Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of oral consumption of capsules containing Lactobacillus paracasei LPC-S01 on the vaginal microbiota of healthy adult women: a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind crossover study

ABSTRACT Oral consumption of probiotics is practical and can be an effective solution to preserve vaginal eubiosis. Here, we studied the ability of orally administered Lactobacillus paracasei LPC-S01 (DSM 26760) to affect the composition of the vaginal microbiota and colonize the vaginal mucosa in nondiseased adult women. A total of 40 volunteers took oral probiotic (24 billion CFU) or placebo capsules daily for 4 weeks, and after a 4-week washout, they switched to placebo or probiotic capsules according to the crossover design. A total of 23 volunteers completed the study according to the protocol. Before and after capsule ingestion, vaginal swabs were collected for qPCR quantification to detect L. paracasei LPC-S01 and for 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Vaginal swabs were grouped according to their bacterial taxonomic structure into nine community state types (CSTs), four of which were dominated by lactobacilli. Lactobacillus paracasei LPC-S01 was detected in the vagina of two participants. Statistical modeling (including linear mixed-effects model analysis) demonstrated that daily intake of probiotic capsules reduced the relative abundance of Gardnerella spp. Quantitative PCR with Gardnerella vaginalis primers confirmed this result. Considering the pathogenic nature of G. vaginalis, these results suggest a potential positive effect of this probiotic capsule on the vaginal microbial ecosystem.
Digestibility measurements in juvenile tench [Tinca tinca (L.)] by using a continuous filtration device for fish faeces

Summary Effective pond production of tench [Tinca tinca (L.)] requires the use of formulated diets. However, insufficient information is available regarding the nutrition of this species. Therefore, for the first time, the digestibility of macronutrients by tench was investigated using a sieving method of faeces collection and chromic oxide. A pelleted experimental diet rich in untreated wheat starch revealed the following mean apparent digestibility coefficients (ADCs): dry matter 77.2%, crude protein 89.4%, crude fat 94.3%, ash 30.5%, nitrogen-free extracts 78.2%, organic matter 83.3% and energy 85.1%. Generally, these ADCs indicate that the ability of tench to digest the macronutrients from pelleted feed correlates with reports of other fish species. However, the tench is more able to digest untreated wheat starch than are carnivorous and coldwater fish species. Compared with carp (Cyprinus carpio L.), the digestibility of untreated wheat starch is less in tench. The faeces sieving method as described in this paper is a useful procedure for further digestibility trials with tench. However, compared with the approach presented here, several adaptations are recommended, e.g. long adaptation times to the rearing facility, high stocking densities, usage of more waterproof food pellets and the addition of formalin to the collection pans.
Supramolecular attack particles are autonomous killing entities released from cytotoxic T cells

Supramolecular attack particles Cytotoxic T cells (CTLs) are at the front lines against cancer and chronic infection. T cells kill by secreting caspase-activating granzymes and the pore-forming protein perforin from dense core granules. However, the structural basis of lethal hit delivery has remained unknown. Balint et al. enriched the synaptic output of CTLs to investigate the released form of perforin and granzyme B. They found that CTLs released perforin and granzymes in stable particles called supramolecular attack complexes or SMAPs. The SMAPs were composed of a core shell structure and were assembled in the CTL dense secretory granules before release. The released SMAPs showed an innate ability to kill target cells. Science, this issue p. 897 Immunological cytotoxic T cells release discrete supramolecular attack particles that can kill target cells. Cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) kill infected and cancerous cells. We detected transfer of cytotoxic multiprotein complexes, called supramolecular attack particles (SMAPs), from CTLs to target cells. SMAPs were rapidly released from CTLs and were autonomously cytotoxic. Mass spectrometry, immunochemical analysis, and CRISPR editing identified a carboxyl-terminal fragment of thrombospondin-1 as an unexpected SMAP component that contributed to target killing. Direct stochastic optical reconstruction microscopy resolved a cytotoxic core surrounded by a thrombospondin-1 shell of ~120 nanometer diameter. Cryo-soft x-ray tomography analysis revealed that SMAPs had a carbon-dense shell and were stored in multicore granules. We propose that SMAPs are autonomous extracellular killing entities that deliver cytotoxic cargo targeted by the specificity of shell components.
Regulation of the RNA‐binding protein Smaug by the GPCR Smoothened via the kinase Fused

From fly to mammals, the Smaug/Samd4 family of prion‐like RNA‐binding proteins control gene expression by destabilizing and/or repressing the translation of numerous target transcripts. However, the regulation of its activity remains poorly understood. We show that Smaug's protein levels and mRNA repressive activity are downregulated by Hedgehog signaling in tissue culture cells. These effects rely on the interaction of Smaug with the G‐protein coupled receptor Smoothened, which promotes the phosphorylation of Smaug by recruiting the kinase Fused. The activation of Fused and its binding to Smaug are sufficient to suppress its ability to form cytosolic bodies and to antagonize its negative effects on endogenous targets. Importantly, we demonstrate in vivo that HH reduces the levels of smaug mRNA and increases the level of several mRNAs downregulated by Smaug. Finally, we show that Smaug acts as a positive regulator of Hedgehog signaling during wing morphogenesis. These data constitute the first evidence for a post‐translational regulation of Smaug and reveal that the fate of several mRNAs bound to Smaug is modulated by a major signaling pathway.
Antibacterial effect of bimetallic clusters incorporated in amorphous carbon for stents application.

The purpose of this work is the development of Ag/a:C and Ag-Au/a:C coatings for ureteral stents, to provide them with antimicrobial characteristics. Silver was selected due to the well-known antibacterial properties, while gold was included to assess its capacity to accelerate the silver ion release forming a galvanic couple between Au and Ag. Thus, the metallic (Ag) and bimetallic clusters (Ag/Au) were produced by three different configurations: i) unbalanced magnetron sputtering (conventional sputtering), (ii) plasma gas condensation process and by (iii) a combination between both previous approaches. Coatings with Ag/Au bimetallic clusters were characterized by transmission electrons microscopy (TEM) in order to study the arrangement (alloy, core-shell and galvanic couple) of these particles in the carbon matrix. Inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) was used to quantify the Ag ions released through artificial urine from the different coatings deposited on thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) tape (one of the materials used in the ureteral stent manufacture). Then, the antibacterial and cytotoxicity properties of Ag and Ag-Au/a:C coatings were evaluated. TEM shows that a biphasic structure was not detected, thus not allowing to anticipate the establishment of a galvanic couple. The ICP-OES results demonstrate that the silver ionization is mainly a function of the amount of silver incorporated in the amorphous carbon (a:C) matrix, and the formation of bimetallic alloy has a detrimental effect on release of the silver ions. The antibacterial activity was regulated by the silver ionization mechanisms since the coatings with higher Ag release had a higher antibacterial activity.
Cognitive‐behavioral therapy in the time of coronavirus: Clinician tips for working with eating disorders via telehealth when face‐to‐face meetings are not possible

Abstract Objective The coronavirus pandemic has led to a dramatically different way of working for many therapists working with eating disorders, where telehealth has suddenly become the norm. However, many clinicians feel ill equipped to deliver therapy via telehealth, while adhering to evidence‐based interventions. This article draws together clinician experiences of the issues that should be attended to, and how to address them within a telehealth framework. Method Seventy clinical colleagues of the authors were emailed and invited to share their concerns online about how to deliver cognitive‐behavioral therapy for eating disorders (CBT‐ED) via telehealth, and how to adapt clinical practice to deal with the problems that they and others had encountered. After 96 hr, all the suggestions that had been shared by 22 clinicians were collated to provide timely advice for other clinicians. Results A range of themes emerged from the online discussion. A large proportion were general clinical and practical domains (patient and therapist concerns about telehealth; technical issues in implementing telehealth; changes in the environment), but there were also specific considerations and clinical recommendations about the delivery of CBT‐ED methods. Discussion Through interaction and sharing of ideas, clinicians across the world produced a substantial number of recommendations about how to use telehealth to work with people with eating disorders while remaining on track with evidence‐based practice. These are shared to assist clinicians over the period of changed practice.
Japanese Barnyard Millet (Echinochloa frumentacea): protein content, quality and SDS-PAGE of protein fractions

Total protein from five varieties of Japanese barnyard millet (Echinochloa frumentacea,) was separated into albumin/globulin, prolamin and glutelin fractions. The protein fractions were examined by sodium dodecylsulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Total protein of the varieties ranged from 110·5 to 139·3 mg g−1 of which 11·3–17·2% was albumin/globulins, 6·8–9·3% prolamins, 7·5–11·6% prolamin–like, 5·9–9·1% glutelin-like and 39·3–54·4% true glutelins. Amino acid analyses of the total protein showed that the varieties had essentially the same ammo acid composition. With the exception of lysine the amino acid levels adequately matched the provisional FAO scoring pattern. The amino acid composition of the protein fractions was also very similar. Electrophoretic analysis showed that the albumin/globulin fraction contained three or four components; the prolamin and glutelin fractions each had five components. The glutelin fraction had higher molecular weight components than the other two fractions.
Comment on “Central Nervous System Involvement by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus ‐2 (SARS‐CoV‐2)”

A very interesting report, for the first time, provided direct evidence that the ongoing pandemic etiological agent, SARS-CoV-2, may be able to directly infect central nervous system (CNS) through an endothelial route. If proven true, this may explain frequent neurological symptoms associated with severe COVID-19 diseases. A corresponding therapeutic intervention will be urgently needed to prevent such dangerous infections of CNS and associated high mortality rate. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
A tool for investigating the differential functions of aggressive behavior in the face‐to‐face and cyber context: Extending the Cyber‐Aggression Typology Questionnaire

Abstract Aggressive behavior in the face‐to‐face and cyber contexts is driven by underlying aggression (i.e., functions of aggressive behavior). Common theories of aggression distinguish between reactive (e.g., rage) and proactive (e.g., seeking to achieve power and affiliation) aggression. However, according to the quadripartite violence typology, this distinction conflates aspects of motivational valence with self‐regulatory processes. The Cyber‐Aggression Typology Questionnaire (CATQ; Runions et al., 2017, Aggress Behav, 43(1), pp. 74–84) overcomes this weakness by identifying four types of cyber‐aggression (impulsive‐aversive/rage, controlled‐aversive/revenge, controlled‐appetitive/reward, and impulsive‐appetitive/recreation cyber‐aggression). However, the CATQ only considers aggression in cyberspace. We extended the CATQ to the face‐to‐face context by developing a corresponding Face‐to‐Face Aggression Typology Questionnaire (FATQ). The aim of this study was to investigate factorial and convergent validity and metric measurement invariance between four‐factorial cyber and face‐to‐face aggression. In total, 587 students from six Austrian universities filled out the CATQ, the FATQ, and additional scales during regular university lectures to examine convergent validity. Confirmatory factor analysis supported the four‐factor structure of both questionnaires, after excluding inconclusive items from the impulsive‐aversive/rage subscale of the FATQ. These items were also removed from the CATQ to obtain two symmetric questionnaires. Metric measurement invariance between the CATQ and the FATQ was confirmed. Convergent validity was largely observed. Our results support an extended four‐factor model of aggression. Having two parallel questionnaires, the FATQ and CATQ, enables future studies to investigate commonalities and differences in underlying drivers of aggressive behavior in the cyber and face‐to‐face contexts.
Dissociable Behavioral and Neural Correlates for Target-Changing and Conforming Behaviors in Interpersonal Aggression

Abstract Actors in interpersonal aggression such as bullies change their targets frequently, but the underlying behavioral and neural mechanisms are unknown. Here, using the catch-ball task we recently developed to examine human interpersonal aggression, we found target-changing and conforming to other participants’ aggression are major driving forces of increased aggression (i.e., throwing strong balls). We also found that target-changing was correlated with a participant’s extraversion, consistent with a bistrategic view, in which both prosocial and coercive motivations drive interpersonal aggression. In contrast, conforming to others was correlated with social anxiety. In addition, questionnaires about participants’ past experiences of bullying suggested that target-changers and conformers were predominantly bullies and victims in the past. An analysis of resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) revealed that functional connectivity between the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC) and insula were correlated with target-changing behavior, while functional connectivity between the amygdala and temporo-parietal junction (TPJ) was correlated with conformity. These results demonstrate that target-changing and conforming behaviors have dissociable behavioral and neural mechanisms and may contribute to real-world interpersonal aggressions differently.
MR Imaging Correlates for Molecular and Mutational Analyses in Children with Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma

Initial MRIs from 50 subjects with diffuse intrinsic pontine gliomas recruited for a prospective clinical trial before treatment were analyzed. Retrospective imaging analyses included FLAIR/T2 tumor volume, tumor volume enhancing, the presence of cyst and/or necrosis, median, mean, mode, skewness, kurtosis of ADC tumor volume based on FLAIR, and enhancement at baseline. Molecular subgroups based on EGFR and MGMT mutations were established. Histone mutations were also determined (H3F3A, HIST1H3B, HIST1H3C). Enhancing tumor volume was near-significantly different across molecular subgroups, after accounting for the false discovery rate. Tumor volume enhancing, median, mode, skewness, and kurtosis ADC T2-FLAIR/T2 were significantly different between patients with H3F3A and HIST1H3B/C mutations. BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Recent advances in molecular techniques have characterized distinct subtypes of diffuse intrinsic pontine gliomas. Our aim was the identification of MR imaging correlates of these subtypes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Initial MRIs from subjects with diffuse intrinsic pontine gliomas recruited for a prospective clinical trial before treatment were analyzed. Retrospective imaging analyses included FLAIR/T2 tumor volume, tumor volume enhancing, the presence of cyst and/or necrosis, median, mean, mode, skewness, kurtosis of ADC tumor volume based on FLAIR, and enhancement at baseline. Molecular subgroups based on EGFR and MGMT mutations were established. Histone mutations were also determined (H3F3A, HIST1H3B, HIST1H3C). Univariate Cox proportional hazards regression was used to test the association of imaging predictors with overall and progression-free survival. Wilcoxon rank sum, Kruskal-Wallis, and Fisher exact tests were used to compare imaging measures among groups. RESULTS: Fifty patients had biopsy and MR imaging. The median age at trial registration was 6 years (range, 3.3–17.5 years); 52% were female. On the basis of immunohistochemical results, 48 patients were assigned to 1 of 4 subgroups: 28 in MGMT–/epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)–, 14 in MGMT–/EGFR+, 3 in MGMT+/EGFR–, and 3 in MGMT+/EGFR+. Twenty-three patients had histone mutations in H3F3A, 8 in HIST1H3B, and 3 in HIST1H3C. Enhancing tumor volume was near-significantly different across molecular subgroups (P = .04), after accounting for the false discovery rate. Tumor volume enhancing, median, mode, skewness, and kurtosis ADC T2-FLAIR/T2 were significantly different (P ≤ .048) between patients with H3F3A and HIST1H3B/C mutations. CONCLUSIONS: MR imaging features including enhancement and ADC histogram parameters are correlated with molecular subgroups and mutations in children with diffuse intrinsic pontine gliomas.
The Effect of Whey on Performance, Gut Health and Bone Morphology Parameters in Broiler Chicks

Whey is a highly nutritious byproduct of the cheese industry that can be used effectively in the animal feed industry. However, the use of whey in poultry diets is limited by its high lactose and mineral contents. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effect of different concentrations of whey in poultry diets on the performance, intestinal microbiota and physico-chemical parameters of the intestinal ecosystem, as well as on the bone morphology and its strength in broiler chicks. One hundred and twenty-eight, day-old, male broiler chicks were randomly allocated into four treatment groups of 32 chicks each. The treatment groups were: group A, which served as negative control and groups B, C and D, supplemented with 1, 2 and 5% of dietary whey, respectively. Performance of the groups was evaluated throughout the experiment. Following necropsies, the gastrointestinal tract from each bird was removed, divided into its anatomical parts and intestinal samples were taken for microbiological analysis and for pH and viscosity measurement as well. Tibiotarsus was also collected for morphometric analysis and strength evaluation. The statistical analysis of the experimental data revealed that the dietary supplementation of 1 and 2% of whey improved significantly (p ≤ 0.05) the body weight, while the addition of 5% of whey reduced significantly (p ≤ 0.05) the body weight. Furthermore, the addition of 1, 2 and 5% of dietary whey increased significantly (p ≤ 0.05) the pH of jejunum digesta and reduced significantly (p ≤ 0.05) the pH of caecum digesta compared to the control group. The addition of 1 and 2% of whey reduced significantly (p ≤ 0.05) the viscosity in the jejunum and ileum digesta, compared to the addition of 5% of whey which reduced significantly (p ≤ 0.05) the viscosity in jejunum digesta but increased significantly (p ≤ 0.05) the viscosity in ileum digesta. Moreover, the addition of 1, 2 and 5% of dietary whey increased significantly (p ≤ 0.05) the caecal counts of Lactobacillus spp. and Lactococcus lactis, while the addition of 5% of whey reduced significantly (p ≤ 0.05) the tibiotarsus length. It can be concluded that the addition of low quantities of whey up to 2% promoted the performance and gut health of birds, while the addition of higher quantities of whey at the level of 5% had a detrimental effect on the performance and tibiotarsus length.
Improvement of home-made maize tortilla with soybean

Summary Chemical changes of some nutritional components (proximate, mineral and amino acids) and acceptability of traditional process tortillas made from whole maize grain fortified with 30% soybean were evaluated. Inclusion of soybean in tortilla processing improved tortilla quality by modifying protein content and quality. Total ash content was significantly (P < 0.05) increased with processing into tortilla. Soybean has a significantly (P < 0.05) higher phosphorous, potassium, calcium, magnesium and iron than maize and the process tortillas. The calcium content in the samples was 0.33 g kg−1, 3.12 g kg−1, 1.36 g kg−1, 2.60 g kg−1, 1.57 and 2.84 g kg−1 for maize, soybean, baked maize tortilla, baked soy-fortified tortilla, fried maize tortilla and fried soy-fortified tortilla, respectively. The sensory evaluation showed that the consumers prefer baked tortilla to be salted and fried tortilla to be sugar sweetened.
Latitudinal gradients in herbivory on Oenothera biennis vary according to herbivore guild and specialization

The latitudinal herbivory-defense hypothesis (LHDH) posits that herbivory and plant defenses increase toward lower latitudes. Recent studies provide contradictory evidence and suggest alternative explanations for biogeographic patterns in plant–herbivore interactions. Here we test the LHDH by sampling herbivory from multiple generalist and specialist insect herbivores over the entire latitudinal native range of the plant species Oenothera biennis L. (Onagraceae). We sampled 79 populations on a 16° north-south gradient from Ontario and Maine to Alabama and Florida. From each population, we quantified herbivory across feeding guilds by considering leaf herbivory caused by generalist insects, damage by a specialist stem-boring beetle, and flower/seed herbivory by three Lepidoptera that specialize on Oenothera. We also related environmental and population density variables to herbivory. Our results show that latitudinal patterns vary dramatically among herbivore species. While generalist leaf herbivory showed no latitudinal pattern, stem borer damage increased with decreasing latitude. By contrast, the specialist flower/seed herbivores all caused less damage at lower latitudes. Temperature explained slightly more variation in herbivory than latitude, while precipitation and population density were less important. Overall, we show that every pattern of herbivory (positive, negative and no relationship) is possible across a latitudinal gradient, and this variation depends on the insects' degree of specialization and feeding guild.
Histologia da interação Colletotrichum guaranicola e Paullinia cupana var. sorbilis em clones resistente e suscetível

The pre-penetration and infection processes of Colletotrichum guaranicola on resistant and susceptible clones of Paullinia cupana var. sorbilis were studied by light microscopy. The percentage of germination of conidia on young leaves was higher than on old leaves, although no difference was found between resistant and susceptible clones. Quantitative differences were observed in the appressorium formation on susceptible and resistant leaf surfaces. More appressoria were found on susceptible than on resistant leaves 24 h after inoculation. The morphology of pre-penetration and infection structures was similar for both clones: direct penetration, with infection hyphae and vesicles present in the epidermal cells; development of primary and secondary hyphae; inter and intracellular colonization of the parenchyma. However, events such as parenchyma colonization and onset of leaf symptoms took 48-hours longer to unfold in resistant leaves than in susceptible leaves.