Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Algae Polyphenolic Compounds and Modern Antibacterial Strategies: Current Achievements and Immediate Prospects

The increasing drug resistance of pathogenic microorganisms raises concern worldwide and necessitates the search for new natural compounds with antibacterial properties. Marine algae are considered a natural and attractive biotechnological source of novel antibiotics. The high antimicrobial activity of their polyphenolic compounds is a promising basis for designing innovative pharmaceuticals. They can become both a serious alternative to traditional antimicrobial agents and an effective supplement to antibiotic therapy. The present review summarizes the results of numerous studies on polyphenols from algae and the range of biological activities that determine their biomedical significance. The main focus is put on a group of the polyphenolic metabolites referred to as phlorotannins and, particularly, on their structural diversity and mechanisms of antimicrobial effects. Brown algae are an almost inexhaustible resource with a high biotechnological potential for obtaining these polyfunctional compounds. An opinion is expressed that the effectiveness of the antibacterial activity of phlorotannins depends on the methods of their extraction aimed at preserving the phenolic structure. The use of modern analytical tools opens up a broad range of opportunities for studying the metabolic pathways of phlorotannins and identifying their structural and functional relationships. The high antimicrobial activity of phlorotannins against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria provides a promising framework for creating novel drugs to be used in the treatment and prevention of infectious diseases.
Strategic prioritisation enhances young and older adults’ visual feature binding in working memory

Visual working memory for features and bindings is susceptible to age-related decline. Two experiments were used to examine whether older adults are able to strategically prioritise more valuable information in working memory and whether this could reduce age-related impairments. Younger (18–33 years) and older (60–90 years) adults were presented with coloured shapes and, following a brief delay, asked to recall the feature that had accompanied the probe item. In Experiment 1, participants were either asked to prioritise a more valuable object in the array (serial position 1, 2, or 3) or to treat them all equally. Older adults exhibited worse overall memory performance but were as able as younger adults to prioritise objects. In both groups, this ability was particularly apparent at the middle serial position. Experiment 2 then explored whether younger and older adults’ prioritisation is affected by presentation time. Replicating Experiment 1, older adults were able to prioritise the more valuable object in working memory, showing equivalent benefits and costs as younger adults. However, processing speed, as indexed by presentation time, was shown not to limit strategic prioritisation in either age group. Taken together, these findings demonstrate that, although older adults have poorer visual working memory overall, the ability to strategically direct attention to more valuable items in working memory is preserved across ageing.
Micropropagation of New and Old World Rose Species

SummaryMicropropagation comparisons were made between two Rosa hybrida cvs, Tropicana and Bridal Pink, and two old world spp. R. canina L. and R. damascena Mill. All species exhibited shoot-tip proliferation on a medium containing Murashige and Skoog (1962) (MS) basic salts plus nicotinic acid (0.5 mg 1−1), pyridoxine HC1 (0.5 mg 1−1), thiamin HC1 (0.5 mg 1−1), glycine (2.0 mg 1−1), myo-inositol (100 mg 1−1), sucrose (30 g 1−1), Bacto agar (8 g 1−1) and supplemented with growth regulators. Species variation was observed for growth regulator requirement and rate of multiplication not only between the two R. hybrida cvs but also between the old world spp. It was concluded that 2.0 mg 1−1 of BA was optimal for hybrid roses plus 0.05 and 0.10 mg 1−1 of NAA for cvs Tropicana and Bridal Pink, respectively. Old world species required lower BA (1.0 mg 1−1), and 0.15 mg 1−1 NAA for R. canina and 0.10 mg 1−1 NAA for R. damascena were optimal for maximum shoot proliferation. Both rooting ability and acclimation to t.
Construction and analysis of a competing endogenous RNA network to reveal potential prognostic biomarkers for Oral Floor Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Background Patients diagnosed with Oral Floor Squamous Cell Carcinoma (OFSCC) face considerable challenges in physiology and psychology. This study explored prognostic signatures to predict prognosis in OFSCC through a detailed transcriptomic analysis. Method We built an interactive competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network that included lncRNAs, miRNAs and mRNAs. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) were used to predict the gene functions and regulatory pathways of mRNAs. Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator algorithm (LASSO) analysis and Cox regression analysis were used to screen prognosis factors. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to analyze the survival rate of prognosis factors. Risk score was used to assess the reliability of the prediction model. Results A specific ceRNA network consisting of 56 mRNAs, 16 miRNAs and 31 lncRNAs was established. Three key genes (HOXC13, TGFBR3, KLHL40) and 4 clinical factors (age, gender, TNM, and clinical stage) were identified and effectively predicted the for survival time. The expression of a gene signature was validated in two external validation cohorts. The signature (areas under the curve of 3 and 5 years were 0.977 and 0.982, respectively) showed high prognostic accuracy in the complete TCGA cohort. Conclusions Our study successfully developed an extensive ceRNA network for OFSCC and further identified a 3-mRNA and 4-clinical-factor signature, which may serve as a biomarker.
Correlation of the BI‐RADS assessment categories of Papua New Guinean women with mammographic parenchymal patterns, age and diagnosis

Women with increased breast density are at increased risk of breast cancer. The aim of this research is to evidence for the first time the mammographic breast findings of Papua New Guinean (PNG) women and the relationship between Breast Imaging‐Reporting and Data System (BI‐RADS) assessment, mammographic parenchymal patterns (MPPs) and age.
The Extent of Late Gadolinium Enhancement Can Predict Adverse Cardiac Outcomes in Patients with Non-Ischemic Cardiomyopathy with Reduced Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction: A Prospective Observational Study

Objective The clinical course of an individual patient with heart failure is unpredictable with left ventricle ejection fraction (LVEF) only. We aimed to evaluate the prognostic value of cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR)-derived myocardial fibrosis extent and to determine the cutoff value for event-free survival in patients with non-ischemic cardiomyopathy (NICM) who had severely reduced LVEF. Materials and Methods Our prospective cohort study included 78 NICM patients with significantly reduced LV systolic function (LVEF < 35%). CMR images were analyzed for the presence and extent of late gadolinium enhancement (LGE). The primary outcome was major adverse cardiac events (MACEs), defined as a composite of cardiac death, heart transplantation, implantable cardioverter-defibrillator discharge for major arrhythmia, and hospitalization for congestive heart failure within 5 years after enrollment. Results A total of 80.8% (n = 63) of enrolled patients had LGE, with the median LVEF of 25.4% (19.8–32.4%). The extent of myocardial scarring was significantly higher in patients who experienced MACE than in those without any cardiac events (22.0 [5.5–46.1] %LV vs. 6.7 [0–17.1] %LV, respectively, p = 0.008). During follow-up, 51.4% of patients with LGE ≥ 12.0 %LV experienced MACE, along with 20.9% of those with LGE ≤ 12.0 %LV (log-rank p = 0.001). According to multivariate analysis, LGE extent more than 12.0 %LV was independently associated with MACE (adjusted hazard ratio, 6.71; 95% confidence interval, 2.54–17.74; p < 0.001). Conclusion In NICM patients with significantly reduced LV systolic function, the extent of LGE is a strong predictor for long-term adverse cardiac outcomes. Event-free survival was well discriminated with an LGE cutoff value of 12.0 %LV in these patients.
The Conundrum of Poor Ovarian Response: From Diagnosis to Treatment

Despite recent striking advances in assisted reproductive technology (ART), poor ovarian response (POR) diagnosis and treatment is still considered challenging. Poor responders constitute a heterogeneous cohort with the common denominator of under-responding to controlled ovarian stimulation. Inevitably, respective success rates are significantly compromised. As POR pathophysiology entails the elusive factor of compromised ovarian function, both diagnosis and management fuel an ongoing heated debate depicted in the literature. From the criteria employed for diagnosis to the plethora of strategies and adjuvant therapies proposed, the conundrum of POR still puzzles the practitioner. What is more, novel treatment approaches from stem cell therapy and platelet-rich plasma intra-ovarian infusion to mitochondrial replacement therapy have emerged, albeit not claiming clinical routine status yet. The complex and time sensitive nature of this subgroup of infertile patients indicates the demand for a consensus on a horizontally accepted definition, diagnosis and subsequent effective treating strategy. This critical review analyzes the standing criteria employed in order to diagnose and aptly categorize POR patients, while it proceeds to critically evaluate current and novel strategies regarding their management. Discrepancies in diagnosis and respective implications are discussed, while the existing diversity in management options highlights the need for individualized management.
The Impact of Rate Adaptation Algorithms on Wi-Fi-Based Factory Automation Systems

Factory automation systems based on the IEEE 802.11 Wi-Fi standard may benefit from its Multi-Rate Support (MRS) feature, which allows for dynamically selecting the most suitable transmission rate for the targeted application context. The MRS is implemented by means of rate adaptation algorithms (RAAs), which has already demonstrated to be effective to improve both timeliness and reliability, which are typically strict requirements of industrial real-time communication systems. Indeed, some of such algorithms have been specifically conceived for reliable real-time communications. However, the computational complexity of such algorithms has not been effectively investigated yet. In this paper, we address such an issue, particularly focusing on the execution times of some specific rate adaptation algorithms, as well as on their impact on the automation tasks. In this respect, after a formal description of the algorithms, we present the outcomes of an extensive experimental session, which includes practical measurements and realistic simulations. The obtained results are encouraging, since the measured execution times indicate that rate adaptation algorithms can be profitably adopted by industrial automation systems, allowing for improving their reliability and timeliness without impacting on the overall performance.
Incidence of Hepatocellular Carcinoma after Treatment with Sofosbuvir-Based or Sofosbuvir-Free Regimens in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis C

Simple Summary The development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has not been well-controlled, even after the elimination of hepatitis C virus (HCV), especially for those with cirrhosis or of high-age. Fibrosis-related biomarkers have been recognized as useful predictors for the development of HCC; however, there are few analyses of the HCC incidence for the various regimens with direct-acting antivirals (DAA). We found that DAA treatment with sofosbuvir, an oral nucleotide analogue inhibitor of HCV NS5B polymerase, was not associated with the development of de novo HCC within five years by propensity score matched analysis. Moreover, the distribution of the early stage of HCC (the Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer stage 0/A) was similar for all treatment regimens, irrespective of the use of sofosbuvir. Abstract Advanced fibrosis/cirrhosis and related biomarkers have been recognized as useful predictors of the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) by patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC) following hepatitis C virus (HCV) cure by direct-acting antivirals (DAAs). However, it remains unclear if DAAs themselves have an influence on or facilitate the development of HCC. This multicenter cohort study included CHC patients without a history of HCC who achieved HCV elimination by DAAs. Cohorts of 835 patients treated with a sofosbuvir (SOF)-based regimen and 835 treated with a SOF-free regimen were matched 1:1 by propensity scoring with nine variables to evaluate differences in HCC incidence. The median observation period was 3.5 years. Sixty-nine cases of HCC were found during 5483.9 person-years (PY) over the entire follow-up period. The annual incidence was similar for both groups (SOF-based 1.25 and SOF-free 1.27 per 100 PY, respectively: adjusted hazard ratio (HR) 1.26, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.75–2.12, p = 0.39). However, the annual incidence within the first two years was higher for patients treated with SOF than for those without, but did not reach significance (1.50 and 0.97 per 100 PY incidence rates, respectively: adjusted HR 2.05, 95% CI 0.98–4.25, p = 0.06). In summary, DAA treatment with SOF was not associated with an increase in the development of de novo HCC.
High Levels of Physical Activity May Promote a Reduction in Bone Mineral Density in Peritoneal Dialysis

Background and objectives: Peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients are expected to present lower levels of physical activity, unhealthy changes at the body composition level, and low levels of strength. Firstly, this study aimed to report the sex differences in physical activity, body composition and muscle strength and the relations among these variables. Secondly, we analyze the relationship between physical activity and biochemical parameters. Materials and Methods: Thirty-four patients (13 women and 21 men) participated in this study. Body composition was assessed by bioimpedance and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), and maximum isokinetic unilateral strength, analytical parameters and physical activity levels were evaluated. Results: The men showed higher values for weight, height, lean body mass, bone mineral content, bone mineral density (BMD) and total body water, while women showed higher values for the percentage of fat mass and hydration of lean body mass (p < 0.05). No differences between the sexes were found in different levels of physical activity; however, males registered significantly higher values for isokinetic strength variables except for knee extensor strength. BMD was positively related to sedentary activity and negatively related to moderate and vigorous activity (r = 0.383 and r = −0.404, respectively). Light physical activity was negatively correlated with albumin (r = −0.393) and total protein (r = −0.410) levels, while moderate/vigorous activity was positively correlated with urea distribution volume (r = 0.446) and creatinine clearance (r = 0.359) and negatively correlated with the triglyceride level (r = −0.455). Conclusions: PD patients with higher levels of physical activity present better results in terms of body composition and biochemical parameters. Additional studies should be conducted to clarify the relation between physical activity level and BMD.
Systematics of North Pacific sand lances of the genus Ammodytes based on molecular and morphological evidence, with the description of a new species from Japan

The views and opinions expressed or implied in this article are those of the author (or authors) and do not necessarily reflect the position of the National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA. Abstract—The systematic status of North Pacific sand lances (genus Ammodytes) was assessed from mitochondrial DNA (cytochrome oxidase c subunit 1) sequence data and morphological data to identify the number of species in the North Pacific Ocean and its fringing seas. Although only 2 species, Ammodytes hexapterus and A. personatus, have been considered valid in the region, haplotype networks and trees constructed with maximum parsimony and genetic distance (neighborjoining) methods revealed 4 highly divergent monophyletic clades that clearly represent 4 species of Ammodytes in the North Pacific region. On the basis of our material and comparisons with sequence data reported in online databases, A. personatus is found throughout the eastern North Pacific Ocean, Gulf of Alaska, Aleutian Islands, and the eastern Bering Sea where it co-occurs with a northwestern Arctic species, A. hexapterus, that is found throughout the North American Arctic from Hudson Bay, Canada, in the east, through the Beaufort and Chukchi seas, into the northern and western Bering Sea, and to the southern Sea of Okhotsk in the Soya Strait off Hokkaido, Japan. Two other species reside in waters around Japan: A. japonicus throughout the Sea of Japan and the Seto Inland Sea and a new species in the Sea of Japan and the North Pacific Ocean off northern Honshu. We designate neotypes for A. hexapterus and A. personatus because of the absence of type material and the close similarity of these 2 species. Ammodytes aleutensis is a junior synonym of A. japonicus, and A. alascanus is a junior synonym of A. personatus. Sand lances of the genus Ammodytes (family Ammodytidae) are small silvery fishes that inhabit marine and adjacent brackish waters of the Northern Hemisphere. They reside primarily over sandy substrates, where they are able to quickly bury themselves to avoid predators, but are found also over bedrock, eelgrass, and kelp. Species of Ammodytes are cornerstone prey items for more than 100 species of marine mammals, birds, and other fishes in the region of the North Pacific Ocean (Field, 1988; Willson et al.1). Despite
Pathological Responses of Cardiac Mitochondria to Burn Trauma

Despite advances in treatment and care, burn trauma remains the fourth most common type of traumatic injury. Burn-induced cardiac failure is a key factor for patient mortality, especially during the initial post-burn period (the first 24 to 48 h). Mitochondria, among the most important subcellular organelles in cardiomyocytes, are a central player in determining the severity of myocardial damage. Defects in mitochondrial function and structure are involved in pathogenesis of numerous myocardial injuries and cardiovascular diseases. In this article, we comprehensively review the current findings on cardiac mitochondrial pathological changes and summarize burn-impaired mitochondrial respiration capacity and energy supply, induced mitochondrial oxidative stress, and increased cell death. The molecular mechanisms underlying these alterations are discussed, along with the possible influence of other biological variables. We hope this review will provide useful information to explore potential therapeutic approaches that target mitochondria for cardiac protection following burn injury.
An Assessment of Three Carbohydrate Metrics of Nutritional Quality for Packaged Foods and Beverages in Australia and Southeast Asia

Carbohydrate quality is an aetiological factor of diet-related disease. Indices of carbohydrate quality featuring various ratios of carbohydrates-to-dietary fibre-to-sugar have been associated with improved product and/or diet quality in westernised countries. Carbohydrate intake is especially high in Asia Pacific. Thus, this study evaluated the ability of such carbohydrate metrics to discriminate the nutritional quality of carbohydrate-rich packaged foods and beverages in Australia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines, with an additional focus on beverages. This evaluation was conducted by comparing product nutritional composition and assessing products against three national nutrient profiling models. Results showed that Australia had the highest proportion of products meeting all metrics, compared to the Southeast Asian countries. Beverages had a low adherence to all metrics compared to solid foods. Across the five countries, both processed food and beverages meeting the metrics generally contained higher dietary fibre, protein, and certain vitamins and minerals whilst having lower energy, total sugars, free sugars, trans fat and cholesterol content compared to products not meeting the metrics. The metrics were also aligned with national nutrient profiling models to identify nutritious products. In conclusion, these metrics allowed us to discriminate product nutritional quality in the countries assessed and are applicable to beverages.
Patterns of Use of Vaping Products among Smokers: Findings from the 2016–2018 International Tobacco Control (ITC) New Zealand Surveys

Alternative nicotine products like e-cigarettes could help achieve an end to the epidemic of ill health and death caused by smoking. However, in-depth information about their use is often limited. Our study investigated patterns of use of e-cigarettes and attitudes and beliefs among smokers and ex-smokers in New Zealand (NZ), a country with an ‘endgame’ goal for smoked tobacco. Data came from smokers and ex-smokers in Waves 1 and 2 of the International Tobacco Control (ITC) NZ Survey (Wave 1 August 2016–April 2017, 1155 participants; Wave 2, June–December 2018, 1020 participants). Trial, current and daily use of e-cigarettes was common: daily use was 7.9% among smokers and 22.6% among ex-smokers in Wave 2, and increased between surveys. Use was commonest among 18–24 years and ex-smokers, but was similar among Māori and non-Māori participants, and by socio-economic status. Most participants used e-cigarettes to help them quit or reduce their smoking. The most common motivating factor for use was cost and the most common barrier to use cited was that e-cigarettes were less satisfying than smoking. The findings could inform developing interventions in order to maximise the contribution of e-cigarettes to achieving an equitable smoke-free Aotearoa, and to minimise any potential adverse impacts.
Effect of Astaxanthin on the Expression and Activity of Aquaporin-3 in Skin in an In-Vitro Study

Astaxanthin (3,3′-dihydroxy-β,β-carotene-4,4′-dione) is a red lipophilic pigment with strong antioxidant action. Oral or topical administration of astaxanthin has been reported to improve skin function, including increasing skin moisture. In this study, we examined the mechanism by which astaxanthin improves skin function by focusing on the water channel aquaporin-3 (AQP3), which plays important roles in maintaining skin moisture and function. When astaxanthin was added to PHK16-0b or HaCaT cells, the mRNA expression level of AQP3 increased significantly in a concentration-dependent manner in both cell lines. The AQP3 protein expression level was also confirmed to increase when astaxanthin was added to HaCaT cells. Similarly, when astaxanthin was added to 3D human epidermis model EpiSkin, AQP3 expression increased. Furthermore, when glycerol and astaxanthin were simultaneously added to EpiSkin, glycerol permeability increased significantly compared with that observed for the addition of glycerol alone. We demonstrated that astaxanthin increases AQP3 expression in the skin and enhances AQP3 activity. This result suggests that the increased AQP3 expression in the skin is associated with the increase in skin moisture by astaxanthin. Thus, we consider astaxanthin useful for treating dry skin caused by decreased AQP3 due to factors such as diabetes mellitus and aging.