Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Clinical Findings of Listeria monocytogenes Infections with a Special Focus on Bone Localizations

Listeria monocytogenes is a Gram-positive pathogenic bacterium which can be found in soil or water. Infection with the microorganism can occur after ingestion of contaminated food products. Small and large outbreaks of listeriosis have been described in the past. L. monocytogenes can cause a number of different clinical syndromes, most frequently sepsis, meningitis, and rhombencephalitis, particularly in immunocompromised hosts. L. monocytogenes systemic infections can develop following tissue penetration across the gastrointestinal tract or to hematogenous spread to sterile sites, possibly evolving towards bacteremia. L. monocytogenes only rarely causes bone or joint infections, usually in the context of prosthetic material that can provide a site for bacterial seeding. We describe here the clinical findings of invasive listeriosis, mainly focusing on the diagnosis, clinical management, and treatment of bone and vertebral infections occurring in the context of invasive listeriosis.
Analysis of Heart Rate variability (HRV) in Frequency Domain and Recurrence Quantification Analysis during the Treatment by Transcutaneous Vagus Nerve Stimulation

The aim of the present work has a methodological profile. It aims to analyze the HRV during thirty minutes transcutaneous Vagus Nerve Stimulation tVNS treatment. We used the linear methodology of the Fast Fourier Transform and an analysis of the variability of the R-R signal in frequency domain under such conditions of stimulation. As specialized method of analysis we used also the Recurrence Quantification Analysis (RQA). The importance to use a combination of such linear and non linear methodologies was to give results of physiological interest that is to say to ascertain, as well as possible, the influence of such tVNS treatment on HRV. We examined 50 young subjects in normal health conditions and 50 young subjects with Autonomic Nervous Dysfunction (ANS) as well as it is evidenced by HRV. The experiments were arranged in three phases, recording the data before, during, and after a 30-minute treatment. The analysis of the data was performed in the frequency domain evaluating the VLF, the LF, and the HF and the variability of the tachogram according to the 1996 Task Force Standards of the European Society of Cardiology and the North American Society of Pacing and Electrophysiology. In addition the Recurrence Quantification Analysis (RQA) was used. The indication arising from such methodological study is that the unbalanced initial ANS dysfunction of the examined subjects, as mirrored from the HRV analysis, compensates and balances with also a prevailing tendency to parasympathetic HRV modulation during the tVNS treatment.
HuR (ELAVL1) Stabilizes SOX9 mRNA and Promotes Migration and Invasion in Breast Cancer Cells

Simple Summary RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) play a critical role in controlling gene expression post-transcriptionally and their dysregulation can lead to various diseases, including cancer. One such RBP is HuR, whose levels have been associated with a poor clinical prognosis in breast cancer. Nevertheless, the precise molecular mechanism underlying this connection remains incompletely characterized. Our study uncovers that HuR targets SOX9 mRNA in breast cancer cells and provides compelling evidence supporting HuR’s involvement in cell migration and invasion. Abstract RNA-binding proteins play diverse roles in cancer, influencing various facets of the disease, including proliferation, apoptosis, angiogenesis, senescence, invasion, epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT), and metastasis. HuR, a known RBP, is recognized for stabilizing mRNAs containing AU-rich elements (AREs), although its complete repertoire of mRNA targets remains undefined. Through a bioinformatics analysis of the gene expression profile of the Hs578T basal-like triple-negative breast cancer cell line with silenced HuR, we have identified SOX9 as a potential HuR-regulated target. SOX9 is a transcription factor involved in promoting EMT, metastasis, survival, and the maintenance of cancer stem cells (CSCs) in triple-negative breast cancer. Ribonucleoprotein immunoprecipitation assays confirm a direct interaction between HuR and SOX9 mRNA. The half-life of SOX9 mRNA and the levels of SOX9 protein decreased in cells lacking HuR. Cells silenced for HuR exhibit reduced migration and invasion compared to control cells, a phenotype similar to that described for SOX9-silenced cells.
One-Pot Synthesis and Surfactant Removal from MCM-41 Using Microwave Irradiation

This research pioneers the application of microwave irradiation as an innovative strategy for one-pot synthesis and surfactant elimination (cetyltrimethylammonium bromide—CTAB) from MCM-41, introducing a rapid and efficient methodology. MCM-41 silica is widely utilized in various applications due to its unique textural and structural properties. Nonetheless, the presence of residual surfactants after synthesis poses a challenge to its effective application. MCM-41 synthesis, conducted in a microwave reactor at 60 °C, provided a result within 0.5 to 1 h. Comprehensive analyses of structural, chemical, morphological, and surface characteristics were undertaken, with a focus on the impact of synthesis time on these properties. Surfactant extraction involved the use of ethanol as a solvent at 120 °C for 6 min within the microwave reactor. The acquired particles, coupled with the properties of textural and structural features, affirmed the efficacy of the synthesis process, resulting in the synthesis of MCM-41 within 36 min. This study presents the first instance of one-pot synthesis and surfactant removal from MCM-41 using a microwave reactor. The proposed method not only addresses the surfactant removal challenge, but also substantially accelerates the synthesis process, thereby enhancing the potential for MCM-41’s application in diverse fields.
Efficient VAL-based Real-Time Global Illumination

Due to recent advances in consumer grade graphics hardware the field of global illumination techniques are not limited to offline rendering anymore. Current real-time techniques to approximate global illumination are mostly based on rendering large amounts of virtual point lights (VPLs), however without considering indirect shadows. One of the popular examples that includes indirect shadows are the imperfect shadow maps (ISMs) which are based on VPLs and point-based shadow maps. In our paper, we reduce the number of required light sources and imperfect shadow maps by using virtual area lights (VALs) instead of VPLs. A PCSS based filtering of the visibility information allows to maintain the quality of the indirect shadows in spite of the much smaller number of ISMs. This way, the computational effort is heavily reduced, resulting in rendering speedups of up to 50%.
The association of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) with the risk of myocardial infarction: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract Objective While studies have documented how metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) can contribute to cardiovascular disease (CVD), whether MASLD is associated with myocardial infarction (MI) remains debateable. Herein, we systematically reviewed published articles and performed a meta-analysis to determine the relationship between MASLD and MI risk. Methods PubMed, MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science, CNKI, CBM, VIP, and WanFang databases were searched, and the DerSimonian Laird method was used to obtain hazard ratios (HRs) for binary variables to assess the correlation between MASLD and MI risk. Subgroup analyses for the study region, MASLD diagnosis, quality score, study design, and follow-up time were conducted simultaneously for the selected studies retrieved from the time of database establishment to March 2022. All study procedures were independently conducted by two investigators. Results The final analysis included seven articles, including eight prospective and two retrospective cohort studies. The MI risk was higher among MASLD patients than among non-MASLD patients (HR = 1.26; 95% CI: 1.08-1.47, p = 0.003). The results of the subgroup analysis of the study region revealed an association of MASLD with MI risk among Americans and Asians, but not in Europeans. Subgroup analyses of MASLD diagnosis showed that ultrasonography and other (fatty liver index[FLI] and computed tomography [CT)]) diagnostic methods, but not international classification of disease (ICD), increased the risk of MI. Subgroup analysis of the study design demonstrated a stronger relationship between MASLD and MI in retrospective studies but not in prospective studies. Subgroup analysis based on the follow-up duration revealed the association of MASLD with MI risk in cases with < 3 years of follow-up but not with ≥3 years of follow-up. Conclusion MASLD increases the risk of MI, independent of traditional risk factors.
The Response of the Honey Bee Gut Microbiota to Nosema ceranae Is Modulated by the Probiotic Pediococcus acidilactici and the Neonicotinoid Thiamethoxam

The honey bee Apis mellifera is exposed to a variety of biotic and abiotic stressors, such as the highly prevalent microsporidian parasite Nosema (Vairimorpha) ceranae and neonicotinoid insecticides. Both can affect honey bee physiology and microbial gut communities, eventually reducing its lifespan. They can also have a combined effect on the insect’s survival. The use of bacterial probiotics has been proposed to improve honey bee health, but their beneficial effect remains an open question. In the present study, western honey bees were experimentally infected with N. ceranae spores, chronically exposed to the neonicotinoid thiamethoxam, and/or supplied daily with the homofermentative bacterium Pediococcus acidilactici MA18/5M thought to improve the honey bees’ tolerance to the parasite. Deep shotgun metagenomic sequencing allowed the response of the gut microbiota to be investigated with a taxonomic resolution at the species level. All treatments induced significant changes in honey bee gut bacterial communities. Nosema ceranae infection increased the abundance of Proteus mirabilis, Frischella perrara, and Gilliamella apicola and reduced the abundance of Bifidobacterium asteroides, Fructobacillus fructosus, and Lactobacillus spp. Supplementation with P. acidilactici overturned some of these alterations, bringing back the abundance of some altered species close to the relative abundance found in the controls. Surprisingly, the exposure to thiamethoxam also restored the relative abundance of some species modulated by N. ceranae. This study shows that stressors and probiotics may have an antagonistic impact on honey bee gut bacterial communities and that P. acidilactici may have a protective effect against the dysbiosis induced by an infection with N. ceranae.
Comprehensive Separation Algorithm for Single-Channel Signals Based on Symplectic Geometry Mode Decomposition

This paper aims to explore the difficulty of obtaining source signals from complex mixed signals and the issue that the FastICA algorithm cannot directly decompose the received single-channel mixed signals and distort the signal separation in low signal-to-noise environments. Thus, in this work, a comprehensive single-channel mixed signal separation algorithm was proposed based on the combination of Symplectic Geometry Mode Decomposition (SGMD) and the FastICA algorithm. First, SGMD-FastICA uses SGMD to decompose single-channel mixed signals, and then it uses the Pearson correlation coefficient to select the Symplectic Geometry Components that exhibit higher correlation coefficients with the mixed signals. Then, these components are expanded with the single-channel mixed signals into virtual multi-channel signals and input into the FastICA algorithm. The simulation results show that the SGMD algorithm could eliminate noise interference while keeping the raw time series unchanged, which is achievable through symplectic geometry similarity transformation during the decomposition of mixed signals. Comparative experiment results also show that compared with the EMD-FastICA and VMD-FastICA, the SGMD-FastICA algorithm has the best separation effect for single-channel mixed signals. The SGMD-FastICA algorithm represents an improved solution that addresses the limitations of the FastICA algorithm, enabling the direct separation of single-channel mixed signals, while also addressing the challenge of proper signal separation in noisy environments.
Evidence of Differences in Cellular Regulation of Wolbachia-Mediated Viral Inhibition between Alphaviruses and Flaviviruses

The intracellular bacterium Wolbachia is increasingly being utilised in control programs to limit the spread of arboviruses by Aedes mosquitoes. Achieving a better understanding of how Wolbachia strains can reduce viral replication/spread could be important for the long-term success of such programs. Previous studies have indicated that for some strains of Wolbachia, perturbations in lipid metabolism and cholesterol storage are vital in Wolbachia-mediated antiviral activity against the flaviviruses dengue and Zika; however, it has not yet been examined whether arboviruses in the alphavirus group are affected in the same way. Here, using the reporters for the alphavirus Semliki Forest virus (SFV) in Aedes albopictus cells, we found that Wolbachia strains wMel, wAu and wAlbB blocked viral replication/translation early in infection and that storage of cholesterol in lipid droplets is not key to this inhibition. Another alphavirus, o’nyong nyong virus (ONNV), was tested in both Aedes albopictus cells and in vivo in stable, transinfected Aedes aegypti mosquito lines. The strains wMel, wAu and wAlbB show strong antiviral activity against ONNV both in vitro and in vivo. Again, 2-hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (2HPCD) was not able to rescue ONNV replication in cell lines, suggesting that the release of stored cholesterol caused by wMel is not able to rescue blockage of ONNV. Taken together, this study shows that alphaviruses appear to be inhibited early in replication/translation and that there may be differences in how alphaviruses are inhibited by Wolbachia in comparison to flaviviruses.
Exercise-Induced Hypoalgesia in Patients with Chronic Whiplash-Associated Disorders: Differences between Subgroups Based on the Central Sensitization Inventory

Background: Physical exercise is an important element in the rehabilitation of chronic whiplash-associated disorders, with the physiological process underlying pain reduction called exercise-induced hypoalgesia. In chronic whiplash-associated disorders, exercise-induced hypoalgesia appears impaired, and the research suggests a relationship with symptoms of dysfunctional nociceptive processing, such as central sensitization. This study improves our understanding of exercise-induced hypoalgesia in chronic whiplash-associated disorders by examining the differences between the extent of exercise-induced hypoalgesia in subgroups based on scores on the central sensitization inventory (CSI). Methods: Data were collected from 135 participants with chronic whiplash-associated disorders who completed a set of questionnaires. Pain pressure thresholds and temporal summations were assessed before and after a submaximal aerobic bicycle exercise test. Results: We observed no interaction effect between exercise-induced hypoalgesia and the CSI scores for both pain pressure threshold and temporal summation. No overall statistical effect was measured in the analysis of the effect of time. The pain pressure threshold significantly related to the CSI. The temporal summation showed no correlation. Conclusions: During this study, we did not find evidence for a difference in the presence of exercise-induced hypoalgesia when the subgroups were created based on the central sensitization cluster calculator. Limited evidence was found for the influence of CSI scores on the delta pain pressure threshold.
A Domain-Specific Modeling approach supporting technology-oriented experiments

Context: Experimentation is a means to produce controlled changes and to measure the variables involved in the phenomena under study; experimentation must also provide data to its further replication. However, conducting and replicating technology-oriented experiments (i.e., experiments in which treatments are applied to objects by a computer-based tool) without proper tool support is often a time-consuming and highly error-prone task. Although many techniques have been proposed to help conducting controlled experiments, none of them simultaneously addresses (1) runnable specification of experiments at a high level of abstraction; (2) automated treatment execution and automated data analysis from the experiment specification; and (3) formal guaranties of the correctness of results according to an experiment specification for technology-oriented experiments. Objective: The objectives of this work are the following: (a) provide means to specify technology-oriented experiments at a high level of abstraction; (b) enable automated execution and automated data analysis of such specification; and (c) present a formal model of our approach and key correctness properties. Method: We used a Domain-Specific Modeling (DSM) approach to create a Webbased tool comprising a Domain-Specific Language (DSL), execution and analysis script generators, a supporting framework, and a running infrastructure. An experimenter uses the DSL to specify an experiment using experimentation concepts. From this specification, applications corresponding to the underlying treatments are executed, execution results are collected and analyzed, and, finally, the analysis results are presented to the experimenter. We establish the consistency of such results with respect to the experiment specification by formalizing and proving of key correctness properties of our tool. Results: We empirically evaluated the solution with respect to automation by replicating three already published experiments; we evaluated also the level of abstraction by a qualitative assessment. Our empirical evaluation shows that the DSL is expressive enough to specify three selected technology-oriented experiments and that the supporting tool can be used to enable sound automation of execution and analysis from the specification of technology-oriented experiments. In addition, the DSL raises the level of abstraction of experiment specifications by using experimentation concepts. The formal proof of key
Little Owl Aggression and Territory in Urban and Rural Landscapes

Simple Summary In this study, we explored the territorial displays of Little Owls in urban and rural areas. Specifically, we compared the size of territories between urban and rural landscapes, investigating the main characteristics (e.g., land use composition, altitude) that characterize territories of the species in both types of landscapes. Overall, territories were smaller in urban than in rural areas, with a relatively different land use composition. Finally, even though the rate of territorial displays was similar between urban and rural territories, individuals used various types of structures differentially. Our findings provide new insight concerning the conservation of Little Owls in anthropized areas. Abstract Urbanization is a major land use change across the globe with vast effects on wildlife. In this paper, we studied (1) the territorial displays of Little Owls in urban and rural landscapes, analyzing also (2) the size and habitat composition of the territories, and (3) the factors affecting territory size in both landscapes. To do that, we used t-tests, Principal Components Analysis, and General Linear mixed model procedures. The territory size was smaller in urban than in rural landscapes. Urban territories of Little Owls are characterized by a lower cover of grassland, tall crops, short crops, gardens, and orchards, as well as a higher cover of built-up areas than territories in rural landscapes. Territory size in rural landscapes was negatively correlated with seasonal progress and positively correlated with altitude. The rate of territorial displays was similar between urban and rural territories; however, birds differentially utilized various structures. In urban territories, birds mostly used buildings, whereas in rural territories, birds used electric pylons and trees. The compositional differences between territories in the two landscapes may have important consequences for other behavior types and possibly reproductive output in this species.
Insights from a Qualitative Exploration of Adolescents’ Opinions on Sex Education

Background: Adolescence is a crucial time in the development of young people’s identity, and sexuality is a key issue. Comprehensive sex education provides the knowledge and skills to help adolescents protect their sexual and reproductive health and rights. Policies on sex education in secondary schools are highly influential in the development of quality programmes that support comprehensive sex education. The aim of this study was to explore, describe and understand adolescents’ experiences of sex education. Methods: A qualitative study based on Gadamer’s phenomenology was used. Two focus groups and four in-depth interviews were conducted with 12 private school students, followed by inductive data analysis using ATLAS.ti software 9.0. Results: Two main themes were identified in the analysis: (1) sex education is a challenge for secondary schools and (2) student expectations of sex education. Conclusion: It is essential for adolescents to have access to comprehensive sex education that is adapted to the different stages of their development, is provided by specialised teachers, and involves their families in the process.
Variational Optimization for Sustainable Massive MIMO Base Station Switching

Massive MIMO networks are a promising technology for achieving ultra-high capacity and meeting future wireless service demand. Massive MIMO networks, on the other hand, consume intensive energy. As a result, energy-efficient operation of massive MMO networks became a requirement rather than a luxury. Many NP-hard concavity search algorithms for optimal base station switching on-off scheme have been developed. This paper demonstrates the formulation of massive MIMO networks energy efficiency as a constrained variational problem. Our proposed method solution’s uniqueness and boundedness are demonstrated and proven. The developed system is a total energy optimization problem formulation. Furthermore, the order in which the base stations are switched on and off is specified for minimal handover overhead signaling and fair user capacity sharing. Results showed that variational optimization yielded optimal base station switching on and off with considerable energy saving achieved and maintaining the user capacity demand. Moreover, the proposed base station selection criteria provided suboptimal handover overhead signaling.