Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Aromatic Potential and Bioactivity of Cork Stoppers and Cork By-Products

The characterization of natural waste sources is the first step on the reutilization process, circular economy, and global sustainability. In this work, the aromatic composition and bioactive compounds related to beneficial health effects from cork stoppers and cork by-products were assessed in order to add value to these wastes. Twenty-three aromatic compounds with industrial interest were quantified by gas chromatography coupled mass spectrometry GC–MS in both samples. Vanillins and volatile phenols were the most abundant aromatic families. Other aromatic compounds, such as aldehydes, lactones, terpenols, and alcohols, were also determined. Furthermore, the phenolic composition and the antioxidant activity were also evaluated. Overall, extracts showed high aromatic and antioxidant potential to be further used in different industrial fields. The recovery of these valuable compounds from cork stoppers and cork by-products helps to reuse them in agricultural, cosmetic, pharmaceutical, or food industries.
Meal Frequency and Skipping Breakfast Are Associated with Chronic Kidney Disease

Chronic underhydration and malnutrition can be associated with irreversible renal damage. This study investigated the association of meal frequency and breakfast skipping with chronic kidney disease (CKD) in South Korea. Participants (4370 participants from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey VI 2013–2014) were divided into two groups based on meal frequency: ≥ 15 or < 15 meals/week. They were further divided into four groups based on the frequency of breakfast, lunch, and dinner consumed in the previous year. The data were analyzed with complex samples logistic regression. We found that 9.6% of the participants (n = 412) had CKD, which was associated with gender, body mass index, serum fasting glucose, daily calorie intake, hypertension, diabetes, and cerebrovascular accident. Participants consuming <15 meals/week had a higher risk of CKD than those who consumed ≥15 meals/week (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 1.531, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.209–1.938). Participants who rarely had breakfast showed a higher risk of CKD than those who had breakfast 5–7 times/week (adjusted OR 1.572, 95% CI 1.108–2.231). Our findings suggest that <15 meals/week or skipping breakfast is associated with a higher risk of CKD in the general South Korean population, especially for men or persons aged 42–64 years.
Increasing the Safety Profile of the Master Donor Live Attenuated Influenza Vaccine

Seasonal influenza epidemics remain one of the largest public health burdens nowadays. The best and most effective strategy to date in preventing influenza infection is a worldwide vaccination campaign. Currently, two vaccines are available to the public for the treatment of influenza infection, the chemically Inactivated Influenza Vaccine (IIV) and the Live Attenuated Influenza Vaccine (LAIV). However, the LAIV is not recommended for parts of the population, such as children under the age of two, immunocompromised individuals, the elderly, and pregnant adults. In order to improve the safety of the LAIV and make it available to more of the population, we sought to further attenuate the LAIV. In this study, we demonstrate that the influenza A virus (IAV) master donor virus (MDV) A/Ann Arbor/6/60 H2N2 LAIV can inhibit host gene expression using both the PA-X and NS1 proteins. Furthermore, we show that by removing PA-X, we can limit the replication of the MDV LAIV in a mouse model, while maintaining full protective efficacy. This work demonstrates a broadly applicable strategy of tuning the amount of host antiviral responses induced by the IAV MDV for the development of newer and safer LAIVs. Moreover, our results also demonstrate, for the first time, the feasibility of genetically manipulating the backbone of the IAV MDV to improve the efficacy of the current IAV LAIV.
Metabolically Healthy Obesity—Heterogeneity in Definitions and Unconventional Factors

The concept of heterogeneity among obese individuals in their risk for developing metabolic dysfunction and associated complications has been recognized for decades. At the origin of the heterogeneity idea is the acknowledgement that individuals with central obesity are more prone to developing type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease than those with peripheral obesity. There have been attempts to categorize subjects according to their metabolic health and degree of obesity giving rise to different obese and non-obese phenotypes that include metabolically unhealthy normal-weight (MUHNW), metabolically healthy obese (MHO), and metabolically unhealthy obese (MUO). Individuals belonging to the MHO phenotype are obese according to their body mass index although exhibiting fewer or none metabolic anomalies such as type 2 diabetes, dyslipidemia, hypertension, and/or unfavorable inflammatory and fribinolytic profiles. However, some authors claim that MHO is only transient in nature. Additionally, the phenotype categorization is controversial as it lacks standardized definitions possibly blurring the distinction between obesity phenotypes and confounding the associations with health outcomes. To add to the discussion, the factors underlying the origin or protection from metabolic deterioration and cardiometabolic risk for these subclasses are being intensely investigated and several hypotheses have been put forward. In the present review, we compare the different definitions of obesity phenotypes and present several possible factors underlying them (adipose tissue distribution and cellularity, contaminant accumulation on the adipose tissue, dysbiosis and metabolic endotoxemia imposing on to the endocannabinoid tone and inflammasome, and nutrient intake and dietary patterns) having inflammatory activation at the center.
Lung Macrophage Functional Properties in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is caused by the chronic exposure of the lungs to toxic particles and gases. These exposures initiate a persistent innate and adaptive immune inflammatory response in the airways and lung tissues. Lung macrophages (LMs) are key innate immune effector cells that identify, engulf, and destroy pathogens and process inhaled particles, including cigarette smoke and particulate matter (PM), the main environmental triggers for COPD. The number of LMs in lung tissues and airspaces is increased in COPD, suggesting a potential key role for LMs in initiating and perpetuating the chronic inflammatory response that underpins the progressive nature of COPD. The purpose of this brief review is to discuss the origins of LMs, their functional properties (chemotaxis, recruitment, mediator production, phagocytosis and apoptosis) and changes in these properties due to exposure to cigarette smoke, ambient particulate and pathogens, as well as their persistent altered functional properties in subjects with established COPD. We also explore the potential to therapeutically modulate and restore LMs functional properties, to improve impaired immune system, prevent the progression of lung tissue destruction, and improve both morbidity and mortality related to COPD.
The Relationship Between Serum Bilirubin Levels and Peripheral Arterial Disease and Gender Difference in Patients With Hypertension: BEST Study

We evaluated the relationship between serum bilirubin levels and ankle-brachial index (ABI) to determine whether gender affected the relationship between bilirubin levels and peripheral arterial disease (PAD) in patients with hypertension. A total of 543 patients were included in our studies (78 patients with PAD and 465 without PAD). Peripheral arterial disease was defined as ABI <0.90 for either and/or both sides. Serum bilirubin levels were measured with a vanadate oxidation method by using fasting venous blood samples. Serum total bilirubin (TBiL) and direct bilirubin (DBiL) levels were higher in males compared with females (both P < .05). Total bilirubin and DBiL were significantly lower in the PAD group. After adjustment for cardiovascular risk factors, PAD was independently negatively related to TBiL and DBiL, with odds ratios (OR) 0.914 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.845-0.990) and 0.748 (95% CI: 0.572-0.977). In addition, there was a relationship between PAD and bilirubin levels (TBiL—OR = 0.884, 95% CI: 0.792-0.985; DBiL—OR = 0.621; 95% CI: 0.424-0.909) only in males but not in females. Future studies should further evaluate whether interventions that increase serum bilirubin levels will have a particular role in PAD prevention in males.
Mismatch repair deficiency/microsatellite instability testing as predictive immunotherapy biomarkers-possible diagnostic missteps trusting a single method.

Over the last few years, mismatch repair deficiency (MMR-D)/microsatellite instability (MSI) has been recognized as an indicator of colon carcinomas potentially susceptible to immunotherapy (1,2). To date, two strategies of identifying mismatch repair defects in tumor tissue have been employed: lack of immunohistochemical staining for mismatch repair proteins, in which case the term “mismatch repair deficiency” (MMR-D) is used, and detection of instability of microsatellite DNA tandem repeats in the tumor tissue DNA as compared to germline host DNA, in which case the term “microsatellite instability” (MSI) is used.
Haematococcus pluvialis-Derived Astaxanthin Is a Potential Neuroprotective Agent against Optic Nerve Ischemia

Astaxanthin, a xanthophyll belonging to the family of carotenoids, is a potent antioxidant. However, much less is known about its protective effects on the oxidative stress of ischemic optic nerve. We hypothesized that astaxanthin treatment could protect retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) from death via anti-oxidative and anti-apoptotic responses. Adult male Wistar rats were fed astaxanthin (100 mg/kg/day) by daily gavage for seven consecutive days, either before or after inducing oxidative stress in the retina by photodynamic treatment. The visual function, RGC apoptosis, macrophage infiltration in the optic nerve, expression of p-Akt, p-mTOR, SGK1, pS6K, Nrf2, p62, TNFα, Il1β in retinas were investigated. The visual function and the RGC densities were significantly higher in both pre- and post-treatment groups. The numbers of apoptotic RGCs and extrinsic macrophage infiltration in the optic nerve were significantly decreased in both astaxanthin-treated groups. Furthermore, pre- and post-treatment of astaxanthin showed a higher expression of p-Akt, p-mTOR, Nrf2 and superoxide dismutase activity, and a lower expression of cleaved caspase-3, suggesting anti-apoptotic and anti-oxidative roles. Our findings indicate that astaxanthin can preserve visual function and reduce RGC apoptosis after ischemic insults. Including astaxanthin in daily diet as a supplement may be beneficiary for ischemic optic neuropathy.
Predictors of family focused practice among health visitors: A mixed methods study.

AIMS To determine what predicts health visitors' family focused practice with mothers who have mental illness. To explore health visitors' experiences of family focused practice and what factors, if any, enable and or hinder it. DESIGN A sequential mixed methods design was employed. METHODS In Phase 1, 230 health visitors, in five Health and Social Care Trusts in the United Kingdom were recruited using convenience sampling and completed the Family Focused Mental Health Practice Questionnaire. Three multiple regression models were developed to test whether workload (Model I), professional knowledge (Model II) and health visitors' professional and personal experience (Model III) predicted their family focused practice. In Phase 2, 10 health visitors, who completed the questionnaire, participated in semi-structured interviews to describe their experiences of family focused practice. The data collection of the two phases was conducted from September 2017 - September 2018. RESULTS Model III was significant. While personal experience of parenting was positively associated with family focused practice, length registered as a health visitor and personal experience of mental illness was negatively associated. Qualitative findings suggested that increasing years of professional experience and personal experience of mental illness enabled health visitors to support mothers and their children, but not other adult family members, including partners. Limited skills and knowledge to support mothers with severe mental illness (i.e. schizophrenia) hindered family focused practice. CONCLUSION This study advances understanding of how health visitors' professional and personal experiences can influence their family focused practice and highlights the importance of organisations promoting their capacity to support mothers with severe mental illness and to include mothers' partners. IMPACT A clear understanding of factors affecting health visitors' capacity to engage in family focused practice will help to inform policy, education and practice in health visiting; with potential to improve outcomes for the whole family.
Genome-wide analysis of HOXC4 and HOXC6 regulated genes and binding sites in prostate cancer cells

Aberrant expression of HOXC6 and HOXC4 is commonly detected in prostate cancer. The high expression of these transcription factors is associated with aggressive prostate cancer and can predict cancer recurrence after treatment. Thus, HOXC4 and HOXC6 are clinically relevant biomarkers of aggressive prostate cancer. However, the molecular mechanisms by which these HOXC genes contribute to prostate cancer is not yet understood. To begin to address the role of HOXC4 and HOXC6 in prostate cancer, we performed RNA-seq analyses before and after siRNA-mediated knockdown of HOXC4 and/or HOXC6 and also performed ChIP-seq to identify genomic binding sites for both of these transcription factors. Our studies demonstrate that HOXC4 and HOXC6 co-localize with HOXB13, FOXA1 and AR, three transcription factors previously shown to contribute to the development of prostate cancer. We suggest that the aberrantly upregulated HOXC4 and HOXC6 proteins may compete with HOXB13 for binding sites, thus altering the prostate transcriptome. This competition model may be applicable to many different human cancers that display increased expression of a HOX transcription factor.
Potential Antidiabetic Activity of Extracts and Isolated Compound from Adenosma bracteosum (Bonati)

Adenosma bracteosum Bonati. (A. bracteosum) has been used in traditional and modern medicine in Vietnam for curing hepatitis. In this study, ethanol and aqueous extracts of A. bracteosum were evaluated for their α-glucosidase inhibitory activities and anti-hyperglycemic effects on glucose loaded hyperglycemic and streptozotocin (STZ) induced diabetic mice. The α-glucosidase inhibition of the extracts was evaluated by colorimetric assays, and the anti-diabetic activity was tested on a STZ-induced diabetic mice model. The ethanol and aqueous extracts showed a significant α-glucosidase inhibitory activity, which was more effective than acarbose at the same concentration. In the STZ-induced diabetic mice, both extracts showed a strong anti-hyperglycemic activity, with the group receiving 50 mg/kg of ethanol extract and the group receiving 50 mg/kg of aqueous extract presenting 64.42% and 57.69% reductions, respectively, in the blood glucose levels when compared with the diabetic control group, on day 21 (p > 0.05). Isoscutellarein-8-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (IG) was identified from the ethanol extract, which showed a strong inhibitory activity against α-glucosidase, with a ten times higher potency compared with the positive control acarbose. The anti-hyperglycemic effect of IG was effectively similar to the standard drug, glibenclamide, at the same dose of 10 mg/kg (p > 0.05). These results indicated that A. bracteosum has a great antidiabetic potential.
Haptic-Guided Teleoperation of a 7-DoF Collaborative Robot Arm With an Identical Twin Master

In this article, we describe two techniques to enable haptic-guided teleoperation using 7-DoF cobot arms as master and slave devices. A shortcoming of using cobots as master-slave systems is the lack of force feedback at the master side. However, recent developments in cobot technologies have brought in affordable, flexible, and safe torque-controlled robot arms, which can be programmed to generate force feedback to mimic the operation of a haptic device. In this article, we use two Franka Emika Panda robot arms as a twin master-slave system to enable haptic-guided teleoperation. We propose a two layer mechanism to implement force feedback due to 1) object interactions in the slave workspace, and 2) virtual forces, e.g. those that can repel from static obstacles in the remote environment or provide task-related guidance forces. We present two different approaches for force rendering and conduct an experimental study to evaluate the performance and usability of these approaches in comparison to teleoperation without haptic guidance. Our results indicate that the proposed joint torque coupling method for rendering task forces improves energy requirements during haptic guided telemanipulation, providing realistic force feedback by accurately matching the slave torque readings at the master side.
Recognition and Activation of the Plant AKT1 Potassium Channel by the Kinase CIPK231[OPEN]

The regulatory kinase CIPK23 borders on the ankyrin domain surface of the AKT1 channel in regulating cellular requirements for potassium. Plant growth largely depends on the maintenance of adequate intracellular levels of potassium (K+). The families of 10 Calcineurin B-Like (CBL) calcium sensors and 26 CBL-Interacting Protein Kinases (CIPKs) of Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) decode the calcium signals elicited by environmental inputs to regulate different ion channels and transporters involved in the control of K+ fluxes by phosphorylation-dependent and -independent events. However, the detailed molecular mechanisms governing target specificity require investigation. Here, we show that the physical interaction between CIPK23 and the noncanonical ankyrin domain in the cytosolic side of the inward-rectifier K+ channel AKT1 regulates kinase docking and channel activation. Point mutations on this domain specifically alter binding to CIPK23, enhancing or impairing the ability of CIPK23 to regulate channel activity. Our data demonstrate the relevance of this protein–protein interaction that contributes to the formation of a complex between CIPK23/CBL1 and AKT1 in the membrane for the proper regulation of K+ transport.
Factors that impact risk management decisions among women with pathogenic variants in moderate penetrance genes associated with hereditary breast cancer

There is limited information known about how women with pathogenic variants (PV) in moderate penetrance genes make decisions to manage their increased risk of breast cancer. This study analyzed factors that may impact decision‐making surrounding management for increased breast cancer risk. Women with a PV in a moderate penetrance gene associated with increased risk for breast cancer were identified from an institutional database. Semi‐structured, qualitative interviews were conducted to analyze decision‐making factors. Themes were developed using deductive codes based on previous literature and inductive codes based on interviewee responses. The 16 participants (mean age = 55.9 years) included 12 women with a breast cancer diagnosis. Six women (37.5%) chose bilateral mastectomy (BM), and 10 women (62.5%) chose surveillance as management. Of the 12 women with a personal history of breast cancer, four chose to have BM (33.3%). Two women without a personal history of breast cancer chose to have BM (50.0%). Transcriptions revealed seven comprehensive themes, as well as themes unique to affected and unaffected women (Cohen's kappa = 0.80). Physician opinion was the only factor present in all interviews reported to influence risk management decision‐making. Several themes were consistent with prior BRCA1/BRCA2 research (family history, risk perception, sibling influence, and physician opinions). Autonomy and insurance/finances were also important factors to participants. There were certain differences in decision‐making factors between affected and unaffected women, such as partner influence. Results indicate an opportunity for providers to engage their patients in a decision‐making process.
Medically Unexplained Physical Symptoms: Why Counseling Psychologists Should Care About Them ψ

Medically unexplained symptoms and/or syndromes (MUS) affect the health of 20% to 30% of patients seen in primary care. Optimally, treatment for these patients requires an interdisciplinary team consisting of both primary care and mental health providers. We propose that counseling psychologists may develop expertise to improve the care of patients with MUS who are already in their practice, expand the number of patients they help, and enhance the integration of counseling psychology into the broader medical community. Additionally, counseling psychologists’ expertise in culture, attunement to therapeutic processes, and focus on prioritizing patients’ perspectives and quality of life can fill the gap in research on MUS. By focusing on MUS, counseling psychologists can provide unique contributions to health service delivery.
Application of latent class analysis in assessing the awareness, attitude, practice and satisfaction of paediatricians on sleep disorder management in children in Italy

Aim To identify subgroups regarding paediatricians’ awareness, attitude, practice and satisfaction about management of Sleep-Disordered Breathing (SDB) in Italy using Latent Class Analysis (LCA). Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted on a large sample of Italian paediatricians. Using a self-administered questionnaire, the study collected information on 420 Paediatric Hospital Paediatricians (PHPs) and 594 Family Care Paediatricians (FCPs). LCA was used to discover underlying response patterns, thus allowing identification of respondent groups with similar awareness, attitude, practice and satisfaction. A logistic regression model was used to investigate which independent variables influenced latent class membership. Analyses were performed using R 3.5. 2 software. A p-value<0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results Two classes were identified: Class 1 (n = 368, 36.29%) “Untrained and poorly satisfied” and Class 2 (n = 646, 63.71%) “Trained and satisfied. ” Involving paediatric pneumologists or otorhinolaryngologists in clinical practice was associated with an increased probability of Class 2 membership (OR = 5.88, 95%CI [2.94–13.19]; OR = 15.95, 95% CI [10.92–23.81] respectively). Examining more than 20 children with SDB during the last month decreased the probability of Class 2 membership (OR = 0.29, 95% CI [0.14–0.61]). FCPs showed a higher probability of Class 2 membership than PHPs (OR = 4.64, 95% CI [3.31–6.55]). Conclusions These findings suggest that the LCA approach can provide important information on how education and training could be tailored for different subgroups of paediatricians. In Italy standardized educational interventions improving paediatricians’ screening of SDB are needed in order to guarantee efficient management of children with SDB and reduce the burden of disease.