Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
TiO2 and Au-TiO2 Nanomaterials for Rapid Photocatalytic Degradation of Antibiotic Residues in Aquaculture Wastewater

Antibiotic residues in aquaculture wastewater are considered as an emerging environmental problem, as they are not efficiently removed in wastewater treatment plants. To address this issue, we fabricated TiO2 nanotube arrays (TNAs), TiO2 nanowires on nanotube arrays (TNWs/TNAs), Au nanoparticle (NP)-decorated-TNAs, and TNWs/TNAs, which were applied for assessing the photocatalytic degradation of eight antibiotics, simultaneously. The TNAs and TNWs/TNAs were synthesized by anodization using an aqueous NH4F/ethylene glycol solution. Au NPs were synthesized by chemical reduction method, and used to decorate on TNAs and TNWs/TNAs. All the TiO2 nanostructures exhibited anatase phase and well-defined morphology. The photocatalytic performance of TNAs, TNWs/TNAs, Au-TNAs and Au-TNWs/TNAs was studied by monitoring the degradation of amoxicillin, ampicillin, doxycycline, oxytetracycline, lincomycin, vancomycin, sulfamethazine, and sulfamethoxazole under ultraviolet (UV)-visible (VIS), or VIS illumination by LC-MS/MS method. All the four kinds of nanomaterials degraded the antibiotics effectively and rapidly, in which most antibiotics were removed completely after 20 min treatment. The Au-TNWs/TNAs exhibited the highest photocatalytic activity in degradation of the eight antibiotics. For example, reaction rate constants of Au-TNWs/TNAs for degradation of lincomycin reached 0.26 min−1 and 0.096 min−1 under UV-VIS and VIS irradiation, respectively; and they were even higher for the other antibiotics. The excellent photocatalytic activity of Au-TNWs/TNAs was attributed to the synergistic effects of: (1) The larger surface area of TNWs/TNAs as compared to TNAs, and (2) surface plasmonic effect in Au NPs to enhance the visible light harvesting.
Information Literacy in Food and Activity Tracking Among Parkrunners, People With Type 2 Diabetes, and People With Irritable Bowel Syndrome: Exploratory Study

Background The tracking, or logging, of food intake and physical activity is increasing among people, and as a result there is increasing evidence of a link to improvement in health and well-being. Crucial to the effective and safe use of logging is a user’s information literacy. Objective The aim of this study was to analyze food and activity tracking from an information literacy perspective. Methods An online survey was distributed to three communities via parkrun, diabetes.co.uk and the Irritable Bowel Syndrome Network. Results The data showed that there were clear differences in the logging practices of the members of the three different communities, as well as differences in motivations for tracking and the extent of sharing of said tracked data. Respondents showed a good understanding of the importance of information accuracy and were confident in their ability to understand tracked data, however, there were differences in the extent to which food and activity data were shared and also a lack of understanding of the potential reuse and sharing of data by third parties. Conclusions Information literacy in this context involves developing awareness of the issues of accurate information recording, and how tracked information can be applied to support specific health goals. Developing awareness of how and when to share data, as well as of data ownership and privacy, are also important aspects of information literacy.
Exploring pathways to mental healthcare for urban Aboriginal young people: a qualitative interview study

Objectives To explore the perceptions of Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Service (ACCHS) staff involved in providing mental healthcare to Aboriginal young people of the current and ideal pathways to mental healthcare for urban Aboriginal young people attending ACCHSs, and to identify what additional supports staff may need to provide optimal mental healthcare to Aboriginal young people. Design Qualitative interview study conducted during May 2016–2017. Setting Primary care, at two ACCHSs participating in the Study of Environment on Aboriginal Resilience and Child Health in New South Wales. Participants Purposive sampling of staff involved in mental healthcare pathways of Aboriginal young people, including general practitioners (GPs), nurses and Aboriginal Health Workers (AHWs). Results All individuals approached for interview (n=21) participated in the study. Four overarching themes and seven sub-themes were identified: availability and use of tools in practice (valuing training and desire for tools and established pathways), targeting the ideal care pathway (initiating care and guiding young people through care), influencing the care pathway (adversities affecting access to care and adapting the care pathway) and assessing future need (appraising service availability). Conclusions Participants desired screening tools, flexible guidelines and training for healthcare providers to support pathways to mental healthcare for Aboriginal young people. Both GPs and AHWs were considered key in identifying children at risk and putting young people onto a pathway to receive appropriate mental healthcare. AHWs were deemed important in keeping young people on the care pathway, and participants felt care pathways could be improved with the addition of dedicated child and adolescent AHWs. The ACCHSs were highlighted as essential to providing culturally appropriate care for Aboriginal young people experiencing mental health problems, and funding for mental health specialists to be based at the ACCHSs was considered a priority.
Multi-Scale Multi-View Deep Feature Aggregation for Food Recognition

Recently, food recognition has received more and more attention in image processing and computer vision for its great potential applications in human health. Most of the existing methods directly extracted deep visual features via convolutional neural networks (CNNs) for food recognition. Such methods ignore the characteristics of food images and are, thus, hard to achieve optimal recognition performance. In contrast to general object recognition, food images typically do not exhibit distinctive spatial arrangement and common semantic patterns. In this paper, we propose a multi-scale multi-view feature aggregation (MSMVFA) scheme for food recognition. MSMVFA can aggregate high-level semantic features, mid-level attribute features, and deep visual features into a unified representation. These three types of features describe the food image from different granularity. Therefore, the aggregated features can capture the semantics of food images with the greatest probability. For that solution, we utilize additional ingredient knowledge to obtain mid-level attribute representation via ingredient-supervised CNNs. High-level semantic features and deep visual features are extracted from class-supervised CNNs. Considering food images do not exhibit distinctive spatial layout in many cases, MSMVFA fuses multi-scale CNN activations for each type of features to make aggregated features more discriminative and invariable to geometrical deformation. Finally, the aggregated features are more robust, comprehensive, and discriminative via two-level fusion, namely multi-scale fusion for each type of features and multi-view aggregation for different types of features. In addition, MSMVFA is general and different deep networks can be easily applied into this scheme. Extensive experiments and evaluations demonstrate that our method achieves state-of-the-art recognition performance on three popular large-scale food benchmark datasets in Top-1 recognition accuracy. Furthermore, we expect this paper will further the agenda of food recognition in the community of image processing and computer vision.
Cellular Plasmalogen Content Does Not Influence Arachidonic Acid Levels or Distribution in Macrophages: A Role for Cytosolic Phospholipase A2γ in Phospholipid Remodeling

Availability of free arachidonic acid (AA) constitutes a rate limiting factor for cellular eicosanoid synthesis. AA distributes differentially across membrane phospholipids, which is largely due to the action of coenzyme A-independent transacylase (CoA-IT), an enzyme that moves the fatty acid primarily from diacyl phospholipid species to ether-containing species, particularly the ethanolamine plasmalogens. In this work, we examined the dependence of AA remodeling on plasmalogen content using the murine macrophage cell line RAW264.7 and its plasmalogen-deficient variants RAW.12 and RAW.108. All three strains remodeled AA between phospholipids with similar magnitude and kinetics, thus demonstrating that cellular plasmalogen content does not influence the process. Cell stimulation with yeast-derived zymosan also had no effect on AA remodeling, but incubating the cells in AA-rich media markedly slowed down the process. Further, knockdown of cytosolic-group IVC phospholipase A2γ (cPLA2γ) by RNA silencing significantly reduced AA remodeling, while inhibition of other major phospholipase A2 forms such as cytosolic phospholipase A2α, calcium-independent phospholipase A2β, or secreted phospholipase A2 had no effect. These results uncover new regulatory features of CoA-IT-mediated transacylation reactions in cellular AA homeostasis and suggest a hitherto unrecognized role for cPLA2γ in maintaining membrane phospholipid composition via regulation of AA remodeling.
Deletion of ΔdblGata motif leads to increased predisposition and severity of IgE-mediated food-induced anaphylaxis response

Background Previous studies have revealed an important role for the transcription factor GATA-1 in mast cell maturation and degranulation. However, there have been conflicting reports with respect to the requirement of GATA-1 function in mast cell dependent inflammatory processes. Herein, we examine the requirement of GATA-1 signaling in mast cell effector function and IgE-mast cell-dependent anaphylaxis. Objective To study the requirement of GATA-1 dependent signaling in the development and severity of IgE-mast cell-dependent anaphylaxis in mice. Methods Wild type (Balb/c) and mutant ΔdblGata (Balb/c) mice were employed to study the role of GATA-1 signaling in in vitro IgE-mediated activation of bone marrow derived mast cells (BMMCs). Murine models of passive IgE-mediated and oral antigen-induced IgE-mediated anaphylaxis were employed in mice. Frequency of steady state mast cells in various tissues (duodenum, ear, and tongue), peritoneal cavity, and clinical symptoms (diarrhea, shock, and mast cell activation) and intestinal Type 2 immune cell analysis including CD4+ Th2 cells, type 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2), and IL-9 secreting mucosal mast cells (MMC9) were assessed Results In vitro analysis revealed that ΔdblGata BMMCs exhibit a reduced maturation rate, decreased expression of FcεRIα, and degranulation capacity when compared to their wildtype (WT) counterparts. These in vitro differences did not impact tissue resident mast cell numbers, total IgE, and susceptibility to or severity of IgE-mediated passive anaphylaxis. Surprisingly, ΔdblGata mice were more susceptible to IgE-mast cell-mediated oral antigen induced anaphylaxis. The increased allergic response was associated with increased Type 2 immunity (antigen-specific IgE, and CD4+ TH2 cells), MMC9 cells and small intestine (SI) mast cell load. Conclusion Diminished GATA-1 activity results in reduced in vitro mast cell FcεRIα expression, proliferation, and degranulation activity. However, in vivo, diminished GATA-1 activity results in normal homeostatic tissue mast cell levels and increased antigen-induced CD4+ Th2 and iMMC9 cell levels and heightened IgE-mast cell mediated reactions.
Parietal low beta rhythm provides a dynamical substrate for a working memory buffer

Significance Working memory (WM) is believed to consist of several components, one of which is an episodic buffer, whose task is to combine sensory stimuli with executive commands into flexible, task-relevant representations and hold them briefly for later use. Little is known about where in the brain the episodic buffer lies or about its underlying physiology. We propose that physiological properties of the parietal cortex, which can produce a unique brain rhythm at low beta (12 to 20 Hz), make this cortex an excellent candidate for a substrate of such a buffer. We show that cell assemblies shaped by this rhythm have the required properties of a WM buffer, allowing for robust yet manipulable representations of sensory stimuli. Working memory (WM) is a component of the brain’s memory systems vital for interpretation of sequential sensory inputs and consequent decision making. Anatomically, WM is highly distributed over the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and the parietal cortex (PC). Here we present a biophysically detailed dynamical systems model for a WM buffer situated in the PC, making use of dynamical properties believed to be unique to this area. We show that the natural beta1 rhythm (12 to 20 Hz) of the PC provides a substrate for an episodic buffer that can synergistically combine executive commands (e.g., from PFC) and multimodal information into a flexible and updatable representation of recent sensory inputs. This representation is sensitive to distractors, it allows for a readout mechanism, and it can be readily terminated by executive input. The model provides a demonstration of how information can be usefully stored in the temporal patterns of activity in a neuronal network rather than just synaptic weights between the neurons in that network.
Neural activity during working memory encoding, maintenance, and retrieval: A network‐based model and meta‐analysis

It remains unclear whether and to what extent working memory (WM) temporal subprocesses (i.e., encoding, maintenance, and retrieval) involve shared or distinct intrinsic networks. To address this issue, I constructed a model of intrinsic network contributions to different WM phases and then evaluated the validity of the model by performing a quantitative meta‐analysis of relevant functional neuroimaging data. The model suggests that the transition from the encoding to maintenance and to retrieval stages involves progressively decreasing involvement of the dorsal attention network (DAN), but progressively increasing involvement of the frontoparietal control network (FPCN). Separate meta‐analysis of each phase effect and direct comparisons between them yielded results that were largely consistent with the model. This evidence included between‐phase double dissociations that were consistent with the model, such as encoding > maintenance contrast showing some DAN, but no FPCN, regions, and maintenance > encoding contrast showing the reverse, that is, some FPCN, but no DAN, regions. Two closely juxtaposed regions that are members of the DAN and FPCN, such as inferior frontal junction versus caudal prefrontal cortex and superior versus inferior intraparietal sulcus, showed a high degree of functional differentiation. Although all regions identified in the present study were already identified in previous WM studies, this study uniquely enhances our understating of their roles by clarifying their network membership and specific associations with different WM phases.
Incidence and mortality of nasopharyngeal carcinoma: interim analysis of a cluster randomized controlled screening trial (PRO-NPC-001) in southern China.

BACKGROUND Previous mass screening studies have shown that IgA antibodies against Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) can facilitate early detection of Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), but the impact of EBV-antibody screening for NPC-specific mortality remains unknown. PATIENTS AND METHODS A prospective, cluster randomized, controlled trial for NPC screening (PRO-NPC-001) was conducted in 3 selected towns of Zhongshan City and 13 selected towns of Sihui City in southern China beginning in 2008. Serum samples of the screening group were tested for two previously selected anti-EBV antibodies. Subjects with serological medium risk were subsequently retested annually for three years, and those with serological high risk were referred to otorhinolaryngologists for diagnostic check-up. An interim analysis was performed to evaluate the primary endpoints of the NPC-specific mortality and the early disgnositic rate, and the secondary endopoint of the NPC incidence, through linakage with the database of Zhongshan City. RESULTS Among 70,296 total subjects, 29,413 screened participants (41.8% of the total subjects) in the screening group and 50,636 in the control group, 153 (43.3 per 100,000 person-year), 62 (55.3 per 100,000 person-year) and 99 (33.1 per 100,000 person-year) NPC cases were identified. The early diagnositic rates of NPC were significantly higher in the participants (79.0%, P < 0.0001) and the screening group (45.9%, P < 0.0001) compared with the control group (20.6%). Although no differences were found between NPC-specific mortality of the screening group and the control group (RR = 0.82, 95% CI 0.37- 1.79), lower NPC-specific mortality was noticed among participants from the screening group vs.the control group (RR = 0.22, 95% CI 0.09 - 0.49). CONCLUSION IgA antibodies against EBV can identify high risk population and was effective in screening for early asymptomatic NPC. Although the mortality reduction was not significant in the primary endpoint, we noted encouraging evidence of a mortality reduction in screening participants in this interim analysis. CLINICAL TRIAL NUMBER NCT00941538.
Not-knowing and the proliferation of assumptions: local explanations of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in Suriname

Abstract Why do patients and others confronted with cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) – a parasitic skin disease – in the hinterland of Suriname, South America, provide a dazzling variety of aetiological explanations for one single illness? And how do these explanations reflect local knowledge of and interest in the origin of illness? In this article, we explore these questions using the concept of ‘not-knowing’, as introduced by Murray Last in 1981. One of Last’s conclusions is that ‘don’t knows’ or ‘don’t cares’ reflect people’s disinterest in medicine. The aim of this article, however, is to draw attention to another aspect of not-knowing: it may lead to a proliferation of explanatory assumptions, unhindered by precise knowledge. In other words, multiple explanations mask not-knowing, which is from a methodological point of view a rarely observed element in social science research and constitutes an important addition to Murray Last’s well known argument. The paper describes findings based on anthropological fieldwork carried out between September 2009 and December 2010 at the Dermatology Service in Suriname’s capital Paramaribo and among 205 CL patients and 321 inhabitants in various communities in the hinterland. As this article shows, both knowing and not-knowing are rooted in the various contexts of people’s daily lives and reflect their historical, socio-cultural, occupational, educational, biological, environmental, and public health-related conditions. Public health authorities should explore not-knowing more seriously in their efforts to prevent illness, since knowing about not-knowing is valuable in the design of health education and prevention programmes.
CANPA: Computer-Assisted Natural Products Anticipation.

Traditional natural products discovery workflows implying a combination of different targeting strategies including structure-and/or bioactivity-based approaches,afford no information about new compound structure until late in the discovery pipeline. By integrating a MS/MS prediction module and a collaborative library of (bio)chemical transformations, we have developed a new platform, coined MetWork, that is able of anticipating the structural identity of metabolites starting from any identified compound. In our quest to discover new monoterpene indole alkaloids, we demonstrate the utility of the MetWork platform by anticipating the structures of five previously undescribed sarpagine-like N-oxide alkaloids that have been targeted and isolated from the leaves of Alstonia balansae using a molecular networking-based dereplication strategy fueled by computer-generated annotations. This study constitutes the first example of non-peptidic molecular networking-based natural product discovery workflow, in which the targeted structures were initially generated, and therefore anticipated by a computer prior to their isolation.
Susceptibility and Multidrug Resistance Patterns of Escherichia coli Isolated from Cloacal Swabs of Live Broiler Chickens in Bangladesh

Antimicrobial resistance is a major health problem, particularly in developing countries like Bangladesh, where there is a paucity of information on resistance patterns and prevalence of antimicrobial determinants. Therefore, the aims of this study were to investigate the prevalence of resistance, including multi-drug resistance (MDR), and the associated genetic determinants in Escherichia coli isolates from cloacal swabs of live broiler chickens in Bangladesh. Altogether, 400 cloacal swabs (200 from Rajshahi and 200 from Dhaka divisions) were randomly collected from individual chickens in 50 broiler farms. E. coli was isolated and identified using conventional bacteriological culture and biochemical methods. The isolates were further confirmed using genus-specific 16S rRNA-targeted polymerase chain reaction (PCR) primers. Antimicrobial susceptibilities and MDR of the isolates against nine different antimicrobial agents (ampicillin, erythromycin, tetracycline, gentamicin, ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, colistin sulphate, and streptomycin) were determined using the Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method. Resistance determinants of E. coli to ampicillin (blaTEM), streptomycin (aadA1), erythromycin [ere(A)], trimethoprim (dfrA1), and tetracycline [tet(A), tet(B)] were screened using PCR. Our results showed that all swab samples were positive for E. coli. The isolates were uniformly resistant to ampicillin, tetracycline, streptomycin, ciprofloxacin, erythromycin, and trimethoprim-sulphamethoxazole. The isolates exhibited highest susceptibility to colistin sulphate (73.5%), followed by gentamicin (49%), and levofloxacin (17%). All isolates were resistant to three classes of antibiotics, 204 isolates (51%) were resistant to four classes, and 56 isolates (14%) were resistant to five. The highest prevalence of antimicrobial resistance gene was recorded for tetracycline (tet(A):95.25%; tet(B):95.25%) followed by ampicillin (blaTEM:91.25%), streptomycin (aadA1:88.25%), erythromycin (ere(A):84.75%), and trimethoprim (dfrA1:65.5%). In conclusion, surveillance for MDR bacteria in poultry is a critical piece of knowledge, which would be useful for optimizing empiric antimicrobial treatments and exploring alternative antimicrobial agents.