Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Sleep and Psychological Difficulties in Italian School-Age Children During COVID-19 Lockdown

Abstract Objective On March 10, 2020, the Italian Government ordered a national lockdown to limit the viral transmission of coronavirus disease 2019 infections. This study investigated how these restrictive measures have impacted sleep quality, timing, and psychological difficulties in school-age children and their mothers during the lockdown. Methods In an online survey, 299 mothers reported their sleep habits, experience of time, and psychological difficulties as well as those of their children (6–10 years old) during and, retrospectively, before the lockdown. Results During the lockdown, children showed a marked delay in sleep timing—that is, later bedtime and rise time—and a mild worsening in sleep quality. They were less prone to respect daily routines or to keep track of the passage of time. They showed increased emotional, conduct, and hyperactive symptoms, and the increase in these psychological difficulties was predicted by the change in sleep quality, boredom, and mothers’ psychological difficulties. In addition, mothers showed a delayed sleep timing and worsening of sleep quality during the lockdown, in varying degrees depending on their working conditions. Mothers who kept working regularly outside their homes during lockdown reported more regular sleep patterns, whereas mothers who stopped working showed more emotional symptoms and relevant changes in their perception of time. Conclusions Overall, given the evidence of the adverse behavioral and psychological impact of home confinement and social restrictions, effective measures needed to be in place to mitigate long-term effects on children and their mothers, especially those who have had to stop working during lockdown.
The cytidine repressor regulates the survival of Pantoea agglomerans YS19 2 under oxidative stress and sulfur starvation conditions 3

Pantoea agglomerans YS19 is a dominant endophytic bacterium isolated from rice, which is capable of 25 promoting host plant growth by nitrogen-fixing and phytohormone secreting. We previously found that 26 the cytidine repressor (CytR) protein conducts the regulation of indole signal in YS19. Here, we 27 compared the whole-cell protein of the wild type YS19 and the Δ cytR mutant and subsequently 28 identified one differential protein as alkyl hydroperoxide reductase subunit C related to oxidative stress 29 and sulfur starvation tolerance. It was tested that cytR had a positive effect on the survival of YS19 30 under the oxidative stress and sulfur starvation conditions and this effect was inhibited by indole. To 31 further understand the functional mode of indole in this regulation, we cloned the cytR promoter region 32 (P cytR ) of YS19 and tested the effect of indole on P cytR using gfp as a reporter gene. It was found that 33 P cytR can sense indole and significantly inhibit the expression of the downstream gene. This study 34 provided a deeper understanding of the multiple function of cytR and expanded a new research 35 direction of how indole participates in gene regulation. conducive to its colonization on rice al., 2017). This study represents our further effort on the functions of cytR on stress resistance. Here, we analyzed the differential proteins between YS19 wild type and the Δ cytR mutant, and found that mutation in cytR decreased the expression on the alkyl hydroperoxide reductase subunit C gene ahpC , suggesting that cytR might promote its expression in a direct or indirect manner. The inhibition of ahpC expression by indole was not present under cytR mutation, indicating that regulation by indole was mediated by cytR
Fluorescence suppression in resonance Raman spectroscopy using a high-performance picosecond Kerr gate

A high-performance Kerr gate designed for the suppression of fluorescence in both time-resolved and steady-state resonance Raman spectroscopy is described and its performance illustrated. This is an improved version of a system described recently, with superior extinction ratio, higher throughput and wider usable spectral range. Specially designed polarizers are an essential feature of the system. The gate opens for ∼4 ps at 1 kHz repetition rate, throughput in the open state is up to ∼40% (excluding Fresnel losses on optical elements), the extinction ratio in the closed state is 10−5 and the usable spectral range is 300–700 nm with a single set of polarizers. The Kerr gate is driven by ∼500 µJ, 1 kHz, 1 ps laser pulses at 800 nm and we believe that it is currently the most powerful device in operation for the temporal rejection of fluorescence from Raman spectra. It increases the general applicability of Raman spectroscopy as illustrated by picosecond time-resolved resonance Raman spectra of the intramolecular charge transfer state of 4-dimethylaminobenzonitrile and by the ground-state Raman spectrum of unleaded petrol at 400 nm probe wavelength. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Biological wastewater treatment: Microbiology, chemistry, and diversity measurement of ammonia oxidizing bacteria

Nitrification is an important biological process in nitrogen cycling and has a significant effect on effluent quality in wastewater treatment. Nitrification occurs in two steps by two types of chemoautotrophic bacteria, the ammonia oxidizing bacteria (AOB) and nitrite oxidizing bacteria (NOB). The ammonia oxidizing bacteria is responsible for the oxidation of ammonia with oxygen into nitrite and is often the rate-limiting step in nitrification in wastewater treatment plants. Hence, a better understanding of the ecology, microbiology and chemistry of ammonia oxidizing bacteria in biological wastewater treatment systems is necessary in order to enhance treatment performance and control. A detailed review of various biological wastewater treatment processes, ammonia oxidizing bacteria and archaea; economic importance, problems, various molecular techniques for the investigation of the diversity and community structure, as well as the isolation of ammonia oxidizing bacteria were discussed.
The performance of HCV GT plus RUO reagent in determining Hepatitis C virus genotypes in Taiwan

Background and aims Hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotyping is a pivotal tool for epidemiological investigation, guiding management and antiviral treatment. Challenge existed in identifying subtypes of genotype-1 (G-1) and genotype (GT) of indeterminate. Recently, the Abbott HCV RealTime Genotype Plus RUO assay (HCV GT Plus) has been developed aiming to overcome the limitations. We aimed to evaluate the performance of the assay compared with 5’ UTR sequencing in clinical samples. Materials and methods Eligible individuals were treatment chronic hepatitis C patients that were enrolled consecutively in a medical center and two core regional hospitals in southern Taiwan from Oct 2017 through Aug 2018. The patient with genotype 1 without subtype and indeterminate previously genotyped by Abbott RealTime HCV GT II will further determinate by Abbott HCV RealTime HCV GT Plus. All of the genotype results were validated by 5' UTR sequencing as a reference standard. Results A total of 100 viremic CHC patients were recruited, including 63 G-1 patients (male: 28), and 37 patients (male: 15) of indeterminate genotyped by Abbott RealTime HCV GT II assay (HCV GT II), respectively. The detection rate of 63 GT1 samples without subtype were 93.7% (59/63), 37 indeterminate samples without genotype were 62.2 (23/37) by HCV GT Plus. 5' UTR sequencing confirmed HCV GT Plus characterized results for 84.7% (50/59) of type1, with 100% (4/4), 82.8 (24/29) and 84.6% (22/26) for 1a, 1b and type6; 65.2% (15/23) of indeterminate with 100% (3/3) and 60% (12/20) for 1b and type 6 samples, respectively. Conclusions The Abbott RealTime HCV GT Plus RUO assay provides additional performance in GT detection.
Whole-Canopy Gas Exchange and Light Interception of Vertically Trained Vitis vinifera L. under Direct and Diffuse Light

A portable, open gas exchange system was developed that enabled the simultaneous measurement of net carbon dioxide exchange (NCE) and transpiration of eight mature Sauvignon blanc grapevines in the field. On clear and cloudy days NCE and transpiration were closely related to the modeled interception of photosynthetically active radiation (PAR). On clear days, the relationship between photosynthesis and incident PAR was poor and NCE peaked in the vertically trained, north-south orientated rows three hours before and after solar noon, resulting in a distinct bimodal pattern to vine gas exchange, which was not evident on cloudy days. Under diffuse light (cloudy) conditions, the vines appeared to be more efficient, photosynthesizing at a higher rate per calculated unit of light intercepted. This efficiency was probably due to the saturation of the exterior and shading of interior leaves under clear conditions, while under diffuse conditions the increased scattered light enhanced the irradiance received by the leaves in the interior of the canopy. Despite the improved light use efficiency under diffuse conditions, lower light intensities meant that CO 2 exchange was normally lower than that recorded during clear days. The effect of the chambers on the sap flux velocity up the vine stems was minor, which suggests that their effect on vine microclimate and resulting transpiration was minimal. There was a strong relationship between concurrent transpiration and sap flux velocity, which was not improved by the use of a time delay between transpiration and sap flux, and suggests that the vines do not rely greatly on water stored in the trunk and other vegetative organs above the ground (capacitance) for transpiration under these conditions.
Absence of retbindin blocks glycolytic flux, disrupts metabolic homeostasis, and leads to photoreceptor degeneration

Significance The retina has one of the highest energy requirements, and it harbors the highest flavins’ content, essential factors for energy metabolism. It is unclear how the retina manages to preserve the high level of flavins, a topic for investigation. We recently reported a retinal riboflavin-binding protein, called retbindin. Here we report that absence of retbindin results in a significant reduction in retinal flavins, causing toxic metabolite buildup and triggering the retina to lend support to the impaired free-radical scavenging system by repurposing glucose. These have a domino effect, leading to reduced ATP synthesis and metabolic breakdown and results in retinal degeneration. This research emphasizes the role of metabolic changes as a primary cause behind retinal degeneration. We previously reported a model of progressive retinal degeneration resulting from the knockout of the retina-specific riboflavin binding protein, retbindin (Rtbdn−/−). We also demonstrated a reduction in neural retinal flavins as a result of the elimination of RTBDN. Given the role of flavins in metabolism, herein we investigated the underlying mechanism of this retinal degeneration by performing metabolomic analyses on predegeneration at postnatal day (P) 45 and at the onset of functional degeneration in the P120 retinas. Metabolomics of hydrophilic metabolites revealed that individual glycolytic products accumulated in the P45 Rtbdn−/− neural retinas along with the elevation of pentose phosphate pathway, while TCA cycle intermediates remained unchanged. This was confirmed by using 13C-labeled flux measurements and immunoblotting, revealing that the key regulatory step of phosphoenolpyruvate to pyruvate was inhibited via down-regulation of the tetrameric pyruvate kinase M2 (PKM2). Separate metabolite assessments revealed that almost all intermediates of acylcarnitine fatty acid oxidation, ceramides, sphingomyelins, and multiple toxic metabolites were significantly elevated in the predegeneration Rtbdn−/− neural retina. Our data show that lack of RTBDN, and hence reduction in flavins, forced the neural retina into repurposing glucose for free-radical mitigation over ATP production. However, such sustained metabolic reprogramming resulted in an eventual metabolic collapse leading to neurodegeneration.
Osteoinduction within adipose tissue fragments by heterodimeric bone morphogenetic Proteins‐2/6 and ‐2/7 versus homodimeric bone morphogenetic protein‐2: Therapeutic implications for bone regeneration

Fragments of subcutaneous adipose tissue that have been genetically modified to express bone morphogenetic protein‐2 (BMP‐2) regenerate large segmental osseous lesions in rodents. Gene‐activated adipose tissue can be implanted into osseous defects without prior cell extraction and cell culture. The present study aimed to explore whether the heterodimers BMP‐2/6 or BMP‐2/7 exceed the osteoinductive effect of BMP‐2 on adipose tissue.
Dislocation behavior in seed‐cast grown Si ingots based on crystallographic orientation

This study concentrates on dislocation behavior during Si growth by the seed‐cast method in different crystallographic orientations. Two methods were combined: (1) Si crystal growth in different seed orientations and (2) float zone Si‐annealing experiment to obtain the purely thermal stress‐induced dislocation density. The main focus is on the difference between the (111) and the (100) growth directions. It is found that peripheral areas are dominated by thermal stress‐induced dislocation densities. Central ingot areas are dominated by other dislocation sources. By comparing the (100) and the (111) orientations, it was found that a difference in dislocation motion exists. This difference is caused by a different activation of slip systems, causing long slip lines in the (111) orientation. It is shown that numerical simulation has problems describing this long‐range dislocation slip. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
TRESK background potassium channel modifies the TRPV1-mediated nociceptor excitability in sensory neurons

Background TWIK-related spinal cord potassium channel (TRESK) background potassium channels have a key role in controlling resting membrane potential and excitability of sensory neurons. A frameshift mutation leading to complete loss of TRESK function has been identified in members of a family suffering from migraine with aura. In the present study, we examined the role of TRESK channels on nociceptor function in mice. Methods Calcium imaging was used to investigate the role of TRESK channels in the modulation of the response evoked by transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) receptor stimulation in dorsal root ganglion neurons. Release of calcitonin gene-related peptide from trigeminal afferents and changes in meningeal blood flow were also measured. Experiments were performed on wild-type and TRESK knockout animals. Results Inhibition of TRESK increased the TRPV1-mediated calcium signal in dorsal root ganglion neurons and potentiated capsaicin-induced increases in calcitonin gene-related peptide release and meningeal blood flow. Activation of TRESK decreased the capsaicin sensitivity of sensory neurons, leading to an attenuation of capsaicin-induced increase in meningeal blood flow. In TRESK knockout animals, TRPV1-mediated nociceptive reactions were unaffected by pretreatment with TRESK modulators. Conclusions Pharmacological manipulation of TRESK channels influences the TRPV1-mediated functions of nociceptors. Altered TRESK function might contribute to trigeminal nociceptor sensitization in migraine patients.
A novel approach to the basophil activation test for characterizing peanut allergic patients in the clinical setting

To the Editor, The basophil activation test (BAT) has been reported to increase the accuracy of diagnosing peanut allergy and decrease the need for oral food challenges.13 However, BAT has been largely restricted to research settings because basophils are unstable ex vivo and the activation assay is ideally done within 3– 4 hours of sample acquisition.4If activation could be performed easily in the clinical setting and sent to a processing facility for cytometry, BAT could become more broadly accessible. In this pilot study, we evaluated a novel peanutBAT (PBAT) method that preserves basophil activation to determine its feasibility as a diagnostic method of peanut allergy. The main objective was to determine whether basophils from peanut allergic patients, stimulated with PBAT reagents, maintain consistent activation readouts measured up to 5 days after initial activation. Basophils in whole blood were stimulated with six peanut concentrations (0.0001– 10 mg/ml) on day 0 via a novel method developed by BeckmanCoulter and activation was measured by CD63+CD203c+ expression via flow cytometry on days 0, 1, 3, and
Hallmarks and detection techniques of cellular senescence and cellular ageing in immune cells

The ageing of the global population brings about unprecedented challenges. Chronic age‐related diseases in an increasing number of people represent an enormous burden for health and social care. The immune system deteriorates during ageing and contributes to many of these age‐associated diseases due to its pivotal role in pathogen clearance, tissue homeostasis and maintenance. Moreover, in order to develop treatments for COVID‐19, we urgently need to acquire more knowledge about the aged immune system, as older adults are disproportionally and more severely affected. Changes with age lead to impaired responses to infections, malignancies and vaccination, and are accompanied by chronic, low‐degree inflammation, which together is termed immunosenescence. However, the molecular and cellular mechanisms that underlie immunosenescence, termed immune cell senescence, are mostly unknown. Cellular senescence, characterised by an irreversible cell cycle arrest, is thought to be the cause of tissue and organismal ageing. Thus, better understanding of cellular senescence in immune populations at single‐cell level may provide us with insight into how immune cell senescence develops over the life time of an individual. In this review, we will briefly introduce the phenotypic characterisation of aged innate and adaptive immune cells, which also contributes to overall immunosenescence, including subsets and function. Next, we will focus on the different hallmarks of cellular senescence and cellular ageing, and the detection techniques most suitable for immune cells. Applying these techniques will deepen our understanding of immune cell senescence and to discover potential druggable pathways, which can be modulated to reverse immune ageing.
Bilateral and bimodal cochlear implant listeners can segregate competing speech using talker sex cues, but not spatial cues

Cochlear implant (CI) users have greater difficulty perceiving talker sex and spatial cues than do normal-hearing (NH) listeners. The present study measured recognition of target sentences in the presence of two co-located or spatially separated speech maskers in NH, bilateral CI, and bimodal CI listeners; masker sex was the same as or different than the target. NH listeners demonstrated a large masking release with masker sex and/or spatial cues. For CI listeners, significant masking release was observed with masker sex cues, but not with spatial cues, at least for the spatially symmetrically placed maskers and listening task used in this study.
Toward stroke‐free coronary surgery: The role of the anaortic off‐pump bypass technique

Surgical coronary revascularization remains the preferred strategy in a significant portion of patients with coronary artery disease due to superior long‐term outcomes. However, there is a significant risk of perioperative neurologic injury that has influenced guideline recommendations. These complications occur in 1%–5% of patients, ranging from overt neurologic deficits with permanent disability, to subtle cerebral defects noted on neuroimaging that may result in slow cognitive and functional decline. The primary mechanism by which these events occur is thromboembolism from manipulation of the ascending aorta. This occurs during cardiopulmonary bypass, aortic cross‐clamping, and partial occlusion clamping (side clamp). Elderly patients and patients with aortic atheroma are, therefore, at significantly increased risk. Initial surgical techniques addressed this by aggressively debriding or replacing the ascending aorta during coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Strategies then moved toward minimizing aortic manipulation through pump‐assisted beating heart surgery and off‐pump surgery with partial occlusion clamping or proximal anastomosis devices. Finally, anaortic off‐pump CABG aims to avoid all manipulation of the ascending aorta through advanced off‐pump grafting techniques combined with in situ and composite grafts. This has been demonstrated to result in the greatest reduction in risk. Establishing successful anaortic off‐pump CABG programs requires subspecialization and focused interest groups dedicated to advancing CABG outcomes.
Cell Culture-Derived Tilapia Lake Virus-Inactivated Vaccine Containing Montanide Adjuvant Provides High Protection against Viral Challenge for Tilapia

Tilapia lake virus (TiLV) is a newly emerging pathogen responsible for high mortality and economic losses in the global tilapia industry. Currently, no antiviral therapy or vaccines are available for the control of this disease. The goal of the present study was to evaluate the immunological effects and protective efficacy of formaldehyde- and β-propiolactone-inactivated vaccines against TiLV in the presence and absence of the Montanide IMS 1312 VG adjuvant in tilapia. We found that β-propiolactone inactivation of viral particles generated a vaccine with a higher protection efficacy against virus challenge than did formaldehyde. The relative percent survivals of vaccinated fish at doses of 108, 107, and 106 50% tissue culture infectious dose (TCID50)/mL were 42.9%, 28.5%, and 14.3% in the absence of the adjuvant and 85.7%, 64.3%, and 32.1% in its presence, respectively. The vaccine generated specific IgM and neutralizing antibodies against TiLV at 3 weeks following immunization that were significantly increased after a second booster immunization. The steady state mRNA levels of the genes tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interferon γ (IFN-γ), cluster of differentiation 4 (CD4), major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-Ia, and MHC-II were all increased and indicated successful immune stimulation against TiLV. The vaccine also significantly lowered the viral loads and resulted in significant increases in survival, indicating that the vaccine may also inhibit viral proliferation as well as stimulate a protective antibody response. The β-propiolactone-inactivated TiLV vaccine coupled with the adjuvant Montanide IMS 1312 VG and booster immunizations can provide a high level of protection from virus challenge in tilapia.
Understanding the electrocatalysis of oxygen reduction on platinum and its alloys

The high cost of low temperature fuel cells is to a large part dictated by the high loading of Pt required to catalyse the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). Arguably the most viable route to decrease the Pt loading, and to hence commercialise these devices, is to improve the ORR activity of Pt by alloying it with other metals. In this perspective paper we provide an overview of the fundamentals underlying the reduction of oxygen on platinum and its alloys. We also report the ORR activity of Pt5La for the first time, which shows a 3.5- to 4.5-fold improvement in activity over Pt in the range 0.9 to 0.87 V, respectively. We employ angle resolved X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and density functional theory calculations to understand the activity of Pt5La.