Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Reward anticipation buffers neuroendocrine and cardiovascular responses to acute psychosocial stress in healthy young adults

Abstract Research over the last 10 years suggests that the brain’s reward system plays a crucial role in stress resilience. Notably, reward processing includes both an anticipatory (cue-triggered “wanting”) phase and a consummatory (“liking”) phase. However, previous studies manipulated rewards via direct reward administration, which makes it difficult to isolate the buffering effect of anticipating the reward stimulus. In the current study, we designed a paradigm to manipulate participants into generating reward anticipation or not and investigated whether reward anticipation can buffer psychological, neuroendocrine, and cardiovascular responses to psychosocial stress. A sample of 78 healthy young adults underwent the Trier Social Stress Test or placebo-Trier Social Stress Test after a reward anticipation task. Results showed that reward anticipation relieved subjective stress feelings, as well as the overall cortisol secretion and the increased heart rate induced by psychosocial stress. Taken together, these findings expanded our understanding of the role the reward system plays in stress resilience, and the possible psychological mechanism of the buffering effect for future stress study was also discussed. HIGHLIGHTS Reward processing includes both an anticipatory and consummatory phases The buffering effect of anticipating the reward stimulus requires elucidation We examined if said anticipation buffers varied responses to psychosocial stress Reward anticipation relieved subjective stress, cortisol secretion, and heart rate We clarified the role of the reward system in stress resilience
Association of NQO1Pro187Ser polymorphism with clinical outcomes and survival of lung cancer patients treated with platinum chemotherapy.

Background: The study was carried out to evaluate the association of NQO1 P187S polymorphism in North Indian lung cancer (LC) patients. We determined the effect of this polymorphic variant on the survival of LC patients. Patients & methods/results: This case-control study comprised a total of 1100 subjects. The genotyping was carried out using PCR-RFLP and statistical analysis was carried out. The variant TT genotype exhibited 3.5-fold higher odds in subjects with stage III (p = 0.0006), fivefold higher odds of lymph-node invasion (p = 0.007) and an odd of <1 in case of metastasis (p = 0.0028). Patients possessing TT genotype and administered with paclitaxel, exhibited a poor survival (3.57 vs 12.20 months; hazard ratio = 7.95; p = 0.0098). Conclusion: These results suggest that NQO1 variant genotype was not found to modulate risk toward LC. However, the variant genotype was found to be strongly correlated with stage III LC, lymph node invasion and was found to be positively correlating with metastasis.
Dual-axis Volta phase plate cryo-electron tomography of Ebola virus-like particles reveals actin-VP40 interactions

Cryo-electron tomography (cryo-ET) is a pivotal imaging technique for studying the structure of pleomorphic enveloped viruses and their interactions with the host at native conditions. Owing to the limited tilting range of samples with a slab geometry, electron tomograms suffer from so-called missing wedge information in Fourier space. In dual-axis cryo-ET, two tomograms reconstructed from orthogonally oriented tilt series are combined into a tomogram with improved resolution as the missing wedge information is reduced to a pyramid. Volta phase plate (VPP) allows to perform in-focus cryo-ET with high contrast transfer at low-resolution frequencies and thus its application may improve the quality of dual-axis tomograms. Here, we compare dual-axis cryo-ET with and without VPP on Ebola virus-like particles to visualize and segment viral and host cell proteins within the membrane-enveloped filamentous particles. Dual-axis VPP cryo-ET reduces the missing wedge information and ray artifacts arising from the weighted back-projection during tomogram reconstruction, thereby minimizing ambiguity in the analysis of crowded environments and facilitating 3D segmentation. We show that dual-axis VPP tomograms provide a comprehensive description of macromolecular organizations such as nucleocapsid assembly states, the distribution of glycoproteins on the viral envelope and asymmetric arrangements of the VP40 layer in non-filamentous regions of virus-like particles. Our data reveal actin filaments within virus-like particles in close proximity to the viral VP40 scaffold, suggesting a direct interaction between VP40 and actin filaments. Dual-axis VPP cryo-ET provides more complete 3D information at high contrast and allows for better interpretation of macromolecule interactions and pleomorphic organizations. Highlights Volta phase plate dual-axis cryo-electron tomography provides high contrast tomography data with reduced back-projection ray artifacts and missing wedge information in Fourier space Volta phase plate dual-axis cryo-electron tomography facilitates interpretation of protein-membrane interactions Volta phase plate dual-axis cryo-electron tomography reduces ambiguity in manual 3D rendering and markedly improves 3D isosurface modeling Ebola virus-like particles contain actin filaments in close proximity to the VP40 layer
Emerging machine learning approaches to phenotyping cellular motility and morphodynamics

Cells respond heterogeneously to molecular and environmental perturbations. Phenotypic heterogeneity, wherein multiple phenotypes coexist in the same conditions, presents challenges when interpreting the observed heterogeneity. Advances in live cell microscopy allow researchers to acquire an unprecedented amount of live cell image data at high spatiotemporal resolutions. Phenotyping cellular dynamics, however, is a nontrivial task and requires machine learning (ML) approaches to discern phenotypic heterogeneity from live cell images. In recent years, ML has proven instrumental in biomedical research, allowing scientists to implement sophisticated computation in which computers learn and effectively perform specific analyses with minimal human instruction or intervention. In this review, we discuss how ML has been recently employed in the study of cell motility and morphodynamics to identify phenotypes from computer vision analysis. We focus on new approaches to extract and learn meaningful spatiotemporal features from complex live cell images for cellular and subcellular phenotyping.
Bioconversion of Tithonia diversifolia (Mexican Sunflower) and Poultry Droppings for Energy Generation: Optimization, Mass and Energy Balances, and Economic Benefits

Anaerobic co-digestion of pretreated and untreated samples of Tithonia diversifolia with poultry droppings was carried out to establish a permanent solution to the menace of this stubborn weed present in crops worldwide. The physicochemical and microbial characteristics of the substrates (T. diversifolia, poultry droppings, and rumen contents) were evaluated using standard methods. The initial high chemical oxygen demand (COD) values were significantly reduced by 60.45 and 56.33% after digestion. In all the experiments, biogas production was progressive until between the 16th and 21st days in most cases, after which a decrease was observed until the end of the experiments. The most desirable actual/experimental biogas yields from both experiments were 2984.20 and 1408.02 m3/kg total solids (TS) fed, with desirability of 100% for both experiments. Gas chromatographic analysis revealed the CH4 and CO2 contents of both experiments to be 67 ± 1.5%; 22 ± 2% and 60 ± 1%; 23 ± 2%, respectively. The response surf.
Weak selection on synonymous codons substantially inflates dN/dS estimates in bacteria

Significance The ratio of the nonsynonymous codon-substitution rate to that for synonymous codons (dN/dS) is widely used to estimate the strength and direction of selection. However, many synonymous changes are under selection, particularly in genes with high expression levels. We developed a model to include both neutral and selected synonymous substitutions and applied it to a large order of bacteria. The analysis revealed that the conventional estimate of dS is usually well below the strictly neutral rate (80% on average). It follows that conventional dN/dS estimates that are less than 1 substantially underestimate the level of negative selection and that cases of apparent positive selection (dN/dS > 1), as well as other applications of dN/dS, should be reconsidered. Synonymous codon substitutions are not always selectively neutral as revealed by several types of analyses, including studies of codon usage patterns among genes. We analyzed codon usage in 13 bacterial genomes sampled from across a large order of bacteria, Enterobacterales, and identified presumptively neutral and selected classes of synonymous substitutions. To estimate substitution rates, given a neutral/selected classification of synonymous substitutions, we developed a flexible dN/dS substitution model that allows multiple classes of synonymous substitutions. Under this multiclass synonymous substitution (MSS) model, the denominator of dN/dS includes only the strictly neutral class of synonymous substitutions. On average, the value of dN/dS under the MSS model was 80% of that under the standard codon model in which all synonymous substitutions are assumed to be neutral. The indication is that conventional dN/dS analyses overestimate these values and thus overestimate the frequency of positive diversifying selection and underestimate the strength of purifying selection. To quantify the strength of selection necessary to explain this reduction, we developed a model of selected compensatory codon substitutions. The reduction in synonymous substitution rate, and thus the contribution that selection makes to codon bias variation among genes, can be adequately explained by very weak selection, with a mean product of population size and selection coefficient, Ns=0.8.
A Nutrition-Sensitive Agroecology Intervention in Rural Tanzania Increases Children's Dietary Diversity and Household Food Security But Does Not Change Child Anthropometry: Results from a Cluster-Randomized Trial

ABSTRACT Background There are urgent calls for the transformation of agriculture and food systems to address human and planetary health issues. Nutrition-sensitive agriculture and agroecology promise interconnected solutions to these challenges, but evidence of their impact has been limited. Objectives In a cluster-randomized trial (NCT02761876), we examined whether a nutrition-sensitive agroecology intervention in rural Tanzania could improve children's dietary diversity. Secondary outcomes were food insecurity and child anthropometry. We also posited that such an intervention would improve sustainable agricultural practices (e.g., agrobiodiversity, intercropping), women's empowerment (e.g., participation in decision making, time use), and women's well-being (e.g., dietary diversity, depression). Methods Food-insecure smallholder farmers with children aged <1 y from 20 villages in Singida, Tanzania, were invited to participate. Villages were paired and publicly randomized; control villages received the intervention after 2 y. One man and 1 woman “mentor farmer” were elected from each intervention village to lead their peers in agroecological learning on topics including legume intensification, nutrition, and women's empowerment. Impact was estimated using longitudinal difference-in-differences fixed-effects regression analyses. Results A total of 591 households (intervention: n = 296; control: n = 295) were enrolled; 90.0% were retained to study end. After 2 growing seasons, the intervention improved children's dietary diversity score by 0.57 food groups (out of 7; P < 0.01), and the percentage of children achieving minimum dietary diversity (≥4 food groups) increased by 9.9 percentage points during the postharvest season. The intervention significantly reduced household food insecurity but had no significant impact on child anthropometry. The intervention also improved a range of sustainable agriculture, women's empowerment, and women's well-being outcomes. Conclusions The magnitude of the intervention's impacts was similar to or larger than that of other nutrition-sensitive interventions that provided more substantial inputs but were not agroecologically focused. These data suggest the untapped potential for nutrition-sensitive agroecological approaches to achieve human health while promoting sustainable agricultural practices.
Kangfuxin Liquid Ameliorates Dextran Sulfate Sodium (DSS)-Induced Acute Ulcerative Colitis in Mice by Modulating Immune Response and Suppressing Inflammation

Background The aim of this study was to determine the effect of kangfuxin liquid (KFXL) on inflammatory response, and its underlying mechanism in treating acute ulcerative colitis (UC) in mice induced by dextran sulfate sodium (DSS). Material/Methods Mice were provided drinking water containing DSS (3%) for 7 days to induce acute enteritis. The mice were divided into 6 groups: a control group, a DSS-induced (vehicle) group, a sulfasalazine (SASP) group, and low-, medium-, and high-dose kangfuxin liquid groups. Disease activity index (DAI), colon mucosa damage index (CMDI), histopathological score (HS), and organ index were monitored daily. The levels of interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-10 (IL-10) in serum and interleukin-17 (IL-17) and epidermal growth factor (EGF) in colon tissue were assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Flow cytometry was used to assess the changes of T lymphocyte subsets in spleens of mice to evaluate the therapeutic effect of drugs on acute UC in mice. Results Different doses of kangfuxin liquid reduced the DAI, CMDI, and HS scores (P<0.01 or P<0.05) of acute UC mice, reduced the level of IL-1β and IL-17 in serum, increased the expression of IL-10 in serum and EGF in colon tissue, increased the number of CD3+ T cells, and decreased the level of CD4+ T cells and the ratio of CD4+/CD8+. Conclusions Kangfuxin liquid has a therapeutic effect on DSS-induced acute UC in mice, and its mechanism of action may be associated with regulating immune function and reducing intestinal inflammatory response.
Stratification of Type 2 Diabetes by Age of Diagnosis in the UK Biobank Reveals Subgroup-Specific Genetic Associations and Causal Risk Profiles

The pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes (T2D) might change with increasing age. Here, we used a stratification based on age of diagnosis to gain insight into the genetics and causal risk factors of T2D across different age-groups. We performed genome-wide association studies (GWAS) on T2D and T2D subgroups based on age of diagnosis (<50, 50–60, 60–70, and >70 years) (total of 24,986 cases). As control subjects, participants were at least 70 years of age at the end of follow-up without developing T2D (N =187,130). GWAS identified 208 independent lead single nucleotide polymorphism (SNPs) mapping to 69 loci associated with T2D (P < 1.0e−8). Among others, SNPs mapped to CDKN2B-AS1 and multiple independent SNPs mapped to TCF7L2 were more strongly associated with cases diagnosed after age 70 years than with cases diagnosed before age 50 years. Based on the different case groups, we performed two-sample Mendelian randomization. Most notably, we observed that of the investigated risk factors, the association between BMI and T2D attenuated with increasing age of diagnosis. Collectively, our results indicate that stratification of T2D based on age of diag-nosis reveals subgroup-specific genetics and causal determinants, supporting the hypothesis that the pathogenesis of T2D changes with increasing age.
Phenolic profile of jujube fruit subjected to gut microbiota fermentation and its antioxidant potential against ethyl carbamate-induced oxidative damage

To evaluate the composition of bioactive substances and the antioxidant effects of jujube fruit under gut microbiota fermentation (GMF), and the inhibitory effect on cytotoxicity caused by ethyl carbamate (EC). Changes in the contents of flavonoids, polyphenols, total sugars, and reducing sugars of jujube fruit after GMF (0, 2, 6, 12, 24, and 48 h) were determined. The oxidation resistance of fermented jujube fruits (from 0 to 48 h fermentation) was evaluated using in vitro 2,2′-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulphonate) (ABTS) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays. Inhibitory effects of 48 h-fermented jujube fruit at various concentrations (0.25, 0.50, 1.00, and 2.00 mg/mL) on EC-treated toxicity and DNA damage of Caco-2 cells were estimated using 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) and nuclear staining assays, respectively. Effects of different concentrations of jujube fruit on EC-treated Caco-2 cells’ intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), glutathione (GSH) levels, and mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) were also evaluated. Jujube fruit has rich bioactive components after GMF and shows strong antioxidant capacity. Fermented jujube fruit can inhibit the cytotoxicity and DNA damage of Caco-2 cells caused by EC and reduce intracellular ROS generation, as well as restoring GSH and MMP. Fermented jujube fruit extracts produced by GMF still contain biologically active substances which retain biological activity and antioxidation capabilities.
Particle Engineering of an Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient for Improved Micromeritic Properties

A range of particle engineering techniques were applied to modify unfavorable bulk solid properties of an Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API), with the solid state form of the compound remaining constant. The compound under investigation has been hitherto crystallized as needle-like particles, leading to poor powder-flow properties, ineffective processing and problematic formulation behavior. The results show that design and optimization of a cooling crystallization procedure as well as application of alternative approaches, i.e. spherical agglomeration, additive-controlled crystallization or ultrasonication can effectively improve solid-state properties of the studied compound. The improvements were quantified by measuring bulk density, flowability and comparing the jet-milling behavior.
Just 2% of SARS-CoV-2−positive individuals carry 90% of the virus circulating in communities

Significance We analyzed data from saliva-based COVID-19 screening deployed on the University of Colorado Boulder campus. Our dataset is unique in that all SARS-CoV-2−positive individuals reported no symptoms at the time of saliva collection, and therefore were infected but asymptomatic or presymptomatic. We found that 1) the distribution of viral loads observed in our asymptomatic college population was indistinguishable from what has been reported in hospitalized populations; 2) regardless of symptomatic status, approximately 50% of individuals who test positive for SARS-CoV-2 seem to be in noninfectious phases of the infection; and 3) just 2% of infected individuals carry 90% of the virions circulating within communities, serving as viral “supercarriers” and likely also superspreaders. We analyze data from the fall 2020 pandemic response efforts at the University of Colorado Boulder, where more than 72,500 saliva samples were tested for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) using qRT-PCR. All samples were collected from individuals who reported no symptoms associated with COVID-19 on the day of collection. From these, 1,405 positive cases were identified. The distribution of viral loads within these asymptomatic individuals was indistinguishable from what has been previously observed in symptomatic individuals. Regardless of symptomatic status, ∼50% of individuals who test positive for SARS-CoV-2 seem to be in noninfectious phases of the disease, based on having low viral loads in a range from which live virus has rarely been isolated. We find that, at any given time, just 2% of individuals carry 90% of the virions circulating within communities, serving as viral “supercarriers” and possibly also superspreaders.
Anticorrosion Effect of 4‐Amino‐5‐(4‐pyridyl)‐4H‐1,2,4‐triazole‐3‐thiol for Mild Steel in HCl Solution

The effect of 4-amino-5-(4-pyridyl)-4H-1,2,4-triazole-3-thiol (4APT) on the corrosion of mild steel in hydrochloric acid solution was investigated as electrochemically, theoretically and qualitatively. Inhibition efficiency of 4APT on mild steel surface was observed and illuminated by EIS, potentiodynamic polarization, SEM and FTIR techniques. All of the experiments show that 4APT provides a good film layer on the surface and inhibits the corrosion of mild steel by adsorbing on a vast scale. The inhibition efficiency of 4APT was found approximately 96 %. It is understood that 4APT is an effective inhibitor for acid corrosion of mild steel.
XRE-Type Regulator BioX Acts as a Negative Transcriptional Factor of Biotin Metabolism in Riemerella anatipestifer

Riemerella anatipestifer is a causative agent of diseases in ducks, geese, turkeys, and various other domestic and wild birds. Our study reveals that biotin synthesis of R. anatipestifer is regulated by the BioX through binding to the promoter region of the bioF gene to inhibit transcription of the bioFDA operon. ABSTRACT Biotin is essential for the growth and pathogenicity of microorganisms. Damage to biotin biosynthesis results in impaired bacterial growth and decreased virulence in vivo. However, the mechanisms of biotin biosynthesis in Riemerella anatipestifer remain unclear. In this study, two R. anatipestifer genes associated with biotin biosynthesis were identified. AS87_RS05840 encoded a BirA protein lacking the N-terminal winged helix-turn-helix DNA binding domain, identifying it as a group I biotin protein ligase, and AS87_RS09325 encoded a BioX protein, which was in the helix-turn-helix xenobiotic response element family of transcription factors. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays demonstrated that BioX bound to the promoter region of bioF. In addition, the R. anatipestifer genes bioF (encoding 7-keto-8-aminopelargonic acid synthase), bioD (encoding dethiobiotin synthase), and bioA (encoding 7,8-diaminopelargonic acid synthase) were in an operon and were regulated by BioX. Quantitative reverse transcription-PCR showed that transcription of the bioFDA operon increased in the mutant Yb2ΔbioX in the presence of excessive biotin, compared with that in the wild-type strain Yb2, suggesting that BioX acted as a repressor of biotin biosynthesis. Streptavidin blot analysis showed that BirA caused biotinylation of BioX, indicating that biotinylated BioX was involved in metabolic pathways. Moreover, as determined by the median lethal dose, the virulence of Yb2ΔbioX was attenuated 500-fold compared with that of Yb2. To summarize, the genes birA and bioX were identified in R. anatipestifer, and BioX was found to act as a repressor of the bioFDA operon involved in the biotin biosynthesis pathway and identified as a bacterial virulence factor. IMPORTANCE Riemerella anatipestifer is a causative agent of diseases in ducks, geese, turkeys, and various other domestic and wild birds. Our study reveals that biotin synthesis of R. anatipestifer is regulated by the BioX through binding to the promoter region of the bioF gene to inhibit transcription of the bioFDA operon. Moreover, bioX is required for R. anatipestifer pathogenicity, suggesting that BioX is a potential target for treatment of the pathogen. R. anatipestifer BioX has thus been identified as a novel negative regulator involved in biotin metabolism and associated with bacterial virulence in this study.