Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Epiphytic Bryophytes on Alien Host-Tree Species in Wrocław (SW Poland)

ABSTRACT This paper presents the occurrence of 25 moss species on trunks of alien trees in Wrocław (without city forests), their species diversity, frequency, coverage in the plots, and preferences to the host-tree species. In general, 36% of the trees colonised by bryophytes in the city were of non-indigenous origin (11 taxa), and the most frequently occupied were Populus xcanadensis Moench. , Acer negundo L. and Robinia pseudoacacia L. Research showed that alien trees hosted a large group of species rarely noted in the city, such as: Syntrichia virescens (De Not.) Ochyra, Orthodicranum tauricum (Sapjegin) Smirnova, Leskea polycarpa Hedw. , Hypnum pallescens (Hedw.) P. Beauv. and Orthotrichum affine Schrad. ex Brid. But the most total coverage in the plots was occupied by two facultative epiphytes, Orthotrichum diaphanum Schrad. and Hypnum cupressiforme Hedw. Comparing the results of this study with data presenting bryoflora of Robinia pseudoacacia L. and Quercus rubra L. found in secondary woodlands, it appears that these phorophytes in the city are colonised by different bryophytes. Results of UPGMA classification of bryofloristic similarity of all phorophytes in the city are discussed in reference to the theory that alien species can facilitate the occurrence of native species, as formulated by Rodriguez (2006).
BKCa compensates impaired coronary vasoreactivity through RhoA/ROCK pathway in hind‐limb unweighted rats

Previous studies have demonstrated cardiac and vascular remodeling induced by microgravity exposure. Yet, as the most important branch of vasculatures circulating the heart, the coronary artery has been seldomly studied about its adaptations under microgravity conditions. Large‐conductance Ca2+‐activated potassium channel (BKCa) and the Ras homolog family member A (RhoA)/Rho kinase (ROCK) pathway play key roles in control of vascular tone and mediation of microgravity‐induced vascular adjustments. Therefore, we investigated the adaptation of coronary vasoreactivity to simulated microgravity and the role of BKCa and the RhoA/ROCK pathway in it. Four‐week‐old hind‐limb unweighted (HU) rats were adopted to simulate effects of microgravity. Right coronary artery (RCA) constriction was measured by isometric force recording. The activity and expression of BKCa and the RhoA/ROCK pathway were examined by Western blot, patch‐clamp recordings, and immunoprecipitation. We found HU significantly decreased RCA vasoconstriction to KCl, serotonin, and U‐46619, but increased protein expression and current densities of BKCa, inhibition of which by iberiotoxin (IBTX) further decreased RCA vasoconstriction (P < 0.05). Expression of RhoA and ROCK as well as active RhoA and phosphorylation of myosin light chain (MLC) at Ser19 and MLC phosphatase target‐1 at Thr696 were significantly increased by HU, and ROCK inhibitor Y‐27632 exerted greater suppressing effect on HU RCA vasoconstriction than that of control (P < 0.05). BKCa opener NS1619 increased HU RCA vasoconstriction, which was blocked by both RhoA and ROCK inhibitor, similar to the effect of IBTX. These results indicate that HU impairs coronary vasoconstriction but enhances BKCa activity acting as a protective mechanism avoiding excessive decrease of coronary vasoreactivity through activation of the RhoA/ROCK pathway. —Wu, Y. , Yue, Z. , Wang Q. , Lv, Q. , Liu, H. , Bai, Y. Li S. Xie M. Bao J. Ma J. Zhu X. Wang Z. BKCa compensates impaired coronary vasoreactivity through RhoA/ROCK pathway in hind‐limb unweighted rats. FASEB J. 33, 13358–13366 (2019). www.fasebj. org
Evaluating a web-based self-management intervention in patients with heart failure: A pilot study

This pilot study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of a web-based self-management intervention in patients with heart failure. The study consisted of two phases including developing the web-based application and examining its feasibility in a group of heart failure patients. The results of this study were consistent with the current literature which has failed to show the benefits of web-based interventions for chronic disease self-management. In the current thesis, therefore, issues influencing the effectiveness of the web-based interventions were analysed. Recommendations for improving effectiveness of the web-based applications were also provided.
Mechanical fatigue of human red blood cells

Significance The mechanisms underlying degradation of biological cells due to mechanical fatigue are not well understood. Specifically, detrimental effects of fatigue on properties and homeostasis of human red blood cells (RBCs), as they repeatedly deform while traversing microvasculature, have remained largely unexplored. We present a general microfluidics method that incorporates amplitude-modulated electrodeformation to induce static and cyclic mechanical deformation of RBCs. Fatigue of RBCs leads to significantly greater loss of membrane deformability, compared to static deformation under the same maximum load and maximum-load duration. These findings establish unique effects of cyclic mechanical deformation on the properties and function of biological cells. Our work provides a means to assess the mechanical integrity and fatigue damage of RBCs in blood circulation. Fatigue arising from cyclic straining is a key factor in the degradation of properties of engineered materials and structures. Fatigue can also induce damage and fracture in natural biomaterials, such as bone, and in synthetic biomaterials used in implant devices. However, the mechanisms by which mechanical fatigue leads to deterioration of physical properties and contributes to the onset and progression of pathological states in biological cells have hitherto not been systematically explored. Here we present a general method that employs amplitude-modulated electrodeformation and microfluidics for characterizing mechanical fatigue in single biological cells. This method is capable of subjecting cells to static loads for prolonged periods of time or to large numbers of controlled mechanical fatigue cycles. We apply the method to measure the systematic changes in morphological and biomechanical characteristics of healthy human red blood cells (RBCs) and their membrane mechanical properties. Under constant amplitude cyclic tensile deformation, RBCs progressively lose their ability to stretch with increasing fatigue cycles. Our results further indicate that loss of deformability of RBCs during cyclic deformation is much faster than that under static deformation at the same maximum load over the same accumulated loading time. Such fatigue-induced deformability loss is more pronounced at higher amplitudes of cyclic deformation. These results uniquely establish the important role of mechanical fatigue in influencing physical properties of biological cells. They further provide insights into the accumulated membrane damage during blood circulation, paving the way for further investigations of the eventual failure of RBCs causing hemolysis in various hemolytic pathologies.
Human Mutation

Eric D. Larson | Jose Pedrito M. Magno | Matthew J. Steritz | Erasmo Gonzalo d.V. Llanes | Jonathan Cardwell | Melquiadesa Pedro | Tori Bootpetch Roberts | Elisabet Einarsdottir | Rose Anne Q. Rosanes | Christopher Greenlee | Rachel Ann P. Santos | Ayesha Yousaf | Sven‐Olrik Streubel | Aileen Trinidad R. Santos | Amanda G. Ruiz | Sheryl Mae Lagrana‐Villagracia | Dylan Ray | Talitha Karisse L. Yarza | Melissa A. Scholes | Catherine B. Anderson | Anushree Acharya | University of Washington Center for Mendelian Genomics | Samuel P. Gubbels | Michael J. Bamshad | Stephen P. Cass | Nanette R. Lee | Rehan S. Shaikh | Deborah A. Nickerson | Karen L. Mohlke | Jeremy D. Prager | Teresa Luisa G. Cruz | Patricia J. Yoon | Generoso T. Abes | David A. Schwartz | Abner L. Chan | Todd M. Wine | Eva Maria Cutiongco‐de la Paz | Norman Friedman | Katerina Kechris | Juha Kere | Suzanne M. Leal | Ivana V. Yang | Janak A. Patel | Ma. Leah C. Tantoco | Saima Riazuddin | Kenny H. Chan | Petri S. Mattila | Maria Rina T. Reyes‐Quintos | Zubair M. Ahmed | Herman A. Jenkins | Tasnee Chonmaitree | Lena Hafrén | Charlotte M. Chiong | Regie Lyn P. Santos‐Cortez
The experiences of older adults with a diagnosed functional mental illness, their carers and healthcare professionals in relation to mental health service delivery: An integrative review.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES The aims of this integrative review were to a) analyse the experiences of older people with a diagnosed functional mental illness and their carers in relation to mental health service delivery and b) analyse the experiences of health and social care professionals who care for and treat older people who have a diagnosed functional mental illness. BACKGROUND The prevalence of functional mental illness in older adults is notable but to date has received less research attention than dementia. Older adults with functional mental illness have life expectancy of up to twenty years less than the rest of the population. Therefore, the experiences of older adults with functional mental illness, their carers and healthcare professionals, in relation to mental health services, need further exploration. DESIGN Integrative literature review. METHODS A five-stage process was informed by Whittemore and Knafl. MeSH was used. Keyword searches of MEDLINE, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, PsycINFO, EMBASE, and AMED were conducted between January 2000 and October 2017. Titles were screened, and data were extracted manually and analysed using narrative synthesis. The PRISMA checklist was used. RESULTS A total of 342 articles were deemed potentially relevant to this review. Once inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied, 28 articles were included. The literature presented an overarching theme 'determinants influencing older people with functional mental illness use of services'. The overarching theme is supported by two main themes: inevitable consequences of ageing and variations of the availability of healthcare services for older people with functional mental illness. CONCLUSION Several determinants influence use of services by older people with functional mental illness. Older people with functional mental illness often perceived they did not have a mental health need. Within the literature, there was little acknowledgement of the experiences of older people with functional mental illness regarding their support needs. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE This integrative review has highlighted that some older people with functional mental illness do not seek mental health support because they believe that functional mental illness is an inevitable consequence of ageing; this is mirrored at times by healthcare professionals and carers. In addition to this finding, different views prevail regarding the impact that ageless and age-defined mental health service delivery models have on the needs of older people with functional mental illness. Further research is required to understand these findings.
Blockade of β-Adrenergic Receptors Improves CD8+ T-cell Priming and Cancer Vaccine Efficacy

Immune-suppressive mechanisms of the tumor microenvironment limit the efficacy of anticancer vaccination. Targeting β-adrenergic receptor signaling improves the antitumor effects of antitumor vaccination by enhancing CD8+ T-cell priming in the tumor-draining lymph node. β-Adrenergic receptor (β-AR) signaling exerts protumoral effects by acting directly on tumor cells and angiogenesis. In addition, β-AR expression on immune cells affects their ability to mount antitumor immune responses. However, how β-AR signaling impinges antitumor immune responses is still unclear. Using a mouse model of vaccine-based immunotherapy, we showed that propranolol, a nonselective β-blocker, strongly improved the efficacy of an antitumor STxBE7 vaccine by enhancing the frequency of CD8+ T lymphocytes infiltrating the tumor (TIL). However, propranolol had no effect on the reactivity of CD8+ TILs, a result further strengthened by ex vivo experiments showing that these cells were insensitive to adrenaline- or noradrenaline-induced AR signaling. In contrast, naïve CD8+ T-cell activation was strongly inhibited by β-AR signaling, and the beneficial effect of propranolol mainly occurred during CD8+ T-cell priming in the tumor-draining lymph node. We also demonstrated that the differential sensitivity of naïve CD8+ T cells and CD8+ TILs to β-AR signaling was linked to a strong downregulation of β2-AR expression related to their activation status, since in vitro–activated CD8+ T cells behaved similarly to CD8+ TILs. These results revealed that β-AR signaling suppresses the initial priming phase of antitumor CD8+ T-cell responses, providing a rationale to use clinically available β-blockers in patients to improve cancer immunotherapies.
Sexual Abuse and Assault in a Large National Sample of Children and Adolescents

The present study sought to examine features of sexual abuse cases among a U.S. nationally representative sample of 13,052 children and adolescents, ages 0–17 years. The National Survey of Children’s Exposure to Violence was collected in three different years (2008, 2011, and 2014) via telephone interviews. Information about sexual abuse and assault was obtained from youth themselves (ages 10–17) or caregivers (for children ages 0–9) using the Juvenile Victimization Questionnaire. Results indicate most offenses are at the hands of other juveniles (76.7% for males and 70.1% for females), primarily acquaintances, and occurring more frequently for adolescents aged 14–17. Whereas girls are mostly abused by males (88.4%), boys are abused by both males (45.6%) and females (54.4%). In 15% of cases, penetration is part of the abuse. Victims report being very afraid in 37.5% of episodes but not at all afraid in 19.8%. Among 10- to 17-year-olds, 66.3% of episodes are not reported to parents or any adult. Police reports occur for 19.1% of all cases. The results in the present study indicate that children and youth are exposed to sexual abuse and assault in varied ways, which require moving beyond conventional stereotypes of the problem.
Akt1 signalling supports acinar proliferation and limits acinar‐to‐ductal metaplasia formation upon induction of acute pancreatitis

Molecular signalling mediated by the phosphatidylinositol‐3‐kinase (PI3K)–Akt axis is a key regulator of cellular functions. Importantly, alteration of the PI3K–Akt signalling underlies the development of different human diseases, thus prompting the investigation of the pathway as a molecular target for pharmacologic intervention. In this regard, recent studies showed that small molecule inhibitors of PI3K, the upstream regulator of the pathway, reduced the development of inflammation during acute pancreatitis, a highly debilitating and potentially lethal disease. Here we investigated whether a specific reduction of Akt activity, by using either pharmacologic Akt inhibition, or genetic inactivation of the Akt1 isoform selectively in pancreatic acinar cells, is effective in ameliorating the onset and progression of the disease. We discovered that systemic reduction of Akt activity did not protect the pancreas from initial damage and only transiently delayed leukocyte recruitment. However, reduction of Akt activity decreased acinar proliferation and exacerbated acinar‐to‐ductal metaplasia (ADM) formation, two critical events in the progression of pancreatitis. These phenotypes were recapitulated upon conditional inactivation of Akt1 in acinar cells, which resulted in reduced expression of 4E‐BP1, a multifunctional protein of key importance in cell proliferation and metaplasia formation. Collectively, our results highlight the critical role played by Akt1 during the development of acute pancreatitis in the control of acinar cell proliferation and ADM formation. In addition, these results harbour important translational implications as they raise the concern that inhibitors of PI3K‐Akt signalling pathways may negatively affect the regeneration of the pancreas. Finally, this work provides the basis for further investigating the potential of Akt1 activators to boost pancreatic regeneration following inflammatory insults. © 2019 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Dynamic phenotypic correlates of social status and mating effort in male and female red junglefowl, Gallus gallus

Despite widespread evidence that mating and intrasexual competition are costly, relatively little is known about how these costs dynamically change male and female phenotypes. Here, we test multiple hypotheses addressing this question in replicate flocks of red junglefowl (Gallus gallus). First, we test the interrelationships between social status, comb size (a fleshy ornament) and body mass at the onset of a mating trial. While comb size covaried positively with body mass across individuals of both sexes, comb size was positively related to social status in females but not in males. Second, we test for changes within individuals in body mass and comb size throughout the mating trial. Both body mass and comb size declined at the end of a trial in both sexes, suggesting that mating effort and exposure to the opposite sex are generally costly. Males lost more body mass if they (a) were socially subordinate, (b) were chased by other males or (c) mated frequently, indicating that subordinate status and mating are independently costly. Conversely, females lost more body mass if they were exposed to a higher frequency of coerced matings, suggesting costs associated with male sexual harassment and female resistance, although costs of mating per se could not be completely ruled out. Neither competitive nor mating interactions predicted comb size change in either sex. Collectively, these results support the notion that sex‐specific costs associated with social status and mating effort result in differential, sex‐specific dynamics of phenotypic change.
Patient and family participation in nursing care : the development of a nursing process measuring scale.

The theoretical and empirical framework for the study was derived from work in nursing, psychology, sociology and philosophy. A survey of 114 patients, 72 relatives and 107 nurses was carried out in two hospitals. This examined current practices,. OifliOflS and attitudes towards patient and family participation in nursing. Wards were compared according to whether or not nursing process was in use. Data concerning the validity and reliability of the scales are presented. In summary it was found that patients and relatives reported little participation in planning and implementing care and wanted increased participation. Those who held most positive attitudes and reported high levels of participation tended to be middle class, well educated, knowledgeable about the patient's condition and familiar with hospitals. There was very little relationship between the use of nursing process and attitudes and practices concerning patient and family participation. Nurses reported generally positive attitudes towards patient and family participation and nursing process. Those with most positive attitudes tended to be older and more senior. Aithougn many nurses claimed to encourage patient and family participation, there was little evidence that they actually did. None of the wards or units had policies about patient and family participation. Nurses reported that little was taught about these issues during training. The development of a scale to quantify the use of nursing process in general wards is described. Content validity was checked by reference to the literature and a panel of subject experts. Methods of data collection, validity, reliability and sensitivity were tested in eight wards in one hospital, including an 18 month follow-up of two wards. Recommendations for further research include a proposal for a field experiment. This aims to examine the effects of increasing patient and family participation at all stages of the nursing process.
Neuroanatomy of pediatric postoperative cerebellar cognitive affective syndrome and mutism

Survivors of posterior cranial fossa tumors are living longer because of advances in diagnosis and medical and surgical management. This success is tempered by the realization that ≈25% of children (and some adults) with resection of posterior fossa tumors develop the cerebellar cognitive affective syndrome (CCAS),1,2 characterized by impairments in executive function, linguistic processing, visual spatial abilities, and affective modulation. Some of these children also exhibit cerebellar mutism syndrome (CMS), which may represent a profound apraxia of speech.3 The cause of this constellation, previously called the posterior fossa syndrome,4,5 has remained elusive. Damage to the cerebellar outflow pathway may be involved, i.e., the dentate nucleus and superior cerebellar peduncles.6,7
Therapeutic Effect of Hypofractionated Stereotactic Radiotherapy Using CyberKnife for High Volume Cavernous Sinus Cavernous Hemangiomas

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of hypofractionated stereotactic radiotherapy using CyberKnife for high volume cavernous sinus cavernous hemangiomas. Materials and Methods: We collected data from 12 patients with high volume cavernous sinus cavernous hemangiomas treated with hypofractionated stereotactic radiotherapy using CyberKnife in our institute, including 2 men and 10 women/female child, aged 4 to 60 years. Initial tumor volumes ranged from 11.8 to 96.6 cm3 with a median of 24.3 cm3. Irradiation doses were 19.5 Gy with 3 fractions in 2 patients, 21 Gy with 3 fractions in 8 patients, 25 Gy with 5 fractions in 1 patient, and 30 Gy with 3 fractions in 1 patient. We used 109 to 155 beams during treatment, and target volumes reached over 95% of the prescribed dose. Follow-up ranged from 3 to 54 months. We evaluated the efficacy and safety of the CyberKnife system based on changes in the diagnostic images and involved cranial nerves or symptoms. Results: Of the 12 patients, 11 were followed for 3 to 54 months with a mean follow-up of 16.3 months; 1 patient was lost to in-person follow-up. Lesion volumes in the followed 11 patients were calculated after fractionated radiotherapy. All tumor volumes decreased (28.6%-94.1%) and symptoms improved (including blurred vision, visual field defects, diplopia, headaches, and facial numbness) after therapy. Postoperative magnetic resonance images revealed a tumor volume range of 2.8 to 41.0 cm3 (median, 6.5 cm3), significantly lower compared with the pretreatment range of 11.8 to 70.1 cm3 (median, 24.3 cm3; T = 0.00, P = .003 < .05). A single patient experienced radiotherapy-related cerebral edema, which resolved after 5 days of mannitol and dexamethasone. Conclusions: Based on the current results, though preliminary, hypofractionated stereotactic radiotherapy using CyberKnife is an effective and safe alternative for high volume cavernous sinus cavernous hemangiomas and is the recommended primary treatment in high-risk patients with this condition.