Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
An integrated in silico and in vivo approach to determine the effects of three commonly used surfactants sodium dodecyl sulphate, cetylpyridinium chloride and sodium laureth sulphate on growth rate and hematology in Cyprinus carpio L

Abstract The purpose of this work is to evaluate the homology modeling, in silico prediction, and characterization of somatotropin and erythropoietin from Cyprinus carpio as well as molecular docking and simulation experiments between the modeled proteins and surfactants sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), sodium laureth sulfate (SLES) and cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC). Using the best fit template structure, homology modeling of somatotropin and erythropoietin of Cyprinus carpio respectively was conducted. The model structures were improved further with 3Drefine, and the final 3D structures were verified with PROCHEK, ERRATA and ProQ. The physiochemical, as well as the stereochemical parameters of the modeled proteins, were evaluated using ExPASy's ProtParam. Molecular docking calculations, protein-ligand interactions, and protein flexibility analysis were carried out to determine the binding pattern of each ligand to the targeted proteins and their effect on the overall proteins’ conformation. Our in silico analysis showed that hydrophobic interactions with the active site amino acid residues of the modeled proteins (somatotropin and erythropoietin) were more prevalent than hydrogen bonds and salt bridges that affect the flexibility and stability of the somatotropin and erythropoietin as revealed from our protein flexibility analysis. The in vivo analysis showed that sublethal concentrations of SDS, SLES, and CPC negatively affected the growth and hematological parameters of Cyprinus carpio. Hence, it may be inferred from the study that the alterations in the flexibility of somatotropin and erythropoietin of Cyprinus carpio upon addition of SDS, CPC and SLES might be attributable to the reduction in growth and hematological parameters.
Comparison of Direct and Indirect Toxoplasma gondii Detection and Genotyping in Game: Relationship and Challenges

The importance of game as a source of Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) infection in humans is largely unknown. New data on the presence of T. gondii in game hunted in the Federal State of Brandenburg, Germany, were obtained by direct and indirect detection (ELISA). DNA extracted either directly (5 g heart or foreleg muscle, DE) or after acid pepsin digestion (50 g heart, PD) or enriched by magnetic capture (50 g heart, MC) was examined by real-time PCR (qPCR). ELISA revealed seroprevalences of 20% in wild boar (Sus scrofa), 11% in roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) and 6% in red deer (Cervus elaphus). T. gondii DNA was detected by at least one direct detection method in 12% of wild boar, 6% of roe deer, 2% of fallow deer (Dama dama) and 2% of red deer. In both, positive wild boar and roe deer, T. gondii type II specific alleles were the most prevalent, as assessed by PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism. The highest proportion of positive animals was detected by MC qPCR, followed by PD qPCR with a similar proportion of positive findings. Investigation of 50 g of heart muscle revealed a significantly higher proportion of positive qPCR results than analysis of 5 g (p = 0.048). An association between seropositivity and direct detection was evident in wild boar and roe deer (p < 0.001). Infectivity of T. gondii DNA–positive samples was confirmed by bioassay (4/4), providing evidence that game could represent a relevant source of viable T. gondii posing a risk for human infection.
Alveolar Volume Following Different Timings of Secondary Bone Grafting in Patients with Unilateral Cleft Lip and Palate. A Pilot Study

This study was intended to evaluate the relationship between secondary alveolar bone grafting (SABG) timing and the alveolar volume in patients with unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP). The material consisted of CTs of 35 patients (17 males, 18 females) with UCLP who underwent a one-stage primary cleft repair at a mean age of 8.4 months and SABG at different timings ranges of 1.8–18.8 years. The mean age at CT was 17.2 years. The relative coefficient (Ꞷ) which was independent from factors such as individual maxillary size, gender or age at the CT was introduced in order to compare volumes of the cleft-side in relation to the non-cleft-side alveolus. Pearson correlation coefficient r between Ꞷ coefficient and SABG timing was weak negative (r = −0.34, p = 0.045). The multiple regression analysis implied that the dependent variable-Ꞷ coefficient was associated with independent variables (cleft repair and SABG timings and age at CT) with r2 = 0.228. Only patient’s age at SABG explained the dependent variable (p = 0.003). The study cautiously indicates a tendency to larger alveolar volume following earlier timing of SABG. Nevertheless, the further research on a larger group of patients should be performed before formulating any clinical indications.
Effect of dissolution kinetics on flotation response of calcite with oleate

Phosphate flotation performance can be influenced by the dissolution kinetics of the minerals that compose the ore. The purpose of this work was to investigate the effect of dissolution kinetics on flotation response with oleate (collector) of calcites from different origins and genesis. The calcite samples were first purified and characterized by x-ray Fluorescence (XRF) and the Rietveld method applied to x-ray Diffractometry data (RXD). Experiments of calcite dissolution and microflotationwere performed at pH 8 and pH 10.The pH effect on the calcite dissolution and flotation indicates the possible influence of the carbonate/bicarbonate ions provided by the CO2 present in the air. In addition, the flotation response is greater as the dissolution increases, making more Ca2+ ions available to interact with collector molecules. This result corroborates the surface precipitation mechanism proposed foroleate adsorption on the calcite surface.
The Dark Factor of Personality and Risk-Taking

Aversive personality traits have been linked to risk-taking across various domains. Herein, we investigated whether the common core of aversive traits, the Dark Factor of Personality (D), is related to risk-taking. Whereas the conceptualizations of D (common core of aversive traits) and risk-taking (not inherently socially and/or ethically aversive) do not necessarily imply an association, several theoretical considerations do suggest a positive relation between the constructs. In three studies (overall n = 689), we linked D to various self-report measures of risk-taking (Studies 1 and 2), as well as to a behavioral risk-taking task (Study 3). Overall, D was positively (although not always statistically significantly) related to self-reported risk-taking in terms of financial, health-related, and recreational risk-taking, fearlessness, novelty sensation seeking, intensity sensation seeking, and drug use. However, we did not find an association between D and behavioral risk-taking. Our findings provide insights into the relation between aversive personality and risk-taking, but also point to inconsistencies depending on the specific nature of risk-taking studied.
Youth Perceptions of Sport-Confidence

Abstract Zuk, EF, Maksymiw, K, Evanovich, J, McGarry, JE, Root, HJ, and Distefano, LJ. Youth perceptions in sport-confidence. J Strength Cond Res 35(11): 3232–3235, 2021—Sport-confidence is an important construct that is often missed during physical activity interventions in youth. Male and female children might display differences in sport-confidence that influences their activity levels. The purpose of this study is to assess any association between sport-confidence and gender in elementary school and middle-school children. All 286 children {(boys [ES: n = 71, age = 8±1 years; MS: n = 63, 11±1 years]; girls [ES: n = 67, 7±1 years; MS: n = 85, 11±1 years])} completed the Physical Literacy Assessment for Youth-Self Questionnaire. Separate chi-square tests of the association were used to evaluate the association between gender and sport-confidence among elementary (grades K-4) and middle-school (grades 5–8) children because of varying injury and participation rates for these groups, for each relevant question with a significance set at p ≤ 0.05. For elementary school children, there were no significant associations between genders and sport-confidence (p > 0.05). In middle-school children, there were significant associations detected for learning new skills (ϕ = 0.12; p = 0.031), perception of skill (ϕ = 0.12; p = 0.054), confidence in activity (ϕ = 0.17; p = 0.035), and being the best in the class (ϕ = 0.15; p = 0.048) between genders and sport-confidence. For all results, boys displayed more sport-confidence than girls. Education for key stakeholders about the importance of including sport-confidence in physical activity interventions is integral in promoting life-long activity, specifically in middle-school girls.
Antibacterial Properties of Citric Acid/β-Alanine Carbon Dots against Gram-Negative Bacteria

While multi-drug resistance in bacteria is an emerging concern in public health, using carbon dots (CDs) as a new source of antimicrobial activity is gaining popularity due to their antimicrobial and non-toxic properties. Here we prepared carbon dots from citric acid and β-alanine and demonstrated their ability to inhibit the growth of diverse groups of Gram-negative bacteria, including E. coli, Salmonella, Pseudomonas, Agrobacterium, and Pectobacterium species. Carbon dots were prepared using a one-pot, three-minute synthesis process in a commercial microwave oven (700 W). The antibacterial activity of these CDs was studied using the well-diffusion method, and their minimal inhibitory concentration was determined by exposing bacterial cells for 20 h to different concentrations of CDs ranging from 0.5 to 10 mg/mL. Our finding indicates that these CDs can be an effective alternative to commercially available antibiotics. We also demonstrated the minimum incubation time required for complete inhibition of bacterial growth, which varied depending on bacterial species. With 15-min incubation time, A. tumefaciens and P. aeruginosa were the most sensitive strains, whereas E. coli and S. enterica were the most resistant bacterial strains requiring over 20 h incubation with CDs.
Immune Prophylaxis and Therapy for Human Cytomegalovirus Infection

Human Cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection is widespread and can result in severe sequelae in susceptible populations. Primary HCMV infection of naïve individuals results in life-long latency characterized by frequent and sporadic reactivations. HCMV infection elicits a robust antibody response, including neutralizing antibodies that can block the infection of susceptible cells in vitro and in vivo. Thus, antibody products and vaccines hold great promise for the prevention and treatment of HCMV, but to date, most attempts to demonstrate their safety and efficacy in clinical trials have been unsuccessful. In this review we summarize publicly available data on these products and highlight new developments and approaches that could assist in successful translation of HCMV immunotherapies.
Impact of Global Transcriptional Silencing on Cell Cycle Regulation and Chromosome Segregation in Early Mammalian Embryos

The onset of an early development is, in mammals, characterized by profound changes of multiple aspects of cellular morphology and behavior. These are including, but not limited to, fertilization and the merging of parental genomes with a subsequent transition from the meiotic into the mitotic cycle, followed by global changes of chromatin epigenetic modifications, a gradual decrease in cell size and the initiation of gene expression from the newly formed embryonic genome. Some of these important, and sometimes also dramatic, changes are executed within the period during which the gene transcription is globally silenced or not progressed, and the regulation of most cellular activities, including those mentioned above, relies on controlled translation. It is known that the blastomeres within an early embryo are prone to chromosome segregation errors, which might, when affecting a significant proportion of a cell within the embryo, compromise its further development. In this review, we discuss how the absence of transcription affects the transition from the oocyte to the embryo and what impact global transcriptional silencing might have on the basic cell cycle and chromosome segregation controlling mechanisms.
Cysteine improves boar sperm quality via glutathione biosynthesis during the liquid storage

Objective Sperm is particularly susceptible to reactive oxygen species (ROS) stress. Glutathione (GSH) is an endogenous antioxidant that regulates sperm redox homeostasis. However, it is not clear whether boar sperm could utilize cysteine for synthesis GSH to protect sperm quality from ROS damage. Therefore, the present study was undertaken to elucidate the mechanism of how cysteine is involved in protecting boar sperm quality during liquid storage. Methods Sperm motility, membrane integrity, lipid peroxidation, 4-hydroxyIlonenal (4-HNE) modifications, mitochondrial membrane potential, as well as the levels of ROS, GSH, and, ATP were evaluated. Moreover, the enzymes (GCLC: glutamate cysteine ligase; GSS: glutathione synthetase) that are involved in glutathione synthesis from cysteine precursor were detected by western blotting. Results Compared to the control, addition of 1.25 mM cysteine to the liquid storage significantly increased boar sperm progressive motility, straight-line velocity, curvilinear velocity, beat-cross frequency, membrane integrity, mitochondrial membrane potential, ATP level, acrosome integrity, activities of superoxide dismutase and catalase, and GSH level, while reducing the ROS level, lipid peroxidation and 4-HNE modifications. It was also observed that the GCLC and GSS were expressed in boar sperm. Interestingly, when we used menadione to induce sperm with ROS stress, the menadione associated damages were observed to be reduced by the cysteine supplementation. Moreover, compared to the cysteine treatment, the γ-glutamylcysteine synthetase (γ-GCS) activity, GSH level, mitochondrial membrane potential, ATP level, membrane integrity and progressive motility in boar sperm were decreased by supplementing with an inhibitor of GSH synthesis, buthionine sulfoximine. Conclusion These data suggest that boar sperm could biosynthesize the GSH from cysteine in vitro. Therefore, during storage, addition of cysteine improves boar sperm quality via enhancing the GSH synthesis to resist ROS stress.
Nitro-Oleic Acid (NO2-OA) Improves Systolic Function in Dilated Cardiomyopathy by Attenuating Myocardial Fibrosis

Nitro-oleic acid (NO2-OA), a nitric oxide (NO)- and nitrite (NO2−)-derived electrophilic fatty acid metabolite, displays anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic signaling actions and therapeutic benefit in murine models of ischemia-reperfusion, atrial fibrillation, and pulmonary hypertension. Muscle LIM protein-deficient mice (Mlp−/−) develop dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), characterized by impaired left ventricular function and increased ventricular fibrosis at the age of 8 weeks. This study investigated the effects of NO2-OA on cardiac function in Mlp−/− mice both in vivo and in vitro. Mlp−/− mice were treated with NO2-OA or vehicle for 4 weeks via subcutaneous osmotic minipumps. Wildtype (WT) littermates treated with vehicle served as controls. Mlp−/− mice exhibited enhanced TGFβ signalling, fibrosis and severely reduced left ventricular systolic function. NO2-OA treatment attenuated interstitial myocardial fibrosis and substantially improved left ventricular systolic function in Mlp−/− mice. In vitro studies of TGFβ-stimulated primary cardiac fibroblasts further revealed that the anti-fibrotic effects of NO2-OA rely on its capability to attenuate fibroblast to myofibroblast transdifferentiation by inhibiting phosphorylation of TGFβ downstream targets. In conclusion, we demonstrate a substantial therapeutic benefit of NO2-OA in a murine model of DCM, mediated by interfering with endogenously activated TGFβ signaling.
Solid Supported Model Membranes Containing Plant Glycolipids: A Tool to Study Interactions between Diatom Biomolecules and the Silicalemma in vitro

Die Silika-Biomineralisation in Kieselalgen wird vermutlich durch aggregierte Biomolekule innerhalb der Silika-Ablagerungsvesikel kontrolliert. Die Struktur der gebildeten Zellwand wird dabei durch die Morphologie der organischen Vorlage definiert. Mehrere Studien haben sich bereits mit der Selbst- und Co-Aggregation verschiedener Biomolekule in Losung beschaftigt, aber es wurden bisher noch keine Forschungen zum Einfluss der Organell-umschliesenden Lipiddoppelschicht durchgefuhrt. Diese Studie zielte auf die Untersuchung von Wechselwirkungen zwischen beispielhaften Kieselalgenbiomolekulen und Lipidmembranen in vitro ab. Als Grundlage fur alle Experimente wurden Protokolle fur die Praparation festkorperunterstutzter Modellmembranen entwickelt, die die Gesamtlipidzusammen-setzung von Kieselalgen widerspiegeln und die drei Glycolipide, Monogalactosyl-diacylglycerol, Digalactosyldiacylglycerol und Sulfoquinovosyldiacylglycerol, enthalten. Kunstliche Modellmembranen konnten sowohl auf hydrophob funktionalisiertem Gold und Glas als auch auf hydrophilen Siliziumdioxid- und Glimmeroberflachen erzeugt und charakterisiert werden. Diese Modellsysteme wurden zuerst fur die Untersuchung der Wechselwirkung zweier exemplarischer, rekombinanter Cinguline mit Lipidmembranen angewandt. Cinguline zeigen strukturelle Ahnlichkeiten zu Silaffinen und wurden kurzlich als Teil der organischen Matrix innerhalb des Kieselalgenbiosilikas identifiziert. Adsorptionsmessungen zeigten keine signifikanten Wechselwirkungen dieser Proteine mit Lipidmembranen. Zusatzlich wurde mit langkettigen Polyaminen (englisch long-chain polyamines, LCPA) eine zweite Klasse von Biomolekulen untersucht, die ebenfalls im Kieselalgenbiosilika lokalisiert wurden. Es ist bekannt, dass LCPA in Losung aggregieren und die Silikafallung katalysieren. In dieser Arbeit wurden zum ersten Mal LCPA, deren molekulare Massen denen aus Kieselalgen isolierten Molekulen entsprachen, im Hinblick auf ihre Wechselwirkung mit Lipidmembranen untersucht. Nach Adsorption der LCPA wurde die Bildung von Membranmultischichten beobachtet und charakterisiert. Diese Multischichten wurden aus Vesikeln aus der Losung gebildet und es konnte eine Verbindung zur unterliegenden Membran nachgewiesen werden. Wahrend die Multischichtbildung von der Membran-zusammensetzung unabhangig war, zeigte sich eine klare Abhangigkeit von der Kettenlange der LCPA. Mehr als funf Aminogruppen waren fur die Multischichtbildung notig.
Microgreens: Functional Food with Antiproliferative Cancer Properties Influenced by Light

The anti-proliferative/pro-oxidant efficacy of green pea, soybean, radish, Red Rambo radish, and rocket microgreens, cultivated under either fluorescent lighting (predominant spectral peaks in green and orange) or combination light-emitting diode (LED, predominant spectral peak in blue) was investigated using Ewing sarcoma lines, RD-ES and A673, respectively. All aqueous microgreen extracts significantly reduced cell proliferation (cancer prevention effect) to varying extents in two-dimensional sarcoma cell cultures. The effect of the polyphenol fraction in the aqueous food matrix was unrelated to total polyphenol content, which differed between species and light treatment. Only Pisum sativum (LED-grown) extracts exercised anti-proliferative and pro-apoptotic effects in both three-dimensional RD-ES and A673 spheroids (early tumor progression prevention), without cytotoxic effects on healthy L929 fibroblasts. A similar anti-tumor effect of Red Rambo radish (LED and fluorescent-grown) was evident only in the RD-ES spheroids. Aside from the promising anti-tumor potential of the polyphenol fraction of green pea microgreens, the latter also displayed favorable growth quality parameters, along with radish, under both light treatments over the 10 day cultivation period.
Factors Influencing the Use of Health Information Exchange by Physicians—Using the National Health Insurance PharmaCloud System in Taiwan

This study aimed to investigate the factors influencing physicians use of the PharmaCloud system in Taiwan through Technology Continuance Theory (TCT) and to construct a TCT-based structured questionnaire to demonstrate the attitude and behavior of physicians in the Taiwanese medical system. It focused on investigating “confirmation”, “perceived usefulness”, “perceived ease of use”, “attitude”, “satisfaction”, and “continuance intention” towards the preload-based comparison and manual search in PharmaCloud by attending physicians during their outpatient clinics. Path analysis was used to analyze the cause and effect relationship between variables. This study collected 528 valid questionnaires and the results of path analysis found that factors affecting physicians’ continued use of preload-based comparison in PharmaCloud included “perceived usefulness”, “satisfaction”, and “attitude” (all p < 0.001); however, factors that influenced physicians’ continued use of manual search in PharmaCloud were only “satisfaction” and “attitude” (all p < 0.001). Additionally, the effects of “perceived usefulness” and “perceived ease of use” on “satisfaction” could only be seen in preload-based comparison in PharmaCloud. In conclusion, when physicians’ actual use of PharmaCloud met their expectations, physicians had higher levels of confirmation and better perceived usefulness, which naturally increased their satisfaction and attitude towards PharmaCloud and positively prompted them to continue using it.
Differences between Obese and Non-Obese Children and Adolescents Regarding Their Oral Status and Blood Markers of Kidney Diseases

(1) Background: A rarely discussed effect of obesity-related glomerulopathy (ORG) may slowly lead to irreversible glomerular damage and the development of chronic kidney disease. These patients need to undertake medical care, but whether they should be included in intensive oral care is still not mandatory. The study aimed to assess a relationship between renal, metabolic, and oral health indicators among pediatric patients affected by simple obesity. (2) Methods: 45 children and adolescents with simple obesity hospitalized (BMI 34.1 ± 4.8 kg/m2, age 15.4 ± 2.3) and compared with 41 aged-matched healthy controls (BMI 16.4 ± 2.4 kg/m2, age 15.4 ± 2.7). Echocardiography, 24-h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring, ultrasound exam with Doppler, and laboratory tests including kidney and metabolic markers were performed. Oral status was examined regarding the occurrence of carious lesions using decay missing filling teeth (DMFT), gingivitis as bleeding on probing (BOP), and bacterial colonization as plaque control record (PCR). (3) Results: The strongest correlation was revealed between BMI and concentration of uric acid, cystatin C, GFR estimated by the Filler formula (r = 0.74; r = 0.48; r = −0.52), and between oral variables such as PCR and BOP (r = 0.54; r = 0.58). Children and adolescents with obesity demonstrated untreated dental caries, less efficient in plaque control and gingivitis. (4) Conclusions: No specific relation to markers of kidney disease were found; however, more frequent gingivitis/bacterial colonization and significant differences in oral status between obese and non-obese patients were revealed. Susceptibility to inflammation may be conducive to developing metabolic syndrome and kidney damage in the form of obesity-related glomerulopathy and contribute to future dental caries. Uric acid seems to indicate metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular complications (LVMI > 95 percentiles). Cystatin C and uric acid might aspire to be early markers of kidney damage leading to obesity-related glomerulopathy.