Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
XPS Study on Calcining Mixtures of Brucite with Titania

In this work, we studied the phases in a Mg-Ti-O system using a 1:1 formulation of MgO:TiO2, mixing synthetic brucite of Mexican origin with TiO2 microparticles of high purity, with a heat treatment at 1100 °C for 1 h. Due to its valence electrons, TiO2 can contribute to the sintering process to improve density in MgO products. The raw materials and formulation by XPS and X-RD techniques were characterized. The results demonstrate the presence of different oxidation states in titania and the formation of different oxides in the Mg-Ti-O system when mixed and calcined at 1100 °C; additionally, we estimated the formation of vacancies in the crystal lattice during the transformation from hexagonal brucite to magnesia with a cubic structure centered on the faces. Its thermal behavior is indicated by the MgO-TiO2 phase diagram.
Microstructure Study and Linear/Nonlinear Optical Performance of Bi-Embedded PVP/PVA Films for Optoelectronic and Optical Cut-Off Applications

Hybrid polymer films of polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP)/polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) embedded with gradient levels of Bi-powder were prepared using a conventional solution casting process. XRD, FTIR, and SEM techniques have been used to examine the micro/molecular structure and morphology of the synthesized flexible films. The intensities of the diffraction peaks and transmission spectrum of the PVP/PVA gradually declined with the introduction of Bi-metal. In addition, filler changes the microstructure surface of the pure film. The modification in the microstructure leads to an enhancement in the optical absorption characteristic of the blend films. The indirect allowed transition energy was calculated via Tauc’s and ASF (Absorption Spectra Fitting) models. The decrease in the hybrid film’s bandgap returns to the localized states in the forbidden region, which led the present films to be suitable for photo-electric, solar cell, etc., applications. The relation between the transition energy and the refractive index was studied. The enhancement in the refractive index with Bi-metal concentrations led to use the as-prepared films in optical sensors. The rise of Bi-metal concentrations leads also to the improvement of the nonlinear susceptibility and refractive parameters. The optical limiting characteristics revealed that the higher concentration dopant films reduce the light transmission intensity which is appropriate for laser attenuation and optical limiting in photonic devices. The results suggest that hybrid films are promising materials in a wide range of opto-electronic applications.
Nanocomposites of Graphene Oxide—Silver Nanoparticles for Enhanced Antibacterial Activity: Mechanism of Action and Medical Textiles Coating

The resistance of microorganisms to antibiotics is a crucial problem for which the application of nanomaterials is among a growing number of solutions. The aim of the study was to create a nanocomposite (composed of graphene oxide and silver nanoparticles) with a precise mode of antibacterial action: what enables textiles to be coated in order to exhibit antibacterial properties. A characterization of nanomaterials (silver nanoparticles and graphene oxide) by size distribution, zeta potential measurements, TEM visualization and FT-IR was performed. The biological studies of the nanocomposite and its components included the toxicity effect toward two pathogenic bacteria species, namely Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus, interaction of nanomaterials with the outer layer of microorganisms, and the generation of reactive oxygen species and lipid peroxidation. Afterwards, antibacterial studies of the nanocomposite’s coated textiles (cotton, interlining fabric, polypropylene and silk) as well as studies of the general toxicity towards a chicken embryo chorioallantoic membrane model were conducted. The toxicity of the nanocomposite used was higher than its components applied separately (zones of growth inhibition for P. aeruginosa for the final selected concentrations were as follows: silver nanoparticles 21 ± 0.7 mm, graphene oxide 14 ± 1.9 mm and nanocomposite 23 ± 1.6 mm; and for S. aureus were: silver nanoparticles 27 ± 3.8 mm, graphene oxide 14 ± 2.1 mm, and nanocomposite 28 ± 0.4 mm. The viability of P. aeruginosa and S. aureus after treatment with selected GO-Ag decreased to 27% and 31%, respectively, compared to AgNPs, when the viability of both species was 31% and 34%, accordingly). The coated textiles showed encouraging antibacterial features without general toxicity towards the chicken embryo chorioallantoic membrane model. We demonstrated that graphene oxide might constitute a functional platform for silver nanoparticles, improving the antibacterial properties of bare silver. Due to the application of the nanocomposite, the textiles showed promising antibacterial features with a low general toxicity, thereby creating a wide possibility for them to be used in practice.
Free-Breathing Phase-Resolved Oxygen-Enhanced Pulmonary MRI Based on 3D Stack-of-Stars UTE Sequence

Compared with hyperpolarized noble gas MRI, oxygen-enhanced lung imaging is a cost-effective approach to investigate lung function. In this study, we investigated the feasibility of free-breathing phase-resolved oxygen-enhanced pulmonary MRI based on a 3D stack-of-stars ultra-short echo time (UTE) sequence. We conducted both computer simulation and in vivo experiments and calculated percent signal enhancement maps of four different respiratory phases on four healthy volunteers from the end of expiration to the end of inspiration. The phantom experiment was implemented to verify simulation results. The respiratory phase was segmented based on the extracted respiratory signal and sliding window reconstruction, providing phase-resolved pulmonary MRI. Demons registration algorithm was applied to compensate for respiratory motion. The mean percent signal enhancement of the average phase increases from anterior to posterior region, matching previous literature. More details of pulmonary tissues were observed on post-oxygen inhalation images through the phase-resolved technique. Phase-resolved UTE pulmonary MRI shows the potential as a valuable method for oxygen-enhanced MRI that enables the investigation of lung ventilation on middle states of the respiratory cycle.
Yield of FDG PET/CT for Defining the Extent of Disease in Patients with Kaposi Sarcoma

Simple Summary The potential role of positron emission tomography/computed tomography with fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG PET/CT) for assessing the extent of Kaposi sarcoma is not well studied. We analyzed FDG PET/CTs performed on 75 patients referred to our department for Kaposi sarcoma staging or restaging. FDG PET/CTs detected most lymph nodes, bone, and muscle lesions, whereas digestive and mucous lesions could be missed. Most cutaneous lesions can be identified when whole-body FDG PET/CT (including lower limbs) is performed. Thus, a true whole-body FDG PET/CT can be recommended for staging purposes in patients with active Kaposi sarcoma and, if positive, be useful for therapeutic evaluation and follow-up. Abstract Background: Positron emission tomography/computed tomography with fluorodeoxyglucose (F-18) (FDG PET/CT) is increasingly used in Kaposi sarcoma (KS), but its value has not been assessed. Objectives: In this study, we aimed to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of FDG PET/CT to define the extent of disease in KS. Methods: Consecutive patients with KS referred to our department for FDG PET/CT were included. The diagnostic accuracy of FDG PET/CT for cutaneous and extra-cutaneous KS staging was assessed on a per lesion basis compared to staging obtained from clinical examination, standard imaging, endoscopy, histological analyses, and follow-up. Results: From 2007 to 2017, 75 patients with FDG PET/CT were analyzed. The sensitivity and specificity of FDG PET/CT for the overall detection of KS lesions were 71 and 98%, respectively. Sensitivity and specificity were 100 and 85% for lymph nodes, 87 and 98% for bone, 87 and 100% for lungs, and 100 and 100% for muscle involvement, whereas sensitivity was only 17% to detect KS digestive involvement. The sensitivity of the diagnostic for KS cutaneous involvement increased from 73 to 88% when using a whole-body examination. Conclusion: FDG PET/CT showed good sensitivity and specificity for KS staging (digestive involvement excepted) and could be used for staging patients with active KS.
Adolescents’ Perceptions of Gender Aspects in a Virtual-Reality-Based Alcohol-Prevention Tool: A Focus Group Study

Virtual reality (VR) is an innovative tool for alcohol prevention among adolescents. However, many aspects of virtual simulations for alcohol prevention remained unstudied, and research on opportunities for tailoring such tools to users’ gender using avatar-based pathways is lacking. The present study, therefore, explores adolescents’ perceptions of gender portrayal and gender tailoring using Virtual LimitLab—a VR simulation for building refusal skills for dealing with peer pressure to consume alcohol. Focus groups were conducted after individual simulation testing with 13 adolescents in four groups, whose statements and discussion underwent thematic analysis. Three main themes were identified: the relevance of gender, opinions on different tailoring options for gender, and opinions on flirt orientation. Divergent arguments for different tailoring options and representations of gender in the simulation were proposed. Some participants changed opinions during discussions. Sexual harassment was consensually deemed an important issue that is linked to both partying and alcohol and was concluded to require being addressed along with alcohol prevention. A consensus also formed around open flirting possibilities (regardless of gender), and awareness of non-binary peers was raised. Based on the observed sensitivity of the adolescents to gender diversity, it is necessary to include LGBTQIA+ adolescents when developing gender-sensitive simulations.
Plasmonic Fiberoptic Absorbance Biosensor (P-FAB) for Rapid Detection of SARS-CoV-2 Nucleocapsid Protein

SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein-based COVID-19 diagnosis is a promising alternative to the high-priced, time-consuming, and labor-intensive RT-PCR tests. Here, we developed a rapid, dip-type, wash-free plasmonic fiber optic absorbance biosensor (P-FAB) strategy for the point-of-care detection of SARS-CoV-2 N-protein, expressed abundantly during the infection. P-FAB involves a sandwich assay with plasmonic labels on the surface of a U-bent fiber optic sensor probe with a high evanescent wave absorbance (EWA) sensitivity. The SARS-CoV-2 N-protein is quantified in terms of the change in the intensity of the light propagating through the U-bent sensor probe coupled to a green LED and a photodetector. Firstly, the optical fiber material (silica vs. polymeric optical fiber), was evaluated to realize a sensitive sensor platform. The optimal size of AuNP labels (20, 40, and 60 nm) to achieve high sensitivity and a lower limit of detection (LoD) was investigated. Following the P-FAB strategy, fused silica/glass optical fiber (GOF) U-bent senor probe and citrate-capped AuNP labels (size ~40 nm) gave rise to an LoD down to ~2.5 ng/mL within 10 mins of read-out time. Further, studies on development and validation of a point of care (PoC) read-out device, and preclinical studies are in progress.
Effect of Lentinula edodes on Morphological and Biochemical Blood Parameters of Horses

Simple Summary Shiitake mushrooms (Lentinula edodes) have remarkable health properties that have been used in Far Eastern medicine for centuries. There is limited evidence that L. edodes has a direct effect on cell metabolism, with overall beneficial effects on animal health. As shiitake mushroom products appear to have a broad spectrum of effects, from changes in the immune response to changes in performance, a study was conducted to evaluate the effects of shiitake mushroom supplementation on the blood morphological and biochemical parameters in horses. This pilot study showed that there were single statistical differences between sessions between the supplemented and the control groups. The blood morphology showed that shiitake mushroom supplementation had an effect on white blood cells, hemoglobin, and hematocrit levels. In the biochemical analysis, shiitake mushrooms affected the levels of alkaline phosphatase, calcium, gamma-glutamyl transferase, bilirubin, and glucose and the albumin/globulin ratio. The observed differences between the supplemented and the control group sessions suggest that shiitake mushrooms may be a beneficial nutritional supplement for horses. Abstract Shiitake mushrooms have been highly regarded as possessing enormous nutritive and medicinal values. No clinical studies have yet investigated the effect of shitake supplementation on the health of horses. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of shiitake mushroom supplementation on the morphological and biochemical blood properties in horses. A total of 17 adult horses were divided into two groups: supplemented and control. The supplemented group was fed 60 g of shiitake mushrooms per day for 5 months. Blood samples were collected in five sessions. Blood morphological analysis showed higher levels of lymphocytes in session 3 and monocytes in session 4 in the supplemented group. In addition, basophils, hemoglobin, and hematocrit were elevated compared to the control group. Biochemical analysis showed that the shiitake mushrooms affected a large number of parameters. In particular, alkaline phosphatase was found to be the most sensitive to shitake mushroom supplementation, for which the statistical differences were significant for sessions 2, 4, and 5. Furthermore, calcium was found to be affected by supplementation only in session 4, and gamma-glutamyl transferase in session 2. In addition, the bilirubin and glucose levels were lower in the supplemented group, and the albumin/globulin ratio was higher compared to the control group. The differences between the supplement and the control group in various sessions suggest that shiitake mushrooms are a beneficial nutritional supplement for horses.
Fatty Acid-Binding Protein 7 (FABP-7), Glutamic Acid and Neurofilament Light Chain (NFL) as Potential Markers of Neurodegenerative Disorders in Psoriatic Patients—A Pilot Study

Psoriasis and neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) are important medical, social and economic issues. The possible relationship of psoriasis and NDs has not been established yet. This study involved 60 patients with plaque-type psoriasis. Serum concentrations of fatty acid-binding protein 7 (FABP-7), glutamic acid (GA) and neurofilament light chain (NFL), which have been hardly studied in psoriasis before, were measured by ELISA before and after 12 weeks of treatment with acitretin or methotrexate. The concentration of FABP-7 and NFL in patients before the treatment was significantly higher than in the controls (p < 0.01, p < 0.001, respectively). After the treatment their concentration decreased, although FABP-7 did so insignificantly. The concentration of GA did not differ significantly between patients and controls and before and after the treatment but we found its negative correlation with CRP (p < 0.05). The duration of psoriasis does not seem to directly affect the risk of neurodegeneration and the severity only in patients with worse skin condition. Elevated FABP-7 and NFL, which are present in the brain, may be considered as potential indicators of NDs development in psoriatics, although it surely requires further research. GA might correspond with neuroinflammation in psoriasis. Systemic antipsoriatic therapy could be studied in order to improve cognitive impairment through lowering NDs biomarkers in some cases.
Spatially Varying Associations of Neighborhood Disadvantage with Alcohol and Tobacco Retail Outlet Rates

More than 30% of cancer related deaths are related to tobacco or alcohol use. Controlling and restricting access to these cancer-causing products, especially in communities where there is a high prevalence of other cancer risk factors, has the potential to improve population health and reduce the risk of specific cancers associated with these substances in more vulnerable population subgroups. One policy-driven method of reducing access to these cancer-causing substances is to regulate where these products are sold through the placement and density of businesses selling tobacco and alcohol. Previous work has found significant positive associations between tobacco, alcohol, and tobacco and alcohol retail outlets (TRO, ARO, TARO) and a neighborhood disadvantage index (NDI) using Bayesian shared component index modeling, where NDI associations differed across outlet types and relative risks varied by population density (e.g., rural, suburban, urban). In this paper, we used a novel Bayesian index model with spatially varying effects to explore spatial nonstationarity in NDI effects for TROs, AROs, and TAROs across census tracts in North Carolina. The results revealed substantial variation in NDI effects that varied by outlet type. However, all outlet types had strong positive effects in one coastal area. The most important variables in the NDI were percent renters, Black racial segregation, and the percentage of homes built before 1940. Overall, more disadvantaged areas experienced a greater neighborhood burden of outlets selling one or both of alcohol and tobacco.
High Frequency of Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase Deficiency in Patients Diagnosed with Celiac Disease

Celiac disease (CD) is characterized by a proinflammatory state associated with the production of reactive oxygen species, i.e., a condition of oxidative stress. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that the inherited deficiency of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD), by causing impaired antioxidant defense, may increase the risk of CD. Methods: A retrospective monocentric case-control study was performed using the clinical records of 8338 outpatients (64.6% women) scheduled for upper endoscopy between 2002 and 2021 in Northern Sardinia. Overall, 627 were found to have CD (7.5%), and 1027 resulted to be G6PD-deficiency carriers (12.3%). Since randomization was impractical, the potential covariates imbalance between cases and controls was minimized using a 1:2 propensity-score-matched (PSM) analysis. Results: Overall, G6PD deficiency was associated with increased risk of CD (odds ratio (OR) 1.50; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.19–1.90). The PSM procedure identified 1027 G6PD-deficient and 2054 normal patients. Logistic regression including the propensity score detected for G6PD deficiency an OR of 1.48 (95%CI 1.13–1.95; p = 0.004). Conclusions: Our findings show that the enzyme defect was significantly and positively associated with CD, in line with the pro-oxidant impact of the enzyme defect observed in animal models and humans.
Evaluation of Salivary Biochemistry in Dogs with and without Plaque, Calculus, and Gingivitis: Preliminary Results

Simple Summary Periodontal disease is one of the most prevalent disorders observed in dogs requiring primary-care veterinary services. Traditional methods for its diagnosis involve clinical measurements requiring sedation or general anesthesia. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether quantified salivary biochemistry parameters can be used as markers of periodontal disease in dogs. Seventy-nine dogs were allocated into three groups according to the severity of periodontal disease: none (Group 1), moderate (Group 2), and severe (Group 3). A blood sample and a saliva sample were collected from each dog to quantify biochemical parameters that included alpha-amylase, lysozyme, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), calcium, and phosphorus. LDH and phosphorus showed the highest values in Group 3 whereas calcium, amylase, and lysozyme did not differ among groups. The salivary phosphorus cut-off value of 4.04 mg/dl that was established signified that above such value, periodontal disease could be predicted with fairly high probability. Although further studies are needed to confirm these preliminary results, this study offers a valid starting point for further investigation into the role of saliva as a non-invasive tool for detecting periodontal disease in dogs. Abstract This study evaluated whether salivary alpha-amylase, lysozyme, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), calcium, and phosphorus can be used as markers of periodontal disease in dogs. Plaque, calculus, and gingivitis indexes were used to allocate 79 dogs in three groups: none (Group 1), moderate (Group 2), and severe (Group 3) periodontal disease. A blood sample and a saliva sample were collected from each dog to quantify biochemical parameters. LDH and phosphorus showed the highest values in Group 3 (LDH: Group 1, 2559.85 ± 676.95; vs. Group 2: 1636.76 ± 597.36 vs. Group 3: 4099.18 ± 545.45 U.I./l, p = 0.016; phosphorus: Group 1, 3.02 ± 0.76 vs. Group 2: 5.34 ± 0.67 vs. Group 3: 5.85± 0.61 mg/dl, p = 0.049) whereas calcium, amylase, and lysozyme did not differ among groups. A ROC curve analysis permitted the establishment of a salivary phosphorus cut-off value of 4.04 mg/dl, above which periodontal disease could be predicted (70% sensitivity (95% CI: 50.6–85.3%) and 72.41% specificity (95% CI: 52.8–87.3%)). Only salivary calcium was higher in males; no other salivary parameters appeared affected by gender or age. Although further results on a larger population are needed, this study shows that salivary LDH and phosphorus increase in dogs affected by plaque, supragingival calculus, and gingivitis, and this suggests their potential use as markers of periodontal disease in canine species.
Validation of Ultrasound Risk Stratification Systems for Cervical Lymph Node Metastasis in Patients with Thyroid Cancer

Simple Summary Ultrasound (US) malignancy risk stratification systems (RSS) for cervical lymph nodes (LNs) have not been fully established in patients with thyroid cancer. In this study, we assessed the malignancy risks of each US feature and risk category from the Korean Society of Thyroid Radiology (KSThR) and the European Thyroid Association (ETA). Both systems effectively classified malignancy risks; however, 15.1% of LNs were unclassifiable in ETA RSS. Suspicious US features of hyperechogenicity, cystic change, echogenic foci, and abnormal vascularity were independently associated with metastasis. When the primary tumor characteristics were assessed, tumor multiplicity was associated with metastasis in the indeterminate LN group. We refined this system and proposed an RSS based on the KSThR system for cervical LNs in patients with thyroid cancer. Abstract A malignancy risk stratification system (RSS) for cervical lymph nodes (LNs) has not been fully established. This study aimed to validate the current RSS for the diagnosis of cervical LN metastasis in thyroid cancer. In total, 346 LNs from 282 consecutive patients between December 2006 and June 2015 were included. We determined the malignancy risk of each ultrasound (US) feature and performed univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses. Each risk category from the Korean Society of Thyroid Radiology (KSThR) and the European Thyroid Association (ETA) was applied to calculate malignancy risks. The effects of size, number of suspicious features, and primary tumor characteristics were analyzed to refine the current RSS. Suspicious features including echogenic foci, cystic change, hyperechogenicity, and abnormal vascularity were independently predictive of malignancy (p ≤ 0.045). The malignancy risks of probably benign, indeterminate, and suspicious categories were 2.2–2.5%, 26.8–29.0%, and 85.8–87.4%, respectively, according to the KSThR and ETA criteria. According to the ETA criteria, 15.1% of LNs were unclassifiable. In indeterminate LNs, multiplicity of the primary tumor was significantly associated with malignancy (odds ratio, 6.53; p = 0.004). We refined the KSThR system and proposed a US RSS for LNs in patients with thyroid cancer.