Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Occupational Safety of Municipal Police Officers: Assessing the Vulnerability and Riskiness of Police Officers’ Work

The municipal police agencies increase the safety of a municipality’s citizens and thus increase their quality of life. When performing interventions, municipal police officers may endanger their safety and health. This paper deals with the analysis of the riskiness of municipal police officers working in the Slovak Republic and the Czech Republic from 2004 to 2019 and the assessment of their occupational safety. The risk analysis was carried out on the basis of a risk matrix and calculations of the probability of attack and injury to municipal police officers. Using the Pearson correlation coefficient, the dependence between the selected variables was investigated. The reliability of this dependence was examined by the determination coefficient. The main result of the paper is the determination of the riskiness category of municipal police officer work based on the assessment of the occupational health protection of officers through statistical indicators of their activities and risk matrix. The results will serve as part of the explanatory memorandum for the proposal of legislative changes in order to increase the occupational health protection of municipal police officers.
The Soundscape of the COVID-19 Lockdown: Barcelona Noise Monitoring Network Case Study †

The lockdown social measures in Spain due to COVID-19 caused a significant decrease in urban noise levels, which was observed in most of the large cities. This paper presents an analysis of the noise levels in Barcelona, Spain, by means of an accurate analysis of the most relevant sensors deployed in the Barcelona Noise Monitoring Network. In this work, we present the LAeq levels in eight different locations from January 2020 to June 2020—from Superblocks to industrial zones—including and detailing all stages of the lockdown. Several comparisons were conducted with the monitoring data available from the former years (2019 and 2018—when available). The results of the analysis in Barcelona show a drastic LAeq reduction (−9 dBA), especially in nightlife areas of the city, moderate to high LAeq change (−7 dBA) in commercial and restaurants areas and a small decrease in LAeq (−5 dBA) in dense traffic areas.
Neuroprotective Natural Products for Alzheimer’s Disease

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the number one neurovegetative disease, but its treatment options are relatively few and ineffective. In efforts to discover new strategies for AD therapy, natural products have aroused interest in the research community and in the pharmaceutical industry for their neuroprotective activity, targeting different pathological mechanisms associated with AD. A wide variety of natural products from different origins have been evaluated preclinically and clinically for their neuroprotective mechanisms in preventing and attenuating the multifactorial pathologies of AD. This review mainly focuses on the possible neuroprotective mechanisms from natural products that may be beneficial in AD treatment and the natural product mixtures or extracts from different sources that have demonstrated neuroprotective activity in preclinical and/or clinical studies. It is believed that natural product mixtures or extracts containing multiple bioactive compounds that can work additively or synergistically to exhibit multiple neuroprotective mechanisms might be an effective approach in AD drug discovery.
Human Retrotransposons and the Global Shutdown of Homeostatic Innate Immunity by Oncolytic Parvovirus H-1PV in Pancreatic Cancer

Although the oncolytic parvovirus H-1PV has entered clinical trials, predicting therapeutic success remains challenging. We investigated whether the antiviral state in tumor cells determines the parvoviral oncolytic efficacy. The interferon/interferon-stimulated genes (IFN/ISG)-circuit and its major configurator, human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs), were evaluated using qRT-PCR, ELISA, Western blot, and RNA-Seq techniques. In pancreatic cancer cell lines, H-1PV caused a late global shutdown of innate immunity, whereby the concomitant inhibition of HERVs and IFN/ISGs was co-regulatory rather than causative. The growth-inhibitory IC50 doses correlated with the power of suppression but not with absolute ISG levels. Moreover, H-1PV was not sensitive to exogenous IFN despite upregulated antiviral ISGs. Such resistance questioned the biological necessity of the oncotropic ISG-shutdown, which instead might represent a surrogate marker for personalized oncolytic efficacy. The disabled antiviral homeostasis may modify the activity of other viruses, as demonstrated by the reemergence of endogenous AluY-retrotransposons. This way of suppression may compromise the interferogenicity of drugs having gemcitabine-like mechanisms of action. This shortcoming in immunogenic cell death induction is however amendable by immune cells which release IFN in response to H-1PV.
Using Waveguides to Model the Dynamic Stiffness of Pre-Compressed Natural Rubber Vibration Isolators

A waveguide model for a pre-compressed cylindrical natural rubber vibration isolator is developed within a wide frequency range—20 to 2000 Hz—and for a wide pre-compression domain—from vanishing to the maximum in service, that is 20%. The problems of simultaneously modeling the pre-compression and frequency dependence are solved by applying a transformation of the pre-compressed isolator into a globally equivalent linearized, homogeneous, and isotropic form, thereby reducing the original, mathematically arduous, and complex problem into a vastly simpler assignment while using a straightforward waveguide approach to satisfy the boundary conditions by mode-matching. A fractional standard linear solid is applied as the visco-elastic natural rubber model while using a Mittag–Leffler function as the stress relaxation function. The dynamic stiffness is found to depend strongly on the frequency and pre-compression. The former is resulting in resonance phenomena such as peaks and troughs, while the latter exhibits a low-frequency magnitude stiffness increase in addition to peak and trough shifts with increased pre-compressions. Good agreement with nonlinear finite element results is obtained for the considered frequency and pre-compression range in contrast to the results of standard waveguide approaches.
The Concurrent Validity, Test–Retest Reliability and Usability of a New Foot Temperature Monitoring System for Persons with Diabetes at High Risk of Foot Ulceration

At-home foot temperature monitoring may be useful in the early recognition of imminent foot ulcers that occur through biomechanical loading in people with diabetes. We assessed the concurrent validity, test–retest reliability, and usability of a new plantar foot temperature monitoring device in 50 people with diabetes and peripheral neuropathy. We compared plantar foot temperature measurements with a platform system that consists of embedded temperature sensors with those from a handheld infrared thermometer that was used as a reference. Repeated platform assessments were compared for test–retest reliability. Usability was assessed in 15 participants who used both devices daily for two weeks at home, after which they completed a questionnaire. Agreement between devices was excellent for the metatarsal heads and heel (ICCs ≥ 0.98, LOA: −0.89 °C; 1.16 °C) and hallux and lateral midfoot (0.93 ≤ ICC ≤ 0.96, LOA: −2.87 °C; 2.2 °C), good for digits 2–5 (0.75 ≤ ICC ≤ 0.88, LOA: −5.04 °C; 2.76 °C), and poor for the medial midfoot (ICC = 0.19, LOA: −8.21 °C; −0.05 °C). Test–retest reliability was high (ICC = 0.99, LOA: −0.59 °C; 1.35 °C). Participants scored between 3.8 and 4.3 on a 5-point Likert scale for willingness to measure, ease of use, measurement comfort, and duration. In conclusion, the platform shows good concurrent validity in foot regions where most ulcers occur, good test–retest reliability, and good usability for measuring plantar foot temperature. Further research should assess the clinical validity of the platform to help prevent plantar diabetic foot ulcers.
Alcohol Use as a Function of Physical Activity and Golfing Motives in a National Sample of United States Golfers

Alcohol and physical inactivity are risk factors for a variety of cancer types. However, alcohol use often co-occurs with physical activity (PA), which could mitigate the cancer-prevention benefits of PA. Alcohol is integrated into the culture of one of the most popular physical activities for adults in the United States (U.S.), golf. This study examined how alcohol use was associated with total PA, golf-specific PA, and motives for golfing in a national sample of golfers in the U.S. Adult golfers (n = 338; 51% male, 81% White, 46 ± 14.4 years) self-reported alcohol use, golfing behavior and motives, and PA. Most (84%) golfers consumed alcohol, averaging 7.91 servings/week. Golf participation, including days/week, holes/week, and practice hours/week, was not associated with alcohol use. Golfers with stronger social motives were 60% more likely to consume alcohol. Weekly walking (incident risk ratio (IRR) = 7.30), moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA; IRR = 5.04), and total PA (IRR = 4.14) were associated with more alcohol servings/week. Golfers’ alcohol use may be higher than the general adult population in the U.S. and contributes 775 extra kilocalories/week, a surplus that may offset PA-related energy expenditure and cancer-protective effects. Alcohol use interventions targeting golfers may facilitate weight loss and reduce cancer risk, especially for golfers motivated by social status.
Lipid Nanoparticles Loaded with Iridoid Glycosides: Development and Optimization Using Experimental Factorial Design

Lipid nanoparticles based on multiple emulsion (W/O/W) systems are suitable for incorporating hydrophilic active substances, including iridoid glycosides. This study involved optimization of composition of lipid nanoparticles, incorporation of active compounds (aucubin and catalpol), evaluation of stability of the resulting nanocarriers, and characterization of their lipid matrix. Based on 32 factorial design, an optimized dispersion of lipid nanoparticles (solid lipid:surfactant—4.5:1.0 wt.%) was developed, predisposed for the incorporation of iridoid glycosides by emulsification-sonication method. The encapsulation efficiency of the active substances was determined at nearly 90% (aucubin) and 77% (catalpol). Regarding the stability study, room temperature was found to be the most suitable for maintaining the expected physicochemical parameter values (particle size < 100 nm; polydispersity index < 0.3; zeta potential > |± 30 mV|). Characterization of the lipid matrix confirmed the nanometer size range of the resulting carriers (below 100 nm), as well as the presence of the lipid in the stable β’ form.
Genes Associated with Foliar Resistance to Septoria Nodorum Blotch of Hexaploid Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

The genetic control of host response to the fungal necrotrophic disease Septoria nodorum blotch (SNB) in bread wheat is complex, involving many minor genes. Quantitative trait loci (QTL) controlling SNB response were previously identified on chromosomes 1BS and 5BL. The aim of this study, therefore, was to align and compare the genetic map representing QTL interval on 1BS and 5BS with the reference sequence of wheat and identify resistance genes (R-genes) associated with SNB response. Alignment of QTL intervals identified significant genome rearrangements on 1BS between parents of the DH population EGA Blanco, Millewa and the reference sequence of Chinese Spring with subtle rearrangements on 5BL. Nevertheless, annotation of genomic intervals in the reference sequence were able to identify and map 13 and 12 R-genes on 1BS and 5BL, respectively. R-genes discriminated co-located QTL on 1BS into two distinct but linked loci. NRC1a and TFIID mapped in one QTL on 1BS whereas RGA and Snn1 mapped in the linked locus and all were associated with SNB resistance but in one environment only. Similarly, Tsn1 and WK35 were mapped in one QTL on 5BL with NETWORKED 1A and RGA genes mapped in the linked QTL interval. This study provided new insights on possible biochemical, cellular and molecular mechanisms responding to SNB infection in different environments and also addressed limitations of using the reference sequence to identify the full complement of functional R-genes in modern varieties.
Lymphopenia in COVID-19: γδ T Cells-Based Therapeutic Opportunities

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection dysregulates the immune system by lymphopenia of B cells, monocytes, eosinophils, basophils, and cytotoxic cells such as CD8, γδ T cells, and natural killer (NK) cells. Despite many studies being conducted to better understand the effects of SARS-CoV-2 on the immune system, many mechanisms still remain unclear, hindering the development of novel therapeutic approaches and strategies to improve the host’s immune defense. This mini-review summarizes the findings on the role of γδ T cells in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), providing an overview of the excellent anti-viral therapeutic potential of γδ T cells, that had not yet been exploited in depth.
A FEM-Based 2D Model for Simulation and Qualitative Assessment of Shot-Peening Processes

Shot peening is one of the most favored surface treatment processes mostly applied on large-scale engineering components to enhance their fatigue performance. Due to the stochastic nature and the mutual interactions of process parameters and the partially contradictory effects caused on the component’s surface (increase in residual stress, work-hardening, and increase in roughness), there is demand for capable and user-friendly simulation models to support the responsible engineers in developing optimal shot-peening processes. The present paper contains a user-friendly Finite Element Method-based 2D model covering all major process parameters. Its novelty and scientific breakthrough lie in its capability to consider various size distributions and elastoplastic material properties of the shots. Therewith, the model is capable to provide insight into the influence of every individual process parameter and their interactions. Despite certain restrictions arising from its 2D nature, the model can be accurately applied for qualitative or comparative studies and processes’ assessments to select the most promising one(s) for the further experimental investigations. The model is applied to a high-strength steel grade used for automotive leaf springs considering real shot size distributions. The results reveal that the increase in shot velocity and the impact angle increase the extent of the residual stresses but also the surface roughness. The usage of elastoplastic material properties for the shots has been proved crucial to obtain physically reasonable results regarding the component’s behavior.
miR155 Deficiency Reduces Myofibroblast Density but Fails to Improve Cardiac Function after Myocardial Infarction in Dyslipidemic Mouse Model

Myocardial infarction remains the most common cause of heart failure with adverse remodeling. MicroRNA (miR)155 is upregulated following myocardial infarction and represents a relevant regulatory factor for cardiac remodeling by engagement in cardiac inflammation, fibrosis and cardiomyocyte hypertrophy. Here, we investigated the role of miR155 in cardiac remodeling and dysfunction following myocardial infarction in a dyslipidemic mouse model. Myocardial infarction was induced in dyslipidemic apolipoprotein E-deficient (ApoE−/−) mice with and without additional miR155 knockout by ligation of the LAD. Four weeks later, echocardiography was performed to assess left ventricular (LV) dimensions and function, and mice were subsequently sacrificed for histological analysis. Echocardiography revealed no difference in LV ejection fractions, LV mass and LV volumes between ApoE−/− and ApoE−/−/miR155−/− mice. Histology confirmed comparable infarction size and unaltered neoangiogenesis in the myocardial scar. Notably, myofibroblast density was significantly decreased in ApoE−/−/miR155−/− mice compared to the control, but no difference was observed for total collagen deposition. Our findings reveal that genetic depletion of miR155 in a dyslipidemic mouse model of myocardial infarction does not reduce infarction size and consecutive heart failure but does decrease myofibroblast density in the post-ischemic scar.
Oxidative Stress as a Possible Target in the Treatment of Toxoplasmosis: Perspectives and Ambiguities

Toxoplasma gondii is an apicomplexan parasite causing toxoplasmosis, a common disease, which is most typically asymptomatic. However, toxoplasmosis can be severe and even fatal in immunocompromised patients and fetuses. Available treatment options are limited, so there is a strong impetus to develop novel therapeutics. This review focuses on the role of oxidative stress in the pathophysiology and treatment of T. gondii infection. Chemical compounds that modify redox status can reduce the parasite viability and thus be potential anti-Toxoplasma drugs. On the other hand, oxidative stress caused by the activation of the inflammatory response may have some deleterious consequences in host cells. In this respect, the potential use of natural antioxidants is worth considering, including melatonin and some vitamins, as possible novel anti-Toxoplasma therapeutics. Results of in vitro and animal studies are promising. However, supplementation with some antioxidants was found to promote the increase in parasitemia, and the disease was then characterized by a milder course. Undoubtedly, research in this area may have a significant impact on the future prospects of toxoplasmosis therapy.
Anacardic Acids from Amphipterygium adstringens Confer Cytoprotection against 5-Fluorouracil and Carboplatin Induced Blood Cell Toxicity While Increasing Antitumoral Activity and Survival in an Animal Model of Breast Cancer

Amphipterygium adstringens (cuachalalate) contains anacardic acids (AAs) such as 6-pentadecyl salicylic acid (6SA) that show immunomodulatory and antitumor activity with minimal or no secondary adverse effects. By contrast, most chemotherapeutic agents, such as 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and carboplatin (CbPt), induce myelosuppression and leukopenia. Here, we investigated the myeloprotective and antineoplastic potential of an AA extract or the 6SA as monotherapy or in combination with commonly used chemotherapeutic agents (5-FU and CbPt) to determine the cytoprotective action of 6SA on immune cells. Treatment of Balb/c breast tumor-bearing female mice with an AA mixture or 6SA did not induce the myelosuppression or leukopenia observed with 5-FU and CbPt. The co-administration of AA mixture or isolated 6SA with 5-FU or CbPt reduced the apoptosis of circulating blood cells and bone marrow cells. Treatment of 4T1 breast tumor-bearing mice with the AA mixture or 6SA reduced tumor growth and lung metastasis and increased the survival rate compared with monotherapies. An increased effect was observed in tumor reduction with the combination of 6SA and CbPt. In conclusion, AAs have important myeloprotective and antineoplastic effects, and they can improve the efficiency of chemotherapeutics, thereby protecting the organism against the toxic effects of drugs such as 5-FU and CbPt.
Metabolic Dysfunction in Spinal Muscular Atrophy

Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is an autosomal recessive genetic disorder leading to paralysis, muscle atrophy, and death. Significant advances in antisense oligonucleotide treatment and gene therapy have made it possible for SMA patients to benefit from improvements in many aspects of the once devastating natural history of the disease. How the depletion of survival motor neuron (SMN) protein, the product of the gene implicated in the disease, leads to the consequent pathogenic changes remains unresolved. Over the past few years, evidence toward a potential contribution of gastrointestinal, metabolic, and endocrine defects to disease phenotype has surfaced. These findings ranged from disrupted body composition, gastrointestinal tract, fatty acid, glucose, amino acid, and hormonal regulation. Together, these changes could have a meaningful clinical impact on disease traits. However, it is currently unclear whether these findings are secondary to widespread denervation or unique to the SMA phenotype. This review provides an in-depth account of metabolism-related research available to date, with a discussion of unique features compared to other motor neuron and related disorders.
Nutritional Iodine Status in Pregnant Women from Health Area IV in Asturias (Spain): Iodised Salt Is Enough

Background: Iodine deficiency during pregnancy may have adverse effects on the neurodevelopment of the foetus. Recent studies of pregnant women in Asturias (Spain) indicate that nutritional iodine levels are sufficient. The objective of this study was to confirm the appropriate nutritional iodine status and to analyse the influence of the ingestion of iodine on maternal urinary iodine concentration (UIC) and thyroid function. Methods: An observational study was carried out between May and June 2017 on women in the first trimester of pregnancy from Health Area IV in Asturias. The women completed a questionnaire related to their consumption of iodine and samples were taken to analyse UIC and thyroid function. Results: Three hundred and eighteen pregnant women were involved. Of these, 51.10% used iodised salt, 48.90% consumed ≥ 2 servings of dairy products daily and 87.08% took iodine supplements. The median UIC was 171.5 μg/L (116–265 μg/L) and 60.41% of women had UIC ≥ 150 μg/L. Multivariate logistic regression analysis demonstrated that iodised salt had a protective effect on UIC < 150 μg/L (odds ratio (OR) 0.404 (0.237–0.683), p = 0.001), but not iodine supplements (OR 0.512 (0.240–1.085), p = 0.080). The average level of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) was 2.26 ± 0.94 mIU/L; 68.40% of pregnant women taking iodine supplements had TSH < 2.5 mIU/L compared to 30.00% of those who were not taking supplements (p = 0.031). Conclusions: The pregnant women in our health area are maintaining appropriate nutritional iodine levels. The consumption of iodised salt protects against iodine deficiency; thus, iodine supplements should be taken on an individualised basis.