Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Synthesis of Sodium Cobalt Fluoride/Reduced Graphene Oxide (NaCoF3/rGO) Nanocomposites and Investigation of Their Electrochemical Properties as Cathodes for Li-Ion Batteries

In this study, sodium cobalt fluoride (NaCoF3)/reduced graphene oxide (NCF/rGO) nanocomposites were fabricated through a simple one-pot solvothermal process and their electrochemical performance as cathodes for Li-ion batteries (LIBs) was investigated. The NCF nanoclusters (NCs) on the composites (300–500 nm in size) were formed by the assembly of primary nanoparticles (~20 nm), which were then incorporated on the surface of rGO. This morphology provided NCF NCs with a large surface area for efficient ion diffusion and also allowed for close contact with the conductive matrix to promote rapid electron transfer. As a cathode for LIBs, the NCF/rGO electrode achieved a high reversible capacity of 465 mAh·g−1 at 20 mA·g−1 via the conversion reaction, and this enhancement represented more than five times the reversible capacity of the bare NCF electrode. Additionally, the NCF/rGO electrode exhibited both better specific capacity and cyclability within the current density testing range (from 20 to 200 mA·g−1), compared with those of the bare NCF electrode.
Mental health symptoms and academic achievement factors

Abstract Objective: Assess academic habits and self-efficacy of college students with serious mental illnesses and explore their relationship with mental health symptoms. Participants: College students with serious mental illnesses. Methods: Baseline data from students recruited for an intervention study were gathered using psychometrically sound instruments assessing symptom distress, procrastination, study habits, academic self-efficacy, and campus engagement. Results were compared to reference samples of college students without identified mental health issues and then correlational analyses were conducted to examine their relationship with degree of mental health symptom distress. Results: Students with serious mental illnesses scored lower on most measures associated with academic performance. Greater symptom distress was associated with poorer academic habits and self-efficacy, but not campus engagement. Conclusions: This study supports hypothesized mechanisms by which mental health symptoms impact academic performance and suggests interventions aimed at addressing these factors while treatment is in process.
The Implementation of the Three Rs in Regulatory Toxicity and Biosafety Assessment: The Indian Perspective

Animal models have long served as a basis for scientific experimentation, biomedical research, drug development and testing, disease modelling and toxicity studies, as they are widely thought to provide meaningful, human-relevant predictions. However, many of these systems are resource intensive and time-consuming, have low predictive value and are associated with great social and ethical dilemmas. Often drugs appear to be effective and safe in these classical animal models, but later prove to be ineffective and/or unsafe in clinical trials. These issues have paved the way for a paradigm shift from the use of in vivo approaches, toward the ‘science of alternatives’. This has fuelled several research and regulatory initiatives, including the ban on the testing of cosmetics on animals. The new paradigm has been shifted toward increasing the relevance of the models for human predictivity and translational efficacy, and this has resulted in the recent development of many new methodologies, from 3-D bio-organoids to bioengineered ‘human-on-a-chip’ models. These improvements have the potential to significantly advance medical research globally. This paper offers a stance on the existing strategies and practices that utilise alternatives to animals, and outlines progress on the incorporation of these models into basic and applied research and education, specifically in India. It also seeks to provide a strategic roadmap to streamline the future directions for the country’s policy changes and investments. This strategic roadmap could be a useful resource to guide research institutions, industries, regulatory agencies, contract research organisations and other stakeholders in transitioning toward modern approaches to safety and risk assessment that could replace or reduce the use of animals without compromising the safety of humans or the environment.
Health-Related Quality of Life in Spanish Women with Eating Disorders

People with eating disorders show impaired health-related quality of life (HRQoL). We aimed to investigate the relative role of physical and mental factors and stage of change as possible predictors of HRQoL in a group of Spanish women (n = 124) with eating disorders. For this purpose, initial and follow-up data were obtained after 6 months from patients attending an outpatient treatment unit for eating disorders. The determinants of the physical and mental domains of the Medical Outcomes Survey Short-form Health Survey (SF-36) questionnaire were investigated in the total sample and separately based on the eating disorder diagnosis by multiple linear regression. Lower scores in the physical component of the SF-36 questionnaire were associated with the presence of a higher body mass index (BMI) at follow-up as well as a higher score in the “action” component of the Attitudes towards Change in Eating Disorders Questionnaire (ACTA). Conversely, a higher index in the EuroQoL-5D overall quality of life questionnaire (EQ-5D) and the presence of obsessive compulsive disorder were associated with a higher score in the physical dimension. The instrument used demonstrated the ability to assess changes associated with the physical component of these patients over the period studied, and the analysis provided more information and specific data on different aspects of HRQoL, thus allowing a more detailed analysis of the information.
Modulation of proliferation, apoptosis and inflammation of Caco-2 epithelial cells and THP-1 macrophage-like monocytes in LPS stimulated co-culture model.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Epithelial cells and macrophages play major roles in modulating the state of inlammatory response regulated by intracellular signaling pathways. The aim of this study was to characterize changes in cell proliferation, apoptosis and inflammation related intracellular signalling pathways MAPKs and NF-κB in Caco-2 epithelial cells and THP-1 macrophage-like monocytes contacted and filter-seperated co-cultures in the presence of LPS stimulation. METHODS We assessed the apoptosis and inflammation by measuring caspase-3 activity, TNF-α and IL-10 cytokines, total and phosphorylated forms of intracellular signalling pathway molecules p53, JNK, Jun, ERK, p38, NF-κB p65 and IkB. RESULTS The contacted co-culture of Caco-2 and THP-1 cells represented higher levels of JNK, jun and p38 MAPK pathway proteins associated with cell proliferation, whereas apoptosis related molecule caspase-3 and p53 increased in the filter-separated co-culture condition. Also, the contacted co-culture condition led to proinflammatory changes in NF-κB signalling pathways and cytokine responses with high phosphorylated NF-κB p65 and TNF-α, and low I-κB and IL-10 levels. CONCLUSION Epithelia - monocytes co-culture stimulated with LPS regulated cell proliferation and inflammation in a contact dependent manner, whereas apoptosis was associated with non-contacted cell culture condition. Thus, co-culture models are important models for explaining the immunopathologies in the mucosal areas (Fig. 5, Ref. 30).
Isoprostanes in Veterinary Medicine: Beyond a Biomarker

Oxidative stress has been associated with many pathologies, in both human and animal medicine. Damage to tissue components such as lipids is a defining feature of oxidative stress and can lead to the generation of many oxidized products, including isoprostanes (IsoP). First recognized in the early 1990s, IsoP are formed in numerous biological fluids and tissues, chemically stable, and easily measured by noninvasive means. Additionally, IsoP are highly specific indicators of lipid peroxidation and thereby are regarded as excellent biomarkers of oxidative stress. Although there have been many advancements in the detection and use of IsoP as a biomarker, there is still a paucity of knowledge regarding the biological activity of these molecules and their potential roles in pathology of oxidative stress. Furthermore, the use of IsoP has been limited in veterinary species thus far and represents an avenue of opportunity for clinical applications in veterinary practice. Examples of clinical applications of IsoP in veterinary medicine include use as a novel biomarker to guide treatment recommendations or as a target to mitigate inflammatory processes. This review will discuss the history, biosynthesis, measurement, use as a biomarker, and biological action of IsoP, particularly in the context of veterinary medicine.
Fibers in pediatric functional gastrointestinal disorders. Practical considerations from clinical cases

ABSTRACT Introduction: Functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) are common in children and incur high direct and indirect social costs. Partially hydrolyzed guar gum (PHGG) is a natural and water-soluble dietary fiber that is derived from guar gum. It has been proposed as complementary therapy in pediatric FGIDs, especially in chronic functional constipation and irritable bowel syndrome. Areas covered: By focusing on four clinical cases, this article illustrates the use of PHGG fiber as sole supplement ingredient or as a formula component in orally- and tube-fed children suffering from malnutrition due to FGIDs, with or without special medical conditions such as neurological disability. The formula used was a whey peptide-based nutritionally complete formula containing PHGG as a source of soluble dietary fiber. It was offered under medical supervision and after full consideration of all feeding options. Expert opinion: Implementing appropriate feeding behaviors, adapted to age and potential comorbidities, is an essential requisite for therapeutic management of FGIDs. The use of a PHGG supplement or a nutritionally complete formula containing PHGG as a source of soluble dietary fiber can be helpful to manage pediatric FGIDs.
Macrophage Responses to Environmental Stimuli During Homeostasis and Disease.

Work over the last 40 years have described macrophages as a heterogeneous population that serve as the frontline surveyors of tissue immunity. As a class, macrophages are found in almost every tissue in the body and as distinct populations within discrete microenvironments in any given tissue. During homeostasis, macrophages protect these tissues by clearing invading foreign bodies and/or mounting immune responses. In addition to varying identities regulated by transcriptional programs shaped by their respective environments, macrophage metabolism serves as an additional regulator to temper responses to extracellular stimuli. The area of research known as "immunometabolism" has been established within the last decade, owing to an increase in studies focusing on the crosstalk between altered metabolism and the regulation of cellular immune processes. From this research, macrophages have emerged as a prime focus of immunometabolic studies, although macrophage metabolism and their immune responses have been studied for centuries. During disease, the metabolic profile of the tissue and/or systemic regulators such as endocrine factors, become increasingly dysregulated. Owing to these changes, macrophage responses can become skewed to promote further pathophysiologic changes. For instance, during diabetes, obesity and atherosclerosis, macrophages favor a pro-inflammatory phenotype; whereas in the tumor microenvironment, macrophages elicit an anti-inflammatory response to enhance tumor growth. Herein we have described how macrophages respond to extracellular cues including inflammatory stimuli, nutrient availability and endocrine factors that occur during and to further promote disease progression.
Controlled growth mode of high-aspect-ratio GaN nanorods by Ni/In/Ga catalyst

Gallium nitride nanorods (GaN NRs) were grown by employing a low melting point Ni/In/Ga alloy via metalorganic chemical vapour deposition. A small growth temperature window was observed in the range of 720–765 °C, which is lower than typical temperatures used for the growth of GaN NRs assisted by metal catalyst. Tapered GaN NRs with triangular cross-section were produced at 750 °C by vapour–solid (VS) growth mechanism. A slight increase of temperature to 765 °C was able to change the growth mode to vapour–liquid–solid (VLS) and quasi-aligned GaN NRs with high aspect ratio were produced. Photoluminescence of both GaN NR morphologies measured at 10 K revealed only near band edge emission centred at 3.48 eV, which was blue-shifted from that of the bulk GaN estimated at 3.46 eV. Micro-Raman spectroscopy performed at 300 K exhibited that GaN NRs grown either by VS or VLS growth mechanisms are relatively free of strain.
Association between living with others and depressive symptoms in Japanese hospital workers during the COVID‐19 pandemic

Andrea Phillipou, PhD, Eric J. Tan, PhD, Tamsyn E. Van Rheenen, PhD, Denny Meyer, PhD, Susan L. Rossell, PhD, Centre for Mental Health, Faculty of Health, Arts & Design, Swinburne University of Technology, Department of Mental Health, St Vincent’s Hospital, Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne, Department of Mental Health, Austin Hospital, and Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne & Melbourne Health, Melbourne, Australia Email: wtoh@swin.edu. au Received 30 August 2020; revised 8 November 2020; accepted 12 January 2021.
Limitations to Natural Bioremediation of Perchlorate in a Contaminated Site

ABSTRACT Perchlorate (ClO4 −) has been detected in many drinking water supplies in the United States, including the Las Vegas Wash and Lake Mead, Nevada. These locations are highly contaminated and contribute perchlorate to Lake Mead and the Colorado River system. Essential elements for perchlorate bioremediation at these locations were examined, including the presence of perchlorate-reducing bacteria (PRB), sufficient electron donors, occurrence of competing electron acceptors, and ability of PRB to utilize a variety of electron donors. Enumeration of PRB was performed anoxically using most probable number (MPN). Values ranged from ≤20 to 230 PRB/100 ml or ≤20 to ≥ 1.6× 105 PRB/g for Lake Mead water samples and Las Vegas Wash sediments, respectively. 16S rRNA sequences revealed that isolates were γ -proteobacteria, Aeromonas, Dechlorosoma, Rahnella and Shewanella. A screening of potential electron donors using BIOLOGTM demonstrated that all isolates were capable of metabolic versatility. Measurements of total organic carbon (TOC), nitrate and dissolved oxygen (DO) indicated limited presence of electron donor at all sites, whereas the electron acceptors varied throughout the Wash and Lake Mead. The persistence of perchlorate in the sites is attributed to lack of available electron donor and/or the presence of competing electron acceptors. A location has been identified where perchlorate biodegradation could be implemented thereby halting the transport of perchlorate to Lake Mead and the Colorado River.
Direct evidence that KNDy neurons maintain gonadotropin pulses and folliculogenesis as the GnRH pulse generator

Significance Reports suggest that at least 25% of women suffering from reproductive disorders are due to hypothalamic dysfunction. Pulsatile gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) regimens are used for infertile women. Thus, elucidation of the GnRH/gonadotropin pulse generator is warranted to improve therapeutic approaches for these disorders. Normal pulsatile gonadotropin release and folliculogenesis were rescued by transfecting the kisspeptin gene (Kiss1) into the hypothalamic neurokinin B (NKB) neurons in global Kiss1 knockout infertile female rats but not by transfecting outside the NKB neurons. Our results demonstrate that kisspeptin/NKB/dynorphin A (KNDy) neurons serve as the GnRH pulse generator, and >20% KNDy neurons are enough to maintain GnRH/gonadotropin pulses and folliculogenesis in female rats. The findings provide a potential therapeutic aspect for hypothalamic reproductive disorders. The gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) pulse is fundamental for mammalian reproduction: GnRH pulse regimens are needed as therapies for infertile women as continuous GnRH treatment paradoxically inhibits gonadotropin release. Circumstantial evidence suggests that the hypothalamic arcuate KNDy neurons expressing kisspeptin (encoded by Kiss1), neurokinin B (encoded by Tac3), and dynorphin A serve as a GnRH pulse generator; however, no direct evidence is currently available. Here, we show that rescuing >20% KNDy neurons by transfecting Kiss1 inside arcuate Tac3 neurons, but not outside of these neurons, recovered folliculogenesis and luteinizing hormone (LH) pulses, an indicator of GnRH pulses, in female global Kiss1 knockout (KO) rats and that >90% conditional arcuate Kiss1 KO in newly generated Kiss1-floxed rats completely suppressed LH pulses. These results first provide direct evidence that KNDy neurons are the GnRH pulse generator, and at least 20% of KNDy neurons are sufficient to maintain folliculogenesis via generating GnRH/gonadotropin pulses.
Chloroquine and Hydroxychloroquine Interact Differently with ACE2 Domains Reported to Bind with the Coronavirus Spike Protein: Mediation by ACE2 Polymorphism

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection inducing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is still an ongoing challenge. To date, more than 95.4 million have been infected and more than two million deaths have been officially reported by the WHO. Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) plays a key role in the disease pathogenesis. In this computational study, seventeen coding variants were found to be important for ACE2 binding with the coronavirus spike protein. The frequencies of these allele variants range from 3.88 × 10−3 to 5.47 × 10−6 for rs4646116 (K26R) and rs1238146879 (P426A), respectively. Chloroquine (CQ) and its metabolite hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) are mainly used to prevent and treat malaria and rheumatic diseases. They are also used in several countries to treat SARS-CoV-2 infection inducing COVID-19. Both CQ and HCQ were found to interact differently with the various ACE2 domains reported to bind with coronavirus spike protein. A molecular docking approach revealed that intermolecular interactions of both CQ and HCQ exhibited mediation by ACE2 polymorphism. Further explorations of the relationship and the interactions between ACE2 polymorphism and CQ/HCQ would certainly help to better understand the COVID-19 management strategies, particularly their use in the absence of specific vaccines or drugs.
ELOVL5 Participates in Embryonic Lipid Determination of Cellular Membranes and Cytoplasmic Droplets

Embryonic lipids are crucial for the formation of cellular membranes and dynamically participate in metabolic pathways. Cells can synthesize simple fatty acids, and the elongation of fatty acids facilitates the formation of complex lipids. The aim of this work was to investigate the involvement of the elongation of very long chain fatty acid enzyme 5 (ELOVL5) in embryonic development and lipid determination. Bovine embryos were produced in vitro using a standard protocol and randomly divided to receive one of three treatments at Day 4: morpholino (Mo) gene expression knockdown assay for ELOVL5 (ELOVL5-Mo), Mo antisense oligonucleotides for the thalassemic β-globulin human mRNA (technical control Mo), and placebo (biological control). The phenotypes of embryonic development, cell number, ELOVL5 protein abundance, lipid droplet deposits, and lipid fingerprint were investigated. No detrimental effects (p > 0.05) were observed on embryo development in terms of cleavage (59.4 ± 3.5%, 63.6 ± 4.1%, and 65.4 ± 2.2%), blastocyst production (31.3 ± 4.2%, 28.1 ± 4.9%, and 36.1 ± 2.1%), and blastocyst cell number (99.6 ± 7.7, 100.2 ± 6.2, 86.8 ± 5.6), respectively, for biological control, technical control Mo, and ELOVL5-Mo. ELOVL5 protein abundance and cytoplasmic lipid droplet deposition were increased (p < 0.05) in ELOVL5-Mo–derived blastocysts compared with the controls. However, seven lipid species, including phosphatidylcholines, phosphatidylethanolamines, and triacylglycerol, were downregulated in the ELOVL5-Mo–derived blastocysts compared with the biological control. Therefore, ELOVL5 is involved in the determination of embryonic lipid content and composition. Transient translational blockage of ELOVL5 reduced the expression of specific lipid species and promoted increased cytoplasmic lipid droplet deposition, but with no apparent deleterious effect on embryonic development and blastocyst cell number.
Using Split Luciferase Assay and Anti-Herpes Simplex Virus Glycoprotein Monoclonal Antibodies To Predict a Functional Binding Site between gD and gH/gL

Virus entry and cell-cell fusion mediated by HSV require four essential glycoproteins, gD, gH/gL, gB, and a gD receptor. Virus-neutralizing antibodies directed against any of these proteins bind to residues within key functional sites and interfere with essential steps in the fusion pathway. ABSTRACT Herpes simplex virus (HSV) entry and cell-cell fusion require glycoproteins gD, gH/gL, and gB. HSV entry begins with gD binding its receptor (nectin-1), which then activates gH/gL to enable the conversion of prefusion gB to its active form to promote membrane fusion. Virus-neutralizing monoclonal antibodies (Mabs) interfere with one or more of these steps, and the localization of their epitopes identifies functional sites on each protein. Utilizing this approach, we have identified the gH/gL binding face on gD and the corresponding gD binding site on gH/gL. Here, we used combinations of these Mabs to define the orientations of gD and gH/gL relative to each other. We reasoned that if two Mabs, one directed at gD and the other at gH/gL, block fusion more effectively than when either Mab was used alone (additive), then their epitopes would be spatially distanced, and the binding of one would not directly interfere with the binding of the other during fusion. However, if the two Mabs blocked fusion with an efficacy equal to or lesser than that when either Mab was used alone (indifferent), we propose that their epitopes would be in close proximity in the complex. Using a live-cell fusion assay, we found that some Mab pairings blocked the fusion with different mechanisms, while others had similar mechanisms of action. Grouping the different combinations of antibodies into indifferent and additive groups, we present a model for the orientation of gD vis-à-vis gH/gL in the complex. IMPORTANCE Virus entry and cell-cell fusion mediated by HSV require four essential glycoproteins, gD, gH/gL, gB, and a cellular gD receptor. Virus-neutralizing antibodies directed against any of these proteins bind to residues within key functional sites and interfere with essential steps in the fusion pathway. Thus, the epitopes of these Mabs overlap and point to critical, functional sites on their target proteins. Here, we combined gD and gH/gL antibodies to determine whether they work in an additive or a nonadditive (indifferent) fashion to block specific events in glycoprotein-driven cell-cell fusion. Identifying combinations of antibodies that have additive effects will help in the rational design of an effective therapeutic “polyclonal antibody” to treat HSV disease. In addition, identification of the exact contact regions between gD and gH/gL can inform the design of small molecules that would interfere with gD-gH/gL complex formation, thus preventing the virus from entering the host cell.