Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Nutraceutical Compounds Targeting Inflammasomes in Human Diseases

The macromolecular complex known as “inflammasome” is defined as an intracellular multi-protein complex composed of a sensor receptor (PRR), an adaptor protein and an effector enzyme (caspase-1), which oligomerize when they sense danger, such as how the NLR family, AIM-2 and RIG-1 receptors protect the body against danger via cytokine secretion. Within the NLR members, NLRP3 is the most widely known and studied inflammasome and has been linked to many diseases. Nowadays, people’s interest in their lifestyles and nutritional habits is increasing, mainly due to the large number of diseases that seem to be related to both. The term “nutraceutical” has recently emerged as a hybrid term between “nutrition” and “pharmacological” and it refers to a wide range of bioactive compounds contained in food with relevant effects on human health. The relationship between these compounds and diseases based on inflammatory processes has been widely exposed and the compounds stand out as an alternative to the pathological consequences that inflammatory processes may have, beyond their defense and repair action. Against this backdrop, here we review the results of studies using several nutraceutical compounds in common diseases associated with the inflammation and activation of the NLRP3 inflammasomes complex. In general, it was found that there is a wide range of nutraceuticals with effects through different molecular pathways that affect the activation of the inflammasome complex, with positive effects mainly in cardiovascular, neurological diseases, cancer and type 2 diabetes.
Effect of Supplementation of Ascorbic Acid and Amla Powder on Hematobiochemical Parameters in Crossbred Dairy Cows

An experiment was conducted to compare the effect of ascorbic acid and amla powder in crossbred dairy cows in terms of changes in hemato-biochemical parameters during summer season viz. June to August. Twelve dairy cows were randomly divided into three groups of four animals each viz; T0 (control), T1 (ascorbic acid supplemented at the rate of 50 mg/kg body weight) and T2 (amla powder supplemented at the rate of 200 mg/kg body weight). Haemoglobin, packed cell volume (PCV), total protein (TP) and plasma sodium were significantly (P<0.05) lower in T0 (8.41 g%, 29.02%, 7.35 g/dl, 126.00 mmol/L) than in T1 (9.77 g%, 32.96%, 8.34 g/dl, 132.93 mmol/L) and T2 (10.10 g%, 33.43%, 8.55 g/dl, 138.23 mmol/L). Plasma glucose, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), alanine amino-transferase (ALT) and aspertate amino-transferase (AST) values were significantly increased (P<0.05) in T0 in comparison to T1 and T2. Both ascorbic acid and amla supplementation produced similar hemato-biochemical changes related to heat stress in dairy cattle. It is concluded that amla powder can be used as a supplement in dairy cows during summer to reduce heat stress.
Cardiac morphological and functional changes induced by C-type natriuretic peptide are different in normotensive and spontaneously hypertensive rats

Objective: Inflammation and fibrosis are key mechanisms in cardiovascular remodeling. C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP) is an endothelium-derived factor with a cardiovascular protective role, although its in-vivo effect on cardiac remodeling linked to hypertension has not been investigated. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of chronic administration of CNP on inflammatory and fibrotic cardiac mechanisms in normotensive Wistar rats and spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). Methods: Twelve-week-old male SHR and normotensive rats were infused with CNP (0.75 μg/h/100 g) or isotonic saline (NaCl 0.9%) for 14 days (subcutaneous micro-osmotic pumps). Echocardiograms and electrocardiograms were performed, and SBP was measured. After treatment, transforming growth factor-beta 1, Smad proteins, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-1 and interleukin-6, nitric oxide (NO) system and 2-thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances were evaluated in left ventricle. Histological studies were also performed. Results: SHR showed lower cardiac output with signs of fibrosis and hypertrophy in left ventricle, higher NO-system activity and more oxidative damage, as well as higher pro-inflammatory and pro-fibrotic markers than normotensive rats. Chronic CNP treatment-attenuated hypertension and ventricular hypertrophy in SHR, with no changes in normotensive rats. In left ventricle, CNP induced an anti-inflammatory and antifibrotic response, decreasing both pro-fibrotic and pro-inflammatory cytokines in SHR. In addition, CNP reduced oxidative damage as well as collagen content, and upregulated the NO system in both groups. Conclusion: Chronic CNP treatment appears to attenuate hypertension and associated end-organ damage in the heart by reducing inflammation and fibrosis.
Effect of optical correction by fully corrected glasses on postural stability

Although various previous studies have reported that the experimentally induced refractive errors interfered with postural control, few studies have demonstrated the optical correction effect of wearing glasses. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether wearing full corrected glasses to correct myopia and hyperopia can have a positive effect on postural stability. To this end, a total of 34 subjects (19 males and 15 females) of an average age of 22.38 ± 2.41-years-old participated in this study. After measuring the full corrected powers of refractive errors of subjects through subjective refraction, updated glasses were provided to 17 myopic subjects and first time glasses were provided to 17 hyperopic subjects as full corrected glasses, respectively. Postural evaluation was carried out using the TETRAX biofeedback system, after which we compared and analyzed the postural instability index and sway power index before and after wearing full corrected glasses. When updated and old glasses for correcting myopia were worn, the postural instability index was significantly reduced, and the sway power index was statistically decreased only in the mid-high frequency region associated with the somatic system, compared to the no glasses state, respectively. However, after wearing first time glasses for hyperopia correction, no significant difference was found in the postural instability index or sway power index. We suggest that providing optimal visual information through the optical correction of myopic refractive error is a useful approach that can lead to synergistic effects of somatic functions involved in postural control. Consequently, we demonstrated that wearing glasses to fully correct the refractive errors has a positive effect on increasing postural control in static posture. Our results may have important clinical implications in the field of optometry and balance evaluation.
Association of the serum microRNA-29 family with cognitive impairment in Parkinson's disease

We aimed to examine whether miRNA-29s (miR-29s) in serum are associated with cognitive impairment in Parkinson’s disease (PD). Thirty-nine PD patients with normal cognition (PD-NC), 37 PD patients with mild cognitive impairment (PD-MCI), 22 PD patients with dementia (PDD) and 40 healthy controls were recruited. Detailed clinical evaluations and a schedule of neuropsychological tests were administered to all patients. MiR-29s expression in serum samples was assessed using reverse-transcription quantitative real-time PCR. We found that the levels of all three miR-29s in the PDD group were significantly lower than those in the PD-NC group (p < 0.05). In addition, the miR-29b level was downregulated in the PD-MCI group with respect to that in the PD-NC group (p < 0.05). After adjusting for years of education and the UPDRS-III subscore using a multivariate model, miR-29s showed significant associations with PDD. MiR-29b levels were shown to be associated with different subsets of PD cognition and could accurately discriminate PDD from non-PDD (area under the curve (AUC) = 0.859; 95% CI, 0.7817-0.9372). Further analysis of the cognitive domains found that the miR-29s levels were all associated with memory performance in PD patients. In summary, miR-29s are associated with cognitive impairment in PD.
Critic Learning-Based Control for Robotic Manipulators With Prescribed Constraints

In this article, the optimal control problem for robotic manipulators (RMs) with prescribed constraints is addressed. Considering the environmental conditions and requirements of practical applications, prescribed constraints are imposed on the system states to guarantee the control performance and normal operation of the robotic system. Accordingly, an error transformation function is adopted to cope with the prescribed constraints and generate an equivalent unconstrained error for the convenience of the intelligent control design. In order to improve the learning ability and optimize the control performance, critic learning (CL) is introduced to the control design of the constrained RM based on the transformed equivalent unconstrained system. In addition, the stability analysis is given to illustrate the feasibility of the proposed CL-based control. Finally, simulations are conducted on a two-degree-of-freedom (DOF)-constrained RM to further validate the effectiveness of the proposed controller.
Deriving functional types for rain-forest trees

A common goal in functional type research is to find a useful classification that defines the dynamic behaviour of groups of species in relation to environmental variation. Long-term data sets on the dynamics of forests are difficult to obtain; thus, it would be useful if more readily available data, such as that on morphological and life history characters, could be used to derive groups that reflect the dynamics of the species. We used a 30-yr data set on the dynamics of subtropical rainforests in Australia to derive classification based on the dynamics of the species and compared this classification with groups of species derived by other approaches. Functional types were derived for ca. 80 tree species using subjective, deductive and data-driven approaches. The subjective classification used was a pioneer to late successional grouping. The deductive classification was an extension of the vital attribute approach. Two data sets were used for the data-based classifications, one based on morphological, life history and phenological characters (morphological data) readily available from taxonomic descriptions and another based on long-term observations on the establishment, growth and death of all individuals on permanent plots (dynamic data). SAHN (Sequential, Agglomerative, Hierarchical and Nested) clustering techniques were used for the numerical classifications. There was some similarity between the classification based on dynamic characters and the subjective and deductive classifications. The classification based on the readily available morphological characters showed less similarity with other classifications. However, the morphological data could be used to predict group membership in the dynamic classification using discriminant analysis with 87% accuracy. Thus, it appears that surrogate classifications might be found to describe the dynamics of the subtropical rainforest site. Further exploration and testing at other sites is required, especially to link the functional classification to specific perturbations.
Rapid Micropropagation of Lemon Verbena (Lippia citriodora L.) Using In vitro Culture

1 دشرا سانشراك ، يژولونكتويب هورگ ييوراد ناهايگ ، يهاگشنادداهج ييوراد ناهايگ هدكشهوژپ جرك ، 2 وضع يملع تأيه ، يژولونكتويب هورگ ييوراد ناهايگ يهاگشنادداهج ييوراد ناهايگ هدكشهوژپ ، جرك ، 3 جرك ،يهاگشنادداهج ييوراد ناهايگ هدكشهوژپ ،ييوراد ناهايگ هعسوت و تشك يشهوژپ هورگ ،رايشناد * سردآ هبتاكم : ييوراد ناهايگ هدكشهوژپ ،جرك داهج ،يهاگشناد قودنص يتسپ : 369 31375 نفلت : 19 34764010 ) 026 ( ربامن ، : 34764021 ) 026 ( ، كينورتكلا تسپ : amirrzare@gmail.com
Chemosensory mechanisms of host seeking and infectivity in skin-penetrating nematodes

Significance Skin-penetrating nematodes are a major cause of morbidity worldwide. The infective larvae of these parasites actively search for humans to infect, but how they do this is poorly understood. We show that infective larvae have chemosensory preferences that are distinct from those of noninfective adults, which may ensure that only infective larvae host seek. We find that human-parasitic hookworms and threadworms have highly divergent chemosensory behaviors, suggesting they may use distinct strategies for finding and infecting humans. Finally, we show that the S. stercoralis tax-4 gene is required for attraction to a human-emitted odorant and in-host development. Our results suggest that chemosensory pathways mediated by Ss-tax-4 are important for the ability of infective larvae to find and infect human hosts. Approximately 800 million people worldwide are infected with one or more species of skin-penetrating nematodes. These parasites persist in the environment as developmentally arrested third-stage infective larvae (iL3s) that navigate toward host-emitted cues, contact host skin, and penetrate the skin. iL3s then reinitiate development inside the host in response to sensory cues, a process called activation. Here, we investigate how chemosensation drives host seeking and activation in skin-penetrating nematodes. We show that the olfactory preferences of iL3s are categorically different from those of free-living adults, which may restrict host seeking to iL3s. The human-parasitic threadworm Strongyloides stercoralis and hookworm Ancylostoma ceylanicum have highly dissimilar olfactory preferences, suggesting that these two species may use distinct strategies to target humans. CRISPR/Cas9-mediated mutagenesis of the S. stercoralis tax-4 gene abolishes iL3 attraction to a host-emitted odorant and prevents activation. Our results suggest an important role for chemosensation in iL3 host seeking and infectivity and provide insight into the molecular mechanisms that underlie these processes.
The Role of Matrix Metalloproteinases in Periodontal Disease

This review provides a detailed description of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), focusing on those that are known to have critical roles in bone and periodontal disease. Periodontal disease is an inflammatory process initiated by anaerobic bacteria, which promote the host immune response in the form of a complex network of molecular pathways involving proinflammatory mediators such as cytokines, growth factors, and MMPs. MMPs are a family of 23 endopeptidases, collectively capable of degrading virtually all extracellular matrix (ECM) components. This study critically discusses the available research concerning the involvement of the MMPs in periodontal disease development and progression and presents possible therapeutic strategies. MMPs participate in morphogenesis, physiological tissue turnover, and pathological tissue destruction. Alterations in the regulation of MMP activity are implicated in the manifestation of oral diseases, and MMPs comprise the most important pathway in tissue destruction associated with periodontal disease. MMPs can be considered a risk factor for periodontal disease, and measurements of MMP levels may be useful markers for early detection of periodontitis and as a tool to assess prognostic follow-ups. Detection and inhibition of MMPs could, therefore, be useful in periodontal disease prevention or be an essential part of periodontal disease therapy, which, considering the huge incidence of the disease, may greatly improve oral health globally.
Effects of Plant Architecture on the Attack Rate of Leptomastix dactylopii (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae), a Parasitoid of the Citrus Mealybug (Homoptera: Pseudococcidae)

Abstract Attack rates of the parasitoid Leptomastix dactylopii (Howard) were examined in petri dishes and on caged plants that varied in architectural characteristics. Individual female parasitoids were placed into petri dishes containing a range of densities of the citrus mealybug, Planococcus citri (Risso). Green and yellow-variegated coleus, Solenostemon scutellarioides (L.) Codd, were used to determine the effects of plant architecture on the rate at which L. dactylopii parasitized citrus mealybugs. Coleus plants were categorized into size classes based on height, number of leaves, leaf surface area, and number of branches. A single mated female L. dactylopii was placed into each plastic observation cage containing a plant with 1, 8, or 16 third- to early fourth-instar mealybugs and allowed to forage for 24 h. After this time, citrus mealybugs were removed from coleus plants and placed into petri dishes that were checked after 10 d for mummified citrus mealybugs, the measure of a successful attack. L. dactylopii were unable to find a host after 24 h when only one citrus mealybug was present in the searching environment. Higher attack rates occurred as the number of mealybugs increased in the petri dishes. L. dactylopii attacked an average of 15.6 ± 2.3 mealybugs within a 24-h period. Higher attack rates were evident as the number of citrus mealybugs increased on caged plants. Plant color had no effect on the attack rate of L. dactylopii. All architectural characterizations of plant size, height, leaf number, leaf surface area, and branch number were negatively correlated with parasitoid attack rate. These findings suggest that biological control practitioners may use any convenient measure of plant size (e.g., height) to modify the release rate of L. dactylopii in a citrus mealybug management program.
Pharmacognostical and phytochemical investigation of various tulsi plants available in south eastern odisha

The various species of Ocimum (Lamiaceae) i.e. Ocimum gratissimum linn. , Ocimum americanum linn. , Ocimum sanctum linn. and Ocimum basilicum linn. are widely distributed in tribal areas of south eastern Odisha. The present study deals with pharmacognostical examination include the morphological, microscopical characters and physical constants of leaves of various Ocimum species including determination of loss on drying, ash values and extractive values. The preliminary phytochemical screening of various leaf extracts was also carried out and it is revealed the presence of various phytoconstituents like carbohydrates, flavonoids, protein and amino acids, tannins, phytosterols and saponins. The results of the standardization may throw immense light on the botanical identity of various species of Ocimum which may furnish a basis of judging the authenticity of the plant and also to differentiate the drug from its allied species and detect adulterants.
Non-random distribution of vacuoles in Schizosaccharomyces pombe

A central question in eukaryotic cell biology asks, during cell division, how is the growth and distribution of organelles regulated to ensure each daughter cell receives an appropriate amount. For vacuoles in budding yeast, there are well described organelle-to-cell size scaling trends as well as inheritance mechanisms involving highly coordinated movements. It is unclear whether such mechanisms are necessary in the symmetrically dividing fission yeast, Schizosaccharomyces pombe, in which random partitioning may be utilized to distribute vacuoles to daughter cells. To address the increasing need for high-throughput analysis, we are augmenting existing semi-automated image processing by developing fully automated machine learning methods for locating vacuoles and segmenting fission yeast cells from brightfield and fluorescence micrographs. All strains studied show qualitative correlations in vacuole-to-cell size scaling trends, i.e. vacuole volume, surface area, and number all increase with cell size. Furthermore, increasing vacuole number was found to be a consistent mechanism for the increase in total vacuole size in the cell. Vacuoles are not distributed evenly throughout the cell with respect to available cytoplasm. Rather, vacuoles show distinct peaks in distribution close to the nucleus, and this preferential localization was confirmed in mutants in which nucleus position is perturbed. Disruption of microtubules leads to quantitative changes in both vacuole size scaling trends and distribution patterns, indicating the microtubule cytoskeleton is a key mechanism for maintaining vacuole structure.
Risk-Averse Trust Region Optimization for Reward-Volatility Reduction

The use of reinforcement learning in algorithmic trading is of growing interest, since it offers the opportunity of making profit through the development of autonomous artificial traders, that do not depend on hard-coded rules. In such a framework, keeping uncertainty under control is as important as maximizing expected returns. Risk aversion has been addressed in reinforcement learning through measures related to the distribution of returns. However, in trading it is essential to keep under control the risk of portfolio positions in the intermediate steps. In this paper, we define a novel measure of risk, which we call reward volatility, consisting of the variance of the rewards under the state-occupancy measure. This new risk measure is shown to bound the return variance so that reducing the former also constrains the latter. We derive a policy gradient theorem with a new objective function that exploits the mean-volatility relationship. Furthermore, we adapt TRPO, the well-known policy gradient algorithm with monotonic improvement guarantees, in a risk-averse manner. Finally, we test the proposed approach in two financial environments using real market data.
Guided Generation of Cause and Effect

We present a conditional text generation framework that posits sentential expressions of possible causes and effects. This framework depends on two novel resources we develop in the course of this work: a very large-scale collection of English sentences expressing causal patterns (CausalBank); and a refinement over previous work on constructing large lexical causal knowledge graphs (Cause Effect Graph). Further, we extend prior work in lexically-constrained decoding to support disjunctive positive constraints. Human assessment conﬁrms that our approach gives high-quality and diverse outputs. Finally, we use CausalBank to perform continued training of an encoder supporting a recent state-of-the-art model for causal reasoning, leading to a 3-point improvement on the COPA challenge set, with no change in model architecture.
GraphSleepNet: Adaptive Spatial-Temporal Graph Convolutional Networks for Sleep Stage Classification

Sleep stage classification is essential for sleep assessment and disease diagnosis. However, how to effectively utilize brain spatial features and transition information among sleep stages continues to be challenging. In particular, owing to the limited knowledge of the human brain, predefining a suitable spatial brain connection structure for sleep stage classification remains an open question. In this paper, we propose a novel deep graph neural network, named GraphSleepNet, for automatic sleep stage classification. The main advantage of the GraphSleepNet is to adaptively learn the intrinsic connection among different electroencephalogram (EEG) channels, represented by an adjacency matrix, thereby best serving the spatial-temporal graph convolution network (ST-GCN) for sleep stage classification. Meanwhile, the ST-GCN consists of graph convolutions for extracting spatial features and temporal convolutions for capturing the transition rules among sleep stages. Experiments on the Montreal Archive of Sleep Studies (MASS) dataset demonstrate that the GraphSleepNet outperforms the state-of-the-art baselines.