Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Health Benefits of Lactic Acid Bacteria (LAB) Fermentates

Consuming fermented foods has been reported to result in improvements in a range of health parameters. These positive effects can be exerted by a combination of the live microorganisms that the fermented foods contain, as well as the bioactive components released into the foods as by-products of the fermentation process. In many instances, and particularly in dairy fermented foods, the microorganisms involved in the fermentation process belong to the lactic acid group of bacteria (LAB). An alternative approach to making some of the health benefits that have been attributed to fermented foods available is through the production of ‘fermentates’. The term ‘fermentate’ generally relates to a powdered preparation, derived from a fermented product and which can contain the fermenting microorganisms, components of these microorganisms, culture supernatants, fermented substrates, and a range of metabolites and bioactive components with potential health benefits. Here, we provide a brief overview of a selection of in vitro and in vivo studies and patents exclusively reporting the health benefits of LAB ‘fermentates’. Typically, in such studies, the potential health benefits have been attributed to the bioactive metabolites present in the crude fermentates and/or culture supernatants rather than the direct effects of the LAB strain(s) involved.
G9a Is SETting the Stage for Colorectal Oncogenesis

Recently, Kato et al. reported recurrent activating mutations in the SET domain of histone methyltransferase G9a, driving an oncogenic cascade in melanoma. The authors also reported correlations between G9a expression and the regulation of the canonical WNT pathway. Although we could not observe such mutations in human colorectal adenocarcinoma, newly reported findings are of high relevance to colorectal cancer, as WNT target gene signatures were closely associated with G9a expression. Here, we put into perspective such new results on G9a expression in colorectal cancers and the potential relationship with tumor heterogeneity and acquisition of neoplastic stemness.
Methanogenic populations involved in the degradation of rice straw in anoxic paddy soil

Addition of straw to anoxic rice field soil stimulates production of CH4, an important greenhouse gas. The archaeal community colonizing rice straw was investigated by molecular methods targeting the small subunit ribosomal RNA gene. Cloning and sequencing of 60 clones detected predominantly relatives of Methanobacterium spp. (38 clones) and Methanosarcina spp. (16 clones). Terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP) analysis confirmed the dominance of Methanobacteriaceae and Methanosarcinaceae, and in addition showed restriction fragments characteristic for Rice cluster I (RC-I) methanogens. A new oligonucleotide probe specific for RC-I was designed. Quantitative slot blot hybridization of extracted rRNA with this probe indicated the presence of an active population of RC-I methanogens. Other methanogenic groups (e.g. Methanomicrobiaceae, Methanosaetaceae), although present and active in soil, could not be conclusively detected on rice straw. The methanogenic community pattern on straw, as revealed by T-RFLP and quantitative rRNA probing, was fairly constant with incubation time (8–57 days), but the total activity of methanogenic Archaea almost doubled. Our results indicate that the methanogens colonizing rice straw are less diverse than those inhabiting the soil.
Fe-N-C Nanozyme with Both Accelerated and Inhibited Biocatalytic Activities Capable of Accessing Drug-Drug Interaction.

Emerged as a cost-effective and robust enzyme mimic, nanozymes have drawn increasing attention with broad applications ranging from cancer therapy to biosensing. Developing nanozymes with both accelerated and inhibited biocatalytic properties in a biological context is intriguing to peruse more advanced functions of natural enzymes, but remains challenging, because most nanozymes are lack of enzyme-like molecular structures. By re-visiting and engineering the well-known Fe-N-C electrocatalyst that has a heme-like Fe-N x active sites, herein, we report that Fe-N-C could not only catalyze drug metabolization but also had inhibition behaviors similar to cytochrome P450 (CYP), endowing it a potential replacement of CYP for preliminary evaluation of massive potential chemicals, drug dosing guide and outcome prediction. In addition, different to the electrocatalysts, the highly graphitic framework of Fe-N-C may not be obligatory for a competitive CYP-like activity. Beyond merely boosting the activity, this work would open a new vista of nanozymes with inhibited behavior for keeping up more demanding applications, enabled by further mimicking the molecular structure of enzymes.
Association of Pain and Pain Medication Use with Multiple Characteristics of Older People Living with HIV.

People living with HIV (PLWH) experience chronic pain that may impact function. Gaps in knowledge exist for factors that impact pain and pain medication use in older (age 50+) PLWH. Data for this study were obtained from the Aging with Dignity, Health, Optimism and Community (ADHOC) cohort, an observational study of older PLWH from ten clinics across the U.S. Participants self-reported socioeconomic, psychosocial, and health factors via an online questionnaire. Of 1,051 participants, 66% reported pain. In a multivariable regression model, multimorbidity and tobacco use were associated with a greater likelihood of experiencing pain, whereas being male, black, and having higher cognitive function were associated with a lower likelihood of experiencing pain. Of the 696 participants who reported pain, 46% reported using pain medication. In a multivariable regression model, pain medication use was associated with multimorbidity and with lower income. Recognition of the factors associated with pain and pain medication use in this vulnerable population may lead to strategies that mitigate negative health outcomes.
The Tipping Point of Medical Technology: Implications for the Postpandemic Era

GLOSSARY 3D = 3-dimensional; “Act” = Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act; APM = alternative payment model; CMS = US Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services; COVID-19 = Coronavirus Disease 2019; EHR = electronic health record; EMR = electronic medical records; IA = improvement activity; ICU = intensive care unit; MIPS = Merit-based Incentive Payment System; NQF = National Quality Forum; NSQIP = National Surgical Quality Improvement Program; PPE = personal protective equipment; QCDR = Qualified Clinical Data Registry; RPM = remote patient monitoring; SARS = severe acute respiratory syndrome; SARS-CoV-2 = severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2
Experimental analysis of the life history of the complanate form of Scytosiphon (Scytosiphonaceae, Phaeophyta) in southern Australia

Abstract Scytosiphon which reproduces asexually and gives rise to similar blade-like plants was investigated. Analysis of the reproduction in culture of several strains of blades with different ancestries showed that blade-producing Scytosiphon arises parthenogenetically, developing directly from a small percentage <5%) of the gametes formed by gametophytic blades. In contrast, blades which arose from zooids produced by either crustose sporophytes (derived from zygotes) or crustose plants with a parthenogenetic origin were gametophytic and gave rise to crustose progeny. Culture conditions affected the reproduction of parthenogenetically-produced blades. Those derived from gametes formed in long days (12 · 5 h) produced crustose progeny. Those which originated in shorter days (9· 5, 10·5 h) in some instances gave rise to blades, and this kind of asexual reproduction persisted for up to four successive generations. The roles of asexual and sexual processes in the life history of complanate Scytosiphon are d.
Influence of Enzyme Additives on the Rheological Properties of Digester Slurry and on Biomethane Yield

The use of enzyme additives in anaerobic digestion facilities has increased in recent years. According to the manufacturers, these additives should increase or accelerate the biogas yield and reduce the viscosity of the digester slurry. Such effects were confirmed under laboratory conditions. However, it has not yet been possible to quantify these effects in practice, partly because valid measurements on large-scale plants are expensive and challenging. In this research, a new enzyme product was tested under full-scale conditions. Two digesters were operated at identic process parameters—one digester was treated with an enzyme additive and a second digester was used as reference. A pipe viscometer was designed, constructed and calibrated and the rheological properties of the digester slurry were measured. Non-Newtonian flow behavior was modelled by using the Ostwald–de Baer law. Additionally, the specific biomethane yield of the feedstock was monitored to assess the influence of the enzyme additive on the substrate degradation efficiency. The viscosity measurements revealed a clear effect of the added enzyme product. The consistency factor K was significantly reduced after the enzyme application. There was no observable effect of enzyme application on the substrate degradation efficiency or specific biomethane yield.
Apparent Motion Induces Activity Suppression in Early Visual Cortex and Impairs Visual Detection

Apparent motion (AM) is induced when two stationary visual stimuli are presented in alternating sequence. Intriguingly, AM leads to an impaired detectability of stimuli along the AM path (i.e., AM-induced masking). It has been hypothesized that AM triggers an internal representation of a moving object in early visual cortex, which competes with stimulus-evoked representations of visual stimuli on the motion path in early visual cortex of 25 human adults (16 female). We tested this hypothesis by measuring BOLD responses in early visual cortex during the process of AM-induced masking, using fMRI and population receptive field methods. Surprisingly, and counter to our hypothesis, we showed that AM suppressed, rather than increased, BOLD responses along early visual (V1 and V2) representations of the AM path, including regions that were not directly activated by the AM inducer stimuli. This activity suppression of the visual response predicted the subsequent reduction in detectability of the target that appeared in the middle of the AM path. Our data thereby provide direct empirical evidence for suppressive neural mechanisms underlying AM and suggest that illusory motion can render us blind to objects on the motion path by suppressing neural activity at the earliest cortical stages of visual perception. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT When two spatially distinct visual objects are presented in alternating sequence, apparent motion (AM) occurs and impairs detectability of stimuli along its path. The underlying mechanism is thought to be that increased activation in human early visual cortex evoked by AM interferes with the representation of the stimulus. Strikingly, however, we show that AM suppresses neural activity along the motion path, and the strength of activity suppression predicts the subsequent behavioral performance decrement in terms of detecting a stimulus along the AM path. Our findings provide empirical evidence for a suppressive, rather than faciliatory, mechanism underlying AM.
Phylogeny of caucasian rock lizards (Darevskia) and other true lizards based on mitogenome analysis: Optimisation of the algorithms and gene selection

We generated a phylogeny for Caucasian rock lizards (Darevskia), and included six other families of true lizards (Lacertini), based on complete mitochondrial genome analysis. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) of genomic DNA was used to obtain 16 new mitogenomes of Darevskia. These, along with 35 sequences downloaded from GenBank: genera Darevskia, Zootoca, Podarcis, Phoenicolacerta, Takydromus, Lacerta, and Eremias—were used in the analysis. All four analytical methods (Bayesian Inference, BI; Maximum Likelihood, ML; Maximum Parsimony, MP; and Neighbor-Joining, NJ) showed almost congruent intra-generic topologies for Darevskia and other lizard genera. However, ML and NJ methods on one side, and BI and MP methods on the other harvested conflicting phylogenies. The ML/NJ topology supports earlier published separation of Darevskia into three mitochondrial clades (Murphy, Fu, Macculloch, Darevsky, and Kupinova, 2000), but BI and MP topologies support that the basal branching occurred between D. parvula from the western Lesser Caucasus and the rest of Darevskia. All topologies altered the phylogenetic position of some individual species, including D. daghestanica, D. derjugini, and D. chlorogaster. Reanalysis after excluding four saturated genes from the data set, and excluding genus Eremias gives fully convergent topologies. The most basal branching for true lizards was between Far Eastern Takydromus and the Western Eurasian genera (BI). Comparing phylogenetic performance of individual genes relative to whole mitogenome data, concatenated 16S RNA (the least saturated gene in our analyses) and Cytochrome b genes generate a robust phylogeny that is fully congruent with that based on the complete mitogenome.
Exposed Neophasia terlooii (Lepidoptera: Pieridae) Eggs are Resistant to Desiccation During Quiescence

Abstract Terrestrial insects face the risk of desiccation owing to their small size and high surface area to volume ratios. Insect eggs adhered to exposed substrates are especially prone to extremes in temperature and available moisture.The potential of butterfly egg clusters to withstand desiccation in saturated and unsaturated atmospheres was investigated in this study. Butterflies in the genus Neophasia (Lepidoptera: Pieridae) lay their eggs along live pine needles and they must survive long intervals without available liquid water while overwintering. After 2 d in a desiccating environment, groups of Neophasia terlooii Behr eggs were exposed to several different humidified chambers for 8 d at 5°C. Group masses were monitored over time and the change in mass was compared to the pre-desiccation mass. Changes in mass were minimal, ranging from a 3% increase in the saturated chamber (100% RH) to a 2% decrease in the driest chamber (<10% RH). Ambient humidity was recorded from among the pine needles of a live tree branch in the natural habitat for 2 wk at the start of the overwintering period. Daytime relative humidity among the pine needles dropped as low as 14.5% but rose as high as 92% at night. In the absence of precipitation, N. terlooii eggs can remain within 2% of their starting weight for 10 d at a constant RH of <10% at 5°C.The mechanism for avoiding desiccation and the physical properties of the egg coating are discussed in the context of life in an arid environment.
Nanoscale co-organization and coactivation of AMPAR, NMDAR, and mGluR at excitatory synapses

Significance Neuron-to-neuron communication is based on synapse activity where presynapses release neurotransmitters, which activate postsynaptic neurotransmitter receptors. The various families of glutamate receptors at the excitatory synapses are responsible of the fast synaptic transmission as well as the regulation of the long-term signaling implicated in information storage and memory. The organization at the nanometer scale of these postsynaptic receptors is a key determinant for synaptic transmission efficiency. Here, we combined dual-color superresolution imaging with electrophysiology and modeling to determine how the various glutamate receptors are co-organized at the nanoscale and to what extent this organization regulates the receptor activation by a single vesicle release. The nanoscale co-organization of neurotransmitter receptors facing presynaptic release sites is a fundamental determinant of their coactivation and of synaptic physiology. At excitatory synapses, how endogenous AMPARs, NMDARs, and mGluRs are co-organized inside the synapse and their respective activation during glutamate release are still unclear. Combining single-molecule superresolution microscopy, electrophysiology, and modeling, we determined the average quantity of each glutamate receptor type, their nanoscale organization, and their respective activation. We observed that NMDARs form a unique cluster mainly at the center of the PSD, while AMPARs segregate in clusters surrounding the NMDARs. mGluR5 presents a different organization and is homogenously dispersed at the synaptic surface. From these results, we build a model predicting the synaptic transmission properties of a unitary synapse, allowing better understanding of synaptic physiology.
Modélisation de la structure géométrique du maïs

Dans cette etude, on presente et teste un modele permettant une description detaillee de la structure geometrique du mais. Chaque element de la plante est decrit a l'aide de relations parametriques simples. Le pied est represente par son nombre de feuilles et par les distances entre les points d'insertion de 2 feuilles successives. La feuille est decrite par un modele de feuille developpee et par un modele de nervure centrale. La feuille developpee est representee par sa longueur, un parametre reliant sa plus grande largeur a sa longueur et un parametre de forme, lie a son degre d'engainement (.)
Characterization of ‘safe sites’ for pioneers in primary succession on recently deglaciated terrain

1 We characterized safe sites for individuals of five early colonizers (Abies lasiocarpa, Juncus drummondii, J. mertensianus, Saxifraga ferruginea, S. tolmiei) that had survived at least one growing season on the recently deglaciated forefront of the Lyman Glacier in the North Cascade Mountains, Washington, USA.
Evaluation of protein bait formulations for the Caribbean fruit fly (Diptera: Tephritidae).

Laboratory and field trials were conducted to determine the preference of the Caribbean fruit fly, Anastrepha suspensa (Loew), for aqueous formulations of the protein bait NuLure@? and standard torula yeast plus sodium borate (HTY-borax) pellets. Addition of 1-10% borax to 10% NuLure solution increased bait pH, and this increase was directly correlated with increase in number of female flies trapped in two-choice laboratory bioassays and in field trials conducted in three locations in south Florida during the spring of 1992. Overall, significantly more flies were attracted to volatiles from HTY-borax solution than to volatiles from any of the NuLure solutions. There was variation in the response of flies to baits observed among the three test locations. Age structures of the populations at the different locations were compared by determining the percentage of females mated among the trapped females. There were significant differences in the percentage of mated females at the 3 locations, which ranged from 26-65% mated. In the locations with a high percentage of unmated female flies, the flies were less discriminating, at least among the protein baits offered in this study. Thus, age structure of the target population may alter response to bait. There was also variation in the pH of the baits at different locations due to the pH of the water used to prepare the solutions. Bait pH may be a significant factor that has been overlooked in field tests conducted at different locations or at different times as changes in water pH, as well as bait protein pH, may strongly affect trap efficacy.
Predicting Stock Market Price Movement Using Sentiment Analysis: Evidence From Ghana

Abstract Predicting the stock market remains a challenging task due to the numerous influencing factors such as investor sentiment, firm performance, economic factors and social media sentiments. However, the profitability and economic advantage associated with accurate prediction of stock price draw the interest of academicians, economic, and financial analyst into researching in this field. Despite the improvement in stock prediction accuracy, the literature argues that prediction accuracy can be further improved beyond its current measure by looking for newer information sources particularly on the Internet. Using web news, financial tweets posted on Twitter, Google trends and forum discussions, the current study examines the association between public sentiments and the predictability of future stock price movement using Artificial Neural Network (ANN). We experimented the proposed predictive framework with stock data obtained from the Ghana Stock Exchange (GSE) between January 2010 and September 2019, and predicted the future stock value for a time window of 1 day, 7 days, 30 days, 60 days, and 90 days. We observed an accuracy of (49.4–52.95 %) based on Google trends, (55.5–60.05 %) based on Twitter, (41.52–41.77 %) based on forum post, (50.43–55.81 %) based on web news and (70.66–77.12 %) based on a combined dataset. Thus, we recorded an increase in prediction accuracy as several stock-related data sources were combined as input to our prediction model. We also established a high level of direct association between stock market behaviour and social networking sites. Therefore, based on the study outcome, we advised that stock market investors could utilise the information from web financial news, tweet, forum discussion, and Google trends to effectively perceive the future stock price movement and design effective portfolio/investment plans.
Determination of conjugated linoleic acid content and isomer distribution in three Cheddar-type cheeses: effects of cheese cultures, processing, and aging

Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) is a mixture of positional and geometric comers of linoleic acid with conjugated double bonds. Several investigators have suggested that CLA has anticarcinogenic properties. This study describes the quantification of CLA isomers in three Cheddar-type cheeses relative to the effects of different cheese cultures, processing conditions, and aging periods.An improved method was developed for quantifying CLA isomers in cheese such that isomerization did not occur. Three 13-month-aged cheeses and one ungaged cheese were analyzed for CLA concentration and isomer distribution
Effect of Cultural Conditions on Protease Production by a Thermophilic Geobacillus thermoglucosidasius SKF4 Isolated from Sungai Klah Hot Spring Park, Malaysia

Major progress in the fields of agriculture, industry, and biotechnology over the years has influenced the quest for a potent microorganism with favorable properties to be used in scientific research and industry. This study intended to isolate a new thermophilic-protease-producing bacterium and evaluate its growth and protease production under cultural conditions. Protease producing bacteria were successfully isolated from Sungai Klah Hot Spring Park in Perak, Malaysia, and coded as SKF4; they were promising protease producers. Based on microscopic, morphological, and 16S rRNA gene analysis, isolate SKF4 was identified as Geobacillus thermoglucosidasius SKF4. The process of isolating SKF4 to grow and produce proteases under different cultural conditions, including temperature, pH, NaCl concentration, carbon and nitrogen sources, and incubation time, was explored. The optimum cultural conditions observed for growth and protease production were at 60 to 65 °C of temperature, pH 7 to 8, and under 1% NaCl concentration. Further, the use of casein and yeast extract as the nitrogen sources, and sucrose and fructose as the carbon sources enhanced the growth and protease production of isolate SKF4. Meanwhile, isolate SKF4 reached maximum growth and protease production at 24 h of incubation time. The results of this study revealed a new potent strain of thermophilic bacterium isolated from Sungai Klah Hot Spring Park in Perak, Malaysia for the first time. The high production of thermostable protease enzyme by G. thermoglucosidasius SKF4 highlighted the promising properties of this bacterium for industrial and biotechnological applications.