Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Water uptake can occur through woody portions of roots and facilitates localized embolism repair in grapevine.

Water acquisition is thought to be limited to the unsuberized surface located close to root tips. However, there are recurring periods when the unsuberized surfaces are limited in woody root systems, and radial water uptake across the bark of woody roots might play an important physiological role in hydraulic functioning. Using X-ray microcomputed tomography (microCT) and hydraulic conductivity measurements (Lpr ), we examined water uptake capacity of suberized woody roots in vivo and in excised samples. Bark hydration in grapevine woody roots occurred quickly upon exposure to water (c. 4 h). Lpr measurements through the bark of woody roots showed that it is permeable to water and becomes more so upon wetting. After bark hydration, microCT analysis showed that absorbed water was utilized to remove embolism locally, where c. 20% of root xylem vessels refilled completely within 15 h. Embolism removal did not occur in control roots without water. Water uptake through the bark of woody roots probably plays an important role when unsuberized tissue is scarce/absent, and would be particularly relevant following large irrigation events or in late winter when soils are saturated, re-establishing hydraulic functionality before bud break.
A Novel Soft Biomimetic Microrobot with Two Motion Attitudes

A variety of microrobots have commonly been used in the fields of biomedical engineering and underwater operations during the last few years. Thanks to their compact structure, low driving power, and simple control systems, microrobots can complete a variety of underwater tasks, even in limited spaces. To accomplish our objectives, we previously designed several bio-inspired underwater microrobots with compact structure, flexibility, and multi-functionality, using ionic polymer metal composite (IPMC) actuators. To implement high-position precision for IPMC legs, in the present research, we proposed an electromechanical model of an IPMC actuator and analysed the deformation and actuating force of an equivalent IPMC cantilever beam, which could be used to design biomimetic legs, fingers, or fins for an underwater microrobot. We then evaluated the tip displacement of an IPMC actuator experimentally. The experimental deflections fit the theoretical values very well when the driving frequency was larger than 1 Hz. To realise the necessary multi-functionality for adapting to complex underwater environments, we introduced a walking biomimetic microrobot with two kinds of motion attitudes: a lying state and a standing state. The microrobot uses eleven IPMC actuators to move and two shape memory alloy (SMA) actuators to change its motion attitude. In the lying state, the microrobot implements stick-insect-inspired walking/rotating motion, fish-like swimming motion, horizontal grasping motion, and floating motion. In the standing state, it implements inchworm-inspired crawling motion in two horizontal directions and grasping motion in the vertical direction. We constructed a prototype of this biomimetic microrobot and evaluated its walking, rotating, and floating speeds experimentally. The experimental results indicated that the robot could attain a maximum walking speed of 3.6 mm/s, a maximum rotational speed of 9°/s, and a maximum floating speed of 7.14 mm/s. Obstacle-avoidance and swimming experiments were also carried out to demonstrate its multi-functionality.
The First Cut Is the Deepest

As the skin is the primary barrier to infection, the importance of wound healing has been understood since ancient times. This article provides a synopsis on the symposium presentations focusing on how wounds were traditionally treated, what models and pathology endpoints exist to study wound healing, special considerations for wound healing studies, an overview of regulatory aspects of new pharmaceutical and medical device development, and the clinical relevance of such models. The clinical treatment of small and large wounds is also considered.
A 28μm2, 0.11Hz, 4.5pW gate leakage timer using differential leakage technique in 55nm DDC CMOS for small-footprint, low-frequency and low-power timing generation

A small-footprint, low-frequency and low-power timer is presented that exploits newly-proposed differential leakage technique. By using not only one leakage source but two leakage sources and exploits differentiated leakage current for charging capacitor, an inherent trade-off between small-footprint and low-frequency in the conventional gate leakage timer has been firstly resolved. The measured results using 55nm-DDC-CMOS prototype successfully demonstrated the highest FoM of the product of the capacitor area (0.072 μm2) and output frequency (0.11 Hz), that corresponds to 2121-times improvement compared to the conventional one while achieving low-power consumption (4.5 pW). The total footprint can be reduced to be 28 μm2, which enables low-cost yet low-power IoT edges. The scaling scenario shows that the proposed technique is familiar with technology scaling.
Repeatability and reproducibility of quantitative contrast-enhanced ultrasonography for assessing duodenal perfusion in healthy dogs

Contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) with microbubbles as a contrast agent allows the visualization and quantification of tissue perfusion. The assessment of canine intestinal perfusion by quantitative CEUS may provide valuable information for diagnosing and monitoring chronic intestinal disorders. This study aimed to assess the repeatability (intraday variability) and reproducibility (interday variability) of quantitative duodenal CEUS in healthy dogs. Six healthy beagles underwent CEUS three times within one day (4-hr intervals) and on two different days (1-week interval). All dogs were sedated with a combination of butorphanol (0.2 mg/kg) and midazolam (0.1 mg/kg) prior to CEUS. The contrast agent (Sonazoid®) was administered using the intravenous bolus method (0.01 ml/kg) for imaging of the duodenum. Time-intensity curves (TIC) were created by drawing multiple regions of interest (ROIs) in the duodenal mucosa, and perfusion parameters, including the time-to-peak (TTP), peak intensity (PI), area under the curve (AUC), and wash-in and wash-out rates (WiR and WoR, respectively), were generated. Intraday and interday coefficients of variation (CVs) for TTP, PI, AUC, WiR and WoR were <25% (range, 2.27–23.41%), which indicated that CEUS was feasible for assessing duodenal perfusion in healthy sedated dogs. A further study of CEUS in dogs with chronic intestinal disorders is necessary to evaluate its clinical applicability.
Neurodevelopmental disease mechanisms, primary cilia, and endosomes converge on the BLOC‐1 and BORC complexes

The biogenesis of lysosome‐related organelles complex‐1 (BLOC‐1) and the bloc‐one‐related complex (BORC) are the cytosolic protein complexes required for specialized membrane protein traffic along the endocytic route and the spatial distribution of endosome‐derived compartments, respectively. BLOC‐1 and BORC complex subunits and components of their interactomes have been associated with the risk and/or pathomechanisms of neurodevelopmental disorders. Thus, cellular processes requiring BLOC‐1 and BORC interactomes have the potential to offer novel insight into mechanisms underlying behavioral defects. We focus on interactions between BLOC‐1 or BORC subunits with the actin and microtubule cytoskeleton, membrane tethers, and SNAREs. These interactions highlight requirements for BLOC‐1 and BORC in membrane movement by motors, control of actin polymerization, and targeting of membrane proteins to specialized cellular domains such as the nerve terminal and the primary cilium. We propose that the endosome–primary cilia pathway is an underappreciated hub in the genesis and mechanisms of neurodevelopmental disorders. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Develop Neurobiol 78: 311–330, 2018
A pilot randomized controlled trial of telephone intervention to increase Breast Cancer Screening uptake in socially deprived areas in Scotland (TELBRECS)

Objectives To determine whether a brief telephone support intervention could increase breast cancer screening uptake among lower socio-demographic women in Scotland, via eliciting and addressing barriers to screening attendance. Methods In a pilot randomized controlled trial, participants receiving a reminder letter for a missed screening appointment (February-June 2014) were randomized to four arms: No telephone call (control), Simple telephone reminder (TEL), Telephone support (TEL-SUPP), or Telephone support plus anticipated regret (TEL-SUPP-AR). Primary outcomes were making an appointment and attending breast screening. Results Of 856 women randomized and analysed on intention-to-treat basis, compared with controls, more women in the telephone intervention groups made an appointment (control: 8.8%, TEL: 20.3%, TEL-SUPP: 14.1%; TEL-SUPP-AR: 16.8%, χ2(3) = 12.0, p = . 007) and attended breast screening (control: 6.9%, TEL: 16.5%, TEL-SUPP: 11.3%; TEL-SUPP-AR: 13.1%, χ2(3) = 9.8, p = . 020). Of 559 women randomized to the three telephone groups, 404 were successfully contacted and 247 participated in the intervention. Intervention participants (ie. per protocol analysis) were more likely to make (17% versus 10%, χ2(1) = 7.0, p = . 008) and attend (13% versus 7%, χ2(1) = 5.5, p = . 019) an appointment than non-participants, but there were no differences in attendance between the three telephone groups. Conclusions A simple telephone reminder doubled attendance at breast screening in women from lower socio-demographic areas who had not attended their initial appointment, compared with a reminder letter only (odds ratio 2.12, 95% CI (1.2, 3.8)). However, contacting women proved problematic and there was no additional effect of telephone support or anticipated regret.
Femtogram aerosol nanoparticle mass sensing utilising vertical silicon nanowire resonators

Vertically aligned silicon nanowire (SiNW)-based resonators were fabricated and utilised to detect aerosol nanoparticles (NPs) by measuring their resonant frequency shifts caused by the additional mass of trapped NPs. Inductively coupled plasma cryogenic dry etching and multiple thermal oxidations are used in the fabrication of silicon nanowire (SiNW) arrays. The SiNWs were coated with gold for contacting to the homebuilt electrostatic NP sampler to collect the flowing NPs. In order to have a dynamic resonance operation in the frequency measurement system, a piezoelectric shear actuator was mounted onto the SiNWs. Examined in a TiO 2 aerosol sampling with a total concentration of ~8500 NP/cm 3 , the fabricated sensor exhibited its feasibility as a nanobalance to measure aerosol NP mass at the femtogram level with a mass sensitivity of 7.1 Hz/fg and a mass resolution of 31.6 fg. The NP sampling efficiency of the developed miniaturised NP sampler was found to be three times higher than that of the commercial nanometer aerosol sampler (NAS, TSI 3089). An ultrasonic removal method was used to detach the adhered NPs and further extend the operating life of the sensor.
Glioma infiltration and extracellular matrix: key players and modulators

An outstanding characteristic of gliomas is their infiltration into brain parenchyma, a property that impairs complete surgical resection; consequently, these tumors might recur, resulting in a high mortality rate. Gliomas invade along preferential routes, such as those along white matter tracts and in the perineuronal and perivascular spaces. Brain extracellular components and their partners and modulators play a crucial role in glioma cell invasion. This review presents an extensive survey of the literature, showing how the brain extracellular matrix (ECM) is modulated during the glioma infiltration process. We explore aspects of ECM interaction with glioma cells, reviewing the main glycosaminoglycans, glycoproteins and proteoglycans. We discuss the roles of ECM‐binding proteins, including CD44, RHAMM, integrins and axonal guidance molecules, and highlight the role of proteases and glycosidases in glioma infiltration; in binding and release chemokines, cytokines and growth factors; and in generating new bioactive ECM fragments. We also consider the roles of cytoskeletal signaling, angiogenesis, miRNAs and the glial‐to‐mesenchymal transition linked to glioma invasion. We closely discuss therapeutic approaches based on the modulation of the extracellular matrix, targeting the control of glioma infiltration, its relative failure in clinical trials, and potential means to overcome this difficulty.
Male-Centric and Female-Centric Pornography Consumption: Relationship With Sex Life and Attitudes in Young Adults

ABSTRACT Pornography availability has increased in recent years, and while there is plenty of speculation about its effects, empirical investigation about how porn influences our lives has yielded mixed results. Additionally, few studies have addressed the effects of specific pornography characteristics. Past research has shown that male-centric pornography can be related to negative outcomes, while female-centric pornography is related to more positive outcomes, particularly in women. The present survey study examined the relationship between pornography characteristics (male- and female-centric) and the self-reported attitudes and sexual experiences of men and women. Participants in the full sample were 195 men and 310 women who completed an online questionnaire. Although effect sizes were small, women who reported viewing pornography with more female-centric features also reported more positive effects of pornography on sex life and perceptions of the other gender. While men were more likely than women to report negative effects relating to pornography use on these same measures, there were very few reported negative effects of pornography overall. These findings demonstrate a small association between the use of female-centric pornography and more positive outcomes, particularly for women.
Cost-Efficient Big Intermediate Data Placement in a Collaborative Cloud Storage Environment

Collaborative cloud storage environment, which share resources of multiple geographically distributed datacenters owned by different providers enable scientific workflow from different locations to process large scale big intermediate data through the Internet. Distributed datacenters are federated and each member can collaborate with each other to efficiently share and process the intermediate data from distributed workflow instances. This paper focuses on the storage cost minimization of intermediate data placement in federated cloud datacenters. Through collaborative and federation mechanisms, we propose an exact federation data placement algorithm based on integer linear programming model (ILP) to assist multiple datacenters hosting intermediate data files generated from a scientific workflow. Under the constraints of the problem, the proposed algorithm finds an optimal intermediate data placement with a cost saving over the federated cloud datacenters, taking into account scientific user requirements, data dependency and size. Experimental results show the cost-efficiency of the proposed cloud storage federation algorithm.
Carry‐over effects on the annual cycle of a migratory seabird: an experimental study

Summary Long‐lived migratory animals must balance the cost of current reproduction with their own condition ahead of a challenging migration and future reproduction. In these species, carry‐over effects, which occur when events in one season affect the outcome of the subsequent season, may be particularly exacerbated. However, how carry‐over effects influence future breeding outcomes and whether (and how) they also affect behaviour during migration and wintering is unclear. Here we investigate carry‐over effects induced by a controlled, bidirectional manipulation of the duration of reproductive effort on the migratory, wintering and subsequent breeding behaviour of a long‐lived migratory seabird, the Manx shearwater Puffinus puffinus. By cross‐fostering chicks of different age between nests, we successfully prolonged or shortened by ∼25% the chick‐rearing period of 42 breeding pairs. We tracked the adults with geolocators over the subsequent year and combined migration route data with at‐sea activity budgets obtained from high‐resolution saltwater‐immersion data. Migratory behaviour was also recorded during non‐experimental years (the year before and/or two years after manipulation) for a subset of birds, allowing comparison between experimental and non‐experimental years within treatment groups. All birds cared for chicks until normal fledging age, resulting in birds with a longer breeding period delaying their departure on migration; however, birds that finished breeding earlier did not start migrating earlier. Increased reproductive effort resulted in less time spent at the wintering grounds, a reduction in time spent resting daily and a delayed start of breeding with lighter eggs and chicks and lower breeding success the following breeding season. Conversely, reduced reproductive effort resulted in more time resting and less time foraging during the winter, but a similar breeding phenology and success compared with control birds the following year, suggesting that ‘positive’ carry‐over effects may also occur but perhaps have a less long‐lasting impact than those incurred from increased reproductive effort. Our results shed light on how carry‐over effects can develop and modify an adult animal's behaviour year‐round and reveal how a complex interaction between current and future reproductive fitness, individual condition and external constraints can influence life‐history decisions.
Technique and Outcomes of Less Invasive Lung Retransplantation

Background Lung retransplantation is a demanding procedure with outcomes lagging primary transplantation. We implemented less invasive surgical techniques aiming at improving early outcomes. Here, we wish to describe these techniques and analyze the clinical outcomes. Methods Since April 2010, a protocol of less invasive techniques was applied to all lung retransplantations. This protocol comprises bilateral lung retransplantation via sternum-sparing anterolateral thoracotomies, off-pump surgery, and empiric administration of 2 g fibrinogen and 2 platelet concentrates. Patient charts were retrospectively reviewed starting in April 2010 until May 2016 for this study and compared with a cohort of patients undergoing lung retransplantation between January 2005 and March 2010. Results From April 2010 through March 2016, 774 total lung transplantations were performed at our center, 49 were retransplantations. In the era January 2005 to March 2010, a total of 480 lung transplantations were performed, 38 of those being retransplantations. Mean operation time in the era April 2010 to May 2016 was significantly longer as compared with the era January 2005 to March 2010, median time until extubation was significantly shorter in the era April 2010 to May 2016 (1 [1-2] days vs 11.5 [1-24] days; P = 0.0009). Similarly, median intensive care unit stay time was shorter in the era April 2010 to May 2016 (4 [2-5.5] days vs 12.5 [3-30.5] days; P = 0.003). Patient survival was significantly better in the era starting in April 2010 at 30 days (98% vs 76.3%, P = 0.002) as well as at 1 year (80.6% vs 63.2%; P = 0.01). Conclusions Less invasive retransplantation of the lung via sternum-sparing anterolateral thoracotomies and off-pump is a safe procedure with low associated morbidity and favorable midterm survival.
Nutrient Intake in Heart Failure Patients

Background and Research Objective: Approximately 50% of heart failure (HF) patients are thought to be malnourished, and macronutrient and micronutrient deficiencies may potentially aggravate HF symptoms. Thus, concerns have been raised about the overall nutrient composition of diets in HF populations. The purpose of this study was to examine the macronutrient and micronutrient intake by caloric adequacy among community-dwelling adults with HF. Participants and Methods: A secondary analysis of baseline data of participants in an HF lifestyle intervention study was conducted. Participants (n = 45) were predominantly male (55.6%), white, and non-Hispanic (64.4%); had a mean age of 61 years (SD, 11 years) and mean body mass index of 31.2 kg/m2 (SD, 7.3 kg/m2); were of New York Heart Association functional classes II and III (77.8%); and had a mean ejection fraction of 31.9% (SD, 13.2%); and 69% had a college or higher level of education. The Block Food Habits Questionnaire was used to assess the intake of macronutrients and micronutrients. Analysis included descriptive statistics and Mann-Whitney U tests. Results and Conclusions: Individuals reporting inadequate daily caloric intake reported a lower intake of macronutrients and micronutrients as well as other differences in dietary patterns compared with individuals reporting adequate daily caloric intake. More than half of the individuals reporting adequate caloric intake did not meet the recommended dietary allowance for magnesium and vitamin E. Interventions aimed at increasing overall intake and nutrient density are suggested. Further research is needed to better understand the relationship between dietary factors and outcomes in HF.
Progressive Minimal Path Method for Segmentation of 2D and 3D Line Structures

We propose a novel minimal path method for the segmentation of 2D and 3D line structures. Minimal path methods perform propagation of a wavefront emanating from a start point at a speed derived from image features, followed by path extraction using backtracing. Usually, the computation of the speed and the propagation of the wave are two <italic>separate</italic> steps, and <italic>point features</italic> are used to compute a <italic>static</italic> speed. We introduce a new continuous minimal path method which steers the wave propagation <italic>progressively </italic> using <italic>dynamic</italic> speed based on <italic>path features</italic>. We present three instances of our method, using an appearance feature of the path, a geometric feature based on the curvature of the path, and a joint appearance and geometric feature based on the tangent of the wavefront. These features have not been used in previous continuous minimal path methods. We compute the features <italic>dynamically</italic> during the wave propagation, and also <italic>efficiently</italic> using a fast numerical scheme and a low-dimensional parameter space. Our method does not suffer from discretization or metrication errors. We performed qualitative and quantitative evaluations using 2D and 3D images from different application areas.
FAK is required for axonal sorting by Schwann cells

Signaling by laminins and axonal neuregulin has been implicated in regulating axon sorting by myelin-forming Schwann cells. However, the signal transduction mechanisms are unknown. Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) has been linked to α6β1 integrin and ErbB receptor signaling, and we show that myelination by Schwann cells lacking FAK is severely impaired. Mutant Schwann cells could interdigitate between axon bundles, indicating that FAK signaling was not required for process extension. However, Schwann cell FAK was required to stimulate cell proliferation, suggesting that amyelination was caused by insufficient Schwann cells. ErbB2 receptor and AKT were robustly phosphorylated in mutant Schwann cells, indicating that neuregulin signaling from axons was unimpaired. These findings demonstrate the vital relationship between axon defasciculation and Schwann cell number and show the importance of FAK in regulating cell proliferation in the developing nervous system.