Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Sustainable Lightweight Biochar-Based Composites with Electromagnetic Shielding Properties

Global warming has prompted a search for new materials that capture and sink carbon dioxide (CO2). Biochar is a derivative of biomass pyrolysis and a carbon sink mainly used to improve crop production. This work explores the underlying mechanism behind biochar’s electric conductivity using a wide range of feedstocks and its combination with a binder (gypsum). This gypsum–biochar composite exhibits decreased density and flexural moduli with increasing biochar content, particularly after 20% w/w. Gypsum–biochar drywall-like composite prototypes display increasing shielding efficiency mostly in the microwave range as a function of biochar content, differing from other conventional metal (copper) and synthetic carbon-based materials. This narrow range of electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding is attributed to natural alignment (isotropy) of the carbon ultrastructure (e.g., lignin) induced by heat and intrinsic interconnectivity in addition to traditional phenomena such as dissipation of surface currents and polarization in the electric field. These biomass-derived products could be used as sustainable lightweight materials in a future bio-based economy.
Investigation and Follow-Up of a Staphylococcal Food Poisoning Outbreak Linked to the Consumption of Traditional Hand-Crafted Alm Cheese

Staphylococcal food poisoning (SFP) is one of the most important foodborne diseases. This work describes a SFP event linked to the consumption of alm cheese and involved three people belonging to the same family. Leftovers of the consumed cheese, samples from the grocery store and the producing alm were collected and tested for Coagulase positive staphylococci (CPS) enumeration and for the presence of staphylococcal enterotoxins (SEs). Isolates were typed with MLST, spa typing, and tested for SEs and methicillin resistance genes. An in vitro test evaluated SEs production in relation to bacterial growth. The presence of CPS and SEs was detected in all cheese samples and all isolates belonged to the same methicillin sensitive ST8/t13296 strain harbouring sed, ser and sej genes. The in vitro test showed the production of enterotoxins started from 105 CFU/mL. The farmer was prescribed with corrective actions that led to eradication of the contaminating strain.
Targeting Platelet in Atherosclerosis Plaque Formation: Current Knowledge and Future Perspectives

Besides their role in hemostasis and thrombosis, it has become increasingly clear that platelets are also involved in many other pathological processes of the vascular system, such as atherosclerotic plaque formation. Atherosclerosis is a chronic vascular inflammatory disease, which preferentially develops at sites under disturbed blood flow with low speeds and chaotic directions. Hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia, and hypertension are all risk factors for atherosclerosis. When the vascular microenvironment changes, platelets can respond quickly to interact with endothelial cells and leukocytes, participating in atherosclerosis. This review discusses the important roles of platelets in the plaque formation under pro-atherogenic factors. Specifically, we discussed the platelet behaviors under disturbed flow, hyperglycemia, and hyperlipidemia conditions. We also summarized the molecular mechanisms involved in vascular inflammation during atherogenesis based on platelet receptors and secretion of inflammatory factors. Finally, we highlighted the studies of platelet migration in atherogenesis. In general, we elaborated an atherogenic role of platelets and the aspects that should be further studied in the future.
Metabolic Changes in Serum Metabolome of Beagle Dogs Fed Black Ginseng

The effects of black ginseng, which has many kinds of biological activities, on dogs was investigated. Serum samples of beagle dogs, which were fed with black ginseng for 8 weeks, were measured using high-resolution magic angle spinning (HR-MAS) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectrometry. Acquired NMR data from the serum of dogs fed for 0, 4, and 8 weeks were analyzed by metabolic profiling and multivariate statistical analysis. In statistical analysis and biomarker analysis results of metabolite profiles, formate, glutamine, histidine, isoleucine, leucine, proline, and valine had variable importance in projection (VIP) scores above 1.0 and excellent area under the curve (AUC) values of receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves above 0.9. In the result of multivariate statistical analysis, the score plot showed the discrimination between before and after feeding of black ginseng. These differences in metabolic profiles are considered to be due to the involvement of metabolic processes following black ginseng administration, such as enhancing immunity and energy metabolism. Through metabolomics analysis, we confirmed the biological efficacy of black ginseng in dogs and also confirmed that metabolomics can be applied to the pet health industry.
Biological Characteristics and Osteogenic Differentiation of Ovine Bone Marrow Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells Stimulated with FGF-2 and BMP-2

Cell-based therapies using mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are a promising tool in bone tissue engineering. Bone regeneration with MSCs involves a series of molecular processes leading to the activation of the osteoinductive cascade supported by bioactive factors, including fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2) and bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2). In this study, we examined the biological characteristics and osteogenic differentiation potential of sheep bone marrow MSCs (BM-MSCs) treated with 20 ng/mL of FGF-2 and 100 ng/mL BMP-2 in vitro. The biological properties of osteogenic-induced BM-MSCs were investigated by assessing their morphology, proliferation, phenotype, and cytokine secretory profile. The osteogenic differentiation was characterized by Alizarin Red S staining, immunofluorescent staining of osteocalcin and collagen type I, and expression levels of genetic markers of osteogenesis. The results demonstrated that BM-MSCs treated with FGF-2 and BMP-2 maintained their primary MSC properties and improved their osteogenic differentiation capacity, as confirmed by increased expression of osteocalcin and collagen type I and upregulation of osteogenic-related gene markers BMP-2, Runx2, osterix, collagen type I, osteocalcin, and osteopontin. Furthermore, sheep BM-MSCs produced a variety of bioactive factors involved in osteogenesis, and supplementation of the culture medium with FGF-2 and BMP-2 affected the secretome profile of the cells. The results suggest that sheep osteogenic-induced BM-MSCs may be used as a cellular therapy to study bone repair in the preclinical large animal model.
Effect of Acrylamide Supplementation on the Population of Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide (VIP)-Like Immunoreactive Neurons in the Porcine Small Intestine

Acrylamide is one of the harmful substances present in food. The present study aimed to establish the effect of acrylamide supplementation in tolerable daily intake (TDI) dose (0.5 µg/kg b.w./day) and a dose ten times higher than TDI (5 µg/kg b.w./day) on the population of vasoactive intestinal peptide-like immunoreactive (VIP-LI) neurons in the porcine small intestine and the degree of the co-localization of VIP with other neuroactive substances (neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS), substance P (SP), and cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript peptide (CART)). In our work, 15 Danish landrace gilts (5 in each experimental group) received capsules (empty or with low or high doses of acrylamide) for a period of 28 days with their morning feeding. Using double immunofluorescence staining, we established that acrylamide supplementation increased the number of neurons showing immunoreactivity towards VIP in all types of enteric nervous system (ENS) plexuses and fragments of the small intestine studied. Moreover, both doses of acrylamide led to changes in the degree of co-localization of VIP with nNOS, SP, and CART in intramural neurons. The observed changes may be the adaptation of neurons to local inflammation, oxidative stress, or the direct toxic effects of acrylamide on intestinal neurons, also referred to as neuronal plasticity.
Chronic Kidney Disease-Associated Inflammation Increases the Risks of Acute Kidney Injury and Mortality after Cardiac Surgery

Cardiovascular mortality increases with decreasing renal function although the cause is yet unknown. Here, we have investigated whether low chronic inflammation in chronic kidney diseases (CKD) could contribute to increased risk for coronary artery diseases (CAD). Thus, a prospective case–control study was conducted in patients with CAD and CKD undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery with the aim of detecting differences in cardiovascular outcomes, epicardial adipose tissue volume, and inflammatory marker activity associated with renal dysfunction. Expression of membrane CD14 and CD16, inflammatory cytokines and chemokines, mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases and hsa-miR-30a-5p were analyzed in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Epicardial fat volume and tissue inflammation in perivascular adipose tissue and in the aorta were also studied. In the present study, 151 patients were included, 110 with CAD (51 with CKD) and 41 nonCAD controls (15 with CKD). CKD increased the risk of cardiac surgery–associated acute kidney injury (CSA-AKI) as well as the 30-day mortality after cardiac surgery. Higher counts of CD14++CD16+ monocytes were associated with vascular inflammation, with an increased expression of IL1β, and with CKD in CAD patients. Expression of hsa-miR-30a-5p was correlated with hypertension. We conclude that CKD patients show an increased risk of CSA-AKI and mortality after cardiovascular surgery, associated with the expansion of the CD14++CD16+ subset of proinflammatory monocytes and with IL1β expression. We propose that inflammation associated with CKD may contribute to atherosclerosis (ATH) pathogenesis.
The Association and Interaction of Aldehyde Dehydrogenase 2 Polymorphisms with Food Group Intake and Probability of Having Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Purpose This study investigated the association between the aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2) rs671 polymorphism, food group intake, and the probability of having non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in a Chinese population. Patients and Methods A total of 3506 adults were enrolled in this study, and all underwent physical examinations and genotyping of polymorphisms with polymerase chain reaction. Participants filled out a dietary questionnaire that was used to assess the frequency and quantity of food consumption. Results We found that milk groups were associated with a lower probability of developing NAFLD. On the contrary, meat and salted and smoked foods were associated with a higher probability of NAFLD. However, the influences of salted and smoked foods and fresh fruit and vegetables on NAFLD were obviously different in the two genotype groups. Salted and smoked foods intake was a factor associated with a higher probability of having NAFLD or nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) in the A genotype group, but there was no effect in the G genotype group. Moreover, eating salted and smoked foods several times per week was associated with a higher probability of having NAFLD than seldom consuming them. Consumption of fresh fruit and vegetables was not a factor influencing the probability of having NAFLD in the A genotype group, and there was no effect in the G genotype group. Further analysis of the interaction indicated that the GA +AA genotype showed an interaction with fresh fruit and vegetables and salted and smoked foods. Moreover, it was not obvious that meat intake increased the probability of having NAFLD or NASH among different genotypes. Conclusion Our results indicate that ALDH2 rs671 GA and AA genotypes are factors associated with increased probability of NAFLD among Chinese subjects. This could stimulate the development of novel approaches for preventing NAFLD.
Patterns of Intrahemispheric EEG Asymmetry in Insomnia Sufferers: An Exploratory Study

Individuals with insomnia present unique patterns of electroencephalographic (EEG) asymmetry between homologous regions of each brain hemisphere, yet few studies have assessed asymmetry within the same hemisphere. Increase in intrahemispheric asymmetry during rapid eye movement (REM) sleep in good sleepers (GS) and disruption of REM sleep in insomnia sufferers (INS) both point out that this activity may be involved in the pathology of insomnia. The objective of the present exploratory study was to evaluate and quantify patterns of fronto-central, fronto-parietal, fronto-occipital, centro-parietal, centro-occipital and parieto-occipital intrahemispheric asymmetry in GS and INS, and to assess their association with sleep-wake misperception, daytime anxiety and depressive symptoms, as well as insomnia severity. This paper provides secondary analysis of standard EEG recorded in 43 INS and 19 GS for three nights in a sleep laboratory. Asymmetry measures were based on EEG power spectral analysis within 0.3–60 Hz computed between pairs of regions at frontal, central, parietal and occipital derivations. Repeated-measures ANOVAs were performed to assess group differences. Exploratory correlations were then performed on asymmetry and sleep-wake misperception, as well as self-reported daytime anxiety and depressive symptoms, and insomnia severity. INS presented increased delta and theta F3/P3 asymmetry during REM sleep compared with GS, positively associated with depressive and insomnia complaints. INS also exhibited decreased centro-occipital (C3/O1, C4/O2) and parieto-occipital (P3–O1, P4/O2) theta asymmetry during REM. These findings suggest that INS present specific patterns of intrahemispheric asymmetry, partially related to their clinical symptoms. Future studies may investigate the extent to which asymmetry is related to sleep-wake misperception or memory impairments.
Clinical Biofilm Ring Test® Reveals the Potential Role of β-Lactams in the Induction of Biofilm Formation by P. aeruginosa in Cystic Fibrosis Patients

Biofilms are characterized by high tolerance to antimicrobials. However, conventional antibiograms are performed on planktonic microorganisms. Through the clinical Biofilm Ring Test® (cBRT), initially aimed to measure the adhesion propensity of bacteria, we discerned a variable distribution of biofilm-producer strains among P. aeruginosa samples isolated from expectorations of cystic fibrosis (CF) patients. Despite a majority of spontaneous adherent isolates, few strains remained planktonic after 5 h of incubation. Their analysis by an adapted protocol of the cBRT revealed an induction of the biofilm early formation by sub-inhibitory doses of β-lactams. Microscopic observations of bacterial cultures stained with Syto 9/Propidium Iodide (PI) confirmed the ability of antimicrobials to increase either the bacterial biomass or the biovolume occupied by induced sessile cells. Finally, the cBRT and its derivatives enabled to highlight in a few hours the potential inducer property of antibiotics on bacterial adhesion. This phenomenon should be considered carefully in the context of CF since patients are constantly under fluctuating antimicrobial treatments. To conclude, assays derived from the Biofilm Ring Test® (BRT) device, not only define efficient doses preventing biofilm formation, but could be useful for the antimicrobial selection in CF, to avoid inducer molecules of the early biofilm initiation.
Cancer Chemotherapy Related Cognitive Impairment and the Impact of the Alzheimer’s Disease Risk Factor APOE

Simple Summary Research into the causes and potential treatments for cancer-related cognitive impairment has increased greatly over the past several years. Advances have been made in studies related to human neuropsychology and animal models of behavior. Findings from both types of studies implicate a role of the genetic risk factor APOE4 in cancer-related cognitive impairment. APOE4 is the strongest genetic risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease, and this convergence across disparate research approaches now provides a great opportunity for insight into mechanisms of both conditions. This review provides an overview of potential mechanisms that could account for aspects of cancer-related cognitive impairment, and how they could be affected by the APOE genotype. Abstract Cancer related cognitive impairment (CRCI) is a serious impairment to maintaining quality of life in cancer survivors. Cancer chemotherapy contributes to this condition through several potential mechanisms, including damage to the blood brain barrier, increases in oxidative stress and inflammation in the brain, and impaired neurogenesis, each of which lead to neuronal dysfunction. A genetic predisposition to CRCI is the E4 allele of the Apolipoprotein E gene (APOE), which is also the strongest genetic risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease. In normal brains, APOE performs essential lipid transport functions. The APOE4 isoform has been linked to altered lipid binding, increased oxidative stress and inflammation, reduced turnover of neural progenitor cells, and impairment of the blood brain barrier. As chemotherapy also affects these processes, the influence of APOE4 on CRCI takes on great significance. This review outlines the main areas where APOE genotype could play a role in CRCI. Potential therapeutics based on APOE biology could mitigate these detrimental cognitive effects for those receiving chemotherapy, emphasizing that the APOE genotype could help in developing personalized cancer treatment regimens.
Caffeine and Theophylline Inhibit β-Galactosidase Activity and Reduce Expression in Escherichia coli

The β-galactosidase enzyme is a common reporter enzyme that has been used extensively in microbiological and synthetic biology research. Here, we demonstrate that caffeine and theophylline, common natural methylxanthine products found in many foods and pharmaceuticals, negatively impact both the expression and activity of β-galactosidase in Escherichia coli. The β-galactosidase activity in E. coli grown with increasing concentrations of caffeine and theophylline was reduced over sixfold in a dose-dependent manner. We also observed decreasing lacZ mRNA transcript levels with increasing methylxanthine concentrations in the growth media. Similarly, caffeine and theophylline inhibit the activity of the purified β-galactosidase enzyme, with an approximately 1.7-fold increase in KM toward o-nitrophenyl-β-galactoside and a concomitant decrease in vmax. The authors recommend the use of alternative reporter systems when such methylxanthines are expected to be present.
Batch and Fixed-Bed Column Studies on Palladium Recovery from Acidic Solution by Modified MgSiO3

Effective recovery of palladium ions from acidic waste solutions is important due to palladium’s intensive usage as a catalyst for different industrial processes and to the high price paid for its production from natural resources. In this paper, we test the ability of a new adsorbent, MgSiO3 functionalized by impregnation with DL-cysteine (cys), for palladium ion recovery from waste solutions. The Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) surface area analysis, Barrett–Joyner–Halenda (BJH) pore size and volume analysis, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy and Fourier-Transformed Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy have been performed to characterize this material. Firstly, the maximum adsorption capacity of the new obtained material, MgSiO3-cys, in batch, was studied. To establish the adsorption mechanism, the obtained experimental data were fitted using the Langmuir, Freundlich and Sips adsorption isotherms. Studies on the adsorption of palladium ions on the synthesized material were performed in a dynamic regime, in a fixed-bed column. The Pd(II) recovery mechanism in the dynamic column regime was established based on Bohart–Adams, Yoon–Nelson, Thomas, and Clark models. The obtained equilibrium adsorption capacity was 9.3 (mg g−1) in static regime (batch) and 3 (mg g−1) in dynamic regime (column). The models that best describe the Pd(II) recovery process for batch and column adsorption are Sips and Clark, respectively.
Homologous series by Nikolai Vavilov in the phylogeny of Homoptera

Abstract The paper briefly discusses the most impressive examples of the Nikolai Vavilov’s “Law of homologous series” in the evolution of one of the largest animal groups, homopterous insects, which comprise about 65,000 recent species in the world fauna. Different taxonomic and phylogenetic characters (morpho-anatomical, cytogenetic, reproductive and others) are considered at the taxonomic ranks of the order, suborder, superfamily and family.
Chloroplast Distribution in the Stems of 23 Eucalypt Species

Small diameter branchlets and smooth barked stems and branches of most woody plants have chloroplasts. While the stems of several eucalypt species have been shown to photosynthesise, the distribution of chloroplasts has not been investigated in detail. The distribution of chloroplasts in branchlets (23 species) and larger diameter stems and branches with smooth bark (14 species) was investigated in a wide range of eucalypts (species of Angophora, Corymbia and Eucalyptus) using fresh hand sections and a combination of bright field and fluorescence microscopy. All species had abundant stem chloroplasts. In both small and large diameter stems, the greatest concentration of chloroplasts was in a narrow band (usually 100–300 μm thick) immediately beneath the epidermis or phellem. Deeper chloroplasts were present but at a lower density due to abundant fibres and sclereids. In general, chloroplasts were found at greater depths in small diameter stems, often being present in the secondary xylem rays and the pith. The cells of the chlorenchyma band were small, rounded and densely packed, and unlike leaf mesophyll. A high density of chloroplasts was found just beneath the phellem of large diameter stems. These trees gave no external indication that green tissues were present just below the phellem. In these species, a thick phellem was not present to protect the inner living bark. Along with the chlorenchyma, the outer bark also had a high density of fibres and sclereids. These sclerenchyma cells probably disrupted a greater abundance and a more organised arrangement of the cells containing chloroplasts. This shows a possible trade-off between photosynthesis and the typical bark functions of protection and mechanical strength.
A Filtering Algorithm of MEMS Gyroscope to Resist Acoustic Interference

To reduce the impact of acoustic interference in a microelectromechanical system (MEMS) gyroscope and to improve the reliability of output data, a filtering algorithm based on orthogonal demodulation is proposed. According to the working principle and failure mechanism of a MEMS gyroscope, the sound and angular velocity frequencies are not identical, which lead to a different frequency signal output of the original single-channel demodulation scheme. Therefore, a Q channel demodulation filtering process was added to the origin single-channel demodulation scheme. For the Q channel demodulated signal, a Hilbert transform was used to compensate for the 90 degree phase shift. The IQ dual-channel difference can remove the acoustic interference signal. The simulation results indicate that the scheme can effectively suppress the acoustic interference signal and it can eliminate more than 95% of the impact of sound waves. We assembled the acoustic interference experimental platform, collected the driving and sensing data, and verified the denoising performance with our algorithm, which eliminated more than 70% of the noise signal. The simulation and experimental results demonstrate that the scheme can eliminate acoustic interference signal without destroying angular velocity signal.