Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Drosophila melanogaster a versatile model of Parkinson's Disease.

Parkinson's Disease (PD) is one of the most prevalent, recurrent and life-threatening neurodegenerative disease. However, the precise mechanism underlying this disease is not yet clearly understood. For understanding the pathogenesis of PD, it is essential to identify the symptoms along with the novel biological markers and to develop strategies which could lead towards the development of effective therapy. PD is associated with Lewy bodies (LBs) formation and the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta of mid brain region. For the improvement in treatment strategiesas well as understanding the pathophysiology of the PD in number ofanimal models have been introduced that can recapitulatethe pathophysiology, motor and non-motor symptoms of PD. In contrast to mammalian models like rodents, mice and monkey, Drosophila is easy to handle as well as it maintenance cost is low.Due to the anatomical differencesin the brain and other major organsof human and fly,the issues of standardizing the methods or experiments to analyze behavioral aspects (walking, writhing, eating and sleeping) are difficult in flies. Thepresent review highlights the studies carried out for PD since 2000, using Drosophila melanogaster.
A predictive model using left atrial function and B‐type natriuretic peptide level in predicting the recurrence of early persistent atrial fibrillation after radiofrequency ablation

A predictive model using left atrial function indexes obtained by real‐time three‐dimensional echocardiography (RT‐3DE) and the blood B‐type natriuretic peptide (BNP) level was constructed, and its value in predicting recurrence in patients with early persistent atrial fibrillation (AF) after radiofrequency ablation was explored.
Direct Correlation Functions and Their Derivatives with Respect to Particle Density

An equation relating the many‐body distribution functions of a classical statistical mechanical system and their derivatives with respect to the particle density is stated and proved. It is found possible to define a heirarchy of symmetric functions of 2, 3, 4, etc. variables, of which the two‐variable function is the Ornstein— Zernike correlation function. These functions, termed the direct correlation functions, and their derivatives with respect to density satisfy a strikingly simple relation. The possibility of a closure of the equations is discussed and a superposition approximation suggested. The resulting equation for the two‐particle direct correlation function has the advantage that a knowledge of the function at one density predicts its values at another, thereby differing from most approximations, which require the solution of an integral equation in each case.
Synthesis of ZnS/SiO2 Core-Shell by Sol-Gel Process and Covering then with Gold Nanoparticle and Study of its Photoluminescence Properties

Semiconductors have been suggested as ideal candidates for many electrical and optical applications and several groups have reported their successful synthesis in recent years. In particular, ZnS that is a direct wide band gap (3.91 eV) semiconductor and an important phosphor host lattice material, can be used in electroluminescent devices (ELD), due to its large band gap, which enables emission of visible light without absorption and efficient electron transport. In this work, we report synthesis and structural characteristics of gold covered core-shell nanometer size of ZnS/SiO2 thin films as a patterning materials for use as a protective layer in optical phase change discs prepared through a simple sol-gel process. The results obtained by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images showed that, as prepared core-shell materials were well-aligned nanoprticles grew in the same direction and through X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, we found that ZnS/SiO2 core shell material was composed of crystalline ZnS core covered by an amorphous SiO2 shell. Photoluminescence (PL) measurements performed on core-shell samples before and after gold coverig samples have provided information regarding stoichiometric vacancies or interstitial impurities and enhenced intensity of the green emission of ZnS nanowires at room temperature due to sheelding with SiO2.
Content analysis of cannabis vaping videos on YouTube.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS There has been an increase in the potency of cannabis during the last two decades and adoption of a novel method of administration-vaping. YouTube, a social media platform, has become a popular source to access cannabis-related information. This study aimed to identify cannabis vaping YouTube videos from 2016 to 2020 and examine the themes and metrics. DESIGN Cross-sectional sample of 200 YouTube videos. SETTING YouTube, an on-line video sharing platform. MEASUREMENTS Videos related to cannabis vaping were identified using the search terms: 'vaping cannabis', 'vaping weed', 'vaping marijuana' and 'vaping THC' [tetrahydrocannabinol]. Videos were independently coded by two researchers. The number of views, likes, dislikes and comments were also collected. Robust regression was used to analyse the relationship between identified video themes and video metrics. FINDINGS Six themes were identified: 'advertisement', 'product review', 'celebratory', 'reflective', 'how-to' and 'warning'. The 'how-to' and 'celebratory' videos received the highest number of views and likes. The most popular video was viewed more than 4 000 000 times. Many videos portrayed risky behaviour (e.g. vaping a whole THC cartridge in a single setting). Fifty-two percent of these videos had no age access restrictions. The robust regression model also found that engagement metric was positively associated with 'reflective' videos and negatively associated with 'advertisement' videos. CONCLUSIONS A large number of videos on cannabis vaping are available on-line without age-restriction. Videos that portrayed risky behaviour appear to be prevalent.
Sexual and reproductive health knowledge, perceptions and experiences of women in Saudi Arabia: a qualitative study

ABSTRACT Background There is no formal sexual and reproductive health (SRH) education currently offered in Saudi Arabia. Lack of knowledge and misconceptions are evident among Saudi women, which can lead to negative sexual and reproductive experiences. The aim of this study is to explore Saudi women's SRH knowledge, perceptions and experiences. Methods Qualitative semi-structured interviews with Saudi women were conducted. Interviews took place in a public hospital in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Interviews were conducted in Arabic, recorded and transcribed verbatim, to allow for thematic analysis of the data. The following themes were identified: experience with menarche, deep-rooted negative views towards sex, difficulty discussing SRH topics, knowledge of sex and reproduction, generational gap, sources of SRH information and the role of the mother. Results A total of 28 women, both married and unmarried, aged 20–50 years were interviewed. A profound lack of SRH knowledge was observed among Saudi women which contributed greatly to negative experiences both in childhood and adulthood. Lack of knowledge about menstruation often caused emotional distress for young girls, and menarche was associated with bad memories and negative emotions. Lack of knowledge about sexual intercourse and the deep-rooted negative views towards sex were linked with physical and psychological issues for women. Women rarely received information from their parents or teachers and preferred the internet for their SRH information. Conclusion There is a substantial unmet need for SRH education for women in Saudi Arabia. It is our recommendation that SRH education should be tailored to meet Saudi women's unique needs, while understanding specific socio-cultural barriers to SRH education and discussions. Research and policy efforts should be directed towards regulating and producing evidence-based health information on the internet, particularly Arabic language websites.
Nutritional and physicochemical characteristics of wholemeal bread enriched with pea flour

Summary In this work, wholemeal bread enriched with hydrated and nonhydrated pea flour was investigated. Moreover, hydrocolloids, such as hydroxypropylcellulose, agar-agar and guar seed flour, were added to the bread to improve its organoleptic properties. The bread samples were analysed from the nutritional, microstructural and textural properties point of view, and their correlations were also evaluated. Results showed that guar gum at 2% gave the better results. In particular, the overall quality of the bread enriched with hydrated pea flour and guar gum was statistically similar to that of the CTRL reference sample (7.70). The fibres and ash content of all pea-enriched bread samples were significantly higher compared with the CTRL sample; moreover, all functional bread samples recorded significantly lower glycaemic response with respect to the CTRL sample. In addition, the mixture of both guar gum and hydrated pea flour significantly improved the dough properties and reduced the firmness of the bread.
The protonated water dimer: Brueckner methods remove the spurious C1 symmetry minimum

The H5O2+ system has been studied using a variety of coupled cluster methods based on a Brueckner reference determinant with levels of correlation up to double and perturbatively treated connected triple excitations [B–CCD(T)]. Basis sets as large as the triple-ζ plus double polarization basis augmented with f functions on oxygen and d functions on hydrogen [TZ2P(f,d)] were used. Harmonic vibrational frequencies were also predicted. In contrast with previous high-level ab initio studies, a stationary point of C1 symmetry was not found. An absence of imaginary vibrational frequencies at all levels of theory for the stationary point of C2 symmetry proves it to be the global minimum, lying only ∼0.4 kcal/mol lower in energy than the transition state of Cs symmetry.
Molecular Control of Oil Metabolism in the Endosperm of Seeds

In angiosperm seeds, the endosperm develops to varying degrees and accumulates different types of storage compounds remobilized by the seedling during early post-germinative growth. Whereas the molecular mechanisms controlling the metabolism of starch and seed-storage proteins in the endosperm of cereal grains are relatively well characterized, the regulation of oil metabolism in the endosperm of developing and germinating oilseeds has received particular attention only more recently, thanks to the emergence and continuous improvement of analytical techniques allowing the evaluation, within a spatial context, of gene activity on one side, and lipid metabolism on the other side. These studies represent a fundamental step toward the elucidation of the molecular mechanisms governing oil metabolism in this particular tissue. In particular, they highlight the importance of endosperm-specific transcriptional controls for determining original oil compositions usually observed in this tissue. In the light of this research, the biological functions of oils stored in the endosperm of seeds then appear to be more diverse than simply constituting a source of carbon made available for the germinating seedling.
One size does not fit all: navigating the multi-dimensional space to optimize T-cell engaging protein therapeutics

ABSTRACT T-cell engaging biologics is a class of novel and promising immune-oncology compounds that leverage the immune system to eradicate cancer. Here, we compared and contrasted a bispecific diabody-Fc format, which displays a relatively short antigen-binding arm distance, with our bispecific IgG platform. By generating diverse panels of antigen-expressing cells where B cell maturation antigen is either tethered to the cell membrane or located to the juxtamembrane region and masked by elongated structural spacer units, we presented a systematic approach to investigate the role of antigen epitope location and molecular formats in immunological synapse formation and cytotoxicity. We demonstrated that diabody-Fc is more potent for antigen epitopes located in the membrane distal region, while bispecific IgG is more efficient for membrane-proximal epitopes. Additionally, we explored other parameters, including receptor density, antigen-binding affinity, and kinetics. Our results show that molecular format and antigen epitope location, which jointly determine the intermembrane distance between target cells and T cells, allow decoupling of cytotoxicity and cytokine release, while antigen-binding affinities appear to be positively correlated with both readouts. Our work offers new insight that could potentially lead to a wider therapeutic window for T-cell engaging biologics in general.
Food-derived natural compounds in the management of chronic diseases via Wnt signaling pathway

Abstract Wnt signaling pathway is an evolutionarily conserved pathway that control embryonic development, adult tissue homeostasis, and pathological processes of organisms throughout life. However, dysregulation of the Wnt signaling is associated with the occurrence of chronic diseases. In comparison with the application of chemical drugs as traditional treatment for chronic diseases, dietary agents have unique advantages, such as less side effects, multiple targets, convenience in accessibility and higher acceptability in long-term intervention. In this review, we summarized current progress in manipulating the Wnt signaling using food components and its benefits in managing chronic diseases. The underlying mechanisms of bioactive food components in the management of the disease progression via the Wnt signaling was illustrated. Then, the review focused on the function of dietary pattern (which might act via combination of foods with multiple nutrients or food ingredients) on targeting Wnt signaling at multiple level. The potential caveats and challenges in developing new strategy via modulating Wnt-associated diseases with food-based agents and appropriate dietary pattern are also discussed in detail. This review shed light on the understanding of the regulatory effect of food bioactive components on chronic diseases management through the Wnt signaling, which can be expanded to other specific signaling pathway associated with disease.
Inverse correlation between plasma 2‐arachidonoylglycerol levels and subjective severity of depression

Endocannabinoids have been implicated in the pathophysiology of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and might represent potential targets for therapeutic intervention. Objectives of the study were: (1) to measure plasma levels of endocannabinoids in a group of antidepressant‐free depressed outpatients; (2) to explore their relationship with the severity of depressive symptoms as subjectively perceived by the patients; and (3) to investigate the effect of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor escitalopram on endocannabinoid levels.
The Association between Dietary Inflammatory Potential and Gastric Cancer: A Case Control Study

Abstract Objective No report is available about diet-disease associations in the understudied region of Afghanistan. Although the inflammatory potential of diet has been linked with several cancers, information about gastric cancer is scarce. The present study aimed to investigate the relationship between the inflammatory potential of the diet and odds of gastric cancer in Afghanistan. Methods In this hospital-based case-control study, we enrolled 90 newly-diagnosed cases of gastric cancer and 180 age (±5) and sex-matched controls. All cases were pathologically confirmed gastric cancer patients, with no history of any type of other pathologically confirmed cancers. Controls were healthy individuals and relatives of patients in the hospital. Dietary assessment was done by a pre-tested food frequency questionnaire. DII was calculated based on energy-adjusted amounts of several foods and nutrients with inflammatory or anti-inflammatory potential, as introduced by earlier studies. Results Mean age of study participants was 54 years, of them 73% were males. After adjustment for age and sex, individuals in the highest tertile of the inflammatory potential of the diet were 2.47 times (95% CI: 1.31–4.66) more likely to have gastric cancer compared with those in the lowest tertile. Further adjustment for other potential confounders did not substantially affect the association; such that participants with the greatest inflammatory potential of the diet had approximately 3.59 times (95% CI: 1.16–11.02) increased odds of gastric cancer than those with the lowest adherence. Additional adjustment for BMI strengthened the association (OR: 3.75; 95% CI: 1.14–12.30). Conclusion We found a significant positive association between inflammatory potential of the diet and risk of gastric cancer. Further studies with prospective nature are required to confirm this association.
DROSHA is recruited to DNA damage sites by the MRN complex to promote non-homologous end joining

ABSTRACT The DNA damage response (DDR) is the signaling cascade that recognizes DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) and promotes their resolution via the DNA repair pathways of non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) or homologous recombination (HR). We and others have shown that DDR activation requires DROSHA; however, whether DROSHA exerts its functions by associating with damage sites, what controls its recruitment, and how DROSHA influences DNA repair remains poorly understood. Here, we show that DROSHA associates with DSBs independently of transcription. Neither H2AX, nor ATM or DNA-PK kinase activities are required for recruitment of DROSHA to break sites. Rather, DROSHA interacts with RAD50, and inhibition of the MRN complex by mirin treatment abolishes this interaction. MRN complex inactivation by RAD50 knockdown or mirin treatment prevents DROSHA recruitment to DSBs and, as a consequence, also prevents 53BP1 (also known as TP53BP1) recruitment. During DNA repair, DROSHA inactivation reduces NHEJ and boosts HR frequency. Indeed, DROSHA knockdown also increases the association of downstream HR factors such as RAD51 to DNA ends. Overall, our results demonstrate that DROSHA is recruited at DSBs by the MRN complex and directs DNA repair towards NHEJ. Summary: DROSHA is part of the primary response to DNA damage and is recruited at double-strand breaks in an MRN-dependent manner. DROSHA fosters NHEJ repair and inhibits HR by controlling 53BP1 recruitment.
Glucose Metabolism and Acetate Switch in Archaea: the Enzymes in Haloferax volcanii

In this work, we provide a comprehensive analysis of glucose degradation via the semiphosphorylative Entner-Doudoroff pathway in the haloarchaeal model organism Haloferax volcanii. The study includes transcriptional analyses, growth experiments with deletion mutants. and characterization of all enzymes involved in the conversion of 3-phosphoglycerate to acetyl coenzyme A (acetyl-CoA) and in anaplerosis. ABSTRACT The halophilic archaeon Haloferax volcanii has been proposed to degrade glucose via the semiphosphorylative Entner-Doudoroff (spED) pathway. Following our previous studies on key enzymes of this pathway, we now focus on the characterization of enzymes involved in 3-phosphoglycerate conversion to pyruvate, in anaplerosis, and in acetyl coenzyme A (acetyl-CoA) formation from pyruvate. These enzymes include phosphoglycerate mutase, enolase, pyruvate kinase, phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase, and pyruvate-ferredoxin oxidoreductase. The essential function of these enzymes were shown by transcript analyses and growth experiments with respective deletion mutants. Furthermore, we show that H. volcanii—during aerobic growth on glucose—excreted significant amounts of acetate, which was consumed in the stationary phase (acetate switch). The enzyme catalyzing the conversion of acetyl-CoA to acetate as part of the acetate overflow mechanism, an ADP-forming acetyl-CoA synthetase (ACD), was characterized. The functional involvement of ACD in acetate formation and of AMP-forming acetyl-CoA synthetases (ACSs) in activation of excreted acetate was proven by using respective deletion mutants. Together, the data provide a comprehensive analysis of enzymes of the spED pathway and of anaplerosis and report the first genetic evidence of the functional involvement of enzymes of the acetate switch in archaea. IMPORTANCE In this work, we provide a comprehensive analysis of glucose degradation via the semiphosphorylative Entner-Doudoroff pathway in the haloarchaeal model organism Haloferax volcanii. The study includes transcriptional analyses, growth experiments with deletion mutants. and characterization of all enzymes involved in the conversion of 3-phosphoglycerate to acetyl coenzyme A (acetyl-CoA) and in anaplerosis. Phylogenetic analyses of several enzymes indicate various lateral gene transfer events from bacteria to haloarchaea. Furthermore, we analyzed the key players involved in the acetate switch, i.e., in the formation (overflow) and subsequent consumption of acetate during aerobic growth on glucose. Together, the data provide novel aspects of glucose degradation, anaplerosis, and acetate switch in H. volcanii and thus expand our understanding of the unusual sugar metabolism in archaea.
Growth and gut performance of young pigs in response to different dietary cellulose concentration and rearing condition

Objective This experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of insoluble cellulose supplementation to diets on the growth performance, intestinal morphology, the incidence of diarrhea, nutrients digestibility, and inflammatory responses in altering environmental conditions of animals housing. Methods A total of 108 male pigs (Duroc×[Yorkshire×Landrace]) were randomly allocated to one of three dietary treatments (cellulose 0%, 1%, 2%) and two environmental conditions (good sanitary condition vs. poor sanitary condition) to give 6 replicate pens per treatment with three pigs per each pen at 14 days post-weaning. Results Pigs were in good sanitary condition had higher average daily gain (p<0.01) and improved feed efficiency (p<0.05) from day 1 to 14 after weaning compared to their counterparts. The interactions were found between environmental conditions and dietary treatments (day 7: crypt depth [p<0.01], villous height to crypt depth [p<0.001]; day 14: crypt depth [p<0.001], villous to crypt ratio [p<0.01]) in ileum morphology. Crypt depth was decreased (p<0.05), and villous to crypt ratio was increased (p<0.05) only in poor sanitary conditions. Pigs exposed to the good sanitary condition had higher (p<0.05) apparent ileal digestibility (day 7, gross energy; day 14, dry matter), apparent total tract digestibility (day 14, dry matter and crude protein) compared to pigs housed in the poor sanitary condition. Meanwhile, pigs fed a diet supplemented with 2% cellulose had decreased (p<0.05) apparent ileal digestibility (day 7, dry matter; day 14, crude protein), apparent total tract digestibility (day 7, dry matter; day 14, crude protein, gross energy) compared to pigs fed a diet supplemented with 0% or 1% cellulose. Conclusion Our results indicated that a diet supplemented with 1% cellulose increased villous to crypt ratio, however feeding a diet containing cellulose (1% or 2%) impaired nutrient digestibility for 14 day after weaning in both good sanitary and poor sanitary conditions.