Among the plethora of financial management tools available, stock investments stand out as the most recognizable and widely accepted option. However, investors often make buying and selling decisions based on unverified information provided by stock analysts. Since the credibility of this information remains uncertain, it frequently results in investment losses. Ordinary investors relying solely on rumors often miss out on prime opportunities for buying and selling stocks. In the current volatile investment landscape, various investment strategies cater to different situations. If individuals can effectively identify opportunities within this complex environment and dynamically adapt suitable investment strategies at any given time, substantial returns can be achieved. The ability of investors to promptly detect shifts in the current stock market environment and make accurate decisions regarding stock selection, timing, and capital allocation strategies is of utmost importance. This study presents a dynamic framework for investment decision support, which utilizes evolutionary strategies to determine the optimal timing for key strategic tools such as stock selection, timing, and capital allocation. By leveraging historical data for training and testing, this approach aims to assist investors in adapting to the ever-changing stock market environment. If investors can successfully identify and implement an appropriate investment strategy to aid in making accurate decisions, it is possible to achieve significant excess returns.

Climate change and food security are the most relevant issues to be considered in sustainable agricultural development. The FAO’s initiative of climate-smart agriculture has attracted international attention. Since then, the smart agriculture (SA) has been recognized as the most influential trends in contributing to agricultural development. Therefore, encouraging farmers to adopt digital technologies and mobile devices into farming practices becomes a policy priority worldwide. However, there is limited literature available on psychologic factors that drive farmers’ intentions to adopt SA technologies. The purpose of this study is to investigate how farmer’s knowledge and attitude toward SA affects their adoption of smart technologies in Taiwan. A total of 321 farmers participated in the project’s survey in 2017 and 2018, from which the data was used to perform an OLS regression model of SA adoption. This study contributes to a preliminary understanding of relationship between innovation and adoption of SA technologies in a small-scale farming economic context. The findings suggest that the policy makers and R&D institutes need to concentrate on improving market access for well-known and high important SA technologies.

The origin of neurodegenerative diseases is linked to the abnormal folding of disease-associated proteins. The traditional amyloid hypothesis has been a focal point of research, but recent findings suggest a more complex picture. This review explores the role of physiological conformation of aggregation-prone domain (also known as prion-like low complexity domain) and multiple co-misfolded proteins in neurodegenerative diseases. We highlight the importance of targeting multi-heterotypic misfolded proteins for effective treatments and emphasize the irreversible neurodegeneration stemming from the loss of physiological folding in prion-like disease-causing proteins underscores the criticality of refolding. Additionally, we introduce the concept of ReproFold Therapeutics, a novel approach aimed at restoring the cellular prion-like folding of disease-causing proteins to rebuild normal cross-β interactomes and mitigate neurodegeneration. Baicalein, a potential drug candidate for this approach, shows promise in vitro and in animal models. Moreover, prion-like low complexity domains implicated in neurodegeneration are also associated with other disorders such as diabetes, cancers, and mental illnesses. Understanding the core pathology of neurodegenerative diseases and the broader implications of prion-like LC domains could revolutionize healthcare approaches and policies worldwide.

The farnesoid X receptor (FXR)/βKlotho/fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) pathway is crucial for maintaining the intestinal barrier and preventing colorectal cancer (CRC). We used an FXR ago-nist, GW4064, and FXR knockout (KO) mice to investigate the role of FXR/Klothos/FGFs pathways in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced intestinal barrier dysfunction and colon carcinogenesis. The results showed that upregulation of FXR in enterocytes effectively ameliorated intestinal tight junction markers (claudin1, Zonula occludens-1), inflammation, and bile acid levels, thereby protecting mice from intestinal barrier dysfunction and colon carcinogenesis. GW4064 treatment increased FXR, αKlotho, βKlotho, FGF19, FGF21, and FGF23 in wild-type mice exposed to LPS, while FXR KO mice had decreased levels. FXR KO mice exhibited elevated colon cancer markers (β-catenin, LGR5, CD44, CD34, Cyclin D1) under LPS, underscoring the pivotal role of FXR in inhibiting the development of colon tumorigenesis. The varying gut microbiota responses in FXR KO mice versus wild-type mice post-LPS exposure emphasize the pivotal role of FXR in pre-serving intestinal microbial health, involving Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron, Bacteroides acidifaciens, and Helicobacter hepaticus. Our study validates the effectiveness of GW4064 in alleviating LPS-induced disruptions to the intestinal barrier and colon carcinogenesis, emphasizing the importance of the FXR/αKlotho/βKlotho/FGFs pathway and the interplay between bile acids and gut microbiota.

Simply Summary: Translation of new cancer treatments between pets and human were noticed in comparative oncological investigation. The current study aims at evaluating a polyacetylenic glucoside purified from an edible herb, Bidens pilosa, to present its anti-angiogenic effects. We innovatively find this polyacetylenic glucoside, cytopiloyne, shows anti-angiogenic effect on different in vitro assays and various in vivo animal models under hypoxia. Based on results of this study, cytopiloyne will be a prospective herb angiogenesis inhibitor candidate to control animal or human cancer formation as adjuvant therapy. Abstract: Anti-angiogenesis is a pivotal combination treatment approach in cancer therapy but rare using on companion animals. This study aimed at evaluating the anti-angiogenic effect of a B. pilosa sourced polyacetylenic glucoside, cytopiloyne, on various in vitro assays and in vivo models. We provide evidences showing that CP has anti-angiogenic activities. Firstly, CP inhibited sponge/ Matrigel plug angiogenesis from tumor cells and decreased the survival of tumor cells on hypoxic conditions. Besides, CP declined PKCα protein expression which a protein leads to the growth and spread of tumors under hypoxia. Secondly, inhibitory effects of CP on endothelial angiogenesis were confirmed by chick chorioallantoic membrane assay, tube formation of SVEC4-10 cells and Matrigel plug assay. A dose-dependent CP treatment inhibited 4T1 cells proliferation under hypoxia and migration. It also suppresses VEGF transcription under hypoxia. Finally, we found that CP decreased PDIA4, a novel regulator of cancer growth, expression in endothelial cells. This effect was confirmed by PDIA4 knockout mice with reduced angiogenesis in Matrigel plug assay. Taken together, these results suggest that CP might act as a promising anti-angiogenic herbal agent candidate to be used in animal hypervascularized cancer of veterinary medicine or in combination to control human cancer as adjuvant therapy.

Andrographis paniculata leaves have been widely used in traditional medicine due to their rich content of phenolic compounds. In this study, we evaluated the total phenolic and flavonoid content of Andrographis paniculata leaf extracts (ALE), as well as its antioxidant activities against DPPH, ABTS, and hydrogen peroxide radicals. Additionally, we conducted cell viability assays, RT-PCR, and western blot analysis to investigate the biochemical effects of ALE on UVB-induced HaCaT cells. Our results revealed that ALE exhibited a high concentration of polyphenols and flavonoids, which were associated with potent abiotic antioxidant properties. Furthermore, ALE treatment effectively abrogated the damage caused by UVB radiation on key molecules such as hyaluronan synthase 1, Aquaporin 3, and loricrin in HaCaT cells. ALE also demonstrated the ability to reduce the overactivation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) and the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines, including interleukin-6 and interleukin-1β in UVB-induced HaCaT cells. Additionally, ALE positively influenced the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha in these cells. Overall, our findings highlight the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of ALE, as well as its significant role in modulating skin barrier functions. These results contribute to the growing body of evidence supporting the therapeutic potential of ALE in skincare and dermatological applications.

Thought runs through the mind like blood runs through our body to keep us alive. Like the mind, the body does not stay inert and is in constant motion. Not a single cell in our body is left inert unless cell is under stress or dying. These scenarios are reflected upon when a person is sick, the person lies in bed with less movement; however, is active when the person is healthy. The topic of mechanical stimulation has emerged due to the increasing understanding of the physical stimulations we face each day. Further understanding of the mechanically-regulated mechanism can help us explore the pathological events in a disease. Here, we reviewed the role of sensory proteins in pathological events that are observed in cardiomyopathy, cancer, respiratory, renal, obesity, genetics, physical injury and bacterial infection. Taken together, sensory proteins are mechanically-activated which assist reception of external physical stimulation and convert into biochemical to trigger intracellular signaling cascade.

To further understand the role of phosphorylation in ISGF3- and STAT2/IRF9-mediated constitutive and long-term IFN-I-stimulated transcriptional responses, we performed RNA-Seq and ChIP-Seq, in combination with phosphorylation inhibition and anti-viral experiments. First, we identified a group of ISRE-containing ISGs that were commonly regulated in IFNα treated WT and STAT1-KO cells. Thus, in 2fTGH and Huh7.5 WT cells IFNα-inducible transcription and anti-viral activity relied on the recruitment of the ISGF3 components STAT1, STAT2 and IRF9 in a phosphorylation- and time-dependent manner. Likewise, in ST2-U3C and Huh-STAT1KO cells lacking STAT1, ISG expression correlated with DNA-binding of phosphorylated STAT2/IRF9. This pointed to a dominant role of classical ISGF3 and STAT2/IRF9, and not U-ISGF3 or U-STAT2/IRF9, in the regulation of early and prolonged ISG expression and viral protection, in WT and STAT1-KO cells. In addition, comparative experiments in U3C (STAT1-KO) cells overexpressing all ISGF3 components (ST1-ST2-IRF9-U3C), revealed a threshold-dependent role of U-ISFG3, and potentially U-STAT2/IRF9, in the regulation of constitutive and possibly long-term IFNα-treated ISG expression and anti-viral activity.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) dysregulation contribute the cancer pathogenesis. However, the miRNA profile of canine oral melanoma (COM), one of the frequent malignant melanoma in dog is still unrevealed. The aim of this study is to reveal the miRNA profile in canine oral melanoma. MicroRNAs profile of oral tissues from normal healthy dogs and COM patients were compared by next-generation sequencing. Along with tumour suppressor microRNAs (miRNAs), we report 30 oncogenic miRNAs in COM. Expression of miRNAs were further confirmed by quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR). Pathway analysis showed that deregulated miRNAs impact on cancer and signalling pathways. Three oncogenic miRNAs targets (miR-450b, 301a, and 223) from human study also were down-regulated in COM and had significant negative co-relation with their respective miRNA. Furthermore, we found that miR-450b expression is higher in metastatic cells and regulated MMP9 expression through a PAX9-BMP4-MMP9 axis. In silico analysis indicated that miR-126, miR-20b, and miR-106a regulated the highest numbers of differentially expressed transcription factors in respect to human melanoma. Chromosomal enrichment analysis revealed the X chromosome was enriched with oncogenic miRNAs. We comprehensively analyzed the miRNA’s profile in COM which will be a useful resource for developing therapeutic interventions in both species.

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of feeding spray-dried porcine plasma (SDPP) on the protection afforded by the BA71∆CD2 African swine fever virus (ASFV) vaccine prototype. Two groups of pigs ac-climated to diets without or with 8% SDPP were intranasally inoculated with 105 plaque forming units (PFU) of live attenuated ASFV strain BA71∆CD2 and three weeks later left in direct contact with pigs infected with the pandemic Georgia2007/01 ASFV strain. During the post-exposure (pe) period, 2/6 from the conventional diet group showed a transient peak rectal temperature >40.5ºC before day 20 pe and some tissue samples collected at 20 d pe from 5/6 were PCR+ for ASFV, albeit showing Ct values much higher than Trojan pigs. Interestingly, the SDPP group did not show fever, neither PCR+ in blood nor rectal swab at any time pe and none of the postmortem collected tissue samples were PCR+ for ASFV. Differential serum cytokine profiles among groups at vaccination, and a higher number of ASFV-specific IFNϒ-secreting T-cells in pigs fed with SDPP soon after the Georgia2007/01 encounter, confirmed the relevance of Th1-like responses in ASF pro-tection. We believe that our result show that nutritional interventions might contribute to improve future ASF vaccination strategies.