Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Phylogeny, species delimitation and ecological and morphological diversity of Characithecium (Monogenoidea: Dactylogyridae)

Abstract Abstract Characithecium (Monogenoidea, Dactylogyridae) is a genus containing nine species that live on the gills of a characid clade containing genera Astyanax, Andromakhe, Psalidodon and Oligosarcus (Characiformes, Characidae) in South and Central America. Earlier studies suggest a tight coevolutionary history between these parasites and their hosts mainly due to the phylogenetic proximity between these genera of fish. Hence, this study explores phylogenetic relationships, species limits and extrinsic factors (geography and ecology) explaining parasite prevalence. To understand the evolutionary history of the genus, we constructed a time-calibrated phylogenetic hypothesis, which includes eight of the nine known species of Characithecium sampled from a broad spectrum of host species. The phylogeny supports the monophyly of Characithecium, with its most recent common ancestor dating from the Miocene. Using generalized mixed-yule coalescent and Bayesian Poisson tree process methods, species delimitation analyses suggested fewer species than the proposed delimitation based on morphology alone, recovering four and six entities, respectively. The results indicate that species of Characithecium have wider geographical and host distribution and higher prevalence on Oligosarcus species compared to Astyanax and Psalidodon. Correlation between parasite prevalence and biotic and abiotic traits, based on generalized linear models, indicates that the frequency of occurrence of different species of Characithecium is associated with distinct factors, such as host genus, high altitudes, rivers and streams, and different ecoregions. Our results suggest that species of Characithecium are highly opportunistic, exploring resources in different manner as our data reveal the ability of these parasites to explore a diverse environment of variable biotic (e.g. hosts) and abiotic features.
Work Exposures and Development of Cardiovascular Diseases: A Systematic Review

Abstract Introduction Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the number one cause of death, and there is evidence that work exposures could be associated with their development. This study aimed to systematically review observational studies of adults exposed to job strain, effort–reward imbalance, long working hours, job insecurity, shift work, and occupational noise, and assess the association of those work exposures with CVDs. Methods The Navigation Guide framework was applied. The population were adults of working age (18–65), and cohort and case–control studies were included. The work exposures were job strain, effort–reward imbalance, long working hours, job insecurity, shift work, and occupational noise. The outcomes were cerebrovascular diseases, ischaemic heart disease, and hypertensive diseases. The selection, data extraction, risk of bias assessment, and quality assessment were carried out by two reviewers independently and disagreements were solved by a third reviewer or by consensus. The synthesis of the results was done by applying the ‘vote counting based on direction’ method, and the results were summarized in an effect direction plot. The strength of the evidence for every risk factor and CVD was defined by consensus. Results A total of 17 643 papers were initially identified in the literature search, but after applying the filters by title and abstract, and full text, 86 studies were finally included. From the included studies, sufficient evidence was found of the harmfulness of job strain for cerebrovascular disease and ischemic heart disease. Furthermore, there was sufficient evidence of the harmfulness of shift work for ischemic heart disease. Evidence of no relationship was found between long working hours and shift work with ischaemic heart disease and hypertensive disease, respectively. The other associations of work exposures and CVDs had limited or inadequate evidence of harmfulness. Conclusions In this comprehensive review, there was sufficient evidence of a harmful relationship between job strain, shift work, and CVDs. For the other work exposures, more high-quality studies are needed. In order to improve current prevention strategies for CVDs, the findings of this review imply that job strain and shift work are work exposures that constitute additional risk factors that could be approached as targets for worksite interventions. Systematic review registration PROSPERO CRD42020179972.
Study of Conversion Efficiency of Tube- type Solar Thermal Collectors

There has been more and more attention to research on design and usage of solar thermal collectors so as to satisfy economic development. Nowadays, the extent of applicability of a tube-type solar thermal collector is an intriguing problem for new engineering design. In this paper, analytical and experimental studies of a multi-tube type solar thermal collector are presented as a tool. Thermodynamic analysis of the thermal collector is derived to describe and evaluate its performance in aspects of energy conversion efficiency. A small-scale rig of a multi-tube type solar thermal collector is made from materials available in market. It is experimentally tested during 9-hr of daytime in real use. It is found that experimental results give a good agreement with the mathematical model of conversion efficiency, which relates to material parameters of the solar thermal collector.
Nirsevimab for Prevention of RSV in Healthy Late-Preterm and Term Infants.

BACKGROUND Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a major cause of lower respiratory tract infection and hospitalization in infants. Nirsevimab is a monoclonal antibody to the RSV fusion protein that has an extended half-life. The efficacy and safety of nirsevimab in healthy late-preterm and term infants are uncertain. METHODS We randomly assigned, in a 2:1 ratio, infants who had been born at a gestational age of at least 35 weeks to receive a single intramuscular injection of nirsevimab or placebo before the start of an RSV season. The primary efficacy end point was medically attended RSV-associated lower respiratory tract infection through 150 days after the injection. The secondary efficacy end point was hospitalization for RSV-associated lower respiratory tract infection through 150 days after the injection. RESULTS A total of 1490 infants underwent randomization: 994 were assigned to the nirsevimab group and 496 to the placebo group. Medically attended RSV-associated lower respiratory tract infection occurred in 12 infants (1.2%) in the nirsevimab group and in 25 infants (5.0%) in the placebo group; these findings correspond to an efficacy of 74.5% (95% confidence interval [CI], 49.6 to 87.1; P<0.001) for nirsevimab. Hospitalization for RSV-associated lower respiratory tract infection occurred in 6 infants (0.6%) in the nirsevimab group and in 8 infants (1.6%) in the placebo group (efficacy, 62.1%; 95% CI, -8.6 to 86.8; P = 0.07). Among infants with data available to day 361, antidrug antibodies after baseline were detected in 58 of 951 (6.1%) in the nirsevimab group and in 5 of 473 (1.1%) in the placebo group. Serious adverse events were reported in 67 of 987 infants (6.8%) who received nirsevimab and in 36 of 491 infants (7.3%) who received placebo. CONCLUSIONS A single injection of nirsevimab administered before the RSV season protected healthy late-preterm and term infants from medically attended RSV-associated lower respiratory tract infection. (Funded by MedImmune/AstraZeneca and Sanofi; MELODY ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT03979313.).
A mechanism for the strange metal phase in rare-earth intermetallic compounds

Significance The elusive strange metal phase (ground state) was observed in a variety of quantum materials, notably in f-electron–based rare-earth intermetallic compounds. Its emergence has remained unclear. Here, we propose a generic mechanism for this phenomenon driven by the interplay of the gapless fermionic short-ranged antiferromagnetic spin correlation and critical bosonic charge fluctuations near a Kondo breakdown quantum phase transition. It is manifested as a fluctuating Kondo-scattering–stabilized critical (gapless) fermionic spin liquid. It shows ω/T scaling in dynamical electron scattering rate, a signature of quantum criticality. Our results on quasilinear-in-temperature scattering rate and logarithmic-in-temperature divergence in specific heat coefficient as temperature vanishes were recently seen in CePd1−xNixAl.
Auts2 deletion involves in DG hypoplasia and social recognition deficit: The developmental and neural circuit mechanisms

The involvement of genetic risk and the underlying developmental and neural circuit mechanisms in autism-related social deficit are largely unclear. Here, we report that deletion of AUTS2, a high-susceptibility gene of ASDs, caused postnatal dentate gyrus (DG) hypoplasia, which was closely relevant to social recognition deficit. Furthermore, a previously unknown mechanism for neural cell migration in postnatal DG development was identified, in which Auts2-related signaling played a vital role as the transcription repressor. Moreover, the supramammillary nucleus (SuM)–DG-CA3 neural circuit was found to be involved in social recognition and affected in Auts2-deleted mice due to DG hypoplasia. Correction of DG-CA3 synaptic transmission by using a pharmacological approach or chemo/optogenetic activation of the SuM-DG circuit restored the social recognition deficit in Auts2-deleted mice. Our findings demonstrated the vital role of Auts2 in postnatal DG development, and this role was critical for SuM-DG-CA3 neural circuit-mediated social recognition behavior.
Lack of hydraulic recovery as a cause of post‐drought foliage reduction and canopy decline in European beech

Summary European beech (Fagus sylvatica) was among the most affected tree species during the severe 2018 European drought. It not only suffered from instant physiological stress but also showed severe symptoms of defoliation and canopy decline in the following year. To explore the underlying mechanisms, we used the Swiss‐Canopy‐Crane II site and studied in branches of healthy and symptomatic trees the repair of hydraulic function and concentration of carbohydrates during the 2018 drought and in 2019. We found loss of hydraulic conductance in 2018, which did not recover in 2019 in trees that developed defoliation symptoms in the year after drought. Reduced branch foliation in symptomatic trees was associated with a gradual decline in wood starch concentration throughout summer 2019. Visualization of water transport in healthy and symptomatic branches in the year after the drought confirmed the close relationship between xylem functionality and supported branch leaf area. Our findings showed that embolized xylem does not regain function in the season following a drought and that sustained branch hydraulic dysfunction is counterbalanced by the reduction in supported leaf area. It suggests acclimation of leaf development after drought to mitigate disturbances in canopy hydraulic function.
Opioid antagonism mitigates antipsychotic-associated weight gain: focus on olanzapine

Abstract Background The endogenous opioid system affects metabolism, including weight regulation. Evidence from preclinical and clinical studies provides a rationale for targeting this system to mitigate weight-related side effects of antipsychotics. This review describes the role of the opioid system in regulating weight and metabolism, examines the effects of opioid receptor antagonism on those functions, and explores the use of opioid antagonists to mitigate antipsychotic-associated weight gain and/or metabolic effects. Methods A PubMed literature search was conducted to identify representative opioid antagonists and associated preclinical and clinical studies examining their potential for the regulation of weight and metabolism. Results The mu opioid receptor (MOR), delta opioid receptor (DOR), and kappa opioid receptor (KOR) types have overlapping but distinct patterns of central and peripheral expression, and each contributes to the regulation of body weight and metabolism. Three representative opioid antagonists (eg, naltrexone, samidorphan, and LY255582) were identified for illustration. These opioid antagonists differed in their receptor binding and pharmacokinetic profiles, including oral bioavailability, systemic clearance, and half-life, and were associated with varying effects on food intake, energy utilization, and metabolic dysregulation. Conclusions Preclinical and clinical data suggest that antagonism of the endogenous opioid system is a mechanism to address antipsychotic-associated weight gain and metabolic dysregulation. However, evidence suggests that the differing roles of MOR, DOR, and KOR in metabolism, together with the differences in receptor binding, pharmacokinetic, and functional activity profiles of the opioid receptor antagonists discussed in this review, likely contribute to their differential pharmacodynamic effects and clinical outcomes observed regarding antipsychotic-associated weight gain.
Abstract 628: Soluble CD137 as a dynamic biomarker to monitor agonist CD137 immunotherapies

Background: On the basis of efficacy in mouse tumor models, multiple CD137 (4-1BB) agonist agents are being preclinically and clinically developed. The costimulatory molecule CD137 is inducibly expressed as a transmembrane or as a soluble protein (sCD137). Moreover, the CD137 cytoplasmic signaling domain is a key part in approved Chimeric Antigen Receptors (CARs). Reliable pharmacodynamic biomarkers for CD137 ligation and co-stimulation of T cells will facilitate clinical development of CD137 agonists in the clinic. Methods: We used human and mouse CD8 T cells undergoing activation to measure CD137 transcription and protein expression levels determining both of the membrane-bound and soluble forms. In tumor-bearing mice plasma sCD137 concentrations were monitored upon treatment with agonist anti-CD137 mAbs. Human CD137 knock-in mice were treated with clinical-grade agonist anti-human CD137 (Urelumab). Sequential plasma samples were collected from the first patients intratumorally treated with Urelumab in the INTRUST clinical trial. Anti-Mesothelin CD137-encompassing CAR-transduced T cells were stimulated with mesothelin coated microbeads. sCD137 was measured by sandwich ELISAs and Luminex and flow cytometry was used to monitor CD137 surface expression. Results: CD137 co-stimulation upregulates transcription and protein expression of CD137 itself including sCD137 in human and mouse CD8 T cells. Immunotherapy with anti-CD137 agonist mAb resulted in increased plasma sCD137 in mice bearing syngeneic tumors. sCD137 induction is also observed in human CD137 knock-in mice treated with Urelumab and in mice transiently humanized with T cells undergoing CD137 co-stimulation inside subcutaneous implanted Matrigel® plugs. CD137 signaling domain-containing CAR T cells readily released sCD137 upon antigen recognition in a manner favored by the CD137 signaling domain. Patients treated intratumorally with low dose Urelumab showed increased plasma concentrations of sCD137. Conclusion: sCD137 in plasma and CD137 surface expression can be used as quantitative parameters dynamically reflecting therapeutic co-stimulatory activity elicited by agonist CD137-targeted agents. Citation Format: Javier Glez-Vaz, Arantza Azpilikueta, Irene Olivera, Assunta Cirella, Álvaro Teijeira, Carmen Ochoa, Maite Álvarez, Iñaki Eguren, Carlos Luri-Rey, Miguel F. Sanmamed, Ignacio Melero. Soluble CD137 as a dynamic biomarker to monitor agonist CD137 immunotherapies [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2022; 2022 Apr 8-13. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2022;82(12_Suppl):Abstract nr 628.
Functional bacterial cultures for dairy applications: Towards improving safety, quality, nutritional and health benefit aspects

Traditionally, fermentation was used to preserve the shelf life of food. Currently, in addition to favouring food preservation, well standardized and controlled industrial processes are also aimed at improving the functional characteristics of the final product. In this regard, starter cultures have become an essential cornerstone of food production. The selection of robust microorganisms, well adapted to the food environment, has been followed by the development of microbial consortia that provide some functional characteristics, beyond their acidifying capacity, achieving safer, high‐quality foods with improved nutritional and health‐promoting properties. In addition to starters, adjunct cultures and probiotics, which normally do not have a relevant role in fermentation, are added to the food in order to provide some beneficial characteristics. This review focuses on highlighting the functional characteristics of food starters, as well as adjunct and probiotic cultures (mainly lactic acid bacteria and bifidobacteria), with a specific focus on the synthesis of metabolites for preservation and safety aspects (e.g. bacteriocins), organoleptic properties (e.g. exopolysaccharides), nutritional (e.g. vitamins) and health improvement (e.g. neuroactive molecules). Literature reporting the application of these functional cultures in the manufacture of foods, mainly those related to dairy production, such as cheeses and fermented milks, has also been updated.
Overweight, obesity and excessive weight gain in pregnancy as risk factors for adverse pregnancy outcomes: A narrative review

Abstract The global prevalence of overweight and obesity in pregnancy is rising and this represents a significant challenge for the management of pregnancy and delivery. Women who have a pre‐pregnancy body mass index greater than 25 kg m–2 are more likely than those with a body mass index in the ideal range (20–24.99 kg m–2) to have problems conceiving a child and are at greater risk of miscarriage and stillbirth. All pregnancy complications are more likely with overweight, obesity and excessive gestational weight gain, including those that pose a significant threat to the lives of mothers and babies. Labour complications arise more often when pregnancies are complicated by overweight and obesity. Pregnancy is a stage of life when women have greater openness to messages about their lifestyle and health. It is also a time when they come into greater contact with health professionals. Currently management of pregnancy weight gain and the impact of overweight tends to be poor, although a number of research studies have demonstrated that appropriate interventions based around dietary change can be effective in controlling weight gain and reducing the risk of pregnancy complications. The development of individualised and flexible plans for avoiding adverse outcomes of obesity in pregnancy will require investment in training of health professionals and better integration into normal antenatal care.
Current Status of Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol Target Achievement in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Korea Compared with Recent Guidelines

Background We evaluated the achievement of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) targets in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) according to up-to-date Korean Diabetes Association (KDA), European Society of Cardiology (ESC)/European Atherosclerosis Society (EAS), and American Diabetes Association (ADA) guidelines. Methods This retrospective cohort study collected electronic medical record data from patients with T2DM (≥20 years) managed by endocrinologists from 15 hospitals in Korea (January to December 2019). Patients were categorized according to guidelines to assess LDL-C target achievement. KDA (2019): Very High-I (atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease [ASCVD]) <70 mg/dL; Very High-II (target organ damage [TOD], or cardiovascular risk factors [CVRFs]) <70 mg/dL; high (others) <100 mg/dL. ESC/EAS (2019): Very High-I (ASCVD): <55 mg/dL; Very High-II (TOD or ≥3-CVRF) <55 mg/dL; high (diabetes ≥10 years without TOD plus any CVRF) <70 mg/dL; moderate (diabetes <10 years without CVRF) <100 mg/dL. ADA (2019): Very High-I (ASCVD); Very High-II (age ≥40+ TOD, or any CVRF), for high intensity statin or statin combined with ezetimibe. Results Among 2,000 T2DM patients (mean age 62.6 years; male 55.9%; mean glycosylated hemoglobin 7.2%) ASCVD prevalence was 24.7%. Of 1,455 (72.8%) patients treated with statins, 73.9% received monotherapy. According to KDA guidelines, LDL-C target achievement rates were 55.2% in Very High-I and 34.9% in Very High-II patients. With ESC/EAS guidelines, target attainment rates were 26.6% in Very High-I, 15.7% in Very High-II, and 25.9% in high risk patients. Based on ADA guidelines, most patients (78.9%) were very-high risk; however, only 15.5% received high-intensity statin or combination therapy. Conclusion According to current dyslipidemia management guidelines, LDL-C goal achievement remains suboptimal in Korean patients with T2DM.
Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene Practices in Urban Slums of Eastern India

Abstract Background The Sustainable Development Goals identified universal access to water and sanitation facilities as key components for improving health. We assessed water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) practices and associated determinants among residents of urban slums in Kolkata, India. Methods Information on WASH practices was collected in 2 surveys (2018 and 2019) from participants of a prospective enteric fever surveillance conducted in 2 municipal wards of Kolkata. A composite WASH practice score was computed and a hierarchical stepwise multiple linear regression model constructed to identify key determinants of improved WASH score. Results Over 90% of households had access to piped water; 6% reported access to continuous supply. Adult women (61% in 2018; 45% in 2019) spent 20 minutes daily to fetch water. Access to improved latrines was almost universal, although 80% used shared facilities. Unhealthy disposal of children’s stools was reported in both rounds. Food hygiene practices were high, with most (>90%) washing uncooked items before eating; frequent consumption of street food items was reported. Conclusions The study area reported high WASH coverage. Unhygienic behavioral patterns predisposing to food- or water-borne diseases were also noted. Awareness building and sustainable community mobilization for food hygiene needs to be emphasized to ensure community well-being.