Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Snake ecology in the red hills of Georgia and Florida

Land management practices are implemented in the Southeast to maintain upland habitats but potential implications are not wholly understood. Snakes represent an ecosystem component in need of greater research. I used radio telemetry and systematic trapping on 3 sites to address objectives of community ecology and to describe resource partitioning and survival of sympatric rat snakes. I documented 1956 captures representing 16 species during 2002 2003 trapping. Commonly captured species demonstrated variability in activities by season and habitat. Using radio telemetry, seasonal partitioning of movements was not evident among rat snakes, but species did exhibit habitat partitioning: corn snakes focused activities around upland ground structures, and arboreal eastern rat snakes frequented hardwood trees and bottomlands. Survival estimates were comparable to figures reported elsewhere and suggest an acclimation period. Current management strategies such as prescribed fire are essential in maintenance of upland forests and are thus important for upland snake communities.
Global impairment and therapeutic restoration of visual plasticity mechanisms after a localized cortical stroke

We tested the influence of a photothrombotic lesion in somatosensory cortex on plasticity in the mouse visual system and the efficacy of anti-inflammatory treatment to rescue compromised learning. To challenge plasticity mechanisms, we induced monocular deprivation (MD) in 3-mo-old mice. In control animals, MD induced an increase of visual acuity of the open eye and an ocular dominance (OD) shift towards this eye. In contrast, after photothrombosis, there was neither an enhancement of visual acuity nor an OD-shift. However, OD-plasticity was present in the hemisphere contralateral to the lesion. Anti-inflammatory treatment restored sensory learning but not OD-plasticity, as did a 2-wk delay between photothrombosis and MD. We conclude that (i) both sensory learning and cortical plasticity are compromised in the surround of a cortical lesion; (ii) transient inflammation is responsible for impaired sensory learning, suggesting anti-inflammatory treatment as a useful adjuvant therapy to support rehabilitation following stroke; and (iii) OD-plasticity cannot be conceptualized solely as a local process because nonlocal influences are more important than previously assumed.
Visit‐to‐Visit Blood Pressure Variability and Cardiovascular Death in the Systolic Hypertension in the Elderly Program

Most studies of an association of visit‐to‐visit variability of blood pressure with increased risk of future adverse cardiovascular events are of short duration and rarely include a placebo group. Using data from the double‐blind, placebo‐controlled Systolic Hypertension in the Elderly Program, the authors examined mortality from cardiovascular causes up to 17 years of follow‐up using the National Death Index. Visit‐to‐visit blood pressure variability was associated with cardiovascular death after adjustment for sex, age, serum creatinine, diabetes, body mass index, smoking status, left ventricular failure, and high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol. The relationship was significantly stronger in the active treatment group compared with the placebo group. Although this could be the result of an effect of the medications used unrelated to visit‐to‐visit variability, the data are compatible with the hypothesis that inconsistent adherence leading to missing active medication doses may be an additional explanation for the relationship of visit‐to‐visit variability with cardiovascular death.
MicroRNAs Regulate Dendritic Cell Differentiation and Function

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are an important class of cellular regulators that modulate gene expression and thereby influence cell fate and function. In the immune system, miRNAs act at checkpoints during hematopoietic development and cell subset differentiation, they modulate effector cell function, and they are implicated in the maintenance of homeostasis. Dendritic cells (DCs), the professional APCs involved in the coordination of adaptive immune responses, are also regulated by miRNAs. Some DC-relevant miRNAs, including miR-155 and miR-146a, are shared with other immune cells, whereas others have been newly identified. In this review, we summarize the current understanding of where miRNAs are active during DC development from myeloid precursors and differentiation into specialized subsets, and which miRNAs play roles in DC function.
Pervious Concrete and Mitigation of the Urban Heat Island Effect

Paved surfaces are large contributors to the urban heat island effect as they absorb and store energy during the day. There are many alternative pavements which are being considered for their environmental benefits with respect to stormwater runoff control. One of these is pervious concrete. Due to the potential insulating capability of its void structure it is theorized that pervious concrete will aid in abetting the urban heat island, although studies have shown that pervious concrete has a high surface temperature. This study compared pervious concrete of two different porosities to traditional concrete and traditional asphalt pavements. It was found that the surface temperature of the pervious concrete was higher than traditional concrete and could be adequately modeled based on a combination of solar reflectance, the lower mass at the surface and additional surface area caused by its unique void structure. It was found that the base temperature under the pervious concrete pavements remained similar to ‘cooler’ surface applications such as soil and lighter concrete, even with the higher surface temperatures, verifying the insulating capability of the pervious concrete during the daytime heating cycle. The rate of heat transfer for pervious concrete with 23% total porosity was found to be approximately 59% of the rate through traditional concrete for similar circumstances. Using pervious concrete instead of impervious pavement surfaces appears to be a viable method of not increasing urban heat island impacts while also benefiting from its stormwater management characteristics.
Cardiac Autonomic Dysfunction in Patients with Schizophrenia and Their Healthy Relatives – A Small Review

The majority of excess mortality among people with schizophrenia seems to be caused by cardiovascular complications, and in particular, coronary heart disease. In addition, the prevalence of heart failure and arrhythmias is increased in this population. Reduced efferent vagal activity, which has been consistently described in these patients and their healthy first-degree relatives, might be one important mechanism contributing to their increased cardiac mortality. A decrease in heart rate variability and complexity was often shown in unmedicated patients when compared to healthy controls. In addition, faster breathing rates, accompanied by shallow breathing, seem to influence autonomic cardiac functioning in acute unmedicated patients substantially. Moreover, low-physical fitness is a further and independent cardiac risk factor present in this patient population. Interestingly, new studies describe chronotropic incompetence during physical exercise as an important additional risk factor in patients with schizophrenia. Some studies report a correlation of the autonomic imbalance with the degree of positive symptoms (i.e., delusions) and some with the duration of disease. The main body of psychiatric research is focused on mental aspects of the disease, thereby neglecting obvious physical health needs of these patients. Here, a joint effort is needed to design interventional strategies in everyday clinical settings to improve physical health and quality of life.
Development and Validation of a LC-ESI-MS/MS Method for the Determination of Alternaria Toxins Alternariol, Alternariol Methyl-Ether and Tentoxin in Tomato and Tomato-Based Products

Alternaria species are capable of producing several secondary toxic metabolites in infected plants and in agricultural commodities, which play important roles in food safety. Alternaria alternata turn out to be the most frequent fungal species invading tomatoes. Alternariol (AOH), alternariol monomethyl ether (AME), and tentoxin (TEN) are some of the main Alternaria mycotoxins that can be found as contaminants in food. In this work, an analytical method based on liquid chromatography (LC) tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) detection for the simultaneous quantification of AOH, AME, and TEN in tomato and tomato-based products was developed. Mycotoxin analysis was performed by dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction (DLLME) combined with LC-ESI-MS/MS. Careful optimization of the MS/MS parameters was performed with an LC/MS system with the ESI interface in the positive ion mode. Mycotoxins were efficiently extracted from sample extract into a droplet of chloroform (100 µL) by DLLME technique using acetonitrile as a disperser solvent. Method validation following the Commission Decision No. 2002/657/EC was carried out by using tomato juice as a blank matrix. Limits of detection and quantitation were, respectively, in the range 0.7 and 3.5 ng/g. Recovery rates were above 80%. Relative standard deviations of repeatability (RSDr) and intermediate reproducibility (RSDR) were ≤ 9% and ≤ 15%, respectively, at levels of 25 and 50 ng/g. Five out of 30 analyzed samples resulted positive to at least one Alternaria toxin investigated. AOH was the most common Alternaria toxin found, but at levels close to LOQ (average content: 3.75 ng/g).
Fraction of χ_{c} Decays in Prompt J/ψ Production Measured in pPb Collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=8.16  TeV.

The fraction of χ_{c1} and χ_{c2} decays in the prompt J/ψ yield, F_{χ_{c}→J/ψ}=σ_{χ_{c}→J/ψ}/σ_{J/ψ}, is measured by the LHCb detector in pPb collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=8.16 TeV. The study covers the forward (1.5<y^{*}<4.0) and backward (-5.0<y^{*}<-2.5) rapidity regions, where y^{*} is the J/ψ rapidity in the nucleon-nucleon center-of-mass system. Forward and backward rapidity samples correspond to integrated luminosities of 13.6±0.3 and 20.8±0.5 nb^{-1}, respectively. The result is presented as a function of the J/ψ transverse momentum p_{T,J/ψ} in the range 1<p_{T,J/ψ}<20 GeV/c. The F_{χ_{c}→J/ψ} fraction at forward rapidity is compatible with the LHCb measurement performed in pp collisions at sqrt[s]=7 TeV, whereas the result at backward rapidity is 2. 4σ larger than in the forward region for 1<p_{T,J/ψ}<3 GeV/c. The increase of F_{χ_{c}→J/ψ} at low p_{T,J/ψ} at backward rapidity is compatible with the suppression of the ψ(2S) contribution to the prompt J/ψ yield. The lack of in-medium dissociation of χ_{c} states observed in this study sets an upper limit of 180 MeV on the free energy available in these pPb collisions to dissociate or inhibit charmonium state formation.
Perinatal vitamin D levels are not associated with later risk of developing pediatric-onset inflammatory bowel disease: a Danish case-cohort study

ABSTRACT Objective Basic and epidemiologic studies on inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) have suggested an association between vitamin D and IBD risk. Though, the literature on IBD – especially pediatric-onset IBD – and vitamin D is still in its cradle. We therefore wanted to examine if levels of 25(OH)D at birth were associated with increased risk of developing pediatric-onset IBD. Material and methods A case-cohort study composed of cases diagnosed with Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis or indeterminate/unclassified colitis and healthy controls. Cases and controls were matched on date of birth and were born in the period 1981–2004. Cases were diagnosed before the age of 18 years. The concentration of 25(OH)D was assessed from neonatal dried blood spots using a highly sensitive liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. Odds ratios (OR) were calculated using conditional logistic regression and two-way ANOVA were used to test for season and birth year 25(OH)D variations. A total of 384 matched pairs were included in the statistical analyses. Results No significant association were found between levels of 25(OH)D and IBD risk in the adjusted model (OR [95% CI] (per 25 nmol/L increase), 1.12 [0.88; 1.42], p = 0.35). 25(OH)D levels were found to fluctuate significantly with season (p < 0.001) and year (p < 0.001). Median/Q1–Q3 values for 25(OH)D were 27.1/16.5–39.5 nmol/L for cases and 25.7/16.1–39.4 nmol/L for controls. Conclusion Our study do not suggest that a window of vulnerability exist around time of birth in regards to 25(OH)D levels and later pediatric-onset IBD risk.
Permeability Estimation From Velocity Anisotropy In Fractured Rock

Cracks in a rock mass subjected to a uniaxial stress will be preferentially closed depending on the angle between the fracture normal vectors and the direction of the applied stress. If the prestress fracture orientation distribution is isotropic, the effective elastic properties of such a material after application of the stress are then transversely isotropic due to the overall alignment of the cracks still open. Velocity measurements in multiple directions are used to invert for the probability density function describing orientations of crack normals in such a rock. This is accomplished by expanding the crack orientation distribution function into generalized spherical harmonics. The coefficients in this expansion are functions of the crack density and the crack aspect ratio distribution. The information on fracture distribution obtained from the velocity inversion allows an estimation of the anisotropic permeability of the fractured rock system. Permeability estimates are based on the number of cracks open of each aspect ratio, and the contribution of a given crack is weighted by the cosine of the angle between the crack and the direction of the applied pressure gradient. This approach yields a prediction of permeability as a function of the angle from the uniaxial stress axis. The inversion for crack orientation is applied to ultrasonic velocity measurements on Barre granite, and permeability predictions for this sample are presented. The inversion results are good and reproduce velocity measurements well, and the permeability predictions show some of the expected trends. Initial comparisons of the predictions with available permeability data, however, show deviations, suggesting that further information on partial crack closure and connectivity of cracks should be included into the permeability model.
Stressing the Ubiquitin-Proteasome System without 20S Proteolytic Inhibition Selectively Kills Cervical Cancer Cells

Cervical cancer cells exhibit an increased requirement for ubiquitin-dependent protein degradation associated with an elevated metabolic turnover rate, and for specific signaling pathways, notably HPV E6-targeted degradation of p53 and PDZ proteins. Natural compounds with antioxidant properties including flavonoids and triterpenoids hold promise as anticancer agents by interfering with ubiquitin-dependent protein degradation. An increasing body of evidence indicates that their α-β unsaturated carbonyl system is the molecular determinant for inhibition of ubiquitin-mediated protein degradation up-stream of the catalytic sites of the 20S proteasome. Herein we report the identification and characterization of a new class of chalcone-based, potent and cell permeable chemical inhibitors of ubiquitin-dependent protein degradation, and a lead compound RAMB1. RAMB1 inhibits ubiquitin-dependent protein degradation without compromising the catalytic activities of the 20S proteasome, a mechanism distinct from that of Bortezomib. Treatment of cervical cancer cells with RAMB1 triggers unfolded protein responses, including aggresome formation and Hsp90 stabilization, and increases p53 steady state levels. RAMB1 treatment results in activation of lysosomal-dependent degradation pathways as a mechanism to compensate for increasing levels of poly-ubiquitin enriched toxic aggregates. Importantly, RAMB1 synergistically triggers cell death of cervical cancer cells when combined with the lysosome inhibitor Chloroquine.
Clinical presentation and management outcome of pediatric intussusception at Wolaita Sodo University Comprehensive Specialized Hospital: a retrospective cross-sectional study

Objective To assess the pattern of clinical presentations and factors associated with the management outcome of pediatric intussusception among children treated at Wolaita Sodo University Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, Ethiopia. Methods This retrospective cross-sectional study included the medical records of 103 children treated for intussusception from 2018 to 2020. The data collected were analyzed using SPSS 25.0 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA). Results In total, 84 (81.6%) patients were released with a favorable outcome. Ileocolic intussusception was a positive predictor, with a nine-fold higher likelihood of a favorable outcome than other types of intussusception [adjusted odds ratio (AOR), 9.16; 95% confidence interval (CI), 2.39–21.2]. Additionally, a favorable outcome was three times more likely in patients who did than did not undergo manual reduction (AOR, 3.08; 95% CI, 3.05–5.48). Patients aged <1 year were 96% less likely to have a positive outcome than those aged >4 years (AOR, 0.04; 95% CI, 0.03–0.57). Conclusion Most patients were discharged with favorable outcomes. Having ileocolic intussusception and undergoing manual reduction were associated with significantly more favorable outcomes of pediatric intussusception. Therefore, nonsurgical management such as hydrostatic enema and pneumatic reduction is recommended to reduce hospital discharge of patients with unfavorable outcomes.
Laboratory Investigations of African Pouched Rats (Cricetomys gambianus) as a Potential Reservoir Host Species for Monkeypox Virus

Abstract Monkeypox is a zoonotic disease endemic to central and western Africa, where it is a major public health concern. Although Monkeypox virus (MPXV) and monkeypox disease in humans have been well characterized, little is known about its natural history, or its maintenance in animal populations of sylvatic reservoir(s). In 2003, several species of rodents imported from Ghana were involved in a monkeypox outbreak in the United States with individuals of three African rodent genera (Cricetomys, Graphiurus, Funisciurus) shown to be infected with MPXV. Here, we examine the course of MPXV infection in Cricetomys gambianus (pouched Gambian rats) and this rodent species’ competence as a host for the virus. We obtained ten Gambian rats from an introduced colony in Grassy Key, Florida and infected eight of these via scarification with a challenge dose of 4X104 plaque forming units (pfu) from either of the two primary clades of MPXV: Congo Basin (C-MPXV: n = 4) or West African (W-MPXV: n = 4); an additional 2 animals served as PBS controls. Viral shedding and the effect of infection on activity and physiological aspects of the animals were measured. MPXV challenged animals had significantly higher core body temperatures, reduced activity and increased weight loss than PBS controls. Viable virus was found in samples taken from animals in both experimental groups (C-MPXV and W-MPXV) between 3 and 27 days post infection (p.i.) (up to 1X108 pfu/ml), with viral DNA found until day 56 p.i. The results from this work show that Cricetomys gambianus (and by inference, probably the closely related species, Cricetomys emini) can be infected with MPXV and shed viable virus particles; thus suggesting that these animals may be involved in the maintenance of MPXV in wildlife mammalian populations. More research is needed to elucidate the epidemiology of MPXV and the role of Gambian rats and other species.
Similar hematological and biochemical parameters among periodontitis and control group subjects

Objective There are conflicting reports in the past literature documenting the tendency of anemia in patients with periodontitis. Hence, this study was undertaken to assess whether periodontitis may cause an anemic state, by evaluating and comparing the red blood cell count, levels of hemoglobin, hematocrit, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), serum iron and serum ferritin between subjects with and without periodontitis. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 140 systemically healthy subjects of both sexes (mean age 46 years) were recruited as control group (50 subjects without periodontitis) and study groups comprising 30 patients each with mild, moderate and severe chronic generalized periodontitis. Periodontal parameters and orthopantamographs were taken for all the groups and then 5 mL venous blood samples were sent for complete blood count and biochemical analysis. Inter-group and intra-group comparisons were performed for all the assessed parameters. Results: The periodontal parameters were significantly higher (P⩽.05) in periodontitis patients. Except for the ESR, which was significantly higher (P=.03) in the mild periodontitis group than the control group, hematological and biochemical parameters were not significantly different (P>.05) among the study groups or between the control and study groups. This difference was not evident even among the male and female subjects of both control and study groups (P>.05). Conclusions: Within the limits of this cross-sectional study, it can be concluded that the presence and severity of periodontitis may not affect the hematological and biochemical parameters of an individual. Further long term studies are however encouraged to validate these findings.
The Bin/Amphiphysin/Rvs (BAR) Domain Protein Endophilin B2 Interacts with Plectin and Controls Perinuclear Cytoskeletal Architecture*

Background: Endophilin B2 is a BAR protein of previously unidentified function. Results: Endophilin B2 interacts directly with plectin 1 and controls the perinuclear vimentin network. Conclusion: The endophilin B2-plectin 1 complex functions as an anchoring device via BAR-mediated membrane binding activity. Significance: Our data unravel a novel activity of a BAR protein that does not involve membrane deforming activity supporting membrane trafficking. Proteins of the Bin/amphiphysin/Rvs (BAR) domain superfamily are essential in controlling the shape and dynamics of intracellular membranes. Here, we present evidence for the unconventional function of a member of the endophilin family of BAR and Src homology 3 domain-containing proteins, namely endophilin B2, in the perinuclear organization of intermediate filaments. Using mass spectrometry analysis based on capturing endophilin B2 partners in in situ pre-established complexes in cells, we unravel the interaction of endophilin B2 with plectin 1, a variant of the cytoskeleton linker protein plectin as well as with vimentin. Endophilin B2 directly binds the N-terminal region of plectin 1 via Src homology 3-mediated interaction and vimentin indirectly via plectin-mediated interaction. The relevance of these interactions is strengthened by the selective and drastic reorganization of vimentin around nuclei upon overexpression of endophilin B2 and by the extensive colocalization of both proteins in a meshwork of perinuclear filamentous structures. By generating mutants of the endophilin B2 BAR domain, we show that this phenotype requires the BAR-mediated membrane binding activity of endophilin B2. Plectin 1 or endophilin B2 knockdown using RNA interference disturbed the perinuclear organization of vimentin. Altogether, these data suggest that the endophilin B2-plectin 1 complex functions as a membrane-anchoring device organizing and stabilizing the perinuclear network of vimentin filaments. Finally, we present evidence for the involvement of endophilin B2 and plectin 1 in nuclear positioning in individual cells. This points to the potential importance of the endophilin B2-plectin complex in the biological functions depending on nuclear migration and positioning.