Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Uncovering the hidden players in Lepidoptera biology: the heritable microbial endosymbionts

The Lepidoptera is one of the most widespread and recognisable insect orders. Due to their remarkable diversity, economic and ecological importance, moths and butterflies have been studied extensively over the last 200 years. More recently, the relationship between Lepidoptera and their heritable microbial endosymbionts has received increasing attention. Heritable endosymbionts reside within the host’s body and are often, but not exclusively, inherited through the female line. Advancements in molecular genetics have revealed that host-associated microbes are both extremely prevalent among arthropods and highly diverse. Furthermore, heritable endosymbionts have been repeatedly demonstrated to play an integral role in many aspects of host biology, particularly host reproduction. Here, we review the major findings of research of heritable microbial endosymbionts of butterflies and moths. We promote the Lepidoptera as important models in the study of reproductive manipulations employed by heritable endosymbionts, with the mechanisms underlying male-killing and feminisation currently being elucidated in moths and butterflies. We also reveal that the vast majority of research undertaken of Lepidopteran endosymbionts concerns Wolbachia. While this highly prevalent bacterium is undoubtedly important, studies should move towards investigating the presence of other, and interacting endosymbionts, and we discuss the merits of examining the microbiome of Lepidoptera to this end. We finally consider the importance of understanding the influence of endosymbionts under global environmental change and when planning conservation management of endangered Lepidoptera species.
Snf2 controls pulcherriminic acid biosynthesis and antifungal activity of the biocontrol yeast Metschnikowia pulcherrima

Metschnikowia pulcherrima synthesises the pigment pulcherrimin, from cyclodileucine (cyclo(Leu‐Leu)) as a precursor, and exhibits strong antifungal activity against notorious plant pathogenic fungi. This yeast therefore has great potential for biocontrol applications against fungal diseases; particularly in the phyllosphere where this species is frequently found. To elucidate the molecular basis of the antifungal activity of M. pulcherrima, we compared a wild‐type strain with a spontaneously occurring, pigmentless, weakly antagonistic mutant derivative. Whole genome sequencing of the wild‐type and mutant strains identified a point mutation that creates a premature stop codon in the transcriptional regulator gene SNF2 in the mutant. Complementation of the mutant strain with the wild‐type SNF2 gene restored pigmentation and recovered the strong antifungal activity. Mass spectrometry (UPLC HR HESI‐MS) proved the presence of the pulcherrimin precursors cyclo(Leu‐Leu) and pulcherriminic acid and identified new precursor and degradation products of pulcherriminic acid and/or pulcherrimin. All of these compounds were identified in the wild‐type and complemented strain, but were undetectable in the pigmentless snf2 mutant strain. These results thus identify Snf2 as a regulator of antifungal activity and pulcherriminic acid biosynthesis in M. pulcherrima and provide a starting point for deciphering the molecular functions underlying the antagonistic activity of this yeast.
Standardising intraoperative irrigation with 0.05% chlorhexidine gluconate in caesarean delivery to reduce surgical site infections: A single institution experience

Background Surgical site infection is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality following caesarean delivery. Objective To determine whether standardising intraoperative irrigation with 0.05% chlorhexidine gluconate during caesarean delivery could decrease infection rates. Methods This was a process improvement project involving 742 women, 343 of whom received low-pressured 0.05% chlorhexidine gluconate irrigation during caesarean delivery over a one-year period. Infection rates were compared with a standard-of-care control group (399 women) undergoing caesarean delivery the preceding year. Results The treatment group infection rate met the study goal by achieving a lower infection rate than the control group, though this was not statistically significant. A significant interaction effect between irrigation with 0.05% chlorhexidine gluconate and antibiotic administration time existed, such that infection occurrence in the treatment group was not dependent on antibiotic timing, as opposed to the control group infection occurrence, which was dependent on antibiotic timing. Conclusion Intraoperative irrigation with 0.05% chlorhexidine gluconate during caesarean delivery did not statistically significantly reduce the rate of infections. It did render the impact of antibiotic administration timing irrelevant in prevention of surgical site infection. This suggests a role for 0.05% chlorhexidine gluconate irrigation in mitigating infection risk whether antibiotic prophylaxis timing is suboptimal or ideal.
A single nucleotide polymorphism in ycdC alters tRNA synthetase expression and results in hypersecretion in Escherichia coli

The most important approach to the development of platform organisms for recombinant protein production relies on random mutagenesis and phenotypic selection. Complex phenotypes, including those associated with significantly elevated expression and secretion of heterologous proteins, are the result of multiple genomic mutations. Using next generation sequencing, a parent and derivative hypersecreter strain (B41) of Escherichia coli were sequenced with an average coverage of 52.8X and 55X, respectively. A new base‐pair calling program, revealed a single nucleotide polymorphism in the B41 genome at position 1,074,787, resulting in translation termination near the N‐terminus of a transcriptional regulator protein, RutR, coded by the ycdC gene. We verified the hypersecretion phenotype in a ycdC::Tn5 mutant and observed a 3.4‐fold increase in active hemolysin secretion, consistent with the increase observed in B41 strain. mRNA expression profiling showed decreased expression of tRNA‐synthetases and some amino acid transporters in the ycdC::Tn5 mutant. This study demonstrates the power of next generation sequencing to characterize mutants leading to successful metabolic engineering strategies for strain improvement. © 2012 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog. , 2012
Assessment of the effectiveness of a functional splint for osteoarthritis of the trapeziometacarpal joint on the dominant hand: a randomized controlled study.

OBJECTIVE To assess the effectiveness of a functional splint for trapeziometacarpal osteoarthritis. METHODS Forty patients with a diagnosis of painful trapezio-metacarpal osteoarthritis of the dominant hand were randomized into 2 groups. The study group received the splint at baseline and used it during activities of daily living for 180 days and the control group used the splint only during the evaluations for the first 90 days and during activities of daily living for the following 90 days. Pain, strength, hand function and dexterity (with and without splint) were measured by a blinded assessor at baseline, 45, 90 and 180 days. RESULTS The groups were homogenous at baseline for all outcomes evaluated. Pain without the splint was significantly different between groups over time; the study group experienced a decrease in pain beginning with the first evaluation (45 days), whereas the control group achieved a lower pain score only at the end of the study, after having used the splint for 90 days. No significant differences between groups were found for the other parameters. CONCLUSION Splint use during activities of daily living for patients with trapeziometacarpal osteoarthritis reduces pain, but does not alter function, grip strength, pinch strength or dexterity.
Psychometric Properties of Spanish Version Student Utrecht Work Engagement Scale (UWES–S–9) in High-school Students

Abstract The Utrecht Work Engagement Scale (UWES) is a self-report instrument widely used, both in the original and its abbreviated version of nine items, to assess the work -UWES, UWES–9– and academic engagement -UWES-S, UWES–S–9–. The present study examines factor structure of the UWES–S–9 using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), its convergent validity and invariance across sex and age groups in a sample of 626 Spanish high school students. The results support an unidimensional conceptualization of engagement (S-Bχ2/df = 5.29; CFI = .96; NNFI = .94; RMSEA = .083; IFI = .96; AIC = 82.21; BIC = 267.38), revealed an essentially invariant structure of the UWES–S–9 across the sex, ΔS-Bχ2(Δ6) = 10.67; p ≤ . 05, and age, ΔS-Bχ2(Δ7) = 9.67; p ≤ . 05, and confirmed the positive association between academic engagement and achievement (r = .30; p ≤ .001), dispositional optimism (r = .21; p ≤ .001), and subjective well-being (r = .16; p ≤ .001), and the negative association with perceived stress (r =. –13; p ≤ .001). In short, the Spanish version of UWES–S–9 is presented as a brief, reliable and valid tool to measure academic engagement in high school students (α = .91, AVE = .52, Ω = .911).
High-Performance Junctionless MOSFETs for Ultralow-Power Analog/RF Applications

In this letter, we demonstrate the usefulness of ultralow-power (ULP) junctionless (JL) MOSFETs in achieving improved analog/RF metrics as compared to nonunderlap and underlap MOSFETs. At a drain current (Ids) of 10 μA/μm, JL devices achieve two times higher values of cutoff frequency (fT) and maximum oscillation frequency (fMAX) along with 65% improvement in voltage gain (AVO) in comparison to conventional nonunderlap MOSFETs. ULP JL devices, which do not require source/drain (S/D) profile optimization, can perform comparably to underlap devices, thereby relaxing the stringent process constraints associated with S/D profile optimization in nanoscale devices. The results highlight new opportunities for realizing future ULP analog/RF design with JL transistors.
Ten-Year Results of Reconstruction for Rheumatoid Cervical Spine Lesions and Occurrence Factor of Subaxial Subluxation

Study Design Retrospective chart review. Purpose This study evaluated long-term surgical outcomes of computer-assisted reconstruction using transarticular or cervical pedicle screws for cervical spine lesions caused by advanced rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Overview of Literature We routinely employ C1–C2 transarticular and cervical pedicle screw instrumentation to reconstruct advanced and unstable RA cervical lesions. However, few reports are available on the long-term results of surgical reconstruction for rheumatoid cervical disorders, particularly regarding cervical pedicle screw fixation. Methods Six subjects (all female) with RA cervical lesions who underwent atlantoaxial or occipitocervical fixation and were followed for at least 10 years were retrospectively studied. A frameless, stereotactic, optoelectronic, computed tomography-based image guidance system was used for correct screw placement. Variables including the Japanese Orthopaedic Association score, EuroQol, Ranawat value, and C2–C7 angle before and 2, 5, and 10 years after surgery were assessed along with the occurrence of subaxial subluxation (SAS). Results Mean age at initial surgery was 58.2±7 years (range, 51–68 years), and mean follow-up period was 141±11 months (range, 122–153 months). Lesions included atlantoaxial subluxation (AAS, n=2) and AAS+vertical subluxation (n=4). Mean C2–C7 lordotic angle before and 2, 5, and 10 years after surgery was 20.1°±6.1°, 21.0°±4.0°, 18.8°±4.7°, and 17.8°±5.3°, respectively. SAS did not occur in cases maintaining the C2–C7 lordotic angle. In two cases where the C2–C7 lordotic angle declined from 5 years postoperatively, SAS occurred at the C2–C3 level in one and at the C4–C5 level in the other, both of which required reoperation. Conclusions Patients with rheumatoid cervical lesions who undergo atlantoaxial or occipitocervical fixation using C1–C2 transarticular or pedicle screws carry a risk of SAS for up to 10 years postoperatively, which may require reoperation.
Under What Conditions do Lesbians Disclose Their Sexual Orientation to Primary Healthcare Providers? A Review of the Literature

Under what conditions do lesbians disclose their sexual orientation to primary healthcare providers? A review of the literature was undertaken to answer this question and to provide insight into the ways healthcare professionals can play an active role assisting their lesbian patients in “coming out. ” Thirty empirical studies met the inclusion criteria and were reviewed. Collectively, these separate studies have found that a myriad of internal (patient attributes) and external (healthcare context, patient–provider relationship) factors influence disclosure. The discussion highlights the critical role of healthcare professionals in supporting disclosure.
A Cumulative Prospect Theory Approach to Option Pricing

It is a well known empirical fact that actual option prices show persistent and systematic deviations from Black-Scholes option values. While a substantial number of enhancements have been proposed in the literature, these approaches typically leave investors’ preferences towards risk unmodified. In this paper we study option prices in an economy where investors are valuing call options according to the cumulative prospect theory of Kahneman and Tversky. We distinguish two prospect option pricing models, based on whether cash flows are either considered to be segregated or aggregated over time. These models are compared with the Black-Scholes model and the stochastic volatility model of Heston. Empirical analysis of European call options on the S&P 500 index shows that prospect option pricing models significantly improve the fitting performance compared with the Black-Scholes model and that especially the aggregated version’s performance is at least equivalent to the Heston model.
Increased coverage of protein families with the Blocks Database servers

The Blocks Database WWW (http://blocks.fhcrc.org ) and Email (blocks@blocks.fhcrc.org ) servers provide tools to search DNA and protein queries against the Blocks+ Database of multiple alignments, which represent conserved protein regions. Blocks+ nearly doubles the number of protein families included in the database by adding families from the Pfam-A, ProDom and Domo databases to those from PROSITE and PRINTS. Other new features include improved Block Searcher statistics, searching with NCBI's IMPALA program and 3D display of blocks on PDB structures.
Food Environment Research in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Systematic Scoping Review

ABSTRACT Food environment research is increasingly gaining prominence in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). However, in the absence of a systematic review of the literature, little is known about the emerging body of evidence from these settings. This systematic scoping review aims to address this gap. A systematic search of 6 databases was conducted in December 2017 and retrieved 920 records. In total, 70 peer-reviewed articles met the eligibility criteria and were included. Collectively, articles spanned 22 LMICs, including upper-middle-income countries (n = 49, 70%) and lower-middle-income countries (n = 18, 26%). No articles included low-income countries. Articles featured quantitative (n = 45, 64%), qualitative (n = 17, 24%), and mixed-method designs (n = 11, 8%). Studies analyzed the food environment at national, community, school, and household scales. Twenty-three articles (55%) assessed associations between food environment exposures and outcomes of interest, including diets (n = 14), nutrition status (n = 13), and health (n = 1). Food availability was associated with dietary outcomes at the community and school scales across multiple LMICs, although associations varied by vendor type. Evidence regarding associations between the food environment and nutrition and health outcomes was inconclusive. The paucity of evidence from high-quality studies is a severe limitation, highlighting the critical need for improved study designs and standardized methods and metrics. Future food environment research must address low-income and lower-middle-income countries, and include the full spectrum of dietary, nutrition, and health outcomes. Improving the quality of food environment research will be critical to the design of feasible, appropriate, and effective interventions to improve public health nutrition in LMICs.
Pants on fire: The electrophysiological signature of telling a lie

Even though electroencephalography has played a prominent role for lie detection via personally relevant information, the electrophysiological signature of active lying is still elusive. We addressed this signature with two experiments in which participants helped a virtual police officer to locate a knife. Crucially, before this response, they announced whether they would lie or tell the truth about the knife’s location. This design allowed us to study the signature of lie-telling in the absence of rare and personally significant oddball stimuli that are typically used for lie detection via electrophysiological markers, especially the P300 component. Our results indicate that active lying attenuated P300 amplitudes as well as N200 amplitudes for such non-oddball stimuli. These results support accounts that stress the high cognitive demand of lie-telling, including the need to suppress the truthful response and to generate a lie.
The Transformation of Welfare States

This accessible work provides a political sociology of welfare states in industrial societies, with both historical and contemporary perspectives. Ellison focuses on the social and political underpinnings of a number of welfare regimes and looks at the transformations they have undergone and the challenges they face. This book assesses current debates about the role of globalization in welfare state change, paying particular attention to contemporary views about the capacity of embedded institutional structures to limit the effects of global economic pressures. Ellison assesses the changing nature of social policies in nine OECD countries selected to include liberal, social democratic and continental welfare regimes. Taking labour market and pension policies as the main areas of investigation, this volume provides snapshots of welfare reform in each case, charting the ways in which different regimes manage the range of challenges with which they are confronted. Ultimately, the book suggests that all contemporary welfare regimes are experiencing a level of neoliberal drift. As yet, this trend towards liberalization remains constrained in those countries with more coordinated economies and institutionalized forms of social partnership but the question is for how long?
Metformin metabolic and vascular effects in overweight/moderately obese hyperinsulinemic PCOS patients treated with contraceptive vaginal ring: a pilot study

Abstract The aim of this pilot study was to assess how metformin, associated with a contraceptive vaginal ring, may influence lipid and carbohydrate metabolism, fat distribution, and surrogate markers of arterial function. Among 62 patients, 25 were treated with vaginal ring plus metformin and 37 women with only vaginal ring. The effects were assessed after 6 months. The patients were submitted to evaluation of lipid and carbohydrate metabolism; extended view ultrasonographic evaluation of fat distribution; Doppler analysis of ophthalmic artery; brachial artery flow-mediated vasodilatation; oral glucose tolerance test. After 6 months, the body mass index and waist/hip ratio resulted significantly better in patients who associated metformin to vaginal ring. The fasting glucose, insulin, and glucose/insulin ratio, HOMA-IR, glucose, and insulin AUC 120 were significantly improved in metformin group. The ultrasonographic fat analysis resulted significantly better after metformin. The ophthalmic artery PI significantly improved in metformin group. The brachial artery vasodilation was better in metformin treated patients. In conclusion, metformin, associated with vaginal ring, improves the insulin and carbohydrate metabolism, reduces the body weight and android fat distribution. This, associated with the significant improvements of surrogate markers of arterial function, may be responsible of possible cardiovascular and cerebrovascular protective effects.
Prevalence and risk factors for pelvic organ prolapse in Kilimanjaro, Tanzania: A population based study in Tanzanian rural community

Introduction The prevalence and risk-factors of pelvic organ prolapse (POP) in Tanzania are unknown. To help elucidate the problem, we assessed POP and associated risk-factors among Tanzanian women by deploying the POP-Q classification system. Method A cross sectional community based study conducted in Hai, Rombo and Same Districts, Kilimanjaro Region, Tanzania. Women aged 18–90 were recruited through multi-stage random sampling from January to May 2015. Home-based questionnaire interviews were performed and the women were subsequently invited to the nearest health clinic for pelvic examination. Trained physicians used the POP-Q classification system to assess the POP stage. Results A total of 1195 women were interviewed and invited for pelvic examination; 1063(89%) women presented at the clinic of whom 1047(88%) accepted a clinical examination. Of 1047 examined women, 64.6% had an anatomical POP stage II–IV and 6.7% had a severe POP that descended 1 cm or more below the hymen. POP stage II–IV was associated with being aged 35+ years, being a farmer, doing petty trading and having delivered 3 times or more. Severe POP was associated with carrying heavy objects for ≥ 5 hours (OR 4.70;1.67–13.2), having delivered 5 times or more (OR 10.2;2.22–48.6) and having delivered at home (OR 2.40;1.36–4.22). Conclusion POP is a common condition among rural Tanzanian women where 64.6% are having POP grade II-IV and 6.7% are having a severe POP descending 1 cm or more below the hymen. Risk-factors are increasing age, heavy lifting, high parity and home-delivery.
A Mechanism for the Impaired IFN-γ Production in C-C Chemokine Receptor 2 (CCR2) Knockout Mice: Role of CCR2 in Linking the Innate and Adaptive Immune Responses1

We have recently shown that mice with a targeted disruption of CCR2, the receptor for monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, have markedly impaired recruitment of macrophages to sites of inflammation. An unexpected finding in the CCR2−/− mice was a dramatic decrease in the production of IFN-γ after challenge with purified protein derivative of Mycobacterium bovis. In this study, we have investigated the mechanism of this cytokine production defect. In vitro, direct activation of splenocytes with CD3/CD28 Abs failed to reveal any differences in IFN-γ production between CCR2+/+ and CCR2−/− mice. However, after immunization, the number of Ag-specific, IFN-γ-producing cells in the draining lymph nodes was decreased by 70% in the CCR2−/− mice, suggesting an in vivo trafficking defect. Direct measurement of cell trafficking with fluorescently labeled CFA revealed a marked decrease in the number of monocytes/macrophages migrating to the site of immunization and to the draining lymph nodes in the CCR2−/− mice. The data suggest that impaired trafficking of APCs in the CCR2−/− mice contributes to the defect in IFN-γ production. These data support the idea that CCR2-positive monocytes/macrophages are critical in linking the innate and adaptive immune responses.