Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Nurse managers in perioperative settings and their reasons for remaining in their jobs - a qualitative study.

AIM The study describes what helps nurse managers maintain the strength to keep going as leaders. BACKGROUND Good leadership is important for the quality of patient care, patient satisfaction in care, and efficiency. Many nurse managers stay on despite challenges at work. METHODS Twelve nurse managers were interviewed. Data were analyzed by Systematic Text Condensation according to Malterud. RESULTS The results were: A - Walking side by side with my employees; B - Knowing that I mean something to my employees; C - Talking to myself - asking myself tough questions; D - Having someone to talk to, to decrease the feeling of being alone; E - Leading and managing in my own way - the fear of not succeeding is my motivation. CONCLUSION The nurse managers built their own strategies to get through and get on when difficult situations arose. In order to succeed in leading their employees, the nurse managers gathered their inner strength through moving caritatively back and forth between the "secret room" and the "staff room" in the house of leadership.
Mate Quality Affects Reproductive Effort in a Paternally Investing Species

Females of many species exercise postcopulatory mate choice by increasing the amount of resources put into reproduction after mating with a preferred male. This phenomenon is termed cryptic female choice in insects and differential allocation in birds. In this study I investigate the possibility that males and females vary their reproductive effort depending on the quality of their mate. Females of the comma butterfly, Polygonia c-album (Nymphalidae) lay their eggs on a range of host plants, including stinging nettle (Urtica dioica) and sallow (Salix caprea). Previous studies have shown that females reared on sallow are more fecund than females reared on stinging nettle, whereas males reared on stinging nettle produce spermatophores with higher protein content than sallow-reared males. Radioactive label experiments showed that females use male donations for egg production. When females mated males that provided larger donations, they used proportionally more of these proteins for egg production but also increased their own reproductive effort. Female lifetime reproductive output was not found to differ with respect to the larval diet of their mate, but females mated to high-quality males lived significantly longer than females mated to males providing them with smaller donations, which suggests that females can use male nutrients also for somatic maintenance. These results are discussed in relation to female cryptic choice and differential allocation hypotheses.
Impact of a Histone Deacetylase Inhibitor—Trichostatin A on Neurogenesis after Hypoxia-Ischemia in Immature Rats

Hypoxia-ischemia (HI) in the neonatal brain frequently results in neurologic impairments, including cognitive disability. Unfortunately, there are currently no known treatment options to minimize ischemia-induced neural damage. We previously showed the neuroprotective/neurogenic potential of a histone deacetylase inhibitor (HDACi), sodium butyrate (SB), in a neonatal HI rat pup model. The aim of the present study was to examine the capacity of another HDACi—Trichostatin A (TSA)—to stimulate neurogenesis in the subgranular zone of the hippocampus. We also assessed some of the cellular/molecular processes that could be involved in the action of TSA, including the expression of neurotrophic factors (glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), nerve growth factor (NGF), and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)) as well as the TrkB receptor and its downstream signalling substrate— cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB). Seven-day-old rat pups were subjected to unilateral carotid artery ligation followed by hypoxia for 1 h. TSA was administered directly after the insult (0.2 mg/kg body weight). The study demonstrated that treatment with TSA restored the reduced by hypoxia-ischemia number of immature neurons (neuroblasts, BrdU/DCX-positive) as well as the number of oligodendrocyte progenitors (BrdU/NG2+) in the dentate gyrus of the ipsilateral damaged hemisphere. However, new generated cells did not develop the more mature phenotypes. Moreover, the administration of TSA stimulated the expression of BDNF and increased the activation of the TrkB receptor. These results suggest that BDNF-TrkB signalling pathways may contribute to the effects of TSA after neonatal hypoxic-ischemic injury.
Do benthic and planktonic diatoms produce equivalent effects in crustaceans?

Hippolyte inermis Leach 1814 is a benthic shrimp characterized by a peculiar mechanism of sex reversal influenced by diatom foods. In fact, the appearance of primary females in spring is due to an apoptotic early disruption of the androgenic gland and of the male gonad, triggered by still unknown compounds present in diatoms of the genus Cocconeis. The influence of diatoms on the reproductive ecology and life cycle of planktonic crustaceans has been demonstrated previously: some planktonic diatoms produce aldehydes inducing apoptosis in the embryos and in the larvae of marine copepods, reducing their viability. Both benthic and planktonic diatoms therefore produce compounds having an apoptotic effect on some tissues of target crustaceans, although the ecological significance of the two processes is different: deleterious for copepod populations, regulative for shrimps associated with Posidonia oceanica. In the present article we experimentally administered specific planktonic diatoms, their fractions and compounds known to induce apoptosis in planktonic copepods, to H. inermis postlarvae, to check whether the apoptotic effect is due to an identical family of diatom compounds, and to establish whether the processes observed in the plankton and in the benthos, respectively, are analogous or homologous, from an ecological point of view. Our results indicated that diatom compounds acting in the two systems are different, since both planktonic diatoms and their aldehydes had negligible effects on the sex ratios of cultured shrimps.
Winter survival of snow mold inoculated alfalfa under varying levels of snow cover

Two snow mold pathogens, LTB (low temperature basidiomycete) and Plenodomus meliloti (PM), were applied to alfalfa overwintering under varying levels of snow cover. Conditions during the two year experiment did not appear to be conducive for P. meliloti development as there were no differences in percent survival or forage yield between PM-inoculated and noninoculated plots. Deep snow appeared to be most conducive to LTB infection. However, optimal soil temperatures (-5 to +1 degree C) during Marc at 5 cm depth under intermediate and shallow snow cover also encouraged pathogenesis and resulted in 74% yield losses under intermediate and 46% under shallow snow cover.
Morphological and Molecular Definition of Calomyscus hotsoni (Rodentia: Muroidea: Calomyscidae)

Abstract The rediscovery of Calomyscus hotsoni in Pakistan is reported. This species had previously been known from a series of specimens taken at the type locality in southwestern Pakistan in 1918 and a series of specimens from 4 localities in southeastern Iran collected in 1962 and reported as this taxon in 2005. Specimens of C. hotsoni were collected from 4 additional locations in southern Pakistan between 1996 and 1999. Partial sequence data from cytochrome b support the recognition of C. hotsoni as a distinct species from the other Calomyscus found in Pakistan, C. baluchi. Material collected from near the type localities of C. hotsoni and C. baluchi demonstrate significant differences in 5 cranial measurements and all external measurements other than ear height. C. hotsoni can be differentiated from C. baluchi by its smaller hind foot. The known distribution of C. hotsoni is greatly expanded and some ecological observations about the species also are reported. Examination of data presented on the distribution and on variation in local abundance suggests that C. hotsoni is currently neither endangered nor threatened.
The AaLplus near-peer teaching program in Family Medicine strengthens basic medical skills—A five-year retrospective study

Background Basic medical skills such as history taking and physical examination are essential components of clinical work profiles, but nevertheless have been neglected by conventional preclinical curricula. The near-peer-teaching program AaLplus [living anatomy plus] teaches basic medical skills, especially history taking, physical examination, and venepuncture, to preclinical students. It is a highly popular compulsory course in the first four semesters (320 students/year, 9h/semester) at Heidelberg University and ends with a formative Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) during which students receive structured in-depth feedback on their performance. AaLplus is part of the Department of General Practice’s longitudinal curriculum for Family Medicine. Objectives This study aims to assess whether the AaLplus program has positive effects on students’ clinical skill development and subjective confidence in history taking, physical examination and venepuncture. Methods From 2015 to 2019, we asked all AaLplus participants to rate the program and self-assess their medical skills on 5-point Likert scales (min 1, max 5). In 4-station OSCEs, trained tutors rated the students’ performance in all taught skills using standardized checklists. Results From 2015 to 2019 n = 1534 questionnaires returned (response rate = 98.6%, 52.7% females). After course completion, students felt able to take a patient’s history (mean 3.97, SD = 0.75) and perform physical examinations (means range 3.82–4.36, SDs range 0.74–0.89) as well as venepuncture (mean 4.12, SD = 0.88). A large majority of students claimed they acquired these skills in the AaLplus program. During OSCE, 81.9% passed anamnesis, 93.1% passed physical examination, and 95.4% passed venepuncture (of n = 1556). Students mostly rated the feedback they received during the OSCE as “helpful” or “very helpful” (means for different stations 4.69–4.76, SDs 0.50–0.70). Conclusions AaLplus is a positive example of a peer teaching program in the preclinical stage of medical studies. It successfully trains junior students in essential medical abilities and increases their confidence in their skills. A high percentage of students pass the formative OSCE and evaluate it positively. Consistently high ratings indicate the program’s routine viability. Further studies are needed to analyze if programs like AaLplus could have an impact on the number of graduates choosing career in Family Medicine.
Content of Free Amino Acids in Onion ( Allium cepa L.) as Influenced by the Stage of Development at Harvest and Long-term Storage

The changes in free amino acid (FAA) composition during long-term storage of onions ( Allium cepa L.) were investigated over a 3 year period. The influence of development at the time of harvest on the FAA composition of onions was investigated over a 2 year period. In addition, the composition of FAA in different morphological parts was analysed over a 1 year period. The most abundant amino acids were arginine and glutamine. The results indicated that the later the onions were harvested the lower the content of almost all the FAA in the dry matter. These differences in content were maintained throughout long-term storage. The percentage of FAA in the dry matter increased in relation to the centrality of leaves in the bulb but was independent of storage time.
Crosstalk Between Culturomics and Microbial Profiling of Egyptian Mongoose (Herpestes ichneumon) Gut Microbiome

Recently, we unveiled taxonomical and functional differences in Egyptian mongoose (Herpestes ichneumon) gut microbiota across sex and age classes by microbial profiling. In this study, we generate, through culturomics, extended baseline information on the culturable bacterial and fungal microbiome of the species using the same specimens as models. Firstly, this strategy enabled us to explore cultivable microbial community differences across sexes and to ascertain the influence exerted by biological and environmental contexts of each host in its microbiota signature. Secondly, it permitted us to compare the culturomics and microbial profiling approaches and their ability to provide information on mongoose gut microbiota. In agreement with microbial profiling, culturomics showed that the core gut cultivable microbiota of the mongoose is dominated by Firmicutes and, as previously found, is able to distinguish sex- and age class-specific genera. Additional information could be obtained by culturomics, with six new genera unveiled. Richness indices and the Shannon index were concordant between culture-dependent and culture-independent approaches, highlighting significantly higher values when using microbial profiling. However, the Simpson index underlined higher values for the culturomics-generated data. These contrasting results were due to a differential influence of dominant and rare taxa on those indices. Beta diversity analyses of culturable microbiota showed similarities between adults and juveniles, but not in the data series originated from microbial profiling. Additionally, whereas the microbial profiling indicated that there were several bioenvironmental features related to the bacterial gut microbiota of the Egyptian mongoose, a clear association between microbiota and bioenvironmental features could not be established through culturomics. The discrepancies found between the data generated by the two methodologies and the underlying inferences, both in terms of β-diversity and role of bioenvironmental features, confirm that culture-independent, sequence-based methods have a higher ability to assess, at a fine scale, the influence of abiotic and biotic factors on the microbial community composition of mongoose’ gut. However, when used in a complementary perspective, this knowledge can be expanded by culturomics.
Cognitive Deficits in Myopathies

Myopathies represent a wide spectrum of heterogeneous diseases mainly characterized by the abnormal structure or functioning of skeletal muscle. The current paper provides a comprehensive overview of cognitive deficits observed in various myopathies by consulting the main libraries (Pubmed, Scopus and Google Scholar). This review focuses on the causal classification of myopathies and concomitant cognitive deficits. In most studies, cognitive deficits have been found after clinical observations while lesions were also present in brain imaging. Most studies refer to hereditary myopathies, mainly Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), and myotonic dystrophies (MDs); therefore, most of the overview will focus on these subtypes of myopathies. Most recent bibliographical sources have been preferred.
RETRACTED: Intranasal Niosomal In Situ Gel as a Promising Approach for Enhancing Flibanserin Bioavailability and Brain Delivery: In Vitro Optimization and Ex Vivo/In Vivo Evaluation

Flibanserin (FLB) is a multifunctional serotonergic agent that was recently approved by the FDA for the oral treatment of premenopausal women with hypoactive sexual desire disorder. FLB is a centrally acting drug that has a low oral bioavailability of 33% owing to its exposure to the hepatic first-pass effect, as well as its pH-dependent solubility, which could be an obstacle hindering the drug dissolution and absorption via mucosal barriers. Thus, this work aimed at overcoming the aforementioned drawbacks and promoting the nose-to-brain delivery of FLB via the formulation of an intra-nasal in situ niosomal gel. The Box–Behnken design was employed to study the impact of Span® 85 concentration (X1), hydration time (X2), and pH of the hydrating buffer (X3) on the vesicle size and drug entrapment. The optimized formulation exhibited a spherical shape with a vesicular size of 46.35 nm and entrapment efficiency of 92.48%. The optimized FLB niosomes integrated into gellan gum-based in situ gel exhibited enhanced ex vivo permeation and improved plasma and brain concentrations after nasal administration in rats compared to raw FLB. These findings highlight the capability of the proposed intra-nasal FLB niosomal in situ gel to boost the drug bioavailability and to promote its direct delivery to the brain.
THE RED ALGAL EPIPHYTES MICROCLADIA COULTERI AND M. CALIFORNICA (RHODOPHYCEAE, CERAMIACEAE). II. BASIPHYTE SPECIFICITY 1

The phenomenon of basiphyte specificity in the settlement and growth of the red algal epiphytes Microcladia californica Farl. and M. coulteri Harv. was examined by studying the interface with their respective basiphytes and by cross‐inoculation experiments. Microcladia californica attaches only to the surface of its single basiphyte Egregia menziesii (Aresch.) Turn. whereas M. coulteri penetrates the tissue of a wide range of basiphytes. The pattern of primary rhizoid development in both epiphytes determines the mode of attachment and may influence the range of basiphytes possible for each epiphyte. Cross‐inoculation experiments show that Microcladia californica is not able to colonize the basiphytes of M. coulteri, Iridaea and Prionitis, or Ulva. The mechanisms by which these algae restrict the growth of epiphytes include short life‐span, “cuticle peeling” and chemical defense. Microcladia coulteri, which naturally colonizes Iridaea and Prionitis, has evolved mechanisms to counteract the antifouling effects of those basiphytes. The question of why Egregia is the exclusive substratum for M. californica remains undetermined. However, Egregia may provide the appropriate ecological conditions and a surface topography conductive to M. californica spore settlement and growth.
Analgesic effect of intravenous dexamethasone after volar plate surgery for distal radius fracture with brachial plexus block anaesthesia: a prospective, double‐blind randomised clinical trial*

Rebound pain after brachial plexus block resolution and development of long‐lasting pain are problems associated with volar plate fixation for distal radius fractures. The aim of this double‐blind study was to evaluate the effect of a single prophylactic intravenous dose of dexamethasone in this setting. The primary endpoint was highest pain score during the first 24 hours after surgery. We included 51 adults of ASA physical status 1–2 due to undergo planned acute fixation of the radius. All received premedication with oral paracetamol and etoricoxib, and a pre‐operative brachial plexus block with ropivacaine. Patients were randomly allocated into two groups: a dexamethasone group receiving 16 mg dexamethasone intravenously at start of surgery and a control group receiving 4 ml saline. After surgery, all patients received fixed doses of paracetamol, etoricoxib and oxycodone, with further oxycodone added as needed in the first 48 hours. Pain, analgesic consumption and daily function were registered at predefined times up to 1 year after surgery. Median (IQR [range]) worst pain score in the first 24 hours, as assessed by verbal numeric rating scale (0–10), was 4 (2‐6 [0–7]) in the dexamethasone group compared with 8 (5–8 [2–10]) in the placebo group (p < 0.001). Average pain score, 2 (1–4 [0–5]) vs. 5 (3–6 [0–8]), p = 0.001 and rescue oxycodone consumption, 5 (0‐10 [0‐35]) mg vs. 10 (5‐15 [0‐50]) mg, p = 0.037), respectively, were both significantly lower in the dexamethasone group compared with control from 8 to 24 hours. Brachial plexus block duration was 69% longer in the dexamethasone group, 21.5 (19.1‐23.4 [12.9‐24.1]) hours vs. 12.7 (11.9‐15.3 [7.4‐26.6]) hours, p < 0.001. Two patients (9%) in the dexamethasone group compared with 12 (50%) in the placebo group experienced worst pain scores of 8‐10 during the first 36 hours (p = 0.002). At 3 and 7 days postoperatively, there were no significant differences between groups for pain scores or opioid consumption. At 6 months, 27 patients (57%) reported pain at the site of surgery, with significantly higher average pain score (p = 0.024) in the placebo group. At 1 year, two patients in the dexamethasone group reported pain compared with 10 in the placebo group (p = 0.015), and worst pain score was significantly higher in the placebo group (p = 0.018). We conclude that intravenous dexamethasone improves early postoperative analgesia and may also improve clinical outcomes after 6 and 12 months.
Dual-Reporting Transcriptionally Linked Genetically Encoded Fluorescent Indicators Resolve the Spatiotemporal Coordination of Cytosolic Abscisic Acid and Second Messenger Dynamics in Arabidopsis

Multiparametric in vivo analyses using dual-reporting genetically encoded fluorescent indicators reveal the spatiotemporal coordination of signaling compound dynamics in Arabidopsis roots. Deciphering signal transduction processes is crucial for understanding how plants sense and respond to environmental changes. Various chemical compounds function as central messengers within deeply intertwined signaling networks. How such compounds act in concert remains to be elucidated. We have developed dual-reporting transcriptionally linked genetically encoded fluorescent indicators (2-in-1-GEFIs) for multiparametric in vivo analyses of the phytohormone abscisic acid (ABA), Ca2+, protons (H+), chloride (anions), the glutathione redox potential, and H2O2. Simultaneous analyses of two signaling compounds in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) roots revealed that ABA treatment and uptake did not trigger rapid cytosolic Ca2+ or H+ dynamics. Glutamate, ATP, Arabidopsis PLANT ELICITOR PEPTIDE, and glutathione disulfide (GSSG) treatments induced rapid spatiotemporally overlapping cytosolic Ca2+, H+, and anion dynamics, but except for GSSG, only weakly affected the cytosolic redox state. Overall, 2-in-1-GEFIs enable complementary, high-resolution in vivo analyses of signaling compound dynamics and facilitate an advanced understanding of the spatiotemporal coordination of signal transduction processes in Arabidopsis.
Herbage Yield and Chemical Composition of Switchgrass as Affected by N, S, and K Fertilization1

Little information is available regarding the nutrient requirements of switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.). The objective of this greenhouse study was to examine the effect of N, S, and K fertilization on the herbage yield, N/S ratio, and herbage concentrations of N and S in leaf blade, stem (culms and leaf sheaths), and total herbage fractions of switchgrass grown to anthesis. Three rates of N (0, 224, and 448 kg/ha of N as NH₄NO₃ in split application), three rates of K (0, 448, and 896 kg/ha of K as KHCO₃), and two rates of S (0 and 56 kg/ha of S as CaSO₄) were applied in all possible combinations (18 treatments) to pots containing soil cores of switchgrass. Dry matter yield of all herbage fractions increased significantly with each increment of N. However, for total herbage, stems, and inflorescences, yield increase with the second increment of N was dependent upon the application of S. K fertilization decreased inflorescence yield significantly at the highest rate, but did not affect dry matter yield of any other herbage fraction. At the highest rate of N, fertilization with S increased N concentration in the leaves, decreased N concentration in the stems, decreased the proportion of the total N legalized in the stems, and increased the total herbage uptake of N. When S was applied, switchgrass responded to increased N fertilization by increasing S uptake. In contrast, when S was not applied, fertilization with N caused a dilution of tissue S and also decreased the proportion of the total herbage S localized in the stems. Concentration and content of N and S decreased with the first increment of K fertilization, but there was no change with the second increment of K. Critical N/S ratios for switchgrass appear to be greater than 10:1 for herbage, greater than 12:1 for leaf blades, and greater than 8:1 for stems.