Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Antimicrobial peptides as therapeutic agents: opportunities and challenges

Abstract The rapid development of microbial resistance to conventional antibiotics has accelerated efforts to find anti-infectives with a novel mode-of-action, which are less prone to bacterial resistance. Intense nonclinical and clinical research is today ongoing to evaluate antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) as potential next-generation antibiotics. Currently, multiple AMPs are assessed in late-stage clinical trials, not only as novel anti-infective drugs, but also as innovative product candidates for immunomodulation, promotion of wound healing, and prevention of post-operative scars. The efforts to translate AMP-based research findings into pharmaceutical product candidates are expected to accelerate in coming years due to technological advancements in multiple areas, including an improved understanding of the mechanism-of-action of AMPs, smart formulation strategies, and advanced chemical synthesis protocols. At the same time, it is recognized that cytotoxicity, low metabolic stability due to sensitivity to proteolytic degradation, and limited oral bioavailability are some of the key weaknesses of AMPs. Furthermore, the pricing and reimbursement environment for new antimicrobial products remains as a major barrier to the commercialization of AMPs.
What do you hear? The effect of stadium noise on football players’ passing performances

Abstract Stadium noise – created by spectators and fans – plays a critical part in the reality of professional sports. Due to a lack of research on the impact of these auditory cues and multimodal environments on motor performance, it is currently unclear how professional athletes experience and perceive stadium noise and how this potentially affects performance in practice. In order to explore the effect of stadium noise on athletes’ performance, this paper presents an experimental design using the unique and standardised football training tool known as the “Footbonaut”. Specifically, fifteen skilled German football players engaged in a standardised football-specific technical training programme while subjected to four different auditory training conditions; these included both “positive” and “negative” stadium noise conditions, a “baseline” condition providing auditory guidance, and a “no (auditory) cue” condition. Performance data for passing accuracy and passing time were measured for training in each auditory condition. A repeated measures MANOVA revealed a significant main effect for passing time. Specifically, participants showed faster passing times in the baseline compared to the negative and no auditory cue conditions. Findings are presented and discussed from a constraints-led perspective, allied to principles of ecological dynamics and nonlinear pedagogy. Particularly, the use of representative training experiences (including multimodal sensory and emotional information) appears to underline training to refine expert athletes’ adaptive coordination of complex motor actions.
Mechanisms of the Osteogenic Switch of Smooth Muscle Cells in Vascular Calcification: WNT Signaling, BMPs, Mechanotransduction, and EndMT

Characterized by the hardening of arteries, vascular calcification is the deposition of hydroxyapatite crystals in the arterial tissue. Calcification is now understood to be a cell-regulated process involving the phenotypic transition of vascular smooth muscle cells into osteoblast-like cells. There are various pathways of initiation and mechanisms behind vascular calcification, but this literature review highlights the wingless-related integration site (WNT) pathway, along with bone morphogenic proteins (BMPs) and mechanical strain. The process mirrors that of bone formation and remodeling, as an increase in mechanical stress causes osteogenesis. Observing the similarities between the two may aid in the development of a deeper understanding of calcification. Both are thought to be regulated by the WNT signaling cascade and bone morphogenetic protein signaling and can also be activated in response to stress. In a pro-calcific environment, integrins and cadherins of vascular smooth muscle cells respond to a mechanical stimulus, activating cellular signaling pathways, ultimately resulting in gene regulation that promotes calcification of the vascular extracellular matrix (ECM). The endothelium is also thought to contribute to vascular calcification via endothelial to mesenchymal transition, creating greater cell plasticity. Each of these factors contributes to calcification, leading to increased cardiovascular mortality in patients, especially those suffering from other conditions, such as diabetes and kidney failure. Developing a better understanding of the mechanisms behind calcification may lead to the development of a potential treatment in the future.
PERFORMANCE ANALYSIS OF SYMMETRICAL AND ASYMMETRICAL CASCADED H BRIDGE INVERTER

This paper presents the comparative analysis report based on the conventional cascaded Hbridge inverter with equal DC sources (symmetric) and the proposed cascaded H-bridge inverter with unequal DC sources (asymmetric). This paper also analyzes the restriction on selecting unequal DC sources. It is shown that the proposed scheme provides the more number of voltage levels with the same number of switches as in conventional cascaded multi level inverter.
Symplectic Measures of Contact with Noether

Witten’s covariant symplectic formalism is used to compare a set of cohomologous chiral first-order Lagrangians for gravity through their symplectic structures and thus Liouville/GHS measures that they provide for on-shell trajectories within the phase space of solutions. Their equivalence modulo boundary terms informs the symplectic potentials that are Noether charges. A pedagogical treatement of Noether’s theorem contextualizes the notation of this less familar covariant phase space picture. To that end also, some background intuition on closely related contact forms within jet bundle framework of field theories is outlined. This is in order to reveal, using a manifestly chiral coupling of a spin 32 field to one of those chiral gravitational Lagrangans, the integrability hierarchy between Weyl, Rarita-Schwinger and Einstein vaccuum field equations.
Comparative Study on Carrier Overlapping PWM Strategies for Five Level Flying Capaci- tor Inverter

This paper presents the comparison of Carrier Overlapping Pulse Width Modulation (COPWM) techniques for the Flying Capacitor Multi Level Inverter (FCMLI). Due to switch combination redundancies, there are certain degrees of freedom to generate the multi level AC output voltage. This paper presents the use of Control Freedom Degree (CFD) combination. The effectiveness of the Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) strategies developed using CFD are demonstrated by simulation and experimentation. The results indicate that the chosen five level inverter triggered by the developed COPWM-A strategy exhibits reduced harmonics. PWM strategies developed are implemented in real time using dSPACE/Real Time Interface (RTI). The simulation and experimental results closely match with each other validating the strategies presented.
Measuring Vegetation Biomass and Production

Biomass measures have many uses in the study and management of plant communities. Standing crop-the amount of biomass present, kg/m2-is our best indicator of the amounts of material available, for example, for sawing into lumber, for browsing by large mammals, for grazing by domestic cattle, or subject to burning in a wildfire. A minimum estimate of productivity-the rate at which biomass is synthesized, kg/m2/yr-may be made by measuring standing crops at two times and dividing by the interval between. Because of their importance in both theoretical and applied work, biomass measures are useful to students, preprofessionals and professionals. We describe below a lab exercise we use at Montana State University to demonstrate the measurement of biomass in a three-layered (tree-shrub-ground) forest. By introducing biomass measurement with this relatively complex case we simultaneously demonstrate methods useful in simpler shrublands and grasslands with two and one layers respectively. Discussion of the results acquired leads our students to a clearer understanding of the underlying concepts, the application of basic ecological field methods and the application of biomass data to problems interesting to themselves and to the state and federal agencies with whom many of them will eventually seek employment.
Ecohydrological Changes in the Murray-Darling Basin. I. The Number of Trees Cleared Over Two Centuries

The Murray-Darling Basin occupies over 1 million km 2 of south-eastern Australia. Since European settlement 200 years ago, massive tree clearing and disturbance to other native vegetation types has resulted in increases in dryland and stream salinity. An attempt is made to estimate the number of trees cleared from the Basin. This information is useful for making decisions on broad policy and revegetation prescriptions. Structural classes for pre-European and present-day vegetation were previously mapped at the 1:5 million scale. Digital versions of these maps were used to quantify the original and present-day areas for each class. The number of trees per class was established by field sampling. Information on areal extent and number of trees per class was then used to estimate total number of trees per class (.)
Population Ecology of the Common Species of Drosophila in Indiana

Drosophila affinis Sturtevant, D. quinaria Loew, D. putrida Sturt. , D. robusta Sturt. , D. tripunctata Loew, and D. immigrans Sturt. are the six native species most commonly encountered in north central Indiana, while D. melanogaster Meigen, D. hydei Sturt. , and D. busckii Coquillett are introduced species which frequently attain large summer populations. Summer populations of the native species originate in deciduous woodlands, and during periods of population maxima in June the more prevalent species are widely dispersed through all of the major types of terrestrial habitats. Summer populations of the introduced species originate in proximity to human settlements and likewise disperse through a variety of habitats during periods of population increase, occurring with the native species in diverse situations in July but not achieving peak numbers until August. The species which infest tomatoes are widely, if thinly, dispersed at the time the crop ripens, and there is little expectation that preseason control efforts would be practicable. Despite disparate climatic conditions during the summers of 1958 and 1959, population developments in tomato fields were strikingly similar, thus indicating little correlation between normal weather extremes and population development. D. melanogaster is recognized as the principal species causing contamination of tomato products. Experimental evidence on comparative fecundity, developmental rates, and ovipositional behavior were obtained to explain the consistent prevalence of this species. Studies of diurnal activity and spatial distribution suggest that these facets of behavior are controlled principally by responses to atmospheric moisture. Adult flies were found to inhabit a space, only a few inches in height, directly above the soil surface. The micro environment provided by the foliage and fruit of the tomato plant does not require the insects to follow the pattern of peak activity at dawn and dusk often ascribed to Drosophila .
Anticancer Effects of Grape Seed Extract on Human Cancers: A Review

Grape seed extract (GSE) is a complex mixture of several compounds, mostly represented by polyphenols and phenolic acids. Their consumption is safe and is recognized to exert several and meaningful health benefits. In particular, grape-related anti-tumoral activity encompasses a wide array of biological mechanisms and cellular targets, eventually leading to inhibition of cell growth and to enhanced apoptosis in several cancer cell lines, including lung, colon, breast, bladder, leukemia and prostate tumors. Those effects are likely modulated at the molecular level through selectively modulating the redox balance and displaying anti-oxidant as well as pro-oxidant actions, according to the specific context. GSE-related anti-cancer activity mostly relies on the induced increase in reactive oxygen species, followed by the orchestrated down- and up-regulation of several key-molecular pathways, including MAPK kinases, PI3K/Akt, NF-kB, cytoskeleton proteins and metalloproteinases. Promising results obtained in vitro as well as on animal studies suggest that GSE may have a great relevance as source of potential new pharmacological molecules, and could represent an important opportunity for clinical research.
Diatom-inferred decline of macrophyte abundance in lakes of southern Quebec, Canada

Submerged macrophytes play a central role in lake ecosystem functioning; however, their long-term dynamics are poorly understood. We have used the paleolimnological top–bottom approach to reconstruct changes in whole-lake macrophyte biomass between predisturbance and present-day conditions in 37 southern Quebec lakes. Estimates of whole-lake macrophyte biomass were produced using a diatom-based multivariate regression tree model (MRT) and modern analogue approach. Both approaches indicated an overall pattern of declining macrophyte abundance in the region. Based on MRT analysis, 80% of study lakes were classified as historically being in the macrophyte-dominated state, but now only 43% of the lakes are currently in this state. The lakes that shifted MRT group were found to have significantly (p = 0.03) greater building densities in their catchments compared with lakes that did not shift state. These results suggest that human impacts, primarily nutrient inputs and water level fluctuations, have played a r.
Upgrading in Asian Clusters: Rethinking the Importance of Interactive Learning

This article is concerned with unpacking the role of the cluster supporting the SMEs’ move from competing on low costs to innovating in the global value chain. By comparing four clusters in different industries in Asia, we highlight significant differences in the learning paths of the clustered SMEs. The aricle contributes to current discussion on upgrading in clusters in developing countries by: (a) providing an explanation on how localised interactive learning and thus clustering relates to upgrading; (b) discussing the conditions under which upgrading requires interactive learning; and (c) identifying the linkages between particular types of interactive learning and different upgrading strategies.
Resistance to Thrips Damage in Cassava

Part of the germplasm bank of cassava in the Centro Internacional de Agricultura Tropical (CIAT) was evaluated at the end of each of 2 successive dry seasons for resistance to thrips, Frankliniella sp. and Corynothrips stenopterus Will. Clones were classified in 6 resistance groups on the basis of damage symptoms. About 20% of the 1254 clones evaluated showed no symptoms of thrips damage. Thrips damage and the number of thrips present in the terminal buds were related. A strong relationship existed between pubescence of unexpanded leaves and thrips resistance; plants with pubescent leaves were resistant to thrips attack. At flowering, leaf pubescence decreased and thrips susceptibility increased. Resistance was not associated with plantcyanide content. Thrips may cause similar symptoms as viral or mycoplasmic organisms.
Reassessment of Phylogenetic Relationships among Pitviper Genera Based on Mitochondrial Cytochrome b Gene Sequences

Crotalines are biomedically important, venomous snakes that are widely distributed across Asia and the Western Hemisphere. Phylogenetic relationships and contingent taxonomy of these pitvipers, however, remain problematic. This has been particularly true for snakes of the "moccasin complex" of the tribe Agkistrodontini (Gloyd and Conant, 1990). Species of this group were assigned to the genus Agkistrodon (senso lato), first described by de Beauvois (1799) but more recently have been divided into three Asian genera (Calloselasma, Deinagkistrodon, and Hypnale) and a more narrowly redefined Agkistrodon (Gloyd, 1979). This general division is supported by immunological evidence (Cadle, 1992; Minton, 1990). The redefined genus Agkistrodon remains controversial. Morphological evidence led Hoge and Romano-Hoge (1981) to group Old World Agkistrodon species in a separate genus, which they named Gloydius. Cranial musculoskeletal data were interpreted by Goombridge (1986) as favoring recognition of Gloydius, whereas Kardong (1990) viewed the same data as compatible with retention of Agkistrodon for Old World species. Using osteological characters, Brattstrom (1964) supported a monophyletic Agkistrodon and suggested that the bushmaster, Lachesis muta, and the rattlesnakes (genera Crotalus and Sistrurus) formed a monophyletic group. Finally, molecular data (Knight et al., 1992) indicate that the genus Agkistrodon, as defined by Gloyd (1979), is paraphyletic; restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) of mitochondrial DNA and 16S ribosomal RNA sequences group New World species of Agkistrodon with the New World rattlesnake, Crotalus molossus, and the tropical New World pit viper, Cerrophidion godmani, rather than with Old World species of Agkistrodon. In this study, we used mitochondrial cytochrome b gene sequences to test two phylogenetic hypotheses: (1) the genus Agkistrodon as presently defined is monophyletic; and (2) the bushmaster, Lachesis muta, and the rattlesnakes, represented by Crotalus viridis, constitute a monophyletic clade.
Clostridium botulinum types C and D and the closely related Clostridium novyi

Clostridium botulinum is the cause of several forms of severe disease in Man and other animals. The best known is the often-fatal intoxication following ingestion of the potent neurotoxins that are produced in food. However, various toxicoinfections are recognized – including infant botulism – and the rare but recently increasing wound botulism. The ‘species’ consists of several dissimilar clostridia linked by the possession of toxins (A–G), which have similar neurological affects. Types C and D, the ‘group III’ species, are well-known causes of classical botulism in birds and other animals, but not in Man. The related species C. novyi is involved in the pathogenesis of gangrene in humans, and has recently been identified as the major aetiological agent in death and morbidity in injecting drug abusers. The group III species produce a range of toxins: the classical neurotoxins C1 and D, as well as C2 and C3 ADPribosylating toxins. Their functions in cells are now well recognized. This article reviews our current knowledge of the bacteria and their toxins and discusses their roles in disease of Man and other animals. # 2002 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
Evaluation of a nested grid approach for estimating density

Evaluation de la methode proposee par Otis et coll. (Ibid., 1978, 70-74, 121-122) pour estimer la densite des micromammiferes, evaluation basee sur les mesures du biais methodologique et sur la precision de l'estimateur de densite utilisant le modele de Monte Carlo
A Novel and Significant Method for Antioxidant Activity Utilizing Microtitre-plate (Resazurin Reducing Power Assay)

There are number of methods used for detection of antioxidant activities. We have developed a new method using a compound (resazurin) which undergoes a visible colour shift by chemical or physical interaction with ascorbate and other antioxidant compounds. This novel method was developed to measure the antioxidant activity using the resazurin dye in microtitreplate. The experiment protocol, which is rapid and inexpensive, ensures sensitivity and reproducibility in the measure of antioxidant activity of hydrophilic or water soluble antioxidant compounds. This method is able to achieve more accuracy in the determination of the minimum antioxidant concentration (MAC) values of natural products, including crude extract, chromatographic fractions or purified compounds comparing with ascorbic acid and other standard antioxidant. Therefore, in our opinion this procedure can quickly provide useful information on the antioxidant contents of foods and plants extracts using a very small sample quantity.
Dominance-specific vigilance in the Great Tit

A bird foraging at concentrated food sources such as artificial feeders or carcasses of wild animals, irrespective of its dominance rank, may be preyed upon by airborne predators with a greater probability than other flock members foraging under protective cover. Field observations on 15 free-ranging Great Tit Parus major basic-flocks were carried out to examine whether duration of anti-predator vigilance and foraging at feeders is related to social rank, group size and location of a feeding site within a communal flock territory. The proportion of time spent scanning was positively correlated with dominance rank. Removal experiments supported results of field observations revealing a causal relationship between rank and ability to choose the safest foraging behaviour. This result suggests that dominants can benefit directly from their personal vigilance. The lack of a relationship between flock size and vigilance time of dominants also provides evidence for a direct benefit of being vigilant. Dominants were free to scan more than subordinates only within their home ranges. When visiting home areas of neighbouring basic-flocks, dominant individuals lost their priority. This supports results of previous studies that there is a site-related dominance in the Great Tit.
The depletion of carbon dioxide from lake water by phytoplankton

It has long been known that dense populations of phytoplankton tend to deplete the carbon dioxide present in natural waters, with an associated raising of pH. The ecological significance of these reactions, as possible growth-limiting or retarding factors, is far from clear. This situation is remarkable in view of the intensive study given to the relationship between rates of photosynthesis and carbon dioxide supply in some unicellular algae, the numerous measurements of carbon assimilation by phytoplankton in nature, and the attention bestowed on pH as an ecological factor. Recently a controversy has developed around the relative importance of carbon and phosphorus supply in the enrichment ('eutrophication') of inland waters (e.g. Kuentzel 1969, 1971; King 1970; Kerr, Paris & Brockway 1970; Kerr et al. 1972; Schindler 1971; Schindler et al. 1973; Goldmann et al. 1972; Goldman, Oswald & Jenkins 1974), partly sustained by a shortage of detailed information on the dynamics and availability of inorganic carbon in freshwaters. In particular, the exchange of carbon dioxide between atmosphere and water is rarely estimated, the interrelations of various forms of carbon dioxide are rarely assessed, analytical methods are usually unspecific, and the relevant physiological responses of characteristic common species of freshwater phytoplankton are largely unknown. The present work developed from observations on depletions of carbon dioxide and upward pH shifts, occasionally very pronounced, in two English lake waters. Examples are described in relation to the algal crops involved and the stratification of environmental factors. The general limnological background of these environmental events, including details of diurnal changes, will be described more fully elsewhere. Further analysis is based upon systematic laboratory measurements of photosynthetic activity in relation to episodes of algal production in nature, extended to experimental manipulations of media, population density, and time-sequences of carbon dioxide consumption. As the physiological work is based upon natural populations of known history, it is hoped that ecological inferences can be drawn without undue extrapolation between the properties of different species and different media.