Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Cytotoxicity and Mitochondrial Effects of Phenolic and Quinone-Based Mitochondria-Targeted and Untargeted Antioxidants on Human Neuronal and Hepatic Cell Lines: A Comparative Analysis

Mitochondriotropic antioxidants (MC3, MC6.2, MC4 and MC7.2) based on dietary antioxidants and analogs (caffeic, hydrocaffeic, trihydroxyphenylpropanoic and trihydroxycinnamic acids) were developed. In this study, we evaluate and compare the cytotoxicity profile of novel mitochondria-targeted molecules (generally known as MitoCINs) on human HepG2 and differentiated SH-SY5Y cells with the quinone-based mitochondria-targeted antioxidants MitoQ and SkQ1 and with two non-targeted antioxidants, resveratrol and coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10). We further evaluate their effects on mitochondrial membrane potential, cellular oxygen consumption and extracellular acidification rates. Overall, MitoCINs derivatives reduced cell viability at concentrations about six times higher than those observed with MitoQ and SkQ1. A toxicity ranking for both cell lines was produced: MC4 < MC7.2 < MC3 < MC6.2. These results suggest that C-6 carbon linker and the presence of a pyrogallol group result in lower cytotoxicity. MC3 and MC6.2 affected the mitochondrial function more significantly relative to MitoQ, SkQ1, resveratrol and CoQ10, while MC4 and MC7.2 displayed around 100–1000 times less cytotoxicity than SkQ1 and MitoQ. Based on the mitochondrial and cytotoxicity cellular data, MC4 and MC7.2 are proposed as leads that can be optimized to develop safe drug candidates with therapeutic application in mitochondrial oxidative stress-related diseases.
Anthropogenic noise variation in Indian cities due to the COVID-19 lockdown during March-to-May 2020

This paper analyzes the impact of a nationwide lockdown enforced during March-to-May 2020 to prevent the widespread transmission of COVID-19 on the local anthropogenic noise level variation in Indian cities. To this end, data obtained from the National Ambient Noise Monitoring Network (NANMN) was used to analyze the long-term daily evolution of average day- and night-time levels at selected locations across seven major cities. The results indicate that when the strict lockdown phase 1 was declared, all industrial (I), commercial (C), and residential (R) zones experienced either a gradual or sudden decrease in noise levels while the silence (S) zone was unaffected. Depending on the zone, the weekly trend graphs reached a minimum either during phase 1 or conditionally relaxed phase 2. Across I, C, and R zones, the average maximum day- and night-time reduction with respect to the pre-lockdown period ranged from 4 to 13.8 dB(A) and 4 to 14.1 dB(A), respectively. As anticipated, with a gradual ease in restrictions from phase 2 onwards, the levels climbed back almost linearly, and during unlocks, the daily variation resembled the pre-lockdown trend. Furthermore, the responses to an online COVID-19 noise perception survey supported the NANMN results and suggested that the lockdown was quieter.
A Trial for the Identification of Brown Planthopper (Nilaparvata lugens Stål) Resistance Alleles in Two Rice Lines, Norin-PL3 and Norin-PL4, Using Next-generation Sequencing and Simple Graphical Genotyping Methods

Norin-PL3 and Norin-PL4 are rice ( Oryza sativa L.) breeding lines that carry a brown planthopper (BPH) resistance gene. Norin-PL3 was bred by introgressing BPH1 derived from the Indica Group variety Mudgo into Japonica Group rice, whereas Norin-PL4 was bred by introgressing BPH2 derived from the Indica Group variety IR 1154-243 into Japonica Group rice. To detect the alleles derived from resistance donor varieties in these lines, we developed a simple method to create graphical genotypes using a part of the InDel information obtained by a short-read next-generation sequencing system. In Norin-PL3, chromosomal regions derived from Mudgo were found on chromosome 12 and two other locations on the short arm of chromosome 1. In Norin-PL4, the chromosomal regions derived from IR 1145-243 were found on chromosomes 5 and 12, the short arm of chromosome 4, and chromosome 8. Among these regions derived from resistant donors, chromosomal regions contributing to resistance were identified. This method could also assist in creating graphical genotypes of the other rice lines with both Japonica Group and Indica Group varieties as parents. Moreover, the results of the graphical genotype and DNA marker information of Norin-PL3 and Norin-PL4 will be useful for rice breeding research on BPH resistance.
Generic Framework for the Optimal Implementation of Flexibility Mechanisms in Large-Scale Smart Grids

This paper aims to provide the smart grid research community with an open and accessible general mathematical framework to develop and implement optimal flexibility mechanisms in large-scale network applications. The motivation of this paper is twofold. On the one hand, flexibility mechanisms are currently a hot topic of research, which is aimed to mitigate variation and uncertainty of electricity demand and supply in decentralised grids with a high aggregated share of renewables. On the other hand, a large part of such related research is performed by heuristic methods, which are generally inefficient (such methods do not guarantee optimality) and difficult to extrapolate for different use cases. Alternatively, this paper presents an MPC-based (Model Predictive Control) framework explicitly including a generic flexibility mechanism which is easy to particularise to specific strategies such as Demand Response, Flexible Production and Energy Efficiency Services. The proposed framework is benchmarked with other non-optimal control configurations to better show the advantages it provides. The work of this paper is completed by the implementation of a generic use case which aims to further clarify the use of the framework and thus, to ease its adoption by other researchers in their specific flexibility mechanisms applications.
Treatment of UTIs Due to Klebsiella pneumoniae Carbapenemase-Producers: How to Use New Antibiotic Drugs? A Narrative Review

Background: K. pneumoniae is one of the bacteria most frequently causing health care-associated urinary tract infections, and increasingly incriminating Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase producers (KPCp). Most infections caused by KPCp are nosocomial and might cause serious issues, even leading to death in half of the reported cases. Our aim was to identify the best strategy, based on available scientific data, for the use of new antibiotic treatments to manage KPCp UTIs. Methods: this narrative review of the literature was performed according to the criteria of preferred reporting items for systematic review and meta-analyses statement (PRISMA) (2020). Results and Conclusions: KPCp-UTIs are a real challenge for physicians. While cefiderocol, meropenem-vaborbactam, ceftazidim-avibactam, and imipenem-relebactam represent a major step forward in the treatment of these UTIs, no guidelines are currently available, in view of choosing the most appropriate treatment, in each specific case.
Successful shrinkage of anterior communicating artery aneurysm after ACA–ACA bypass with interposed occipital artery graft in pediatric moyamoya disease: illustrative case

BACKGROUND Selecting therapeutic options for moyamoya disease (MMD)-associated anterior communicating artery (ACoA) aneurysm, a rare pathology in children, is challenging because its natural course remains unclear. OBSERVATIONS A 4-year-old boy exhibiting transient ischemic attacks was diagnosed with unilateral MMD accompanied by an unruptured ACoA aneurysm. Although superficial temporal artery to middle cerebral artery anastomosis eliminated his symptoms, the aneurysm continued to grow after surgery. Since a previous craniotomy and narrow endovascular access at the ACoA precluded both aneurysmal clipping and coil embolization, the patient underwent a surgical anastomosis incorporating an occipital artery graft between the bilateral cortical anterior cerebral arteries (ACAs). This was intended to augment blood flow in the ipsilateral ACA territory and to reduce the hemodynamic burden on the ACoA complex. The postoperative course was uneventful, and radiological images obtained 12 months after surgery revealed good patency of the bypass and marked shrinkage of the aneurysm in spite of the intact contralateral internal carotid artery. LESSONS Various clinical scenarios should be assessed carefully with regard to this pathology. Bypass surgery aimed at reducing flow to the aneurysm might be an alternative therapeutic option when neither coiling nor clipping is feasible.
University Social Responsibility: The Case of Italy

Increasing attention is now being paid to the concept of sustainability as a crucial element of our life at all levels. The awareness that attention must be paid not only to the present, but also and above all to the future of the society in which we live has increased attention to social and environmental issues, such as climate change and the digital revolution. This transformation has also impacted the public sector: in particular, the scientific attention in the university sector has led to the birth of the concept of University Social Responsibility (USR), which suggests that universities sustainably re-transform their work. However, this issue has so far only been the subject of a few studies. The purpose of this article is to promote greater awareness on the part of universities of the importance of addressing sustainability issues. The results of the analysis, obtained thanks to the use of a questionnaire and interviews, depict the state of the art in the adoption of social reporting practices by Italian universities and identify the main reasons and barriers to the adoption of these practices.
The Receptor-like Kinase TaCRK-7A Inhibits Fusarium pseudograminearum Growth and Mediates Resistance to Fusarium Crown Rot in Wheat

Simple Summary Fusarium crown rot (FCR), caused by a soil-borne fungus Fusarium pseudograminearum, is one of the most destructive diseases of cereal crops, including wheat (Triticum aestivum) in many countries. It is vital to isolate resistance genes for improving crop resistance. Herein, we report the positive function of the wheat DUF26 domain-containing receptor-like kinase TaCRK-7A in the host resistance response to the pathogen F. pseudograminearum attack. The purified TaCRK-7A protein directly inhibited F. pseudograminearum mycelial growth. The TaCRK-7A transcript was elevated upon F. pseudograminearum infection and the transcript induction was higher in resistant wheat genotypes than in susceptible wheat genotypes. Knocking down of TaCRK-7A compromised resistance of wheat to FCR and significantly reduced the transcript levels of defense genes in wheat. This study provides a novel insight into the wheat immune responses to F. pseudograminearum. Abstract The fungus F. pseudograminearum can cause the destructive disease Fusarium crown rot (FCR) of wheat, an important staple crop. Functional roles of FCR resistance genes in wheat are largely unknown. In the current research, we characterized the antifungal activity and positive-regulatory function of the cysteine-rich repeat receptor-like kinase TaCRK-7A in the defense against F. pseudograminearum in wheat. Antifungal assays showed that the purified TaCRK-7A protein inhibited the growth of F. pseudograminearum. TaCRK-7A transcript abundance was elevated after F. pseudograminearum attack and was positively related to FCR-resistance levels of wheat cultivars. Intriguingly, knocking down of TaCRK-7A transcript increased susceptibility of wheat to FCR and decreased transcript levels of defense-marker genes in wheat. Furthermore, the transcript abundances of TaCRK-7A and its modulated-defense genes were responsive to exogenous jasmonate treatment. Taken together, these results suggest that TaCRK-7A can directly inhibit F. pseudograminearum growth and mediates FCR-resistance by promoting the expression of wheat defense genes in the jasmonate pathway. Thus, TaCRK-7A is a potential gene resource in FCR-resistant wheat breeding program.
Differentiated Thyroid Cancer with Biochemical Incomplete Response: Clinico-Pathological Characteristics and Long Term Disease Outcomes

Simple Summary Biochemical incomplete response (BIR) is defined as elevated thyroglobulin or rising thyroglobulin antibodies following treatment without structural evidence of disease at 1–2 years after initial treatment. The long-term outcome of such patients is still poorly characterized, with some progressing to structural disease, while others maintain BIR for decades or revert to non-evidence of disease (NED). In this study, we aimed to identify factors that could predict any of the above possible outcomes. In our cohort of 83 BIR patients with a mean follow-up of 12 years, 41% progressed to structural disease. Of them, 11.8% remained BIR, and 38.2% reverted to NED. Abstract Although most patients with differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) and biochemical incomplete response (BIR) follow a good clinical outcome, progression to structural disease may occur in 8–17% of patients. We aimed to identify factors that could predict the long-term outcomes of BIR patients. To this end, we conducted a retrospective review study of 1049 charts from our Differential Thyroid Cancer registry of patients who were initially treated with total thyroidectomy between 1962 and 2019. BIR was defined as suppressed thyroglobulin (Tg) > 1 ng/mL, stimulated Tg > 10 ng/mL or rising anti-Tg antibodies, who did not have structural evidence of disease, and who were assessed 12–24 months after initial treatment. We found 83 patients (7.9%) matching the definition of BIR. During a mean follow-up of 12 ± 6.6 years, 49 (59%) patients remained in a state of BIR or reverted to no evidence of disease, while 34 (41%) progressed to structural disease. At the last follow-up, three cases (3.6%) were recorded as disease-related death. The American Thyroid Association (ATA) Initial Risk Stratification system and/or AJCC/TNM (8th ed.) staging system at diagnosis predicted the shift from BIR to structural disease, irrespective of their postoperative Tg levels. We conclude that albeit 41% of BIR patients may shift to structural disease, and most have a rather indolent disease. Specific new individual data enable the Response to Therapy reclassification to become a dynamic system to allow for the better management of BIR patients in the long term.
Feeding performance of the larval stag beetle Aegus chelifer (Coleoptera: Lucanidae) explains adult body size variation and sexual dimorphism

Abstract In stag beetle larvae, food availability is considered a major cause of body size variation in adults, but this has not been explicitly tested. To evaluate wood use and the effects of food quantity on growth and adult body size, the feeding performance of the tropical stag beetle Aegus chelifer MacLeay (Coleoptera: Lucanidae), which is widely distributed in Southeast Asia, was investigated by rearing larvae with different food quantities. Apparent digestibility was approximately 9%, and the efficiency of conversion of ingested food ranged from 0.7% to 1.7%. Feeding period, total food consumption, and adult body size significantly increased alongside food quantity. Males had higher consumption rates than females did at the same larval weight due to shorter food retention time. Males showed greater variation in feeding, growth performance, and adult body size than females. Differences in feeding performance that depend on food availability may enhance their fitness and may further result in sexual differences and adult body size variation.
Greening-induced increase in evapotranspiration over Eurasia offset by CO2-induced vegetational stomatal closure

Evapotranspiration (ET), as a key exchanging component of the land energy, water and carbon cycles, is expected to increase in response to greening land under a warming climate. However, the relative importance of major drivers (e.g. leaf area index (LAI), climate forcing, atmospheric CO2, etc) to long-term ET change remain largely unclear. Focusing on the Eurasia which experienced the strong vegetational greening, we aim to estimate the long-term ET trend and its drivers’ relative contributions by applying a remote sensing-based water-carbon coupling model— Penman–Monteith–Leuning version 2 (PML-V2) driven by observational climate forcing and CO2 records, and satellite-based LAI, albedo and emissivity. The PML-V2 estimated an increasing ET trend (6.20 ± 1.13 mm year−1 decade−1, p < 0.01) over Eurasia during 1982–2014, which is close to the ensemble mean (6.51 ± 3.10 mm year−1 decade−1) from other three ET products (GLEAMv3.3a, ERA5 and CRv1.0). The PML-based ET overall agrees well with water-balance derived ET in detecting the trend directions. We find that the Eurasian ET increasing trend was mostly from vegetated regions over central and eastern Europe, Indian and southeast China where ET trends were larger than 20 mm year−1 decade−1. Modeling sensitivity experiments indicate that the Eurasian ET trend was mainly dominated by positive contributions from climate forcing change (40%) and increased LAI (22%), but largely offset by a negative contribution of increased CO2 (26%). Our results highlight the importance of the suppression effect of increasing CO2-induced stomatal closure on transpiration. This effect was rarely considered in diagnostic ET products but plays a key role to ensure that the long-term ET trend should not be overestimated by only accounting for greening-induced increases in transpiration and rainfall interception.
INDICATOR MICROORGANISMS AS INDICES OF QUALITY FOR MILK AND SOME DAIRY PRODUCTS

A total of 150 samples including raw cow's milk, pasteurized milk, small scale ice cream, large scale plain and flavored yoghurt (30 of each) were collected randomly from dairy shops, super markets and small scale ice cream producers in Fayoum city, Egypt and examined for sanitary and microbiological status. The result revealed that the mean value of titratable acidity % in plain and flavored yoghurt were 1.41± 0.02 and 1.67± 0.04, respectively. The mean values of total Coliforms were 7.5×10± 3.9×10, 8.25×10± 5.04×10, 8.2×10± 4.1×10, 4.83×10 ± 3.15×10 and 2.72×10± 9.5 ×10 cfu/mlorg. , respectively. While the mean values of Faecal coliforms were 2.8×10± 1.5×10, 1.16×10 ± 7.11×10, 1.02×10 ±1.71×10, 2.01×10± 1.07×10 and 3.13×10± 1.30×10 cfu/mlorg. , respectively. The mean values of E.coli were 1.38×10± 6.89×10,1.84×10 ± 9.5, 4.87×10±1.18×10, 1.36×10± 8.4 and 4.68×10± 1.50×10 cfu/mlorg. The mean values of Enterococci were 1.12×10± 1.29×10, 2.1 ×10± 4.20×10, 1.1 ×10 ±1.87×10, 2.23×10± 6.29×10 and 7.77×10±1.67×10 cfu/mlorg. , respectively. Staph. aureus was detected in the examined raw cow's milk and small scale ice cream samples, with the mean values of 1.98×10 ± 3.91×10 and 7.65×10 ± 2.41×10 cfu/mlor g. , respectively, but was not detected in the other samples. Total yeasts and moulds were detected in the examined large scale plain and flavored yoghurt samples with mean values of 1.15×102± 3.59×10 and 4.48×102± 8.17×10 (cfu/mlor g.), respectively.
Modeling and Simulating Adaptation Strategies Against Sea-Level Rise Using Multiagent Deep Reinforcement Learning

Sea-level rise (SLR) problem, which is a major outcome of climate change, has been well documented and studied. Although it is globally observed due to climate change, local projections are needed to plan SLR adaptation strategies accurately. Since SLR is a community-wide multistakeholder problem at the local level, adaptation strategies can be more successful if the main stakeholders, e.g., government, residents, and businesses, collaborate in shaping them. Simulating the local socioeconomic system around SLR, including the interactions between essential stakeholders and nature, can be an effective way of evaluating different adaptation strategies and planning the best strategy for the local community. This work presents how such an SLR socioeconomic system can be modeled as a Markov decision process (MDP) and simulated using multiagent reinforcement learning (RL). The proposed multiagent RL framework serves two purposes. It provides a general scenario planning tool to investigate the cost–benefit analysis of natural events (e.g., flooding and hurricane) and agents’ investments (e.g., infrastructure improvement). It also shows how much the total cost due to SLR can be reduced over time by optimizing the adaptation strategies. We demonstrate the proposed scenario planning tool using available economic data and sea-level projections for Pinellas County, Florida, in a case study.
Association Between Mental Health and Feeding Methods among 1- Month Postpartum Women in Japan: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: The rate of predominant breastfeeding was 51.3% at 1 month postpartum, even though 93.4% of Japanese mothers expressed a desire to predominantly breastfeed during pregnancy. A wide range of historical, socioeconomic, cultural, and individual factors, as well as mental health, affect breastfeeding practices. However, the relationship between breastfeeding and mental health—depressive symptoms—has been controversial. Purpose: The aim of this study was to identify factors relationship including mental health and the feeding methods adopted by mothers at 1 month postpartum in Japan. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at 2 Tokyo area hospitals between July and October 2014. We recruited a total of 560 eligible women. The participants included 392 women without severe illnesses or low birth weight babies at 1 month postpartum. The feeding methods were “mainly breastfeeding” (exclusively or mostly breastfeeding) and “mixed feeding and formula only”. Depressive symptoms as a mental health were assessed using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). Multiple logistic regression analysis clarified the factors associated with mainly breastfeeding. Results: The mean (SD) age for the categories of mainly breastfeeding and mixed feeding and formula only was 33.0 (5.1) and 33.9 (5.5) years, respectively (p = 0.085). Women who were mainly breastfeeding at 1 month postpartum were more likely to be multiparous (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: 1.80, CI:1.11 - 2.94), had EPDS score < 9 (AOR:1.87, CI:1.09 – 3.20), and had been desirous of breastfeeding from their pregnancy (AOR: 7.73, CI: 4.68 – 12.74). Conclusion: Our results suggested that healthcare providers should focus on the relationship between feeding methods and new mothers’ mental health. Further research must identify effective care strategies for women who desire to breastfeed exclusively.