Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Tetrahydrodibenzo[a,i]phenanthridin-5-yl)phenol as fluorescent probe for the detection of Aniline.

Two tetrahydrodibenzo[a,i]phenanthridin-5-yl)phenols which differ in their substituents at the para position (P1, R=H and P2, R=NEt2) were designed and synthesized. The presence of -NEt2 group in probe P2 facilitates the twisted intramolecular charge transfer (TICT) process making P2 as emissive, which distinctly coordinated with boron trifluoride in presence of different amines with different electronic properties. A substantial raise in emission intensity with increasing surrounding viscous environment and smooth formation of a planar complex with Boron and Zn2+ ions concluded the presence of TICT process. The selective reactivity of P2 towards a tetra coordinated boron complex has been explored as a potential tool for colorimetric and fluorescent discrimination of aromatic primary amines i.e., anilines.Selective detection of aniline with probe P2 can be viewed through naked eye and the corresponding fluorescence turn on detection limit was found to be 12.65nM. In addition, the detection of aniline on precoated aluminum-backed TLC plate and Whatman filter paper strips were found to be in good agreement with the colour change of P2 in solution and in vapour phase.
Exploratory factor analysis of the Adapted Skillstreaming Checklist for children with autism spectrum disorder

The Adapted Skillstreaming Checklist measures social/social-communication skills and behavioral flexibility/regulation of children with autism spectrum disorder without intellectual disability. Prior studies provided support for the reliability and criterion-related validity of the Adapted Skillstreaming Checklist total score for these children; however, no studies have examined the Adapted Skillstreaming Checklist factor structure. This exploratory factor analysis examined the factor structure and internal consistency of parent ratings on the Adapted Skillstreaming Checklist for a sample of 331 children, ages 6–12 years, with autism spectrum disorder without intellectual disability. Results yielded a correlated three-factor solution. The individual factors and total score demonstrated very good internal consistency reliability. Findings supported the presence and interpretability of three subscales, as well as derivation of a total composite reflecting overall prosocial and adaptive skills and behaviors. Implications for assessment and research are discussed.
Correlations between social dominance orientation and political attitudes reflect common genetic underpinnings

Significance Deciphering the underlying psychology of societal attitudes and prejudices is important in times of political unpredictability. We focus on the foundational construct of preference for (or against) hierarchies between groups, as reflected in the 2 subdimensions of social dominance orientation (SDO). Studying SDO with a large-sample twin design, we show that both its sub-dimensions are heritable, share common genetic influences, and overlap genetically with 6 political attitudes that serve to enhance versus attenuate societal hierarchy. This suggests that desire for versus opposition to intergroup hierarchy, in abstract and concrete forms, constitutes a genetically-grounded behavioral syndrome, thus explaining an important part of the long-observed association among political views of various kinds. A foundational question in the social sciences concerns the interplay of underlying causes in the formation of people’s political beliefs and prejudices. What role, if any, do genes, environmental influences, or personality dispositions play? Social dominance orientation (SDO), an influential index of people’s general attitudes toward intergroup hierarchy, correlates robustly with political beliefs. SDO consists of the subdimensions SDO-dominance (SDO-D), which is the desire people have for some groups to be actively oppressed by others, and SDO-egalitarianism (SDO-E), a preference for intergroup inequality. Using a twin design (n = 1,987), we investigate whether the desire for intergroup dominance and inequality makes up a genetically grounded behavioral syndrome. Specifically, we investigate the heritability of SDO, in addition to whether it genetically correlates with support for political policies concerning the distribution of power and resources to different social groups. In addition to moderate heritability estimates for SDO-D and SDO-E (37% and 24%, respectively), we find that the genetic correlation between these subdimensions and political attitudes was overall high (mean genetic correlation 0.51), while the environmental correlation was very low (mean environmental correlation 0.08). This suggests that the relationship between political attitudes and SDO-D and SDO-E is grounded in common genetics, such that the desire for (versus opposition to) intergroup inequality and support for political attitudes that serve to enhance (versus attenuate) societal disparities form convergent strategies for navigating group-based dominance hierarchies.
The RpoS Gatekeeper in Borrelia burgdorferi: An Invariant Regulatory Scheme That Promotes Spirochete Persistence in Reservoir Hosts and Niche Diversity

Maintenance of Borrelia burgdorferi within its enzootic cycle requires a complex regulatory pathway involving the alternative σ factors RpoN and RpoS and two ancillary trans-acting factors, BosR and Rrp2. Activation of this pathway occurs within ticks during the nymphal blood meal when RpoS, the effector σ factor, transcribes genes required for tick transmission and mammalian infection. RpoS also exerts a ‘gatekeeper’ function by repressing σ70-dependent tick phase genes (e.g., ospA, lp6.6). Herein, we undertook a broad examination of RpoS functionality throughout the enzootic cycle, beginning with modeling to confirm that this alternative σ factor is a ‘genuine’ RpoS homolog. Using a novel dual color reporter system, we established at the single spirochete level that ospA is expressed in nymphal midguts throughout transmission and is not downregulated until spirochetes have been transmitted to a naïve host. Although it is well established that rpoS/RpoS is expressed throughout infection, its requirement for persistent infection has not been demonstrated. Plasmid retention studies using a trans-complemented ΔrpoS mutant demonstrated that (i) RpoS is required for maximal fitness throughout the mammalian phase and (ii) RpoS represses tick phase genes until spirochetes are acquired by a naïve vector. By transposon mutant screening, we established that bba34/oppA5, the only OppA oligopeptide-binding protein controlled by RpoS, is a bona fide persistence gene. Lastly, comparison of the strain 297 and B31 RpoS DMC regulons identified two cohorts of RpoS-regulated genes. The first consists of highly conserved syntenic genes that are similarly regulated by RpoS in both strains and likely required for maintenance of B. burgdorferi sensu stricto strains in the wild. The second includes RpoS-regulated plasmid-encoded variable surface lipoproteins ospC, dbpA and members of the ospE/ospF/elp, mlp, revA, and Pfam54 paralogous gene families, all of which have evolved via inter- and intra-strain recombination. Thus, while the RpoN/RpoS pathway regulates a ‘core’ group of orthologous genes, diversity within RpoS regulons of different strains could be an important determinant of reservoir host range as well as spirochete virulence.
Influenza Virus-Induced Robust Expression of SOCS3 Contributes to Excessive Production of IL-6

Influenza A virus (IAV) remains a major public health threat in the world, as indicated by the severe pneumonia caused by its infection annually. Interleukin-6 (IL-6) involved excessive inflammatory response to IAV infection profoundly contributes to the virus pathogenesis. However, the precise mechanisms underlying such a response are poorly understood. Here we found from both in vivo and in vitro studies that IAV not only induced a surge of IL-6 release, but also greatly upregulated expression of suppressor of cytokine signaling-3 (SOCS3), the potent suppressor of IL-6-associated signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) signaling. Interestingly, there existed a cytokine-independent mechanism of the robust induction of SOCS3 by IAV at early stages of the infection. Furthermore, we employed SOCS3-knockdown transgenic mice (TG), and surprisingly observed from virus challenge experiments using these mice that disruption of SOCS3 expression provided significant protection against IAV infection, as evidenced by attenuated acute lung injury, a higher survival rate of infected animals and lower viral load in infected tissues as compared with those of wild-type littermates under the same condition. The activity of nuclear factor-kappa B (NFκB) and the expression of its target gene IL-6 were suppressed in SOCS3-knockdown A549 cells and the TG mice after infection with IAV. Moreover, we defined that enhanced STAT3 activity caused by SOCS3 silencing was important for the regulation of NFκB and IL-6. These findings establish a critical role for IL-6-STAT3-SOCS3 axis in the pathogenesis of IAV and suggest that influenza virus may have evolved a strategy to circumvent IL-6/STAT3-mediated immune response through upregulating SOCS3.
Hydrogels Based on Schiff Base Linkages for Biomedical Applications

Schiff base, an important family of reaction in click chemistry, has received significant attention in the formation of self-healing hydrogels in recent years. Schiff base reversibly reacts even in mild conditions, which allows hydrogels with self-healing ability to recover their structures and functions after damages. Moreover, pH-sensitivity of the Schiff base offers the hydrogels response to biologically relevant stimuli. Different types of Schiff base can provide the hydrogels with tunable mechanical properties and chemical stabilities. In this review, we summarized the design and preparation of hydrogels based on various types of Schiff base linkages, as well as the biomedical applications of hydrogels in drug delivery, tissue regeneration, wound healing, tissue adhesives, bioprinting, and biosensors.
Clinical significance and prospective molecular mechanism of C-C motif chemokine receptors in patients with early-stage pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma after pancreaticoduodenectomy

The present study aimed to determine the clinical significance and potential molecular mechanisms of C-C motif chemokine receptor (CCR) genes in patients with early-stage pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). The transcriptomic, survival and clinical data of 112 patients with early-stage PDAC who underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy were obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas. The prognostic values of the CCR genes involved in early-stage PDAC were evaluated using Kaplan-Meier analysis and the multivariate Cox proportional risk regression model, and the potential molecular mechanisms were determined using bioinformatics tools. The identified CCRs closely interacted with each other at both the gene and protein levels. High expression levels of CCR5 [adjusted P=0.012; adjusted hazard ration (HR)=0.478, 95% confidence interval (CI)=0.269–0.852], CCR6 (adjusted P=0.026; adjusted HR=0.527, 95% CI=0.299–0.927) and CCR9 (adjusted P=0.001; adjusted HR=0.374, 95% CI=0.209–0.670) were significantly associated with longer overall survival times in patients with early-stage PDAC. The contribution of CCR5, CCR6 and CCR9 to the outcome of early-stage PDAC was also demonstrated. Combined survival analysis of CCR5, CCR6 and CCR9 suggested that patients with high expression levels of these CCRs exhibited the most favorable outcomes. A prognostic signature was constructed in terms of the expression level of CC5, CCR6 and CCR9, and time-dependent receiver operating characteristic curves indicated that this signature was able to effectively predict the outcome of patients with early-stage PDAC. The potential molecular mechanisms of CCR5, CC6 and CCR9 in PDAC include its intersection of the P53, nuclear factor (NF)-κB, generic transcription, mitogen-activated protein kinase and STAT signaling pathways. Collectively, this highlights that CCR5, CCR6 and CCR9 are potential prognostic biomarkers for early-stage PDAC.
The Purinome and the preBötzinger Complex – A Ménage of Unexplored Mechanisms That May Modulate/Shape the Hypoxic Ventilatory Response

Exploration of purinergic signaling in brainstem homeostatic control processes is challenging the traditional view that the biphasic hypoxic ventilatory response, which comprises a rapid initial increase in breathing followed by a slower secondary depression, reflects the interaction between peripheral chemoreceptor-mediated excitation and central inhibition. While controversial, accumulating evidence supports that in addition to peripheral excitation, interactions between central excitatory and inhibitory purinergic mechanisms shape this key homeostatic reflex. The objective of this review is to present our working model of how purinergic signaling modulates the glutamatergic inspiratory synapse in the preBötzinger Complex (key site of inspiratory rhythm generation) to shape the hypoxic ventilatory response. It is based on the perspective that has emerged from decades of analysis of glutamatergic synapses in the hippocampus, where the actions of extracellular ATP are determined by a complex signaling system, the purinome. The purinome involves not only the actions of ATP and adenosine at P2 and P1 receptors, respectively, but diverse families of enzymes and transporters that collectively determine the rate of ATP degradation, adenosine accumulation and adenosine clearance. We summarize current knowledge of the roles played by these different purinergic elements in the hypoxic ventilatory response, often drawing on examples from other brain regions, and look ahead to many unanswered questions and remaining challenges.
Acupuncture for overactive bladder in adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background: Overactive bladder is prevalent in adults over 40 years of age and its prevalence increases with age. The use of acupuncture in adults with overactive bladder is increasing globally. However, its effectiveness/efficacy and safety have not yet been confirmed. Objective: To determine the effectiveness/efficacy and safety of acupuncture and to identify the pattern of commonly used traditional acupuncture points in the management of overactive bladder in adults. Methods: Ten electronic English and Chinese language databases were systematically searched and two English together with four Chinese journals relevant to acupuncture were manually searched in libraries for randomised controlled trials (RCTs) of acupuncture for overactive bladder in adults from their inception to March 2017. The Cochrane risk of bias tool was used to assess the methodological quality of the RCTs. RevMan v.5. 3 software was employed for data analysis. Results: Seven eligible trials involving 695 participants were included. Meta-analysis showed that acupuncture was comparable to drugs (tolterodine tartrate/solifenacin) in the reduction of micturition episodes over 24 hours (pooled standardised mean difference (SMD) 0.36, 95% CI −0.23 to 0.95; I2=83%), increase in voided volume of each micturition episode (pooled SMD −0.15, 95% CI −0.36 to 0.05; I2=0%), and reduction of overactive bladder symptom score (pooled SMD −0.23, 95% CI −1.30 to 0.85; I2=91%). In addition, acupuncture was not significantly different compared with placebo in the reduction of overactive bladder symptom score (pooled SMD −2.36, 95% CI −5.64 to 0.93; I2=97%). No serious adverse events were reported. Conclusions: No significant differences in effectiveness or efficacy were found between acupuncture and drug or between verum and sham acupuncture, respectively. Further high-quality studies are required.
Fenton-Mediated Biodegradation of Chlorendic Acid – A Highly Chlorinated Organic Pollutant – By Fungi Isolated From a Polluted Site

Chlorendic acid is a recalcitrant, highly chlorinated organic pollutant for which no microbial degrader has yet been identified. To address this knowledge gap, fungi were isolated from bulk soil, rhizosphere, and roots of the common bent (Agrostis capillaris) and the hybrid poplar [Populus deltoides × (Populus trichocarpa × P. deltoides) cv. Grimminge], both of which grow on a chlorendic acid polluted site in Belgium. Isolates were taxonomically identified and phenotypically screened for chlorendic acid degradation. Several fungal isolates could degrade chlorendic acid in liquid media up to 45%. The chlorendic acid degrading fungal isolates produced higher levels of hydroxyl radicals when exposed to the pollutant when compared to non-exposed controls, suggesting that the oxidative degradation of chlorendic acid occurs through production of Fenton-mediated hydroxyl radicals. In addition, the isolated Ascomycete Penicillium sp. 1D-2a degraded 58% of the original chlorendic acid concentration in the soil after 28 days. This study demonstrates that the presence of fungi in a chlorendic acid polluted soil can degrade this highly chlorinated organic pollutant. These results indicate that recalcitrant, seemingly non-biologically degradable organic pollutants, such as chlorendic acid, can be remediated by using bioremediation, which opens new perspectives for in situ bioremediation.
Co‐morbidities and co‐medications as confounders of cardioprotection—Does it matter in the clinical setting?

The translation of cardioprotection from robust experimental evidence to beneficial clinical outcome for patients suffering acute myocardial infarction or undergoing cardiovascular surgery has been largely disappointing. The present review attempts to critically analyse the evidence for confounders of cardioprotection in patients with acute myocardial infarction and in patients undergoing cardiovascular surgery. One reason that has been proposed to be responsible for such lack of translation is the confounding of cardioprotection by co‐morbidities and co‐medications. Whereas there is solid experimental evidence for such confounding of cardioprotection by single co‐morbidities and co‐medications, the clinical evidence from retrospective analyses of the limited number of clinical data is less robust. The best evidence for interference of co‐medications is that for platelet inhibitors to recruit cardioprotection per se and thus limit the potential for further protection from myocardial infarction and for propofol anaesthesia to negate the protection from remote ischaemic conditioning in cardiovascular surgery.
Global Awareness Landscape for Ailments—A Twitter Based Microscopic View Into Thought Processes of People

In this day and age, people face a lot of stress due to the fast pace of life. Due to this, people in today's digital age, suffer from a plethora of ailments. It is universally accepted that a greater awareness of ailments and their corresponding symptoms leads to an increased lifespan and better quality of life. Early detection and screening can help doctors nip diseases in their natal stages. However, not everyone is aware of them, which makes it a global issue. The study of the degree of disease awareness amongst people belonging to different nations and continents is a matter of great interest. One method that is suitable for this purpose is using clinical data. But, this data is not readily available. However, today a plethora of platforms are available to people to share their thoughts and experiences. People post about many of the important events in their lives on social media. Their posts offer a microscopic view into their lives and thought processes. Based on this intuition, twitter data pertaining to various chronic and acute diseases has been collected. Tweets for 30 deadly ailments have been collected over a period of 3 months amounting to a total of 19 million. A feature extraction approach is proposed which is used to identify the disease awareness levels across different nations. Deriving the global awareness landscape for ailments can help to identify regions which are well aware and also those that need to get aware. Clustering has been used for this purpose.
Obsessive-compulsive symptoms, intrusive thoughts and depressive symptoms: a longitudinal study examining relation to maternal responsiveness

ABSTRACT Background The postpartum period is a vulnerable time for the development of depression. While perinatal depression has been well studied, intrusive thoughts related to the infant and classic obsessive-compulsive (OC) symptoms (e.g. chequering, ordering and cleaning) are also common in the postpartum and less well understood. Objective The present study investigated the associations among depressive symptoms, intrusive thoughts, and OC symptoms and their relation to the quality of the mother–infant relationship, particularly in the realm of maternal responsiveness. Methods Participants (N = 228) were recruited after delivery from a large Midwestern academic medical centre. At 2 and 12-week postpartum, participants completed self-report questionnaires that assessed demographics, depressive and OC symptoms, postpartum-specific intrusive thoughts and accompanying neutralising strategies, and maternal responsiveness. Results At 12-week postpartum, maternal responsiveness was significantly lower for participants that endorsed intrusive thoughts, neutralising strategies or OC symptoms of clinical significance. More severe intrusive thoughts and neutralising strategies were associated with maternal responsiveness but not predictive after accounting for depressive symptoms; depressive symptoms were associated with lower levels of maternal responsiveness across the postpartum. Conclusions A sizable number of postpartum women experience clinically significant postpartum-specific intrusive thoughts and utilise neutralising strategies, especially in the context of postpartum depressive symptoms. Depressive symptoms have the most influence on maternal responsiveness but it is also important to target intrusive thoughts and OC symptoms in the context of postpartum depression to promote the welfare of new mothers and their offspring.
Pre-plaque Aß-Mediated Impairment of Synaptic Depotentiation in a Transgenic Rat Model of Alzheimer’s Disease Amyloidosis

How endogenously produced soluble amyloid ß-protein (Aß) affects synaptic plasticity in vulnerable circuits should provide insight into early Alzheimer’s disease pathophysiology. McGill-R-Thy1-APP transgenic rats, modeling Alzheimer’s disease amyloidosis, exhibit an age-dependent soluble Aß-mediated impairment of the induction of long-term potentiation (LTP) by 200 Hz conditioning stimulation at apical CA3-to-CA1 synapses. Here, we investigated if synaptic weakening at these synapses in the form of activity-dependent persistent reversal (depotentiation) of LTP is also altered in pre-plaque rats in vivo. In freely behaving transgenic rats strong, 400 Hz, conditioning stimulation induced stable LTP that was NMDA receptor- and voltage-gated Ca2+ channel-dependent. Surprisingly, the ability of novelty exploration to induce depotentiation of 400 Hz-induced LTP was impaired in an Aß-dependent manner in the freely behaving transgenic rats. Moreover, at apical synapses, low frequency conditioning stimulation (1 Hz) did not trigger depotentiation in anaesthetized transgenic rats, with an age-dependence similar to the LTP deficit. In contrast, at basal synapses neither LTP, induced by 100 or 200 Hz, nor novelty exploration-induced depotentiation was impaired in the freely behaving transgenic rats. These findings indicate that activity-dependent weakening, as well as strengthening, is impaired in a synapse- and age-dependent manner in this model of early Alzheimer’s disease amyloidosis.