Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Feeding Interventions for Infants with Growth Failure in the First Six Months of Life: A Systematic Review

(1) Introduction: Current evidence on managing infants under six months with growth failure or other nutrition-related risk is sparse and low quality. This review aims to inform research priorities to fill this evidence gap, focusing on breastfeeding practices. (2) Methods: We searched PubMed, CINAHL Plus, and Cochrane Library for studies on feeding interventions that aim to restore or improve the volume or quality of breastmilk and breastfeeding when breastfeeding practices are sub-optimal or prematurely stopped. We included studies from both low- and middle-income countries and high-income countries. (3) Results: Forty-seven studies met the inclusion criteria. Most were from high-income countries (n = 35, 74.5%) and included infants who were at risk of growth failure at birth (preterm infants/small for gestational age) and newborns with early growth faltering. Interventions included formula fortification or supplementation (n = 31, 66%), enteral feeds (n = 8, 17%), cup feeding (n = 2, 4.2%), and other (n = 6, 12.8%). Outcomes included anthropometric change (n = 40, 85.1%), reported feeding practices (n = 16, 34%), morbidity (n = 11, 23.4%), and mortality (n = 5, 10.6%). Of 31 studies that assessed formula fortification or supplementation, 30 reported anthropometric changes (n = 17 no effect, n = 9 positive, n = 4 mixed), seven morbidity (n = 3 no effect, n = 2 positive, n = 2 negative), five feeding (n = 2 positive, n = 2 no effect, n = 1 negative), and four mortality (n = 3 no effect, n = 1 negative). Of eight studies that assessed enteral feed interventions, seven reported anthropometric changes (n = 4 positive, n = 3 no effect), five feeding practices (n = 2 positive, n = 2 no effect, n = 1 negative), four morbidity (n = 4 no effect), and one reported mortality (n = 1 no effect). Overall, interventions with positive effects on feeding practices were cup feeding compared to bottle-feeding among preterm; nasogastric tube feed compared to bottle-feeding among low birth weight preterm; and early progressive feeding compared to delayed feeding among extremely low birth weight preterm. Bovine/cow milk feeding and high volume feeding interventions had an unfavourable effect, while electric breast pump and Galactagogue had a mixed effect. Regarding anthropometric outcomes, overall, macronutrient fortified formula, cream supplementation, and fortified human milk formula had a positive effect (weight gain) on preterm infants. Interventions comparing human breastmilk/donor milk with formula had mixed effects. Overall, only human milk compared to formula intervention had a positive effect on morbidity among preterm infants, while none of the interventions had any positive effect on mortality. Bovine/cow milk supplementation had unfavourable effects on both morbidity and mortality. (4) Conclusion: Future research should prioritise low- and middle-income countries, include infants presenting with growth failure in the post-neonatal period and record effects on morbidity and mortality outcomes.
The first DEP domain of the RhoGEF P-Rex1 autoinhibits activity and contributes to membrane binding

Phosphatidylinositol (3,4,5)-trisphosphate (PIP3)-dependent Rac exchanger 1 (P-Rex1) catalyzes the exchange of GDP for GTP on Rac GTPases, thereby triggering changes in the actin cytoskeleton and in transcription. Its overexpression is highly correlated with the metastasis of certain cancers. P-Rex1 recruitment to the plasma membrane and its activity are regulated via interactions with heterotrimeric Gβγ subunits, PIP3, and protein kinase A (PKA). Deletion analysis has further shown that domains C-terminal to its catalytic Dbl homology (DH) domain confer autoinhibition. Among these, the first dishevelled, Egl-10, and pleckstrin domain (DEP1) remains to be structurally characterized. DEP1 also harbors the primary PKA phosphorylation site, suggesting that an improved understanding of this region could substantially increase our knowledge of P-Rex1 signaling and open the door to new selective chemotherapeutics. Here we show that the DEP1 domain alone can autoinhibit activity in context of the DH/PH-DEP1 fragment of P-Rex1 and interacts with the DH/PH domains in solution. The 3.1 Å crystal structure of DEP1 features a domain swap, similar to that observed previously in the Dvl2 DEP domain, involving an exposed basic loop that contains the PKA site. Using purified proteins, we show that although DEP1 phosphorylation has no effect on the activity or solution conformation of the DH/PH-DEP1 fragment, it inhibits binding of the DEP1 domain to liposomes containing phosphatidic acid. Thus, we propose that PKA phosphorylation of the DEP1 domain hampers P-Rex1 binding to negatively charged membranes in cells, freeing the DEP1 domain to associate with and inhibit the DH/PH module.
Dietary fat exacerbates postprandial hypothalamic inflammation involving glial fibrillary acidic protein‐positive cells and microglia in male mice

In humans, obesity is associated with brain inflammation, glial reactivity, and immune cells infiltration. Studies in rodents have shown that glial reactivity occurs within 24 hr of high‐fat diet (HFD) consumption, long before obesity development, and takes place mainly in the hypothalamus (HT), a crucial brain structure for controlling body weight. Here, we sought to characterize the postprandial HT inflammatory response to 1, 3, and 6 hr of exposure to either a standard diet (SD) or HFD. HFD exposure increased gene expression of astrocyte and microglial markers (glial fibrillary acidic protein [GFAP] and Iba1, respectively) compared to SD‐treated mice and induced morphological modifications of microglial cells in HT. This remodeling was associated with higher expression of inflammatory genes and differential regulation of hypothalamic neuropeptides involved in energy balance regulation. DREADD and PLX5622 technologies, used to modulate GFAP‐positive or microglial cells activity, respectively, showed that both glial cell types are involved in hypothalamic postprandial inflammation, with their own specific kinetics and reactiveness to ingested foods. Thus, recurrent exacerbated postprandial inflammation in the brain might promote obesity and needs to be characterized to address this worldwide crisis.
Physical Fitness and Bone Health in Young Athletes and Nonathletes

Background: Physical activity (PA) and physical fitness (PF) are crucial for bone health. However, children participating in competitive sports with high PA are at a greater risk of fracture from trauma or overuse. Given the importance of bone development during adolescence, associations between commonly used physical fitness tests with distal third radius (R-SoS) and midshaft tibia (T-SoS) speed of sound by quantitative ultrasound were assessed in adolescent athletes and nonathletes. Hypothesis: The relationship between physical fitness tests and R-SoS and T-SoS will differ depending on sex and athletic status. Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Level of Evidence: Level 3. Methods: Physical fitness of 285 boys (156 athletes) and 311 girls (74 athletes) aged 10 to 18 years was assessed through strength, speed, agility, and cardiorespiratory tests. Linear regression was used to assess the associations of physical fitness tests with R-SoS and T-SoS. Results: For boys, favorable associations were observed between physical fitness tests with R-SoS in athletes and T-SoS in both athletes and nonathletes (P < 0.05). For nonathlete girls, favorable associations were found for handgrip (R-SoS and T-SoS, both P < 0.05), whereas the progressive aerobic cardiovascular endurance run, vertical jump, speed at 20 m and 40 m were only favorably associated with T-SoS. For athlete girls, the association between handgrip (P = 0.03), vertical jump, and 4 × 10 m shuttle run (P < 0.05) with T-SoS was significantly related to a bone outcome. Conclusion: The handgrip test and vertical jump were associated with T-SoS in boys and girls independent of sport status. These results suggest that physical fitness is associated with bone health in adolescents, particularly boys, and that the relationship between physical fitness and bone may differ depending on sex and athletic status. Clinical Relevance: Physical fitness tests are simple, easy-to-use tools for monitoring bone health and should be used by sport and health professsionals to promote healthy sport participation and prevent bone injuries.
Mechanism on the Stabilization of Tuna Meat by Lactic Acid Bacteria

In order to investigate the mechanism of keeping red color by LAB, production of nitric oxide (NO) synthase by LAB, determination of the maxima absorbances for Mb, oxy-Mb and NOMb, conversion of Mb or oxy-Mb into nitrosomyoglobin (NOMb) during immersion of tuna meat in LAB broth were performed. Comparing 3 strains of LAB, Lactobacillus fermentum BCRC 11698, 12190, and 10360, the NO synthase activity increased with the incubation and reached highest levels after 8 h incubation. However, the highest NO synthase activity was obtained in Lactobacillus fermentum BCRC10360 after 8 h incubation at 37℃. According to the absorbance scanning against wavelength, the Mb, oxyMb, metMb and NOMb had maximum absorbance at 418 (Mb), 544 and 582 (oxyMb), 410 (metMb) and 548 & 579 nm (NOMb), respectively. For investigating the converting ability of NO synthase produced by LAB, pure Mb was added in the LAB broth. It was found that the conversion of Mb to NOMb increased with the cultivation and reached highest level after 8-12 h incubation. Similar phenomenon was observed in the addition of tuna meat in LAB broths. These results suggested that the keeping red color of tuna meat from browning in LAB broth is dus to the nitrosylation of Mb or oxyMb by NO synthase in broth.
Perspectives on botanical research publications in South Africa : an assessment of five local journals from 1988 to 2002, a period of transition and transformation

‡South Africa has every right to take pride in its rich and unique botanical diversity. As part of investigating the discipline of botany in the country, we have assessed the contents of five botany-related South African journals in the period 1988–2002, analysing the sub-disciplines, affiliations of the contributors, and the age, gender and race of the first authors. The results show various trends, such as a decline in the number of articles during the 1990s and then an increase in 2001 and 2002. A specific niche for each of the five journals has been identified. These journals have adopted strategies and introduced improvements to survive change in the evolving scientific environment. Most articles are from authors in the age group 31–40; men accounted for 68% of botanical papers and women 32%. Whites authored 94%, and other racial groups 6%. The botanical sciences are among the leaders in South African research publications in terms of output and citations.
Epidemiology of Cancers in Men Who Have Sex with Men (MSM): A Protocol for Umbrella Review of Systematic Reviews

While earlier studies on men having sex with men (MSM) tended to examine infection-related cancers, an increasing number of studies have been focusing on effects of sexual orientation on other cancers and social and cultural causes for cancer disparities. As a type of tertiary research, this umbrella review (UR) aims to synthesize findings from existing review studies on the effects of sexual orientation on cancer. Relevant peer-reviewed systematic reviews (SRs) will be identified without date or language restrictions using MEDLINE, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, and the International Prospective Register for Systematic Reviews, among others. The research team members will prepare the data extraction forms. Two reviewers will independently assess extracted SRs using the Assessment of Methodological Quality of Systematic Reviews. A third reviewer will weigh in to resolve discrepancies. The reviewers will be blinded to publisher, journal, and authors, making their judgements on the title, year, and abstract. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis checklist will guide data synthesis. By collating evidence from multiple reviews into one accessible and usable document, our first UR on global epidemiology of malignancies among MSM would serve as an evidence-based decision-making tool for the public health community.
New Insight into Natural Extracellular Matrix: Genipin Cross-Linked Adipose-Derived Stem Cell Extracellular Matrix Gel for Tissue Engineering

The cell-derived extracellular matrix (ECM) is associated with a lower risk of pathogen transfer, and it possesses an ideal niche with growth factors and complex fibrillar proteins for cell attachment and growth. However, the cell-derived ECM is found to have poor biomechanical properties, and processing of cell-derived ECM into gels is scarcely studied. The gel provides platforms for three-dimensional cell culture, as well as injectable biomaterials, which could be delivered via a minimally invasive procedure. Thus, in this study, an adipose-derived stem cell (ADSC)-derived ECM gel was developed and cross-linked by genipin to address the aforementioned issue. The genipin cross-linked ADSC ECM gel was fabricated via several steps, including rabbit ADSC culture, cell sheets, decellularization, freeze–thawing, enzymatic digestion, neutralization of pH, and cross-linking. The physicochemical characteristics and cytocompatibility of the gel were evaluated. The results demonstrated that the genipin cross-linking could significantly enhance the mechanical properties of the ADSC ECM gel. Furthermore, the ADSC ECM was found to contain collagen, fibronectin, biglycan, and transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1, which could substantially maintain ADSC, skin, and ligament fibroblast cell proliferation. This cell-derived natural material could be suitable for future regenerative medicine and tissue engineering application.
Delirium Post-Stroke—Influence on Post-Stroke Dementia (Research Study—Part of the PROPOLIS Study)

Background: Previous research confirmed association between delirium and subsequent dementia in different clinical settings, but the impact of post-stroke delirium on cognitive functioning is still under-investigated. Therefore, we aimed to assess the risk of dementia among patients with stroke and in-hospital delirium. Methods: A total of 750 consecutive patients admitted to the stroke unit with acute stroke or transient ischemic attacks were screened for delirium, during the first seven days after admission. At the three- and twelve-month follow-up, patients underwent cognitive evaluation. The DSM-5 definition for dementia was used. Cases with pre-stroke dementia were excluded from the analysis. Results: Out of 691 included cases, 423 (61.22%) and 451 (65.27%) underwent cognitive evaluation, three and twelve months after stroke; 121 (28.61%) and 151 (33.48%) patients were diagnosed with dementia, respectively. Six (4.96%) patients with dementia, three months post-stroke did not meet the diagnostic criteria for dementia nine months later. After twelve months, 37 (24.50%) patients were diagnosed with dementia, first time after stroke. Delirium in hospital was an independent risk factor for dementia after three months (OR = 7.267, 95%CI 2.182–24.207, p = 0.001) but not twelve months after the stroke. Conclusions: Patients with stroke complicated by in-hospital delirium are at a higher risk for dementia at three but not twelve months post-stroke.
Bacterial Quorum Sensing and Food Industry

Abstract: Food spoilage and biofilm formation by food-related bacteria are significant problems in the food industry. Even with the application of modern-day food preservative techniques, excessive amounts of food are lost due to microbial spoilage. A number of studies have indicated that quorum sensing plays a major role in food spoilage, biofilm formation, and food-related pathogenesis. Understanding bacterial quorum-sensing signaling systems can help in controlling the growth of undesirable food-related bacteria. This review focusses on the various signaling molecules produced by Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria and the mechanism of their quorum-sensing systems, types of signaling molecules that have been detected in different food systems using biosensors, the role of signaling molecules in biofilm formation, and significance of biofilms in the food industry. As quorum-sensing signaling molecules are implicated in food spoilage, based on these molecules potential, quorum-sensing inhibitors/antagonists can be developed to be used as novel food preservatives for maintaining food integrity and enhancing food safety. Practical Application: Bacteria use signaling molecules for inter- and intracellular communication. This phenomenon of bacterial cell-to-cell communication is known as quorum sensing. Quorum-sensing signals are implicated in bacterial pathogenicity and food spoilage. Therefore, blocking the quorum-sensing signaling molecules in food-related bacteria may possibly prevent quorum-sensing-regulated phenotypes responsible for food spoilage. Quorum-sensing inhibitors/antagonists could be used as food preservatives to enhance the shelf life and also increase food safety.
Structure and Function of the Mycobacterial Type VII Secretion Systems.

Bacteria have evolved intricate secretion machineries for the successful delivery of large molecules across their cell envelopes. Such specialized secretion systems allow a variety of bacteria to thrive in specific host environments. In mycobacteria, type VII secretion systems (T7SSs) are dedicated protein transport machineries that fulfill diverse and crucial roles, ranging from metabolite uptake to immune evasion and subversion to conjugation. Since the discovery of mycobacterial T7SSs about 15 y ago, genetic, structural, and functional studies have provided insight into the roles and functioning of these secretion machineries. Here, we focus on recent advances in the elucidation of the structure and mechanism of mycobacterial T7SSs in protein secretion. As many of these systems are essential for mycobacterial growth or virulence, they provide opportunities for the development of novel therapies to combat a number of relevant mycobacterial diseases. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Microbiology, Volume 74 is September 8, 2020. Please see http://www.annualreviews. org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.
Introducing a forced choice recognition trial to the Hopkins Verbal Learning Test – Revised

Abstract Objective This study was designed to replicate previous research on embedded validity indicators (EVIs) in the Hopkins Verbal Learning Test – Revised (HVLT-R) and introduce a new forced choice recognition trial (FCR). Method Undergraduate research volunteers were randomly assigned (M Age = 21.7; M Education = 14.5 years, 85% female) to either the control or experimental malingering condition, and were administered a brief battery of neuropsychological tests. Results Recognition memory based EVIs (both existing and newly introduced) effectively discriminated credible and non-credible response sets. An FCR ≤11 produced . 59 sensitivity and perfect specificity to invalid responding. A Recognition Discrimination (RD) score ≤8 also produced a good combination of sensitivity (.35) and specificity (.96). The FCR trial made unique contributions to performance validity assessment above and beyond previously published EVIs. Conclusions RD achieved ≥. 90 specificity at higher cutoffs than previously reported. The newly introduced FCR trial has the potential to enhance the existing arsenal of EVIs within the HVLT-R. However, it must demonstrate its ability to differentiate genuine impairment from non-credible responding before it can be recommended for clinical use.
Survival of British Sedge Warblers Acrocephalus schoenobaenus in relation to west African rainfall

Fluctuations in the population levels and annual adult survival rates of British Sedge Warblers Acrocephalus schoenobaenus since the late 1960s are strongly correlated with indices of wet season rainfall in the west African winter quarters. Population changes are unrelated to estimates of breeding productivity in the previous year. Habitat availability in the winter quarters has probably been the main factor limiting the size of the Sedge Warbler population in Britain during the period of study.
Preparation of New Biofungicides Using Antagonistic Bacteria and Mineral Compounds for Controlling Cotton Seedling Damping-Off Disease

The overuse of chemical pesticides in agriculture has caused serious environmental problems and thus the demand for safer pesticides is increasing. One alternative is microbial pesticides that suppress plant pathogens via their microbial activities. As microbial pesticides are eco-friendly products, in this study we prepared four biological fungicides using two isolates of Pseudomonas fluorescens that included a talc-based powder and bentonite-based powder as mineral carriers. Then we evaluated the efficacy of these products in controlling cotton seedlings, damping-off, a fungal disease caused by Rhizoctonia solani at four intervals of 15, 30, 45 and 60 days after sowing the cotton seeds under greenhouse conditions. The results of greenhouse experiment on application of biofun- gicides showed that the efficacy of Bentonite-B 1 treatment to control R. solani was promising as it increased the number of healthy seedlings 3.42 to 3.57 - fold and was much more effective than the carboxin/thiram fungicide in all stages.
Phytochemical Analysis and Trypanocidal Activity of Marrubium incanum Desr.

The rationale inspiring the discovery of lead compounds for the treatment of human parasitic protozoan diseases from natural sources is the well-established use of medicinal plants in various systems of traditional medicine. On this basis, we decided to select an overlooked medicinal plant growing in central Italy, Marrubium incanum Desr. (Lamiaceae), which has been used as a traditional remedy against protozoan diseases, and to investigate its potential against Human African trypanosomiasis (HAT). For this purpose, we assayed three extracts of different polarities obtained from the aerial parts of M. incanum—namely, water (MarrInc-H2O), ethanol (MarrInc-EtOH) and dichloromethane (MarrInc-CH2Cl2)—against Trypanosoma brucei (TC221), with the aim to discover lead compounds for the development of antitrypanosomal drugs. Their selectivity index (SI) was determined on mammalian cells (BALB/3T3 mouse fibroblasts) as a counter-screen for toxicity. The preliminary screening selected the MarrInc-CH2Cl2 extract as the most promising candidate against HAT, showing an IC50 value of 28 μg/mL. On this basis, column chromatography coupled with the NMR spectroscopy of a MarrInc-CH2Cl2 extract led to the isolation and identification of five compounds i.e. 1-α-linolenoyl-2-palmitoyl-3-stearoyl-sn- glycerol (1), 1-linoleoyl-2-palmitoyl-3-stearoyl-sn-glycerol (2), stigmasterol (3), palmitic acid (4), and salvigenin (5). Notably, compounds 3 and 5 were tested on T. brucei, with the latter being five-fold more active than the MarrInc-CH2Cl2 extract (IC50 = 5.41 ± 0.85 and 28 ± 1.4 μg/mL, respectively). Furthermore, the SI for salvigenin was >18.5, showing a preferential effect on target cells compared with the dichloromethane extract (>3.6). Conversely, stigmasterol was found to be inactive. To complete the work, also the more polar MarrInc-EtOH extract was analyzed, giving evidence for the presence of 2″-O-allopyranosyl-cosmosiin (6), verbascoside (7), and samioside (8). Our findings shed light on the phytochemistry of this overlooked species and its antiprotozoal potential, providing evidence for the promising role of flavonoids such as salvigenin for the treatment of protozoal diseases.