Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Comparison of Anthraquinones, Iridoid Glycosides and Triterpenoids in Morinda officinalis and Morinda citrifolia Using UPLC/Q-TOF-MS and Multivariate Statistical Analysis

Roots of Morinda officinalis and Morinda citrifolia have been interchangeably used in traditional Chinese medicine. However, there is no experimental evidence to support this. In this study, a ultra-performance liquid chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC/Q-TOF-MS)-based approach and a multivariate statistical analysis (MSA) were adopted to compare the difference in the chemical compounds present in the root extract of M. officinalis and M. citrifolia. There were 26 anthraquinones, 15 triterpenes, and 8 iridoid glycosides identified in the root extracts of M. officinalis, 30 anthraquinones, 1 triterpene, and 8 iridoid glycosides in the root extracts of M. citrifolia. Among these, 25 compounds presented in both plants. In addition, a principal component analysis (PCA) showed that these two herbs could be separated clearly. Furthermore, an orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) found 9 components that could be used as chemical markers to discrimination the root extracts of M. officinalis and M. citrifolia. In addition, the results of a Cell Counting Kit 8 (CCK-8) assay and cell colony formation assay indicated that methanol root extracts of M. officinalis and M. citrifolia showed no cell cytotoxicity to normal cells, even promoted the proliferation of normal liver cells. To our knowledge, this is the first time that the differences between the root extracts of M. officinalis and M. citrifolia (Hainan province) have been observed systematically at the chemistry level.
The Polymorphism of Drugs: New Approaches to the Synthesis of Nanostructured Polymorphs

Among the significant problems of modern pharmacology are the low solubility and bioavailability of drugs. One way to resolve this problem is to obtain new polymorphic forms of drugs with improved physicochemical properties. Various approaches have been developed with this aim, including the preparation of co-crystals, the use of nanoparticles, or the use of compounds in the form of a salt. A promising direction in pharmacology concerns the production of new stable polymorphic structures. In this mini-review, we consider certain aspects of drug polymorphism, methods for the synthesis of polymorphs, and the stability, size, and transformation of crystalline polymorphs. Moreover, we summarize our results from several studies demonstrating the problems associated with the synthesis of new polymorphous modifications based on inert gases and cryotemperatures. The results indicate that the problems specific to drug polymorphisms have only been partly resolved, are of current interest, and require further development.
Association of cardiovascular structure and function with cerebrovascular changes and cognitive function in older patients with end-stage renal disease

The Dutch prospective multicenter cohort study COPE (Cognitive decline in Older Patients with End stage renal disease) aimed to investigate the association of cardiovascular structure and function with cerebrovascular changes and cognitive function in 85 older patients with chronic kidney disease stage 4 and 5, awaiting either dialysis or conservative care. MRI was performed measuring aortic stiffness (pulse wave velocity [PWV]) and cardiac systolic function (ejection fraction and cardiac index). Outcomes were MRI-derived cerebrovascular changes (microbleeds, lacunes and white matter hyperintensities) and cognitive function (memory, executive function and psychomotor speed). Mean age was 76 years and 66% were male. No statistically significant associations were observed between cardiovascular parameters and cerebrovascular changes. Cognitive function was worse in patients with high compared to low PWV in all three cognitive domains. Although there were clinically relevant associations of high PWV with poor cognition in all domains, after adjustment for age, sex and education only the Trail Making Test A remained statistically significant (p=0.030). In conclusion, this study suggests that a higher PWV might be associated with lower cognitive function, suggesting that arterial stiffness may be an underlying mechanism of development of cognitive impairment in older patients with ESRD. Larger studies should replicate and extend these findings.
A New Quality Improvement Toolkit to Improve Opioid Prescribing in Primary Care

Introduction: The role of opioids in managing chronic pain has evolved in light of the opioid misuse epidemic and new evidence regarding risks and benefits of long-term opioid therapy. With mounting national guidelines and local regulations, providers need interventions to standardize and improve safe, responsible prescribing. This article summarizes the evolution of an opioid management toolkit using a quality improvement (QI) approach to improve prescribing. Methods: The authors developed a list of opioid-prescribing best practices and offered in-office, team-based QI projects to ambulatory clinics, updated and tested over 3 trials in the form of a toolkit. Outcome measures included pre- and postproject surveys on provider and staff satisfaction, toolkit completion, and process measures. The toolkit supports workflow planning, redesign, and implementation. Results: Ten clinics participated in trial 1, completing the QI project on average in 3 months, with a mean of 9.1 hours of team time. Provider satisfaction with prescribing increased from 42% to 96% and staff satisfaction from 54% to 81%. The most common strategies in trials 1 and 2 focused on regulatory compliance (35% to 36%), whereas in Trial 3 there was a strong move toward peer support (81%). Discussion: Clinics responded to implementation of opioid-related best practices using QI with improved provider and staff satisfaction. Once the goals of regulatory compliance and workflow improvements were met, clinics focused on strategies supporting providers in the lead role of managing chronic pain, building on strategies that provide peer support. Using QI methods, primary care clinics can improve opioid-prescribing best practices for patients.
SPECTRAL IMAGERY WITH AN ACOUSTO-OPTIC TUNABLE FILTER

The authors have fabricated a spectral imager for astronomy and aeronomy using collinear or non-collinear acousto-optic tunable filters (AOTFs). The AOTF provides high transparency, rapid tunability over a wide wavelength range, a capability of varying the bandwidth by more than an order of magnitude, high etendué, and linearly polarized output. They demonstrate some typical observational applications of acousto-optic tunable filters used in several configurations at astronomical telescopes.
Quercetin amorphous solid dispersions prepared by hot melt extrusion with enhanced solubility and intestinal absorption

Abstract The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of amorphous solid dispersions (ASDs) on the dissolution rate and oral bioavailability of Quercetin (Que). First, we prepared the Que ASDs with various excipients using hot-melt extrusion to find the best option. X-ray diffraction (XRD), infrared spectroscopy (IR), and Raman spectroscopy were used to examine the solid formation of Que. Wetting process was studied by contact angle and solution process. The abilities of HPMC to inhibit crystallization and improve membrane permeability were demonstrated by fluorescence spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering analysis, in vitro permeability experiment and pharmacokinetics studies. Que existed as amorphous in solid dispersions, and poloxamer 188 (F68) was the best excipient for improving Que dissolution. Study on ASDs wettability proved Que ASDs improved wetting property in the presence of the F68. Furthermore, Que/F68/HPMC 1/4/3 and 1/5/2 ASDs belonged to drug-controlled diffusion; Que/F68/HPMC 1/6/1 ASDs belonged to drug/carrier-controlled diffusion; Que/F68 1/7 ASDs belonged to carrier-controlled diffusion. Addition of HPMC significantly inhibited the crystallization, improved membrane permeability and promoted drug absorption of compound Que. Que ASDs prepared enhanced solubility and intestinal absorption. Thus, Que ASDs provide a potent and efficacious formulation for Que oral administration.
A Multi-method Investigation of the Personality Correlates of Functional Ability in Older Adults

ABSTRACT Objectives This study evaluated the role of personality in predicting functional ability (FA) in older adults using self-report, collateral report, and performance-based measures of FA. Methods Participants included older adults (N = 131) who completed a personality measure (NEO-FFI), a self-report of FA (OARS ADL), and participated in a performance-based assessment of FA (DAFS-R). In addition, each participant had a collateral complete a collateral report of FA (OARS ADL). Bivariate correlations were computed to assess how Five Factor Model traits were related to self-report, collateral, and performance-based measures of FA. Results Neuroticism was negatively related to self-reported FA (r = − .27) and collateral-reported FA (r = − .18) and Conscientiousness was positively related to self-reported FA (r = .25). None of the traits were significantly related to the performance-based measure of FA. Conclusions These results suggest that personality traits can impact self-reported FA in older adults and underscore the importance of assessing FA in older adults using multiple methods, particularly performance-based measures. Clinical Implications Clinicians should consider how personality may impact FA in older adults and multiple methods of FA performance should be examined to better tailor recommendations.
How Bees Respond Differently to Field Margins of Shrubby and Herbaceous Plants in Intensive Agricultural Crops of the Mediterranean Area

(1) Intensive agriculture has a high impact on pollinating insects, and conservation strategies targeting agricultural landscapes may greatly contribute to their maintenance. The aim of this work was to quantify the effect that the vegetation of crop margins, with either herbaceous or shrubby plants, had on the abundance and diversity of bees in comparison to non-restored margins. (2) The work was carried out in an area of intensive agriculture in southern Spain. Bees were monitored visually and using pan traps, and floral resources were quantified in crop margins for two years. (3) An increase in the abundance and diversity of wild bees in restored margins was registered, compared to non-restored margins. Significant differences in the structure of bee communities were found between shrubby and herbaceous margins. Apis mellifera and mining bees were found to be more polylectic than wild Apidae and Megachilidae. The abundance of A. mellifera and mining bees was correlated to the total floral resources, in particular, to those offered by the Boraginaceae and Brassicaceae; wild Apidae and Megachilidae were associated with the Lamiaceae. (4) This work emphasises the importance of floral diversity and shrubby plants for the maintenance of rich bee communities in Mediterranean agricultural landscapes.
Loss of Ing3 Expression Results in Growth Retardation and Embryonic Death

The ING3 candidate tumour suppressor belongs to a family of histone modifying proteins involved in regulating cell proliferation, senescence, apoptosis, chromatin remodeling, and DNA repair. It is a stoichiometric member of the minimal NuA4 histone acetyl transferase (HAT) complex consisting of EAF6, EPC1, ING3, and TIP60. This complex is responsible for the transcription of an essential cascade of genes involved in embryonic development and in tumour suppression. ING3 has been linked to head and neck and hepatocellular cancers, although its status as a tumour suppressor has not been well established. Recent studies suggest a pro-metastasis role in prostate cancer progression. Here, we describe a transgenic mouse strain with insertional mutation of an UbC-mCherry expression cassette into the endogenous Ing3 locus, resulting in the disruption of ING3 protein expression. Homozygous mutants are embryonically lethal, display growth retardation, and severe developmental disorders. At embryonic day (E) 10.5, the last time point viable homozygous embryos were found, they were approximately half the size of heterozygous mice that develop normally. µCT analysis revealed a developmental defect in neural tube closure, resulting in the failure of formation of closed primary brain vesicles in homozygous mid-gestation embryos. This is consistent with high ING3 expression levels in the embryonic brains of heterozygous and wild type mice and its lack in homozygous mutant embryos that show a lack of ectodermal differentiation. Our data provide direct evidence that ING3 is an essential factor for normal embryonic development and that it plays a fundamental role in prenatal brain formation.
Characterization of young people with first episode psychosis or at ultra-high risk: the Reggio Emilia At-Risk Mental States (ReARMS) program.

AIM Twenty years of research on the Ultra-High Risk (UHR) paradigm have shown the importance of early intervention in psychosis (EIP) in reducing its severity and persistence. From September 2012, the Reggio Emilia Department of Mental Health developed a specific care pathway (the Reggio Emilia At-Risk Mental States [ReARMS] protocol) as an diffused, "liquid" EIP infrastructure branched within the network of all its adult and child/adolescent mental health service, aimed to offer an evidence-based, expertise-driven protocol of care to young people with a First Episode Psychosis (FEP) or an UHR mental state. Aim of the current study was to investigate patterns of referral to the ReARMS protocol during the first five years of clinical activity. METHODS All participants (n=300) were help-seeking adolescents and young adults, aged 13-35 years, who completed an ad-hoc socio-demographic/clinical schedule and the Comprehensive Assessment of At-Risk Mental States (CAARMS). RESULTS Among individuals who completed the baseline assessment, 95 (31.7%) did not comply with UHR/FEP defined criteria (UHR- subgroup), while 205 (68.3%) were offered the ReARMS protocol: of them, 154 (75.1%) accepted and were enrolled in the program, 19 (9.3%) refused, and 32 (15.6%) dropped out during the first year of treatment. In comparison with UHR- and UHR, FEP patients showed higher percentages of history of substance abuse and previous hospitalization, as well as higher levels of psychopathology and functioning. Individuals entering the ReARMS protocol were mainly referred by emergency room/general hospital, general practitioners, or they were self-referred. CONCLUSIONS EIP on young subjects at UHR of psychosis (together with FEP patients) in Italian public mental health services is clinically relevant, feasible, and recommended, also in adolescence, where there is a specific high risk of falling through the child-adult service gap.
Artificial 2D van der Waals Synapse Devices via Interfacial Engineering for Neuromorphic Systems

Despite extensive investigations of a wide variety of artificial synapse devices aimed at realizing a neuromorphic hardware system, the identification of a physical parameter that modulates synaptic plasticity is still required. In this context, a novel two-dimensional architecture consisting of a NbSe2/WSe2/Nb2O5 heterostructure placed on an SiO2/p+ Si substrate was designed to overcome the limitations of the conventional silicon-based complementary metal-oxide semiconductor technology. NbSe2, WSe2, and Nb2O5 were used as the metal electrode, active channel, and conductance-modulating layer, respectively. Interestingly, it was found that the post-synaptic current was successfully modulated by the thickness of the interlayer Nb2O5, with a thicker interlayer inducing a higher synapse spike current and a stronger interaction in the sequential pulse mode. Introduction of the Nb2O5 interlayer can facilitate the realization of reliable and controllable synaptic devices for brain-inspired integrated neuromorphic systems.
Biomedical applications and toxicities of carbon nanotubes

Abstract Carbon nanotubes are newer generation material broadly emerged for biomedical applications due to its tempting properties such as size and aspect ratio covering surface area to the length, electrical, mechanical and thermal properties in addition to their unique architecture. The view for CNT-based nanomedicines is attractive and promising. Carbon nanotubes compared to other nanocarriers can be easily modified for conjugation of bioactive compounds and ligands for targeting. The applications of carbon nanotubes are not only limited to drug delivery but also in diagnostic applications. Due to a variety of applications in drug delivery, it is necessary to bear in mind the toxicities of carbon nanotubes and catch the way to overcome the problems related to toxicities. Currently, many studies have explored the biodegradation mechanism of carbon nanotubes. Biodegradation shows a conspicuous pathway that enables degradation and removal of CNTs from living body and catalyzes the release of the load from the CNTs. Many articles have been published till date which evidentiary provides the promising applications of CNTs. The present review seeks to provide an overview on intracellular fate, applications and toxicities of CNTs.
Allergen false-detection using official bioinformatic algorithms

ABSTRACT Bioinformatic amino acid sequence searches are used, in part, to assess the potential allergenic risk of newly expressed proteins in genetically engineered crops. Previous work has demonstrated that the searches required by government regulatory agencies falsely implicate many proteins from rarely allergenic crops as an allergenic risk. However, many proteins are found in crops at concentrations that may be insufficient to cause allergy. Here we used a recently developed set of high-abundance non-allergenic proteins to determine the false-positive rates for several algorithms required by regulatory bodies, and also for an alternative 1:1 FASTA approach previously found to be equally sensitive to the official sliding-window method, but far more selective. The current investigation confirms these earlier findings while addressing dietary exposure.
The Segmentation Method of Target Point Cloud for Polarization-Modulated 3D Imaging

To implement target point cloud segmentation for a polarization-modulated 3D imaging system in practical projects, an efficient segmentation concept of multi-dimensional information fusion is designed. As the electron multiplier charge coupled device (EMCCD) camera can only acquire the gray image, but has no ability for time resolution owing to the time integration mechanism, large diameter electro-optic modulators (EOM) are used to provide time resolution for the EMCCD cameras to obtain the polarization-modulated images, from which a 3D image can also be simultaneously reconstructed. According to the characteristics of the EMCCD camera’s plane array imaging, the point-to-point mapping relationship between the gray image pixels and point cloud data coordinates is established. The target’s pixel coordinate position obtained by image segmentation is mapped to 3D point cloud data to get the segmented target point cloud data. On the basis of the specific environment characteristics of the experiment, the maximum entropy test method is applied to the target segmentation of the gray image, and the image morphological erosion algorithm is used to improve the segmentation accuracy. This method solves the problem that conventional point clouds’ segmentation methods cannot effectively segment irregular objects or closely bound objects. Meanwhile, it has strong robustness and stability in the presence of noise, and reduces the computational complexity and data volume. The experimental results show that this method is better for the segmentation of the target in the actual environment, and can avoid the over-segmentation and under-segmentation to some extent. This paper illustrates the potential and feasibility of the segmentation method based on this system in real-time data processing.
Bioluminescent Antibodies through Photoconjugation of Protein G–Luciferase Fusion Proteins

Bioluminescent antibodies represent attractive detection agents in both bioanalytical assays and imaging. Currently, their preparation relies on genetic fusion of luciferases to antibodies or nonspecific chemical conjugation strategies. Here, we report a generic method to generate well-defined covalent antibody–luciferase conjugates starting from commercially available monoclonal antibodies. Our approach uses fusion proteins consisting of the bright blue light-emitting luciferase NanoLuc (NL) and an Fc-binding protein domain (Gx) that can be photo-cross-linked to the antibody using UV light illumination. Green and red color variants were constructed by tight fusion of the NanoLuc with a green fluorescent acceptor domain and introduction of Cy3, respectively. To increase the already bright NanoLuc emission, tandem fusions were successfully developed in which the Gx domain is fused to two or three copies of the NanoLuc domain. The Gx-NL fusion proteins can be efficiently photo-cross-linked to all human immunoglobulin G (IgG) isotypes and most mammalian IgG’s using 365 nm light, yielding antibodies with either one or two luciferase domains. The bioluminescent antibodies were successfully used in cell immunostaining and bioanalytical assays such as enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and Western blotting.
ASPM promotes glioblastoma growth by regulating G1 restriction point progression and Wnt-β-catenin signaling

Increasing evidence has indicated that the disorganized expression of certain genes promotes tumour progression. In this study, we elucidate the potential key differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between glioblastoma (GBM) and normal brain tissue by analysing three different mRNA expression profiles downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. DEGs were sorted, and key candidate genes and signalling pathway enrichments were analysed. In our analysis, the highest fold change DEG was found to be abnormal spindle-like microcephaly associated (ASPM). The ASPM expression pattern from the database showed that it is highly expressed in GBM tissue, and patients with high expression of ASPM have a poor prognosis. Moreover, ASPM showed aberrantly high expression in GBM cell lines. Loss-of-function assay indicated that ASPM enhances tumorigenesis in GBM cells in vitro. Xenograft growth verified the oncogenic activity of ASPM in vivo. Furthermore, downregulation of ASPM could arrest the cell cycle of GBM cells at the G0/G1 phase and attenuate the Wnt/β-catenin signalling activity in GBM. These data suggest that ASPM may serve as a new target for the therapeutic treatment of GBM.