Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Synthesis of Electrospun TiO2 Nanofibers and Characterization of Their Antibacterial and Antibiofilm Potential against Gram-Positive and Gram-Negative Bacteria

Recently, titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanomaterials have gained increased attention because of their cost-effective, safe, stable, non-toxic, non-carcinogenic, photocatalytic, bactericidal, biomedical, industrial and waste-water treatment applications. The aim of the present work is the synthesis of electrospun TiO2 nanofibers (NFs) in the presence of different amounts of air–argon mixtures using sol-gel and electrospinning approaches. The physicochemical properties of the synthesized NFs were examined by scanning and transmission electron microscopies (SEM and TEM) coupled with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA). The antibacterial and antibiofilm activity of synthesized NFs against Gram-negative Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Gram-positive methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) was investigated by determining their minimum bacteriostatic and bactericidal values. The topological and morphological alteration caused by TiO2 NFs in bacterial cells was further analyzed by SEM. TiO2 NFs that were calcined in a 25% air-75% argon mixture showed maximum antibacterial and antibiofilm activities. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC)/minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) value of TiO2 NFs against P. aeruginosa was 3 and 6 mg/mL and that for MRSA was 6 and 12 mg/mL, respectively. The MIC/MBC and SEM results show that TiO2 NFs were more active against Gram-negative P. aeruginosa cells than Gram-positive S. aureus. The inhibition of biofilm formation by TiO2 NFs was investigated quantitatively by tissue culture plate method using crystal violet assay and it was found that TiO2 NFs inhibited biofilm formation by MRSA and P. aeruginosa in a dose-dependent manner. TiO2 NFs calcined in a 25% air-75% argon mixture exhibited maximum biofilm formation inhibition of 75.2% for MRSA and 72.3% for P. aeruginosa at 2 mg/mL, respectively. The antibacterial and antibiofilm results suggest that TiO2 NFs can be used to coat various inanimate objects, in food packaging and in waste-water treatment and purification to prevent bacterial growth and biofilm formation.
Impact of Air Pollution on the Health of the Population in Parts of the Czech Republic

Thirty years ago, Northern Bohemia in the Czech Republic was one of the most air polluted areas in Europe. After political changes, the Czech government put forward a research program to determine if air pollution is really affecting human health. This program, later called the “Teplice Program”, was initiated in collaboration with scientists from the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA). This cooperation made possible the use of methods on the contemporary level. The very high concentrations of sulphur dioxide (SO2), particulate matter of 10 micrometers or less (PM10), and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) present in the air showed, for the first time, the impact of air pollutants on the health of the population in mining districts: adverse pregnancy outcomes, the impact of air pollution on sperm morphology, learning disabilities in children, and respiratory morbidity in preschool children. A surprising result came from the distribution of the sources of pollution: 70% of PM10 pollution came from local heating and not from power plants as expected. Thanks to this result, the Czech government supported changes in local heating from brown coal to natural gas. This change substantially decreased SO2 and PM10 pollution and affected mortality, especially cardiovascular mortality.
The Influence of Bait Digging on Cockle, Cerastoderma edule, Populations in North Norfolk

The population of cockles Cerastoderma (= Cardium) eduke (L.) declined drastically in the late 1950s and '60s concurrent with intensification of digging for lug and rag worms. At Blakeney Point, where bait digging is slight, cockles remained common. A field experiment showed that digging caused heavy mortality of cockles and probably acted more severely on smaller ones of each age group. Laboratory experiments confirmed that few cockles buried at 10 cm could regain their near surface positions and that many died. Predator exclusion did not affect cockle numbers.
Ability of Euscelidius variegatus to Transmit Flavescence Dorée Phytoplasma with a Short Latency Period

Simple Summary Phytoplasmas are a group of phloem-restricted phytopathogens that attack a huge number of wild and cultivated plants, causing heavy economic losses. They are transmitted by phloem-feeding insects of the order Hemiptera; the transmission process requires the vector to orally acquire the phytoplasma by feeding on an infected plant, becoming infective once it reaches the salivary glands after quite a long latency period. Since infection is retained for all of the insect’s life, acquisition at the nymphal stage is considered to be most effective because of the long time needed before pathogen inoculation. This work provides evidence for the reduced latency period needed by adults of the phytoplasma vector Euscelidius variegatus from flavescence dorée phytoplasma acquisition to transmission. Indeed, we demonstrate that adults can become infective as soon as 9 days from the beginning of phytoplasma acquisition. Our results support a reconsideration of the role of adults in phytoplasma epidemiology, by indicating their extended potential ability to complete the full transmission process. Abstract Phytoplasma transmission takes place by insect vectors through an Acquisition Access Period (AAP), Latency Period (LP) and Inoculation Access Period (IAP). Generally, phytoplasmas are believed to be transmitted more efficiently by nymphs because they need a long LP to reach the salivary glands before becoming infective. The transmission can start from adults as well, but in this case a long LP may exceed the insect’s lifespan. However, previous evidence has indicated that adults can undergo a shorter LP, even though little knowledge is available regarding the phytoplasma temporal dynamics during this period. Here, we investigate the minimum time required by the phytoplasma to colonize the vector midgut and salivary glands, and finally to be inoculated into a plant. We used the leafhopper Euscelidius variegatus to investigate the life cycle of flavescence dorée phytoplasma (FDP). Phytoplasma-free E. variegatus adults were left on broad beans (BBs) infected with FDP for an AAP of 7 days. Subsequently, they were individually transferred onto a healthy BB for seven different IAPs, each one lasting 24 h from day 8 to 14. Molecular analyses and fluorescence in situ hybridization were performed for FDP detection. FDP was found in the leafhopper midgut from IAP 1 with an infection rate reaching 50%, whereas in the salivary glands it was found from IAP 2 with an infection rate reaching 30%. FDP was also detected in BBs from IAP 4, with infection rates reaching 10%. Our results represent an important step to further deepen the knowledge of phytoplasma transmission and its epidemiology.
NBO/NRT Two-State Theory of Bond-Shift Spectral Excitation

We show that natural bond orbital (NBO) and natural resonance theory (NRT) analysis methods provide both optimized Lewis-structural bonding descriptors for ground-state electronic properties as well as suitable building blocks for idealized “diabatic” two-state models of the associated spectroscopic excitations. Specifically, in the framework of single-determinant Hartree-Fock or density functional methods for a resonance-stabilized molecule or supramolecular complex, we employ NBO/NRT descriptors of the ground-state determinant to develop a qualitative picture of the associated charge-transfer excitation that dominates the valence region of the electronic spectrum. We illustrate the procedure for the elementary bond shifts of SN2-type halide exchange reaction as well as the more complex bond shifts in a series of conjugated cyanine dyes. In each case, we show how NBO-based descriptors of resonance-type 3-center, 4-electron (3c/4e) interactions provide simple estimates of spectroscopic excitation energy, bond orders, and other vibronic details of the excited-state PES that anticipate important features of the full multi-configuration description. The deep 3c/4e connections to measurable spectral properties also provide evidence for NBO-based estimates of ground-state donor-acceptor stabilization energies (sometimes criticized as “too large” compared to alternative analysis methods) that are also found to be of proper magnitude to provide useful estimates of excitation energies and structure-dependent spectral shifts.
GANT61 and Lithium Chloride Inhibit the Growth of Head and Neck Cancer Cell Lines Through the Regulation of GLI3 Processing by GSK3β

Several signaling pathways are aberrantly activated in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), including the Hedgehog-Gli (HH-GLI), WNT, EGFR, and NOTCH pathways. The HH-GLI pathway has mostly been investigated in the context of canonical signal transduction and the inhibition of the membrane components of the pathway. In this work we investigated the role of downstream inhibitors GANT61 and lithium chloride (LiCl) on cell viability, wound closure, and colony forming ability of HNSCC cell lines. Five HNSCC cell lines were treated with HH-GLI pathway inhibitors affecting different levels of signal transduction. GANT61 and LiCl reduce the proliferation and colony formation capabilities of HNSCC cell lines, and LiCl has an additional effect on wound closure. The major effector of the HH-GLI signaling pathway in HNSCC is the GLI3 protein, which is expressed in its full-length form and is functionally regulated by GSK3β. LiCl treatment increases the inhibitory Ser9 phosphorylation of the GSK3β protein, leading to increased processing of GLI3 from full-length to repressor form, thus inhibiting HH-GLI pathway activity. Therefore, downstream inhibition of HH-GLI signaling may be a promising therapeutic strategy for HNSCC.
Dementia- and mild cognitive impairment-inclusive exercise: Perceptions, experiences, and needs of community exercise providers

Purpose For persons who are at risk for, or living with, dementia exercise is recommended, yet many become or remain inactive. Exercise providers play a vital role in promoting and facilitating exercise in these groups by recognizing and being responsive to the needs of persons with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or dementia in exercise programming. The objective of this study was to explore the experiences, perceptions, and needs of community exercise providers regarding dementia. Materials & methods Five focus groups were held with community exercise providers (n = 30) who deliver exercise to older adults (≥55 years) in municipal, non-profit, for profit, or academic settings. Results Three themes were developed: (1) Unique experiences and diverse perceptions: suggests unique personal experiences with MCI and dementia inform distinct perceptions of dementia; (2) Dementia-Inclusive Practices: learning as you go and adapting for the individual: reflects exercise providers’ approaches to recognizing and accommodating individuals’ unique abilities and preferences; (3) Training and Best Practices, with Flexibility: identifies exercise providers’ desires for MCI- and dementia-specific knowledge and training strategies, which need to recognize dementia heterogeneity between and within persons over time. Conclusions These findings highlight a willingness of exercise providers to support dementia-inclusive exercise, but recognize they have minimal training and lack educational resources to do so. Formal training resources may enhance exercise accessibility and participation for persons with MCI or dementia.
The Optimal Duration of Adjuvant Chemotherapy in Colon Cancer

Simple Summary This review provides an overview of adjuvant chemotherapy in colon cancer over the last 30 years. Key questions address choice of regimen, treatment duration, treatment-dependent toxicity and possible prognostic/predictive factors. Thus, main focus is on the International Duration Evaluation of Adjuvant therapy (IDEA) collaboration which was founded to investigate whether a shortened (3 months) of adjuvant therapy containing a fluoropyrimidine and oxaliplatin is comparable to the current/former standard of care (duration of 6 months). Results of this collaboration will be discussed and evaluated in the context of achieving the best efficacy possible while reducing severe toxicities, and future prognostic/predictive factors. Abstract Adjuvant chemotherapy for colon cancer (UICC stage II and III) has been under investigation over the last 30 years, regarding treatment duration and regimens. In this review, choice of regimen, its duration, possible limitations and future perspectives are discussed. Monotherapy with 5-fluorouracil was followed by addition of oxaliplatin, resulting in improved 3-yr disease free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) rates, but also increased peripheral sensory neurotoxicity (PSN). The International Duration Evaluation of Adjuvant therapy (IDEA) collaboration demonstrated less toxicity, especially PSN, when shortening treatment duration to 3 months. However, formally, the anticipated non-inferiority of 3 months with fluoropyrimidine (FP)/oxaliplatin over 6 months (at 3-yr DFS) was not met for all patients groups, although subgroup analyses showed non-inferiority with capecitabine/oxaliplatin (CAPOX) rather than with FOLFOX, and also in relation to the prognostic information (e.g., clinical low-risk group, pT1-3 N0). In addition, first data of newer parameters like Immunoscore® and ctDNA show promising results as stratification parameters. Further investigations to better define clinical risk groups and prognostic factors are mandatory. Besides this, individual decision-making of treatment intensity (FP or FP/oxaliplatin) and duration should always consider patient characteristics and preferences, also given the absolute relatively small differences and their clinical relevance.
Comparative Assessment and External Validation of Hepatic Steatosis Formulae in a Community-Based Setting

Several hepatic steatosis formulae have been validated in various cohorts using ultrasonography. However, none of these studies has been validated in a community-based setting using the gold standard method. Thus, the aim of this study was to externally validate hepatic steatosis formulae in community-based settings using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). A total of 1301 community-based health checkup subjects who underwent liver fat quantification with MRI were enrolled in this study. Diagnostic performance was assessed using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC). Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) liver fat score showed the highest diagnostic performance with an AUROC of 0.72, followed by Framingham steatosis index (0.70), hepatic steatosis index (HSI, 0.69), ZJU index (0.69), and fatty liver index (FLI, 0.68). There were considerable gray zones in three fatty liver prediction models using two cutoffs (FLI, 28.9%; HSI, 48.9%; and ZJU index, 53.6%). The diagnostic performance of NAFLD liver fat score for detecting steatosis was comparable to that of ultrasonography. The diagnostic agreement was 72.7% between NAFLD liver fat score and 70.9% between ultrasound and MRI. In conclusion, the NAFLD liver fat score showed the best diagnostic performance for detecting hepatic steatosis. Its diagnostic performance was comparable to that of ultrasonography in a community-based setting.
Prediction of Pathologic Response to Neoadjuvant Chemoradiotherapy in Patients with Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Incorporating Hematological Biomarkers

Purpose This study aimed to develop a nomogram for predicting pathologic complete response (pCR) after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (CRT) in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) by integrating hematological biomarkers and clinicopathological characteristics. Materials and Methods Between 2003 and 2017, 306 ESCC patients who underwent neoadjuvant CRT followed by esophagectomy were analyzed. Besides clinicopathological factors, hematological parameters before, during, and after CRT were collected. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to identify predictive factors for pCR. A nomogram model was built and internally validated. Results Absolute lymphocyte count (ALC), lymphocyte to monocyte ratio, albumin, hemoglobin, white blood cell, neutrophil, and platelet count generally declined, whereas neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet to lymphocyte ratio (PLR) increased significantly following neoadjuvant CRT. After surgery, 124 patients (40.5%) achieved a pCR. The pCR group demonstrated significantly more favorable survival than the non-pCR group. On multivariate analysis, significant factors associated with pCR included sex, chemotherapy regimen, post-CRT endoscopic finding, pre-CRT NLR, ALC nadir during CRT, and post-CRT PLR, which were incorporated into the prediction model. The nomogram indicated good accuracy in predicting pCR, with a C-index of 0.75 (95% confidence interval, 0.71 to 0.78). Conclusion Female, chemotherapy regimen of cisplatin/vinorelbine, negative post-CRT endoscopic finding, pre-CRT NLR (≤ 2.1), ALC nadir during CRT (> 0.35×109/L), and post-CRT PLR (≤ 83.0) were significantly associated with pCR in ESCC patients treated with neoadjuvant CRT. A nomogram incorporating hematological biomarkers to predict pCR was developed and internally validated, showing good predictive performance.
Exercise for Older Adults Improves the Quality of Life in Parkinson’s Disease and Potentially Enhances the Immune Response to COVID-19

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder brought about due to dopaminergic neuronal cell loss in the midbrain substantia nigra pars compacta region. PD presents most commonly in older adults and is a disorder of both motor and nonmotor dysfunction. The novel SARS-CoV-2 virus is responsible for the recent COVID-19 pandemic, and older individuals, those with preexisting medical conditions, or both have an increased risk of developing COVID-19 with more severe outcomes. People-with-Parkinson’s (PwP) of advanced age can have both immune and autonomic nervous problems that potentially lead to pre-existing pulmonary dysfunction and higher infection risk, increasing the probability of contracting COVID-19. A lifestyle change involving moderate-intensity exercise has the potential to protect against SARS-CoV-2 through strengthening the immune system. In addition to a potential protective measure against SARS-CoV-2, exercise has been shown to improve quality-of-life (QoL) in PD patients. Recent studies provide evidence of exercise as both neuroprotective and neuroplastic. This article is a literature review investigating the role exercise plays in modifying the immune system, improving health outcomes in PwP, and potentially acting as a protective measure against SARS-Cov-2 infection. We conclude that exercise, when correctly performed, improves QoL and outcomes in PwP, and that the enhanced immune response from moderate-intensity exercise could potentially offer additional protection against COVID-19.
Modulating Wine Aromatic Amino Acid Catabolites by Using Torulaspora delbrueckii in Sequentially Inoculated Fermentations or Saccharomyces cerevisiae Alone

Yeasts are the key microorganisms that transform grape juice into wine, and nitrogen is an essential nutrient able to affect yeast cell growth, fermentation kinetics and wine quality. In this work, we focused on the intra- and extracellular metabolomic changes of three aromatic amino acids (tryptophan, tyrosine, and phenylalanine) during alcoholic fermentation of two grape musts by two Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains and the sequential inoculation of Torulaspora delbrueckii with Saccharomyces cerevisiae. An UPLC-MS/MS method was used to monitor 33 metabolites, and 26 of them were detected in the extracellular samples and 8 were detected in the intracellular ones. The results indicate that the most intensive metabolomic changes occurred during the logarithm cellular growth phase and that pure S. cerevisiae fermentations produced higher amounts of N-acetyl derivatives of tryptophan and tyrosine and the off-odour molecule 2-aminoacetophenone. The sequentially inoculated fermentations showed a slower evolution and a higher production of metabolites linked to the well-known plant hormone indole acetic acid (auxin). Finally, the production of sulfonated tryptophol during must fermentation was confirmed, which also may explain the bitter taste of wines produced by Torulaspora delbrueckii co-fermentations, while sulfonated indole carboxylic acid was detected for the first time in such an experimental design.
Mitochondrial DNA variation and phylogeography of Old World camels

Objective Old World camels are a valuable genetic resource for many countries around the world due to their adaptation to the desert environment. At present, Old World camels have encountered the challenge of unprecedented loss of genetic resources. Through our research, we would reveal the population structure and genetic variation in Old World camel populations, which provides a theoretical basis for understanding the germplasm resources and origin and evolution of different Old World camel populations. Methods In the present study, we assessed mtDNA control region sequences of 182 individuals from Old World camels to unravel genetic diversity, phylogeography, and demographic dynamics. Results Thirty-two haplotypes confirmed by 54 polymorphic sites were identified in the 156 sequences, which included 129 domestic and 27 wild Bactrian camels. Meanwhile, 14 haplotypes were defined by 47 polymorphic sites from 26 sequences in the dromedaries. The wild Bactrian camel population showed the lowest haplotype and nucleotide diversity, while the dromedaries investigated had the highest. The phylogenetic analysis suggests that there are several shared haplotypes in different Bactrian camel populations, and that there has been genetic introgression between domestic Bactrian camels and dromedaries. In addition, positive values of Tajima’s D and Fu’s Fs test demonstrated a decrease in population size and/or balancing selection in the wild Bactrian camel population. In contrast, the negative values of Tajima’s D and Fu’s Fs test in East Asian Bactrian camel populations explained the demographic expansion and/or positive selection. Conclusion In summary, we report novel information regarding the genetic diversity, population structure and demographic dynamics of Old World camels. The findings obtained from the present study reveal that abundant genetic diversity occurs in domestic Bactrian camel populations and dromedaries, while there are low levels of haplotype and nucleotide diversity in the wild Bactrian camel population.
Thermal Relations and Daily Variation in the Thermal Tolerance in Bufo marinus

Body temperatures, critical thermal minima and the daily variation in heat resistance are reported for Bufo marinus in Queensland. Body temperatures ranged from 17.0 to 27.2 C (mean 21.3 t+ 2.4 C) with only 30.9 per cent of the observations exceeding ambient. The critical thermal minimum was 6.1 C (range 5.0-7.5 C) and is lower than previously reported values for B. marinus from Central America. The onset of spasms (range 37.8-39.5 C) varied significantly over a 24 hr period and appeared to show a temporal pattern in heat resistance for which the functional significance is unknown at present, but possibly has survival value for this toad during the breeding season. * * *