Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Fluconazole and Lipopeptide Surfactin Interplay During Candida albicans Plasma Membrane and Cell Wall Remodeling Increases Fungal Immune System Exposure

Recognizing the β-glucan component of the Candida albicans cell wall is a necessary step involved in host immune system recognition. Compounds that result in exposed β-glucan recognizable to the immune system could be valuable antifungal drugs. Antifungal development is especially important because fungi are becoming increasingly drug resistant. This study demonstrates that lipopeptide, surfactin, unmasks β-glucan when the C. albicans cells lack ergosterol. This observation also holds when ergosterol is depleted by fluconazole. Surfactin does not enhance the effects of local chitin accumulation in the presence of fluconazole. Expression of the CHS3 gene, encoding a gene product resulting in 80% of cellular chitin, is downregulated. C. albicans exposure to fluconazole changes the composition and structure of the fungal plasma membrane. At the same time, the fungal cell wall is altered and remodeled in a way that makes the fungi susceptible to surfactin. In silico studies show that surfactin can form a complex with β-glucan. Surfactin forms a less stable complex with chitin, which in combination with lowering chitin synthesis, could be a second anti-fungal mechanism of action of this lipopeptide.
Efficacy and Safety of TurboHawk Plaque Rotation Combined With Drug-coated Balloon in Treating Diabetic Patients With Lower Extremity Arterial Disease

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of TurboHawk plaque rotation system combined with drug-coated balloon in treating lower extremity arterial disease (LEAD) of diabetes patients, a total of 145 diabetic patients with LEAD from March 2015 to September 2016 were recruited in our study. Lower extremity arterial disease was diagnosed by ultrasound and CT angiography (CTA). According to the surgical method, 65 cases underwent TurboHawk plaque rotation combined with drug-coated balloon (group A), 80 cases underwent simple drug-coated balloon expansion (group B). The characteristics of lesion, function test, ankle-brachial index (ABI), and postoperative complications were analyzed. All the patients were followed up at 1, 3, 6, 12, and 24 months after operation. At baseline, there was no difference in all the characteristics between the 2 groups. The early postoperation minimum lumen diameter (MLD), lumen stenosis rate, and ABI in 2 groups both improved. As the follow-up time increased, patients in group A had significantly higher MLD and ABL value, as well as lower level of lumen stenosis rate, restenosis rate, late lumen loss, and target lesion revascularization (all P < .05). Accordingly, functional testing revealed the 6-minute walk distance, 6-minute claudication distance, resting ABI, and post-exercise ABI in group A were significantly higher than those in group B (all P < .05). Besides, major graft reintervention (4.62% vs 11.25%) and major adverse limb events (6.15% vs 12.5%) in group A occurred less frequently than group B (all P < .05). In conclusion, the long-term effect of the combined approach was better than only drug-coated balloon in LEAD in Chinese diabetes patients.
Fetal Hypoxia Impacts on Proliferation and Differentiation of Sca-1+ Cardiac Progenitor Cells and Maturation of Cardiomyocytes: A Role of MicroRNA-210

Hypoxia is one of the most frequent and severe stresses to an organism’s homeostatic mechanisms, and hypoxia during gestation has profound adverse effects on the heart development increasing the occurrence of congenital heart defects (CHDs). Cardiac progenitor cells (CPCs) are responsible for early heart development and the later occurrence of heart disease. However, the mechanism of how hypoxic stress affects CPC fate decisions and contributes to CHDs remains a topic of debate. Here we examined the effect of hypoxic stress on the regulations of CPC fate decisions and the potential mechanism. We found that experimental induction of hypoxic responses compromised CPC function by regulating CPC proliferation and differentiation and restraining cardiomyocyte maturation. In addition, echocardiography indicated that fetal hypoxia reduced interventricular septum thickness at diastole and the ejection time, but increased the heart rate, in mouse young adult offspring with a gender-related difference. Further study revealed that hypoxia upregulated microRNA-210 expression in Sca-1+ CPCs and impeded the cell differentiation. Blockage of microRNA-210 with LNA-anti-microRNA-210 significantly promoted differentiation of Sca-1+ CPCs into cardiomyocytes. Thus, the present findings provide clear evidence that hypoxia alters CPC fate decisions and reveal a novel mechanism of microRNA-210 in the hypoxic effect, raising the possibility of microRNA-210 as a potential therapeutic target for heart disease.
Looking at New Unexpected Disease Targets in LMNA-Linked Lipodystrophies in the Light of Complex Cardiovascular Phenotypes: Implications for Clinical Practice

Variants in LMNA, encoding A-type lamins, are responsible for laminopathies including muscular dystrophies, lipodystrophies, and progeroid syndromes. Cardiovascular laminopathic involvement is classically described as cardiomyopathy in striated muscle laminopathies, and arterial wall dysfunction and/or valvulopathy in lipodystrophic and/or progeroid laminopathies. We report unexpected cardiovascular phenotypes in patients with LMNA-associated lipodystrophies, illustrating the complex multitissular pathophysiology of the disease and the need for specific cardiovascular investigations in affected patients. A 33-year-old woman was diagnosed with generalized lipodystrophy and atypical progeroid syndrome due to the newly identified heterozygous LMNA p.(Asp136Val) variant. Her complex cardiovascular phenotype was associated with atherosclerosis, aortic valvular disease and left ventricular hypertrophy with rhythm and conduction defects. A 29-year-old woman presented with a partial lipodystrophy syndrome and a severe coronary atherosclerosis which required a triple coronary artery bypass grafting. She carried the novel heterozygous p.(Arg60Pro) LMNA variant inherited from her mother, affected with partial lipodystrophy and dilated cardiomyopathy. Different lipodystrophy-associated LMNA pathogenic variants could target cardiac vasculature and/or muscle, leading to complex overlapping phenotypes. Unifying pathophysiological hypotheses should be explored in several cell models including adipocytes, cardiomyocytes and vascular cells. Patients with LMNA-associated lipodystrophy should be systematically investigated with 24-h ECG monitoring, echocardiography and non-invasive coronary function testing.
Mucins and the Microbiome.

Generating the barriers that protect our inner surfaces from bacteria and other challenges requires large glycoproteins called mucins. These come in two types, gel-forming and transmembrane, all characterized by large, highly O-glycosylated mucin domains that are diversely decorated by Golgi glycosyltransferases to become extended rodlike structures. The general functions of mucins on internal epithelial surfaces are to wash away microorganisms and, even more importantly, to build protective barriers. The latter function is most evident in the large intestine, where the inner mucus layer separates the numerous commensal bacteria from the epithelial cells. The host's conversion of MUC2 to the outer mucus layer allows bacteria to degrade the mucin glycans and recover the energy content that is then shared with the host. The molecular nature of the mucins is complex, and how they construct the extracellular complex glycocalyx and mucus is poorly understood and a future biochemical challenge. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Biochemistry, Volume 89 is June 22, 2020. Please see http://www.annualreviews. org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.
A Noise Tolerant Spread Spectrum Sound-Based Local Positioning System for Operating a Quadcopter in a Greenhouse

Quadcopters are beginning to play an important role in precision agriculture. In order to localize and operate the quadcopter automatically in complex agricultural settings, such as a greenhouse, a robust positioning system is needed. In previous research, we developed a spread spectrum sound-based local positioning system (SSSLPS) with a 20 mm accuracy within a 30 × 30 m greenhouse area. In this research, a noise tolerant SSSLPS was developed and evaluated. First, the acoustic noise spectrum emitted by the quadcopter was documented, and then the noise tolerance properties of SSSounds were examined and tested. This was done in a greenhouse with a fixed quadcopter (9.75 N thrust) with the positioning system mounted on it. The recorded quadcopter noise had a broadband noise compared to the SSSound. Taking these SSSound properties into account, the noise tolerance of the SSSLPS was improved, achieving a positioning accuracy of 23.2 mm and 31.6 mm accuracy within 12 × 6 m for both Time-division Multiple Access (TDMA) and Frequency-division Multiple Access (FDMA) modulation. The results demonstrate that the SSSLPS is an accurate, robust positioning system that is noise tolerant and can used for quadcopter operation even within a small greenhouse.
EFFECTS OF METHYLDOPA ON VEGF LEVELS AS PROANGIOGENIC FACTOR IN SEVERE PRE-ECLAMPSIA AT HAJI HOSPITAL, SURABAYA

Methyldopa is the main antihypertensive drug widely used in pregnant women with hypertensive disorder. It lowers blood pressure in pre-eclampsia by affecting a2-adrenoreceptors in central nervous system. However, it also decreases the production of proangio-genic factors that involved in the pathophysiology of hypertension in pre-eclampsia. Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) is one of proangiogenic and mitogenic factor that important for vasodilatation. VEGF is produced by the placenta and affected after treatment with methyldopa. The aim of this study was to analyze the effects of methyldopa on VEGF maternal circulating level as a proangiogenic factor in severe pre-eclampsia patients who were hospitalized at Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, Haji Hospital, Surabaya. This study was performed by cohort prospective observational method on August to October 2016.The data was assessed at before and 48 hours after methyldopa therapy. The study was approved by the ethical committee of Haji Hospital, Surabaya. There were 19 patients with severe pre-eclampsia who met inclusive criteria. The results showed that levels of VEGF before and 48 hours after 250 mg methyldopa therapy were 1178.37(281.97-3567.28) pg/mL and 1055.17 (129.79-4272.66) pg/mL, respectively. VEGF levels in severe pre-eclampsia patients were 1194.29 (175.68-3432.01) pg/mL at before treatment and 510.66 (214.34-1236.16) pg/mL after treatment with methyldopa 500 mg therapy. In conclusion, methyldopa could decrease VEGF level on severe pre-eclampsia patients, with a decrease of 10% at the dose of 250 mg and 57% at the dose of 500 mg.
STRATOS guidance document on measurement error and misclassification of variables in observational epidemiology: Part 2—More complex methods of adjustment and advanced topics

We continue our review of issues related to measurement error and misclassification in epidemiology. We further describe methods of adjusting for biased estimation caused by measurement error in continuous covariates, covering likelihood methods, Bayesian methods, moment reconstruction, moment‐adjusted imputation, and multiple imputation. We then describe which methods can also be used with misclassification of categorical covariates. Methods of adjusting estimation of distributions of continuous variables for measurement error are then reviewed. Illustrative examples are provided throughout these sections. We provide lists of available software for implementing these methods and also provide the code for implementing our examples in the Supporting Information. Next, we present several advanced topics, including data subject to both classical and Berkson error, modeling continuous exposures with measurement error, and categorical exposures with misclassification in the same model, variable selection when some of the variables are measured with error, adjusting analyses or design for error in an outcome variable, and categorizing continuous variables measured with error. Finally, we provide some advice for the often met situations where variables are known to be measured with substantial error, but there is only an external reference standard or partial (or no) information about the type or magnitude of the error.
Movidea: A Software Package for Automatic Video Analysis of Movements in Infants at Risk for Neurodevelopmental Disorders

Early detecting the presence of neurodevelopmental disorders plays an important role in the effectiveness of the treatment. In this paper, we present a novel tool to extract motion features using single camera video recordings of infants. The Movidea software was developed to allow the operator to track the movement of end-effectors of infants in free moving conditions and extract movement features automatically. Movidea was used by different operators to analyze a set of video recordings and its performance was evaluated. The results showed that Movidea performance did not vary with the operator, and the tracking was also stable in home-video recordings. Even if the setup allowed for a two-dimensional analysis, most of the informative content of the movement was maintained. The reliability of the measures and features extracted, as well as the easiness of use, may boost the uptake of the proposed solution in clinical settings. Movidea overcomes the current limitation in the clinical practice in early detection of neurodevelopmental disorders by providing objective measures based on reliable data, and adds a new tool for the motor analysis of infants through unobtrusive technology.
Combined DNase and Proteinase Treatment Interferes with Composition and Structural Integrity of Multispecies Oral Biofilms

Modification of oral biofilms adhering to dental hard tissues could lead to new treatment approaches in cariology and periodontology. In this study the impact of DNase I and/or proteinase K on the formation of a simulated supragingival biofilm was investigated in vitro. Six-species biofilms were grown anaerobically in the presence of DNase I and proteinase K. After 64 h biofilms were either harvested and quantified by culture analysis or proceeded to staining followed by confocal laser scanning microscopy. Microbial cells were stained using DNA-dyes or fluorescent in situ hybridization. Exopolysaccharides, eDNA and exoproteins were stained with Calcofluor, anti-DNA-antibody, and SyproTM Ruby, respectively. Overall, results showed that neither DNase I nor proteinase K had an impact on total colony-forming units (CFUs) compared to the control without enzymes. However, DNase I significantly suppressed the growth of Actinomyces oris, Fusobacterium nucleatum, Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus oralis and Candida albicans. Proteinase K treatment induced significant increase in S. mutans and S. oralis CFUs (p < 0.001), whereas C. albicans and V. dispar showed lower CFUs compared to the control. Interestingly, confocal images visualized the biofilm degradation caused by DNase I and proteinase K. Thus, enzymatic treatment should be combined with conventional antimicrobial agents aiming at both bactericidal effectiveness and biofilm dispersal.
Food Safety Risk Information-Seeking Intention of WeChat Users in China

Consumers’ food safety risk information-seeking behavior plays a vital role in improving their food quality and safety awareness and preventing food safety risks. Based on the Risk Information Seeking and Processing Model (RISP), this paper empirically analyzes the food safety risk information-seeking intention of consumers in WeChat and influencing factors under the impact of food safety incidents. We use data from 774 WeChat users and apply the Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) approach. We also conduct multigroup analysis with demographic characteristics as moderating variables. The results demonstrated that: (1) Risk perception (p ≤ 0.01) has direct significant positive effects on consumers’ intention to seek food safety information. Besides, higher risk perception (p ≤ 0.01) regarding food safety risks will make people feel more anxious and threatened, and then expand the gap between the information they need and the relevant knowledge they actually have (p ≤ 0.1), which will further stimulate them to seek more information (p ≤ 0.05). (2) Informational subjective norms (p ≤ 0.01) can not only directly affect consumers’ information-seeking about food safety, but also indirectly affect consumers’ intention through information insufficiency (p ≤ 0.01). (3) The more consumers trust the relevant channels (p ≤ 0.01), the stronger their intention to search for food safety risk information. Moreover, the multiple-group analysis also shows that the effects of consumers’ gender, age, educational background, and average monthly earnings are different among different groups. Furthermore, implications are put forward for food safety risk communication efforts in China.
Analysis of Academic Literature on Environmental Valuation

Environmental valuation refers to a variety of techniques to assign monetary values to environmental impacts, especially non-market impacts. It has experienced a steady growth in the number of publications on the subject in the last 30 years. We performed a search for papers containing the term “environmental valuation” in the title, abstract, or keywords. The search was conducted with an online literature search engine of the Web of Science (WoS) electronic databases. A search of this database revealed that the term “environmental valuation” appeared for the first time in 1987. Since then a large number of studies have been published, including significant breakthroughs in theory and applications. In the present work 661 publications were selected for a review of the literature on environmental valuation over the period 1987–2019. This paper analyzes the evolution of the leading methodologies and authors, highlights the preference for the choice experiment method over the contingent valuation method, and shows that relatively few papers have had a strong impact on the researchers in this area.
Astaxanthin n-Octanoic Acid Diester Ameliorates Insulin Resistance and Modulates Gut Microbiota in High-Fat and High-Sucrose Diet-Fed Mice

Astaxanthin n-octanoic acid diester (AOD) is a type of astaxanthin connecting medium-chain fatty acids with a more stable structure. In this study, we examined the role of AOD in ameliorating insulin resistance (IR) induced by a high-fat and high-sucrose diet (HFD) as well as its effect on modulating gut microbiota in mice, with free astaxanthin (AST) as a comparison. Four groups of male C57BL/6J mice (6 weeks old; n = 10 per group) were fed with a normal control diet (NC), HFD orally administered with AOD, AST (50 mg/kg body weight), or vehicle for 8 weeks. AOD improved glucose tolerance, IR, systematic and intestinal inflammation, and intestinal integrity better than AST. Further, both AOD and AST modulated gut microbiota. A significantly higher abundance of Bacteroides and Coprococcus was found in AOD than in AST, and the predicted pathway of carbohydrate metabolism was significantly impacted by AOD. Overall, AOD may play a role in alleviating IR and inflammation with the modulating effect on microbiota in HFD-fed mice. Our findings could facilitate the development of AOD as a bioactive nutraceutical and more stable alternative to AST.
The Treasure Vault Can be Opened: Large-Scale Genome Skimming Works Well Using Herbarium and Silica Gel Dried Material

Genome skimming has the potential for generating large data sets for DNA barcoding and wider biodiversity genomic studies, particularly via the assembly and annotation of full chloroplast (cpDNA) and nuclear ribosomal DNA (nrDNA) sequences. We compare the success of genome skims of 2051 herbarium specimens from Norway/Polar regions with 4604 freshly collected, silica gel dried specimens mainly from the European Alps and the Carpathians. Overall, we were able to assemble the full chloroplast genome for 67% of the samples and the full nrDNA cluster for 86%. Average insert length, cover and full cpDNA and rDNA assembly were considerably higher for silica gel dried than herbarium-preserved material. However, complete plastid genomes were still assembled for 54% of herbarium samples compared to 70% of silica dried samples. Moreover, there was comparable recovery of coding genes from both tissue sources (121 for silica gel dried and 118 for herbarium material) and only minor differences in assembly success of standard barcodes between silica dried (89% ITS2, 96% matK and rbcL) and herbarium material (87% ITS2, 98% matK and rbcL). The success rate was > 90% for all three markers in 1034 of 1036 genera in 160 families, and only Boraginaceae worked poorly, with 7 genera failing. Our study shows that large-scale genome skims are feasible and work well across most of the land plant families and genera we tested, independently of material type. It is therefore an efficient method for increasing the availability of plant biodiversity genomic data to support a multitude of downstream applications.
Application of an O-Linked Glycosylation System in Yersinia enterocolitica Serotype O:9 to Generate a New Candidate Vaccine against Brucella abortus

Brucellosis is a major zoonotic public health threat worldwide, causing veterinary morbidity and major economic losses in endemic regions. However, no efficacious brucellosis vaccine is yet available, and live attenuated vaccines commonly used in animals can cause human infection. N- and O-linked glycosylation systems have been successfully developed and exploited for the production of successful bioconjugate vaccines. Here, we applied an O-linked glycosylation system to a low-pathogenicity bacterium, Yersinia enterocolitica serotype O:9 (Y. enterocolitica O:9), which has repeating units of O-antigen polysaccharide (OPS) identical to that of Brucella abortus (B. abortus), to develop a bioconjugate vaccine against Brucella. The glycoprotein we produced was recognized by both anti-B. abortus and anti-Y. enterocolitica O:9 monoclonal antibodies. Three doses of bioconjugate vaccine-elicited B. abortus OPS-specific serum IgG in mice, significantly reducing bacterial loads in the spleen following infection with the B. abortus hypovirulent smooth strain A19. This candidate vaccine mitigated B. abortus infection and prevented severe tissue damage, thereby protecting against lethal challenge with A19. Overall, the results indicated that the bioconjugate vaccine elicited a strong immune response and provided significant protection against brucellosis. The described vaccine preparation strategy is safe and avoids large-scale culture of the highly pathogenic B. abortus.