Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Leaching of Heavy Metals in Soils Conditioned with Biosolids from Sewage Sludge

A promising use of biosolids is as organic fertilizer in agricultural and forestry activities. However, its composition might contain several pollutants, especially heavy metals, which may result in an increase in the concentrations of these elements in the soil and the risk of groundwater contamination. This study aimed to determine the leaching levels of ions in a Ferralsol (clayey texture) and in a Planosol (sandy texture). The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse at Embrapa Agrobiologia, Seropédica, Rio de Janeiro state. Soils were packed in PVC columns and received 2 L/column of biosolids. The concentrations of heavy metals present in the biosolids composition were below the limits established by the legislation (CONAMA 375). In addition, the performed simulations showed the absence of contamination risk of soil or groundwater and surface water, according to the limits allowed by CONAMA 375. However, it should be emphasized the potential of nitrate leaching.
The impact of sleep on eyewitness identifications

Sleep aids the consolidation of recently acquired memories. Evidence strongly indicates that sleep yields substantial improvements on recognition memory tasks relative to an equivalent period of wake. Despite the known benefits that sleep has on memory, researchers have not yet investigated the impact of sleep on eyewitness identifications. Eyewitnesses to crimes are often presented with a line-up (which is a type of recognition memory test) that contains the suspect (who is innocent or guilty) and fillers (who are known to be innocent). Sleep may enhance the ability to identify the guilty suspect and not identify the innocent suspect (i.e. discriminability). Sleep may also impact reliability (i.e. the likelihood that the identified suspect is guilty). In the current study, we manipulated the presence or the absence of sleep in a forensically relevant memory task. Participants witnessed a video of a mock crime, made an identification or rejected the line-up, and rated their confidence. Critically, some participants slept between witnessing the crime and making a line-up decision, while others remained awake. The prediction that participants in the sleep condition would have greater discriminability compared to participants in the wake condition was not supported. There were also no differences in reliability.
Drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms syndrome

Drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) syndrome is a delayed form of severe cutaneous adverse reaction (SCAR) seen in association with certain drugs, especially anticonvulsants and allopurinol. Unlike other SCARs, DRESS is associated with significant systemic involvement such as fever, lymphadenopathy, eosinophilia, renal failure, transaminitis, and myocarditis. Because of delayed onset of symptoms and a persistent course even after discontinuation of culprit drug, DRESS can mimic a variety of rheumatological disorders. Even though glucocorticoids are the mainstay of treatment, unlike other SCARs, DRESS is associated with a high incidence of viral reactivation, especially with members of the human Herpesviridae family. Early identification of the viral activation and prompt therapy is critical in the management of DRESS.
Isolation and Characterization of Klebsiella spp. and Staphylococcus aureus from Engorged Adult Females of Rhipicephalus spp.

To mention the role of ticks in transmission of Klebsiella spp. and Staphylococcus aureus, sixty seven engorged adult females of the type which called hard ticks (Rhipicephalus spp.) were collected from cattle and sheep randomly from diverse regions of Baghdad city through the period November 2015 till March 2016. Blood swabs from ticks were subjected to the culture media to determine the percentages of Klebsiella spp. and Staphylococcus aureus. Results showed that out of 67 samples, 13 (14.40%) samples were positive for Klebsiella spp. , 16 (23.88%) samples were positive for Staphylococcus aureus and 8 samples were positive for both bacteria. This study revealed that hard ticks (Rhipicephalus spp.) is a good source for bacterial infection by Klebsiella spp. and Staphylococcus aureus .
Pattern of malocclusion in children living with sickle cell anemia

Background: Sickle cell anemia is a hereditary disorder of the hematological system. It involves the production of abnormal hemoglobin, which is sickle in shape and has a short life span, resulting in secondary hemopoietic function by the long bones and the jaw bones. The disorder burden not only presents with systemic affectations and morbidity that is commonly observed but also has immense effects on the jaw bones presenting as malocclusion and in severe cases causing gnathopathy and psychosocial disturbance, especially with esthetics. Other dental effects include functional disturbances and diseases of the oral tissue. Objective: The aim of this study is to determine the occlusal pattern of children with sickle cell anemia. Materials and Methods: Consecutive patients attending the Sickle Cell Clinic of the department of Hematology, Federal Teaching Hospital Gombe, aged 6 to 16years. The inclusion criteria included individuals who have been diagnosed to have HbSS using electrophoresis. Sociodemographic data and oral examination were carried out, and dental and occlusal parameters were recorded in a data collection form. Data were analyzed using the SPSS software version 19. The level of statistical significance was set at P < 0.05. Results: The mean age was 10.12 ± 3.10 years. Ninety (55.6%) patients were male. The samples were grouped into two: Group I ages 6–10 years comprising 92 children and ages 11–16 years comprising 70 children in Group II. Angle's Class I molar relationship was observed to be 86 (93.5%) and 57 (81.4%), respectively, for Groups I and II. Overjet and overbite were found to be increased in 34 (37.0%) and 5 (5.4%) for Group I and 23 (32.9%) and 5 (7.1%) for Group II, respectively. Conclusion: The burden of sickle cell anemia is not limited to systemic manifestations alone. Dental presentations that could affect psychosocial, function, health of oral tissues, and speech have also been observed. Therefore, it is expedient that these individuals on presentation to the clinic are examined in a holistic manner with a view to attending to all their presenting problems at an early stage.
Emergency department front-end split-flow experience: ‘physician in intake’

Background Emergency department (ED) crowding is a critical problem in the delivery of acute unscheduled care. Many causes are external to the ED, but antiquated operational traditions like triage also contribute. A physician intake model has been shown to be beneficial in a single-centre study, but whether this solution is generalisable is not clear. We aimed to characterise the current state of front-end intake models in a national sample of EDs and quantify their effects on throughput measures. Methods We performed a descriptive mixed-method analysis of ED process changes implemented by a cross section of self-selecting institutions who reported 2 years of demographic/operational data and structured process descriptions of any ‘new front-end processes to replace traditional nurse-based triage’. Results Among 25 participating institutions, 19 (76%) provided data. While geographically diverse, most were urban, academic adult level 1 trauma centres. Thirteen (68%) reported implementing a new intake process. All were run by attending emergency physicians, and six (46%) also included advanced practice providers. Daily operating hours ranged from 8 to 16 (median 12, IQR 10.25–15.85), and the majority performed labs, imaging and medication administration and directly discharged patients. Considering each site’s before-and-after data as matched pairs, physician-driven intake was associated with mean decreases in arrival-to-provider time of 25 min (95% CI 13 to 37), ED length of stay 36 min (95% CI 12 to 59), and left before being seen rate 1.2% (95% CI 0.6% to 1.8%). Conclusions In this cross section of primarily academic EDs, implementing a physician-driven front-end intake process was feasible and associated with improvement in operational metrics.
Aerobic Exercise Training Improves Cerebral Blood Flow and Executive Function: A Randomized, Controlled Cross-Over Trial in Sedentary Older Men

Background Physical activity may attenuate age-related cognitive decline by improving cerebrovascular function. The aim of this study was therefore to investigate effects of aerobic exercise training on cerebral blood flow (CBF), which is a sensitive physiological marker of cerebrovascular function, in sedentary older men. Methods Seventeen apparently healthy men, aged 60–70 years and with a BMI between 25 and 35 kg/m2, were included in a randomized, controlled cross-over trial. Study participants were randomly allocated to a fully-supervised, progressive, aerobic exercise training or no-exercise control period for 8 weeks, separated by a 12-week wash-out period. Measurements at the end of each period included aerobic fitness evaluated using peak oxygen consumption during incremental exercise (VO2peak), CBF measured with pseudo-continuous arterial spin labeling magnetic resonance imaging, and post-load glucose responses determined using an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). Furthermore, cognitive performance was assessed in the domains of executive function, memory, and psychomotor speed. Results VO2peak significantly increased following aerobic exercise training compared to no-exercise control by 262 ± 236 mL (P < 0.001). CBF was increased by 27% bilaterally in the frontal lobe, particularly the subcallosal and anterior cingulate gyrus (cluster volume: 1008 mm3; P < 0.05), while CBF was reduced by 19% in the right medial temporal lobe, mainly temporal fusiform gyrus (cluster volume: 408 mm3; P < 0.05). Mean post-load glucose concentrations determined using an OGTT decreased by 0.33 ± 0.63 mmol/L (P = 0.049). Furthermore, executive function improved as the latency of response was reduced by 5% (P = 0.034), but no changes were observed in memory or psychomotor speed. Conclusion Aerobic exercise training improves regional CBF in sedentary older men. These changes in CBF may underlie exercise-induced beneficial effects on executive function, which could be partly mediated by improvements in glucose metabolism. This clinical trial is registered on ClinicalTrials.gov as NCT03272061.
Adverse effects of immuno-oncology drugs—Awareness, diagnosis, and management: A literature review of immune-mediated adverse events

Immuno-oncology (IO) approaches such as cytokine therapy, immune-checkpoint blockers (ICBs), cancer vaccines, and cell-based therapies have revolutionized cancer treatment. ICBs provide better response-to-toxicity profile among various IO approaches; however, they can cause dysregulation of host immune system resulting in immune-mediated adverse events (imAEs). The skin and gastrointestinal system are most commonly affected. Although reversible, imAEs may cause life-threatening conditions if untreated. Risk assessment and appropriate patient selection before treatment initiation may prevent most imAEs. Key factors in effectively managing imAEs include baseline clinical evaluation, appropriate diagnostic tests, severity grading, timely decision on discontinuation or reintroduction of ICB treatment, and intervention with immunosuppressive and/or immunomodulatory agents. Patient and healthcare provider awareness is critical for identifying and managing lower grade imAEs. Immediate reporting is important for successfully managing and preventing or worsening of imAEs. Pretreatment sensitization of patients should address barriers to reporting such as fear of ICB discontinuation, ignorance of symptoms, financial constraints, and self-medication. Physicians should rely on clinical presentation and diagnostic work-up (including imaging) to accurately identify, characterize, and differentiate imAEs from metastasis. Treatment-related new symptoms should be dealt with a high level of suspicion. Corticosteroids are initiated if symptoms do not resolve within a week from onset and tapered over a month to avoid rebound of symptoms. ICB therapy should be permanently discontinued in most cases of grade 3-4 imAEs. A multidisciplinary approach involving oncologists, oncosurgeons, primary care physicians, and nurses is necessary in effectively managing imAEs and facilitating better clinical outcomes.
Angioedema hereditario. Comunicación de un caso y revisión de la bibliografía

: Hereditary angioedema is a congenital disorder with recurrent attacks of localized swelling of submucosal and subcutaneous tissue, or both caused by a deficiency of the plasma protein C1 inhibitor. It is caused by heterozygous defects in the C1 inhibitor gene located on chromosome 11q, and it has an autosomal dominant inheritance pattern. This disease afflicts 1 in 10,000 to 1 in 150,000 persons. Hereditary angioedema has been reported in all races, and no sex predominance has been found. Skin and visceral organs may be involved by the typically massive local edema. The most commonly involved viscera are the respiratory and gastrointestinal systems, and it can affect the upper airways resulting in severe life-threatening symptoms, including the risk of asphyxiation. There are three types of hereditary angioedema, which difference lies in the inheritance pattern and in the C1 esterase inhibitor and C4 concentrations. The treatment is complicated and it should be treated with intravenous purified C1 inhibitor concentrate; corticosteroids, antihistamines and epinephrine can be useful adjuncts but they are not effective. We report a patient with hereditary angioedema type 1 and make a review of the medical literature.
Performing artist and Athlete Health Monitor: user experience, content and conditions for use of an online dance-health surveillance system in a professional ballet company

Objectives The user experience, content and conditions for use of an online dance-health surveillance system (Performing artist and Athlete Health Monitor, PAHM) was examined through a focus group interview with professional ballet dancers. Methods Nine professional dancers (56% female (n=5), average age=27.56± 5.17) completed biweekly questionnaires using the PAHM, including questions on health problems, injuries, mental complaints and illnesses. After 6 weeks, nine dancers participated in a focus group interview to investigate the user experience, content and conditions for use of the PAHM. Data were analysed using thematic analysis. Results 25 of the 27 questionnaires were completed (response rate of 93%). Dancers were positive about using the PAHM. They recommend to clarifying the questions about pain and injury, expanding items on mental health, including items on workload, sleep, rest and nutrition, and receiving feedback regarding their own results. Dancers were reluctant regarding sharing their personal data with others. Data on an aggregated level can be shared because this might gain insight into the association between scheduling, workload and injury risk. Conclusion The user experience of the monitor contributes to the willingness of dancers to keep using the PAHM. Dancers recommended adjusting the content in the PAHM to match their dance activities and health problems. The conditions for using the PAHM effectively within a company are a safe and trusting culture. Even though the PAHM alone cannot change the culture in a ballet company, it can play a role in the communication between staff and dancers.
Colorectal cancer: The epigenetic role of microbiome

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer in men (746000 cases per year) and the second most common cancer in women globally (614000 cases per year). The incidence rate of CRC in developed countries (737000 cases per year) is higher than that in less developed countries (624000 cases per year). CRC can arise from genetic causes such as chromosomal instability and microsatellite instability. Several etiologic factors underlie CRC including age, diet, and lifestyle. Gut microbiota represent a proven cause of the disease, where they play pivotal roles in modulating and reshaping the host epigenome. Several active microbial metabolites have been found to drive carcinogenesis, invasion, and metastasis via modifying both the methylation landscape along with histone structure in intestinal cells. Gut microbiota, in response to diet, can exert both beneficial and harmful functions in humans, according to the intestinal balance of number and types of these bacteria. Although the intestinal microbial community is diverse among individuals, these microbes cumulatively produce 100-fold more proteins than the human genome itself, which calls for further studies to elaborate on the complicated interaction between these microorganisms and intestinal cells. Therefore, understanding the exact role that gut microbiota play in inducing CRC will help attain reliable strategies to precisely diagnose and treat this fatal disease.
Physiological Traits for Shortening Crop Duration and Improving Productivity of Greengram (Vigna radiata L. Wilczek) Under High Temperature

Greengram is an important protein-rich food legume crop. During the reproductive stage, high temperatures cause flower drop, induce male sterility, impair anthesis, and shortens the grain-filling period. Initially, 116 genotypes were evaluated for 3 years in two locations, and based on flowering, biomass, and yield attributes, they were grouped into four major clusters. A panel of 17 contrasting genotypes was selected for their heat tolerance in high-temperature greenhouses. The seedlings of the selected genotypes were exposed to heat shock in the range 37°C–52°C and their recovery after heat shock was assessed at 30°C. The seedlings of EC 398889 turned completely green and rejuvenated, while those of LGG 460 failed to recover, therefore, EC 398889 and LGG 460 were identified as heat-tolerant and heat-sensitive genotypes, respectively. Except for EC 398889, the remaining genotypes could not survive after heat shock. Fresh seeds of EC 398889 and LGG 460 were planted in field and pollen fertility and sucrose-synthase (SuSy) activity in grains were assessed at high temperatures. The pollen germination and SuSy activity were normal even at temperatures beyond 40°C in EC 398889 and high SuSy activity enabled faster grain filling than in LGG 460. The precise phenotyping demonstrated significant differences in the light-temperature response of photosynthesis, chlorophyll fluorescence imaging of quantum yield (Fv/Fm), and electron transport rate (ETR) between heat-tolerant (EC 398889) and heat-sensitive (LGG 460) genotypes. Molecular profiling of selected accessions showed polymorphism with 11 SSR markers and the markers CEDG147, CEDG247, and CEDG044 distinguished tolerant and sensitive groups of accessions.
Metabolic Pathways Involved in Regulatory T Cell Functionality

Regulatory T cells (Treg) are well-known for their immune regulatory potential and are essential for maintaining immune homeostasis. The rationale of Treg-based immunotherapy for treating autoimmunity and transplant rejection is to tip the immune balance of effector T cell-mediated immune activation and Treg-mediated immune inhibition in favor of Treg cells, either through endogenous Treg expansion strategies or adoptive transfer of ex vivo expanded Treg. Compelling evidence indicates that Treg show properties of phenotypic heterogeneity and instability, which has caused considerable debate in the field regarding their correct use. Consequently, for further optimization of Treg-based immunotherapy, it is vital to further our understanding of Treg proliferative, migratory, and suppressive behavior. It is increasingly appreciated that the functional profile of immune cells is highly dependent on their metabolic state. Although the metabolic profiles of effector T cells are progressively understood, little is known on Treg in this respect. The objective of this review is to outline the current knowledge of human Treg metabolic profiles associated with the regulation of Treg functionality. As such information on human Treg is still limited, where information was lacking, we included insightful findings from mouse studies. To assess the available evidence on metabolic pathways involved in Treg functionality, PubMed, and Embase were searched for articles in English indexed before April 28th, 2019 using “regulatory T lymphocyte,” “cell metabolism,” “cell proliferation,” “migration,” “suppressor function,” and related search terms. Removal of duplicates and search of the references was performed manually. We discerned that while glycolysis fuels the biosynthetic and bioenergetic needs necessary for proliferation and migration of human Treg, suppressive capacity is mainly maintained by oxidative metabolism. Based on the knowledge of metabolic differences between Treg and non-Treg cells, we additionally discuss and propose ways of how human Treg metabolism could be exploited for the betterment of tolerance-inducing therapies.
The AHL Quorum-Sensing System Negatively Regulates Growth and Autolysis in Lysobacter brunescens

Lysobacter species are emerging as novel sources of antibiotics, but the regulation of their physiological metabolism is still poorly understood. In this work, we extracted AHL (acyl-homoserine lactone) autoinducers, identified the structures of AHLs and described the AHL quorum-sensing system in Lysobacter brunescens OH23. AHLs were isolated from the supernatant of L. brunescens OH23, and ESI-MS/MS (electrospray ionization mass spectrometry) analysis revealed biosynthesis of three different AHL chemical structures by L. brunescens OH23: N-(3-oxohexanoyl)- homoserine lactone (HSL), 3-OH-C10-HSL and C8-HSL. The growth rate of AHL quorum-sensing knockout mutants was dramatically increased compared to that of wildtype. Sucrose consumptions were also twice as high in AHL quorum-sensing knockout mutants than that in wildtype in early-log phase. Additionally, expression of key genes related to sucrose metabolism α-glucosidase was enhanced in AHL quorum-sensing knockout mutants, which indicated that AHL quorum sensing negatively regulates sucrose uptake and metabolism which further affects the growth rate of L. brunescens. Furthermore, autolysis was strongly induced in AHL quorum-sensing knockout mutants compared to wildtype, suggesting that AHL quorum sensing plays a negative regulatory role in cell autolysis. Moreover, compared to wildtype, XSAC (Xanthomonas-specific antibiotic compound) production was significantly increased in AHL knockout mutants in the early-log and late-log phases, and surface motility capabilities are also enhanced also in AHL knockout mutants; the normalized data of XSAC production and surface motility and expressions of key genes related to these two phenotypes reveal that growth rare and autolysis strongly affects XSAC biosynthesis and surface motility rather than AHL quorum-sensing system. Our results show that the AHL quorum-sensing system negatively regulates cell growth and autolysis, and further maintain nutrition homeostasis and population stability in L. brunescens.