Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Jasmonates: News on Occurrence, Biosynthesis, Metabolism and Action of an Ancient Group of Signaling Compounds

Jasmonic acid (JA) and its related derivatives are ubiquitously occurring compounds of land plants acting in numerous stress responses and development. Recent studies on evolution of JA and other oxylipins indicated conserved biosynthesis. JA formation is initiated by oxygenation of α-linolenic acid (α-LeA, 18:3) or 16:3 fatty acid of chloroplast membranes leading to 12-oxo-phytodienoic acid (OPDA) as intermediate compound, but in Marchantia polymorpha and Physcomitrella patens, OPDA and some of its derivatives are final products active in a conserved signaling pathway. JA formation and its metabolic conversion take place in chloroplasts, peroxisomes and cytosol, respectively. Metabolites of JA are formed in 12 different pathways leading to active, inactive and partially active compounds. The isoleucine conjugate of JA (JA-Ile) is the ligand of the receptor component COI1 in vascular plants, whereas in the bryophyte M. polymorpha COI1 perceives an OPDA derivative indicating its functionally conserved activity. JA-induced gene expressions in the numerous biotic and abiotic stress responses and development are initiated in a well-studied complex regulation by homeostasis of transcription factors functioning as repressors and activators.
Rapid Evaluation of Spermidine from 12 Bean Cultivars by Direct Real-Time Mass Spectrometry Analysis

The routine spermidine (SPD) detection method is time-consuming and laborious due to the lengthy chromatographic separation and/or tedious sample derivatization pretreatment. In this study, direct analysis in real-time ionization mode coupled with mass spectrometry (DART-MS) was developed to rapidly determine the SPD content of 12 bean cultivars. The results were compared in detail with those of the classical UHPLC-ESI-QTOF method. After conducting a series of optimizations, a simple sample extraction procedure employing 80% aqueous methanol, was followed by determination of sample extracts directly without any chromatographic separation or prior derivatization. The validated method showed excellent performance with low limits of detection (LOD of 0.025 mg·kg−1) and good recovery rates (102.79–148.44%). The investigation highlighted that the DART-MS method (~1.3 min per three samples) could be used as a high-throughput alternative to the classic UHPLC-ESI-QTOF method (~15 min per three samples).
Modeling and Dynamic Analysis in a Hybrid Stochastic Bioeconomic System with Double Time Delays and Lévy Jumps

A double delayed hybrid stochastic prey-predator bioeconomic system with Lévy jumps is established and analyzed, where commercial harvesting on prey and environmental stochasticity on population dynamics are considered. Two discrete time delays are utilized to represent the maturation delay of prey and gestation delay of predator, respectively. For a deterministic system, positivity of solutions and uniform persistence of system are discussed. Some sufficient conditions associated with double time delays are derived to discuss asymptotic stability of interior equilibrium. For a stochastic system, existence and uniqueness of a global positive solution are studied. By using the invariant measure theory and singular boundary theory of diffusion process, existence of stochastic Hopf bifurcation and stochastic stability are investigated. By constructing appropriate Lyapunov functions, asymptotic dynamic behavior of the proposed hybrid stochastic system with double time delays and Lévy jumps is discussed. Numerical simulations are provided to show consistency with theoretical analysis.
Effects and costs of real-time cardiac telerehabilitation: randomised controlled non-inferiority trial

Objective Compare the effects and costs of remotely monitored exercise-based cardiac telerehabilitation (REMOTE-CR) with centre-based programmes (CBexCR) in adults with coronary heart disease (CHD). Methods Participants were randomised to receive 12 weeks of telerehabilitation or centre-based rehabilitation. REMOTE-CR provided individualised exercise prescription, real-time exercise monitoring/coaching and theory-based behavioural strategies via a bespoke telerehabilitation platform; CBexCR provided individualised exercise prescription and coaching via established rehabilitation clinics. Outcomes assessed at baseline, 12 and/or 24 weeks included maximal oxygen uptake (V̇O2max, primary) modifiable cardiovascular risk factors, exercise adherence, motivation, health-related quality of life and programme delivery, hospital service utilisation and medication costs. The primary hypothesis was a non-inferior between-group difference in V̇O2max at 12 weeks (inferiority margin=−1.25 mL/kg/min); inferiority margins were not set for secondary outcomes. Results 162 participants (mean 61±12.7 years, 86% men) were randomised. V̇O2 max was comparable in both groups at 12 weeks and REMOTE-CR was non-inferior to CBexCR (REMOTE-CR-CBexCR adjusted mean difference (AMD)=0.51 (95% CI −0.97 to 1.98) mL/kg/min, p=0.48). REMOTE-CR participants were less sedentary at 24 weeks (AMD=−61.5 (95% CI −117.8 to −5.3) min/day, p=0.03), while CBexCR participants had smaller waist (AMD=1.71 (95% CI 0.09 to 3.34) cm, p=0.04) and hip circumferences (AMD=1.16 (95% CI 0.06 to 2.27) cm, p=0.04) at 12 weeks. No other between-group differences were detected. Per capita programme delivery (NZD1130/GBP573 vs NZD3466/GBP1758) and medication costs (NZD331/GBP168 vs NZD605/GBP307, p=0.02) were lower for REMOTE-CR. Hospital service utilisation costs were not statistically significantly different (NZD3459/GBP1754 vs NZD5464/GBP2771, p=0.20). Conclusion REMOTE-CR is an effective, cost-efficient alternative delivery model that could—as a complement to existing services—improve overall utilisation rates by increasing reach and satisfying unique participant preferences.
Prospective application of an implementation framework to improve postoperative nutrition care processes: Evaluation of a mixed methods implementation study

AIM To describe prospective application of an implementation framework to guide and evaluate a quality improvement (QI) project to improve adherence to evidence-based postoperative diet guidelines (consistent with Enhanced Recovery After Surgery, ERAS) in older surgical patients. METHODS A hybrid mixed methods study guided by the integrated Promoting Action on Research Implementation in Health Services (i-PARIHS) framework was used. A pre-implementation audit identified gaps in nutrition-related care practices against ERAS guidelines for older surgical patients. Qualitative interviews explored barriers to practice change, informing development of the facilitated implementation strategy. Iterative facilitation interventions were identified by field notes and classified using i-PARIHS facilitator's tool-kit. Post-implementation audit measured implementation outcomes, and clinical processes and outcomes using controlled before-after comparative study. RESULTS Implementation involved 17 discrete facilitation activities. Early postoperative diet upgrade was acceptable, well adopted (79%) and appropriate for 89% of patients. Fidelity (i.e. protocol delivered as intended) was 59%, with loss of fidelity primarily because of incorrect diet codes. Clinical processes and outcome evaluation (n = 155) compared data pre-implementation (intervention: n = 45, control: n = 27; mean age 73 (SD 6) years, 60% male) and post-implementation (intervention: n = 47, control: n = 36; mean age 74 (SD 6) years, 57% male). Patients on the intervention ward had higher odds of receiving early nutrition post-implementation (adjusted odds ratio [95% CI]: 6.5 [1.9-22.4], P = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS Prospective application of an implementation framework supported planning and successful implementation in this QI project. Multi-level evaluation of facilitation strategies, implementation outcomes, and clinical processes and outcomes helps to understand areas of success and continuing challenges.
3′‐Sialyllactose as an inhibitor of p65 phosphorylation ameliorates the progression of experimental rheumatoid arthritis

3′‐Sialyllactose (3′‐SL) is a safe compound that is present in high levels in human milk. Although it has anti‐inflammatory properties and supports immune homeostasis, its effect on collagen‐induced arthritis (CIA) is unknown. In this study, we investigated the prophylactic and therapeutic effect of 3′‐SL on the progression of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in in vitro and in vivo models.
Ponašanje laboratorijskih životinja-zamorčići

Barbara MIOŠ, studentica, dr. sc. Željko PAVIČIĆ, dr. med. vet. , redoviti profesor, Slavko ŽUŽUL, dr. med. vet. , asistent, dr. sc. Damjan GRAČNER, dr. med. vet. , redoviti profesor, dr. sc. Marija LIPAR, viša stručna suradnica, znanstvena savjetnica, dr. sc. Gordana GREGURIĆ GRAČNER*, dr. med. vet. , docentica (dopisni autor, e-mail: ggracner@vef.hr), Veterinarski fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu, Hrvatska; dr. sc. Alenka DOVČ, dr. med. vet. , redovita profesorica, Veterinarski fakultet Univerziteta u Ljubljani, Slovenija Uvod
Wen-Luo-Tong Decoction Attenuates Paclitaxel-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy by Regulating Linoleic Acid and Glycerophospholipid Metabolism Pathways

Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is a serious dose-limiting toxicity of many anti-neoplastic agents, especially paclitaxel, and oxaliplatin. Up to 62% of patients receiving paclitaxel regimens turn out to develop CIPN. Unfortunately, there are so few agents proved effective for prevention or management of CIPN. The reason for the current situation is that the mechanisms of CIPN are still not explicit. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has unique advantages for dealing with complex diseases. Wen-Luo-Tong (WLT) is a TCM ointment for topical application. It has been applied for prevention and management of CIPN clinically for more than 10 years. Previous animal experiments and clinical studies had manifested the availability of WLT. However, due to the unclear mechanisms of WLT, further transformation has been restricted. To investigate the therapeutic mechanisms of WLT, a metabolomic method on the basis of UPLC- MS was developed in this study. Multivariate analysis techniques, such as principal component analysis (PCA) and partial least squares discriminate analysis (PLS-DA), were applied to observe the disturbance in the metabolic state of the paclitaxel-induced peripheral neuropathy (PIPN) rat model, as well as the recovering tendency of WLT treatment. A total of 19 significant variations associated with PIPN were identified as biomarkers. Results of pathway analysis indicated that the metabolic disturbance of pathways of linoleic acid (LA) metabolism and glycerophospholipid metabolism. WLT attenuated mechanical allodynia and rebalanced the metabolic disturbances of PIPN by primarily regulating LA and glycerophospholipid metabolism pathway. Further molecular docking analysis showed some ingredients of WLT, such as hydroxysafflor yellow A (HSYA), icariin, epimedin B and 4-dihydroxybenzoic acid (DHBA), had high affinity to plenty of proteins within these two pathways.
Factors affecting lung function in children with asthma

I read with interest the study by Han et al on factors affecting lung function in children with asthma. The authors conducted a crosssectional study to investigate the association of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) and vitamin Dwith lung function. Only in patients with vitamin D insufficiency, urinary PAH metabolites were significantly associatedwith reduction in predicted forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) and predicted FEV1/forced vital capacity (FVC). They recognized that vitamin D insufficiency and PAH exposure had synergistic detrimental effects on lung function in asthmatic children. I have a query on this report. Leung et al conducted a prospective study to evaluate the effect of genetic and environmental factors on spirometric indices and fractional exhaled nitric oxide level (FeNO) in schoolchildren with asthma. There was a decline in FVC and an increase in FEV1/FVC and FEF25-75, which was influenced by gender, inhaled corticosteroid treatment, body mass index, and asthma exacerbations. In addition, IL33_rs1342326 was associated with spirometric indices and FeNO, and GSDMB_rs2305480was associated with FEV1/FVC change. Neisi et al reported the association between FeNO, lung function and particulate matter (PM) in healthy children. Themean values of FeNO increased and FVC decreased as PM concentration increased. But FEV1 did not become a significant indicator for predicting PM2.5. Mölter et al reported that EFV1 was associated with PM10 and nitrogen dioxide (NO2). On this point, Gehring et al summarized the past reports and concluded that FEV1 was associated with NO2, total nitrogen oxides (NOx) and PM2.5, but was not associatedwith PM10. There is a discrepancy of the association even in physiological status, and several indicators of environmental pollution, genetic and nutrient factors should be comprehensively included for the analysis of lung function in patients with asthma. Finally, indoor air pollution caused by smoking should also be considered for the analysis. Many factors affect lung functions, and pathological respiratory change in patients with asthma would also modify the lung function.
Statins and the risk of intracerebral haemorrhage in patients with stroke: systematic review and meta-analysis

Objective Whether statins increase the risk of intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH) in patients with a previous stroke remains uncertain. This study addresses the evidence of statin therapy on ICH and other clinical outcomes in patients with previous ischaemic stroke (IS) or ICH. Methods A systematic literature review and meta-analysis was performed in conformity with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines to assess observational and randomised studies comparing statin therapy with control (placebo or no treatment) in patients with a previous ICH or IS. The risk ratios (RR) for the primary outcome (ICH) and secondary outcomes (IS, any stroke, mortality and function) were pooled using random effects meta-analysis according to stroke subtype. Results Forty-three studies with a combined total of 317 291 patient-years of follow-up were included. In patients with previous ICH, statins had no significant impact on the pooled RR for recurrent ICH (1.04, 95% CI 0.86 to 1.25; n=23 695); however, statins were associated with significant reductions in mortality (RR 0.49, 95% CI 0.36 to 0.67; n=89 976) and poor functional outcome (RR 0.71, 95% CI 0.67 to 0.75; n=9113). In patients with previous IS, statins were associated with a non-significant increase in ICH (RR 1.36, 95% CI 0.96 to 1.91; n=103 525), but significantly lower risks of recurrent IS (RR 0.74, 95% CI 0.66 to 0.83; n=53 162), any stroke (RR 0.82, 95% CI 0.67 to 0.99; n=55 260), mortality (RR 0.68, 95% CI 0.50 to 0.92; n=74 648) and poor functional outcome (RR 0.83, 95% CI 0.76 to 0.91; n=34 700). Conclusions Irrespective of stroke subtype, there were non-significant trends towards future ICH with statins. However, this risk was overshadowed by substantial and significant improvements in mortality and functional outcome among statin users. Trial registration number CRD42017079863.
The ameliorative effect of hemp seed hexane extracts on the Propionibacterium acnes-induced inflammation and lipogenesis in sebocytes

In this study, we investigated the anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory, and anti-lipogenic effects of hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) seed hexane extracts, focusing on the Propionibacterium acnes-triggered inflammation and lipogenesis. Hemp seed hexane extracts (HSHE) showed anti-microbial activity against P. acnes. The expression of iNOS, COX-2, and the subsequent production of nitric oxide and prostaglandin increased after infection of P. acnes in HaCaT cells, however, upon treating with HSHE, their expressions were reduced. P. acnes-induced expressions of IL-1β and IL-8 were also reduced. HSHE exerted anti-inflammatory effects by regulating NF-κB and MAPKs signaling and blunting the translocation of p-NF-κB to the nucleus in P. acnes-stimulated HaCaT cells. Moreover, P. acnes-induced phosphorylation of ERK and JNK, and their downstream targets c-Fos and c-Jun, was also inhibited by HSHE. In addition, the transactivation of AP-1 induced by P. acnes infection was also downregulated by HSHE. Notably, HSHE regulated inflammation and lipid biosynthesis via regulating AMPK and AKT/FoxO1 signaling in IGF-1-induced inflammation and lipogenesis of sebocytes. In addition, HSHE inhibited 5-lipoxygenase level and P. acnes-induced MMP-9 activity, and promoted collagen biosynthesis in vitro. Thus, HSHE could be utilized to treat acne vulgaris, through its anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory, anti-lipogenic, and collagen-promoting properties.
Mulberry leaf extract displays antidiabetic activity in db/db mice via Akt and AMP-activated protein kinase phosphorylation

Background Augmenting glucose utilization in skeletal muscle via the phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase (PI3 kinase)/protein kinase B (Akt) pathway or the adenosine monophosphate (AMP)-activated protein kinase (AMPK) pathway is necessary to regulate hyperglycemia in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Objective We investigated the effect of mulberry leaf extract (MLE) on glucose uptake in skeletal muscle cells and explored its in vivo antidiabetic potential. Design Male db/db mice were treated with either MLE (50 mg/kg, 100 mg/kg, and 250 mg/kg) or metformin (100 mg/kg) for 8 weeks. Results MLE treatment stimulated glucose uptake, driven by enhanced translocation of glucose transporter 4 to cell membranes in L6 myotubes. These effects of MLE were synergistic with those of insulin and were abolished in the presence of PI3K inhibitor or AMPK inhibitor. In db/db mice, supplementation with MLE decreased fasting blood glucose and insulin levels and enhanced insulin sensitivity, with increases of p-Akt and p-AMPK in skeletal muscle. Moreover, MLE improved blood lipid parameters and attenuated hepatic steatosis in diabetic db/db mice. Discussion These findings suggest that MLE exerts antidiabetic activity through stimulating glucose disposal in skeletal muscle cells via the PI3K/Akt and AMPK pathways. Conclusions MLE can potentially improve hyperglycemia and hepatic steatosis in patients with type 2 diabetes.
A review on research advances, issues, and perspectives of morels

Morels, a group of the world’s most prized edible and medicinal mushrooms, are of very important economic and scientific value. Here, we review recent research progress in the genus Morchella, and focus on its taxonomy, species diversity and distribution, ecological diversity, phylogeny and biogeography, artificial cultivation, and genome. We also discuss the potential issues remaining in the current research and suggest some future directions for study.
Rain Streak Removal for Single Image via Kernel Guided CNN

Rain streak removal is an important issue and has recently been investigated extensively. Existing methods, especially the newly emerged deep learning methods, could remove the rain streaks well in many cases. However the essential factor in the generative procedure of the rain streaks, i.e., the motion blur, which leads to the line pattern appearances, were neglected by the deep learning rain streaks approaches and this resulted in over-derain or under-derain results. In this paper, we propose a novel rain streak removal approach using a kernel guided convolutional neural network (KGCNN), achieving the state-of-the-art performance with simple network architectures. We first model the rain streak interference with its motion blur mechanism. Then, our framework starts with learning the motion blur kernel, which is determined by two factors including angle and length, by a plain neural network, denoted as parameter net, from a patch of the texture component. Then, after a dimensionality stretching operation, the learned motion blur kernel is stretched into a degradation map with the same spatial size as the rainy patch. The stretched degradation map together with the texture patch is subsequently input into a derain convolutional network, which is a typical ResNet architecture and trained to output the rain streaks with the guidance of the learned motion blur kernel. Experiments conducted on extensive synthetic and real data demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method, which preserves the texture and the contrast while removing the rain streaks.
Temperature‐related geographical shifts among passerines: contrasting processes along poleward and equatorward range margins

Abstract Climate change is causing widespread geographical range shifts, which likely reflects different processes at leading and trailing range margins. Progressive warming is thought to relax thermal barriers at poleward range margins, enabling colonization of novel areas, but imposes increasingly unsuitable thermal conditions at equatorward margins, leading to range losses from those areas. Few tests of this process during recent climate change have been possible, but understanding determinants of species’ range limits will improve predictions of their geographical responses to climate change and variation in extinction risk. Here, we examine the relationship between poleward and equatorward range margin dynamics with respect to temperature‐related geographical limits observed for 34 breeding passerine species in North America between 1984–1988 and 2002–2006. We find that species’ equatorward range margins were closer to their upper realized thermal niche limits and proximity to those limits predicts equatorward population extinction risk through time. Conversely, the difference between breeding bird species’ poleward range margin temperatures and the coolest temperatures they tolerate elsewhere in their ranges was substantial and remained consistent through time: range expansion at species’ poleward range margins is unlikely to directly reflect lowered thermal barriers to colonization. The process of range expansion may reflect more complex factors operating across broader areas of species’ ranges. The latitudinal extent of breeding bird ranges is decreasing through time. Disparate responses observed at poleward versus equatorward margins arise due to differences in range margin placement within the realized thermal niche and suggest that climate‐induced geographical shift at equatorward range limits more strongly reflect abiotic conditions than at their poleward range limits. This further suggests that observed geographic responses to date may fail to demonstrate the true cost of climate change on the poleward portion of species’ distributions. Poleward range margins for North American breeding passerines are not presently in equilibrium with realized thermal limits.