Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Study on the Biodiversity of Pigmented Andean Potatoes: Nutritional Profile and Phenolic Composition

The characterization of six varieties of native Andean potatoes with a wide biodiversity in tuber shape, flesh, and skin color was performed, through the determination of their proximate composition, mineral content, and phenolic profile. Minerals concentration revealed significant genotypic variation. Potassium was the most abundant element in all varieties, ranging from 7272.9 to 13,059.9 µg/g and from 12,418 to 17,388.6 µg/g dried weight for the flesh and skin samples, respectively. Iron content was relevant, ranging from 20.5 to 39.9 µg/g and from 112.2 to 288.8 µg/g dried weight in flesh and skin samples, respectively. Phenolic compounds were consistently higher in the skin than in the flesh. The total content varied greatly from 19.5 to 2015.3 µg/g and from 1592.3 to 14807.3 µg/g dried weight for flesh and skin tissues, respectively. 5-caffeoylquinic acid was 74% of the total phenolic acids. Different pattern of anthocyanins was found, depending on the color of the variety; the red genotypes contained predominantly pelargonidin derivatives, while the purple samples had petunidin as a major anthocyanidin. This study increases the knowledge of the composition of the local Andean varieties (which are only scarcely studied so far), helping to enhance these genotypes and the conservation of biodiversity.
The role of depression course on life functioning and coping outcomes from baseline through 23-year follow-up

Abstract Background Although studies have examined how depressed patients’ baseline characteristics predict depression course, still needed are studies of how depression course is associated with modifiable long-term outcomes. Aims This study examined six outcomes of three groups representing distinct depression courses (low baseline severity, rapid decline; moderate baseline severity, rapid decline; and high baseline severity, slow decline): medical functioning, coping patterns, family functioning, social functioning, employment, and work functioning. Method Adults with depression at baseline (N = 382; 56% women) were followed for 23 years on self-reported outcomes (79% response rate). Data from the baseline assessment and follow-ups (1, 4, 10, and 23 years) were used in a longitudinal analysis to examine associations between depression course and outcomes. Results All depression course groups declined on medical and social functioning and employment over follow-up. The high- and moderate-severity depression course groups reported poorer coping patterns than the low-severity group. The high-severity depression course group reported poorer family functioning than the moderate-severity group, and had the poorest work functioning outcome, followed by the moderate-severity and then the low-severity groups. Conclusions Patients with a high- or moderate-severity depression course may benefit from treatment that manages coping patterns and improves family and work functioning.
Practices for promoting sleep in intensive care units in Brazil: a national survey

Objective To conduct a national survey of intensive care professionals to identify the practices for promoting sleep in adult intensive care units in Brazil and describe the professionals’ perceptions of the importance of sleep for patients. Methods An electronic questionnaire was distributed by the clinical research cooperation network of the Associação de Medicina Intensiva Brasileira and by the Brazilian Research in Intensive Care Network to physicians and nurses registered with the association. The questionnaire evaluated the profile of the respondents, the profile of their intensive care units, whether protocols for promoting sleep were present, the pharmacological and nonpharmacological measures typically employed in the unit, and the professionals’ perceptions regarding sleep in critically ill patients. Results A total of 118 questionnaires were evaluated. The Southeast region of the country was the most represented (50 questionnaires, 42.4%). The majority of units had a clinical-surgical profile (93 questionnaires; 78.8%), and 26 had a continuous visitation policy (22.0%). Only 18 intensive care units (15.3%) reported having protocols for promoting sleep. The most cited measure for sleep promotion was reducing light during the night (95 questionnaires; 80.5%), which was more often performed in private intensive care units. Almost all of the responders (99%) believed that poor-quality sleep has a negative impact on patient recovery. Conclusion The responses to this Brazilian survey revealed that few intensive care units had a program for promoting sleep, although almost all participants recognized the importance of sleep in patient recovery.
Flowering Responses of Contrasting Ecotypes of Poa annua and their Putative Ancestors Poa infirma andPoa supina

Abstract Flowering responses of two Australian and six Norwegian populations of Poa annua and their putative ancestors P. infirma and P. supina were studied in controlled environments. The two Australian populations originating from suburban parks in Canberra had opposite daylength flowering responses across the range of temperatures tested (9–21 °C), one being a quantitative short-day (SD) plant with no response to vernalization, the other a quantitative long-day (LD) plant with a quantitative vernalization requirement (winter annual type). Variation in earliness of flowering within the former population was shown to be genetically determined, and testing of selfed progenies indicated that the population is an aggregate of several largely homozygous lines with divergent flowering responses. Two lowland populations from southern Norway were both quantitative LD plants with no vernalization response, while two alpine snowbed populations from southern Norway and two high-latitude, subarctic populations from northern Norway were quantitative SD plants with an obligatory plant vernalization or SD requirement for flowering. Two populations of P. supina exhibited the same flowering responses as the alpine and high-latitude populations of P. annua with an obligatory plant vernalization or SD requirement for flowering. A combination of SD and low temperature (9–12 °C) for 8–10 weeks was optimal for induction and inflorescence initiation. On the other hand, P. infirma was found to be an early-flowering quantitative SD plant which flowered freely across the range of temperatures (9–21 °C) as a typical summer annual. The experiments demonstrate that virtually any kind of photoperiodic and vernalization responses can be found among populations of P. annua. These versatile flowering responses reflect the contrasting flowering responses of P. supina and P. infirma, and add strong support to the hypothesis that P. annua has originated from these species.
A Fully Convolutional Neural Network for Detection and Counting of Diatoms on Coatings after Short-Term Field Exposure.

While the use of deep learning is a valuable technology for automatic detection systems for medical data and images, the biofouling community is still lacking an analytical tool for the detection and counting of diatoms on samples after short-term field exposure. In this work a fully convolutional neural network was implemented as a fast and simple approach to detect diatoms on two-channel (fluorescence and phase contrast) microscopy images by predicting bounding boxes. The developed approach performs well with only a small number of trainable parameters and a F1 score of 0.82. Counting diatoms was evaluated on a dataset of 600 microscopy images of three different surface chemistries (hydrophilic and hydrophobic) and is very similar to counting by humans, while demanding only a fraction of the analysis time.
Optimization of convolutional neural network hyperparameters for automatic classification of adult mosquitoes

The economic and social impacts due to diseases transmitted by mosquitoes in the latest years have been significant. Currently, no specific treatment or commercial vaccine exists for the control and prevention of arboviruses, thereby making entomological characterization fundamental in combating diseases such as dengue, chikungunya, and Zika. The morphological identification of mosquitos includes a visual exam of the samples. It is time consuming and requires adequately trained professionals. Accordingly, the development of a new automated method for realizing mosquito-perception and -classification is becoming increasingly essential. Therefore, in this study, a computational model based on a convolutional neural network (CNN) was developed to extract features from the images of mosquitoes and then classify the species Aedes aegypti, Aedes albopictus, and Culex quinquefasciatus. In addition, the model was trained to detect the mosquitoes of the genus Aedes. To train CNNs to perform the automatic morphological classification of mosquitoes, a dataset, which included 7,561 images of the target mosquitoes and 1,187 images of other insects, was acquired. Various neural networks, such as Xception and DenseNet, were used for developing the automatic-classification model based on images. A structured optimization process of random search and grid search was developed to select the hyperparameters set and increase the accuracy of the model. In addition, strategies to eliminate overfitting were implemented to increase the generalization of the model. The optimized model, during the test phase, obtained the balanced accuracy (BA) of 93.5% in classifying the target mosquitoes and other insects and the BA of 97.3% in detecting the mosquitoes of the genus Aedes in comparison to Culex. The results provide fundamental information for performing the automatic morphological classification of mosquito species. Using a CNN-embedded entomological tool is a valuable and accessible resource for health workers and non-taxonomists for identifying insects that can transmit infectious diseases.
Seasonal Switching Between Relative Importance of Bottom-Up and Top-Down Control of Bacterial and Heterotrophic Nanoflagellate Abundance

Seasonal dynamics of bacterial and heterotrophic nanoflagellate (HNF) species assemblages were analysed in Kaštela Bay (middle Adriatic Sea). Dominant patterns identified were: (1) during summer and autumn bacterial abundance was mainly controlled by HNF grazing (top-down), whereas HNF abundance was controlled by bacterial abundance (bottom-up); (2) during winter and spring the coupling between bacteria and HNF was very weak, and bacterial abundance was mainly controlled by resources supply (bottom-up), whereas HNF abundance was controlled by micro-zooplankton grazing (top-down); (3) throughout the year, both bacterial and HNF species assemblages alternated with two periods of stable abundance, first with high and second with low values; (4) top-down effect was dominant in bacterial switching from stable abundance with high values to stable abundance with low values, whereas bottom-up model dominated in inverse process; and vice versa for HNF.
Computer Vision Analysis of Reduced Interpersonal Affect Coordination in Youth With Autism Spectrum Disorder

Atypical social–emotional reciprocity is a core feature of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) but can be difficult to operationalize. One measurable manifestation of reciprocity may be interpersonal coordination, the tendency to align the form and timing of one's behaviors (including facial affect) with others. Interpersonal affect coordination facilitates sharing and understanding of emotional cues, and there is evidence that it is reduced in ASD. However, most research has not measured this process in true social contexts, due in part to a lack of tools for measuring dynamic facial expressions over the course of an interaction. Automated facial analysis via computer vision provides an efficient, granular, objective method for measuring naturally occurring facial affect and coordination. Youth with ASD and matched typically developing youth participated in cooperative conversations with their mothers and unfamiliar adults. Time‐synchronized videos were analyzed with an open‐source computer vision toolkit for automated facial analysis, for the presence and intensity of facial movements associated with positive affect. Both youth and adult conversation partners exhibited less positive affect during conversations when the youth partner had ASD. Youth with ASD also engaged in less affect coordination over the course of conversations. When considered dimensionally across youth with and without ASD, affect coordination significantly predicted scores on rating scales of autism‐related social atypicality, adaptive social skills, and empathy. Findings suggest that affect coordination is an important interpersonal process with implications for broader social–emotional functioning. This preliminary study introduces a promising novel method for quantifying moment‐to‐moment facial expression and emotional reciprocity during natural interactions.
Grass weed competition with bread wheat in Ethiopia. 1. Effects on selected crop and weed vegetative parameters and yield components

Competition effects of four of the predominant grass weed species in Ethiopia (Avena abyssinica Hoechst, Lolium temulentum L., Snowdenia polystachya Fresen (Pilg), and Phalaris paradoxa L. ) on the morphological characters, grain yield, and yield components of bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) were studied in western Shewa Zone of Ethiopia. The four grass species varied significantly in their effects on wheat plant height, tillering, leaf area index (LAI), number of fertile spikes m^-2, grains per spike, spike length, thousand grain weight, straw, biomass, harvest index and grain yield. A. abyssinica and S. polystachya were the most competitive, reducing wheat morphological characters and yield components to a greater extent than L. temulentum and P. paradoxa. The reduction in wheat grain yield was linearly proportional to the square root of weed seedling density. Grass species by seedling density interaction effects were significant for most of the crop and weed characters measured, indicating a differential rate response for individual species. The reduction in wheat grain yield at the maximum weed density of 320 seedlings m^-2 ranged from 48 to 86% across the four grass species studied. The wheat yield components most affected by weed competition were number of fertile spikes m^2 and number of seeds/spike. Weed vegetative and reproductive characters (i.e., number of tillers, LAI, number of panicles, and plant height) varied markedly among species and in direct proportion with weed seedling density. Plant height and LAI appeared to be the factors most closely associated with weed competitive ability with bread wheat.
Arteriovenous fistulas of the Vein of Galen region in adults: Endovascular treatment

Purpose Arteriovenous fistulas of the Vein of Galen region in adults (Ad-VGAVF) are an uncommon entity with specific anatomic features. The aim of this article is to present our experience in the endovascular treatment of this pathology and to propose a therapeutic strategy based precisely on the angioarchitecture of these lesions. Materials and methods During a 20-year period, 10 patients underwent endovascular treatment of Ad-VGAVF. They were nine men and one woman with a mean age of 50 years (23–66 years) treated with the same embolization strategy. Clinical presentation, angiographic characteristics, therapeutic strategy, and clinical outcomes were recorded. Results All patients were treated exclusively by endovascular approach. Transarterial access was performed in eight patients and combined transvenous and transarterial access in two. Complete obliteration of the fistula was obtained in all patients. There were no intraprocedural complications. Post-embolization neurological symptoms occurred in 5 of 10 with complete resolution at six months in all of them. Conclusion Arteriovenous fistulas of the Vein of Galen region in adults present uniform angioarchitecture despite their low prevalence. Based on this constant angioarchitecture and especially on the features of its venous drainage, judicious embolization strategy is feasible and effective. Ten cases treated entirely by endovascular approach with excellent clinical and angiographic outcomes show this treatment like a curative alternative for this entity of deep topography and severe prognosis.
A Molecular Stratification of Chilean Gastric Cancer Patients with Potential Clinical Applicability

Gastric cancer (GC) is a complex and heterogeneous disease. In recent decades, The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and the Asian Cancer Research Group (ACRG) defined GC molecular subtypes. Unfortunately, these systems require high-cost and complex techniques and consequently their impact in the clinic has remained limited. Additionally, most of these studies are based on European, Asian, or North American GC cohorts. Herein, we report a molecular classification of Chilean GC patients into five subtypes, based on immunohistochemical (IHC) and in situ hybridization (ISH) methods. These were Epstein–Barr virus positive (EBV+), mismatch repair-deficient (MMR-D), epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT)-like, and accumulated (p53+) or undetected p53 (p53−). Given its lower costs this system has the potential for clinical applicability. Our results confirm relevant molecular alterations previously reported by TCGA and ACRG. We confirm EBV+ and MMR-D patients had the best prognosis and could be candidates for immunotherapy. Conversely, EMT-like displayed the poorest prognosis; our data suggest FGFR2 or KRAS could serve as potential actionable targets for these patients. Finally, we propose a low-cost step-by-step stratification system for GC patients. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first Latin American report on a molecular classification for GC. Pending further validation, this stratification system could be implemented into the routine clinic
Effects of Soil Amendments on the Abundance of a Parasitic Weed, Yellow Rattle (Rhinanthus minor) in Hay Fields

Abstract Yellow rattle is a hemiparasitic weed that is becoming increasingly problematic in hay fields in the northeastern United States. The biomass of yellow rattle was assessed in two experiments in which commercially available soil amendments were applied to an infested hay field under no-till management. The amendments were applied in the fall of 2010 and 2011 and included wood ash, biochar, hardwood sawdust, lime, and K. Wood ash applied at a rate of 8,967 kg ha−1 (4 tons per acre) had the greatest suppressive effect and reduced yellow rattle biomass the following summer by 86 and 92% relative to the untreated control in Experiments 1 and 2, respectively. Two additional treatments included in Experiment 2, a doubled rate of wood ash and sawdust applied at a rate of 13,450 kg ha−1, also reduced yellow rattle biomass. No other treatments affected yellow rattle biomass. A partial least-squares regression (PLSR) analysis that included aboveground plant community and soil biochemical data explained only 42.4% of the variation in yellow rattle biomass, suggesting that the mechanisms responsible for the suppression of yellow rattle by wood ash and sawdust are complex. Amending hay fields with wood ash or sawdust may be an effective nonherbicide strategy for managing yellow rattle infestations. Additional research will be required to determine the mechanisms and generality of yellow rattle suppression by wood ash and sawdust amendments to the soil. Nomenclature: Yellow rattle, Rhinanthus minor L. yellow rattle.
Manipulative Therapy Plus Ankle Therapeutic Exercises for Adolescent Baseball Players with Chronic Ankle Instability: A Single-Blinded Randomized Controlled Trial

Manipulative therapies and exercises are commonly used for the management of chronic ankle instability (CAI), but there is no evidence regarding the efficacy of high-velocity low-amplitude manipulation (HVLA) in addition to ankle therapeutic exercise to improve CAI in adolescent baseball players (ABP). To compare the effects of HVLA plus ankle therapeutic exercise and ankle therapeutic exercise alone on ankle status, pain intensity, pain pressure threshold (PPT), range of motion (ROM) of the ankle joint, and balance ability in ABP with CAI, a single-blinded randomized controlled trial was conducted. A total of 31 ABP with CAI were randomly allocated to the intervention (n = 16) or control (n = 15) groups. The intervention group received HVLA plus resistance exercise twice a week for 4 weeks, while the control group received resistance exercise alone. Ankle status, pain intensity, PPT, ROM, and balance ability were assessed before and after the intervention. The American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society scores showed significant group and time interactions (total, p = 0.002; pain, p < 0.001; alignment, p = 0.001). There were significant group and time interactions in pain intensity (resting pain, p = 0.008; movement pain, p < 0.001). For ROM, there were significant group and time interactions on dorsiflexion (p = 0.006) and eversion (p = 0.026). The unipedal stance of the balance ability showed significant group and time interactions in path length (p = 0.006) and velocity (p = 0.006). Adding HVLA to resistance exercises may be synergistically effective in improving the ankle status, pain intensity, ROM, and balance ability in ABP with CAI.
Soluble St2 Induces Cardiac Fibroblast Activation and Collagen Synthesis via Neuropilin-1

Circulating levels of soluble interleukin 1 receptor-like 1 (sST2) are increased in heart failure and associated with poor outcome, likely because of the activation of inflammation and fibrosis. We investigated the pathogenic role of sST2 as an inductor of cardiac fibroblasts activation and collagen synthesis. The effects of sST2 on human cardiac fibroblasts was assessed using proteomics and immunodetection approaches to evidence the upregulation of neuropilin-1 (NRP-1), a regulator of the profibrotic transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1. In parallel, sST2 increased fibroblast activation, collagen and fibrosis mediators. Pharmacological inhibition of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) restored NRP-1 levels and blocked profibrotic effects induced by sST2. In NRP-1 knockdown cells, sST2 failed to induce fibroblast activation and collagen synthesis. Exogenous NRP-1 enhanced cardiac fibroblast activation and collagen synthesis via NF-κB. In a pressure overload rat model, sST2 was elevated in association with cardiac fibrosis and was positively correlated with NRP-1 expression. Our study shows that sST2 induces human cardiac fibroblasts activation, as well as the synthesis of collagen and profibrotic molecules. These effects are mediated by NRP-1. The blockade of NF-κB restored NRP-1 expression, improving the profibrotic status induced by sST2. These results show a new pathogenic role for sST2 and its mediator, NRP-1, as cardiac fibroblast activators contributing to cardiac fibrosis.