Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Medical students consulting from home: A qualitative evaluation of a tool for maintaining student exposure to patients during lockdown

Abstract Introduction Lockdowns during the COVID-19 pandemic had a disruptive effect on medical education when they prevented medical students accessing real patients. To address this, we piloted 35 medical students at home consulting remotely with patients. Method We evaluated the intervention using qualitative analysis of post-experience interviews with a sample of 13 students and 10 clinical supervisors. Results The experience was perceived by all those interviewed to be both acceptable and educationally valuable. Data analysis revealed different models of implementation according to type of patients involved (acute, recently treated or expert patients) and type of communication platform used (AccuRx, Microsoft Teams or telephone). Practical and educational challenges were identified in relation to the following elements of the experience: patients consulting with students remotely, students being remotely supervised and students undertaking patient contact from home. Strategies for addressing these challenges were directly suggested by interviewees and also inferred from our analysis of the data. Conclusions Remotely supervised medical students at home undertaking remote consultations with patients can be acceptable and educationally valuable. The intervention was piloted in a UK graduate entry medical course and so it would be useful to replicate this study in other medical student populations.
Zingiber cassumunar, Guazuma ulmifolia, and Murraya paniculata Extracts as Antiobesity: In Vitro Inhibitory Effect on Pancreatic Lipase Activity

Zingiber cassumunar Roxb. (Bangle), Guazuma ulmifolia Lamk. (Jati belanda), and Murraya paniculata (Kemuning) have been used as slimming agents in jamu. A few researches have performed studies on their potency as antiobesity. The aim of this research was to investigate the potency of Z. cassumunar rhizome, G. ulmifolia, and M. paniculata leaf extracts as antiobesity agent based on in vitro inhibition activity of the extracts on pancreatic lipase activity. In this research, water content determination, phytochemical assay, toxicity assay and in vitro assay of inhibition activity on pancreatic lipase were performed toward single and mixture extracts of Z. cassumunar, G. ulmifolia, and M. paniculata resulted by water, ethanol, and saponin extractions. The results indicated that 100 ppm of ethanol extraction of Z. cassumunar had highest inhibition effect on the activity of pancreatic lipase (29.17%), followed by 100 ppm of water extraction of M. paniculata (25.66%), 60 ppm of ethanol extraction of G. ulmifolia leaves (25.13%) and ethanol extraction mixture of Z. cassumunar, G. ulmifolia, and M. paniculata leaves with ratio of 25:25:25 (21.58%). These inhibition effects were higher than inhibitory effect of 100 ppm of Xenical®/orlistat as the positive control, with the inhibition value of 17.53%. Saponin crude extracts had lower inhibitory effect than the other extractions. It was suggested that ethanol extraction of Z. cassumunar, and G. ulmifolia and water extraction of M. paniculata had potency as antiobesity agent.
Glucosylceramide production maintains colon integrity in response to Bacteroides fragilis toxin‐induced colon epithelial cell signaling

Enterotoxigenic Bacteroides fragilis (ETBF) is a commensal bacterium of great importance to human health due to its ability to induce colitis and cause colon tumor formation in mice through the production of B. fragilis toxin (BFT). The formation of tumors is dependent on a pro‐inflammatory signaling cascade, which begins with the disruption of epithelial barrier integrity through cleavage of E‐cadherin. Here, we show that BFT increases levels of glucosylceramide, a vital intestinal sphingolipid, both in mice and in colon organoids (colonoids) generated from the distal colons of mice. When colonoids are treated with BFT in the presence of an inhibitor of glucosylceramide synthase (GCS), the enzyme responsible for generating glucosylceramide, colonoids become highly permeable, lose structural integrity, and eventually burst, releasing their contents into the extracellular matrix. By increasing glucosylceramide levels in colonoids via an inhibitor of glucocerebrosidase (GBA, the enzyme that degrades glucosylceramide), colonoid permeability was reduced, and bursting was significantly decreased. In the presence of BFT, pharmacological inhibition of GCS caused levels of tight junction protein 1 (TJP1) to decrease. However, when GBA was inhibited, TJP1 levels remained stable, suggesting that BFT‐induced production of glucosylceramide helps to stabilize tight junctions. Taken together, our data demonstrate a glucosylceramide‐dependent mechanism by which the colon epithelium responds to BFT.
Combining Ability and Gene Action Studies in Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench)

The combining ability and gene action were estimated for ten female and three male parents by using line x tester analysis. ec-329424 was good general combiner for maximum number of traits viz., inter-nodal length, fruit diameter, fruits per plant, fruit yield per plant, nodes per plant and plant height followed LB local, which showed significant gca effects for inter-nodal length, fruits per plant, fruit yield per plant, average fruit weight and nodes per plant. IC-128099 x Varsha Uphar was the most promising combination exhibiting significant and desirable sca effects for maximum number of characters viz., inter-nodal length, fruits per plant, fruit yield per plant and nodes per plant, which involved low x low combiners. Higher magnitude of sca variances for node at which first flower appears, inter-nodal length, fruit yield per plant, average fruit weight and nodes per plant, suggest the importance of heterosis breeding to improve the yield and associated characters.
Effect of a brief cognitive behavioral program on depressive symptoms among newly licensed registered nurses: An observational study

Depressive symptoms are a serious problem in workplaces. Hospital staff members, such as newly licensed registered nurses (NLRNs), are at particularly increased risk of these symptoms owing to their limited experience. Previous studies have shown that a brief program-based cognitive behavioral therapy program (CBP) can offer effective treatment. Here, we conducted a longitudinal observational study of 683 NLRNs (CBP group, n = 522; no-CBP group, n = 181) over a period of 1 year (six times surveys were done during this period). Outcomes were assessed on the basis of surveys that covered the Beck Depression Inventory-I (BDI). The independent variables were CBP attendance (CBP was conducted 3 months after starting work), personality traits, personal stressful life events, workplace adversity, and pre-CBP change in BDI in the 3 months before CBP (ΔBDIpre-CBP). All factors were included in Cox proportional hazards models with time-dependent covariates for depressive symptoms (BDI ≥10), and we reported hazard ratios (HRs). Based on this analysis, we detected that CBP was significantly associated with benefit for depressive symptoms in all NLRNs (Puncorrected = 0.0137, HR = 0.902). To identify who benefitted most from CBP, we conducted a subgroup analysis based on the change in BDI before CBP (ΔBDIpre-CBP). The strongest association was when BDI scores were low after starting work and increased before CBP (Puncorrected = 0.00627, HR = 0.616). These results are consistent with previous findings, and indicate that CBP may benefit the mental health of NLRNs. Furthermore, selective prevention based on the pattern of BDI change over time may be important in identifying who should be offered CBP first. Although CBP is generally effective for all nurses, such a selective approach may be most appropriate where cost-effectiveness is a prominent concern.
A Chromosome-Level Genome Assembly of Dendrobium Huoshanense Using Long Reads and Hi-C Data

Abstract Dendrobium huoshanense is used to treat various diseases in traditional Chinese medicine. Recent studies have identified active components. However, the lack of genomic data limits research on the biosynthesis and application of these therapeutic ingredients. To address this issue, we generated the first chromosome-level genome assembly and annotation of D. huoshanense. We integrated PacBio sequencing data, Illumina paired-end sequencing data, and Hi-C sequencing data to assemble a 1.285 Gb genome, with contig and scaffold N50 lengths of 598 kb and 71.79 Mb, respectively. We annotated 21,070 protein-coding genes and 0.96 Gb transposable elements, constituting 74.92% of the whole assembly. In addition, we identified 252 genes responsible for polysaccharide biosynthesis by Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes functional annotation. Our data provide a basis for further functional studies, particularly those focused on genes related to glycan biosynthesis and metabolism, and have implications for both conservation and medicine.
Rapid evolution of genome‐wide gene expression and plasticity during saline to freshwater invasions by the copepod Eurytemora affinis species complex

Saline migrants into freshwater habitats constitute among the most destructive invaders in aquatic ecosystems throughout the globe. However, the evolutionary and physiological mechanisms underlying such habitat transitions remain poorly understood. To explore the mechanisms of freshwater adaptation and distinguish between adaptive (evolutionary) and acclimatory (plastic) responses to salinity change, we examined genome‐wide patterns of gene expression between ancestral saline and derived freshwater populations of the Eurytemora affinis species complex, reared under two different common‐garden conditions (0 versus 15 PSU). We found that evolutionary shifts in gene expression (between saline and freshwater inbred lines) showed far greater changes and were more widespread than acclimatory responses to salinity (0 versus 15 PSU). Most notably, 30–40 genes showing evolutionary shifts in gene expression across the salinity boundary were associated with ion transport function, with inorganic cation transmembrane transport forming the largest Gene Ontology category. Of particular interest was the sodium transporter, the Na+/H+ antiporter (NHA) gene family, which was discovered in animals relatively recently. Thirty key ion regulatory genes, such as NHA paralogue #7, demonstrated concordant evolutionary and plastic shifts in gene expression, suggesting the evolution of ion transporter function and plasticity during rapid invasions into novel salinities. Moreover, freshwater invasions were associated with the evolution of reduced plasticity in the freshwater population, again for the same key ion transporters, consistent with the predicted evolution of canalization following adaptation to stressful conditions. Our results have important implications for understanding evolutionary and physiological mechanisms of range expansions by some of the most widespread invaders in aquatic habitats.
Study of replication timing control by internally located telomeric repeats and the telomere-binding protein Taz1 in fission yeast

Atsutoshi, Tazumi; Masayoshi, Fukuura; Ryuichiro, Nakato; Ami, Kishimoto; Tomokazu, Takenaka; Shiho, Ogawa; Ji-hoon, Song; Tatsuro S. , Takahashi; Takuro, Nakagawa; Katsuhiko, Shirahige; Hisao, Masukata. Telomere-binding protein Taz1 controls global replication timing through its localization near late replication origins in fission yeast. Genes & development. 2012. 26(18), p.2050-2062.
Sarcoma treatment in the era of molecular medicine

Sarcomas are heterogeneous and clinically challenging soft tissue and bone cancers. Although constituting only 1% of all human malignancies, sarcomas represent the second most common type of solid tumors in children and adolescents and comprise an important group of secondary malignancies. More than 100 histological subtypes have been characterized to date, and many more are being discovered due to molecular profiling. Owing to their mostly aggressive biological behavior, relative rarity, and occurrence at virtually every anatomical site, many sarcoma subtypes are in particular difficult‐to‐treat categories. Current multimodal treatment concepts combine surgery, polychemotherapy (with/without local hyperthermia), irradiation, immunotherapy, and/or targeted therapeutics. Recent scientific advancements have enabled a more precise molecular characterization of sarcoma subtypes and revealed novel therapeutic targets and prognostic/predictive biomarkers. This review aims at providing a comprehensive overview of the latest advances in the molecular biology of sarcomas and their effects on clinical oncology; it is meant for a broad readership ranging from novices to experts in the field of sarcoma.
Lessons Learned From the Effects of COVID-19 on the Training and Education Workflow of Radiology Residents—A Time for Reflection: Perspectives of Residency Program Directors and Residents in Canada

Purpose: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has led to widespread changes in all health care settings including academic radiology departments. The purpose of this survey-based study was to investigate the impact of COVID-19 on radiology resident training and education workflow in Canada in terms of the nature, scale, and heterogeneity of the changes, preparedness and adaptation, and perceptions of the present and future of radiology training. Methods: A 30-question web-based survey was sent to 17 radiology residency program directors across Canada. A separate 32-question survey was sent to 460 residents currently enrolled in a radiology residency in Canada. These surveys were open for 3 weeks. Results: We received responses from 16 program directors and 80 residents (response rates 94.1% and 17.4%, respectively). Most respondents agreed that objectives were being met for knowledge and interpretation but less so for case volumes and technical skills. Less time was allotted for on-site activities (eg, readouts) with more time for off-site activities (eg, videoconferencing). Daytime rotations were at least partly cancelled. Most respondents felt these changes were met with enthusiasm by both faculty and residents. However, there were perceived challenges including lack of training on virtual platforms for delivery of teaching and decreased staff–resident interaction, with short- and long-term anxiety reported. Conclusions: The coronavirus disease 2019 has dramatically changed radiology resident training in Canada, with increased virtual learning at the expense of cancelled rotations and the resultant reduction in case volumes and staff–resident interaction. Although adopted with enthusiasm, these changes present substantial challenges and anxiety regarding the future of radiology resident education.
Inactivation of the GATA Cofactor ZFPM1 Results in Abnormal Development of Dorsal Raphe Serotonergic Neuron Subtypes and Increased Anxiety-Like Behavior

Serotonergic neurons in the dorsal raphe (DR) nucleus are associated with several psychiatric disorders including depression and anxiety disorders, which often have a neurodevelopmental component. During embryonic development, GATA transcription factors GATA2 and GATA3 operate as serotonergic neuron fate selectors and regulate the differentiation of serotonergic neuron subtypes of DR. Here, we analyzed the requirement of GATA cofactor ZFPM1 in the development of serotonergic neurons using Zfpm1 conditional mouse mutants. Our results demonstrated that, unlike the GATA factors, ZFPM1 is not essential for the early differentiation of serotonergic precursors in the embryonic rhombomere 1. In contrast, in perinatal and adult male and female Zfpm1 mutants, a lateral subpopulation of DR neurons (ventrolateral part of the DR) was lost, whereas the number of serotonergic neurons in a medial subpopulation (dorsal region of the medial DR) had increased. Additionally, adult male and female Zfpm1 mutants had reduced serotonin concentration in rostral brain areas and displayed increased anxiety-like behavior. Interestingly, female Zfpm1 mutant mice showed elevated contextual fear memory that was abolished with chronic fluoxetine treatment. Altogether, these results demonstrate the importance of ZFPM1 for the development of DR serotonergic neuron subtypes involved in mood regulation. It also suggests that the neuronal fate selector function of GATAs is modulated by their cofactors to refine the differentiation of neuronal subtypes. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Predisposition to anxiety disorders has both a neurodevelopmental and a genetic basis. One of the brainstem nuclei involved in the regulation of anxiety is the dorsal raphe, which contains different subtypes of serotonergic neurons. We show that inactivation of a transcriptional cofactor ZFPM1 in mice results in a developmental failure of laterally located dorsal raphe serotonergic neurons and changes in serotonergic innervation of rostral brain regions. This leads to elevated anxiety-like behavior and contextual fear memory, alleviated by chronic fluoxetine treatment. Our work contributes to understanding the neurodevelopmental mechanisms that may be disturbed in the anxiety disorder.
A trade flow analysis of the global softwood log market: implications of Russian log export tax reduction and New Zealand log production restriction

This study employs a recursive dynamic spatial partial equilibrium model to investigate the trade flow trends in the global softwood log market. A baseline forecast from 2012 to 2021 is first projected and then compared with three alternative scenarios: (1) Russia reduces its ad valorem softwood log export tax to 8 per cent to comply with its World Trade Organization accession agreements; (2) New Zealand experiences no expansion at all of its plantation forest log production due to social and environmental considerations (i.e. increased Maori ownership of forest land and the implementation of emissions trading schemes); and (3) a combination of the proposed policies in Russia and New Zealand mentioned above. The results of the baseline projection demonstrate that softwood log prices will increase in every region globally and that China will continue to be the world’s largest softwood log importer. However, softwood log exports from Russia, the US and Canada are expected to drop significantly as a result of current Russian export restrictions, the recovery of the US housing market and mountain pine beetle infestations in western Canada. A comparison of the simulated scenarios with the baseline projection reveals that reducing the Russian softwood log export tax will have a greater impact on softwood log prices and total world trade than restricting log production in New Zealand due to the comparatively large log production capacity in Russia. In any scenario, significant trade flow changes (i.e. trade-offs) in response to the proposed policy changes are observed in China and the major export regions. The results of this study offer insights for forest managers and policy makers to examine the global impacts of potential changes in trade policies and supply constraints in these two important softwood log supply regions in addition to highlighting China’s role in the world softwood log market.
Bronchial Epithelial Tet2 Maintains Epithelial Integrity during Acute Pseudomonas aeruginosa Pneumonia

Respiratory epithelial cells are important for pulmonary innate immune responses during Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection. Tet methylcytosine dioxygenase 2 (Tet2) has been implicated in the regulation of host defense by myeloid and lymphoid cells, but whether Tet2 also contributes to epithelial responses during pneumonia is unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of bronchial epithelial Tet2 in acute pneumonia caused by P. aeruginosa. To this end, we crossed mice with Tet2 flanked by two Lox-P sites (Tet2fl/fl mice) with mice expressing Cre recombinase under the bronchial epithelial cell-specific Cc10 promoter (Cc10Cre mice) to generate bronchial epithelial cell-specific Tet2-deficient (Tet2fl/fl Cc10Cre) mice. ABSTRACT Respiratory epithelial cells are important for pulmonary innate immune responses during Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection. Tet methylcytosine dioxygenase 2 (Tet2) has been implicated in the regulation of host defense by myeloid and lymphoid cells, but whether Tet2 also contributes to epithelial responses during pneumonia is unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of bronchial epithelial Tet2 in acute pneumonia caused by P. aeruginosa. To this end, we crossed mice with Tet2 flanked by two Lox-P sites (Tet2fl/fl mice) with mice expressing Cre recombinase under the bronchial epithelial cell-specific Cc10 promoter (Cc10Cre mice) to generate bronchial epithelial cell-specific Tet2-deficient (Tet2fl/fl Cc10Cre) mice. Six hours after infection with P. aeruginosa, Tet2fl/fl Cc10Cre and wild-type mice had similar bacterial loads in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). At this time point, Tet2fl/fl Cc10Cre mice displayed reduced mRNA levels of the chemokines Cxcl1, Cxcl2, and Ccl20 in bronchial brushes. However, Cxcl1, Cxcl2, and Ccl20 protein levels and leukocyte recruitment in BALF were not different between groups. Tet2fl/fl Cc10Cre mice had increased protein levels in BALF after infection, indicating a disturbed epithelial barrier function, which was corroborated by reduced mRNA expression of tight junction protein 1 and occludin in bronchial brushes. Differences detected between Tet2fl/fl Cc10Cre and wild-type mice were no longer present at 24 h after infection. These results suggest that bronchial epithelial Tet2 contributes to maintaining epithelial integrity by enhancing intracellular connections between epithelial cells during the early phase of P. aeruginosa pneumonia.
Comparison and clinical validation of qPCR assays targeting Leishmania 18S rDNA and HSP70 genes in patients with American Tegumentary Leishmaniasis

Leishmaniasis is a worldwide neglected disease, encompassing asymptomatic infections and different clinical forms, such as American Tegumentary Leishmaniasis (ATL) which is part of the complex of diseases caused by protozoan parasites from Leishmania genus, transmitted by sand fly vectors. As a neglected disease, much effort is still needed in treatment and diagnosis. Currently, ATL diagnosis is mainly made by parasite detection by microscopy. The sensitivity of the method varies, and factors such as collection procedures interfere. Molecular approaches, specially based on Real Time PCR (qPCR) technique, has been widely used to detect Leishmania infection and to quantify parasite load, once it is a simple, rapid and sensitive methodology, capable to detect low parasite concentrations and less prone to variability. Although many studies have been already published addressing the use of this technique, an improvement on these methodologies, including an analytical validation, standardization and data association is demanded. Moreover, a proper validation by the assay by the use of clinical samples is still required. In this sense, the purpose of the present work is to compare the performance of qPCR using two commonly used targets (18S rDNA and HSP70) with an internal control (RNAse P) in multiplex reactions. Additionally, we validated reactions by assaying 88 samples from patients presenting different clinical forms of leishmaniasis (cutaneous, mucosal, recent and old lesions), representing the diversity found in Brazil’s Amazon Region. Following the methodology proposed herein, the results indicate the use of both qPCR assays, 18S rDNA and HSP70, to achieve a very good net sensitivity (98.5%) and specificity (100%), performing simultaneous or sequential testing, respectively. With this approach, our main goal is to conclude the first step of a further multicenter study to propose the standardization of detection and quantification of Leishmania.