Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Antimicrobial Blue Light versus Pathogenic Bacteria: Mechanism, Application in the Food Industry, Hurdle Technologies and Potential Resistance

Blue light primarily exhibits antimicrobial activity through the activation of endogenous photosensitizers, which leads to the formation of reactive oxygen species that attack components of bacterial cells. Current data show that blue light is innocuous on the skin, but may inflict photo-damage to the eyes. Laboratory measurements indicate that antimicrobial blue light has minimal effects on the sensorial and nutritional properties of foods, although future research using human panels is required to ascertain these findings. Food properties also affect the efficacy of antimicrobial blue light, with attenuation or enhancement of the bactericidal activity observed in the presence of absorptive materials (for example, proteins on meats) or photosensitizers (for example, riboflavin in milk), respectively. Blue light can also be coupled with other treatments, such as polyphenols, essential oils and organic acids. While complete resistance to blue light has not been reported, isolated evidence suggests that bacterial tolerance to blue light may occur over time, especially through gene mutations, although at a slower rate than antibiotic resistance. Future studies can aim at characterizing the amount and type of intracellular photosensitizers across bacterial species and at assessing the oxygen-independent mechanism of blue light—for example, the inactivation of spoilage bacteria in vacuum-packed meats.
Dark Matter of Primate Genomes: Satellite DNA Repeats and Their Evolutionary Dynamics

A substantial portion of the primate genome is composed of non-coding regions, so-called “dark matter”, which includes an abundance of tandemly repeated sequences called satellite DNA. Collectively known as the satellitome, this genomic component offers exciting evolutionary insights into aspects of primate genome biology that raise new questions and challenge existing paradigms. A complete human reference genome was recently reported with telomere-to-telomere human X chromosome assembly that resolved hundreds of dark regions, encompassing a 3.1 Mb centromeric satellite array that had not been identified previously. With the recent exponential increase in the availability of primate genomes, and the development of modern genomic and bioinformatics tools, extensive growth in our knowledge concerning the structure, function, and evolution of satellite elements is expected. The current state of knowledge on this topic is summarized, highlighting various types of primate-specific satellite repeats to compare their proportions across diverse lineages. Inter- and intraspecific variation of satellite repeats in the primate genome are reviewed. The functional significance of these sequences is discussed by describing how the transcriptional activity of satellite repeats can affect gene expression during different cellular processes. Sex-linked satellites are outlined, together with their respective genomic organization. Mechanisms are proposed whereby satellite repeats might have emerged as novel sequences during different evolutionary phases. Finally, the main challenges that hinder the detection of satellite DNA are outlined and an overview of the latest methodologies to address technological limitations is presented.
Graphene Quantum Dot-TiO2 Photonic Crystal Films for Photocatalytic Applications

Photonic crystal structuring has emerged as an advanced method to enhance solar light harvesting by metal oxide photocatalysts along with rational compositional modifications of the materials’ properties. In this work, surface functionalization of TiO2 photonic crystals by blue luminescent graphene quantum dots (GQDs), n–π* band at ca. 350 nm, is demonstrated as a facile, environmental benign method to promote photocatalytic activity by the combination of slow photon-assisted light trapping with GQD-TiO2 interfacial electron transfer. TiO2 inverse opal films fabricated by the co-assembly of polymer colloidal spheres with a hydrolyzed titania precursor were post-modified by impregnation in aqueous GQDs suspension without any structural distortion. Photonic band gap engineering by varying the inverse opal macropore size resulted in selective performance enhancement for both salicylic acid photocatalytic degradation and photocurrent generation under UV–VIS and visible light, when red-edge slow photons overlapped with the composite’s absorption edge, whereas stop band reflection was attenuated by the strong UVA absorbance of the GQD-TiO2 photonic films. Photoelectrochemical and photoluminescence measurements indicated that the observed improvement, which surpassed similarly modified benchmark mesoporous P25 TiO2 films, was further assisted by GQDs electron acceptor action and visible light activation to a lesser extent, leading to highly efficient photocatalytic films.
Risk of Short-Term Mortality after Intracerebral Haemorrhage due to Weekend Hospital Admission in Poland

Background The mortality rate for spontaneous intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH) has remained high and stable for many years. The unfavourable prognostic factors include age, bleeding volume, location of the haematoma, high blood pressure, and disturbed consciousness on admission. Other risk factors associated with medical care also deserve attention. The study aimed to analyse the relationship between day of admission, concerning other prognostic factors, and short-term mortality in ICH, in a Polish specialist stroke unit. Methods Medical records of 156 patients (74 males, 82 females, mean age 68.7 years) diagnosed with spontaneous ICH and admitted to a specialist stroke center were retrospectively analysed. Demographics, location, volume of bleeding, blood pressure values, and the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), as well as the day of admission, were determined. The relationships were analysed between these factors and 30-day mortality in the patients with ICH. Results A total of 83 patients were admitted to the hospital during weekdays (Monday 8 am to Friday 3 pm) and 73 during weekends or holidays. Of these, 65 patients died within 30 days. Patients admitted at weekends initially presented with lower GCS scores. Admission on Saturday was associated with an increased risk of death (OR 3.38, 95% CI 1.2–9.48, p < 0.05), but after correction for clinical state measured with the GCS and ICH score, the association was no longer significant. Conclusions The time and mode of admission were not associated with increased risk of short-term mortality in ICH patients. Prehospital care issues should be additionally considered as prognostic factors of the outcome.
Swept-Source-Based Chromatic Confocal Microscopy

Chromatic confocal microscopy (CCM) has been intensively developed because it can exhibit effective focal position scanning based on the axial chromatic aberration of broadband light reflected from a target. To improve the imaging speed of three-dimensional (3D) surface profiling, we have proposed the novel concept of swept-source-based CCM (SS-CCM) and investigated the usefulness of the corresponding imaging system. Compared to conventional CCM based on a broadband light source and a spectrometer, a swept-source in the proposed SS-CCM generates light with a narrower linewidth for higher intensity, and a single photodetector employed in the system exhibits a fast and sensitive response by immediately obtaining spectrally encoded depth from a chromatic dispersive lens array. Results of the experiments conducted to test the proposed SS-CCM system indicate that the system exhibits an axial chromatic focal distance range of approximately 360 μm for the 770–820 nm swept wavelength range. Moreover, high-speed surface profiling images of a cover glass and coin were successfully obtained with a short measurement time of 5 ms at a single position.
Effect of Varying Dietary Crude Protein Level on Feed Intake, Nutrient Digestibility, Milk Production, and Nitrogen Use Efficiency by Lactating Holstein-Friesian Cows

Simple Summary Over the past decades, European Union countries have been under increasing pressure to reduce nitrogen pollution resulting from agricultural activities and ensure compliance with environmental legislations aimed at reducing the amount of nitrogen emitted into the atmosphere. Among the various forms of nitrogen losses into the atmosphere from agriculture, losses associated with farmed livestock (particularly dairy cows) are top priority. The nitrogen losses associated with livestock originate mostly from the excreta (feces and urine), with dietary protein content as a major driver. Despite the concern about dietary protein, the feeding of diets with excess protein relative to requirements (protein overfeeding) is evident on many commercial dairy farms in Europe, with the belief that it enhances milk production and in part for purposes of providing a margin of safety. Abstract The effect of dietary crude protein (CP) level on intake, digestibility, milk production, and nitrogen (N) use efficiency was studied. Twenty-four Holstein-Friesian cows (17 multiparous and seven primiparous) were grouped by parity, days in milk, milk yield, and live weight into six blocks of four, and randomly assigned to four total mixed ration (TMR) treatments, containing 141, 151, 177, or 210 g CP/kg dry matter (DM), over 28 day experimental periods. Apparent total-tract DM and fiber digestibilities and milk fat composition were similar across treatments. Milk protein and urea-N compositions, and urinary and manure N excretion increased linearly, while milk N efficiency (MNE) decreased linearly with increasing CP. DM intake was highest with the 177 diet, while CP intake increased linearly with increasing CP, peaking at 200 g/kg DM. Milk yield increased with CP intake for the three lower CP levels, peaking at 176 g CP/kg DM. The further increase in CP level from 177 to 210 g/kg DM did not result in improved milk yield, but resulted in decreased milk N secretion and increased urinary N excretion. In summary, milk protein composition increased linearly with increasing CP, accompanied by a linear decrease in MNE, resulting in a bell-shaped relationship between milk yield and dietary CP level.
Harnessing the Power of Mast Cells in unconventional Immunotherapy Strategies and Vaccine Adjuvants

Mast cells are long-lived, granular, myeloid-derived leukocytes that have significant protective and repair functions in tissues. Mast cells sense disruptions in the local microenvironment and are first responders to physical, chemical and biological insults. When activated, mast cells release growth factors, proteases, chemotactic proteins and cytokines thereby mobilizing and amplifying the reactions of the innate and adaptive immune system. Mast cells are therefore significant regulators of homeostatic functions and may be essential in microenvironmental changes during pathogen invasion and disease. During infection by helminths, bacteria and viruses, mast cells release antimicrobial factors to facilitate pathogen expulsion and eradication. Mast cell-derived proteases and growth factors protect tissues from insect/snake bites and exposure to ultraviolet radiation. Finally, mast cells release mediators that promote wound healing in the inflammatory, proliferative and remodelling stages. Since mast cells have such a powerful repertoire of functions, targeting mast cells may be an effective new strategy for immunotherapy of disease and design of novel vaccine adjuvants. In this review, we will examine how certain strategies that specifically target and activate mast cells can be used to treat and resolve infections, augment vaccines and heal wounds. Although these strategies may be protective in certain circumstances, mast cells activation may be deleterious if not carefully controlled and any therapeutic strategy using mast cell activators must be carefully explored.
Vitamin C Transporters and Their Implications in Carcinogenesis

Vitamin C is implicated in various bodily functions due to its unique properties in redox homeostasis. Moreover, vitamin C also plays a great role in restoring the activity of 2-oxoglutarate and Fe2+ dependent dioxygenases (2-OGDD), which are involved in active DNA demethylation (TET proteins), the demethylation of histones, and hypoxia processes. Therefore, vitamin C may be engaged in the regulation of gene expression or in a hypoxic state. Hence, vitamin C has acquired great interest for its plausible effects on cancer treatment. Since its conceptualization, the role of vitamin C in cancer therapy has been a controversial and disputed issue. Vitamin C is transferred to the cells with sodium dependent transporters (SVCTs) and glucose transporters (GLUT). However, it is unknown whether the impaired function of these transporters may lead to carcinogenesis and tumor progression. Notably, previous studies have identified SVCTs’ polymorphisms or their altered expression in some types of cancer. This review discusses the potential effects of vitamin C and the impaired SVCT function in cancers. The variations in vitamin C transporter genes may regulate the active transport of vitamin C, and therefore have an impact on cancer risk, but further studies are needed to thoroughly elucidate their involvement in cancer biology.
Distant Organ Damage in Acute Brain Injury

Acute brain injuries pose a great threat to global health, having significant impact on mortality and disability. Patients with acute brain injury may develop distant organ failure, even if no systemic diseases or infection is present. The severity of non-neurologic organs’ dysfunction depends on the extremity of the insult to the brain. In this comprehensive review we sought to describe the organ-related consequences of acute brain injuries. The clinician should always be aware of the interplay between central nervous system and non-neurological organs, that is constantly present. Cerebral injury is not only a brain disease, but also affects the body as whole, and thus requires holistic therapeutical approach.
Passiflora incarnata in Neuropsychiatric Disorders—A Systematic Review

Background: Stress is a natural response of the body, induced by factors of a physical (hunger, thirst, and infection) and/or psychological (perceived threat, anxiety, or concern) nature. Chronic, long-term stress may cause problems with sleep, concentration, and memory, as well as affective disorders. The passionflower (Passiflora incarnata) is a perennial plant with documented therapeutic properties. The literature data suggest that the passionflower itself, as well as its preparations, helps reduce stress and can therefore be helpful in the treatment of insomnia, anxiety, and depression. The objective of this systematic review was to evaluate Passiflora incarnata in terms of its neuropsychiatric effects. Methods: The scientific databases PubMed, ClinTrials.gov, and Embase were searched up to 22 October 2019. The search identified randomized clinical trials describing the effects of Passiflora incarnata in neuropsychiatric disorders. Results: The systematic review included nine clinical trials. The duration of the studies included in the analysis varied widely, from one day up to 30 days. Study participants were no less than 18 years old. In each of the papers, the effects of passionflower were measured by using a number of different tests and scales. The majority of studies reported reduced anxiety levels following the administration of Passiflora incarnata preparations, with the effect less evident in people with mild anxiety symptoms. No adverse effects, including memory loss or collapse of psychometric functions, were observed. Conclusion: Passiflora incarnata may be helpful in treating some symptoms in neuropsychiatric patients.
Effect of COVID-19 on Lungs: Focusing on Prospective Malignant Phenotypes

Simple Summary According to the coronavirus virus resource center of Johns Hopkins Medicine, more than 75 million people are presently affected worldwide, including 1.7 million deaths due to severe acute respiratory syndrome since December 2019. Apart from the common symptoms similar to the common flu, a characteristic computed tomography (CT) feature i.e., Ground Glass Opacity (GGO) is highlighted in this article. GGOs have been observed in COVID-19 patients with severe symptoms including pneumonia in both lungs. It is important to reflect that GGO may indicate the onset of lung fibrosis and may be an indicative feature of high-risk subjects for developing lung cancer. In this article, the causes of the appearance of GGOs and their effects are mainly discussed, along with the brief immunopathogenesis of COVID-19 in comparison with other oncogenic viruses. In this pandemic situation, it is also important to consider the long-term effects of coronavirus infection and the ways to follow-up the patients who recovered from this disease. Abstract Currently, the healthcare management systems are shattered throughout the world, even in the developed nations due to the COVID-19 viral outbreak. A substantial number of patients infected with SARS-CoV2 develop acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and need advanced healthcare facilities, including invasive mechanical ventilation. Intracellular infiltration of the SARS-CoV2 virus particles into the epithelial cells in lungs are facilitated by the spike glycoprotein (S Protein) on the outer side of the virus envelope, a membrane protein ACE2 (angiotensin-converting enzyme 2) and two proteases (TMPRSS2 and Furin) in the host cell. This virus has unprecedented effects on the immune system and induces a sudden upregulation of the levels of different pro-inflammatory cytokines. This can be a cause for the onset of pulmonary fibrosis in the lungs. Existence of a high concentration of inflammatory cytokines and viral load can also lead to numerous pathophysiological conditions. Although it is well established that cancer patients are among the high-risk population due to COVID-19-associated mortality, it is still unknown whether survivors of COVID-19-infected subjects are at high-risk population for developing cancer and whether any biologic and clinical features exist in post-COVID-19 individuals that might be related to carcinogenesis.
Reduction Kinetics of Surface Rhodium Oxide by Hydrogen and Carbon Monoxide at Ambient Gas Pressures As Probed by Transient Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy

The transient reduction kinetics of surface rhodium oxide (Rh2O3) by gaseous H2 and CO have been probed in situ by surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS). The Rh surfaces are ultrathin films electrodeposited onto SERS-active gold, enabling surface vibrational spectroscopic information to be obtained with high temporal resolution (≈1 s) at elevated temperatures (up to 500 °C) and under ambient-pressure flow-reactor conditions. Surface Rh2O3 is formed by heating Rh in flowing O2 at 1 atm and fingerprinted by an intense 530 cm-1 νRh-O feature. The reduction of such oxidized surfaces upon sudden exposure to either H2 or CO over a range of partial pressures (1−760 Torr) was monitored from the decay kinetics of the νRh-O band intensity. Surface oxide is readily reduced by both reductants, although striking differences in the observed kinetic behavior indicate the occurrence of distinct reaction pathways. In the case of H2, at low partial pressures (≤7.6 Torr) below 200 °C a temperature-dependent induction p.
Direct Observation of Vapor-Liquid-Solid Nanowire Growth

Nanotubes and semiconductor nanowires are of fundamental importance to the study of sizeand dimensionality-dependent chemical and physical phenomena. 1,2 How to rationally synthesize these 1-dimensional nanostructures has been a major challenge, although several strategies have been pursued recently. 3-16 For example, carbon nanotubes have been prepared via condensation of hot carbon plasmas in the presence of certain metals, although the real growth mechanism has been elusive. 3-5 Recently, semiconductor nanowires with different compositions have been successfully synthesized using either vapor 6-12 or solution-based methodologies. 13-16 One key feature of these syntheses is the promotion of anisotropic crystal growth using metal nanoparticles as catalysts. The growth mechanism has been extrapolated from the vapor -liquid-solid (VLS) mechanism which was proposed in the 1960s -1970s for large whisker growth, 17-19 although an oxide-assisted growth mechanism has also been proposed. 2,20
A New Method for Imputing Censored Values in Crossover Designs with Time-to-Event Outcomes Using Median Residual Life

Crossover designs are commonly applied in research due to efficiency and subject parsimony compared to parallel studies. Baseline measurements would improve the power of comparison. For time to event outcomes, the sample size is reduced due to censorship, if they are ignored; thus, applying traditional regression models will be limited. A logical solution is to impute the censored observation and apply common analytical models for analyzing the data. Nevertheless, techniques to impute censored data in time-to-event outcomes in crossover designs are not practiced as much. Accordingly, we propose a method to impute the censored observation using median residual life regression and then analyze the data using analyses of covariance (ANCOVA), considering the difference of period-specific baselines as covariate. We used simulation to show the favorable performance of our method relative to a recently proposed method, multiple imputation with model averaging and ANCOVA (MIMI). Specifically, the censored observations were multiply-imputed using prespecified parametric event time models, and then, the methods were applied to a real data example.
Genes on the Move: In Vitro Transduction of Antimicrobial Resistance Genes between Human and Canine Staphylococcal Pathogens

Transmission of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus pseudintermedius (MRSP) between people and pets, and their co-carriage, are well-described. Potential exchange of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) genes amongst these staphylococci was investigated in vitro through endogenous bacteriophage-mediated transduction. Bacteriophages were UV-induced from seven donor isolates of canine (MRSP) and human (MRSA) origin, containing tet(M), tet(K), fusB or fusC, and lysates filtered. Twenty-seven tetracycline- and fusidic acid- (FA-) susceptible recipients were used in 122 donor-recipient combinations (22 tetracycline, 100 FA) across 415 assays (115 tetracycline, 300 FA). Bacteriophage lysates were incubated with recipients and presumed transductants quantified on antimicrobial-supplemented agar plates. Tetracycline resistance transduction from MRSP and MRSA to methicillin-susceptible S. pseudintermedius (MSSP) was confirmed by PCR in 15/115 assays. No FA-resistance transfer occurred, confirmed by negative fusB/fusC PCR, but colonies resulting from FA assays had high MICs (≥32 mg/L) and showed mutations in fusA, two at a novel position (F88L), nine at H457[Y/N/L]. Horizontal gene transfer of tetracycline-resistance confirms that resistance genes can be shared between coagulase-positive staphylococci from different hosts. Cross-species AMR transmission highlights the importance of good antimicrobial stewardship across humans and veterinary species to support One Health.