Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
CCR5 promoter variants among Ugandan HIV-1 elite and viremic controllers: a laboratory ‑ based cross ‑ sectional study

Background Mechanisms for HIV control among HIV-1 elite and viremic-controllers are not fully understood. In Uganda, Studies have reported individuals who without Antiretroviral therapy have the inherent ability to control HIV progression to AIDS for a period of greater than 5 years. However, reasons for this phenotype are not understood. The study objective was to determine the distribution of CCR5 co-receptor on CD4+ T-cells and its associated promoter variants among HIV-1 elite and viremic-controllers. Methods We isolated CD4+T-cells from PBMCs using EasySep CD4+ T-cell negative selection kit, and stimulated them with anti-CD3 and anti-CD28 for 48 hours. To quantify CCR5 expression, we performed immune-phenotyping using flow cytometry. CCR5 promoter polymorphisms were determined through sanger sequencing. The Kruskal–Wallis and the Mann-Whitney test were used to compare differences in the percentages of CCR5+ CD4+ T-cells and the differences in CCR5 densities on CD4+ T-cells respectively. p values < 0.05 were considered significant. Results The percentage of CCR5+CD4+ T-cells was higher among the non-controllers compared to the controllers although, the difference was not statistically significant; elite and viremic-controllers (p=0.9173), viremic and non-controllers (0.0702), elite and non-controllers (0.6010). Of significance was the CCR5 densities on CD4+ T-cells, which were significantly higher among non-controllers relative to the controllers; elite and viremic-controllers (p=3048), viremic and non-controllers (P=0.0312), elite and non-controllers (P=0.0210) From the sequence analysis, the rs1799987A>G mutation was found among elite (71%) and viremic-controllers (61%), while the -2459A/A and rs41469351C>T mutation were among the non-controllers (57%). This study also identified two novel mutations 1070T>G and 785A>G among the elite controllers (14.3%). Conclusion Rs1799987 SNP highly detected among the elite and viremic controllers may be associated with reduced CCR5 densities on CD4+ T-cells while higher frequency of -2459 A/A and rs41469351 SNP among non-controllers may be associated with increased CCR5 densities on CD4+ T-cells. Thus Rs1799987 SNP may be responsible for the delayed HIV progression among elite and viremic controllers, while -2459A/A and rs41469351 SNP may be responsible for the rapid progression of HIV among non-controllers. In vitro studies are needed to study the effect of the two novel mutations 1070T>G and 785A>G among elite-controllers.
Evaluation of Helminth Infections Identified in Slaughtered Livestock in Iran, 2015-2019

Introduction: Helminth infections of livestock can result in considerable economic losses. This study aims to evaluate the spatial frequency of cystic echinococcosis (CE), dicrocoeliasis, and fascioliasis in livestock slaughtered in Iran during the years 2015-2019 and estimate direct costs associated with organ condemnation due to these parasites.Methods: Abattoir data from all 31 Iranian provinces were collected from the Iran Veterinary Organization. Infection prevalence was calculated per year at the province level. The Local Moran's I statistic was performed to evaluate spatial autocorrelation of animals positive at slaughter for the years 2015-2019. Direct costs associated with condemned livers were calculated for each parasitic condition. Results: Overall prevalence values for the study timeframe were as follows: sheep and goat fascioliasis (1.5%, 910,282/58,393,349), cattle fascioliasis (3.8%, 23,3175/6,038,419), sheep and goat dicrocoeliasis (4.6%; 270,1274/58,393,349), cattle dicrocoeliasis (3.1%; 186,009/6,038,419), sheep and goat CE (5.3%; 3,108,767/58,393,349), and cattle CE (7.2%; 438,534/6,038,419). Northwestern Iran had the highest prevalence of CE and fascioliasis. High infection areas for Dicrocoelium spp. included the provinces of Zanjan, Gilan, Qazvin, and Tehran, which are located in northern Iran. Direct economic losses for sheep and goat fascioliasis, dicrocoeliasis, and CE for the study period were US$13,841,826, US$41,768,472, and US$22,801,296, respectively. Direct economic losses for cattle fascioliasis, dicrocoeliasis, and CE for the study period were US$1,989,582, US$1,669,289, and US$2,656,535, respectively.Conclusion: Our findings provide valuable data for future monitoring of these important parasitic diseases in Iranian livestock. Disease control strategies are required to reduce the economic and public health impact of these helminths.
Anti-Colorectal Cancer Effects of Medicinal Plants: Euphorbia helioscopia, Ferula elaeochytris, and Sideritis albiflora

Bitkilerden elde edilen fitokimyasallar, ekstreler ve karisimlar, son yillarda modern ilac kesfi icin kanser tedavisinde ve onlenmesinde bir secenek olarak sunulmustur. Bu amacla, bu calismada sirali ekstraksiyon kullanilarak Euphorbia helioscopia L. , Ferula elaeochytris Korovin ve Sideritis albiflora Hub. -Mor. bitkilerinden elde edilen hekzan, aseton ve metanol ekstrelerinin DLD-1 hucre hatti uzerindeki anti-kolorektal kanser etkileri Alamar mavisi testi kullanilarak in vitro olarak incelendi. DLD-1 hucre hattinin canliliginda doza bagli inhibisyon tespit edildi. Uc bitki turunun hepsinde, E. helioscopia (IC50: 140.83±0.31 µg/mL), F. elaeochytris (IC50: 67.93±0.12 µg/mL) ve S. albiflora (IC50: 85.12±0.10 µg/mL) metanol ekstreleri ayni turler icin test edilen diger ekstrelere kiyasla DLD-1 hucre hatti uzerine daha yuksek anti-kolorektal kanser etkisi gosterdi. Ilaveten, standart olarak kullanilan doksorubisinin IC50 degeri 6.10±0.55 µg/mL olarak belirlendi. Incelenen bitki turlerinin DLD-1 hucre hatti uzerindeki in vitro anti-kolorektal kanser etkilerini vurgulayan bu ilk calisma ile bitki kaynakli ilac uygulamalari icin anti-kanser kaynaklari olarak ekstraktlarin analizinden umut verici sonuclar ortaya cikarildi.
Spin transition of ferric iron in the calcium‐ferrite type aluminous phase

We investigated Fe‐free and Fe‐bearing CF phases using nuclear forward scattering and X‐ray diffraction coupled with diamond anvil cells up to 80 GPa at room temperature. Octahedral Fe3+ ions in the Fe‐bearing CF phase undergo a high‐spin to low‐spin transition at 25–35 GPa, accompanied by a volume reduction of ~2.0% and a softening of bulk sound velocity up to 17.6%. Based on the results of this study and our previous studies, both the NAL and CF phases, which account for 10–30 vol % of subducted MORB in the lower mantle, are predicted to undergo a spin transition of octahedral Fe3+ at lower mantle pressures. Spin transitions in these two aluminous phases result in an increase of density of 0.24% and a pronounced softening of bulk sound velocity up to 2.3% for subducted MORB at 25–60 GPa and 300 K. The anomalous elasticity region expands and moves to 30–75 GPa at 1200 K and the maximum of the VΦ reduction decreases to ~1.8%. This anomalous elastic behavior of Fe‐bearing aluminous phases across spin transition zones may be relevant in understanding the observed seismic signatures in the lower mantle.
Antiferromagnetic Interactions in Copper(II) µ-Oxalato Dinuclear Complexes: The Role of the Counterion

We report the preparation, crystal structure determination, magnetic properties and DFT calculations of five oxalato‐bridged dicopper(II) complexes of formula [Cu2(bpy)2(H2O)2(C2O4)](CF3SO3)2 (1), [Cu2(bpy)2(C2O4)](PF6)2 (2), [Cu2(bpy)2(C2O4)](ClO4)2 (3), [Cu2(bpy)2Cl2(C2O4)]·H2O (4) and [Cu2(bpy)2(NO2)2(C2O4)] (5) (bpy = 2,2′‐bipyridine and C2O42– = oxalate). Compounds 1, 2, 4 and 5 crystallize in the monoclinic system and 3 crystallizes in the triclinic system. The oxalate ligands in 1–5 adopt the bis‐bidentate coordination mode and the two bpy molecules act as terminal ligands. The coordination of the counterions and the surroundings of the copper(II) ions differentiate the five compounds. The four nearest neighbours of copper(II) in 1–4 are roughly in the plane of the CuC2O4Cu framework, whereas they are in an almost perpendicular plane in 5. Using the isotropic Hamiltonian H = –J S1·S2, where S1 and S2 are the spin quantum operators for Cu1 and Cu2; J is –384 cm–1 for 1, –392 cm–1 for 2 and –387 cm–1 for 3, slightly decreasing to –328 cm–1 for 4 and falling to –14 cm–1 for 5. The influence of the anions on the magnetic properties of this family of compounds is explained by the changes in the overlap of the magnetic orbitals through the oxalate bridge. DFT calculations reproduce well the experimental values of J and provide an illustration of the magnetic orbitals.
Structure–Reactivity Relationship in Fast Pyrolysis of Lignin into Monomeric Phenolic Compounds

The structure–reactivity relationship in fast pyrolysis of lignin for monomeric phenolic compounds was studied on seven lignins from hardwood, softwood, and grass. The distribution of elements, functional groups, phenylpropane units, and interunit linkage bonds varied greatly across the lignins. Lignins from hardwood and grass prepared with mild conditions presented more C–O linkages. Pyrolysis–gas chromatography/mass spectrometry showed that the cleavage of unstable C–O linkages dominated the pyrolysis reaction at low temperatures, and the total yields of monomers peaked at 700 °C for most lignins. 4-Vinylphenol produced from acid extracted corn stalk lignin reached up to 4.77 wt % at 700 °C. Pyrolysis of grass lignins and woody lignins, which had more unstable C–O linkages, exhibited higher total yields of monomers. The pyrolysis behavior of lignin at low temperatures is closely related to its structural characteristics. Pyrolyzed at 500 °C, the total yields of monomeric aromatics were highly linearly c.
Chemical Composition, Toxicity and Antifungal Activities of Megaphrynium macrostachyum (K. Schum) Leaf Extract against Foodborne Fungi

This study aimed to examine the preservative potential of Megaphrynium macrostachyum on fungi responsible for the deterioration of orange juice and corn Jell-O. The phytochemicals from plants’ leaves were extracted with four solvents: acetone, aqueous, ethanol and hexane. The solvents were differently and tested against fungi isolated from orange juice and corn Jell-O using disc diffusion method. Phytochemical screening of the extracts from the leaves was carried out, and the most active extract was tested via GC-MS for the essential oils and HPLC fingerprinting. The toxicity test of the extracts against brine shrimp was carried out after exposure for 24 hours. The toxicity test showed that the extracts were non-toxic on the Brine Shrimps at LC 50 (379.21μg/ml and 107.21μg/ml for aqueous and ethanol extracts). The qualitative phytochemical test reported the presence of alkaloids, tannins, saponins, flavonoids, steroids, and terpenoids in different extracts of the plant’ leaves. The quantitative phytochemical determination of the most active extract revealed alkaloids with the highest contents of 107.48mg/100g. The GC-MS analyses of the fresh leaves of the plants revealed the presence of isodecane with the highest percentage at 15.56%. The GC-MS analyses of the dried leaves revealed isodecane with the highest percentage at 10.43%. The HPLC analysis revealed the presence of various phytochemical constituents in the dried leaves. This study has been able to establish the potency of Megaphrynium macrostachyum leaves on fungi associated with the spoilage of Citrus sinensis (orange) juice and Corn Jell-O (‘Eko’) which contribute to tremendous research towards the use and acknowledgment of natural antimicrobials for the preservation of food.
Effects of Two-stage Drying on Physical Properties of Chilli (Capsaicum annuum cv. HuarouYon)

This research aimed to study the physical properties of dried chilli ( Capsaicum annuum cv. HuarouYon) by using two-stage drying. The main quality attributes of dried chilli were color, rehydration rate, and shrinkage. At the first stage, drying air temperatures and times were varied at 60, 70 and 80oC and 3, 4 and 5 hr and followed by 50oC drying until the moisture content was less than 12% (db) compared with one-stage drying temperature (70๐C for 6 hr). The final moisture contents and water activities of dried chilli were 9.77-9.85% (db)(p>0.05) and 0.42-0.44 (p>0.05) respectively. The lightness of chilli dried at two-stage temperature was significantly higher than one stage drying (p≤0.05). It was found that using drying air temperature at 70๐C for 4 hr and followed by 50๐C provided a lighter color of chilli than other conditions and controls. However, the chroma value and hue angle of dried chilli did not significantly differ among different conditions (p>0.05). Moreover, the total color difference ( E) of chilli dried at two-stage temperature was lower than one stage drying (p≤0.05). The rehydration rate was decreased with increasing drying temperature and time. The drying at 70๐C for 4 hr at the first stage provided the highest rehydration rate and the lowest shrinkage of dried chilli (p≤0.05). จากการศกษาสมบตทางกายภาพของพรกพนธหวเรอยนโดยการอบแหงแบบอณหภมสองขน โดยศกษาสมบตทางกายภาพคอ ส อตราการดดนำกลบ และการหดตว โดยอบแหงขนทหนงทอณหภม 60, 70 และ 80 องศาเซลเซยส เปนเวลา 3, 4 และ 5 ชวโมง แลวตามดวยอณหภม 50 องศาเซลเซยส เปรยบเทยบกบการอบแหงแบบอณหภมขนเดยวทอณหภม 70 องศาเซลเซยส จนกระทงความชนไมนอยกวา 12 เปอรเซนตฐานแหง จากการทดลองพบวาความชนสดทายอยในชวง 9.77-9.85 เปอรเซนตฐานแหง (p>0.05) และปรมาณนำอสระอยในชวง 0.42-0.44 (p>0.05) ตามลำดบ การอบแหงแบบอณหภมสองขนทำใหพรกมคาความสวางสงกวาการอบแหงแบบอณหภมขนเดยว (p≤0.05) นอกจากนพบวาการอบแหงพรกทอณหภม 70 องศาเซลเซยส เปนเวลา 4 ชวโมง แลวตามดวยอณหภม 50 องศาเซลเซยส มคาความสวางสงกวาการอบแหงทสภาวะอนๆและตวอยางควบคม แตอยางไรกตามคาความเขมส คามมของส ของพรกไมมความแตกตางอยางมนยสำคญทางสถต (p≤0.05) นอกจากนพบวาคาความแตกตางของสโดยรวมของพรกทผานการอบแหงแบบอณหภมสองขนมคาตำกวาการอบแหงแบบอณหภมขนเดยว และพบวาคาอตราการดดนำกลบลดลงเมออณหภมและเวลาในการอบแหงเพมขน โดยการอบแหงทอณหภม 70 องศาเซลเซยส เปนเวลา 4 ชวโมง ชวยทำใหอตราการดดนำกลบสง และการหดตวของพรกตำ
Mitochondrial DNA sequence data indicate evidence for multiple species within Peromyscus maniculatus

Peromyscus maniculatus is one of the most commonly encountered and intensively studied small mammal species in North America. Because of a broad geographic distribution (Canada to central Mexico), relatively large amounts of morphometric and genetic variation, and a voluminous taxonomic history, the taxonomic delimitations of this taxon have been difficult to discern. Herein, a comprehensive phylogenetic study was conducted to assess patterns of genetic variation throughout the range of P. maniculatus to resolve the taxonomy and ascertain the distribution of phylogroups. DNA sequences from the mitochondrial cytochrome-b gene were included from 681 individuals, representing 28 of the 68 recognized subspecies formally assigned to P. maniculatus, as well as all members assigned to the P. maniculatus species group, to assess genetic variation across a broad geographic context. Parsimony, Bayesian, and maximum likelihood analyses were conducted to determine phylogenetic relationships; further, genetic distances and divergence dates were approximated to assist in determining the time of origin for phylogroups. Results of these analyses reveal the presence of eight major phylogenetic groups. With one exception, each lineage appears to represent a unique phylogenetic group that corresponds to a distinct geographic region. Results are in agreement with other studies suggesting that P. maniculatus (sensu lato) contained multiple phylogroups. Recognition of phylogroups followed by the application of the principals of taxonomic priority indicate that: 1) samples from western Nevada, southern California, and Baja California should be referred to as Peromyscus gambelii; 2) samples from the southwestern Yukon should be referred to as P. sp. ; 3) samples from southeastern Alaska and southcentral Yukon southward along coastal British Columbia to southwestern Washington should be referred to as P. keeni; 4) samples from central and western North America should be referred to as Peromyscus sonoriensis; 5) samples from eastern Canada and the eastern United States should be referred to as P. maniculatus; 6) samples from extreme southwestern New Mexico and central Mexico should be referred to as Peromyscus labecula; and 7) Peromyscus sejugis from Isla Santa Cruz, Baja del Sur, Mexico, should be tentatively retained as a valid species name. These seven species along with Peromyscus melanotis and Peromyscus polionotus comprise the P. maniculatus species group.
Social and Economic Consequences of the Cost of Obstetric and Neonatal Care in Lubumbashi, in the Democratic Republic of Congo: Mixed Study

Background: The aim of this study was to explore and measure the social and economic consequences of the cost of obstetric and neonatal care in Lubumbashi, the Democratic Republic of Congo.Methods: We conducted a mixed qualitative and quantitative study in the maternity departments of health facilities in Lubumbashi. The qualitative results were based on a case study conducted in 2018 that included 14 respondents (8 parturients, 2 accompanying family members and 4 health care providers). A quantitative cross-sectional analytical study was carried out in 2019 with 411 women who gave birth at 10 referral hospitals. Data were collected for one month at each hospital, and selected parturients were included in the study only if they paid out-of-pocket and at the point of care for costs related to obstetric and neonatal care.Results: Costs for obstetric and neonatal care averaged US $77, US $207 and US $338 for simple, complicated vaginal and cesarean deliveries, respectively. These health expenditures were greater than or equal to 40% of the ability to pay for 58.4% of households. At the time of delivery, 14.1% of women in childbirth did not have enough money to pay for care. Of those who did, 76.5% spent their savings. When households did not pay for care, mothers and their babies were held for a long time at the place of care. This resulted in prolonged absence of the mother from the household, reduced household income, family conflicts, and the abandonment of the home by the spouse. At the health facility level, the length of stay increased without generating any additional financial benefits. Disrespectful care and the deterioration of the relationships between caregivers and parturients were also recorded.Conclusion: To reduce the social and economic consequences of care, the government of the DRC should implement a mechanism for subsidizing care and should associate it with a cost-sharing system. This would result in achieving universal health coverage and improving the physical, mental and social health of mothers, their babies and their households.
Barium titanate nanoparticles: Short-range lattice distortions with long-range cubic order

Barium titanate (BTO) nanoparticles (sizes 10 to 500 nm) exhibit a displacement of the Ti atom from the center of the Perovskite unit cell as inferred from synchrotron X-ray diffraction patterns (XRD) analyzed using atomic pair distribution functions (PDFs). Fits to PDFs acquired at temperatures of 20° to 220°C indicate that these Ti displacements (~ 0.1 Å) are comparable to or even greater than those in the bulk material. Moreover, these displacements persist at temperatures well above 120°C where the tetragonal to pseudo-cubic phase transition occurs in the bulk. Tetragonal Raman spectral lines were observed for all sizes of these BTO nanoparticles and confirm a distorted unit cell up to 120°C. Above 120°C, the small BTO nanoparticles (10, 50, 100 nm) continue to display tetragonal Raman lines, though with slowly decreasing amplitudes as the temperature rises. In contrast, the tetragonal Raman lines of large BTO nanoparticles (300, 400, 500 nm) disappear abruptly above 120°C, suggestive of bulk material. Indeed, fits to large-particle X-ray PDFs over the range 20-60 Å reveal a sharp, long-range structural change toward a cubic lattice at 120°C, again consistent with bulk material. This sharp, long-range structural change is absent in the small particles. In fact, laboratory XRD Bragg peak profiles for the small BTO particles appear to be singlets at 20°C, indicating that significant long-range cubic order already exists at room temperature. As temperature rises, this long-range cubic order is gradually reinforced as inferred from long-range fits of the small particle PDFs. By combining information from X-ray PDFs, Raman spectra, and Bragg peak profiles, we conclude that small BTO nanoparticles exhibit both short-range (unit-cell) distortion and long-range (mesoscale) cubic order from 20° to 220°C, while the large nanoparticles behave as bulk material, differing from small particles only by exhibiting long-range tetragonal order below 120°C and a mesoscale structural phase change at 120°C.
Home invasion of triatomines increases the risk of Chagas disease transmission in the Brazilian Amazon

Chagas disease is a parasitic infection with a large reemergent rates in some Amazon regions with usual features of outbreaks of the acute disease mainly by oral transmission. The main vectors of Trypanosoma cruzi are hematophagous insects, the triatomines. Some of them can establish themselves in human dwellings and their annexes but others are mostly wild. In the state of Pará, few records have been made about the occurrence of those wild vectors in fortuitous contact with inhabitants in riverside regions in the Amazon. These vector behaviours have been studied by our group since 2006, trying to explain their role in transmission of the silent disease or asymptomatic infection. The objective of this study is to describe the epidemiological profile of populations exposed to random triatomine home invasion in riverside areas with this registered occurrence. This is a cross-sectional study developed in Abaetetuba city, in the state of Pará, where we conducted a seroepidemiologic survey in inhabitants that registered triatomine home invasion. The results demonstrated that triatomine invasions occur especially in the in-home environment and in the rural zone. The genus Rhodnius was the most found in residences of the municipalities. Direct contact through the vector was reported by 15.55% of the total participants, and an unusual vector behaviour were observed during the day. Despite this small casuistic, 0.47% of the enrolled inhabitants had positive serology IgG anti- T. cruzi antibodies. We confirm one occurrence of asymptomatic infection in a child and, also, favourable links to the Chagas disease transmission chain. Faced with the scarcity of information on triatomine aggression in the Amazon, the authors recommended an entomological study of greater scope in those areas. The record of unusual vector behaviour and the serological surveillance of human populations under this risk may constitute a new tool for the early detection of silent infections and reinforce the knowledges about the behaviour of invading insects. At the same time, health education can assist in strategies for the prevention of Chagas' disease.
Developing and Implementing a Sexual Assault Violence Prevention and Awareness Campaign at a State-Supported Regional University

The purpose was to analyze the percent of targets achieved for seven student objectives of HealthyCampus 2020. The objectives were chosen to assess our university's implementation of a Sexual AssaultViolence Prevention and Awareness campaign. Overall, 1,019 students at our university filled out the ACHA-NCHA II Survey. Our SSRU identified four areas of health concerns where improvements arenecessary to align more closely with Healthy Campus 2020: physical assaults, emotionally and sexually abusive intimate relationships, non-consensual touching and penetration, and feelings of safety at night. To align our student health objectives with the Healthy Campus 2020 targets we have identified the following areas that need extra eff orts: physical assaults, emotionally and sexually abusive intimate relationships, non-consensual touching and penetration, and feelings of safety at night. Based on these results we will continue emphasizing the prevention model using a coordinated, educational approach.