Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Quaking 5 suppresses TGF‐β‐induced EMT and cell invasion in lung adenocarcinoma

Quaking (QKI) proteins belong to the signal transduction and activation of RNA (STAR) family of RNA‐binding proteins that have multiple functions in RNA biology. Here, we show that QKI‐5 is dramatically decreased in metastatic lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). QKI‐5 overexpression inhibits TGF‐β‐induced epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) and invasion, whereas QKI‐5 knockdown has the opposite effect. QKI‐5 overexpression and silencing suppresses and promotes TGF‐β‐stimulated metastasis in vivo, respectively. QKI‐5 inhibits TGF‐β‐induced EMT and invasion in a TGFβR1‐dependent manner. KLF6 knockdown increases TGFβR1 expression and promotes TGF‐β‐induced EMT, which is partly abrogated by QKI‐5 overexpression. Mechanistically, QKI‐5 directly interacts with the TGFβR1 3′ UTR and causes post‐transcriptional degradation of TGFβR1 mRNA, thereby inhibiting TGF‐β‐induced SMAD3 phosphorylation and TGF‐β/SMAD signaling. QKI‐5 is positively regulated by KLF6 at the transcriptional level. In LUAD tissues, KLF6 is lowly expressed and positively correlated with QKI‐5 expression, while TGFβR1 expression is up‐regulated and inversely correlated with QKI‐5 expression. We reveal a novel mechanism by which KLF6 transcriptionally regulates QKI‐5 and suggest that targeting the KLF6/QKI‐5/TGFβR1 axis is a promising targeting strategy for metastatic LUAD.
Ambient Humidity Affects Development, Survival, and Reproduction of the Invasive Fall Armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), in China

Abstract Ambient humidity can directly affect the water balance in insects. The migratory fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda Smith, has spread to more than 60 countries and regions in Africa, Asia, and Oceania that have a great difference in average ambient humidity. Understanding the effects of ambient humidity changes on its development, survival, and reproduction can help to predict its population dynamics in different habitats. Therefore, we evaluated the effects of atmospheric relative humidity (RH) on the development, survival, and reproduction and soil moisture on the pupation and emergence of fall armyworm. As a result, survival and pupal mass increased significantly with increasing RH. Among the five RHs tested, 80% RH was the most suitable for fall armyworm with the highest intrinsic rate of increase (r), finite rate of increase (λ), and net reproduction rate (R0). The population growth at the different RHs in decreasing order was 80 > 100 > 60 > 40 > 20%. A relative moisture (RM) of soil from 6.80 to 47.59% was suitable for fall armyworm pupation, survival, and eclosion, but fall armyworm could not pupate normally in soil with 88.39 and 95.19% RM. The survival and emergence rate of fall armyworm pupae were reduced by irrigation that increased the RM after the mature larvae entered the soil. These findings may be helpful for refining laboratory rearing protocols, population forecasting, and management of fall armyworm.
Intralesional injection of Candida albicans antigen versus measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine for treatment of plantar warts.

INTRODUCTION Many therapeutic modalities have been used for management of plantar warts; however, no optimal treatment with high efficacy and no or low recurrence has been explored to date. Intralesional immunotherapy has shown promising results in the treatment of different types of warts.Here we compare the efficacy of Candida albicans-specific antigen versus measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine for treatment of plantar warts by intralesional injection. METHODS Sixty patients with refractory or recurrent plantar warts were randomly divided into two equal groups. Group A was treated with C. albicans antigen and Group B with MMR vaccine. Both groups were injected intralesionally in a single wart every 3 weeks until complete clearance of the wart or for a maximum of five sessions. The patients were followed up for an additional 2 months. RESULTS C. albicans antigen yielded a statistically significant higher cure rate (80,0%) than MMR vaccine (26.7%) in the treatment of plantar warts through a mean of 3.98 sessions versus 4.24 sessions, respectively (p = 0.002), and both modalities were well tolerated, with no remarkable side effects and no recurrence in cured patients during follow-up. CONCLUSIONS Intralesional C. albicans antigen injection is an easy and effective treatment tool for plantar warts, even resistant and recalcitrant ones, with no post-procedural downtime and only transient occasional side effects. MMR vaccine is thought to be less effective.
Assessing the uncertainty around age-mixing patterns in HIV transmission inferred from phylogenetic trees

Understanding age-mixing patterns in Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) transmission networks can enhance the design and implementation of HIV prevention strategies in sub-Saharan Africa. Due to ethical consideration, it is less likely possible to conduct a benchmark study to assess which sampling strategy, and sub-optimal sampling coverage which can yield best estimates for these patterns. We conducted a simulation study, using phylogenetic trees to infer estimates of age-mixing patterns in HIV transmission, through the computation of proportions of pairings between men and women, who were phylogenetically linked across different age groups (15–24 years, 25–39 years, and 40–49 years); and the means, and standard deviations of their age difference. We investigated also the uncertainty around these estimates as a function of the sampling coverage in four sampling strategies: when missing sequence data were missing completely at random (MCAR), and missing at random (MAR) with at most 30%—50%—70% of women in different age groups being in the sample. The results suggested that age-mixing patterns in HIV transmission can be unveiled from proportions of phylogenetic pairings between men and women across age groups; and the mean, and standard deviation of their age difference. A 55% sampling coverage was sufficient to provide the best values of estimates of age-mixing patterns in HIV transmission with MCAR scenario. But we should be cautious in interpreting proportions of men phylogenetically linked to women because they may be overestimated or underestimated, even at higher sampling coverage. The findings showed that, MCAR was the best sampling strategy. This means, it is advisable not to use sequence data collected in settings where we can find a systematic imbalance of age and gender to investigate age-mixing in HIV transmission. If not possible, ensure to take into consideration the imbalance in interpreting the results.
Pellagra in South Africa from 1897 to 2019: a scoping review

Abstract Objective: Pellagra is a nutritional deficiency disease associated with niacin (vitamin B3) deficiency. The history of pellagra is well documented for Europe and the USA, but less is known about the prevalence in sub-Saharan African countries. This study documents the history of pellagra in South Africa, as diagnosed based on dermatological symptoms. Design: Scoping review of information from scientific databases, library archives, other archives and record services and from Statistics South Africa. Setting: South Africa, 1897–2019. Participants: South African. Results: Pellagra was first officially recorded in South Africa in 1906, but there are earlier indications of the disease. The prevalence of pellagra peaked after it was all but eradicated in the USA and Europe. Pellagra was never as prevalent in South Africa as in Europe, the USA and Egypt, where special hospitals for pellagrins were established. However, studies on urinary excretion of metabolites conducted in 1960s and 1970s suggested a high prevalence of subclinical (sub-pellagra) niacin deficiency, especially in previously disadvantaged Black populations. As in Europe and the USA, pellagra was associated with poverty and an overdependence on maize as staple food. Malnutrition was the main cause of the disease, but alcohol abuse might have been a contributing factor. In South Africa, reports of pellagra had declined by the late 1980s/early 1990s and hardly any cases were reported by the year 2000. Conclusions: Although pellagra, diagnosed based on dermatological symptoms, appears to be largely eradicated in South Africa, it does not rule out the potential for subclinical niacin deficiency.
The mystery of monozygotic twinning II: What can monozygotic twinning tell us about Amyoplasia from a review of the various mechanisms and types of monozygotic twinning?

Monozygotic (MZ) twins (“identical twins”) are essentially unique to human beings. Why and how they arise is not known. This article reviews the possible different types of MZ twinning recognized in the previous article on twins and arthrogryposis. There appear to be at least three subgroups of MZ twinning: spontaneous, familial, and those related to artificial reproductive technologies. Each is likely to have different etiologies and different secondary findings. Spontaneous MZ twinning may relate to “overripe ova. ” Amyoplasia, a specific nongenetic form of arthrogryposis, appears to occur in spontaneous MZ twinning and may be related to twin–twin transfusion.
Experimental and theoretical investigation of direct frequency comb spectroscopy

This thesis reports on theoretical and experimental examination of two-photon direct frequency comb spectroscopy (DFCS) using atomic two-level systems. This method is a very promising tool to extend optical spectroscopy into the short wavelength region where only few cw laser sources exist. The high peak intensities of pulsed lasers facilitate efficient nonlinear conversion into frequency regions which are so far unexplored, for example by high harmonic generation (HHG). DFCS is based on theoretical work in the 1970s which showed that a pulse train of a mode-locked laser drives a two-photon transition as efficient as a cw laser of same average power. Thereby the effective line width is determined by the narrow width of a single comb mode rather than by the spectral width of a single pulse. In this way a frequency comb combines the spectral purity of a cw laser with the high peak intensity of a pulsed laser. To demonstrate the capability of a nonlinearly converted frequency comb for DFCS, the absolute frequency of a two-photon transition in $^{24}$Mg at 431~nm was measured in a first experiment. The accuracies of the values could be improved by more than two orders of magnitude with respect to previously reported values. Furthermore two crucial effects which affect the transition rates were analyzed quantitatively for the first time: the impact of a linear chirp and non-centered spectral envelope on the spectroscopy. In general the pulses of a nonlinear converted frequency comb are not bandwidth limited leading to a partially destructive pairwise addition of modes. To describe the impact of a linear chirp a theoretical model was developed and verified experimentally using two-photon spectroscopy on cesium. Moreover, theory and experiment have shown a Gaussian decrease in the transition rate with increasing detuning of the laser spectrum. %Another important aspect is the centering of the laser spectrum with respect to the atomic transition. Theory and experiment show here a Gaussian decrease in the transition rate with increasing detuning. Finally the progress of $1S - 3S$ spectroscopy in hydrogen is presented. This transition is a promising candidate for a test of bound state quantum electrodynamics. Using cw lasers the required wavelength of 205~nm is hard to generate, making this transition to an eligible system for DFCS. Beside the experimental achievements also the lessons learned from Cs and Mg spectroscopy and their consequences for the H spectroscopy are discussed. In the scope of this work a frequency quadrupled laser system was extended and improved, providing ps frequency combs of high average power and good beam profile at 820~nm, 410~nm and 205~nm. An overall output power of max. 100~mW is now available at 205~nm, the up to date highest power generated by SHG. Moreover for H spectroscopy a new spectrometer was designed and built.
Sleep actigraphy time-synchronized with wind turbine output.

Studies have yielded inconsistent evidence for an association between long-term average wind turbine sound pressure level (SPL) and disturbed sleep. Transient changes in sleep may be more susceptible to short-term variations in wind turbine SPL throughout the sleep period time. We analyzed sleep actigraphy data (subject sleep nights=2094, males=151, females=192) in 10 min intervals time-synchronized to wind turbine supervisory control and data acquisition. Calculated indoor wind turbine SPL was considered after adjusting for turbine rotor speed and closed/open bedroom windows. Maximum calculated nightly average wind turbine SPL reached 44.7 dBA (mean=32.9, SD=6.4) outdoors, and 31.4 dBA (mean=12.5, SD=8.3) indoors. Wind turbine SPL in 10 min intervals, and nightly averages, were not statistically associated with actigraphy outcomes. However, the variability in wind turbine SPL due to changes in wind turbine operation across the sleep period time, as measured by the difference between the 10 min SPL and the nightly average SPL (∆SPL), was statistically related to awakenings (p=0.028) and motility (p=0.015) rates. These diminutive differences translate to less than 1 min of additional awake and motility time for a 5 dBA increase over a 450 min sleep period time. Overall results showed that wind turbine SPL below 45 dBA was not associated with any consequential changes in actigraphy-measured sleep. Observations based on ∆SPL provided some indication that a more sensitive assessment of sleep may be one that considers variations in wind turbine SPL throughout the sleep period time.
Cardiorespiratory Fitness in Spanish Firefighters

Objective: To evaluate the cardiorespiratory fitness and other fitness-related measures, and to analyze the differences among age groups. Methods: This study was conducted on 104 firefighters. Maximal oxygen uptake (VO2 max) was assessed using the Shuttle Test and fitness was evaluated using appropriate physical tests. Results: Mean VO2 max was 45.7 mL/kg/min and 60.6% of firefighters were over the minimum accepted standpoint to do effective work, however, the VO2 max decreased with increasing age. 35.6% of the firefighters were overweight. Age, weight, and total body fat were found to be significant predictors of VO2 max level in this population, with total body fat as strongest predictor. Conclusions: Healthy habits-based interventions tailored by age groups should be promoted, to improve cardiorespiratory fitness and body composition for safe work and to improve firefighters’ health.
REGULATION OF CEREBRAL BLOOD FLOW IN HUMANS: PHYSIOLOGY AND CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS OF AUTOREGULATION.

Brain function critically depends on a close matching between metabolic demands, appropriate delivery of oxygen and nutrients, and removal of cellular waste. This matching requires continuous regulation of cerebral blood flow (CBF), which can be categorized into four broad topics: 1) autoregulation, which describes the response of the cerebrovasculature to changes in perfusion pressure, 2) vascular reactivity to vasoactive stimuli [including carbon dioxide (CO2)], 3) neurovascular coupling (NVC), i.e., the CBF response to local changes in neural activity (often standardized cognitive stimuli in humans), and 4) endothelium-dependent responses. This review focuses primarily on autoregulation and its clinical implications. To place autoregulation in a more precise context, and to better understand integrated approaches in the cerebral circulation, we also briefly address reactivity to CO2 and NVC. In addition to our focus on effects of perfusion pressure (or blood pressure), we describe the impact of select stimuli on regulation of CBF (i.e., arterial blood gases, cerebral metabolism, neural mechanisms, and specific vascular cells), the inter-relationships between these stimuli, and implications for regulation of CBF at the level of large arteries and the microcirculation. We review clinical implications of autoregulation in aging, hypertension, stroke, mild cognitive impairment, anesthesia, and dementias. Finally, we discuss autoregulation in the context of common daily physiological challenges, including changes in posture (e.g., orthostatic hypotension, syncope) and physical activity.
Influence of Striving for Work–Life Balance and Sense of Coherence on Intention to Leave Among Nurses: A 6-Month Prospective Survey

The increase in the elderly population in need of healthcare services has led to a serious shortage in the nursing workforce. To retain a large nursing workforce, a strong work–life balance among nurses is needed along with a healthy work environment. This prospective study investigates the influence of work–life balance and sense of coherence on intention to leave among hospital nurses. A questionnaire survey was conducted with 2239 nurses as a baseline. The explanatory variables included striving for work–life balance behavior, a sense of coherence in terms of personal resources, and work-, organizational-, and individual-related factors. Using a cohort of 1368 valid responses, we measured intention to leave among 975 nurses with whom we were able to follow up 6 months after the baseline survey. We then performed multiple regression analysis. The behavior striving for work–life balance was shown to influence nurses’ intention to leave. Nurses who exhibited less striving for work–life balance behavior showed higher intentions to leave. The sense of coherence was not identified as a factor affecting intention to leave. Securing a comfortable work–life balance would reduce the nurses’ desire to quit the hospital. To reduce nurse turnover, nurse managers should develop support programs that can help nurses achieve a better work–life balance.
Ethnically biased microsatellites contribute to differential gene expression and glutathione metabolism in Africans and Europeans

Approximately three percent of the human genome is occupied by microsatellites: a type of short tandem repeat (STR). Microsatellites have well established effects on (a) the genetic structure of diverse human populations and (b) expression of nearby genes. These lines of inquiry have uncovered 3,984 ethnically biased microsatellite loci (EBML) and 28,375 expression STRs (eSTRs), respectively. We hypothesize that a combination of EBML, eSTRs, and gene expression data (RNA-seq) can be used to show that microsatellites contribute to differential gene expression and phenotype in human populations. In fact, our previous study demonstrated a degree of mutual overlap between EBML and eSTRs but fell short of quantifying effects on gene expression. The present work aims to narrow the gap. First, we identify 313 overlapping EBML/eSTRs and recapitulate their mutual overlap. The 313 EBML/eSTRs are then characterized across ethnicity and tissue type. We use RNA-seq data to pursue validation of 49 regions that affect whole blood gene expression; 32 out of 54 affected genes are differentially expressed in Africans and Europeans. We quantify the relative contribution of these 32 genes to differential expression; fold change tends to be less than other differentially expressed genes. Repeat length correlates with expression for 15 of the 32 genes; two are conspicuously involved in glutathione metabolism. Finally, we repurpose a mathematical model of glutathione metabolism to investigate how a single polymorphic microsatellite affects phenotype. We conclude with a testable prediction that microsatellite polymorphisms affect GPX7 expression and oxidative stress in Africans and Europeans.
FtBPM3 modulates the orchestration of FtMYB11‐mediated flavonoids biosynthesis in Tartary buckwheat

Tartary buckwheat (Fagopyrum tataricum, TB) is rich in bioactive flavonoids, which have a variety of biological activities (Ghorbani, 2017). Jasmonates (JAs) are essential phytohormones, which play key roles in regulating the formation of numerous secondary metabolites, including flavonoids rutin (Zhou and Memelink, 2016; Li et al., 2019). It has been reported that JAs could induce flavonoids accumulation and identified a class of JAs-responsive R2R3-MYB TFs, such as FtMYB11, a repressor of rutin biosynthesis in TB (Zhang et al., 2018; Zhou et al., 2017). JAs leads to FtMYBs degradation by 26S proteasome pathway (Zhang et al., 2018). However, the posttranslational regulation of these FtMYBs has not been reported.
How can we assess and measure prognosis for MALT lymphoma? A review of current findings and strategies

ABSTRACT Introduction : MALT (mucosa associated lymphoid tissue) lymphoma is a distinct type of B-cell lymphoma characterized by extranodal manifestation and an indolent clinical course with 10-year survival rates up to 90%. However, transformation to aggressive lymphoma may occur and treatment is indicated in case of symptomatic or progressive disease. Areas covered : This review covers clinical and biological features potentially related to prognosis and outcome of MALT lymphoma patients, as well as available prognostic tools and risk stratification systems with a focus on the MALT-IPI (international prognostic index) and the POD24 (progression of disease at 24 months) cohort. In addition, we address the role of watch-and-wait, the importance of defining the optimal time point for treatment initiation and the relevance of depth of remission, which appear to be some of the central questions for physicians involved in the care of MALT lymphoma patients. A computerized database search using PubMed® was performed to identify available publications on prognostic factors and risk stratification tools in MALT lymphoma. Expert opinion : Despite the development of disease-specific risk stratification systems, there is no clear concept how to measure prognosis and tailor treatment. Careful observation of the individual clinical course is essential to assess the optimal time point of treatment initiation and avoid overtreatment, particularly in patients with disseminated disease. In addition, early detection of patients with histological transformation is necessary, as these patients face a poor prognosis.
Social value orientation modulates fairness processing during social decision-making: evidence from behavior and brain potentials

Abstract Social value orientation (SVO) characterizes stable individual differences by an inherent sense of fairness in outcome allocations. Using the event-related potential (ERP), this study investigated differences in fairness decision-making behavior and neural bases between individuals with prosocial and proself orientations using the Ultimatum Game (UG). Behavioral results indicated that prosocials were more prone to rejecting unfair offers with stronger negative emotional reactions compared with proselfs. ERP results revealed that prosocials showed a larger P2 when receiving fair offers than unfair ones in a very early processing stage, whereas such effect was absent in proselfs. In later processing stages, although both groups were sensitive to fairness as reflected by an enhanced medial frontal negativity (MFN) for unfair offers and a larger P3 for fair offers, prosocials exhibited a stronger fairness effect on these ERP components relative to proselfs. Furthermore, the fairness effect on the MFN mediated the SVO effect on rejecting unfair offers. Findings regarding emotional experiences, behavioral patterns and ERPs provide compelling evidence that SVO modulates fairness processing in social decision-making, whereas differences in neural responses to unfair vs fair offers as evidenced by the MFN appear to play important roles in the SVO effect on behavioral responses to unfairness.