Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
OP-NDTJ200002 1938..1949

Background. Patients on kidney replacement therapy comprise a vulnerable population and may be at increased risk of death from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Currently, only limited data are available on outcomes in this patient population. Methods. We set up the ERACODA (European Renal Association COVID-19 Database) database, which is specifically designed to prospectively collect detailed data on kidney transplant and dialysis patients with COVID-19. For this analysis, patients were included who presented between 1 February and 1 May 2020 and had complete information available on the primary outcome parameter, 28-day mortality. Results. Of the 1073 patients enrolled, 305 (28%) were kidney transplant and 768 (72%) dialysis patients with a mean age of 60 6 13 and 67 6 14 years, respectively. The 28-day probability of death was 21.3% [95% confidence interval (95% CI) 14.3– 30.2%] in kidney transplant and 25.0% (95% CI 20.2–30.0%) in dialysis patients. Mortality was primarily associated with advanced age in kidney transplant patients, and with age and frailty in dialysis patients. After adjusting for sex, age and frailty, in-hospital mortality did not significantly differ between transplant and dialysis patients [hazard ratio (HR) 0.81, 95% CI 0.59–1.10, P1⁄4 0.18]. In the subset of dialysis patients who were a candidate for transplantation (n1⁄4 148), 8 patients died within 28 days, as compared with 7 deaths in 23 patients who underwent a kidney transplantation <1 year before presentation (HR adjusted for sex, age and frailty 0.20, 95% CI 0.07–0.56, P< 0.01). Conclusions. The 28-day case-fatality rate is high in patients on kidney replacement therapy with COVID-19 and is primarily driven by the risk factors age and frailty. Furthermore, in the first year after kidney transplantation, patients may be at increased risk of COVID-19-related mortality as compared with dialysis patients on the waiting list for transplantation. This information is important in guiding clinical decision-making, and for informing the public and healthcare authorities on the VC The Author(s) 2020. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of ERA-EDTA. All rights reserved. 1973 O R IG IN A L A R T IC LE D ow naded rom http/academ ic.p.com /ndt/articl1/1973/5956894 by gest on 06 N ovem er 2020
Ethnicity/Race and Age-Specific Variations of Serum AMH in Women—A Review

Purpose of Review In this review, we summarize ethnic/race- and age-related variation in AMH and discuss the underpinnings behind these differences. Recent findings Anti-mullerian hormone (AMH) has become a widely used method of ovarian reserve testing over the last 15 years. Numerous studies have shown substantial ethnic/race and age-related differences. When compared to age-matched Caucasian women, AMH levels tend to be lower in black and Hispanic women. Chinese women tend to have significantly greater AMH levels prior to age 25 than Caucasian women. When considering subpopulations within ethnicities, at least one study noted lower AMH levels among Maya women compared to other Hispanic women. Age exhibits a positive trend with AMH up until at least 25 years of age with a consistent decline after 34 years of age extending to menopause. Summary AMH levels are highly variable among ethnicities and race with higher age-matched levels typically seen in Caucasian women. Age does not exhibit a consistent linear relationship with AMH, but a consistent decline is seen starting in the third decade of life and proceeding to menopause.
Utilizing Ion Mobility-Mass Spectrometry to Investigate the Unfolding Pathway of Cu/Zn Superoxide Dismutase

Native mass spectrometry has emerged as a powerful tool for structural biology as it enables the evaluation of molecules as they occur in their physiological conditions. Ion mobility spectrometry-mass spectrometry (IMS-MS) has shown essential in these analyses as it allows the measurement of the shape of a molecule, denoted as its collision cross section (CCS), and mass. The structural information garnered from native IMS-MS provides insight into the tertiary and quaternary structure of proteins and can be used to validate NMR or crystallographic X-ray structures. Additionally, due to the rapid nature (millisecond measurements) and ability of IMS-MS to analyze heterogeneous solutions, it can be used to address structural questions not possible with traditional structural approaches. Herein, we applied multiple solution conditions to systematically denature bovine Cu/Zn-superoxide dismutase (SOD1) and assess its unfolding pathway from the holo-dimer to the holo-monomer, single-metal monomer, and apo-monomer. Additionally, we compared and noted 1–2% agreement between CCS values from both drift tube IMS and trapped IMS for the SOD1 holo-monomer and holo-dimer. The observed CCS values were in excellent agreement with computational CCS values predicted from the homo-dimer crystal structure, showcasing the ability to use both IMS-MS platforms to provide valuable structural information for molecular modeling of protein interactions and structural assessments.
Bacteria with capacities of production of biosurfactants isolated from native plants of Baja California, México

The aim of the present study was to isolate autochthonousmicroorganisms with biosurfactants capacities from the rhizospereof the cotton (Gossypium spp.), cachanilla (Pluchea sericea)and salicornia (Salicornia bigelovii) in the Mexicali valley. The biosurfactantactivity and biosurfactant productions by the strains isolatedfrom the rhizosphere of the cotton (Bs-Alg), cachanilla (Bs-Cach)and salicornia (Bs-Cach01) were determined using oil spreadingtechnique and emulsification activity with corn, olive, soybean anddiesel oils, respectively. The analysis of the 16S rRNA showed thatstrains Bs-Alg, Bs-Cach and Bs-Cach01 are closely related amongthem and with respect to all Bacillus subtilis with more than 99%similarity values. Results showed that all strains had biosurfactantactivity. However, Bs-Cach was the only strain that showed a significantbiosurfactant activity with all the vegetable oils and diesel. Finally,the isolation of a biosurfactant producing Bacillus subtilis strainfrom native plants of Mexicali valley displayed a substantial potentialfor production of biosurfactants that can be applied to food industry.
Chapter 2 Structural development of the Arabian Intrashelf Basin region

Abstract This chapter summarizes the tectonic events that have affected the region of the Arabian Intrashelf Basin and the development of the intrashelf basin. Precambrian–Infracambrian fault systems provided a structural framework, which was later reactivated during the Late Paleozoic. Further development along the structural trends continued in the Triassic and Early Jurassic with the development of an Early Jurassic tectonically controlled intrashelf basin. The accommodation space was filled with Dhruma Formation carbonates by the early Bathonian, resulting in a broad and fairly flat platform. A crucial factor is how suppressed tectonism was during the Mid- and Late Jurassic. The intrashelf basin developed on the broad, tectonically stable Tethyan passive margin continental shelf 200--300 km distant from the Tethyan outer shelf edge. During the Mid- and Late Jurassic, this tectonic stability provided the foundation for a broad, stable Tethyan continental shelf region at least 1000 × 1200 km in area, far removed from siliciclastic sources, within which the huge Arabian Intrashelf Basin formed and the sequences of carbonate rocks and evaporites that created the Jurassic hydrocarbon system were deposited. Tectonism during the Mid- to Late Jurassic evolution of the Arabian Intrashelf Basin initially included only moderate subsidence. There was subtle uplift along some of the structural trends in the Late Jurassic and uplift and westwards structural tilt along the Tethys oceanic margin. Relatively stable tectonism continued after the Jurassic and was a major factor in the accumulation of the vast reserves of Jurassic sourced oil. Tectonic stability prevented major faulting and structural compartmentalization of the basin features, which provided large areas for hydrocarbon migration as the large and broad anticlines developed into the huge structural traps. The lack of major faulting limited the movement of burial fluids, preserving the early formed porosity and the regionally extensive seals. The present day structures primarily developed from the Late Cretaceous to Miocene as the Tethys Ocean closed.
Perceived Impact of Covid-19 Across Different Mental Disorders: A Study on Disorder-Specific Symptoms, Psychosocial Stress and Behavior

The recent outbreak of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) has plunged countries across the world into crisis. Both in the general population and in specific subgroups such as infected people or health care workers, studies have reported increased symptoms of anxiety, depression and stress. However, the reactions of individuals with mental disorders to Covid-19 have largely been neglected. The present study therefore aimed to investigate the perceived impact of Covid-19 and its psychological consequences on people with mental disorders. In this online survey, participants were asked to evaluate their disorder-specific symptoms, perceived psychosocial stress and behaviors related to Covid-19 in the current situation and retrospectively before the spread of Covid-19. The study included participants with self-identified generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), panic disorder and agoraphobia (PA), illness anxiety disorder (IA), social anxiety disorder (SAD), depression (DP), obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD), body dysmorphic disorder (BDD), eating disorders (ED), schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorders (SP), other non-specified mental disorder (other) as well as mentally healthy controls (HC). The results of bayesian parameter estimation suggest that the symptom severity of DP, GAD, IA and BDD has deteriorated as a reaction to Covid-19. Across all mental disorders and HC, self-reported psychosocial stress levels were higher during the outbreak of Covid-19 compared to before. A reduced frequency of social contacts and grocery shopping was found for all participants. People with self-identified mental disorders showed higher personal worries about Covid-19 and a higher fear of contagion with Covid-19 than did HC. According to our findings, Covid-19 may reinforce symptom severity and psychosocial stress in individuals with mental disorders. In times of pandemics, special support is needed to assist people with mental disorders and to prevent symptom deterioration.
DNA-Stable Isotope Probing Shotgun Metagenomics Reveals the Resilience of Active Microbial Communities to Biochar Amendment in Oxisol Soil

The functions and interactions of individual microbial populations and their genes in agricultural soils amended with biochar remain elusive but are crucial for a deeper understanding of nutrient cycling and carbon (C) sequestration. In this study, we coupled DNA stable isotope probing (SIP) with shotgun metagenomics in order to target the active community in microcosms which contained soil collected from biochar-amended and control plots under napiergrass cultivation. Our analyses revealed that the active community was composed of high-abundant and low-abundant populations, including Actinobacteria, Proteobacteria, Gemmatimonadetes, and Acidobacteria. Although biochar did not significantly shift the active taxonomic and functional communities, we found that the narG (nitrate reductase) gene was significantly more abundant in the control metagenomes. Interestingly, putative denitrifier genomes generally encoded one gene or a partial denitrification pathway, suggesting denitrification is typically carried out by an assembly of different populations within this Oxisol soil. Altogether, these findings indicate that the impact of biochar on the active soil microbial community are transient in nature. As such, the addition of biochar to soils appears to be a promising strategy for the long-term C sequestration in agricultural soils, does not impart lasting effects on the microbial functional community, and thus mitigates un-intended microbial community shifts that may lead to fertilizer loss through increased N cycling.
Personality Factors' Impact on the Structural Integrity of Mentalizing Network in Old Age: A Combined PET-MRI Study

The mentalizing network (MN) treats social interactions based on our understanding of other people's intentions and includes the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), temporoparietal junction (TPJ), posterior cingulate cortex (PCC), precuneus (PC), and amygdala. Not all elders are equally affected by the aging-related decrease of mentalizing abilities. Personality has recently emerged as a strong determinant of functional connectivity in MN areas. However, its impact on volumetric changes across the MN in brain aging is still unknown. To address this issue, we explored the determinants of volume decrease in MN components including amyloid burden, personality, and APOE genotyping in a previously established cohort of 130 healthy elders with a mean follow-up of 54 months. Personality was assessed with the Neuroticism Extraversion Openness Personality Inventory-Revised. Regression models corrected for multiple comparisons were used to identify predictors of volume loss including time, age, sex, personality, amyloid load, presence of APOE epsilon 4 allele, and cognitive evolution. In cases with higher Agreeableness scores, there were lower volume losses in PCC, PC, and amygdala bilaterally. This was also the case for the right mPFC in elders displaying lower Agreeableness and Conscientiousness. In multiple regression models, the effect of Agreeableness was still observed in left PC and right amygdala and that of Conscientiousness was still observed in right mPFC volume loss (26.3% of variability, significant age and sex). Several Agreeableness (Modesty) and Conscientiousness (order, dutifulness, achievement striving, and self-discipline) facets were positively related to increased volume loss in cortical components of the MN. In conclusion, these data challenge the beneficial role of higher levels of Agreeableness and Conscientiousness in old age, showing that they are associated with an increased rate of volume loss within the MN.
Brain Structures Associated With Individual Differences in Somatic Symptoms and Emotional Distress in a Healthy Sample

Stress-related psychosomatic responses are viewed as important risks to our physical health. Growing evidence from structural imaging studies has implicated that stress and trauma exposures have negative effects on brain structural alterations. However, whether stress-related emotional distress and somatic symptoms are related to the structure of brain systems remains unclear. Also, stress-related somatic symptoms have adverse effects on emotional distress. In turn, emotional distress may influence somatic symptom reports via negative cognitive bias. However, whether this relationship is mediated by specific brain morphology remains poorly understood. First, we used voxel-based morphometric approaches to investigate the neuroanatomical basis underlying somatic symptoms and emotional distress in a large sample of healthy subjects (ages 18–27 years). We found that relatively high stress-related somatic symptoms were associated with reduced gray matter volumes (GMVs) in the ventral medial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC), anterior insula, somatosensory cortex, hippocampus, and amygdala. Furthermore, a moderator analysis was performed to investigate the impact of recent stressful life events (moderators) on the association between specific GMVs (independent variables) and emotional distress (dependent variables). Interestingly, high levels of emotional distress were associated with small volumes of the vmPFC, anterior insula, hippocampus, and amygdala in participants with experience with more recent stressful life events. Finally, we performed mediation analyses to investigate the specific brain areas that mediate the association between emotional distress and somatic symptoms. The results showed that the effect of emotional distress on somatic symptoms is mediated by reductions in the volume of the hippocampus, the impact of somatic symptoms on emotional distress is mediated by the volume of the vmPFC. These results provided evidence that higher stress-related somatic symptoms are associated with smaller volume in prefrontal, insula, and limbic regions involved in emotion, interoception, and memory processing. The vmPFC and hippocampus play different roles in the relationship between emotional distress and somatic symptoms.
Hybrid Human-Machine Interface for Gait Decoding Through Bayesian Fusion of EEG and EMG Classifiers

Despite the advances in the field of brain computer interfaces (BCI), the use of the sole electroencephalography (EEG) signal to control walking rehabilitation devices is currently not viable in clinical settings, due to its unreliability. Hybrid interfaces (hHMIs) represent a very recent solution to enhance the performance of single-signal approaches. These are classification approaches that combine multiple human-machine interfaces, normally including at least one BCI with other biosignals, such as the electromyography (EMG). However, their use for the decoding of gait activity is still limited. In this work, we propose and evaluate a hybrid human-machine interface (hHMI) to decode walking phases of both legs from the Bayesian fusion of EEG and EMG signals. The proposed hHMI significantly outperforms its single-signal counterparts, by providing high and stable performance even when the reliability of the muscular activity is compromised temporarily (e.g., fatigue) or permanently (e.g., weakness). Indeed, the hybrid approach shows a smooth degradation of classification performance after temporary EMG alteration, with more than 75% of accuracy at 30% of EMG amplitude, with respect to the EMG classifier whose performance decreases below 60% of accuracy. Moreover, the fusion of EEG and EMG information helps keeping a stable recognition rate of each gait phase of more than 80% independently on the permanent level of EMG degradation. From our study and findings from the literature, we suggest that the use of hybrid interfaces may be the key to enhance the usability of technologies restoring or assisting the locomotion on a wider population of patients in clinical applications and outside the laboratory environment.
Copper Homeostasis in Aspergillus nidulans Involves Coordinated Transporter Function, Expression and Cellular Dynamics

Copper ion homeostasis involves a finely tuned and complex multi-level response system. This study expands on various aspects of the system in the model filamentous fungus Aspergillus nidulans. An RNA-seq screen in standard growth and copper toxicity conditions revealed expression changes in key copper response elements, providing an insight into their coordinated functions. The same study allowed for the deeper characterization of the two high-affinity copper transporters: AnCtrA and AnCtrC. In mild copper deficiency conditions, the null mutant of AnctrC resulted in secondary level copper limitation effects, while deletion of AnctrA resulted in primary level copper limitation effects under extreme copper scarcity conditions. Each transporter followed a characteristic expression and cellular localization pattern. Although both proteins partially localized at the plasma membrane, AnCtrC was visible at membranes that resembled the ER, whilst a substantial pool of AnCtrA accumulated in vesicular structures resembling endosomes. Altogether, our results support the view that AnCtrC plays a major role in covering the nutritional copper requirements and AnCtrA acts as a specific transporter for extreme copper deficiency scenarios.
Asymptomatic Malaria Infection Is Maintained by a Balanced Pro- and Anti-inflammatory Response

Background Pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines are important mediators of immunity and are associated with malaria disease outcomes. However, their role in the establishment of asymptomatic infections, which may precede the development of clinical symptoms, is not as well-understood. Methods We determined the association of pro and anti-inflammatory cytokines and other immune effector molecules with the development of asymptomatic malaria. We measured and compared the plasma levels of pro-inflammatory mediators including tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), interleukin (IL)-6, IL-12p70, IL-17A, and granzyme B, the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-4 and the regulatory cytokine IL-10 from children with asymptomatic malaria infections (either microscopic or submicroscopic) and uninfected controls using Luminex. Results We show that individuals with microscopic asymptomatic malaria had significantly increased levels of TNF-α and IL-6 compared to uninfected controls. Children with either microscopic or submicroscopic asymptomatic malaria exhibited higher levels of IFN-γ, IL-17A, and IL-4 compared to uninfected controls. The levels of most of the pro and anti-inflammatory cytokines were comparable between children with microscopic and submicroscopic infections. The ratio of IFN-γ/IL-10, TNF-α/IL-10, IL-6/IL-10 as well as IFN-γ/IL-4 and IL-6/IL-4 did not differ significantly between the groups. Additionally, using a principal component analysis, the cytokines measured could not distinguish amongst the three study populations. This may imply that neither microscopic nor submicroscopic asymptomatic infections were polarized toward a pro-inflammatory or anti-inflammatory response. Conclusion The data show that asymptomatic malaria infections result in increased plasma levels of both pro and anti-inflammatory cytokines relative to uninfected persons. The balance between pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines are, however, largely maintained and this may in part, explain the lack of clinical symptoms. This is consistent with the generally accepted observation that clinical symptoms develop as a result of immunopathology involving dysregulation of inflammatory mediator balance in favor of pro-inflammatory mediators.