Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effects of Different Probiotics on Laying Performance, Egg Quality, Oxidative Status, and Gut Health in Laying Hens

Simple Summary Resistance has developed against almost all the main classes of antibiotics, and finding efficient alternatives to these antibiotics is urgently required. Based on previous research, three types of probiotic bacteria were chosen to be administrated in a laying hen diet. We found that the performance, egg quality, and gut health of laying hens were improved after probiotic treatment. Abstract With recent bans on the growth-promoting use of antibiotics, alternative strategies are needed to improve the performance of agricultural animals. Here, the effects of dietary supplementation with Clostridium butyricum and a combination of Saccharomyces boulardii and Pediococcus acidilactici were assessed on laying performance, egg quality, oxidative status, and gut health in laying hens. A total of 8208 Lohmann pink laying hens were divided into 3 treatment groups, with each group replicated 12 times (n = 228). Hens in the control group (CON) were provided a basic diet devoid of added antibiotics and probiotics. Treatment group 1 (T1) received the same base diet supplemented with 0.5 g/kg C. butyricum, and the diets of treatment group 2 (T2) supplemented with S. boulardii (0.05 g/kg) and P. acidilactici (0.1 g/kg) for the entirety of the 5-week trial. The data indicated that C. butyricum supplementation resulted in a significant reduction in ADFI, a significant increase in feed conversion, eggshell strength, and the CP% of albumen (dry matter, DM) relative to CON. The probiotic-treated hens exhibited decreased reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels in ileum and cecum, and reduced malondialdehyde (MDA) in serum. In conclusion, dietary supplementation with C. butyricum may be beneficial with respect to hen performance, egg quality, and gut health.
Three‐dimensional analysis of the human pharyngoesophageal sphincter

Dysfunction of the pharyngoesophageal segment (PES) is a common cause of oropharyngeal dysphagia. Surgical dilation of the PES uses cylindrical dilators that expand radially in a circular shape. Animal studies, however, suggest that the PES is kidney‐shaped. The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate the 3D shape of the human PES with a novel casting method.
Inhibitory Effects of (−)-Epigallocatechin-3-gallate on Esophageal Cancer

There is epidemiological evidence showing that drinking green tea can lower the risk of esophageal cancer (EC). The effect is mainly attributed to tea polyphenols and their most abundant component, (−)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG). The possible mechanisms of tumorigenesis inhibition of EGCG include its suppressive effects on cancer cell proliferation, angiogenesis, DNA methylation, metastasis and oxidant stress. EGCG modulates multiple signal transduction and metabolic signaling pathways involving in EC. A synergistic effect was also observed when EGCG was used in combination with other treatment methods.
Consequences of IDH1/2 Mutations in Gliomas and an Assessment of Inhibitors Targeting Mutated IDH Proteins

Isocitrate dehydrogenases (IDH) 1 and 2 are key metabolic enzymes that generate reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) to maintain a pool of reduced glutathione and peroxiredoxin, and produce α-ketoglutarate, a co-factor of numerous enzymes. IDH1/2 is mutated in ~70–80% of lower-grade gliomas and the majority of secondary glioblastomas. The mutant IDH1 (R132H), in addition to losing its normal catalytic activity, gains the function of producing the d-(R)-2-hydroxyglutarate (2-HG). Overproduction of 2-HG in cancer cells interferes with cellular metabolism and inhibits histone and DNA demethylases, which results in histone and DNA hypermethylation and the blockade of cellular differentiation. We summarize recent findings characterizing molecular mechanisms underlying oncogenic alterations associated with mutated IDH1/2, and their impact on tumor microenvironment and antitumor immunity. Isoform-selective IDH inhibitors which suppress 2-HG production and induce antitumor responses in cells with IDH1 and IDH2 mutations were developed and validated in preclinical settings. Inhibitors of mutated IDH1/2 enzymes entered clinical trials and represent a novel drug class for targeted therapy of gliomas. We describe the development of small-molecule compounds and peptide vaccines targeting IDH-mutant gliomas and the results of their testing in preclinical and clinical studies. All those results support the translational potential of strategies targeting gliomas carrying IDH1 mutations.
Hydrophobic Paper-Based SERS Sensor Using Gold Nanoparticles Arranged on Graphene Oxide Flakes

Paper-based surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) sensors have garnered much attention in the past decade owing to their ubiquity, ease of fabrication, and environmentally friendly substrate. The main drawbacks of a paper substrate for a SERS sensor are its high porosity, inherent hygroscopic nature, and hydrophilic surface property, which reduce the sensitivity and reproducibility of the SERS sensor. Here, we propose a simple, quick, convenient, and economical method for hydrophilic to hydrophobic surface modification of paper, while enhancing its mechanical and moisture-resistant properties. The hydrophobic paper (h-paper) was obtained by spin-coating diluted polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) solution onto the filter paper, resulting in h-paper with an increased contact angle of up to ≈130°. To complete the h-paper-based SERS substrate, gold nanoparticles arranged on graphene oxide (AuNPs@GO) were synthesized using UV photoreduction, followed by drop-casting of AuNPs@GO solution on the h-paper substrate. The enhancement of the SERS signal was then assessed by attaching a rhodamine 6G (R6G) molecule as a Raman probe material to the h-paper-based SERS substrate. The limit of detection was 10 nM with an R2 of 0.966. The presented SERS sensor was also tested to detect a thiram at the micromolar level. We expect that our proposed AuNPs@GO/h-paper-based SERS sensor could be applied to point-of-care diagnostics applications in daily life and in spacecraft.
Visual Modulation of Resting State α Oscillations

Abstract Once thought to simply reflect passive cortical idling, recent studies have demonstrated that α oscillations play a causal role in cognition and perception. However, whether and how cognitive or sensory processes modulate various components of the α rhythm is poorly understood. Sensory input and resting states were manipulated in human subjects while electroencephalography (EEG) activity was recorded in three conditions: eyes-open fixating on a visual stimulus, eyes-open without visual input (darkness), and eyes-closed without visual input (darkness). We show that α power and peak frequency increase when visual input is reduced compared to the eyes open, fixating condition. These results suggest that increases in α power reflect a shift from an exteroceptive to interoceptive state and that increases in peak frequency following restricted visual input (darkness) may reflect increased sampling of the external environment in order to detect stimuli. They further demonstrate how sensory information modulates α and the importance of selecting an appropriate resting condition in studies of α.
Metabolic Regulation of Dendritic Cell Differentiation

Dendritic cells (DCs) are important antigen-presenting cells (APCs) that play essential roles in bridging innate and adaptive immune responses. Differentiation stages of DC subsets from bone marrow progenitor cells have been well-defined during the past decades. Features that distinguish DC progenitor cells from each differentiation stages, related signaling pathways and transcription factors that are crucial for DC lineage commitment have been well-elucidated in numerous studies. Recently, growing evidence are showing that cellular metabolism, as one of the most fundamental process of cells, has essential role in the modulation of immune system. There have been multiple reports and reviews that focus on the metabolic modulations on DC functions, however little attention had been paid to the metabolic regulation of DC development and differentiation. In recent years, increasing evidence suggests that metabolic regulations also exert significant impact on DC differentiation, as well as on the homeostasis of tissue resident DCs. The focus of this review is to summarize the findings from recent studies on the metabolic regulation of DC differentiation and to discuss the impacts of the three major aspects of metabolism on the processes of DC development and differentiation, namely the changes in metabolic pathways, the molecular signaling pathways that modulate cell metabolism, and the effects of metabolites and nutrients. The aim of this review is to draw attentions to this important and exciting research field where the effects of metabolic process and their regulation in DC differentiation need to be further explored.
Bibliometric analysis of the top-cited articles on idiopathic intracranial hypertension

Objective: To identify and characterize the top-cited articles on idiopathic intracranial hypertension. Methods: We used “Web of Science database” to identify the top-cited articles published between the years of 1975-2017. The articles were evaluated using citation count and other factors that have an effect on the citation count. Results: The search yielded a total of 2,141 articles and the most frequently cited articles received between 58-476 citations. Most articles were published between the years 1990-1999. The most popular study design involved natural history studies. USA ranked first in productivity with 72 articles and the leading institution was University of Iowa. The journal “Neurology” published the greatest number of articles. In assessing the specialties, neurology contributed to 32% of top 100 articles. There was no correlation between the citation count and number of references, years since publication, number of authors, authors' H-index, and number of institutions that had collaborated. There were positive correlations between the citation count and journal impact factor, Scimago journal rank and journal source-normalized impact per paper values. While descriptive keywords were more frequent between 1980s and 1990s, keywords describing surgical management options such as “nerve sheath decompression” and “cerebrospinal-fluid diversion” were top-listed keywords after the year 2000. Conclusions: Our study can help researchers identify the most significant and impactful articles on idiopathic intracranial hypertension, as well as to provide insight into the most noteworthy scientific trends and to visualize future research needs of the topic.
Structured Cognitive-Motor Dual Task Training Compared to Single Mobility Training in Persons with Multiple Sclerosis, a Multicenter RCT

The aim was to compare the effectiveness of dual-task training (DTT) compared to single mobility training (SMT) on dual-task walking, mobility and cognition, in persons with Multiple Sclerosis (pwMS). Forty pwMS were randomly assigned to the DTT or SMT groups. The DTT-group performed dual-task exercises using an interactive tablet-based application, while the SMT-group received conventional walking and balance exercises. Both interventions were supervised and identical in weeks (8) and sessions (20). Nine cognitive-motor dual-task conditions were assessed at baseline, after intervention and at 4-weeks follow-up (FU). The dual-task cost (DTC), percentage change of dual-task performance compared to single-task performance, was the primary outcome. Mobility and cognition were secondarily assessed. Mixed model analyses were done with group, time and the interaction between group and time as fixed factors and participants as random factors. Significant time by group interactions were found for the digit-span walk and subtraction walk dual-task conditions, with a reduction in DTC (gait speed) for the DTT maintained at FU. Further, absolute dual-task gait speed during walking over obstacles only improved after the DTT. Significant improvements were found for both groups in various motor and cognitive measures. However, the DTT led to better dual-task walking compared to the SMT.
Shared neural mechanisms for processing emotions in music and vocalizations

The neural mechanisms involved in the processing of vocalizations and music were compared, in order to observe possible similarities in the encoding of their emotional content. Positive and negative emotional vocalizations (e.g. laughing, crying) and violin musical stimuli digitally extracted from them were used as stimuli. They shared the melodic profile and main pitch/frequency characteristics. Participants listened to vocalizations or music while detecting rare auditory targets (bird tweeting, or piano's arpeggios). EEG was recorded from 128 sites. P2, N400 and Late positivity responses of ERPs were analysed. P2 peak was earlier in response to vocalizations, while P2 amplitude was larger to positive than negative stimuli. N400 was greater to negative than positive stimuli. LP was greater to vocalizations than music and to positive than negative stimuli. Source modelling using swLORETA suggested that, among N400 generators, the left middle temporal gyrus and the right uncus responded to both music and vocalizations, and more to negative than positive stimuli. The right parahippocampal region of the limbic lobe and the right cingulate cortex were active during music listening, while the left superior temporal cortex only responded to human vocalizations. Negative stimuli always activated the right middle temporal gyrus, whereas positively valenced stimuli always activated the inferior frontal cortex. The processing of emotional vocalizations and music seemed to involve common neural mechanisms. Notation obtained from acoustic signals showed how emotionally negative stimuli tended to be in Minor key, and positive stimuli in Major key, thus shedding some lights on the brain ability to understand music.
Potential of the multivitamin-mineral-trace element composition LaVita® before, during and after pregnancy.

OBJECTIVES Pregnancy is a period in life with a high demand of micronutrients. A prophylactic supplementation of folic acid to reduce the risk of neurological malformations in the newborn is common practice. The array of essential micronutrients during pregnancy includes neurotropic vitamins (Vitamin B6, B12 and folic acid), minerals like iron, and trace elements like zinc. As the serum level of most micronutritients is actively regulated by the organism, a prophylactic broad supplementation with a mild, but effective supplementation typically does not pose any risk for exaggerated serum levels, therefore prophylactic intake may be prefered to blood screening and specific interventions. METHODS To investigate the ingredients' bioavailability of the complex vitamin-mineral-trace element composition LaVita® we recruited healthy volunteers for six months and observed the changes of pregnancy relevant parameters by means of laboratory measures. The study design was prospective, double blind, placebo controlled, and included a "male group control". We determined baseline parameters of folate, vitamin B6 and vitamin B12, iron, zinc, homocysteine and Hb-alpha-1c. After three and six months of daily intake of the study substance the blood tests were repeated and compared to the baseline levels. RESULTS The regular intake resulted in an increase of the supplemented substances' serum levels. The metabolic parameter homocysteine decreased significantly, Hb-alpha-1c was slightly lowered. CONCLUSION The regular intake filled up the respective storage compartments and reservoirs in the tissues, and improved the metabolic status. Female participants tended to benefit more than male. We conclude that the composition is safe, and warrants optimized micronutrient supply during pregnancy or postnatal breastfeeding.
Cereal fiber improves blood cholesterol profiles and modulates intestinal cholesterol metabolism in C57BL/6 mice fed a high-fat, high-cholesterol diet

Background Dietary intake of cereal fiber has been reported to benefit lipid metabolism through multiple mechanisms. The present study aimed to discover the potential mechanisms by which cereal fiber could modify the intestinal cholesterol metabolism. Design Male C57BL/6 mice were fed a reference chow (RC) diet; high-fat, high-cholesterol (HFC) diet; HFC plus oat fiber diet; or HFC plus wheat bran fiber diet for 24 weeks. Serum lipids were measured by enzymatic methods. Western blot was used to determine the protein expressions involved in intestinal cholesterol metabolism. Results Our results showed that HFC-induced elevations of serum triglycerides, total cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol were normalized in both groups that received cereal fiber. At the protein level, compared with the HFC diet group, the two cereal fibers, especially the oat fiber, significantly increased the protein expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha, liver X receptor alpha, sterol regulatory element-binding protein (SREBP) 2, low-density lipoprotein receptor, adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-binding cassette A1, and ATP-binding cassette G1, while decreasing the protein expression of Niemann-Pick C1-like protein 1, SREBP-1, fatty acid synthase, and acetyl-coenzyme A carboxylase, which were involved in intestinal cholesterol metabolism. Conclusion Taken together, increased intake of cereal fiber improved blood cholesterol profiles and increased the intestinal cholesterol efflux and cholesterol clearance in C57BL/6 mice fed a HFC diet. Oat fiber had a stronger effect than wheat bran fiber on cholesterol metabolism by modulating the PPARα, LXRα, and SREBP signaling pathways.
Tuberculosis Epidemiology and Badger (Meles meles) Spatial Ecology in a Hot-Spot Area in Atlantic Spain

We provide a temporal overview (from 2012 to 2018) of the outcomes of tuberculosis (TB) in the cattle and badger populations in a hot-spot in Asturias (Atlantic Spain). We also study the badger’s spatial ecology from an epidemiological perspective in order to describe hazardous behavior in relation to TB transmission between cattle and badgers. Culture and single intradermal tuberculin test (SITT) were available for cattle as part of the National Program for the Eradication of TB. A field survey was also carried out in order to determine the paddocks and buildings used by each farm, and the information obtained was stored by using geographic information systems. Moreover, eighty-three badgers were submitted for necropsy and subsequent bacteriological studies. Ten badgers were also tracked, using global positioning system (GPS) collars. The prevalence of TB in cattle herds in the hot-spot increased from 2.2% in 2012 to 20% in 2016; it then declined to 0.0% in 2018. In contrast, the TB prevalence in badgers increased notably (from 5.55% in 2012–2015 to 10.64% in 2016–2018). Both cattle and badgers shared the same strain of Mycobacterium bovis. The collared badgers preferred paddocks used by TB-positive herds in spring and summer (when they were more active). The males occupied larger home ranges than the females (Khr95: males 149.78 ± 25.84 ha and females 73.37 ± 22.91 ha; Kcr50: males 29.83 ± 5.69 ha and females 13.59 ± 5.00 ha), and the home ranges were smaller in autumn and winter than in summer. The averages of the index of daily and maximum distances traveled by badgers were 1.88 ± (SD) 1.20 km and 1.99 ± 0.71 km, respectively. One of them presented a dispersive behavior with a maximum range of 18.3 km. The most preferred habitat was apple orchards in all seasons, with the exception of winter, in which they preferred pastures. Land uses and landscape structure, which have been linked with certain livestock-management practices, provide a scenario of great potential for badger–cattle interactions, thus enhancing the importance of the badgers’ ecology, which could potentially transmit TB back to cattle in the future.
Metal Organic Frameworks as Desulfurization Adsorbents of DBT and 4,6-DMDBT from Fuels

Ultradeep desulfurization of fuels is a method of enormous demand due to the generation of harmful compounds during the burning of sulfur-containing fuels, which are a major source of environmental pollution. Among the various desulfurization methods in application, adsorptive desulfurization (ADS) has low energy demand and is feasible to be employed at ambient conditions without the addition of chemicals. The most crucial factor for ADS application is the selection of the adsorbent, and, currently, a new family of porous materials, metal organic frameworks (MOFs), has proved to be very effective towards this direction. In the current review, applications of MOFs and their functionalized composites for ADS are presented and discussed, as well as the main desulfurization mechanisms reported for the removal of thiophenic compounds by various frameworks. Prospective methods regarding the further improvement of MOF’s desulfurization capability are also suggested.
To Use or Not to Use: No Consensus on Whether and How to Apply Genetic Information in the Justice System

Little is known about the public’s attitudes towards applying genetic information in the justice system. This study aimed to extend previous research to explore this among the general public and those with training in law. Data were collected from over 10,000 participants, including 486 lawyers and law students. We analysed eight available relevant items from the International Genetic Literacy and Attitudes Survey (iGLAS). The majority of participants viewed genetic information as relevant to justice. For example, 65% believed that we should make provisions (legal and policy) to buffer the effects of genetic disadvantage on individuals, and almost 60% believed that genetic information should be taken into account in sentencing. At the same time, many participants (70%) disagreed that genetic influences on behaviour negate free will. The results of the correlational analyses suggest that people who consider genetic information relevant in one context tend to consider it relevant across all aspects of the justice system, including in sentencing, crime prevention and access to justice. Overall, the results suggest that views on the use of genetics by justice systems are complex and widely varied. Further research is needed to understand these complex views.
Longest-Range UHF RFID Sensor Tag Antenna for IoT Applied for Metal and Non-Metal Objects †

This paper presents a passive cavity type Ultra High Frequency (UHF) Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag antenna having the longest read-range, and compares it with existing long-range UHF RFID tag antenna. The study also demonstrates mathematically and experimentally that our proposed longest-range UHF RFID cavity type tag antenna has a longer read-range than existing passive tag antennas. Our tag antenna was designed with 140 × 60 × 10 mm3 size, and reached 26 m measured read-range and 36.3 m mathematically calculated read-range. This UHF tag antenna can be applied to metal and non-metal objects. By adding a further sensing capability, it can have a great benefit for the Internet of Things (IoT) and wireless sensor networks (WSN).