Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Seroprevalence and Associated Risk Factors of Bovine Brucellosis at the Wildlife-Livestock-Human Interface in Rwanda

Bovine brucellosis is endemic in Rwanda; however, little information is available on seroprevalence and risk factors. Therefore, a cross-sectional study was conducted among cattle farmed at the wildlife-livestock-human interface (n = 1691) in five districts and one peri-urban district (n = 216). Cattle were screened using the Rose Bengal test, then the results were confirmed by indirect enzyme-linked immunesorbent assay. Potential risk factors were determined with a questionnaire and analyzed for their association with seropositivity. In all districts, the animal and herd-level seroprevalence was 7.4% (141/1907) and 28.9% (61/212), respectively, 8.3% (141/1691) and 30.9% (61/198) at the interface, and 0.0% (0/216) in peri-urban areas. Among the potential risk factors, old age (≥5 years), cattle farmed close to wildlife, herds of cattle and small ruminants, history of abortions, and replacement animals were significantly associated with brucellosis (p < 0.05). Low awareness of zoonotic brucellosis, assisting calving without biosafety protection, drinking raw milk, and manual milking were each observed in more than 21.7% of cattle keepers whose herds were seropositive. This study confirmed brucellosis endemicity in cattle farmed close to wildlife in Rwanda, suggesting the need to focus control efforts in these areas. Educated farmers with a high awareness of zoonotic brucellosis had low bovine brucellosis seropositivity, which emphasizes the importance of education.
Anticoagulation with temporary Impella device in patients with heparin-induced thrombocytopenia: A case series

The Impella device is a percutaneous ventricular assist devices that requires administration of heparin via a continuous purge solution. Patients on Impella device support may experience hemolysis with accompanying thrombocytopenia generating suspicion for heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT). However, data and recommendations for use of non-heparin anticoagulants with Impella device are lacking. Therefore, we performed a retrospective cohort analysis of patients requiring bivalirudin during Impella device support to describe the safety and efficacy of bivalirudin as an alternative anticoagulant during Impella device support. Nine patients were included in the evaluation which analyzed Impella device purge flow and purge pressure along with bivalirudin dosing requirements, incidence of thrombosis, and incidence of pump failure. All patients had a positive platelet factor-4 IgG ELISA test, and the serotonin release assay was positive in four patients. After initiation of bivalirudin, the median (15th, 85th percentile) nadir purge flow decreased by 76% (5%, 88%) and the median (15th, 85th percentile) peak purge pressure increased by 86% (21%, 143%). At the time of bivalirudin discontinuation, the median final purge flow and pressure were 2.4 mL/h (74% decrease) and 969 mmHg (89% increase), respectively. Zero patients experienced catastrophic pump failure. Adding low concentration bivalirudin to the purge solution along with systemic bivalirudin may be a reasonable approach.
Exploring the Organometallic Route to Molecular Spin Qubits: the [CpTi(cot)] case.

The coherence time of the 17-electron, mixed sandwich complex [CpTi(cot)], (η 8 -cyclooctatetraene)(η 5 -cyclopentadienyl)- titanium, was found to reach 34 ms at 4.5 K in a frozen deuterated toluene solution. This result represents a remarkable coherence time for a highly protonated molecule. We here confirm that the intramolecular distances between the Ti and H atoms provide a good compromise between instantaneous and spin diffusion sources of decoherence. In addition, ab initio calculations at the molecular and crystal packing levels reveal that the characteristic low-energy ring rotations of the sandwich framework do not yield a detrimental spin-lattice relaxation because of their small spin-phonon coupling. Much shorter and almost temperature-independent phase memory times T m were observed when [CpTi(cot)] was diluted in the diamagnetic (16-electron) crystalline host [CpTi(cht)], (η 7 -cycloheptatrienyl)(η 5 -cyclopentadienyl)titanium. Such finding reinforces the deactivating role of both intermolecular interactions involving the hydrogen atoms of neighboring molecules and cluster formation in the host crystal lattice. The volatility of [CpTi(cot)] and the accessibility of the semi-occupied, non-bonding d z 2 orbital make this neutral compound an ideal candidate for single-qubit addressing on surface and quantum sensing in combination with scanning probe microscopies.
The Analysis of Proximate Composition, Minerals and Amino Acid Content of Red Alga Pyropia dentata by Cultivation Sites

In this study, the proximate composition of Pyropia dentata was compared by the analysis of minerals and amino acids that were produced at Seocheon, Chungcheongnam-do and at Wando and Jangheung, Jeollanam-do. Moisture, ash and crude proteins were analyzed using the AOAC method, and crude lipid was analyzed using the Soxhlet method, and inorganic analysis was performed using ICP-OES. Amino acid was used for the amino acid analyzer. The proximate composition analysis, moisture content, maximum values were displayed in Wando while the maximum content of ash appeared at Jangheung's Pyropia. Crude proteins was appeared at Seocheon's Pyropia and the maximum amount of crude lipid, carbohydrate was appeared in Wando's Pyropia. Inorganic analysis, calcium, potassium, magnesium, sodium, phosphorus, cobalt, chromium, copper, iron, manganese, nickel, zinc were analyzed from the Seocheon's Pyropia, however, cobalt, chromium, and nickel was not detected in Wando's Pyropia. For amino acid analysis, a total of 17 amino acids were detected: leucine, valine, aspartic acid, glutamic acid, and the amount of alanine accounted for about 57 % of total amino acids(26.1-28.7 %). The proximate composition, minerals, and amino acid of Pyropia dentata were different depending on the coastal ecological habitats.
A program to improve the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of needle stick and sharps injuries through bundled interventions among nurses: An KAP Mode-Based Approach to Intervention

ABSTRACT Nurses face a greater risk of needle stick and sharp injuries (NSIs) because they do most of the injections and procedures with sharp instruments. The current study tested a program to improve nurses’ knowledge, attitudes and practices on NSIs, three phases were included: Developing the Hospital Practice Standard, implementing a series of measures and implementing of quality supervision phases. It consisted of a bundle of interventions based on Knowledge-Attitudes-Belief-Practice (KAP-KABP) Model with a pretest-posttest design. We obtained a total of 656 (88.53%) completed pre-intervention questionnaires and 674 (92.97%) post-intervention ones. The number of trained participants on NSIs increased from 615 (93.7%) to 666 (98.8%), and reported of NSIs within 3 months decreased from 42 to 15 (2.2%) after the intervention. The total score of Knowledge of NSIs improved from 19.18 (SD = 1.31) to 19.42 (SD = 0.93) after training (Z = −4.025, P < 0.001), the Attitude was raised from 54.21 (SD = 4.09) to 55.24 (SD = 3.59) (Z = −5.261, P < 0.001), and the Practice increased from 89.28 (SD = 7.22) to 92.74 (SD = 7.22), with a P Value<0.05. The findings indicated the program can improve the nurses’ knowledge and attitudes towards NSIs prevention. There is a statistically significant increase in the practice score and decrease in the incidence rate of NSIs after the intervention.
The role of ecological niche evolution on diversification patterns of birds distinctly distributed between the Amazonia and Atlantic rainforests

The Amazonian and Atlantic Forest share several organisms that are currently isolated but were continuously distributed during the Quaternary period. As both biomes are under different climatic regimes, paleoclimatic events may have modulated species' niches due to a lack of gene flow and imposing divergent selection pressure. Here, we assessed patterns of ecological niche overlap in 37 species of birds with disjunct ranges between the Amazonian and Brazilian Atlantic Forests. We performed niche overlap analysis and ecological niche modeling using four machine-learning algorithms to evaluate whether species' ecological niches evolved or remained conserved after the past South American biogeographic events. We found a low niche overlap among the same species populations in the two biomes. However, niche similarity tests showed that, for half of the species, the overlap was higher than the ones generated by our null models. These results lead us to conclude that niche conservatism was not enough to avoid ecological differentiation among species even though detected in many species. In sum, our results support the role of climatic changes in late-Pleistocene—that isolated Amazon and the Atlantic Forest—as a driving force of ecological differences among the same species populations and potential mechanism of current diversification in both regions.
Optimized Production of a Redox Metabolite (pyocyanin) by Pseudomonas aeruginosa NEJ01R Using a Maize By-Product

Pseudomonas aeruginosa metabolizes pyocyanin, a redox molecule related to diverse biological activities. Culture conditions for the production of pyocyanin in a defined medium were optimized using a statistical design and response surface methodology. The obtained conditions were replicated using as substrate an alkaline residual liquid of cooked maize and its by-products. The untreated effluent (raw nejayote, RN) was processed to obtain a fraction without insoluble solids (clarified fraction, CL), then separated by a 30 kDa membrane where two fractions, namely, retentate (RE) and filtered (FI), were obtained. Optimal conditions in the defined medium were 29.6 °C, 223.7 rpm and pH = 6.92, which produced 2.21 μg mL−1 of pyocyanin, and by using the wastewater, it was possible to obtain 3.25 μg mL−1 of pyocyanin in the retentate fraction at 40 h. The retentate fraction presented the highest concentration of total solids related to the maximum concentration of pyocyanin (PYO) obtained. The pyocyanin redox behavior was analyzed using electrochemical techniques. In this way, valorization of lime-cooked maize wastewater (nejayote) used as a substrate was demonstrated in the production of a value-added compound, such as pyocyanin, a redox metabolite of Pseudomonas aeruginosa NEJ01R.
T Cell Activation Machinery: Form and Function in Natural and Engineered Immune Receptors

The impressive success of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cell therapies in treating advanced B-cell malignancies has spurred a frenzy of activity aimed at developing CAR-T therapies for other cancers, particularly solid tumors, and optimizing engineered T cells for maximum clinical benefit in many different disease contexts. A rapidly growing body of design work is examining every modular component of traditional single-chain CARs as well as expanding out into many new and innovative engineered immunoreceptor designs that depart from this template. New approaches to immune cell and receptor engineering are being reported with rapidly increasing frequency, and many recent high-quality reviews (including one in this special issue) provide comprehensive coverage of the history and current state of the art in CAR-T and related cellular immunotherapies. In this review, we step back to examine our current understanding of the structure-function relationships in natural and engineered lymphocyte-activating receptors, with an eye towards evaluating how well the current-generation CAR designs recapitulate the most desirable features of their natural counterparts. We identify key areas that we believe are under-studied and therefore represent opportunities to further improve our grasp of form and function in natural and engineered receptors and to rationally design better therapeutics.
THE BIRDS OF CLIPPERTON ISLAND, EASTERN PACIFIC

Although Clipperton Island has been visited by only a few ornithologists, it nevertheless has been long recognized as a haven for large numbers of oceanic birds. Clipperton is the most easterly coral atoll in the Pacific Ocean and is situated at latitude 100 18' N, longitude 1090 131' W. With reference to the American mainland, the island is approximately 600 nautical miles southwest of the Mexican state of Guerrero. The
Vitamin D levels are associated with trait resilience but not depression in a general population sample

Insufficient vitamin D levels were found to be related to various psychiatric disorders and particularly depression. The functional polymorphisms rs4588 and rs7041 of the vitamin D‐binding protein (also group‐specific component or Gc) influence vitamin D level and activity. Resilience is considered the individual predisposition to maintain psychological functioning in the face of adversities. We sought to investigate whether associations of vitamin D levels and genotypes of rs4588 and rs7041 were associated with trait resilience and symptoms of depression.
Age‐induced mitochondrial DNA point mutations are inadequate to alter metabolic homeostasis in response to nutrient challenge

Mitochondrial dysfunction is frequently associated with impairment in metabolic homeostasis and insulin action, and is thought to underlie cellular aging. However, it is unclear whether mitochondrial dysfunction is a cause or consequence of insulin resistance in humans. To determine the impact of intrinsic mitochondrial dysfunction on metabolism and insulin action, we performed comprehensive metabolic phenotyping of the polymerase gamma (PolG) D257A “mutator” mouse, a model known to accumulate supraphysiological mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) point mutations. We utilized the heterozygous PolG mutator mouse (PolG+/mut) because it accumulates mtDNA point mutations ~ 500‐fold > wild‐type mice (WT), but fails to develop an overt progeria phenotype, unlike PolGmut/mut animals. To determine whether mtDNA point mutations induce metabolic dysfunction, we examined male PolG+/mut mice at 6 and 12 months of age during normal chow feeding, after 24‐hr starvation, and following high‐fat diet (HFD) feeding. No marked differences were observed in glucose homeostasis, adiposity, protein/gene markers of metabolism, or oxygen consumption in muscle between WT and PolG+/mut mice during any of the conditions or ages studied. However, proteomic analyses performed on isolated mitochondria from 12‐month‐old PolG+/mut mouse muscle revealed alterations in the expression of mitochondrial ribosomal proteins, electron transport chain components, and oxidative stress‐related factors compared with WT. These findings suggest that mtDNA point mutations at levels observed in mammalian aging are insufficient to disrupt metabolic homeostasis and insulin action in male mice.
Novel Vitamin E TPGS based docetaxel nanovesicle formulation for its safe and effective parenteral delivery: Toxicological, pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic evaluation

Abstract Docetaxel (DTX) is a highly lipophilic, BCS class IV drug with poor aqueous solubility (12.7 µg/mL). Presently, only injectable formulation is available in the market which uses a large amount of surfactant (Tween 80) and dehydrated alcohol as a solubilizer. High concentrations of Tween 80 in injectable formulations are associated with severe consequences i.e. nephrotoxicity, fluid retention, and hypersensitivity reactions. The present study aims to eliminate Tween 80, thus novel biocompatible surfactant Vitamin E TPGS based nanovesicle formulation of DTX (20 mg/mL) was developed and evaluated for different quality control parameters. Optimized nanovesicular formulation (NV-TPGS-3) showed nanometric size (102.9 ± 2.9 nm), spherical vesicular shape, high drug encapsulation efficiency (95.2 ± 0.5%), sustained-release profile and high dilution integrity with normal saline. In vitro cytotoxicity assay, showed threefold elevation in the IC50 value of the optimized formulation in comparison to the commercial formulation. Further, no mortality and toxicity were observed during 28 days repeated dose sub-acute toxicity studies in Swiss albino mice up to the dose of 138 mg/kg, whereas, commercial formulation showed toxicity at 40 mg/kg. In addition, in vivo anticancer activity on Ehrlich Ascites Carcinoma induced mice showed a significant tumour growth inhibition of 76.3 ± 5.3% with the NV-TPGS-3 treatment when compared to Ehrlich Ascites Carcinoma control. Results demonstrated that the developed Vitamin E TPGS based nanovesicular formulation of DTX could be a better alternative to increase its clinical uses with improved therapeutic efficacy, reduced toxicity and dosing frequency, and sustained drug release behaviour.
N-Alkylated Iminosugar Based Ligands: Synthesis and Inhibition of Human Lysosomal β-Glucocerebrosidase

The scope of a series of N-alkylated iminosugar based inhibitors in the d-gluco as well as d-xylo configuration towards their interaction with human lysosomal β-glucocerebrosidase has been evaluated. A versatile synthetic toolbox has been developed for the synthesis of N-alkylated iminosugar scaffolds conjugated to a variety of terminal groups via a benzoic acid ester linker. The terminal groups such as nitrile, azide, alkyne, nonafluoro-tert-butyl and amino substituents enable follow-up chemistry as well as visualisation experiments. All compounds showed promising inhibitory properties as well as selectivities for β-glucosidases, some exhibiting activities in the low nanomolar range for β-glucocerebrosidase.
Structural and Functional Analysis of BBA03, Borrelia burgdorferi Competitive Advantage Promoting Outer Surface Lipoprotein

BBA03 is a Borrelia burgdorferi outer surface lipoprotein encoded on one of the most conserved plasmids in Borrelia genome, linear plasmid 54 (lp54). Although many of its genes have been identified as contributing or essential for spirochete fitness in vivo, the majority of the proteins encoded on this plasmid have no known function and lack homologs in other organisms. In this paper, we report the solution NMR structure of the B. burgdorferi outer surface lipoprotein BBA03, which is known to provide a competitive advantage to the bacteria during the transmission from tick vector to mammalian host. BBA03 shows structural homology to other outer surface lipoproteins reflecting their genetic and evolutionary relatedness. Analysis of the structure reveals a pore in BBA03, which could potentially bind lipids.
Liver Function Changes in Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma Treated with Lenvatinib: Predictive Factors of Progression to Child-Pugh Class B, the Formation of Ascites and the Candidates for the Post-Progression Treatment

Simple Summary Many drugs has become available for the advanced hepatocellular carcinoma and sequential systemic therapies play an important role in the clinical settings. Because the key eligibility criteria for post-progression treatment included the performance status of ≦1 and Child-Pugh score of ≦6, to clarify the eligibility for post-progression treatment will provide meaningful information. The aim of this multicenter retrospective study was to investigate the predictive factors of progression to Child-Pugh class B, the formation of ascites and the candidates for post-progression treatment. Authors confirmed that male, ALBI grade 1, Child-Pugh score 5 (CP5A) and BCLC early or intermediate stage were favorable factors related to sustaining liver function and the patients with ALBI grade 1 and CP5A were eligible for the post-progression treatment. Careful screening for ascites was needed in patients with low platelet count and Child-Pugh score 6. Abstract The aim of this multicenter retrospective study was to assess the change in liver function in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma treated with lenvatinib. Among 139 consecutive patients receiving lenvatinib treatment between March 2018 and July 2019, 28 patients with Child-Pugh class B and one patient with inadequate patient information were excluded. Remaining 110 patients with Child-Pugh class A were analyzed. The median age of 110 patients was 73 years (IQR 66.7–80) and 88 patients (80.0%) were men. Child-Pugh score was 5 (CP5A) and 6 (CP6A) in 58 (52.7%) and 52 patients (47.3%), and ALBI grade was 1 and 2 in 38 (34.5%) and 72 patients (65.5%), respectively. The deterioration to Child-Pugh class B was found in 43 patients (39.1%) during the lenvatinib treatment. The favorable factors related to preserving liver function were significantly shown to be male, ALBI grade 1, CP5A and BCLC early or intermediate stage in the multivariate analysis. The formation of ascites was found in 32 patients (28.6%). The significant unfavorable factors associated with the formation of ascites were found to be low platelet count and CP6A. Among the 79 patients, there were 36 (45.6%) and 11 patients (13.9%) who fulfilled the criteria for candidate for the post-progression treatment and ramucirumab treatment, respectively. The predictive factors of the post-progression treatment were shown to be ALBI grade 1 and CP5A in multivariate analysis. In conclusion, male, ALBI grade 1, CP5A and BCLC early or intermediate stage were favorable factors related to sustaining liver function and the patients with ALBI grade 1 and CP5A were eligible for the post-progression treatment. Careful screening for ascites was needed in patients with low platelet count and CP6A.
Review of Hepatitis E Virus in Rats: Evident Risk of Species Orthohepevirus C to Human Zoonotic Infection and Disease

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) (family Hepeviridae) is one of the most common human pathogens, causing acute hepatitis and an increasingly recognized etiological agent in chronic hepatitis and extrahepatic manifestations. Recent studies reported that not only are the classical members of the species Orthohepevirus A (HEV-A) pathogenic to humans but a genetically highly divergent rat origin hepevirus (HEV-C1) in species Orthohepevirus C (HEV-C) is also able to cause zoonotic infection and symptomatic disease (hepatitis) in humans. This review summarizes the current knowledge of hepeviruses in rodents with special focus of rat origin HEV-C1. Cross-species transmission and genetic diversity of HEV-C1 and confirmation of HEV-C1 infections and symptomatic disease in humans re-opened the long-lasting and full of surprises story of HEV in human. This novel knowledge has a consequence to the epidemiology, clinical aspects, laboratory diagnosis, and prevention of HEV infection in humans.