Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Mantoniella Beaufortii and Mantoniella Baffinensis sp. nov. (Mamiellales, Mamiellophyceae), Two New Green Algal Species from the High Arctic

Members of the class Mamiellophyceae comprise species that can dominate picophytoplankton diversity in polar waters. Yet polar species are often morphologically indistinguishable from temperate species, although clearly separated by molecular features. Here we examine four Mamiellophyceae strains from the Canadian Arctic. The 18S rRNA and Internal Transcribed Spacer 2 (ITS2) gene phylogeny place these strains within the family Mamiellaceae (Mamiellales, Mamiellophyceae) in two separate clades of the genus Mantoniella. ITS2 synapomorphies support their placement as two new species, Mantoniella beaufortii and Mantoniella baffinensis. Both species have round green cells with diameter between 3–5 μm, one long flagellum and a short reduced flagellum (~1 μm) and are covered by spiderweb-like scales, making both species similar to other Mantoniella species. Morphologically, M. beaufortii and M. baffinensis are most similar to the cosmopolitan M. squamata with only minor differences in scale structure distinguishing them. Screening of global marine metabarcoding datasets indicates M. beaufortii has only been recorded in seawater and sea ice samples from the Arctic while no environmental barcode matches M. baffinensis. Like other Mamiellophyceae genera that have distinct polar and temperate species, the polar distribution of these new species suggests they are cold or ice-adapted Mantoniella species.
Utility and Validation of the AUA/SUO Risk Grouping for Non-muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer in a Contemporary Cohort.

PURPOSE To apply non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) AUA/SUO guidelines for risk-stratification and analyze predictors of recurrence and progression. METHODS Retrospective review of 398 patients with NMIBC treated between 2001 and 2017. Descriptive statistics were used to compare AUA/SUO risk-groups. Predictors of recurrence and progression were determined by multivariable regression. Kaplan Meier analysis, Cox proportional hazards regression model and time-dependent AUC was performed to determine progression-free and recurrence-free survival by risk-group. RESULTS Median follow-up was 37-months (95% CI: 35- to 42-months). 92% of patients underwent BCG induction and 46% of patients received at least 1 course of maintenance treatment. There were 11.5% low-risk, 32.5% intermediate-risk and 55.8% high-risk patients. The 5-year progression-free survival (PFS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) for low-, intermediate- and high-risk patients was 93%, 74% and 54% and 43%, 33% and 23%, respectively. On Kaplan Meier analysis, HG Ta ≤3cm RFS and PFS stratified between intermediate and high-risk group. Relative to low-risk, classification as intermediate- or high-risk was an independent predictor of progression (HR: 9.7, CI: 2.23-42.0, p<0.01 and HR: 36, CI: 8.16-159, p<0.001, respectively). High-risk patients were more likely to recur relative to low-risk patients (HR: 2.03, CI: 1.11-3.71, p=0.022). For recurrence and progression, 1 year AUC values were 0.60 (CI: 0.546-0.656) and 0.68 (CI: 0.622-0.732), respectively. CONCLUSIONS The AUA/SUO NMIBC risk-classification system appropriately stratifies patients based on likelihood of recurrence and progression and should be used at the time of diagnosis to counsel patients and guide therapy.
Evaluating pictorial charts as a means of collecting participant-recorded data on household dietary diversity in low-literacy communities in Tanzania

Abstract Innovative methods to collect dietary data at multiple times across the year are needed to better understand seasonal or temporal changes in household diets and measure the impact of nutrition-sensitive agricultural programmes in low-income countries. The present study aims to validate a picture-based research tool for participants to self-record their household’s dietary diversity each month in villages of Manyoni District, Tanzania. Pictorial record charts were developed to reflect local food resources. In 113 randomly selected households, the person responsible for food preparation was trained to mark all items consumed by any household member within the home, or prepared for consumption outside the home, for a single recording day. The next day, an interview-based household 24-h food recall (H24HR) was collected for the same period. Separate analyses tested agreement (a) between picture charts and H24HR and (b) between H24HR following chart completion and on an alternative day. Concordance between methods differed between food groups and items but was high to very high for all cereals, vegetables, pulses, legumes and nuts and almost all fruits. Recording of ten items (including non-cultivated fruits and ingredients of mixed dishes) differed significantly between H24HR assessments, all of which were reported by more households in interviews following chart completion. Results suggest potential for visual prompts and the contemporaneous nature of data collection to improve the accuracy of interview-based recall. With adequate investment in developing and implementing context-adapted tools, pictorial charts may also offer an effective standalone method for use at multiple time-points in agricultural programmes.
Three‐Dimensional Morphological Variations of the Human Calcaneus Investigated Using Geometric Morphometrics

The shape of the calcaneus determines the mechanical interaction of the foot with the ground during the heel‐strike in human walking. Detailed knowledge of the pattern of sexual dimorphism of the human calcaneus could help to clarify the pathogenetic mechanism of foot and knee disorders, which are more prevalent in females. Therefore, the aim of this study was to characterize and visualize the three‐dimensional shape variations of the calcaneus in relation to sex and age using geometric morphometrics. Computed tomography images of 56 feet without subtalar injuries or disorders were used in this study. Thirty‐seven anatomical landmarks were identified on the bone model of the calcaneus to calculate principal components (PCs) of shape variations among specimens. The PC scores were compared between males and females, and their correlations with age were also analyzed. The female calcaneus was longer in length and shorter in height than that of males. The medial process of the calcaneal tuberosity in females was more inferiorly projected and the tuberosity was shifted more laterally. Also, the calcaneus was wider and the sustentaculum tali thickened with aging. Female structural features of the calcaneus alter the kinematics of the foot during walking and could be a structural factor in foot and knee disorders. This study contributes to a comprehensive understanding of shape variations in the human calcaneus. Clin. Anat. , 33:751–758, 2020. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
A Psychometric Review and Conceptual Replication Study of the Five Facets Mindfulness Questionnaire Latent Structure

The Five Facets Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ) is a popular tool in mindfulness research. However, its psychometric qualities and its replicability have caused controversy. This study carried out a psychometric review and a conceptual replication of the FFMQ latent structure. The review showed that previous validation studies of the FFMQ used nonoptimal methods. In addition, this conceptual replication study tested the structure of the FFMQ using frequentist and Bayesian techniques. The original structure did not provide a good fit with both techniques, while the proposed alternative provided mixed results. We also found systematic fit improvements in both techniques when the Observe facet was excluded and method factors were included. With these findings, we conclude that the conceptual replication of the FFMQ’s structure failed. Alternatively, we propose a new provisional FFMQ model with a set of recommendations regarding its application. Future research proposals on improving techniques and models toward mindfulness assessment are also presented and discussed.
Cardiovascular Predictive Value and Genetic Basis of Ventricular Repolarization Dynamics.

BACKGROUND Early prediction of cardiovascular risk in the general population remains an important issue. The T-wave morphology restitution (TMR), an ECG marker quantifying ventricular repolarization dynamics, is strongly associated with cardiovascular mortality in patients with heart failure. Our aim was to evaluate the cardiovascular prognostic value of TMR in a UK middle-aged population and identify any genetic contribution. METHODS We analyzed ECG recordings from 55 222 individuals from a UK middle-aged population undergoing an exercise stress test in UK Biobank (UKB). TMR was used to measure ventricular repolarization dynamics, exposed in this cohort by exercise (TMR during exercise, TMRex) and recovery from exercise (TMR during recovery, TMRrec). The primary end point was cardiovascular events; secondary end points were all-cause mortality, ventricular arrhythmias, and atrial fibrillation with median follow-up of 7 years. Genome-wide association studies for TMRex and TMRrec were performed, and genetic risk scores were derived and tested for association in independent samples from the full UKB cohort (N=360 631). RESULTS A total of 1743 (3.2%) individuals in UKB who underwent the exercise stress test had a cardiovascular event, and TMRrec was significantly associated with cardiovascular events (hazard ratio, 1.11; P=5×10-7), independent of clinical variables and other ECG markers. TMRrec was also associated with all-cause mortality (hazard ratio, 1.10) and ventricular arrhythmias (hazard ratio, 1.16). We identified 12 genetic loci in total for TMRex and TMRrec, of which 9 are associated with another ECG marker. Individuals in the top 20% of the TMRrec genetic risk score were significantly more likely to have a cardiovascular event in the full UKB cohort (18 997, 5.3%) than individuals in the bottom 20% (hazard ratio, 1.07; P=6×10-3). CONCLUSIONS TMR and TMR genetic risk scores are significantly associated with cardiovascular risk in a UK middle-aged population, supporting the hypothesis that increased spatio-temporal heterogeneity of ventricular repolarization is a substrate for cardiovascular risk and the validity of TMR as a cardiovascular risk predictor.
Peri-implant bone defects: A 1-year follow-up comparative study of use of hyaluronic acid and xenografts

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of hyaluronic acid (HA) and xenografts on the repair of peri-implant dehiscence-type bone defects occur during implant placement. Patients and Methods: Forty-two dehiscence Class I type defects located on the buccal surface of the implants were included in this study. Defects were divided into two main groups as small sized (height of <3 mm) and medium sized (height between 3 and 5 mm). Both of the main groups were further divided into two subgroups as HA plus xenograft plus collagen membrane (HAXC) or xenograft plus collagen membrane (XC) applied groups. After grafting, repair of defect site was evaluated with the help of the cross-sectional images on cone-beam computed tomography at 6th and 12th months. Results: In both main groups, vertical bone height (VBH) was higher in defects repaired with HAXC (2.65 ± 1.12 mm) than in the XC (2.45 ± 1.10 mm) groups at the 6th month. However, the difference between two subgroups was not statistically significant (P > 0.05). Reduction in VBH was observed up to 6–12 months after prosthetic loading in all defect sites. This reduction was found statistically significant in medium-sized defects that grafted with XC (P < 0.05, paired t-test). However, in other subgroups, the difference between measurements at 6th and 12th months was not statistically significant (P > 0.05). Conclusions: According to the data obtained from this study, it can be concluded that HA did not have a significant positive effect on the repair of defects around dental implants.
The E3 Ligases Spsb1 and Spsb4 Regulate RevErbα Degradation and Circadian Period

The time-dependent degradation of core circadian clock proteins is essential for the proper functioning of circadian timekeeping mechanisms that drive daily rhythms in gene expression and, ultimately, an organism’s physiology. The ubiquitin proteasome system plays a critical role in regulating the stability of most proteins, including the core clock components. Our laboratory developed a cell-based functional screen to identify ubiquitin ligases that degrade any protein of interest and have started screening for those ligases that degrade circadian clock proteins. This screen identified Spsb4 as a putative novel E3 ligase for RevErbα. In this article, we further investigate the role of Spsb4 and its paralogs in RevErbα stability and circadian rhythmicity. Our results indicate that the paralogs Spsb1 and Spsb4, but not Spsb2 and Spsb3, can interact with and facilitate RevErbα ubiquitination and degradation and regulate circadian clock periodicity.
Interval Exercise Lowers Circulating CD105 Extracellular Vesicles in Prediabetes.

BACKGROUND Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are purported to mediate type 2 diabetes (T2D) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk and development. Physical activity and a balanced diet reduce disease risk, but no study has tested the hypothesis that short-term interval (INT) training would reduce EVs compared with continuous (CONT) exercise in adults with prediabetes. METHODS Eighteen obese adults (age: 63.8±1.5yrs BMI: 31.0±1.3 kg/m) were screened for prediabetes using American Diabetes Association criteria (75g OGTT). Subjects were randomized to INT (n=10, alternating 3 min intervals at 90% and 50% HRpeak,, respectively) or CONT (n=8, 70% HRpeak) training for 12 supervised sessions over 13 d for 60 min/d. Cardiorespiratory fitness (VO2peak), weight (kg), as well as ad-libitum dietary intake were assessed and arterial stiffness (augmentation index via applanation tonometry; AIx) was calculated using total AUC during a 75g OGTT performed 24 hr following the last exercise bout. Total EVs, platelet EVs (CD31/CD41), endothelial EVs (CD105; CD31/ CD41), platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule (PECAM) (CD31) and leukocyte EVs (CD45; CD45/CD41) were analyzed via imaging flow cytometry pre-/post- intervention. RESULTS INT exercise increased VO2peak (P=0.04) compared to CONT training. While training had no effect on platelet or leukocyte EVs, INT decreased Annexin V- endothelial EV CD105 compared with CONT (P=0.04). However, after accounting for dietary sugar intake the intensity effect was lost (P=0.18). Increased ad-libitum dietary sugar intake following training was linked to elevated AV+CD105 (r=0.49, P=0.06) and AV-CD45 (r=0.59, P=0.01). Nonetheless, increased VO2peak correlated with decreased AV+ CD105 (r=-0.60, P=0.01). CONCLUSION Interval exercise training decreases endothelial derived EVs in adults with prediabetes. Although increased sugar consumption may alter EVs following a short-term exercise intervention, fitness modifies EV count.
The Reach of an Urban Hospital System-Based Diabetes Prevention Program: Patient Engagement and Weight Loss Characteristics

Purpose The purpose of this study was to identify patient and program delivery characteristics associated with engagement and weight loss in a Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) implemented in an urban hospital system. Methods Patient and program delivery data were collected between July 2015 and December 2017. DPP eligibility was determined based on age, body mass index (BMI), and hemoglobin A1C data via the electronic health record. Engagement was measured at 3 levels: ≤3 sessions, 4 to 8 sessions, and ≥9 sessions. Weight was measured at each DPP session. Results Among the eligible patients (N = 31 524), referrals and engagement were lower in men than women, in Spanish speakers than English speakers, in younger (18-34 years) and middle-aged (35-54 years) than older adults, and in patients receiving Medicaid than other patients. Referral and engagement were higher in patients with higher BMIs and those prescribed ≥5 medications. Current smokers were less frequently engaged. Prior health care provider contact was associated with higher engagement. Overall, 28% of DPP participants achieved ≥5% weight loss; younger and middle-aged patients and those who gained weight in the prior 2 years were less likely to lose weight. Conclusion This assessment identified characteristics of patients with lower levels of referral and engagement. The DPP staff may need to increase outreach to address barriers to referral and during all points of engagement among men, younger patients, and Spanish speakers. Future research is needed to increase understanding with regard to why referrals and engagement are lower among these groups.
Sex-Based Differences in Presentation, Treatment, and Complications Among Older Adults Hospitalized for Acute Myocardial Infarction: The SILVER-AMI Study.

BACKGROUND Studies of sex-based differences in older adults with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) have yielded mixed results. We, therefore, sought to evaluate sex-based differences in presentation characteristics, treatments, functional impairments, and in-hospital complications in a large, well-characterized population of older adults (≥75 years) hospitalized with AMI. METHODS AND RESULTS We analyzed data from participants enrolled in SILVER-AMI (Comprehensive Evaluation of Risk Factors in Older Patients With Acute Myocardial Infarction)-a prospective observational study consisting of 3041 older patients (44% women) hospitalized for AMI. Participants were stratified by AMI subtype (ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction [STEMI] and non-STEMI [NSTEMI]) and subsequently evaluated for sex-based differences in clinical presentation, functional impairments, management, and in-hospital complications. Among the study sample, women were slightly older than men (NSTEMI: 82.1 versus 81.3, P<0.001; STEMI: 82.2 versus 80.6, P<0.001) and had lower rates of prior coronary disease. Women in the NSTEMI subgroup presented less frequently with chest pain as their primary symptom. Age-associated functional impairments at baseline were more common in women in both AMI subgroups (cognitive impairment, NSTEMI: 20.6% versus 14.3%, P<0.001; STEMI: 20.6% versus 12.4%, P=0.001; activities of daily living disability, NSTEMI: 19.7% versus 11.4%, P<0.001; STEMI: 14.8% versus 6.4%, P<0.001; impaired functional mobility, NSTEMI: 44.5% versus 30.7%, P<0.001; STEMI: 39.4% versus 22.0%, P<0.001). Women with AMI had lower rates of obstructive coronary disease (NSTEMI: P<0.001; STEMI: P=0.02), driven by lower rates of 3-vessel or left main disease than men (STEMI: 38.8% versus 58.7%; STEMI: 24.3% versus 32.1%), and underwent revascularization less commonly (NSTEMI: 55.6% versus 63.6%, P<0.001; STEMI: 87.3% versus 93.3%, P=0.01). Rates of bleeding were higher among women with STEMI (26.2% versus 15.6%, P<0.001) but not NSTEMI (17.8% versus 15.7%, P=0.21). Women had a higher frequency of bleeding following percutaneous coronary intervention with both NSTEMI (11.0% versus 7.8%, P=0.04) and STEMI (22.6% versus 14.8%, P=0.02). CONCLUSIONS Among older adults hospitalized with AMI, women had a higher prevalence of age-related functional impairments and, among the STEMI subgroup, a higher incidence of overall bleeding events, which was driven by higher rates of nonmajor bleeding events and bleeding following percutaneous coronary intervention. These differences may have important implications for in-hospital and posthospitalization needs.
Measures of maximal tactile pressures of a sustained grasp task using a TactArray device have satisfactory reliability and validity in healthy people

Abstract Objective: To investigate the reliability and the concurrent validity of maximal tactile pressures and forces of a sustained grasp task using a TactArray device in healthy adults. Methods: Healthy participants (n = 18, mean age: 62.2 ± 9.9 years) performed three repeat trials of sustained maximal grasp over 8 seconds. Both hands were tested in within-day and between-day sessions, with vision and without vision. Measures of maximal tactile pressures and forces were measured for the complete grasp duration (8s) and for the plateau phase (5s). Measures of maximal tactile pressures and forces were reported using the highest value among three repeat trials, the mean of two repeat trials, and the mean of three repeat trials. Reliability was determined using changes in mean, coefficients of variation and intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs). Pearson correlation coefficients were used to evaluate concurrent validity. Results: Changes in mean were very good, coefficients of variation were good to acceptable and ICCs were very good to good for maximal tactile pressures using the highest value among three repeat trials and the mean of three repeat trials for the complete grasp duration (8s) and for the plateau phase (5s) in the dominant hand with and without vision and in the non-dominant hand without vision for within-day and between-day sessions. Maximal tactile pressures had moderate to large correlations with grip strength. Conclusion: The TactArray device demonstrates satisfactory reliability for maximal tactile pressures during a sustained grasp for within-day and between-day testing sessions in both hands. Validity was satisfactory with grip strength in both hands.
QT interval corrected for heart rate is not associated with mortality in patients with cirrhosis and ascites

Patients with cirrhosis are at increased risk for cardiovascular death [1]. At the same time, they have a prolonged electrocardiographic QT interval, which is a sign of delayed ventricular repolarization and is generally associated with increased risk of ventricular arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death. Prolongation of QT corrected for heart rate (QTc) has been identified as a prognostic factor for mortality in patients with alcoholic cirrhosis [2], end-stage liver disease [3] and gastrointestinal bleeding [4], but others showed no such association when adjusted for the Child-Pugh score [5]. Furthermore, the published studies used different methods for QT correction for effects of heart rate, making the interpretation of the results further uncertain. We conducted this study to examine the association between QT interval and mortality in patients with cirrhosis and ascites and without previous known severe repolarization disturbances.