Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Structure and Composition of Extracted Pectin and Residual Cell Wall Material from Processing Tomato: The Role of a Stepwise Approach versus High-Pressure Homogenization-Facilitated Acid Extraction

In literature, different pectin extraction methods exist. In this study, two approaches starting from the alcohol-insoluble residue (AIR) of processing tomato are performed in a parallel way to facilitate the comparison of pectin yield and the compositional and structural properties of the extracted pectin and residual cell wall material obtained. On the one hand, pectin is extracted stepwise using hot water, chelating agents and low-alkaline conditions targeting fractionation of the pectin population. On the other hand, an industrially relevant single-step nitric acid pectin extraction (pH 1.6) is performed. In addition to these conventional solvent pectin extractions, the role of high-pressure homogenization (HPH) as a physically disruptive treatment to facilitate further pectin extraction from the partially pectin-depleted fraction obtained after acid extraction is addressed. The impact of HPH on the pectin cell wall polysaccharide interactions was shown as almost two thirds of the residual pectin were extractable during the subsequent extractions. For both extraction approaches, pectin obtained further in the sequence was characterized by a higher molecular mass and a higher amount of rhamnogalacturonan I domains. The estimated hemicellulose and cellulose content increased from 56 mol% for the AIR to almost 90 mol% for the final unextractable fractions of both methods.
Focus on the Primary Prevention of Intrauterine Adhesions: Current Concept and Vision

Intrauterine adhesion (IUA), and its severe form Asherman syndrome (Asherman’s syndrome), is a mysterious disease, often accompanied with severe clinical problems contributing to a significant impairment of reproductive function, such as menstrual disturbance (amenorrhea), infertility or recurrent pregnancy loss. Among these, its correlated infertility may be one of the most challenging problems. Although there are many etiologies for the development of IUA, uterine instrumentation is the main cause of IUA. Additionally, more complicated intrauterine surgeries can be performed by advanced technology, further increasing the risk of IUA. Strategies attempting to minimize the risk and reducing its severity are urgently needed. The current review will expand the level of our knowledge required to face the troublesome disease of IUA. It is separated into six sections, addressing the introduction of the normal cyclic endometrial repairing process and its abruption causing the formation of IUA; the etiology and prevalence of IUA; the diagnosis of IUA; the classification of IUA; the pathophysiology of IUA; and the primary prevention of IUA, including (1) delicate surgical techniques, such as the use of surgical instruments, energy systems, and pre-hysteroscopic management, (2) barrier methods, such as gels, intrauterine devices, intrauterine balloons, as well as membrane structures containing hyaluronate–carboxymethylcellulose or polyethylene oxide–sodium carboxymethylcellulose as anti-adhesive barrier.
Biocompatibility of Bacterial Magnetosomes as MRI Contrast Agent: A Long-Term In Vivo Follow-Up Study

Derived from magnetotactic bacteria (MTB), magnetosomes consist of magnetite crystals enclosed within a lipid bilayer membrane and are known to possess advantages over artificially synthesized nanoparticles because of the narrow size distribution, uniform morphology, high purity and crystallinity, single magnetic domain, good biocompatibility, and easy surface modification. These unique properties have increasingly attracted researchers to apply bacterial magnetosomes (BMs) in the fields of biology and medicine as MRI imaging contrast agents. Due to the concern of biosafety, a long-term follow-up of the distribution and clearance of BMs after entering the body is necessary. In this study, we tracked changes of BMs in major organs of mice up to 135 days after intravenous injection using a combination of several techniques. We not only confirmed the liver as the well-known targeted organs of BMs, but also found that BMs accumulated in the spleen. Besides, two major elimination paths, as well as the approximate length of time for BMs to be cleared from the mice, were revealed. Together, the results not only confirm that BMs have high biocompatibility, but also provide a long-term in-vivo assessment which may further help to forward the clinical applications of BMs as an MRI contrast agent.
Review on the Regional Effects of Gastrointestinal Luminal Stimulation on Appetite and Energy Intake: (Pre)clinical Observations

Macronutrients in the gastrointestinal (GI) lumen are able to activate “intestinal brakes”, feedback mechanisms on proximal GI motility and secretion including appetite and energy intake. In this review, we provide a detailed overview of the current evidence with respect to four questions: (1) are regional differences (duodenum, jejunum, ileum) present in the intestinal luminal nutrient modulation of appetite and energy intake? (2) is this “intestinal brake” effect macronutrient specific? (3) is this “intestinal brake” effect maintained during repetitive activation? (4) can the “intestinal brake” effect be activated via non-caloric tastants? Recent evidence indicates that: (1) regional differences exist in the intestinal modulation of appetite and energy intake with a proximal to distal gradient for inhibition of energy intake: ileum and jejunum > duodenum at low but not at high caloric infusion rates. (2) the “intestinal brake” effect on appetite and energy appears not to be macronutrient specific. At equi-caloric amounts, the inhibition on energy intake and appetite is in the same range for fat, protein and carbohydrate. (3) data on repetitive ileal brake activation are scarce because of the need for prolonged intestinal intubation. During repetitive activation of the ileal brake for up to 4 days, no adaptation was observed but overall the inhibitory effect on energy intake was small. (4) the concept of influencing energy intake by intra-intestinal delivery of non-caloric tastants is intriguing. Among tastants, the bitter compounds appear to be more effective in influencing energy intake. Energy intake decreases modestly after post-oral delivery of bitter tastants or a combination of tastants (bitter, sweet and umami). Intestinal brake activation provides an interesting concept for preventive and therapeutic approaches in weight management strategies.
Polymeric Gels and Their Application in the Treatment of Psoriasis Vulgaris: A Review

Psoriasis is a chronic skin disease, and it is especially characterized by the occurrence of red, itchy, and scaly eruptions on the skin. The quality of life of patients with psoriasis is decreased because this disease remains incurable, despite the rapid progress of therapeutic methods and the introduction of many innovative antipsoriatic drugs. Moreover, many patients with psoriasis are dissatisfied with their current treatment methods and the form with which the drug is applied. The patients complain about skin irritation, clothing stains, unpleasant smell, or excessive viscosity of the preparation. The causes of these issues should be linked with little effectiveness of the therapy caused by low permeation of the drug into the skin, as well as patients’ disobeying doctors’ recommendations, e.g., concerning regular application of the preparation. Both of these factors are closely related to the physicochemical form of the preparation and its rheological and mechanical properties. To improve the quality of patients’ lives, it is important to gain knowledge about the specific form of the drug and its effect on the safety and efficacy of a therapy as well as the patients’ comfort during application. Therefore, we present a literature review and a detailed analysis of the composition, rheological properties, and mechanical properties of polymeric gels as an alternative to viscous and greasy ointments. We discuss the following polymeric gels: hydrogels, oleogels, emulgels, and bigels. In our opinion, they have many characteristics (i.e., safety, effectiveness, desired durability, acceptance by patients), which can contribute to the development of an effective and, at the same time comfortable, method of local treatment of psoriasis for patients.
Digestibility by pigs of the major chemical components of diets high in plant cell-wall constituents

Digestibility of the major chemical components in diets high in plant cell-wall constituents was determined with four pigs. Two were given a commercial pig meal and two were given, in addition, alkali-treated straw (25% of the diet). Dry-matter digestibility of the straw was 32%, and protein excretion in faeces was increased by the addition of straw to the basal diet. Calculations based on microbial protein synthesis per gram of organic matter fermented showed that the additional nitrogen in the faeces may have been almost entirely microbial in origin. In a second experiment, ground lucerne was progressively introduced into the diet in substitution for commercial pig meal. There was no obvious associative effect on the digestibility of the chemical components examined. Apparent digestibility of dry matter of the all-lucerne diet was 53%.
Exploring the Structural Competition between the Black and the Yellow Phase of CsPbI3

The realization of stable inorganic perovskites is crucial to enable low-cost solution-processed photovoltaics. However, the main candidate material, CsPbI3, suffers from a spontaneous phase transition at room temperature towards a photo-inactive orthorhombic δ-phase (yellow phase). Here we used theoretical and experimental methods to study the structural and electronic features that determine the stability of the CsPbI3 perovskite. We argued that the two physical characteristics that favor the black perovskite phase at low temperatures are the strong spatial confinement in nanocrystalline structures and the level of electron doping in the material. Within this context, we discussed practical procedures for the realization of long-lasting inorganic lead halide perovskites.
Targeting Wnt Signaling in Endometrial Cancer

Simple Summary Wnt has diverse regulatory roles at multiple cellular levels and numerous targeting points, and aberrant Wnt signaling has crucial roles in carcinogenesis, metastasis, cancer recurrence, and chemotherapy resistance; based on these facts, Wnt represents an appealing therapeutic target for cancer treatment. Although preclinical data supports a role for the Wnt signaling pathway in uterine carcinogenesis, this area remains understudied. In this review, we identify the functions of several oncogenes of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway in tumorigenesis and address the translation approach with potent Wnt inhibitors that have already been established or are being investigated to target key components of the pathway. Further research is likely to expand the potential for both biomarker and cancer drug development. There is a scarcity of treatment choices for advanced and recurrent endometrial cancer; investigating the sophisticated connections of Wnt signaling networks in endometrial cancer could address the unmet need for new therapeutic targets. Abstract This review presents new findings on Wnt signaling in endometrial carcinoma and implications for possible future treatments. The Wnt proteins are essential mediators in cell signaling during vertebrate embryo development. Recent biochemical and genetic studies have provided significant insight into Wnt signaling, in particular in cell cycle regulation, inflammation, and cancer. The role of Wnt signaling is well established in gastrointestinal and breast cancers, but its function in gynecologic cancers, especially in endometrial cancers, has not been well elucidated. Development of a subset of endometrial carcinomas has been attributed to activation of the APC/β-catenin signaling pathway (due to β-catenin mutations) and downregulation of Wnt antagonists by epigenetic silencing. The Wnt pathway also appears to be linked to estrogen and progesterone, and new findings implicate it in mTOR and Hedgehog signaling. Therapeutic interference of Wnt signaling remains a significant challenge. Herein, we discuss the Wnt-activating mechanisms in endometrial cancer and review the current advances and challenges in drug discovery.
Two-layer spatial frequency domain imaging of compression-induced hemodynamic changes in breast tissue

Abstract. Significance: Longitudinal tracking of hemodynamic changes in the breast has shown potential for neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) outcome prediction. Spatial frequency domain imaging (SFDI) could be suitable for frequent monitoring of shallow breast tumors, but strong sensitivity to superficial absorbers presents a challenge. Aim: We investigated the efficacy of a two-layer SFDI inverse model that accounts for varying melanin concentration in the skin to improve discrimination of optical properties of deep tissue of the breast. Approach: Hemodynamic changes in response to localized breast compression were measured in 13 healthy volunteers using a handheld SFDI device. Epidermis optical thickness was determined based on spectral fitting of the model output and used to calculate subcutaneous optical properties. Results: Optical properties from a homogeneous model yielded physiologically unreasonable absorption and scattering coefficients for highly pigmented volunteers. The two-layer model compensated for the effect of melanin and yielded properties in the expected range for healthy breast. Extracted epidermal optical thickness was higher for higher Fitzpatrick types. Compression induced a decrease in total hemoglobin consistent with tissue blanching. Conclusions: The handheld SFDI device and two-layer model show potential for imaging hemodynamic responses that potentially could help predict efficacy of NAC in patients of varying skin tones.
Venous Thromboembolic Disease in Chronic Inflammatory Lung Diseases: Knowns and Unknowns

Persistent inflammation within the respiratory tract underlies the pathogenesis of numerous chronic pulmonary diseases. There is evidence supporting that chronic lung diseases are associated with a higher risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE). However, the relationship between lung diseases and/or lung function with VTE is unclear. Understanding the role of chronic lung inflammation as a predisposing factor for VTE may help determine the optimal management and aid in the development of future preventative strategies. We aimed to provide an overview of the relationship between the most common chronic inflammatory lung diseases and VTE. Asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, interstitial lung diseases, or tuberculosis increase the VTE risk, especially pulmonary embolism (PE), compared to the general population. However, high suspicion is needed to diagnose a thrombotic event early as the clinical presentation inevitably overlaps with respiratory disorders. PE risk increases with disease severity and exacerbations. Hence, hospitalized patients should be considered for thromboprophylaxis administration. Conversely, all VTE patients should be asked for lung comorbidities before determining anticoagulant therapy duration, as those patients are at increased risk of recurrent PE episodes rather than DVT. Further research is needed to understand the underlying pathophysiology of in-situ thrombosis in those patients.
PRAT Proteins Operate in Organellar Protein Import and Export in Arabidopsis thaliana

Chloroplasts need to import preproteins and amino acids from the cytosol during their light-induced differentiation. Similarly, chloroplasts have to export organic matter including proteins and amino acids during leaf senescence. Members of the PRAT (preprotein and amino acid transporter) family are candidate transporters for both processes. Here, we defined the role of two small PRAT gene families, At4g26670 and At5g55510 (HP20 subfamily) versus At3g49560 and At5g24650 (HP30 subfamily) during greening of etiolated plants and during leaf senescence. Using a combination of reverse genetics, protein biochemistry and physiological tools, evidence was obtained for a role of chloroplast HP20, HP30 and HP30-2 in protein, but not amino acid, import into chloroplasts. HP20, HP30 and HP30-2 form larger complexes involved in the uptake of transit sequence-less cytosolic precursors. In addition, we identified a fraction of HP30-2 in mitochondria where it served a similar function as found for chloroplasts and operated in the uptake of transit sequence-less cytosolic precursor proteins. By contrast, HP22 was found to act in the export of proteins from chloroplasts during leaf senescence, and thus its role is entirely different from that of its orthologue, HP20. HP22 is part of a unique protein complex in the envelope of senescing chloroplasts that comprises at least 11 proteins and contains with HP65b (At5g55220) a protein that is related to the bacterial trigger factor chaperone. An ortholog of HP65b exists in the cyanobacterium Synechocystis and has previously been implicated in protein secretion. Whereas plants depleted of either HP22 or HP65b or even both were increasingly delayed in leaf senescence and retained much longer stromal chloroplast constituents than wild-type plants, HP22 overexpressors showed premature leaf senescence that was associated with accelerated losses of stromal chloroplast proteins. Together, our results identify the PRAT protein family as a unique system for importing and exporting proteins from chloroplasts.
The RNA-Binding Protein SBR (Dm NXF1) Is Required for the Constitution of Medulla Boundaries in Drosophila melanogaster Optic Lobes

Drosophila melanogaster sbr (small bristles) is an orthologue of the Nxf1 (nuclear export factor 1) genes in different Opisthokonta. The known function of Nxf1 genes is the export of various mRNAs from the nucleus to the cytoplasm. The cytoplasmic localization of the SBR protein indicates that the nuclear export function is not the only function of this gene in Drosophila. RNA-binding protein SBR enriches the nucleus and cytoplasm of specific neurons and glial cells. In sbr12 mutant males, the disturbance of medulla boundaries correlates with the defects of photoreceptor axons pathfinding, axon bundle individualization, and developmental neurodegeneration. RNA-binding protein SBR participates in processes allowing axons to reach and identify their targets.
The Influence of Broilers’ Body Weight on the Efficiency of Electrical Stunning and Meat Quality under Field Conditions

Simple Summary Water-bath stunning represents the most-applied stunning system in poultry slaughtering. This study aimed to assess the efficiency of two types of electrical equipment applied to broilers with different live body weights. Moreover, the influence of the tested stunners on broiler meat quality was evaluated. 6600 broilers, divided into three weight groups, were stunned and the state of unconsciousness and post-mortem defects were evaluated by blinded trained operators. Considering the total body weight, the application of the two stunning systems resulted in a different occurrence of ineffective stunning signs registering statistical differences (p < 0.01) among groups. Considering injuries, an inverse relationship between body weight and lesions was found. The results highlighted the effectiveness of both stunning systems that apply the best combination of electrical parameters, taking into account the weight of the animal and ensuring its welfare. Abstract Water-bath stunning represents the most-applied stunning system in poultry slaughtering, but within the European Union, specific indications on electric parameters that should be used, such as voltage, are missing. The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of two commercially available types of electrical equipment (A and B) on broilers with different live body weights and the influence of the tested parameters on meat quality. Experimental trials in a European Union-approved slaughterhouse were carried out using two different stunners. 6600 broilers, divided into three weight groups, were stunned applying different protocols based on the same current frequencies and intensity but different voltages. The state of unconsciousness (presence of corneal reflex and wings flapping) and post-mortem defects (pectoral hemorrhages and dark meat) were evaluated by blinded trained operators. The presence of corneal reflex and petechiae were the most reported consciousness signs and post-mortem injuries, respectively. Different weights played an important role within stunner A, registering statistical differences (p < 0.01) among groups. Considering injuries, an inverse relationship between body weight and lesions was found. The results highlighted the effectiveness of both stunning systems applying the best combination of electrical parameters considering the weight of the animal and ensuring its well-being.
Two-Dimensional Nanostructures for Electrochemical Biosensor

Current advancements in the development of functional nanomaterials and precisely designed nanostructures have created new opportunities for the fabrication of practical biosensors for field analysis. Two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) nanomaterials provide unique hierarchical structures, high surface area, and layered configurations with multiple length scales and porosity, and the possibility to create functionalities for targeted recognition at their surface. Such hierarchical structures offer prospects to tune the characteristics of materials—e.g., the electronic properties, performance, and mechanical flexibility—and they provide additional functions such as structural color, organized morphological features, and the ability to recognize and respond to external stimuli. Combining these unique features of the different types of nanostructures and using them as support for bimolecular assemblies can provide biosensing platforms with targeted recognition and transduction properties, and increased robustness, sensitivity, and selectivity for detection of a variety of analytes that can positively impact many fields. Herein, we first provide an overview of the recently developed 2D nanostructures focusing on the characteristics that are most relevant for the design of practical biosensors. Then, we discuss the integration of these materials with bio-elements such as bacteriophages, antibodies, nucleic acids, enzymes, and proteins, and we provide examples of applications in the environmental, food, and clinical fields. We conclude with a discussion of the manufacturing challenges of these devices and opportunities for the future development and exploration of these nanomaterials to design field-deployable biosensors.