Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Mechanism Assay of Honeysuckle for Heat-Clearing Based on Metabolites and Metabolomics

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as cyclooxygenase (Cox)-1/2 inhibitor, have emerged as potent antipyretics and analgesics. However, few herbs with Cox-1/2 inhibitory activity are commonly used for heat-clearing in China. Although these are known to have antipyretic activity, there is a lack of molecular data supporting their activity. Using the traditional Chinese medicine herb honeysuckle (Hon) as an example, we explored key antipyretic active compounds and their mechanisms of action by assessing their metabolites and metabolomics. Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) 3 and protein kinase B (AKT) 1 were suggested as key targets regulated primarily by chlorogenic acid (CA) and swertiamarin (SWE). CA and SWE synergistically inhibited the production of interleukin (IL)-1 and IL-6, alleviated generation of prostaglandin E2, and played an antipyretic role equivalent to honeysuckle extract at the same dose contents within 3 h. Collectively, these findings indicated that lipopolysaccharide-induced fever can be countered by CA with SWE synergistically, allowing the substitution of a crude extract of complex composition with active compounds. Our findings demonstrated that, unlike the traditional NSAIDs, the Hon extract showed a remote and indirect mechanism for alleviating fever that depended on the phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase–AKT and MAPK pathways by regulating the principal mediator of inflammation.
Implication of Intestinal Barrier Dysfunction in Gut Dysbiosis and Diseases

The intestinal mucosal barrier, also referred to as intestinal barrier, is widely recognized as a critical player in gut homeostasis maintenance as it ensures the complex crosstalk between gut microbes (both commensals and pathogens) and the host immune system. Highly specialized epithelial cells constantly cope with several protective and harmful agents to maintain the multiple physiological functions of the barrier as well as its integrity. However, both genetic defects and environmental factors can break such equilibrium, thus promoting gut dysbiosis, dysregulated immune-inflammatory responses, and even the development of chronic pathological conditions. Here, we review and discuss the molecular and cellular pathways underlying intestinal barrier structural and functional homeostasis, focusing on potential alterations that may undermine this fine balance.
Mantle electrical conductivity determination employing the ionospheric solar quiet day (Sq) currents in the Southern African regions

Solar quiet (Sq) daily currents variation obtained in the Hermanus (34.34 o S, 19.22 o E), Tsumeb (19.24 o S, 17.72 o E), Hartebeesthoek (25.68 o S, 28.09 o E) and Maputo (25.97 o S, 32.57 o E), were employed in determining the mantle electrical conductivity depth profile of the Southern African region. The external and internal contributions in the solar quiet field were separated using the spherical harmonic analysis (SHA), after which, the transfer functions were used to compute the electrical conductivity depth profiles of the region. A downward increase was observed in electrical conductivities and deep depth of penetration within the Earth regions. In Hartebeesthoek, Hermanus, Maputo and Tsumeb, the evaluated average electrical conductivity values are 0.028 Sm -1 , 0.039 Sm -1 , 0.057 Sm -1 and 0.0. 025 Sm -1 at depths of 76.4 km, 84.1 km,141.0 km and 111.5 km at the respective maximum depths of penetration of 1052.8 km, 1467.0 km, 1160.8 km and 1289.5 km in Hartebeesthoek, Hermanus, Maputo and Tsumeb, the calculated electrical conductivity reached the maximum values of 0.498 Sm -1 , 0.323 Sm -1 , 0.387 Sm -1 and 0.187 Sm -1 respectively. Discontinuities were observed in all the profiles but are more prominent in Tsumeb region near 390.0 750.0 km, 820.0 980.0 km and 200.0 300.0 km. From these results, we are stating that the effects from the deeper 3-D structures (such as gold, copper etc), the hydrated transition zone and effect from the ocean contribute to the greater depth of Sq penetration.
Identification of a Four-Gene Signature Associated with the Prognosis Prediction of Lung Adenocarcinoma Based on Integrated Bioinformatics Analysis

Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is often diagnosed at an advanced stage, so it is necessary to identify potential biomarkers for the early diagnosis and prognosis of LUAD. In our study, a gene co-expression network was constructed using weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) in order to obtain the key modules and genes correlated with LUAD prognosis. Four hub genes (HLF, CHRDL1, SELENBP1, and TMEM163) were screened out using least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO)–Cox regression analysis; then, a prognostic model was established for predicting overall survival (OS) based on these four hub genes.Furthermore, the prognostic values of this four-gene signature were verified in four validation sets (GSE26939, GSE31210, GSE72094, and TCGA-LUAD) as well as in the GEPIA database. To assess the prognostic values of hub genes, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were constructed and a nomogram was created. We found that a higher expression of four hub genes was associated with a lower risk of patient death. In a training set, it was demonstrated that this four-gene signature was a better prognostic factor than clinical factors such as age and stage of disease. Moreover, our results revealed that these four genes were suppressor factors of LUAD and that their high expression was associated with a lower risk of death. In summary, we demonstrated that this four-gene signature could be a potential prognostic factor for LUAD patients. These findings provide a theoretical basis for exploring potential biomarkers for LUAD prognosis prediction in the future.
Improving the Biocontrol Potential of Endophytic Bacteria Bacillus subtilis with Salicylic Acid against Phytophthora infestans-Caused Postharvest Potato Tuber Late Blight and Impact on Stored Tubers Quality

Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) tubers are a highly important food crop in many countries due to their nutritional value and health-promoting properties. Postharvest disease caused by Phytophthora infestans leads to the significant decay of stored potatoes. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of the endophytic bacteria, Bacillus subtilis (strain 10–4), or its combination with salicylic acid (SA), on some resistance and quality traits of stored Ph. infestans-infected potato tubers. The experiments were conducted using hydroponically grown potato mini-tubers, infected prior to storage with Ph. infestans, and then coated with B. subtilis, alone and in combination with SA, which were then stored for six months. The results revealed that infection with Ph. infestans significantly increased tuber late blight incidence (up to 90–100%) and oxidative and osmotic damage (i.e., malondialdehyde and proline) in tubers. These phenomena were accompanied by a decrease in starch, reducing sugars (RS), and total dry matter (TDM) contents and an increase in amylase (AMY) activity. Moreover, total glycoalkaloids (GA) (α-solanine, α-chaconine) notably increased in infected tubers, exceeding (by 1.6 times) permissible safe levels (200 mg/kg FW). Treatments with B. subtilis or its combination with SA decreased Ph. infestans-activated tuber late blight incidence (by 30–40%) and reduced oxidative and osmotic damages (i.e., malondialdehyde and proline) and AMY activity in stored, infected tubers. Additionally, these treatments decreased pathogen-activated GA accumulation and increased ascorbic acid in stored tubers. Thus, the results indicated that endophytic bacteria B. subtilis, individually, and especially in combination with SA, have the potential to increase potato postharvest resistance to late blight and improve tuber quality in long-term storage.
Genetics of Pheochromocytomas and Paragangliomas Determine the Therapeutical Approach

Pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas are the most heritable endocrine tumors. In addition to the inherited mutation other driver mutations have also been identified in tumor tissues. All these genetic alterations are clustered in distinct groups which determine the pathomechanisms. Most of these tumors are benign and their surgical removal will resolve patient management. However, 5–15% of them are malignant and therapeutical possibilities for them are limited. This review provides a brief insight about the tumorigenesis associated with pheochromocytomas/paragangliomas in order to present them as potential therapeutical targets.
The Acrylamide Degradation by Probiotic Strain Lactobacillus acidophilus LA-5

Acrylamide is a harmful substance produced in thermal processed food; however, it can also be found in food with various additives. The aim of the study was to check whether the probiotic bacteria strain, Lactobacillus acidophilus LA-5 (LA5), can degrade acrylamide and hence reduce its concentration in foodstuff. Our results revealed that LA5 can degrade acrylamide and cause a decrease in its concentration, but only when other available carbon and nitrogen sources are lacking. In the presence of casein, lactose, milk fat or in whole cow’s milk, this ability disappeared. Acrylamide present in milk, however, modulated the bacteria metabolism by significantly enhancing lactic acid production by LA5 in milk (at conc. 100 µg/mL), while the production of acetic acid was rather reduced.
Students’ citizenship competencies: The role of ethnic school composition and perceived teacher support

ABSTRACT The current study examined the effects of school ethnic composition and teacher-student relationships (teacher support) on students’ citizenship competencies. Additionally, this study investigated the moderating effect of teacher support on the relationship between school ethnic composition and citizenship competencies. Citizenship was operationalized as competencies and knowledge concerning acting democratically, acting in a socially responsible manner, dealing with conflicts, and dealing with differences. Multilevel analyses among a sample of 4,902 students from 75 Dutch secondary schools showed that the degree of school ethnic diversity is positively related to competencies in acting democratically, acting in a socially responsible manner, and dealing with differences, but it is negatively related to knowledge regarding acting in socially responsible manner and dealing with conflicts. Teacher support was positively associated with both competencies and knowledge in all social tasks. Except for one outcome, no moderation effect of teacher support was found.
Coresidence of Older Parents and Adult Children Increases Older Adults' Self-Reported Psychological Well-Being

A multigenerational household is no longer a rare phenomenon in contemporary society. However, relevant literature has focused on elderly parents receiving support from their adult child, thereby coresiding. This is potentially problematic, as both generations could benefit from living together, and little is known about the benefit of living with adult children from older adults' perspectives compared to the risk of this living situation. Previous research suggests a significant negative effect of living alone, e.g., low psychological well-being, and it becomes more salient among single parents, such as widowed or divorced. The current paper utilizes the National Health Measurement Study with a sample of age 55 and over. Their SF-36 Mental Health and Physical Health Component and self-acceptance scores were measured. Path analysis reveals that both physical and mental health and self-acceptance scores are lower among single older adults at the time of the survey (e.g., divorced and widowed) than among those who are nonsingle and living with their adult child. A complete mediation effect of living with an adult child on older adults' mental health and self-acceptance was observed in both White and non-White minority older adults. This suggests that living with an adult child possibly serves as a protective factor for the negative relationship between living alone and their well-being. The current study seeks to stimulate ideas that might generate the following answer to community-based care in our contemporary aging society.
Ellagic Acid Alleviates Oxidative Stress by Mediating Nrf2 Signaling Pathways and Protects against Paraquat-Induced Intestinal Injury in Piglets

The gastrointestinal tract is a key source of superoxide so as to be one of the most vulnerable to oxidative stress damage. Ellagic acid (EA), a polyphenol displays widely biological activities owing to its strong antioxidant properties. Here, we investigated the protective benefits of EA on oxidative stress and intestinal barrier injury in paraquet (PQ)-challenged piglets. A total of 40 weaned piglets were randomly divided into five groups: Control, PQ, 0.005% EA-PQ, 0.01% EA-PQ, and 0.02% EA-PQ. Piglets were intraperitoneally injected with 4 mg/kg (BW) PQ or saline on d-18, and sacrificed on d-21 of experiment. EA treatments eliminated growth-check induced by PQ and increased serum superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity but decreased serum malondialdehyde (MDA) level as compared to PQ group. EA supplementation promoted Nrf2 nuclear translocation and enhanced heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) and quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1) protein abundances of small intestinal mucosa. Additionally, EA improved PQ-induced crypt deepening, goblet cells loss, and villi morphological damage. Consistently, EA increased tight junction protein expression as was evident from the decreased serum diamine oxidase (DAO) levels. EA could ameliorate the PQ-induced oxidative stress and intestinal damage through mediating Nrf2 signaling pathway. Intake of EA-rich food might prevent oxidative stress-mediated gut diseases.
Metropolitan racial residential segregation in the United States: A microlevel and cross-context analysis of Black, Latino, and Asian segregation

OBJECTIVE We seek to establish the direct quantitative link between microand macrolevels of segregation for White–Latino, White–Asian, and White–Black metropolitan segregation using new methods for segregation analysis and test prevailing frameworks in segregation research that emphasize spatial assimilation and place stratification dynamics. METHODS We reformulate a popular segregation measure as a difference of group means and estimate regression models of household locational attainments that are operationalized as the microlevel components that comprise the segregation index. We perform regression standardization and decomposition analysis to identify the extent to which segregation is determined by group differences on resources and group differences on rates of return on those resources, comparing these effects across lowand highsegregation contexts. These analyses are possible by using restricted-use microdata, and we specifically use the 2010 census and the 2008–2012 American Community Survey five-year sample. RESULTS We find that spatial assimilation dynamics are stronger for Latino and Asian segregation than for Black segregation, but that place stratification dynamics prevail for all groups. Additionally, we find that Black segregation aligns more with a segmented assimilation pattern rather than classical spatial assimilation. Finally, we document that place stratification dynamics are stronger, and spatial assimilation dynamics weaker, in highsegregation contexts. 1 California State University, Fresno, USA. Email: acrowell@csufresno.edu. 2 Texas A&M University, College Station, USA. Crowell & Fossett: Metropolitan racial residential segregation in the United States 218 https://www.demographic-research.org CONTRIBUTION We demonstrate new techniques for understanding and measuring segregation as a group inequality, which can be analyzed at the microlevel while aligning with conventions in both inequality and demographic research. This approach creates opportunities to link the microand macrolevel dimensions of segregation and explore new questions about the complexity of segregation dynamics.
Effect of Application of Repeated Downhill Walking Bouts on Ankle Isokinetic Parameters in Children with Obesity

Background Obesity among children became of high concern. Obesity can affect many health aspects including muscular strength. Downhill walking is a useful intervention to enhance muscular strength, especially in older adults. Objective The current study's purpose was to investigate the effect of repeated bouts of downhill walking on ankle isokinetic parameters in children with obesity. Methods 32 obese male children aged from 8 to 12 years engaged in the study. The children were divided into two groups: the level walking group (LWG) (n = 16) and the downhill walking group (DWG) (n = 16). Participants in both groups walked 20 minutes on the treadmill, two sessions per week for 6 weeks, with a speed of 5 km/h, and the treadmill slope used for the DWG was set at –20%. Isokinetic dynamometry (Cybex 6000) was used to analyze the normalized eccentric and concentric torque of both ankle dorsiflexors and plantar flexors of the dominant leg in all participants. Results The normalized peak torques for eccentric plantar flexion, concentric plantar flexion, eccentric dorsiflexion, and concentric dorsiflexion significantly increased by 38.66%, 23.87%, 38.58%, and 15.51%, respectively, after repeated bouts of downhill walking. Level walking resulted in nonsignificant improvement in the muscular torques. Conclusion Downhill walking is a beneficial intervention in improving ankle muscular torques of obese children.
ST Elevation and Syncope in A Young Patient with Covid-19 Disease: Brugada or Coronary Syndrome

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been reported to cause cardiovascular complications such as myocardial injury, thromboembolic events, arrhythmia, and heart failure. St segment elevation seen in electrocardiogram of COVID-19 patients may be associated with many diseases including acute myocardial infarction, myocarditis, Brugada syndrome and right ventricular pressure overload. Febrile states may unmask certain Brugada syndrome patients and precipitate ventricular arrhythmias. We present a case of a patient with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and ST elevation arrived at our Emergency Department after syncope with loss of consciousness occurred during high fever.
Hyper-inflammatory responses in COVID-19 and anti-inflammatory therapeutic approaches

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an ongoing global pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Patients with severe COVID-19 exhibit hyper-inflammatory responses characterized by excessive activation of myeloid cells, including monocytes, macrophages, and neutrophils, and a plethora of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines. Accumulating evidence also indicates that hyper-inflammation is a driving factor for severe progression of the disease, which has prompted the development of anti-inflammatory therapies for the treatment of patients with COVID-19. Corticosteroids, IL-6R inhibitors, and JAK inhibitors have demonstrated promising results in treating patients with severe disease. In addition, diverse forms of exosomes that exert anti-inflammatory functions have been tested experimentally for the treatment of COVID-19. Here, we briefly describe the immunological mechanisms of the hyper-inflammatory responses in patients with severe COVID-19. We also summarize current anti-inflammatory therapies for the treatment of severe COVID-19 and novel exosome-based therapeutics that are in experimental stages.
Effectiveness of Inactivated COVID-19 Vaccines Against Symptomatic, Pneumonia, and Severe Disease Caused by the Delta Variant: Real World Study and Evidence — China, 2021

What is already known about this topic? Effectiveness of China’s 2 inactivated vaccines (BBIBP-CorV and CoronaVac) against pre-Delta severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) variants ranged from 47% to over 90%, depending on the clinical endpoint, and with greater effectiveness against more severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). During an outbreak in Guangdong, inactivated vaccine effectiveness (VE) against the Delta variant was 70% for symptomatic infection and 100% for severe COVID-19. However, separate or combined VE estimates for the two inactivated vaccines against Delta are not available. What is added by this report? In an outbreak that started in a hospital, VEs of completed primary vaccination with inactivated COVID-19 vaccines against symptomatic COVID-19, COVID-19 pneumonia, and severe COVID-19 caused by the Delta variant were 51%, 61%, and 82%. Completed primary vaccination reduced the risk of progressing from mild to moderate or severe COVID-19 by 74%. VE estimates for BBIBP-CorV and CoronaVac or combined vaccination were similar, and partial vaccination was ineffective. What are the implications for public health practice? Completed primary vaccination with either of the 2 inactivated COVID-19 vaccines reduces risk of symptomatic COVID-19, COVID-19 pneumonia, and severe COVID-19 caused by the Delta variant. Completion of the completed primary vaccination with two doses is necessary for protection from Delta.
Process Forces and Groove Development in Single Grain Scratch Tests of Concrete and Reinforced Concrete

Diamond impregnated tools are commonly used for the machining of concrete and rocks, e.g. sawblades or core drills. These tools consist of a metal bond and randomly distributed diamonds. The grinding of inhomogeneous materials like concrete is a complex system which is interfered by a large number of influencing factors. Although simple models exist describing the material removal processes, there is still a lack of knowledge concerning the fundamental mechanisms during grinding. Thus, the optimisation and development of diamond tools are mainly based on experience and empirical methods. Concrete is described as a compound material which exhibits different phases of minerals like cement and aggregate phases. In reinforced concrete, steel is a further phase which has got highly different properties in comparison to the mineral phases. The detailed analysis of the material removal mechanisms is difficult because of the random phase composition of concrete and the random diamond distribution within the tools as well. But, the knowledge of the material removal mechanisms are of vital interest for the development of efficient tools. A fundamental understanding of material removal processes and wear mechanisms can be drawn from single grain scratch tests. Recent developments in diamond tool manufacturing provide the defined positioning of diamond grains in the tool body. This offers new possibilities based on scratch tests regarding tool development. Thus, scratch tests on concrete and reinforced concrete were conducted using single grain diamond tools. First basic understanding was achieved by scratch tests with diamond indenters by varying feed speed and analysing the resulting forces. Detailed investigations were accomplished by installing a tribometer within a scanning electron microscope (SEM). This setup allowed the analysis of the development of the resulting scratch groove.