Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
COSTS OF GLANDULAR TRICHOMES IN DATURA WRIGHTII: A THREE‐YEAR STUDY

Abstract Models accounting for genetic variation for resistance to herbivores within plant populations often postulate a balance between the costs of that resistance and its benefits. The production of glandular trichomes by Datura wrightii was shown to be costly in a previous one‐year study because plants producing glandular trichomes (sticky plants), a factor conferring resistance to some insect herbivores, also produced 45% fewer seeds than plants producing nonglandular trichomes (velvety plants) when grown in a common garden. Because sticky plants tended to be larger than velvety plants but produced fewer seed capsules, we postulated an allocation trade‐off in which velvety plants are more reproduction‐dominated whereas sticky plants are more growth‐dominated. If a greater commitment to vegetative growth eventually allows sticky plants to compensate for reduced seed production, we would expect a reduction or elimination of the cost of resistance over time in this perennial plant. We monitored growth, survival, and seed production of plants from defined crosses of local populations for three years in a common garden when exposed to and protected from herbivores, and with and without supplemental water. The majority of plants exposed to herbivores had died by the end of the study. We used standard life‐table methods to determine the net reproductive rate (R0) and the finite rate of increase (λ.) of plants of each trichome type. After three years, when plants were protected from herbivores, sticky plants were 187–245% larger than velvety plants, depending upon irrigation treatment, but sticky plants continued to be less efficient in producing seeds per unit of canopy volume. Even though the total seed production of sticky plants eventually equaled that of velvety plants, the advantage of earlier reproduction by velvety plants increased λ. by 55–230% over that of sticky plants, depending upon herbivore and irrigation treatment. Exposure to herbivores reduced A. by 69–83%, depending upon plant type and irrigation treatment, whereas supplemental irrigation increased A. by 29–175%, depending upon plant type and exposure to herbivores. Although there was a large allocation trade‐off between growth and reproduction, the benefits of such a trade‐off did not emerge before most plants were killed by herbivores. The cost of producing glandular trichomes strictly for herbivore resistance continued to exceed its benefits, and in the absence of other, unmeasured benefits from the suite of life‐history characters associated with glandular trichome production, natural selection is expected to eliminate this costly resistance trait from D. wrightii populations.
Transcriptomic Analysis Reveals Candidate Genes for Female Sterility in Pomegranate Flowers

Pomegranate has two types of flowers on the same plant: functional male flowers (FMF) and bisexual flowers (BF). BF are female-fertile flowers that can set fruits. FMF are female-sterile flowers that fail to set fruit and that eventually drop. The putative cause of pomegranate FMF female sterility is abnormal ovule development. However, the key stage at which the FMF pomegranate ovules become abnormal and the mechanism of regulation of pomegranate female sterility remain unknown. Here, we studied ovule development in FMF and BF, using scanning electron microscopy to explore the key stage at which ovule development was terminated and then analyzed genes differentially expressed (differentially expressed genes – DEGs) between FMF and BF to investigate the mechanism responsible for pomegranate female sterility. Ovule development in FMF ceased following the formation of the inner integument primordium. The key stage for the termination of FMF ovule development was when the bud vertical diameter was 5.0–13.0 mm. Candidate genes influencing ovule development may be crucial factors in pomegranate female sterility. INNER OUTER (INO/YABBY4) (Gglean016270) and AINTEGUMENTA (ANT) homolog genes (Gglean003340 and Gglean011480), which regulate the development of the integument, showed down-regulation in FMF at the key stage of ovule development cessation (ATNSII). Their upstream regulator genes, such as AGAMOUS-like (AG-like) (Gglean028014, Gglean026618, and Gglean028632) and SPOROCYTELESS (SPL) homolog genes (Gglean005812), also showed differential expression pattern between BF and FMF at this key stage. The differential expression of the ethylene response signal genes, ETR (ethylene-resistant) (Gglean022853) and ERF1/2 (ethylene-responsive factor) (Gglean022880), between FMF and BF indicated that ethylene signaling may also be an important factor in the development of pomegranate female sterility. The increase in BF observed after spraying with ethephon supported this interpretation. Results from qRT-PCR confirmed the findings of the transcriptomic analysis.
Association Between Anxiety Level of Child with Parental and PatientFactors During Preoperative Anesthesia Visit

Introduction: Preoperative anxiety in children is an important concern for the anesthesiologist. In our study, we aimed to determine the association between parental and patient factors with patients' anxiety during the preoperative anesthesia visit and additionally, aimed to inform clinicians about the parents' concerns and effects of culture. Methods: Following the faculty ethical committee's approval, written consent was obtained from the parents of eligible children undergoing various surgical and radiological procedures under general anesthesia. The parents were given a socio-demographic questionnaire and both the child and the parents completed the Spielberger State -Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). Results: A total of 117 children were enrolled. The majority of children were boys (67%) and the mean age was 10.2 (years). Children had mean state anxiety scores of 47.8 ± 7.4 and mean trait anxiety scores of 33.8 ± 7. There was a significant negative correlation between child state and child trait anxiety (r=-.39, moderate strength, p<0.001). Parent's state and trait anxiety scores had significant correlation. Poorly educated parents had significantly higher state anxiety scores (p<0.001). We did not find any statistically significant relationship between other factors and state anxiety scores of either the children or the parents. Eleven of the parents who had replied to the open ended question (n=55) asked for further information about the surgery and anesthesia to reduce anxiety level; others mainly stated that they were confident that the physicians will do their best to take care of their children.
Safety and tolerability of as-needed nalmefene in the treatment of alcohol dependence: results from the Phase III clinical programme

Objective: To investigate safety and tolerability of nalmefene for reduction of alcohol consumption in alcohol-dependent patients. Methods: Pooled data from three randomized, placebo-controlled studies (two 6-month; one 12-month) of 18 mg nalmefene (as-needed use) in alcohol-dependent patients looking at the total population (placebo n = 824, nalmefene n = 1123) and patients with high/very high drinking risk levels at screening and randomization (target population: placebo n = 374, nalmefene n = 450). Results: In the study, 62.7% of patients on placebo and 74.7% on nalmefene in the total population had treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs). Fourty-seven (5.9%) on placebo and 149 (13.0%) on nalmefene dropped out due to TEAEs. Thirty-five (4.4%) on placebo and 57 (5.0%) on nalmefene had serious adverse events. Tolerability and safety were similar in the target population and total population. Most frequent TEAEs were transient, mainly occurring at treatment initiation. There was no difference in tolerability and safety if nalmefene was taken daily or intermittently; no signal of increased risk of suicide-related behavior with nalmefene. The higher incidence of psychiatric events in the nalmefene group was mainly due to the TEAE of confusional state. Conclusions: Although there was a higher incidence of TEAEs and TEAEs leading to dropout, nalmefene was well-tolerated and no major safety issues were identified.
Can We Remember Future Actions yet Forget the Last Two Minutes? Study in Transient Global Amnesia

Transient global amnesia (TGA) is a clinical syndrome characterized by the abrupt onset of a massive episodic memory deficit that spares other cognitive functions. If the anterograde dimension is known to be impaired in TGA, researchers have yet to investigate prospective memory (PM)—which involves remembering to perform an intended action at some point in the future—in this syndrome. Furthermore, as executive functions are thought to be spared in this syndrome, TGA provides an opportunity to examine the impact of a massive “pure” memory impairment on PM. We assessed 38 patients with a newly designed protocol that distinguished between the prospective (remembering to do something at the appropriate time) and retrospective (remembering what has to be done) components of PM. Moreover, we investigated episodic memory with an anterograde memory task and assessed executive functions, anxiety and mood, as well as their links with PM. We demonstrated that PM is impaired during TGA, with a greater deficit for the retrospective component than for the prospective component. Furthermore, we highlighted a strong link between these two components. Anterograde episodic memory impairments were correlated with retrospective component deficits in TGA patients, although we were able to confirm that executive functions are globally spared. We discuss this pattern of results within the theoretical framework of PM, putting forward new arguments in favor of the idea that PM deficits can occur mainly because of a massive anterograde memory deficit. The clinical consequences of PM impairment in TGA are examined.
Arab dentists’ refusal to treat HIV positive patients: a survey of recently graduated dentists from three Arab dental schools

Abstract Objective: To assess intended refusal of recent graduates from three Arab dental schools to treat HIV + patients and factors associated with this intention. Materials and methods: In 2015, convenience samples of recent dental graduates were included from Libya, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates. Participants responded to a questionnaire assessing personal background, knowledge of oral manifestations and fluids transmitting HIV, perceived adequacy of training and self-efficacy to manage blood exposures, attitude to risk of infection, moral beliefs and willingness to treat HIV + patients. Logistic regression assessed factors associated with intended refusal to treat HIV + patients. Results: The overall response rate was 552/710 (77.8%), mean age = 23.7 years with 41.8% males. The mean (SD) scores for knowledge of oral manifestations and fluids transmitting HIV were 5.5 (1.3)/8 and 4.2 (1.7)/7. The mean (SD) scores for attitude to risk of infection and moral beliefs were 2.9 (1.0)/4 and 2 (0.9)/3, respectively. One-third of respondents indicated intention to refuse treating HIV + patients. Knowledge of body fluids transmitting HIV and moral beliefs were associated with lower odds of refusing to treat HIV + patients (OR = 0.86 and 0.38) whereas attitude indicating greater concern for risk of infection was associated with higher odds (OR = 1.54). Conclusions: One third of dentists from three Arab dental schools indicated they would refuse to treat HIV + patients. Adequate knowledge and moral beliefs reflecting professional ethics were associated with lower odds of refusal counterbalancing the association with attitude indicating increased concern for risk of infection with implications for dentist education and training.
Where Does Creativity Fit into a Productivist Industrial Model of Knowledge Production?

Abstract The basic premise of this paper is the fact that science has become a major industry: the knowledge industry. The paper throws some light on the reasons for the transformation of science from a limited, constrained and marginal craft into a major industry. It, then, presents a productivist industrial model of knowledge production, which shows its components, mechanisms, bases, rules and specificities. Accordingly, it locates the place and role of creativity and innovation in its processes. This leads to constructing a new model for the scientific method and scientific practice.
A dependency-aware task-based programming environment for multi-core architectures

Parallel programming on SMP and multi-core architectures is hard. In this paper we present a programming model for those environments based on automatic function level parallelism that strives to be easy, flexible, portable, and performant. Its main trait is its ability to exploit task level parallelism by analyzing task dependencies at run time. We present the programming environment in the context of algorithms from several domains and pinpoint its benefits compared to other approaches. We discuss its execution model and its scheduler. Finally we analyze its performance and demonstrate that it offers reasonable performance without tuning, and that it can rival highly tuned libraries with minimal tuning effort.
Activation of p 75 NTR by proBDNF facilitates hippocampal long-term depression

Proand mature brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) activate two distinct receptors: p75 neurotrophin receptor (p75NTR) and TrkB. Mature BDNF facilitates hippocampal synaptic potentiation through TrkB. Here we report that proBDNF, by activating p75NTR, facilitates hippocampal long-term depression (LTD). Electron microscopy showed that p75NTR localized in dendritic spines, in addition to afferent terminals, of CA1 neurons. Deletion of p75NTR in mice selectively impaired the NMDA receptor–dependent LTD, without affecting other forms of synaptic plasticity. p75NTR2/2 mice also showed a decrease in the expression of NR2B, an NMDA receptor subunit uniquely involved in LTD. Activation of p75NTR by proBDNF enhanced NR2B-dependent LTD and NR2B-mediated synaptic currents. These results show a crucial role for proBDNF-p75NTR signaling in LTD and its potential mechanism, and together with the finding that mature BDNF promotes synaptic potentiation, suggest a bidirectional regulation of synaptic plasticity by proBDNF and mature BDNF.
Brain‐Specific Autoantibodies in the Plasma of Subjects with Autistic Spectrum Disorder

Abstract: Although autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is diagnosed on the basis of behavioral parameters, several studies have reported immune system abnormalities and suggest the possible role of autoimmunity in the pathogenesis of ASD. In this study we sought to assess the incidence of brain‐specific autoantibodies in the plasma of children with autism (AU) compared to age‐matched controls including, siblings without ASD, typically developing (TD) controls, and children with other developmental disabilities, but not autism (DD). Plasma from 172 individuals (AU, n= 63, median age: 43 months; TD controls, n= 63, median age: 48 months; siblings, n= 25, median age: 61 months; and DD controls, n= 21, median age: 38 months) was analyzed by Western blot for the presence of IgG antibodies against protein extracts from specific regions of the human adult brain including the hypothalamus and thalamus. The presence of a ∼ 52 kDa MW band, in the plasma of subjects with AU, was detected with a significantly higher incidence when compared to plasma from TD controls (29% vs. 8%, P= 0.0027 and 30% vs. 11%, P= 0.01, in the thalamus and hypothalamus, respectively). Reactivity to three brain proteins (42–48 kDa MW), in particular in the hypothalamus, were observed with increased incidence in 37% of subjects with AU compared to 13% TD controls (P= 0.004). Multiple brain‐specific autoantibodies are present at significantly higher frequency in children with AU. While the potential role of these autoantibodies in AU is currently unknown, their presence suggests a loss of self‐tolerance to one or more neural antigens during early childhood.
GASKAP—The Galactic ASKAP Survey

Abstract A survey of the Milky Way disk and the Magellanic System at the wavelengths of the 21-cm atomic hydrogen (H i) line and three 18-cm lines of the OH molecule will be carried out with the Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder telescope. The survey will study the distribution of H i emission and absorption with unprecedented angular and velocity resolution, as well as molecular line thermal emission, absorption, and maser lines. The area to be covered includes the Galactic plane (|b| < 10°) at all declinations south of δ = +40°, spanning longitudes 167° through 360°to 79° at b = 0°, plus the entire area of the Magellanic Stream and Clouds, a total of 13 020 deg2. The brightness temperature sensitivity will be very good, typically σT≃ 1 K at resolution 30 arcsec and 1 km s−1. The survey has a wide spectrum of scientific goals, from studies of galaxy evolution to star formation, with particular contributions to understanding stellar wind kinematics, the thermal phases of the interstellar medium, the interaction between gas in the disk and halo, and the dynamical and thermal states of gas at various positions along the Magellanic Stream.
An airborne synthetic aperture radar (SAR) experiment to support RADARSAT-2 ground moving target indication (GMTI)

As part of the preparatory work for the RADARSAT-2 moving object detection experiment (MODEX special operating mode), an airborne experiment was conducted at Canadian Forces Base Petawawa in July 1999 to study synthetic aperture radar (SAR) along-track interferometry (ATI) and SAR displaced phase centre antenna (DPCA) as candidate measurement techniques. The CV 580 SAR system operated by Environment Canada was configured as a two-aperture temporal interferometer, and data were collected over an experiment site that contained coordinated, global positioning system (GPS) monitored, moving targets. A robust ATI phase probability density function was identified and used in conjunction with a moving-target matched filter to extract and measure target motion. Corner reflector and vehicle velocities were measured for target speeds between 9 and 100 km/h to within 5% accuracy. SAR ATI and SAR DPCA performed equally well over this range of velocities, but ATI appears to be the more robust processing algorithm.
Change in Obesity Prevalence across the United States Is Influenced by Recreational and Healthcare Contexts, Food Environments, and Hispanic Populations

Objective To examine change in county-level adult obesity prevalence between 2004 and 2009 and identify associated community characteristics. Methods Change in county-level adult (≥20 years) obesity prevalence was calculated for a 5-year period (2004–2009). Community measures of economic, healthcare, recreational, food environment, population structure, and education contexts were also calculated. Regression analysis was used to assess community characteristics associated (p<0.01) with change in adult obesity prevalence. Results Mean±SD change in obesity prevalence was 5.1±2.4%. Obesity prevalence decreased in 1.4% (n = 44) and increased in 98% (n = 3,060) of counties from 2004–2009. Results showed that both baseline levels and increases in physically inactive adults were associated with greater increases in obesity prevalence, while baseline levels of and increases in physician density and grocery store/supercenter density were related to smaller increases in obesity rates. Baseline levels of the Hispanic population share were negatively linked to changing obesity levels, while places with greater Hispanic population growth saw greater increases in obesity. Conclusions Most counties in the U.S. experienced increases in adult obesity prevalence from 2004 to 2009. Findings suggest that community-based interventions targeting adult obesity need to incorporate a range of community factors, such as levels of physical inactivity, access to physicians, availability of food outlets, and ethnic/racial population composition.
Fc glycans of therapeutic antibodies as critical quality attributes

Critical quality attributes (CQA) are physical, chemical, biological or microbiological properties or characteristics that must be within an appropriate limit, range or distribution to ensure the desired product quality, safety and efficacy. For monoclonal antibody therapeutics that rely on fraction crystalizable (Fc)-mediated effector function for their clinical activity, the terminal sugars of Fc glycans have been shown to be critical for safety or efficacy. Different glycosylation variants have also been shown to influence the pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic behavior while other Fc glycan structural elements may be involved in adverse immune reactions. This review focuses on the role of Fc glycans as CQAs. Fc glycan information from the published literature is summarized and evaluated for impact on patient safety, immunogenicity, bioactivity and pharmacodynamics/pharmacokinetics.
Combined rigid and flexible endoscopy for tumors in the posterior third ventricle.

OBJECT Tumors leading to occlusion of the sylvian aqueduct include those of pineal, thalamic, and tectal origins. These tumors cause obstructive hydrocephalus and thus necessitate a CSF diversion procedure such as an endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV), often coupled with an endoscopic biopsy (EBX). Lesions located posterior to the massa intermedia pose a technical challenge, as the use of a rigid endoscope for performing both an ETV and EBX is limited. The authors describe their experience using a combined rigid and flexible endoscopic procedure through a single bur hole for both procedures in patients with posterior third ventricular tumors. METHODS Since January 2012, patients with posterior third ventricular tumors causing hydrocephalus underwent dual ETV and EBX procedures using the combined rigid-flexible endoscopic technique. Following institutional review board approval, data from clinical, radiological, surgical, and pathological records were retrospectively collected. RESULTS Six patients 3.5-53 years of age were included. Lesion locations included pineal (n = 3), fourth ventricle (n = 1), aqueduct (n = 1), and tectum (n = 1). The ETV and EBX were successful in all cases. Pathologies included pilocytic astrocytoma, pineoblastoma, ependymoma Grade II, germinoma, low-grade glioneural tumor, and atypical choroid plexus papilloma. One patient experienced an immediate postoperative intraventricular hemorrhage necessitating evacuation of the clots and resection of the tumor, eventually leading to the patient's death. CONCLUSIONS The authors recommend using a combined rigid-flexible endoscope for endoscopic third ventriculostomy and biopsy to approach posterior third ventricular tumors (behind the massa intermedia). This technique overcomes the limitations of using a rigid endoscope by reaching 2 distant regions.
A first-order superscalar processor model

A proposed performance model for superscalar processors consists of: 1) a component that models the relationship between instructions issued per cycle and the size of the instruction window under ideal conditions; and 2) methods for calculating transient performance penalties due to branch mispredictions, instruction cache misses, and data cache misses. Using trace-derived data dependence information, data and instruction cache miss rates, and branch miss-prediction rates as inputs, the model can arrive at performance estimates for a typical superscalar processor that are within 5.8% of detailed simulation on average and within 13% in the worst case. The model also provides insights into the workings of superscalar processors and long-term microarchitecture trends such as pipeline depths and issue widths.