Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Partial Inhibition of Mitochondrial Complex I Reduces Tau Pathology and Improves Energy Homeostasis and Synaptic Function in 3xTg-AD Mice

Background: Accumulation of hyperphosphorylated tau (pTau) protein is associated with synaptic dysfunction in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). We previously demonstrated that neuroprotection in familial mouse models of AD could be achieved by targeting mitochondria complex I (MCI) and activating the adaptive stress response. Efficacy of this strategy on pTau-related pathology remained unknown. Objective: To investigate the effect of specific MCI inhibitor tricyclic pyrone compound CP2 on levels of human pTau, memory function, long term potentiation (LTP), and energy homeostasis in 18-month-old 3xTg-AD mice and explore the potential mechanisms. Methods: CP2 was administered to male and female 3xTg-AD mice from 3.5–18 months of age. Cognitive function was assessed using the Morris water maze. Glucose metabolism was measured in periphery using a glucose tolerance test and in the brain using fluorodeoxyglucose F18 positron-emission tomography (FDG-PET). LTP was evaluated using electrophysiology in the hippocampus. The expression of key proteins associated with neuroprotective mechanisms were assessed by western blotting. Results: Chronic CP2 treatment restored synaptic activity in female 3xTg-AD mice; cognitive function, levels of synaptic proteins, glucose metabolism, and energy homeostasis were improved in male and female 3xTg-AD mice. Significant reduction of human pTau in the brain was associated with increased activity of protein phosphatase of type 2A (PP2A), and reduced activity of cyclin-dependent kinase 5 (CDK5) and glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK3β). Conclusion: CP2 treatment protected against synaptic dysfunction and memory impairment in symptomatic 3xTg-AD mice, and reduced levels of human pTau, indicating that targeting mitochondria with small molecule specific MCI inhibitors represents a promising strategy for treating AD.
Evaluation of thermodynamic properties using GAB model to describe the desorption process of cocoa beans

Summary The desorption isotherms and thermodynamic properties of cocoa beans were obtained during the drying process of this product. The isotherms were determined by dynamic method for various temperature (25, 35, 45 and 55 °C) and relative humidity (RH) conditions (30, 40, 50, 60, 70 and 80%). Equilibrium moisture content data were correlated by the Guggenheim–Anderson–de Boer (GAB) model, which presented good fit to the data, according to statistical procedures. Equilibrium moisture content ranged from 5.90 to 16.67 d.b. ; it increased with an increment in the RH and decreased with increased temperature at a constant RH. Enthalpy values for each model coefficient were encountered, ranging from −90.05 to 545.96 kJ kg−1. The integral isosteric heat of desorption and differential entropy increased with decreased equilibrium moisture content, a tendency also found for Gibbs free energy.
EFFECT OF THE AQUEOUS CARBON SOURCE ON GROWTH RATE OF THE MICROALGAE COELASTRELLA SP. MH923012

The present study addressed the effect of the carbon source on the growth of Microalgae Coelastrella sp.MH923012, which newly registered in Iraq. In this research, which has a novelty via using this type of Microalgae strain as sample test, five different volumetric quantities (5, 10, 15, 20, and 25 ml) of the carbonic solution have been adopted in all experiments. Preliminary results showed that the addition of carbonic solution had less effect on the pH culture media compared to distilled water. The presence of buffer component in the BG11 media played a vital role in determining the consumption of hydrogen ions resulting from reversible reactions. However, the carbonic source remained abundant in the culture flasks that affected the response of Microalgae growth. Therefore, the experimental data showed that the addition of this solution (regardless of the dosing times), clearly improves the growth of Coelastrella. Nevertheless, increasing dosing times increases the rate of growth. For example, the addition of 5 ml of aqueous carbonic solution to the Coelastrella flasks caused increases the optical density by (1.18 for unadjusted pH flasks and 1.42 for adjusted pH flasks) times greater than that of the control flask. The other thing to consider is the continued growth of Coelastrella sp. in all the flasks (except control flask) despite of passing 22 days on the beginning of cultivation. This is the period in which the control flasks reached the stationary phase and then reached to death phase. This is clear evidence that the carbon source is the main limiting factor of the mcroalga Coelastrella sp.
Effect of Chemical Treatment and Length of Raffia Fiber (Raphia vinifera) on Mechanical Stiffening of Polyester Composites

In recent decades, the unique characteristics of natural fibers have promoted their use as reinforcement in polymeric composites. This is verified in several industrial sectors, from packaging to automotive and civil construction. Among the natural fibers, the raffia fiber extracted from the palm tree Raphia vinifera and introduced in the Amazon region a long time ago; started to be considered for the production of polymeric composites only in recent years. For the first time, the effect of raffia fiber length and its alkali treatment on the mechanical properties of a polymer composite was disclosed. Tensile tests were performed in composites with raffia fibers randomly dispersed into terephthalate-based unsaturated polyester resin. The results showed an increase in the Young’s moduli, confirmed by ANOVA, for the composite with both untreated and alkali-treated fibers in comparison to the plain polyester, which characterizes a stiffening effect. The composites with alkali treated fibers exhibited similar tensile strength values for all lengths; however, their strengths are lower than those for the untreated condition due to a weak raffia fiber/polyester matrix adhesion. Therefore, this work fills the current knowledge gap on raffia fiber incorporation in polyester matrix and valorizes this abundant Brazilian resource, providing additional information towards the use of raffia fiber in polymer composites.
Virtual screening of phytoconstituents from miracle herb nigella sativa targeting nucleocapsid protein and papain-like protease of SARS-CoV-2 for COVID-19 treatment

Abstract Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a novel etiological agent of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Nigella sativa, commonly known as black seed or black cumin, has been a historical and traditional plant since thousands of years. Based on their therapeutic efficacy, the chief components of terpenoids and flavonoids were selected from N. sativa seeds and seed oil. This study was designed to check the antiviral efficacy of N. sativa main phytoconstituents against five potential targets of SARS-CoV-2 using in silico structure-based virtual screening approach. Out of twenty five phytocomponents, ten components showed best binding affinity against two viral proteins viz. N-terminal RNA binding domain (NRBD; PDB ID: 6M3M) of nucleocapsid protein and papain-like protease (PL-PRO; PDB ID: 6W9C) of SARS-CoV-2 using AutoDock 4.2. 6, AutoDock Vina and iGEMDOCK. PASS analyses of all ten phytocomponents using Lipinski’s Rule of five showed promising results. Further, druglikeness and toxicity assessment using OSIRIS Data Warrior v5.2. 1 software exhibited the feasibility of phytocomponents as drug candidates with no predicted toxicity. Molecular dynamics simulation study of NRBD of SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein-alpha-spinasterol complex and PL-PRO-cycloeucalenol complex displayed strong stability at 300 K. Both these complexes exhibited constant root mean square deviation (RMSDs) of protein side chains and Cα atoms throughout the simulation run time. Interestingly, PL-PRO and NRBD are key proteins in viral replication, host cell immune evasion and viral assembly. Thus, NRBD and PL-PRO have the potential to serve as therapeutic targets for N. sativa phytoconstituents in drug discovery process against COVID-19. Graphical Abstract Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma
Effects of Tau and Sampling Frequency on the Regularity Analysis of ECG and EEG Signals Using ApEn and SampEn Entropy Estimators

Electrocardiography (ECG) and electroencephalography (EEG) signals provide clinical information relevant to determine a patient’s health status. The nonlinear analysis of ECG and EEG signals allows for discovering characteristics that could not be found with traditional methods based on amplitude and frequency. Approximate entropy (ApEn) and sampling entropy (SampEn) are nonlinear data analysis algorithms that measure the data’s regularity, and these are used to classify different electrophysiological signals as normal or pathological. Entropy calculation requires setting the parameters r (tolerance threshold), m (immersion dimension), and τ (time delay), with the last one being related to how the time series is downsampled. In this study, we showed the dependence of ApEn and SampEn on different values of τ, for ECG and EEG signals with different sampling frequencies (Fs), extracted from a digital repository. We considered four values of Fs (128, 256, 384, and 512 Hz for the ECG signals, and 160, 320, 480, and 640 Hz for the EEG signals) and five values of τ (from 1 to 5). We performed parametric and nonparametric statistical tests to confirm that the groups of normal and pathological ECG and EEG signals were significantly different (p < 0.05) for each F and τ value. The separation between the entropy values of regular and irregular signals was variable, demonstrating the dependence of ApEn and SampEn with Fs and τ. For ECG signals, the separation between the conditions was more robust when using SampEn, the lowest value of Fs, and τ larger than 1. For EEG signals, the separation between the conditions was more robust when using SampEn with large values of Fs and τ larger than 1. Therefore, adjusting τ may be convenient for signals that were acquired with different Fs to ensure a reliable clinical classification. Furthermore, it is useful to set τ to values larger than 1 to reduce the computational cost.
GGR Biennial Review: Atomic Absorption, Inductively Coupled Plasma‐Atomic Emission Spectrometry, Neutron Activation Analysis and X‐Ray Fluorescence Spectrometry Review for 2008–2009

This review describes developments major and in trace element determination using atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS), inductively coupled plasma‐atomic emission spectrometry (ICP‐AES), instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA), and X‐ray fluorescence (XRF) spectrometry that were reported in 2008 and 2009. Publication levels were comparable to those of previous years, except for XRF which showed an increase in the number of articles published in the past 2 years. In terms of number of publications and impact, the most active field was AAS, while INAA was the least active. As expected for well‐established and mature methods, novel developments for all four analytical techniques were relatively sparse. For AAS, the most notable publications concerned developments in sample introduction, particularly focussing on solid samples, increasing analyte sensitivity, and higher sample throughput. For ICP‐AES, publication of developments in sample introduction, remediation of matrix effects and calibration continues. Compared with past years, there was a clear focus on sample preconcentration methods, but very few publications reporting new hyphenated speciation methods. For INAA, there were several publications exploring the accuracy and robustness of the method, as well as the requirements for INAA to meet criteria for a primary method of measurement. Two other related techniques, delayed neutron activation analysis, and prompt gamma activation analysis, were also described. Hyphenated XRF techniques showed interesting developments in enabling XRF and XRD analysis on the same spot, and further work characterising and calibrating three‐dimensional micro‐XRF shows promising results for investigating sample heterogeneity.
Administration of Lactobacillus paracasei HB89 mitigates PM2.5-induced enhancement of inflammation and allergic airway response in murine asthma model

PM2.5 causes abnormal immune response and asthma in animals. In this study, a Balb/c mouse animal model was exposed to PM2.5 to induce asthma. Lactobacillus paracasei HB89 was fed at the same time, in order to observe whether L. paracasei HB89 mitigates respiratory tract allergies stimulated by PM2.5. The results showed that PM2.5 stimulated a significant increase in white blood cells and immunoglobulin (IgE) in OVA-induced allergic Balb/c mice, and IgE in the blood further triggered the release of histamine in the lung immune cells. This not only increased overall immune cell counts, but the lymphocyte counts also increased significantly, resulting in significant inhibitions of cytokines INF-r and TGF-β, and induction of IL-4, IL-5, IL-13 and IL-17a. After feeding with HB89, apart from the absence of observable changes in body weight, the total white blood cell count in the animal blood and IgE response were also be reduced; the proliferation of immune cells in the lungs caused by PM2.5 was slowed down; and histamine and cytokines INF-r and TGF-β were secreted in large quantities, but IL- 4, IL-5, IL-13, IL-17a were inhibited, which effectively reduced the possibility of asthma induction.
Examination of Spent Pressurized Water Reactor Fuel Rods After 15 Years in Dry Storage

Abstract For [approximately equal to]15 yr Dominion Generation’s Surry Nuclear Station 15 × 15 Westinghouse pressurized water reactor (PWR) fuel was stored in a dry inert-atmosphere Castor V/21 cask at the Idaho National Environmental and Engineering Laboratory at peak cladding temperatures that decreased from ~350 to 150°C. Before storage, the loaded cask was subjected to thermal-benchmark tests, during which time the peak temperatures were greater than 400°C. The cask was opened to examine the fuel rods for degradation and to determine if they were suitable for extended storage. No fuel rod breaches and no visible degradation or crud/oxide spallation from the fuel rod surface were observed. The results from profilometry, gas release measurements, metallographic examinations, microhardness determination, and cladding hydrogen behavior are reported in this paper. It appears that little or no fission gas was released from the fuel pellets during either the thermal-benchmark tests or the long-term storage. In the central region of the fuel column, where the axial temperature gradient in storage is small, the measured hydrogen content in the cladding is consistent with the thickness of the oxide layer. At ~1 m above the fuel midplane, where a steep temperature gradient existed in the cask, less hydrogen is present than would be expected from the oxide thickness that developed in-reactor. Migration of hydrogen during dry storage probably occurred and may signal a higher-than-expected concentration at the cooler ends of the rod. The volume of hydrides varies azimuthally around the cladding, and at some elevations, the hydrides appear to have segregated somewhat to the inner and outer cladding surfaces. It is, however, impossible to determine if this segregation occurred in-reactor or during transportation, thermal-benchmark tests, or the dry storage period. The hydrides retained the circumferential orientation typical of prestorage PWR fuel rods. Little or no cladding creep occurred during thermal-benchmark testing and dry storage. It is anticipated that the creep would not increase significantly during additional storage because of the lower temperature after 15 yr, continual decrease in temperature from the reduction in decay heat, and concurrent reductions in internal rod pressure and stress. This paper describes the results of the characterization of the fuel and intact cladding, as well as the implications of these results for long-term (i.e., beyond 20 yr) dry-cask storage.
Evaluation of an enrichment culture that reductively dechlorinates gamma-hexachlorocyclohexane

ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS iv LIST OF TABLES viii LIST OF FIGURES ix ABBREVIATIONS xi 1.0 INTRODUCTION 1 1.1 Hexachlorocyclohexane Isomers and Lindane 1 1.2 Anaerobic Biodegradation of HCH Isomers 3 1.3 Key Results from Elango 6 1.4 Vancomycin 9 1.5 Real-Time Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction 10 1.6 Research Objectives 14 2.0 MATERIALS AND METHODS 15 2.1 Chemicals and Media 15 2.2 Inoculum 16 2.3 Experimental Design 17 2.3. 1 Further Enrichment 17 2.3. 2 Vancomycin Experiment 18 2.3. 3 Cell Yield Experiment 19 2.4 GC Analysis of Benzene, CB, and Hydrogen 21 2.5 Analysis of Organic Acids 23
"I Hate This": A Qualitative Analysis of Adolescents' Self-Reported Challenges During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

PURPOSE The COVID-19 pandemic presents unique challenges for adolescents because of disruptions in school and social life. We compiled a diverse group (36.8% nonwhite or multiracial) of high schoolers' open-ended responses to the question: "What are your three biggest challenges right now? " (N = 719 adolescents). METHODS Using open and axial coding, we identified N = 1,902 thematic units (M = 2.64, SD = .701) and 14 thematic categories, including mental health, physical health, family, friends, social connection and community, academics, missing important events, socioeconomic issues, routine, COVID rules and adjustment, contraction/exposure to COVID, technology, and future plans. RESULTS Adolescents most commonly reported challenges related to academics (23.7%) but also cited high numbers of challenges in mental (14.8%) and physical (13.2%) health and friend (11.4%) domains. CONCLUSIONS Efforts should focus on helping adolescents cultivate academic skills needed during school closures, providing mental/physical health resources and helping them navigate peer relationships-especially given ongoing remote education and social distancing due to the pandemic.
Biodegradable Hydrogels Loaded with Magnetically Responsive Microspheres as 2D and 3D Scaffolds

Scaffolds play an essential role in the success of tissue engineering approaches. Their intrinsic properties are known to influence cellular processes such as adhesion, proliferation and differentiation. Hydrogel-based matrices are attractive scaffolds due to their high-water content resembling the native extracellular matrix. In addition, polymer-based magnetoelectric materials have demonstrated suitable bioactivity, allowing to provide magnetically and mechanically activated biophysical electrical stimuli capable of improving cellular processes. The present work reports on a responsive scaffold based on poly (L-lactic acid) (PLLA) microspheres and magnetic microsphere nanocomposites composed of PLLA and magnetostrictive cobalt ferrites (CoFe2O4), combined with a hydrogel matrix, which mimics the tissue’s hydrated environment and acts as a support matrix. For cell proliferation evaluation, two different cell culture conditions (2D and 3D matrices) and two different strategies, static and dynamic culture, were applied in order to evaluate the influence of extracellular matrix-like confinement and the magnetoelectric/magneto-mechanical effect on cellular behavior. MC3T3-E1 proliferation rate is increased under dynamic conditions, indicating the potential use of hydrogel matrices with remotely stimulated magnetostrictive biomaterials for bone tissue engineering.
Comparing the Diagnostic Performance of QFT-Plus to Other Tests of Latent Tuberculosis Infection: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND We conducted this review to compare the sensitivity, specificity, reproducibility, and predictive ability of QFT-Plus with that of QFT-GIT (QIAGEN, Hilden, Germany), T-SPOT.TB (Oxford Immunotec, Oxford, United Kingdom) and the tuberculin skin test (TST). METHODS We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews from January 2013 through May 2020. We included studies that compared QFT-Plus with at least one other LTBI test. We estimated sensitivity from studies of patients with active TB (as a surrogate) and specificity from studies of healthy individuals with very low-risk of LTBI. Three independent reviewers evaluated eligibility, extracted data, and assessed risk of bias. RESULTS Compared with QFT-GIT, the sensitivity of QFT-Plus, in studies of patients with active tuberculosis, was 1.3% higher (95% CI: -0.3% to 2.9%), and in two studies of subjects with very low probability of LTBI, the specificity was 0.9% lower (CI, -2.4% to 0.6%). These differences were not statistically significant. The agreement between QFT-Plus and QFT-GIT was high, with a pooled Cohen's kappa statistic of 0.83 (95% CI, 0.79 to 0.88). In two studies, reproducibility of QFT-GIT and QFT-plus was similarly poor. All participants in the studies to estimate sensitivity were aged 15 and older, and only six were PLHIV. We found no studies to assess predictive ability. CONCLUSIONS QFT-Plus has very similar diagnostic performance as QFT-GIT. Further studies are needed to assess the sensitivity of QFT-Plus in immunocompromised subjects and younger children before concluding if this new version offers advantages.
Assessment of antimalarial drug resistant markers in asymptomatic Plasmodium falciparum infections after 4 years of indoor residual spraying in Northern Ghana

Background Drug resistance remains a concern for malaria control and elimination. The effect of interventions on its prevalence needs to be monitored to pre-empt further selection. We assessed the prevalence of Plasmodium falciparum gene mutations associated with resistance to the antimalarial drugs: sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP), chloroquine (CQ) and artemisinin combination therapy (ACTs) after the scale-up of a vector control activity that reduced transmission. Methods A total of 400 P. falciparum isolates from children under five years were genotyped for seventeen single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in pfcrt, pfmdr1, pfdhfr, pfdhps and pfk13 genes using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and high resolution melting (HRM) analysis. These included 80 isolates, each randomly selected from cross-sectional surveys of asymptomatic infections across 2010 (baseline), 2011, 2012, 2013 (midline: post-IRS) and 2014 (endline: post-IRS) during the peak transmission season, when IRS intervention was rolled out in Bunkpurugu Yunyoo (BY) District, Ghana. The proportions of isolates with drug resistant alleles were assessed over this period. Results There were significant decreases in the prevalence of pfdhfr- I51R59N108 haplotype from 2010 to 2014, while the decline in pfdhfr/pfdhps- I51R59N108G437 during the same period was not significant. The prevalence of lumefantrine (LM), mefloquine (MQ) and amodiaquine (AQ) resistance-associated haplotypes pfmdr1-N86F184D1246 and pfmdr1-Y86Y184Y1246 showed decreasing trends (z = -2.86, P = 0.004 and z = -2.71, P = 0.007, respectively). Each of pfcrt-T76 and pfmdr1-Y86 mutant alleles also showed a declining trend in the asymptomatic reservoir, after the IRS rollout in 2014 (z = -2.87, P = 0.004 and z = -2.65, P = 0.008, respectively). Similarly, Pyrimethamine resistance mediating polymorphisms pfdhfr-N108, pfdhfr-I51 and pfdhfr-R59 also declined (z = -2.03, P = 0.042, z = -3.54, P<0.001 and z = -4.63, P<0.001, respectively), but not the sulphadoxine resistance mediating pfdhps-G437 and pfdhps-F436 (z = -0.36, P = 0.715 and z = 0.41, P = 0.684, respectively). No mutant pfk13-Y580 were detected during the study period. Conclusion The study demonstrated declining trends in the prevalence of drug resistant mutations in asymptomatic P. falciparum infections following transmission reduction after an enhanced IRS intervention in Northern Ghana.