Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Nitrotyrosine (NT), a Nitrosative Stress Biomarker, Plasma Concentrations in Gallstone Disease and Cancer Patients

Background/Aim: The aim of this study was to assess the plasma concentration of the nitrosative stress biomarker nitrotyrosine (NT) in gallstone disease and cancer patients. Materials and Methods: Initially, 114 patients with symptomatic gallstone disease were randomized into the laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) (n=54) and the minicholecystectomy (MC) (n=60) groups. The plasma concentrations of NT were measured just before, immediately after (POP1) and 6 h after operation (POP2). The cancer patients of this study included ten patients with gastrointestinal cancer and 19 patients with gynecological cancer. Results: There was a statistically significant correlation in the median plasma NT concentrations versus plasma catalase (CAT) concentrations in cholecystectomy patients (r=0.169, p=0.001). Interestingly, there was a statistically significant inverse correlation between the individual values of the pain assessed and filed using a 11-point numeric rating scale 8 h postoperatively (NAD8) and plasma NT median values in cholecystectomy patients (r=−0.337, p=0.004). Conclusion: Patients with high plasma concentrations of NT appeared to have significantly lower pain scores 8 h postoperatively.
Variation in Host Plant Usage and Diet Breadth Predict Sibling Preference and Performance in the Neotropical Tortoise Beetle Chelymorpha alternans (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Cassidinae)

Abstract Specialized interactions between insects and the plants that they consume are one of the most ubiquitous and consequential ecological associations on the plant. Decades of investigation suggest that a narrow diet favors an individual phytophagous insect's performance relative to a dietary generalist. However, this body of research has tended to approach questions of diet breadth and host usage from the perspective of temperate plant–insect associations. Relationships between diet breadth, host usage, and variation in tropical insect preference and performance remain largely uninvestigated. Here we characterize how variation in diet breadth and host usage affect oviposition preference, development, survival, and gain in mass of a Neotropical tortoise beetle Chelymorpha alternans Boheman 1854 (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), using a split-brood, sibling experimental design. Host performance was measured after splitting broods among four no-choice host diets. Groups consuming single hosts varied among themselves in developmental time and survival from larva to adult. Performance did not vary among groups consuming multiple and single hosts. Oviposition preference was measured in choice and no-choice tests. Females displayed preference for the original host in both experiments. Developmental time and survival of offspring sourced from the no-choice experiment was measured for two complete generations to explore correlations with female oviposition preference. Preference for the original host correlated with high survivorship and an intermediate developmental time. Survivorship and time to develop were also high on an alternative host that was less preferred. Departures from predictions of prevailing preference–performance hypotheses suggest that host usage presents C. alternans with fitness trade-offs.
Laparoscopy-assisted percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy enables enteral nutrition even in patients with distorted anatomy.

AIM To analyzed whether laparoscopy-assisted percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) could be a valuable option for patients with complicated anatomy. METHODS A retrospective analysis of twelve patients (seven females, five males; six children, six young adults; mean age 19.2 years) with cerebral palsy, spastic quadriparesis, severe kyphoscoliosis and interposed organs and who required enteral nutrition (EN) due to starvation was performed. For all patients, standard PEG placement was impossible due to distorted anatomy. All the patients qualified for the laparoscopy-assisted PEG procedure. RESULTS In all twelve patients, the laparoscopy-assisted PEG was successful, and EN was introduced four to six hours after the PEG placement. There were no complications in the perioperative period, either technical or metabolic. All the patients were discharged from the hospital and were then effectively fed using bolus methods. CONCLUSION Laparoscopy-assisted PEG should become the method of choice for gastrostomy tube placement and subsequent EN if PEG placement cannot be performed safely.
A strategy for generating cancer-specific monoclonal antibodies to aberrant O-glycoproteins: identification of a novel dysadherin-Tn antibody

Successful application of potent antibody-based T-cell engaging immunotherapeutic strategies is currently limited mainly to hematological cancers. One major reason is the lack of well-characterized antigens on solid tumors with sufficient cancer specific expression. Aberrantly O-glycosylated proteins contain promising cancer-specific O-glycopeptide epitopes suitable for immunotherapeutic applications, but currently only few examples of such antibody epitopes have been identified. We previously showed that chimeric antigen receptor T-cells directed towards aberrantly O-glycosylated MUC1 can control malignant growth in a mouse model. Here, we present a discovery platform for the generation of cancer-specific monoclonal antibodies targeting aberrant O-glycoproteins. The strategy is based on cancer cell lines engineered to homogeneously express the truncated Tn O-glycoform, the so-called SimpleCells. We used SimpleCells of different cancer origin to elicit monoclonal antibodies with selectivity for aberrant O-glycoproteins. For validation we selected and characterized one monoclonal antibody (6C5) directed to a Tn-glycopeptide in dysadherin (FXYD5), known to be upregulated in cancer and promote metastasis. While dysadherin is widely expressed also in normal cells, we demonstrated that the 6C5 epitope is specifically expressed in cancer.
The use of advertising appeals in breast cancer detection messages: a web content analysis

ABSTRACT We explored the use of different advertising appeals in breast cancer detection messages. We analyzed the extent to which emotional appeals were applied in advertisements that promoted two forms of breast cancer detection behaviors: breast self-examination (BSE) and mammographic screening. Findings of a content analysis of 456 breast cancer-related advertisements gathered in February 2016 indicated that textual fear appeals, humor appeals and erotic appeals were more likely to be featured in BSE-promoting advertisements than in breast cancer-related advertisements with other message purposes. While shame-guilt appeals were more likely to be used in mammography-promoting messages, humor and erotic appeals were less likely to be applied. Regarding hybrid message appeals, combinations of humor appeals with erotic, fear and shame-guilt appeals, as well as combined erotic-fear appeals were found more in BSE-promotion messages. Mammography-promoting messages made less use of hybrid messages with a humorous touch as compared to breast cancer advertisements with other message purposes. The results are in contrast to research findings on the effectiveness of message appeals and thus allow to some extent the evaluation of whether scientific findings on the effectiveness of message appeals are reflected in the current advertising practice.
Loss of stretch-activated channels, PIEZOs, accelerates non-small cell lung cancer progression and cell migration

PIEZO channels are stretch-activated channels involved in wound sealing and cell proliferation in many cell types. A recent study focussing on lung cancer (LC), using next-generation sequencing analysis, has indicated that PIEZO functions were implicated in LC development. However, the expression and role of PIEZO channels in non-small cell LC (NSCLC) progression require elucidation. In the current study, we investigated the gene expression and alteration frequency in human NSCLC tissue, accessed the prognostic roles of PIEZO channels in NSCLC patients, and further studied the effect of PIEZOs in NSCLC cell proliferation and tumor growth in vivo. The mRNA expression of PIEZO1 and 2 was clearly decreased in NSCLC tumor tissue compared with that in matched adjacent non-tumor tissue. In human NSCLC tissues, PIEZO1 gene expression exhibits a highly deep deletion rate, and PIEZO2 mainly exhibits mutation in gene expression. High mRNA expression of PIEZO channels was found to correlate with better overall survival (OS) for NSCLC patients, especially for patients with lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD), but not for patients with lung squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC). The prognostic role of PIEZO channels was more sensitive in female patients than male patients, and more sensitive in patients at earlier stages than patients at latter stages. Knockdown of PIEZO1 or PIEZO2 in NSCLC cells significantly promoted cell migration in vitro and tumor growth in vivo. These results indicate the critical prognostic values of the PIEZO channels in NSCLC. This information will be beneficial to understand the pathological mechanism of NSCLC and to generate effective therapeutic approaches for NSCLC patients.
Fabrication of polycaprolactone electrospun nanofibers doped with silver nanoparticles formed by air plasma treatment

Implanted devices are prone to bacterial infections, which can result in implant loosening and device failure. Mitigating these infections is important to both implant stability and patient health. The development of antibacterial implant coatings can decrease the presence of bacterial colonies, reducing the risk for bacterial-dependent implant failure. Here, we show that electrospun polycaprolactone (PCL) fibers doped with silver nanoparticles (NPs) from a silver nitrate precursor have the potential to decrease the prevalence of Streptococcus pneumoniae while supporting osteoblast attachment and proliferation. An air plasma reduction method of PCL electrospun fibers was used to prepare fibers doped with silver NPs. Fibers were characterized using scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy for qualitative evaluation of NP distribution and quantitative analysis of fiber diameters. Antibacterial testing against S. pneumoniae was performed with successful inhibition observed after 24 h of exposure. In vitro testing was completed using Saos-2 cells and suggests that the negative surface charge has the potential to increase mammalian cell viability even in the presence of fibers containing NPs. In conclusion, this study describes a novel method to produce bioresorbable implant coatings with the ability to reduce bacterial infections surrounding the implant surface while remaining biocompatible to the host.
Educating Future Physicians in Nutritional Science and Practice: The Time Is Now

Abstract The need to educate and train future physicians about nutrition and wellness has become increasingly apparent in the past decade. A rising incidence of chronic health conditions with a nutrition background (e.g., obesity, cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes) has led to an even greater need for nutrition educational content in medical school curricula so that physicians may counsel patients regarding their lifestyle factors. This review provides an overview of the successful development and integration of a nutrition thread in a 5-year medical school curriculum. Based on a survey conducted in our medical school program, students beginning medical school are lacking formal nutrition education, as only 8% arrived with some form of exposure. Despite this, nearly 85% of these medical students recognized that nutrition education is necessary in their training, and 70% state that the nutrition education they have received has influenced the way they care for patients. Key teaching points Physicians are faced with rising incidence of chronic health conditions that have a nutritional risk factor Physician self-care including optimal nutrition to support resilience is gaining importance. Nutrition education in medical schools is inadequate to address these rising needs. Implementing a comprehensive nutrition curricula that addresses personal wellness strategies, basic science concepts related to nutrition, and diagnosis and management of diseases that can be modified by or are related to nutrition as a topic thread that is woven throughout all years of the curriculum highlights the importance of nutrition in health and disease.
Atom Probe Tomography Interlaboratory Study on Clustering Analysis in Experimental Data Using the Maximum Separation Distance Approach

Abstract We summarize the findings from an interlaboratory study conducted between ten international research groups and investigate the use of the commonly used maximum separation distance and local concentration thresholding methods for solute clustering quantification. The study objectives are: to bring clarity to the range of applicability of the methods; identify existing and/or needed modifications; and interpretation of past published data. Participants collected experimental data from a proton-irradiated 304 stainless steel and analyzed Cu-rich and Ni–Si rich clusters. The datasets were also analyzed by one researcher to clarify variability originating from different operators. The Cu distribution fulfills the ideal requirements of the maximum separation method (MSM), namely a dilute matrix Cu concentration and concentrated Cu clusters. This enabled a relatively tight distribution of the cluster number density among the participants. By contrast, the group analysis of the Ni–Si rich clusters by the MSM was complicated by a high Ni matrix concentration and by the presence of Si-decorated dislocations, leading to larger variability among researchers. While local concentration filtering could, in principle, tighten the results, the cluster identification step inevitably maintained a high scatter. Recommendations regarding reporting, selection of analysis method, and expected variability when interpreting published data are discussed.
Ribosomal Proteins Control Tumor Suppressor Pathways in Response to Nucleolar Stress

Ribosome biogenesis includes the making and processing of ribosomal RNAs, the biosynthesis of ribosomal proteins from their mRNAs in the cytosol and their transport to the nucleolus to assemble pre-ribosomal particles. Several stresses including cellular senescence reduce nucleolar rRNA synthesis and maturation increasing the availability of ribosome-free ribosomal proteins. Several ribosomal proteins can activate the p53 tumor suppressor pathway but cells without p53 can still arrest their proliferation in response to an imbalance between ribosomal proteins and mature rRNA production. Recent results on senescence-associated ribogenesis defects (SARD) show that the ribosomal protein S14 (RPS14 or uS11) can act as a CDK4/6 inhibitor linking ribosome biogenesis defects to the main engine of cell cycle progression. This work offers new insights into the regulation of the cell cycle and suggests novel avenues to design anticancer drugs.
Biodiversity and ecosystem functioning in naturally assembled communities

Approximately 25 years ago, ecologists became increasingly interested in the question of whether ongoing biodiversity loss matters for the functioning of ecosystems. As such, a new ecological subfield on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Functioning (BEF) was born. This subfield was initially dominated by theoretical studies and by experiments in which biodiversity was manipulated, and responses of ecosystem functions such as biomass production, decomposition rates, carbon sequestration, trophic interactions and pollination were assessed. More recently, an increasing number of studies have investigated BEF relationships in non‐manipulated ecosystems, but reviews synthesizing our knowledge on the importance of real‐world biodiversity are still largely missing.
Use of modified intention-to-treat analysis in studies of direct oral anticoagulants and risk of selection bias: a systematic review

Background Following their evaluation in randomised controlled trials (RCTs), direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) have replaced warfarin for stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation (AF), and treatment and prevention of venous thromboembolism (VTE). To avoid selection bias, it is recommended that RCTs use an intention-to-treat (ITT) analysis strategy. Objective The objective of this study was to systematically review and compare reported analytical strategies, the proportion of randomised patients included in analyses and the reasons for participant exclusions. Study selection A systematic search of PubMed, EMBASE and the Cochrane library for phase III trials of DOACs was conducted. Titles and abstracts were screened for relevance by two independent reviewers. Patient population, intervention studied, number of patients included in randomisation and analysis, reasons for exclusions from analysis and trial conclusions were extracted from each article. Findings Twenty-nine studies were included, five were about stroke prevention in AF, 10 about VTE treatment and 14 about thromboprophylaxis. Trials of AF and VTE treatment had low proportions of postrandomisation exclusions (around 1%). In contrast, surgical and medical thromboprophylaxis trials excluded almost 30% of participants postrandomisation. This was in spite of authors’ claims of using an ITT or modified ITT approach. Higher exclusion proportions in these trials were associated with non-clinically defined primary outcomes and incomplete outcome assessments. Conclusions Clinicians should be aware that the level of evidence in favour of DOAC use for thromboprophylaxis is weak due to high rates of postrandomisation exclusions and risks of selection bias.
Therapeutic potential of toll‐like receptors in treatment of gynecological cancers

Toll‐like receptors (TLRs) play an important role in the innate and adaptive immune system. They are expressed in various regions of the female reproductive tract, and their regulation may be involved in the pathogenesis of gynecological lesions. There is growing evidence that ligands for several TLRs are potentially anticancer agents, some of which have already been approved by the FDA, and these compounds are now undergoing clinical evaluation. There is a rationale for using these ligands as adjuvants in the treatment or prevention of gynecological cancer. Some TLR agonists that are of potential interest in the treatment of gynecological lesions include imiquimod, motolimod, cervarix, and CpG‐oligodeoxynucleotides (ODNs). In this review, we outline the different functions of TLRs in gynecological cancer with particular emphasis on the value of TLR agonists as a potential therapeutic target in the treatment of gynecological cancer. © 2019 IUBMB Life, 71(5):549–564, 2019
Fluorescence Anisotropy Reloaded—Emerging Polarization Microscopy Methods for Assessing Chromophores' Organization and Excitation Energy Transfer in Single Molecules, Particles, Films, and Beyond

Fluorescence polarization is widely used to assess the orientation/rotation of molecules, and the excitation energy transfer between closely located chromophores. Emerging since the 1990s, single molecule fluorescence spectroscopy and imaging stimulate the application of light polarization for studying molecular organization and energy transfer beyond ensemble averaging. Here, traditional fluorescence polarization and linear dichroism methods used for bulk samples are compared with techniques specially developed for, or inspired by, single molecule fluorescence spectroscopy. Techniques for assessing energy transfer in anisotropic samples, where the traditional fluorescence anisotropy framework is not readily applicable, are discussed in depth. It is shown that the concept of a polarization portrait and the single funnel approximation can lay the foundation for alternative energy transfer metrics. Examples ranging from fundamental studies of photoactive materials (conjugated polymers, light‐harvesting aggregates, and perovskite semiconductors) to Förster resonant energy transfer (FRET)‐based biomedical imaging are presented. Furthermore, novel uses of light polarization for super‐resolution optical imaging are mentioned as well as strategies for avoiding artifacts in polarization microscopy.
Utilizing Unlabeled Data to Detect Electricity Fraud in AMI: A Semisupervised Deep Learning Approach

As nontechnical losses in power systems have recently become a global concern, electricity fraud detection models attracted increasing academic interest. The wide application of smart meters has offered more possibility to detecting fraud from user’s consumption patterns. However, the performances of existing consumption-based electricity fraud detection models are still not satisfactory enough for practice, partly due to their limited ability to handle high-dimensional data. In this paper, a deep-learning-based model is developed for detecting electricity fraud in the advanced metering infrastructure, namely, the multitask feature extracting fraud detector (MFEFD). The deep architecture has brought MFEFD a powerful ability to handle high-dimensional input, through which consumption patterns inside load profiles can be effectively extracted. Another challenge is that the insufficiency of labeled data has restricted the generalization of existing models since they are mostly based on supervised learning and labeled data. MFEFD is trained in a semisupervised manner, in which multitask training was implemented to combine the supervised and unsupervised training, so that both the knowledge from unlabeled and labeled data can be made use of. Real-world-data-based case studies have demonstrated MFEFD’s high detection performance, robustness, privacy preservation, and practicability.
Biotechnology and Bioengineering

Funding information Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, Grant/Award Number: 198187031, 315305620,315384307 Abstract Filamentous fungi are exploited as cell factories in biotechnology for the production of proteins, organic acids, and natural products. Hereby, fungal macromorphologies adopted during submerged cultivations in bioreactors strongly impact the productivity. In particular, fungal pellets are known to limit the diffusivity of oxygen, substrates, and products. To investigate the spatial distribution of substances inside fungal pellets, the diffusive mass transport must be locally resolved. In this study, we present a new approach to obtain the effective diffusivity in a fungal pellet based on its three‐dimensional morphology. Freeze‐dried Aspergillus niger pellets were studied by X‐ray microcomputed tomography, and the results were reconstructed to obtain three‐dimensional images. After processing these images, representative cubes of the pellets were subjected to diffusion computations. The effective diffusion factor and the tortuosity of each cube were calculated using the software GeoDict. Afterwards, the effective diffusion factor was correlated with the amount of hyphal material inside the cubes (hyphal fraction). The obtained correlation between the effective diffusion factor and hyphal fraction shows a large deviation from the correlations reported in the literature so far, giving new and more accurate insights. This knowledge can be used for morphological optimization of filamentous pellets to increase the yield of biotechnological processes.