Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Novel approaches to study the crystal assembly in banded spherulites of poly(trimethylene terephthalate)

Poly(trimethylene terephthalate) (PTT), with large, well-defined, and strongly birefringent spherulites upon crystallization, has been chosen as a model to study the correlation between the interior lamellae assembly and the top surface banding structures. Approaches to investigate the bulk interior of the banded spherulites are needed to shed new light on the crystallization mechanism of polymers. Two etching methods (with two different etchants: methylamine and permanganate) were applied to two identical samples to enhance the contrast of crystal arrangements in three-dimensional perspectives. Methylamine, under mild conditions, was found to etch out lamellae bundles on ridges and leave discrete crevice-separated circumferential crystal layers. On the other hand, the oxidizing potassium permanganate was found to dissolve the circumferential crystal layers between the successive bands, exposing circular patterns. These two etching results mutually support the discontinuity of radial growth of PTT spherulites, providing valuable hints as to the actual crystal assembly of PTT.
The Efficacy of Ultrasonic Pest Repellent Devices against the Australian Paralysis Tick, Ixodes holocyclus (Acari: Ixodidae)

Simple Summary Ultrasonic repellers are widely available and marketed to protect against tick bite. To date, there has been no research on the effectiveness of ultrasonic devices against the Australian paralysis tick, Ixodes holocyclus. Thus, this study tested the effectiveness of nine ultrasonic devices with different sound frequencies against female I. holocyclus. Testing found that ultrasonic devices produced less than 19.5% repellency. The low-level repellency from ultrasonic repellers means that they cannot be recommended for prevention against tick bite. Abstract Ultrasonic pest repellers are often promoted as a means of protecting people and pets from the bites of hematophagous arthropods, such as ticks. However, to date, there has been no published research on the effectiveness of these devices against the Australian paralysis tick, Ixodes holocyclus Neumann. The purpose of this study was to test the effectiveness of nine ultrasonic devices against female I. holocyclus. Two arenas were constructed, one for the test (with the ultrasonic device) and one for the control (no device). Each arena had a test and an escape chamber, connected by a corridor. Twenty ticks were placed in each test chamber. After the ultrasonic device was operated for 1 h, the number of ticks in both chambers was recorded. Ten replicates were conducted for each device. The average number of ticks that moved from the test to the escape chamber was greater in all the test arenas, with three devices being statistically different from the control. However, the highest percent of ticks that escaped was only 19.5%. This amount is insufficient to offer adequate protection against tick bites and this study adds further weight to previous investigations that ultrasonic devices should not be employed in pest management.
Terragines F–G produced by endophytic Bacillus sp. SH-1.2-ROOT-18 from Dendrobium officinale

Abstract Two new terragine analogs (1‒2) with special succinimide and aminopentane moieties were isolated from the fermentation broth of Bacillus sp. SH-1.2-ROOT-18, an endophyte previously discovered from the root of Dendrobium officinale. The structures were elucidated base on comprehensive 1 D/2D NMR and MS data analysis. Complete NMR assignments for the first reported naturally occurring metabolite 3 was also provided.
Relationship of SARS-CoV-2–specific CD4 response to COVID-19 severity and impact of HIV-1 and tuberculosis coinfection

T cells are involved in control of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), but limited knowledge is available on the relationship between antigen-specific T cell response and disease severity. Here, we used flow cytometry to assess the magnitude, function, and phenotype of SARS coronavirus 2–specific (SARS-CoV-2–specific) CD4+ T cells in 95 hospitalized COVID-19 patients, 38 of them being HIV-1 and/or tuberculosis (TB) coinfected, and 38 non–COVID-19 patients. We showed that SARS-CoV-2–specific CD4+ T cell attributes, rather than magnitude, were associated with disease severity, with severe disease being characterized by poor polyfunctional potential, reduced proliferation capacity, and enhanced HLA-DR expression. Moreover, HIV-1 and TB coinfection skewed the SARS-CoV-2 T cell response. HIV-1–mediated CD4+ T cell depletion associated with suboptimal T cell and humoral immune responses to SARS-CoV-2, and a decrease in the polyfunctional capacity of SARS-CoV-2–specific CD4+ T cells was observed in COVID-19 patients with active TB. Our results also revealed that COVID-19 patients displayed reduced frequency of Mycobacterium tuberculosis–specific CD4+ T cells, with possible implications for TB disease progression. These results corroborate the important role of SARS-CoV-2–specific T cells in COVID-19 pathogenesis and support the concept of altered T cell functions in patients with severe disease.
Possible Earlier Diagnosis of Ulcerative Colitis-Associated Neoplasia: A Retrospective Analysis of Interval Cases during Surveillance

Background: Early detection of ulcerative colitis-associated neoplasia (UCAN) is often difficult. The aim of this study was to clarify the morphology of initial UCAN. Methods: White-light colonoscopy images obtained within the 2 years before UCAN diagnosis were retrospectively reviewed. The primary endpoint was the frequency of visible or invisible neoplasia on the endoscopic images before UCAN diagnosis. The secondary endpoints were comparisons of (1) visible or invisible neoplasia on initial endoscopic images of early-stage and advanced cancers, (2) the clinical backgrounds of patients in whom neoplasia was visible or invisible on initial endoscopic images, and (3) the clinical backgrounds of patients with distinct and indistinct UCAN borders. Results: Of the 27 UCAN lesions (11 early-stage; 16 advanced-stage), 25.9% (n = 7) were initially visible and 74.1% (n = 20) were invisible. The mean interval between the last surveillance colonoscopy and UCAN diagnosis was 14.5 ± 6.7 months. Of early-stage cancers, 18.2% (n = 2) were visible and 81.8% (n = 9) were invisible. Of advanced-stage cancers, 31.3% (n = 5) were visible and 68.8% (n = 11) were invisible. Invisible lesions were significantly more common in the rectum (p = 0.011) and tended to be more common in patients with inflammation and left-sided colitis (p = 0.084, p = 0.068, respectively). Patients with indistinct UCAN borders were significantly more likely to present with inflammation than those with distinct UCAN borders (p = 0.021). Conclusion: More careful surveillance is needed because rectum lesions and inflammation are difficult to identify as neoplasia even within the 2 years before a UCAN diagnosis.
Differential paraventricular nucleus activation and behavioral responses to social isolation in prairie voles following environmental enrichment with and without physical exercise

ABSTRACT Social stressors produce neurobiological and emotional consequences in social species. Environmental interventions, such as environmental enrichment and exercise, may modulate physiological and behavioral stress responses. The present study investigated the benefits of environmental enrichment and exercise against social stress in the socially monogamous prairie vole. Female prairie voles remained paired with a sibling (control) or were isolated from a sibling for 4 weeks. The isolated groups were assigned to isolated sedentary, isolated with environmental enrichment, or isolated with both enrichment and exercise conditions. Behaviors related to depression, anxiety, and sociality were investigated using the forced swim test (FST), elevated plus maze (EPM), and a social crowding stressor (SCS), respectively. cFos expression was evaluated in stress-related circuitry following the SCS. Both enrichment and enrichment with exercise protected against depression-relevant behaviors in the FST and social behavioral disruptions in the SCS, but only enrichment with exercise protected against anxiety-related behaviors in the EPM and altered cFos expression in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus in isolated prairie voles. Enrichment may improve emotion-related and social behaviors, however physical exercise may be an important component of environmental strategies for protecting against anxiety-related behaviors and reducing neural activation as a function of social stress.
Antibacterial and antibiofilm activity of essential oil of clove against Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella Enteritidis

The antibacterial and antibiofilm activity of essential oil of clove against Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella Enteritidis were investigated. The chemical composition of the oil was characterized by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. Stock solution of the essential oil of clove was prepared in 95% (v/v) ethanol (EOC). The antibacterial assays were performed by disk diffusion assay and minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC). The biomass of adhered cells and preformed biofilms after incubation with different concentrations of EOC was assessed by crystal violet. Eugenol was the major bioactive compound of clove essential oil, accounting for 78.85% of the total composition. The MIC values for L. monocytogenes and S. Enteritidis were 0.05 mg/ml and 0.1 mg/ml, respectively. The initial cell adhesion at MIC was inhibited by 61.8% for L. monocytogenes and 49.8% for S. Enteritidis. However, the effect of EOC was less marked on biofilm eradication than on cell adhesion. At MIC and within 1 hour of incubation with the EOC, the preformed biofilms were reduced by 30.2% and 20.3% for L. monocytogenes and S. Enteritidis, respectively. These results suggest that sanitizers based on clove essential oil could be a potential strategy to control biofilms in food-related environments.
On the corrosion and metastable pitting characteristics of 316L stainless steel produced by selective laser melting

The austenitic stainless steel 316L was additively manufactured using Selective Laser Melting (SLM). The corrosion characteristics of the additively manufactured (3D printed) specimens were investigated by both potentiodynamic and potentiostatic techniques. The production parameters were deliberately varied during SLM, to produce 316L specimens fabricated by different laser scan speed (in the range of 860–1160 mm/s) and laser power (in the range of 165–285 W). The fabrication parameters were found to influence the porosity of the resulting specimens. The pitting potentials, metastable pitting rates and repassivation potentials of the 3D printed specimens are presented herein as a function of the laser scan speed and laser power, and also discussed in the context of specimen porosity. The corrosion characteristics of the 3D printed 316L were also compared with wrought 316L, revealing higher pitting potentials and lower rates of metastable pitting for most SLM 316L specimens, the related concepts of which are discussed herein. © The Author(s) 2017. Published by ECS. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial No Derivatives 4.0 License (CC BY-NC-ND, http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/), which permits non-commercial reuse, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is not changed in any way and is properly cited. For permission for commercial reuse, please email: oa@electrochem.org. [DOI: 10.1149/2.0551706jes] All rights reserved.
Surgically induced ischemia has no impact on protein expression levels of HIF‐1α and related biomarkers in renal cell carcinoma

The increasing demands for personalized targeted therapy directed against renal cell carcinoma have driven a search for predictive markers. Novel therapies targeting HIF‐1α in renal cell carcinoma have been developed, and HIF‐1α has been suggested as a novel predictive marker of response to therapy. The surgical resection of a kidney tumor induces tissue ischemia, and HIF‐1α is an oxygen‐sensitive transcription factor, which is known to be upregulated during hypoxia. This study investigated the impact of intra‐surgical and post‐surgical ischemia on protein expression levels of HIF‐1α and three related biomarkers (VEGF, GLUT‐1, and CAIX) in 20 patients with renal cell carcinoma with immunohistochemistry and Western blotting. Surgical ischemia did not have a significant impact on protein expression levels of any of the investigated markers. Long‐post‐surgical ischemia resulted in reduced expression levels of HIF‐1α, probably due to autolysis. Our results suggest that HIF‐1α is a stable protein, with expression levels not affected by intra‐surgical ischemia, and hence, HIF‐1α is suited for marker analysis.
Mortality Prediction Models: Another Barrier to Racial Equity in a Pandemic

noz-Price LS, Nattinger AB, Rivera F, Hanson R, Gmehlin CG, Perez A, et al. Racial disparities in incidence and outcomes among patients with COVID-19. JAMA Netw Open 2020;3:e2021892. 12. Chen YH, Glymour MM, Catalano R, Fernandez A, Nguyen T, Kushel M, et al. Excess mortality in California during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, March to August 2020. JAMA Intern Med 2020;181:705–707. 13. Lee FC, Adams L, Graves SJ, Massetti GM, Calanan RM, Penman-Aguilar A, et al.Counties with high COVID-19 incidence and relatively large racial and ethnic minority populations United States, April 1-December 22, 2020. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2021;70:483–489. 14. Chakraborty J. Convergence of COVID-19 and chronic air pollution risks: racial/ethnic and socioeconomic inequities in the U.S. Environ Res 2021; 193:110586. 15. Tessum CW, Apte JS, Goodkind AL, Muller NZ, Mullins KA, Paolella DA, et al. Inequity in consumption of goods and services adds to racial-ethnic disparities in air pollution exposure. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 2019;116: 6001–6006.
A Virtual Kitchen Protocol to Measure Everyday Memory Functioning for Meal Preparation

In this study, we developed the Virtual Kitchen Protocol (VKP), a virtual reality-based measure of everyday memory functioning for meal preparation tasks. We investigated the construct validity of the VKP by comparing the performance of young adults (n = 41) and older adults without (n = 52) and with (n = 7) a neurocognitive diagnosis, as well as by examining correlations with standardized measures of verbal and visual memory. The results show that young adults had higher recall than older adults and that the VKP was sensitive to neurocognitive impairment among older adults. The VKP demonstrated moderate to high correlations with other memory tests. These results support the construct validity of the VKP and suggest that it holds promise as a virtual reality-based measure of memory for meal preparation tasks.
Antibody Response to 2-Dose SARS-CoV-2 mRNA Vaccine Series in Solid Organ Transplant Recipients.

Antibody Response to 2-Dose SARS-CoV-2 mRNA Vaccine Series in Solid Organ Transplant Recipients In contrast to immunocompetent participants in vaccine trials,1,2 a low proportion (17%) of solid organ transplant recipients mounted a positive antibody response to the first dose of SARS-CoV-2 messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines, with those receiving anti–metabolite maintenance immunosuppression less likely to respond.3 In this study, we assessed antibody response after the second dose. Methods | Transplant recipients without prior polymerase chain reaction–confirmed COVID-19 were recruited from across the US to participate in this prospective cohort through a digital campaign. Those who completed the 2-dose SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccine series between December 16, 2020, and March 13, 2021, were included and followed up through April 13, 2021. As described previously,3 semiquantitative antispike serologic testing was undertaken with the Roche Elecsys anti– SARS-CoV-2 S enzyme immunoassay, positive cutoff of at least 0.8 U/mL, which tests for the receptor-binding domain of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, or the EUROIMMUN enzyme
Temporal Trends in COVID-19 Incidence in Two Healthcare Worker Cohorts

Background: Health care workers (HCWs) experience increased occupational risk of contracting COVID-19, with temporal trends that might inform surveillance. Methods: We analyzed data from a Veterans Affairs hospital-based COVID-19 worker telephone hotline collected over 40 weeks (2020). We calculated the proportion of COVID-19+ cases among persons-under-investigation (PUIs) for illness compared to rates from a nearby large university-based health care institution. Results: We observed 740 PUIs, 65 (8.8%) COVID-19+. Time trends were similar at the study and comparison hospitals; only for the first of 10 four-week observation periods was the ratio for observed to expected COVID-19+ significant (P < 0.001). Discussion: These data suggest that employee health COVID-19+ to PUI ratios could be utilized as a barometer of community trends. Pooling experience among heath care facilities may yield insights into occupational infectious disease outbreaks.
Fast Handover Algorithm Based on Location and Weight in 5G-R Wireless Communications for High-Speed Railways

With the booming development of high-speed railways (HSRs), key technologies of wireless communications need to be constantly innovated. In particular, the frontier issue of low delay of the handover for the fifth generation (5G) in fast-moving scenarios has attracted attention from both industry and academia. Based on an analysis of a large number of measured data and the location of the user equipment (UE), a fast handover algorithm is proposed to solve the problem of long delay for a train moving at high speed in a 5G-railway (5G-R). By calculating the speed of a train and its direction of movement, a reasonable handover mode is selected and the handover chain of neighboring cells is identified. The location of the train can be calculated to determine whether UE enters the defined identification zone of pre-handover. Depending on the values collected in the measurement report, the command of the handover is triggered when the weight of the target cell is greater than that of the source cell. Our experimental results show that the delay of the fast handover algorithm is reduced by 2.03%, and the success rate of the handover is increased by 0.42%. Research directions for smart railways are discussed based on these findings.
Chronic stress in practice assistants: An analytic approach comparing four machine learning classifiers with a standard logistic regression model

Background Occupational stress is associated with adverse outcomes for medical professionals and patients. In our cross-sectional study with 136 general practices, 26.4% of 550 practice assistants showed high chronic stress. As machine learning strategies offer the opportunity to improve understanding of chronic stress by exploiting complex interactions between variables, we used data from our previous study to derive the best analytic model for chronic stress: four common machine learning (ML) approaches are compared to a classical statistical procedure. Methods We applied four machine learning classifiers (random forest, support vector machine, K-nearest neighbors’, and artificial neural network) and logistic regression as standard approach to analyze factors contributing to chronic stress in practice assistants. Chronic stress had been measured by the standardized, self-administered TICS-SSCS questionnaire. The performance of these models was compared in terms of predictive accuracy based on the ‘operating area under the curve’ (AUC), sensitivity, and positive predictive value. Findings Compared to the standard logistic regression model (AUC 0.636, 95% CI 0.490–0.674), all machine learning models improved prediction: random forest +20.8% (AUC 0.844, 95% CI 0.684–0.843), artificial neural network +12.4% (AUC 0.760, 95% CI 0.605–0.777), support vector machine +15.1% (AUC 0.787, 95% CI 0.634–0.802), and K-nearest neighbours +7.1% (AUC 0.707, 95% CI 0.556–0.735). As best prediction model, random forest showed a sensitivity of 99% and a positive predictive value of 79%. Using the variable frequencies at the decision nodes of the random forest model, the following five work characteristics influence chronic stress: too much work, high demand to concentrate, time pressure, complicated tasks, and insufficient support by practice leaders. Conclusions Regarding chronic stress prediction, machine learning classifiers, especially random forest, provided more accurate prediction compared to classical logistic regression. Interventions to reduce chronic stress in practice personnel should primarily address the identified workplace characteristics.
Phenotypic and Functional Consequences of PLT Binding to Monocytes and Its Association with Clinical Features in SLE

Platelets (PLTs) can modulate the immune system through the release of soluble mediators or through interaction with immune cells. Monocytes are the main immune cells that bind with PLTs, and this interaction is increased in several inflammatory and autoimmune conditions, including systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Our aim was to characterize the phenotypic and functional consequences of PLT binding to monocytes in healthy donors (HD) and in SLE and to relate it to the pathogenesis of SLE. We analyzed the phenotypic and functional features of monocytes with non-activated and activated bound PLTs by flow cytometry. We observed that monocytes with bound PLTs and especially those with activated PLTs have an up-regulated HLA-DR, CD86, CD54, CD16 and CD64 expression. Monocytes with bound PLTs also have an increased capacity for phagocytosis, though not for efferocytosis. In addition, monocytes with bound PLTs have increased IL-10, but not TNF-α, secretion. The altered phenotypic and functional features are comparable in SLE and HD monocytes and in bound PLTs. However, the percentages of monocytes with bound PLTs are significantly higher in SLE patients and are associated with undetectable levels of anti-dsDNA antibodies and hematuria, and with normal C3 and albumin/creatinine levels. Our results suggest that PLTs have a modulatory influence on monocytes and that this effect may be highlighted by an increased binding of PLTs to monocytes in autoimmune conditions.
Assessment of the Genetic Potential of the Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus peregrinus) Population Used in the Reintroduction Program in Poland

Microsatellite DNA analysis is a powerful tool for assessing population genetics. The main aim of this study was to assess the genetic potential of the peregrine falcon population covered by the restitution program. We characterized individuals from breeders that set their birds for release into the wild and birds that have been reintroduced in previous years. This was done using a well-known microsatellite panel designed for the peregrine falcon containing 10 markers. We calculated the genetic distance between individuals and populations using the UPGMA (unweighted pair group method with arithmetic mean) method and then performed a Principal Coordinates Analysis (PCoA) and constructed phylogenetic trees, to visualize the results. In addition, we used the Bayesian clustering method, assuming 1–15 hypothetical populations, to find the model that best fit the data. Units were segregated into groups regardless of the country of origin, and the number of alleles and observed heterozygosity were different in different breeding groups. The wild and captive populations were grouped independent of the original population.