Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Comparison of Doxycycline Hyclate Release from Beta-Cyclodextrin Based In Situ Forming Systems for Periodontal Pocket Targeting

The release behavior of doxycycline hyclate (DH) from beta-cyclodextrin (β-CD) in situ gels (ISG) and in situ microparticles (ISM) was investigated using dialysis tube method and direct contact method compared to that from DH solution. From dialysis tube method, DH released completely from solution within 8 h, while it released with more sustainable from ISM and ISG completely at 12 h and 28 h, respectively. The release pattern of them was similar when tested using direct contact method (released completely at 9 days). The DH release from dialysis tube method of all systems was a first order kinetic. DH release from ISM using direct contact method fitted well with a Higuchi’s equation. The dialysis tube method was suitable for determining formula factors affecting the drug release behavior. However, to simulate the pocket condition with contact area is limited, the drug release test with direct contact method was preferred than dialysis tube method.
Tomorrow I’ll Be at the Table: Black Geographies and Urban Planning: A Review of the Literature

This article reviews the literature on black geographies as it relates to the everyday work of urban planners. We outline the major claims and contributions of this scholarship to deepen our understanding of the relationship between the social and physical worlds. This article argues that this literature is a critical, yet missing, contribution to the field of urban planning because it provides different ways of knowing and understanding the experience of racial difference and therefore challenges us to invite more diverse views to the table and build more informed professional practices, pedagogical foundations, and empirical scholarship.
Insights on the Structural and Metabolic Resistance of Potato (Solanum tuberosum) Cultivars to Tuber Black Dot (Colletotrichum coccodes)

Black dot is a blemish disease of potato tubers caused by the phytopathogenic fungus Colletotrichum coccodes. Qualitative resistance (monogenic) that leads to the hypersensitive response has not been reported against black dot, but commercial potato cultivars show different susceptibility levels to the disease, indicating that quantitative resistance (polygenic) mechanisms against this pathogen exist. Cytological studies are essential to decipher pathogen colonization of the plant tissue, and untargeted metabolomics has been shown effective in highlighting resistance-related metabolites in quantitative resistance. In this study, we used five commercial potato cultivars with different susceptibility levels to black dot, and studied the structural and biochemical aspects that correlate with resistance to black dot using cytological and untargeted metabolomics methods. The cytological approach using semithin sections of potato tuber periderm revealed that C. coccodes colonizes the tuber periderm, but does not penetrate in cortical cells. Furthermore, skin thickness did not correlate with disease susceptibility, indicating that other factors influence quantitative resistance to black dot. Furthermore, suberin amounts did not correlate with black dot severity, and suberin composition was similar between the five potato cultivars studied. On the other hand, the untargeted metabolomics approach allowed highlighting biomarkers of infection, as well as constitutive and induced resistance-related metabolites. Hydroxycinnamic acids, hydroxycinnamic acid amides and steroidal saponins were found to be biomarkers of resistance under control conditions, while hydroxycoumarins were found to be specifically induced in the resistant cultivars. Notably, some of these biomarkers showed antifungal activity in vitro against C. coccodes. Altogether, our results show that quantitative resistance of potatoes to black dot involves structural and biochemical mechanisms, including the production of specialized metabolites with antifungal properties.
Affective Immunology: The Crosstalk Between Microglia and Astrocytes Plays Key Role?

Emerging evidence demonstrates the critical role of the immune response in the mechanisms relating to mood disorders, such as major depression (MDD) and bipolar disorder (BD). This has cast a spotlight on a specialized branch committed to the research of dynamics of the fine interaction between emotion (or affection) and immune response, which has been termed as “affective immunology. ” Inflammatory cytokines and gut microbiota are actively involved in affective immunology. Furthermore, abnormalities of the astrocytes and microglia have been observed in mood disorders from both postmortem and molecular imaging studies; however, the underlying mechanisms remain elusive. Notably, the crosstalk between astrocyte and microglia acts as a mutual and pivotal intermediary factor modulating the immune response posed by inflammatory cytokines and gut microbiota. In this study, we propose the “altered astrocyte-microglia crosstalk (AAMC)” hypothesis which suggests that the astrocyte-microglia crosstalk regulates emotional alteration through mediating immune response, and thus, contributing to the development of mood disorders.
Effects of Different Light Treatments on the Germination of Nepenthes mirabilis

Seeds of Nepenthes mirabilis were germinated in vitro on composted medium. All seeds were germinated under white (fluorescent), red, green, blue and yellow light. Over a period of 27 days, some Nepenthes seeds under white and red light germinated first, and those under green light were the last ones to germinate. The highest average speed of emergence was recorded for seedlings under red light. All healthy and complete seedlings were counted after 60 days. Seedlings under yellow light were the most vigorous with the highest germination index and average height of 0.79 cm. Seedlings under yellow light and white light exhibited the highest average number of roots and light green leaves as well as greatest root length, but seedlings under green light had few roots and pale green leaves. There were more young leaves on seedlings under yellow light (average 5.2) and red light (average 5.0) compared with those under green light and blue light.
The Role of Cold-Sensitive Ion Channels in Peripheral Thermosensation

The detection of ambient cold is critical for mammals, who use this information to avoid tissue damage by cold and to maintain stable body temperature. The transduction of information about the environmental cold is mediated by cold-sensitive ion channels expressed in peripheral sensory nerve endings in the skin. Most transduction mechanisms for detecting temperature changes identified to date depend on transient receptor potential (TRP) ion channels. Mild cooling is detected by the menthol-sensitive TRPM8 ion channel, but how painful cold is detected remains unclear. The TRPA1 ion channel, which is activated by cold in expression systems, seemed to provide an answer to this question, but whether TRPA1 is activated by cold in neurons and contributes to the sensation of cold pain continues to be a matter of debate. Recent advances have been made in this area of investigation with the identification of several potential cold-sensitive ion channels in thermosensory neurons, including two-pore domain potassium channels (K2P), GluK2 glutamate receptors, and CNGA3 cyclic nucleotide-gated ion channels. This mini-review gives a brief overview of the way by which ion channels contribute to cold sensation, discusses the controversy around the cold-sensitivity of TRPA1, and provides an assessment of some recently-proposed novel cold-transduction mechanisms. Evidence for another unidentified cold-transduction mechanism is also presented.
Performance-based policy in offender rehabilitation: Limitation or innovation for front-line workers in Liaison and Diversion services?

In recent years, the English government has been using competitive elements in the process of allocating public funds through policy. Front-line workers struggle with the limitations imposed by such a model. A qualitative case study was conducted to investigate the impact of a new performance-based policy on front-line workers of a public service called Liaison and Diversion. The findings demonstrated that professionals have been adapting the policy to local circumstances found at the street level. We argued that adaptation is a form of employee-based innovation that optimises the use of scarce resources and customises services to the clients.
The Concept of an Epilepsy Brain Bank

Epilepsy comprises more than 40 clinical syndromes affecting millions of patients and families worldwide. To decode the molecular and pathological framework of epilepsy researchers, need reliable human epilepsy and control brain samples. Brain bank organizations collecting and supplying well-documented clinically and pathophysiologically tissue specimens are important for high-quality neurophysiology and neuropharmacology studies for epilepsy and other neurological diseases. New development in molecular mechanism and new treatment methods for neurological disorders have evoked increased demands for human brain tissue. An epilepsy brain bank is a storage source for both the frozen samples as well as the formaldehyde fixed paraffin embedded (FFPE) tissue from epilepsy surgery resections. In 2014, the University of Saskatchewan have started collecting human epilepsy brain tissues for the first time in Canada. This review highlights the necessity and importance of Epilepsy Brain bank that provides unique access for research to valuable source of brain tissue and blood samples from epilepsy patients.
Ultimate complexity for numerical algorithms

Most numerical algorithms are designed for single or double precision floating point arithmetic, and their complexity is measured in terms of the total number of floating point operations. The resolution of problems with high condition numbers (e.g. when approaching a singularity or degeneracy) may require higher working precisions, in which case it is important to take the precision into account when doing complexity analyses. In this paper, we propose a new "ultimate complexity" model, which focuses on analyzing the cost of numerical algorithms for "sufficiently large" precisions. As an example application we will present an ultimately softly linear time algorithm for modular composition of univariate polynomials.
Experiences of Infertile Couples of West Bengal With Male Factor, Female Factor, and Unexplained Infertility Factor: A Qualitative Study

Background: Infertility is a very stressful life state of a couple. The consequences of infertility have a considerable differential effect not only on couples but also on culture and social strata. Inability to conceive can be a very troublesome matter for a couple and potentially it can turn into a traumatic experience with far-reaching consequences. Qualitative understanding of strain can be helpful for in-depth understanding of factors that might need psychosocial intervention. Objective: The purpose of this study is to zero in on the multiple psychosocial aspects of infertile couples, ranging from male etiology, female determinants, and unexplained domains of infertility. Materials and Methods: This was a qualitative cross-sectional content analysis study. 15 couples were interviewed with the mean age of (27± 2.95) years for females and (30±2.43) years for males. Data collection strategies employed in this research included semi-structured open face-to-face interviews and field notes. Results: Qualitative data analysis identified 5 themes—negative emotional reactions, social pressure, marital and sexual dissatisfaction, decreased quality of life, and treatment problems. Conclusion: The various psychosocial crises (unfulfilled maternal instinct, emotional support, unmet social role, diminished social security) related to various types of infertility are evident. Addressing those issues might be helpful to improve the quality of life of couples.
Optimum protein and digestible energy levels in diets for Tilapia nilotica.

This experiment was conducted to determine the relationship between dietary protein levels and feeding rates, apparent digestibility of nutrient and an optimum ratio of digestible energy (DE) to protein (P) in the diet by feeding Tilapia nilotica with diets containing various levels of DE and protein.The results showed that the optimum ratio of DE/P was 140-150, and that an optimum dietary protein level required for the maximum growth was 25%, when the feeding rate was 3.5% of fish body weight per day.Apparent digestibility of dietary protein, carbohydrate and lipid in Tilapia nilotica was higher than 90%. But, feed consumption together with apparent digestibility of carbohydrate was decreased with increase of dietary cellulose levels.The dietary DE for Tilapia calculated by using values of 4.5, 4.0 and 9.0 kcal/g for respectively protein, carbohydrate and lipid based upon digestibility of these nutrients'was found to be almost the same as those determined by the direct method.
Probiotics at War Against Viruses: What Is Missing From the Picture?

Our world is now facing a multitude of novel infectious diseases. Bacterial infections are treated with antibiotics, albeit with increasing difficulty as many of the more common causes of infection have now developed broad spectrum antimicrobial resistance. However, there is now an even greater challenge from both old and new viruses capable of causing respiratory, enteric, and urogenital infections. Reports of viruses resistant to frontline therapeutic drugs are steadily increasing and there is an urgent need to develop novel antiviral agents. Although this all makes sense, it seems rather strange that relatively little attention has been given to the antiviral capabilities of probiotics. Over the years, beneficial strains of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) have been successfully used to treat gastrointestinal, oral, and vaginal infections, and some can also effect a reduction in serum cholesterol levels. Some probiotics prevent gastrointestinal dysbiosis and, by doing so, reduce the risk of developing secondary infections. Other probiotics exhibit anti-tumor and immunomodulating properties, and in some studies, antiviral activities have been reported for probiotic bacteria and/or their metabolites. Unfortunately, the mechanistic basis of the observed beneficial effects of probiotics in countering viral infections is sometimes unclear. Interestingly, in COVID-19 patients, a clear decrease has been observed in cell numbers of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium spp. , both of which are common sources of intestinal probiotics. The present review, specifically motivated by the need to implement effective new counters to SARS-CoV-2, focusses attention on viruses capable of co-infecting humans and other animals and specifically explores the potential of probiotic bacteria and their metabolites to intervene with the process of virus infection. The goal is to help to provide a more informed background for the planning of future probiotic-based antiviral research.
Legionella pneumophila Infection Rewires the Acanthamoeba castellanii Transcriptome, Highlighting a Class of Sirtuin Genes

Legionella pneumophila is an environmental bacterium that has evolved to survive predation by soil and water amoebae such as Acanthamoeba castellanii, and this has inadvertently led to the ability of L. pneumophila to survive and replicate in human cells. L. pneumophila causes Legionnaire's Disease, with human exposure occurring via the inhalation of water aerosols containing both amoebae and the bacteria. These aerosols originate from aquatic biofilms found in artifical water sources, such as air-conditioning cooling towers and humidifiers. In these man-made environments, A. castellanii supports L. pneumophila intracellular replication, thereby promoting persistence and dissemination of the bacteria and providing protection from external stress. Despite this close evolutionary relationship, very little is known about how A. castellanii responds to L. pneumophila infection. In this study, we examined the global transcriptional response of A. castellanii to L. pneumophila infection. We compared A. castellanii infected with wild type L. pneumophila to A. castellanii infected with an isogenic ΔdotA mutant strain, which is unable to replicate intracellularly. We showed that A. castellanii underwent clear morphological and transcriptional rewiring over the course of L. pneumophila infection. Through improved annotation of the A. castellanii genome, we determined that these transcriptional changes primarily involved biological processes utilizing small GTPases, including cellular transport, signaling, metabolism and replication. In addition, a number of sirtuin-encoding genes in A. castellanii were found to be conserved and upregulated during L. pneumophila infection. Silencing of sirtuin gene, sir6f (ACA1_153540) resulted in the inhibition of A. castellanii cell proliferation during infection and reduced L. pneumophila replication. Overall our findings identified several biological pathways in amoebae that may support L. pneumophila replication and A. castellanii proliferation in environmental conditions.
Authoring Interactive VR Narratives on Baba Yaga and Bonfire

Virtual Reality (VR) is a transformative medium for storytelling where we can place you, the audience, directly inside the story and make you matter. We do this by giving you a role to play and empowering you to interact and build relationships with characters in the story. We present our experiments and learning in authoring interactive VR narratives across our two most recent projects: Baba Yaga and Bonfire. We showcase our Storyteller toolset for creating non-linear stories where interactivity is immersive. We then provide insights into creating emotive characters with the same quality character performances as in our hand-crafted linear animations.
Evidence That Cannabis Exposure, Abuse, and Dependence Are Related to Glutamate Metabolism and Glial Function in the Anterior Cingulate Cortex: A 1H-Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy Study

There is evidence that long-term cannabis use is associated with alterations to glutamate neurotransmission and glial function. In this study, 26 long-term cannabis users (males=65.4%) and 47 non-cannabis using healthy controls (males=44.6%) underwent proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS) of the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) in order to characterize neurometabolite alterations in cannabis users and to examine associations between neurometabolites, cannabis exposure, and cannabis use behaviors. Myo-inositol, a marker of glial function, and glutamate metabolites did not differ between healthy controls and cannabis users or cannabis users who met criteria for DSM5 cannabis use disorder (n=17). Lower myo-inositol, a putative marker of glial function, was related to greater problematic drug use (F1,22 = 11.95, p=.002; Cohen’s f=0.59, large effect; Drug Abuse Screening Test) and severity of cannabis dependence (F1,22 = 6.61, p=.17; Cohen’s f=0.44, large effect). Further, past-year cannabis exposure exerted different effects on glutamate and glutamate+glutamine in males and females (glutamate: F1,21 = 6.31, p=.02; glutamate+glutamine: F1,21 = 7.20, p=.014), such that greater past-year cannabis exposure was related to higher concentrations of glutamate metabolites in male cannabis users (glutamate: F1,14 = 25.94, p=.00016; Cohen’s f=1.32, large effect; glutamate+glutamine: F1,14 = 23.24, p=.00027, Cohen’s f=1.24, large effect) but not in female cannabis users (glutamate: F1,6 = 1.37, p=0.78; glutamate+glutamine: F1,6 = 0.001, p=.97). The present results extend existing evidence of altered glial function and glutamate metabolism with cannabis use by providing evidence linking problematic drug use behaviors with glial function as measured with myo-inositol and recent chronic cannabis exposure to alterations in glutamate metabolism. This provides novel directions for the interrogation of the impact of cannabis use on brain neurochemistry.
“Fake News Is Anything They Say!” — Conceptualization and Weaponization of Fake News among the American Public

ABSTRACT This study examines the articulation of public opinion about so-called fake news using a national survey (N = 510) of U.S. adults conducted in 2018. We coded respondents’ open-ended answers about what is “fake news” and found that while some respondents adopted a politically neutral, descriptive definition, others provided a partisan, accusatory answer. Specifically, the weaponization of fake news was evident in the way respondents used the term to blame adversarial political and media targets. Perceptions of fake news prevalence, partisanship strength, and political interest were associated with a higher likelihood of providing a politicized and accusatory response about fake news. Accusations were polarized as a function of partisan identity and positively correlated with affective polarization. Results are discussed in light of the linguistic distinction of the term and what it means in the context of news media distrust and polarization.
Aflatoxicoses chez le porc - Étude bibliogra- phique de données cliniques et expérimentales

La bioactivation de l'aflatosine B1 par les monooxygenases cytochrome P450 dependantes aboutil a la formation d'un exo-epoxyde qui peut interagir avec les acides nucleiques et les proteines. Le foie est le principal organe cible de l'aflatoxine Bl en raison de ses capacites de bioactivation. L'hepatotoxicite des aflaloxines conduit a l'alteration des fonctions metaboliques et de la structure du tissu hepatique. Les aflatoxines montrent aussi des proprietes immunosuppressives. Cette revue resume les caracteristiques des aflatoxicoses porcines. L'anatoxicose aigue chez le porc conduit a une mortalite de presque tous les animaux en quelques heures a quelques jours. Dans les cas d'aflatoxicoses chroniques, les premieres manifestations sont une diminution de la prise alimentaire et une alteration de l'etat general des animaux. La sensibilite aux aflatoxines est plus importante chez les jeunes. L'apparition des lesions hepatiques est dependante du temps et de la dose d'exposition aux aflatoxines et s'accompagne generalement d'une augmentation des taux plasmatiques des enzymes hepatiques et d'une diminution de l'albuminemie. L'exposition chronique aux aflaloxines altere l'efficacite vaccinale, L'association d'aflatoxines avec d'autres mycotoxines n'induit pas d'effet toxique synergique sauf avec la fumonisine B I. L'incorporation de certains adsorbants inorganiques et organiques de mycotoxines dans les rations alimentaires montre un effet protecteur vis-a-vis des aflatoxines.