Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Does digital economy strengthen the income distribution effect of fiscal expenditure? Evidence from China

The exponential growth of China’s digital economy has exerted a profound influence on economic advancement and income distribution. To effectively tackle income inequality, it is essential to incorporate the analysis of digital economy development within the framework of fiscal expenditure. This study utilizes a comprehensive panel dataset encompassing 276 cities in China during the period from 2011 to 2020. Employing the fixed-effect model and instrumental variable method, the research investigates the influence of fiscal expenditure on the income gap while investigating the moderating effect of the digital economy. The key findings of the study can be summarized as follows: (1) In general, fiscal expenditure demonstrates a propensity to reduce the income gap. (2) Different categories of fiscal expenditure exhibit distinct effects on the income gap. Social security and employment expenditures do not significantly alleviate the income gap. Conversely, education expenditures and health expenditures tend to exacerbate the income gap. On the other hand, expenditures in agriculture, forestry, and water resources, as well as urban and rural affairs, effectively narrow the income gap. (3) The development of the digital economy enhances the capacity of fiscal expenditure to adjust income distribution, showcasing non-linear effects. From a fiscal expenditure classification perspective, the digital economy primarily enhances the effectiveness of income distribution adjustment for expenditures in sectors such as agriculture, forestry, water resources, and others. Based on these findings, this study proposes a set of future measures aimed at facilitating China’s efforts to reduce the income gap within the framework of the digital economy. These measures encompass expediting the integration of the digital economy with government governance and advocating for the widespread adoption of digital government affairs platforms. By implementing these measures, China can gain valuable insights into effectively addressing income inequality and promoting more equitable economic outcomes within the context of the digital economy.
Agonistic antibacterial potential of Loigolactobacillus coryniformis BCH-4 metabolites against selected human pathogenic bacteria: An in vitro and in silico approach

Lactic acid bacteria are known to produce numerous antibacterial metabolites that are active against various pathogenic microbes. In this study, bioactive metabolites from the cell free supernatant of Loigolactobacillus coryniformis BCH-4 were obtained by liquid-liquid extraction, using ethyl acetate, followed by fractionation, using silica gel column chromatography. The collected F23 fraction effectively inhibited the growth of pathogenic bacteria (Escherichia coli, Bacillus cereus, and Staphylococcus aureus) by observing the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBC). The evaluated values of MIC were 15.6 ± 0.34, 3.9 ± 0.59, and 31.2 ± 0.67 μg/mL and MBC were 15.6 ± 0.98, 7.8 ± 0.45, and 62.5 ± 0.23 μg/mL respectively, against the above-mentioned pathogenic bacteria. The concentration of F23 fraction was varying from 1000 to 1.9 μg/mL. Furthermore, the fraction also exhibited sustainable biofilm inhibition. Using the Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry (ESI-MS/MS), the metabolites present in the bioactive fraction (F23), were identified as phthalic acid, myristic acid, mangiferin, 16-hydroxylpalmatic acid, apigenin, and oleandomycin. By using in silico approach, docking analysis showed good interaction of identified metabolites and receptor proteins of pathogenic bacteria. The present study suggested Loigolactobacillus coryniformis BCH-4, as a promising source of natural bioactive metabolites which may receive great benefit as potential sources of drugs in the pharmacological sector.
The immunomodulatory effects of lactoferrin and its derived peptides on NF‐κB signaling pathway: A systematic review and meta‐analysis

Lactoferrin is a versatile protein with important modulatory functions in inflammation and immune response. This glycoprotein can bind and sequester iron and LPS, thereby intervening in certain signaling pathways and biological processes. In the present meta‐analysis, we aimed to pool experimental data regarding the immunomodulatory effects of lactoferrin and its derived peptides on the NF‐κB signaling pathway.
International Journal of Molecular Sciences Nutrimetabolomics: an Update on Analytical Approaches to Investigate the Role of Plant-based Foods and Their Bioactive Compounds in Non-communicable Chronic Diseases

Metabolomics is the study of low-weight molecules present in biological samples such as biofluids, tissue/cellular extracts, and culture media. Metabolomics research is increasing, and at the moment, it has several applications in the food science and nutrition fields. In the present review, we provide an update about the most frequently used methodologies and metabolomic platforms in these areas. Also, we discuss different metabolomic strategies regarding the discovery of new bioactive compounds (BACs) in plant-based foods. Furthermore, we review the existing literature related to the use of metabolomics to investigate the potential protective role of BACs in the prevention and treatment of non-communicable chronic diseases, namely cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cancer.
Measuring the effects of the light rail transit (LRT) system on house prices in the Klang Valley, Malaysia

This research attempts to estimate the increased value of land in the form of house prices as a result of improved accessibility owing to the construction of Light Rail Transit (LRT) systems. Kelana Jaya Line LRT system is chosen as the case study in this research. Hedonic house price modelling and Geographically Weighted Regression (GWR) are employed to measure the effects of the LRT system on house prices in the Klang Valley, Malaysia (2004 and 2005 transactions). Selling price, structural attributes, land use and socio-economic attributes were collected from the Department of Valuation and Services of Malaysia database, selected maps and reports. Fifty-five factors that are likely to influence house price were identified and used to measure the overall effects of the LRT system on house prices. However, only significant variables were included in the final deliberation and these were identified by using correlation analysis and step-wise procedures. The outcome of this study shows a positive relationship between the existence of the LRT system and house prices. In short, people are willing to pay a higher price in order to live within close proximity to a rail transit station. The hedonic house price model suggests for houses that are located within two-kilometre radius prices decrease as the distance increases from the LRT station; for both straight-line-distance and network-distance. However, since hedonic house price models are global, the results produced by the model are applied equally for the entire area, and therefore may hide important local differences in the determinants of house prices. Spatial processes are instead seen to be heterogeneous in which the measurement of a relationship depends in part on where the measurement is taken. The generalisation of the effects of the LRT system on house prices is found to be consistent when it is examined further by employing a GWR model, which reveals that house prices decrease only for majority of houses located in the Petaling Jaya area and high-rise units located in Bangsar and Kerinchi. Yet, the majority of houses located in Wangsa Maju-Maluri area are found to be not affected by the existence of the LRT system. The GWR results indicate a statistical significant improvement over the global model for both straight-linedistance and network-distance models even after taking into account the extra degrees of freedom. The highest significant positive price premiums are found in houses that are located
Cyanobacterial blooms: Assessing reservoir vulnerability

The ability to predict reservoir vulnerability to summer blooms and to detect thresholds of change in phytoplankton cell densities in response to environmental factors would provide information critical for decision making, hazard prevention and management. We used a new method to detect synchronous change points in densities of phytoplankton taxa along the gradient of percentage grazing land cover in catchments, based on data collected from 15 reservoirs in subtropical Australia during summer 2009. In addition, we propose a predictive index of vulnerability that is based on simple measures of reservoir and catchment characteristics, including percentage grazing land cover. Our findings suggest that land use in the catchments of the studied reservoirs has a strong impact on phytoplankton composition and densities, and hence summer bloom phenomena.
The prevalence of vitamin A deficiency and its public health significance in children in low- and middle-income countries: A systematic review and modelling analysis

Background Vitamin A deficiency (VAD) is widely recognised as a major public health concern in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Despite various interventions implemented in many countries, a lack of reliable data is hindering progress. We aimed to consolidate available data and quantify estimates of the prevalence of VAD among children ≤18 years in LMICs. Methods We searched PubMed, Medline and Embase for studies reported the prevalence of VAD or marginal (m)VAD among children. A multilevel mixed-effects meta-regression approach was applied to establish the regression models for VAD and mVAD prevalence. The total numbers of children affected by VAD and mVAD in LMICs in 2019 were separately calculated from the estimated age- and socio-demographic index (SDI)-specific prevalence with their corresponding United Nations Population Division populations projections. We estimated areas of significant public health concern in 165 LMICs using the lower confidence interval (CI) of VAD prevalence. Results A total of 116 articles from 40 LMICs were retained. In 2019, VAD and mVAD affected 333.95 million (95% CI = 253.00-433.74) and 556.13 million (95% CI = 388.83-767.94) children and adolescents in 165 LMICs, respectively, corresponding to a prevalence of 14.73% (95% CI = 11.16-19.14) and 24.54% (95% CI = 17.15-33.88). The prevalence of both VAD and mVAD was the highest in children aged 0-5 years at 19.53% (95% CI = 15.03-24.91) and 28.22% (95% CI = 20.00-38.24), respectively, with both steadily decreasing to 10.09% (95% CI = 7.44-13.50) and 20.76% (95% CI = 14.16-29.50) in adolescents aged 13-18 years. The prevalence of VAD was significantly higher in the low SDI region at 29.67% (95% CI = 22.67-37.53) compared to 5.17% (95% CI = 3.14-8.43) estimated in the high-middle SDI region. 68 of the 165 LMICs (41.21%) were classified as areas of moderate to severe VAD public health significance. Conclusions VAD continues to pose a significant public health concern in many low-income settings. Development in LMICs is a crucial factor for VAD, with a disproportionately higher burden in low SDI regions. Registration This study protocol was registered with PROSPERO, CRD42020220654.
Skin quality sensor to evaluate vibration and friction generated when sliding over skins

The mechanical condition and tactile evaluation of skin are essential for the development of skin care products. Most of the existing commercial instruments and studies aim to evaluate the skin surface by pressing it for hardness or by using imaging sensors, but there have been few instrumental measurements employing rubbing motion. Here, we have developed a sensor specialized for tactile sensation and the contact phenomenon during skin rubbing.
Self-application of aminoglycoside-based creams to treat cutaneous leishmaniasis in travelers

Background In endemic foci, the use of an aquaphilic cream containing paromomycin with/without gentamicin to treat cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is safe, painless and cures 78–82% of patients with New and Old World CL. Self-application in travelers requires evaluation. Methods Travelers with 1–10 lesions of confirmed CL were prospectively treated with the paromomycin-gentamicin formulation (WR279396, 2012–2017, Group 1) and carefully follow up, or treated with a locally produced paromomycin-only cream (2018–2022, Group 2). The cream was applied once under supervision, then self-applied daily for 20–30 days. A cured lesion was defined as 100% re-epithelialization at day 42 without relapse at three months. Results Medical features were similar in Group 1 (17 patients), and Group 2 (23 patients). Patients were infected with either Leishmania major, L. infantum, L. killicki, L. guyanensis, L. braziliensis, or L. naiffi. Intention-to-treat and per-protocol cure rates were 82% (95% confidence interval (CI) [64.23;100.00]) and 87% (95% CI [71,29;100.00]) in Group 1, and 69% (95% CI [50.76; 88.37]) and 76% (95% CI [57.97; 94.41]) in Group 2. In the pooled Group 1&2, 75% (95% CI [61.58;88.42]) (30/40) and 81% (95% CI [68,46;93.6]) (30/37) of patients were cured in intention-to-treat and per-protocol, respectively. There were no significant differences observed in the success rates between Old World and New World CL (83.3% vs. 60%, p = 0.14). Prospective observations in Group 1 showed that adverse events were mainly pruritus (24%) and pain (18%) on lesions (all mild or moderate). No mucosal involvement was observed in either group. Discussion In this representative population of travelers who acquired CL either in the Old or New World, the 81% per-protocol cure rate of a self-applied aminoglycoside cream was similar to that observed in clinical trials.
In vivo application of magnetic molecularly imprinted polymer in rheumatoid arthritis rat model

Abstract A magnetic molecularly imprinted polymer (MMIP) was synthesised and tested for an in vivo rheumatoid arthritis (RA) rat model. Magnetite coated with mesoporous silica (Fe2O3@mSi) was used as core for surface imprinting, dopamine was used as monomer and methotrexate (MTX) was loaded directly during polymerisation. The amount of MTX loaded on MMIPs reached 201.165 ± 0.315 µmol/g. Characterisation of the polymers was done via SEM, TEM, and FTIR. The pharmacological effect of the selected MMIP was evaluated in a Complete Freund’s Adjuvant (CFA) induced arthritis rat model where a 3D magnet bearing construct was designed for targeted delivery of MMIPs. The parameters evaluated were the change in paw edoema, paw diameter, gait score, and animal’s weight. Results revealed a tendency of MMIP to significantly improve the measured parameters which was confirmed with histopathological findings. In conclusion, the improvement in the arthritic signs associated with MMIP treatment compared to free MTX, indicated successful targeting of MMIPs to the site of inflammation. Graphical Abstract
Chronic encephalomyelitis virus exhibits cellular tropism and evades pDCs by binding to sialylated integrins as the cell surface receptors

Theiler's murine encephalomyelitis virus (TMEV) causes a chronic demyelinating disease similar to multiple sclerosis in mice. Although sialic acids have been shown to be essential for TMEV attachment to the host, the surface receptor has not been identified. While type I interferons play a pivotal role in the elimination of the chronic infectious Daniel (DA) strain, the role of plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) is controversial. We herein found that TMEV binds to conventional DCs but not to pDCs. A glycomics analysis showed that the sialylated N‐glycan fractions were lower in pDCs than in conventional DCs, indicating that pDCs are not susceptible to TMEV infection due to the low levels of sialic acid. TMEV capsid proteins contain an integrin recognition motif, and dot blot assays showed that the integrin proteins bind to TMEV and that the viral binding was reduced in the desialylated αXβ2. αXβ2 protein suppressed TMEV replication in vivo, and TMEV co‐localized with integrin αM at the cell membrane and TLR 3 in the cytoplasm, suggesting that αM serves as the viral attachment and entry. These results show that the chronic encephalomyelitis virus utilizes sialylated integrins as cell surface receptors, leading to cellular tropism to evade pDC activation.
Finding Needles in the Haystack: Strategies for Uncovering Noncoding Regulatory Variants.

Despite accumulating evidence implicating noncoding variants in human diseases, unraveling their functionality remains a significant challenge. Systematic annotations of the regulatory landscape and the growth of sequence variant data sets have fueled the development of tools and methods to identify causal noncoding variants and evaluate their regulatory effects. Here, we review the latest advances in the field and discuss potential future research avenues to gain a more in-depth understanding of noncoding regulatory variants. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Genetics, Volume 57 is November 2023. Please see http://www.annualreviews. org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.
Antioxidants and Calcium Modulators Preclude in Vitro Hepatitis B Virus–Induced Mitochondrial Damage

Background/Aims: Hepatitis B virus induces mitochondrial damage via the production of reactive oxygen species and concomitant with deregulation of calcium homeostasis. The current study evaluates the potential of antioxidant and calcium modulators for inhibition of hepatitis B virus-induced mitochondrial damage using in vitro cell culture models. Materials and Methods: Hepatitis B virus-induced mitochondrial fragmentation was observed by immunofluorescence confocal microscopy in hepatitis B virus-infected cell lines (HepG2 and HepAD38). Differential protein expression of mitochondrial fragmentation markers, dynamin-related protein 1 and phospho-dynamin-related protein 1, were evaluated both pre- and posttreatment with antioxidant N-acetyl-l-cysteine and calcium modulators like 1,2-bis(2-aminophenoxy)ethane-N,N,N′,N′-tetraacetic acid tetrakisacetoxymethyl ester, ethylene-bis (oxyethylenenitrilo) tetraacetic acid glycol ether diamine tetraacetic acid-acetoxymethyl ester, and ruthenium amine complex by western blot analysis. Results: A slight reduction in mitochondrial fragmentation in both cell lines was observed post-antioxidant treatment with a partial prevention observed with calcium modulators. The expression of phospho-dynamin-related protein 1 was significantly upregulated (P = .0007, P = .003) in both hepatitis B virus-infected cell lines compared to uninfected cells. In line with these observations, the expression of dynamin-related protein 1 and phospho-dynamin-related protein 1 was found to be significantly downregulated with N-acetyl-l-cysteine treatment in both cell lines (P = .003, P = .002), respectively. A nonsignificant trend was observed in the case of calcium modulators treatment. Conclusions: Current study indicates that the mitochondrial fragmentation induced by hepatitis B virus infection can be reduced after antioxidant treatment pointing toward exploring better drug targets for the prevention of hepatitis B virus-induced mitochondrial fragmentation and associated liver damage.
Clinical-genomic determinants of immune checkpoint blockade response in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

BACKGROUND Recurrent and/or metastatic (R/M) head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is generally an incurable disease, with patients experiencing median survival of under 10 months and significant morbidity. While immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) drugs are effective in approximately 20% of patients, the remaining experience limited clinical benefit and are exposed to potential adverse effects and financial costs. Clinically approved biomarkers, such as tumor mutational burden (TMB), have a modest predictive value in HNSCC. METHODS We analyzed clinical and genomic features, generated using whole-exome sequencing, in 133 ICB-treated patients with R/M HNSCC, of whom 69 had virus-associated and 64 had non-virus-associated tumors. RESULTS Hierarchical clustering of genomic data revealed 6 molecular subtypes characterized by a wide range of objective response rates and survival after ICB therapy. The prognostic importance of these 6 subtypes was validated in an external cohort. A random forest-based predictive model, using several clinical and genomic features, predicted progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and response with greater accuracy than did a model based on TMB alone. Recursive partitioning analysis identified 3 features (systemic inflammatory response index, TMB, and smoking signature) that classified patients into risk groups with accurate discrimination of PFS and OS. CONCLUSION These findings shed light on the immunogenomic characteristics of HNSCC tumors that drive differential responses to ICB and identify a clinical-genomic classifier that outperformed the current clinically approved biomarker of TMB. This validated predictive tool may help with clinical risk stratification in patients with R/M HNSCC for whom ICB is being considered. FUNDING Fundación Alfonso Martín Escudero, NIH R01 DE027738, US Department of Defense CA210784, The Geoffrey Beene Cancer Research Center, The MSKCC Population Science Research Program, the Jayme Flowers Fund, the Sebastian Nativo Fund, and the NIH/NCI Cancer Center Support Grant P30 CA008748.
SARS-CoV-2 infection perturbs enhancer mediated transcriptional regulation of key pathways

Despite extensive studies on the effects of SARS-CoV-2 infection, there is still a lack of understanding of the downstream epigenetic and regulatory alterations in infected cells. In this study, we investigated changes in enhancer acetylation in epithelial lung cells infected with SARS-CoV-2 and their influence on transcriptional regulation and pathway activity. To achieve this, we integrated and reanalyzed data of enhancer acetylation, ex-vivo infection and single cell RNA-seq data from human patients. Our findings revealed coordinated changes in enhancers and transcriptional networks. We found that infected cells lose the WT1 transcription factor and demonstrate disruption of WT1-bound enhancers and of their associated target genes. Downstream targets of WT1 are involved in the regulation of the Wnt signaling and the mitogen-activated protein kinase cascade, which indeed exhibit increased activation levels. These findings may provide a potential explanation for the development of pulmonary fibrosis, a lethal complication of COVID-19. Moreover, we revealed over-acetylated enhancers associated with upregulated genes involved in cell adhesion, which could contribute to cell-cell infection of SARS-CoV-2. Furthermore, we demonstrated that enhancers may play a role in the activation of pro-inflammatory cytokines and contribute to excessive inflammation in the lungs, a typical complication of COVID-19. Overall, our analysis provided novel insights into the cell-autonomous dysregulation of enhancer regulation caused by SARS-CoV-2 infection, a step on the path to a deeper molecular understanding of the disease.