Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Antagonistic Mechanism of Metabolites Produced by Lactobacillus casei on Lysis of Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli

Enhancing extracellular metabolic byproducts of probiotics is one of the promising strategies to improve overall host health as well as to control enteric infections caused by various foodborne pathogens. However, the underlying mechanism of action of those metabolites and their effective concentrations are yet to be established. In this study, we determined the antibacterial potential of the metabolites in the cell-free culture supernatant (CFCS) collected from wild-type Lactobacillus casei (LCwt) and genetically modified LC to overexpress linoleate isomerase (LCCLA). We also evaluated the mechanism of action of CFCSs collected from the culture of LCwt in the presence or absence of 0.5% peanut flour (CFCSwt and CFCSwt+PF, respectively) and LCCLA alone (CFCSCLA) against enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC). The metabolites present in CFCSwt+PF and CFCSCLA eliminated EHEC within 24 and 48 h, respectively. Whereas CFCSwt failed to eliminate EHEC but reduced their growth by 6.7 logs (p < 0.05) as compared to the control. Significant downregulation of the expression of cell division gene, ftsZ, supported the observed degree of bactericidal and bacteriostatic properties of the collected CFCSs. Upregulation of EHEC genes related to maintaining cell membrane integrity, DNA damage repair, and molecular chaperons indicated an intensive stress condition imposed by the total metabolites present in CFCSs on EHEC growth and cellular structures. A range of deviated morphological features provoked by the metabolites indicated a membrane-targeted action, in general, to compromise the membrane permeability of EHEC. The information obtained from this study may contribute to a more efficient prevention of EHEC related infections.
The Underlying Mechanism of Paeonia lactiflora Pall. in Parkinson’s Disease Based on a Network Pharmacology Approach

Background: Parkinson’s disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disease worldwide, yet as of currently, there is no disease-modifying therapy that could delay its progression. Paeonia lactiflora Pall. is the most frequently used herb in formulas for PD in Traditional Chinese Medicine and also a potential neuroprotective agent for neurodegenerative diseases, while its mechanisms remain poorly understood. In this study, we aim to explore the underlying mechanism of P. lactiflora in treating PD utilizing a network pharmacology approach. Methods: The protein targets of P. lactiflora ingredients and PD were first obtained from several databases. To clarify the key targets, a Protein-Protein-Interaction (PPI) network was constructed and analyzed on the String database, and then enrichment analysis was performed by the Metascape platform to determine the main Gene Ontology biological processes and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathways. Finally, the Ingredient-Target-Pathway (I-T-P) network was constructed and analyzed by Cytoscape software. Results: Six active ingredients of P. lactiflora (kaempferol, ß-sitosterol, betulinic acid, palbinone, paeoniflorin and (+)-catechin) as well as six core targets strongly related to PD treatment [AKT1, interleukin-6, CAT, Tumor necrosis factor (TNF), CASP3, and PTGS2] were identified. The main pathways were shown to involve neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction, Calcium signaling pathway, PI3-Akt signaling pathway, TNF signaling pathway, and apoptosis signaling pathway. The main biological process included the regulation of neurotransmitter levels. Conclusion: P. lactiflora may retard neurodegeneration by reducing neuroinflammation, inhibiting intrinsic and extrinsic apoptosis, and may improve motor and non-motor symptoms by regulating the levels of neurotransmitters. Our study has revealed the mechanism of P. lactiflora in the treatment of PD and may contribute to novel drug development for PD.
Paired Rheumatoid Arthritis Synovial Biopsies From Small and Large Joints Show Similar Global Transcriptomic Patterns With Enrichment of Private Specificity TCRB and TCR Signaling Pathways

Objectives We explored histological and transcriptomic profiles of paired synovial biopsies from rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients, in order to assess homogeneity in synovial tissue at the individual level. Methods Synovial biopsies were performed simultaneously in one small and one large joint per patient using needle-arthroscopy for the knee and ultrasound-guided biopsy for the hand or wrist. Synovium from individuals with osteoarthritis was used as controls. Paraffin-embedded samples were stained for CD3, CD20, and CD68. Total RNA was hybridized on high-density microarrays. TCRB variable sequences were obtained from synovial and blood RNA samples. Results Twenty paired biopsies from 10 RA patients with active disease were analyzed. Semi-quantification of histological markers showed a positive correlation for synovial hyperplasia, inflammatory infiltrates and CD3-positive T cells between pairs. Pairwise comparison of transcriptomic profiles showed similar expression of RA-related molecular pathways (TCR signaling, T cell costimulation and response to TNFα). T cells clonotypes were enriched in all but one joints compared to blood, regardless of the magnitude of T cell infiltration. Enriched clonotypes were shared between pairs (23–100%), but this was less the case in pairs of joints displaying weaker T cell signatures and more pronounced germinal center-like transcriptomic profiles. Conclusion Cellular and molecular alterations in RA synovitis are similar between small and large joints from the same patient. Interindividual differences in magnitude of T cell infiltrates and distribution of enriched T cell clonotypes support the concept of distinct synovial pathotypes in RA that are associated with systemic versus local antigen-driven activation of T cells.
Biomarkers for Heart Failure Prognosis: Proteins, Genetic Scores and Non-coding RNAs

Heart failure (HF) is a complex disease in which cardiomyocyte injury leads to a cascade of inflammatory and fibrosis pathway activation, thereby causing decrease in cardiac function. As a result, several biomolecules are released which can be identified easily in circulating body fluids. The complex biological processes involved in the development and worsening of HF require an early treatment strategy to stop deterioration of cardiac function. Circulating biomarkers provide not only an ideal platform to detect subclinical changes, their clinical application also offers the opportunity to monitor disease treatment. Many of these biomarkers can be quantified with high sensitivity; allowing their clinical application to be evaluated beyond diagnostic purposes as potential tools for HF prognosis. Though the field of biomarkers is dominated by protein molecules, non-coding RNAs (microRNAs, long non-coding RNAs, and circular RNAs) are novel and promising biomarker candidates that encompass several ideal characteristics required in the biomarker field. The application of genetic biomarkers as genetic risk scores in disease prognosis, albeit in its infancy, holds promise to improve disease risk estimation. Despite the multitude of biomarkers that have been available and identified, the majority of novel biomarker candidates are not cardiac-specific, and instead may simply be a readout of systemic inflammation or other pathological processes. Thus, the true value of novel biomarker candidates in HF prognostication remains unclear. In this article, we discuss the current state of application of protein, genetic as well as non-coding RNA biomarkers in HF risk prognosis.
The Association Between Prenatal Exposure to Antidepressants and Autism: Some Research and Public Health Aspects

Use of antidepressants (ADs) in general, and in pregnant notwithstanding, has been increasing globally in recent decades. Associations with a wide range of adverse perinatal and childhood outcomes following prenatal ADs exposure have been observed in registry-based studies, with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) frequently reported. Studies using animal models, sibling analyses, and negative control approaches, have linked dysfunctional serotonin metabolism with ASD, but did not convincingly tease apart the role of maternal mental health from that of ADs. As work to decipher the nature of the AD-ASD association continues, this review raises some public health concerns pertinent to a hypothetical conclusion that this association is causal, including the need to identify specific gestation periods with higher risk, the importance of precise assessment of the ASD potential prevention that might be attributed to AD discontinuation, and the estimation of risks associated with prenatal exposure to untreated depression.
Computed Tomographic and Histopathological Characteristics of 13 Equine and 10 Feline Oral and Sinonasal Squamous Cell Carcinomas

Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is the most common equine sinonasal and feline oral tumour. This study aimed to describe the computed tomographic and histopathological characteristics of equine and feline SCC. Thirteen horses and 10 cats that had been histopathologically diagnosed with oral or sinonasal SCC and had undergone computed tomography (CT) of the head were retrospectively included in the study. CT characteristics of the mass and involved structures were noted. Histological examinations were evaluated according to a human malignancy grading system for oral SCC, which considered four grades of increasing aggressiveness. In horses, the masses were at the levels of the paranasal sinuses (n = 8), mandible (n = 3), tongue (n = 1), and nasal cavity (n = 1). In cats, the masses were at the levels of the maxilla (n = 4), mandible (n = 3), tongue (n = 1), and buccal region (n = 1) and were diffusely distributed (facial and cranial bones; n = 1). Masses in the equine paranasal sinuses showed only mild, solid/laminar, periosteal reactions with variable cortical destruction. However, maxillary lesions in cats showed severe cortical destruction and irregular, amorphous/pumice stone-like, periosteal reactions. CT revealed different SCC phenotypes that were unrelated to the histological grade. For morphologic parameters of the tumour cell population, a variability for the degree of keratinization and number of mitotic cells was noted in horses and cats. Concerning the tumour-host relationship a marked, extensive and deep invasion into the bone in the majority of horses and cats was seen. Most cases in both the horses and cats were categorized as histological grade III (n = 8); four horses and one cat were categorized as grade IV, and one horse and one cat were categorized as grade II. In this study, we examined the diagnostic images and corresponding applied human histopathological grading of SCC to further elucidate the correlations between pathology and oral and sinonasal SCC imaging in horses and cats.
Basque Ethnic Identity and Collective Empowerment: Two Key Factors in Well-Being and Community Participation

Social identity is a factor that is associated with well-being and community participation. Some studies have shown that ethnic identity goes along with empowerment, and that interaction between the two leads to greater indices of well-being and community participation. However, other works suggest a contextual circumstance (i.e., perceiving one’s own group as a minority and/or being discriminated) may condition the nature of these relations. By means of a cross-sectional study, we analyzed the relations of social identification (or identity fusion) and collective psychological empowerment with personal well-being, social well-being and community participation in a sample of Basques. A total of 748 Basques participated (63.1% women; age M = 39.28; SD = 12.13). Individuals who were highly identified or fused with Basque speakers and who were highly empowered showed higher indices of well-being (both personal and social) and of community participation than non-fused individuals with low empowerment. The results also suggest that social identification (or identity fusion) offsets the negative effects of perceiving the group as a linguistic minority. Collective psychological empowerment proved to be an especially relevant factor that needs to continue to be explored.
E-Commerce Shopping Motivation and the Influence of Persuasive Strategies

Persuasive strategies are used to influence the behavior or attitude of people without coercion and are commonly used in online systems such as e-commerce systems. However, in order to make persuasive strategies more effective, research suggests that they should be tailored to groups of similar individuals. Research in the traits that are effective in tailoring or personalizing persuasive strategies is an ongoing research area. In the present study, we propose the use of shoppers' online shopping motivation in tailoring six commonly used influence strategies: scarcity, authority, consensus, liking, reciprocity, and commitment. We aim to identify how these influence strategies can be tailored or personalized to e-commerce shoppers based on the online consumers' motivation when shopping. To achieve this, a research model was developed using Partial Least Squares-Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) and tested by conducting a study of 226 online shoppers. The result of our structural model suggests that persuasive strategies can influence e-commerce shoppers in various ways depending on the shopping motivation of the shopper. Balanced buyers—the shoppers who typically plan their shopping ahead and are influenced by the desire to search for information online—have the strongest influence on commitment strategy and have insignificant effects on the other strategies. Convenience shoppers—those motivated to shop online because of convenience—have the strongest influence on scarcity, while store-oriented shoppers—those who are motivated by the need for social interaction and immediate possession of goods—have the strongest influence on consensus. Variety seekers—consumers who are motivated to shop online because of the opportunity to search through a variety of products and brands, on the other hand, have the strongest influence on authority.
Handbook of Green Chemistry and Technology

Contributors Preface Introduction Principles of sustainable and green chemistry Chemistry and the environment Green chemistry and sustainable development Life cycle assessment: A tool for identification of more sustainable products and processes Industrial processes using solid acid catalysts Micelle templated silicas as catalysts in green chemistry Polymer-supported reagents Biocatalysis Recent advances in phase transfer catalysis Hydrogen peroxide in waste minimisation - current and potential contributions Waste minimisation in pharmaceutical process development: Principles, practice and challenges Green catalysts for industry Green chemistry in practice Process intensification for green chemistry Sonochemistry Applications of microwaves for environmentally benign organic chemistry Photochemistry Electrochemistry and sustainability Fuel cells: a clean energy technology for the future Supercritical carbon dioxide as an environmentally benign reaction medium for chemical synthesis Chemistry in fluorous biphasic systems Extraction of natural products with superheated water Index
Etude du transport de charges dans les polymères semi-conducteurs à faible bande interdite et de son impact sur les performances photovoltaïques

Le transport de charges dans une serie de copolymeres a faible bande interdite bases sur l'alternance de motifs riches en electrons (thiophene, thienothiophene) et d‘unites deficients en electrons (benzothiadiazole) et dans leurs melanges avec un derive du fullerene (PCBM-C60) a ete etudie. Les polymeres sont differencies par la structure moleculaire de leur coeur conjugue et par la nature, la position et la densite de leurs chaines laterales. Dans les polymeres purs, la mobilite a ete etudiee en fonction de la densite de charges par le biais de l’analyses de caracteristiques electriques de transistors a effet de champ et de dispositifs a un seul type de porteurs dont le courant est limite par la charge d’espace. En utilisant le modele de transport de charges developpe par Vissenberg et al., nous avons pu estimer le degre de desordre dans le film organique et correler le transport de charge avec le degre d’ordre structural mesure par la diffraction des Rayons-X. Ces polymeres ont ete concus pour etre utilises dans la couche active des cellules solaires organiques. Grâce a l’etude du transport de charges dans les melanges a differents ratios massiques polymeres:fullerene, nous avons mis en evidence l’effet considerable de la structure moleculaire sur le ratio optimal polymere:fullerene. Aussi, nous avons pu montrer que la nature des chaines laterales joue un role important dans l’obtention d’un chemin de percolation optimal a la conduction des electrons.
Studies on the chemical composition of cubeb piper cubeba Linn.

Two commercial/trade samples of cubeb (Piper cubeba Linn.) were analysed for their physicochemical characteristics. The cubeb samples (designated) A and B had the following (%) analysis; volatile oil 9 and 12; oleoresin 13.80 and 15.26, ash 5.41 and 6.20 and hot alcohol extract 24.79 and 25.09 respectively. The voatile oils had the following physico-chemical constants: Sp. gr. 0.9142 and 0.9294; Refractive Index 1.4800 and 1.4895 and optical rotation (levo) -14.50 and -33.82 respectively. By GC-MS analysis 53 constituents of the volatile oil of sample-A were identified and quantified. Twenty six constituents of this oil were identified for the first time. There was considerable variation in the chemical composition of the volatile oils of samples A and B. Sample-A was rich in sabinene (29.59%) compared to sample-B (4.87%) and Sample B had higher content of aromadendrene, muurolene, germacrene-D and cubebol as compared to sample A.
Dynamics of molecular adsorbates exposed to ultrafast thermal gradients

Energy transfer concerned with how thermal energy is transported at molecular-length scales is a relatively new area and the physics governing this process are not yet well established. The experiments presented here represent initial steps toward developing a better understanding how thermal energy travels across solid-molecule interfaces as well as how thermal energy flows through molecules. The experimental scheme here is as follows. A molecular monolayer is bound on one end to a gold film, acting as an ultrafast heat bath. Using a laser flash-heating technique, the heat bath can be jumped to several hundred degrees Celsius in a duration of a few picoseconds. As the energy flows from the thermal reservoir into the molecules composing the monolayer, a coherent non-linear vibrational spectroscopy probes specific localized vibrational modes within the monolayer to monitor the presence of thermal disorder on the picosecond time scale. By measuring the transit time of energy flowing through alkane-based monolayers of increasing length, the flow of thermal energy was found to be ballistic – or constant velocity – in nature as it traveled through the molecules. This data also strongly suggest that energy is deposited directly into a delocalized region of the alkane chains ∼0.8-nm in length. Benzylthiolate-based monolayers allowed the energy transfer dynamics for systems with sub-nanometer lengths. In addition to phonon heating, these monolayers experience electron-heating effects that excited high-energy vibrational mode through inelastic scattering events. For monolayers containing a phenyl group, the electron scattering range was found to be limited to ≤1 nm.
Interactions of pure aluminium hydrolytic species Keggin polyoxocations and hydroxide with biologically relevant molecules

The general purpose of this thesis is concerned with the intricate interactions of pure aluminium species with biomolecules. Pure aluminium reference systems (aluminium monomers, Keggin aluminium polyoxocations - Al13 and Al30, and aluminium hydroxide suspensions) were used for systematic mechanistic studies of the sol-gel transformation of aqueous solutions of aluminium-ions into aluminium (oxy) hydroxides induced by the addition of a 'soft base' - Trizma-base, which does not ionize fully in an aqueous solution. The conversion proceeds via forced hydrolysis-condensation of aluminium-ions into molecular clusters, structural conversion of aluminium Keggin-like polynuclear clusters into nanoparticles of aluminium (oxy) hydroxide, aggregation of primary nuclei of aluminium (oxy) hydroxide into larger clusters and finally the 'arrested growth' of the aggregates with the formation of the three-dimensional gel network. The next part of the study concentrated on the development and the optimisation of a potentiometric method for the determination of the 'formal' hydrolysis ratio of aluminium-containing solutions. The method made it possible to establish the aluminium speciation of the selected systems.
On-Board Unit Big Data: Short-term Traffic Forecasting in Urban Transportation Networks

Short-term traffic prediction in transportation net-work is a hot topic for next generation smart cities. Despite several research efforts, there is still a lack of consensus about the most effective way to predict traffic network-wide. Also, the majority of existing studies rely on either small data sets or limited portions of the transportation network. This paper presents the results of a forecasting study related to on-board units data of heavy-goods vehicles in the Brussels-Capital Region. The analysis, enabled by deployment of a big data infrastructure, concerns the short horizon (one hour ahead) forecasting of trucks flow (vehicles/hour) and mean speed (km/hour) over Brussels-Capital Region’s network. Both parametric and non-parametric (notably machine learning) models are designed and assessed along with different strategies (simple and linear forecasts combination, individual model selection). The paper shows the potential of large amounts of real-time data obtained from moving sensors where forecasting techniques are applied network-wide. In particular, simple combination schemes (notably the simple median combination forecasts) appear to outperform the other methods in terms of prediction accuracy.
Mathematical modeling of the generator failure detection process in the on-board network of an electrified aircraft

Currently, various systems, electrical airframe installations and on-board equipment for modern aircraft are undergoing major transformations, including on-board power sources (generator, integrated starter/generator), which are the subject of detailed analysis of this work. The key components in the field of power supply, which have a decisive impact on the operation of an electrical network of the electrified aircraft according to the MEA/AEA concept, are on-board sources. They can be in the form of synchronous generators based on permanent magnets PMSG, switchable reluctance starters/generators SR S/G in the form of a starter/generator unit, powered by 270 VDC and synchronous AC starter/generator units (AS S/G VF). The main purpose of the article is to model the on-board power source (generator, starter/generator) functioning in the on-board network of an electrified aircraft in the aspect of its failure. In addition, a mathematical model was created, describing physical phenomena in the process of starting and operating a three-phase machine (starter/generator) in the electric network of the aircraft, requirements for the accuracy of components included in the generator, test procedure and determination of the electromotive torque as well as voltages and three-phase currents were given, and on this basis in the final part of the paper, practical conclusions were formulated.