Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Cell Rupture and Morphogenesis Control of the Dimorphic Yeast Candida albicans by Nanostructured Surfaces

Nanostructured surfaces control microbial biofilm formation by killing mechanically via surface architecture. However, the interactions between nanostructured surfaces (NSS) and cellular fungi have not been thoroughly investigated and the application of NSS as a means of controlling fungal biofilms is uncertain. Cellular yeast such as Candida albicans are structurally and biologically distinct from prokaryotic microbes and therefore are predicted to react differently to nanostructured surfaces. The dimorphic opportunistic fungal pathogen, C. albicans, is responsible for most cases of invasive candidiasis and is a serious health concern due to the rapid increase of drug resistance strains. In this paper, we show that the nanostructured surfaces from a cicada wing alter C. albicans’ viability, biofilm formation, adhesion, and morphogenesis through physical contact. However, the fungal cell response to the NSS suggests that nanoscale mechanical interactions impact C. albicans differently than prokaryotic microbes. This study informs on the use of nanoscale architecture for the control of eukaryotic biofilm formation and illustrates some potential caveats with the application of NSS as an antimicrobial means.
Surgery is an option in evolving myocardial infarction induced by spontaneous coronary artery dissection: a case report

Abstract Background Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) has emerged as one of the important yet rare causes of acute coronary syndrome that primarily affect young peripartum women without cardiovascular risk factors. Despite the recent improvements in diagnosis and recognition of the importance of SCAD, it remains poorly studied and there has been no consensus of opinion regarding its optimal management. Case summary A 29-year-old breastfeeding woman presented with 1-day history of severe chest pain radiating to the jaw and both shoulders. Cardiovascular examination, 12 leads electrocardiogram, and echocardiography were normal. Troponin levels were elevated; hence, coronary angiogram was done and showed type 2 SCAD of the left anterior descending artery (LAD). The patient was managed conservatively. The next day, she started again to complain of severe chest pain and her troponin levels continued to rise. Repeated coronary angiogram revealed progression of the previous LAD dissection. Another dissection was also noticed in the left circumflex artery. Chest pain recurred over the night and her troponin levels continued to rise. An emergency coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) was performed. The patient was doing well postoperatively and was discharged home on Day 8. Discussion Our patient presented with acute ischaemic changes secondary to SCAD. The report illustrates the risk factors, pathogenesis, diagnostic work up, and the possible therapeutic options of SCAD, which include conservative management and CABG. The management varies depending on the clinical presentation and the extent of the coronary artery dissection.
ToF‐SIMS investigation of gilt and painted leather: identification of indigo, oil binder and gold varnish

Organic and inorganic compounds of a gilt and painted leather artifact were studied by the use of time‐of‐flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF‐SIMS) technique as part of an in‐depth study of this peculiar painting technique. The object under investigation is an altar frontal, coming from the church of San Domenico in Orvieto, which can be dated to the mid‐17th century. High mass resolution spectrometry was applied for the chemical characterization of organic materials contained in the gold varnish and paint layer. ToF‐SIMS analyses performed on reference compounds and samples from the artifact proved the presence of indigo to depict blue and lead white to depict white areas and the use of an oil binder as resulted by the presence of indigotin, palmitic and stearic acids signals with their diacylglycerols, lead soaps, lead oxides and hydroxides. The analyses have also shown the presence of colophony in the gold varnish. ToF‐SIMS results were agreed and integrated with those obtained by other analytical techniques. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Structure and photochemistry of matrix-isolated o-phthalaldehyde

Two conformers, (EZ) and (EE), were observed in o-phthalaldehyde (1) isolated in nitrogen and argon matrices. The E-enol (5E) generated upon photolysis (λ 313 nm) of the matrix-isolated (1) was stabilized and characterized by UV and IR absorption spectroscopy. Further irradiation of (5E) resulted in intramolecular cyclization (λ > 357 nm) to phthalide (2) or fragmentation (λ= 313 nm) to carbon monoxide and benzaldehyde (7).
Biochemical and physiological responses to metabolic stimuli in Friesian calves of differing genetic merit for milk production

Changes in blood metabolite and insulin concentrations in response to metabolic stimuli were evaluated as potential predictors of dairy merit. Calves of high or low genetic merit for milk production were subjected to the stress of: simulated feeds by injection of sodium propionate (0·5 mmol/kg body weight), a short fast and short-term cold exposure. Responses of insulin, free fatty acids, urea, glucose and D-β-hydroxybutyrate were determined by serial blood sampling. Injections of sodium propionate did not greatly affect blood metabolite concentrations but did sharply increase insulin concentrations; no difference in response between high and low lines was observed. During fasting serum free fatty acid and D-β-hydroxybutyrate concentrations were greatly increased but no variation due to line was observed. Urea concentrations were also greatly increased during fasting and in this case animals of high dairy merit showed a considerably smaller increase than animals of low dairy merit. Heart rates decreased by one-third during the fast but no variation due to line was apparent;during refeeding high dairy-merit animals had lower heart rates than low-merit animals. Short-term cold exposure did not significantly alter plasma insulin or metabolite concentrations. These results are discussed in relation to previous findings and it is concluded that serum urea concentrations during a fast may provide the basis for a useful and robust predictor of dairy merit in young animals.
Modelagem do crescimento de cultivares de cana-de-açúcar no período de formação da cultura

The objective of the present study was to adjust growth models to the above-ground accumulated sugarcane dry matter, during the crop formation period, for cultivars RB92579, RB867515, RB928064 and RB855453. Dry matter data were obtained during the execution of experiment under field conditions from October 26, 2011 to May 18, 2012. Experimental data were collected from 45 days after planting, in one or two week time intervals, totalizing 17 sampling dates. The obtained values were subjected to nonlinear regression analysis in order to determine the parameters of the expolinear, logistic and Gompertz models. All evaluated models were capable of adequately simulating the dry matter accumulation by the cultivars during the studied period, with values of the adjusted determination coefficient above 0.9245. Based on the expolinear growth model, it was observed, at the end of the experimental period, that the accumulated dry mass was stightly superior for the cultivar RB855453 as compared to the RB867515, which outperformed the cultivars RB928064 and RB92579.
Retrospective Study of the Effectiveness of Azithromycin Single Dose Versus One-week Doxycycline for Anorectal Chlamydia in Men Who Have Sex with Men

Ct in the tested populations in the intervening years (anorectal Ct, χ 2 = 13.4, n = 3,957, df = 1, p = 0.0003). A χ 2 test comparing the 2 treatments (without collection date as a factor) indicates that the difference in cure rate of 80.8% vs 100% is highly significant, χ 2 = 22.6, n = 222, d.f. = 1. , p = 2e–6.
Deposition and Clearance Models of Ni Compounds in the Mouse Lung and Comparisons with the Rat Models

Experimental data from inhalation studies in mice were used to develop mathematical models of deposition, clearance, and retention kinetics in the respiratory tract for inhaled Ni compounds (high temperature (green) NiO,Ni3S2, and NiSO4.6H2O) in the mouse lung. For deposition, a new model was developed using the experimental data on nasal deposition and lung morphometry by Phalen (1991). Three major mechanisms of airway deposition, including impaction, sedimentation, and diffusion, were considered in the deposition model. Because of the differences in physiological and ventilation conditions, it was found that mice have a lower alveolar deposition fraction than rats when exposed to the same Ni compounds. In the development of a clearance model, a single compartment model in the lung was used and a general assumption was made that the clearance of the insoluble and moderately soluble Ni compounds (high temperature (green) NiO and Ni3S2, respectively) depends highly on the volume of retained particles in th.
The effect of the stroke-to-bore ratio on combustion, heat transfer and efficiency of a homogeneous charge spark ignition engine of given displacement

Abstract This study investigates how the selection of the stroke-to-bore (S/B) ratio affects combustion, heat transfer and overall efficiency in a homogeneous charge spark ignition (SI) engine of a given displacement. Initially, flame front area maps and wall areas in contact with burned gases are examined from a purely geometric point of view, for S/B ratios of 0.7, 1.0 and 1.3. Subsequently, a quasi-dimensional turbulent flame entrainment model is used to quantify the extent to which turbulence versus geometric factors are responsible for the observed combustion, heat transfer and cycle efficiency behaviour, as the S/B ratio varies. Calculations are performed for a range of engine speeds and loads, as well as for operation with 15 per cent exhaust gas recirculation (EGR). Results show that the S/B ratio has a significant effect on both turbulence levels and the geometric interaction of the flame front with the combustion chamber walls. In general, a longer stroke leads to higher thermal efficiency through faster burning and lower overall chamber heat loss. These effects are non-linear, being more dramatic when the S/B ratio is increased from below unity than from above unity. The potential of the long-stroke engine for brake fuel economy improvement can be exploited to the fullest at low speeds, while friction losses gradually diminish it at higher speeds.
The Pesticide Content of Surface Water Draining from Agricultural Fields—A Review

The literature on pesticide losses in runoff waters from agricultural fields is reviewed. For the majority of commercial pesticides, total losses are 0.5%0 or less of the amounts applied, unless severe rainfall conditions occur within 1–2 weeks after application. Exceptions are the organochlorine insecticides, which may lose about 1% regardless of weather pattern because of their long persistence; and soil surface-applied, wettable-powder formulations of herbicides, which may lose up to 5%, depending on weather and slope, because of the ease of washoff of the powder.Pesticides with solubilities of 10 ppm or higher are lost mainly in the water phase of runoff, and erosion control practices will have little effect on such losses. Organochlorine pesticides, paraquat, and arsenical pesticides, however, are important cases of pesticides which are strongly adsorbed by sediments, and erosion control can be important in controlling losses of these compounds.The behavior and fate of pesticides in streams receiving runoff is generally not known. Information on such factors as time and distance of impact of a given runoff event, ability of local ecosystems to recover from transient pesticide concentrations, and dissipation or concentration processes in aquatic ecosystems will have to be obtained before “edge-of-field” pesticide losses can be related to water quality in receiving waters.
Parent–Child Communication regarding Sport-Related Concussion: An Application of the Theory of Planned Behavior

ABSTRACT Extant research has discussed the importance of social climates surrounding sport-related concussion (SRC) reporting, especially the need to address parents/guardians’ role in concussion management. This study explores parents/guardians’ intentions toward SRC-related conversations with their children and their seeking of conversational resources via the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB). Data collected from 292 parents/guardians of 1st-12th graders who play contact sports are examined via a structural equation model. The results indicate that parents/guardians’ intention toward communicating with their child about SRC reporting was determined by their attitudes and subjective norms but that perceived behavioral control was not a significant predictor of intention. Furthermore, parents/guardians’ intention toward having these conversations was predictive of whether they sought information to aid these conversations. This study answers calls to address parents/guardians’ involvement in SRC management and provides preliminary information for persuading parents/guardians to have conversations with their children about SRC reporting.
Assessing the impact of pain-linked Nav1.7 variants: An example of two variants with no biophysical effect

ABSTRACT Mutations in the voltage-gated sodium channel Nav1.7 are linked to human pain. The Nav1.7/N1245S variant was described before in several patients suffering from primary erythromelalgia and/or olfactory hypersensitivity. We have identified this variant in a pain patient and a patient suffering from severe and life-threatening orthostatic hypotension. In addition, we report a female patient suffering from muscle pain and carrying the Nav1.7/E1139K variant. We tested both Nav1.7 variants by whole-cell voltage-clamp recordings in HEK293 cells, revealing a slightly enhanced current density for the N1245S variant when co-expressed with the β1 subunit. This effect was counteracted by an enhanced slow inactivation. Both variants showed similar voltage dependence of activation and steady-state fast inactivation, as well as kinetics of fast inactivation, deactivation, and use-dependency compared to WT Nav1.7. Finally, homology modeling revealed that the N1245S substitution results in different intramolecular interaction partners. Taken together, these experiments do not point to a clear pathogenic effect of either the N1245S or E1139K variant and suggest they may not be solely responsible for the patients’ pain symptoms. As discussed previously for other variants, investigations in heterologous expression systems may not sufficiently mimic the pathophysiological situation in pain patients, and single nucleotide variants in other genes or modulatory proteins are necessary for these specific variants to show their effect. Our findings stress that biophysical investigations of ion channel mutations need to be evaluated with care and should preferably be supplemented with studies investigating the mutations in their context, ideally in human sensory neurons.
Long non-coding RNA LSINCT5 inactivates Wnt/β-catenin pathway to regulate MCF-7 cell proliferation and motility through targeting the miR-30a

Background Breast cancer (BC) is the most common malignant tumor among women. Earlier studies showed that long stress-induced non-coding transcript 5 (LSINCT5) was implicated in BC. However, the potential mechanisms of LSINCT5 in BC is still elusive. Methods Relative expression of LSINCT5 in BC tissues and cells were quantified by quantitative real-time reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR). shRNA was employed to specifically knockdown endogenous LSINCT5 in BC cells. Cell growth and invasion activity of BC cells was assessed by colony formation and transwell migration assay, respectively. The association between LSINCT5 and miR-30a was conducted by luciferase reporter assay. Subcutaneous injection of sh-LSINCT5 transfected MCF-7 cells into the ventral regions of mice to form tumors. Mice were divided into three groups (n=10): control group, sh-NC group, sh-LSINCT5 group (sh-NC or sh-LSINCT5 transfected MCF-7 cells injected into mice). Tumor weight was checked after 30 days post-injection. Results LSINCT5 was significantly up-regulated in BC tissues and cells. LSINCT5 knockdown suppressed proliferation, invasion, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in vitro and in vivo. LSINCT5 acted as a sponge molecule and targeted miR-30a in BC cells. Further mechanistic study exhibited that overexpression of LSINCT5 promoted the expression of Wnt/β-catenin-related proteins (β-catenin, TCF4, and c-Myc). In vivo, xenograft nude mice experiment indicated sh-LSINCT5 inhibited tumor growth and motility by targeting miR-30a through modulating Wnt/β-catenin pathway. Conclusions The present results uncovered that LSINCT5 knockdown suppressed BC growth and metastasis via the miR-30a/Wnt/β-catenin axis, and it served as a potential therapeutic target for early diagnosis and treatment of BC patients.
Low responders to endurance training exhibit impaired hypertrophy and divergent biological process responses in rat skeletal muscle

What is the central question of this study? The extent to which genetics determines adaptation to endurance versus resistance exercise is unclear. Previously, a divergent selective breeding rat model showed that genetic factors play a major role in the response to aerobic training. Here, we asked: do genetic factors that underpin poor adaptation to endurance training affect adaptation to functional overload? What is the main finding and its importance? Our data show that heritable factors in low responders to endurance training generated differential gene expression that was associated with impaired skeletal muscle hypertrophy. A maladaptive genotype to endurance exercise appears to dysregulate biological processes responsible for mediating exercise adaptation, irrespective of the mode of contraction stimulus.
The minimal invasive surfactant therapy: experience from a low resource setting

Abstract Objective To evaluate all cases managed with the Minimal Invasive Surfactant Therapy (MIST) and its effect on outcome. Background Respiratory distress syndrome (RDS), a major cause of morbidity and mortality in preterm new-borns is common in sub-Saharan Africa. Surfactant replacement therapy (SRT) is less practiced and the new MIST is just introduced in Asaba, Nigeria. Methods This descriptive survey recruited new-borns of consenting parents who provided for the surfactant and other commodities. Demographic characteristics were obtained. Intervention included MIST Surfactant, nasal bubble Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (n b-CPAP). Aminophylline or Caffeine, early breast milk feeding and Kangaroo mother care (KMC). Data were collected over a 1-year period and Standard statistical methods were used for data analysis. Results From 1 May 2019 to 30 April 2020, there were 1801 live births, preterm birth rate of 10.72% (193/1801) at the FMC, Asaba. Admissions to the Neonatal Unit (NNU) comprised a total of 731 newborn: 270 preterms. Of these preterm; 52(19.26%) were extreme preterms; 122 (16.15%) very preterm. Of these 731 total admissions there were 104 (14.23%). Their gestational ages (GA) ranged from 24 to 38 weeks and birthweights from 600 to 3400 g. A total of 51 Newborns received surfactant. Their GA ranged from 24 to 38 Weeks; birth weights 600 to 3400 g. These comprised 48 preterm and 3 terms. All 51 infants with RDS who received MIST surfactant included 48 preterms and 3 terms with perinatal Asphyxia and Meconium Aspiration Syndrome. The obstetric management of five mothers of early preterm included two doses of antenatal cortico-steroids prior to delivery. MIST was successful in 47 of 51 (92.2%) cases. Age range at administration was one to 48 h. Duration of n-bCPAP post surfactant: ranged 6 h to 96 h: 4 babies were weaned off CPAP within 24 h; 12 babies at <48 h, another 9 at <72 h; and 20 beyond 96 h. Five babies received a second dose of MIST after 48 h of the first dose. Twelve of 51 (23.5%) babies died; 4 at 48 h, 2 at 72 h, 3at 96 h and 3 beyond 7 days. Prior to the MIST, respiratory distress (RD) and severity rating as indicated by the Silverman Anderson Score (SA) scores in the survivors ranged from 6/10 to 8/10. Conclusions The MIST, at FMC Asaba, improves outcome of the extreme preterm. Financial barriers remain a major constraint to its use.
Effectiveness of Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) Education on Emergency Nurses' EBP Attitudes, Knowledge, Self-Efficacy, Skills, and Behavior: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND Emergency care clinicians are expected to use the latest research evidence in practice. However, emergency nurses do not always consistently implement evidence-based practice (EBP). An educational intervention on EBP was implemented to promote emergency nurses' use of EBP, and the effectiveness of it was evaluated. AIMS This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of an EBP educational intervention on emergency nurses' EBP attitudes, knowledge, self-efficacy, skills, and behavior. The study also examined learners' satisfaction with the EBP educational intervention. METHODS A randomized controlled trial with parallel groups with evaluations before the education, immediately after it, and 6 and 12 months after the education was conducted at four emergency departments in two university hospitals. The experimental group (N = 40) received EBP education while the control group (N = 40) completed self-directed EBP education. The primary outcomes were emergency nurses' EBP attitudes, knowledge, self-efficacy, skills, and behavior, while the secondary outcome was satisfaction with the EBP education. RESULTS Thirty-five participants of an experimental and 29 participants of a control group completed the study. There were no statistically significant (p < .05) improvements and differences between groups in EBP attitude, self-efficacy, or behavior immediately after the EBP education. At the 6-month measurement point, the experimental group showed significantly better EBP attitudes, behavior, knowledge, and self-efficacy than the control group. At the 12-month measurement point, the improvements began to decrease. The groups also differed significantly in terms of participant satisfaction with how the teacher encouraged learners to ask clinical questions. LINKING EVIDENCE TO ACTION The EBP educational intervention implemented in this study had a positive effect on emergency nurses' EBP attitudes, knowledge, self-efficacy, skills, and behavior. The effects of the education appeared the best 6 months after the education. After this point, the results began to decrease and approached baseline levels. EBP educational interventions designed for emergency nurses should apply various teaching strategies to improve their EBP attitude, knowledge, self-efficacy, skills, behavior, and satisfaction with the education.