Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Outcome of T‐cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia/lymphoma: Focus on near‐ETP phenotype and differential impact of nelarabine

Early T‐cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia/lymphoma (ETP‐ALL/LBL) is characterized by a distinct immunophenotype (CD1a‐negative, CD8‐negative, CD5‐negative or weak‐positive <75%, myeloid/stem‐cell markers positive) and poor clinical outcomes. Near‐ETP ALL is transcriptionally similar to ETP‐ALL but CD5 expression level is not low enough to meet the criteria of ETP immunophenotype. Outcomes of near‐ETP ALL are not well characterized. We reviewed 171 patients with newly‐diagnosed T‐ALL/LBL. Patients were categorized into three groups; ETP (N = 27), near‐ETP (N = 24), and non‐ETP ALL/LBL (N = 120). ETP‐ALL/LBL was associated with a significantly worse survival compared with non‐ETP ALL/LBL: 5‐year overall survival (OS) rates 32% versus 63% (p < .001). Outcome was similar between near‐ETP and non‐ETP ALL/LBL: 5‐year OS rates 56% versus 63% (p = .543). Landmark analysis showed that allogeneic stem cell transplant (allo‐SCT) in first remission was beneficial in ETP‐ALL/LBL (5‐year event‐free survival rates 36% versus 18%, p = .030) but not in near‐ETP or non‐ETP ALL/LBL. Multivariate analysis selected the following as significant independent prognostic factors for OS: age ≥ 60 years (HR 3.11; p = .003); elevated WBC ≥100 × 109/L (HR 2.60; p = .005); and ETP immunophenotype (HR 2.29; p = .010). A survival advantage with adding nelarabine to hyper‐CVAD was observed in non‐ETP ALL (5‐year OS rates 83% versus 38% with hyper‐CVAD plus neralabine versus hyper‐CVAD, p = .003). In conclusion, outcome of ETP‐ALL/LBL was poor and improved with allo‐SCT; outcome of near‐ETP ALL/LBL was similar to non‐ETP ALL/LBL; the addition of nelarabine to hyper‐CVAD improved the survival in non‐ETP ALL only.
A native, highly active Tc1/mariner transposon from zebrafish (ZB) offers an efficient genetic manipulation tool for vertebrates

Abstract New genetic tools and strategies are currently under development to facilitate functional genomics analyses. Here, we describe an active member of the Tc1/mariner transposon superfamily, named ZB, which invaded the zebrafish genome very recently. ZB exhibits high activity in vertebrate cells, in the range of those of the widely used transposons piggyBac (PB), Sleeping Beauty (SB) and Tol2. ZB has a similar structural organization and target site sequence preference to SB, but a different integration profile with respect to genome-wide preference among mammalian functional annotation features. Namely, ZB displays a preference for integration into transcriptional regulatory regions of genes. Accordingly, we demonstrate the utility of ZB for enhancer trapping in zebrafish embryos and in the mouse germline. These results indicate that ZB may be a powerful tool for genetic manipulation in vertebrate model species.
Challenges and outlook for convection-permitting climate modelling

Climate projections at very high resolution (kilometre-scale grid spacing) are becoming affordable. These ‘convection-permitting’ models (CPMs), commonly used for weather forecasting, better represent land-surface characteristics and small-scale processes in the atmosphere such as convection. They provide a step change in our understanding of future changes at local scales and for extreme weather events. For short-duration precipitation extremes, this includes capturing local storm feedbacks, which may modify future increases. Despite the major advance CPMs offer, there are still key challenges and outstanding science issues. Heavy rainfall tends to be too intense; there are challenges in representing land-surface processes; sub-kilometre scale processes still need to be parametrized, with existing parametrization schemes often requiring development for use in CPMs; CPMs rely on the quality of lateral boundary forcing and typically do not include ocean-coupling; large CPM ensembles that comprehensively sample future uncertainties are costly. Significant progress is expected over the next few years: scale-aware schemes may improve the representation of unresolved convective updrafts; work is underway to improve the modelling of complex land-surface fluxes; CPM ensemble experiments are underway and methods to synthesize this information with larger coarser-resolution model ensembles will lead to local-scale predictions with more comprehensive uncertainty context for user application. Large-domain (continental or tropics-wide) CPM climate simulations, potentially with additional earth-system processes such as ocean and wave coupling and terrestrial hydrology, are an exciting prospect, allowing not just improved representation of local processes but also of remote teleconnections. This article is part of a discussion meeting issue ‘Intensification of short-duration rainfall extremes and implications for flash flood risks’.
Yoga and Wellness—Key Insights from the Study on General Yoga Programme

Human beings have always strived towards excellence and progress since time immemorial. Industrialisation, automation and technological disruptions have led to increased comfort and quality of living of human beings and enhanced output, productivity and efficiency. Consequently, of late, health and wellness are receiving increased attention globally. Stress and stress-related diseases and workplace-related ailments have significantly increased over the last few decades and gained attention from society and industrial organisations. In the recent past, in the coronavirus pandemic context, wellness has been focused upon in many countries, communities and organisations worldwide. Yoga has been part of the Indian ethos for centuries. In this article, the authors discuss the General Yoga Programme (GYP), its broad coverage, and the impact it has had on the participants in terms of their wellness. With the help of a survey of the participants and linking it to relevant literature and research in the field, the authors highlight how GYP is a useful tool for enhancing various wellness dimensions. They recommend that GYP in its simplified form can be extended to the workplace; and also, HR professionals can play a facilitative role in the process.
Preparation burning may not improve short-term seed survival in an Amazonian savanna

Abstract The role of fire in the management of degraded areas remains strongly debated. Here we experimentally compare removal and infestation of popcorn kernels (Zea mays L. – Poaceae) and açaí fruits (Euterpe oleracea Mart. – Arecaceae) in one burned and two unburned savanna habitats in the eastern Brazilian Amazon. In each habitat, a total of ten experimental units (five per seed type) were installed, each with three treatments: (1) open access, (2) vertebrate access, and (3) invertebrate access. Generalized linear models showed significant differences in both seed removal (P < 0.0001) and infestation (P < 0.0001) among seed type, habitats and access treatments. Burned savanna had the highest overall seed infestation rate (24.3%) and invertebrate access increased açaí seed infestation levels to 100% in the burned savanna. Increased levels of invertebrate seed infestation in burned savanna suggest that preparation burning may be of limited use for the management and restoration of such habitats in tropical regions.
Prenatal and Childhood Adverse Events and Child Brain Morphology: A Population-Based Study

Background: Prenatal and childhood adverse events have been shown to be related to children's cognitive and psychological development. However, the influence of early-life adversities on child brain morphology is not well understood and most studies are based on small samples and often examine only one adversity. Thus, the goal of our study is to examine the relationship between cumulative exposures to prenatal and childhood adversities and brain morphology in a large population-based study. Methods: Participants included 2,993 children in whom prenatal adversities were reported by mothers at 20-25 weeks of pregnancy and the child's lifetime exposure to adversities was reported by mothers when the children were 10 years-of-age. The total brain, grey and white matter volumes and the volume of the cerebellum, amygdala and hippocampus were assessed with magnetic resonance imaging when children were 10 years old. Results: In total, 36% of children had mothers who were exposed to at least one adversity during pregnancy and 35% of children were exposed to adversities in childhood. In our study sample, the cumulative number of prenatal adversities was not related to any brain outcome. In contrast, per each additional childhood adverse event, the total brain volume was 0.07 standard deviations smaller (SE = 0.02, p = 0.001), with differences in both grey and white matter volumes. Childhood adversities were not related to the amygdala or hippocampal volumes. Additionally, the link between childhood events and the preadolescent brain was not modified by prenatal events and was not explained by maternal psychopathology. Conclusions: Our results suggest that childhood adversities, but not prenatal adverse events, are associated with smaller global brain volumes in preadolescence. Notably, this is the first large population-based study to prospectively assess the association between the cumulative number of prenatal adversities and the preadolescent brain morphology. The study findings extend the evidence from high-risk samples, providing support for a link between cumulative childhood adverse events and brain morphology in children from the general population.
Prediction of shear thickening of particle suspensions in viscoelastic fluids by direct numerical simulation

Abstract To elucidate the key factor for the quantitative prediction of the shear thickening in suspensions in viscoelastic fluids, direct numerical simulations of many-particle suspensions in a multi-mode Oldroyd-B fluid are performed using the smoothed profile method. Suspension flow under simple shear flow is solved under periodic boundary conditions by using Lees–Edwards boundary conditions for particle dynamics and a time-dependent oblique coordinate system that evolves with mean shear flow for fluid dynamics. Semidilute many-particle suspensions up to a particle volume fraction of 0.1 are investigated. The presented numerical results regarding the bulk rheological properties of the shear-thickening behaviour agree quantitatively with recent experimental results of semidilute suspensions in a Boger fluid. The presented result clarifies that an accurate estimation of the first normal stress difference of the matrix in the shear-rate range where the shear thickening starts to occur is crucial for the quantitative prediction of the suspension shear thickening in a Boger fluid matrix at around the Weissenberg number ${Wi}=1$ by an Oldroyd-B model. Additionally, the effect of suspension microstructures on the suspension viscosity is examined. The paper concludes with a discussion on how the flow pattern and the elastic stress development change with the volume fraction and Weissenberg number.
Developing a Remediation Strategy for Phosphorus Immobilization: Effect of Co-blending, Al-residual and Ca-Mg Amendments in a Manure-Impacted Spodosol

A remediation strategy called “co-blending” was developed for rapid phosphorus (P) immobilization. Immobilization was achieved through the combination of an Al-based water treatment residual (Al-WTR) with Ca-Mg-based materials (Slag and magnesium oxide) for use in incubation and leaching experiments. Al-WTR was co-blended with Slag and MgO as “Al-WTR+Slag” and “Al-WTR+MgO,” respectively. Sequential extraction was used to delineate P species into operationally defined fractions: soluble or exchangeable, Al-Fe, and Ca-Mg-bound pools. Results from soils used in the incubation experiment showed that Al-amended material tended to sequester P bound (∼26%) to the Al-Fe pool. On the other hand, Ca-Mg-based materials tended to sorb (∼70%) of P greatly associated to the Ca-Mg pool. Amendments were applied at 2% or 20 g kg−1 as Al-WTR, MgO, and Slag and at 1%+1% or 10 g kg−1+10 g kg−1 as co-blended Al-WTR+MgO and Al-WTR+Slag, respectively, on mass basis. Results from leaching data suggest that treatment effects on pH are significant at (p < 0.0001) and also significant (p < 0.01) with weeks of leaching. A similar significant (p < 0.0001) trend was observed for effects of treatment on redox potential (Eh). However, treatment effects on weeks of leaching were not significant. Cumulative soluble P (mg) of leachate showed linear reduction (96%) from the control (without amendments) using a regression model. Potential co-blended material selected was Al-WTR+Slag (1%+1%) due to less P in leachates, moderate effect on pH, and fewer amounts of Al-WTR and Slag used compared with 2% Al-WTR and Slag, respectively. In addition, the RMSE of Al-WTR+Slag data fitted to a regression model was the least. Results suggested that the metal cations Al, Ca, and Mg tended to bind different forms of total P at any given pH. Through co-blending, less soluble P may be lost to the environment than using sorption materials independently.
Examining Whether Onfield Motor Incoordination Is Associated With Worse Performance on the SCAT5 and Slower Clinical Recovery Following Concussion

Objective: To examine the relationship between video-identified onfield motor incoordination, the acute assessment of concussion, and recovery time during three seasons of National Rugby League (NRL) play. Methods: Blows to the head (“head impact events”) were recorded by sideline video operators and medical staff. Any player with a suspected concussion underwent a Head Injury Assessment in which he was taken off the field and medically evaluated, including the administration of the Sports Concussion Assessment Tool, 5th Edition (SCAT5). Video footage was later examined to determine the presence or absence of onfield motor incoordination following the head impact event. Results: Motor incoordination was identified in 100/1,706 head impact events (5.9%); 65 of the 100 instances of motor incoordination (65.0%) were ultimately medically diagnosed with a concussion. In 646 athletes for whom SCAT5 data were available, those with motor incoordination were more likely to report both dizziness and balance problems than those without motor incoordination, but there were no group differences on an objective balance test. Additionally, there was no relationship between presence/absence of motor incoordination and number of games missed or time to medical clearance for match play. Conclusion: In NRL players, motor incoordination is a readily observable onfield sign that is strongly associated with a medical diagnosis of concussion and with self-reported dizziness/balance problems. However, onfield motor incoordination is not associated with objective balance performance and it is not predictive of time to recover following concussion.
Bacterial Genetic Approach to the Study of Reactive Oxygen Species Production in Galleria mellonella During Salmonella Infection

Over the last decade, an increasing number of reports presented Galleria mellonella larvae as an important model to study host-pathogen interactions. Coherently, increasing information became available about molecular mechanisms used by this host to cope with microbial infections but few of them dealt with oxidative stress. In this work, we addressed the role of reactive oxygen species (ROS) produced by the immune system of G. mellonella to resist against Salmonella enterica, an intracellular pathogen responsible for a wide range of infections. We confirmed that Salmonella was pathogen for G. mellonella and showed that it had to reach a minimal bacterial load within the hemolymph to kill the larvae. ROS production by G. mellonella was revealed by the virulence defects of Salmonella mutants lacking catalases/peroxiredoxins or cytoplasmic superoxide dismutases, both strains being highly sensitive to these oxidants. Finally, we used bacterial transcriptional fusions to demonstrate that hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) was produced in the hemolymph of Galleria during infection and sensed by S. enterica. In line with this observation, the H2O2-dependent regulator OxyR was found to be required for bacterial virulence in the larvae. These results led us to conclude that ROS production is an important mechanism used by G. mellonella to counteract bacterial infections and validate this host as a relevant model to study host-pathogen interactions.
Correlation Between Respiratory Accessory Muscles and Diaphragm Pillars MRI and Pulmonary Function Test in Late-Onset Pompe Disease Patients

Objectives: Pompe disease is a rare genetic disease produced by mutations in the GAA gene leading to progressive skeletal and respiratory muscle weakness. T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging is useful to identify fatty replacement in skeletal muscles of late-onset Pompe disease (LOPD) patients. Previous studies have shown that replacement by fat correlates with worse results of muscle function tests. Our aim was to investigate if fat replacement of muscles involved in the ventilation process correlated with results of the spirometry and predicted respiratory muscle impairment in LOPD patients over time. Materials and Methods: We studied a cohort of 36 LOPD patients followed up annually in our center for a period of 4 years. We quantified muscle fat replacement using Mercuri score of the thoracic paraspinal and abdominal muscles and the pillars of the diaphragm. We correlated the combined Mercuri scores of these areas with spirometry results and the need of respiratory support. Results: We found a statistically significant correlation (Spearman test, p < 0.05; coefficient of correlation > 0.6) between forced vital capacity seated and lying and fat fraction score of all muscle groups studied. The group of patients who needed respiratory support had higher fat fraction scores than patients not requiring ventilatory support. Higher fat replacement in these areas correlated with worse progression in spirometry values over time. Conclusions: Fat replacement of paraspinal, abdominal, and trunk muscles correlates with results of spirometry and is able to predict worsening in respiratory muscle function tests that could lead to an emerging ventilatory dysfunction. Therefore, the identification of fat replacement in these muscle groups should lead to a closer monitorization of patients. Radiologic evaluation of diaphragm pillars in T1-weighted imaging axial sequences could also be helpful to predict respiratory insufficiency.
An Examination of Factors Contributing to the Acceptance of Online Health Misinformation

This study examined factors including health-related anxiety, preexisting misinformation beliefs, and repeated exposure contributing to individuals’ acceptance of health misinformation. Through a large-scale online survey, this study found that health-related anxiety was positively associated with health misinformation acceptance. Preexisting misinformation beliefs, as well as repeated exposure to health misinformation, were both positively associated with health misinformation acceptance. The results also showed that demographic variables were significantly associated with health misinformation acceptance. In general, females accepted more health misinformation compared to males. Participants’ age was negatively associated with health misinformation acceptance. Participants’ education level and income were both negatively associated with their acceptance of health misinformation.
Social Exclusion Down-Regulates Pain Empathy at the Late Stage of Empathic Responses: Electrophysiological Evidence

Social exclusion has a significant impact on cognition, emotion, and behavior. Some behavioral studies investigated how social exclusion affects pain empathy. Conclusions were inconsistent, and there is a lack of clarity in identifying which component of pain empathy is more likely to be affected. To investigate these issues, we used a Cyberball task to manipulate feelings of social exclusion. Two groups (social exclusion and social inclusion) participated in the same pain empathy task while we recorded event-related potentials (ERP) when participants viewed static images of body parts in painful and neutral situations. The results showed early N2 differentiation between painful and neutral pictures in the central regions in both groups. The pattern at the late controlled processing stage was different. Parietal P3 amplitudes for painful pictures were significantly smaller than those for neutral pictures in the social exclusion group; they did not differ in the social inclusion group. We observed a parietal late positive potential (LPP) differentiation between painful and neutral pictures in both groups. LPP amplitudes were significantly smaller in the social exclusion group than those in the social inclusion group for painful stimuli. Our results indicate that social exclusion does not affect empathic responses during the early emotional sharing stage. However, it down-regulates empathic responses at the late cognitive controlled stage, and this modulation is attenuated gradually. The current study provides neuroscientific evidence of how social exclusion dynamically influences pain empathy.
An Assessment of Impact of Leadership Training on Health System Performance in Selected Counties in Kenya

Introduction: The provision of health care services in Kenya was devolved from the national government to the counties in 2013. Evidence suggests that health system performance in Kenya remains poor. The main issue is poor leadership resulting in poor health system performance. However, most training in Kenya focuses on “leaders” (individual) development as opposed to “leadership” training (development of groups from an organization). The purpose of that study was to explore the impact of leadership training on health system performance in selected counties in Kenya. Methods: A quasi-experimental time-series design was employed. Pretest, posttest control-group design was utilized to find out whether the leadership development program positively contributed to the improvement of health system performance indicators compared with the non-trained managers. Questionnaires were administered to 31 trained health managers from the public, private for-profit, and private not-for-profit health institutions within the same counties. Results: The pretest and posttest means for all the six health system (HS) pillar indicators of the treatment group were higher than those of the control group. The regression method to estimate the DID structural model used to calculate the “fact” and “counterfactual” revealed that training had a positive impact on the intended outcome on the service delivery, information, leadership and governance, human resources, finance, and medical products with impact value ≥1 (57.2). Conclusion: The study findings support both hypotheses that trained health care management teams had a significant difference in the implementation status of priority projects and, hence, had a significant impact on health system performance indicators compared with non-trained managers.