitivity to methamphetamine conditioned reward and increased sensitivity to conditioned aversion. Profound differences in methamphetamine intake and hypothermia consistently corresponded with genotype at the SNP location, with only slight variation in magnitude across genetic backgrounds. Morphine-induced hypothermia was not dependent on Taar1 genotype. Thus, Taar1 genotype and TAAR1 function impact multiple methamphetamine-related effects that likely predict the potential for methamphetamine use. These data support further investigation of their potential roles in risk for methamphetamine addiction and therapeutic development.
Antibiotic Intervention Affects Maternal Immunity During Gestation in Mice

Background Pregnancy is a portentous stage in life, during which countless events are precisely orchestrated to ensure a healthy offspring. Maternal microbial communities are thought to have a profound impact on development. Although antibiotic drugs may interfere in these processes, they constitute the most frequently prescribed medication during pregnancy to prohibit detrimental consequences of infections. Gestational antibiotic intervention is linked to preeclampsia and negative effects on neonatal immunity. Even though perturbations in the immune system of the mother can affect reproductive health, the impact of microbial manipulation on maternal immunity is still unknown. Aim To assess whether antibiotic treatment influences maternal immunity during pregnancy. Methods Pregnant mice were treated with broad-spectrum antibiotics. The maternal gut microbiome was assessed. Numerous immune parameters throughout the maternal body, including placenta and amniotic fluid were investigated and a novel machine-learning ensemble strategy was used to identify immunological parameters that allow distinction between the control and antibiotic-treated group. Results Antibiotic treatment reduced diversity of maternal microbiota, but litter sizes remained unaffected. Effects of antibiotic treatment on immunity reached as far as the placenta. Four immunological features were identified by recursive feature selection to contribute to the most robust classification (splenic T helper 17 cells and CD5+ B cells, CD4+ T cells in mesenteric lymph nodes and RORγT mRNA expression in placenta). Conclusion In the present study, antibiotic treatment was able to affect the carefully coordinated immunity during pregnancy. These findings highlight the importance of inclusion of immunological parameters when studying the effects of medication used during gestation.
The Influence of Actual Appraisals of Peers on the Self-Appraisals of Personality Traits for Chinese Late Adolescents: The Mediating Effect of Reflected Appraisals

Reflected appraisals refer to the perceptions of individuals of how they are perceived by others. Numerous studies in cultural psychology have revealed that individuals in the Eastern collectivist culture show an interdependent self-construal, which depends much on the social culture. Hence, the research on reflected appraisals in the Eastern culture can improve the understanding of how the social environment shapes the self-perception of an individual. In this study, we aimed to explore the relationships among self-appraisals, reflected appraisals, and actual appraisals of peers of the Big Five personality for Chinese late adolescents. Participants were divided into 16 groups, with two to four people of each group who were familiar with each other. Each participant was told to fill out the questionnaires of reflected appraisals, actual appraisals of peers, and self-appraisals. Through analyzing 164 sets of data, the results showed the following: (a) The scores of reflected appraisals are significantly lower than that of the actual appraisals of peers. (b) The relationships among the reflected appraisals, actual appraisals of peers, and self-appraisals are distinct on different personalities. For extroversion, there are significant medium- to high-degree relationships among the three types of appraisals; while for the agreeableness, conscientiousness, emotional stability, and openness, self-appraisals are highly correlated with reflected appraisals, and reflected appraisals show a low-degree correlation with the actual appraisals of peers. (c) Reflected appraisals play a mediating role between actual appraisals of peers and self-appraisals. Our study suggests that individuals in Chinese culture generally underestimate how their peers perceive them. Furthermore, actual appraisals of peers affect the self-concepts of individuals through reflected appraisals. This study revealed the unique personality feature of self-modesty under the background of Chinese culture and the importance of peers on the development of self-concepts for Chinese late adolescents. This study can shed new light on the understanding of the development of self-concepts for late adolescents under different cultural backgrounds.
Exploring Environmental Factors That Drive Diel Variations in Tree Water Storage Using Wavelet Analysis

Internal water storage within trees can be a critical reservoir that helps trees overcome both short- and long-duration environmental stresses. We monitored changes in internal tree water storage in a ponderosa pine on daily and seasonal scales using moisture probes, a dendrometer, and time-lapse electrical resistivity imaging (ERI). These data were used to investigate how patterns of in-tree water storage are affected by changes in sapflow rates, soil moisture, and meteorologic factors such as vapor pressure deficit. Measurements of xylem fluid electrical conductivity were constant in the early growing season while inverted sapwood electrical conductivity steadily increased, suggesting that increases in sapwood electrical conductivity did not result from an increase in xylem fluid electrical conductivity. Seasonal increases in stem electrical conductivity corresponded with seasonal increases in trunk diameter, suggesting that increased electrical conductivity may result from new growth. On the daily scale, changes in inverted sapwood electrical conductivity correspond to changes in sapwood moisture. Wavelet analyses indicated that lag times between inverted electrical conductivity and sapflow increased after storm events, suggesting that as soils wetted, reliance on internal water storage decreased, as did the time required to refill daily deficits in internal water storage. We found short time lags between sapflow and inverted electrical conductivity with dry conditions, when ponderosa pine are known to reduce stomatal conductance to avoid xylem cavitation. A decrease in diel amplitudes of inverted sapwood electrical conductivity during dry periods suggest that the ponderosa pine relied on internal water storage to supplement transpiration demands, but as drought conditions progressed, tree water storage contributions to transpiration decreased. Time-lapse ERI- and wavelet-analysis results highlight the important role internal tree water storage plays in supporting transpiration throughout a day and during periods of declining subsurface moisture.
Dietary and Pharmacologic Manipulations of Host Lipids and Their Interaction With the Gut Microbiome in Non-human Primates

The gut microbiome influences nutrient processing as well as host physiology. Plasma lipid levels have been associated with the microbiome, although the underlying mechanisms are largely unknown, and the effects of dietary lipids on the gut microbiome in humans are not well-studied. We used a compilation of four studies utilizing non-human primates (Chlorocebus aethiops and Macaca fascicularis) with treatments that manipulated plasma lipid levels using dietary and pharmacological techniques, and characterized the microbiome using 16S rDNA. High-fat diets significantly reduced alpha diversity (Shannon) and the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio compared to chow diets, even when the diets had different compositions and were applied in different orders. When analyzed for differential abundance using DESeq2, Bulleidia, Clostridium, Ruminococcus, Eubacterium, Coprocacillus, Lachnospira, Blautia, Coprococcus, and Oscillospira were greater in both chow diets while Succinivibrio, Collinsella, Streptococcus, and Lactococcus were greater in both high-fat diets (oleic blend or lard fat source). Dietary cholesterol levels did not affect the microbiome and neither did alterations of plasma lipid levels through treatments of miR-33 antisense oligonucleotide (anti-miR-33), Niemann–Pick C1-Like 1 (NPC1L1) antisense oligonucleotide (ASO), and inducible degrader of LDLR (IDOL) ASO. However, a liver X receptor (LXR) agonist shifted the microbiome and decreased bile acid levels. Fifteen genera increased with the LXR agonist, while seven genera decreased. Pseudomonas increased on the LXR agonist and was negatively correlated to deoxycholic acid, cholic acid, and total bile acids while Ruminococcus was positively correlated with taurolithocholic acid and taurodeoxycholic acid. Seven of the nine bile acids identified in the feces significantly decreased due to the LXR agonist, and total bile acids (nmol/g) was reduced by 62%. These results indicate that plasma lipid levels have, at most, a modest effect on the microbiome, whereas bile acids, derived in part from plasma lipids, are likely responsible for the indirect relationship between lipid levels and the microbiome.
Supercritical Carbon Dioxide Extracts of Cordyceps sinensis: Chromatography-based Metabolite Profiling and Protective Efficacy Against Hypobaric Hypoxia

The toxicity and disposal concerns of organic solvents used in conventional extraction purposes has entailed the need for greener alternatives. Among such techniques, supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) has gained popularity by yielding extracts of high purity in a much faster manner. Carbon dioxide (CO2) is generally preferred as a supercritical solvent because of its lower temperature requirements, better diffusivity and easy removal. The present study describes the characterization of supercritical CO2 extracts of Indian variety of Cordyceps sinensis (CS)- a high-altitude medicinal mushroom widely revered in traditional medicine for its extensive anti-hypercholesterolemic, anti-inflammatory, anti-proliferative and energy-enhancing properties. Experimental parameters viz. 300 and 350 bar of extraction pressure, 60°C of temperature, 0.4°L/h CO2 of flow rate and use of 1% (v/v) of ethanol as entrainer were optimized to prepare three different extracts namely, CSF1, CSF2 and CSF3. High-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) was used for assessing the quality of all the extracts in terms of cordycepin, the pivot biomarker compound in CS. Characterization by HPTLC and GC-MS confirmed the presence of flavonoids and nucleobases and, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), respectively. The chromatographic data acquired from metabolite profiling were subjected to chemometric analysis in an open source R studio which illustrated interrelatedness between CSF1 and CSF2 in terms of two major principal components. i.e. Dim 1 and Dim 2 whose values were 40.33 and 30.52% in variables factor map plotted using the HPTLC-generated retardation factor values. The factor maps based on retention times of the VOCs exhibited a variance of Dim 1 = 43.95% and Dim 2 = 24.85%. Furthermore, the extracts demonstrated appreciable antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhi by generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), protein leakage and efflux pump inhibition within bacterial pathogens. CSFs were elucidated to be significantly cytoprotective (p < 0.05) in a simulated hypobaric hypoxia milieu (0.5% oxygen). CSF2 showed the best results by effectively improving the viability of human embryonic kidney (HEK 293) cells to 82.36 ± 1.76% at an optimum dose of 100 µg/ml. Levels of hypoxia inducible factor-1 alpha (HIF-1α) were modulated four-fold upon supplementation with CSF2. The results collectively evinced that the CSF extracts are substantially bioactive and could be effectively utilized as mycotherapeutics for multiple bioeffects.