Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Four Novel Leaderless Bacteriocins, Bacin A1, A2, A3, and A4 Exhibit Potent Antimicrobial and Antibiofilm Activities against Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a major human pathogen that is difficult to treat because of its resistance to several widely used antibiotics. The present study aimed to identify novel anti-MRSA bacteriocins in a prominent producer of bacteriocins, Bacillus cereus group. ABSTRACT Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a major bacterial pathogen that causes hospital- and community-acquired infections. Owing to its multidrug resistance, it is imperative to develop new antimicrobial agents to treat MRSA infections. In this study, using genome mining analysis and a culture-based screening method to detect bacteriocin activity, we screened a strain, Bacillus sp. TL12, which harbored a putative leaderless bacteriocin gene cluster (bac gene cluster) and exhibited potent anti-MRSA activity. The antimicrobial agents, products of the bac gene cluster, were purified and identified as four novel leaderless bacteriocins: bacin A1, A2, A3, and A4. Bacin A2 was evaluated as a representative antimicrobial agent and showed remarkable antimicrobial activity against S. aureus, MRSA, and the foodborne pathogens Listeria monocytogenes and Bacillus cereus. Mechanistic experiments revealed that bacin A2 damaged cell membranes and exhibited bactericidal activity against MRSA. Bacin A2 effectively inhibited the formation of S. aureus and MRSA biofilms (>0.5× MIC) and killed the cells in their established biofilms (>4× MIC). The hemolytic and NIH/3T3 cytotoxicity assay results for bacin A2 confirmed its biosafety. Thus, bacins have potential as alternative antimicrobial agents for treating MRSA infections. IMPORTANCE Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a major human pathogen that is difficult to treat because of its resistance to several widely used antibiotics. The present study aimed to identify novel anti-MRSA bacteriocins in a prominent producer of bacteriocins, Bacillus cereus group. Four novel leaderless bacteriocins, bacin A1, A2, A3, and A4, which show potent bactericidal effect against S. aureus and MRSA, were identified in Bacillus sp. TL12. Moreover, bacins inhibited biofilm formation and killed cells in the established biofilms of S. aureus and MRSA. These findings suggest that bacins are promising alternatives to treat MRSA infections.
Effect of prehydration solution on hearing threshold after chemotherapy in patients with head and neck cancers: a retrospective study

Background The study aimed to evaluate the effect of prehydration solution on hearing thresholds after cisplatin chemotherapy. Methods In this retrospective cohort study, we reviewed the data of patients who underwent ≥3 courses of cisplatin-based chemotherapy for locally advanced head and neck cancers at a tertiary referral center (n=64). The dextrose solution (DW) group (n=26) received 2 L of normal saline and 1 L of 5% dextrose. The Hartmann solution (HS) group (n=38) received 2 L of normal saline and 1 L of HS. Hearing data were measured 1 day before starting the first course of chemotherapy, and again 20 days after the first, second, and third courses of chemotherapy. The severity of hearing loss was evaluated using the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE). Results Thresholds at all frequencies after chemotherapy were greater in the DW group than in the HS group. The increase in thresholds in 1 to 4 kHz after the third course of chemotherapy was greater in the DW group than in the HS group. CTCAE grades after the second and third courses of chemotherapy were greater in the DW group than in the HS group. Logistic regression showed that the odds ratio for CTCAE grade 3 or 4 after the third course of chemotherapy in the DW group was 4.84 on univariate analysis. Conclusion Prehydration using a solution with salt was associated with a decrease in change in hearing thresholds after cisplatin chemotherapy in patients with head and neck cancers.
Dietary self-care and associated factors among diabetic patients in Jimma University Medical Centre, South West Ethiopia; A path analysis

Background Diabetes Mellitus (DM), a chronic metabolic disorder that caused about 4.2 million deaths and at least 760 billion dollars’ expenditure in 2019, has been targeted for action by leaders of WHO member countries. In Ethiopia deaths, due to DM reached 34,262 in 2013. Studies show effective lifestyle interventions; particularly medical nutrition therapy reduces HbA1c by 0.5 to 2%. However, practicing recommended diet is reported to be difficult. Not only Knowledge and practice but also perception studies are therefore necessary to design future health programs. Objective To assess diabetic self-care, dietary practice and associated factors among diabetes patients. Method Institution-basedbased cross-sectional study design was employed from february15-May15, 2020 in Jimma university medical Centre (JUMC). Systematic sampling of every other patient (K = 2.7) was employed to interview 371 participants. A previously validated tool was used to collect data through a face-to-face interview. A path analysis was used to fit the structural model and tests the hypothesized Health Belief Model (HBM) relationships. Result Response rate was 95.4% (354). Around 52% of the participants were male and 76.8% follow diabetic education at least some times. 42.4% and 48% of respondents have good dietary and general self-care practices respectively. With unstandardized coefficient (standard error) self-efficacy0.10 (0.01) being the strongest cues to action0.10 (0.02), perceived threat0.02 (0.01), and perceived barrier-0.08(0.01) constructs of HBM have a significant effect on dietary practice. Knowledge, social support and diabetes distress exert a significant indirect effect on dietary practice through health belief constructs with unstandardized path coefficient (standard error) of 0.22(0.03), 0.02(0.01), and -0.03(0.004) respectively. Conclusion In this study, the proportion of good practice is found to be lower for both dietary as well as general self-care. HBM can best fit to explain variability in dietary self-care practice; therefore, future interventions should be designed to address the vast perception and psychosocial factors influencing dietary self-care practices.
Dietary variability of western gorillas (Gorilla gorilla gorilla)

Spatial and temporal variability in the availability of food resources will lead to variation in a species’ diet, which can then influence patterns of space use, sociality, and life history characteristics. Despite such potential impacts, little information is available about dietary variability for some species with large geographical ranges. Here we quantify the diet and nutritional content of plants consumed by western lowland gorillas (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) in Loango National Park, Gabon over a 2.6 year period and make comparisons with two study sites located 800 km away. The major foods consumed by the Loango gorillas differed greatly from the other two study sites, but gorillas at all three locations spent a similar proportion of feeding time consuming herbaceous vegetation and tree leaves (~ 50%) and fruit (35%). The Loango gorillas spent approximately 10% of feeding time eating nuts, which were not consumed at the other two study sites. Gorillas at those sites spent about 5% of feeding time eating insects, which were not consumed by Loango gorillas. Even though the species composition of the diet differed among the three sites, the nutritional composition of the major food items differed very little, suggesting that western gorillas consume foods of similar nutritional values to meet their dietary needs. This study shows the flexibility of diet of a species with a wide geographic distribution, which has implications for understanding variation in life history characteristics and can be useful for conservation management plans.
What adults with ADHD want to know: A Delphi consensus study on the psychoeducational needs of experts by experience

A lack of knowledge about attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) can contribute to feelings of distress and difficulty in seeking and accepting an ADHD diagnosis. The present study uses a Delphi consensus design to investigate the psychoeducational needs of adults with ADHD and the information about ADHD they would like included in digital health interventions for adults with ADHD. Inclusion of perspectives of service users in developing such interventions ensures that they are evidence based and addresses the risks of engagement barriers.
Nichtperiodische Pflasterungen mit ganzzahligem Inflationsfaktor

Families ('species') of - mainly nonperiodic - inflation tilings in euclidean spaces of arbitrary dimension are examined. We are mainly interested in two properties: (1) finite local complexity, and (2) representation as model sets (i.e., by a 'cut-and-project-scheme'), in the case of species with integer inflation factor.For (1) four sufficient conditions are shown, which all can be read off the prototiles of the tilings resp. the first inflation of the prototiles. In this context the comparision of tile-types by their translation classes proves essential. In the plane case we give an especially simple condition: If the lengths of all pairwise parallel edges in the protoset are commensurable, then ALL primitive inflation tilings using this protoset are of finite local complexity. For (2) the relation to Delone multi sets and lattice substitution systems are established. This done, one can use a theorem of J.-Y. Lee and R.V. Moody, which answers the question essentially in general. But in the case where the considered point set can NOT be obtained as a model set, their algorithm will not terminate. We give two sufficient conditions which gives an answer in finite time in the latter case.Moreover we give a collection of many terms and facts, which are important in the context of nonperiodic tilings, an examination of nonprimitive inflation tilings and a detailled description of the construction of the half hex tiling as a model set with 2-adic, twodimensional internal space. %%%%Untersuchungsgegenstand der Arbeit sind Familien ('Spezies') von - hauptsachlich nichtperiodischen - Inflationspflasterungen in euklidischen Vektorraumen beliebiger Dimension. Es werden vor allem zwei Eigenschaften untersucht: (1) Lokal endliche Komplexitat und (2) Darstellbarkeit als Model Sets (also durch ein'Cut-and-Project-Schema'), jeweils im Falle von Familien von Inflationsspezies mit ganzzahligem Inflationsfaktor. Zu (1) werden vier hinreichende Bedingungen formuliert, die sich direkt an den Mustersteinen ('Prototiles') der Pflasterungen oder den ersten Inflationen derselben ablesen lassen. Dabei erweist sich die Unterscheidung der Steintypen bezuglich ihrer Translationsklassen als wesentlich. Fur den ebenen Fall ergibt sich ein besonders einfaches Kriterium: Sind die Langen aller jeweils parallelen Steinseiten der Mustersteine zueinander kommensurabel, so folgt lokal endliche Komplexitat fur JEDE primitiveInflationsspezies mit diesen Mustersteinen. Zu (2) wird der Zusammenhang hergestellt mit Delone – Multimengen und Gittersubstitutionssystemen. Dadurch kann man einen Satz von J.-Y. Lee und R.V. Moody anwenden, der die Frage im Prinzip beantwortet. Der von ihnen gelieferte Algorithmus terminiert allerdings nicht, falls diebetrachtete Menge KEINE Darstellung durch Model Sets besitzt. Die Arbeit liefert zwei hinreichende Kriterien, die in letztgenanntem Fall in endlicher Zeit eine Antwort liefern. Daneben finden sich in der Arbeit eine Zusammenstellung der vielen im Zusammenhang mit nichtperiodischen Pflasterungen wichtigen Begriffe…
Protein Kinase C Inhibitors Reduce SARS-CoV-2 Replication in Cultured Cells

There is an urgent need for effective therapeutic drugs to control the pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). We found that several inhibitors of protein kinases C (PKCs) dramatically decrease the replication of SARS-CoV-2 in cultured cells. ABSTRACT Infection by severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has posed a severe threat to global public health. The current study revealed that several inhibitors of protein kinases C (PKCs) possess protective activity against SARS-CoV-2 infection. Four pan-PKC inhibitors, Go 6983, bisindolylmaleimide I, enzastaurin, and sotrastaurin, reduced the replication of a SARS-CoV-2 replicon in both BHK-21 and Huh7 cells. A PKCδ-specific inhibitor, rottlerin, was also effective in reducing viral infection. The PKC inhibitors acted at an early step of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Finally, PKC inhibitors blocked the replication of wild-type SARS-CoV-2 in ACE2-expressing A549 cells. Our work highlights the importance of the PKC signaling pathway in infection by SARS-CoV-2 and provides evidence that PKC-specific inhibitors are potential therapeutic agents against SARS-CoV-2. IMPORTANCE There is an urgent need for effective therapeutic drugs to control the pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). We found that several inhibitors of protein kinases C (PKCs) dramatically decrease the replication of SARS-CoV-2 in cultured cells. These PKC inhibitors interfere with an early step of viral infection. Therefore, the rapid and prominent antiviral effect of PKC inhibitors underscores that they are promising antiviral agents and suggests that PKCs are important host factors involved in infection by SARS-CoV-2.
Constrained Matchings in Bipartite Graphs

We consider some particular cases of the general problem which consists of stating if a shift vector of m elements corresponds to a permutation of the same number of objects. Shifts are defined as the steps each element in a given permutation must perform in order to reach its natural position, i.e., to its position in the fundamental permutation, (1, 2, . , m). The problem, never studied at our knowledge, was suggested to us by a paper in which a certain number of vehicles must be moved from initial to nal positions in a grid graph in such a way that vehicles do not share the same vertex at the same time. The problem can also be stated in terms of a covering one, i.e. the vertex cover of a particular graph, with cycle using arcs of de ned lengths. Some properties of the shift vector, necessary in order to guarantee the existence of a corresponding permutation, and a general algorithm to find the permutations, if they exist, are given.
Sheared two‐dimensional radiofrequency excitation for off‐resonance robustness and fat suppression in reduced field‐of‐view imaging

Two‐dimensional (2D) echo‐planar radiofrequency (RF) pulses are widely used for reduced field‐of‐view (FOV) imaging in applications such as diffusion‐weighted imaging. However, long pulse durations render the 2D RF pulses sensitive to off‐resonance effects, causing local signal losses in reduced‐FOV images. This work aims to achieve off‐resonance robustness for 2D RF pulses via a sheared trajectory design.
Robust Control Strategy Design for Single-Phase Grid-Connected Converters Under System Perturbations

In single-phase grid-connected converters, unexpected perturbations and variations of system parameters can deteriorate the performance of grid current and dc-link voltage control and even jeopardize the stability and operation of loads. In this paper, a robust control strategy for the single-phase grid-connected converter operating under multiple system perturbations is proposed. An adaptive quasi-proportional-resonant (AQ-PR) controller for the grid current is adopted in combination with an equivalent inductance identification algorithm, which assures that the parameters of the AQ-PR controller can be online calibrated to attain accurate current regulation under ac-side inductance uncertainties. A super-twisting sliding mode (ST-SM) controller for the dc-link voltage is proposed to enhance system behavior under both internal and external disturbances. The convergence of the controller is ensured by utilizing Lyapunov theory. Experimental prototype and rigorous tests are presented to validate the feasibility and robustness of the proposed approach under various perturbations.
Usefulness of implementing the OHIP‐14 questionnaire to assess the impact of xerostomia and hyposalivation on quality of life in patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome

Abstract Background The aim of this study is to analyze if the results of the Oral Health Impact Profile‐14 questionnaire (OHIP‐14) in patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) are correlated with salivary flow and level of xerostomia. Methods This observational cross‐sectional study was conducted in 61 patients (60 women, one man, mean age 57.64 [13.52]) diagnosed of pSS according to the American‐European Criteria (2002). After recording demographic, medical and dental data (decayed‐missing‐filled teeth index [DMFT]), unstimulated (UWS) and stimulated (SWS) salivary flows were collected. Subsequently, UWS flow was categorized into two groups (<0.1 ml/min and ≥0.1 ml/min) and SWS into three groups (<0.1 ml/min, 0.1–0.7 ml/min and >0.7 ml/min). Patients also filled out a visual analog scale (VAS) for xerostomia and OHIP‐14 for self‐reported quality of life (QoL). Results Data showed positive and significant correlation between OHIP‐14 and xerostomia, based on VAS results (r = 0.52; p = 0.001). Furthermore, there was a negative correlation between UWS and OHIP‐14 scores (r = −0.34; p = 0.006) and VAS for xerostomia (r = −0.22; p = 0.09). No significant correlation was found between SWS and OHIP‐14 or VAS neither between DMFT and OHIP‐14. When assessing the level of QoL by the UWS and SWS flow categories a significant association was found for UWS (p = 0.001) but not for SWS (p = 0.11). The OHIP‐14 values were higher in the groups with lower salivary flow. The multiple linear regression to predict OHIP‐14 only selected VAS for xerostomia as a statistically significant predictor. Conclusions Increased level of xerostomia and reduced UWS flow decrease oral health‐related QoL in patients with pSS.
Is childhood oral health the 'canary in the coal mine' for poor adult general health? Findings from two New Zealand birth cohort studies.

OBJECTIVES This study aimed to investigate whether childhood dental caries was associated with self-reported general health in midlife. METHODS We used data on childhood oral health (caries experience) and adult self-reported general health from two New Zealand longitudinal birth cohorts, the Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Study (n = 922 and n = 931 at ages 5 and 45 years, respectively), and the Christchurch Health and Development Study (n = 1048 and n = 904 at ages 5 and 40 years, respectively). We used generalized estimating equations to examine associations between age-5 dental caries and self-rated general health and the number of self-reported physical health conditions at ages 45/40 (diagnosed by a doctor or health professional, n = 14 conditions among both cohorts). Covariates included known risk factors for poor health (SES, IQ, perinatal complications), and personality style, which is known to affect subjective health ratings. RESULTS Incidence rate ratios for 'Excellent' self-rated health were lower among those who had high experience of dental caries as children than those who had not in both, the Dunedin (IRR, 0.76; 95% CI, 0.50, 1.14) and Christchurch studies (IRR, 0.69; 95% CI, 0.47, 1.00). Childhood dental caries was not associated with the number of self-reported physical health conditions in midlife, in either cohort. Dunedin Study members who at age 5 were not caries-free or whose parents rated their own or their child's oral health as poor were less likely to report 'Excellent' self-rated general health at age 45 than those who were caries-free and whose parents did not give a 'poor' rating (IRR, 0.69; 95% CI, 0.49, 0.97). CONCLUSIONS Five-year-olds with greater caries experience were more likely to have poorer self-rated general health by midlife. Beyond this longitudinal association, future research should examine whether childhood dental caries is associated with objective/biological markers of physical health and whether it may have utility as an early indicator for poor general health in adulthood.
Two-minute walk distance reference equations for middle-aged and elderly Chinese individuals with obesity

Background and objective While the six-minute walk test (6MWT) is often used to assess exercise capacity, the less well-known two-minute walk test (2MWT) is more feasible for some patients. In previous studies, we developed reference equations for the two-minute walk distance (2MWD) for healthy Chinese adults. However, our study did not recruit people with obesity, and the reference equations did not apply to participants with a body mass index (BMI) > 30 kg/m2. The main objective of this study was to establish reference equations for the 2MWD among middle-aged and elderly Chinese individuals with obesity. Methods A total of 295 individuals were recruited. The participants underwent two 2MWTs, with the longer of the two 2MWDs used for further analyses. The reference equations for the 2MWD were developed using stepwise multiple regression analysis. The newly established equations for the 2MWD were then compared with the existing equations. Results The mean 2MWD of the participants was 176±20 m. Age and BMI were identified as independent factors that influenced the 2MWD and explained 28% and 32% of the variance in walking distance for the male and female groups, respectively. The reference equations for the 2MWD were as follows: Male:2MWD(m)=443.058−[age(yr)x6.782]+[BMI(kg/m2)x0.847];r2=0.283Female:2MWD(m)=300.160−[age(yr)x0.841]−[BMI(kg/m2)x2.541];r2=0.315 Conclusion This study resulted in the development of reference equations for predicting 2MWD among middle-aged and elderly Chinese people with obesity. These equations will be a clinically valuable tool for evaluating functional capacity, determining prognoses and monitoring treatment in middle-aged and elderly Chinese people with obesity.
Production and Perception Evidence of a Merger: [l] and [n] in Fuzhou Min

The current study investigated the merger-in-progress between word-initial nasal and lateral consonants in Fuzhou Min, examining the linguistic and social factors that modulate the merger. First, the acoustic cues to the l-n distinction were examined in Fuzhou Min. Acoustic analyses suggested a collapse of phonemic contrast between prescriptive L and N (phonemes in the unmerged system), with none of the six acoustic cues showing any difference across L and N. Linear discriminant analysis did identify acoustically distinct [l] and [n] tokens, although the mapping onto the phonetic space of prescriptive L and N substantially overlapped. Speakers of all ages and both genders tended to produce [l], and low vowels correlated with more [n]-like classification. In perception, AX discrimination data showed Fuzhou Min listeners confused both prescriptive L and N and acoustic [l] and [n]. Greater sensitivity to the acoustic differences occurred in the context of low vowels and a nasal coda, supported by the acoustics of the stimuli, and younger listeners were more sensitive to the difference between [l] and [n] than older listeners. In two-alternative forced choice (2AFC) identification, Fuzhou Min listeners also identified the merged form as L more frequently than N, with more L responses elicited in the context of low vowels and in the absence of nasal codas. Overall, although Fuzhou Min speakers produced some acoustically distinct [l] and [n] tokens in the context of a sound merger, these productions did not map onto prescriptive L and N. In addition, younger listeners were more sensitive to the acoustic distinction than older listeners, suggesting an emerging acoustic contrast possibly arising due to contact with Mandarin.