Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Variation of structural and functional metrics in macrophyte communities within two habitats of eastern Mediterranean coastal lagoons: natural versus human effects

1. The variation of structural (multi-dimensional scaling plot of Bray-Curtis similarity, species number, Shannon-Weaver index, percentage coverage) and functional (Ecological State Group (ESG) I percentage coverage, ESG II percentage coverage, Ecological Evaluation Index (EEI)) metrics in benthic macrophyte communities was studied in two different habitats: (a) mud with submerged angiosperms (MA), and (b) mud with macroalgae (MM), in three eastern Mediterranean coastal lagoons. One lagoon was in northern Greece (Agiasma, Nestos Delta, Eastern Macedonia region) and two in south-eastern Italy (Cesine and Margherita of Savoia, Apulian region). 2. The aim was to differentiate metric variation caused by human or natural processes and thereby to (1) select reliable metrics and (2) develop user-friendly protocols for cost-effective monitoring programmes for coastal lagoon water quality. 3. Eight different sites dominated by macrophyte communities characterized by two angiosperms (Ruppia cirrhosa and R. maritima), two opportunistic macroalgae (Ulva sp. and Chaetomorpha linum), and Cyanobacteria colonies were quantitatively and destructively sampled twice. 4. Structural metrics showed highest heterogeneity at a local site-specific scale, while functional metrics showed highest heterogeneity at the scale of habitat. As a result the structural metrics appeared inappropriate as indicators of lagoon water quality changes. By contrast shifts of habitat dominated by angiosperms to opportunistic macroalgae owing to nutrient excess, especially nitrogen, can be identified by functional metrics, especially with EEI.
A Revision of Solanum Section Lathyrocarpum (the Carolinense Clade, Solanaceae)

Abstract A new taxonomic circumscription of Solanum section Lathyrocarpum is proposed to include 11 species from North and South America. The section is placed in the cosmopolitan S. subgenus Leptostemonum, which contains 350–450 species. As defined here, S. sect. Lathyrocarpum includes all the taxa resolved in the Carolinense clade in previous molecular phylogenetic studies as well as one species not sampled in those analyses. The combination of morphological characters that define the group includes: herbaceous perennial habit with extensive root systems, often with endogenous buds that can sprout, a sparse to dense indumentum of sessile to stalked stellate hairs and tapered prickles, 2- to 3-foliate to plurifoliate sympodial units, extra-axillary inflorescences with 1–20 flowers, a weakly andromonoecious reproductive system, corollas ranging in color from white to lavender, and fruits maturing to yellow or yellowish-orange. Most species in the section have a weedy habit and grow in highly disturbed areas, but four are narrowly distributed. One species, S. carolinense, is a noxious invasive weed that has been inadvertently introduced to many areas around the world. There are a variety of ploidy levels represented in the group (n = 12, 18, 24, and 36). In this work, we present a new circumscription of the section and provide descriptions, distribution maps, preliminary IUCN conservation assessments, and a key to identify the 11 included species. We also designate lectotypes for nine names and select a neotype for S. dimidiatum.
Novel imaging in prostate cancer

Imaging of prostate cancer (Pca) presents many challenges as imaging tools aim to improve cancer detection, assessment in biochemical relapse, and disease progression in advanced metastatic stages. Current imaging modalities have strengths but also weaknesses, such as the lack of ability to diagnose micrometastases, to differentiate significant from nonsignificant cancer, and to diagnose advanced disease at low prostate-specific antigen values. Some of the modalities appear promising in increasing the sensitivity and specificity rate, particularly in recurrent and advanced disease (e.g., prostate-specific membrane antigen–positron emission tomography). Others can prove valuable in delivering focal therapy for Pca. Finally, the combination of two modalities could provide improved results in the diagnosis of Pca. Despite promising results, most guidelines still recommend traditional imaging modalities, such as 99mTc bone scintigraphy and computed tomography, for the estimation of metastatic spread in bones and lymph nodes, and the routine use of the novel techniques is not considered. Prospective studies clarify the value of the modalities and determine their role in clinical practice.
The Current Status of EuroSCORE II in Predicting Operative Mortality following Cardiac Surgery

256 In this issue, Guillet et al. compared the prediction of postoperative mortality in high-risk cardiac surgery using additive European System for Cardiac Operative Risk (aES), logistic EuroSCORE (lES), and EuroSCORE II (ESII) risk models in their retrospective study. [1] To make analysis feasible, the authors from the index article categorized surgical population into four groups, in a high-risk category – octogenarians, combined valve and coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), thoracic aortic surgery, and emergency cardiac surgery, and into two groups in a low-risk category – CABG and valve surgery. The authors analyzed the data using commonly approached methods – discrimination (ability to differentiate between lowand high-risk patients) and calibration (ability to accurately predict the operative mortality). The performance of ESII is much better in low-risk groups and marginally better in high-risk groups similar to the observation by Barili et al.[2] Overall, ESII underestimates mortality prediction in high-risk cardiac surgery. This commentary describes briefly the current status of ESII compared with other risk models in predicting operative mortality following cardiac surgery.
Thyroid dysfunction in beta thalassemia major patients

Background: Endocrinopathies are now amongst the common complications of thalassemia but determining the exact prevalence is difficult because of differences in age of first exposure to chelation therapy and the continuing improvement in survival in well-chelated patients. Hypothyroidism is the second most common endocrine disorder after hypogonadism, having been reported in 5.6% to 17% of patients. Material and Methods: The present study was conducted in Umaid hospital attached to Dr S.N. Medical College, Jodhpur. 112 children were enrolled in the study and thyroid function tests along with serum Ferritin levels were done for all the subjects. Results: Out of a total of 112 children, 82 were Euthyroid (73.2%) and 30 were Hypothyroid (26.8%). The mean serum Ferritin, serum TSH, serum Free T4 and serum Free T3 in Euthyroid children were 1975.4 ± 706.2(ng/ml), 3.23 ± 0.93(μIU/ml), 12.8 ± 2.3(pmol/l) and 6.12 ± 1.4(pmol/l) respectively. Whereas in Hypothyroid children the mean serum Ferritin, serum TSH, serum Free T4 and serum Free T3 were 2842.9 ± 1095.2(ng/ml), 7.05 ± 1.91(μIU/ml), 10.55 ± 2.0(pmol/l) and 4.49 ± 1.2(pmol/l) respectively. Conclusion: Prevalence , severity of thyroid dysfunction in thalassemics is variable and regular follow up is the key. Assessment of thyroid function should be done annually from the age of 9 or earlier if patient is clinically symptomatic.
Single‐seeded InDel fingerprints in rice: An effective tool for indica–japonica rice classification and evolutionary studies

Abstract Asian cultivated rice (Oryza sativa L.), an important cereal crop worldwide, was domesticated from its wild ancestor 8000 years ago. During its long‐term cultivation and evolution under diverse agroecological conditions, Asian cultivated rice has differentiated into indica and japonica subspecies. An effective method is required to identify rice germplasm for its indica and japonica features, which is essential in rice genetic improvements. We developed a protocol that combined DNA extraction from a single rice seed and the insertion/deletion (InDel) molecular fingerprint to determine the indica and japonica features of rice germplasm. We analyzed a set of rice germplasm, including 166 Asian rice varieties, two African rice varieties, 30 accessions of wild rice species, and 42 weedy rice accessions, using the single‐seeded InDel fingerprints (SSIF). The results show that the SSIF method can efficiently determine the indica and japonica features of the rice germplasm. Further analyses revealed significant indica and japonica differentiation in most Asian rice varieties and weedy rice accessions. In contrast, African rice varieties and nearly all the wild rice accessions did not exhibit such differentiation. The pattern of cultivated and wild rice samples illustrated by the SSIF supports our previous hypothesis that indica and japonica differentiation occurred after rice domestication under different agroecological conditions. In addition, the divergent pattern of rice cultivars and weedy rice accessions suggests the possibility of an endoferal origin (from crop) of the weedy rice included in the present study.
Response to: Importance of time in management of fracture penis: A prospective study

Sir, We congratulate Patil et al. on their case series of penile fractures. We do, however, feel compelled to comment on a few points which merit mentioning. First, we note the high rate of erectile dysfunction and wound infection approaching 50%, and we believe that one explanation for this may lie in the choice of incision. Penile‐degloving incisions have been associated with complication rates as high as 60% including skin necrosis, hematoma, and wound infections. [1] This incision involves dissection through blood vessels and nerves along the entire penile shaft simply to repair a defect of <2 cm. We have utilized less morbid incisions in the past to good effect including both the penoscrotal incision and a direct incision over the site of fracture. The percentage of patients in whom the authors were able to clinically localize the tears was not disclosed in this study. However, in our experience, one is able to localize the site of fracture in most cases, and this lends itself to a direct incision over the site of injury and even under local anesthesia. Ultrasonography, done on all patients as a matter of protocol in Patil’s work, was able to consistently localize the fracture site in this series; this could have directed the surgeon to a more localized incision rather than degloving the entire penis, damaging blood vessels, nerves, and normal tissue bilaterally just to repair a 1‐cm tear at the base of one corpus cavernosum. All of the cases in this series involved a unilateral repair with mostly proximal injuries, thus making the penoscrotal incision another attractive alternative in these cases. In addition, in cases where extensive swelling precluded accurate localization of the site of fracture, one should not forget the role of delayed repair. While traditional doctrine has espoused early repair, delayed repair has been found to be a safe, practical, and efficacious alternative. [2,3] A delay of 7–12 days allows the resolution of generalized edema. However, the clot over the site of fracture remains trapped by Buck’s fascia and is identifiable as “the rolling sign. ”[3] Repair may now be carried out through a simple incision directly over the site of injury utilizing local anesthesia. This approach has also been successfully applied by other authors with several relatively large series noting no difference in complications with delayed repair. [2,4] In a seminal prospective study, Nasser reported on delayed repair among 24 men presenting late (>24 h) following penile fracture. In this series, patients underwent conservative treatment for 7–12 days following which elective surgical repair of their fractures was carried out under local anesthesia. The authors report excellent outcomes with all patients regaining sexual function at 4–6 weeks. [2] As the authors themselves correctly point out, the correlation between erectile dysfunction and delayed intervention has not been objectively proven.
Trifluridine/tipiracil (FTD/TPI) and regorafenib (REG) in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC): A single institution retrospective study.

592 Background: FTD/TPI and REG have both demonstrated prolonged survival in refractory mCRC patients (pts) when compared to placebo but limited comparative effectiveness data are available. This study aims to compare outcomes following initiation of FTD/TPI or REG for mCRC at a single academic cancer center. Methods: Retrospective chart reviews were conducted in all pts with mCRC who initiated FTD/TPI or REG between 2012-2017. Analyses of time from index therapy initiation to discontinuation for any reason (TTD), real-world response rates (rwRR) and disease control rates (rwDCR) were performed. Cox proportional hazards models adjusting for demographic and clinical characteristics were performed for overall survival (OS). Results: 126 FTD/TPI and 95 REG pts were included. Baseline characteristics were similar in both groups, though more pts treated with FTD/TPI had right-sided primary tumors compared to REG (30.4% vs. 25.5%, p = 0.43). Treatment patterns pre- and post-index therapy were comparable in both groups. Median observation duration for FTD/TPI and REG was 7.1 and 6.3 months, respectively. Mean TTD was 88.4 days for FTD/TPI pts and 84.2 days for REG pts (p = 0.42). Fewer pts treated with FTD/TPI discontinued due to toxicities than pts treated with REG (8.2% vs. 24.2%, p = 0.001). A higher proportion of FTD/TPI pts had no dose modifications vs. REG pts (84.0% vs. 64.1%, p < 0.001). OS was similar between the two groups (adjusted hazard ratio [HR] FTD/TPI vs. REG: 0.79, p = 0.13). FTD/TPI pts had higher rwRR (52.5% vs. 34.2%, p = 0.01) and rwDCR (64.2% vs. 46.1%, p = 0.01) than REG pts. In the subgroup of pts ≥ 65 years, mean TTD was higher in FTD/TPI pts (105.9 vs. 77.6 days, p = 0.004). Pts ≥ 65 years receiving FTD/TPI had better OS than REG pts (HR: 0.51, p = 0.03). Conclusions: In this single institution study, TTD and OS were similar between pts treated with FTD/TPI and REG. Fewer pts treated with FTD/TPI than REG discontinued due to toxicities or required dose modification. Reported responses rates were higher in FTD/TPI pts. Older pts (≥ 65 years) on FTD/TPI remained on treatment longer and had better OS than REG pts.
Climate change and the potential distribution of an invasive alien plant: Acacia nilotica ssp. indica in Australia

Summary 1. Acacia nilotica is a spinescent woody legume that has become highly invasive in several parts of the world, including Australia where it has been declared a weed of national significance. Understanding the likely potential distribution of this notorious plant under current and future climate scenarios will enable policy makers and land managers to prepare appropriate strategies to manage the invasion. 2. CLIMEX was used to synthesize available information from diverse sources to model the invasion potential of A. nilotica and gain insights into the climatic factors limiting its range expansion. The model identified areas at risk of further invasion so that early preventative or ameliorative measures could be undertaken in a timely manner. 3. The potential distribution of A. nilotica in Australia under current climatic conditions is vast, and far greater than the current distribution. 4. Global climate change is likely to increase markedly the potential distribution of A. nilotica in Australia, significantly increasing the area at risk of invasion. The factors of most importance are the expected increases in water-use efficiency of A. nilotica due to increased atmospheric CO 2 concentrations, allowing it to invade more xeric sites further inland, and increased temperatures, allowing it to complete its reproductive life cycle further southward (poleward). 5. Synthesis and applications. Simple paddock quarantine procedures may provide a means of limiting the range of A. nilotica within its potential distribution under current, as well as future, climate scenarios. The projected increased growth potential of A . nilotica throughout its current range suggests that if future management patterns result in seed pods lying unconsumed on the ground, heightened vigilance may be required to identify and eradicate new invasion foci arising from flood dispersal. The increased growth potential may also result in an alteration of the economic balance, in favour of harvesting A. nilotica for agroforestry or local bioenergy projects. A crucial component in containing this invasion will be raising public awareness of the invasion threat posed by A. nilotica , its identification and suitable control techniques.
Individual swimming behavior of Daphnia: effects of food, light and container size in four clones

Different species of Daphnia show differences in their swimming behavior under different environmental conditions. We measured the three-dimensional swimming behavior of individual adult female Daphnia in the mesocosm-scale Plon plankton towers (6400 1) and in small (183 ml) observation chambers. Speed, sinking rate and turning angle were chosen as optimal variables for describing the free-swimming animals of four species. Speed, sinking rate and turning angle show uni- formity of variance among treatments, and they are relatively independent. Light level and food level strongly affected swimming behavior. Light and food effects tended to be independent, although there were two instances of synergism (out of 12 possible interactions). Each of the four species (one clone per species) showed a unique response to food and light, which may reflect the diverse environmental origin of each clone. Swimming behavior was consistently different between the small-scale (183 ml) observation chamber and the mesocosm-scale (6400 1) plankton tower, suggesting that container size affects swimming behavior: in the smaller chamber, Daphnia, regardless of species, swam slower, sank slower and tended to move in straighter paths.
Vertical migrations and transport of larval fish in a partially mixed estuary

The effect of diel or semidiurnal vertical migrations on the horizontal dispersal of fish larvae in a partially mixed estuary, and the external stimuli triggering these migrations, were investigated. The vertical distribution of ichthyoplankton and microzooplankton was estimated at 1-h intervals for 129 h, at a fixed station of the St. Lawrence upper estuary. With increasing length, capelin (Mallotus villosus) larvae congregated closer to the surface. This resulted in a length-dependent acceleration of the seaward drift of this species. Larger capelin developed a weak but significant pattern of diel vertical migrations limited to the surface (0–20 m) layer. The average vertical position of early postlarval Atlantic herring (Clupea harengus harengus) was close to the depth of null longitudinal velocity. Vertical migrations about this average level followed a semidiurnal cycle which brought the postlarvae toward the surface during flood. This synchronization minimized seaward tidal drift linked to incursion.
Ahead of Schedule: A History of Early College High Schools

This history examines the relationship between 21st century early college high schools and a longer tradition of adolescents attending college, uncovering powerful roots, distinctive breaks, and reforged alliances. Why did these schools, designed so students earn up to an associate’s degree before graduation, come into being when and where they did? How have they—and the movement behind them—developed over the course of two decades? The essay closes with a consideration of the contemporary funding landscape and where early college high schools currently fit in the U.S. educational terrain.
Assessment of Blood Group’s Awareness among the Omani Population

Blood groups are specific to individuals and are important laboratory investigations in transfusion medicine, tissue transplants and genetic disputes. They exhibit similar serological and physiological characteristics and are inherited according to specific pattern. Thus it was chosen to assess the blood group’s awareness among the Omani people during the period of 2012-2016. The required information was collected from designed questionnaires that include several variables and based on similar previously conducted studies in different parts of the world. All the participants appeared to be healthy and educated. A total of 1800 questionnaires have been distributed in six different regions (willayates) in Oman. Nearly equal number of males and females were participated in the study. The results show that blood group O+ is the dominant blood group (49.1%), followed by A+ (19.7%), B+ (17.5) and AB+ (4.7%). In addition, ABO negative groups were only reported in one region and represented a total of 0.7%, although the blood group of 8.3% of the participant was not determined. In the present investigation, the majority of the participants seem to be familiar with the blood and its constituents and all of them were found aware of the blood donation, possible diseases transmitted by blood transfusion and the use of the donated blood. In addition, the majority (72%) were seemed familiar with the hereditary blood disorders. However, the association of the ABO blood groups with serious diseases reported in various studies was difficult to be assessed. All the findings are illustrated in a table and histograms using Microsoft Excel programs and the important, relevant, issues are discussed.
Traditional African1 Beliefs and Customs: Implications for AIDS Education and Prevention in Africa

Many Western-based AIDS education and prevention programmes have failed dismally in Africa and they may only succeed if traditional African beliefs and customs are taken into account. This article discusses relevant aspects of the traditional African worldview by explaining what health, sickness and sexuality mean in traditional Africa. Traditional African perceptions of causes of illness (including AIDS), perceptions of sexuality, and cultural beliefs inhibiting the usage of condoms are described in terms of the influence of the macro-cosmos (the ancestors), the meso-cosmos (witches and sorcerers) and the micro-cosmos (everyday life). The implications for AIDS education and prevention in Africa are discussed and suggestions are offered for the development of such programs.