Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Nerve bundle formation during the promotion of peripheral nerve regeneration: collagen VI-neural cell adhesion molecule 1 interaction

The formation of nerve bundles, which is partially regulated by neural cell adhesion molecule 1 (NCAM1), is important for neural network organization during peripheral nerve regeneration. However, little is known about how the extracellular matrix (ECM) microenvironment affects this process. Here, we seeded dorsal root ganglion tissue blocks on different ECM substrates of peripheral nerve ECM-derived matrix-gel, Matrigel, laminin 521, collagen I, and collagen IV, and observed well-aligned axon bundles growing in the peripheral nerve ECM-derived environment. We confirmed that NCAM1 is necessary but not sufficient to trigger this phenomenon. A protein interaction assay identified collagen VI as an extracellular partner of NCAM1 in the regulation of axonal fasciculation. Collagen VI interacted with NCAM1 by directly binding to the FNIII domain, thereby increasing the stability of NCAM1 at the axolemma. Our in vivo experiments on a rat sciatic nerve defect model also demonstrated orderly nerve bundle regeneration with improved projection accuracy and functional recovery after treatment with 10 mg/mL Matrigel and 20 μg/mL collagen VI. These findings suggest that the collagen VI-NCAM1 pathway plays a regulatory role in nerve bundle formation. This study was approved by the Animal Ethics Committee of Guangzhou Medical University (approval No. GY2019048) on April 30, 2019.
Epidemiology and antibiotic susceptibility in anaerobic bacteraemia: a 15-year retrospective study in South-Eastern Hungary

Abstract Introduction Bloodstream infections are considered as important factors of morbidity and represent a remarkable number of death, especially in developed countries. Methods In a 15-year retrospective study in the South-Eastern region of Hungary, the microbiological results of anaerobic blood culture (BC) bottles were analysed. The incubation of BCs was performed in the automated incubation system, and the isolates were cultured in an anaerobic chamber. The identification of the isolates was based on their biochemical profile (2004–2012) and mass spectrometry analyses (2013–2018). Antibiotic susceptibility testing was performed with minimal inhibitory concentration gradient diffusion method. Results The majority of the samples were submitted by the Department of Internal Medicine (37.7%), Intensive Care Unit (31.6%) and the Emergency Department (16.4%), and the number of strict anaerobic isolates per year showed an increasing tendency throughout the study. More than half of the isolates were Cutibacterium acnes (54.4%), but this bacterium was considered as a contaminant. The most frequent species upon Cutibacterium acnes were Bacteroides fragilis (9.2%), Clostridium perfringens (6.4%), other Clostridium species (4.8%), other Cutibacterium species (3.5%) and other Bacteroides species (2.5%). Penicillin, amoxicillin/clavulanic acid, imipenem, clindamycin, metronidazole and tigecyclin were very effective against Bacteroides fragilis, Clostridium perfringens, Fusobacterium nucleatum, Gemella morbillorum, Parvimonas micra and Eggerthella lenta strains. Conclusion We performed a 15-year period, retrospective investigation in South-Eastern Hungary with the participation of more than 1000 patients. The results of antibiotic susceptibility tests are in line with previous reports in the literature, and the results from the different geographical regions of the world suggest similar resistance mechanisms.
Thromboxane A2 receptors contribute to the exaggerated exercise pressor reflex in male rats with heart failure

Mechanical and metabolic signals associated with skeletal muscle contraction stimulate the sensory endings of thin fiber muscle afferents and produce reflex increases in sympathetic nerve activity and blood pressure during exercise (i.e., the exercise pressor reflex; EPR). The EPR is exaggerated in patients and animals with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HF‐rEF) and its activation contributes to reduced exercise capacity within this patient population. Accumulating evidence suggests that the exaggerated EPR in HF‐rEF is partially attributable to a sensitization of mechanically activated channels produced by thromboxane A2 receptors (TxA2‐Rs) on those sensory endings; however, this has not been investigated. Accordingly, the purpose of this investigation was to determine the role played by TxA2‐Rs on the sensory endings of thin fiber muscle afferents in the exaggerated EPR in rats with HF‐rEF induced by coronary artery ligation. In decerebrate, unanesthetized rats, we found that injection of the TxA2‐R antagonist daltroban (80 μg) into the arterial supply of the hindlimb reduced the pressor response to 30 s of electrically induced 1 Hz dynamic hindlimb muscle contraction in HF‐rEF (n = 8, peak ∆MAP pre: 22 ± 3; post: 14 ± 2 mmHg; p = 0.01) but not sham (n = 10, peak ∆MAP pre: 13 ± 3; post: 11 ± 2 mmHg; p = 0.68) rats. In a separate group of HF‐rEF rats (n = 4), we found that the systemic (intravenous) injection of daltroban had no effect on the EPR (peak ΔMAP pre: 26 ± 7; post: 25 ± 7 mmHg; p = 0.50). Our data suggest that TxA2‐Rs on thin fiber muscle afferents contribute to the exaggerated EPR evoked in response to dynamic muscle contraction in HF‐rEF.
Sub-2 nm Ultrasmall High-Entropy Alloy Nanoparticles for Extremely Superior Electrocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution.

The development of sufficiently effective catalysts with extremely superior performance for electrocatalytic hydrogen production still remains a formidable challenge, especially in acidic media. Here, we report ultrasmall high-entropy alloy (us-HEA) nanoparticles (NPs) with the best-level performance for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). The us-HEA (NiCoFePtRh) NPs show an average diameter of 1.68 nm, which is the smallest size in the reported HEAs. The atomic structure, coordinational structure, and electronic structure of the us-HEAs were comprehensively clarified. The us-HEA/C achieves an ultrahigh mass activity of 28.3 A mg-1noble metals at -0.05 V (vs the reversible hydrogen electrode, RHE) for HER in 0.5 M H2SO4 solution, which is 40.4 and 74.5 times higher than those of the commercial Pt/C and Rh/C catalysts, respectively. Moreover, the us-HEA/C demonstrates an ultrahigh turnover frequency of 30.1 s-1 at 50 mV overpotential (41.8 times higher than that of the Pt/C catalyst) and excellent stability with no decay after 10 000 cycles. Operando X-ray absorption spectroscopy and theoretical calculations reveal the actual active sites, tunable electronic structures, and a synergistic effect among five elements, which endow significantly enhanced HER activity. This work not only engineers a general and scalable strategy for synthesizing us-HEA NPs and elucidates the complex structural information and catalytic mechanisms of multielement HEA system in depth, but also highlights HEAs as sufficiently advanced catalysts and accelerates the research of HEAs in energy-related applications.
Interaction networks between the Fallopian tubes and the embryo in human tubal pregnancy: Current knowledge and perspectives

More than 90% of ectopic pregnancies occur in the Fallopian tubes. As the pathogenesis of tubal pregnancy remains largely unclear, the development of strategies to prevent and treat tubal pregnancy still represents a major clinical challenge. This review thoroughly summarizes the current data, aiming to determine the genes and signaling pathways that are involved in the pathophysiology of human tubal pregnancy.
Interactions between dietary polyphenols and aging gut microbiota: A review

Aging induces significant shifts in the composition of gut microbiota associated with decreased microbial diversity. Age‐related changes in gut microbiota include a loss of commensals and an increase in disease‐associated pathobionts. These alterations are accelerated by lifestyle factors, such as poor nutritional habits, physical inactivity, and medications. Given that diet is one of the main drivers shaping the gut microbiota, nutritional interventions for restoring gut homeostasis are of great importance to the overall health of older adults. Polyphenols, ubiquitously present in fruits and vegetables, have emerged as promising anti‐aging candidates because of their ability to modulate some of the common denominators of aging, including gut dysbiosis. These compounds can influence the composition of the gut microbiota, and gut bacteria metabolize polyphenols into bioactive compounds that produce relevant health effects. Although the role of polyphenols on the aging gut has not been fully characterized, accumulating evidence suggests that these compounds exert selective effects on the gut microbial community. Here, we discuss the reciprocal interactions between polyphenols and gut microbiota and summarize the latest findings on the effects of polyphenols on modulating intestinal bacteria during aging.
Discovery and implications of polygenicity of common diseases

Description The sequencing of the human genome has allowed the study of the genetic architecture of common diseases: the number of genomic variants that contribute to risk of disease and their joint frequency and effect size distribution. Common diseases are polygenic, with many loci contributing to phenotype, and the cumulative burden of risk alleles determines individual risk in conjunction with environmental factors. Most risk loci occur in noncoding regions of the genome regulating cell- and context-specific gene expression. Although the effect sizes of most risk alleles are small, their cumulative effects in individuals, quantified as a polygenic (risk) score, can identify people at increased risk of disease, thereby facilitating prevention or early intervention.
A phosphatase‐centric mechanism drives stress signaling response

Changing environmental cues lead to the adjustment of cellular physiology by phosphorylation signaling networks that typically center around kinases as active effectors and phosphatases as antagonistic elements. Here, we report a signaling mechanism that reverses this principle. Using the hyperosmotic stress response in Saccharomyces cerevisiae as a model system, we find that a phosphatase‐driven mechanism causes induction of phosphorylation. The key activating step that triggers this phospho‐proteomic response is the Endosulfine‐mediated inhibition of protein phosphatase 2A‐Cdc55 (PP2ACdc55), while we do not observe concurrent kinase activation. In fact, many of the stress‐induced phosphorylation sites appear to be direct substrates of the phosphatase, rendering PP2ACdc55 the main downstream effector of a signaling response that operates in parallel and independent of the well‐established kinase‐centric stress signaling pathways. This response affects multiple cellular processes and is required for stress survival. Our results demonstrate how a phosphatase can assume the role of active downstream effectors during signaling and allow re‐evaluating the impact of phosphatases on shaping the phosphorylome.
Surface-Modified Garnet Particles for Reinforcing Epoxy Composites

The present study investigated the tribological performance of epoxy (EP) matrix composites enhanced with natural garnet. The garnet was surface-modified with sodium stearate for optimal performance. Composites comprising different contents and particle sizes of modified garnet (MG) were prepared with a mixture of EP and MG. The sodium stearate-bonded garnet and EP formed a stable structure. Tribological performance was measured by a ball-on-plate apparatus under permanent dry sliding conditions and a wear track was obtained by an optical profilometer. The wear mechanism was explored by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) images. Wear test results showed that the coefficient of friction for all EP/MG composites decreased compared with that for neat epoxy. The results also indicated that the addition of MG can evidently improve the tribological properties of EP matrix composites.
Novel carbon quantum dots for fluorescent detection of phenol and insights into the mechanism

Phenol is considered as one of the most important pollutants in the water environment, and thus its detection plays a cardinal role in environmental assessment and treatment. In this study, high quality carbon quantum dots (CQDs) were successfully prepared by ozone oxidation, with cheap coal as the carbon material. The as-prepared CQDs exhibited a narrow size distribution between 2 and 9 nm, with an average size of approximately 4.2 nm. The novel CQDs showed high sensitivity and selectivity for phenol detection with a low detection limit of 0.076 μM in water due to the fluorescence quenching effect of the CQDs, which is attributed to the hydrogen bonds (CO⋯H–O) between phenol and the fluorescent CQDs according to the density functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) results. The theoretical calculation matches well with the experimental data, which provides us a new way to investigate the detection mechanism of the CQDs for phenol.
Association of Internet gaming disorder with catechol‐O‐methyltransferase: Role of impulsivity and fun‐seeking

Dopamine functioning is an essential mechanism underlying addictive behaviors. This paper evaluates the association of Internet gaming disorder (IGD) with the catechol‐O‐methyltransferase (COMT) val158met polymorphism and examines the roles of impulsivity and reinforcement sensitivity in this association. Using diagnostic interviews, this study recruited 69 participants with IGD and 138 participants without. All participants underwent diagnostic interviews for IGD and an evaluation for the COMT val158met polymorphism, impulsivity, and reinforcement sensitivity. Among participants with the Val/Val genotype, the odds ratio (95% confidence interval) for IGD was 2.09 (1.15–3.80). The IGD–Val/Val genotype association was mediated by impulsivity and fun‐seeking. The Val/Val genotype is indicative of low frontal functioning and is a predictive factor of IGD, with this effect being confounded by impulsivity and fun‐seeking. Interventions targeting impulsivity and fun‐seeking might attenuate the risk of IGD, particularly among individuals with the Val/Val genotype. Additional studies are necessary to elucidate the possible role of dopamine functioning.
A Comparative Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of 3 Routes of Administration of Epidural Injections in Lumbar Disc Herniation.

BACKGROUND The Best Practices in Pain Management from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) describes interventional techniques as part of a continuum. Epidural injections are commonly utilized modalities in managing low back and lower extremity pain. Epidural injections were initially administered in 1901 where the first descriptions of caudal epidural with local anesthetic for low back pain appeared. Since then, multiple developments have occurred. Currently, epidural injections are provided by caudal, interlaminar, and transforaminal approaches. The comparative effectiveness of each modality has been studied. However, comparative assessment has been sparse. OBJECTIVES To assess the efficacy of 3 routes of administration of epidural injections for lumbar disc herniation. STUDY DESIGN A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of transforaminal, interlaminar and caudal epidural injections in managing chronic low back and lower extremity pain due to lumbar disc herniation. METHODS RCTs with a placebo control or an active control design, performed under fluoroscopic guidance, with at least 6 months of follow-up are included. The outcome measures were pain relief and functional status improvement. Significant improvement was defined as 50% or greater pain relief and functional status improvement. Data extraction and methodological quality assessment were performed. Evidence was summarized utilizing principles of best evidence synthesis. RESULTS A total of 21 trials were included. Of these, 7 studied caudal epidural injections, whereas transforaminal epidural injections were studied in 12 trials, and lumbar interlaminar epidural injections were studied in 10 trials, which all met inclusion criteria. Based on qualitative and quantitative analysis, which included conventional dual-arm and single-arm analysis for interlaminar epidural injections, and single-arm analysis for caudal and transforaminal epidural injections, and the approach to the epidural space, there is Level I evidence for local anesthetic and steroids, Level II for local anesthetic alone for transforaminal and interlaminar approaches, and Level II for the caudal approach with steroids or local anesthetic alone for short- and long-term relief. LIMITATIONS There is a paucity of literature with intermediate or long-term relief of at least 6 months with appropriate outcome parameters. Conventional dual-arm meta-analysis was feasible only for interlaminar epidural injections. CONCLUSION Epidural injections with local anesthetic and steroids showed Level I evidence for transforaminal and interlaminar approaches, whereas with local anesthetic alone Level II evidence was demonstrated. In contrast, caudal epidural injections showed Level II evidence with local anesthetic with steroids or local anesthetic alone.
Salmonella Typhimurium impairs glycolysis-mediated acidification of phagosomes to evade macrophage defense

Regulation of cellular metabolism is now recognized as a crucial mechanism for the activation of innate and adaptive immune cells upon diverse extracellular stimuli. Macrophages, for instance, increase glycolysis upon stimulation with pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs). Conceivably, pathogens also counteract these metabolic changes for their own survival in the host. Despite this dynamic interplay in host-pathogen interactions, the role of immunometabolism in the context of intracellular bacterial infections is still unclear. Here, employing unbiased metabolomic and transcriptomic approaches, we investigated the role of metabolic adaptations of macrophages upon Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium (S. Typhimurium) infections. Importantly, our results suggest that S. Typhimurium abrogates glycolysis and its modulators such as insulin-signaling to impair macrophage defense. Mechanistically, glycolysis facilitates glycolytic enzyme aldolase A mediated v-ATPase assembly and the acidification of phagosomes which is critical for lysosomal degradation. Thus, impairment in the glycolytic machinery eventually leads to decreased bacterial clearance and antigen presentation in murine macrophages (BMDM). Collectively, our results highlight a vital molecular link between metabolic adaptation and phagosome maturation in macrophages, which is targeted by S. Typhimurium to evade cell-autonomous defense.
Nanoporous MnO2 Nanoflakes Modified Carbon Cloth Material for Efficient Removal of Heavy Metal Ions in Water by Capacitive Deionization

Increasing demand for the limited resource of fresh water for the large urban populations and development of agriculture and industry draws public concern. Removal of heavy metals such as lead, cadmium, chromium and mercury is crucial in environmental improvement of water and industrial wastewater treatment. Great efforts have been made through chemical precipitation, adsorption, ion exchange, filtration and electrochemical treatment. However, a large volume of sludge residue, expensive and complex matrix materials and low efficiency are still problems that need to be improved. Capacitive deionization (CDI) is a promising energy-efficient technology for water desalination, which is easy to handle and environmentally friendly producing no secondary contaminants through the water purifying process [1]. In order to effectively remove ions, the porous electrodes with large surface area, good chemical stability, high electronic conductivity, and hydrophility are key factors in the selection of CDI materials. Highly porous carbon materials represent the typical electrodes to store the ions through surface ion adsorption/desorption, which is generally categorized as electrochemical double layer. By contrast, pseudocapacitors that consist of conducting polymers and transition metals, store more charge through redox reactions. Among the alternative candidates, the natural abundant and environmental benign MnO2 is of particular interest for research, due to its high theoretical specific capacitance and the ability to be use in mild aqueous electrolytes which expand its practical application [2-3]. MnO2 can be fabricated easily and its morphology can be controlled during simple hydrothermal growth processes. Direct growth on carbon cloth, which is an excellent flexible and conductive substrate, could enhance the regeneration and reuse property of MnO2 as an ideal CDI electrode. Porous MnO2@cabon cloth composites were prepared via a facile hydrothermal method (Figure a). The BET result showed that the average pore width is 18.2 nm. To investigate the CDI property of removing the heavy metal ions, one piece of MnO2@CC and one piece of activated carbon@graphite paper were assembled as working and counter electrodes respectively. This work confirmed the potential of using MnO2@CC as a good CDI electrode material for removal of heavy metal ions from water (Figure b). References S. Porada, R. Zhao, A. Wal, V. Presser, and P. M. Biesheuvel, Prog. Mater. Sci., 58, 1388 (2013). W. Wei, X. Cui, W. Chen, and D. G. Ivey, Chem. Soc. Rev., 40, 1697 (2011). J. Wang, F. Kang, and B. Wei, Prog. Mater. Sci., 74, 51 (2015). Figure 1
Effect of processing method on nutritional quality of black soybean

Black Soybean is highly nutritious legume of Uttarakhand but its hard seed coat reduces the nutrient availability to consumer. Attempt was made in this experiment to study effect of processing method on proximate composition of black soybean. Four Kilograms of black soybean was taken and subjected to three different processing methods like germination, roasting and cow urine treatment while one group was taken as control. Results indicated highly significant (Pd”0.01) differences in dry matter, crude protein, ether extract, ash and crude fibre content of black soybean among different groups compared to control. All processing methods were effective in improving nutritional value of black soybean thereby increasing its utilization in foods and food formulations.