Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Composition, Predicted Functions and Co-occurrence Networks of Rhizobacterial Communities Impacting Flowering Desert Events in the Atacama Desert, Chile

Flowering desert (FD) events consist of the rapid flowering of a wide variety of native plants in the Atacama Desert of Chile, which is categorized as the driest desert in the world. While ephemeral plants are an integral part of the desert ecosystem, there is little knowledge on plant-microbe interactions that occur during FD events. Consequently, the overall goals of this present study were to investigate changes in the composition and potential functions of rhizobacterial community of Cistanthe longiscapa (Montiaceae) during the 2014 and 2015 FD events and determine the composition, potential functions, and co-occurrence networks of rhizobacterial community associated with the root zone of C. longiscapa during pre- (PF) and full-flowering (FF) phenological stages. Results of this study showed that the Proteobacteria and Actinobacteria were the dominant taxa in rhizosphere soils during the three FD events (2014, 2015, and 2017) examined. In general, greater microbial richness and diversity were observed in rhizosphere soils during the 2015-, compared with the 2014-FD event. Similarly, predicted functional analyses indicated that a larger number of sequences were assigned to information processing (e.g., ion channel, transporters and ribosome) and metabolism (e.g., lipids, nitrogen, and sulfur) during 2015 compared with 2014. Despite the lack of significant differences in diversity among PF and FF stages, the combined analysis of rhizobacterial community data, along with data concerning rhizosphere soil properties, evidenced differences among both phenological stages and suggested that sodium is a relevant abiotic factor shaping the rhizosphere. In general, no significant differences in predicted functions (most of them assigned to chemoheterotrophy, magnesium metabolisms, and fermentation) were observed among PF and FF. Co-occurrence analysis revealed the complex rhizobacterial interactions that occur in C. longiscapa during FD, highlighting to Kouleothrixaceae family as keystone taxa. Taken together this study shows that the composition and function of rhizobacteria vary among and during FD events, where some bacterial groups and their activity may influence the growth and flowering of native plants, and therefore, the ecology and trophic webs in Atacama Desert.
Distributed coding of stimulus magnitude in rodent prefrontal cortex

As we interact with the external world, we judge magnitudes from sensory information. The estimation of magnitudes has been characterized in primates, yet it is largely unexplored in non-primate species. Here, we show that gerbils that solve a time-interval reproduction task display primate-like magnitude estimation characteristics, most prominently a systematic overestimation of small stimuli and an underestimation of large stimuli, often referred to as regression effect. We investigated the underlying neural mechanisms by recording from medial prefrontal cortex and show that the majority of neurons respond either during the measurement or the reproduction of a time-interval. Cells that are active during both phases display distinct response patterns. We categorize the neural responses into multiple types and demonstrate that only populations with mixed responses can encode the bias of the regression effect. These results reveal the organizing neural principles of magnitude estimation a process important to higher cognitive functions.
Efficacy of a Combination of Tanacetum parthenium, 5-Hydroxy Tryptophan and Magnesium (Aurastop) in Episodic Migraine Prevention: A Multicentric Observational Study

Objective: To verify the efficacy and safety of the new combination of Tanacetum parthenium 150 mg, 5-hydrossitriptophan (5-HTTP) 20 mg and magnesium 185 mg (Aurastop) in the prophylactic treatment of episodic migraine without aura (MO). Methods: Eighty patients suffering from MO for at least 6 months with a monthly frequency of 3 to 8 attacks and 4 to12 headache days, were enrolled in this open study and treated with Aurastop twice daily per os for 3 months. The reduction of headache days per month was assessed as the primary end-point, while the secondary end-points were: 1) reduction of the number of MO attacks; 2) reduction of intensity of the pain; 3) reduction of acute treatment drug intake; 4) subjective change of pain intensity. Results: All the parameters significantly improved at the end of the observational period of treatment with Aurastop. In more detail: a significant reduction of the number of headache days (from 9.1 ± 2.0 before treatment to 3.2 ± 1.8 post treatment, p
Surgical patients’ experiences of information about medication: a qualitative comparative study with a patient-centered medication counseling upon discharge

Background: Medical treatment is often prescribed to patients for acute or chronic conditions during hospital admission. Upon discharge, patients must be prepared to manage their medication at home to promote recovery and avoid readmission. Objective: To investigate the patient experience of information about medication in relation to admission in a general surgical ward when a patient-centered medication counseling upon discharge was compared with usual care. Methods: A comparative study with qualitative interviews (n=10) was performed using a phenomenological-hermeneutic approach. The intervention was performed by 2 pharmaconomists and comprised patient information, medication reconciliation, physician discussion, patient counselling, written information to primary care physician and telephone follow-up after discharge. Results: The study revealed 3 themes: firstly, “who keeps the main thread? ” was about patients’ experiences of lack of information and a concern of whether the health professionals collaborated and informed each other about observations and treatment plans; secondly, “being put out of act” reflected patients’ experiences of losing control of the situation due to their illness, health professionals and guidelines; thirdly, “to take the lead” was related to how patients acted to avoid medication errors and continue an ongoing treatment. Conclusion: A patient-centered medication counseling delivered by pharmaconomists upon discharge did not improve patient experiences of information about medication. The patients experienced a series of encounters with unfamiliar health professionals which resulted in patients not requesting the needed information about medication and treatment plans.
Economic Returns to Households Participating in Different Models of Commercial Tree Plantations in Lao PDR

SUMMARY Four tree plantation models implemented in Lao PDR and a hypothetical model were compared in terms of the projected economic benefits and those realised by participating rural households, and households' attitudes to further plantation expansion. Models comprised two forms of land-sharing plantation concessions, and contract and independent tree growing. Benefits and costs over the plantation cycle were used to calculate net present values. Tree plantations contributed most to household livelihoods when companies engaged in a participatory land use planning process, where opportunities for household labour were greatest, and where plantation models allowed for intercropping by households. In contrast, where contracts were not honoured, crops cannot be grown jointly, or labour opportunities are limited, returns were not competitive with traditional swidden agriculture. Households were generally open to expansion of more beneficial models. These results suggest a set of principles for developing locally appropriate and beneficial tree plantation systems in Lao PDR.
Phenology and description of a new species of Hoplothrips (Thysanoptera: Phlaeothripidae) in Mojave Desert leaf litter

Abstract. A description and diagnosis are given for Hoplothrips cooperi sp. nov. collected from leaf litter beneath Chilopsis linearis (Cavanilles) Sweet (Bignoniaceae) shrubs in the Mojave Desert in southern Nevada. All adult males and most adult females are apterous, with macropters produced only in females. I examined the phenology of the species at a single locality during 27 November 2018 to 19 June 2019. Three generations were evident during winter and spring from the densities of larval and pupal instars. The timing and abundances of these generations appeared dependent on rainfall, consistent with thrips feeding on fungi growing on moist, dead leaves and stems. Most apterous adults and all macropterous females were collected during late spring when thrips densities and leaf-litter temperatures were highest. Hoplothrips cooperi appears to be the first species in the genus to be collected from leaf litter in the western U.S. and Mexico.
Orthodontic Treatment Need in 11-13 Years Old Shoolchildren in Republika Srpska

SUMMARY Introduction Need for orthodontic treatment is determined by the severity of specific malocclusion. Orthodontic indices are used to objectively present treatment needs. The most commonly used is the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need (IOTN). The aim of this study was to determine the need for orthodontic therapy in 11 to 13 years old schoolchildren in Republika Srpska. Material and Methods 1377 patients, 11 to 13 years old, were included in this study. The examinations were performed in elementary schools, using daylight, flat mirror and two-dimensional orthodontic caliper. Patients were ranked into 5 grades according to the Dental Health Component (DHC) and graded on a scale 1 to 10 for the Aesthetic Component (AC) of the IOTN index. Results According to the Dental Health Component (DHC), 79.23% of patients needed orthodontic treatment. Little and borderline orthodontic need was present in 27.74% and 24.83% children, respectively, while severe need was present in 19.98% and 6.68% respectively. 20.77% of subjects did not need orthodontic treatment. In regards to the Aesthetic Component (AC) (face appearance related to orthodontic need) little or no treatment was needed in 91.42% of subjects while 6.42% were borderline and 2.16% of subjects had severe relation between orthodontic need and facial appearance. Conclusion Due to the wide presence of orthodontic irregularities in schoolchildren 11-13 years old in Republika Srpska, it is important to introduce orthodontic indices in clinical practice in order to determine orthodontic treatment needs.
Depression and coronary heart disease. Clinical characteristics, pathogenetic links and treatment issues

Summary It is widely accepted that depression increases the risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) in healthy people while, in individuals with an existing heart disease, depression is a predictor of recurrent cardiac events and death. It seems that new-onset depression after an acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and not recurrent depression may worsen the cardiovascular outcome, and it has been suggested, although not conclusively proved, that depressive somatic symptoms, could be more cardiotoxic than depressive cognitive symptoms. Both psychosocial (low social support, less adherence to treatment recommendations, physical inactivity) and biological mechanisms (autonomic nervous system dysregulation, platelet and endothelial dysfunctions, inflammation, and neuroendocrine abnormalities) have been hypothesized to explain the link between depression and the increased risk of CHD or adverse cardiovascular prognosis. Randomized controlled clinical trials seem to suggest that depression in CHD patients is poor responsive to both pharmacological and psychotherapeutic treatments. Nevertheless, these trials provide also a robust evidence that CHD depressed patients non responder to antidepressant treatments are at greater risk of adverse cardiac event than patients with successfully treated depression. Therefore, it is advisable that psychiatrists, cardiologists and general practitioners coordinate their efforts in managing depression in CHD patients.
Longitudinal Development of Memory for Temporal Order in Early to Middle Childhood

Abstract Existing studies examining the development of temporal order memory show that although young children perform above chance on some tasks assessing temporal order memory, there are significant age-related differences across childhood. Yet, the trajectory of children’s ability to retrieve temporal order remains unclear as existing conclusions are drawn from cross-sectional studies. The present study utilized an accelerated longitudinal design in order to characterize the developmental trajectory of temporal order memory in a sample of 200 healthy 4- to 8-year-old children. Specifically, two tasks commonly used in the literature were tested longitudinally: a primacy judgment task and an ordering task. Results revealed that, even after controlling for differences in IQ, linearly increasing trajectories characterized age-related change in performance for both tasks; however, change appeared greater for the temporal ordering task. Further, performance on the two tasks was positively related, suggesting shared underlying mechanisms. These findings provide a more thorough understanding of temporal order memory in early to middle childhood by characterizing the developmental trajectories of two commonly used tasks and have important implications for our understanding of children’s developing memory more broadly.
Deep Functional Profiling Facilitates the Evaluation of the Antibacterial Potential of the Antibiotic Amicoumacin

The global spread of antibiotic resistance is forcing the scientific community to find new molecular strategies to counteract it. Deep functional profiling of microbiomes provides an alternative source for the discovery of novel antibiotic producers and probiotics. Recently, we implemented this ultrahigh-throughput screening approach for the isolation of Bacillus pumilus strains efficiently producing the ribosome-targeting antibiotic amicoumacin A (Ami). Proteomics and metabolomics revealed essential insight into the activation of Ami biosynthesis. Here, we applied omics to boost Ami biosynthesis, providing the optimized cultivation conditions for high-scale production of Ami. Ami displayed a pronounced activity against Lactobacillales and Staphylococcaceae, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains, which was determined using both classical and massive single-cell microfluidic assays. However, the practical application of Ami is limited by its high cytotoxicity and particularly low stability. The former is associated with its self-lactonization, serving as an improvised intermediate state of Ami hydrolysis. This intramolecular reaction decreases Ami half-life at physiological conditions to less than 2 h, which is unprecedented for a terminal amide. While we speculate that the instability of Ami is essential for Bacillus ecology, we believe that its stable analogs represent attractive lead compounds both for antibiotic discovery and for anticancer drug development.
An observational pilot study using a purified reconstituted bilayer matrix to treat non‐healing diabetic foot ulcers

Diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) have significant clinical impact and carry a substantial economic burden. Patients with DFUs that are refractory to standard wound care are at risk for major complications, including infection and amputation and have an increased risk of mortality. This study evaluated the safety and preliminary efficacy of a novel decellularised purified reconstituted bilayer matrix (PRBM) in treating DFUs. Ten diabetic patients with refractory wounds that failed to heal after at least 4 weeks of standard wound care were studied in this Institutional Review Board approved trial. Ten consecutive wounds were treated weekly with the PRBM for up to 12 weeks. At each weekly visit, the wound was evaluated, photographed, and cleaned, followed by application of new graft if not completely epithelialised. Assessment included measurement of the wound area and inspection of the wound site for signs of complications. The primary outcome measure was wound closure, as adjudicated by independent reviewers. Secondary outcomes included assessment of overall adverse events, time to closure, percent area reduction, and the cost of product(s) used. Nine of 10 patients achieved complete wound closure within 4 weeks, and 1 did not heal completely within 12 weeks. The mean time to heal was 2.7 weeks. The mean wound area reduction at 12 weeks was 99%. No adverse events nor wound complications were observed. These early clinical findings suggest that the PRBM may be an effective tool in the treatment of diabetic foot ulcers.
When 90% of the variance is not enough: residual EMG from muscle synergy extraction influences task performance

Muscle synergies are usually identified via dimensionality reduction techniques, such that the identified synergies reconstruct the muscle activity to a level of accuracy defined heuristically, such as 90% of the variance explained. Here, we question the assumption that the residual muscle activity not explained by the synergies is due to noise. We hypothesize instead that the residual activity is structured and can therefore influence the execution of a motor task. Young healthy subjects performed an isometric reaching task in which surface electromyography of 10 arm muscles was mapped onto estimated two-dimensional forces used to control a cursor. Three to five synergies were extracted to account for 90% of the variance explained. We then altered the muscle-force mapping via “hard” and “easy” virtual surgeries. Whereas in both surgeries the forces associated with synergies spanned the same single dimension of the virtual environment, the muscle-force mapping was as close as possible to the initial mapping in the easy surgery and as far as possible in the hard surgery. This design therefore maximized potential differences in reaching errors attributable to the residual muscle activity. Results show that the easy surgery produced much smaller directional errors than the hard task. In addition, systematic estimations of the errors for easy and hard surgeries constructed with 1 to 10 synergies show that the errors differ significantly for up to 8 synergies, which account for 98% of the variance on average. Our study therefore indicates the need for cautious interpretations of results derived from synergy extraction techniques based on heuristics with lenient levels of accuracy. Author summary The muscle synergy hypothesis states that the central nervous system simplifies motor control by grouping muscles that share common functions into modules called muscle synergies. Current techniques use unsupervised dimensionality reduction algorithms to identify these synergies. However, these techniques rely on arbitrary criteria to determine the number of synergies, which is actually unknown. An example of such criteria is that the identified synergies must be able to reconstruct the measured muscle activity to at least a 90% level of accuracy. Thus, the residual muscle activity, the remaining 10% of the muscle activity, is often disregarded as noise. We show that residual muscle activity following muscle synergy identification has a large systematic effect on movements even when the number of synergies approaches the number of muscles. This suggests that current synergy extraction techniques may discard a component of muscle activity that is important for motor control. Therefore, current synergy extraction techniques must be updated to identify true physiological synergies.
Contact Allergy to Fragrance Mix II and Hydroxyisohexyl 3-Cyclohexene Carboxaldehyde: A Retrospective Study by International Contact Dermatitis Research Group

Background Fragrance mix II (FM II) is included in the baseline patch test series recommended by the International Contact Dermatitis Research Group (ICDRG). Hydroxyisohexyl 3-cyclohexene carboxaldehyde (HICC) is the most important sensitizer of the 6 fragrance materials included in FM II. Besides being a part of FM II, HICC is also tested separately in the ICDRG baseline series. Objectives The aim of the study was to investigate the prevalence of contact allergy to FM II and HICC in 2012–2016 with a focus on simultaneous reactions and the percentage of missed contact allergy to HICC provided that only FM II had been tested. Patients and Methods A total of 25,019 consecutive dermatitis patients in 13 dermatology clinics representing 12 countries in 5 continents were patch tested with FM II and HICC in the baseline series. Results Contact allergy to FM II and HICC was found in 3.9% and 1.6%, respectively. For FM II, the frequency varied from 1.5% to 7.6% in different centers. The corresponding range for HICC was 0.2% to 3.6%. Simultaneous contact allergy to FM II and HICC was noted in 1.4% with the range 0.2% to 2.6%. Seventy-seven patients (0.31%) with contact allergy to HICC did not test positively to FM II. The range for missed HICC allergy by testing only FM II in the different centers would be 0.04% to 0.74%. The ratio between the contact allergy rates for FM II and HICC was similar for all centers, except for Montreal having significantly more contact allergy to FM II than to HICC. Conclusions The frequency of missed contact allergy to HICC when testing only with FM II was less than 0.5%, therefore questioning the need to test HICC separately in the ICDRG baseline series.
A novel compound heterozygous missense mutation in ASNS broadens the spectrum of asparagine synthetase deficiency

Asparagine synthetase deficiency (ASNSD) is a rare pediatric congenital disorder that clinically manifests into severe progressive microcephaly, global developmental delay, spastic quadriplegia, and refractory seizures. ASNSD is caused by inheritable autosomal recessive mutations in the asparagine synthetase (ASNS) gene.
The Firing of Theta State-Related Septal Cholinergic Neurons Disrupt Hippocampal Ripple Oscillations via Muscarinic Receptors

The septo-hippocampal cholinergic system is critical for hippocampal learning and memory. However, a quantitative description of the in vivo firing patterns and physiological function of medial septal (MS) cholinergic neurons is still missing. In this study, we combined optogenetics with multichannel in vivo recording and recorded MS cholinergic neuron firings in freely behaving male mice for 5.5–72 h. We found that their firing activities were highly correlated with hippocampal theta states. MS cholinergic neurons were highly active during theta-dominant epochs, such as active exploration and rapid eye movement sleep, but almost silent during non-theta epochs, such as slow-wave sleep (SWS). Interestingly, optogenetic activation of these MS cholinergic neurons during SWS suppressed CA1 ripple oscillations. This suppression could be rescued by muscarinic M2 or M4 receptor antagonists. These results suggest the following important physiological function of MS cholinergic neurons: maintaining high hippocampal acetylcholine level by persistent firing during theta epochs, consequently suppressing ripples and allowing theta oscillations to dominate. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT The major source of acetylcholine in the hippocampus comes from the medial septum. Early experiments found that lesions to the MS result in the disappearance of hippocampal theta oscillation, which leads to speculation that the septo-hippocampal cholinergic projection contributing to theta oscillation. In this article, by long-term recording of MS cholinergic neurons, we found that they show a theta state-related firing pattern. However, optogenetically activating these neurons shows little effect on theta rhythm in the hippocampus. Instead, we found that activating MS cholinergic neurons during slow-wave sleep could suppress hippocampal ripple oscillations. This suppression is mediated by muscarinic M2 and M4 receptors.