Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Association of histological and clinical chorioamnionitis with perinatal and neonatal outcome

Abstract Objectives: We investigated the incidence and outcome of clinical and histological chorioamnionitis (CA) and the associated risk factors in an emerging provincial perinatal center in 2014–2015. Study design: Based on the suspected and proven clinical infection in the third trimester of pregnancy, placenta and accessories from singleton deliveries were routinely examined histologically. The incidence of CA and associated fetal and neonatal outcome were compared by the total deliveries. Results: Of the 14,166 deliveries in 12 months, infection and inflammation were found in 373 out of 2372 (15.7%) placentas subjected to histological examination and diagnosed as CA (2.6%). These cases were divided into four groups as histological CA only (HCA, n = 335), clinical and histological CA (HCC, n = 20), clinical CA only (CCA, n = 18) and non-CA control (CON, n = 1999). Thus, an incidence of histological CA was 2.5% (355/14 166) in this birth population. Compared to CON, HCA group was more likely to have premature rupture of membrane, antenatal antibiotic use, gestational age <34 weeks, fetal distress, positive bacterial culture from vaginal secretions, and early-onset sepsis in newborns (all p ≤ .01), which were associated with perinatal risk factors of CA. In the very preterm subgroups, more stillbirths and death at delivery and neonatal intensive care unit admissions (p < .001) were found in the CA group. Conclusions: The results suggested that histological CA was associated with early-onset sepsis and combined perinatal comorbidities which are of more diagnostic importance than clinical only CA. The placental histological examination should be routinely performed in very preterm births to better assess perinatal and neonatal outcome.
Chronic inflammation, cognitive impairment, and distal brain region alteration following intracerebral hemorrhage

Delayed cognitive decline commonly occurs following intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), but the mechanisms underlying this phenomenon remain obscure. We therefore investigated the potential mechanisms responsible for impaired cognitive function in a mouse collagenase model of ICH. Following recovery of motor and sensory deficits in the chronic phase of ICH, we noted significant cognitive impairment, which was assessed by the Morris water maze. This finding was accompanied by reduced dendrite spine density of ipsilateral hippocampal CA1 neurons. Reduced synaptic plasticity, manifested by impaired long‐term potentiation in hippocampal neurons, was also evident in both ipsilateral and contralateral hemispheres, suggesting that ICH also induces functional alterations in distal brain regions remote from the site of injury. In addition, the accumulation of microglia, infiltration of peripheral immune cells, and generation of reactive oxygen species were observed in both contralateral and ipsilateral hemispheres up to 5 wk post‐ICH. Furthermore, depletion of microglia using PLX3397, which inhibits colony stimulating factor 1 receptor, ameliorated this delayed cognitive impairment. Collectively, these results suggest that persistent and diffuse brain inflammation may contribute to cognitive impairment in the chronic stage of ICH recovery. —Shi, E. , Shi, K. , Qiu, S. , Sheth, K. N. , Lawton, M. T. , Ducruet, A. F. Chronic inflammation, cognitive impairment, and distal brain region alteration following intracerebral hemorrhage. FASEB J. 33, 9616–9626 (2019). www.fasebj. org
Negative Symptoms in Chronic Schizophrenia Relationship to Duration of Illness

The frequency and distribution of negative symptoms in a sample of 40 patients admitted to hospital with RDC-definite schizophrenia were examined. There was a highly significant positive correlation between negative symptom scores obtained using three different rating scales, but the presence of negative symptoms was not significantly related to duration of illness or number of episodes of illness. These findings do not support a model of negative symptoms being the consequence of schizophrenic relapse, but are in favour of their being an integral component of the schizophrenic syndrome, as salient in the first as in later episodes.
Testing the reproductive and somatic trade‐off in female Columbian ground squirrels

Abstract Energetic trade‐offs in resource allocation form the basis of life‐history theory, which predicts that reproductive allocation in a given season should negatively affect future reproduction or individual survival. We examined how allocation of resources differed between successful and unsuccessful breeding female Columbian ground squirrels to discern any effects of resource allocation on reproductive and somatic efforts. We compared the survival rates, subsequent reprodction, and mass gain of successful breeders (females that successfully weaned young) and unsuccessful breeders (females that failed to give birth or wean young) and investigated “carryover” effects to the next year. Starting capital was an important factor influencing whether successful reproduction was initiated or not, as females with the lowest spring emergence masses did not give birth to a litter in that year. Females that were successful and unsuccessful at breeding in one year, however, were equally likely to be successful breeders in the next year and at very similar litter sizes. Although successful and unsuccessful breeding females showed no difference in over winter survival, females that failed to wean a litter gained additional mass during the season when they failed. The next year, those females had increased energy “capital” in the spring, leading to larger litter sizes. Columbian ground squirrels appear to act as income breeders that also rely on stored capital to increase their propensity for future reproduction. Failed breeders in one year “prepare” for future reproduction by accumulating additional mass, which is “carried over” to the subsequent reproductive season.
Effect of stocking density of fish on water quality and growth performance of European Carp and leafy vegetables in a low-tech aquaponic system

Aquaponics (AP) is a semi-closed system of food production that combines aquaculture and hydroponics and represents a new agricultural system integrating producers and consumers. The aim of this study was to test the effect of stocking densities (APL, 2.5 kg m-3; APH, 4.6 kg m-3) on water quality, growth performance of the European Carp (Cyprinus carpio L.), and yield of leafy vegetables (catalogna, lettuce, and Swiss Chard) in a low-technology AP pilot system compared to a hydroponic cultivation. The AP daily consumption of water due to evapotranspiration was not different among treatments with an average value of 8.2 L d-1, equal to 1.37% of the total water content of the system. Dissolved oxygen was significantly (p < 0.05) different among treatments with the lowest median value recorded with the highest stocking density of fish (5.6 mg L-1) and the highest median value in the hydroponic control (8.7 mg L-1). Marketable yield of the vegetables was significantly different among treatments with the highest production in the hydroponic control for catalogna (1.2 kg m-2) and in the APL treatment for Swiss Chard (5.3 kg m-2). The yield of lettuce did not differ significantly between hydroponic control and APL system (4.0 kg m-2 on average). The lowest production of vegetables was obtained in the APH system. The final weight (515 g vs. 413 g for APL and APH, respectively), specific growth rate (0.79% d-1 vs. 0.68% d-1), and feed conversion (1.55 vs. 1.86) of European Carp decreased when stocking density increased, whereas total yield of biomass was higher in the APH system (4.45 kg m-3 vs. 6.88 kg m-3). A low mortality (3% on average) was observed in both AP treatments. Overall, the results showed that a low initial stocking density at 2.5 kg m-3 improved the production of European Carp and of leafy vegetables by maintaining a better water quality in the tested AP system.
Is Chickpea a Potential Substitute for Soybean? Phenolic Bioactives and Potential Health Benefits

Legume seeds are rich sources of protein, fiber, and minerals. In addition, their phenolic compounds as secondary metabolites render health benefits beyond basic nutrition. Lowering apolipoprotein B secretion from HepG2 cells and decreasing the level of low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol oxidation are mechanisms related to the prevention of cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Likewise, low-level chronic inflammation and related disorders of the immune system are clinical predictors of cardiovascular pathology. Furthermore, DNA-damage signaling and repair are crucial pathways to the etiology of human cancers. Along CVD and cancer, the prevalence of obesity and diabetes is constantly increasing. Screening the ability of polyphenols in inactivating digestive enzymes is a good option in pre-clinical studies. In addition, in vivo studies support the role of polyphenols in the prevention and/or management of diabetes and obesity. Soybean, a well-recognized source of phenolic isoflavones, exerts health benefits by decreasing oxidative stress and inflammation related to the above-mentioned chronic ailments. Similar to soybeans, chickpeas are good sources of nutrients and phenolic compounds, especially isoflavones. This review summarizes the potential of chickpea as a substitute for soybean in terms of health beneficial outcomes. Therefore, this contribution may guide the industry in manufacturing functional foods and/or ingredients by using an undervalued feedstock.
Chloride as macronutrient increases water use efficiency by anatomically-driven reduced stomatal conductance and increased mesophyll diffusion to CO2.

Chloride (Cl- ) has been recently described as a beneficial macronutrient, playing specific roles in promoting plant growth and water use efficiency (WUE). However, it is still unclear how Cl- could be beneficial, especially in comparison with nitrate (NO3 - ), an essential macronutrient that shares with Cl- similar physical and osmotic properties, as well as common transport mechanisms. In tobacco plants, macronutrient levels of Cl- specifically reduce stomatal conductance (gs ) without a concomitant reduction of the net photosynthesis rate (AN ). Since stomata-mediated water loss through transpiration is inherent in the need of C3 plants to capture CO2 , simultaneous increase of photosynthesis and WUE is of great relevance to achieve a sustainable increase of C3 crop productivity. Our results show that Cl- -mediated stimulation of larger leaf cells leads to a reduction of stomatal density, which in turn reduces gs and water consumption. On the other hand, Cl- improves mesophyll diffusion conductance to CO2 (gm ) and photosynthetic performance due to a higher surface area of chloroplasts exposed to the intercellular airspace of mesophyll cells, possibly as a consequence of the stimulation of chloroplast biogenesis. A key finding of this study is the simultaneous improvement of AN and WUE due to macronutrient Cl- nutrition. This work identifies relevant and specific functions in which Cl- participates as a beneficial macronutrient for higher plants, uncovering a sustainable approach to improve crop yield. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Boron demanding tissues of Brassica napus express specific sets of functional Nodulin26‐like Intrinsic Proteins and BOR1 transporters

Summary The sophisticated uptake and translocation regulation of the essential element boron (B) in plants is ensured by two transmembrane transporter families: the Nodulin26‐like Intrinsic Protein (NIP) and BOR transporter family. Though the agriculturally important crop Brassica napus is highly sensitive to B deficiency, and NIPs and BORs have been suggested to be responsible for B efficiency in this species, functional information of these transporter subfamilies is extremely rare. Here, we molecularly characterized the NIP and BOR1 transporter family in the European winter‐type cv. Darmor‐PBY018. Our transport assays in the heterologous oocyte and yeast expression systems as well as in growth complementation assays in planta demonstrated B transport activity of NIP5, NIP6, NIP7 and BOR1 isoforms. Moreover, we provided functional and quantitative evidence that also members of the NIP2, NIP3 and NIP4 groups facilitate the transport of B. A detailed B‐ and tissue‐dependent B‐transporter expression map was generated by quantitative polymerase chain reaction. We showed that NIP5 isoforms are highly upregulated under B‐deficient conditions in roots, but also in shoot tissues. Moreover, we detected transcripts of several B‐permeable NIPs from various groups in floral tissues that contribute to the B distribution within the highly B deficiency‐sensitive flowers.
Neuronal localisation of neuropeptide Y gene expression in rat brain

The cellular location of Neuropeptide Y (NPY) synthesis in rat brain is identified by using in‐situ hybridisation histochemistry. The results show that NPY mRNA is widely distributed through the rat brain, although the levels of NPY mRNA are surprisingly low. There is a large degree of variation in the content of NPY mRNA in different regions. The highest cellular levels of NPY mRNA are found in the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus, in the cerebral cortex, and in the hilar region of the hippocampus. In general, the distribution of perikarya containing NPY mRNA corresponds to the reported distribution of perikarya containing NPY‐immunoreactivity. However, NPY mRNA was detected in the majority of the perikarya in the reticular nucleus of the thalamus, an area not previously known to contain NPY neurones. In many areas of the forebrain the distribution of NPY mRNA parallels that of somatostatin mRNA, supporting suggestions of their coexistence. The ability to detect NPY mRNA at the cellular level should be of considerable use in dynamic studies of the activity of NPY neurones.
Pseudouridines on Trypanosoma brucei spliceosomal small nuclear RNAs and their implication for RNA and protein interactions

Abstract The parasite Trypanosoma brucei, the causative agent of sleeping sickness, cycles between an insect and a mammalian host. Here, we investigated the presence of pseudouridines (Ψs) on the spliceosomal small nuclear RNAs (snRNAs), which may enable growth at the very different temperatures characterizing the two hosts. To this end, we performed the first high-throughput mapping of spliceosomal snRNA Ψs by small RNA Ψ-seq. The analysis revealed 42 Ψs on T. brucei snRNAs, which is the highest number reported so far. We show that a trypanosome protein analogous to human protein WDR79, is essential for guiding Ψ on snRNAs but not on rRNAs. snoRNA species implicated in snRNA pseudouridylation were identified by a genome-wide approach based on ligation of RNAs following in vivo UV cross-linking. snRNA Ψs are guided by single hairpin snoRNAs, also implicated in rRNA modification. Depletion of such guiding snoRNA by RNAi compromised the guided modification on snRNA and reduced parasite growth at elevated temperatures. We further demonstrate that Ψ strengthens U4/U6 RNA–RNA and U2B"/U2A’ proteins-U2 snRNA interaction at elevated temperatures. The existence of single hairpin RNAs that modify both the spliceosome and ribosome RNAs is unique for these parasites, and may be related to their ability to cycle between their two hosts that differ in temperature.
Simultaneous ultrasound-assisted water extraction and β-cyclodextrin encapsulation of polyphenols from Mangifera indica stem bark in counteracting TNFα-induced endothelial dysfunction

This study proposes an alternative technique to prevent heat degradation induced by classic procedures of bioactive compound extraction, comparing classical maceration/decoction in hot water of polyphenols from Mango (Mangifera indica L.) (MI) with ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) in a water solution of β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) at room temperature and testing their biological activity on TNFα-induced endothelial dysfunction. Both extracts counteracted TNFα effects on EAhy926 cells, down-modulating interleukin-6, interleukin-8, cyclooxygenase-2 and intracellular adhesion molecule-1, while increasing endothelial nitric oxide synthase levels. β-CD extract showed higher efficacy in improving endothelial function. These effects were abolished after pre-treatment with the oestrogen receptor inhibitor ICI1182,780. Moreover, the β-CD extract induced Akt activation and completely abolished the TNFα-induced p38MAPK phosphorylation. UAE and β-CD encapsulation provide an efficient extraction protocol that increases polyphenol bioavailability. Polyphenols from MI play a protective role on endothelial cells and may be further considered as oestrogen-like molecules with vascular protective properties.
Comparative Genomic Analysis of Virulence, Antimicrobial Resistance, and Plasmid Profiles of Salmonella Dublin Isolated from Sick Cattle, Retail Beef, and Humans in the United States.

Salmonella enterica serovar Dublin is a host-adapted serotype associated with typhoidal disease in cattle. While rare in humans, it usually causes severe illness, including bacteremia. In the United States, Salmonella Dublin has become one of the most multidrug-resistant (MDR) serotypes. To understand the genetic elements that are associated with virulence and resistance, we sequenced 61 isolates of Salmonella Dublin (49 from sick cattle and 12 from retail beef) using the Illumina MiSeq and closed 5 genomes using the PacBio sequencing platform. Genomic data of eight human isolates were also downloaded from NCBI (National Center for Biotechnology Information) for comparative analysis. Fifteen Salmonella pathogenicity islands (SPIs) and a spv operon (spvRABCD), which encodes important virulence factors, were identified in all 69 (100%) isolates. The 15 SPIs were located on the chromosome of the 5 closed genomes, with each of these isolates also carrying 1 or 2 plasmids with sizes between 36 and 329 kb. Multiple antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs), including blaCMY-2, blaTEM-1B, aadA12, aph(3')-Ia, aph(3')-Ic, strA, strB, floR, sul1, sul2, and tet(A), along with spv operons were identified on these plasmids. Comprehensive antimicrobial resistance genotypes were determined, including 17 genes encoding resistance to 5 different classes of antimicrobials, and mutations in the housekeeping gene (gyrA) associated with resistance or decreased susceptibility to fluoroquinolones. Together these data revealed that this panel of Salmonella Dublin commonly carried 15 SPIs, MDR/virulence plasmids, and ARGs against several classes of antimicrobials. Such genomic elements may make important contributions to the severity of disease and treatment failures in Salmonella Dublin infections in both humans and cattle.
Unsupervised Learning for Depth, Ego-Motion, and Optical Flow Estimation Using Coupled Consistency Conditions

Herein, we propose an unsupervised learning architecture under coupled consistency conditions to estimate the depth, ego-motion, and optical flow. Previously invented learning techniques in computer vision adopted a large amount of the ground truth dataset for network training. A ground truth dataset, including depth and optical flow collected from the real world, requires tremendous effort in pre-processing due to the exposure to noise artifacts. In this paper, we propose a framework that trains networks while using a different type of data with combined losses that are derived from a coupled consistency structure. The core concept is composed of two parts. First, we compare the optical flows, which are estimated from both the depth plus ego-motion and flow estimation network. Subsequently, to prevent the effects of the artifacts of the occluded regions in the estimated optical flow, we compute flow local consistency along the forward–backward directions. Second, synthesis consistency enables the exploration of the geometric correlation between the spatial and temporal domains in a stereo video. We perform extensive experiments on the depth, ego-motion, and optical flow estimation on the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology and Toyota Technological Institute (KITTI) dataset. We verify that the flow local consistency loss improves the optical flow accuracy in terms of the occluded regions. Furthermore, we also show that the view-synthesis-based photometric loss enhances the depth and ego-motion accuracy via scene projection. The experimental results exhibit the competitive performance of the estimated depth and the optical flow; moreover, the induced ego-motion is comparable to that obtained from other unsupervised methods.
Far-Field Super-Resolution Imaging With Compact and Multifrequency Planar Resonant Lens Based on Time Reversal

Planar resonant lenses (PRLs) consisting of periodically distributed strip resonators with different lengths are proposed for far-field super-resolution electromagnetic imaging. With the help of PRLs, evanescent waves can be converted into propagation waves. So, based on time-reversal (TR) technique, time-reversal mirror in the far-field can receive the electromagnetic signals carrying the subwavelength information. Experiments are performed to validate the proposed method in laboratory environment at microwave band. Far-field super-resolution imaging results with resolutions of λ/20 and λ/10, respectively, are obtained, well beyond the diffraction limit. The compact size and multifrequency property of the proposed PRLs will make them easily be integrated to new super-resolution imaging systems.
Placement of the BCL2 Family Member BAX in the Death Pathway of Sympathetic Neurons Activated by Trophic Factor Deprivation

The BCL2 family member BAX is required for the induction of apoptosis in neonatal sympathetic neurons after NGF withdrawal. Bax-deficient sympathetic neurons are NGF-independent for survival. To characterize the physiological state of neurons protected by BAX deficiency and to place BAX within the death pathway, we determine which of the molecular changes induced by NGF deprivation depend on BAX and compare the results with those for neurons protected by caspase inhibition. We find that neurons deficient in both Bax and Bcl2 resist NGF-deprivation similar to Bax-deficient neurons discounting a role for BCL2 in the mechanism by which Bax deficiency causes trophic factor independence. We identify two new molecular changes, phosphorylation of c-Jun on Ser63 and alpha-spectrin proteolysis, which precede and accompany apoptosis, respectively. Early reversible changes induced by NGF withdrawal, such as decreased protein synthesis and glucose uptake, increased c-Jun phosphorylation, increased steady state c-jun mRNA levels, and cellular atrophy, occur both in wild type and Bax-deficient neurons and thus are BAX-independent. In contrast to neurons protected by caspase inhibition, no c-fos induction occurs in Bax-deficient neurons. Terminal irreversible events of apoptosis such as caspase-mediated alpha-spectrin proteolysis are prevented by both Bax-deficiency and caspase inhibition. This places BAX downstream or in a different pathway of the early changes and upstream of the terminal events such as those leading to c-fos induction and caspase activation. This order indicates that the physiological state of NGF-deprived neurons protected by Bax deficiency may be less perturbed than that of caspase inhibitor-saved neurons.
Basal body temperature measurement using e-textile

Once in every menstrual cycle of a woman, hormones change to trigger the release of egg in the ovary, which we call ovulation. Recording the basal body temperature every morning is one method to determine if a woman is ovulating. The basal body temperature is the lowest body temperature taken right after waking up and before engaging in any physical activities. In developing the wearable device, e-textile was used to measure the basal body temperature of a woman. By comparing the prototypes with digital thermometer and applying T-Test to validate the results, it was determined that the prototypes are functioning properly. As an alternative device, women will be able to measure their basal body temperature every morning.