Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Characterization of Soil Bacteria with Potential to Degrade Benzoate and Antagonistic to Fungal and Bacterial Phytopathogens

The intensive development of agriculture leads to the depletion of land and a decrease in crop yields and in plant resistances to diseases. A large number of fertilizers and pesticides are currently used to solve these problems. Chemicals can enter the soil and penetrate into the groundwater and agricultural plants. Therefore, the primary task is to intensify agricultural production without causing additional damage to the environment. This problem can be partially solved using microorganisms with target properties. Microorganisms that combine several useful traits are especially valuable. The aim of this work was to search for new microbial strains, which are characterized by the ability to increase the bioavailability of nutrients, phytostimulation, the antifungal effect and the decomposition of some xenobiotics. A few isolated strains of the genera Bacillus and Pseudomonas were characterized by high activity against fungal phytopathogens. One of the bacterial strains identified as Priestia aryabhattai on the basis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence was characterized by an unusual cellular morphology and development cycle, significantly different from all previously described bacteria of this genus. All isolated bacteria are capable of benzoate degradation as a sign of the ability to degrade aromatic compounds. Isolated strains were shown to be prospective agents in biotechnologies.
Delta-Procalcitonin and Vitamin D Can Predict Mortality of Internal Medicine Patients with Microbiological Identified Sepsis

Background: The management of septic patients hospitalized in Internal Medicine wards represents a challenge due to their complexity and heterogeneity, and a high mortality rate. Among the available prognostic tools, procalcitonin (PCT) is considered a marker of bacterial infection. Furthermore, an association between vitamin D deficiency and poor sepsis-related outcomes has been described. Objectives: To evaluate the prognostic accuracy of two consecutive PCT determinations (Delta-PCT) and of vitamin D levels in predicting mortality in a population of patients with microbiological identified sepsis admitted to Internal Medicine wards. Methods: This is a sub-analysis of a previous prospective study. A total of 80 patients had at least two available consecutive PCT determinations, while 63 had also vitamin D. Delta-PCT was defined as a reduction of PCT > 50% after 48 h, >75% after 72 h, and >85% after 96 h. Mortality rate at 28- and 90-days were considered as main outcome. Results: Mortality rate was 18.7% at 28-days and 30.0% at 90-days. Baseline PCT levels did not differ between survived and deceased patients (28-days: p = 0.525; 90-days: p = 0.088). A significantly higher proportion of survived patients showed Delta-PCT (28-days: p = 0.002; 90-days: p < 0.001). Delta-PCT was associated with a lower 28-days (p = 0.007; OR = 0.12, 95%CI 0.02–0.46) and 90-days mortality (p = 0.001; OR = 0.17, 95%CI 0.06–0.48). A significantly higher proportion of deceased patients showed severe vitamin D deficiency (28-days: p = 0.047; 90-days: p = 0.049). Severe vitamin D deficiency was associated with a higher 28-days (p = 0.058; OR = 3.95, 95%CI 1.04–19.43) and 90-days mortality (p = 0.054; OR = 2.94, 95%CI 1.00–9.23). Conclusions: Delta-PCT and vitamin D represent two useful tests for predicting prognosis of septic patients admitted to Internal Medicine wards.
Accelerated Solvent Extraction and Pulsed Electric Fields for Valorization of Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and Sole (Dover sole) By-Products: Protein Content, Molecular Weight Distribution and Antioxidant Potential of the Extracts

Fishery by-products are rich in biologically active substances and the use of green and efficient extraction methods to recover these high-added-value compounds is of particular importance. In this study, head, skin and viscera of rainbow trout and sole were used as the target matrices and accelerated solvent extraction (ASE) (45–55 °C, 15 min, pH 5.2–6.8, 103.4 bars) and pulsed electric fields (PEF) (1–3 kV/cm, 123–300 kJ/kg, 15–24 h) were applied as extraction technologies. The results showed that ASE and PEF significantly increased the protein extract efficiency of the fish by-products (p < 0.05) by up to 80%. SDS-PAGE results showed that ASE and PEF treatments changed the molecular size distribution of the protein in the extracts, which was specifically expressed as the change in the area or number of bands between 5 and 250 kDa. The antioxidant capacity of the extracts was evaluated by oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) and total antioxidant capacity (ABTS) assays. The results showed that both ASE and PEF treatments significantly increased the antioxidant capacity of rainbow trout and sole skin and head extracts (p < 0.05). ASE and PEF extraction processes can be used as new technologies to extract high-added-value compounds from fish by-products.
Development of a Colorimetric Tool for SARS-CoV-2 and Other Respiratory Viruses Detection Using Sialic Acid Fabricated Gold Nanoparticles

Sialic acid that presents on the surface of lung epithelial cells is considered as one of the main binding targets for many respiratory viruses, including influenza and the current coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) through the viral surface protein hemagglutinin. Gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) are extensively used in the diagnostic field owing to a phenomenon known as ‘surface plasmonic resonance’ in which the scattered light is absorbed by these NPs and can be detected via UV-Vis spectrophotometry. Consequently, sialic acid conjugated Au NPs (SA-Au NPs) were utilized for their plasmonic effect against SARS-CoV-2, influenza B virus, and Middle-East respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus (MERS) in patients’ swab samples. The SA-Au NPs system was prepared by a one-pot synthesis method, through which the NPs solution color changed from pale yellow to dark red wine color, indicting its successful preparation. In addition, the SA-Au NPs had an average particle size of 30 ± 1 nm, negative zeta potential (−30 ± 0.3 mV), and a UV absorbance of 525 nm. These NPs have proven their ability to change the color of the NPs solutions and patients’ swabs that contain SARS-CoV-2, influenza B, and MERS viruses, suggesting a rapid and straightforward detection tool that would reduce the spread of these viral infections and accelerate the therapeutic intervention.
Exploring the Effect of Dehydration on Water Migrating Property and Protein Changes of Large Yellow Croaker (Pseudosciaena crocea) during Frozen Storage

This study aimed to explore the effect of dehydration on the water migrating property and protein changes of large yellow croaker during frozen storage. A freeze-dryer was used to accelerate experiments, which was isolated from oxygen and excluded the effects of protein oxidation. After dehydration time (3, 9, 18, and 30 h) for both fast- and slow-freezing samples, the results showed that the ice sublimation of samples containing small ice crystals was faster than that of samples containing large ice crystals in the early stages of dehydration, but in the latest stage, there was an opposite trend. The results indicated that dehydration reduced the water freedom degrees and water–protein interaction. At the same time, dehydration had a significant effect on protein secondary and tertiary structures. The significant increase in surface hydrophobicity and particle size indicated that dehydration exacerbated myofibrillar protein aggregation. The ΔH1 values (from 1.275 to 0.834 J/g for slow-freezing group and from 1.129 to 0.855 J/g for fast-freezing group) decreased gradually as the dehydration time extended, indicating the decrease in protein thermal stability. Additionally, significant protein degradation occurred when the water content of the sample decreased to a certain level. This study showed that ice crystal size had an important effect on the rate of ice sublimation, and the occurrence of dehydration during frozen storage accelerated the water loss and the decrease in protein stability.
Multi-Scale Spatial Prediction of Wild Boar Damage Risk in Hunchun: A Key Tiger Range in China

Simple Summary Spatial distribution of wild boar damage risk is important and can be informative to wildlife habitat management. Hunchun is an important active area of Siberian tiger in China. The wild boar damage has brought barriers to the conservation and management of the Siberian tiger in this region. We predicted the spatial distribution of wild boar damage risk in Hunchun in terms of home range and feeding sites scales, and explored the spatial interaction between tiger habitats and the damage risk of wild boar. The results show the distance to the forest edge is an important factor affecting the wild boar damage, and 38.68% of the high-risk areas are overlapped with tiger habitats in Hunchun. Therefore, precise and differentiated management strategies should be adopted in the management of wild boar population. Abstract Hunchun, a typical area suffering wild boar (Sus scrofa) damage, is an important region for the Siberian Tiger (Panthera tigris) in China. By incorporating the maximum entropy model with 22 variables in the home range scale (12 variables) and in the feeding site scale (10 variables), we predicted wild boar damage risks in this area of China and analyzed how spatial factors influence damage risk. Damage risk was found to be high in areas close to the forest edge, areas with a higher forest cover and lower to medium deciduous forest proportion, low road density, and a medium river density and farmland proportion. The proportion of farmland which was identified as being in the high damage risk zone was 23.55%, of which 38.68% was within the habitat area of the Siberian Tiger. Finally, we propose wild boar damage prevention based on different management goals.
Reactive Energetic Plasticizers for Energetic Polyurethane Binders Prepared via Simultaneous Huisgen Azide‐Alkyne Cycloaddition and Polyurethane Reaction

Reactive energetic plasticizers (REPs) for use in glycidyl azido polymer (GAP) based polyurethane (PU) energetic binders were investigated. These REPs consisted of an activated terminal alkyne group that was expected to give rise to Huisgen azide-alkyne 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition within the specific pot life for a PU formulation to prevent the migration of plasticizers, and with a gem-dinitro group as an energy resource. A quantitative miscibility investigation between the plasticizers and uncured GAP showed that REPs exhibited better miscibility than conventional energetic plasticizers. The plasticization effect of the REPs on the GAP prepolymer with respect to the reduction of the viscosity illustrated REPs can effectively reduce the viscosity of the GAP prepolymer from 6,015 cP to 150–240 cP at the processing temperature when 50 wt-% of REP was added. A comparison of the click reactivity and activation energies (Ea) of REPs and GAP prepolymer elucidated that the reactivity of azide-alkyne cycloaddition depended on the dipolarophilicity of REPs which could be controlled by adjusting the length of methylene spacer between electron-withdrawing groups (EWG) and neighboring alkynes in REPs. Thermogravimetric analysis manifested REP/GAP-based PU binders maintained the thermal stability of the control GAP-based PU binder. The mechanical properties and impact insensitivity of the GAP-based PU binders were also improved by the incorporation of REPs.
The Influence of Dietary Fibers on Physicochemical Properties of Acid Casein Processed Cheese Sauces Obtained with Whey Proteins and Coconut Oil or Anhydrous Milk Fat

This study aimed to evaluate different fibers (acacia, bamboo, citrus or potato) on texture, rheological properties, color, density, and water activity of processed cheese sauces (PCS) based on acid casein, WPC80 and anhydrous milk fat or organic coconut oil. The interaction between the type of oil/fat, the fiber type and the fiber content was significant regarding almost all parameters studied. The computer vision system (CVS) showed that color changes of sauces could be noticeable by consumers. The main factor influencing the change in all products’ hardness was not fat/oil, but added fibers and their concentrations. The highest increase in hardness, adhesiveness and viscosity was observed in products with potato fiber. The value of storage modulus (G′) was higher than the loss modulus (G″) and tan (δ) < 1 for all samples. Different fibers and their amounts did not influence the water activity of cheese sauces obtained with organic coconut oil (OCO) or anhydrous milk fat (AMF).
Factors Associated with Poor Glycemic Control Amongst Rural Residents with Diabetes in Korea

(1) Background: Glycemic control is an effective way to reduce the cardiovascular complications of diabetes. The purpose of this study was to identify the factors associated with poor glycemic control amongst rural residents with diabetes in Korea. (2) Methods: This cross-sectional analysis was conducted amongst a total of 522 participants who had completed baseline health examinations for the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study (KoGES) Rural Cohort from 2005 to 2011. The subjects were divided into two groups: the good glycemic control group (GCG) (glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1C) < 7%) and the poor GCG (HbA1C ≥ 7%). Logistic regression was used to examine the role of sociodemographics, health-related behavior, comorbidity and diabetes-related and clinical factors in poor glycemic control amongst rural residents with diabetes. (3) Results: In total, 48.1% of participants were in the poor GCG. Poor GCG was significantly associated with drinking (odds ratio (OR) = 0.42, 95% CI = 0.24–0.71), lack of regular physical activity (OR = 1.68, 95% CI = 1.03–2.76), fasting blood glucose (FBG) > 130 mg/dL (OR = 7.80, 95% CI = 4.35–13.98), diabetes for > 7 years (OR = 1.79, 95% CI = 1.08–2.98), cholesterol ≥ 200 mg/dL (OR = 1.73, 95% CI = 1.05–2.84) and positive urine glucose (OR = 6.24, 95% CI = 1.32–29.44). (4) Conclusion: Intensive glucose control interventions should target individuals amongst rural residents with diabetes who do not engage in regular physical activity, have been diagnosed with diabetes for more than seven years and who have high fasting-blood glucose, high cholesterol levels and glucose-positive urine.
Significance of Levocarnitine Treatment in Dialysis Patients

Carnitine is a naturally occurring amino acid derivative that is involved in the transport of long-chain fatty acids to the mitochondrial matrix. There, these substrates undergo β-oxidation, producing energy. The major sources of carnitine are dietary intake, although carnitine is also endogenously synthesized in the liver and kidney. However, in patients on dialysis, serum carnitine levels progressively fall due to restricted dietary intake and deprivation of endogenous synthesis in the kidney. Furthermore, serum-free carnitine is removed by hemodialysis treatment because the molecular weight of carnitine is small (161 Da) and its protein binding rates are very low. Therefore, the dialysis procedure is a major cause of carnitine deficiency in patients undergoing hemodialysis. This deficiency may contribute to several clinical disorders in such patients. Symptoms of dialysis-related carnitine deficiency include erythropoiesis-stimulating agent-resistant anemia, myopathy, muscle weakness, and intradialytic muscle cramps and hypotension. However, levocarnitine administration might replenish the free carnitine and help to increase carnitine levels in muscle. This article reviews the previous research into levocarnitine therapy in patients on maintenance dialysis for the treatment of renal anemia, cardiac dysfunction, dyslipidemia, and muscle and dialytic symptoms, and it examines the efficacy of the therapeutic approach and related issues.
Traumatized Syrian Refugees with Ambiguous Loss: Predictors of Mental Distress

Refugees from war zones often have missing significant others. A loss without confirmation is described as an ambiguous loss. This physical absence with simultaneous mental persistence can be accompanied by economic, social or legal problems, boundary ambiguity (i.e., uncertainty about who belongs to the family system), and can have a negative impact on mental health. The aim of this study was to identify sociodemographic and loss-related predictors for prolonged grief, anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and somatization in treatment-seeking Syrian refugees with post-traumatic stress symptoms in Germany experiencing ambiguous loss. For the present study, data were based on the treatment-seeking baseline sample of the “Sanadak” randomized-controlled trial, analyzing a subsample of 47 Syrian refugees with post-traumatic stress symptoms in Germany experiencing ambiguous loss. Sociodemographic and loss-related questions were applied, along with standardized instruments for symptoms of prolonged grief (ICG), anxiety (GAD-7), depression (PHQ-9), PTSD (PDS-5) and somatization (PHQ-15). Linear regression models were used to predict mental health outcomes. Having lost a close family member and higher boundary ambiguity showed a statistically significant association with higher severity in prolonged grief. The overall model for somatization reached statistical significance, while no predictor independently did. Boundary ambiguity showed a statistically significant positive association with depression, while the overall model showed no statistically significant associations. Boundary ambiguity and missing family members seemed to be important predictors for prolonged grief. These findings support the importance of reunification programs and suggest an inclusion of the topic into psychosocial support structures, e.g., including psychoeducational elements on boundary ambiguity in support groups for traumatized individuals and families experiencing ambiguous loss. Further research is needed for a more detailed understanding of the impact of ambiguous loss on refugee populations.
Metabolomic Analysis of Small Extracellular Vesicles Derived from Pancreatic Cancer Cells Cultured under Normoxia and Hypoxia

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) released from cancer cells contribute to various malignant phenotypes of cancer, including metastasis, cachexia, and angiogenesis. Although DNA, mRNAs, miRNAs, and proteins contained in EVs have been extensively studied, the function of metabolites in EVs remains unclear. In this study, we performed a comprehensive metabolomic analysis of pancreatic cancer cells, PANC-1, cultured under different oxygen concentrations, and small EVs (sEVs) released from them, considering the fact that hypoxia contributes to the malignant behavior of cells in pancreatic cancer, which is a poorly diagnosed cancer. sEVs were collected by ultracentrifugation, and hydrophilic metabolites were analyzed using capillary ion chromatography-mass spectrometry and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, and lipids were analyzed by supercritical fluid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. A total of 140 hydrophilic metabolites and 494 lipids were detected in sEVs, and their profiles were different from those in cells. In addition, the metabolomic profile of sEVs was observed to change under hypoxic stress, and an increase in metabolites involved in angiogenesis was also detected. We reveal the hallmark of the metabolites contained in sEVs and the effect of tumor hypoxia on their profiles, which may help in understanding EV-mediated cancer malignancy.
How Much Protoporphyrin IX Must Be Activated to Obtain Full Efficacy of Methyl Aminolevulinate Photodynamic Therapy? Implication for Treatment Modifications

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) with methyl aminolevulinate (MAL) is a popular treatment for actinic keratoses (AK), and several PDT treatment modalities with similar cure rates are in use. The effect relies on the activation of protoporphyrin IX (PpIX) in premalignant cells. This study aimed to measure PpIX during each treatment modality to determine the minimal PpIX activation and shortest exposure time for optimal cure rate. In four different treatment modalities, we established the PpIX formation up to three hours after MAL application without illumination and measured the speed of PpIX photoactivation during 9 min of red light (37 J/cm2). The level of PpIX three hours after MAL application was set to 100 PpIX units. In comparison, 85 PpIX units were formed during daylight PDT, 57 PpIX units during pulse PDT, and 52 PpIX units without any curettage prior to MAL. The activation of 50 PpIX units should, therefore, be enough to obtain a full effect on AK. Further, red light illumination may be shortened from 9 min to 1–2 min. The results indicate that PDT can be performed successfully with half the illumination time used in daylight PDT today and with one fourth of the illumination time used in classical PDT.
Usability Evaluation of Slanted Computer Mice

Prevention of musculoskeletal disorders is supported by use of slanted rather than horizontal pointing devices, but user acceptance of the former may be compromised due to lower perceived ease of use. This study compares subjectively rated usability (N = 37) for three sizes of slanted computer mice and includes a horizontal small conventional device as a reference. For a random subset of the sample (n = 10), objective usability parameters were also elicited. Participants followed a standard protocol which is based on executing graphical pointing, steering, and dragging tasks generated by a purpose-built software. Subjective ratings were collected for each of the four pointing devices tested. The three slanted devices differed in size but were chosen because of an approximately similar slant angle (around 50–60 degrees relative to the horizontal plane). Additionally, effectiveness and efficiency were objectively calculated based on data recorded for the graphical tasks’ software for a random subset of the participants (n = 10). The results unveil small differences in preference in some of the subjective usability parameters across hand size groups. This notwithstanding, the objective efficiency results are aligned with the subjective results, indicating consistency with the hypothesis that smaller slanted devices relative to the user’s hand size are easier to use than larger ones. Mean values of weighted efficiency recorded in the study range from 68% to 75%, with differences across devices coherent with preference rank orders.
Integrated Approach for Species Identification and Quality Analysis for Labisia pumila Using DNA Barcoding and HPLC

Labisia pumila is a precious herb in Southeast Asia that is traditionally used as a health supplement and has been extensively commercialized due to its claimed therapeutic properties in boosting a healthy female reproductive system. Indigenous people used these plants by boiling the leaves; however, in recent years it has been marketed as powdered or capsuled products. Accordingly, accuracy in determination of the authenticity of these modern herbal products has faced great challenges. Lack of authenticity is a public health risk because incorrectly used herbal species can cause adverse effects. Hence, any measures that may aid product authentication would be beneficial. Given the widespread use of Labisia herbal products, the current study focuses on authenticity testing via an integral approach of DNA barcoding and qualitative analysis using HPLC. This study successfully generated DNA reference barcodes (ITS2 and rbcL) for L. pumila var. alata and pumila. The DNA barcode that was generated was then used to identify species of Labisia pumila in herbal medicinal products, while HPLC was utilized to determine their quality. The findings through the synergistic approach (DNA barcode and HPLC) implemented in this study indicate the importance of both methods in providing the strong evidence required for the identification of true species and to examine the authenticity of such herbal medicinal products.