Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Histological, immunohistochemical, and genomic evaluation of excisional and diabetic wounds treated with human Wharton’s jelly stem cells with and without a nanocarrier

We showed in previous studies that human umbilical cord Wharton’s jelly stem cells (hWJSCs) improved the healing rates of excisional and diabetic wounds in the mouse model. As an extension of those studies, we report here the more detailed quantitative histological, immunohistochemical, and genomic evaluation of biopsies from those excisional and diabetic wounds in an attempt to understand the mechanisms of the enhanced wound healing aided by hWJSCs. Bright‐field microscopic observations and ImageJ software analysis on histological sections of the excisional and diabetic wound biopsies collected at different time points showed that the thickness of the epidermis and dermis, and positive picrosirius‐red stained areas for collagen, were significantly greater in the presence of hWJSCs compared with controls (P < 0.05). Immunohistochemistry of the diabetic wound biopsies showed increased positive staining for the vascular endothelial marker CD31 and cell proliferation marker Ki67 in the presence of hWJSCs and its conditioned medium (hWJSC‐CM). Quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction showed upregulation of groups of genes involved in extracellular matrix regulation, collagen biosynthesis, angiogenesis, antifibrosis, granulation, and immunomodulation in the presence of hWJSCs. Taken together, the results demonstrated that hWJSCs and hWJSC‐CM that contains the paracrine secretions of hWJSCs, enhance the healing of excisional and diabetic wounds via re‐epithelialization, collagen deposition, angiogenesis, and immunomodulation. The inclusion of an Aloe vera‐polycaprolactone (AV/PCL) nanocarrier did not significantly change the effect of the hWJSCs. However, the topical application of an AV/PCL nanocarrier impregnated with hWJSCs is convenient and less invasive than the administration of hWJSC injections into wounds.
Development of genetic evaluation for milk production traits of Holsteins in Japan

Abstract The procedure used for the genetic evaluation of dairy cattle in Japan has developed from a lactation sire–MGS model to a multiple‐lactation random regression test‐day animal model. Genetic evaluation of Holstein bulls in Japan began in 1989 with the use of field‐style progeny testing; dairy herd improvement program data from all over Japan were used, along with a sire and maternal grandsire model. In 1993, an animal model was introduced to estimate breeding values for yield and type traits. A random regression test‐day model was first applied in 2010. In the business of breeding dairy cattle, it is very important to users that estimated breeding values are reliable and stable among subsequent routine evaluations. With experience in the genetic evaluation of dairy cattle in Japan, Japanese researchers have found ways to improve the stability of estimated breeding values. These modifications involve changes in data editing, development of evaluation models, changes to the structures of unknown‐parent groups, awareness of the problems of predicting lactation yield from partial test‐day records, and adjustment for heterogeneity within herd variances. Here, I introduce developments in, and our experiences with, the genetic evaluation of yield traits of Holstein cattle in Japan.
A paradigm shift in studies based on rheumatoid arthritis clinical registries

Clinical research is the study of aspects of patient health or illness that are closely related to clinical practice. In the late 20th and early 21th century, outcomes for patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) improved dramatically due to breakthroughs in new drugs. Patient-reported outcome measures now play a significant role in the drug development process as study endpoints in clinical trials of new therapies, and this has led to increased interest in the patient's perspective, drug safety and treatment outcomes in clinical practice. In accordance with these needs, many prospective cohorts for RA patients and registries of biologic disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs have been actively conducted in the United States and European and Asian countries. A gradual shift is taking place in the major outcomes of clinical research using these prospective cohorts and registries. This article will introduce representative registries for RA in each country set up in the early 2000s and will discuss future perspectives in clinical research on RA patients using such clinical registries.
Valence, arousal, and dominance ratings for facial stimuli

A total of 1,363 images from seven sets of facial stimuli were normed using the self-assessment manikin procedure. Each participant provided valence, arousal, and dominance ratings for 120-130 faces displaying various emotional expressions (e.g., happiness, sadness). The current work provides a large database of normed ratings for facial stimuli that complements the existing International Affective Picture System and the Affective Norms for English Words that were developed to provide a normative set of emotional ratings for photographs and words, respectively. This new database will increase experimental control in studies examining the perception, processing, and identification of emotional faces.
Wind turbines cause functional habitat loss for migratory soaring birds.

Wind energy production has expanded to meet climate change mitigation goals, but negative impacts of wind turbines have been reported on wildlife. Soaring birds are among the most affected groups with alarming fatality rates by collision with wind turbines and an escalating occupation of their migratory corridors. These birds have been described as changing their flight trajectories to avoid wind turbines, but this behaviour may lead to functional habitat loss, as suitable soaring areas in the proximity of wind turbines will likely be underused. We modelled the displacement effect of wind turbines on black kites (Milvus migrans) tracked by GPS. We also evaluated the impact of this effect at the scale of the landscape by estimating how much suitable soaring area was lost to wind turbines. We used state-of-the-art tracking devices to monitor the movements of 130 black kites in an area populated by wind turbines, at the migratory bottleneck of the Strait of Gibraltar. Landscape use by birds was mapped from GPS data using dynamic Brownian bridge movement models, and generalized additive mixed modelling was used to estimate the effect of wind turbine proximity on bird use while accounting for orographic and thermal uplift availability. We found that areas up to approximately 674 m away from the turbines were less used than expected given their uplift potential. Within that distance threshold, bird use decreased with the proximity to wind turbines. We estimated that the footprint of wind turbines affected 3%-14% of the areas suitable for soaring in our study area. We present evidence that the impacts of wind energy industry on soaring birds are greater than previously acknowledged. In addition to the commonly reported fatalities, the avoidance of turbines by soaring birds causes habitat losses in their movement corridors. Authorities should recognize this further impact of wind energy production and establish new regulations that protect soaring habitat. We also showed that soaring habitat for birds can be modelled at a fine scale using publicly available data. Such an approach can be used to plan low-impact placement of turbines in new wind energy developments.
When Evolution Works Against the Future: Disgust's Contributions to the Acceptance of New Food Technologies

New food technologies have a high potential to transform the current resource‐consuming food system to a more efficient and sustainable one, but public acceptance of new food technologies is rather low. Such an avoidance might be maintained by a deeply preserved risk avoidance system called disgust. In an online survey, participants (N = 313) received information about a variety of new food technology applications (i.e., genetically modified meat/fish, edible nanotechnology coating film, nanotechnology food box, artificial meat/milk, and a synthetic food additive). Every new food technology application was rated according to the respondent's willingness to eat (WTE) it (i.e., acceptance), risk, benefit, and disgust perceptions. Furthermore, food disgust sensitivity was measured using the Food Disgust Scale. Overall, the WTE both gene‐technology applications and meat coated with an edible nanotechnology film were low and disgust responses toward all three applications were high. In full mediation models, food disgust sensitivity predicted the disgust response toward each new food technology application, which in turn influenced WTE them. Effects of disgust responses on the WTE a synthetic food additive were highest for and lowest for the edible nanotechnology coating film compared to the other technologies. Results indicate that direct disgust responses influence acceptance and risk and benefit perceptions of new food technologies. Beyond the discussion of this study, implications for future research and strategies to increase acceptance of new food technologies are discussed.
Lawsonia inermis L. leaves aqueous extract as a natural antioxidant and antibacterial product

Abstract This study was carried out to investigate the biomedicinal potential of aqueous extract (1.25 and 2.5%) of three henna ecotypes (Shahdad, Roodbar and Bam) against Two types of Gram positive and negative bacteria, Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25923), Streptococcus agalactiae (ATCC 29933), Bacillus cereus (ATCC 14579), Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis (ATCC 19410), Klebsiella pneumonia (ATCC 700603), Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922) and Salmonella enterica serovar typhi (ATCC 19430). Henna extract prevent the growth of bacteria in a dose dependent manner. The species of K. pneumonia and B. cereus showed higher resistant to henna aqueous extract compared with other bacteria species. Leaves aqueous extract of Shahdad ecotype had the highest antioxidant activity compared with those of the other ecotypes. The highest amount of 2-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone as an antibacterial compound was obtained in Bam ecotype. The results also implies that other phytochemical compounds may have contributed in antibacterial and antioxidant activity of henna and thus further study needs to be done to explore them.
Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase activation and neuronal death after ischemic stroke

Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase (NOX) is a multisubunit enzyme complex that utilizes nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate to produce superoxide anions and other reactive oxygen species. Under normal circumstances, reactive oxygen species mediate a number of important cellular functions, including the facilitation of adaptive immunity. In pathogenic circumstances, however, excess reactive oxygen species generated by NOX promotes apoptotic cell death. In ischemic stroke, in particular, it has been shown that both NOX activation and derangements in glucose metabolism result in increased apoptosis. Moreover, recent studies have established that glucose, as a NOX substrate, plays a vital role in the pathogenesis of reperfusion injury. Thus, NOX inhibition has the potential to mitigate the deleterious impact of hyperglycemia on stroke. In this paper, we provide an overview of this research, coupled with a discussion of its implications for the development of NOX inhibition as a strategy for the treatment of ischemic stroke. Both inhibition using apocynin, as well as the prospect of developing more specific inhibitors based on what is now understood of the biology of NOX assembly and activation, will be highlighted in the course of our discussion.
Targeting amyloid clearance in Alzheimer's disease as a therapeutic strategy

Targeting the amyloid‐β (Aβ) peptide cascade has been at the heart of therapeutic developments in Alzheimer's disease (AD) research for more than 25 years, yet no successful drugs have reached the marketplace based on this hypothesis. Nevertheless, the genetic and other evidence remains strong, if not overwhelming, that Aβ is central to the disease process. Most attention has focused on the biosynthesis of Aβ from its precursor protein through the successive actions of the β‐ and γ‐secretases leading to the development of inhibitors of these membrane proteases. However, the levels of Aβ are maintained through a balance of its biosynthesis and clearance, which occurs both through further proteolysis by a family of amyloid‐degrading enzymes (ADEs) and by a variety of transport processes. The development of late‐onset AD appears to arise from a failure of these clearance mechanisms rather than by overproduction of the peptide. This review focuses on the nature of these clearance mechanisms, particularly the various proteases known to be involved, and their regulation and potential as therapeutic targets in AD drug development. The majority of the ADEs are zinc metalloproteases [e.g., the neprilysin (NEP) family, insulin‐degrading enzyme, and angiotensin converting enzymes (ACE)]. Strategies for up‐regulating the expression and activity of these enzymes, such as genetic, epigenetic, stem cell technology, and other pharmacological approaches, will be highlighted. Modifiable physiological mechanisms affecting the efficiency of Aβ clearance, including brain perfusion, obesity, diabetes, and sleep, will also be outlined. These new insights provide optimism for future therapeutic developments in AD research.
The Methanol Poisoning Outbreaks in Iran 2018.

AIMS To present epidemiological data, probable causes and lessons learned from the outbreak of methanol poisoning in Iran in September 2018, and relate this to the increasing incidence of methanol poisoning worldwide over recent decades. METHOD Analysis of all available reliable field information, official news reports and reports from the country's forensic medicine organization and the Ministry of Health. RESULTS Overall, 768 people in Iran were documented as poisoned from September 7 to October 7 2018 by consuming an informal alcohol containing methanol, of whom 76 died (10.1% fatality rate); 460 subjects attended state hospitals due to acute methanol poisoning of whom 42 (9.13%) died. Those who were hospitalized comprised 177 subjects (38.4%), with 241 subjects (52.3%) seen and discharged. Males comprised 93% of the deaths. About 41% of those poisoned were aged 25-36. Outbreaks were reported in 21 provinces. CONCLUSION These data indicate a high fatality rate of methanol poisoning in Iran, something seen also in some other countries. Considering that such outbreaks take place more in low-income and Islamic countries due to ignorance and legal constraints, it seems necessary to seek an effective educational model for raising public awareness and a fully native and early warning system in this regard to reduce the damage and enhance readiness to deal with the health effects of such outbreaks.
Gut microbiota fermentation of prebiotics increases satietogenic and incretin gut peptide production with consequences for appetite sensation and glucose response after a meal.

BACKGROUND We have previously shown that gut microbial fermentation of prebiotics promotes satiety and lowers hunger and energy intake in humans. In rodents, these effects are associated with an increase in plasma gut peptide concentrations, which are involved in appetite regulation and glucose homeostasis. OBJECTIVE Our aim was to examine the effects of prebiotic supplementation on satiety and related hormones during a test meal for human volunteers by using a noninvasive micromethod for blood sampling to measure plasma gut peptide concentrations. DESIGN This study was a randomized, double-blind, parallel, placebo-controlled trial. A total of 10 healthy adults (5 men and 5 women) were randomly assigned to groups that received either 16 g prebiotics/d or 16 g dextrin maltose/d for 2 wk. Meal tolerance tests were performed in the morning to measure the following: hydrogen breath test, satiety, glucose homeostasis, and related hormone response. RESULTS We show that the prebiotic treatment increased breath-hydrogen excretion (a marker of gut microbiota fermentation) by approximately 3-fold and lowered hunger rates. Prebiotics increased plasma glucagon-like peptide 1 and peptide YY concentrations, whereas postprandial plasma glucose responses decreased after the standardized meal. The areas under the curve for plasma glucagon-like peptide 1 and breath-hydrogen excretion measured after the meal (0-60 min) were significantly correlated (r = 0.85, P = 0.007). The glucose response was inversely correlated with the breath-hydrogen excretion areas under the curve (0-180 min; r = -0.73, P = 0.02). CONCLUSION Prebiotic supplementation was associated with an increase in plasma gut peptide concentrations (glucagon-like peptide 1 and peptide YY), which may contribute in part to changes in appetite sensation and glucose excursion responses after a meal in healthy subjects.
Clinical Reasoning: Leg weakness and stiffness at the emergency room

A 48-year-old woman from the Maghreb came to the emergency department with insidious gait difficulties, urgency, and constipation starting 6 months prior to the visit. The patient's complaints consisted of weakness, stiffness, and pain in her legs. Her medical history consisted of Hashimoto thyroiditis and breast cancer, with the latter having motivated surgery 4 months prior to admission. Histopathologic examination had demonstrated ductal cancer sensitive to estrogen and mapping with sentinel node biopsy ruled out metastasis. For that reason, the patient was treated with local radiation given weekly over 1 month and treatment with tamoxifen was started. Physical examination upon admission demonstrated weakness and spasticity in both legs. Reflexes were brisk; bilateral nonsustained foot clonus and Babinski sign were also present. Bilateral dorsal flexion was reduced, but vibration and sensation to touch and pinprick were normal. Sphincter tonus was reduced; systemic manifestations such as myalgias, fever, skin rashes, uveitis, sicca, and arthritic joints were absent.
Co-Crystal Formation of Antibiotic Nitrofurantoin Drug and Melamine Co-Former Based on a Vibrational Spectroscopic Study

The co-crystallization of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) has received increasing attention due to the modulation of the relative physicochemical properties of APIs such as low solubility, weak permeability and relatively inferior oral bioavailability. Crystal engineering plays a decisive role in the systematic design and synthesis of co-crystals by means of exerting control on the inter-molecular interactions. The characterization and detection of such co-crystal formations plays an essential role in the field of pharmaceutical research and development. In this work, nitrofurantoin (NF), melamine (MELA) and their hydrated co-crystal form were characterized and analyzed by using terahertz time-domain spectroscopy (THz-TDS) and Raman vibrational spectroscopy. According to the experimental THz spectra, the hydrated co-crystal form has characteristic absorption peaks at 0.67, 1.05, 1.50 and 1.73 THz, while the THz spectra for the two raw parent materials (NF and MELA) are quite different within this spectral region. Similar observations were made from the experimental Raman vibrational spectra results. Density functional theory (DFT) calculation was performed to help determine the major vibrational modes of the hydrated co-crystal between nitrofurantoin and melamine, as well as identify the structural changes due to inter- and/or intra-molecular hydrogen bonding motifs between NF and MELA. The results of the theoretical frequency calculations corroborate the THz and Raman experimental spectra. The characteristic bands of the NF–MELA-hydrated co-crystal between nitrofurantoin and melamine were also determined based on the DFT simulated calculation. The reported results in this work provide us with a wealth of structural information and a unique vibrational spectroscopic method for characterizing the composition of specific co-crystals and inter-molecular hydrogen bonding interactions upon pharmaceutical co-crystallization.
Interaction-Based Human Activity Comparison

Traditional methods for motion comparison consider features from individual characters. However, the semantic meaning of many human activities is usually defined by the interaction between them, such as a high-five interaction of two characters. There is little success in adapting interaction-based features in activity comparison, as they either do not have a fixed topology or are in high dimensional. In this paper, we propose a unified framework for activity comparison from the interaction point of view. Our new metric evaluates the similarity of interaction by adapting the Earth Mover's Distance onto a customized geometric mesh structure that represents spatial-temporal interactions. This allows us to compare different classes of interactions and discover their intrinsic semantic similarity. We created five interaction databases of different natures, covering both two-characters (synthetic and real-people) and character-object interactions, which are open for public uses. We demonstrate how the proposed metric aligns well with the semantic meaning of the interaction. We also apply the metric in interaction retrieval and show how it outperforms existing ones. The proposed method can be used for unsupervised activity detection in monitoring systems and activity retrieval in smart animation systems.
Morphological and immunohistochemical characteristics of the equine corneal epithelium

Abstract Objective The morphology of the corneal epithelium in two age groups of horses is described. Distribution patterns of proliferation‐, differentiation‐, stem cell‐associated markers and cell junction proteins were assessed. Methods Corneal samples from 12 horses (six foals and six adult horses) were analyzed after H&E staining and immunohistochemistry using the following antibodies: E‐cadherin, β‐catenin, Connexin 43 (Cx43), tight junction protein 1 (TJP1), cytokeratin (CK) 14, CK 19, CK 3, CK 10, vimentin, Ki67, p63, nerve growth factor (NGF), ABCG2, and epithelial growth factor receptor. Semiquantitative analysis of crypt, limbal, peripheral, and central zone was performed. Semithin and ultrathin sections were used for ultrastructural evaluation of the epithelium. Results The height of the epithelium varied between age groups and crypts were consistently present. In the peripheral and central epithelium, three types of basal cells resembling a pseudostratified epithelium were characterized. Potential stem cell markers (CK 14, p63, NGF, and ABCG2) were present in all zones with decreasing frequency toward the center. Cornea‐specific differentiation marker CK 3 was not expressed in the most basal cell layer of the limbal epithelium. E‐cadherin, β‐catenin, and Cx43 revealed a similar apico‐lateral signal pattern throughout the entire epithelium; only TJP1 was additionally seen at the basal surface. Conclusions This study presents a systematic semiquantitative evaluation of the equine corneal epithelium, showing the presence of crypts as potential stem cell niche with CK 14, p63, NGF, and ABCG2 as relevant markers for cells with regenerative capacity. The pseudostratified arrangement of the basal layer was a unique finding.