Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Biomarkers of fatty acids and risk of type 2 diabetes: a systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies

Abstract We aimed to quantify and generate comprehensive evidence on the associations of different fatty acids (FAs) with the risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). PubMed, MEDLINE, and Embase were searched for prospective cohort studies that examined the association between FA biomarkers and the risk of T2DM published before 18 May 2020. Random-effects meta-analyses of the effects of FA concentration on T2DM were performed. Thirty-three studies involving 95,810 adults (19,904 cases) were included. Divergent associations of different types of FAs with type 2 diabetes were observed. The pooled relative risk (RRs) of T2DM comparing the top versus the bottom tertile of saturated FAs (C14:0, C16:0, C18:0, total saturated FAs), monounsaturated FA (C16:1 n-7), polyunsaturated FA (C20:3 n-6, C22:4 n-6), and Δ-6-desaturase activities ranged from 1.19 to 1.80. Interestingly, unlike previous studies, we found a negative correlation between odd-chain saturated FAs (C15:0, C17:0), trans-FAs (trans-C16:1 n-7), total n-6, Δ-5-desaturase activities and risk of T2DM. The pooled RRs of T2DM comparing the top versus the bottom tertile of these FAs ranged from 0.62 to 0.78. No associations with T2DM were observed for the other FAs. Considerable heterogeneity was observed in our study, and no definitive conclusions can be made until further investigation has been carried out.
Application of microsatellite DNA primers for the analysis of the genetic variability of Lithuanian native goose breeds

2 Institute of Ecology, Vilnius University, Akademijos g. 2, LT-08412, Vilnius, Lithuania The aim of our study was to assess the use of waterfowl species specific primers in order to detect polymorphism in Lithuanian native geese breeds (Vistinės, Skarulės and Vistinės-Skarulės hybrids – Native Mixed). Also, the White-fronted geese species was investigated for comparison. The microsatellite DNA analysis was carried out using 11 microsatellite primers from which only 4 gave a positive PCR product: Sfimu1 (some wild waterfowl species specific marker), TTUCG-1, TTUCG-2, TTUCG-4 (Canada geese specific marker). According to our data, it is possible to use wild waterfowl specific microsatellite DNA markers for a comparative microsatellite DNA analysis of the White-fronted geese species and 2 Lithuanian breeds (Vistinės and Skarulės), and their hybrids (Native Mixed) were obtained by interbreeding these breeds. We found that the TTUCG-1 primer, due to monomorphic PCR products, was not suitable for the population analysis of Skarulės and the Vistinės geese breeds. Due to the absence of the amplified product, the TTUCG-4 primer is not suitable for hybrid geese microsatellite DNA analysis.
Nutraceutical Vegetable Oil Nanoformulations for Prevention and Management of Diseases

The scientific community is becoming increasingly interested in identifying, characterizing, and delivering nutraceuticals, which constitutes a multi-billion-dollar business. These bioactive agents are claimed to exhibit several health benefits, including the prevention and treatment of diseases such as arthritis, cancer, osteoporosis, cataracts, Alzheimer’s, and Huntington’s diseases, heart, brain and metabolic disorders, etc. Nutraceuticals are typically consumed as part of a regular human diet and are usually present within foods, comprising vegetable oil, although at low levels and variable composition. Thus, it is difficult to control the type, amount and frequency of their ingestion by individuals. Nanoformulations about vegetable oil-based bioactive compounds with nutraceutical properties are useful for overcoming these issues, while improving the uptake, absorption, and bioavailability in the body. The purpose of this current study is to review papers on such nanoformulations, particularly those relevant for health benefits and the prevention and management of diseases, as well as bioactives extracted from vegetable oils enhancing the drug effectiveness, retrieved through bibliographic databases by setting a timespan from January 2000 to April 2020 (about 1758 records).
Isolation and Identification of Taxol, an Anticancer Drug from Phyllosticta melochiae Yates, an Endophytic Fungus of Melochia corchorifolia L.

Phyllosticta melochiae, an endophytic fungus isolated from the healthy leaves of Melochia corchorifolia, was screened for the production of an anticancer drug, taxol on modified liquid medium and potato dextrose broth medium in culture for the first time. The presence of taxol was confirmed by spectroscopic and chromatographic methods of analysis. The amount of taxol produced by this fungus was quantified by high performance liquid chromatography. The maximum amount of fungal taxol production was recorded as 274 ㎍/l. The production rate was increased to 5.5×1,000 fold than that found in the culture broth of earlier reported fungus, Taxomyces andreanae. The fungal taxol extracted also showed a strong cytotoxic activity in the in vitro culture of tested human cancer cells by apoptotic assay. The results designate that the fungal endophyte, P. melochiae is an excellent candidate for an alternate source of taxol supply and can serve as a potential species for genetic engineering to enhance the production of taxol to a higher level.
COMBINATIONS OF SHRNA INHIBITS BTV REPLICATION IN VITRO IN BHK21CELLS

Bluetongue is an economically important disease for the farming community however vaccines effective for all 26 serotypes are unavailable. Hairpin expression vecto rs have been used to induce gene silencing in a lar ge number of studies on viruses. However, none of these studies has been attempted to study BTV. In this study we s how the suppression of bluetongue virus (BTV) replication b y targeting combinations of short hairpin (sh) RNAs against VP1, VP3 and VP6 genes. Two siRNAs were selected for conserved regions of VP1, VP3 and VP6 gene and corresponding shRNA producing cassettes were obtained on successful cloning in psiRNA vector. Endotoxin free plasmid DNAs of positive clones were used for trans fection in BHK 21 cell lines. Transfection was followed by infection with 100TCID50 of BTV1 serotype 8 h Post transfection (Pt). All of them were found to be eff ective up on titration at 48 hour post infection (Pi). The thres hold cycle (Ct) values on quantitative Real Time PC R of the above sample indicated that inhibition was achieved by al l the combinations of shRNAs. The results of the pr esent study revealed that knocking down of VP1, VP3 and VP6 genes will be effective for the control of BTV multipl ication by transfection with combinations of shRNA producing cassettes in vitro in BHK21 cells. This study demons trates that combinations of shRNA can effectively inhibit BTV replication in vitro in BHK21 cells.
On the Two-Dimensional Knapsack Problem for Convex Polygons

We study the two-dimensional geometric knapsack problem for convex polygons. Given a set of weighted convex polygons and a square knapsack, the goal is to select the most profitable subset of the given polygons that fits non-overlappingly into the knapsack. We allow to rotate the polygons by arbitrary angles. We present a quasi-polynomial time O (1)-approximation algorithm for the general case and a pseudopolynomial time O (1)-approximation algorithm if all input polygons are triangles, both assuming polynomially bounded integral input data. Also, we give a quasi-polynomial time algorithm that computes a solution of optimal weight under resource augmentation, i.e., we allow to increase the size of the knapsack by a factor of 1 + δ for some δ > 0 but compare ourselves with the optimal solution for the original knapsack. To the best of our knowledge, these are the first results for two-dimensional geometric knapsack in which the input objects are more general than axis-parallel rectangles or circles and in which the input polygons can be rotated by arbitrary angles.
Examining the Impact of COVID-19 Lockdown in Wuhan and Lombardy: A Psycholinguistic Analysis on Weibo and Twitter

Many countries are taking strict quarantine policies to prevent the rapid spread of COVID-19 (Corona Virus Disease 2019) around the world, such as city lockdown. Cities in China and Italy were locked down in the early stage of the pandemic. The present study aims to examine and compare the impact of COVID-19 lockdown on individuals’ psychological states in China and Italy. We achieved the aim by (1) sampling Weibo users (geo-location = Wuhan, China) and Twitter users (geo-location = Lombardy, Italy); (2) fetching all the users’ published posts two weeks before and after the lockdown in each region (e.g., the lockdown date of Wuhan was 23 January 2020); (3) extracting the psycholinguistic features of these posts using the Simplified Chinese and Italian version of Language Inquiry and Word Count (LIWC) dictionary; and (4) conducting Wilcoxon tests to examine the changes in the psycholinguistic characteristics of the posts before and after the lockdown in Wuhan and Lombardy, respectively. Results showed that individuals focused more on “home”, and expressed a higher level of cognitive process after a lockdown in both Wuhan and Lombardy. Meanwhile, the level of stress decreased, and the attention to leisure increased in Lombardy after the lockdown. The attention to group, religion, and emotions became more prevalent in Wuhan after the lockdown. Findings provide decision-makers timely evidence on public reactions and the impacts on psychological states in the COVID-19 context, and have implications for evidence-based mental health interventions in two countries.
Structure Dependence of Poisson’s Ratio in Cesium Silicate and Borate Glasses

In glass materials, Poisson’s ratio (ν) has been proposed to be correlated with a variety of features, including atomic packing density (Cg), liquid fragility (m), and network connectivity. To further investigate these correlations in oxide glasses, here, we study cesium borate and cesium silicate glasses with varying modifier/former ratio given the difference in network former coordination and because cesium results in relatively high ν compared to the smaller alkali modifiers. Within the binary glass series, we find positive correlations between ν on one hand and m and Cg on the other hand. The network former is found to greatly influence the correlation between ν and the number of bridging oxygens (nBO), with a negative correlation for silicate glasses and positive correlation for borate glasses. An analysis based on topological constraint theory shows that this difference cannot be explained by the effect of superstructural units on the network connectivity in lithium borate glasses. Considering a wider range of oxide glasses from the literature, we find that ν generally decreases with increasing network connectivity, but with notable exceptions for heavy alkali borate glasses and calcium alumino tectosilicate glasses.
Measurement and simulation of harmonics ́ spread

This paper deals with harmonics influence on voltage quality in distribution network. Next it includes adverse reactions of rectifiers, mainly because they generate current harmonics and thereby affect a voltage waveform. Measurement was conducted on 22 kV three-phase power line model with connected rectifier. The results obtained from measurements were analyzed. There was created simulation model in Matlab program. Parameters and topology are identical as in measured network. In the article there are also shown the possibilities for the harmonics elimination using conventional methods of defects measured. Results from simulation can be used in 22 kV power line model.
Longitudinal increases in somatic mosaicism of the expanded CTG repeat in myotonic dystrophy type 1 are associated with variation in age-at-onset.

In myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1), somatic mosaicism of the (CTG)n repeat expansion is age-dependent, tissue-specific, and expansion-biased. These features contribute toward variation in disease severity and confound genotype to phenotype analyses. To investigate how the (CTG)n repeat expansion changes over time, we collected three longitudinal blood DNA samples separated by 8 to 15 years and used small pool and single molecule PCR in 43 DM1 patients. We used the lower boundary of the allele length distribution as the best estimate for the inherited progenitor allele length (ePAL), which is itself the best predictor of disease severity. Although in most patients the lower boundary of the allele length distribution was conserved over time, in many this estimate also increased with age, suggesting samples for research studies and clinical trials should be obtained as early as possible. As expected, the modal allele length increased over time, driven primarily by ePAL, age-at-sampling and the time interval. As expected, small expansions < 100 repeats, did not expand as rapidly as larger alleles. However, the rate of expansion of very large alleles was not obviously proportionally higher. This may, at least in part, be a result of the allele length-dependent increase in large contractions that we also observed. We also determined that individual-specific variation in the increase of modal allele length over time not accounted for by ePAL, age-at-sampling and time was inversely associated with individual-specific variation in age-at-onset not accounted for by ePAL, further highlighting somatic expansion as a therapeutic target in DM1.
Predicting Student’s Performance Using Data Mining Techniques: A Survey From 2002 To 2020

: Today, many educational institutions suffer from the issue of dropping out students, failing students, recognize poor students because of the lack of a proper framework for assessing and tracking the success and performance of students. This is one of the main challenges of the educational institution, since predicting the performance of students is difficult due to vast volumes of data in educational databases. Predicting student‘s performance at an educational institution is mostly useful in helping the institute management to make strategy and decision making related to improving student performance. Data Mining is one of the efficient methods for predicting student‘s performance in large educational databases. Data Mining is applied in the field of education to predict student‘s performance. Different data mining methods and techniques are used for predicting student‘s performance. This paper present a literature research on data mining methods used to predict student‘s performance from 2002 to 2020. This paper reviews work done by different researcher to predict student‘s performance in all perspective. This paper also discusses commonly used attributes in different research for the student performance analysis.
Molecular phylogeny of Chinese snakegourd (Trichosanthes kirilowii Maxim) based on cytological and AFLP analyses

Amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) marker and cytological analyses were employed to evaluate the genetic relationships and diversity of Chinese snakegourd. According to the cytological analyses, accessions 1, 2 and 3 were diploid (2n = 22), and accessions 4 to 12 were octaploid (2n = 88). Fourteen AFLP primer combinations generated a total of 645 reproducible loci among 12 Chinese snakegourd accessions studied, of which 628 loci were polymorphic with an average of 44.9 polymorphic bands per primer combination. Genetic similarities were obtained using Nei and Li similarity coefficients, and a dendrogram reflecting the relationship of 12 accessions was made using the unweighted pair-group method with arithmetic averages (UPGMA) clustering method. Based on the cluster analyses, 12 accessions were classified into two primary groups, in which group one included accessions 1, 2 and 3 that were diploid, and the other nine octaploid accessions formed group two. Analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) revealed much greater variation among groups than within them. Meanwhile, some genotypes that might have great medicinal potential were also proposed according to their genetic relationships. These results provide exact evaluation of the relationships among Trichosanthes kirilowii accessions and give useful information for further investigation and utilization of this species.
α- and ϵ-Protein Kinase C Activity during Smooth Muscle Cell Apoptosis in Response to γ-Radiation

The use of γ-radiation in treatment of pelvic cancer is associated with injury of healthy surrounding tissues and disorders of intestinal motility; however, the cellular mechanisms involved are unclear. We tested the hypothesis that exposure of visceral smooth muscle cells (SMCs) to γ-radiation induces apoptosis via activation of specific protein kinase C (PKC) isoforms. Cultured SMCs and slices from guinea pig ileum smooth muscle longitudinal layer (GPISMLL) were exposed to 10 to 50 Gy. Flow cytometry in γ-radiated SMCs showed increased percentage of cells in the sub-G0/G1 phase, a hallmark of apoptosis. γ-Radiation-induced reduction in cell survival was partially but significantly alleviated with the PKC inhibitors. Sections of γ-irradiated GPISMLL showed DNA fragmentation and apoptotic bodies analyzed by the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick-end labeling method, whereas the plasma and nuclear membranes were preserved. Confocal microscopy in γ-radiated SMCs labeled with annexin V-fluorescein showed an increase in apoptotic cells and phosphatidylserine externalization. Contraction of GPISMLL strips in response to KCl and acetylcholine was reduced in tissues exposed to 30 and 50 Gy. γ-Radiation of GPISMLL caused an increase in PKC activity in the particulate fraction, a decrease in the cytosolic fraction, and increased particulate/cytosolic PKC activity ratio. Western blot analysis revealed significant amounts of α- and ϵ-PKC in the cytosolic fraction of control GPISMLL. γ-Radiation caused an increase in the amount of α- and ϵ-PKC in the particulate fraction and a decrease in the cytosolic fraction. Data suggest that γ-radiation induces apoptosis, growth arrest, and contractile dysfunction in visceral SMCs of GPISMLL via activation and translocation of α- and ϵ-PKC isoforms.
Input–output connections of LJA5 prodynorphin neurons

Sensory information is transmitted from peripheral nerves, through the spinal cord, and up to the brain. Sensory information may be modulated by projections from the brain to the spinal cord, but the neural substrates for top‐down sensory control are incompletely understood. We identified a novel population of inhibitory neurons in the mouse brainstem, distinguished by their expression of prodynorphin, which we named LJA5. Here, we identify a similar group of Pdyn+ neurons in the human brainstem, and we define the efferent and afferent projection patterns of LJA5 neurons in mouse. Using specific genetic tools, we selectively traced the projections of the Pdyn‐expressing LJA5 neurons through the brain and spinal cord. Terminal fields were densest in the lateral and ventrolateral periaqueductal gray (PAG), lateral parabrachial nucleus (LPB), caudal pressor area, and lamina I of the spinal trigeminal nucleus and all levels of the spinal cord. We then labeled cell types in the PAG, LPB, medulla, and spinal cord to better define the specific targets of LJA5 boutons. LJA5 neurons send the only known inhibitory descending projection specifically to lamina I of the spinal cord, which transmits afferent pain, temperature, and itch information up to the brain. Using retrograde tracing, we found LJA5 neurons receive inputs from sensory and stress areas such as somatosensory/insular cortex, preoptic area, paraventricular nucleus, dorsomedial nucleus and lateral hypothalamus, PAG, and LPB. This pattern of inputs and outputs suggest LJA5 neurons are uniquely positioned to be activated by sensation and stress, and in turn, inhibit pain and itch.
Colorectal Cancer Early Detection in Stool Samples Tracing CpG Islands Methylation Alterations Affecting Gene Expression

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a major cause of cancer mortality. Early diagnosis is relevant for its prevention and treatment. Since DNA methylation alterations are early events in tumourigenesis and can be detected in cell-free DNA, they represent promising biomarkers for early CRC diagnosis through non-invasive methods. In our previous work, we identified 74 early altered CpG islands (CGIs) associated with genes involved in cell cross-talking and cell signalling pathways. The aim of this work was to test whether methylation-based biomarkers could be detected in non-invasive matrices. Our results confirmed methylation alterations of GRIA4 and VIPR2 in CRC tissues, using MethyLight, as well as in stool samples, using a much more sensitive technique as droplet digital PCR. Furthermore, we analysed expression levels of selected genes whose promoter CGIs were hypermethylated in CRC, detecting downregulation at mRNA and protein levels in CRC tissue for GRIA4, VIPR2, SPOCK1 and SLC6A3. Most of these genes were already lowly expressed in colon normal tissues supporting the idea that cancer DNA methylation targets genes already barely expressed in the matched normal tissues. Our study suggests GRIA4 and VIPR2 as biomarkers for early CRC diagnosis using stool samples and confirms downregulation of genes hypermethylated in CRC.
DNA analyses reveal abundant homoplasy in taxonomically important morphological characters of Eusiroidea (Crustacea, Amphipoda)

Eusiroidea is one of the 20 amphipod superfamilies that were erected to subdivide the very large and controversial suborder Gammaridea. Yet, the definition of the superfamily is not based on synapomorphies, but on a combination of diagnostic phenetic similarities that hold more or less consistently across families. Moreover, many of the characters used to define eusiroid families are suspected to show convergent evolution. The current classification of the Eusiroidea may therefore not reflect evolutionary relationships accurately. Here, we present a molecular phylogenetic re‐analysis of the Eusiroidea based on a comparison of 18S and 28S rDNA sequences of 73 species, representing 47 genera and 16 families that potentially belong to the superfamily. The results suggest that at least species belonging to 14 of these traditional families would be part of a eusiroid clade, increasing by more than twofold the species and generic richness of the group. However, most of the eusiroid families surveyed do not appear monophyletic. Finally, the analyses show that several important morphological characteristics, traditionally used in eusiroid taxonomy, are homoplastic.
Alcids ‘fly’ at efficient Strouhal numbers in both air and water but vary stroke velocity and angle

Birds that use their wings for ‘flight’ in both air and water are expected to fly poorly in each fluid relative to single-fluid specialists; that is, these jacks-of-all-trades should be the masters of none. Alcids exhibit exceptional dive performance while retaining aerial flight. We hypothesized that alcids maintain efficient Strouhal numbers and stroke velocities across air and water, allowing them to mitigate the costs of their ‘fluid generalism’. We show that alcids cruise at Strouhal numbers between 0.10 and 0.40 – on par with single-fluid specialists – in both air and water but flap their wings ~ 50% slower in water. Thus, these species either contract their muscles at inefficient velocities or maintain a two-geared muscle system, highlighting a clear cost to using the same morphology for locomotion in two fluids. Additionally, alcids varied stroke-plane angle between air and water and chord angle during aquatic flight, expanding their performance envelope.