Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The recent advances of near-infrared spectroscopy in dairy production—a review

Abstract One of the major issues confronting the dairy industry is the efficient evaluation of the quality of feed, milk and dairy products. Over the years, the use of rapid analytical methods in the dairy industry has become imperative. This is because of the documented evidence of adulteration, microbial contamination and the influence of feed on the quality of milk and dairy products. Because of the delays involved in the use of wet chemistry methods during the evaluation of these products, rapid analytical techniques such as near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) has gained prominence and proven to be an efficient tool, providing instant results. The technique is rapid, nondestructive, precise and cost-effective, compared with other laboratory techniques. Handheld NIRS devices are easily used on the farm to perform quality control measures on an incoming feed from suppliers, during feed preparation, milking and processing of cheese, butter and yoghurt. This ensures that quality feed, milk and other dairy products are obtained. This review considers research articles published in reputable journals which explored the possible application of NIRS in the dairy industry. Emphasis was on what quality parameters were easily measured with NIRS, and the limitations in some instances.
Insights on home blood pressure monitoring in Asia: Expert perspectives from 10 countries/regions

Hypertension is one of the most powerful modifiable risk factors for cardiovascular disease. It is usually asymptomatic and therefore essential to measure blood pressure regularly for the detection of hypertension. Home blood pressure monitoring (HBPM) is recognized as a valuable tool to monitor blood pressure and facilitate effective diagnosis of hypertension. It is useful to identify the masked or white‐coat hypertension. There is also increasing evidence that supports the role of HBPM in guiding antihypertensive treatment, and improving treatment compliance and hypertension control. In addition, HBPM has also shown prognostic value in predicting cardiovascular events. Despite these benefits, the use of HBPM in many parts of Asia has been reported to be low. An expert panel comprising 12 leading experts from 10 Asian countries/regions convened to share their perspectives on the realities of HBPM. This article provides an expert summary of the current status of HBPM and the key factors hindering its use. It also describes HBPM‐related initiatives in the respective countries/regions and presents strategies that could be implemented to better support the use of HBPM in the management of hypertension.
L's approach: illumination pattern estimation technique for optical microscopy

We propose a novel solution to the correction of illumination nonuniformity without removing the imaging sample. Calibration of the spatial illumination pattern in reflectance microscopy is challenging due to the fact that the illumination source is colocated with the objective lens and therefore cannot be observed directly. Our proposed methodology overcomes this by collecting three spatially translated images in a strategic way. We prove that ‘log‐illumination pattern’ recovery can be reformulated as a deconvolution of log‐ratio of captured images, and develop an efficient, noise‐robust implementation. Experiments with simulated and reflectance microscopy data verify the effectiveness of our proposed approach.
Mechanism of Interaction of Polyphenols, Oxygen, and Sulfur Dioxide in Model Wine and Wine

The interaction of oxygen, sulfur dioxide, and 4-methylcatechol (4-MeC) was studied in a model wine containing catalytic concentrations of iron and copper in order to provide further evidence that when a catechol and oxygen interact, hydrogen peroxide and a quinone are formed, both of which react with SO2. The aerial oxidation of the catechol in the presence of benzenesulfinic acid (BSA) slowly produced the BSA-quinone adduct in high yield. It was also quickly prepared by adding ferric chloride, demonstrating that the quinone is cleanly produced in this model wine and that the catechol is rapidly oxidized by Fe(III) ions. This reaction is important in the catalytic function of the metal. The oxygen and SO2 molar reaction ratio was 1:2, which is consistent with one mole equivalent of SO2 reacting with hydrogen peroxide and a second with the quinone. When BSA was added to the system to trap the quinone the ratio was reduced to 1:1. The rate of reaction of oxygen and SO2 increased with catechol concentration. However, the rate of reaction of oxygen was also markedly accelerated by SO2 and by BSA, and it is proposed that substances that react with quinones accelerate catechol autoxidation. When 4-MeC was oxidized in the presence of SO2, ~38% of the quinone that was formed reacted with bisulfite to produce the sulfonic acid adduct and most of the remainder was reduced back to the catechol. The O2/SO2 molar reaction ratio in two red wines was 1:~1.7, suggesting that some nucleophilic substances may be competing with bisulfite for quinones. The rate of reaction of oxygen was also accelerated by SO2 in red wine.
Rubella virus-associated chronic inflammation in primary immunodeficiency diseases

Purpose of the review The aim of this article is to summarize recent data on rubella virus (RuV) vaccine in chronic inflammation focusing on granulomas in individuals with primary immunodeficiencies (PIDs). Recent findings The live attenuated RuV vaccine has been recently associated with cutaneous and visceral granulomas in children with various PIDs. RuV vaccine strain can persist for decades subclinically in currently unknown body site(s) before emerging in granulomas. Histologically, RuV is predominately localized in M2 macrophages in the granuloma centers. Multiple mutations accumulate during persistence resulting in emergence of immunodeficiency-related vaccine-derived rubella viruses (iVDRVs) with altered immunological, replication, and persistence properties. Viral RNA was detected in granuloma biopsies and nasopharyngeal secretions and infectious virus were isolated from the granuloma lesions. The risk of iVDRV transmissibility to contacts needs to be evaluated. Several broad-spectrum antiviral drugs have been tested recently but did not provide significant clinical improvement. Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation remains the only reliable option for curing chronic RuV-associated granulomas in PIDs. Summary Persistence of vaccine-derived RuVs appears to be a crucial factor in a significant proportion of granulomatous disease in PIDs. RuV testing of granulomas in PID individuals might help with case management.
Prevalence of COVID-19 in Ohio Nursing Homes: What’s Quality Got to Do with It?

ABSTRACT With nursing homes being hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, it is important to know whether facilities that have any cases, or those with particularly high caseloads, are different from nursing homes that do not have any reported cases. Our analysis found that through mid-June, just under one-third of nursing homes in Ohio had at least one resident with COVID-19, with over 82% of all cases in the state coming from 37% of nursing homes. Overall findings on the association between facility quality and the prevalence of COVID-19 showed that having any resident case of the virus or even having a high caseload of residents with the virus is not more likely in nursing homes with lower quality ratings.
Opioid stewardship can reduce inappropriate prescribing of opioids at hospital discharge

Before 1990, opioids were primarily used to treat severe acute and cancer pain. In the subsequent 30 years, opioids have been increasingly used for treating chronic nonmalignant pain; prescribing has increased exponentially in the developed world, particularly in the United States, but also in Canada and Australia.1 Regrettably, this has not only resulted in poor outcomes for patients living with chronic pain; the analgesic efficacy of opioids for this indication are limited, and they do not improve, and often reduce, function and quality of life.2 Further, diversion of prescribed opioids and their misuse have risen in parallel with increased prescribing, leading to higher numbers of overdoses deaths. In Australia, about 1100 people died following opioid overdoses during 2018, and 75% of cases involved prescription opioids (similar to the number of deaths from car accidents in that year). 3
The role of chemerin in the pathogenesis of cholelithiasis in children and adolescents

Adipokines and hepatokines are proteins secreted by adipose tissue and the liver. To date, the levels of adipokines and hepatokines in cholelithiasis have only been evaluated in studies in adult patients. The purpose of our research was to assess the levels of circulating adipokines: chemerin, vaspin, progranulin, retinol‐binding protein 4 (RBP‐4) and hepatokine: fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF‐21) and to compare their concentrations in paediatric patients with and without cholelithiasis.
Biocontrol of collar rot on passion fruits via induction of apoptosis in the collar rot pathogen by Bacillus subtilis.

The seedlings and fresh fruits of passion fruits are of high value in local and global trade. Fusarium solani is a main disease-causing agents affecting passion fruits. The objectives were to develop Bacillus-based biocontrol agents for the management of fusarium diseases on passion fruits and to investigate their putative control mechanisms. Our studies indicated Bacillus subtilis YBC and 151B1 showed antagonistic activity to F. solani PF7 from passion fruits and inhibited the conidial germination of strain PF7. The application of broth cultures from B. subtilis 151B1 and YBC in SYB medium reduced disease severity of fusarium wilt on the leaves of passion fruits, and enhanced the survival rates of passion fruit seedlings challenged with F. solani PF7. With regard to the putative mechanisms of disease control, the results indicated the treatments consisting of the respective culture filtrates from B. subtilis 151B1 and YBC broths caused aberrant conidial morphology and the loss of cell membrane integrity. Additionally, the treatments caused reductions in mitochondrial membrane potential and interfered with the energy metabolism of F. solani PF7. The treatments also enhanced reactive oxygen species accumulation, and resulted in the externalization of phosphatidylserine, chromatin condensation, and DNA fragmentation, suggesting their functions in triggering apoptotic-like cell death. In conclusion, B. subtilis 151B1 and YBC are potential biocontrol agents for passion fruit disease caused by F. solani. Their control efficacy may result from the produced surfactins to trigger apoptotic-like cell death, reducing the mitochondrial membrane potential and interfering with the energy metabolism of the pathogen.
Effects of vitamin D and calcium supplementation on bone mineral density among Thai youth using daily HIV pre‐exposure prophylaxis

Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate with emtricitabine (TDF/FTC) is used for HIV pre‐exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). TDF may affect bone mineral density (BMD), particularly in youth who are at a stage of peak bone mass accrual. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of vitamin D and calcium supplementation on BMD among Thai youth receiving daily oral PrEP.
Rationale and design of a randomised controlled trial testing the effect of personalised diet in individuals with pre-diabetes or type 2 diabetes mellitus treated with metformin

Introduction Metformin and diets aimed at promoting healthy body weight are the first line in treating type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Clinical practice, backed by clinical trials, suggests that many individuals do not reach glycaemic targets using this approach alone. The primary aim of the Personalised Medicine in Pre-diabetes—Towards Preventing Diabetes in Individuals at Risk (PREDICT) Study is to test the efficacy of personalised diet as adjuvant to metformin in improving glycaemic control in individuals with dysglycaemia. Methods and analysis PREDICT is a two-arm, parallel group, single-masked randomised controlled trial in adults with pre-diabetes or early-stage T2DM (with glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) up to 8.0% (64 mmol/mol)), not treated with glucose-lowering medication. PREDICT is conducted at the Clinical Research Facility at the Garvan Institute of Medical Research (Sydney). Enrolment of participants commenced in December 2018 and expected to complete in December 2021. Participants are commenced on metformin (Extended Release, titrated to a target dose of 1500 mg/day) and randomised with equal allocation to either (1) the Personalised Nutrition Project algorithm-based diet or (2) low-fat high-dietary fibre diet, designed to provide caloric restriction (75%) in individuals with body mass index >25 kg/m2. Treatment duration is 6 months and participants visit the Clinical Research Facility five times over approximately 7 months. The primary outcome measure is HbA1c. The secondary outcomes are (1) time of interstitial glucose <7.8 mmol/L and (2) glycaemic variability (continuous glucose monitoring), (3) body weight, (4) fat mass and (5) abdominal visceral fat volume (dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry), serum (6) low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (7) high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and (8) triglycerides concentrations, (9) blood pressure, and (10) liver fat (Fibroscan). Ethics and dissemination The study has been approved by the St Vincent’s Hospital Human Research Ethics Committee (File 17/080, Sydney, Australia) and the Weizmann Institutional Review Board (File 528-3, Rehovot, Israel). The findings will be published in peer-reviewed open access medical journals. Trial registration number NCT03558867; Pre-results.
The Farewell Symphony

As the editorial team of Liver Transplantation transitions it is an opportunity for reflection as well as gratitude. Five years ago hepatitis C (HCV) management had already been dramatically altered by new all oral treatment regimens with the threat of viral recurrence posttransplant already receding. Timing of HCV therapy now reflects considerations which include use of an organ from an HCV-positive donor even in HCV-naïve recipients 1 .
The focal adhesion protein Integrin-Linked Kinase (ILK) as an important player in breast cancer pathogenesis

ABSTRACT Cell-extracellular matrix interactions, or focal adhesions (FA), are crucial for tissue homeostasis but are also implicated in cancer. Integrin-Linked Kinase (ILK) is an abundantly expressed FA protein involved in multiple signaling pathways. Here, we reviewed the current literature on the role of ILK in breast cancer (BC). Articles included in vitro and in vivo experiments as well as studies in human BC samples. ILK attenuation via silencing or pharmaceutical inhibition, leads to apoptosis or inhibition of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, and cell invasion whereas ILK overexpression suppresses anoikis and promotes tumor growth and metastasis. Finally, ILK is upregulated in BC tumors and its expression is associated with grade, and metastasis. Therefore, ILK should be evaluated as a potential anti-cancer pharmaceutical target.
Anti-cancer Drug Synergy Prediction in Understudied Tissues using Transfer Learning

Motivation Exploring an exponentially increasing yet more promising space, high-throughput combinatorial drug screening has advantages in identifying cancer treatment options with higher efficacy without degradation in terms of safety. A key challenge is that accumulated number of observations in in-vitro drug responses varies greatly among different cancer types, where some tissues (such as bone and prostate) are understudied than the others. Thus, we aim to develop a drug synergy prediction model for understudied data-poor tissues as overcoming data scarcity problem. Results We collected a comprehensive set of genetic, molecular, phenotypic features for cancer cell lines from six different databases. We developed a drug synergy prediction model based on deep neural networks to integrate multi-modal input and utilize transfer learning from data-rich tissues to data-poor tissues. We showed improved accuracy in predicting drug synergy in understudied tissues without enough drug combination screening data nor after-treatment transcriptome. Our synergy prediction model can be used to rank synergistic drug combinations in understudied tissues and thus help prioritizing future in-vitro experiments. Availability and Implementation Our algorithm will be publicly available via https://github.com/yejinjkim/drug-synergy-prediction
Roadmap on nanomedicine

Since the launch of the Alliance for Nanotechnology in Cancer by the National Cancer Institute in late 2004, several similar initiatives have been promoted all over the globe with the intention of advancing the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of cancer in the wake of nanoscience and nanotechnology. All this has encouraged scientists with diverse backgrounds to team up with one another, learn from each other, and generate new knowledge at the interface between engineering, physics, chemistry and biomedical sciences. Importantly, this new knowledge has been wisely channeled towards the development of novel diagnostic, imaging and therapeutic nanosystems, many of which are currently at different stages of clinical development. This roadmap collects eight brief articles elaborating on the interaction of nanomedicines with human biology; the biomedical and clinical applications of nanomedicines; and the importance of patient stratification in the development of future nanomedicines. The first article reports on the role of geometry and mechanical properties in nanomedicine rational design; the second articulates on the interaction of nanomedicines with cells of the immune system; and the third deals with exploiting endogenous molecules, such as albumin, to carry therapeutic agents. The second group of articles highlights the successful application of nanomedicines in the treatment of cancer with the optimal delivery of nucleic acids, diabetes with the sustained and controlled release of insulin, stroke by using thrombolytic particles, and atherosclerosis with the development of targeted nanoparticles. Finally, the last contribution comments on how nanomedicine and theranostics could play a pivotal role in the development of personalized medicines. As this roadmap cannot cover the massive extent of development of nanomedicine over the past 15 years, only a few major achievements are highlighted as the field progressively matures from the initial hype to the consolidation phase.
Pulmonary benign metastasizing leiomyoma: a case report and literature review.

Benign metastasizing leiomyoma (BML) is a rare condition that occurs mainly in premenopausal women and is characterized most commonly by pulmonary metastases. Here, we report the case of a 45-yearold woman who presented with multiple bilateral pulmonary nodules on chest examination during a health checkup 13 years after myomectomy. This patient has a normal menstrual cycle, moderate anemia, and no obvious respiratory symptoms. Serum concentrations of cancer markers such as carcinoembryonic antigen, neuron specific enolase, cytokeratin 19 fragments, and pro-gastrin-releasing peptide were within normal limits. Color doppler ultrasound was also performed, several hypoechoic regions were found in uterine bodies and cavity. The computed tomography (CT)-guided lung biopsy was used for histopathological examination. Immunohistochemical staining revealed BML which were positive for smooth muscle antibody, desmin, vimentin, estrogen and progesterone receptors, and Ki-67 positive rate of about 1%. Hysterectomy and bilateral adnexectomy were performed as a part of treatment. The lung nodules were meticulously monitored at follow-up. Three months later, the repeat CT scan showed that the nodules had reduced in size, and no new nodules had appeared, 1 year later, CT scan showed no obvious changes in lung nodules. This study is of great significance as the results will be helpful in diagnosing and treating future pulmonary benign metastasizing leiomyoma (PBML) cases.
Exploring a role for fatty acid synthase in prostate cancer cell migration

ABSTRACT Fatty acid synthase (FASN) is commonly overexpressed in prostate cancer and associated with tumour progression. FASN is responsible for de novo synthesis of the fatty acid palmitate; the building block for protein palmitoylation. A functional role for FASN in regulating cell proliferation is widely accepted. We recently reported that FASN activity can also mediate prostate cancer HGF-mediated cell motility. Moreover, we found that modulation of FASN expression specifically impacts on the palmitoylation of RhoU. Findings we will describe here. We now report that loss of FASN expression also impairs HGF-mediated cell dissociation responses. Taken together our results provide compelling evidence that FASN activity directly promotes cell migration and supports FASN as a potential therapeutic target in metastatic prostate cancer.
Comparing the anaesthetic efficacy of 1.8 mL and 3.6 mL of anaesthetic solution for inferior alveolar nerve blocks for teeth with irreversible pulpitis: a systematic review and meta-analysis with trial sequential analysis.

BACKGROUND The scientific literature is contradictory in relation to selecting the appropriate volume of local anaesthetic solution for inferior alveolar nerve blocks (IANB) when attempting to anaesthetize mandibular teeth with irreversible pulpitis. OBJECTIVES To compare the efficacy of 1.8 mL and 3.6 mL of the same anaesthetic solution for IANBs when treating mandibular teeth with irreversible pulpitis. METHODS A literature search was performed in PubMed, Scopus and EBSCOhost databases until May 2020. Randomized clinical trials published in English, comparing 1.8 mL with 3.6 mL of the same anaesthetic solution for IANBs in permanent mandibular teeth with irreversible pulpitis were included. The risk of bias of the included trials was appraised using the revised Cochrane risk of bias tool. A meta-analysis was performed using the random-effects model. The effect of random errors on the results of the meta-analysis was evaluated by trial sequential analysis and the quality of evidence was appraised using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach. RESULTS Four clinical trials involving 280 teeth from patients with ages ranging from 18 to 65 years were included. Among the four trials, three were categorized as having a "low" risk of bias and one was categorised as having "some concerns". The primary meta-analysis revealed that 3.6 mL of anaesthetic solution when administered for IANBs was associated with significantly greater success rates compared with 1.8 mL (RR = 1.94; 95% CI, 1.07,3.52; I2 = 77%). Similarly, the results of the sensitivity analysis (restricting trials only to those that used the Heft-Parker visual analogue pain scale) revealed that the use of 3.6 mL significantly increased the success of IANBs compared with 1.8 mL. The trial sequential analysis confirmed the evidence for the beneficial effect of 3.6 mL to achieve success for IANBs was "conclusive". The quality of evidence was graded as "high". CONCLUSION Increasing the volume of anaesthetic solution from 1.8 mL to 3.6 mL improved the success rate for IANBs in mandibular molars with irreversible pulpitis. The quality of the evidence was "high". Future high-quality clinical trials are required with different types of anaesthetic solutions and other types of teeth.